EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made, entered into and executed as of
the 16th day of February, 1998, by and between Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
(hereinafter referred to as "Executive"), and IWL Holdings Corp., a Texas
corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Employer").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Employer has agreed, subject to certain conditions, to engage in a
business combination (the "Combination") pursuant to which Holdings will acquire
all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of IWL Communications,
Incorporated ("IWL") and CapRock Communications Corp. ("CapRock") and all of the
partnership interests in CapRock Fiber Network, Ltd., a Texas limited
partnership (the "Partnership");
WHEREAS, one of the conditions to the consummation of the Combination is
the execution of this Agreement by Employer and Executive;
WHEREAS, Employer desires to employ Executive as President;
WHEREAS, Executive desires to accept such employment on the terms and
conditions herein set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Employer and Executive
hereby agree as follows.
ARTICLE I
AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT
1.01. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Employer
agrees to employ Executive as President and Executive hereby accepts such
employment with Employer.
TERM
1.02. The term (the "Base Term") of this Agreement shall commence on
the date hereof (hereinafter referred as the "Effective Date") and shall
continue thereafter through April 30, 2001, unless earlier terminated as
provided herein or unless extended on such terms and conditions and for such
period of time as may be agreed upon in writing by Employer and Executive (the
Base Term, as so extended or earlier terminated, is referred to herein as the
"Term").
ARTICLE II
TITLE AND AUTHORITY
GENERAL
2.01. Executive agrees to act as President of Employer and perform the
duties of such position or office. Executive shall render such services as are
normally delegated to such position and such other additional services as may be
delegated to him from time to time by the Board of Directors of Employer
(hereinafter referred to as the "Board of Directors"). Executive further agrees
to hold such additional positions of the Employer as may be assigned to him from
time to time by the Board of Directors. In performing such duties hereunder,
Executive shall give Employer the benefit of his special knowledge, skills,
contacts and business experience and shall devote all of his business time,
attention, ability and energy exclusively to the business of Employer.
Executive shall office in Houston, Texas at the Employer's place of business
located in Houston, Texas.
ARTICLE III
COMPENSATION
BASE SALARY
3.01. As compensation for services rendered under this Agreement,
Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Employer an aggregate minimum
base salary of One Hundred Sixty Eight Thousand Dollars ($168,000.00) per
annum. The base salary to be paid to Executive hereunder shall be paid in
equal installments in accordance with Employer's normal payroll practice and
shall be less applicable withholding, FICA, medicare, FUTA, SUTA and other
taxes, if any. Such installments shall be paid on such days of each week, as
determined by Employer from time to time.
CHANGES IN COMPENSATION
3.02. Nothing in this Agreement shall either prevent or require the
Board of Directors from increasing, in its sole and absolute discretion,
prospectively or retroactively, any compensation or other benefits payable or
provided to Executive.
DISCRETIONARY BONUS
3.03. A discretionary bonus in an amount determined by the Board of
Directors may be paid to Executive at the end of each calendar year during the
Term of this Agreement. No obligation to pay any such bonus is hereby created.
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ARTICLE IV
BENEFITS
MEDICAL CARE PLAN
4.01. Employer shall provide Executive with coverage under a group
medical care plan and life and dental insurance benefits that are the same or
substantially similar to the coverage and benefits provided from time to time to
other executives of Employer.
VACATION
4.02. Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with
Employer's written vacation policy, as in effect from time to time during the
Term.
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
4.03. Executive shall be entitled to participate in Employer's employee
benefit plans established from time to time for its employees, including without
limitation its management incentive bonus plan.
ARTICLE V
TERMINATION
GENERAL
5.01. Employer and Executive shall have the right to terminate the
employment of Executive as set forth in this Article V.
INCAPACITY OF EXECUTIVE TO PERFORM
5.02. If Executive shall become ill or be injured or otherwise become
incapacitated such that, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, he
cannot carry out and perform fully his duties hereunder, and such incapacity
shall continue for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days, the Board of
Directors may, at any time after the ninety (90)-day period has passed, by
giving Executive written notice of such termination, fully and finally terminate
his employment under this Agreement. Termination under this Section 5.02 shall
be effective as of the date provided in such notice. In connection with the
termination of Executive pursuant to this Section 5.02, Employer shall pay to
Executive, in equal installments as set forth in Section 3.01, severance pay for
twelve (12) months or, if less than twelve (12) months remain in the Base Term
of this Agreement, an amount equal to his base salary for that number of the
months immediately preceding the termination that is equal to the number of
months remaining in the Base Term but in any event for not less than six (6)
months; provided, however, that such payments shall be reduced by the aggregate
amount of any payments Executive will be entitled to receive over the period
from the date of the termination of his
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employment hereunder through the end of the Base Term of this Agreement under
any long term disability insurance policy provided to Executive by Employer.
Upon such termination, Executive shall receive only such amounts as are
earned and due to him under this Agreement as the result of his activities
prior to such termination, and thereafter no further consideration or
compensation shall be owed by Employer to Executive. The rights of Executive
described in this paragraph shall be in addition to and not to the exclusion
of, the other remedies and termination rights set forth in this Agreement.
DEATH OF EXECUTIVE
5.03. The employment of Executive shall automatically terminate upon
the death of Executive. Upon such termination, Executive's estate or, if
applicable, his heirs shall receive only such amounts as are earned and due to
Executive under this Agreement as the result of his activities prior to his
death, and thereafter no further consideration or compensation shall be owed by
Employer to Executive or to his estate.
TERMINATION FOR CAUSE
5.04. In addition to any other remedies that Employer may have at law
or in equity, the Board of Directors may immediately terminate Executive's
employment under this Agreement by giving Executive written or oral notice of
such termination upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
A. Failure of Executive to be present for work and duties as
set forth herein for ten (10) or more consecutive business days (except
during vacation and periods of illness as set forth herein) without
giving prior written notice to the Board of Directors and receiving
approval of the Board of Directors of such absence, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld;
B. Executive's conviction for a felony offense or commission
by Executive of any act abhorrent to the community that the Board of
Directors considers materially damaging to or tending to discredit the
reputation of Employer or its respective successors and assigns;
C. Dishonesty, fraud, willful misconduct, unlawful
discrimination or theft on the part of Executive (whether within the
workplace or elsewhere);
D. Executive's using for his own benefit or the benefit of
any third party any material, non-public information, confidential
information or proprietary information of Employer or its respective
successors and assigns, or willfully or negligently divulging any such
information to third parties without the prior written consent of the
Board of Directors, or any violation by Executive of any of its
obligations under Article VII hereof;
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E. Executive's public drunkenness, use of illegal substances
or drugs or the use, possession, distribution or being under the
influence of alcohol or illegal substances or drugs in the workplace.
The only exception is that Executive may consume alcohol reasonably and
responsibly, if he or she so chooses, at legitimate business events and
functions where alcohol is legally available; and
F. The determination by the Board of Directors that, in the
good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, Executive has continually
failed or refused to comply, after notice of and a reasonable
opportunity to cure such failure or refusal, with the policies,
standards, regulations, instructions, or directions of Employer as they
currently exist or as they may be modified from time to time.
Upon termination for any of the reasons described above, Executive shall receive
only such amounts as are owed to him under this Agreement as the result of his
activities prior to such termination, and thereafter no further consideration
shall be owed by Employer to Executive. Employer may deduct from Executive's
paycheck any unauthorized expenses, charges or misappropriations for which
Employer may be responsible as the result of Executive's conduct.
TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE
5.05. The Board of Directors may terminate Executive's employment under
this Agreement without any cause whatsoever by giving Executive thirty (30)
days' written notice or, at the election of the Board of Directors, immediate
notice and the payment of an amount equal to his base salary for the previous
thirty (30) days, at the time set forth therein. In addition to any amounts
owed to the Executive pursuant to the preceding sentence, if such termination is
made pursuant to this Section 5.05, Employer shall pay to Executive severance
pay in an amount equal to the base salary that would be payable to Executive
over the period commencing on the date of termination and ending at the end of
the Base Term of this Agreement, which period shall in no event be less than six
(6) months (the "Severance Period"), assuming the base salary is the amount of
Executive's base salary at the time of the termination, which severance pay
shall be paid to Executive during the Severance Period in equal installments as
set forth in Section 3.01. In addition, upon such termination the vesting of
all options that are granted to Executive under any stock option plan of
Employer or any subsidiary thereof (provided such options are granted on or
after the date on which the Combination with IWL, CapRock and the Partnership is
consummated) will automatically accelerate, with the result that such options
will be fully vested upon the date of termination. Upon such termination,
Executive shall receive only such amounts as are owed to him under this
Agreement as the result of his activities prior to such termination and as
expressly set forth in this Section 5.05 and thereafter no further consideration
shall be owed by the Employer to Executive.
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TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE
5.06. Executive may, with or without cause, terminate his employment
under this Agreement by giving Employer at least thirty (30) days' prior written
notice of such termination. Upon such termination, Executive shall receive only
such amounts as are owed to him under this Agreement as the result of his
activities prior to such termination and thereafter no further consideration
shall be owed by Employer to Executive.
ARTICLE VI
EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT
Executive is authorized to incur reasonable business expenses in connection
with the business of Employer, including expenditures for entertainment and
travel. Subject to the requirements of this Article VI, Employer will reimburse
Executive from time to time for all business expenses that are determined to be
reasonable by the Board of Directors or any officer of Employer designated by
the Board of Directors to review and approve those expenses. All reimbursements
are contingent upon Executive providing to the Board of Directors a receipt for
each expenditure and an account book or expense record in which Executive
recorded at or near the time each expenditure was made: the amount of the
expenditure; the time, place and designation of the type of entertainment and
travel or other expense; the business or other reason for the expenditure; and
the names, occupations and addresses of each person who was entertained.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE, TRADE SECRETS, AND ASSIGNMENTS
COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE
7.01. Executive understands that this Agreement is being entered into
in connection with the Combination and acknowledges that as a result of the
Combination Executive will receive a substantial number of shares of the common
stock of Employer. Executive also acknowledges that IWL, CapRock and the
Partnership would not be prepared to engage in the Combination unless Executive
agreed to the covenants contained in this Article VII. Executive is entering
into this Agreement and making the covenants contained in this Article VII,
among other things, to induce Employer, IWL, CapRock and the Partnership to
engage in the Combination. Executive recognizes and acknowledges that Employer
is placing its confidence and trust in the Executive. Executive will have
access to information which enables Employer to be successful in its business.
Some of the information may be confidential and constitute trade secrets;
however, that information when combined with all other information regarding
Employer constitutes proprietary information and methods that could seriously
affect the ability of Employer to do business if Executive were allowed to use
it other than for Employer. Executive, therefore, covenants and agrees that for
a period beginning on the Effective Date and ending two (2) years after the date
of termination (except as set forth in Section 7.06 below) of Executive's
employment with Employer, Executive shall not continue or commence to:
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A. Either directly or indirectly engage in or carry on any
business or in any way become associated with any business that is in
direct or indirect competition with the Business of the Employer (as
such term is used and defined herein). As used in this Article VII, the
term "Business of the Employer" shall include all business activities in
which the Employer is engaged on the Effective Date or in which the
Employer is engaged on the date of Executive's termination or at any
time between such dates, including, but not limited to, the provision of
local or long distance telecommunications services;
B. Attempt in any manner to solicit from any person or
entity that is or was a client of Employer at any time prior to the date
of termination of Executive's termination, business of the type
performed or formerly performed by Employer for such client or to
persuade any client or Employer to cease to do business or to reduce the
amount of business which any such client has customarily done with
Employer or contemplates doing with Employer; or provide to or for any
client any services or products of the type provided by Employer or
formerly provided by Employer (as used herein the noun "client" shall
mean anyone who is a client or customer, supplier, sales representative
or other person who does business with Employer: (i) as of the date
hereof or the date of Executive's termination or at the time of the
alleged conduct or at any time in between such times; (ii) at any time
during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the time of
alleged prohibited conduct; and (iii) any prospective persons to whom
Employer had made a formal presentation (or similar offering of
services) within a period of twelve (12) months immediately preceding
the alleged prohibited conduct);
C. Either directly or indirectly be or become an employee,
agent, consultant or representative of or become a director or officer
of or be otherwise in any manner associated with any person, firm,
corporation, association or other entity that is engaged in or currently
intends to become engaged in or is carrying on any business that is in
direct or indirect competition with the Business of Employer;
D. Either directly or indirectly solicit for employment or
employ any person employed by Employer at any time during the
twenty-four month (24-month) period immediately preceding such
solicitation or employment; and
E. Either directly or indirectly be or become a shareholder,
joint venturer in or owner (in whole or in part) of or be a partner of
or associated with or have any proprietary or financial interest in any
firm, corporation, joint venture, partnership or association or other
entity that is engaged in or is carrying on any business that is in
direct or indirect competition with the Business of Employer.
Executive hereby recognizes and acknowledges that the existing business
area of Employer extends throughout the United States and therefore agrees that
the covenants not to compete contained in this Section 7.01 shall be applicable
in and throughout such area. Executive further warrants and represents that,
because of his varied skill and abilities, he does not need to compete with the
Business
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of Employer in the area described above, in order to make a living.
Nothing in this Section will prevent Executive from owning less than five
percent (5%) of the stock of any publicly traded corporation after the
termination of his employment as long as Executive is not a participant in the
management or affairs of the corporation in a manner that would otherwise
violate any prohibition contained in this Section. Executive further
acknowledges that all references in this Section 7.1 and in Sections 7.02, 7.03
and 7.04 to "Employer" shall include all existing and future subsidiaries of
Employer and any successor thereof, including without limitation IWL, CapRock
and the Partnership upon consummation of the Combination, and the covenant not
to compete granted in this Section 7.1 shall extend to all such entities.
TRADE SECRETS
7.02. Executive recognizes and acknowledges that information in
whatever form it may exist pertaining to the financial condition of Employer,
its products, processes, properties, assets, inventions, proprietary rights,
customers, specifically targeted potential customers, markets, technology,
know-how, trade secrets, prospects, proposals, concepts and all other aspects
of the Business of Employer (collectively "Confidential Information") is
valuable, special and unique. Accordingly, Executive agrees that he will not
during the Term of his employment with Employer or for five (5) years
thereafter, disclose any such Confidential Information to any person, firm,
corporation, association, or other entity for any reason or purpose
whatsoever or make use in any other way to his personal advantage or to the
advantage of any third parties, of any Confidential Information available to
him.
RECORDS
7.03. All files of customers and of Employer and all records of the
accounts of customers, and any other records, memoranda, etc., relating in any
manner whatsoever to the customers, Employer's product, the Business of
Employer, the Confidential Information, suppliers or prospective customers or
prospective suppliers of Employer, whether prepared by Executive or otherwise
coming into his possession, shall be the exclusive property of Employer. All
such files and records shall be immediately placed in the physical possession of
Employer on the termination of Executive's employment with Employer or at any
other time specified by the Board of Directors. Executive agrees not to retain
or use duplicates in any form of such files and records by Executive is
prohibited after the termination of Executive's employment with Employer and
acknowledges that such use is prohibited.
7.04. DISCLOSURE AND ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS.
A. Executive shall disclose in writing to Employer full and complete
details respecting any Confidential Information, inventions, enhancements,
technology or other proprietary assets whether tangible or intangible
(collectively "Confidential Information and Proprietary Assets") that Executive
may devise, develop, invent, compile, enhance, design, write or discover
(whether alone or with others or whether during or after business hours, or
whether at the premises of Employer, the
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home of Executive or elsewhere) while he is employed by the Employer. Such
disclosure shall be made promptly upon such development, enhancement,
invention, compilation, design, writing or discovery having been made or
created, and shall be disclosed in writing pursuant to such form as Employer
may from time to time provide.
B. Executive agrees to assign and does hereby irrevocably assign to
Employer all of his right, title and interest in and to any Confidential
Information and Proprietary Assets including, but not limited to, that which
relates to the Business of the Employer that he has devised, developed,
invented, compiled, enhanced, designed, written or discovered (whether alone or
with others or whether during or after business hours, or whether at the
premises of Employer, the home of Executive or elsewhere), or in which he may
otherwise obtain any rights, while he is or was employed by Employer or which he
owned at the time of becoming an employee of the Employer. Executive agrees to
take any actions, including the execution of documents or instruments, that the
Employer may reasonably require to effect the Executive's assignment of rights
pursuant to this Section 7.04, and Executive hereby constitutes and appoints,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, the President and any Vice
President, acting alone, of Employer as his attorney-in-fact to execute and
deliver on behalf and in the stead of Executive any documents or instruments
that Executive is obligated to execute and deliver pursuant to this Section
7.04.
C. Executive shall promptly notify Employer of any patent relating to any
portion of the Confidential Information and Proprietary Assets that is applied
for by any person or entity or issued to any person or entity (including
Executive) ("Patent"). Such notice shall be in writing in such form as Employer
may from time to time require. On the written request of Employer, Executive
shall sell to Employer, and Employer shall purchase from Executive, all right,
title and interest of Executive in and to any Patent, whether or not Executive
is employed by Employer at the time the Patent issues. The purchase price for
any Patent or Copyright shall be one dollar ($1) and shall be paid by Employer
at the time it makes the written request to purchase the Patent or Copyright.
Executive agrees to execute any and all documents and instruments necessary to
evidence and effect the transfer to Employer of all right, title and interest of
Executive in and to the Patent or Copyright.
D. At the request of Employer, Executive shall assist Employer in
applying for and obtaining both domestic and foreign patents or copyrights, as
the case may be, on all Confidential Information and Proprietary Assets that
Employer deems to be patentable or copyrightable that he has previously devised,
developed, invented, compiled, written, designed or discovered or that he may
devise, develop, invent, compile, design, write or discover, (whether alone or
with others or whether during or after business hours, or whether at the
premises of Employer, the home of Executive or elsewhere), while he is or was
employed by Employer, and Executive shall execute at any time or times any and
all documents and perform all acts reasonably requested by Employer and that
Employer deems to be necessary or desirable in order to obtain such patents or
copyrights or otherwise to vest in Employer full and exclusive title and
interest in and to all such Confidential Information and Proprietary Assets, to
protect the same against infringement by others and otherwise to aid Employer in
connection with any continuations, renewals or reissues of any patents or
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copyrights, or in the conduct of any proceedings or litigation in regard
thereto. All expenses of procuring any patent or copyrights shall be borne
by Employer.
E. Executive has no inventions and/or other rights or items made or
conceived by Executive prior to the date hereof that are not in the public
domain or the property of Employer that in any manner could be deemed to be
Confidential Information and Proprietary Assets.
BREACH
7.05. Executive hereby recognizes and acknowledges that irreparable
injury or damage shall result to the Business of Employer in the event of a
breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the terms or provisions of
this Article VII, and Executive therefore agrees that Employer shall be entitled
to an injunction restraining Executive from engaging in any activity
constituting such breach or threatened breach. Nothing contained herein shall
be construed as prohibiting Employer from pursuing any other remedies available
to Employer at law or in equity for such breach or threatened breach, including,
but not limited to, the recovery of damages from Executive and, if Executive is
an employee of the Employer, terminating the employment of Executive in
accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
SURVIVAL
7.06. Except as set forth below in this Section 7.06, notwithstanding
the termination of the employment of Executive or the termination of this
Agreement, the provisions of this Article VII shall survive and be binding upon
Executive unless a written agreement that specifically refers to the termination
of the obligations and covenants of this Article VII is executed by Employer.
The provisions of Section 7.01 shall terminate two (2) years after the date of
termination unless the termination is made pursuant to Section 5.05. If the
termination is made pursuant to Section 5.05 the provisions of Section 7.01
shall terminate upon expiration of the Severance Period. The provisions of
Section 7.02 shall terminate five (5) years after the date of termination (no
matter how such termination occurs).
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
NOTICES
8.01. Any notices to be given hereunder by either party to the other
may be effected either by personal delivery in writing or by mail, registered or
certified, postage prepaid with return receipt requested. Mailed notices shall
be addressed to the parties at the following addresses:
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If to Employer: IWL Holdings Corp.
Two Galleria Tower, Suite 1925
00000 Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
If to Executive: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Phone No.: 000-000-0000
Fax No.:
Any party may change his or its address by written notice in accordance
with this Section. Notices delivered personally shall be deemed communicated as
of actual receipt, mailed notices shall be deemed communicated as of three (3)
days after proper mailing.
INCLUSION OF ENTIRE AGREEMENT HEREIN
8.02. This Agreement supersedes any and all other agreements, either
oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the employment of
Executive by Employer and contains all of the covenants and agreements between
the parties with respect to such employment in any manner whatsoever. Any
existing employment agreement between Executive and Employer is hereby
terminated effective as of the Effective Date and shall be of no further force
or effect from and after the Effective Date.
LAW GOVERNING AGREEMENT
8.03. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Texas, and all obligations shall be performable in
the State of Texas.
ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS
8.04. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or
interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to
reasonable attorney's fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any
other relief to which such party may be entitled.
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WAIVER
8.05. No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have
been waived nor shall there be any estoppel to enforce any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement except by written instrument of the party charged
with such waiver or estoppel. Further, it is agreed that no waiver at any time
of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be construed as a
waiver of any of the other terms or provisions of this Agreement and that a
waiver at any time of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall not
be construed as a waiver at any subsequent time of the same terms or provisions.
AMENDMENTS
8.06. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.07, no amendment or
modification of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless and until
executed in writing by all of the parties hereto.
SEVERABILITY AND LIMITATION
8.07. All agreements and covenants contained herein are severable and,
in the event any of them shall be held to be invalid by any competent court,
this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such invalid agreements or covenants
were not contained herein. Should any court or other legally constituted
authority determine that for any such agreement or covenant to be effective that
it must be modified to limit its duration or scope, the parties hereto shall
consider such agreement or covenant to be amended or modified with respect to
duration and scope so as to comply with the orders of any such court or other
legally constituted authority or to be enforceable under the laws of the State
of Texas, and as to all other portions of such agreement or covenants they shall
remain in full force and effect as originally written.
HEADINGS
8.08. All headings set forth in this Agreement are intended for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning, construction or
effect of this Agreement or of any of the provisions thereof.
ASSIGNMENT
8.09. Executive agrees that his representations, warranties, covenants,
promises and obligations contained herein may be assigned by Employer to any
person, partnership, firm, association, corporation or other business entity to
which Employer may transfer its business and assets or any portion thereof.
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EXECUTED as of the day and year first above written.
EMPLOYER:
IWL HOLDINGS CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
--------------------------
Its: Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE:
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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