CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Change of Control Agreement (this "Agreement") by and between CCC
GlobalCom Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and Mr. Z. A. Hakim
(the "Executive"), is effective as of February 16, 2001.
RECITALS:
A. The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has previously
determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined below) of the
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Company. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks
created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to encourage the
Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the
event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the
Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control
which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations of the Executive,
which are competitive with those of executives at other corporations, will be
satisfied.
B. To accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the Company to
enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
(a) The "Effective Date" shall mean the first date during the Change
of Control Period (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of
Control (as defined in Section 1(c)) occurs. Anything in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs and if the
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated prior to the date on
which the Change of Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated
by the Executive that such termination of employment (i) was at the
request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to
effect a Change of Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or
anticipation of a Change of Control, then for all purposes of this
Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to
the date of such termination of employment.
(b) The "Change of Control Period" shall mean the period commencing
on the date hereof and ending on the second anniversary of the date
hereof; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the
date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and
each annual anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the
"Renewal Date"), unless previously terminated, the Change of Control
Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three year(s)
after such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date
the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control
Period shall not be so extended.
(c) A "Change of Control" shall mean:
(i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within
the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act) of 20 percent or more of either (A) the then outstanding
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shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common
Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however
that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall
not constitute a Change of Control:
(A) any acquisition directly from the Company,
(B) any acquisition by the Company,
(C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or
any corporation controlled by the Company, or
(D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to
a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of
subsection (iii) of this Section 1(c); or
(ii) Individuals, who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least
a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board,
but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on
behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company (a "Corporate Transaction") in each case,
unless, following such Corporate Transaction, (A) all or substantially all
of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,
respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60 percent of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election
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of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation which
as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially
all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the
case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of
the Company or such corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction)
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20 percent or more of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation
except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Corporate
Transaction and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction
were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the
initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such
Corporate Transaction; or
(iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
2. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees that the Company or an
affiliated company will continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive
hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company or an affiliate subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the
Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of such date (the
"Employment Period"). "The Employment Period" shall mean the period commencing
on the date hereof and ending on the second anniversary of the date hereof,
provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof,
and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annul
anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"),
unless previously terminated, the "Employment Period" shall be automatically
extended so as to terminate three year(s) after such Renewal Date, unless at
least sixty (60) days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to
the Employee that the "Employment Period" shall not be so extended.
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3. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) POSITION AND DUTIES.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position
(including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements, authority,
duties and responsibilities) shall be at least commensurate in all
material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and
assigned at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the
location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the
Effective Date or any office or location less than 100 miles from such
location.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods
of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the
Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal
business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the
extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the
Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to
perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the
Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the
Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or
committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at
educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as
such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance
with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the
extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior
to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the
conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to
the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the
performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
(b) COMPENSATION.
(i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be
paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to 12 times the highest monthly
base salary paid or payable, including any base salary which has been
earned but deferred, to the Executive by the Company and/or its affiliated
companies in respect of the 12-month period immediately preceding the
month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period,
the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed no more than 12 months after the
last salary increase awarded to the Executive prior to the Effective Date
and thereafter at least annually; provided, however, that a salary
increase shall not necessarily be awarded as a result of such review. Any
increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or
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reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual
Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase other than a
reduction that is part of a general salary reduction implemented
Company-wide or by the Executive's employer consistently applied with
respect to all or substantially all employees. The term Annual Base Salary
as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so
increased or decreased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated
companies" shall include any company controlled by, controlling or under
common control with the Company.
(ii) ANNUAL BONUS. The Executive shall be awarded, for each
fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the
"Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the Executive's highest bonus
(whether in cash or Common Stock of the Company) paid or payable under the
Company's annual incentive program for the last three full fiscal years
prior to the Effective Date (annualized in the event that the Executive
was not employed by the Company for the whole of such fiscal year) (the
"Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than
the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal
year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall
elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus.
(iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs
applicable generally to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices,
policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive opportunities
(measured with respect to both regular and special incentive
opportunities, to the extent, if any, that such distinction is
applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities,
in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of
those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the
Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect
at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective
Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at
any time after the Effective Date to the Executive's peer executives of
the Company and its affiliated companies.
(iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the
Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be
eligible to participate in and shall receive all benefits under welfare
benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company
and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical,
prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life,
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group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and
programs) to the extent applicable generally to the Executive's peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event
shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive
with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most
favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for
the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding
the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided
generally at any time after the Effective Date to the Executive's peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable
policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated
companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to
the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect
to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits (including,
without limitation, financial planning services, payment of club dues, a
car allowance or use of an automobile and payment of related expenses, as
appropriate) in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices,
programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in
effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in
effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to the Executive's
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable
plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated
companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to
the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect
to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(viii)OPTIONS/SARS. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control
pursuant to which the Company is not the survivor (or survives only as a
subsidiary of another entity), the surviving corporation shall issue to
the Executive options and tandem stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), if
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applicable, in substitution or replacement of all outstanding options or
SARs previously issued pursuant to a Company stock option plan or the
Company's Stock Appreciation Rights Plan, respectively, any such options
and SARs to have terms and conditions similar to the terms of any such
original options and SARs.
4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If
the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive
has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of
Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice
in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement of its intention to
terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's
employment with the Company shall terminate effective 30 days after
receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"),
provided that within the 30-day period after such receipt, the Executive
shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's
duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the
absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a
full-time basis for 180 calendar days as a result of incapacity due to
mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent
by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to
the Executive or the Executive's legal representative.
(b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Cause" shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to
perform substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of
its affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due
to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial
performance is delivered to the Executive by a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in which
the Board of Directors believes that the Executive has not substantially
performed the Executive's duties, or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct
or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the
Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act, or failure to act, on the
part of the Executive shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable
belief that the Executive's action
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or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure
to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted
by the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or of
a senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice of counsel for
the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the
Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed
to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the
Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of
not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a
meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable
notice is provided to the Executive and the Executive is given an
opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding
that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive is guilty of
the conduct described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying
the particulars thereof in detail.
(c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated by the
Executive during the Employment Period for Good Reason. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent
in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices,
titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities
as contemplated by Section 3(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by
the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority,
duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by
the Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 3(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which
is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by the Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any
office or location other than as provided in Section 3(a)(i)(B) hereof or
the Company's requiring the Executive to travel on Company business to a
substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the
Effective Date;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this
Agreement; or
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(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
Section 9(c) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Section 4(c), any good faith determination of
"Good Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive.
(d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination during the Employment
Period by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason,
shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto
given in accordance with Section 11(b) of the Agreement. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied
upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the
facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the
Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt
of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not
more than 30 days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the
Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any
fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or
Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company,
respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" shall mean:
(i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the
Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may
be;
(ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, the Date of Termination
shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such
termination; and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of
the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.
5. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION.
(a) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE, DEATH OR
DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate
the Executive's employment other than for Cause, death or Disability, or
the Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:
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(i) The Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in
cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of the
following amounts:
A. the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual Base
Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not
theretofore paid, (2) the product of (x) the higher of (I) the
Recent Annual Bonus and (II) the Annual Bonus paid or payable,
including any bonus or portion thereof which has been earned
but deferred (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of
less than 12 full months or during which the Executive was
employed for less than 12 full months), for the most recently
completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any
(such higher amount being referred to as the "Highest Annual
Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of
Termination, and the denominator of which is 365, and (3) any
compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together
with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued
vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid
(the sum of the amounts described in clauses (1), (2) and (3)
shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued
Obligations"), and
B. the amount equal to the
product of (1) three times (2) the sum of (x)
the Executive's Annual Base Salary and (y)
the Highest Annual Bonus, and
(ii) For three year(s) after the Executive's Date of
Termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the
appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue
benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family equal to those
which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans,
programs, practices and policies described in Section 3(b)(iv) of this
Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated; provided,
however, that with respect to any of such plans, programs, practices or
policies requiring
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an employee contribution, the Executive shall continue to pay the monthly
employee contribution for same, and provided further, that if the
Executive becomes reemployed by another employer and is eligible to
receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided
plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be
secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable
period of eligibility;
(iii) The Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred,
provide the Executive with outplacement services, the scope and provider
of which shall be selected by the Executive in his sole discretion;
(iv) With respect to all options to purchase CommonStock held
by Employee on or prior to the Date of Termination, said options will
become 100% vested and the term of the option agreement will remain in
place as if Employee' employment had not been terminated.
(v) The Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum in cash
within 30 days after the Executive's Date of Termination equal to three
times the Executive's annual car allowance;
(vi) All benefits under the Retirement Plan, the SERP, the
401(k) Plan and the Excess Plan, and any other similar plans, not already
vested shall be 100% vested, to the extent such vesting is permitted under
the Code (as defined below); and
(vii) the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company
shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits
required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to
receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or
agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies (such other amounts
and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits").
(b) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal
representatives under this Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued
Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiaries, as
applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of
Termination. With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term
Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 5(b) shall include, without
limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries shall be
entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable
benefits provided by the
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Company and affiliated companies to the estates and beneficiaries of the
Executive's peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies
under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death
benefits, if any, in effect at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable, those in
effect on the date of the Executive's death.
(c) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive,
other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or
provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the
Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of
Termination. With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term
Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 5(c) shall include, without
limitation, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability
Effective Date to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to
the most favorable benefits generally provided by the Company and its
affiliated companies to the Executive's disabled peer executives and/or
their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and
policies relating to disability, if any, in effect generally at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if
more favorable, those in effect at the time of the Disability.
(d) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment
is terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than the
obligation to pay to the Executive (x) his or her Annual Base Salary
through the Date of Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation
previously deferred by the Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case
to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive voluntarily terminates
employment during the Employment Period, excluding a termination for Good
Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or
provision of Other Benefits. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall
be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the
Date of Termination.
6. OTHER RIGHTS. Except as provided hereinafter, nothing in this Agreement
shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any
plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its
affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to
Section 11(f), shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as
the Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the Company or any
of its affiliated companies. Except as provided hereinafter, amounts which are
vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under
any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the
Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of
Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or
program or contract or agreement. It is expressly agreed by the Executive that
he or she
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shall have no right to receive, and hereby waives any entitlement to, any
severance pay or similar benefit under any other plan, policy, practice or
program of the Company. In addition, if the Executive has an employment or
similar agreement with the Company at the Date of Termination, he or she agrees
that he or she shall have the right to receive all of the benefits provided
under this Agreement or such other agreement, whichever one, in its entirety,
the Executive chooses, but not both agreements, and when the Executive has made
such election, the other agreement shall be superseded in its entirety and shall
be of no further force and effect. The Executive also agrees that to the extent
he or she may be eligible for any severance pay or similar benefit under any
laws providing for severance or termination benefits, such other severance pay
or similar benefit shall be coordinated with the benefits owed hereunder, such
that the Executive shall not receive duplicate benefits.
7. FULL SETTLEMENT.
(a) NO RIGHTS OF OFFSET. The Company's obligation to make the
payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its
obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may
have against the Executive or others.
(b) NO MITIGATION REQUIRED. In no event shall the Executive be
obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of
mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the
provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced whether
or not the Executive obtains other employment.
(c) LEGAL FEES. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full
extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expense which the Executive
may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome
thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or
enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or
any guarantee of performance thereto (including as a result of any contest
by the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this
Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed payment at the
applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
8. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and
except as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any
payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the
Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
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otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments
required under this Section 8) (a "Payment") would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or
penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax
(such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the
Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up
Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all
taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such
taxes), including without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest
and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon
the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up
Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(a), if it shall be determined
that the Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the
Executive, after taking into account the Payments and the Gross-Up
Payment, would not receive a net after-tax benefit of at least $50,000
(taking into account both income taxes and any Excise Tax) as compared to
the net after-tax proceeds to the Executive resulting from an elimination
of the Gross-Up Payment and a reduction of the Payments, in the aggregate,
to an amount (the "Reduced Amount") such that the receipt of Payments
would not give rise to any Excise Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be
made to the Executive and the Payments, in the aggregate, shall be reduced
to the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 8(c), all determinations
required to be made under this Section 8, including whether and when a
Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and
the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination shall be
made by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP or, as provided below, such other certified
public accounting firm as may be designated by the Executive (the
"Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations
both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days after the
receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or
such earlier time as is requested by the Company. In the event that the
Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual,
entity or group effecting the Change of Control, the Executive shall
appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to make the
determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be
referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of
the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up
Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 8, shall be paid by the
Company to the Executive within five days after the receipt of the
Accounting Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm
shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the
uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of
the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should
have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required
to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies
pursuant to Section 8(c) and
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the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax,
the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that
has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim
by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the
payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be
given as soon as practicable, but no later than ten business days after
the Executive is informed in writing of such claim, and shall apprise the
Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is
requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the
expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which he gives such
notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any
payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company
notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period
that it desires to contest such claim the Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably
requested by the Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim
as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
including without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect
to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
effectively to contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
relating to such claims; provided, however, that the Company shall bear
and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and
penalties) incurred in connection with such costs and shall indemnify and
hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or
income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed
as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.
Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(c), the
Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such
contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all
administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the
taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option,
either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a refund or
contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to
prosecute such contest to determination before any administrative
tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate
courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the
Company directs the
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Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall
advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free
basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax
basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties
with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect
to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and further provided
that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of
taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such
contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be limited
to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable
hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the
case may be, any other issues raised by the Internal Revenue Service or
any other taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by
the Company pursuant to Section 8(c), the Executive becomes entitled to
receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall
(subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of Section 8(c))
promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any
interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If,
after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company
pursuant to Section 8(c), a determination is made that the Executive shall
not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company
does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such
denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be
required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the
extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
9. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies,
and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive
during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies, provided that it shall not apply to information which is or shall
become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives
of the Executive in violation of this Agreement), information that is developed
by the Executive independently of such information, or knowledge or data or
information that is disclosed to the Executive by a third party under no
obligation of confidentiality to the Company. After termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or
legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to
anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an
asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 9 constitute a basis for
deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under
this Agreement.
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10. SUCCESSORS.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the
prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the
Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive's legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no
such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company"
shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its
business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform
this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICT OF LAWS.
The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and
shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or
modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties
hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If to the Executive: Mr. Z. A. Hakim
00000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
If to the Company: Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxx
CCC GlobalCom Corporation
00000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
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or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other
in writing in accordance herewith. Notices and communications shall be
effective when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this
Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required
to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert
any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including
without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for
Good Reason pursuant to Section 4(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not
be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision
or right of this Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may
otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the
Executive and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company
is "at will" and, subject to Section 1(a) hereof, prior to the Effective
Date, the Executive's employment and/or this Agreement may be terminated
by either the Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective
Date, in which case the Executive shall have no further rights under this
Agreement. From and after the Effective Date this Agreement shall
supersede any other agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has
caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.
/s/
------------------------------------
Executive
CCC GlobalCom Corporation
/s/
By:_______________________________
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