Exhibit 10.05
ASPEN EXPLORATION
CORPORATION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment
Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), effective July
27, 2010, is by and between the following parties:
Aspen
Exploration Corporation ,
a Delaware corporation, and
Michael D.
Herman , an individual
resident of the state of Colorado.
Background
|
A.
|
In order to
induce Executive to serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer and President, the Company desires to provide Executive
with compensation and other benefits on the terms and conditions
contained in this Agreement.
|
|
B.
|
Executive is
willing to accept such employment and perform services for the
Company on the terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement.
|
Agreement
In
consideration of the mutual promises and consideration described
below, the parties agree as follows:
|
1.
|
Employment. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, the Company and Executive agree to enter into an
employment relationship whereby Executive will serve as the
Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. Executive shall report to the Company’s
Board of Directors. Executive shall have such
responsibilities and authority as are consistent with the offices
of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and as may be determined
from time to time by the Company’s Board of
Directors. Executive is not required to devote all of
his working time and efforts to the performance of services for the
Company. However, all Company performance shall be to
the best of Executive’s ability.
|
|
2.
|
Term of
Employment. Executive’s term of employment
under this Agreement shall commence on July 27, 2010 and continue
until June 30, 2013 (the “ End Date ”, and such
period, the “ Term ”), unless otherwise
terminated as described in Section 5 below. There
shall not be any automatic renewal of this
Agreement. Should Executive continue to be employed
following the expiration of the Term, unless Executive enters into
another employment agreement, Executive acknowledges that he shall
at such time be considered an at-will employee.
|
|
a.
|
Base
Salary . Executive shall not receive any
periodic salary from the Company.
|
|
b.
|
Bonus . Executive shall be eligible each
year for a discretionary bonus, which shall be awarded in such
amounts as the Company’s Board of Directors shall determine
and based upon Executive’s individual performance and the
Company’s financial performance; provided, however, that with
the approval of the Company’s board of directors, the Company
may establish a formula-based bonus for Executive calculated from
Company’s financial performance. Such bonus for
any year, if any, will be paid during the 90-day period beginning
February 1 of the year immediately after the year for which the
bonus was earned.
|
|
c.
|
Withholding . All payments to Executive under
this Agreement shall be subject to withholding as required by
law.
|
|
a.
|
Benefit
Plans . During
the Term, the Company shall provide Executive with coverage under
all employee benefit plans available to the Company’s senior
executives to the extent permitted under any such employee benefit
plan and in accordance with the terms thereof.
|
|
b.
|
Automobile . At all times during the Term,
Company shall provide Executive with an automobile
allowance of not less than $1,000 per month.
|
|
c.
|
Expenses . Executive is authorized to incur
reasonable expenses in carrying out his duties and responsibilities
under this Agreement. The Company will reimburse
Executive for such expenses upon presentation by Executive from
time to time of appropriately itemized and approved accounts of
such expenditures consistent with the Company’s policies and
practices.
|
|
5.
|
Termination
of Employment.
|
|
a.
|
Termination
Without Cause . If Executive’s employment is
terminated by the Company (other than for Cause), Executive shall
be entitled to all accrued but unpaid bonus and accrued benefits
through the date of termination. In addition, the
Company shall provide Executive with the same or similar health
care benefits (including life, dental and vision, if any) as
provided to Executive at the time of termination, such health care
benefits to be provided from and after termination for a period of
18 months from the date of termination. Upon termination
of Executive’s employment without cause, except for the
obligations set forth in this subsection a. , the
obligations of the Company to make any further payments or to
provide any further benefits to Executive under this Agreement
shall cease and terminate.
|
|
b.
|
Termination
By Resignation . Except as set forth below, if
Executive resigns for any reason, Executive shall be entitled to
accrued but unpaid bonus and accrued benefits through the effective
date of Executive’s resignation. Upon termination
of Executive’s employment by resignation, except for the
obligations set forth in this subsection b. , the
obligations of the Company under this Agreement to make any further
payments or to provide any further benefits to Executive shall
cease and terminate.
|
|
c.
|
Termination
For Cause . The Company shall have the right to
terminate the employment of Executive for Cause. In the
event that Executive’s employment is terminated by the
Company for Cause, Executive shall be entitled to receive only
accrued but unpaid bonus and accrued benefits through the date of
termination. Upon termination of Executive’s
employment for Cause, except as set forth in this subsection
c. , the obligations of the Company under this Agreement to
make any further payments or to provide any further benefits to
Executive shall cease and terminate. As used in this Agreement, the
term “Cause” means as a result of (i) any breach of any
written policy of the Company; (ii) conduct involving moral
turpitude, including, but not limited to, misappropriation or
conversion of assets of the Company (other than immaterial assets);
(iii) Executive’s conviction of, or entry of a plea of nolo
contendere to, a felony; and (iv) a material breach of this
Agreement.
|
|
d.
|
Permanent
Disability . If Executive is unable to engage in
the activities required by Executive’s job by reason of any
medically determined physical or mental impair
|
|