Document:

EX-10.3

 

Exhibit 10.3

EMPLOYMENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

     This Agreement made and executed this 23rd day of February, 2007, effective as of
December 1, 2006, by and between MORRIS H. WHEELER (hereinafter “Employee”) and COHESANT
TECHNOLOGIES INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter “Company”).

     WHEREAS, the Employee is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company;

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee desire to provide that Employee shall continue with the
Company in such capacity in the future upon the terms and conditions contained herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
Company and the Employee agree as follows:

Section 1 — Definitions.

     Capitalized terms in this Agreement not otherwise defined in this Agreement will have the
meanings set forth in this Section 1.

     (a) “Affiliate” of a person or entity means, collectively and individually, a person or entity
that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by or is under
common control with such person or entity.

     (b) “Business” means; (i) the protection and renewal of water and wastewater infrastructure,
including, but not limited to, collection systems, water treatment facilities, wastewater treatment
facilities, water storage facilities, and water distribution and other piping systems for
municipal, industrial, commercial and residential infrastructures (collectively, “Water and
Wastewater Infrastructure”); (ii) the design, development, manufacture and sale of specialty
polymer coatings designed for the protection and renewal of Water and Wastewater Infrastructure;
and (iii) the design, development, manufacture and sale of plural-component spray finishing and
coating equipment, replacement parts and supplies used in the operation of this equipment in
applying polyesters, polyurethanes, polyureas and epoxies. The protection and renewal of Water and
Wastewater Infrastructure is effected by the direct application by the Company of corrosion
protection and other specialty coatings to the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure, as well as the
licensing, franchising, sale or other distribution of the Company’s or similar technology relating
to such coating processes to third parties that effects such rehabilitation work.

 

 

     (c) “Cause” means that, in the reasonable judgment of the Board, including at least two-thirds
of the “independent directors” (as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq
Stock Market), any of the following events have occurred:

     (i) the willful and continued failure by Employee to substantially perform his duties with the
Company, after written notification by the Company, and the failure to correct such breach or
failure within a 30-day period following such notification;

     (ii) the willful engagement by Employee in conduct which is demonstrably injurious to the
Company, financially or otherwise; provided that actions undertaken to implement a policy, business
plan, acquisition or other plan approved by the Board of Directors and subsequently found to be
injurious, financially or otherwise, is not the type of conduct that gives rise to grounds for
termination under this subsection (c);

     (iii) action or inaction by Employee that is a breach of fiduciary duty consisting of
self-dealing, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or the engagement by Employee in egregious misconduct involving moral turpitude; or

     (iv) Employee’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime of
moral turpitude.

For purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, by Employee shall be deemed “willful”
unless done, or omitted to be done, by Employee not in good faith and without reasonable belief
that such action was in the best interest of the Company. Any actions taken by the Employee that
are determined to be contrary to the express policies or directives of the Board of Directors or
outside the scope of authority of the Employee, as expressly stated by the Board, shall not be
considered in the best interest of the Company.

     (d) “Compete” means to own, manage, operate, control or advise as an employee, director,
officer, consultant, or otherwise, whether directly or indirectly, any business (whether a sole
proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, firm, joint venture, trust or
other entity) that is engaged in the Business at any time during the Employment Period.

     (e) “Good Reason” means (i) a material and continuing failure to pay to Employee compensation
and benefits that have been earned, if any, by Employee, (ii) any downward adjustment by the Board
of Directors in Employee’s base salary (excluding an “across the board” decrease in the salaries of
executive officers and senior employees of not greater than ten percent (10%) from the prior year,
(iii) a material reduction in Employee’s title, position or responsibilities, or (iv) any breach by
the Company of this Employment Agreement which

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is material and which is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof to the
Company from Employee.

     (f) “Permanent disability” shall mean the inability of Employee to perform his duties
hereunder due to physical or mental illness, including drug abuse and alcoholism, for either (i)
270 days within any consecutive 12-month period or (ii) a six (6) consecutive months period. In
addition, the “permanent disability” of Employee shall also have been deemed to have occurred if
the Employee shall have had appointed a guardian or conservator for him or such appointment shall
have been made by a court of competent jurisdiction.

     (g) “Restricted Period” means the period during which the Employee is employed by the Company
and for a period of eighteen (18) months thereafter.

     (h) “Total Compensation” means all compensation payable to the Employee, on an annual basis,
pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a), (e) and (f) of Section 4 hereof.

Section 2 — Employment and Term.

     The Company hereby employs the Employee, and the Employee hereby accepts such employment, for
an initial term commencing on December 1, 2006 and ending on November 30, 2009, unless sooner
terminated in accordance with Section 5 or Section 8 herein; with such employment to continue in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement from year to year thereafter unless one party gives the
other party at least six months advance written notice of its election not to renew this Agreement
(said initial term and any continuation thereof being hereinafter referred to as the “Employment
Term”).

     During the Employment Term, Employee agrees to devote such time and attention to his
employment by Company, as the parties mutually agree, and to perform all duties assigned by Company
faithfully and industriously and to the best of Employee’s ability. The parties recognize that
Employee may engage in unrelated business ventures, provided such additional outside employment
does not interfere with his duties or responsibilities to the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, it is specifically agreed that the Employee’s current scope of activities with and
through Drummond Road LLC will not be deemed to be prohibited by this Section.

Section 3 — Duties and Authority.

     During the Employment Term, the Employee agrees (i) to perform such duties as may be
reasonably requested by the Company’s Board of Directors and (ii) to comply with all policies and
directives now or hereafter issued by the Company’s Board of Directors; (iii) to perform well and
faithfully all of the duties referred to above in accordance with the rules and regulations
established and to be established by the Company.

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Section 4 — Compensation.

     During the Employment Term, the Company will pay or provide, as the case may be, to the
Employee the following (collectively, “Compensation”):

     (a) As
of January 1, 2007, a base salary (“Base Salary”), payable bi-weekly (and subject to normal and customary
payroll deductions), at the rate of Two Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($220,000) per annum;
provided, however, effective on January 1 on an annual basis, the Employee’s Base
Salary shall be increased by the greater of (i) an amount determined by the Board of
Directors or (ii) the increase in the cost of living as determined by reference to the Consumer
Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (Cleveland/Akron), published by the U.S.
Government comparing the index at December 1 of one year to December 1 of the preceding year; and
further provided, that the Board of Directors may reduce the annual salary solely in connection
with an “across the board” salary reduction in the salaries of the executive officers and key
employees. In connection with any such salary reduction, such reduction may not exceed ten
percent (10%) and may not occur more than one time during the Employment Term.

     (b) Reimbursement (or payment on the Employee’s behalf) of the Employee’s reasonable business
travel, entertainment or other expenses incurred in the performance of the Employee’s duties
hereunder;

     (c) Medical, hospitalization and dental insurance for the Employee and his dependents
consistent with the insurance provided to other executive officers employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries and participation in any pension, profit sharing, 401(k), or any other benefit plan
adopted by the Company in which the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ executive officers or employees
are generally eligible to participate;

     (d) Thirty (30) days paid time off per year;

     (e) Automobile allowance of One Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($1,300) per month, and
reimbursement for all repairs, maintenance, gasoline and other business related expenses in
connection therewith; and

     (f) Annual bonus based upon the return on equity, compounded annual growth in adjusted book
value of the Company or such other pre-determined performance metrics designated periodically by
the Board of Directors . The Employee’s bonus potential shall be set at the time of establishment
of the threshold, target and stretch performance goals. Employee’s annual bonus shall be paid in
two installments on June 30th and December 31st pursuant to the terms of a
management incentive plan adopted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company. The June 30th payment shall be equal to 25% of the estimated annual bonus
payable based upon annualized year-to-date

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performance as of May 31th, as reasonably calculated by the Chief Financial Officer
of the Company. The December 31st payment shall be based upon actual annual
performance.

     (g) Long-term incentive payments, in the form of cash and/or equity compensation, pursuant to
such incentive plans as may be adopted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company.

     (h) Financial and tax planning services approved by the Compensation Committee of] the Board
of Directors of the Company in an amount not to exceed $10,000 per annum.

Section 5 — Disability and Death.

     (a) In the event of the Permanent Disability of Employee, the Company shall have the right
thereafter to terminate this Agreement with Employee by sending written notice of such termination
to Employee, and thereupon this Agreement shall terminate.

     (b) The parties hereto hereby agree that if a disagreement arises as to whether a condition of
Permanent Disability exists hereunder, Employee shall submit to a physical examination by a
physician of the Company’s choice affiliated with either The Cleveland Clinic or University
Hospitals, or their successors. The physician’s determination shall be conclusive upon all
parties. The Company shall bear the expense of the physician. Employee hereby consents to the
examination provided for herein and waives, if applicable, any privilege that exists between any
physician and Employee as a result of such examination.

     (c) This Agreement shall also terminate upon and as of the date of death of the Employee at
any time during the Employment Term. In the event of the death of Employee, all Compensation due
Employee up to the date of death, as well as salary due through the remainder of the current
employment year, shall be paid to Employee’s estate or beneficiaries.

     (d) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Employee shall be compensated
as set forth in this Agreement, through the date of termination of this Agreement due to Permanent
Disability or death; provided, however, in the event of Permanent Disability any such compensation
shall be reduced by any amounts payable to Employee from or in respect of disability insurance plan
for which the Company has paid any portion of the premiums therefore and which payments are
received by the Employee for the period of such incapacity or illness.

Section 6 — Indemnification/Insurance.

     In addition to the payments due under Section 4 hereof, the Company will hold harmless,
indemnify and defend the Employee (including advancing expenses as and when

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incurred) from and against any claims, investigations and proceedings for any actions taken in
his capacity as a director, officer or employee during the term of his employment or service with
the Company to the maximum extent permitted by law. At minimum, the Employee shall be entitled to
the same indemnification protection provided under applicable law and/or the Company’s governing
documents, as well as the same liability insurance (if any) currently in effect or hereafter
obtained by the Company, for its directors and officers. The provisions of this Section 6 shall
survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement or the Employee’s employment with the
Company.

Section 7 — Ownership of Programs and Materials.

     Employee acknowledges that Intellectual Property developed for Company use, in whole or in
part, is proprietary and confidential information of Company, developed at great expense to
Company. Employee acknowledges and agrees that all Intellectual Property relating to the Business
developed by the Employee during Employee’s employment that is subject to copyright protection
shall be deemed “work made for hire” pursuant to the Copyright Act, as amended, 17 U.S.C. § 101, et
seq. and shall be the sole property of Company. Provided, further, that, to the extent that any
Intellectual Property relating to the Business, that is subject to protection under the Copyright
Act, is not deemed “work-for-hire,” Employee hereby assigns to Company all rights that the Employee
may have or acquire with respect to such Intellectual Property, including all copyright rights with
respect thereto. Employee further hereby assigns to Company all patent and all other ownership
rights to the Intellectual Property to Company. Employee hereby agrees to execute any and all
documents necessary to carry out the aforesaid assignment. Employee further agrees that if
Employee fails to execute any such documents or is unavailable at the time necessary for such
execution, Company is hereby appointed as Employee’s attorney-in-fact for the purpose of executing
such documents.

Section 8 — Termination.

     In addition to the termination provisions set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement, the
Company may terminate this Agreement at any time with or without “Cause”. If the Company
terminates Employee’s employment for reasons other than “Cause”, Employee shall be entitled to a
lump-sum severance payment equal to the payments and benefits under this contract on the remaining
Employment Term, but in no event shall the payment be equal to an amount that is less than eighteen
months of his then base salary plus 1.5 times the annual bonus based on the assumption that the
Company and Employee had achieved the targeted performance goals for the year of termination.
Further, Employee shall be entitled to continued medical, hospitalization and dental insurance,
consistent with that provided during employment, at the Company’s expense, as well as his auto
allowance provided under Section 4(e), all for a period of eighteen (18) months following the date
of employment termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee, upon written notice to the
Company delivered within 30-days of his termination date, may elect to receive a lump-sum payment

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equal to the Company’s cost of his medical, hospitalization and dental insurance and auto
allowance or either of them, in lieu of continued coverage for the 18-month period. No severance
pay or benefits are due under this Agreement if Employee terminates his employment voluntarily or
is terminated for “Cause”.

     Any termination by the Employee for Good Reason shall be deemed to be a termination by the
Company without “Cause.” Employee acknowledges that the potential severance payment hereunder is
attributable, in part, to his agreement to the noncompetition provision set forth in Section 9,
which is applicable regardless of the reason for his termination of employment.

     Any termination of the Employee’s employment for Cause will not be in limitation of any other
right or remedy which the Company may have under this Agreement, at law, or in equity.

     Should Employee’s termination for reasons other than “Cause” occur within two years after a
“Change-in-Control,” Employee shall be entitled to a lump-sum severance payment equal to 2.99 of
Total Compensation (with the annual bonus amount used in such calculation equal to the amount that
would be payable based on the assumption that the Company and Employee had achieved the targeted
performance goals for the year such termination occurred). Further, Employee shall be entitled to
continued medical, hospitalization and dental insurance, consistent with that provided during
employment, at the Company’s expense, for a period of thirty six (36) months following the date of
employment termination; provided that if the Company is unable to continue coverage for Employee
under its group insurance plan, it shall purchase individual coverage provided that the Company
shall not be required to pay insurance premiums greater than those attributable to Employee’s
coverage immediately prior to his termination of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Employee, upon written notice to the Company delivered within 30-days of his termination date, may
elect to receive a lump-sum payment equal to the Company’s cost of his medical, hospitalization and
dental insurance in lieu of continued coverage for such 36-month period.

     A “Change in Control” means the occurrence during the Employment Term of the following events:

	 	(i)	 	the Company merges or consolidates with, another entity and as
a result of such merger or consolidation less than 51% of the voting power of
the then-outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity
immediately after such transaction are directly or indirectly beneficially
owned in the aggregate by the former stockholders of the Company immediately
prior to such transaction;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	a person or group acting in concert within the meaning of
Section 3(a)(9) or 13(d)(3) (as in effect on the date of this Agreement) of the

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	 	 	 	Securities Exchange Act of 1934, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in
Rule 13d-3) of 50% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Company; provided that the foregoing shall not
apply to any existing ownership interest of more than 50% of the Company’s
Common Stock;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	a sale of all or substantially all of the Assets of the
Company.

     If any payment or distribution, of whatever kind, to be made by the Company to or for the
benefit of Employee, following a Change of Control, is determined to be an Excess Parachute Payment
that is not deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes and with respect to which
Employee will be subject to an excise tax because of Sections 280G and 4999, respectively, of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the payments or distributions shall be
reduced to an amount equal to One Dollar ($1.00) less than the 280G Limit. The 280G Limit being
the maximum amount of payments that Employee may receive without becoming subject to the excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code and without the Company suffering a loss of deduction under
Section 280G of the Code. If any payment or distribution is subject to reduction under this
provision, Employee shall have the right to determine which payments or distributions shall b e
reduced.

     Upon the expiration of the Employment Term, Employee will return to the Company all property
of the Company, including, but not limited to, keys, credit cards, financial reports, source codes,
object codes, programs, flow charts, formulae, customer and supplier information and all other
materials relating to the Business. The aforesaid obligations include all media containing such
information including any magnetic or optical media or other storage device.

Section 9 — Covenant Not to Compete.

     (a) The Employee covenants and agrees that during the Restricted Period, the Employee will
not, directly or indirectly, Compete anywhere that the Company engages in Business; Employee
recognizing that a substantial portion of the Company’s business is outside North America. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing restrictive covenant, the Employee further covenants and
agrees that during the Restricted Period, he will not: (i) promote the business of any person,
firm, association or corporation or other entity engaged in a business which Competes with the
Business; (ii) solicit, divert, take away or attempt to solicit, divert or take away any of the
Company’s customers; (iii) cause or attempt to cause any of the Company’s customers to cease
transacting business with the Company; or (iv) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the
Company to terminate such employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, recognizing that Employee
and his Affiliates’ other activities include investments in private and public corporations and
other entities, nothing in this

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Agreement shall preclude Employee or his Affiliates, directly or indirectly, from providing capital
to other businesses, including businesses that may Compete with the Company or its subsidiaries;
provided that Employee may not (i) have more than a 3% equity interest, on a fully diluted basis,
in any entity that Competes with the Company or its subsidiaries, or (ii) serve as an officer,
director or advisor to such entity.

     (b) Reasonableness of Restrictions. Employee acknowledges that: (1) his experience
and capabilities are such that the provisions of this Section 9 will not prevent Employee from
earning a livelihood or applying his professional skills and knowledge; (ii) the terms and
conditions contained in this Section 9 and in Section 10 hereof are reasonable and necessary for
the protection of the Business by the Company; and (iii) the nature of the employment arrangement
contemplated hereby is such that the Company may not be adequately compensated with monetary
damages for any violation by the Employee of any of the provisions of this Section 9 or Section 10
hereof.

     Accordingly, the Employee agrees and consents that if Employee violates any of the provisions
contained in this Section 9 or Section 10 hereof, the Company will be entitled to apply for an
injunction, to be issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining the Employee from
committing or continuing any violation of this Section 9 or Section 10 hereof, and that any such
remedy sought or obtained by the Company will not be considered a waiver of the rights of the
Company to assert any other remedies it may have under this Agreement, at law or, in equity.

     (c) Severability. The Employee agrees that each of the covenants set forth in this
Section 10 is separate and distinct, independent of others, and that the illegality or invalidity
of any one or more of them or any part of one or more of them will not render the others illegal or
invalid, and that if the invalidity or unenforceability is due to the unreasonableness of the time
or geographical area covered by said covenants and restrictions, said covenants and restrictions
will nevertheless be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and effective for such period
of time and for such area as may be determined to be reasonable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, and the Employee hereby consents and agrees that such scope may be judicially
modified, accordingly, in any proceeding brought to enforce such covenants and restrictions.

     (d) Independent Significance. The restrictive covenants set forth in this Section 9
and the covenants of confidentiality contained in Section 10 below on the part of the Employee are
of the essence of this Agreement and will be construed as independent of any other of the
provisions of this Agreement (other than the Company’s monetary obligations to Employee under
Sections 4 or 9), and the existence of any claim or cause of action of the Employee against the
Company (other than a claim under Section 4 or 8 hereof), whether predicated on this Agreement or
otherwise, will not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of any of said
restrictive covenants.

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Section 10 — Confidential Information.

     (a) Non-Disclosure in General. As a consequence of the Employee’s employment with the
Company, the Employee has and will receive and deal with confidential information and business
methods, including, but not limited to, its unique systems, operations, processes, testing
procedures, devices, formulae, computer programs and data bases, drawings, blueprints, sketches,
records, development data and reports, engineering data and reports, quality control
specifications, cost analyses, flow charts, process sheets, know-how, information relating to
technical matters and information relating to sales, financial structure, pricing, marketing data,
personnel data, and other information of like nature including but not limited to customer lists
and supplier contracts (collectively, the “Confidential Information”). The Employee further
acknowledges that Confidential Information of the Company, received or dealt with by the Employee
is of such a value and nature as to make it reasonable and necessary for the protection of the
Company that the Employee not Compete with the Company during the Restricted Period, and that the
Company will be irreparably damaged if the Employee were to disclose (other than as permitted in
this Agreement) any of the Confidential Information that the Employee has acquired or dealt with as
a result of his employment or other association with the Company, or will acquire or deal with as a
result of his involvement with the Company. The Employee acknowledges that all Confidential
Information and other information regarding the Company compiled or obtained by the Employee, or
furnished to the Employee in connection with his involvement with the Company, is confidential
information and the Company’s exclusive property. Upon demand by the Company, and in any event
within three (3) days following termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Employee will
surrender to the Company all Confidential Information and all other original and facsimile records,
documents and data in his possession or under his control pertaining to the Company.

     (b) Exceptions. Confidential Information of the Business shall not be deemed to
include information of the Business that:

	 	(i)	 	at the time of disclosure, is properly in the public domain or
thereafter properly becomes part of the public domain by publication or
otherwise through no fault or act of the Employee;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the Employee can conclusively establish was properly in his
possession prior to the time of the disclosure to the Employee of the
Confidential Information;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the Employee independently developed without the use of any
Confidential Information received from the Company; or
	 
	 	(iv)	 	is required to be disclosed by legal process.

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Section 11 — Non-Waiver.

     The failure of either party at any time or from time to time to require performance of any of
the other party’s obligations under this Agreement will in no matter affect such party’s rights to
enforce any provision of this Agreement at a subsequent time, and the waiver by either party of any
right arising out of any breach will not be construed as a waiver of any right arising out of any
subsequent breach.

Section 12 — Notices.

     Any notice in writing and shall be personally delivered, mailed by United States certified
mail, return receipt requested, or sent by overnight courier addressed as follows: or as set forth
in any notice of change of address previously given in writing by the addressee to the addressor:

	 	 	 
	     To the Employee:

	 	Morris H. Wheeler
	 

	 	2923 Drummond Road
	 

	 	Cleveland, Ohio 44120
	 
	 	 
	    To the Company:

	 	Cohesant Technologies, Inc.
	 

	 	5845 West 82nd Street, Suite 102

	 

	 	Indianapolis, Indiana 46278

     Notice shall be deemed given on the date of receipt of the communication.

Section 13 — Miscellaneous.

     (a) Non-Disclosure of Terms. Except as required by applicable law, the parties
covenant and agree not to disclose to any third parties any information regarding, or the existence
of, the employment, negotiations or arrangements between the Company and the Employee unless
required by federal or state securities laws, court order or arbitration. This provision will also
bind the stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and affiliates of
the Company.

     (b) Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only in a writing executed by both of
the parties hereto.

     (c) Assignment. This Agreement is for personal services to be provided by the
Employee and may not be assigned or transferred by the Employee to, or the obligations of the
Employee performed by, any other party. This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder
may not be assigned by the Company to any other party, except that this Agreement, in whole and not
in part, may be assigned by the Company to any future purchaser of the Company or of its Business.

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     (d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties hereto regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous
agreements, understandings, negotiations, and discussions, whether oral or written.

     (e) Headings. Section and paragraph headings are not to be considered part of this
Agreement. They are included solely for convenience and are not intended to be full or accurate
descriptions of the contents hereof.

     (f) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Ohio.

     (g) Binding Effect. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators,
personal representatives and successors.

     (h) Recitals. The recitals hereto are an integral part of this Agreement and are
incorporated herein by reference.

     (i) Costs and Expenses. The Company will bear its own, and shall reimburse the
Employee for his reasonable, costs and expenses, not to exceed $10,000, in connection with the
negotiation and preparation of this Agreement. The Company shall pay any fees and expenses incurred
by the Employee, as and when incurred, in connection with Employee’s enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement or any action brought to interpret the provisions of this Agreement. The
foregoing provision includes reimbursing Employee his legal fees if the Company terminates this
Agreement for cause and it is subsequently determined, by judicial decision or arbitration, that no
“cause” existed.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement this 23 day of February 2007.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	COHESANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	/s/ Morris H. Wheeler

	 	/s/ Dwight D. Goodman	 	 
	 

Morris H. Wheeler

	 	 

Dwight D. Goodman
	 	 
	 

	 	     Chairman, Compensation Committee	 	 

12EX-10.4

 

Exhibit 10.4

NON-DISCLOSURE AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

	 	 	THIS AGREEMENT between Cohesant Technologies Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, including, but
not limited to Cohesant Technologies Inc (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) and the
undersigned Associate.
	 
	 	 	In consideration of Associate’s employment with the Company and the potential severance payment
described herein, Associate covenants and agrees as follows:
	 
	I.	 	Non-Disclosure — Associate covenants and agrees that during Associate’s employment
and after termination of employment that:
	 
	A.	 	Without prior written consent of Company, Associate shall not at any time, directly or
indirectly, use for Associate’s own benefit or purposes or for the benefit or purposes of any
other person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or business organization, or
disclose to any person, firm partnership, association, corporation or business organization,
any trade secrets, information, data, know-how or knowledge (including, but not limited to,
trade secrets, information, data, know-how or knowledge relating to customers, prospects,
products, suppliers, sources of supply, business methods and techniques, market development
programs, revenues, costs, management practices, contracts, documents, designs, processes,
plans or employees) belonging to, or relating to the affairs of the Company (“Confidential
Information”), except where required in good faith to transact the business of the Company.
Confidential Information of the Company shall not be deemed to include information of the
Company that:

	 	(i)	 	at the time of disclosure, is properly in the public domain or thereafter
properly becomes part of the public domain by publication or otherwise through no
fault or act of the Associate;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the Associate can conclusively establish was properly in his or her
possession prior to the time of the disclosure to the Associate of the Confidential
Information;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the Associate independently developed without the use of any Confidential
Information received from the Company; or
	 
	 	(iv)	 	is required to be disclosed by legal process, provided that Associate shall
first have given timely written notice to the Company so that the Company may seek to
obtain an appropriate protective order.

	B.	 	Associate shall return to the Company, at its request, and in any event within three (3) days
after termination of Associate’s services, in good condition, reasonable wear and tear
excepted, all documentation and records which are the property of Company and any and all
copies thereof, including, but not limited to, all Company manuals promotional and
instructional materials, and similar aids and equipment, all correspondence, customer lists,
files, plans, contracts, memoranda and reports as well as all of Company’s equipment and other
property in Associate’s hands or under Associate’s control at the time of the termination of
Associate’s employment.
	 
	C.	 	Subject to exceptions set forth in Section 1(A) above, Associate shall keep in strict
confidence all trade information, product data, management practices, business and pricing
methods and techniques, customer and

 

 

	 	 	prospect lists, trade secrets and other confidential information concerning Company’s business and
its methods of doing business.
	 
	II.	 	Non-Competition
	 
	A.	 	Associate acknowledges that Associate has been and will be dealing with confidential
information, trade secrets and business methods which are the Company’s property. Associate
further acknowledges that the training, materials, customer lists and other confidential
information and trade secrets, all provided to Associate by Company, are of value to the
Company and that is reasonable and necessary for the protection of Company that the Associate
not compete with Company within the area and for the duration hereinafter set forth.
Accordingly, Associate covenants and agrees that Associate shall not during the term hereof
and for a period of one (1) year following the termination of Associate’s employment with
Company for any reason (the “Restricted Period”), directly or indirectly (which means acting
alone, as a sole proprietor; as a partner, employee or agent of a partnership; as an officer,
director, employee or shareholder or agent of any other corporation; or as a trustee,
fiduciary, consultant, independent contractor, agent or other representative), engage in any
or all of the following activities:

	 	1.	 	Enter into or engage in the Business within the United States, Canada
or Mexico; or
	 
	 	2.	 	Promote the business of any person, firm, association, or corporation
engaged in a business which competes with the Business of the Company; or
	 
	 	3.	 	Solicit, divert or take away or attempt to solicit, divert or take
away, any of the Company’s customers; or
	 
	 	4.	 	Cause or attempt to cause any of Company’s customers to cease from
transacting business with the Company; or
	 
	 	5.	 	Knowingly employ or engage or attempt to employ or engage in any
capacity any person employed by the Company or a Company’s sales representative,
independent contractor or agent at the time of Associate’s termination of
employment.

	 	 	The provisions of Clauses 3 or 4 above shall not apply to the solicitation of Company’s customers
on behalf of a business entity that is not engaged in the Business.

               For purposes of this Agreement, “Business” means; (i) the protection and renewal of water and
wastewater infrastructure, including, but not limited to, collection systems, water treatment
facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, water storage facilities, and water distribution and
other piping systems for municipal, industrial, commercial and residential infrastructures
(collectively, “Water and Wastewater Infrastructure”); (ii) the design, development, manufacture
and sale of specialty polymer coatings designed for the protection and renewal of Water and
Wastewater Infrastructure; and (iii) the design, development, manufacture and sale of
plural-component spray finishing and coating equipment, replacement parts and supplies used in the
operation of this equipment in applying polyesters, polyurethanes, polyureas and epoxies. The
protection and renewal of Water and Wastewater Infrastructure is effected by the direct application
by the Company of corrosion protection and other specialty coatings to the Water and Wastewater
Infrastructure, as well as the licensing, franchising, sale or other distribution of the Company’s
or similar technology relating to such coating processes to third parties that effects such
rehabilitation work.

	B.	 	Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall not preclude Affiliate from owning not
more than three percent (3%) of the equity of companies which are publicly traded on a
national securities

 

 

	 	 	exchange or over-the-counter market. Neither shall this Agreement preclude Associate from serving
as an employee, director, officer or consultant for any business, company, firm or other entity in
which the most recent annual gross revenues derived from the sale of products similar to those sold
by the Company and relating to the Business (a “Competitive Business”) constitutes less than ten
percent (10%) of the most recent annual gross revenues of such business (including all affiliates),
so long as Associates does not directly or indirectly participate in such Competitive Business.
	 
	C.	 	Associate agrees that each of the above covenants are separate and distinct covenants,
independent of each other, and that the illegality or invalidity of any one or more of them or
any part of one or more of them shall not render the others illegal or invalid, and that if
the invalidity or unenforceability is due to the unreasonableness of the time or geographic
area covered by said covenants, said covenants shall nevertheless be enforced to the maximum
extent permitted by law and effective for such period of time and for such area as may be
determined to be reasonable by a court of competent jurisdiction.
	 
	D.	 	Associate has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions upon him or her
and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Company under this Agreement and Associate
acknowledges and agrees that the same are reasonable in time and scope, are designed to
eliminate competition that otherwise would be unfair to the Company, do not stifle the
inherent skill and experience of Associate and would not operate as a bar to Associate’s sole
means of support. Associate acknowledges that the benefit conferred upon the Company by this
Agreement is not disproportionate to the burden placed on Associate.
	 
	III.	 	Severance 
	 
	 	 	In the event of the Associate’s termination of employment by the Company without “Cause”, and prior
to a “Change of Control”, the Company will continue Associate’s salary for a period of twelve (12)
months from date of employment and the Company will continue to pay its portion of Associate’s
medical and life insurance premiums. The foregoing payment is conditioned upon Associate’s
execution of a mutual release in form satisfactory to the parties. “Cause” means: (i) fraud,
embezzlement, theft, or misappropriation of funds on other property of the Company; (ii) the
willful failure or refusal by Associate to perform his or her duties to the Company, other than due
to disability, which failure or refusal continues following written notice of the breach, (iii) the
commission by Associate of any acts of bad faith or misconduct directed against the Company or its
affiliates, or intended to harm the Company or its affiliates, or the business; (iv) the indictment
of Associate of a felony or other criminal act involving dishonesty, whether or not relating to his
or her employment with the Company; or (v) the recurring material breach, following
written notice, of an established written policy or procedure of the Company. A termination of
employment by the Associate for “Good Reason” shall constitute a termination by the Company without
Cause. “Good Reason” means (i) a material and continuing failure to pay to Associate compensation
and benefits that have been earned, if any, by Associate, (ii) any downward adjustment by the Board
of Directors in Associate’s base salary (excluding an “across the board” decrease in the salaries
of executive officers and senior employees of not greater than ten percent (10%) from the prior
year, (iii) a material reduction in Associate’s title, position or responsibilities, or (iv) any
breach by the Company of this Employment Agreement which is material and which is not cured within
thirty (30) days after written notice thereof to the Company from Associate.
	 
	 	 	In the event of the Associate’s termination of employment by the Company without “Cause” within
two-years following a Change of Control, the Company will pay Associate a lump-sum severance
payment equal to two years of salary and bonus (with the annual bonus based on the assumption that

 

 

	 	 	the Company and Associate had achieved the targeted performance goals for the year in which such
termination occurred), less the amount of compensation received subsequent to the Change of
Control, but not less than 12 months of salary and bonus. Further, the Company will continue to
pay its portion of Associate’s medical and life insurance premiums for an 18-month period following
the termination of employment.

          A “Change in Control” means the occurrence of the following events:

	 	(i)	 	the Company merges or consolidates with, another entity and
as a result of such merger or consolidation less than 51% of the voting power
of the then-outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity
immediately after such transaction are directly or indirectly beneficially
owned in the aggregate by the former stockholders of the Company immediately
prior to such transaction;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	a person or group acting in concert within the meaning of
Section 3(a)(9) or 13(d)(3) (as in effect on the date of this Agreement) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined
in Rule 13d-3) of 50% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Company; provided that the foregoing shall not apply
to any existing ownership interest of more than 50% of the Company’s Common
Stock;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	a sale of all or substantially all of the Assets of the
Company.

          If the payments or distributions, of whatever kind, to be made by the Company to or for the
benefit of Associate, following a Change of Control, is determined to be an Excess Parachute
Payment that is not deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes and which respect to
which Associate will be subject to an excise tax because of Section 280G and 4999, respectively, of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the payments or distributions shall be
reduced to an amount equal to One Dollar ($1.00) less than the 280G Limit. The 280G Limit being
the maximum amount of Parachute Payments that Associate may receive without becoming subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code and without the Company suffering a loss of
deduction under Section 280G of the Code.

	IV.	 	Miscellaneous
	 
	A.	 	The existence of any claim or cause of action of the Associate against Company arising out of
Associate’s employment with the Company, or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the
enforcement by Company of the above covenants or obligations. Associate agrees that if
Associate breaches any of the covenants or obligations set forth above, the Restricted Period
shall be suspended until such time as said violation shall cease if the Company has given
Associate prompt written notice of the alleged violation. Associate further agrees that if
Associate breaches any of Associate’s covenants or obligations set forth above, the Company
shall have the right, in addition to other rights provided herein or any other rights that it
may have in law or equity, to seek and obtain from any Court of competent jurisdiction relief
by way of injunction. Associate acknowledges and agrees that should Associate breach any of
Associate’s covenants and obligations above, the Company would suffer irreparable damages and
the Company would have no adequate remedy at law.

 

 

	B.	 	The parties covenant and agree that neither they nor their affiliates shall make any
statements, written or oral, to any third party that disparages, criticizes, discredits or
otherwise operates to the detriment of Associate’s or the Company’s business reputation and/or
good will.
	 
	C.	 	If any portion of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, then
such determination shall not affect any other portion of this Agreement and such other
portions shall remain in full force and effect.
	 
	D.	 	This Agreement and any dispute which may arise thereunder shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio. Associate acknowledges and agrees that this
Agreement may be assigned by Company without employee’s consent in connection with the sale of
all or a portion of the Company’s business.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	COHESANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Morris H. Wheeler	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Date: February 23, 2007	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	/s/ Robert W. Pawlak	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Print Name: Robert W. Pawlak	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	      “Associate”	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Date: February 23, 2007

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