EXHIBIT 10.4
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into and made
effective as of June 1, 2000 (the "Effective Date"), by and between APAC
Customer Services, Inc., an Illinois corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxx X.
Xxxxx (the "Executive").
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the
parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION I
EMPLOYMENT
A. EMPLOYMENT
Subject to the terms and conditions provided in this Agreement, the
Company agrees to continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to
continue in employment with the Company. Such continued employment hereunder
shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall terminate on May 31, 2004,
unless terminated earlier as provided below in Section III (the "Period of
Employment").
B. POSITION, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
While the Executive is employed with the Company, the Executive shall
devote all of his business time, attention and skill to the business and affairs
of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Executive shall report to the President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall perform such duties on
behalf of the Company as may be directed by the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. The Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President --
Operations. The Executive may serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or
committees so long as, in the judgment of the President and Chief Executive
Officer, such activities do not interfere with the Executive's responsibilities
hereunder. The Company shall nominate the Executive for and cause the Executive
to be elected to the Board of Directors and, thereafter while he is employed
hereunder, to be reelected to the Board of Directors at the end of each term;
provided that, the Executive shall resign from the Board of Directors upon his
termination of employment if so requested by the Company.
SECTION II
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
A. BASE SALARY
During the Period of Employment, the Company agrees to pay the Executive a
base salary ("Base Salary") of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) (the
"Initial Amount"), payable periodically on the same basis as other senior
executives of the Company. The Executive's Base Salary will be reviewed at the
same time as other senior executives who report directly to the President and
Chief Executive Officer during the Period of Employment by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Compensation Committee"), and may be
increased or decreased as it deems appropriate. In no event shall the base
salary for any 12
month period be less than the Initial Amount, except if the Executive's Base
Salary is decreased in connection with a reduction of senior executives'
salaries generally, and all senior executives of the Company are subject to an
equivalent percentage reduction in their base salaries.
B. ANNUAL INCENTIVE BONUS
For each fiscal year of the Executive's employment with the Company
(but prorated for the fiscal year in progress on the Effective Date based on the
actual Base Salary paid to the Executive in such year from and after the
Effective Date), the Executive shall be eligible for an annual incentive bonus
("Annual Incentive Bonus") under the Company's Management Incentive Plan, as in
effect from time to time or under a successor annual incentive plan ("Incentive
Plan"), and this Agreement, with performance weighted twenty-five percent (25%)
corporate, fifty percent (50%) SBU and twenty-five percent (25%) individual, and
a threshold award of twenty-five percent (25%), a target award of fifty percent
(50%), and a maximum award of seventy-five percent (75%) of the Executive's Base
Salary for such fiscal year, payable to the Executive in accordance with the
Company's Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee shall establish the
corporate, SBU and individual goals for each fiscal year (with corresponding
goals established for the payment of threshold, target and maximum awards, and
awards between the goals determined by straight line interpolation).
C. EQUITY INCENTIVES
As of the Effective Date, the Company shall grant to the Executive a
nonstatutory stock option (one that is not intended to be an incentive stock
option under Section 422 of the Code) under the APAC Customer Services, Inc.
Second Amended and Restated 1995 Incentive Stock Plan (the "Stock Plan")
covering four hundred thousand (400,000) shares of the Common Stock of the
Company ("Shares") at an exercise price of $8.8125 (the mean between the high
and low prices at which the Company's Common Stock traded on June 1, 2000, as
reported on the NASDAQ National Market System). As a condition to the receipt of
this grant made as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall execute a Stock
Option Agreement, a copy of which is appended hereto as Attachment I.
If the Executive is employed hereunder on the date in 2001 and each
subsequent year of the Period of Employment that option grants are made to
executives of the Company generally, the Executive shall be eligible to receive
additional stock option grants under the Stock Plan based on the Compensation
Committee's assessment of his performance. The number of Shares covered by such
option grants shall be determined by the Compensation Committee based on the
Executive's achievement of the performance goals established by the Compensation
Committee under the Incentive Plan for each fiscal year. Each such option
granted to the Executive pursuant to this paragraph shall be on such terms and
conditions as the Compensation Committee shall determine and as evidenced by a
written and executed Stock Option Agreement.
In addition, the Executive and the Company agree that, effective as of
the Effective Date, the last sentence of paragraph 4 of Exhibit A to the
Employment Agreement dated as of the 26th day of May 1995 between the Company
and the Executive (the "Prior Agreement") is amended to read:
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"Upon exercise, payment of the exercise price shall be made either in
cash, or by means of a broker assisted cashless exercise arrangement established
by the Company."
D. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all employee benefit plans or programs provided to senior
executives of the Company. The Executive will participate to the extent
permissible under the terms and provisions of such plans or programs in
accordance with plan or program provisions, subject in each case to the
conditions, limitations and restrictions imposed on the receipt of benefits
under such plan or program. These plans or programs may include group medical,
life or other insurance, tax qualified pension, savings, thrift and profit
sharing plans, sick leave plans, travel or accident insurance, and short and
long term disability insurance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive
shall not be eligible to participate in any severance or termination pay plan or
program, and the Executive's participation in any stock option, restricted stock
or other stock-based plan or program shall be at the level described herein.
Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company from amending or
terminating any of the plans or programs applicable to senior executive
employees of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, no such
amendment or termination shall reduce or otherwise adversely affect the
Executive's rights under Section II.C. of this Agreement.
E. BUSINESS EXPENSES
The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel
and other business expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the
performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. The
Executive must support all expenditures with customary receipts and expense
reports subject to review in accordance with the Company's regular policy
regarding expense reimbursement.
F. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
The Executive shall be entitled to receive four (4) weeks paid vacation
during each calendar year, to be taken at such time or times that are mutually
agreeable by the Executive and the Company and not disruptive of the Company's
business. Such vacation shall be prorated for partial calendar years and may be
carried over or cashed out, if at all, only in accordance with general Company
policies as in effect from time to time.
In addition, the Company shall pay, on behalf of the Executive, reasonable
attorney's and accountants fees, up to a maximum of $10,000, incurred by him in
connection with the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement.
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SECTION III
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
A. TERMINATION OTHER THAN WITH CAUSE OTHER THAN IN CONNECTION WITH
CHANGE IN CONTROL
If, other than under circumstance described in Section III.B., the Company
terminates the Executive's employment other than With Cause (defined below in
Section III.E.1), the Executive shall be entitled to receive continued payment
of an amount equal to his Base Salary, at the rate then in effect, for a period
of 18 months. In addition, (i) the Executive shall receive an amount equal to
the prorated Annual Incentive Bonus payable under the Incentive Plan based on
the target payout for the fiscal year in which the termination of employment
occurred (based on the number of days in such year that he was employed
hereunder through the date of termination), payable at the same time that
bonuses are paid for such year, (ii) the Executive shall be entitled to his
accrued benefits under the terms of the plans, policies and procedures of the
Company, including any plans or programs in which he participates pursuant to
Section II.D, and (iii) the Executive shall receive payment for all accrued but
unused vacation. Upon making the payments required under this Paragraph A, the
Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive under this Agreement.
B. TERMINATION OTHER THAN WITH CAUSE OR FOR GOOD REASON IN CONNECTION
WITH CHANGE IN CONTROL
If during the Period of Employment and within the (12) months following a
Change in Control (defined below in Section III.E.3) the Company terminates the
Executive's employment other than With Cause or the Executive terminates his
employment with the Company for Good Reason, (i) the Executive shall be entitled
to receive (A) continued payment of an amount equal to his Base Salary, at the
rate then in effect, for a period of 18 months, (B) 18 months' Annual Incentive
Bonus at target, at the Base Salary rate in effect on the date of the
Executive's termination, payable in installments at the same times as the
payments in clause (A), and (C) payment for any accrued but unused vacation, and
(ii) the Executive shall be entitled to his accrued benefits under the terms of
the plans, policies and procedures of the Company, including any plans or
programs in which he participates pursuant to Section II.D.
C. TERMINATION WITH CAUSE, VOLUNTARY TERMINATION, TERMINATION BY DEATH
OR DISABILITY
If the Executive's employment is (i) terminated by the Company With Cause,
(ii) voluntarily terminated by the Executive other than for Good Reason in
connection with a Change in Control as described above in Section III.B., or
(iii) terminated by his death or Disability (as defined below), the Executive
shall be entitled to: (A) his Base Salary, at the rate then in effect, through
the date of termination, (B) his accrued benefits under the terms of the plans,
policies and procedures of the Company, including any plans or programs in which
he participates pursuant to Section II.D, and (C) payment for all accrued but
unused vacation. Upon such payment, the Company shall have no further obligation
to the Executive under this Agreement.
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For purposes of the foregoing, "Disability" shall mean disability as
determined under the Company's long term disability benefit plan then in effect
covering the Executive.
D. DUTY TO MITIGATE; OFFSET
The Executive shall have no duty to mitigate by seeking other employment
after his termination of employment. No amount to which the Executive is
entitled under this Section III shall be subject to offset for any income that
he derives from employment and/or consulting or from any other source.
E. DEFINITIONS
For this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) Termination "With Cause" means termination of the Executive'
employment by the Board of Directors acting in good faith by written notice by
the Company to the Executive specifying the event relied upon for such
termination, due to (i) gross misconduct or gross negligence in the performance
of the Executive's employment duties, (ii) willful disobedience by the Executive
of the lawful directions received from or policies established by the Chief
Executive Officer, which continues for more than seven (7) days after the
Company notifies the Executive of its intention to terminate his employment on
account of such disobedience, or (iii) commission by the Executive of a crime
involving fraud or moral turpitude that can reasonably be expected to have an
adverse effect on the business, reputation or financial situation of the
Company.
(2) Termination for "Good Reason" means termination of the
Executive's employment by the Executive but only if, after notice by the
Executive to the Company and a fifteen (15) day opportunity by the Company to
cure, (i) the Executive's principal place of work (not including regular
business travel) is relocated by more than fifty (50) miles, (ii) the
Executive's duties, responsibilities or authority as an executive employee are
materially reduced or diminished from those in effect on the Executive's
commencement date hereunder without the Executive's written consent; provided
that any reduction or diminishment in any of the foregoing resulting merely from
the acquisition of the Company and its existence as a subsidiary or division of
another entity shall not be sufficient to constitute Good Reason, (iii) the
compensation received by the Executive is reduced in the aggregate, and such
reduction is not remedied within thirty (30) days of the Executive's notice to
the Company thereof, (iv) a determination is made by the Executive in good faith
that as a result of a Change in Control, and a change in circumstances
thereafter and since the date of this Agreement significantly affecting his
position, he is unable to carry out the authorities, powers, functions or duties
attached to his position and the situation is not remedied within thirty (30)
days after receipt of the Company of written notice from the Executive of such
determination, (v) the Company violates the material terms of the Agreement, or
(vi) there is a liquidation, dissolution, consolidation or merger of the Company
or transfer of all or a significant portion of its assets unless a successor or
successors (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) to which all or a significant
portion of its assets have been transferred shall have assumed all duties and
obligations of the Company under this Agreement.
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(3) A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if
(i) a tender offer shall be made and consummated for the ownership of more than
50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, (ii) the Company shall
be merged or consolidated with another corporation and as a result of such
merger or consolidation less than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of
the surviving or resulting corporation shall be owned in the aggregate by the
former shareholders of the Company, as the same shall have existed immediately
prior to such merger or consolidation, (iii) the Company shall sell all or
substantially all of its assets to another corporation which is not a
wholly-owned subsidiary or affiliate, (iv) as the result of, or in connection
with, any contested election for the Board of Directors, or any tender or
exchange offer, merger or business combination or sale of assets, or any
combination of the foregoing (a "Transaction"), the persons who were Directors
of the Company before the Transaction shall cease to constitute a majority of
the Board of Directors of the Company, or any successor thereto, or (v) a
person, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) or of Section 13(d)(3) (as in
effect on the date hereof) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange
Act"), other than any employee benefit plan then maintained by the Company,
shall acquire more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company
(whether directly, indirectly, beneficially or of record). For purposes hereof,
ownership of voting securities shall take into account and shall include
ownership as determined by applying the provisions of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) (as in
effect on the date hereof) pursuant to the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) a Change in Control will not occur for purposes of this Agreement
merely due to the death of Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, or as a result of the
acquisition, by Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, alone or with one or more affiliates or
associates, as defined in the Exchange Act, of securities of the Company, as
part of a going-private transaction or otherwise, unless Xx. Xxxxxxxx or his
affiliates, associates, family members or trusts for the benefit of family
members (collectively, the "Xxxxxxxx Entities") do not control, directly or
indirectly, at least twenty-seven percent (27%) of the resulting entity, and
(ii) if the Xxxxxxxx Entities control, directly or indirectly, less than
twenty-seven percent (27%) of the Company's voting securities while it is a
public company, then "33-1/3%" shall be substituted for "50%" in clauses (i) and
(v) of the first sentence of this paragraph, and "66-2/3%" shall be substituted
for "50%" in clause (ii) of the first sentence of this paragraph.
SECTION IV
OTHER DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DURING
AND AFTER THE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT
A. COOPERATION DURING AND AFTER EMPLOYMENT
The Executive will, with reasonable notice during or after the Period of
Employment, furnish information as may be in his possession and cooperate with
the Company as may reasonably be requested in connection with any claims or
legal actions in which the Company is or may become a party.
B. RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT
The Executive agrees that in order to protect the business interests of
the Company, he shall, contemporaneously with his execution of this Agreement,
execute the Restrictive Covenant Agreement, a copy of which is appended to this
Agreement as Attachment II and made a part hereof and incorporated herein in its
entirety by reference. The Executive further agrees that he
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will execute such modifications to the Restrictive Covenant Agreement as may be
reasonably requested by the Company in order to conform such Restrictive
Covenant Agreement to applicable law.
SECTION V
INDEMNIFICATION
The Company will indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent permitted
by the laws of the state of incorporation in effect at that time, or certificate
of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, whichever affords the greater
protection to the Executive. The Company will obtain and maintain customary
directors and officers liability insurance covering executive employees of the
Company.
SECTION VI
WITHHOLDING TAXES
The Company may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments under
this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes that shall be required
pursuant to any law or governmental regulation.
SECTION VII
EFFECT OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS
Except as described in the next sentence, this Agreement contains the
entire understanding between the Company and the Executive with respect to the
subject matter and supersedes any prior term sheet, letter of understanding,
employment, severance, or other similar agreements, or oral agreement or
understanding between the Company, its predecessors and its affiliates, and the
Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) any existing stock option
agreement (including under the Prior Agreement) shall remain enforceable in
accordance with its terms and (ii) the Executive shall be entitled to a prorated
bonus of $104,167 for the period January 1, 2000 through May 31, 2000 under the
Prior Agreement. This Agreement and the matters contemplated hereby do not
contravene any other agreement to which either the Executive or the Company is a
party.
SECTION VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS
Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company from consolidating or
merging into or with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to,
another corporation which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and
undertakings of the Company hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or sale
of assets, the term "the Company" as used will mean the other corporation and
this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. This Section VIII is not
intended to modify or limit the rights of the Executive hereunder, including
without limitation, the rights of the Executive under Section III.
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SECTION IX
SECTION 280G
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event that:
(i) the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to the
Executive under this Agreement or from the Company in any other
manner (the "Termination Benefits") would be deemed to include an
"excess parachute payment" under Section 280G of the Code, or any
successor thereto, and
(ii) if such Termination Benefits were reduced to an amount (the
"Non-Triggering Amount"), the value of which is one dollar ($1.00)
less than an amount equal to three (3) times the Executive's "base
amount," as determined in accordance with said Section 280G, and the
Non-Triggering Amount would be greater than the aggregate value of
the Termination Benefits (without such reduction) minus the amount
of tax required to be paid by Executive thereon by Section 4999 of
the Code, then the Termination Benefits under this Agreement shall
be reduced so that the Termination Benefits are not more than the
Non-Triggering Amount. The application of said Section 280G, and the
allocation of the reduction required by this Section, shall be
determined by the Company's auditors.
SECTION X
MODIFICATION
This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by
the parties. No term or condition of this Agreement will be deemed to have been
waived, except in writing by the party charged with waiver. A waiver shall
operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and will not constitute
a waiver for the future or act on anything other than that which is specifically
waived.
SECTION XI
GOVERNING LAW; ARBITRATION
This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of Illinois
and its validity and interpretation shall be governed by the laws of that State,
without giving effect to its conflicts of law provisions. Any dispute among the
parties hereto shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the then
applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association and judgment upon the
award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
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SECTION XII
NOTICES
All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been made when delivered or mailed
first-class postage prepaid by registered mail, return receipt requested, or
when delivered if by hand, overnight delivery services or confirmed facsimile
transmission, to the following:
(i) If to the Company, at:
APAC Customer Services, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
With a copy to:
APAC Customer Services, Inc.
Six Parkway Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: General Counsel
or at such other address as may have been furnished to the Executive by the
Company in writing; or
(ii) If to the Executive, at his home address as reflected on the
Company's records, or such other address as may have been furnished
to the Company by the Executive in writing.
SECTION XIII
BINDING AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall be binding on the parties' successors, heirs and
assigns, however this Agreement, and the rights and obligations hereunder, may
not (except as contemplated by Sections III.E.2 and VIII) be assigned by either
party without the prior express written consent of the other party.
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SECTION XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
A. MULTIPLE COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE SIGNATURES
This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same
force and effect as if both parties had executed the same document. The
signature of a party furnished by facsimile shall be as effective as the party's
original signature on the document.
B. SEVERABILITY
If any phrase, clause or provision of this Agreement is declared invalid
or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such phrase, clause or
provision shall be deemed severed from this Agreement, but will not affect any
other provisions of this Agreement, which shall otherwise remain in full force
and effect. In addition, there will be automatically substituted herein for such
severed phrase, clause or provision a phrase, clause or provision as similar as
possible which is valid and enforceable.
C. HEADINGS
The headings and subheadings of this Agreement are inserted for
convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construction of
the provisions hereof.
D. CONSTRUCTION
The Company and the Executive acknowledge that this Agreement was the
result of arm's-length negotiations between sophisticated parties each afforded
representation by legal counsel. Each and every provision of this Agreement
shall be construed as though both parties participated equally in the drafting
of same, and any rule of construction that a document shall be construed against
the drafting party shall not be applicable to this Agreement.
* * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
COMPANY
APAC CUSTOMER SERVICES, INC.
By:____________________________________
EXECUTIVE
---------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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ATTACHMENT II
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT
This Agreement made as of the 1st day of June, 2000, in Deerfield,
Illinois by and between APAC Customer Services, Inc., an Illinois corporation on
behalf of itself and its subsidiaries ("Employer") and Xxxx X. Xxxxx
("Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employer is in the business of performing telephone based
outsourcing services, including but not limited to inbound, outbound,
interactive and customer optimization services, and the Employer may provide
other related services on an internet or other basis; and
WHEREAS, Employer's telephone based outsourcing services are utilized by a
wide range of clients engaged in various business endeavors throughout the
continental United States, and Employer has, in the course of its business,
established a client base, a client list and an ongoing relationship with its
customers; and
WHEREAS, the employment relationship of the parties is being established
pursuant to the terms of an Employment Agreement of even date herewith; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the employment of Employee under such
Employment Agreement, and the payments provided to Employee thereunder, and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereof acknowledged, Employee and Employer agree to execute and be bound by this
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
promises and covenants contained herein the parties agree as follows:
1. RECITALS. Each of the above recitals are incorporated in this
Agreement and are binding upon the parties hereof. This Agreement supersedes
any and all previous agreements, understandings and commitments between
Employer and Employee with respect to the subject matter hereof. Each such
agreement, understanding and commitment is hereby revoked and canceled.
2. EMPLOYEE'S REPRESENTATION. Employee hereby represents and
warrants to and with Employer that Employee is not subject to any covenants,
agreements or restrictions including without limitation any covenants,
agreement or restrictions arising out of Employee's prior employment or
independent contractor relationships, which would be breached or violated by
Employee's execution of this Agreement or by Employee's performance of his
duties hereunder. Employee acknowledges that it is Employer's express policy
and procedure to abstain from the use or disclosure of the trade secrets and
proprietary information of third parties, and Employee hereby expressly
covenants that he will not, in the performance of his duties hereunder, use
or disclose the trade secrets or proprietary information of third parties.
3. CONFIDENTIALITY. Employee acknowledges that by virtue of his
consulting, employment or continued employment with Employer, he has been
and/or will be exposed to or has had or will have access to confidential
information regarding Employer's business of the most sensitive nature,
including but not limited to, trade secrets and proprietary information, all
of which are proprietary to Employer. Employee further acknowledges that it
would be possible for an employee, upon termination of his association with
Employer to use the knowledge or information obtained while working for or
with Employer to benefit other individuals or entities. Employee acknowledges
that Employer has expended considerable time and resources in the development
of certain confidential information used in connection with its businesses,
including without limitation business strategies and goals, accounting
methodology, pricing systems, advertising brochures and materials, graphic
and other designs, telemarketing programs and techniques, copyrighted and
non-copyrighted software source codes or object codes, technology
applications and advances, client and client prospect lists or records,
telephone calling lists, hiring, screening, training, quality assurance and
supervisory techniques, methods and know-how, client information, client
xxxx-ups, information regarding independent contractors, use and utilization
of copyrights, confidential information and trade secrets of third parties,
marketing techniques, supplier information, and, generally, the confidential
information of Employer which gives, or may give, Employer an advantage in
the marketplace against its competitors (all of the foregoing being herein
referred to collectively as "Proprietary Information"), and which have been
disclosed to or learned by Employee solely for the purpose of Employee's
consulting and employment with Employer. Employee acknowledges that
Employer's Proprietary Information constitutes a proprietary and exclusive
interest of Employer, and, therefore, Employee agrees to hold and keep secret
the Proprietary Information as described herein and the confidential
information of the clients of the Employer which Employee has learned in his
capacity as a consultant or an employee of Employer (the "Client
Information"), as to which Employee is now or any time during his employment
shall become informed, and Employee shall not directly or indirectly disclose
any Proprietary Information or Client Information to any person, firm, court,
governmental agency or corporation or use the same except in connection with
the business and affairs of Employer.
4. NON-COMPETITION. Employee agrees that during his employment and
for a period of twenty-four (24) months after the termination thereof for any
reason whatsoever, Employee will not participate, either directly or
indirectly, for himself or for any third party, in soliciting, selling,
administering, managing, or performing telephone based or internet based,
outsourcing, for or on behalf of: (a) any customer of Employer which was a
customer during any part of Employee's consulting or employment; (b) any
person, corporation, or other entity to whom the Employer made a written or
oral bid or presentation during Employee's consulting or employment; or (c)
any person, corporation, or other entity regarding which Employer had
developed confidential information and Employee became aware of such
confidential information as a result of his consulting or employment.
5. NON-DISTURBANCE OF EMPLOYEES; NON-DISPARAGEMENT. Employee
covenants that during his employment and for a period of twenty-four (24)
months after the termination thereof, for any reason whatsoever, Employee
shall not, directly or indirectly, as an employee, agent, salesman or member
of any person, corporation, firm or otherwise (a) solicit any employee or
agent of Employer or make such other contact with the employees or agents of
Employer, the
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product of which contact will or may yield a termination of the employment or
agency relationship of such employees or agents from Employer or (b) make or
cause others to make, whether in writing or orally, disparaging statements or
inferences with respect to the Employer, its business, officers or
shareholders.
6. RETURN OF MATERIALS. Employee will, at any time upon the request of
Employer, and in any event upon the termination of his employment, for whatever
reason, immediately return and surrender to Employer originals and all copies of
all records, notes, memoranda, electronic files, personal computers, computer
discs, computer equipment, telephones, price lists, client and client prospects
lists, business plans, recordings and other documents and other property
belonging to Employer, created or obtained by Employee as a result of or in the
course of or in connection with Employee's employment with Employer hereunder.
Employee acknowledges that all such materials are, and will always remain, the
exclusive property of Employer.
7. INVENTIONS. If at any time or times during his employment hereunder,
the Executive shall (either alone or with others) make, conceive, discover or
reduce to practice any invention, modification, discovery, design, development,
improvement, process, software program, work of authorship, documentation,
formula, data, technique, know-how, secret or intellectual property right
whatsoever or any interest therein whether or not patentable or registrable
under copyright or similar statutes or subject to analogous protection) (herein
called "Developments") that (a) relates to the business of the Company or any
customer of or supplier to the Company or any of the products or services being
developed, manufactured or sold by the Company or which may be used in relation
therewith, (b) results from tasks assigned to the Executive by the Company or
(c) results from the use of premises or personal property (whether tangible or
intangible) owned, leased or contracted for by the Company, such Developments
and the benefits thereof shall immediately become the sole and absolute property
of the Company and its assigns, and the Executive shall promptly disclose to the
Company (or any persons designated by it) each such Development and the
Executive hereby assigns any rights he may have or acquire in the Developments
and benefits and/or rights resulting therefrom to the Company and its assigns
without further compensation and shall communicate, without cost or delay, and
without publishing the same, all available information relating thereto (with
all necessary plans and models) to the Company.
Upon disclosure of each Development to the Company, the Executive will
during his employment and at any time thereafter, at the request and cost of the
Company, sign, execute, make and do all such deeds, documents, acts and things
as the Company and its duly authorized agents may reasonable require:
(a) to apply for, obtain and vest in the name of the Company alone
(unless the Company otherwise directs) letters patent, copyrights or other
analogous protection in any country throughout the world and when so obtained or
vested to renew and restore the same; and
(b) to defend any opposition proceedings in respect of such applications
and any opposition proceedings or petitions or applications for revocation of
such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection.
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8. REMEDIES.
(a) Employee further acknowledges that in the event his employment with
Employer terminates for any reason, he will be able to earn a livelihood without
violating the foregoing restrictions and that his ability to earn a livelihood
without violating such restrictions is a material condition to his employment
with Employer.
(b) Employee acknowledges that compliance with the restrictive covenants
set forth in Paragraphs 2 through 7 herein is necessary to protect the business,
goodwill and Proprietary Information of Employer and that a breach of these
restrictions will irreparably and continually damage Employer for which month
damages may not be adequate. Consequently, Employee agrees that, in the event
that he breaches or threatens to breach any of these covenants, Employer shall
be entitled to both (1) a temporary, preliminary or permanent injunction in
order to prevent the continuation of such harm and (2) money damages insofar as
they can be determined. Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall be construed
to prohibit Employer from also pursuing any other remedy, the parties having
agreed that all remedies are to be cumulative. The parties expressly agree that
the Employer may, in its sole discretion, choose to enforce the restrictive
covenants in Paragraphs 2 through 7 hereof, in part, or to enforce any of said
restrictive covenants to a lesser extent than set forth herein. As money damages
for the period of time during which Employee violates these covenants, Employer
shall be entitled to recover the amount of fees, compensation or other
remuneration earned by Employee as a result of any such breach.
9. REVISION. In the event that any of the provisions, covenants,
warranties or agreements in this Agreement are held to be in any respect an
unreasonable restriction upon or are otherwise invalid, for whatsoever cause,
then the court so holding shall reduce and is so authorized to reduce, the
territory to which it pertains and/or the period of time in which it operates,
or the scope of activity to which it pertains or effect any other change to the
extent necessary to render any of the restrictions of this Agreement
enforceable.
10. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) SEVERABILITY. Each of the terms and provisions of this Agreement is
to be deemed severable in whole or in part and,
if any term or provisions of the application thereof in any circumstances should
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining terms and provisions or the
application thereof to circumstances other than those as to which it is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby and shall
remain in full force and effect.
(b) BINDING AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties,
their heirs, successors, personal representatives and assigns. Employer may
assign this Agreement to any successor in interest to the business, or part
thereof, of Employer. Employee may not assign any of his obligations or duties
hereunder.
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(c) CONTROLLING LAW AND JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall be governed
by and interpreted and construed according to the laws of the State of Illinois.
Employee hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in
Illinois in the event that any disputes arise under this Agreement.
(d) FAILURE TO ENFORCE. The failure to enforce any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of such provisions. Further,
any express waiver by any party with respect to any breach of any provisions
hereunder by any other party shall not constitute a waiver of such party's right
to thereafter fully enforce each and every provision of the Agreement.
(e) SURVIVAL. The obligations ontained in this Agreement shall survive
the termination, for any reason whatsoever, for cause or otherwise, of
Employee's employment with Employer.
(f) GENDER. The masculine, feminine or neuter pronouns used herein shall
be interpreted without regard to gender, and the use of the singular or plural
shall be deemed to include the other whenever the context so requires.
(g) ATTORNEY'S FEES. In the event, that Employer must retain an attorney
to enforce the terms of this Agreement, Employee shall be liable to Employer for
the amount of such reasonable attorney's fees and other costs incurred by
Employer.
* * *
WHEREFORE, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date and year
first above written.
EMPLOYER: EMPLOYEE:
By: APAC Customer Services, Inc.
By: _______________________________ ____________________________________
Its Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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