EXHIBIT 10.8
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Employment Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2000 (this "Agreement"), by
and between Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (the "Executive") and Mobile Storage Group, Inc., a
California corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS, this Agreement is required to be executed and delivered by the
Executive to the Company pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 3, 2000, by and among Windward
Capital Partners II, L.P., Windward Capital II LP, LLC, Windward/MSG Co-Invest,
LLC, Windward Acquisition/MS, LLC (collectively, the "Windward Entities"), the
Company and certain shareholders of Company (the "Merger Agreement"), and the
Windward Entities would not consummate the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement without the execution and delivery of this Agreement since
Windward and the Company view the Executive as a key person with respect to the
future operation of the business of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Executive to serve as its Chief
Operating Officer, and the Executive desires to serve as the Chief Operating
Officer of the Company for the term and upon the other conditions hereinafter
set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and covenants
contained herein, the Executive and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Employment
Section 1.1. Position; Term; Condition Precedent; Responsibilities. The
Company shall employ the Executive as its Chief Operating Officer for a term
commencing on the date of closing of the Merger (the "Commencement Date") and
ending on the third anniversary of the date thereof (the "Expiration Date"),
subject to earlier termination pursuant to Article 3. In the event that the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are not completed or are
terminated pursuant to the terms thereof, this Agreement shall be null and void,
and shall have no further force or effect. The term of employment as prescribed
in this Section 1.1 is hereinafter called the "Employment Period". Subject to
the powers, authorities and responsibilities vested in the Board of Directors
(the "Board") of the Company and in duly constituted committees of the Board
under the California Corporations Code and the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, the Executive shall have the responsibilities assigned
to him by the President of the Company, including the execution of the business
plans, and shall report to the President. The Executive shall also perform such
other executive and administrative duties as the Executive may reasonably be
expected to be capable of performing on behalf of the Company and its
subsidiaries, as may from time to time be authorized or requested by the
President. The Executive agrees to be employed by the Company in all such
capacities for the Employment Period, subject to all the covenants and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
Section 1.2. Faithful Performance. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall perform faithfully the duties assigned to him hereunder to the
best of his abilities and devote substantially all of his business time and
attention to the transaction of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries
and not engage in any other business activities except with the approval of the
Board; provided, however, that, without limiting the foregoing, but subject to
Article IV hereof, the Executive shall be permitted to continue to devote time
and attention to the business of Portosan Company, a California limited
liability company ("Portosan") to the extent applicable as of the Commencement
Date. The Executive covenants, warrants and represents to the Company that he
shall: (i) devote his best efforts to the fulfillment of his employment
obligations; (ii) exercise the highest degree of loyalty and the highest ethical
standards of conduct in the performance of his duties; and (iii) do nothing
which the Executive knows or should know will harm, in any way, the business or
reputation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
ARTICLE 2
Compensation
Section 2.1. Basic Compensation. As compensation for his services
hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Executive during the Employment Period
an annual salary of $140,000 (the "Base Salary"), payable in installments in
accordance with the Company's normal payment schedule for senior management of
the Company and subject to payroll deductions as may be necessary or customary
in respect of the Company's salaried employees. The Executive's annual salary in
effect from time to time under this Section 2.1 is hereinafter called his "Basic
Compensation". Such Basic Compensation shall be determined on a pro rata basis
for any period described in Article 3 which is not equal to one year.
Section 2.2. Discretionary Incentive Compensation. An additional
discretionary bonus of up to 50% of Base Salary may be paid upon the achievement
of certain targeted financial results and operational and strategic objectives
(the "Discretionary Bonus"). Such targets and objectives shall be established in
the Company's annual budget process, and any Discretionary Bonus payable
hereunder shall be payable within 30 days after finalization of the Company's
audited financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year, subject
to final Board approval.
Section 2.3. Stock Options; Shareholders Agreement. The Executive shall
be eligible to receive options to acquire shares of common stock pursuant to the
Mobile Storage Group 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), based upon and subject
to the discretion of the Board. Subject to the fiduciary duties of the Company's
Board of Directors under applicable law as advised by counsel, the Board of
Directors of the Company (or its Executive or Compensation Committee, if any)
shall adopt a stock option letter agreement setting forth the terms of any
options granted and the grant shall be subject to the execution by the Executive
and the Company of such agreement. The Executive shall execute and agree to
abide by the terms of the Company's Shareholders Agreement.
Section 2.4. Other Employee Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all employee benefit plans, including group health care and
disability plans of the Company, to take up to four weeks of time off for
vacation or illness and to receive all such fringe benefits
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(including 401(k) savings plan) as are from time to time made generally
available to the senior management of the Company.
Section 2.5. Expense Reimbursements. The Company shall reimburse the
Executive for all proper expenses reasonably incurred by him in the performance
of his duties hereunder in accordance with the policies and procedures
established by the Board.
ARTICLE 3
Termination of Employment
Section 3.1. Events of Termination.
(a) In the event during the Employment Period there should occur any of
the following (as determined by the Board): (i) the "Disability" (as hereinafter
defined) of the Executive, (ii) "Cause" (as hereinafter defined) of the
Executive or (iii) the breach by the Executive of Article 4, the Board may elect
to terminate the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder by written
notice to the Executive, except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.1. In
the event the Board exercises its election to terminate the Executive pursuant
to this Section 3.1, the Employment Period shall terminate effective with such
notice, and the Executive shall be entitled to receive any accrued but unpaid
amounts under Section 2.1 and any incurred but unreimbursed expenses under
Section 2.5, in each case through the effective date of such termination, less
standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes. Except as set forth
in Section 3.1(b) and as otherwise required under any applicable benefit plan or
statute, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive any other amount under
this Agreement.
(b) In the case of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
3.1(a)(i) or in the case of Termination pursuant to Section 3.3 for "Good
Reason", the Executive shall be entitled to: (A) participate in the insurance
benefits described in Section 2.4 for a period of 18 months from the date of the
termination of this Agreement (the "Termination Date"); provided, however, that
the Executive's right to participate in insurance benefits shall terminate in
the event the Executive obtains new employment and has the ability to obtain
comparable insurance benefits through such new employment, (B) receive
compensation equal to the Basic Compensation, as determined pursuant to Section
2.1, for a period of 18 months after the Termination Date and (C) receive the
Discretionary Bonus, if any, as determined pursuant to Section 2.2, provided
that the amount of such Discretionary Bonus shall be prorated to the Termination
Date. In each case such amounts shall be payable in accordance with the
Company's payroll procedures for senior management and as if the Executive's
employment had continued for such period.
Section 3.2. Death. In the event of the death of the Executive during
the Employment Period, this Agreement shall be deemed immediately terminated and
his Designated Successors shall be entitled to: (A) receive any accrued and
unpaid compensation under Section 2.1, (B) receive reimbursement for any
unreimbursed expenses under Section 2.5, (C) receive compensation equal to the
Basic Compensation, as determined pursuant to Section 2.1, for a period of 12
months, or if less than 12 months remain until the Expiration Date, then until
the Expiration Date and (D) receive the Discretionary Bonus, if any, as
determined pursuant to Section 2.2, provided that the amount of such
Discretionary Bonus shall be prorated to the date
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of termination, in each case less standard withholdings for tax and social
security purposes. In each case, such amounts shall be payable in accordance
with the Company's payroll procedures for senior management and as if the
Executive's employment had continued for such period. In addition, family
members of the Executive who were participating in any of the insurance benefits
described in Section 2.4 on the date of the termination of this Agreement shall
continue to participate in such insurance benefits for a period commencing as of
the termination of this Agreement and ending on the earlier of (i) six months
from the termination of this Agreement and (ii) the Expiration Date.
Section 3.3. Voluntary Termination by Employee. If the Executive chooses
to terminate his employment with the Company prior to the Expiration Date, the
Executive shall provide written notice to such effect to the Company's Board, in
which case the Employment Period shall terminate effective with such notice, and
the Executive shall be entitled to receive any accrued but unpaid amounts under
Section 2.1 and any incurred but unreimbursed expenses under Section 2.5 less
standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes, in each case through
the effective date of such termination and, except as required under any
applicable benefit plan or statute, the Executive shall not be entitled to
receive any other amount under this Agreement. A termination by the Executive of
his employment with the Company will be considered to be for "Good Reason" if it
follows, within a reasonable period of time thereafter, (x) a material breach of
the Company's obligations under this Agreement, or (y) the Board, excluding
those directors who are officers or employees, or former officers or employees,
of the Company or its subsidiaries, determines in its reasonable discretion that
the Executive terminated such employment for "Good Reason" under the
circumstances then prevailing.
Section 3.4. Definitions of Certain Terms.
(a) "Cause" used in connection with the termination of employment of
Executive shall mean a termination due to a finding by the Board in good faith
that such Executive has (i) been engaged in an act or acts of dishonesty that
resulted directly or indirectly in more than an aggregate of $5,000 in gain or
personal enrichment to Executive at the expense of the Company; (ii) failed to
substantially perform Executive's duties (as reasonably imposed by the Company)
(other than failure resulting from Executive's Disability), persisting for a
reasonable period following the delivery to Executive of written notice
specifying the details of any alleged failure to perform; (iii) violated or
failed to comply in any material respect with the Company's published rules,
regulations or policies, as currently in effect or as may be adopted from time
to time; (iv) breached this Agreement in any material respect; (v) been
convicted of any felony offense or a misdemeanor offense involving fraud, theft
or dishonesty at any time; or (vi) been incarcerated for more than 10 days
during the term of this Agreement.
(b) "Designated Successors" shall mean such person or persons or the
executors, administrators or other legal representatives of such person or
persons (and in such order of priority) as the Executive may have designated in
a written instrument filed with the Secretary of the Company.
(c) "Disability" shall mean the inability of Executive to substantially
render to the Company the services required by the Company under this Agreement
for more than 60 days out
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of any consecutive 120 day period because of mental or physical illness or
incapacity, as determined in good faith by the Board. The date of such
Disability shall be on the last day of such 60 day period. Disability shall also
mean the development of any illness which is likely to result in either death or
Disability, as determined in good faith by the Board.
ARTICLE 4
Non-Competition; Confidential Information
Section 4.1 Non-Competition.
(a) From the date hereof until the termination of the Employment Period
(subject to extention as set forth below, the "Non-Competition Period"), the
Executive:
(i) shall not engage, directly or indirectly, in any
activities whether as employer, proprietor, partner, stockholder (other than the
holder of less than 5% of the stock of a corporation, the securities of which
are traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market),
director, officer, employee or otherwise, in competition within the United
States, England and Canada with the Company or any of its affiliates;
(ii) shall not solicit, directly or indirectly, any person
who is a customer or supplier of the Company, any of its affiliates or Windward
for the purpose of acquiring, marketing, leasing or selling mobile or fixed
storage containers (the "Company Business"); and
(iii) shall not induce or actively attempt to persuade any
employee of the Company, any of its affiliates or Windward to terminate his
employment relationship in order to enter into any competitive employment.
(b) Except as required by law, the Executive shall not, at any time
during the Non-Competition Period or thereafter, make use of any confidential
information of the Company, Windward or any of their respective affiliates, nor
divulge any trade secrets or proprietary or confidential information of the
Company, Windward or any of their respective affiliates (including, without
limitation, information relating to customers, suppliers, contracts, business
plans and developments, discoveries, processes, products, systems, know-how,
books and records), except to the extent that such information becomes a matter
of public record (other than as a result of disclosure by the Executive), is
published in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical available to the general
public or as Windward may so authorize in writing. When the Executive shall
cease to be employed by the Company, the Executive shall surrender to the
Company or Windward all records and other documents obtained by him or entrusted
to him during the course of his employment hereunder (together with all copies
thereof) which pertain to the business of the Company or Windward or which were
paid for by the Company other than the Executive's counterparts of this
Agreement and employment-related documents referred to herein.
(c) The parties acknowledge and agree that the current business
arrangement whereby Executive's affiliate Portosan rents storage containers from
the Company and later permits Portosan customers to re-rent such containers to
third party customers, as and to the extent
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disclosed to the Windward Entities in the Company Disclosure Schedule to the
Merger Agreement (the "Portosan Transaction") is beneficial to the Company. As a
result, the Portosan Transaction shall not be prohibited by the covenants
contained in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.1(a) above. Executive agrees that
he will cause Portosan to refrain from engaging in any transaction similar to
the Portosan Transaction with any entity other than the Company.
(d) The covenants contained in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.1(a)
shall apply within all territories in which the Company is actively engaged in
the conduct of business during the Non-Competition Period.
(e) It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of
Sections 4.1(a) and 4.1(b) shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible
under the law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which
enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of Sections
4.1(a) or 4.1(b) shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such
provision shall be deemed amended to delete therefrom the portion thus
adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such deletion to apply only with
respect to the operation of such provision in the particular jurisdiction in
which such adjudication is made. In addition, should any court determine that
the provisions of Sections 4.1(a) or 4.1(b) shall be unenforceable with respect
to scope, duration or geographic area, such court shall be empowered to
substitute, to the extent enforceable, provisions similar hereto or other
provisions so as to provide to the Company and Windward, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, the benefits intended by Sections 4.1(a) and
4.1(b).
(f) The covenants contained in Section 4.1(b) shall survive the
conclusion of the Executive's employment by the Company and/or his service as an
officer of the Company.
(g) If, at any time, the Executive sells or transfers any securities of
the Company to the Company or to any then-current shareholder of the Company, a
subsequent Non-Competition Period shall begin on the effective date of any such
sale or transfer and expire on the fifth anniversary of such effective date;
provided, however, that such subsequent Non-Competition Periods shall not extend
beyond the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date hereof. Each and every provision
of this Agreement applicable to the Executive and the Company during the
original Non-Competition Period shall apply with equal force and effect to the
Executive and the Company during such subsequent Non-Competition Period and any
reference in this Agreement to the "Non-Competition Period" shall be deemed to
include such subsequent Non-Competition Period.
(h) In the event Executive violates any provision of this Agreement, the
running of the time period of such provisions so violated shall be automatically
suspended upon the date of such violation and shall resume on the date such
violation ceases and all appeals, if any, are resolved.
(i) The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the covenants,
obligations and agreements of the Executive contained herein relate to special,
unique and extraordinary matters and that a violation of any of the terms of
such covenants, obligations or agreements will cause the Company and its
successors irreparable injury for which adequate remedies are not available
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at law. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any
provision of this Agreement, the Company and its successors, without proving
actual damages, shall be entitled to an injunction (without the requirement to
post bond) restraining Executive from (a) soliciting or interfering with
employees, consultants, independent contractors, customers or suppliers of the
Company, its affiliates or their respective successors, (b) disclosing, in whole
or in part, the private, secret and confidential information described herein,
or from rendering any services to any person, firm, corporation, association or
other entity to whom such information has been disclosed, or is threatened to be
disclosed, (c) engaging, participating or otherwise being connected with any
arrangement in competition with the Company's Business described in Section 4.1
or (d) otherwise violating the provisions of this Agreement. Nothing herein
contained shall be construed as prohibiting the Company or its successors from
pursuing any other remedies available to it or them for such breach or
threatened breach, including without limitation the recovery of damages from
Executive.
(j) The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has and will have a
prominent role in the management, and the development of the goodwill, of the
Company and its affiliates and has and will establish and develop relations and
contacts with the principal customers and suppliers of the Company and its
affiliates in the United States and the rest of the world, if any, all of which
constitute valuable goodwill of, and could be used by the Executive to compete
unfairly with, the Company and its affiliates and that (i) the Executive has
obtained confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets concerning
the business and operations of the Company and its affiliates in the United
States and the rest of the world that could be used to compete unfairly with the
Company and its affiliates, (ii) the covenants and restrictions contained herein
are intended to protect the legitimate interests of the Company and its
affiliates in their respective goodwill, trade secrets and other confidential
and proprietary information, and (iii) the Executive desires to be bound by such
covenants and restrictions.
(k) The Executive represents that his economic means and circumstances
are such that the provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictive
covenants herein, will not prevent him from providing for himself and his family
on a basis satisfactory to him and them.
(l) If the Executive raises any question as to the enforceability of any
part or terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the restrictive
covenants contained herein, the Executive agrees that he will comply fully with
this Agreement unless and until the entry of an award to the contrary.
ARTICLE 5
Miscellaneous
Section 5.1. Notices. Any notice or request required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered personally or
sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, as follows: if
to the Executive, to his address as set forth in the records of the Company, and
if to the Company, to the Company's address hereinabove set forth, or to any
other address designated by either party by notice similarly given. Such notice
shall be deemed to have been given upon the personal delivery or such mailing
thereof, as the case may be.
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Section 5.2. Authority: No Conflict. The Executive represents and
warrants to the Company that he has full right and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to comply with the terms and provisions hereof and
that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and compliance with the terms
and provisions hereof by the Executive will not conflict with or result in a
breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, restriction or
obligation by which the Executive is bound.
Section 5.3. Assignment and Succession. The rights and obligations of
the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon its respective successors and assigns, and the Executive's rights and
obligations hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon his
Designated Successors. The Executive may not assign any obligations or
responsibilities he has under this Agreement.
Section 5.4. Headings. The Article, Section, paragraph and subparagraph
headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit the
provisions hereof.
Section 5.5. Tax Withholding. The Company may withhold from any amounts
payable under this Agreement all Federal, state, city or other taxes as may be
required pursuant to any law, regulation or ruling.
Section 5.6. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall at all times be
governed by and construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the
internal laws (as opposed to conflict of laws provisions) of the State of
California.
Section 5.7. Waiver. No waiver of any right or remedy of either party
hereto under this Agreement shall be effective unless in a writing, specifying
such waiver, executed by such party. A waiver by either party hereto of any of
its rights or remedies under this Agreement on any occasion shall not be a bar
to the exercise of the same right or remedy on any subsequent occasion or of any
other right or remedy at any time.
Section 5.8. Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may be amended,
altered, or modified only by a writing, specifying such amendment, alteration or
modification, executed by all of the parties.
Section 5.9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 5.10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
Agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all prior or contemporaneous negotiations, understandings or
agreements of the parties, whether written or oral, with respect to such subject
matter.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed
by its respective duly authorized officer and the Executive has signed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
EXECUTIVE
/s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXX
-----------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
COMPANY
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President
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