EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Employment Agreement effective as of May 15, 2000 (the "Effective Date")
between Xxxxxxx Xxxx (the "Executive") and Dispatch Management Services Corp., a
Delaware corporation ("the Company").
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as Vice-President and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to accept such
employment, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Executive and the Company hereby agree as follows;
ARTICLE I
Employment
Section 1.01. Position; Term; Responsibilities. The Company shall employ
the Executive as Chief Financial Officer of the Company for a term commencing on
the date hereof and continuing unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of
Article III below. In the event that the Company terminates this Agreement
without cause (as defined in Section 3.01 below), the Executive shall be
entitled to receive the continuation of the base salary for a period of one
hundred eighty (180) days following the end of the notice period. The Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board") has elected the Executive as a
Vice-President of the Company as of the Effective Date and the Executive shall
serve the Company in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board.
Subject to the powers, authorities and responsibilities vested in the
Board and in duly constituted committees of the Board, the Executive shall have
the responsibility and authority for performance of the duties of Vice-President
and Chief Financial Officer as set forth in the Bylaws of the Company. The
Executive shall also perform such other executive and administrative duties, not
inconsistent with the position of Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer as
may from time to time be authorized or directed by the Board. The Executive
agrees to be employed by the Company in such capacities for the Employment
Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
Section 1.02. Duties. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
perform faithfully the duties assigned to him hereunder to the best of his
abilities and devote his full and undivided business time and attention to the
transaction of the business of the Company and not engage in any other business
activities except with the approval of the Board.
ARTICLE II
Compensation
Section 2.01. Base Salary. As compensation for his services hereunder, the
Company shall pay to the Executive during the Employment Period an annual salary
of not less than $175,000 (the "Base Salary"), payable in installments in
accordance with the Company's normal payment schedule.
Section 2.02. Bonus. DMS has adopted the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. Under
this plan, the Executive will be eligible to receive, at the discretion of the
Company, incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock
appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, restricted or deferred stock,
and certain other awards the value of which is based upon the value of the
underlying common stock.
As of the Effective Date, the Company has granted the Executive options
over 25,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a strike price equal to the
closing price of the Company's stock as of the end of business on the Effective
Date. Such options will have a term of ten (10) years and will vest 25% as of
the Effective Date and 25% on the succeeding 3 anniversary dates of the
Effective Date. In the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the Plan),
the options shall vest and become immediately and fully exercisable for a period
of three months following the Change in Control, but not to exceed the
expiration of the term of the options. The Company will promptly prepare an
option agreement reflecting the grant of these options.
Section 2.03. Other Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all employee benefit plans, including pension plans, stock
options plans, group life, health and disability insurance plans, to take four
weeks of paid vacation annually, to take time for illness in accordance with the
Company's policy and to receive all other fringe benefits as are from time to
time made generally available to executives of the Company.
Section 2.04. Expense Reimbursement. 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 of the
Company.
ARTICLE III
Termination of Employment
Section 3.01. Termination For Cause. The Company may terminate the
Executive's employment by the Company for Cause (hereinafter defined) upon
written notice to the Executive. For purposes of this Agreement. "Cause" shall
mean any conduct of the Executive involving dishonesty, willful misconduct or
moral turpitude which, in any case, is materially and demonstrably injurious to
the business of the Company or any breach by the Executive of any of the
provisions of Section 4.01 or 4.02 hereof. In the event the Company exercises
its election to terminate the Executive's employment pursuant to this Section
3.01, the Employment Period shall terminate effective with such
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notice and the Executive shall be entitled to receive any unpaid compensation
pursuant to Section 2.01 accrued through the date of such termination and
reimbursement for expenses incurred through such date pursuant to Section 2.04.
Section 3.02. Termination Due to Disability. If, during the Employment
Period, the Executive shall become disabled due to accident or illness and in
the opinion of the Board shall be unable to perform the duties of the positions
he then occupied for a period of 90 consecutive days or for an aggregate period
of one hundred twenty (120) days during any six month period, the Company shall
have the right to terminate the Employment Period effective at any time after
such 90 day or 180 day period of disability by 30 days advance written notice to
the Executive. If the Employment Period is terminated pursuant to this Section
3.02, the Executive shall be entitled to receive (1) any unpaid compensation
pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 and any benefits payable pursuant to Section
2.03, in each case accrued through the date of such termination, and (b)
reimbursement of expenses incurred through such date pursuant to Section 2.04.
Section 3.03. Death. In the event of the death of the Executive during the
Employment Period, his estate shall be entitled to receive (a) any unpaid
compensation pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 and any benefits payable
pursuant to Section 2.03, in each case accrued through the date of such death,
and (b) reimbursement of expenses incurred through such date pursuant to Section
2.04.
Section 3.04. Other Termination. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment by the Company for any reason other than the reasons set forth in
Section 3.01, 3.02 and 3.03 upon notice to the Executive. In the event that the
Company shall exercise its election to terminate the Executive's employment
pursuant to this Section 3.04, the Employment Period shall terminate effective
with such notice and the Executive shall be entitled to receive (a) any unpaid
compensation pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 and any benefits payable
pursuant to Section 2.03, in each case accrued through the date of such
termination, (b) reimbursement of expenses incurred through such date pursuant
to Section 2.04, (c) continuation of the Base Salary of the Executive for a
period of 180 days, effective from the date of such termination, at the annual
rate thereof immediately preceding such termination, payable as provided in
Section 2.01, and (d) the continuation of group life, health and disability
benefits pursuant to Section 2.03 for a period of 90 days, effective from the
date of such termination.
ARTICLE IV
Non-solicitation; Confidential Information
Section 4.01. Non-Solicitation. During the Employment Period and for a
period of one year thereafter, except with the prior written consent of the
Company duly authorized by the Board, the Executive shall not (a) induce or
attempt to persuade any employee of the Company to discontinue such employment
relationship or (b) solicit any person, corporation, partnership or other entity
or Organization which at any time during Employment Period is a customer of the
Company to become a customer of another
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entity in the same or similar business of the Company's; provided, however, that
mailings made to the general public or segments of the general public and other
forms of general advertising shall not be deemed to be solicitation for purposes
of clause (b) of this sentence.
Section 4.02. Confidential Information. During the Employment Period and
thereafter, except with the prior written consent of the Company duly authorized
by the Board. the Executive shall not disclose to any person ("Unauthorized
Person") to whom he is not otherwise authorized to do so by the Company, or use
for his own or any Unauthorized Person's account, any information ("Confidential
Information"), whether or reduced to written or other tangible form, in which
the Company has a legally protectable interest by virtue of the following:
(a) such information is not generally known in the industry;
(b) the Executive has had access to (or, either alone or in
conjunction with others, originated or developed) such information during his
employment with the Company and its subsidiaries;
(c) such information has been treated by the Company as
confidential;
(d) such information relates to the business of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries; and
(e) such information is of competitive advantage to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries;
Confidential Information for which the Executive has first secured the written
consent of the Company for its disclosure or use, and Confidential Information
which becomes generally known in the industry, or which otherwise ceases to be
legally protectable (other than by the Executive's breach of this Agreement),
shall cease to be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 4.02. In
the event of the Executive's breach of the provisions of this Section 4.02, the
Company shall have no obligation to provide any further payments or benefits to
or on behalf of the Executive under this Agreement except amounts required by
law.
The Executive further agrees that immediately upon the termination of his
employment (irrespective of the time, manner or cause of termination), he will
surrender and deliver to the Company all (1) lists, books, records, memoranda
and data, computer disks, computer access codes, magnetic media, software, and
documents of every kind relating to or in connection with the Company's
customers and business; and (2) all the Company's personal and physical
property, including, but not limited to, corporate credit cards.
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Section 4.03. Scope of Covenants; Remedies. The following provisions shall
apply to the covenants of the Executive contained in Sections 4.01 and 4.02:
(a) without limiting the right of the Company to pursue all other
legal and equitable remedies available for violation by the Executive of the
covenants contained in Sections 4.01 and 4.02, it is expressly agreed by the
Executive and the Company that such other remedies cannot fully compensate the
Company for any such violation and that the Company shall be entitled to
injunctive relief to prevent any such violation or any continuing violation
thereof;
(b) each party agrees that if in any action before any court or
agency legally empowered to enforce the covenants contained in Sections 4.01 and
4.02 any term, restriction, covenant or promise contained therein is found to be
unreasonable and accordingly unenforceable, then such term, restriction,
covenant or promise shall be deemed modified to necessary to make it enforceable
by such court or agency; and
(c) the covenants contained in Sections 4.01 and 4.02 shall survive
the conclusion of the Executive's employment by the Company.
ARTICLE V
Miscellaneous
Section 5.01. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered
personally or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, as follows: if
to the Executive, to the Executive at his address as set forth in the records of
the Company; and if to the Company, to Company at its main office, Attention:
Chief Executive Officer; or to either party at any other address designated by
such party by notice similarly given. Such notice shall be deemed to have been
given upon the personal delivery thereof or three days following the mailing
thereof, as the case may be.
Section 5.02. Assignment and Succession. The rights and obligations of the
Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
its successors and assigns, and the Executive's rights and obligations hereunder
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon his heirs, executors,
administrators and legal representatives.
Section 5.03. Headings. The Article and Section headings herein are for
convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit the provisions
thereof.
Section 5.04. Prior Agreements. This Agreement supersedes all prior
agreements, understandings and representations by or between the parties hereto,
whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.
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Section 5.05. Applicable. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without
giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule.
Section 5.06. Modification. This Agreement shall not be modified or
amended except in writing signed by the parties.
Section. 5.07. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to
be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed limited or modified
to the extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, and in no even shall
this Agreement or any other provisions of this Agreement be rendered void or
unenforceable.
Section 5.08. Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are
for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any effect in the
construction or enforcement of this Agreement.
Section 5.09. Waiver. No waiver by the Company of any breach by the
Executive of any provision or condition of this Agreement by the Executive to be
performed shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or any prior or subsequent time. No waiver by the
Executive of any breach by the Comapny of any provision or condition of this
Agreement by the Company to be performed shall be deemed a waiver of similar or
dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior or subsequent time.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed by
its duly authorized officer, and the Executive has signed this Agreement, as of
the day and year first above written.
DISPATCH MANAGEMENT SERVICES CORP.
"Company"
By:_____________________________________
Title:__________________________________
"Executive"
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Xxxxxxx Xxxx
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