EXHIBIT 10.7
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 1st
day of July, 2005, by and between ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC., a
Missouri corporation (hereinafter called "Employer"), and XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
(hereinafter called "Employee").
WHEREAS, Employee desires to continue to be employed by Employer
and Employer desires to continue the employment of Employee under the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is Employer's intention to employ Employee upon the
terms and conditions herein, which recognize and compensate Employee for the
obligations of Employee undertaken hereunder, including specifically, but
not by way of limitation, the agreement of Employee not to compete with the
business of Employer, as provided in Paragraph 7, for the period provided in
Paragraph 7 upon the cessation of Employee's employment by Employer for any
reason, and which further recognize that the possibility exists that a
Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) of Employer could occur during
the term hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the promises
and agreements herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment. Employer hereby employs Employee in the capacity of
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Senior Vice President - Controller and Chief Accounting Officer and Employee
hereby accepts such employment from Employer upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth. This Agreement replaces any and all other employment
agreements by and between Employee and Employer dated prior to the date of
this Employment Agreement.
2. Term of Employment. The term of Employee's employment under this
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Agreement shall be for the period commencing July 1, 2005 and ending on
October 31, 2007. Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated prior to
the expiration of the initial term or any extension term of this Agreement
upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) Upon the death of Employee, if Employee is actively employed by
Employer at the time of death.
(b) By Employee, upon not less than ninety (90) days nor more than
one hundred twenty (120) days written notice to Employer.
(c) In the event of Employee's "disability," which for purposes
hereof shall mean Employee's failure substantially to discharge Employee's
duties under this Agreement for ninety (90) consecutive days or one hundred
twenty (120) days in any calendar year, whether or not
consecutive, as a result of an injury, disease, sickness or other physical
or mental incapacity. A determination of Employee's disability shall be made
by a qualified licensed physician chosen by Employer subject to Employee's
approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event
Employer and Employee cannot agree on the choice of a physician, then such
physician shall be chosen by the xxxx of the St. Louis University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, or if said xxxx is unwilling or unable to do
so, by the xxxx of another medical school of recognized national repute. The
cost of such determination shall be borne by Employer, and in the absence of
fraud or bad faith, shall be binding on all parties hereto.
(d) By Employer, for "cause," immediately upon written notice to
Employee. For purposes of this Agreement, "cause" shall mean (i) Employee's
breach or violation of or failure to perform any of the material terms and
conditions of this Agreement or such other conduct or action by Employee
which materially and adversely affects the business or reputation of
Employer as determined by Employer's Board of Directors, which shall include
specifically, but not by way of limitation, intentional or negligent conduct
or activity inconsistent with or proscribed by federal or state criminal
statute or regulation or express Employer policy pertaining to a contract
with the United States Government or the violation of any other ethics or
other corporate policy of Employer, or (ii) any act of dishonesty or
disloyalty or breach of trust against Employer.
(e) By Employer, without cause, by written notice to Employee at
any time.
Upon termination of this Agreement for any of the reasons specified
in subparagraphs (a) through (d), above, Employee shall be entitled to
receive only his Base Salary (as hereinafter defined) in accordance with
Employer's regular payroll schedule through the effective date of
termination and shall not be entitled to any additional compensation or
other consideration except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, or such other compensation plans in effect in which Employee is a
participant at the time of termination. Upon termination of this Agreement
by Employer without cause as provided in subparagraph (e), above, Employee
shall be entitled to the severance allowance and benefit participation
specified in Paragraph 20 hereof.
Employee understands and agrees that in the event this Agreement
expires by its terms or in the event either party terminates Employee's
employment hereunder for any reason whatsoever, the restrictive covenants
set forth in Paragraph 7 hereof and the remedies provision in Paragraph 13
hereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall survive the
expiration and/or termination of all other terms of this Agreement.
The initial term of this Agreement shall not be extended except by
mutual written agreement of Employer and Employee.
3. Duties of Employee. During Employee's employment by Employer,
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Employee shall serve Employer to the best of Employee's ability and shall
perform such duties and in such capacities as are assigned to Employee from
time to time by the Vice Chairman - Administration and Chief Financial
Officer of Employer and the Board of Directors of Employer. Employee agrees
during such period to devote substantial time and efforts to the business of
Employer, and to be loyal and faithful at all times, constantly endeavoring
to improve Employee's ability and
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knowledge of the business of Employer in an effort to increase the value of
Employee's services for the mutual benefit of Employee and Employer.
Employee will devote such time, attention and energy to the business of
Employer as is reasonably necessary to perform his duties hereunder and to
protect, preserve, enhance and promote the best interests of the Employer
during the term of his employment with Employer.
4. Base Salary. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement
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and in consideration of services rendered hereunder, Employer agrees to pay
Employee, for Employee's service during the term of Employee's employment,
an annual base salary ("Base Salary") of Two Hundred Fifteen Thousand
Dollars ($215,000.00), payable in accordance with Employer's regular payroll
schedule.
5. Bonus Compensation.
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(a) In addition to the Base Salary provided in Paragraph 4 hereof,
Employee shall be entitled to earn an annual cash bonus under the Engineered
Support Systems, Inc. Executive Incentive Performance Plan dated July 28,
2004, adopted by Employer's Board of Directors and approved by Employer's
shareholders, as from time to time amended. The amount of such bonus and
performance criteria for earning same shall be determined by the
Compensation Committee of Employer's Board of Directors and may be based on
a performance payment matrix as from time to time established by such
Compensation Committee. Such bonus amounts shall be payable on or before
December 31 following the end of each fiscal year that ends during the term
of this Agreement (subject to the right of Employee to defer his cash bonus
until the month of January of the next calendar year with Employer's
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). Employee's
target bonus under such Executive Incentive Performance Plan for Employer's
fiscal year ending October 31, 2005 shall be Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars
($85,000.00).
(b) Employee shall be entitled to such other salary, bonuses or
compensation as from time to time determined by the Board of Directors of
Employer.
6. Securities Compliance. Employee agrees to comply fully and
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faithfully with regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
pertaining to insider transaction and Employer's securities and
specifically, to report to Employer all intended, contemplated and
consumated transactions involving Employer's securities.
7. Covenants of Employee.
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(a) So long as Employee shall remain employed with Employer and at
all times after the termination of his employment, for whatever reason,
Employee covenants, warrants and agrees that Employee will not (except as
required in Employee's duties to Employer hereunder), in any manner,
directly or indirectly, actually or attempt to:
Disclose or divulge to any person, entity, firm or company
whatsoever, or use for Employee's own benefit or for the benefit of
any third person or concern, or for any reason inconsistent with
the purpose of this Agreement or inconsistent
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with Employee's confidential and fiduciary relationship with
Employer, any trade secrets, formulae, devices, know-how,
management and business methods, techniques, opportunities,
customer information, supplier information, business or financial
plans or other information or data of Employer, without regard to
whether all of the foregoing matters will otherwise be deemed
confidential, material or important, the parties hereto stipulating
that as between them, the same are important, material and
confidential and greatly affect the effective and successful
conduct of the business and the goodwill of Employer, and the
parties further stipulate that any breach or evasion of the terms
of this subparagraph (a) shall be a material breach of this
Agreement, provided that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply
(x) with respect to matters that are or become generally known to
the public without breach of this Agreement or any other agreement
or instrument by which Employee is bound, or (y) where Employee is
required by law, governmental regulation, or court order to
disclose such matters.
(b) During the term of Employee's employment with Employer, and for
a period of two (2) years after the termination of such employment, for
whatever reason (except such two (2) year period shall be reduced to one (1)
year if Employee was terminated by Employer without cause), Employee
covenants, warrants and agrees that Employee will not (except as required in
Employee's duties to Employer), in any manner, directly or indirectly,
actually or attempt to:
(i) Solicit, divert, take away or interfere with any of
the customers, trade, business, patronage, employees or agents of Employer,
or in any manner engage in any conduct or activity, including but not
limited to, verbal representations or declarations that would or could be
construed or intended as a disparagement of Employer's interests;
(ii) Engage within the United States or anywhere outside
of the United States where the Employer conducts business, directly or
indirectly, either personally or as an owner, employee, partner, associate,
officer, manager, agent, advisor, consultant or otherwise, or by means of
any corporate or other entity or device, in any business which is
"competitive" (as hereinafter defined) with the business of Employer.
(c) For purposes hereof, a business will be deemed competitive if
it involves the manufacture or sale of high-tech integrated military
electronics, support equipment for government or commercial use, logistics
services for all branches of the United States armed forces and foreign
militaries that do business with Employer, homeland security forces and
other governmental and intelligence agencies, or any other business which is
in any manner competitive, during or as of the date of cessation of
Employee's employment, with any business then being conducted by Employer or
as to which Employer has then formulated definitive plans to enter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may own up to one percent (1%) of
the outstanding securities of a corporation or other business entity that is
"competitive" with the business of Employer if such entity's securities are
traded on a national securities exchange or on the over-the-counter market.
Employee agrees that during the term of his employment with Employer and for
the term of the restrictive covenants set forth herein, he will promptly
communicate to Employer the identity of all companies, persons or concerns
with whom Employee is considering employment, association or other
relationship along with other
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information as to the products and services of such company, person or
concern sufficient in detail to permit Employer to make a determination as
to whether or not competition exists. In order to preserve its rights under
this Agreement, Employer may advise any third party with whom Employee may
consider, establish or contract a relationship of the existence of the terms
of this Agreement, and Employee authorizes and consents to such disclosure,
and Employer shall have no liability for so acting.
(d) All of the covenants on behalf of Employee contained in this
Paragraph 7 shall be construed as agreements independent of any other
provision of this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of
action against Employer, whether predicted on this Agreement or otherwise,
shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by Employer of these
covenants.
(e) It is the intention of the parties to restrict the activities
of Employee under this Paragraph 7 to the extent necessary for the
protection of the legitimate business interests of Employer, and the parties
specifically covenant and agree that should any of the clauses or provisions
set forth herein, under any set of circumstances not now foreseen by the
parties, be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid
or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the term of
this Agreement, then and in that event, it is the intention of the parties
hereto that, in lieu of each such clause or provision there shall be
substituted or added, and there is hereby substituted or added, as a part of
this Agreement a clause or provision as similar in terms to such illegal,
invalid or unenforceable clause or provision as may be legal, valid and
enforceable.
8. Expenses.
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(a) During the period of Employee's employment, Employer will pay
directly, or reimburse Employee, for reasonable and necessary expenses as
from time to time authorized by the Board of Directors of Employer and
incurred by Employee in the interest of the business of Employer. All such
expenses paid by Employee, will be reimbursed by Employer upon presentation
by Employee, from time to time, of an itemized account of such expenditures,
to the extent necessary to permit the deductibility thereof for Federal
income tax purposes in accordance with the from time to time policy(ies) of
Employer.
(b) Employer agrees to pay for the monthly dues and charges for
Employee's country club membership and such other membership privileges as
are approved by Employer's Board of Directors. To the extent that any such
payments are not deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses, in
accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, such expenditures will be treated
as additional salary to Employee.
9. Automobile. During the period of this Agreement, Employer shall
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pay to or on behalf of Employee a car allowance as from time to time adopted
by the Board of Directors.
10. Documents. Employee agrees that all documents, instruments,
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drawings, plans, contracts, proposals, records, notebooks, invoices,
statements and correspondence, whether in print or electronic form or
otherwise and including all copies thereof, relating to the business of
Employer shall be the property of Employer, and upon the cessation of
Employee's employment
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with Employer, for whatever reason, all of the same then in Employee's
possession, whether prepared by Employee of others, will be left with or
immediately delivered to Employer.
11. Additional Employee Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to
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participate, in accordance with the eligibility requirements thereof, in
Employer's medical, life insurance, accidental death, disability income,
profit sharing trust and 401(k) programs and other employee benefits which
now exist or that may be established hereafter by Employer on the same basis
as other employees of Employer.
12. Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid
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vacation each calendar year, which vacation time shall be taken during such
periods as may be mutually agreed upon by Employer and Employee.
13. Remedies. It is agreed that any breach or violation of any of
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the terms of Paragraphs 6 and 7 of this Agreement by Employee will result in
immediate and irreparable injury to Employer and will authorize recourse to
injunction and/or specific performance as well as to all other legal or
equitable remedies to which Employer may be entitled. Employee represents
and admits that in the event of the termination of Employee's employment for
any reason, Employee's experience and capabilities are such that Employee
can obtain employment in businesses engaged in other lines or of a different
nature, and that the enforcement of a remedy by way of injunction will not
prevent Employee from earning a livelihood. No remedy conferred by and of
the specific provisions of this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any
other remedy, and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in
addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing
at law or in equity. The election of any one or more remedies by Employer
shall not constitute a waiver of the right to pursue other available
remedies at any time or cumulatively from time to time.
14. Severability. All agreements and covenants herein contained are
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severable, and in the event any of them shall be held to be invalid or
unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, this Agreement shall
continue in full force and effect and shall be interpreted as if such
invalid agreement or covenant were not contained herein.
15. Waiver or Modification. No amendment, waiver or modification of
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this Agreement or of any covenant, condition or limitation herein contained
shall be valid unless in writing and duly executed by the party to be
charged therewith, and no evidence of any amendment, waiver or modification
shall be offered or received in evidence in any proceeding, arbitration or
litigation between the parties hereto arising out of or affecting this
Agreement, or the rights or obligations of the parties hereunder, unless
such amendment, waiver or modification is in writing, duly executed as
aforesaid, and the parties further agree that the provisions of this
paragraph may not be waived or modified except as herein set forth. Failure
of Employee or Employer to exercise or otherwise act with respect to any
rights granted hereunder in the event of a breach of any of the terms or
conditions hereof by the other party, shall not be construed as a waiver of
such breach, nor prevent Employee or Employer from thereafter enforcing
strict compliance with any and all of the terms and conditions hereof.
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16. Notices. All notices, requests, demands or other communication
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hereunder ("Notice") shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if
personally delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, as follows:
If to Employer, to:
Engineered Support Systems, Inc.
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, General Counsel
000 Xxxxx Xxxx
Xx. Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
If to Employee, to:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
or to such other addresses as to which the parties hereto give Notice in
accordance with this Paragraph 16.
17. Construction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
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and interpreted according to the laws of the State of Missouri,
notwithstanding the place of execution hereof, nor the performance of any
acts in connection herewith or hereunder in any other jurisdiction. For all
purposes hereof, reference to Employer shall include each and every direct
or indirect subsidiary and affiliated entity of Employer and shall further
include the surviving or continuing entity as a result of any merger,
combination, consolidation or reorganization to which Employer is a party.
18. Assignability. The services to be performed by Employee
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hereunder are personal in nature and Employee shall not assign his rights or
delegate his obligations under this Agreement, and any attempted or
purported assignment or delegation not herein permitted shall be null and
void.
19. Successors. Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 18, this
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Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of Employer
and Employee and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.
20. Severance Allowance and Benefit Participation. In the event
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that Employer terminates Employee's employment without cause as provided in
Paragraph 2(e) hereof, then in such event, Employee shall be entitled to the
severance allowance and benefit participation as hereinafter set forth. The
severance allowance will be paid over a twelve (12) month period in
accordance with Employer's regular payroll schedule. During such twelve (12)
month period following termination, Employee will paid his full monthly Base
Salary at such level in effect as of the date of his termination. In
addition, during such twelve (12) month period, Employee (and eligible
family members of Employee) shall be entitled to continue to participate in
and receive the standard employee benefits described in Paragraph 11 hereof
(excluding, however, life and
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accidental death insurance, short term and long term disability programs and
profit sharing and 401(k) programs) provided Employee continues to pay for
such benefits received on the same basis as other senior executive employees
of Employer. As a condition to Employee receiving the above severance
allowance and benefits, Employee shall execute a general release agreement
developed for use by Employer.
21. Change in Control. In the event there shall be a Change in
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Control of Employer (as defined below) and Employee is not offered an
employment position with Employer following the Change in Control with
comparable responsibilities and Base Salary or if in conjunction with the
Change in Control of Employer, Employee will be required to relocate from
Employee's then principal place of work to another place of work which
increases the one-way travel distance from the Employee's residence by
thirty-five (35) or more miles (and as a result Employee declines to accept
a position with Employer), then in either of such events, Employee shall be
deemed to have been terminated by Employer without cause and Employee shall
be entitled to the severance allowance and benefit participation specified
in Paragraph 20 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in
Control" shall mean a change in control of Employer of a nature that would
be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act") provided that, without limitation, such a
Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (A) any "person" (as
such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other
than a trustee or fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of Employer, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of
Employer representing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined
voting power of Employer's then outstanding voting securities; (B) there is
consummated a merger or consolidation of Employer in which Employer is not
the surviving or continuing entity or pursuant to which Employer's voting
securities are converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other
property other than any such transaction where the holders of Employer's
voting securities outstanding immediately prior to such transaction have the
same proportionate ownership of the voting securities of the surviving
entity immediately after the transaction; (C) there is consummated any sale,
lease, exchange or other transfer or disposition (in one transaction or a
series related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of
Employer; (D) the shareholders of Employer approve any plan or proposal for
the liquidation or dissolution of Employer; (E) during any period of two (2)
consecutive years during the term of this Agreement, individuals, who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of Employer cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the
election or the nomination for election, by Employer's shareholders of each
new director is approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the
directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the
period; or (F) there is consummated any consolidation or merger of Employer
in which Employer is the continuing or surviving corporation and in which
the holders of the voting securities of Employer immediately prior to the
merger do not own seventy percent (70%) or more of the voting securities of
the surviving entity immediately after the merger.
22. Attorney's Fees and Costs. If any action at law or in equity is
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brought to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, the
prevailing party in such action shall be
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entitled to recover from the other party the reasonable attorneys' fees,
costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which
such party may be entitled.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank - Signatures on Next Page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
"EMPLOYEE" "EMPLOYER"
ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Secretary
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