EXHIBIT 10.9
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(XXXXX XXXXXX)
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of the 1st day
of July, 2003 by and between MUNICIPAL MORTGAGE AND EQUITY, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Employer") and XXXXX XXXXXX ("Employee").
WHEREAS, Employer is engaged in the business of acquiring and providing
asset management services for real estate and debt and equity investments
therein, with a particular emphasis on investments generating tax-exempt income
and investments in, or secured by, multi-family properties, congregate care and
assisted living facilities and similar properties;
WHEREAS, Employee has particular skill, experience and background in
investments and asset management services of the type in which the Employer
primarily engages; and
WHEREAS, Employer and Employee desire to enter into an employment
relationship, the terms of which are to be set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants
hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Employer and Employee
hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment and Duties. Employer agrees to hire Employee, and
Employee agrees to be employed by Employer, as Executive Vice President of
Employer responsible for the Employer's low income housing tax credit equity
business on the terms and conditions provided in this Agreement. Employee shall
perform the duties and responsibilities reasonably determined from time to time
by the CEO or COO of the Employer consistent with the types of duties and
responsibilities typically performed by a person serving as Executive Vice
President of businesses similar to that of Employer. Employee agrees to devote
her best efforts and full time, attention and skill in performing the duties of
Executive Vice President responsible for the Employer's low income housing tax
credit equity business Provided that such activity shall not violate any
provision of this Agreement (including the noncompetition provisions of Section
8 below) or materially interfere with her performance of her duties hereunder,
nothing herein shall prohibit Employee (a) from participating in any other
business activities approved in advance by the CEO or COO in accordance with any
terms and conditions of such approval, such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed, (b) from engaging in charitable, civic, fraternal or trade
group activities, or (c) from investing in other entities or business ventures.
2. Compensation. As compensation for performing the services
required by this Agreement, and during the term of this Agreement, Employee
shall be compensated as follows:
(a) Base Compensation. Employer shall pay to Employee a
salary ("Base Compensation") at the annual rate of Two Hundred Seventy-Five
Thousand Dollars ($275,000), through June 30, 2004, payable in accordance with
the general policies and procedures of the Employer for payment of salaries to
executive personnel, but in any event no less frequently than every two weeks,
in substantially equal installments, subject to withholding for applicable
federal, state and local taxes. Employee's Base Compensation shall increase by
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) on each July 1 during the Initial Term of
this Agreement (i.e., on July 1 of 2004, 2005 and 2006). Additional increases in
Base Compensation, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors (the "Board") based on the recommendation of the CEO or
COO and on periodic reviews of Employee's performance conducted on at least an
annual basis. During the term of this Agreement, Employee's annual Base
Compensation shall not be reduced below the initial Base Compensation set forth
above.
(b) Incentive Compensation.
(i) In addition to Base Compensation, Employee
shall be eligible to receive additional compensation ("Incentive Compensation"),
pursuant to such Incentive Compensation Plan as may from time to time be adopted
by the Employer. The Incentive Compensation Plan will have two components.
First, the Plan will provide that Employee is eligible to receive an annual
bonus payable in cash, unrestricted shares or restricted shares of up to 100% of
Employee's Base Compensation then in effect. This component of the Incentive
Compensation Plan will provide that the amount of the bonus will be based on a
formula tied to the Employee's performance, the performance of Employer's
low-income housing tax credit business and Employer's company-wide performance.
The formula will be initially determined (and may be modified from time to time)
by the Compensation Committee on the recommendation of the CEO or COO; provided,
however, that the formula will have criteria and metrics that are substantially
similar to that used to calculate incentive compensation for the Employer's
other senior executives and that the formula will be weighted at least 30%
toward the performance of Employer's low-income housing tax credit business.
Second, the Plan will provide that Employee may earn additional Incentive
Compensation of up to Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) per year for
superior performance by Employer's low-income housing tax credit operations.
This component of the Incentive Compensation Plan will provide that the amount
of the bonus will be based on achievement by the tax credit business of
specified targets of cash available for distribution, as determined by the
Compensation Committee on the recommendation of the CEO or COO.
(ii) Incentive Compensation may at the election
of the Compensation Committee take the form of cash or the stock of Municipal
Mortgage & Equity, LLC (the "Company") and, to the extent it consists of stock,
may be awarded under the Employer's Share Incentive Plan as in effect from time
to time. Employee acknowledges that the formula set forth in the Incentive
Compensation Plan may vary for each employee who participates therein. Incentive
Compensation for any given fiscal year (including the partial year 2003) shall
be determined no later than 60 days after the end of Employer's fiscal year and
paid no later than 75 days after the close of the fiscal year. Except as
otherwise specifically provided herein, if Employee shall be employed for only a
portion of a fiscal year for which Employee is eligible for Incentive
Compensation, no Incentive Compensation shall be payable.
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(c) Signing Incentive. In addition to the foregoing,
Employer shall issue to Employee, as a signing incentive, that number of common
shares of the Company having a total value of $600,000 based on the closing
price of the Company's shares valued as of September 30, 2003. The shares shall
be issued in four equal installments, each of which shall equal one-fourth of
the number of shares determined under the preceding sentence. The shares shall
be issued (i) within five business days of the execution of this Agreement, (ii)
on the first anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement, (iii) on the
second anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement, and (iv) on the
third anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement; provided, however,
that no undisbursed installment shall be issued if Employer has terminated the
Employee with cause on or before the scheduled issuance date of such
installment.
(d) Assumption of Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Payments. In connection with the purchase of Employee's previous employer, Lend
Lease, Employer assumed certain obligations involving long-term incentive
compensation payments owed by Lend Lease to Employee. With respect solely to
those assumed obligations, and in full and complete satisfaction thereof,
Employer will pay to Employee on July 1, 2004 an amount equal to $87,840.86; but
only if Employee signs and delivers to Employer the Consent to Accelerated LTIP
Payment attached hereto as Exhibit A.
3. Employee Benefits.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, Employee and her
eligible dependents shall have the right to participate in any retirement,
pension, insurance, health or other benefit plan or program adopted by Employer
(or in which Employer participates) to the same extent as any other officer of
the Employer, subject, in the case of a plan or program, to all of the terms and
conditions thereof, and to any limitations imposed by law. To the extent that
Employee has similar benefits under a plan or program established by any other
entity, Employee shall nonetheless have the right to the benefits provided by
Employer's plan or program; provided, however, that where by the terms of any
plan or program, or under applicable law, Employee may only participate in one
such plan or program, Employee shall have the option to limit her participation
to the plan or program sponsored by Employer, or to such other plan or program.
Employee shall have the right, to the extent permitted under any applicable law,
to participate concurrently in plans or programs sponsored by others (including
self-employment plans or programs) and in plans or programs sponsored by
Employer.
(b) Tax Benefit Adjustment. If, as a result of the
ownership of common shares by Employee, Employee shall either lose personal
income tax deductions, be required to report additional personal taxable income,
or be required to pay additional taxes or charges, which deductions, income or
taxes would not have been lost, reportable, or payable, as the case may be, had
Employee not owned any common shares, Employer shall pay Employee a bonus on
April 1 of each calendar year equal to all additional taxes or charges Employee
is required to pay, attributable to the prior calendar year, which would not
have been payable had Employee not owned common shares. THIS SECTION IS NOT
INTENDED TO COMPENSATE EMPLOYEE FOR THE INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF RECEIVING OR
EXERCISING OPTIONS FOR OR ACQUIRING COMMON SHARES.
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4. Vacation, Sickness and Leaves of Absence. Employee shall be
entitled to the normal and customary amount of paid vacation provided to
officers of Employer, but in no event less than five (5) weeks during each
fiscal year. Employee shall provide Employer with reasonable notice of
anticipated vacation dates. Any vacation days that are not taken in a given
fiscal year shall accrue and carryover from year to year, and, upon any
termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, all accrued and unused
vacation time will be paid to Employee within 10 days of such termination based
on her annual rate of Base Compensation in effect on the date of such
termination; provided, however, that no more than ten (10) days of accrued
vacation may be carried over at any time. In addition, Employee shall be
entitled to such sick leave and holidays, with pay, as Employer provides to
other officers. Up to ten (10) days of unused sick leave shall be carried
forward or compensated upon termination of employment. Employee may also be
granted leaves of absence with or without pay for such valid and legitimate
reasons as the Board on recommendation from the CEO or COO, in its sole and
absolute discretion, may determine.
5. Expenses. Employee shall be entitled to receive, within a
reasonable period of time after she has delivered to the Employer an itemized
statement thereof, and after presentation of such invoices or similar records as
the Employer may reasonably require, reimbursement for all necessary and
reasonable expenses incurred by her in connection with the performance of her
duties.
6. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall be for three
and one-half (3 1/2) years (the "Initial Term"), commencing on July 1, 2003 (the
"Effective Date") and ending on December 31, 2006. This Agreement shall
automatically renew for successive one-year periods after the end of the Initial
Term, unless at least thirty days prior to the commencement of any such
extension period either party shall give the other party written notice of its
intention to terminate this Agreement. This Agreement may also be terminated at
the times and under the circumstances set forth in section 7 below. The term of
this Agreement in effect at any given time is herein referred to as the "Term".
Any termination of this Agreement shall be subject to Section 8 below.
7. Termination and Termination Benefits.
(a) Termination by Employer.
(i) Without Cause. Employer may terminate this
Agreement and Employee's employment at any time upon ninety (90) days prior
written notice to Employee, during which period Employer shall have the option
to require Employee to continue to perform her duties under this Agreement.
Employee shall be paid her Base Compensation and all other benefits to which she
is entitled under this Agreement up through the effective date of termination,
plus a proportionate share of Incentive Compensation for the year in which the
termination occurs, based on the ratio which the number of calendar months
(including any partial months) worked bears to twelve (12) (the "Proportionate
Share"). In addition, any unissued installments of the Signing Incentive shall
continue to be due as and when scheduled. Also, Employee shall become fully
vested in any and all outstanding deferred share awards, share options or other
type of award made to Employee but not yet vested at the time of such
termination under the Employer's Share Incentive Plans.
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(ii) With Cause. Employer may terminate this
Agreement with cause upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Employee. In
such event, Employee shall be paid her Base Compensation and all other benefits
to which she is entitled under this Agreement up through the effective date of
termination. For purposes of this Section, termination for cause shall mean (A)
acts or omissions by the Employee with respect to the Employer which constitute
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (B) receipt by the
Employee of money, property or services from the Employer or from another person
dealing with Employer in violation of law or this Agreement, (C) breach by
Employee of the noncompetition provisions of this Agreement, (D) breach by the
Employee of her duty of loyalty to the Employer, (E) gross negligence by the
Employee in the performance of her duties, (F) repeated failure by the Employee
to perform services that have been reasonably requested of her by the CEO, COO
or Board, following thirty (30) days notice and opportunity to cure and if such
requests are consistent with this Agreement, (G) violation of Employer's
policies with respect to alcohol or drug use or abuse which could under those
policies result in an employee's termination, or (H) conviction of a crime
(other than minor traffic violations).
(iii) Disability. If due to illness, physical or
mental disability, or other incapacity, Employee shall fail to perform the
duties required by this Agreement, Employer may terminate this Agreement upon 30
days written notice to Employee. In such event, Employee shall be paid her Base
Compensation and receive all benefits owing to her under this Agreement through
the effective date of termination and shall receive her Proportionate Share of
Incentive Compensation for the year in which the termination occurs. In
addition, Employee shall become fully vested in any and all outstanding deferred
share awards, share options or other type of award made to Employee but not yet
vested at the time of such termination under the Employer's Share Incentive
Plans. Employee shall be considered disabled under this paragraph if she is
unable to work due to disability for a total of 120 or more business days during
any 12-month period. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit
Employee's rights to the benefits of any disability insurance policy provided by
Employer and this Section shall not be construed as varying the terms of any
such policy in any manner adverse to Employee.
(b) Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate this
Agreement for good reason upon 30 days prior written notice to Employer. In such
event, Employee shall be paid her Base Compensation and shall receive all
benefits through the date of termination. In addition, Employee shall become
fully vested in any and all outstanding deferred share awards, share options or
other type of award made to Employee but not yet vested at the time of such
termination under the Employer's Share Incentive Plans. Employee shall have
"good reason" to terminate her employment if (i) her Base Compensation, as in
effect at any given time, shall be reduced without her consent, (ii) Employer
shall fail to provide any of the material payments or benefits provided for
under this Agreement, (iii) Employer shall, without Employee's consent,
materially reduce or alter Employee's duties as Executive Vice President having
the general responsibility of overseeing Employer's low-income tax credit
business or (iv) Employer shall require Employee to take any action which would
be a violation of federal, state or local criminal law. With respect to clause
(iii), Employee shall be deemed to have consented if such consent is either
expressly given or if no objection to any change in duties is given in writing
within sixty (60) days of such change being implemented.
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(c) Termination Compensation.
(i) Termination Without Cause or for Good
Reason. In the event of a termination of this Agreement prior to the end of the
Term, pursuant to Section 7(a)(i), 7(a)(iii) or 7(b), Employer, in addition to
the Base Compensation, benefits and Incentive Compensation (if any) payable as
provided in such sections, shall pay to Employee additional compensation
("Termination Compensation") as follows. If the termination does not follow a
Change in Control (as defined in subparagraph (ii) below), Termination
Compensation shall be equal to the greater of (a) twelve (12) months Base
Compensation or (b) the Base Compensation that Employee would have received
during the remaining Term of this Agreement. Termination Compensation shall be
paid in four equal quarterly payments beginning on the first day of the first
calendar month following the termination date, unless Employer elects to make
such payments sooner. Such Termination Compensation shall be in addition to all
other compensation and benefits to which Employee is entitled for termination
relating to a Change of Control under Section 7(c)(ii) below.
(ii) Change in Control. The acquisition of voting
control of the Employer by any one or more persons or entities who are directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, under common control, or who
are related to each other within the meaning of Sections 267 and 707(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code, shall be deemed a "Change in Control." In the event
Employee is terminated within eighteen months of a Change in Control,
Termination Compensation shall be equal to two (2) years Base Compensation,
payable in a lump sum on the effective date of Employee's termination. In
addition, Employee shall become fully vested in any and all outstanding deferred
share awards, share options or other type of award made to Employee but not yet
vested at the time of such termination under the Employer's Share Incentive
Plans. Such Termination Compensation shall be in addition to all other
compensation and benefits to which Employee is entitled for a termination
without cause under Section 7(a)(i) above, and shall be payable even in the
event of a termination effective as of the end of the Term.
(d) Death Benefit. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate on the date of Employee's death.
In such event, Employee's estate shall be paid two (2) years' Base Compensation
as follows: to the extent of any insurance carried by Employer on Employee's
life, the death benefit shall be payable in a lump sum within five (5) business
days' of Employer's receipt of the insurance proceeds; any portion of the death
benefit not covered by insurance shall be paid in eight equal installments
payable on the first day of each calendar quarter following Employee's death.
Employer shall carry as much life insurance on Employee's life as the Board on
recommendation of the CEO or COO may from time to time determine. In addition,
upon Employee's death, all outstanding deferred share awards, share options or
other type of award made to Employee but not yet vested at the time of death
under the Employer's Share Incentive Plans shall be considered vested and paid
out to the Employee's estate.
8. Covenant Not to Compete.
(a) Noncompetition. From and after the Effective Date and
continuing for the longer of (i) 12 months following the expiration or
termination of this Agreement or (ii) the remainder of the Term of this
Agreement, Employee shall not without the prior written consent of the Board (w)
from an office within a seventy-five mile radius of any of Employer's existing
offices
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engage in or carry on, directly or indirectly, whether as an advisor, principal,
agent, partner, officer, director, employee, shareholder, associate or
consultant of or to any person, partnership, corporation or any other business
entity, the business of offering, promoting or syndicating to any person,
including developers, investors, or project sponsors, low income housing tax
credits under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) solicit any employee
of Employer to change employment, (y) solicit for the purpose of offering,
providing or syndicating low income housing tax credits, any client, customer or
investor of Employer or any of its subsidiaries which closed (in any capacity) a
tax credit transaction with Employer or any of its subsidiaries during the
thirty-six (36) months preceding Employee's termination, or (z) disclose
proprietary or confidential information of the Employer or its subsidiaries,
including without limitation, tax, deal structuring, pricing, customer, client,
revenue, expense, or other similar information; provided, however, if Employer
terminates Employee without cause under Section 7(a)(i) of this Agreement, or
the Employee resigns for good reason under Section 7(b), clause (w) of this
paragraph (a) shall not apply.
(b) Reasonable Restrictions. Employee acknowledges that
the restrictions of subparagraph (a) above are reasonable, fair and equitable in
scope, term and duration, are necessary to protect the legitimate business
interests of the Employer, and are a material inducement to the Employer to
enter into this Agreement. Employer and Employee both agree that in the event a
court shall determine any portion of the restrictions in subparagraph (a) are
not reasonable, the court may change such restrictions, including without
limitation the geographical restrictions and the duration restrictions, to
reflect a restriction which the court will enforce as reasonable.
(c) Specific Performance. Employee acknowledges that the
obligations undertaken by her pursuant to this Agreement are unique and that if
Employee shall fail to abide by any of the restrictions set forth in
subparagraph (a), Employer will suffer harm for which there is no adequate
remedy at law. Employee therefore confirms that Employer shall have the right,
in the event of a violation of subparagraph (a), to injunctive relief to enforce
the terms of this Section 8 in addition to any other remedies available at law
or in equity.
9. Indemnification and Liability Insurance. Employer hereby
agrees to defend, indemnify and hold Employee harmless, to the maximum extent
allowed by law, from any and all liability for acts or omissions of Employee
performed in the course of Employee's employment (or reasonably believed by
Employee to be within the scope of her employment) provided that such acts or
omissions do not constitute (a) criminal conduct, (b) willful misconduct, or (c)
a fraud upon, or breach of Employee's duty of loyalty to, the Employer. Employer
shall at all times carry Directors' and Officers' liability insurance in
commercially reasonable amounts, but in any event not less than Five Million
Dollars ($5,000,000).
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein
and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements between the parties as to
such matters. No amendments or modifications shall be binding unless set forth
in writing and signed by both parties.
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(b) Successors and Assigns. Neither party may assign its
rights or interest under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the
other party, except that Employer's interest in this Agreement may be assigned
to a successor by operation of law or to a purchaser purchasing substantially
all of Employer's business, and Employee's benefits under this Agreement may be
assigned by operation of law to Employee's heirs, devisees and personal
representatives. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of each of the parties and their respective permitted successors and
assigns.
(c) Severability. Each provision of this Agreement is
severable, such that if any part of this Agreement shall be deemed invalid or
unenforceable, the balance of this Agreement shall be enforced so as to give
effect as to the intent of the parties.
(d) Representations of Employer. Employer represents and
warrants to Employee that it has the requisite limited liability company power
to enter into this Agreement and perform the terms hereof and that the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized
by all appropriate company action.
(e) Construction. This Agreement shall be governed in all
respects by the internal laws of the State of Maryland (excluding reference to
principles of conflicts of law). As used herein, the singular shall include the
plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the use of any pronoun shall
be construed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, all as the context
may require.
(f) Notices. All notices required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given on the date sent if
delivered by hand or by facsimile, and on the next business day if sent by
overnight courier or by United States mail, postage prepaid, to each party at
the following address (or at such other address as a party may specify by notice
under this section):
IF TO EMPLOYER:
Municipal Mortgage and Equity, LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Operating Officer
IF TO EMPLOYEE:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
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(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of
which together shall constitute one instrument.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound, the parties have
executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
WITNESS: EMPLOYER:
MUNICIPAL MORTAGE AND EQUITY, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X. XxXxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President & COO
EMPLOYEE:
/s/ Xxxxx X. XxXxxx /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------- --------------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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CONSENT TO ACCELERATED LTIP PAYMENT
XXXXX XXXXXX
This consent form describes how your award under the Lend Lease
Executive Long Term Incentive Plan for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2003
("FY `02 Retention Plan") will be paid in light of the sale of HCI and gives you
the opportunity to consent to receive an accelerated final payment of a portion
your award.
INITIAL PARTIAL PAYMENT. On or as soon as practicable after OCTOBER 15,
2003, Lend Lease Real Estate Investments, Inc. ("LLREI") will pay you 1/2 of
your FY `02 Retention Plan award ($87,840.86 less applicable withholding). This
payment will be based on the value of your award on June 30, 2003. This payment
will be made automatically--your consent is neither requested nor required.
ACCELERATED FINAL PAYMENT. If you consent below, as soon as practicable
after June 30, 2004, MMA Financial LLC ("MMA") will pay you the remaining 1/2 of
your FY `02 Retention Plan award ($87,840.86 less applicable withholding) if you
remain employed with MMA through June 30, 2004. This payment will be based on
the value of your award on June 30, 2003.
REGULARLY SCHEDULED FINAL PAYMENT IF YOU DO NO CONSENT. If you do not
consent to the accelerated final payment to be made by MMA as soon as
practicable after June 30, 2004, this final payment (i.e., 1/2 of your FY `02
Retention Plan award) will be paid as currently scheduled under the terms of the
FY `02 Retention Plan. In general, this award is scheduled to be paid as soon as
practicable after June 30, 2004, and will be based on the value of your award on
this date.
CONSENT. If you would like for 1/2 of your FY `02 Retention Plan award
to be paid as soon as practicable after June 30, 2004, based on the value of
your award on June 30, 2003, please complete the consent below and return this
form to Xxxxxx Xxxxx no later than October 10, 2003. If we have not received
your consent by October 10, 2003, 1/2 of your FY `02 Retention Plan award will
be paid as currently scheduled under the terms of the FY `02 Retention Plan.
I, the undersigned, do hereby consent to 1/2 of my FY `02 Retention
Plan award being paid as soon as practicable after June 30, 2004, based on the
value of my award on June 30, 2003. I understand that if I do not so consent,
this portion of my FY `02 Retention Plan award will be paid as currently
scheduled under the terms of the FY `02 Retention Plan.
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Signature
