EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of March 6, 1998
(the "Effective Date"), by and between MegaMarketing Corporation, Inc., a
Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, an individual
resident of Georgia (the "Executive"). References herein to the "Company" apply
to MegaMarketing Corporation and any direct or indirect subsidiary, parent
corporation or affiliate of MegaMarketing Corporation, including its and their
successors-in-interest with whom Executive deals.
WHEREAS, Executive is expected to make a significant contribution to the
success and development of the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries,
Control Group Ltd. and Genesis Direct, Inc. (collectively, the "Subsidiaries");
and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to render services to the Company and/or
one or more of the Subsidiaries on the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by Executive and the Company,
including, without limitation, the promises and covenants of the parties set
forth herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:
ARTICLE 1
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EMPLOYMENT
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Section 1.1 Term of Employment. The term of Executive's employment
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hereunder shall commence on the Effective Date hereof and continue until the
third anniversary of the date hereof, unless earlier terminated as provided in
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the parties agree that,
in the event of the consummation of an initial public offering of the Company's
Common Stock, the terms of this Agreement shall be amended upon the reasonable
request of the managing underwriters of such initial public offering and the
consent of the Executive, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. At
the end of the initial three year term, this Agreement shall automatically renew
for consecutive one year terms unless either party hereto gives written notice
to the other of its intent to terminate sixty (60) days prior to the end of any
term.
Section 1.2 Duties and Responsibilities of Executive. Executive is
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hereby employed full time as the Executive Vice President, Mergers and
Acquisitions of the Company. Executive shall devote his or her full time,
energy, and skill to such office and shall do and perform all services and acts
necessary or advisable to fulfill the duties of such office. In his or her
capacity as an officer of the Company, Executive shall report to the Chief
Executive Officer (the "CEO") of the Company, and shall conduct and perform such
additional services and activities as may be determined from time to time by the
CEO. Executive's authority and
responsibility in the Company shall at all times be subject to the review and
discretion of the Company's board of directors (the "Board"), which shall have
the final authority to make decisions regarding the business of the Company.
Executive acknowledges that he or she has a duty of loyalty to the Company and
its Subsidiaries and shall not engage, directly and indirectly, in any other
business or activity that could materially and adversely affect the Company's or
any Subsidiary's business or the Executive's ability to perform his or her
duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that the Executive shall be free
to participate in board, civic and charitable activities so long as such
activities do not interfere with his or her duties and responsibilities
hereunder.
Section 1.3 Compensation. For services to be rendered by Executive
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under this Agreement, Company shall pay Executive as follows:
(a) Base Salary. Executive shall be paid a minimum annual
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compensation of $100,000.00 (the "Base Salary"). At the sole discretion of the
Board, Executive's annual gross salary may be increased from time to time
throughout the term of this Agreement. At no time during the term hereof shall
the Executive's base salary be decreased from the amount of the base salary then
in effect.
(b) Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to receive a bonus at the
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end of each fiscal year of the Company for which this Agreement is in effect,
upon satisfaction of the terms and conditions set forth on Schedule A. Such
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bonus shall be paid to Executive only upon the completion of an audit by an
independent accounting firm selected by the Company, which audit demonstrates
that the conditions set forth on Schedule A have been satisfied.
Section 1.4 Benefits.
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(a) Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid
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vacation annually during his or her employment by the Company hereunder. Any
vacation not used during any calendar year shall be forfeited, except that one
week's unused vacation may be carried forward to the year following the year in
which such vacation entitlement accrued.
(b) Life, Disability and Retirement Programs. Executive shall be
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entitled to participate in any life, disability and retirement programs that are
generally offered to or provided for the senior management personnel of the
Company and its subsidiaries.
(c) Group Insurance. Executive shall be entitled to participate,
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at the Company's expense, in such group health and dental insurance programs
(including spouse coverage) as may from time to time be offered generally to all
of the other members of the senior management personnel of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
(d) Other. Executive shall be entitled to the reimbursement of
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reasonable dues for memberships in luncheon and/or dinner clubs, which
reimbursement shall not exceed $200.00 per month.
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Section 1.5 Business Expenses. Executive shall be entitled to
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reimbursement of all ordinary and necessary business expenses reasonably
incurred for business travel, communications (including cellular phone and
pager), business entertainment and meals in connection with the performance of
Executive's duties under this Agreement, in accordance with the Company's
established policies for reimbursement of business expenses. The Company expects
Executive to attend and participate in continuing education seminars and courses
with respect to the direct mail services industry and business management
related to his or her duties, and the Company will reimburse all ordinary and
necessary expenses of such attendance and participation. Such continuing
education courses and seminars will be scheduled in conjunction with the other
officers of the Company to assure uninterrupted performance of duties during the
Executive's absence.
ARTICLE 2
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COVENANTS OF EXECUTIVE
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Section 2.1 Avoidance of Conflict of Interest. While employed by the
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Company, Executive will not engage in any business activity that conflicts with
his or her duties to the Company without the prior written consent of the CEO of
the Company. Under no circumstances will Executive work for any competitor or
have any financial interest in any competitor of the Company; provided, however,
Executive may invest in up to one percent (1%) of the publicly traded stock or
securities of any company whose stock or securities are traded on national
exchange.
Section 2.2 Ownership of Work Product. The Company shall own all
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Work Product (as defined below) arising during the course of Executive's
employment (prior, present or future), including any part-time consulting or
contract programming work Executive may have performed previously or in the
future for the Company. For purposes hereof, "Work Product" shall mean all
intellectual property rights, including all Trade Secrets (as defined below),
United States and international copyrights, patentable inventions, and other
intellectual property rights in any programming, documentation, technology or
other work product that relates to the Company, its business or its customers
and that employee conceives, develops, or delivers to the Company at any time
during his or her employment, during or outside normal working hours, in or away
from the facilities of the Company, and whether or not requested by the Company.
If the Work Product contains any materials, programming or intellectual property
rights that Executive conceived or developed prior to, and independent of,
Executive's work for the Company, Executive agrees to point out the pre-existing
items to the Company and Executive grants the Company a worldwide, unrestricted,
royalty-free right, including the right to sublicense such items. Executive
agrees to take such actions and execute such further acknowledgments and
assignments as the Company may reasonably request to give effect to this
provision.
Section 2.3 Protection of Trade Secrets. Executive agrees to
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maintain in strict
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confidence and, except as necessary to perform his or her duties for the
Company, Executive agrees not to use or disclose any Trade Secrets of the
Company during or after his or her employment. As provided by Georgia statutes,
"Trade Secret" shall mean any information (including, but not limited to,
technical or non-technical data, a formula, a pattern, a compilation, a program,
a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process, financial data, financial
plans, product plans, or a list of actual or potential customers) that: (i)
derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to,
and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can
obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (ii) is the subject of
efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
Section 2.4 Protection of Other Confidential Information. In
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addition, Executive agrees to maintain in strict confidence and, except as
necessary to perform his or her duties for the Company, not to use or disclose
any Confidential Business Information of the Company during his or her
employment and for a period of one (1) year following termination of Executive's
employment. As used herein, "Confidential Business Information" shall mean any
internal, non-public information (other than Trade Secrets already addressed
above) concerning the Company's financial position and results of operations
(including revenues, assets, net income, etc.); annual and long-range business
plans; product or service plans; marketing plans and methods; training,
educational and administrative manuals; customer and supplier information and
purchase histories; and employee lists. The provisions of Sections 2.3 and 2.4
above shall also apply to protect Trade Secrets and Confidential Business
Information of third parties provided to the Company under an obligation of
secrecy.
Section 2.5 Return of Materials. Executive shall surrender to
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the Company, promptly upon its request and in any event upon termination of
Executive's employment, all media, documents, notebooks, computer programs,
handbooks, data files, models, samples, price lists, drawings, customer lists,
prospect data, or other material of any nature whatsoever (in tangible or
electronic form) in the Executive's possession or control, including all copies
thereof, relating to the Company, its business, or its customers. Upon the
request of the Company, Executive shall certify in writing compliance with the
foregoing requirement.
Section 2.6 Restrictive Covenants.
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(a) No Solicitation of Customers. During Executive's employment
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with the Company, and for a period of one (1) year after termination of
Executive's employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall not
solicit or attempt to solicit Customers to induce or encourage them to acquire
or obtain from anyone other than the Company, any product or service competitive
with or substitute for any Company Product, or otherwise to induce or encourage
them to reduce or discontinue the purchase or license of their requirements for
products or services available from the Company. For purposes of this Section, a
"Customer" refers to any person or group of persons with whom Executive had
direct material contact with regard to the selling, delivery or support of
Company Products, including servicing such person's or group's account, during
the period of two (2) years preceding termination of Executive's employment; and
"Company Products" refers to the products and services that the Company offered,
sold or had under consideration for
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development or distribution within six (6) months of the date of termination of
Executive's employment.
(b) No Recruitment of Personnel. For a period of one (1) year
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after termination of Executive's employment with the Company for any reason,
Executive shall not, alone or in concert with others, induce or attempt to
induce any employee, agent, independent contractor, or other personnel of the
Company to terminate or reduce his, her or their relationship with the Company,
or recruit or attempt to recruit such persons to accept employment or a contract
with another business that would have the effect of terminating or reducing his,
her or their relationship with the Company.
(c) Independent Provisions. The provisions in each of the above
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Sections 2.6(a) and (b) are independent, and the unenforceability of any one
provision shall not affect the enforceability of any other provision.
ARTICLE 3
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TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
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Section 3.1 Termination by Company. Executive's employment may be
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terminated by the Company by giving notice during the term of this Agreement
upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events:
(a) Executive's death, or disability that renders Executive
incapable of performing his or her duties for more than one hundred twenty (120)
calendar days (termination under this Section 3.1(a) shall be deemed termination
without Cause);
(b) for any reason following a determination by the Board to
terminate Executive's employment (termination under this Section 3.1(b) shall be
deemed termination without Cause); or
(c) "for Cause," which for purposes of this Agreement shall mean
that the Executive shall have:
(i) committed an intentional act of fraud, embezzlement or
theft in connection with his or her duties or in the course of his or her
employment with the Company, which act has a material adverse effect upon the
Company;
(ii) inflicted intentional wrongful material damage to the
Company or to any material asset of the Company;
(iii) intentionally and wrongfully violated Article 2 of this
Agreement, which violation has a material adverse effect upon the Company;
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(iv) been convicted of a felony or any similar crime carrying
a prison term of at least one year (regardless of whether imprisonment is
actually imposed);
(v) used alcohol or drugs in a habitual and debilitating
manner; or
(vi) failed to meet reasonable performance expectations,
as determined and articulated by the Board; provided, however, that in the event
of this subsection (vi) being the sole reason for a termination for Cause,
Executive shall have the opportunity to cure and related rights set forth in
Section 3.1(d) hereof.
(d) In the event of a determination by the Board that Executive
has failed to meet performance expectations, the Company shall furnish to
Executive in writing a notice of proposed termination setting forth a specific
statement of the deficiencies in his or her performance. Executive shall then
have a period of ninety (90) days after the giving of such written notice by the
Company to effect a cure of the specified deficiencies. If, at the end of such
ninety (90) day period, no such cure has been effected to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Board, the Board may, in its sole discretion, terminate
Executive's employment as of the end of such ninety (90) day period. The Company
shall be obligated to provide to Executive only one such notice of proposed
termination, and if subsequent to effecting a cure of specified deficiencies
Executive is determined by the Board to have again failed to meet the same
performance expectations, then his or her employment may be terminated
immediately upon the Company's giving of notice of termination to Executive
specifying his or her deficiencies in performance.
Section 3.2 Termination by Executive. Executive's employment may be
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terminated by Executive by giving notice during the term of this Agreement for
"Good Reason" or for any reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason"
shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without the express
written consent of Executive, unless such events are fully corrected within
thirty (30) days following written notification by Executive to the Company that
he or she intends to terminate his or her employment hereunder for one of the
reasons set forth below:
(a) a material breach by the Company of any material provision of
this Agreement, or a material adverse alteration in the nature or status of
Executive's responsibilities; or
(b) the occurrence of a "Change in Control." For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Change in Control" shall mean an event as a result of which: (i)
any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") is or becomes the "beneficial owner"
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be
deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such person has the
right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after
the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 40% of the total
voting power of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) the Company consolidates
with, or merges with or into another corporation or sells, assigns, conveys,
transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its
assets to any person or any corporation, in
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any such event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding voting stock
of the Company is changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other
property, other than any such transaction where (A) the outstanding voting stock
of the Company is changed into or exchanged for (x) voting stock of the
surviving or transferee corporation or (y) cash, securities (whether or not
including voting stock) or other property, and (B) the holders of the voting
stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or
indirectly, not less than 40% of the voting power of the voting stock of the
surviving corporation immediately after such transaction; or (iii) individuals
who immediately following the Merger constitute the Board of the Company
(together with any new directors whose election by such Board or whose
nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a
vote of two-thirds or more of the directors then still in office who were
directors immediately following the Merger or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the Board of the Company then in office; or (iv) the Company is
liquidated or dissolved or adopts a plan of liquidation, provided, however, that
a Change in Control shall not include the Merger.
Section 3.3 Severance. For purposes of this Agreement, Executive's
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entitlement to any severance payments upon termination of his or her employment
shall be as set forth below:
(a) Termination Without Cause. If Executive is terminated without
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Cause or resigns for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to severance pay
equal to one year's salary at his or her then current rate, to be paid in twelve
(12) monthly installments. For purposes of this Agreement, a demotion or
requirement of relocation from the Tampa, Florida area shall be deemed to be a
termination without Cause.
(b) Voluntary Termination. If Executive voluntarily resigns for a
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reason other than Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to severance pay
equal to six (6) months' salary at his or her then current rate, to be paid in
six (6) monthly installments. Executive shall provide a minimum of thirty (30)
days prior written notice of his or her resignation to the CEO or the Board, as
appropriate. In the event Executive shall provide thirty (30) days prior written
notice of his or her intent to resign, the Company may accept such resignation
effective as of any date during such thirty (30) day period as the Company deems
appropriate, provided that Executive shall receive from the Company his or her
salary and be entitled to participate at the Company's expense in any Company
sponsored benefit programs in which he or she was a participant as of the
effective date of his or her resignation for the duration of such thirty (30)
day period.
(c) Termination for Cause. Executive shall not be entitled to any
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severance pay whatsoever if his or her employment is terminated "for Cause"
pursuant to Section 3.1(c) of this Agreement, unless severance pay is approved
by the Board in its sole discretion; provided, however, that Executive shall
receive such annual salary that is accrued but unpaid up to the date of such
termination for Cause. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if termination is for
Cause pursuant to Section 3.1(c)(vi), then Executive shall be entitled to
severance pay equal to six (6) months' salary at his or her then current rate,
to be paid in six (6) monthly installments.
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ARTICLE 4
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 4.1 Withholding of Taxes. The Company may withhold from any
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amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes and
withholdings as shall be required by any applicable law, rule or regulation.
Section 4.2 Notice. For purposes of this Agreement, all
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communications including, without limitation, notices, consents, requests or
approvals provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when personally delivered, or five (5) business days after
having been mailed by United States registered mail or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the Company (to the attention
of the Secretary of the Company) at its principal executive office or to
Executive at his or her principal residence, or to such other address as any
party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith,
except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
Section 4.3 Validity. It is not the intent of any party hereto to
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violate any public policy of any jurisdiction in which this Agreement may be
enforced. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision
hereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, unenforceable or
otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such
provision to any other person or circumstances shall not be affected, and the
provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal shall be
reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it valid,
enforceable and legal; provided, however, if the provision so held to be
invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal constituted a material inducement to
a party's execution and delivery of this Agreement, then such provision shall
not be reformed unless prior to any reformation that party agrees to be bound by
the reformation.
Section 4.4 Termination of Prior Employment Agreements; Entire
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Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any other agreements, oral or written,
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between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and contains all
of the agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to the
employment of Executive by the Company. Any waiver or modification of any term
of this Agreement shall be effective only if it is set forth in a writing signed
by both parties hereto.
Section 4.5 Successors and Binding Agreement.
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(a) This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of
the Company and any Successor of or to the Company, but shall not otherwise be
assignable or delegable by the Company. "Successor" shall mean any successor in
interest, including, without limitation, any entity, individual or group of
persons acquiring directly or indirectly all
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or substantially all of the stock, business or assets of the Company, as the
case may be, whether by sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization or
otherwise.
(b) The Company shall require any Successor to agree at the time of
becoming a Successor to perform this Agreement to the same extent as the
original parties would be required if no succession had occurred.
(c) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
heirs, distributees and legatees.
(d) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the
parties shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate
this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly
provided in this Section 4.5.
Section 4.6 Captions. The captions in this Agreement are solely for
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convenience of reference and shall not be given any effect in the construction
or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 4.7 Modification and Waiver. No provisions of this Agreement
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may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or
discharge is agreed to in a writing signed by Executive and the Company. No
waiver by a party hereto at any time of any breach by another party hereto or
compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by
such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
Section 4.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
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more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of
which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
Section 4.9 Construction. This Agreement is being executed and
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delivered, and is intended to be performed in the State of Georgia and shall be
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia in
all respects.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
MEGAMARKETING CORPORATION "Executive"
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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Print Name Print Name
President Print Residence Address:
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Print Title
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SCHEDULE A
PERFORMANCE BONUS
Executive's annual bonus shall be computed as follows:
Executive shall receive
If the Company achieves: the following bonus payment:
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100% of projected Company EBITDA 25% of Base Salary
110% of projected Company EBITDA 35% of Base Salary
125% of projected Company EBITDA 50% of Base Salary
