EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.15
EXECUTION COPY
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of July 26, 2005, with effect from January 1, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Gecis Global Holdings SICAR, a Societé à Responsabilité Limitée organized as a Societé d’lnvestissement en Capital à Risque under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (“Gecis Global”) and Gecis International Holdings, a Societé à Responsabilité Limitée under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and wholly-owned subsidiary of Gecis Global (“Gecis International” and together with Gecis Global, the “Company”) and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the “Executive”, and together with the Company, the “Parties”).
WITNESSETH:
A. The Company desires to employ the Executive, and the Executive desires to be employed by the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
B. The Executive acknowledges that (i) the Executive’s employment with the Company will provide the Executive with trade secrets of, and confidential information concerning, the Company and (ii) the covenants contained in this Agreement are essential to protect the business and goodwill of the Company.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the respective covenants and agreements of the Parties set forth below, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Employment. The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Section 2. Term. This Agreement shall be effective for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date this Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder are terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 (such period, the “Term”).
Section 3. Duties, Authority, Status and Responsibilities.
(a) The Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of both Gecis Global and Gecis International, as a member of the board of directors of Gecis Global (the “Board”), as Chief Executive Officer of Gecis Global (Lux), and in such other positions as the Board may from time to time reasonably determine, subject at all times to the direction, supervision and authority of the Board. The Executive’s duties shall include such duties as the Board may from time to time reasonably assign.
(b) During the Term and except as otherwise agreed by the Company, the Executive shall devote the Executive’s full employable time, attention and best efforts to the business affairs of the Company (except during vacations or illness) and will not actively engage in outside activities, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage unless such activity (and the amount thereof) is approved by the Board; provided, however, the Executive may devote time to personal investments, philanthropic service or other personal matters without obtaining such Board approval. In addition to the other titles and responsibilities described in this Section 3, if requested by the Board, the Executive shall serve (without additional compensation) during the Term as an officer of any subsidiary of the Gecis Global or Gecis International.
Section 4. Cash Compensation.
(a) Base Salary. During the Term, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary (the “Base Salary”) of not less than U.S.$567,500. The Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company for salaried employees in the United States. The Board, or a committee thereof, shall review the Executive’s Base Salary on an annual basis.
(b) Annual Bonus. During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) in respect of each full or partial fiscal year of Gecis Global ending during the Term (a “Fiscal Year” which, as of the Effective Date, is the period January 1 through December 31), with such Annual Bonus to equal 120% of Base Salary for such Fiscal Year, subject to the attainment of such performance targets as are established by the Board, or a committee thereof, for such Fiscal Year. Any such Annual Bonus shall be paid to the Executive at such time as other senior executives are paid their annual cash bonuses, but in any event no later than March 15 of the Fiscal Year following the Fiscal Year to which such Annual Bonus relates.
(c) Retention Bonus.
(i) The Executive shall be entitled to receive a retention bonus (the “Retention Bonus”) of up to U.S.$5,000,000 payable upon one or more “Payment Events” (as defined in Section 4(c)(ii) below). The amount of the Retention Bonus to be paid on a Payment Event shall be computed as follows, but shall in no event be less than U.S.$0:
X =
(1) the product of A times B (2) multiplied by, in the
case of a Payment Event described in Section 4(c)(ii)(D)
only, C (3) less, in the case of
any Payment Event, D where
X = the amount of the Retention Bonus payable on a Payment Event;
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A = U.S.$5,000,000 less the excess, if any, of (1) U.S.$11,000,000 over (2) the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in the Gecis Global Holdings 2005 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”)) determined as of the date of the Payment Event of 17,500 shares of the common stock of Gecis Global (the “Common Stock”), as such number of shares shall be adjusted to reflect any changes in the outstanding Common Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of stock or extraordinary cash dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, separations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant corporate transactions or changes in capitalization;
B = the “Vested Percentage” (as defined in Section 4(c)(iii) below) as of the Payment Date;
C = the sum of (i) percentage of shares of Common Stock currently being sold or otherwise disposed of by the “Investor Group” (as defined in Section 4(c)(ii) below) or member(s) thereof and (ii) the percentage of shares of Common Stock previously sold or otherwise disposed of in the aggregate by the Investor Group or member(s) thereof; and
D = the aggregate amount of the Retention Bonus paid on all prior Payment Events.
In the event that on any Payment Event other than the Payment Event described in Section 4(c)(ii)(C) below, the Vested Percentage is not equal to 100%, the Executive shall continue to vest in the unpaid portion of the Retention Bonus, if any, following such Payment Event in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 4(c)(iii) below, and on each subsequently occurring Payment Event such unpaid portion of the Retention Bonus shall be paid, to the extent then vested, until paid in full.
(ii) For purposes of the foregoing, the term “Payment Event” shall mean any of the following: (A) January 1, 2010, (B) the occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Plan), (C) the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder, or (D) a sale or other disposition by any member(s) of the Investor Group, other than to a member of the Investor Group or any affiliate thereof, of any number of shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that the event described in subclause (D) shall only constitute a Payment Event if such event is a permissible distribution event under Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and any regulations or other guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”). For purposes of the foregoing, “Investor Group” shall mean General Atlantic Partners (Bermuda) L.P. and Oak Hill Capital Partners (Bermuda), L.P.
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(iii) Subject to the Executive’s continued employment with the Company at the end of the applicable three-month period, the “Vested Percentage” shall equal 5% on the date which is three months following the Effective Date and shall be increased by an additional 5% on the last day of each subsequent three-month period, such that the Vesting Percentage shall equal 100% on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, provided, however, that, (A) in the event of the Executive’s termination pursuant to Sections 8(a) or 8(b), the Vested Percentage shall be calculated as if the Executive remained employed for an additional period of 12 months following such termination, (B) in the event of the Executive’s termination pursuant to Section 8(d), the Vested Percentage shall be calculated (x) in the case of any such termination prior to January 1, 2007, as if the Executive remained employed for an additional period of 24 months following such termination, or (y) in the case of any such termination after December 31, 2006, as if the Executive remained employed for an additional period of 12 months following such termination, (C) in the event of a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control that involves the direct or indirect acquisition of Gecis Global for consideration other than cash (whether as a result of a sale or other disposition or a merger) if the Executive continues to be the chief executive officer of the combined entity), the Vested Percentage shall be 100%, and (D) in the event of the Executive’s termination pursuant to Sections 8(a), 8(b) or 8(d) following a Change in Control that involves the direct or indirect acquisition of Gecis Global for consideration other than cash (whether as a result of a sale or other disposition or a merger), the Vested Percentage shall be 100%.
(iv) The Retention Bonus shall be paid at the Company’s election in cash, Common Stock or any combination thereof as soon as reasonably practicable following the Payment Event, but in no event later than five business days following the Payment Event. To the extent the Retention Bonus is paid in shares of Common Stock which are not at the time freely tradable on an established securities market, Executive shall have the right to direct the Company to withhold a portion of those shares in satisfaction of all applicable withholding taxes. For purposes of such withholding tax obligation, the withheld shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date such withholding tax obligation arises, and in no event shall the withheld shares have an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of the minimum required tax withholding obligation with respect to the share issuance.
(v) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Executive receive any unpaid portion of the Retention Bonus if his employment is terminated by the Company with Cause prior to, or in connection with, a Payment Event.
Section 5. Equity Compensation.
(a) Initial Option Grants. On the date hereof, the Executive shall be granted an option to purchase 17,500 shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto and an option to purchase 2,500 shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement attached as Exhibit B hereto.
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(b) Future Option Grants. The Executive will also be eligible for additional option grants under the Plan or any successor thereto on and after January 1,2006; provided, that the making of any such grants, and the terms and conditions applicable thereto, shall be determined by the Board (or the appropriate committee thereof) in its sole discretion.
(c) Right to Purchase. In connection with the execution of this Agreement, the Executive shall have the right to purchase 535.045 interests of Gecis Management Investors, LLC at the per interest price of U.S.$l,869.00 for a total purchase price of U.S.$1,000,000.
Section 6. Expenses. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all travel and business expenses reasonably incurred and accounted for by the Executive (in accordance with the policies and procedures established from time to time by the Company) in performing services hereunder.
Section 7. Other Benefits.
(a) Employee Benefits, Fringe Benefits and Perquisites. During the Term, the Executive shall be able to participate in employee benefit plans and perquisite and fringe benefit programs on a basis no less favorable than such benefits and perquisites are provided by the Company from time to time to the Company’s other senior executives. In addition, the Executive shall receive reimbursement (of up to U.S. $200,000 per Fiscal Year) for the actual costs for such Fiscal Year of (i) the Executive’s lease, maintenance and utilities (including telephone) payments related to his primary residence; (ii) tuition and related education expenses for the Executive’s children; provided, that, in no event shall the Executive be entitled to any payment pursuant to this Section 7(a)(ii) for education expenses for a child after such child has enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution; and (iii) the Executive’s expenses related to his automobile and driver.
(b) Special Pension Benefit. Following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be eligible to receive from the Company, a special pension benefit of U.S.$190,000 per year, which benefit shall be payable on the same terms and conditions (with respect to the benefit commencement date, the form of payment and any reduction of such pension benefit for early retirement) as the benefit accrued by the Executive under the General Electric Company Pension Plan, as amended and restated as of July 1, 2003 (the “GE Plan”). In no event shall the special pension benefits payable hereunder be reduced by any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under the GE Plan. The Executive’s rights to this special pension benefit shall be solely those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company, and nothing herein shall be deemed to give the Executive any right to particular assets of the Company or to require the Company to establish a fund or trust for the benefit of the Executive or otherwise set aside assets for his benefit.
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(c) Vacations. The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation during each year of the Term. The Executive shall also be entitled to all paid holidays and personal days given by the Company to its senior executives.
(d) Relocation. If the Executive relocates his residence at the request of the Company during the Term, the Company shall, consistent with its relocation policies, reimburse the Executive for the cost of relocating himself and his immediate family.
(e) Indemnification. The Company and its successors and/or assigns, will indemnify and defend the Executive to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated and the organizational documents of the Company with respect to any claims that may be brought against the Executive arising out of any action taken or not taken in the Executive’s capacity as an officer or director of the Company or any affiliate. In addition, the Executive shall be covered, in respect of the Executive’s activities as a director and officer of the Company or any affiliate, by the Company’s Directors and Officers liability policy or other comparable policies obtained by the Company’s successors, to the fullest extent permitted by such policies. The Company’s indemnification obligations under this Section 7(e) shall remain in effect following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company.
Section 8. Termination. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the Executive’s death. Upon any termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder as a result of this Section 8(a), the Executive’s estate shall be entitled to receive (i) his Base Salary through the date of termination, (ii) any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any Fiscal Year preceding the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs, (iii) a pro-rata amount of the Annual Bonus for the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs, (iv) the dollar value of all accrued and unused vacation based upon the Executive’s most recent level of Base Salary and (v) any vested but unpaid portion of the Retention Bonus, including the portion which vests upon such termination of employment. All other benefits, if any, due to the Executive’s estate following the Executive’s termination due to death shall be determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company; provided, however, that the Executive (or his estate, as the case may be) shall not participate in any severance plan, policy or program of the Company. The Executive’s estate shall not accrue any additional compensation (including any Base Salary or Annual Bonus) or other benefits under this Agreement following such termination of employment.
(b) Disability. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Disability. “Disability” shall mean the Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental incapacity, to substantially perform the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement for a period of 180 consecutive days. In conjunction with determining Disability for purposes of this Agreement, the Executive
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hereby (i) consents to any such examinations which are relevant to a determination of whether the Executive is mentally and/or physically disabled and (ii) agrees to furnish such medical information as may be reasonably requested. Upon any termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to this Section 8(b), the Executive shall be entitled to receive (A) his Base Salary through the date of termination, (B) any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any Fiscal Year preceding the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs, (C) a pro-rata amount of the Annual Bonus for the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs, (D) the dollar value of all accrued and unused vacation based upon the Executive’s most recent level of Base Salary and (E) any vested but unpaid portion of the Retention Bonus, including the portion which vests upon such termination of employment. All other benefits, if any, due to the Executive following the Executive’s termination by the Company for Disability shall be determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company; provided, however, that the Executive shall not participate in any severance plan, policy or program of the Company. The Executive shall not accrue any additional compensation (including any Base Salary or Annual Bonus) or other benefits under this Agreement following such termination of employment.
(c) Termination for Cause; Voluntary Termination. At any time during the Term, (i) the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Cause” (as defined below) by written notice, specifying the grounds for Cause in reasonable detail, and (ii) the Executive may terminate his employment hereunder “voluntarily” (that is, other than by death, Disability or for Good Reason, in accordance with Section 8(a), 8(b) or 8(d)). “Cause” shall mean: (A) any conviction by a court of, or entry of a pleading of guilty or nolo contendre by the Executive with respect to, a felony or any lesser crime involving moral turpitude or a material element of which is fraud or dishonesty; (B) the Executive’s willful dishonesty of a substantial nature towards the Company and any of its subsidiaries; (C) the Executive’s material breach of this Agreement, which breach is not cured by the Executive to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within 30 business days of the date the Company delivers written notice of such breach to the Executive; or (D) the Executive’s material, knowing and intentional failure to comply with material applicable laws with respect to the execution of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business operations, including, without limitation, a knowing and intentional failure to comply with the Prevention of Corruption Act of India, 1988 or the Foreign Corrupt Practices Xxx 0000 of the US Congress, as amended; provided, that if all of the following conditions exist, there will be a presumption that the Executive has acted in accordance with such applicable laws; the Executive is following, in good faith, the written advice of counsel, such counsel having been approved by the Board as outside counsel to the Company for regulatory and compliance matters, in the form of a legal memorandum or a written legal opinion, and the Executive has, in good faith, provided to such counsel all accurate and truthful facts necessary for such counsel to render such legal memorandum or written legal opinion.
Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to this Section 8(c) by the Company for Cause, the Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) his Base Salary through the date of termination, (ii) any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any Fiscal Year preceding the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs, and
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(iii) the dollar value of all accrued and unused vacation based upon the Executive’s most recent level of Base Salary. The Executive shall not accrue any additional compensation (including any Base Salary or Annual Bonus) or other benefits under this Agreement following such termination of employment.
Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to this Section 8(c) due to the Executive’s voluntary termination, the Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) his Base Salary through the date of termination, (ii) any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any Fiscal Year preceding the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs, (iii) a pro-rata amount of the Annual Bonus for the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs (but only if the applicable performance target for the entirety of such Fiscal Year is achieved), (iv) the dollar value of all accrued and unused vacation based upon the Executive’s most recent level of Base Salary and (v) any vested but unpaid portion of the Retention Bonus. The Executive shall not accrue any additional compensation (including any Base Salary or Annual Bonus) or other benefits under this Agreement following such termination of employment.
All other benefits, if any, due to the Executive following Executive’s termination of employment for Cause or due to voluntary termination pursuant to this Section 8(c) shall be determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company; provided, however, that Executive shall not participate in any severance plan, policy or program of the Company.
(d) Termination for Good Reason or Without Cause. At any time during the Term, (i) the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Good Reason” (as defined below) and (ii) the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause (and other than for death or Disability). “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence, without the Executive’s prior written consent, of any of the following events: (A) a reduction in the nature or scope of the Executive’s authority or duties from those contemplated by this Agreement; (B) a reduction in the then current Base Salary, target Annual Bonus or fringe benefits specific to the Executive; or (C) causing or requiring the Executive to report to any person other than the Board; provided, however, that any such event described in (A), (B) or (C) above shall not constitute Good Reason unless and until the Executive shall have provided the Company with notice of such event and the Company shall have failed to remedy such event within 30 days of receipt of such notice.
Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to this Section 8(d), the Executive shall receive within five days following termination, a lump sum payment in an amount equal to (i) the sum of (A) any earned but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination, (B) any earned but unpaid Bonus for any Fiscal Year preceding the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs, (C) a pro-rata amount of the Annual Bonus for the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs, (D) the dollar value of all accrued and unused vacation based upon the Executive’s most recent level of Base Salary and (E) any vested but unpaid portion of the Retention Bonus, including the portion which vests upon such termination of employment., plus (ii) the sum of (A) two times the Executive’s Base Salary (at the rate then in effect) and (B) two times the
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Annual Bonus the Executive received for the Fiscal Year preceding the Fiscal Year in which the termination occurs. In addition, the Company shall continue to provide, at the Company’s cost, health benefits to the Executive and his spouse and other eligible dependents at the same level of coverage and benefits as is provided to U.S.-based senior executives of the Company for the two-year period following the date of the Executive’s termination; provided, that the Company’s obligation to provide any such health benefits shall cease with respect to each such health benefit at the time Executive and his spouse and other eligible dependents become eligible for such health benefits from another employer. To the extent that the provision of health benefits is not permissible after termination of employment under the terms of the benefit plans of the Company then in effect, the Company shall pay to the Executive such amount as is necessary to provide Executive, after tax, with an amount equal to the cost of acquiring, for Executive and his spouse and other eligible dependents, on a non-group basis, for the required period, those health benefits that would otherwise be lost to Executive and his spouse and other eligible dependents as a result of Executive’s termination. All other benefits, if any, due Executive following a termination pursuant to this Section 8(d) shall be determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company; provided, however, that Executive shall not participate in any severance plan, policy or program of the Company. The Executive shall not accrue any additional compensation (including any Base Salary or Annual Bonus) or other benefits under this Agreement following such termination of employment.
(e) Execution of Release of All Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive acknowledges and agrees that any and all payments and benefits to which the Executive is entitled under this Section 8 are conditional upon, and subject to, the Executive’s execution of a mutual release and waiver of claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(f) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of employment by the Company or the Executive shall be communicated by a written Notice of Termination to the Executive or the Company, respectively, delivered in accordance with Section 10(e) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in the Agreement relied upon, the date of termination, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of employment under the provision so indicated. The date of termination of the Executive’s employment shall be the date so stated in the Notice of Termination, which date, in the event of a termination initiated by the Executive or by the Company pursuant to Section 8(d) shall be no less than 30 days following the delivery of a Notice of Termination or in the event of a termination initiated by the Executive pursuant to Section 8(c) shall be no less than 30 days following the delivery of a Notice of Termination; provided, however, that in the case of a termination for Cause by the Company, the date of termination shall be the date the Notice of Termination is delivered in accordance with Section 8(c).
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Section 9. Restrictive Covenants.
(a) Noncompetition. In consideration of the payments by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, the Executive hereby covenants and agrees that, during the Term and for the one-year period following the date of the Executive’s termination for any reason, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, engage in “Competition” (as defined below) with Gecis Global, Gecis International or any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Group”). For purposes of this Agreement, if the Executive takes any of the following actions he shall be engaged in “Competition:” engaging in or carrying on, directly or indirectly, any enterprise, whether as an advisor, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, employee, stockholder, associate or consultant to any of the five entities listed on the competitor list attached as Exhibit D hereto, or any successor of any such entity, which competitor list may be amended annually by the Board, or a committee thereof, to add or delete entities from such list provided that in no event shall the number of entities named on such list exceed five. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Competition” shall not include the passive ownership of securities in any entity listed on Exhibit D and exercise of rights appurtenant thereto, so long as such securities represent no more than two percent (2%) of the voting power of all securities of such enterprise.
(b) Nonsolicitation: No-Hire. In further consideration of the payments by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, the Executive hereby covenants and agrees that, during the Term and for the two-year period following the date of the Executive’s termination for any reason, the Executive shall not knowingly (i) attempt to influence, persuade or induce, or assist any other person in so influencing, persuading or inducing, any employee or independent contractor of the Company Group to give up, or to not commence, employment or a business relationship with the Company Group, (ii) unless otherwise in contravention of applicable law, directly, or indirectly through direction to any third party, hire or engage, or cause to be hired or engaged, any person who is or was an employee or independent contractor of the Company Group, or (iii) attempt to influence, persuade or induce, or assist any other person in so influencing, persuading or inducing, any agent, consultant, vendor, supplier or customer of the Company Group to give up or not commence, a business relationship with the Company Group.
(c) Confidential Information. The Executive acknowledges that the Company Group has a legitimate and continuing proprietary interest in the protection of its confidential information and that it has invested substantial sums and will continue to invest substantial sums to develop, maintain and protect such confidential information. During the Term and at all times thereafter, the Executive shall not, except with the written consent of the Company or in connection with carrying out the Executive’s duties or responsibilities hereunder, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use for the Executive’s own benefit any trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information of the Company Group, including its business plans, marketing plans, strategies, systems, programs, methods, employee lists, computer programs, insurance profiles and client lists; provided, that such protected information shall not include information known to the public or otherwise in the public domain without violation by
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the Executive of this Section 10(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may disclose Confidential Information when required to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction, by any governmental agency having supervisory authority over the business of the Company Group or by any administrative body or legislative body (including a committee thereof) with jurisdiction to order the Executive to divulge, disclose or make accessible such information; provided, further, that in the event that Executive is ordered by a court or other government agency to disclose any Confidential Information, the Executive shall (i) promptly notify the Company of such order, (ii) at the written request of the Company, diligently contest such order at the sole expense of the Company as expenses occur, and (iii) at the written request of the Company, seek to obtain, at the sole expense of the Company, such confidential treatment as may be available under applicable laws for any information disclosed under such order.
(d) Property of the Company. All memoranda, notes, lists, records and other documents or papers (and all copies thereof) relating to the Company Group, whether written or stored on electronic media, made or compiled by or on behalf of the Executive in the course of the Executive’s employment, or made available to the Executive in the course of the Executive’s employment, relating to the Company Group, or to any entity which may hereafter become an affiliate thereof, but excluding the Executive’s personal effects, Rolodexes and similar items, shall be the property of the Company, and shall, except as otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, be delivered to the Company promptly upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason or at any other time upon request.
(e) Developments the Property of the Company. All discoveries, inventions, ideas, technology, formulas, designs, software, programs, algorithms, products, systems, applications, processes, procedures, methods and improvements and enhancements conceived, developed or otherwise made or created or produced by the Executive alone or with others, at any time during his employment with the Company, and in any way relating to the business activities which are the same as or substantially similar to business activities carried on by the Company Group or being definitely planned by the Company Group (the “Business”), or the products or services of the Company Group, whether or not subject to patent, copyright or other protection and whether or not reduced to tangible form (“Developments”), shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The Executive agrees to, and hereby does, assign to the Company, without any further consideration, all of the Executive’s right, title and interest throughout the world in and to all Developments. The Executive agrees that all such Developments that are copyrightable may constitute works made for hire under the copyright laws of the United States and, as such, acknowledges that the Company or one of the members of the Company Group, as the case may be, is the author of such Developments and owns all of the rights comprised in the copyright of such Developments and the Executive hereby assigns to the Company without any further consideration all of the rights comprised in the copyright and other proprietary rights the Executive may have in any such Development to the extent that it might not be considered a work made for hire. The Executive shall make and maintain adequate and current written records of all Developments and shall disclose all Developments
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promptly, fully and in writing to the Company promptly after development of the same, and at any time upon request.
(f) Enforcement. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Sections 9(a), (b), (c) and (d) herein would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, the Executive agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available, In addition, the Company shall be entitled to immediately cease paying any amounts remaining due or providing any benefits to the Executive pursuant to Section 8 in the event that the Executive has violated any provision of Section 9(a) or has materially breached any of his obligations under Sections 9(b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Agreement. The Executive understands that the provisions of Sections 9(a) and 9(b) may limit his ability to earn a livelihood in a business similar to the Business but he nevertheless agrees and hereby acknowledges that (i) such provisions do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill or other business interests of the Company, (ii) such provisions contain reasonable limitations as to time and scope of activity to be restrained, (iii) such provisions are not harmful to the general public, (iv) such provisions are not unduly burdensome to Executive, and (v) the consideration provided hereunder is sufficient to compensate Executive for the restrictions contained in Sections 9(a) and 9(b). In consideration of the foregoing and in light of Executive’s education, skills and abilities, Executive agrees that he shall not assert that, and it should not be considered that, any provisions of Sections 9(a) and 9(b) otherwise are void, voidable or unenforceable or should be voided or held unenforceable. It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the restrictions contained in Sections 9(a) and 9(b) to be reasonable, if a judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein
Section 10. Miscellaneous.
(a) Executive’s and Company’s Representations. The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound; (ii) the Executive is not a party to or bound by an employment agreement, non-compete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity which would interfere in any material respect with the performance of his duties hereunder; provided,
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however, that the Executive is currently bound by a confidentiality agreement with General Electric Corporation which the Parties hereby agree will not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; and (iii) Executive shall not use any confidential information or trade secrets of any person or party other than the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder. The Company represents and warrants that it is fully authorized and empowered to enter into this Agreement, that the Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, that the performance of its obligations under this Agreement will not violate any agreement between it and any other person, firm or organization.
(b) Mitigation. The Executive shall have no duty to mitigate his damages by seeking other employment and, should the Executive actually receive compensation from any such other employment, the payments required hereunder shall not be reduced or offset by any other compensation except as specifically provided herein.
(c) Waiver.
(i) No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in a writing signed by the Executive and an officer of the Company (other than the Executive) duly authorized by the Board to execute such amendment, waiver or discharge. No waiver by either Party at any time of any breach of the other Party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other Party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall modify the time and/or form of payment under any “Applicable Arrangement” (as defined below) if and to the extent that the Company or the Executive determines such modification to be necessary or advisable to avoid the imposition on the Executive of the additional taxes imposed on certain nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements pursuant to Section 409A. In making any such modification to an Applicable Arrangement, the determination by the Company or the Executive must be made in good faith, be based on advice of counsel and be designed, in the Company’s sole judgment, to fulfill as closely as possible the Company’s original commitment to the Executive under the Applicable Arrangement without regard to Section 409A without increasing the Company’s costs under the Applicable Arrangement. No modification shall be made by the Company without prior written notice to the Executive. For this purpose, “Applicable Arrangements” shall mean the Retention Bonus and Special Pension Benefit, referred to in Sections 4(c) and 7(b) respectively and, following an IPO, any severance payments under Section 8.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company
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(e) Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally, if delivered by overnight courier service, if sent by facsimile transmission or if mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses or sent via facsimile to the respective facsimile numbers, as the case may be, as set forth below, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt; provided, however, that (i) notices sent by personal delivery or overnight courier shall be deemed given when delivered; (ii) notices sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed given upon the sender’s receipt of confirmation of complete transmission, and (iii) notices sent by registered mail shall be deemed given two days after the date of deposit in the mail.
If to the Executive, to such address as shall most currently appear on the records of the Company.
If to the Company, to:
Gecis Global Holdings
SICAR
00 xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
X-0000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Attn: Secretary
(f) GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE WHOLLY PERFORMED WITHIN THAT STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THAT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE THIS AGREEMENT AND/OR THE EXHIBITS HERETO (OTHER THAN AN ACTION WHICH MUST BE BROUGHT BY ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 10(h)) MUST BE BROUGHT IN, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF, A COURT SITUATED IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES THE RIGHTS TO CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM FOR THE RESOLUTION OF ANY SUCH ACTION.
(g) JURY TRIAL WAIVER. THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AND KNOWINGLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN THE EVENT ANY ACTION ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR EXECUTIVE’S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY IS LITIGATED OR HEARD IN ANY COURT.
(h) Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or other claim, other than disputes, controversies or claims relating to Section 9 (which disputes, controversies or claims shall be litigated in court in accordance with the provisions of Sections 9(f) and
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10(f) hereof), arising out of or relating to (i) this Agreement, or (ii) the Executive’s employment with the Company shall be resolved by binding confidential arbitration before a single arbitrator, to be held in New York City, New York in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
(i) Assignment. The Executive may not assign his rights or interests under this Agreement. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company other than to an entity (i) which, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company, or which is a successor in interest to substantially all of the business operations of the Company, and (ii) which assumes in writing or by operation of law, at the time of the assignment, the Company’s obligation to perform this Agreement.
(j) Severability of Invalid or Unenforceable Provisions. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the Parties in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written in respect of the subject matter contained herein.
(l) Withholding Taxes. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any payment due to the Executive hereunder any amounts required to be withheld by applicable tax laws or regulations.
(m) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first above written.
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GECIS GLOBAL HOLDINGS SICAR |
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GECIS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS |
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Title: |
SVP, Taxes & Corporate Affairs |
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EXECUTIVE |
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Exhibit B to Employment Agreement
GECIS GLOBAL HOLDINGS
2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT C
GENERAL RELEASE
AND COVENANT NOT TO XXX
TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME OR MAY CONCERN, KNOW that:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (“Executive”), on Executive’s own behalf and on behalf of Executive’s descendants, dependents, heirs, executors and administrators and permitted assigns, past and present, in consideration for the amounts payable and benefits to be provided to Executive under that Employment Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005 (the “Employment Agreement”) by and among Executive, Gecis Global Holdings, a Societé à Responsabilité Limitée organized as a Societé d’ Investissement en Capital à Risque under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (“Gecis Global”) and Gecis International Holdings SICAR, a Societé à Responsabilité Limitée under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and wholly-owned subsidiary of Gecis Global (“Gecis International” and together with Gecis Global, the “Company”) does hereby covenant not to xxx or pursue any litigation against, and waives, releases and discharges the Company, its assigns, affiliates, subsidiaries, parents, predecessors and successors, and the past and present shareholders, employees, officers, directors, representatives and agents of any of them (collectively, the “Company Group”), from any and all claims, demands, rights, judgments, defenses, actions, charges or causes of action whatsoever, of any and every kind and description, whether known or unknown, accrued or not accrued, that Executive ever had, now has or shall or may have or assert as of the date of this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx against the Company Group relating to his employment with the Company or the termination thereof or his service as an officer or director of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or the termination of such service, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any claims, demands, rights, judgments, defenses, actions, charges or causes of action related to employment or termination of employment or that arise out of or relate in any way to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA,” a law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of age), the National Labor Relations Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), and the Family and Medical Leave Act, all as amended, and other Federal, state and local laws relating to discrimination on the basis of age, sex or other protected class, all claims under Federal, state or local laws for express or implied breach of contract, wrongful discharge, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and any related claims for attorneys’ fees and costs; provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from any of its obligations to Executive under the Employment Agreement (including, without limitation, its obligation to pay the amounts and provide the benefits upon which this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx is conditioned) or any rights Executive may have to indemnification under any charter or by-laws (or similar documents) of any member of the Company Group or any insurance coverage under any directors and officers insurance or similar policies or any benefits vested and accrued as of the date hereof which Executive has under any ERISA benefit plan.
The Company Group does hereby covenant not to xxx or pursue any litigation against, and waives, releases and discharges Executive and Executive’s descendants,
dependents, heirs, executors and administrators and assigns, past and present (collectively, the “Executive Group”), from any and all claims, demands, rights, judgments, defenses, actions, charges or causes of action whatsoever, of any and every kind and description, whether known or unknown, accrued or not accrued, that the Company Group ever had, now have or shall or may have or assert as of the date of this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx against any member of the Executive Group relating to his employment with the Company or the termination thereof or his service as an officer or director of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or the termination of such service, (collectively, “Claims”); provided, however, that (i) nothing herein shall release Executive from any of Executive’s obligations and covenants under Sections 9 or 10 of the Employment Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall release the Executive Group from any Claims (A) which are based upon any acts or omissions of Executive that involve fraud or (B) which were not known to the non-employee members of the Company’s board of directors on the date hereof.
The parties hereto agree that this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx xxx be pleaded as a full defense to any action, suit or other proceeding covered by the terms hereof that is or may be initiated, prosecuted or maintained by any such party or his or its heirs or assigns. Executive understands and confirms that Executive is executing this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx voluntarily and knowingly, but that this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx does not affect Executive’s right to claim otherwise under ADEA. In addition, Executive shall not be precluded by this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx from filing a charge with any relevant Federal, state or local administrative agency, but Executive agrees to waive Executive’s rights with respect to any monetary or other financial relief arising from any such administrative proceeding.
In furtherance of, and solely to the extent provided by, the agreements set forth above, the parties hereby expressly waive and relinquish any and all rights under any applicable statute, doctrine or principle of law restricting the right of any person to release claims that such person does not know or suspect to exist at the time of executing a release, which claims, if known, may have materially affected such person’s decision to give such a release. In connection with such waiver and relinquishment, the parties acknowledge that they are aware that they may hereafter discover claims presently unknown or unsuspected, or facts in addition to or different from those that they now know or believe to be true, with respect to the matters released herein. Nevertheless, it is the intention of the parties to fully, finally and forever release all such matters, and all claims relating thereto, that now exist, may exist or theretofore have existed, as specifically provided herein. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that this waiver shall be an essential and material term of the releases contained above. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to expand the scope of the releases as specified herein.
This Release and Covenant Not to Xxx shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
To the extent that Executive is forty (40) years of age or older, this paragraph shall apply. Executive acknowledges that Executive has been offered a period of time of at least twenty-one (21) days to consider whether to sign this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx and the Company agrees that Executive may cancel this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx at any time during the seven (7) days following the date on which this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx has been signed by all parties to this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx. In order to cancel or
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revoke this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx, Executive must deliver to the General Counsel of the Company written notice stating that Executive is canceling or revoking this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx. If this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx is timely cancelled or revoked, none of the provisions of this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx shall be effective or enforceable by any party and the Company shall not be obligated to make the payments to Executive or to provide Executive with the other benefits described in the Employment Agreement and all contracts and provisions modified, relinquished or rescinded hereunder shall be reinstated to the extent in effect immediately prior hereto.
Executive hereby agrees not to defame or disparage any member of the Company Group or any executive, manager, director, or officer of any member of the Company Group in any medium to any person without limitation in time. The Company hereby agrees that its board of directors, the members of the Company Group and the executives, managers and officers of the members of the Company Group shall not defame or disparage Executive in any medium to any person without limitation in time. Notwithstanding this provision, either party may confer in confidence with his or its legal representatives and make truthful statements as required by law.
The parties acknowledge and agree that they have entered into this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx knowingly and willingly and have had ample opportunity to consider the terms and provisions of this Release and Covenant Not to Xxx.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this General Release and Covenant Not to Xxx to be executed on this day of , .
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GECIS GLOBAL HOLDINGS SICAR |
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GECIS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS |
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EXECUTIVE |
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
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EXHIBIT D
Competitor List