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EXHIBIT 10.1
INTERVOICE-BRITE, INC.
FOURTH AMENDED AND EXTENDED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Fourth Amended and Extended Employment Agreement (this
"Agreement") effective as of September 13, 2000 by and between InterVoice-Brite,
Inc., a Texas corporation formerly known as InterVoice, Inc. with its principal
executive offices at 00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 (the
"Company"), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (the "Employee").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Employee is presently employed by the Company pursuant to
that certain Third Amended and Extended Employment Agreement dated August 17,
1999, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of June 26, 2000
(collectively, the "Old Agreement"), between the Company and the Employee; and
WHEREAS, the Employee and the Company desire to amend the terms and
conditions of the Old Agreement to, among other things, modify the Employee's
title and responsibilities after December 31, 2000, extend the term of the
Employee's employment by the Company and grant additional stock options to the
Employee.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and subject to the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
In addition to the words and terms elsewhere defined in this Agreement,
the following words and terms as used herein shall have the following meanings,
unless the context or use indicates a different meaning:
"Annualized Compensation Amount" means an amount equal to the
annualized salary payable and bonuses accrued or payable to the Employee
pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement during the most recent completed fiscal
year of the Company.
"Cause" means (a) any act by the Employee that is materially adverse to
the best interests of the Company and which, if the subject of a criminal
proceeding, could result in a criminal conviction for a felony or (b) the
willful failure by the Employee to substantially perform his duties hereunder,
which duties are within the control of the Employee (other than the failure
resulting from the Employee's incapacity due to physical or mental illness),
provided, however, that the Employee shall not be deemed to be terminated for
Cause under this subsection (b) unless and until (1) after the Employee receives
written notice from the Company specifying with reasonable particularity the
actions of Employee which constitute a violation of this
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subsection (b) and (2) within a period of 30 days after receipt of such notice
(and during which the violation is within the control of the Employee), Employee
fails to reasonably and prospectively cure such violation.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, no par value per
share.
An "Event of Default" means the occurrence of any of the following
events prior to the Triggering Date, unless remedied or otherwise cured within
30 days after the Company's receipt of written notice from the Employee of such
event, (a) a breach by the Company of any of its express or implied obligations
under this Agreement, (b) without his prior concurrence, the Employee is
assigned any duties or responsibilities that are inconsistent with his position,
duties, responsibilities or status at the commencement of the term of this
Agreement, or at January 1, 2001, as applicable, or his reporting
responsibilities or titles in effect at such time are changed, (c) the
Employee's base compensation is reduced or any other failure by the Company to
comply with Section 4, or (d) any change in any employee benefit plans or
arrangements in effect on the date hereof in which the Employee participates
(including without limitation any pension and retirement plan, savings and
profit sharing plan, stock ownership or purchase plan, stock option plan, or
life, medical or disability insurance plan), which would adversely affect the
Employee's rights or benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to
a program applicable to all executive officers of the Company and does not
result in a proportionately greater reduction in the rights of or benefits to
the Employee as compared to any other executive officer of the Company.
"Good Reason" means the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined
below) and (a) a breach by the Company of any of its express or implied
obligations under this Agreement, (b) without his prior concurrence, the
Employee is assigned any duties or responsibilities that are inconsistent with
his position, duties, responsibilities or status at the commencement of the term
of this Agreement, or at January 1, 2001, as applicable, or his reporting
responsibilities or titles in effect at such time are changed, (c) the
Employee's base compensation is reduced or any other failure by the Company to
comply with Section 4, or (d) any change in any employee benefit plans or
arrangements in effect on the date hereof in which the Employee participates
(including without limitation any pension and retirement plan, savings and
profit sharing plan, stock ownership or purchase plan, stock option plan, or
life, medical or disability insurance plan), which would adversely affect the
Employee's rights or benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to
a program applicable to all executive officers of the Company and does not
result in a proportionately greater reduction in the rights of or benefits to
the Employee as compared to any other executive officer of the Company.
"Triggering Date" means the date of a Triggering Event.
A "Triggering Event" shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) any person
or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) is or becomes the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 20% of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities, or (b) at
any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Company one or more
directors are elected
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who were not nominated by management of the Company to serve on the Board of
Directors of the Company, or (c) the Company is merged or consolidated with
another corporation and as a result of such merger or consolidation less than
51% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting
corporation are owned in the aggregate by the former shareholders of the
Company, other than by a party to such merger or consolidation or affiliates
(within the meaning of the Exchange Act) of any party to such merger or
consolidation, as the same existed immediately prior to such merger or
consolidation, or (d) the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets
to another corporation which is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
2. EMPLOYMENT.
The Company hereby employs the Employee and the Employee hereby accepts
employment on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
3. TERM.
The term of this Agreement shall be from September 13, 2000 until
August 31, 2003 unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions
herein regarding termination.
4. COMPENSATION.
(a) Base Salary. For all services rendered by the Employee under this
Agreement, the Company shall pay the Employee a base salary of $240,000 per
year. Such salary shall be payable in equal monthly installments in accordance
with the customary payroll policies of the Company in effect at the time such
payment is made, or as otherwise mutually agreed upon. Effective as of March 1
of each year during the term hereof, the Compensation Committee of the Company
shall review Employee's performance for the prior fiscal year and make such
adjustments in base salary from time to time at their discretion as the Employee
and the Company may agree.
(b) Bonus. In addition to the Employee's annual base salary and other
benefits provided for in this Agreement, the Company may pay to the Employee on
an annual basis a discretionary bonus in an amount to be approved by the Board
of Directors of the Company; provided, however, in no event shall the bonus
payable hereunder, if any, exceed Employee's annual base salary provided for in
Section 4(a).
(c) Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled to participate in or
receive benefits under any employee benefit plan or arrangement made available
by the Company in the future to its executive officers and key management
personnel, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and
overall administration of such plan or arrangement. Nothing paid to the Employee
under any plan or arrangement presently in effect or made available in the
future shall be deemed to be in lieu of the salary and bonuses payable to the
Employee pursuant to Subsections 4(a) and (b).
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(d) Stock Option. In consideration of the Employee's execution of this
Agreement, effective on the date hereof:
(i) the vesting of the options to purchase 300,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock heretofore granted to the Employee
under to the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan have been fully
accelerated, making such options exercisable immediately. Such
options will be exercisable by the Employee for a period of
two (2) years after the termination of the employment of
Employee.
(ii) the Company has granted options to the Employee to purchase
53,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock under the 1990
Incentive Stock Option Plan. Such options will become fully
vested on March 13, 2001 and will be subject to the customary
terms and conditions of the stock option agreements utilized
in connection with the 1990 Stock Option Plan.
(e) Expenses. Upon receipt of itemized vouchers, expense account
reports, and supporting documents submitted to the Company in accordance with
the Company's procedures from time to time in effect, the Company shall
reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary travel, entertainment, and
other reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred ordinarily and
necessarily by Employee in connection with the performance of his duties
hereunder.
(f) Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to a minimum of 6 weeks paid
vacation during each twelve month period commencing on the effective date of
this Agreement.
5. POSITION, DUTIES, EXTENT OF SERVICES AND SITUS.
(a) Position and Duties. Employee shall serve as the Chairman of the
Board of the Company, accountable only to the Board of Directors of the Company
and subject to the authority of such board and shall have such other powers and
duties as may from time to time be prescribed by such board, provided that such
duties are reasonable and customary for a Chairman of the Board of a public
company. The Employee will submit his resignation from the office of Chairman of
the Board of the Company to be effective as of December 31, 2000. After December
31, 2000, Employee shall serve as Technical Advisor to the Company, reporting to
the Senior Vice President for Research and Development. Employee shall have
duties and responsibilities as may from time to time be prescribed by the Senior
Vice President for Research and Development, provided that such duties are
reasonable and customary for the position of Technical Advisor.
(b) Extent of Services and Situs. The Employee shall devote a
sufficient amount of his business time, attention and energy to the business and
affairs of the Company as is necessary to carry out his duties described in
paragraph 5(a) above and shall not during the term of his employment under this
Agreement engage in any other business activity which could constitute a
conflict of interest, whether or not such business activity is pursued for gain,
profit or other pecuniary advantage. This shall not be construed as preventing
the Employee from managing his current investments or investing his assets in
such form or manner as will not
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require any services on the part of the Employee in the operation and the
affairs of the companies in which such investments are made, subject to the
provisions of Sections 6 and 27. The Employee shall not be required to change
the principal place of his employment to a location which is more than 15 miles
further away from his principal residence than such principal place of
employment at the time of the execution of this Agreement.
6. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE.
(a) The Employee acknowledges that (i) as a result of his position and
tenure with the Company he has received and will continue to receive specialized
and unique training and knowledge concerning the Company, its business, its
customers and the industry in which it competes, (ii) the Company's business, in
large part, depends upon its exclusive possession and use of the Proprietary
Information (as defined in Section 27), (iii) the Company is entitled to
protection against the unauthorized disclosure or use by Employee of the
Proprietary Information or the training and knowledge received by the Employee
and (iv) he has received in this Agreement good and valuable consideration for
the covenants he is making in this Section 6 and in Section 27. The Company and
the Employee acknowledge and agree that the covenants contained in this Section
6 and in Section 27 are reasonably necessary for the protection of the Company
and are reasonably limited with respect to the activities they prohibit, their
duration, their geographical scope and their effects on the Employee and the
public. The parties acknowledge that the purpose and effect of the covenants are
to protect the Company from unfair competition by the Employee.
(b) Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 6(b),
during the period in which the Employee renders services to the Company under
this Agreement and for either (i) the twelve (12) month period thereafter if the
Employee stops rendering such services on or before August 31, 2002 or (ii)
through August 31, 2003 if the Employee stops rendering such services any time
after August 31, 2002, the Employee shall not, without the written consent of
the Company, own, manage, operate, control, serve as an officer, director,
employee, partner or consultant of or be connected in any way with or have any
interest in any corporation, partnership, proprietorship or other entity which
carries on business activities in competition with the Company's activities in
any state of the United States or in any foreign country in which the Company
has sold or installed its products or systems or has definitive plans to sell or
install its products at any time prior to or at the time of the date of
termination of the Employee's employment; except that the Employee may own up to
1% of the shares of any publicly-owned corporation, provided that none of his
other relationships with such corporation violates such covenant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 6 shall not apply
if the Employee's employment with the Company under this Agreement is terminated
(i) by the Company, unless the Employee is terminated in accordance with Section
7 or for Cause in accordance with Subsection 9.1(a) or 9.2(a), or (ii) at the
election of the Employee prior to the Triggering Date after the occurrence of an
Event of Default which has not been waived in writing or on or after the
Triggering Date for Good Reason.
(c) The Company and the Employee hereby agree that in the event that
the noncompetition covenants contained herein should be held by any court or
other constituted legal authority of competent jurisdiction to be effective in
any particular area or jurisdiction only if
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said covenants are modified to limit their duration, geographical area or scope,
then the parties hereto will consider Section 6 to be amended and modified with
respect to that particular area or jurisdiction so as to comply with the order
of any such court or other constituted legal authority and, as to all other
jurisdictions or political subdivisions thereof, the noncompetition covenants
contained herein will remain in full force and effect as originally written. The
Company and the Employee further agree that in the event that the noncompetition
covenants contained herein should be held by any court or other constituted
legal authority of competent jurisdiction to be void or otherwise unenforceable
in any particular area or jurisdiction notwithstanding the operation of this
Section 6(c), then the parties hereto will consider this Section 6 to be amended
and modified so as to eliminate therefrom that particular area or jurisdiction
as to which such noncompetition covenants are so held void or otherwise
unenforceable, and, as to all other areas and jurisdictions covered by the
noncompetition covenants, the terms and provisions hereof shall remain in full
force and effect as originally written.
(d) Employee recognizes and acknowledges that the Company would suffer
irreparable harm and substantial loss if Employee violated any of the terms and
provisions of this Section 6 or Section 27 and that the actual damages which
might be sustained by the Company as the result of any breach of this Section 6
or Section 27 would be difficult to ascertain. Employee agrees, at the election
of the Company and in addition to, and not in lieu of, the Company's right to
terminate Employee's employment and to seek all other remedies and damages which
the Company may have at law and/or equity for such breach, that the Company
shall be entitled to an injunction restraining Employee from breaching any of
the terms or provisions of this Section 6 or Section 27.
7. COMPENSATION IN THE EVENT OF DISABILITY.
(a) Disability. If the Employee becomes disabled during the term of
this Agreement the Company shall cause to be paid to the Employee an amount
equal to his base salary in effect at the time of disability under Subsection
4(a), for the shorter of the duration of the disability or the remainder of the
term of this Agreement and, subject to the provisions of Sections 22 and 25,
with no liability on its part for further payments to the Employee during the
duration of the disability. Subject to Subsection 7(b) below, full compensation
shall be reinstituted upon his return to employment and resumption of his
duties. For purposes of this Subsection 7(a) the Employee shall be deemed
"disabled" when he is unable, for a period of 90 consecutive days, to perform
his normal duties of employment due to bodily injury or disease or any other
physical or mental disability.
(b) Complete Disability. The Company shall have the right to terminate
the Employee's employment under this Agreement prior to the expiration of the
term upon the "Complete Disability" of the Employee as hereinafter defined
(provided, however, that the obligations of the Company under Subsection 7(a)
shall not terminate). The term "Complete Disability" as used in this Subsection
7(b) shall mean (i) the total inability of the Employee, due to bodily injury or
disease or any other physical or mental incapacity, to perform the services
provided for hereunder for a period of 120 days, in the aggregate, within any
given period of 180 consecutive days during the term of this Agreement, and (ii)
where such inability will, in the
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opinion of a qualified physician (reasonably acceptable to Employee), be
permanent and continuous during the remainder of his life.
8. COMPENSATION IN THE EVENT OF DEATH.
If the Employee dies during the term of his employment, the Company
shall pay to such person as the Employee shall designate in a notice filed with
the Company, or, if no such person shall be designated, to his estate as a death
benefit, his base salary in effect at the time of his death pursuant to
Subsection 4(a), in equal semi-monthly installments on the first and fifteenth
day of each month immediately succeeding his death, for a period of months (not
exceeding 12) determined by multiplying the number of complete 12-month periods
of employment of the Employee by the Company (whether pursuant to an employment
agreement or not) by two, in addition to any payments the Employee's spouse,
beneficiaries, or estate may be entitled to receive pursuant to any pension or
employee benefit plan or life insurance policy maintained by the Company, and,
except for any obligations of the Company under Sections 22 and 25, all other
obligations of the Company hereunder shall cease at the time of the Employee's
death.
9. TERMINATION.
9.1 Termination Prior to the Triggering Date.
(a) Upon at least 30 days' prior written notice to the Employee and
prior to the Triggering Date, the Company may terminate the Employee's
employment with the Company under this Agreement only for Cause or in accordance
with Section 7 and, subject to the provisions of Sections 7, 22 and 25, with no
liability on its part for further payments to the Employee. The Company may
effect a termination for Cause pursuant to this Subsection 9.1(a) only by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company. In voting upon such termination for Cause, if the Employee is also a
member of the Board of Directors of the Company, then he may not vote on, and
will not be considered present for any purpose with respect to, a matter
presented to the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to this Subsection
9.1(a).
(b) Prior to the Triggering Date, the Employee may terminate his
employment with the Company under this Agreement by giving at least 90 days'
prior written notice of his desire to terminate employment to the Board of
Directors of the Company. If the Employee's employment with the Company under
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Subsection 9. 1(b), the Employee
will continue to accrue and receive his base salary in effect at the time
pursuant to Subsection 4(a) through the date of termination with no liability on
the part of the Company for further payments to the Employee, subject to the
provisions of Sections 22 and 25.
(c) Prior to the Triggering Date, if the Employee's employment with the
Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or if the Employee terminates
his employment with the Company following the occurrence of an Event of Default
which has not been waived in writing by the Employee, the Employee will continue
to accrue and receive his base salary in effect at the time pursuant to
Subsection 4(a) through the date of termination and will be entitled to receive
the benefits provided for under Subsection 10.1 (unless the Employee's
employment is
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terminated in accordance with Section 7) with no liability on the part of the
Company for further payments to the Employee, subject to the provisions of
Sections 7, 22 and 25; provided, however, that if the Company terminates the
Employee without Cause prior to the Triggering Date, the Company must provide
Employee with at least 90 days' prior written notice.
9.2 Termination On or After the Triggering Date.
(a) Upon at least 30 days' prior written notice to the Employee and on
or after the Triggering Date, the Company may terminate the Employee's
employment with the Company under this Agreement only for Cause or in accordance
with Section 7 and, subject to the provisions of Sections 7, 22 and 25, with no
liability on its part for further payments to the Employee. The Company may
effect a termination for Cause pursuant to this Subsection 9.2(a) only by the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company. In voting upon such termination for Cause, if the Employee is also a
member of the Board of Directors of the Company, then he may not vote on, and
will not be considered present for any purpose with respect to, a matter
presented to the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to this Subsection
9.2(a).
(b) On or after the Triggering Date, if the Employee's employment with
the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or if the Employee
terminates his employment with the Company for Good Reason, the Employee will
continue to accrue and receive his base salary in effect at the time pursuant to
Subsection 4(a) through the date of termination and will be entitled to receive
the payments and benefits provided for under Subsections 10.2 and 10.3 (unless
the Employee's employment is terminated in accordance with Section 7) with no
liability on the part of the Company for further payments to the Employee,
subject to the provisions of Sections 7, 22 and 25.
(c) On or after the Triggering Date, the Employee may, in his sole and
absolute discretion and without any prior approval by the Board of Directors of
the Company, and upon twelve months' prior written notice to the Board of
Directors of the Company, terminate his employment with the Company under this
Agreement for any reason whatsoever. If the Employee's employment with the
Company under this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Subsection 9.2(c),
the Employee will continue to accrue and receive his base salary in effect at
the time pursuant to Subsection 4(a) through the date of termination and will be
entitled to receive the benefits provided for under Subsections 10.2 and 10.3
with no liability on the part of the Company for further payments to the
Employee, subject to the provisions of Sections 22 and 25.
10. COMPENSATION AFTER CERTAIN TERMINATIONS.
10.1 Remaining Compensation. If the Employee's employment with the
Company is terminated (whether such termination is by the Employee or by the
Company) at any time prior to the Triggering Date for any reason other than (a)
termination by the Company for Cause in accordance with Subsection 9.1(a); (b)
termination by the Company in accordance with Section 7; (c) the Employee's
death; or (d) termination at the election of the Employee pursuant to Subsection
9.1(b) then, within five days after the date of such termination, (i) the
Remaining
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Compensation (as herein defined) which would have been paid to the Employee
during the remainder of the term of this Agreement if termination had not
occurred shall become due and payable and shall be paid to the Employee in a
single lump sum in cash, (ii) all restricted stock awards granted to Employee
which are not then fully vested shall, notwithstanding the provisions of any
other agreement, become fully vested and (iii) all stock options at any time
granted to Employee under any stock option plan which are not then exercisable
shall, notwithstanding the provisions of any other agreement, become immediately
exercisable and shall remain exercisable until they are exercised or until they
otherwise would expire in accordance with the provisions governing the exercise
period for stock options following a termination of employment without Cause
under the applicable stock option agreements between the Company and Employee,
as amended. For purposes of this Subsection 10.1, the "Remaining Compensation"
shall mean the annual base salary payable to the Employee pursuant to Subsection
4 (a) at the time of termination plus an amount representing the value of all
employee benefits including, without limitation, discretionary bonuses and
incentive compensation under plans then in effect. For these purposes, the value
of any unearned annual bonuses and all of such other employee benefits shall be
deemed to be equal to 12 months base salary payable to the Employee pursuant to
Subsection 4(a) at the time his employment is terminated.
10.2 Post Triggering Date Severance Payment. If the Employee's
employment with the Company is terminated (whether such termination is by the
Employee or by the Company) at any time on or within three years after the
Triggering Date for any reason other than (a) termination by the Company for
Cause in accordance with Subsection 9.2(a) or (b) termination by the Company in
accordance with Section 7 or (c) the Employee's death or (d) termination at the
election of the Employee other than termination for Good Reason without
compliance with the retirements of Section 9.2(c), then, within five days after
the date of such termination, the Company shall pay the Employee a lump sum
amount in cash equal to 2.99 times the Annualized Compensation Amount.
10.3 Gross-Up Payment. In the event that (i) the Employee becomes
entitled to the payments provided under Section 10.2 of this Agreement (the
"Change in Control Payments") and any of the Change in Control Payments will be
subject to the tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any successor provision, or
(ii) any payments or benefits received or to be received by the Employee
pursuant to the terms of any other plan, arrangement or agreement (the "Benefit
Payments") will be subject to the Excise Tax, the Company shall pay to the
Employee an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount
retained by the Employee, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Change in
Control Payments and the Benefit Payments, and any federal, state and local
income tax and Excise Tax upon the payment provided for by this Section 10.3,
shall be equal to the Change in Control Payments and the Benefit Payments,
provided, however, that in determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, any
Excise Tax on the Change in Control Payments and the Benefit Payments shall be
determined using a rate no higher than 20%. For purposes of determining whether
any of the Change in Control Payments or the Benefit Payments will be subject to
the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) any payments or benefits
received or to be received by the Employee in connection with a change in
control of the Company or the Employee's termination of employment (whether
pursuant to the terms of this agreement or any other plan, arrangement or
agreement with the Company, any person
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whose actions result in change in control or any person affiliated with the
Company or such persons) shall be treated as "parachute payments" within the
meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all "excess parachute payments"
within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the
Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company's
independent auditors and acceptable to the Employee such payments or benefits
(in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, or such excess
payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for services
actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code, (ii) the
amount of the Change in Control Payments and the Benefit Payments that shall be
treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the
total amount of the Change in Control Payments and the Benefit Payments or (B)
the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of Sections
280G(b)(1) and (4) (after applying clause (i), above) and (iii) the value of any
non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the
Company's independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Sections
280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For purposes of determining the amount of the
Gross-Up Payment, the Employee shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at
the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in
which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the
highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and locality of the Employee's
residence on the date of termination, net of the maximum reduction in federal
income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local
taxes. In the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less
than the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of termination of the
Employee's employment, the Employee shall repay to the Company at that time that
the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined the portion of
the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction plus interest on the amount
of such repayment at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In
the event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into
account hereunder at the time of the termination of the Employee's employment
(including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be
determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an
additional gross-up payment to the Employee in respect of such excess (plus any
interest payable with respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of
such excess is finally determined.
11. MITIGATION.
The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any
payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise,
nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement be reduced by
any compensation earned by the Employee as the result of employment by another
employer after the date of termination of Employee's employment with the
Company, or otherwise.
12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior negotiations, agreements, and understandings relating to such subject
matter, and may be modified or amended only by an instrument in writing signed
by the parties hereto.
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13. LAW TO GOVERN.
This Agreement is executed and delivered in the State of Texas and
shall be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of Texas.
14. ASSIGNMENT.
This Agreement is personal to the parties, and neither this Agreement
nor any interest herein may be assigned (other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution) without the prior written consent of the parties
hereto nor be subject to alienation, anticipation, sale; pledge, encumbrance,
execution, levy, or other legal process of any kind against the Employee or any
of his beneficiaries or any other person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company shall be permitted to assign this Agreement to any corporation or other
business entity succeeding to substantially all of the business and assets of
the Company by merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or otherwise, if the
Company obtains the assumption of this Agreement by such successor. Failure by
the Company to obtain such assumption prior to the effectiveness of such
succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Employee to
receive compensation from the Company under this Agreement in the same amount
and on the same terms as he would be entitled to hereunder if he had voluntarily
terminated his employment after the Triggering Date, and, for purposes of
implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes
effective shall be deemed the Triggering Date.
15. BINDING AGREEMENT.
Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company
and the Employee and their respective representatives, successors, and assigns.
16. REFERENCES AND GENDER.
All references to "Sections" and "Subsections" contained herein are,
unless specifically indicated otherwise, references to sections and subsections
of this Agreement. Whenever herein the singular number is used, the same shall
include the plural where appropriate, and words of either gender shall include
the other gender where appropriate.
17. WAIVER.
No waiver of any right under this Agreement shall be deemed effective
unless the same is set forth in writing and signed by the party giving such
waiver, and no waiver of any right shall be deemed to be a waiver of any such
right in the future.
18. NOTICES.
Except as may be otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, all
notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and will be deemed
to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
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addressed to the party or parties at 00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
00000, or at such other addresses as may have theretofore been specified by
written notice delivered in accordance herewith.
19. OTHER INSTRUMENTS.
The parties hereto covenant and agree that they will execute such other
and further instruments and documents as are or may become necessary or
convenient to effectuate and carry out the terms of this Agreement.
20. HEADINGS.
The headings used in this Agreement are used for reference purposes
only and do not constitute substantive matter to be considered in construing the
terms of this Agreement.
21. INVALID PROVISION.
Any clause, sentence, provision, section, subsection, or paragraph of
this Agreement held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal,
or ineffective shall not impair, invalidate, or nullify the remainder of this
Agreement, but the effect thereof shall be confined to the clause, sentence,
provision, section, subsection, or paragraph so held to be invalid, illegal or
ineffective.
22. RIGHTS UNDER PLANS AND PROGRAMS.
Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no
provision of this Agreement is intended, nor shall it be construed, to reduce or
in any way restrict any benefit to which the Employee may be entitled under any
other agreement, plan, arrangement, or program providing benefits for the
Employee.
23. MULTIPLE COPIES.
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall
together constitute one and the same instrument. The terms of this Agreement
shall become binding upon each party from and after the time that he or it
executed a copy hereof. In like manner, from and after the time that any party
executes a consent or other document, such consent or other document shall be
binding upon such parties.
24. WITHHOLDING OF TAXES.
The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement
all federal, state, city, or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any
law or government regulation or ruling.
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25. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
The Company shall pay and be responsible for all legal fees and
expenses which the Employee may incur as a result of the Company's failure to
perform under this Agreement or as a result of the Company or any successor
contesting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement.
26. SET OFF OR COUNTERCLAIM.
Except with respect to any claim against or debt or other obligation of
the Employee properly recorded on the books and records of the Company prior to
the Triggering Date, there shall be no right of set off or counterclaim against,
or delay in, any payment by the Company to the Employee or his beneficiaries
provided for in this Agreement in respect of any claim against or debt or other
obligation of the Employee, whether arising hereunder or otherwise.
27. ASSIGNMENT, PROTECTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.
Employee acknowledges and agrees that all items of the Company's
Proprietary Information constitute valuable, special and unique assets and trade
secrets of its business, which provide to the Company a competitive advantage
over others who do not have access thereto and access to which is essential to
the performance of Employee's duties hereunder. Employee shall not, during the
term of this Agreement or thereafter, use or disclose any Proprietary
Information that is not otherwise publicly available, in whole or in part, for
his benefit or for the benefit of any other person or party, except for the
Company. As used herein, "Proprietary Information" includes, but is not limited
to, customer lists and prices, whether current or prospective, product designs
or other product information, experimental developments and other research and
development information, testing processes, marketing studies and research
activities, and any other trade secrets concerning the Company, its
shareholders, officers, directors, employees, business prospects, customers,
transactions, finances, affairs, opportunities, operations, properties or
assets. The Employee further agrees that all inventions, devices, compounds,
processes, formulas, techniques, improvements and modifications which he may
develop, in whole or in part, during the term of his employment or through or
with the facilities, equipment or resources of the Company shall be and remain
the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The Employee agrees to deliver
to the Company at any time the Company may request, all memoranda, notes, plans,
records, reports, and other documents (including copies thereof and all
embodiments thereof whether in computerized form or any other medium) relating
to the business or affairs of the Company or its subsidiaries which he may then
possess or have under his control. Employee shall maintain in good condition all
tangible and other forms of Proprietary Information in Employee's custody or
control until his obligations under the preceding sentence are satisfied.
Employee agrees to execute all documents and take such other actions as may be
required to comply with this Section.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day
and year first above written.
INTERVOICE-BRITE, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXXX
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: Chief Executive Officer
----------------------------------
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
----------------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
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