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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of May 9, 1999, by and between Philips Electronics
North America Corporation ("Philips") and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx ("Employee").
WHEREAS, Voice Control Systems, Inc. (the "Company"), Employee's former
employer, has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 9,
1999 with Merger Sub and Philips (the "Merger Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, Philips desires to secure the continued services and
employment of Employee following the successful consummation of the Offer (as
such term is defined in the Merger Agreement) with the Company or such other
subsidiary designated by Philips; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into an agreement setting forth
the terms and conditions of the employment of Employee with the Company or such
other subsidiary designated by Philips on and after the successful consummation
of the Offer;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
1. Employment. For all purposes under this Agreement, references to the
Company shall be deemed to refer to the subsidiary of Philips which employs
Employee during the Term, as defined below. The Company hereby agrees to employ
Employee, and Employee agrees to serve as an employee of the Company, on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, effective upon the purchase of
Shares by Merger Sub pursuant to the Offer (as such terms are defined in the
Merger Agreement) (the "Effective Date"); it being understood that the
employment obligations undertaken by the Company hereunder shall not become
effective, and shall become null and void, in the event that such purchase of
Shares does not occur.
2. Term. The "Term" shall be the period commencing on the Effective
Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date.
3. Duties and Responsibilities. During the Term, Employee shall serve
as the Senior Vice President, Philips Speech Processing Telephony North America,
and shall be responsible for the general and active management of the business
of the Company with such duties and responsibilities that are customary for such
position. Employee shall perform such other duties and shall have such other
authority and power as the Board of Directors of the Company, or any executive
committee thereof, may from time to time prescribe during the Term. Employee
shall devote substantially all Employee's working time, attention and energies
during normal business hours (other than absences due to illness or vacation) to
the performance of Employee's duties for the Company. Employee may engage in
other outside activities, including community
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activities, provided that such activities do not unreasonably interfere with
Employee's performance of Employee's duties with the Company.
4. Place of Performance. The principal place of employment of Employee
shall be at the Company's offices in Dallas, Texas. Employee acknowledges that
he may be required to travel on Company business in connection with the
performance of his duties hereunder without violation of this Section 4.
5. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary and Bonus. During the Term the Company shall
pay Employee a base salary at the rate of not less than $230,000 ("Base Salary")
which shall be annually reviewed by the Company. Employee's Base Salary shall be
paid in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Company's
customary payroll practices. Employee's performance and Base Salary shall be
reviewed annually. If Employee's Base Salary is increased by the Company, such
increased Base Salary shall then constitute the Base Salary for all purposes of
the Agreement other than Section 5(c), below. The Employee shall be eligible to
receive an annual bonus opportunity equal to $90,000 (the "Target Bonus"). The
actual bonus payment, which may be higher or lower than the Target Bonus, will
be determined, by Philips in consultation with Employee, according to the level
of achievement of performance targets established by Philips in consultation
with Employee. The bonus will be paid no later than during the first quarter
after the end of the relevant calendar year, or if this Agreement is terminated
due to its expiration during a calendar year, no later than ninety (90) days
following such termination.
(b) Benefit Plans. Employee shall be entitled to participate
in such employee benefit plans and insurance programs applicable to the Company,
or which it may adopt from time to time, for its executive management or
supervisory personnel generally, in accordance with the eligibility requirements
for participation therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be
entitled to receive severance pursuant to any severance plan applicable to the
Company if the Employee is entitled to receive payments pursuant to Section 8(b)
of this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prevent the
Company from modifying or terminating any employee benefit plans or programs, or
employee fringe benefits, it may adopt from time to time; provided that any such
modification or termination is made, or occurs, in connection with modifications
or terminations that are applicable to all similarly situated executives of
Philips.
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(c) Long-Term Incentive Plan. Employee shall be eligible to
participate in a long-term incentive plan (the "LTIP") during the Term, as
specified below. Payments under the LTIP will be based on two components:
(i) Guaranteed Payment. The Employee will be eligible
to receive a guaranteed payment ("Guaranteed Payment") equal
to 50% of $260,000 which shall become payable to Employee in
three (3) substantially equal installments if Employee is
actively employed by the Company on the date which is (A) six
(6) months following the Effective Date, (B) twelve (12)
months following the Effective Date and (C) eighteen (18)
months following the Effective Date, respectively, one such
installment to be paid following each of the dates described
in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above if the employment condition
has been satisfied on such date.
(ii) Earned Payment. The Employee will have the
opportunity to earn an additional long-term incentive payment
("Earned Payment") equal to up to 25% of $260,000 if (A)
business synergies and objectives (as defined by Philips in
consultation with Employee) during the eighteen (18) month
period following the Effective Date are achieved and (B)
Employee remains actively employed by the Company on the date
which is eighteen (18) months following the Effective Date;
provided, however, that Employee's performance in relation to
such objectives shall be measured every six (6) months,
beginning with the date which is six (6) months following the
Effective Date, and if the objectives have been achieved after
such six (6) month period, Employee shall be paid an amount
equal to one-third of the Earned Payment as soon as
practicable thereafter, but in no event later than thirty (30)
days after each such six (6) month period.
(d) Expenses. The Company shall promptly reimburse Employee
for all reasonable business expenses, including cellular telephone usage, upon
the presentation of reasonably itemized statements of such expenses in
accordance with the Company's policies and procedures now in force or as such
policies and procedures may be modified with respect to all employees of the
Company. In addition, the Company shall reimburse Employee for discretionary
expenses of up to $30,000 during each twelve (12) month period during the Term
to be used for expenses which in Employee's sole discretion are related to
Employee's job or position at the Company.
6. Termination. This Agreement shall be terminated upon the earliest to
occur of the following:
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(a) Expiration. The expiration of the Term.
(b) Death. The death of Employee.
(c) Disability. If, as a result of Disability, Employee shall
have been substantially unable to perform the duties of Employee's employment
hereunder for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or any ninety (90) days
within a period of two hundred seventy (270) days and within thirty (30) days
after written Notice of Termination is given by the Company after such ninety
(90) day period, Employee shall not have returned to the substantial performance
of duties on a full-time basis. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability"
shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in the Long Term Disability
Plan applicable to employees of the Company; provided, that, if no such plan
exists, "Disability" shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 22(e)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d) Cause. The Company terminates Employee for Cause. For
purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall have "Cause" to terminate
Employee's employment upon Employee's (i) willful and continued failure to
substantially perform Employee's duties with the Company (other than any such
failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a
written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Employee which
identifies the manner in which the Company believes that Employee has not
substantially performed Employee's duties and Employee is given a reasonable
opportunity to correct any such deficiency in performance, or (ii) willful
misconduct (but excluding any action that Employee reasonably believes is in the
best interests of the Company) which is demonstrably and materially injurious to
the Company or to any entity in control of, controlled by or under common
control with the Company (an "Affiliate"), including, but not limited to, any
breach of Sections 9 and 10 hereof or gross negligence or gross misconduct, or
(iii) the conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony
involving moral turpitude, or (iv) habitual drug or alcohol abuse by Employee.
(e) Without Cause. The Company terminates Employee's
employment hereunder without Cause by providing Employee with a Notice of
Termination.
(f) Voluntary Termination. Employee terminates this Agreement
and Employee's employment hereunder at any time upon ninety (90) days prior
written notice to the Company.
(g) Material Breach. Employee terminates employment because of
a material breach of this Agreement by the Company. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "material breach" shall be deemed to occur upon a failure by the
Company to comply with any material provision of Sections 4 and 5 (other than
Section 5(c)(ii)) of this Agreement without Employee's written consent,
including (i) any reduction in Base
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Salary, Target Bonus opportunity and Guaranteed Payment under the LTIP, when
considered in the aggregate, or (ii) a relocation of the Employee to a location
more than 50 miles from the Employee's present location, which in the case of
any alleged breach, has not been cured in all material respects within thirty
(30) days after written notice of such noncompliance has been given by Employee
to the Company.
7. Termination Procedure.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Employee by the
Company or by Employee (other than termination pursuant to Section 6(a) or (b)
hereof) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other
party hereto in accordance with Section 11. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of Employee under the provisions so indicated.
(b) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" shall mean (i)
if Employee's employment is terminated by reason of Employee's death, the date
of death, (ii) if Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(c)
hereof, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that
Employee shall not have returned to work on a regular basis during such thirty
(30) day period), (iii) if Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to
Sections 6(d), 6(e) or 6(g), the date specified in the Notice of Termination,
and (iv) if Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(f), the
date specified in a Notice of Termination which shall not be less than ninety
(90) days following the date of such Notice, unless determined by the Company in
its sole discretion.
8. Amounts Due Upon Termination. In the event Employee's employment
terminates during the Term, the Company shall provide Employee with the payments
set forth below. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the payments set forth in
this Section 8 constitute liquidated damages for termination of employment
during the Term.
(a) If Employee is terminated following expiration of the Term
under Section 6(a), or pursuant to Sections 6(b), 6(c), 6(d), or 6(f), the
Company shall pay Employee all accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the Date
of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given
and reimburse Employee for incurred regular, as opposed to discretionary,
expenses pursuant to Section 5(d), and the Company shall have no further
obligations to Employee under this Agreement; provided, that, Employee shall be
entitled to any other benefit or payment provided pursuant to any plan or policy
of the Company in accordance with such plan's or policy's terms.
(b) If Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to
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Sections 6(e) or 6(g), the Company shall pay to Employee (A) Base Salary accrued
through the Date of Termination and (B) a payment equal to the sum of Employee's
Base Salary and Employee's discretionary expense account payable for the greater
of (i) the remainder of the Term, or (ii) twelve (12) months, and (C) a payment
equal to the sum, pro-rated through the Date of Termination, of (i) the Target
Bonus for the calendar year in which the termination occurs, and (ii) the
Guaranteed Payment under the LTIP. All such payments shall be made no later than
30 days following such termination. Employee shall also be entitled to
reimbursement for regular, as opposed to discretionary, expenses incurred
pursuant to Section 5(d) and to any other benefits or payments provided pursuant
to any plan or policy of the Company in accordance with such plan's or policy's
terms, subject to 5(b).
9. Fair Dealing/Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation.
(a) Employee recognizes and acknowledges that, during the term
of his employment by the Company, he will have access to and become familiar
with various trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information of
the Company. Trade secrets, proprietary information and confidential information
encompass, without limitation, anything which is owned by the Company and is
regularly used in the operation of the business of the Company to obtain a
competitive advantage over the Company's competitors who do not know, have
access to, or utilize such information or trade secrets. Proprietary information
further includes, but is not limited to, records, files, documents, bulletins,
publications, manuals, financial data and information, marketing plans and
proposals, accounting control procedures, and information concerning and the
identity of customers, prospects and suppliers. Trade secrets further include,
but are not limited to, specifications, software programs, both the source code
and the object code, documentation, flow charts, diagrams, schematics, data,
data bases, and business and production methods and techniques. Employee further
recognizes and acknowledges that the trade secrets and other confidential or
proprietary information of the Company are valuable, special and unique and that
the protection thereof is of critical importance to the Company in maintaining
its competitive position. Employee, therefore, covenants and agrees that, except
as required by his employment hereunder or with the express prior written
consent of the Company or as required by court order, he shall not, during the
term of his employment by the Company or at anytime thereafter, either directly
or indirectly, make independent use of, publish or otherwise disclose any of the
aforesaid trade secrets or other confidential or proprietary information of the
Company (whether acquired, learned, obtained or developed by him alone or in
conjunction with others) to any person, firm, corporation, association or other
entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever or allow any other person, firm,
corporation, association or other entity to make use of, publish or disclose any
of the aforesaid trade secrets or other confidential or proprietary information.
Employee agrees not to use, steal, or appropriate such items or versions
thereof, whether copied or reconstructed from memory or otherwise, in any
manner. Employee further recognizes and acknowledges that in order to enable
Company
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to perform services for its clients, those clients may furnish to
Company confidential information concerning their business affairs, property,
methods of operation or other data; that the goodwill afforded to Company
depends upon, among other things, Company and its employees keeping such
services and information confidential. Employee therefore covenants and agrees
that he shall keep all such client services and information confidential and
shall not disclose any such information to any third party. Such client
information shall be subject to all of the restrictions to which Company's
confidential information is subject under this Agreement.
(b) Employee agrees not to disclose or use any protected
secret of any of his former employers.
(c) During the term of this Agreement, Employee shall not,
directly or indirectly, either as an employee, employer, consultant, agent,
principal, partner, stockholder, corporate officer, director, or in any other
individual or representative capacity, engage or participate in any business
that is in competition with the business of Company, or to use in any manner
whatsoever for his own benefit, directly or indirectly, any business opportunity
rightfully belonging to Company.
(d) Employee agrees that during the term of the Agreement and
thereafter he shall not interfere with Company's relationship with any customer
or supplier or with the due performance of any understanding, agreement or
contract, whether written or oral, between Company and any of its customers or
suppliers. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, Employee
agrees that for twelve (12) months following termination of his employment,
Employee will not solicit business from or perform services for any person or
entity which was a customer of the Company at the time of the termination of
employment, whether such solicitation is made or such services are performed on
Employee's own behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm, corporation,
association or other entity, unless such solicitation or service is not
competing, directly or indirectly, with the Company.
(e) Employee agrees upon his termination of employment that he
shall not enter or engage in competition with the Company in the development or
marketing of any speech recognition product or service in the United States,
either as an individual on his own, or as a partner or a joint venturer, or as
an employee, agent, officer, director or shareholder for any other person, or
otherwise for the period starting at the termination and continuing for a period
of twelve (12) months after the date of the termination of his employment.
(f) Employee expressly recognizes and acknowledges that the
Company has expanded substantial resources, energies and efforts in connection
with the aforesaid trade secrets, proprietary information, and customer and
supplier relationships, that the protection and confidentiality thereof are
critical to the growth, development and success of the Company and that
compliance with the restrictive covenants contained in
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this Agreement is necessary to protect the business and good will of the
Company. As a result, Employee further recognizes that the Company will suffer
substantial, irreparable and continuing injuries, damages and costs attendant
thereto in the event of the breach of this Agreement. Therefore, the existence
of any claim or cause of action of Employee against Company, whether predicated
under this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the
enforcement by Company of the covenants on the part of the Employee in this
Section 9. Further recognizing that money damages may not provide adequate
relief, the Employee agrees that, in the event that he breaches the provision of
this Section 9, Company shall be entitled to a preliminary or permanent
injunction in order to prevent the continuation of such harm. Employee further
agrees that any and all sums collected by Employee, or any company owned,
controlled, employing or employed by Employee, directly or indirectly, in
violation of this Agreement, shall be constructively held by Employee in trust
for Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit the
Company from also pursuing any other remedy, the parties having agreed that all
remedies are cumulative.
(g) Employee hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the
Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, as appropriate, its successors,
assigns or nominees, his entire right, title and interest in any developments,
designs, patents, inventions and improvements, trade secrets, trademarks,
copyrightable subject matter or proprietary information which Employee made or
conceived, or may make or conceive, either solely or jointly with others while
providing services to Company or with the use of the time, material or
facilities of Company, or resulting from any task assigned to him or work
performed by him for or on behalf of Company. It is further agreed that, without
charge to Company, but at its expense, Employee will execute and deliver all
such further papers as may be necessary, including original applications and
applications for renewal, extension or reissue of patents, trademark
registrations or copyright registrations, in any and all countries, to vest
title thereto in Company, its successors, assigns or nominees. Either during or
after employment with Company, Employee will not disclose to anyone outside of
Company, nor use in other than Company business, except with the prior written
permission of an officer of the Company, any developments, designs, inventions
and improvements, trade secrets, works of authorship, proprietary information or
proprietary things developed by him while providing services to Company.
10. Successors; Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of Employee, his heirs, executors,
administrators, beneficiaries and assigns and shall be binding upon and shall
inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors, including, following the
Effective Time, Philips Speech Processing Telephony North America.
11. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and
all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered either personally or by
United States
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certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed, in case of Employee, to the last address on file with the Company and
if to the Company, to its executive offices or to such other address as any
party may have furnished to the others in writing in accordance herewith, except
that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
12. Resolution of Differences Over Breaches of Agreement. The parties
shall use good faith efforts to resolve any controversy or claim arising out of,
or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, first in accordance with
the Company's internal review procedures, except that this requirement shall not
apply to any claim or dispute under or relating to Section 9 of this Agreement.
If despite their good faith efforts, the parties are unable to resolve such
controversy or claim through the Company's internal review procedures, then such
controversy or claim shall be resolved by a court of law having jurisdiction
thereof. If any contest or dispute shall arise between the Company and Employee
regarding any provision of this Agreement, the parties shall be responsible for
paying all of its own legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with such
contest or dispute.
13. Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement is governed by, and is to be
construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York,
without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. If, under such law, any
portion of this Agreement is at any time deemed to be in conflict with any
applicable statute, rule, regulation or ordinance, such portion shall be deemed
to be modified or altered to conform thereto or, if that is not possible, to be
omitted from this Agreement, and the invalidity of any such portion shall not
affect the force, effect and validity of the remaining portion hereof. The
parties agree and consent that Dallas County, Texas shall be the proper venue
for the resolution of any disputes arising hereunder.
14. Amendment. No provisions of this Agreement may be amended,
modified, or waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in
writing signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and
such waiver is set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. No
waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party
hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such
other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
15. Survival. The respective obligations of, and benefits afforded to,
Employee and Company as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement shall survive
the termination of this Agreement.
16. No Conflict of Interest. During the Term, Employee shall not
directly, or indirectly render service, or undertake any employment or
consulting agreement with another entity without the express written consent of
the Company.
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17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
18. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
the parties hereto (and in the case of the Company, its predecessors and
successors) in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all
prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications,
representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee
or representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject matter,
including, but not limited to, the Employment Agreement by and between VCS
Industries, Inc. and Employee, dated as of June 18, 1993 and any and all
amendments made subsequent thereto and the Severance Agreement entered into
during 1999 (collectively, the "Prior Agreement"), and as of the Effective Date,
such Prior Agreement shall be void and of no further force or effect (except as
to any sums that remain due and owing to Employee thereunder as of the Effective
Date as a result of events occurring prior to the Effective Date. Any prior
agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein is hereby terminated and canceled, as of the successful consummation of
the Offer. Employee acknowledges that in consideration of the benefits to be
provided hereunder, Employee has agreed to terminate the Prior Agreement.
19. Guaranty. Philips hereby guarantees the obligations of the Company
undertaken hereby.
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20. Section Headings. The section headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only, and they form no part of this Agreement and shall
not affect its interpretation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NORTH
AMERICA CORPORATION
By:/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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