Exhibit 10(b)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of this 1st day of January, 1998 by
and between EMCOR GROUP, INC.(the "Company") and XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX("Executive").
RECITALS
In order to induce Executive to continue to serve as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Company ("the Board"), the Company desires to provide Executive with
compensation and other benefits under the conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
Executive is willing to accept such continuation of employment
and perform services for the Company and its subsidiaries, on the terms and
conditions, hereinafter set forth.
It is therefore hereby agreed by and between the parties as
follows:
1. Employment.
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
Company agrees to continue to employ Executive during the Period of Employment
(as hereinafter defined) as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In his
capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Executive shall have the
customary powers, responsibilities and authorities of chief executive officers
of similar corporations of the size, type and nature of the Company as it may
exist from time to time, including, but not limited to, authority over all
personnel decisions and business policies and practices, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board").
1.2 The Company shall, during the Period of Employment (as
hereinafter defined,), make its best efforts to ensure the retention of
Executive as Chairman of the Board.
1.3 Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Executive
hereby agrees to continue employment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company
and shall devote his full working time and efforts, to the best of his ability,
experience and talent, to the performance of the services, duties and
responsibilities in connection therewith and agrees to continue to serve, if
elected, as Chairman of the Board of the Company. Except upon the prior written
consent of the Board, Executive will not during the Period of Employment (as
hereinafter defined) (i) accept any other employment or (ii) engage, directly or
indirectly, in any other business activity (whether or not pursued for pecuniary
advantage), whether or not it may be competitive with, or whether or not it
might place him in a competing position to that of, the Company or any
subsidiary thereof. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Executive from
(i) engaging, consistent with his duties and responsibilities hereunder, in
charitable community affairs, (ii) managing his personal investments, (iii)
continuing to serve on the boards of directors on which he presently serves (to
the extent such service is not precluded by federal or state law or by conflict
of
interest by reason of his position with the Company), or (iv) serving, subject
to approval of the Board, as a member of boards of directors of other companies,
provided, that such activities do not interfere with the performance of
Executive's duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly
acknowledged that Executive's existing ownership interest in, and service as a
director and/or officer of, ComNet Communications, Inc. have been disclosed to
the Company and that the continuing ownership thereof and any reasonable actions
associated therewith, including without limitation, continuing as a director
and/or officer thereof, shall be permitted under the terms of this Agreement and
shall in no event constitute a breach hereof.
2. Period of Employment. Executive's period of employment
hereunder shall commence on January 1, 1998. (the "Commencement Date") and shall
continue through the earlier of December 31, 2000 or the date of termination
hereunder (the "Period of Employment"); provided, however, that the Period of
Employment shall automatically be extended for successive one-year periods
unless the Company or Executive, at least six months prior to the end of such
period, provides written notice to the other party of intent not to extend the
Period of Employment.
3. Compensation.
3.1 Salary. The Company shall pay Executive a base salary
("Base Salary") at the rate of $700,000 per annum for the Period of Employment.
Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the ordinary payroll practices
the Company. Executive's rate of Base Salary shall be increased on the first day
of each calendar year occurring during the Period of Employment, beginning with
January 1, 1999, by the percentage increase for the prior year in the consumer
price index for the area in which the principal office of the Company is
located, as determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the amount
specified by the Board, whichever is greater.
3.2 Bonus. In addition to his Base Salary, Executive shall be
entitled, while he remains employed hereunder, in respect of each calendar year,
to an annual bonus (the "Bonus") payable in cash and at such times as bonuses
are customarily paid to senior executives of the Company. For each calendar year
during the Period of Employment, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the
"Committee") shall establish, after consultation with Executive, a formula which
shall determine the amount of Executive's Bonus for the calendar year; provided
that Executive's target bonus shall be no less than $600,000 for each such year.
3.3 Supplemental Benefit Credits. Executive shall be fully
vested in all employee benefit plans of the Company with respect to which the
amount of any benefits payable thereunder is determined in whole or in part by
years of service with the Company.
3.4 Stock Options. (a) During each calendar year in the Period
of Employment, the Company shall recommend to the Compensation Committee of the
Board that Executive shall receive an option ("Option") to purchase not less
than 25,000 shares of common stock of the Company ("Shares") at fair market
value pursuant to the Company's then applicable stock option plan. Each such
Option shall be exercisable with respect to the Shares subject thereto on the
first anniversary of the date of grant.
(b) In addition, Executive was granted on November 21, 1997,
an Option to purchase 200,000 Shares at fair market value pursuant to the
Company's stock option plan. This Option shall have a ten-year term and shall
vest in full on November 21, 2006, provided that with respect to successive
groups of 50,000 Shares, the Option shall, if earlier, vest when the fair market
value of a Share first equals or exceeds $25, $30, $35 and $40, respectively.
(c) In the event of Executive's termination of employment
under Section 6,1, each option shall become immediately exercisable in full and
shall remain exercisable for the balance of its ten-year term.
4. Employee Benefits.
4.1 Employee Benefit Plans and Programs. The Company shall
provide Executive during the Period of Employment with coverage under any
employee benefit programs, plans and practices (commensurate with his position
in the Company) in accordance with the terms thereof, which the Company
currently makes available generally to its senior executive officers hereafter,
including but not limited to (a) retirement, pension and profit sharing; and (b)
medical, dental, hospitalization, life insurance, short and long-term
disability, accidental death, and dismemberment and travel accident coverage;
provided that Executive shall pay such portion of the premiums therefor as is
customarily paid by senior executives of the Company.
4.2 Vacation, Fringe and Other Benefits. Executive shall be
entitled to the number of vacation days customarily accorded senior executives
of the Company. In addition, during the Period of Employment, the Company shall
pay Executive $700 per month for leasing (plus maintenance and insurance) of an
automobile. The Company shall also reimburse Executive for (a) all initiation
fees and monthly dues for membership in a club suitable for entertaining clients
of the Company and (b) all legal expenses incurred by Executive in connection
with the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. The Company shall bear the
cost of any increased tax liability of Executive caused by the provisions of
this Section 4.2.
5. Directors and Officers Liability. The Company shall keep in
effect during the Period of Employment, a policy of directors' and officers'
liability insurance for officers and directors of the Company to the extent
reasonably available, at such reasonable levels of coverage as are agreed to by
Executive and the Board from time to time.
6. Termination of Employment.
6.1 Termination Not For Cause or For Good Reason. (a)The
Company may terminate Executive's employment at any time, and
Executive may terminate his employment at any time. If
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than
for Cause (as hereinafter defined), or Executive terminates
his employment for Good Reason (as hereinafter defined),
Executive shall be entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment
(but not in substitution for compensation already earned) in
an amount equal to the sum of:
(i) the greater of (A) Executive's Base Salary at the
highest annual rate in effect during the Period of Employment, for the period
from the date of termination through December 31, 2000 or (B) two times
Executive's Base Salary at its then current annual rate;
(ii) the greater of (A) Executive's target Bonus pursuant to
Section 3.2 times the number full or partial calendar years remaining from the
date of termination through December 31, 2000 or (B) two times Executive's
target Bonus.
(iii) an amount equal to Executive's Bonus, for any calendar
year ending before such termination occurs, which would have been payable had
Executive remained in employment until the date such Bonus would otherwise have
been paid;
(iv) an amount equal to Executive's target Bonus for the
calendar year in which the termination of employment occurs, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such calendar year
that Executive was an employee of the Company, and the denominator of which is
365; and
(v) in the event of a termination of Executive's employment by
the Company other than for Cause or by Executive for Good Reason following a
Change in Control, the factor of two in clause (B) of subsections 6.1(a)(i) and
(ii) shall be increased to three.
(b) In addition to the amount described In subsections 6.1(a),
Executive shall be entitled to receive:
(i) until the earlier of December 31, 2000 or 18 months from
the date of termination, Executive (and, to the extent applicable, Executive's
dependents) shall continue to be covered, at the company's expense, under the
Company's medical, dental and hospitalization coverage plans, and until the
earlier Of December 31, 2000 or 6 months from the date of termination, Executive
shall continue to be covered, at the Company's expense, under the Company's
group life, short and long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment
and travel accident coverage plans described in Section 4.1 hereof or the
Company will provide for equivalent coverage; and
(ii) all payments to which Executive has vested rights as of
the expiration of the Period of Employment under employee benefit, disability,
insurance and similar plans which provide for payments beyond the Period of
Employment.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean
any of the following (without Executive's express prior written consent):
(i) The assignment to Executive by the Company of duties
inconsistent with Executive's positions, duties, responsibilities, titles or
office as set forth in Section I hereof, or any reduction by the Company of his
duties or responsibilities or any removal of Executive from the position of
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or
any failure to elect or re-elect Executive as Chairman of the Board, except in
connection with the termination of Executive's employment (A) upon the
termination of the Period of Employment on December 31, 2000, (B) upon the
termination of a succeeding one-year Period of Employment (as provided for under
Section 2 hereof), (C) for Cause, (D) as a result of Executive's Permanent
Disability (as hereinafter defined) or death or (E) by Executive other than for
Good Reason;
(ii) A reduction by the Company in Executive's Base Salary,
except as provided herein, as in effect at the commencement of employment
hereunder or as the same may be increased from, time to time during the Period
of Employment;
(iii) The failure by the Company to obtain the specific
assumption of this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company or any
person acquiring substantially all of the Company's assets;
(iv) Failure by the Company to perform in any material respect
its obligations under this Agreement, where such failure shall not have been
remedied within 30 days after Executive shall have notified the Company in
writing thereof;
(v) Any material reduction in Executive's compensation or
benefits following a Change in Control or Executive's principal business
location is changed to a location more than 30 miles from Executive's principal
business location (other than a relocation to Now York, New York) immediately
prior to a Change in Control; or
(vi) The Company shall cease to keep in effect the Policy of
directors' and officers' liability insurance for Executive described in Section
5;
(d) If all or any portion of the payments or benefits provided
under Section 6.1, either alone or together with other payments and benefits
which Executive receives or is then entitled to receive from the Company, would
constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning Section 28OG of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"), Executive shall be entitled to such
additional payments as may be necessary to ensure that the net after tax benefit
of all payments under this Section 6.1, including the payment provided for in
this subsection 6.1(c) shall be equal to the net after tax benefit of Executive
as if no excise tax had been imposed under Section 4999 of the Code.
The foregoing calculations shall be made, at the Company's
expense, by the Company and Executive. If no agreement on the calculations is
reached, Executive and the Company shall agree to the selection of an accounting
firm, to make the calculations. If no agreement can be reached regarding the
selection of an accounting firm, the Company shall select a nationally
recognized accounting firm which has no current or recent business relationship
with the Company. The determination of any such firm selected shall be
conclusive and binding on all parties.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control"
shall be deemed to have occurred when:
(i) any person or persons acting in concert (excluding Company
benefit plans) becomes the beneficial owner of securities of the Company having
at least 25% of the voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities
(unless the event causing the 25% threshold to be crossed is an acquisition of
voting common securities directly from the Company, other than upon the
conversion of convertible debt securities or other securities and/or the
exercise of options or warrants); or
(ii) the shareholders of the Company shall approve any merger
or other business combination of the Company, sale or lease of the Company's
assets or combination of the foregoing transactions (the "Transactions") other
than a Transaction immediately following which the shareholders of the Company
and any trustee or fiduciary of any Company employee benefit plan immediately
prior to the Transaction own at least 65% of the voting power, directly or
indirectly, of (A) the surviving corporation in any such merger or other
business combination; (B) the purchaser or lessee of the Company's assets; or
(C) both the surviving corporation and the purchaser or lessee in the event of
any combination of Transactional or
(iii) within any 24 month period, the persons who were
directors immediately before the beginning of such period (the
"Incumbent Directors") shall cease (for any reason other than death) to
constitute at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors
of a successor to the Company. For this purpose, any director who was
not a director at the beginning of such period shall be deemed to be an
Incumbent Director if such director was elected to the Board by, or on
the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of
the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors (so long as
such director was not nominated by a person who has expressed an intent
to effect a Change of Control or engage in a proxy or other control
contest).
(f) All cash payments under this Section 6.1 shall be
made by the Company within 30 calendar days following the event giving rise to
such payments.
6.2 Permanent Disability. If as a result of the Executive's
incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been
absent from his duties with the Company on a full-time basis for six consecutive
months (a "Permanent Disability") during his Period of Employment, the Company
or Executive may terminate his employment on written notice thereof, the Period
of Employment shall terminate on the giving of such notice, and the compensation
to which Executive is entitled pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be paid through the
last day of the month in which the notice is given. In addition, Executive shall
be entitled to receive:
(a) all unpaid amounts, as of the date of such termination, in
respect of any Bonus f or any calendar year ending before the calendar year in
which such termination occurs, which would have been payable had Executive
remained in employment until the date such Bonus would otherwise have been paid,
plus Executive's target Bonus for the calendar year in which his employment
terminates, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days in such calendar year the Executive was an employee of the company, and the
denominator of which is 365;
(b) until the earlier of December 31, 2000 or 24 months from
the date of termination for Permanent Disability, Executive (and, to the extent
applicable, Executive's dependents) shall continue to be covered under Company's
medical, dental, hospitalization, group life, short and long-term disability,
accidental death and dismemberment and travel accident coverage plans described
in Section 4.1 or the Company will provide for equivalent coverage; provided
that if Executive is provided with comparable coverage by a successor employer
any such coverage by the Company shall cease; and
(c) all amounts payable under the Company's disability plans.
6.3 Death, In the event of Executive's death while employed
hereunder, the Period of Employment shall thereupon automatically terminate and
the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall receive (i) payments of
Base Salary for a period of three months after the date of death; (ii) all
unpaid amounts, as of the date of such termination, in respect of any Bonus for
any calendar year ending before the calendar year in which such termination
occurs, which would have been payable had Executive remained in employment until
the date such Bonus would otherwise have been paid, plus Executive's target
Bonus for the calendar year in which his employment terminates, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such calendar year the
Executive was an employee of the Company, and the denominator of which is 365;
and (iii) any death benefits provided under the employee benefit program, in
accordance with their terms.
6.4 Voluntary Resignation; Discharge for Cause. If Executive
resigns voluntarily, other than for Good Reason or Permanent Disability, or the
Company terminates the employment of Executive at any time for Cause, the
Company's obligations under this Agreement to make any further payments to
Executive shall thereupon, to the extent permitted by law, cease and terminate
except with respect to all unpaid amounts, as of the date of such termination,
in respect of any Bonus for any calendar year ending before such termination
occurs, which would have been payable had Executive remained in employment until
the date such bonus would otherwise have been paid. In addition, Executive shall
remain entitled to all vested amounts and benefits under the Company's employee
benefit programs, plans and practices, Including, without limitation, the
supplemental benefit credits provided for under Section 3.3 hereof. The term
"Cause" shall be limited to (a) action by Executive involving willful
malfeasance in connection with his employment which results in material harm to
the Company, (b) material and continuing breach by Executive of the terms of
this Agreement which breach is not cured within 60 days after Executive receives
written notice from the Company of any such breach or (c) Executive being
convicted of a felony Termination of Executive for Cause pursuant to this
Section 6.4 shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination given within six
months after the Board both (i) had knowledge of conduct or an event allegedly
constituting Cause and (ii) had reason to believe that such conduct or event
could be grounds for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement a "Notice of
Termination" shall mean delivery to Executive of a copy of a resolution duly
adopted by the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose
(after not less than 10 days' notice to Executive ("Preliminary Notice") and
reasonable opportunity for Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to
be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith
opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct set forth in the third
sentence of this Section 6.4 and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
The Board shall no later than 30 days after the receipt of the Preliminary
Notice by Executive communicate its findings to Executive. A failure by the
Board to make its finding of Cause or to communicate its conclusions within such
30-day period shall be deemed to be a finding that Executive was not guilty of
the conduct described in the second sentence of this Section 6.4.
6.5 Termination Obligations (a) Executive hereby acknowledges
and agrees that all personal property, including, without limitation, all books,
manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, lists, and other documents, and
equipment furnished to or prepared by Executive in the course of or incident to
his employment, belong to the Company and shall be promptly returned to the
Company upon termination of the Period of Employment.
(b) Upon termination of the Period of Employment, the
Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices and directorships
then held with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof.
7. Confidential Information. During and after the Period of
Employment, Executive shall not disclose to any person (other than an employee
or agent of the Company or any affiliate of the Company entitled to receive the
same) any confidential information relating to the business of the Company and
obtained by him while providing services to the Company, without the consent of
the Board, or until such information ceases to be confidential.
8. Non-Competition. In the event Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company for Cause or Executive terminates his employment with
the Company without Good Reason, Executive shall not, for a period ending on the
earlier of (i) 18 months from the date of such termination or (ii) December 31,
2000, accept any other employment or engage, directly or indirectly, in any
other business activity which is competitive with that of the Company or any
subsidiary thereof: provided, however, that Executive's ownership interest in,
and service as a director and/or officer of, ComNet Communications, Inc. shall
not be deemed to be competitive with the Company or any subsidiary thereof.
9. Expenses. Executive is authorized to incur reasonable
expenses in carrying out his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement,
including expenses for travel and similar items related to such duties and
responsibilities. The Company will reimburse Executive for all such expenses
upon presentation by Executive from time to time of an itemized account of such
expenditures.
10. No Obligation to Mitigate Damages. Executive shall not be
required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement by seeking (and no payment otherwise required hereunder shall be
reduced on account of) other employment or otherwise, nor will any payments
hereunder be subject to offset in respect of any claims which the Company may
have against Executive.
11. Notices. All notices or communications hereunder shall be
in writing, addressed as follows:
to Executive:
Xxxxx X. XxxXxxxx
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
to Company:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
EMCOR Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx., Esq
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Any such notice or communication shall be delivered by hand or sent certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as above
(or to such other address as such party may designate in a notice duly delivered
as described above), and the actual date of delivery or mailing shall determine
the time at which notice was given.
12. Agreement to Perform Necessary Acts. Each party agrees to
perform any further acts and to execute and deliver any further documents that
may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.
13. Separability Legal Actions; Legal Fees. If any provision
of this Agreement shall be declared to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or
in part, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remaining
provisions hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect. Any controversy
or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach of this
Agreement that cannot be resolved by Executive and the Company, including any
dispute as to the calculation of Executive's benefits or any payments hereunder,
shall be submitted to arbitration in New York, New York in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York and the procedures of the American Arbitration
Association, except that if Executive institutes an action relating to this
Agreement, Executive may, at Executive's option, bring that action in any court
of competent jurisdiction. All expenses, including legal expenses incurred by
Executive, relating to any arbitration shall be paid by the Company. Judgment
may be entered on an arbitrator(s)' award in any court having jurisdiction.
14. Assignment. This contract shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the heirs and representatives of Executive and the assigns and
successors of the Company, but neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder
shall be assignable or Otherwise subject to hypothecation by Executive (except
by will or by operation of the laws of intestate succession) or by the Company
(any such purported assignment by either shall be null and void), except that
the Company may assign this Agreement to any successor (whether by merger,
purchase or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the stock, assets or
business of the Company,
15. Amendment; Waiver. The Agreement may be amended at any
time, but only by mutual written agreement of the parties, hereto. Any party
may waive compliance by the other party with any provision hereof, but only by
an instrument in writing executed by the party granting such waiver.
16. Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement are intended
by the parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the
employment of Executive by the Company and may not be contradicted by evidence
of any prior or contemporaneous agreement. The parties further intend that this
Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of its terms and
that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial,
administrative or other legal proceeding involving this Agreement.
17. Death or Incompetence. In the event of Executive's death
or a judicial determination of his incompetence, reference in this Agreement to
Executive shall be deemed, where appropriate, to refer to his estate or other
legal representative.
18. Survivorship. The respective rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent
necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations. The
provisions of this Section are in addition to the survivorship provisions of any
other section of this Agreement.
19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed,
interpreted, and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
without reference to rules relating to conflicts of law.
20. Withholdings. The Company shall be entitled to withhold
from payment any amount of withholding required by law.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original
EMCOR GROUP, INC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------
EXECUTIVE
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. XxxXxxxx
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