Exhibit 10.8
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated April 1, 1999, by and between
IDT Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (the
"Executive").
WHEREAS, in recognition of the Executive's experience and abilities, the
Company desires to assure itself of the employment of the Executive in
accordance with the terms and conditions provided herein; and
WHEREAS, the Executive wishes to perform services for the Company in
accordance with the terms and conditions provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the respective
covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the
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Executive hereby agrees to perform services for the Company, on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
2. Term. This Agreement is for the three (3) year period (the "Term")
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commencing on April 1, 1999, and terminating on the third anniversary of such
date, or upon the Executive's earlier death or other termination of employment
pursuant to Section 7 hereof; provided, however, that commencing on April 1,
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2002 and each anniversary thereafter, the term shall automatically be extended
for one additional year beyond its otherwise scheduled expiration unless, not
later than ninety (90) days prior to any such anniversary, either party hereto
shall have notified the other party in writing that such extension shall not
take effect.
3. Position. During the Term, the Executive shall serve as the President
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of the Company.
4. Duties and Reporting Relationship. During the Term, the Executive
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shall, on a full time basis, use his skills and render services to the best of
his abilities in supervising and conducting the operations of the Company. The
Executive shall report directly to the Chairman and Board of Directors of the
Company.
5. Place of Performance. The Executive shall perform his duties and
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conduct his business at the offices of the Company located in Hackensack, New
Jersey, except for required travel on the Company's business.
6. Compensation and Related Matters.
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(a) Annual Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual
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base salary (the "Base Salary") at a rate not less than two hundred thousand
dollars ($200,000), such salary to be paid in conformity with the Company's
payroll policies relating to its senior executive officers. The Base Salary
may, from time to time, be increased, however, if the Executive's Base Salary is
increased, it shall not thereafter be decreased during the Term.
(b) Employee Benefit Plans. During the Term, the Executive shall be
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entitled to participate in those incentive plans, programs, and arrangements
which are available to other senior executive officers of the Company (the
"Benefits Plans"). The Executive shall be provided benefits under the Benefit
Plans substantially equivalent, in the aggregate, to the benefits provided to
other senior executive officers of the Company and on
substantially similar terms and conditions.
(c) Pension and Welfare Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be
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eligible to participate in the pension and retirement plans (the "Pension
Plans") provided to other senior executive officers of the Company, and
participate fully in all health benefits, insurance programs and other similar
executive welfare benefit arrangements available to other senior executive
officers of the Company and shall be provided benefits under such plans and
arrangements substantially equivalent, in the aggregate, to the benefits
provided to other senior executive officers of the Company and on substantially
similar terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Term,
the Company shall provide the Executive with life and disability insurance at a
benefit level no less favorable to the Executive than the benefit level provided
to him as of the date of this Agreement.
(d) Fringe Benefits and Perquisites. During the Term, the Company shall
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provide to the Executive all of the fringe benefits and perquisites that are
provided to other senior executive officers of the Company, and the Executive
shall be entitled to receive any other fringe benefits or perquisites that
become available to other senior executive officers of the Company subsequent to
the date hereof. The benefits described herein include, but are not limited to,
an automobile leased for the Executive by the Company, the make and model of
which is consistent with that being used by the Executive on the execution date
of this Agreement.
(e) Stock Option Grant. Executive has been granted, on March 1, 1999,
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three hundred thousand (300,000) options to purchase IDT common stock at the
exercise price of $12.625 per share, the terms and conditions of which shall be
governed by the IDT Corporation 1996 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (As Amended
and Restated). Such stock options shall vest as follows: twenty-five thousand
(25,000) options shall vest at the end of each quarter during the Term of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the aforementioned vesting schedule, in the event
the Company experiences a "Change in Control" as defined in the IDT Corporation
1996 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated) any unvested
options shall automatically vest upon the date of the occurrence of the event
In the event the Executive's employment is terminated without "Cause", as
defined in Section 7(b) or the Executive shall terminate his employment for
"Good Reason" as defined in Section 7(c), any and all unvested options shall
automatically vest upon the "Date of Termination" as defined hereunder, and the
Executive shall be permitted to exercise any and all options which are
outstanding as of the date of his termination within two (2) years from the Date
of Termination.
(f) Business Expense. The Executive will be reimbursed for all ordinary
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and necessary business expenses incurred by him in connection with his
employment (including without limitation, expenses for travel and entertainment
incurred in conducting or promoting business for the Company) upon submission by
the Executive of receipts and other documentation in accordance with the
Company's normal reimbursement procedures.
7. Termination. The Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated
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without breach of the Agreement only under the following circumstances:
(a) Death.
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(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder
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for "Cause." For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall have "Cause" to
terminate the Executive's employment
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hereunder (i) upon the Executive's conviction for the commission of an act or
acts constituting a felony under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof, or (ii) upon the Executive's willful and continued failure to
substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than any such failure
resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness),
after written notice has been delivered to the Executive by the Company, which
notice specifically identifies the manner in which the Executive has not
substantially performed his duties, and the Executive's failure to substantially
perform his duties is not cured within ten (10) business days after notice of
such failure has been given to the Executive. For purposes of this Section 7 (c)
, no act or failure to act on the Executive's part shall be deemed "willful"
unless done or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and
without reasonable belief that the Executive's act, or failure to act, was in
the best interest of the Company.
(c) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate his
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employment hereunder for "Good Reason." "Good Reason" shall mean the occurrence
(without the Executive's express written consent) of any one of the following
acts by the Company, or failure by the Company to act:
(i) a material breach of the Agreement by the Company;
(ii) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent with
the Executive's status as a senior executive officer of the Company or a
substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of the Executive's
responsibilities; or
(iii) any purported termination of the Executive's employment which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirement of
paragraph (d) below; for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
(iv) a reduction in Executive's annual Base Salary;
(v) a significant reduction in Executive's positions, duties,
responsibilities or reporting lines from those described in Section 4 hereof;
(vi) relocation of Executive's principal place of employment outside
of the Hackensack, New Jersey area; or
(vii) a "Change in Control" of the Company, as defined above.
The Executive's right to terminate the Executive's employment for Good
Reason shall not be affected by the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness. The Executive's continued employment shall not constitute
consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to any act or failure to act
constituting Good Reason hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
termination shall not be treated as a Termination for Good Reason if the
Executive shall have consented in writing to the occurrence of the event giving
rise to the claim of Termination for Good Reason.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive's employment
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by the Company or by the Executive (other than termination under Section 7(a)
hereof) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other
party hereto in accordance with Section 12 hereof. For purposes of this
Agreement,
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a "notice of Termination" shall mean a notice that shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claims to provide a basis for
termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated.
Further, a Notice of Termination for Cause is required to include a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of
the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board (after reasonable
notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the
Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good
faith opinion of the Board, the Executive was guilty of conduct set forth in the
definition of Cause herein, and specifying the particulars thereof.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the
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Executive's employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death, or
(ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to paragraph (c) or
(d) above, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; provided, however,
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that if within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given the
party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a
dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the
date on which the dispute is finally determined. If within fifteen (15) days
after any Notice of Termination is given, or if later, prior to the Date of
Termination (as determined without regard to the Section 7(e)), the party
receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute
exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on
which the dispute is finally resolved, either by mutual written agreement of the
parties or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for
appeal, therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected); provided
further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute
only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice
pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence.
(f) Compensation During Dispute. If a purported termination occurs during
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the term of this Agreement, and such termination is disputed in accordance with
Section 7(e) hereof, the Company shall continue to pay the Executive the full
compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given
(including, but not limited to, Base Salary) and continue the Executive as a
participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which the
Executive was participating when the notice giving rise to the dispute was
given, until the dispute is finally resolved. Amounts paid under this Section
7(f) are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not
be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.
8. Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability.
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(a) Death. In the event that Executive's employment is terminated pursuant
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to Section 7(a) hereof, then as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company
shall pay the Executive's Beneficiary (as defined in Section 11(b) hereof), as
the case may be, (i) all unpaid amounts, if any, to which the Executive was
entitled as of the Date of Termination under Section 6(a) hereof and (ii) all
unpaid amounts to which the Executive was then entitled under the Benefit Plans,
the Pension Plans and any other unpaid employee benefits, perquisites or other
reimbursements (the amounts set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above being
hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligation"). In addition, the Company
shall pay Executive's estate a lump sum payment equal to 12 months of
Executive's Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the date of his death).
(b) Termination for Cause; Voluntary Termination Without Good Reason. If
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the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the
Executive other than for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay all Accrued
Obligations to the Executive and the Company shall have no further obligations
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to the Executive under this Agreement.
(c) Termination Without Cause; Termination for Good Reason. If the
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Company shall terminate the Executive's employment, other than for Cause, or
the Executive shall terminate his employment for Good Reason, then;
(i) the Company shall pay to the executive, within ten (10) days
after the Date of Termination, the Accrued Obligations; and
(ii) the Company shall pay the Executive a Severance Benefit as
defined hereunder.
x. Xxxxxxxxx Benefit means the sum of (i) Executive's minimum Base
Salary for the remainder of the Term, but in no event less than twelve (12)
months.
9. Non-Disclosure. The parties hereto agree, recognize and acknowledge
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that during the Term the Executive shall obtain knowledge of confidential
information regarding the business and affairs of the Company. It is therefore
agreed that the Executive will respect and protect the confidentiality of all
confidential information pertaining to the Company, and will not (i) without the
prior written consent of the Company, (ii) unless required in the course of the
Executive's employment hereunder, or (iii) unless required by applicable law,
rules, regulations or court, government or regulatory authority order or decree,
disclose in any fashion such confidential information to any person (other than
a person who is a director of, or who is employed by, the Company or any
subsidiary or who is engaged to render services to the Company or any
subsidiary) at any time during the Term.
10. Covenant Not to Compete.
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(a) Executive hereby agrees that for a period of one (1) year following the
termination of this Agreement (other than a termination of the Executive's
employment (i) by the Executive for Good Reason or (ii) by the Company other
than for Cause)(the "Restricted Period") the Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, whether acting individually or through any person, firm,
corporation, business or any other entity:
(i) engage in, or have any interest in any person, firm, corporation,
business or other entity (as an officer, director, employee, agent, stockholder,
or other security holder, creditor, consultant or otherwise) that engages in any
business activity where a substantial aspect of the business of the Company is
conducted, or planned to be conducted, at any time during the Restricted Period,
which business activity is the same as, similar to or competitive with the
Company as the same may be conducted from time to time;
(ii) interfere with any contractual relationship that may exist from
time to time of the business of the Company, including, but not limited to, any
contractual relationship with any director, officer, employee, or sales agent,
or supplier of the Company; or
(iii) solicit, induce or influence, or seek to induce or influence,
any person who currently is, or from time to time may be, engaged or employed by
the Company (as an officer, director, employee, agent, or independent
contractor) to terminate his or her employment or engagement by the Company.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Executive,
directly or indirectly, may own publicly traded stock constituting not more than
five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of such class of stock of any
corporation if, and as long as, Executive is not an officer, director, employee
or agent of, or consultant or advisor to, or has any other relationship or
agreement with such corporation.
(c) Executive acknowledges that the non-competition provisions contained in
this Agreement are reasonable and necessary, in view of the nature of the
Company and his knowledge thereof, in order to protect the legitimate interests
of the Company.
11. Successors; Binding Agreement.
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(a) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect,
by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Executive, to expressly assume and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the
effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and
shall entitle the Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount
and on the same terms as he would be entitled to hereunder of he terminated his
employment for Good Reason, except that for purposes of implementing the
foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be
deemed the Date of Termination. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean
the Company as hereinafter defined and any successor to its business and/or
assets as aforesaid that executes and delivers the agreement provided for in
this Section 11 or that otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions
of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall insure
to the benefit of and be enforced by the Executive's personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributee,
devisee, and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amounts should
still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if
there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate (any of which is referred
to herein as a "Beneficiary").
12. Notice. For purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other
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communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or (unless otherwise specified)
mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage paid, addressed as follows:
If to the Company: IDT Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
If to the Executive: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
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or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
13. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived
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or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in
writing signed by the Executive and such other officer of the Company as may be
specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any
time of any breach by the other party hereto, 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
prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity,
interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of the state of New Jersey without regard to its conflicts of law
principles.
14. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
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provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability if
any such other provision of this agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
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counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
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the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
supersedes any and all other prior agreements, promises, covenants,
arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or
written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto, and in
prior agreements of the parties hereto in respect to the subject matter
contained herein is hereby terminated and canceled.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date and
year first above written.
Executive
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
_____________________________
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
IDT Corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
_________________________
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