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EXHIBIT 10.2
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 12th day of February, 1998, by and
between ______________ (the "Employee") and AIRTOUCH COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation").
For ease of reference, this Agreement is divided into the following parts, which
begin on the pages indicated:
FIRST PART: TERM OF EMPLOYMENT, DUTIES AND SCOPE, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
DURING EMPLOYMENT (Sections 1-5, beginning on page 2)
SECOND PART: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS IN CASE OF ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE
TERMINATION NOT RELATING TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL
(Sections 6-8, beginning on page 6)
THIRD PART: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS IN CASE OF ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE
TERMINATION RELATING TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL
(Sections 9-12, beginning on page 8)
FOURTH PART: PARACHUTE PAYMENTS (Sections 13-16, beginning on page 11)
FIFTH PART: TRADE SECRETS, SUCCESSORS, MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS, SIGNATURE PAGE
(Sections 17-19, beginning on page 13)
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FIRST PART: TERM OF EMPLOYMENT, DUTIES AND SCOPE, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
DURING EMPLOYMENT
SECTION 1: TERM OF EMPLOYMENT
(a) Basic Rule. The Corporation agrees to continue the Employee's
employment, and the Employee agrees to remain in employment with the
Corporation, from _____________ ___, 199_, until the earliest of:
(1) The date of the Employee's death; or
(2) The date when the Employee's employment terminates pursuant to
Subsection (b), (c), (d) or (e) below.
(b) Early Termination or Resignation. The Corporation may terminate the
Employee's employment for any reason by giving the Employee not less
than 30 days' advance notice in writing. The Employee may terminate the
Employee's employment for any reason by giving the Corporation not less
than 30 days' advance notice in writing.
(c) Termination for Cause. The Corporation may terminate the Employee's
employment at any time for Cause shown by giving the Employee notice in
writing and paying the Employee pay and benefits in lieu of advance
notice to the extent that notice of termination was not given at least
30 days in advance. For all purposes under this Agreement, "Cause"
shall mean (1) a willful failure by the Employee to substantially
perform the Employee's duties under this Agreement, other than a
failure resulting from the Employee's complete or partial incapacity
due to physical or mental illness or impairment, (2) a willful act by
the Employee that constitutes gross misconduct and that is injurious to
the Corporation, (3) a willful breach by the Employee of a material
provision of this Agreement or (4) a material and willful violation of
a federal or state law or regulation applicable to the business of the
Corporation. No act, or failure to act, by the Employee shall be
considered "willful" unless committed without good faith and without a
reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the Corporation's
best interest.
(d) Termination for Disability. The Corporation may terminate the
Employee's employment for Disability by giving the Employee not less
than six months' advance notice in writing. For all purposes under this
Agreement, "Disability" shall mean that the Employee, at the time
notice is given, has been unable to perform the Employee's duties under
this Agreement for a period of not less than six consecutive months as
the result of the Employee's incapacity due to physical or mental
illness. In the event that the Employee resumes the performance of
substantially all of the Employee's duties under this Agreement before
the termination of the Employee's employment under this Section becomes
effective, the notice of termination shall automatically be deemed to
have been revoked.
(e) Notice. For all purposes under this Section 1, the employment
relationship shall terminate on the date specified in the notice of
termination. Any waiver of notice shall be valid only if it is made in
writing and expressly refers to the applicable notice requirement of
this Section 1. If the Corporation specifies a termination date that is
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earlier than the minimum advance notice date required under Subsection
(b), (c) or (d) (as applicable), then the Employee is entitled to pay
and benefits in lieu of the omitted period of advance notice.
(f) Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall expire when all
obligations of the parties hereunder have been satisfied.
(1) In General. In addition, except as described in Paragraph 2
below, either the Corporation or the Employee may terminate
this Agreement for any reason, and without affecting the
Employee's status as an employee, by giving the other party
one year's advance notice in writing.
(2) After a Change In Control. If a Change in Control occurs, the
Corporation may not provide notice of termination of this
Agreement under Paragraph (1) above within the two-year period
after the Change In Control. In other words, in this case, the
effective date of the termination of the Agreement may be no
earlier than three years after the Change in Control. For all
purposes under this Agreement, the term "Corporation" shall
include any successor to the Corporation's business and/or
assets that executes and delivers the assumption agreement
described in Subsection 18(a) of this Agreement or that
becomes bound by this Agreement by operation of law.
A termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Subsection (f) shall
be effective for all purposes at the end of the notice period, except
that such termination shall not effect the payment or provision of
compensation or benefits under this Agreement on account of a
termination of employment occurring prior to the termination of this
Agreement.
SECTION 2: DUTIES AND SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT
(a) Position. The Corporation agrees to employ the Employee for the term of
employment under this Agreement in the position of ___________________
(as such position was defined in terms of responsibilities and
compensation as of the effective date of this Agreement) or in another
position offering comparable compensation, either with the Corporation,
a Subsidiary, an Affiliate or a Joint Venture. The Corporation,
Subsidiary, Affiliate or Joint Venture directly employing the Employee
is referred to in this Agreement as the "Employing Entity," and the
Corporation, its Subsidiaries, Affiliates and Joint Ventures are
referred to, in the aggregate, in this Agreement as the "AirTouch
Group."
For all purposes under this Agreement, the terms "Affiliate,"
"Subsidiary" and "Joint Venture" shall mean the following:
(1) "Affiliate" shall mean any entity other than a Subsidiary, if
the Corporation and/or one or more Subsidiaries own(s) not
less than 50% of such entity.
(2) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation (other than the
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning
with the Corporation, if each of the corporations other than
the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock
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possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such
chain.
(3) "Joint Venture" shall mean any entity (other than a Subsidiary
or Affiliate) in which the Corporation and/or one or more
Subsidiaries and/or one or more Affiliates has a direct or
indirect ownership interest.
(b) Obligations. During the term of employment under this Agreement, the
Employee shall devote the Employee's full business efforts and time to
the Employing Entity and the AirTouch Group. The foregoing shall not
preclude the Employee from engaging in appropriate civic, charitable or
religious activities or from devoting a reasonable amount of time to
private investments or from serving on the boards of directors of other
entities, as long as such activities and service do not interfere or
conflict with the Employee's responsibilities to the Employing Entity
and the AirTouch Group.
SECTION 3: BASE COMPENSATION
During the term of employment under this Agreement, the Corporation agrees to
pay (itself or through the Employing Entity) the Employee as compensation for
services a base salary at the annual rate of $___,___, or at such higher rate as
the Corporation's Compensation and Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors
may determine from time to time. Such salary shall be payable in accordance with
the standard payroll procedures of the Employing Entity. Once the Corporation's
Compensation and Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors has increased
such salary, it thereafter shall not be reduced; provided, however, that if a
Change in Control has not occurred, such salary (including any increases) may be
reduced by the Corporation if (1) the Employee commits an act or omission that
meets the definition of Cause, as defined in Section 1(c), or (2) the Employee
and all other officers of the Corporation who are parties to written employment
agreements containing substantially the same provisions as this Agreement have
their salaries (including any increases) reduced by the same percentage amount
for the same time period. The annual compensation specified in this Section 3,
together with any increases in such compensation that the Compensation and
Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may grant from
time to time, and together with any reductions made in accordance with this
Section 3, is referred to in this Agreement as "Base Compensation."
SECTION 4: EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
(a) In General. During the term of employment under this Agreement, the
Employee shall be eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans
and executive compensation programs maintained by the Employing Entity,
including (without limitation) pension plans, savings or profit-sharing
plans, deferred compensation plans, supplemental retirement or
excess-benefit plans, stock option, incentive or other bonus plans,
life, disability, health, accident and other insurance programs, paid
vacations, and similar plans or programs, subject in each case to the
generally applicable terms and conditions of the plan or program in
question and to the discretion and determinations of any person,
committee or entity administering such plan or program.
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(b) Accelerated Vesting in Incentive Awards in Case of a Change in Control
of the Corporation. If, during the term of this Agreement, a Change in
Control (as defined in Section 12) occurs with respect to the
Corporation, then each of the incentive awards heretofore or hereafter
granted to the Employee by the members of the AirTouch Group or their
delegates shall become fully vested, fully exercisable or fully
payable, as the case may be, any contrary provisions of such awards or
the applicable plan notwithstanding. The term "incentive award" shall
include, without limitation, all awards under the AirTouch
Communications, Inc. 1993 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, all other
awards with respect to equity or derivative securities of the AirTouch
Group, and all cash incentive awards other than incentive awards
payable under the AirTouch Communications Incentive Plan.
(c) Accelerated Vesting in Supplemental Pension Benefits in Case of a
Change in Control of the Corporation. If, during the term of this
Agreement, a Change in Control (as defined in Section 12) occurs with
respect to the Corporation, then all of the Employee's supplemental
pension benefits shall become fully vested, any contrary provisions of
the applicable plan notwithstanding. The term "supplemental pension
benefit" shall include, without limitation, all benefits under the
AirTouch Communications Supplemental Executive Pension Plan and all
other retirement benefits provided under a plan or program of the
AirTouch Group that is not intended to qualify under section 401(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
SECTION 5: BUSINESS EXPENSES AND TRAVEL
During the term of employment under this Agreement, the Employee shall be
authorized to incur necessary and reasonable travel, entertainment and other
business expenses in connection with the Employee's duties hereunder. The
Employing Entity shall reimburse the Employee for such expenses upon
presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation,
all in accordance with generally applicable policies.
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SECOND PART: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS IN CASE OF ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE
TERMINATION NOT RELATING TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL
SECTION 6: TERMINATIONS NOT RELATING TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL
This Second Part of the Agreement, consisting of Sections 6 through 8, describes
the benefits and compensation, if any, payable in case of termination of
employment that does not relate to a Change in Control (as defined in Section
12). The Third Part of the Agreement, consisting of Sections 9 through 12,
describes benefits and compensation, if any, payable in case of termination of
employment that relates to a Change in Control. If benefits and compensation are
payable under this Second Part, then no benefits and compensation are payable
under the Third Part.
SECTION 7: INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR DISABILITY
In the event that, during the term of this Agreement, the Corporation or
Employing Entity terminates the Employee's employment with the AirTouch Group
for any reason other than Cause or Disability, and such termination does not
relate to a Change in Control, then, after executing the release of claims
described in Section 7(d), the Employee shall be entitled to receive the
following payments and benefits:
(a) Severance (1x payment). The Corporation shall pay to the Employee in a
lump sum, not less than 31 days nor more than 120 days following the
date of the employment termination, an amount equal to the following:
(1) One times the Employee's Base Compensation in effect on the
date of the employment termination; plus
(2) 100% of the target Team Award under the AirTouch
Communications Incentive Plan, for the Employee's position as
of the date of the termination.
Any other provision of this Agreement or of the AirTouch Communications
Incentive Plan notwithstanding, after the amount described in this
Subsection (a) has been paid to the Employee, the Employee shall not be
entitled to any further payment of Team Award under such Incentive
Plan.
(b) One Year of Life Insurance and Health Plan Coverage. The coverage
described in this Subsection (b) shall be provided for a "Continuation
Period" beginning on the date when the employment termination is
effective and ending on the earlier of (1) the first anniversary of the
date when the employment termination is effective or (2) the date of
the Employee's death. During the Continuation Period, the Employee
(and, where applicable, the Employee's dependents) shall be entitled to
continue participation in the basic and supplemental group term life
insurance plan and in the health care plan for employees maintained by
the Employing Entity as if the Employee were still an employee of the
Employing Entity, but only if the Employee does not elect any
continuation coverage under Part 6 of Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Where applicable,
the Employee's compensation for purposes of such plans shall be deemed
to be equal
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to the Employee's compensation (as defined in such plans) in effect on
the date of the employment termination. To the extent that the
Corporation finds it undesirable to cover the Employee under the group
life insurance and health plans of the AirTouch Group, the Corporation
shall provide the Employee (at its own expense) with the same level of
coverage under individual policies.
(c) Financial Counseling. For a one-year period after termination of
employment, the Corporation shall provide the Employee with
professional financial counseling services comparable in scope and
value to the financial counseling services made available to the
Employee immediately prior to such termination of employment.
(d) Release of Claims. As a condition to the receipt of the payments and
benefits described in this Section 7, the Employee shall be required to
execute a release of all claims arising out of the Employee's
employment or the termination thereof including, but not limited to,
any claim of discrimination under state or federal law.
(e) No Mitigation. The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment or benefit contemplated by this Section 7, nor
shall any such payment or benefit be reduced by any earnings or
benefits that the Employee may receive from any other source.
SECTION 8: OTHER TERMINATIONS UNDER THIS PART
If termination of employment, actual or constructive, is not described in
Section 7, then the Employee is entitled only to the compensation, benefits and
reimbursements payable under the terms of Sections 3, 4 and 5 of this Agreement
for the period preceding the effective date of the termination. The payments
under this Agreement shall fully discharge all responsibilities of the AirTouch
Group to the Employee upon termination of the Employee's employment. This
Section 8 applies, without limitation, to any termination of employment
initiated by the Employee, termination of employment caused by the Employee's
death or Disability, termination of the Employee for Cause, and any constructive
termination.
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THIRD PART: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS IN CASE OF ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE
TERMINATION RELATING TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL
SECTION 9: TERMINATIONS RELATING TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL
This Third Part of the Agreement, consisting of Sections 9 through 12, describes
the benefits and compensation, if any, payable in case of termination of
employment that relates to a Change in Control (as defined in Section 12). The
Second Part of the Agreement, consisting of Sections 6 through 8, describes
benefits and compensation, if any, payable in case of termination that does not
relate to a Change in Control. If benefits and compensation are payable under
this Third Part, then no benefits and compensation are payable under the Second
Part.
SECTION 10: INVOLUNTARY ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE
In the event that, during the term of this Agreement, the Employee's employment
terminates in a Qualifying Termination, as defined in Subsections (a) and (b),
the Employee shall be entitled to receive the payments and benefits described in
Subsections (c), (d) and (e).
(a) Qualifying Termination After a Change in Control.
(1) A Qualifying Termination occurs if the Corporation or Employing
Entity terminates the Employee's employment with the AirTouch
Group for any reason including, without limitation, Cause or
Disability within three years after a Change in Control.
(2) A Qualifying Termination also includes a "Constructive
Termination," which means a material reduction in salary or
benefits, a material change in responsibilities, or a requirement
to relocate, except for office relocations that would not increase
the Employee's one-way commute distance by more than 40 miles. For
the purpose of defining a "Constructive Termination," a material
reduction in salary or benefits is deemed to occur if the
Employee's Base Compensation or benefits are reduced by 20% or
more.
(b) Qualifying Termination Prior to a Change in Control. A Qualifying
Termination (as defined in Subsection (a)) also occurs prior to a
Change in Control if:
(1) The Qualifying Termination occurs after the Corporation has
publicly announced a definitive agreement with a third party to
effectuate a Change in Control; and
(2) The Employee reasonably demonstrates that the Qualifying
Termination occurred at the request of a third party who has
indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to
effect a Change in Control or otherwise arose in connection with,
or in anticipation of, a Change in Control.
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(c) Severance (2x payment). The Corporation shall pay to the Employee in a
lump sum, not less than 31 days nor more than 120 days following the
date of the employment termination, an amount equal to the following:
(1) Two times the Employee's Base Compensation in effect on the
date of the employment termination; plus
(2) 200% of the target Team Award under the AirTouch
Communications Incentive Plan, for the Employee's position as
of the date of the termination.
Any other provision of this Agreement or of the AirTouch Communications
Incentive Plan notwithstanding, after the amount described in this
Subsection (b) has been paid to the Employee, the Employee shall not be
entitled to any further payment of Team Award under such Incentive
Plan.
(d) Two Years of Life Insurance and Health Plan Coverage. The coverage
described in this Subsection (d) shall be provided for a "Continuation
Period" beginning on the date when the employment termination is
effective and ending on the earlier of (1) the second anniversary of
the date when the employment termination is effective or (2) the date
of the Employee's death. During the Continuation Period, the Employee
(and, where applicable, the Employee's dependents) shall be entitled to
continue participation in the basic and supplemental group term life
insurance plan and in the health care plan for employees maintained by
the Employing Entity as if the Employee were still an employee of the
Employing Entity, but only if the Employee does not elect any
continuation coverage under Part 6 of Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Where applicable,
the Employee's compensation for purposes of such plans shall be deemed
to be equal to the Employee's compensation (as defined in such plans)
in effect on the date of the employment termination. To the extent that
the Corporation finds it undesirable to cover the Employee under the
group life insurance and health plans of the AirTouch Group, the
Corporation shall provide the Employee (at its own expense) with the
same level of coverage under individual policies.
(e) Financial Counseling. For a one-year period after termination of
employment, the Corporation shall provide the Employee with
professional financial counseling services comparable in scope and
value to the financial counseling services made available to the
Employee immediately prior to the Change in Control.
(f) Penalty for Late or Refused Payment. If the Corporation refuses or
fails to timely pay or provide the compensation and benefits specified
in this Section 10 upon demand as provided in Section 19(c), and if
such refusal or failure is not corrected within 10 business days after
the Employee provides written notice to the Corporation concerning the
refusal or failure, then the Corporation shall pay immediately to the
Employee an additional amount equal to 50% of the Employee's Base
Compensation. This provision shall apply only once.
(g) No Mitigation. The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment or benefit contemplated by this Section 10, nor
shall any such payment or benefit be reduced by any earnings or
benefits that the Employee may receive from any other source.
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SECTION 11: OTHER TERMINATIONS UNDER THIS PART
If termination of employment, actual or constructive, is not described in
Section 10, then the Employee is entitled only to the compensation, benefits and
reimbursements payable under the terms of Sections 3, 4 and 5 of this Agreement
for the period preceding the effective date of the termination. The payments
under this Agreement shall fully discharge all responsibilities of the AirTouch
Group to the Employee upon termination of the Employee's employment. This
Section 11 applies, without limitation, to any termination of employment
initiated by the Employee (except an Employee-initiated termination in response
to a "Constructive Termination," as defined in Section 10(a)), termination of
employment caused by the Employee's death, and any constructive termination that
does not meet the requirements of a "Constructive Termination" defined in
Section 10(a).
SECTION 12: DEFINITION OF CHANGE IN CONTROL
For all purposes under this Agreement, "Change in Control" shall mean a "Change
in Control" of the Corporation, as defined in the AirTouch Communications, Inc.
1993 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (or the successor to such plan).
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FOURTH PART: PARACHUTE PAYMENTS
SECTION 13: GENERAL RULE ON LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS
Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event
that the independent auditors retained by the Corporation most recently prior to
a Change in Control (the "Auditors") determine that any payment or transfer by
the AirTouch Group to or for the benefit of the Employee, whether paid or
payable (or transferred or transferable) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
or otherwise (a "Payment"), would be nondeductible by the Corporation or any
member of the AirTouch Group for federal income tax purposes because of section
280G of the Code, then the aggregate present value of all Payments shall be
reduced (but not below zero) to the Reduced Amount. For purposes of this Section
13, the "Reduced Amount" shall be the amount, expressed as a present value, that
maximizes the aggregate present value of the Payments without causing any
Payment to be nondeductible by the Corporation or any member of the AirTouch
Group because of section 280G of the Code.
SECTION 14: REDUCTION OF PAYMENTS
If the Auditors determine that any Payment would be nondeductible by the
Corporation or any member of the AirTouch Group because of section 280G of the
Code, then the Corporation, within five business days after being notified by
the Auditors, shall give the Employee notice to that effect and a copy of the
detailed calculation thereof and of the Reduced Amount. The Employee may then
elect, in the Employee's sole discretion, which and how much of the Payments
shall be eliminated or reduced (as long as after such election the aggregate
present value of the Payments equals the Reduced Amount) and shall advise the
Corporation in writing of this election within thirty (30) days of receipt of
notice. If no such election is made by the Employee within such thirty (30) day
period, then the Corporation may elect which and how much of the Payments shall
be eliminated or reduced (as long as after such election the aggregate present
value of the Payments equals the Reduced Amount) and shall notify the Employee
promptly of such election. For purposes of this Section 14, present values shall
be determined in accordance with section 280G(d)(4) of the Code. All
determinations made by the Auditors under this Section 14 shall be binding upon
the Corporation and the Employee and shall be made within 60 days of the date of
the employment termination.
SECTION 15: OVERPAYMENTS AND UNDERPAYMENTS
As a result of uncertainty in the application of section 280G of the Code at the
time of an initial determination by the Auditors hereunder, it is possible that
Payments will have been made by the AirTouch Group that should not have been
made (an "Overpayment") or that additional Payments that will not have been made
by the Corporation could have been made (an "Underpayment"), consistent in each
case with the calculation of the Reduced Amount hereunder. In the event that the
Auditors, based upon the assertion of a deficiency by the Internal Revenue
Service against the Corporation, a member of the AirTouch Group or the Employee
that the Auditors believe has a high probability of success, determine that an
Overpayment has been made, such Overpayment shall be treated for all purposes as
a loan to the Employee that the Employee shall repay to the Corporation (or the
appropriate member of the AirTouch Group), together with interest at the
applicable federal rate
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provided for in section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code; provided, however, that no
amount shall be so payable by the Employee if and to the extent that such
payment would not reduce the amount that is subject to taxation under section
4999 of the Code. In the event that the Auditors determine that an Underpayment
has occurred, such Underpayment shall promptly be paid or transferred by the
Corporation to or for the benefit of the Employee, together with interest at the
applicable federal rate provided for in section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code.
SECTION 16: COMPENSATION AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE'S ABILITY TO WAIVE LIMITATIONS
At any time, and in its sole discretion, the Corporation's Compensation and
Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors may elect to waive, in whole or in
part, the reduction of a Payment, notwithstanding the determination that such
Payment will be nondeductible by the Corporation (or other member of the
AirTouch Group) for federal income tax purposes because of section 280G of the
Code.
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FIFTH PART: TRADE SECRETS, SUCCESSORS, MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS, SIGNATURE PAGE
SECTION 17: CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
(a) Acknowledgement. The Corporation and the Employee acknowledge that the
services to be performed by the Employee under this Agreement are
unique and extraordinary and that, as a result of the Employee's
employment, the Employee will be in a relationship of confidence and
trust with the Corporation and will come into possession of
"Confidential Information" (1) owned or controlled by the AirTouch
Group, (2) in the possession of the AirTouch Group and belonging to
third parties or (3) conceived, originated, discovered or developed, in
whole or in part, by the Employee. As used herein "Confidential
Information" includes trade secrets and other confidential or
proprietary business, technical, personnel or financial information,
whether or not the Employee's work product, in written, graphic, oral
or other tangible or intangible forms, including but not limited to
specifications, samples, records, data, computer programs, drawings,
diagrams, models, customer names, business or marketing plans, studies,
analyses, projections and reports, communications by or to attorneys
(including attorney-client privileged communications), memos and other
materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including
attorney work product), and software systems and processes. Any
information that is not readily available to the public shall be
considered to be a trade secret and confidential and proprietary, even
if it is not specifically marked as such, unless the Corporation
advises the Employee otherwise in writing.
(b) Nondisclosure. The Employee agrees that the Employee will not, without
the prior written consent of the Corporation, directly or indirectly
use or disclose Confidential Information to any person, during or after
the Employee's employment, except as may be necessary in the ordinary
course of performing the Employee's duties under this Agreement. The
Employee will keep the Confidential Information in strictest confidence
and trust. This Section 17 shall apply indefinitely, both during and
after the term of this Agreement.
(c) Surrender Upon Termination. The Employee agrees that in the event of
the termination of the Employee's employment for any reason, the
Employee will immediately deliver to the Corporation (and/or other
members of the AirTouch Group, as applicable) all property belonging to
the AirTouch Group, including all documents and materials of any nature
pertaining to the Employee's work with the AirTouch Group, and will not
take with the Employee any documents or materials of any description,
or any reproduction thereof of any description, containing or
pertaining to any Confidential Information. It is understood that the
Employee is free to use information that is in the public domain (not
as a result of a breach of this Agreement).
SECTION 18: SUCCESSORS
(a) Corporation's Successors. The Corporation shall require any successor
(whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger,
consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the Corporation's business and/or assets,
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by an agreement in substance and form satisfactory to the Employee, to
assume this Agreement and to agree expressly to perform this Agreement
in the same manner and to the same extent as the Corporation would be
required to perform it in the absence of a succession. The
Corporation's failure to obtain such agreement prior to the
effectiveness of a succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and
shall entitle the Employee to all of the compensation and benefits to
which the Employee would have been entitled hereunder if the
Corporation had involuntarily terminated the Employee's employment
without Cause or Disability, on the date when such succession becomes
effective.
(b) Employee's Successors. This Agreement and all rights of the Employee
hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the
Employee's personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.
SECTION 19: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
(a) Waiver. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or
discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in
writing and signed by the Employee and by an authorized officer of the
Corporation (other than the Employee). No waiver by either party of any
breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other
condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another
time.
(b) Whole Agreement. No agreements, representations or understandings
(whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that are not
expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by
either party with respect to the subject matter hereof. In addition,
the Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement
supersedes in its entirety any employment agreement between the
Employee and the Corporation in effect immediately prior to the
effective date of this Agreement. As of the effective date of this
Agreement, such employment agreement shall terminate without any
further obligation by either party thereto, and the Employee hereby
relinquishes any further rights that the Employee may have had under
such prior employment agreement.
(c) Presumption. Subject to the provisions of Section 13, the Corporation
shall make or cause to be made a payment described in this Agreement
upon receiving written notice from the Employee describing such
payment, referring to the provision of this Agreement under which such
payment is claimed and certifying that all conditions for such payment,
as set forth in this Agreement, have been satisfied. The information so
furnished to the Corporation by the Employee shall be presumed to be
correct, subject to rebuttal by the Corporation after payment. After
making the payment claimed by the Employee, the Corporation may seek a
refund of such payment in accordance with Subsection (h) below. This
Subsection (c) shall not be used to cause a payment to be made at a
time earlier than provided in this Agreement.
(d) Notice. Notices and all other communications contemplated by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given when personally delivered or when mailed by U.S. registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid. In the
case of the Employee, mailed notices shall
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be addressed to the Employee at the home address that the Employee most
recently communicated to the Corporation in writing. In the case of the
Corporation, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate
headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the attention of its
Secretary.
(e) No Setoff. There shall be no right of setoff or counterclaim, with
respect to any claim, debt or obligation, against payments to the
Employee under this Agreement.
(f) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of California, irrespective of California's choice-of-law
principles.
(g) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in
full force and effect.
(h) Arbitration. Except as otherwise provided in Section 13, any dispute or
controversy arising out of the Employee's employment or the termination
thereof, including, but not limited to, any claim of discrimination
under state or federal law, shall be settled exclusively by arbitration
in San Francisco, California, in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be
entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction. The
foregoing notwithstanding, a dispute or controversy over whether Cause
exists for the termination of an Employee, whether such termination
occurred within three years after a Change in Control, or a dispute or
controversy over whether a Constructive Termination has occurred, shall
be arbitrated by a three-member panel of the outside directors of the
Corporation, with the selection of the panel to be made by the
Chairman, as of one year prior to the Change in Control, of the
Corporation's Board of Directors. If three such individuals are
unwilling to serve as arbitrators, the preceding sentence shall be
inapplicable, and all disputes and controversies shall be subject to
arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association, as provided above in this Subsection. For purposes of this
Subsection, "outside directors" shall mean members of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, as such Board of Directors was
constituted one year prior to the Change in Control, who were not
employees of the Corporation or another member of the AirTouch Group
one year prior to the Change in Control.
(i) No Assignment of Benefits. The rights of any person to payments or
benefits under this Agreement shall not be made subject to option or
assignment, either by voluntary or involuntary assignment or by
operation of law, including (without limitation) bankruptcy,
garnishment, attachment or other creditor's process, and any action in
violation of this Subsection (i) shall be void.
(j) Employment at Will; Limitation of Remedies. The Corporation and the
Employee acknowledge that the Employee's employment is at will, as
defined under applicable law. If the Employee's employment terminates
for any reason, the Employee shall not be entitled to any payments,
benefits, damages, awards or compensation other than as provided by
this Agreement.
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(k) Employment Taxes. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement shall be
subject to withholding of applicable taxes.
(l) Benefit Coverage Non-Additive. In the event that the Employee is
entitled to life insurance and health plan coverage under more than one
provision hereunder, only one provision shall apply, and neither the
periods of coverage nor the amounts of benefits shall be additive.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case
of the Corporation by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year first
above written.
-----------------------------------
Employee
AIRTOUCH COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By
---------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Its Senior Vice President, Human
Resources and Corporate Services
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