AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement ("Agreement"), is entered
into as of January 1, 1998, by and between Insignia Financial Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation with an office at One Insignia Financial Plaza, Greenville,
South Carolina (the "Company"), and Xxxxx X. Aston, an individual with an office
at One Insignia Financial Plaza, Greenville, SC 29062 (the "Executive").
Background
The Company and the Executive have previously entered into an Employment
Agreement, which agreement has been previously amended. The Company desires to
assure itself of the services of the Executive for the additional period
provided in this Agreement, and the Executive is willing to serve in the employ
of the Company for such period upon the terms and conditions provided in this
Agreement.
Statement of Agreement
In consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive,
and the Executive hereby accepts such employment, in each case upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein, for a period commencing on January 1, 1998 (the
"Commencement Date") and ending on December 31, 2000 or such earlier date as
provided herein (the "Expiration Date") (such period, as it may be so
terminated, being referred to herein as the "Employment Period").
Section 2. Duties and Services.
(a) Offices. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as
Office of the Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and, at the
Company's request, as an officer or director of one or more of its subsidiaries.
In the performance of his duties hereunder, the Executive shall report to and
shall be responsible only to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of
Directors of the Company. The Executive agrees to his employment as described in
this Section 2, and agrees to devote substantially all of his working time and
efforts to the performance of his duties hereunder. The Executive shall be
available to travel as the needs of the business of the Company reasonably
require.
(b) Location of Office. During the Employment Period, the Executive's
office shall be located at One Insignia Financial Plaza, Greenville, SC 29062 or
at such other location as the Company and the Executive shall mutually agree.
The Company will provide the Executive with his current office, an executive
secretary reasonably acceptable to him, and other reasonable support appropriate
to his duties hereunder.
(c) Primary Responsibilities. Subject to Section 2(a), during the
Employment Period, the Executive shall have such responsibilities as are
assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the
Company. The Executive shall comply with all written policies and procedures of
the Company.
(d) Consulting. If the Executive's title, powers or duties within the
Company have been diminished after or in connection with an Extraordinary
Transaction (as defined in Section 4(d)) or a Material Asset Disposition (as
defined in Section 4(e)), other than as a result of a Termination For Cause (as
defined in Section 7(a)(iv)), without the prior written consent of Executive,
then Executive can elect in writing to convert this Agreement into a consulting
agreement. Under the terms of the consulting agreement, the Executive shall
consult with respect to the assets and liabilities of the Company as they
existed immediately before the Extraordinary Transaction or the Material Asset
Disposition. Such consultation shall be at the reasonable times convenient to
the Executive on no less than five business days' notice, the parties
recognizing that the Executive during the consulting period likely will have
significant other business interests. The terms and conditions of this Agreement
(including all rights hereunder of the Executive as to salary, bonus, payments
and benefits) shall continue unabridged during the period of consulting. The
other provisions of this Agreement also shall remain in effect except for
Section 2 as modified by this Section 2(d) and except that Section 7(a)(iv)(B)
and Section 7(a)(iv)(C) shall be deleted. The "Employment Period" shall be
deemed to include the period during which the Executive is obligated to provide
consulting services hereunder and therefore, to the extent permitted by law, the
conversion shall not be deemed a termination for any purpose and, if the law
requires that the conversion be treated as a termination, then the Company must
provide the Executive with benefits equivalent to those he would have received
had there been no termination.
Section 3. Key Man Life Insurance. The Company shall have the right to
place a "key man" life insurance policy, providing a death benefit of up to
$15,000,000 upon the life of the Executive, for which the Company is the
beneficiary. In connection therewith, the Executive hereby authorizes the
Company, at its sole cost and expense, to purchase and maintain upon the life of
the Executive such insurance policy, and agrees to submit to such reasonable
medical examinations, and to provide and/or consent to the release of such
medical information, as may be necessary or desirable in order to secure the
issuance thereof. Except as may be required in order to obtain insurance
coverage as described in this Section 3, any and all information about
Employee's health or medical records shall be kept confidential by the Company
and shall not be disclosed by the Company to any party without the Executive's
prior written consent.
Section 4. Compensation. As full compensation for his services hereunder,
the Company shall pay, grant, issue or give, as the case may be, to the
Executive the compensation and benefits specified below:
(a) Base Salary. Subject to the provisions of Section 7, a base salary at
the rate of $400,000 per annum ("Base Salary"), which Base Salary shall be paid
to the Executive in accordance with the customary executive payroll policy of
the Company as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that the Base
Salary, as in effect at any time and from time to time, may be further increased
by action of the Board of Directors; and further provided, however, that in no
event shall the Base Salary be decreased at any time or from time to time
without the prior consent of the Executive, which consent may be granted or
withheld in the Executive's sole discretion.
(b) Annual Discretionary Bonus. An annual discretionary bonus
("Discretionary Bonus"), the amount of which, if any, shall be determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, which
shall be paid to the Executive, with respect to any fiscal year of the Company,
before the expiration of 74 days after the end of such fiscal year. In making
bonus determinations, the Company shall evaluate the Executive's performance in
accordance with the standard bonus guidelines used by the Company for executives
of the Company in the same or a similar position as the Executive. In the event
of an Extraordinary Transaction, as defined herein, in any year, then the
Company shall, promptly after the Extraordinary Transaction, pay an amount equal
to the discretionary bonus the Executive received with respect to the year prior
to the year in which the Extraordinary Transaction occurred multiplied by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of days between the beginning of
the year and the occurrence of the Extraordinary Transaction and the denominator
of which is 365.
(c) Loan. The Company will, upon written request from the Executive,
provide a loan to the Executive in a principal amount not to exceed $500,000
(the "Loan"). Interest on the Loan shall accrue at a rate of 6.5% per annum and
shall be payable at maturity. The Loan shall mature on January 6, 2003. Subject
to the other terms of this paragraph, the loan will be forgiven pro-rata over
five years beginning January 1, 1998. All accrued interest on the Loan shall be
forgiven on the same basis as set forth in this Section 4(c). In the event of a
Death Termination Event or a Disability Termination Event (both as hereinafter
defined), all outstanding principal of and accrued interest on the Loan shall be
forgiven. In the event of a Termination for Cause of the Executive or the
voluntary resignation by Executive prior to December 31, 2000, any and all
amounts outstanding under the Loan, including accrued and unpaid interest, shall
be due and payable to the Company within 20 business days of such event. In the
event the Executive is Terminated Without Cause or remains employed by the
Company through December 31, 2000, the Loan will continue thereafter to be
forgiven as provided above over such five-year period.
(d) Extraordinary Transaction. In the event of an Extraordinary
Transaction, whether or not the Executive elects to convert this Agreement into
a consulting agreement, the Company shall, in addition to remaining obligated
under the terms of this Agreement, immediately after the Extraordinary
Transaction pay the Executive a payment equal to (i) the difference between the
discretionary bonus the Executive received from the Company with respect to the
year prior to the year in which the Extraordinary Transaction occurred and the
amount paid pursuant to the last sentence of Section 4(b), since the Executive
may be forfeiting the right to receive the balance of such bonus, and (ii)
$33,333 per month for each month or part thereof after June 30, 1998 in which
the Extraordinary Transaction occurs. Thus should an Extraordinary Transaction
occur on August 15, 1998, the payment pursuant to Section 4(d)(ii) would be
$66,666.
An "Extraordinary Transaction" as used herein means the occurrence of any
one or more of the following:
(i) the Company ceases to be required to file reports under Section 13
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
any successor to that Section;
(ii) a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company are not persons who (a) had been directors of the Company for at
least the preceding 12 consecutive months or (b) when they initially were
elected to the Board (x) were nominated (if they were elected by the
stockholders) or elected (if they were elected by the directors) with the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors who were Continuing
Directors at the time of the nomination or election by the Board and (y)
were not elected as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of
proxies or consents by a person other than the Board of Directors of the
Company or an agreement intended to avoid or settle such a proxy
solicitation (the directors described in clauses (a) and (b) being
"Continuing Directors");
(iii) any "person," including a "group" (as such terms are used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding the Company,
any of its present affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) ("Affiliates"),
or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its present
Affiliates) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13(d)
(3) under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities;
(iv) the purchase of Class A Common Stock of the Company ("Common
Stock") pursuant to any tender or exchange offer or otherwise made by any
"person," including a "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13 (d)
and 14 (d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company, any of its present
Affiliates, or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its
present Affiliates, which results in "beneficial ownership" (as so defined)
of 30% or more of the outstanding Common Stock;
(v) the execution and delivery of a definitive agreement by the
Company that provides for a merger or consolidation, or a transaction
having a similar effect (unless such merger, consolidation or similar
action is with a subsidiary of the Company or with another company, a
majority of whose outstanding capital stock is owned by the same persons or
entities who own a majority of the Company's outstanding Common Stock at
such time), where (A) the Company is not the surviving corporation, (B) the
majority of the Common Stock of the Company is no longer held by the
persons who were the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the
transaction, (C) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company but not the spin off of one
division, the sale of one division, or both (where "division" means the
present residential business (including IPT) and the present commercial
business), and not the trading of marketable securities held as portfolio
securities or (D) the Company's Common Stock is converted into cash,
securities or other property (other than the common stock of a company into
which the Company is merged), provided, however, that, in the event that
the contemplated merger, consolidation or similar transaction is not
consummated, then any rights that may arise under this paragraph (v) by
virtue of such Change of Control shall not apply; and
(vi) upon the consummation of any transaction requiring stockholder
approval for the acquisition of the Company by an entity other than the
Company or a subsidiary through purchase of assets, or by merger, or
otherwise but not the spin off of one division, the sale of one division,
or both.
(e) Material Asset Disposition Bonus. In the event of a Material Asset
Disposition, as defined below, in consideration of the services performed by the
Executive and consistent with the prior terms of the Executive's employment, the
Company (or, in the case of clause (iii) below, the spin-off entity or, in
default thereof, the Company) shall pay to the Executive within 15 days of the
consummation of such Material Asset Disposition, a cash bonus equal to .25% of
the consideration (valued as set forth below) received by the Company or its
shareholders as a result of such Material Asset Disposition. A "Material Asset
Disposition" as used herein means, without duplication for the same matter: (i)
a transaction which results in a majority of the equity interest in the Company
being beneficially owned by any "person," including any "group" (as such terms
are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than any of the
Company's present Affiliates; (ii) a sale or series of sales by the Company of
subsidiaries, divisions, assets (other than marketable securities), or operating
businesses representing in the aggregate 20% or more of the Company's 1998
budgeted EBITDA and each such sale after such threshold has been reached; (iii)
a spin off, or series of spin offs, of any of the Company's divisions, operating
businesses or subsidiaries that meet the 1998 budgeted EBITDA threshold set
forth in (ii) above which is followed by a subsequent Extraordinary Transaction
(as defined above, but with reference to the spun off entity rather than the
Company) of the subsidiary, division or business spun off within five years
following such spin off; or (iv) any transaction which results in any one or
more of the Company's divisions, subsidiaries or operating businesses,
representing in the aggregate 20% or more of the Company's EBITDA, being owned
by a third party. In the event a Material Asset Disposition is consummated in
one or more steps, including, without limitation, by way of second-step merger,
any additional consideration paid or to be paid in any subsequent step in the
Material Asset Disposition in respect of (x) subsidiaries, divisions, assets
(other than marketable securities), or operating businesses of the Company and
(y) capital stock of the Company (and any securities convertible into, or
options, warrants or other rights to acquire, such capital stock) shall be
included for purposes of calculating the bonus payable pursuant to this Section
4(e). "Consideration" shall not include the assumption, directly or indirectly,
or repayment of indebtedness or other liabilities of the Company but shall
include the assumption, directly or indirectly, or repayment of the Trust
Convertible Preferred Securities presently outstanding or any similar
securities. If all or a portion of the consideration paid in the Material Asset
Disposition is other than cash or securities, then the value of such non-cash
consideration shall be the fair market value thereof on the date the Material
Asset Disposition is consummated as mutually agreed upon in good faith by the
Company's Board of Directors and the Executive. If such non-cash consideration
consists of common stock, options, warrants or rights for which a public trading
market existed prior to the consummation of the Material Asset Disposition, then
the value of such securities shall be determined by the closing or last sales
price thereof on the date of the consummation of the Material Asset Disposition;
provided, however, that if such non-cash consideration consists of newly-issued,
publicly-traded common stock, options, warrants or rights for which no public
trading market existed prior to the consummation of the Material Asset
Disposition, then the value thereof shall be the average of the closing prices
for the 20 trading days subsequent to the fifth trading day after the
consummation of the Material Asset Disposition. In such event, the portion of
the bonus payable to the Executive pursuant to this Section 4(e) attributable to
such securities shall be paid on the 30th trading day subsequent to consummation
of the Material Asset Disposition. If no public market exists for the common
stock, options, warrants or other rights issued in the Material Asset
Disposition, then the value of thereof shall be as mutually agreed upon in good
faith by the Company's Board of Directors and the Executive. If the non-cash
consideration paid in the Material Asset Disposition consists of preferred stock
or debt securities (regardless of whether a public trading market existed for
such preferred stock or debt securities prior to consummation of the Material
Asset Disposition or exists thereafter), the value hereof shall be the face or
principal amount, as the case may be. Any amounts payable by a purchaser to the
Company, any shareholder of the Company or any Affiliate of either the Company
or any shareholder of the Company in connection with a non-competition,
employment, consulting, licensing, supply or other agreement shall be deemed to
be part of the consideration paid in the Material Asset Disposition. If all or a
portion of the consideration payable in connection with the Material Asset
Disposition includes contingent future payments, then the Company shall pay to
the Executive, upon consummation of such Material Asset Disposition, an
additional cash fee, determined in accordance with this Section 4(e) as, when
and if such contingency payments are received. However, in the event of an
installment purchase at a fixed price and a fixed time schedule, the Company
agrees to pay the Executive, upon consummation of the Material Asset
Disposition, a cash fee determined in accordance with this Section 4(e) based on
the present value of such installment payments using a discount rate of 6.5%.
(f) Fringe Benefit Programs. In addition to the other benefits provided to
the Executive hereunder and to the extent he satisfies the eligibility
requirements thereof and to the extent permitted by law, participation in fringe
benefit programs made available generally to employees of the Company,
including, without limitation, pension, profit sharing, stock purchase, savings,
bonus, disability, life insurance, health insurance, hospitalization, dental,
deferred compensation and other plans and policies authorized on the date hereof
or in the future.
(g) Expense Reimbursement. Reimbursement of the Executive for all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his
duties hereunder, including professional activities and membership fees and dues
relating to professional organizations of which the Executive currently is a
member or is directed in writing to be a member by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company and including, without limitation, expenses required for
professional licensing of the Executive, and business related cell phone expense
in accordance with the Company's written policies and procedures, all upon the
presentation of appropriate documentation therefore in accordance with the then
regular procedures of the Company.
(h) Perquisites. In addition to the other benefits provided to the
Executive hereunder, and at the sole cost and expense of the Company except as
otherwise provided herein:
(i) A membership and annual dues at the city or country club of the
Executive's choice, subject to approval by the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company;
(ii) Reasonable consultations with financial and tax advisors or
counselors, including annual income tax preparation and audits relating to
the period during which the Executive was employed by the Company (whether
or not under this Agreement) and whether such audit expense is incurred
during or after the Employment Period;
(iii) The cost of term life insurance, providing a death benefit of up
to five million dollars ($5,000,000) upon the life of the Executive, the
beneficiaries and owner of which shall be designated by the Executive and
which term insurance shall be upon terms and conditions, and in form and
substance available at the time, and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to
the Executive in his sole discretion and which term life insurance shall be
paid for by the Company during the Employment Period at the Company's sole
cost and expense. If the Company is the owner of such policy, upon
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company, the ownership of
such term life insurance shall be transferred to the Executive or his
designee. At Executive's option, Executive may apply the cost of such a
policy to some other benefit of Executive's choice;
(iv) The Executive shall be entitled to reasonable business usage of
aircraft owned or leased by the Company as determined by the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. With prior consent from the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, the Executive may utilize such aircraft
for personal use and in such event the cost of such use shall be added to
and included in the Executive's compensation for federal, state and local
income tax purposes; and
(v) The Executive shall be entitled to an annual automobile allowance
of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), payable monthly in arrears.
(i) Vacations, etc. Leaves-of-absence in accordance with the then regular
procedures of the Company governing senior executives, and four weeks of paid
vacation per year on a non-cumulative basis.
(j) Parachute Limit. Notwithstanding anything else herein, to the extent
the Executive would be subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), on such amounts or
benefits received from the Company required to be included in the calculation of
parachute payments for purposes of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code (the
"Parachute Payments"), the amounts of any Parachute Payments shall be
automatically reduced as described herein to an amount one dollar less than an
amount that would subject the Executive to the excise tax under Section 4999 of
the Code (the "Parachute Limit"); provided, however, that this Section 4(j)
shall apply only if the reduced Parachute Payments received by the Executive
(after taking into account further reductions for applicable federal, state and
local income, social security and other taxes) would be greater than the
unreduced Parachute Payments to be received by the Executive minus (i) the
excise tax payable under Section 4999 of the Code with respect to such Parachute
Payments and (ii) all applicable federal, state and local income, social
security and other taxes on such Parachute Payments. The foregoing reduction
shall be applied to the Parachute Payments as follows: (i) first by reducing the
amounts payable under Section 4(d) (if such amounts are included in such
computation) until such amounts have been exhausted up to the Parachute Limit,
(ii) then by reducing any such other amounts and benefits (other than awards
described in (iii) below) as determined by the Company, and (iii)
notwithstanding anything contained herein or in an option, warrant or restricted
stock agreement, award or plan relating to the Executive then, on a pro-rata
basis up to the Parachute Limit, by failing to accelerate the vesting (without
affecting the right to vest) upon a change in ownership or effective control or
change in ownership of a substantial portion of assets (as described in Code
Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i)) of any unvested awards of shares of restricted stock
of the Company previously granted to Executive and options or warrants to
purchase shares of the Company previously granted to Executive. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company shall treat any of the amounts described in (i)
through (iii) above as a Parachute Payment solely to the extent required under
applicable law.
Section 5. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Executive. The
Executive represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
(a) He is under no contractual or other restriction or obligation
which is inconsistent with the execution of this Agreement, the performance
of his duties hereunder, or the other rights of the Company hereunder; and
(b) He is able to perform the essential functions of his duties
hereunder with or without reasonable accommodations.
Section 6. Non-Solicitation; Confidentiality.
(a) Non-Solicitation.
(1) In recognition of the close personal contact the Executive
has or will have with the Company's and its affiliates' trade secrets,
confidential information, records and business relationships, and the
position of trust in which the Company holds the Executive, the
Executive further covenants and agrees that while the Executive is
employed by the Company and for a period lasting for one (1) year
following the cessation of the Executive's employment with the
Company, the Executive will not, either for himself or an officer,
director, employee, agent, representative, independent contractor or
in any relationship to any person, partnership, corporation, or other
entity (except the Company or its Affiliates or subsidiaries),
solicit, directly or by assisting others, business from any of the
Company's customers or clients with whom the Executive has had
material contact (as defined below) during the twelve (12) month
period preceding the date of cessation of the Executive's employment
with the Company, for the purpose of providing goods or services to
said customers and clients. For purposes of this Agreement, "material
contact" exists between the Executive and any of the Company's
customers or clients (i) with whom the Executive actually dealt; or
(ii) whose dealings with the Company were handled, coordinated or
supervised by the Executive; or (iii) about whom the Executive
obtained confidential information in the ordinary course of business
through the Executive's association with the Company.
(2) The Executive covenants and agrees that, for a period ending
on the second anniversary of the date on which the Executive's
employment with the Company ceases, the Executive will not solicit,
employ, engage or in any manner encourage any employee, broker or
sales person of the Company, or any of its respective subsidiaries or
affiliates to leave their employ for the employ of a person or entity
which directly or indirectly competes with the Company, or any of its
respective subsidiaries or affiliates.
(3) The Executive covenants and agrees that, for a period ending
on the second anniversary of the date on which the Executive's
employment with the Company ceases, the Executive will not purchase
for his own account any limited partnership units of partnerships
that, on the date of purchase, are controlled directly or indirectly
by the Company, except that the provisions of this sentence shall not
be deemed breached merely because the Executive owns, immediately
after a purchase, not more than one percent of the outstanding units.
Should the Executive breach the foregoing sentence, all his options
issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be cancelled
and all of his restricted stock issued by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (whether or not then vested) which he then owns shall be
forfeited. For purposes of this Section 6(a)(3), "purchase" shall mean
the payment of cash only for such limited partnership units and shall
not include payment of cash for interests in an entity whose assets
consist in whole or in part of such limited partnership units.
The Executive acknowledges that the foregoing provisions are
intended to protect the Company's and its subsidiaries' and
Affiliates' business and customer contacts, not to prevent the
Executive from pursuing a livelihood in the general area of his
previous training, and they should be interpreted accordingly.
(b) Confidentiality. All confidential information which the Executive
may now possess, may obtain during or after his employment with Company, or
may create prior to the end of his employment with the Company or otherwise
relating to the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates or of any customer or supplier of any of them shall not be
published, disclosed, or made accessible by him to any other person, either
during or after the cessation of his employment, or used by him except
during his employment with the Company in the business and for the benefit
of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates. In addition, the
Executive agrees not to disclose, publish or make accessible to any other
person, from and after the date of this Agreement, during the Employment
Period or at any time thereafter, any of the terms or provisions of this
Agreement, except the Executive's accountants who need such information to
advise him, prepare his tax returns, make required filings and the like;
provided, however, that the Executive will be responsible for causing any
such accountants to be aware of and to abide by the obligations contained
in this Section 6(b) and will be responsible for any breach of such
obligations by any of them. In the event that the Executive becomes legally
compelled to disclose any of the confidential information, the Executive
will provide the Company with prompt written notice so that the Company may
seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive in writing
compliance with the provisions of this Section 6(b) and in the event that
such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, or should the
Company waive in writing compliance with the provisions of this Section
6(b), the Executive will furnish only that portion of the confidential
information which is so legally required. The Executive shall return all
tangible evidence of such confidential information to the General Counsel
of the Company prior to or at the cessation of his employment.
(c) Interpretation. Since a breach of the provisions of this Section 6
could not adequately be compensated by money damages, the Company shall be
entitled, in addition to any other right and remedy available to it, to an
injunction restraining such breach and the Company shall not be required to
post a bond in any proceeding brought for such purpose. The Executive
agrees that the provisions of this Section 6 are necessary and reasonable
to protect the Company in the conduct of its businesses. If any restriction
contained in this Section 6 shall be deemed to be invalid, illegal, or
unenforceable by reason of the extent, duration, or geographical scope
thereof, or otherwise, then the court making such determination shall have
the right to reduce such extent, duration, geographical scope, or other
provisions hereof, and in its reduced form such restriction shall then be
enforceable in the manner contemplated hereby. Nothing herein shall be
construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies, at
law or in equity, for such breach or threatened breach.
Section 7. Termination.
(a) Definitions.
(i) Death Termination Event. As used herein, "Death Termination
Event" shall mean the death of the Executive.
(ii) Disability Termination Event. As used herein, "Disability
Termination Event" shall mean a circumstance where the Executive is
physically or mentally incapacitated or disabled or otherwise unable
to fully discharge his duties hereunder for a period of 185
consecutive days.
(iii) Estate. As used herein, "Estate" shall mean (A) in the
event that the last will and testament of the Executive has not been
probated at the time of determination, the estate of the Executive and
(B) in the event that the last will and testament of the Executive has
been probated at the time of determination, the legatees of the
Executive who are entitled under such will to the assets or payments
at issue.
(iv) Termination For Cause. As used herein, the term "Termination
For Cause" shall mean the termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment hereunder upon a good faith determination by a
majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company
that termination of this Agreement is necessary by reason of (A) the
Executive shall be convicted of a felony, (B) the Executive shall
commit any act or omit to take any action in bad faith and to the
material detriment of the Company and Executive shall not have cured
the same within 30 days after the Company sends written notice
thereof, or (C) Executive shall breach in a material way any material
term of this Agreement and fail to correct such breach within 30 days
after the Company sends written notice thereof.
(v) Termination Without Cause. As used herein, "Termination
Without Cause" shall mean any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company hereunder that is not a Termination For
Cause, a Death Termination Event, or a Disability Termination Event
but not a conversion to a consulting agreement.
(b) Death Termination Event. Upon the occurrence of a Death
Termination Event, this Agreement will terminate automatically upon the
date that such Death Termination Event occurred (subject to the last
sentence of this Section 7), whereupon the Company shall continue to pay
the then current Base Salary to the Estate of the Executive for a period
equal to the remaining term of the Employment Period.
(c) Disability Termination Event. Upon the occurrence of a Disability
Termination Event, this Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the
date that such Disability Termination Event occurred (subject to the last
sentence of this Section 7), whereupon the Company shall continue to pay
the then-current Base Salary to the Executive for the period equal to the
remaining term of the Employment Period (determined on the assumption that
the Employment Period will not be terminated prior to December 31, 2000).
(d) Termination For Cause. The Executive and the Company agree that
the Company shall have the right to effectuate a Termination For Cause in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement at any time. Upon the
occurrence of a Termination For Cause, this Agreement will terminate upon
the date that such Termination For Cause occurs (subject to the provisions
of Section 9), whereupon (i) the Executive shall not be entitled to receive
any additional payments hereunder other than the Base Salary, as then in
effect, to and including the date that such Termination For Cause occurs
and (ii) the Company shall be entitled to any and all remedies and damages
available to it.
(e) Termination Without Cause. Upon the occurrence of a Termination
Without Cause, this Agreement shall terminate upon the date that such
Termination Without Cause occurs (subject to the provisions of Section 9),
whereupon the Executive shall continue to receive the consideration set
forth in Sections 4(a) through (e) and Section 4(h)(i), (ii), (iii) and (v)
through December 31, 2000.
In the event of a termination of Executive's employment for any reason
other than a Termination for Cause or voluntary termination by the
Executive, including, but not limited to a Death Termination Event,
Disability Termination Event, Termination Without Cause, all options,
warrants and restricted stock then held by and/or granted to the Executive
will immediately vest and be exercisable by the Executive but in the event
of the occurrence of an Extraordinary Transaction, no options, warrants or
restricted stock then held by and/or granted to the Executive will
immediately vest as a result thereof.
Section 8. Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from
amounts payable to the Executive hereunder such amounts as may be required
by applicable law to be so withheld.
Section 9. Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Section 6 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this
Agreement or cessation of the Executive's employment hereunder for the
periods stated therein.
Section 10. Modification. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof, supersedes all existing agreements between them concerning such
subject matter, and may be modified only by a written instrument duly
executed by each party.
Section 11. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by
certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered against receipt to
the party to whom it is to be given, at the address of such party set forth
in the preamble to this Agreement (or to such other address as such party
shall have furnished in writing in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 11). Notice to the Estate shall be sufficient if addressed to the
Executive as provided in this Section 11. Any notice or other communication
given by certified mail shall be deemed given at the time of certification
thereof, except for a notice changing a party's address which shall be
deemed given at the time of receipt thereof.
Section 12. Waiver. Any waiver by either party of a breach of any
provision of Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any other breach of
such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement.
The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this
Agreement on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or
deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence
to that term or any other term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in
writing.
Section 13. Binding Effect. The Executive's rights and obligations
under this Agreement shall not be transferable by assignment or otherwise,
such rights shall not be subject to commutation, encumbrance or the claims
of the Executive's creditors, and any attempt to do any of the foregoing
shall be void. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Executive and his heirs and personal
representatives, and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company and its successors.
Section 14. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are solely for
convenience of reference, and shall be given no effect in the construction
or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 15. Enforcement. Should the Executive xxx to enforce any of
his rights under this Agreement and should the Executive prevail on any
issue in such suit, then the Company shall pay all the Executive's costs of
such suit (including attorneys fees and disbursements). If any taxes are
imposed on such payment, the Company shall make such additional payments to
the Executive as may be necessary, so that after deducting the taxes
imposed on all payments made to the Executive pursuant to this paragraph,
the Executive is left on an after tax basis with an amount equal to his
claim for indemnification prior to the payments described in this sentence.
Section 16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Carolina,
without reference to the conflict of law provisions thereof.
Section 18. Construction and Interpretation. Should any provision of
this Agreement require judicial interpretation, the parties hereto agree
that the court interpreting or construing the same shall not apply a
presumption that the terms hereof shall be more strictly construed against
one party by reason of the rule of construction that a document is to be
more strictly construed against the party that itself, or through its
agent, prepared the same, and it is expressly agreed and acknowledged that
the Executive, the Company and their respective attorneys and
representatives have participated in the preparation hereof.
Section 19. Waiver of Trial by Jury. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREES TO
WAIVE ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION
BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DEALING BETWEEN OR AMONG
THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RELATIONSHIPS
BEING ESTABLISHED. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO ENCOMPASS ANY
AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE
SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT
CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND
STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A
MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH WILL
CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE WAIVER IN THEIR RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY
HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER
WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS
JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS
IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN
WRITING. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A
WRITTEN CONSENT TO THE TRIAL BY THE COURT.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
INSIGNIA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Its: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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EXECUTIVE
/s/Xxxxx X. Aston
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Name: Xxxxx X. Aston
