EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is dated as of this 15th day of
December, 1998, is by and between Unidigital Inc., a Delaware corporation with
an office for purposes of this Agreement at 00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx 00000 (hereinafter the "Company" or "Employer") and Xxxxx Xxxx with an
address at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (hereafter the
"Employee").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS:
(a) Company wishes to engage the services of Employee to render services
for and on its behalf in accordance with the following terms, conditions and
provisions; and
(b) Employee wishes to perform such services for and on behalf of the
Company, in accordance with the following terms conditions and provisions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions
herein contained the parties hereto intending to be legally bound hereby agree
as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT
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Company hereby employs Employee and Employee accepts such employment and
shall perform his duties and the responsibilities provided for herein in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement principally in New
York City, New York.
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2. EMPLOYMENT STATUS
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Employee shall at all times be Company's employee subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
3. TERM
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The term of this Agreement shall commence on December 15, 1998, and shall
terminate on December 31, 2000, (the "Term"), and may be extended upon mutually
agreed to terms and conditions.
4. POSITION
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During Employee's employment hereunder, Employee shall serve as President
of the Company. In such positions, Employee shall have the customary powers,
responsibilities and authorities of officers in such positions of corporations
of the size, type and nature of the Company. Employee shall perform such duties
and exercise such powers commensurate with his position and responsibilities as
shall be reasonably determined from time to time by Xxxxxxx Xxx, currently the
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and
shall report directly to Xxxxxxx Xxx and only to Xxxxxxx Xxx. Employee shall be
provided with an office, staff and other working facilities consistent with his
position and as required for the performance of his duties and as reasonably
determined by Xxxxxxx Xxx. Employee will continue to serve on the Company's
Board of Directors during the Term and so long as he is employed by the Company
hereunder. At such time as Employee's employment
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hereunder ceases, for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall immediately submit
his resignation as a member of the Company's Board of Directors.
5. COMPENSATION
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(a) For the performance of all of Employee's services to be rendered
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Company will pay and Employee will
accept the following compensation:
Base Salary. During the Term, Company shall pay the Employee an initial
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base annual salary of $500,000 (the "Base Salary") payable in regular
installments in accordance with the Company's usual payment practices (which
currently is in equal biweekly installments). Employee shall be entitled to such
further increases, if any, in his Base Salary as may be determined from time to
time in the sole discretion of Xxxxxxx Xxx; but, in any event, Employee shall be
entitled to receive an annual increase equal to the increase in the CPI for the
New York Metropolitan Area over the base period, as hereinafter used, on an
annual basis. The base period for determining whether Employee shall be entitled
to any increase in the Base Salary shall be the month of December 1998. The
increase in the Base Salary, if any, will be based upon the amount the CPI
increased from December 1998 to December 1999 and if there is an increase it
shall be effective in January 1999. Employee's Base Salary, as in effect from
time to time, is hereinafter referred to as the "Employee's Base Salary".
(b) Company shall deduct and withhold from Employee's compensation all
required taxes, including but not limited to Social Security, withholding and
otherwise, and any other applicable amounts required by law or any taxing
authority.
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6. EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
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During the Term hereof and so long as Employee is not terminated, Employee
shall receive and be provided health insurance benefits including medical and
hospitalization, and other such programs established by the Company,
(collectively "Employee Benefits") on the same basis as those other benefits are
generally made available to the executives of the Company provided Employee
qualifies for them.
Pursuant to a prior employment agreement between the parties, the terms of
which are superseded by this Agreement, Employee received the option to purchase
125,000 shares of the Company's common stock. Those options are now fully vested
Upon the execution of this Agreement, Employee shall receive the option to
purchase a further 75,000 shares of the common stock of the Company in
accordance with the procedures and provisions of the Company's current Stock
Option plan. Said options shall vest immediately upon the execution of this
Agreement.
In the event this Agreement is terminated:
(a) by Employer with cause, any stock option rights that are then vested
shall remain vested in Employee consistent with the terms of this Agreement and
any unvested stock option rights shall be forfeited ab initio;
(b) by Employer without cause, any stock option rights that are then
vested and any stock options rights that will be vested within three (3) months
from the date of the termination shall be and remain vested in Employee
consistent with the terms of this Agreement and any unvested stock option rights
not due to vest within three (3) months shall be forfeited ab initio;
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(c) by Employee, any stock option rights that are then vested shall
remain vested in Employee consistent with the terms of this Agreement and any
unvested stock option rights shall be forfeited ab initio; and
(d) by virtue of the expiration of the Term, Employee shall retain all
vested option rights for a period of ninety (90) days if the shares underlying
the options have been registered and for a period of two (2) years for the
options on underlying shares that are unregistered. Employee shall be entitled
to receive not less than six weeks vacation for year one and four weeks vacation
for year two during the Term and Employee may accrue vacation or receive
compensation for unused vacation at the current level.
7. BUSINESS EXPENSES AND PERQUISITES
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(a) Employee shall be entitled to receive reimbursement from the
Company for reasonable travel (business class), entertainment and other business
expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of his duties hereunder and
such amount shall be reimbursed by the Company on a monthly basis and in
accordance with Company policies then in effect.
(b) Employee shall be entitled to an automobile allowance of $750 per
month during the Term and so long as Employee's employment hereunder is not
terminated.
8. TERMINATION
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(a) For Cause by the Company
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(i) Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company
for cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "cause" shall mean (u) Employee's
willful
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dishonesty that is serious enough to have a materially detrimental effect upon
the Company's best interests, (v) Employee's gross negligence provided such acts
relate to the Company, (w) Employee's breach of a material term or provision of
this Agreement which is not cured or ceased within thirty (30) days after
forwarding to Employee written notice setting forth the breach, (x) Employee's
misconduct of a nature that is serious enough to have a materially detrimental
effect upon the Company's best interest, (y) Employee's unjustified failure to
perform his duties hereunder or to follow reasonable directions of Xxxxxxx Xxx,
the Company's Board of Directors, which is not cured or ceased within thirty
(30) days after forwarding to Employee written notice setting forth the breach,
and (z) Employee's conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, any crime
constituting a felony under the laws of the United States or any State thereof,
or any crime constituting or involving moral turpitude.
(ii) If Employee is terminated for cause, he shall be entitled to
receive Employee's Base Salary from Company through the date of termination and
Employee shall be entitled to no other payments of Employee's Base Salary under
this Agreement. Under all circumstances Employee shall keep his options which
have vested. All other benefits, if any, due Employee following Employee's
termination of employment pursuant to this Subsection 8 (a) shall be determined
in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company for
executives.
(b) Disability or Death.
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(i) Employee's employment hereunder shall terminate upon his death
or if Employee becomes physically or mentally incapacitated and is therefore
unable (or will as a result thereof, be unable) for a period of four (4)
consecutive months or for an
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aggregate of eight (8) months in any twenty-four (24) consecutive month period
to perform his duties (such incapacity is hereinafter referred to as
"Disability"). Any question as to the existence of the Disability of Employee as
to which Employee and the Company cannot agree shall be determined in writing by
a qualified independent physician mutually acceptable to Employee and the
Company. If Employee and the Company cannot agree as to a qualified independent
physician, each shall appoint such a physician and those two physicians shall
select a third who shall make such determination in writing to the Company and
Employee shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.
(ii) Upon termination of Employee's employment hereunder during the
Term as a result of death, Employee's estate or named beneficiary (ies) shall
receive from the Company (x) Employee's Base Salary at the rate in effect at the
time of Employee's death through the end of the month in which his death occurs
and (y) the proceeds of any life insurance policy maintained for his benefit by
the Company.
(iii) All other benefits, if any, due Employee following Employee's
termination of employment pursuant to this Subsection 8 (b) shall be determined
in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company.
(c) Without Cause by the Company.
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(i) If Employee's employment is terminated by the Company without
cause (other than by reason of Disability or death), then Employee shall be
entitled to payment from the Company, in an amount equal to six (6) months of
Employee's Base Salary to be paid to Employee during immediately succeeding next
bi-weekly intervals. All other benefits, if any, due Employee following
Employee's termination of
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employment pursuant to this Subsection 8 (c) (i) shall be paid for the first six
(6) months immediately following Employee's termination hereunder. Also, any
stock options rights that are then vested and any stock option rights that will
be vested within three months from the date of the termination shall be and
remain vested in Employee consistent with the terms of this agreement. If
Employer lawfully terminates employment hereunder, Employee shall have two (2)
years from the date of termination to exercise vested options, if any, if the
underlying shares are unregistered; and if the underlying share are registered,
then Employee shall have ninety (90) days from the date of termination to
exercise vested options, if any.
(d) Termination by Employee. If Employee wishes to terminate his
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employment with the Company for any reason, Employee must afford Company with at
least three full months written notice of termination. Such termination by
Employee shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement. If Employee lawfully
terminates his employment hereunder, Employee shall have two (2) years from the
date of termination to exercise vested options, if any, if the underlying shares
are unregistered; and if the underlying shares are registered, then Employee
shall have ninety (90) days from the date of termination to exercise vested
options, if any.
(e) Change of Control. For purpose of this Agreement "Change of Control"
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shall mean (i) any transaction or series of transactions (including, without
limitation, a tender offer, merger or consolidation) the result of which is that
any "person" or "Group" (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) (2) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), becomes
the "beneficial" owners (as defined in Rule 13 (d) (3) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) of more than fifty percent
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(50%) of the total aggregate voting power of all classes of the voting stock of
the Company and/or warrants or options to acquire such voting stock, calculated
on a fully diluted basis, or (ii) a sale of assets constituting all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company (determined on a consolidated
basis). In the event of such a Change of Control the new entity shall be
obligated to perform the Company's obligation under the terms of this Agreement.
9. NON-DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
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Employee acknowledges that by virtue of his position he will be privy to
the Company's trade secrets including but not limited to Company's customer list
and private processes, as they may exist or as Company may determine from time
to time, and that such secrets are valuable, special, and unique assets of
Company's business and constitute confidential information and trade secrets of
Employer (hereafter collectively "Confidential Information"). Employee shall
not, while employed hereunder and for a period of twenty four (24) months
thereafter, intentionally disclose all or any part of the Confidential
Information to any person, firm, corporation, association or any other entity
for any reason or purpose whatsoever, nor shall Employee and any other person
by, through or with Employee, while employed hereunder and for a period of
twenty four months (24) thereafter, intentionally make use of any of the
Confidential Information for any purpose or for the benefit of any other person
or entity, other than Company, under any circumstances. Company and Employee
agree that a violation of the foregoing covenants will cause irreparable injury
to the Company, and that in the event of a breach
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or threatened breach by Employee of the provisions of this Section, Company
shall be entitled to an injunction restraining Employee from:
(a) Disclosing, in whole or in part, any Confidential Information to any
person, firm, corporation, association or other entity to whom any such
information, in whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be
disclosed in violation of this Agreement.
(b) Continuing such injurious actions.
Nothing herein stated shall be constructed as prohibiting the Company from
pursuing any other rights and remedies, at law or in equity, available to the
Company for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages
from the Employee.
10. RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
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Without the prior written approval of the Company's Board of Directors
first obtained:
(a) For a period of three (3) months after the termination of this
Agreement irrespective of whether Employee is desirous of extending the Term or
Employer is desirous of extending the Term, Employee covenants and agrees that,
within a radius of twenty five (25) miles from each of the then present place
(s) of Company's business or any other area in which Company is engaged in
business, he shall not own, manage, operate, control, be employed by,
participate in, or be connected in any manner with the ownership, management,
operation, or control, whether directly or indirectly, as an individual on his
own account, or as a partner, member, joint venture, officer, director or
shareholder of a corporation or other entity (this excludes ownership of less
than five
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(5%) percent of any public company), of any business similar to or competitive
with the type of business conducted by Company at the time of the termination or
expiration of this Agreement and for an additional three (3) months immediately
thereafter Employee further covenants and agrees he shall not, directly or
indirectly, in any manner whatsoever interfere with, solicit or disrupt or
attempt to interfere with, solicit or disrupt the relationship, contractual or
otherwise, between Company and any customer, supplier, lessee or employee of
Company, its parent or subsidiaries. Employer shall have the absolute right to
extend the three (3) month non-compete, non-solicitation period for up to an
additional eighteen (18) months upon the transmission of written notice to
Employee. Employer shall notify Employee of its intent to exercise the option at
the expiration of the initial three (3) month cumulative period. If the Employer
chooses to extend the initial three (3) month period then the Employer shall
make the contemporaneous payment to Employee of a sum equal to fifty (50%)
percent of Employee's Base Salary for the period that Employer is desirous of
extending the period. Such right may be exercised on a month-to-month basis by
Employer upon 30 days notice.
(b) For the periods set forth in the immediately preceding subparagraph
(a) Employee covenants and agrees that within a radius of twenty-five (25) miles
from each of the then present place (s) of Company's business or any other area
in which Company is engaged in business, he shall not render any services to any
person, firm, corporation, association or other entity to whom any confidential
information in whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be
disclosed in violation of this Agreement.
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(c) Company and Employee agree that a violation of either of the foregoing
covenants will cause irreparable injury to the Company, and that in the event of
a breach or threatened breach by Employee of the provisions of this Section,
Company shall be entitled to an injunction.
(d) Employee acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this
Paragraph 10 are reasonable. In that regard, it is the intention of the parties
to this Agreement that the provisions of this Paragraph 10 shall be enforced to
the fullest extent permissible under the law and public policy applied in each
jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any portion of this
Paragraph 10 shall be adjudicated or deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, the
remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect, and such invalid or
unenforceable portion shall be limited to the particular jurisdiction in which
such adjudication is made.
11. BREACH OR THREATENED BREACH OF COVENANTS.
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In the event of Employee's actual or threatened breach of his obligations
under either Paragraph 9 or 10, or both, of this Agreement, in addition to any
other remedies Company may have, Company shall be entitled to obtain a temporary
restraining order and a preliminary and/or permanent injunction restraining the
other from violating these provisions. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
constructed to prohibit Company from pursuing and obtaining any other available
remedies which Company may have for such breach or threatened breach, whether at
law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from the other.
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12. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY EMPLOYEE.
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Employee hereby warrants and represents that he is not subject to or a
party to any restrictive covenants or other agreements that in any way preclude,
restrict, restrain or limit him (a) from being an Employee of Company, (b) from
engaging in the business of Company in any capacity, directly or indirectly, and
(c) from competing with any other persons, companies, businesses or entities
engaged in the business of Company.
13. NOTICES.
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Any notice required, permitted or desired to be given under this Agreement
shall be sufficient if it is in writing and (a) personally delivered to Employee
or an authorized member of Company, (b) sent by overnight delivery, or (c) sent
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to Employer's or
Employee's address as provided in this Agreement or to a different address
designated in writing by either party. In all instances of notices to be given
to Company, a copy by like means shall be delivered to Company's counsel care of
Xxxxxxxx Ingersoll, College Centre, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx
00000. In all instance of notices to be given to Employee, a copy by like means
shall be delivered to Employee's counsel care of Kleinberg, Kaplan, Xxxxx &
Xxxxx, P.C., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attn: Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.. Notice is deemed given on the day it is delivered personally or
by overnight delivery, or five (5) business days after it is received, if
transmitted by the United States Post Office.
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14. ASSIGNMENT.
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Employee acknowledges that his services are unique and personal.
Accordingly, Employee may not assign his rights or delegate his duties or
obligations under this Agreement. Company's rights and obligations under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company's
successors and assigns. Company has the absolute right to assign it's rights and
benefits under the terms of this Agreement.
15. WAIVER OF BREACH.
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Any waiver of a breach of a provision of this Agreement, or any delay or
failure to exercise a right under a provision of this Agreement, by either
party, shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of that or any other
subsequent breach or right.
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
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This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties. It may not be
changed orally but only by an agreement in writing which is signed by the
parties. The parties hereto agree that any existing employment agreement between
them shall terminate as of the date of this Agreement. All options allocated for
the Term as a non-executive director are to be granted on a pro rata basis for
the time served by Employee in such capacity. These options vest upon the grant
and employee shall have ten (10) years from the date of this Agreement to
exercise these options irrespective of Employee's relationship with the Company.
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17. GOVERNING LAW.
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This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
internal laws of the State of New York.
18. SEVERABILITY
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The invalidity or non-enforceability of any provision of this Agreement or
application thereof shall not affect the remaining valid and enforceable
provisions of this Agreement or application thereof.
19. CAPTIONS
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Captions in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and
reference and shall not be used to interpret or construe any provisions of this
Agreement.
20. GRAMMATICAL USAGE
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In construing or interpreting this Agreement, masculine usage shall be
substituted for those feminine in form and vise versa, and plural usage shall be
substituted or singular and vice versa, in any place in which the context so
requires.
21. CAPACITY.
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Employee has read and is familiar with all of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement and has the capacity to understand such terms and conditions
hereof. By executing this Agreement, Employee agrees to be bound by this
Agreement and the terms and conditions hereof.
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22. COUNTERPARTS
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This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be original, but all of which together shall constitute one
and the same Agreement.
23. ARBITRATION
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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but except for any
injunction provisions provided for in this Agreement, any claim, dispute or
controversy arising from, related to, involving or pertaining to the terms or
provisions of or relationship created by this Agreement shall be submitted to
binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association then
obtaining in the County, City and State on New York and any award or
determination by the American Arbitration Association shall be final and binding
upon the parties. Any such award or determination shall be capable of being
submitted to the United States District Court Southern District of New York or
the New York State Supreme Court for the County of New York as a final judgment
-- and the parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction of said courts as the
Courts with the sole and exclusive jurisdiction. Each party shall bear his or
its own costs, including but not limited to attorneys' fees, of such arbitration
proceedings.
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24. REPRESENTATIVE BY THE COMPANY.
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Company hereby represents that this Agreement is duly and validly
authorized and enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms;
similarly all options granted herein have been duly and validly authorized.
25. SUPERSEDING AGREEMENT. The parties understand and agree that this
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Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to its subject matter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parities hereto has executed this Agreement
as of the date first hereinabove written.
UNIDIGITAL INC.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxx
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By: Xxxxxxx X. Xxx
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxx
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