EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of December
__, 1997, between ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ("Executive") and Advanced
Communications Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company") (collectively
referred to as the "Parties"). The Company and Executive agree as follows:
1. Employment.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged by Executive and the Company, the Company
employs Executive, and Executive accepts employment subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement. Unless the contract otherwise requires,
references to the Company in the last sentence of Section 4 and in Sections 5
and 7 of this Agreement include its subsidiaries and other affiliates.
2. Term.
This Agreement shall commence and become effective on the date hereof and end
on December 31, 2003. Such term of employment may be renewed for successive
periods of one year thereafter upon the mutual agreement of the Parties.
3. Compensation and Other Benefits.
3.1 As compensation for his services to the Company under this
Agreement, the Company shall pay to Executive during the term
of this Agreement a base salary ("Base Salary") of not less
than $175,000 per annum, payable in equal semi-monthly
installments, subject only to such payroll and withholding
deductions as may be required by law and other deductions
applied generally to employees of the Company for any
employee benefit plans.
3.2 Executive shall receive a signing bonus of $100,000. Such
bonus shall be paid as soon as practicable after the
execution of this Agreement but by no later than five
business days therefrom. In addition, for 1998 and for each
calendar year thereafter during the term of this Agreement,
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company ("Compensation Committee") may award Executive a cash
bonus of up to 100% of his Base Salary ("Bonus"). By March
31st of each year, the Compensation Committee shall determine
the fraction of the Bonus earned by the Executive with
respect to the prior calendar year (the "Payment Fraction")
based upon its evaluation of the extent to which the Company
met the sales budget, sales projections and similar criteria
(the "Sales Budget") that the Compensation Committee
communicated to him prior to the commencement of that
calendar year.
3.3 Executive will be entitled to three weeks of paid vacation
annually during the term of this Agreement.
3.4 Upon execution of this Agreement, Executive will be awarded
four hundred twenty-five thousand (425,000) non-qualified
stock options ("Signing Bonus Options") to acquire common
stock, $.0001 par value, of the Company ("Common Stock"). One
hundred fifty thousand (150,000) of these options (the "Three
Month Options") shall become exercisable ninety days after
the date of grant and shall be exercisable at a price of
$2.50 per share. The remaining two hundred seventy-five
thousand options (the "Remaining Options") shall become
exercisable in 331/3% increments on each anniversary date of
the date of grant and shall be exercisable at a price per
share equal to the price to the public of the Common Stock in
the Company's initial underwritten public offering of its
Common Stock (the "Offering"). Accordingly, subject to
Section 3.6, the Three Month Options shall become fully
vested ninety days after the date of grant and the Remaining
Options shall become fully vested three years after the date
of grant. The Three Month Options and the Remaining Options
shall have a ten year term.
3.5 Prior to March 31 of each year during the term of this
Agreement, commencing in 1999, the Compensation Committee may
award Executive additional non-qualified stock options to
acquire Common Stock (the "Performance Options") in an amount
equal to the result obtained by multiplying 50,000 options by
the Payment Fraction for the preceding calendar year. Such
Performance Options shall be exercisable at the market price
of the Common Stock on the date of grant, as determined by
the Compensation Committee. The Performance Options shall
have a term of ten years and shall become exercisable in
331/3% increments on each anniversary date of the grant
thereof. Accordingly, subject to Section 3.6, the Performance
Options shall become fully vested three years after the date
of grant.
3.6 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.4 or 3.5, the
vesting of all Signing Bonus Options and Performance Options
(collectively, the "Options") will be accelerated in the
event of the termination of Executive's employment hereunder
pursuant to Sections 6.1(b),(d) or (f); and in the event
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of any other termination, no Options shall vest after the
date of termination. The Signing Bonus Options and
Performance Options shall be granted pursuant to the
Company's 1997 Stock Awards Plan ("Stock Awards Plan"), a
copy of which has heretofore been delivered to Executive.
3.7 Executive shall receive such other benefits commensurate with
his level of employment as are available under the executive
employee benefits plans of the Company. For example, the
Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's
401K plan which the Company intends to establish.
3.8 To ensure the Executive's accessibility, the Company shall
furnish him during the term of his Employment with a cellular
telephone that is to be utilized primarily for Company
business. The Company shall pay the fixed charges associated
with the telephone as well as all charges directly associated
with its use in connection with Company business.
3.9 The Company will cause the Executive to be appointed to the
board of directors of the Company (with a term expiring in
1998) concurrently with or prior to the consummation of the
Offering.
4. Duties and Extent of Service.
Executive shall hold the office of Executive Vice President -- Sales and
Marketing of the Company. Executive agrees to perform the duties incidental to
his position, as determined from time to time by the Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Executive shall devote such time,
attention, and energy to the business of the Company as are required to perform
his duties and responsibilities. Executive shall not after the date hereof and
during the remaining term of this Agreement be engaged, directly or indirectly,
in any other business activity if pursued for gain, profit, or other pecuniary
advantage without the prior written consent of the Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In any event after the date hereof,
Executive shall not take any action inconsistent with Executive's relationship
and responsibilities as an employee of the Company, or take any action which is
intended, or may be reasonably expected, to harm the reputation, business,
prospects, or operations of the Company. Executive may not, without the prior
written approval of the Board of Directors of the Company, serve on the board
of directors or similar body of any other company or organization.
5. Protection of Confidential Information and Executive Non-Competition.
5.1 Executive recognizes and acknowledges that he will have
access to certain confidential information and trade secrets
of the Company ("Confidential Information"). Such
Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to:
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customer names; contracts; products purchased by customers;
production capabilities and processes; customer account and
credit data; referral sources; computer programs and
software; names and information relating to potential
acquisition candidates; financing sources and other business
relationships; information relating to confidential or secret
designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices, or materials of
the Company's business and marketing plans, confidential
information and trade secrets relating to the distribution
and marketing of the Company's products and services; patents
pending; confidential characteristics of the Company's
products and services; customer comments; troubleshooting
requirements; product and service development; market
development; manuals written by the Company; management,
accounting, and reporting systems, procedures, and programs;
off net contracts, leases, marketing agreements, sales
employee compensation information, plans, and programs;
marketing and financial analysis, plans, research, programs,
and related information and data; forms, agreements, and
legal documents; regulatory and supervisory reports;
correspondence; statements; corporate books and records; and
other similar information.
5.2 Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Confidential
Information constitutes valuable, special, and unique
property of the Company.
5.3 Executive will not, at any time during the term of this
Agreement or his employment with the Company, and for a
period of three years after the termination of this Agreement
or such employment, disclose any Confidential Information to
any person, firm, corporation, association, or other entity
for any reason or purpose.
5.4 The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to: (a) any
information in Executive's possession before its disclosure
to Executive by the Company; (b) information that is or shall
lawfully be published or become part of the general knowledge
through no act or omission of Executive; or (c) any
information which Executive is authorized to disclose in the
performance of his duties. The Confidential Information
disclosed to Executive under this Agreement is not within the
foregoing exceptions merely because such information is
embraced by more general information in the public domain or
in Executive's possession, or merely because portions thereof
are in the public domain or in Executive's possession.
5.5 To protect the confidentiality of the Confidential
Information, Executive further agrees that while employed by
the Company and for a period of one year (in the case of a
termination pursuant to Section 6.1(a), (b), (d), (e) or (f))
or three years (in the case of termination pursuant to
Section 6.1(c))
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immediately after the termination of this Agreement or his
employment with the Company, he will not, for himself, or on
behalf of any other person, firm, partnership, company, or
corporation (i) generally compete in any manner whatsoever
with the Company or solicit, accept, divert, or take away
from the Company the business of any person, company, or
business; (ii) directly or indirectly induce or attempt to
influence any employee, officer, director, consultant, agent,
vendor or other entity related to the Company to terminate
his or her employment or association in any manner whatsoever
with the Company; or (iii) engage in any commercial or
technical activity involving the development, formulation,
manufacture, production, distribution, marketing or sale of
any product or service that the Company designs, produces,
manufactures, distributes, markets or sells during the term
of this Agreement or Executive's employment with the Company.
The prescribed territory in which Executive shall not compete
with the Company as contemplated by this Section 5.5 shall
consist of all of those areas of the United States in which
the Company is doing business at the time of Executive's
termination of employment.
5.6 Executive understands and acknowledges that, due to the
unique nature of the products and services provided by the
Company and the need for senior officers to have a high
degree of technical knowledge concerning these products and
services, employment by the Company, including the special
training, knowledge, and confidential information that will
be acquired in the course of such employment, will give
Executive distinct and substantial advantages for potential
sales activities concerning such products and services.
Executive further understands and acknowledges that: because
of the definition of products and services covered by this
Agreement, the highly specialized nature of those products
and services, the limited size and number of business
entities in the business of developing and/or selling those
products and services, and the much more numerous
opportunities for Executive to work in his trade with respect
to products and services not covered by this Agreement, the
limitations as to time and geographic area contained in
Section 5.5 are reasonable and are not unduly onerous on
Executive. Executive therefore agrees that the limitations as
to time, geographic area, and scope of activity contained in
Section 5.5 do not impose a greater restraint than is
necessary to protect the Confidential Information, goodwill,
and other business interests of the Company. Executive also
agrees that in light of the facts acknowledged in this
Section 5.6, the substantial investment of the Company in
developing its business and providing special training to
Executive, and the certain and substantial harm that the
Company would suffer if Executive were to engage in any of
the activities described in Section 5.5, the Company's need
for the protection afforded by Section 5.5
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is greater than any hardship Executive might experience by
complying with its terms. Executive also agrees that, if any
provision or covenant set forth in Section 5.5 is found to be
invalid in part or whole, the Company may elect, but shall
not be required, to have such provision reformed, whether as
to time, geographic area, scope of activity, or otherwise, as
and to the extent required for its validity under applicable
law, and, as so reformed, such provisions shall be
enforceable.
5.7 Executive acknowledges that a violation or attempted
violation on his part of any provision in this Section 5 may
cause irreparable damage to the Company. Accordingly, in the
event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of the
provisions of this Section 5, Executive agrees that the
Company shall be entitled as a matter of right to an
injunction, out of any court of competent jurisdiction,
restraining any violation or further violation of such
agreements by Executive or his agents, without showing any
evidence of actual monetary loss resulting from such breach,
including, but not limited to, restraining Executive from
using or disclosing, in whole or in part, such Confidential
Information or trade secrets; rendering any services to any
person, firm, corporation, or other entity to whom any of
such information may have been disclosed or is threatened to
be disclosed; and/or violating the non-competition and
non-solicitation provisions of this Agreement. Nothing herein
shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing
any other remedies available to it for such breach or
threatened breach, including the recovery of damages and
attorneys' fees from Executive.
6. Termination of Employment.
6.1 Executive's employment under this Agreement shall terminate
on the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) End of Term. If the term of employment under the
Agreement or any renewal of this Agreement ends.
(b) Death or Disability of Executive. If Executive dies
or becomes disabled such that he no longer is
reasonably able to perform his duties as
contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall
pay to Executive, or to the estate of Executive if
he dies, (i) that part of his Base Salary which
would otherwise be payable to Executive through the
end of the month in which his death or disability
occurs, after giving effect to accrued sick leave
benefits and accrued vacation time, if any, and (ii)
any earned but unpaid Bonus or other compensation
for the prior year due to Executive. Upon such
payments, as well as
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applicable insurance benefits, if any, all
obligations of the Company to the Executive or his
estate shall be fully satisfied, and this Agreement
shall terminate. Upon such payments, as well as
applicable insurance benefits, if any, all
obligations of the Company to the Executive or his
estate shall be fully satisfied, and this Agreement
shall terminate. If Executive's employment is
terminated by his death, then the Options
theretofore granted to him prior to his death shall
immediately vest and be exercisable within ninety
(90) days therefrom by the executor or administrator
of Executive's estate or by the person or persons to
whom Executive's option rights shall pass by will or
the laws of descent and distribution; provided,
however, that in no event may any option be
exercised after the date of its expiration under the
terms of the relevant option agreement.
(c) Resignation of Executive. If Executive resigns prior
to the end of the term of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall terminate immediately, and the
Company shall pay to Executive that part of his Base
Salary which would otherwise be payable to Executive
through the effective date of his resignation. Upon
such payment, all obligations in any manner
whatsoever of the Company to Executive shall be
fully satisfied.
(d) Change in Ownership, Management, or Executive's
Responsibilities. If there is a change in the
ownership or management of the Company after the
date hereof, and either of these changes
significantly alters Executive's job
responsibilities or compensation, Executive may
resign from his position within 60 days of such a
change. If Executive resigns pursuant to this
Section 6.1(d), the Company (i) will continue to pay
Executive his Base Salary for a period of two years
after the initial date of any such change and (ii)
will pay to Executive any earned but unpaid Bonus or
other compensation for the prior year due to
Executive. Executive will not be entitled to receive
any Bonus for the current or any future year or
additional awards of Options if he resigns as
provided in this Section 6.1(d). For the period
after Executive's resignation during which Executive
will receive his Base Salary, Executive will not
have any authority to act on behalf of the Company.
(e) Termination by the Company "With Cause." If
Executive (i) violates any material provision of
this Agreement; (ii) fails to perform the services
required of him pursuant to this Agreement; (iii)
commits acts of fraud or dishonesty against the
Company; and/or (iv) is
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convicted of a crime that is classified as a felony,
the Company may terminate the employment of
Executive with cause. If Executive is terminated
"with cause," Executive shall not be entitled to
receive any further salary or benefits under this
Agreement other than payment for that part of
Executive's compensation that would otherwise be
payable to Executive through the last date of his
employment with the Company. Upon such payment, all
obligations of the Company to Executive shall be
fully satisfied, and this Agreement will terminate.
Executive shall not be entitled to receive any
Bonus, award of additional Options or accrued
vacation pay if his termination is "with cause."
(f) Termination by the Company Without Cause. In the
event the Company terminates Executive's employment
for any reason other than as described in Sections
6.1(d) or (e), Executive shall be entitled (i) to
continue to receive his Base Salary for a period of
one year after such termination and (ii) to receive
any earned but unpaid Bonus or other compensation
for the prior year due to Executive. Executive shall
not be entitled to receive any Bonus or award of
additional Options in respect of the one-year period
in which he receives salary continuation.
6.2 Termination of this Agreement shall not relieve Executive of
any continuing obligations expressly provided in this
Agreement, including, without limitation, those set forth in
Section 5. Except as expressly provided herein with respect
to the acceleration of the vesting of Options under certain
limited circumstances, the exercise of all Options in the
event of a termination of employment will be governed by the
terms of the Stock Awards Plan and the related stock option
agreements entered into with Executive. All vested Options
must be exercised within 90 days after the termination of
Executive's employment.
7. Return of Company Property.
7.1 All data, drawings, documents, contracts, computerized data,
information printouts, and tapes, tape recordings, documents,
data, accounting records, personnel files, computer
terminals, equipment, and other records and written material
prepared or compiled by Executive or furnished to Executive
while in the employ of the Company shall be the sole and
exclusive property of the Company, and none of such data,
drawings or other records and written material, or copies
thereof, shall be retained by Executive upon termination
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of his employment. This Company property shall not be removed
from the Company premises without the Company's prior written
consent.
7.2 Upon termination of this Agreement or whenever requested by
the Company, Executive immediately shall deliver to the
Company all of the Company property or any of the Company's
documents in Executive's possession or under Executive's
control, including, but not limited to, all documents or
data, Confidential Information, accounting records, computer
terminals, data, discs, printouts and tapes, accounting
machines, and all office furniture and fixtures, supplies,
equipment, and other personal property placed in the office
by the Company. No copies of any such data shall be retained
by Executive.
8. Notices.
Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in
writing and addressed to Executive at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and to the Company, c/o ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (Telecopy No.: 713-599-0222), or to such other
address as either party shall designate by written notice to the other. Notices
may be sent by messenger, by telecopy or by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to the party or parties to be notified, with return
receipt requested. Notices sent by messenger or telecopy shall be deemed
received upon their actual receipt of the party to whom they are directed.
Notices sent by registered or certified mail shall be deemed received on the
third day following their deposit with the United States Postal Service.
9. Arbitration.
Except for actions by the Company seeking to enforce the provisions of Sections
5 and 7 of this Agreement, any dispute, controversy, or claim brought by the
Company or Executive concerning the subject matter contained in this Agreement,
including, but not limited to, Executive's employment, termination from, and/or
affiliation with the Company, shall be settled exclusively by binding
arbitration in Houston, Texas in accordance with the Employment Dispute
Resolution Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any other dispute,
controversy, or claim brought by the Executive against the Company or any of
its officers, directors, shareholders, or employees, or by the Company against
Executive (except for actions by the Company seeking to enforce the provisions
of Sections 5 and 7 of this Agreement), shall likewise be settled exclusively
by binding arbitration in Houston, Texas in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the
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award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction. In reaching his or her decision, the arbitrator shall have no
authority to change or modify any provision of this Agreement. Any and all
charges that may be made for the cost of the arbitration and the fees and
expenses of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the parties; attorneys'
fees and witness expenses shall be borne by the party incurring them.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1 The rights and obligations of the Company under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding
upon the successors and assigns of the Company. This
Agreement shall be binding upon the Executive and his agents,
heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.
The rights and obligations of Executive hereunder shall not
be assignable by Executive.
10.2 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.
10.3 This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall
constitute one instrument.
10.4 This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties
pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and
discussions, whether oral or written, and there are no other
warranties, representations, covenants or agreements among
the Company, the Executive and ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in connection
with the subject matter hereof.
10.5 The waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of
this Agreement by Executive shall not operate or be construed
as a waiver by the Company of any subsequent breach by
Executive.
10.6 If a court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge to be
invalid any clause, sentence, subparagraph, paragraph or
section of this Agreement, such judgment or decree shall not
affect, impair, invalidate, or nullify the
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remainder of this Agreement, but the effect thereof shall be
confined to the clause, sentence, subparagraph, paragraph, or
section so adjudged to be invalid.
The parties have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the day
and year first above written.
"COMPANY" "EXECUTIVE"
ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS
GROUP, INC.
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By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Its: Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
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