Exhibit 10.24
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into between American Physicians
Assurance Corporation, (the Employer or sometimes referred to below as APAC),
its successors, assigns, affiliates, and related companies, and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
(the Executive), sometimes collectively referred to as the Parties.
The Employer desires to employ the Executive in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement and Executive desires to be so employed
by Employer.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the following mutual covenants and
promises and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
is expressly acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT. The Employer employs Executive and Executive accepts
such employment, in accordance with the following terms and conditions. This
Agreement supersedes any prior employment agreements between APAC, its present
or former affiliates or subsidiaries, and Executive.
2. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence on date signed and
continue, unless terminated under Paragraph 7, for a term of one (1) year.
Thereafter, it shall renew automatically for an additional one (1) year term
unless replaced, or unless terminated in accordance with paragraph 7, below.
3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. At the commencement of this Agreement,
Executive is employed by APAC in the position of Vice President of Professional
Liability Operations. Executive is designated senior executive staff status
within APAC. As such, Executive's duties may be changed from time to time to
other duties at a comparable level, and APAC may change or amend Executive's
position and titles, but Executive shall at all times remain a member of APAC's
senior executive staff while employed by APAC. In addition to duties, positions,
or titles held with APAC, Executive may be given other such responsibilities for
APAC's affiliate companies as further described in Paragraph 9, below. Executive
will devote his or her best efforts and full working time to the performance of
the duties of Executive's position and will not engage in any other employment
during the term of this agreement.
4. COMPENSATION AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. APAC has previously agreed
to pay Executive an initial annual base salary for the year 2002 of $170,000,
payable in accordance with APAC's normal payroll practices. APAC may in its
discretion grant Executive greater or additional compensation. Without imposing
a legal obligation on itself to grant increases, APAC acknowledges that it shall
review Executives performance and compensation annually and may in its
discretion award Executive such increases determined to be fair and reasonable
considering Executives performance and the overall profitability of APAC and its
affiliates, taking into account as appropriate any changes in the cost of living
and in federal and state tax. Under no circumstances shall Executives base
salary be reduced during the term of this Agreement. Executive will be eligible
to participate in any short-term incentive plan adopted for senior executive
staff. Executive will also be eligible to participate in long-term incentive
plans as a member of senior executive staff.
5. EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. During employment, Executive will receive the
same perquisites and fringe benefits afforded to those designated as senior
executive staff, subject to the terms of APAC benefit plans.
6. BUSINESS EXPENSES. APAC shall pay or reimburse Executive promptly,
upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, for all necessary business travel and
entertainment expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in connection with
APAC's business in accordance with company policy.
7. TERMINATION AND SEVERANCE PAY. APAC or Executive may otherwise
terminate Executives employment as provided below. Health benefits will
terminate when employment terminates subject to Executives legal rights to
continue or convert coverage, and as may further be provided below and in
policies of insurance.
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(a) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT SEVERANCE PAY AND BENEFITS
(1) RESIGNATION OF EXECUTIVE. Except as provided in
Paragraph 7(b)(2)(b) below, in the event of
Executives resignation Executives compensation and
benefits terminate when employment terminates.
(2) TERMINATION BY APAC WITH CAUSE. If Executive's
employment is terminated by APAC for cause as defined
below, Executive shall be given written notice of
termination, specifying with particularity the basis
for termination; and Executive shall not in such case
have to be given an opportunity to cure the basis for
such cause. Termination will be deemed to be for
cause if Executive is dismissed for dishonesty, or
for intentional commission of a wrongful or illegal
act, or for breach of this Agreement, or failure to
perform the duties of Executives position in a
competent and conscientious manner. The Executives
compensation and benefits shall terminate as of the
date specified in the written notice.
(3) DEATH OR DISABILITY OF EMPLOYEE. The Executive's
employment shall terminate upon the death or
disability of Executive. Disability shall mean the
inability of Executive to perform duties with APAC on
a full-time basis for one hundred eighty (180) days
within any period of three hundred sixty-five (365)
consecutive days as a result of Executive's
incapacity due to physical or mental illness as
certified in writing by a physician mutually selected
by Executive and APAC acting in accordance with steps
required from any relevant insurer. In the event that
Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
death or disability, Executive's compensation and
benefits shall terminate as of the date of
Executive's death or certification of disability.
Executive will be eligible for life, health, and
disability benefits (but not unvested 401(k) or
pension) in accordance with the terms of the APAC
benefit plans.
(b) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITH SEVERANCE PAY AND BENEFITS.
(1) If Executive's employment is terminated for any of
the reasons stated below in 7(b)(2) as Qualifying
Reasons, Executive shall receive severance pay equal
to two (2) years of Executive's then current annual
base salary plus one and one half (1 1/2) times
Executive's short-term cash bonus paid, or if not yet
paid, declared by the board for the prior calendar
year's performance. Executive shall also receive
$4,000 to be applied toward disability, life or other
insurance coverages that will cease upon termination.
For a period of twenty-four (24) months after
termination, or until benefits of a subsequent
employer are available, whichever is sooner, APAC
will pay Executive's COBRA premiums, or, after COBRA
expires, premiums for comparable health, dental, and
vision insurance. The benefits provided in accordance
with this paragraph shall be secondary to any
comparable benefits available to Executive. In
addition to the above, APAC shall provide Executive
six (6) months outplacement consultation services
following termination, up to $15,000. Benefits under
this paragraph 7(b)(1) will be capped at the "excess
parachute payment" level as defined in Sec. 280G of
the Internal Revenue Code [26 USC Sec. 280G].
Benefits are due and payable in full upon
termination. Payments due to severance shall be
conditioned upon Executive signing a release of
claims against APAC in the form and content
acceptable to APAC or its relevant affiliates.
(2) QUALIFYING REASONS:
(a) TERMINATION OF EXECUTIVE'S EMPLOYMENT BY
APAC WITHOUT CAUSE. Executive is terminated
without cause, as cause is defined in
Paragraph 7(a)(2), above.
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(b) TERMINATION OF EXECUTIVE'S EMPLOYMENT BY
EXECUTIVE. Executive shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement and trigger
benefits under 7(b)(1) upon written notice
to APAC within sixty (60) days following the
occurrence of one or more of the following
events:
i. This Agreement is nonrenewed. APAC
will provide Executive with thirty
(30) days' written notice of
nonrenewal.
ii. Executive is not retained as a
member of the APAC senior executive
staff or in a comparable position
with or on behalf of one or more of
APACs affiliates.
iii APAC acts to materially reduce
Executive's duties and
responsibilities. Executive's duties
and responsibilities shall not be
deemed materially reduced solely by
virtue of the fact that APAC is sold
to, or is combined with, another
entity, provided that Executive
shall continue to have substantially
the same duties with respect to the
new or successor entity.
iv. APAC reduces Executive's then
current annual base salary, contrary
to Paragraph 4, above.
v. APAC permanently changes the
geographic location of the
performance of Executive's duties to
a location beyond 40 miles from the
Lansing Area headquarters without
Executive's agreement.
8. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNEES. This Agreement is binding upon and will be
enforceable by APAC and by its successors and assignees of all or substantially
all of its business, and any other corporation into which APAC may be merged or
consolidated. This Agreement, and any rights Executive may have to receive
payments, may not be assigned or pledged by Executive.
9. RELATED COMPANIES. Notwithstanding Paragraph 8, above, APAC may
assign Executive to perform services for other companies that are under common
ownership or control with APAC, and may assign this Agreement to other companies
that are under common ownership or control with APAC. Such assignment may be
made without Executive's consent.
10. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND TRADE SECRETS. Executive acknowledges
that he or she will be working with or exposed to confidential information and
trade secrets, which are the property of APAC and/or its affiliates. Such
information includes, but is not limited to: client lists and information;
medical data; financial data; sales data; marketing data; policyholder data;
claims data; personnel information; business files; contracts; documents;
business strategies; business opportunities; any and all information pertaining
to potential or actual corporate acquisitions, mergers, consolidations,
conversions, joint ventures, or other similar agreements; computer software,
software codes, and software documentation, and other documents or information
deemed confidential by APAC and so designated to Executive. During and after
employment with APAC, Executive agrees not to share such information with any
person outside of APAC, except upon prior written authorization from APAC
following notice to and approval by its board of directors.
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11. APAC BUSINESS ASSETS. The Parties agree that the business assets of
APAC include information regarding APAC clients, and relationships with APAC
clients, and confidential information and trade secrets of APAC, including those
items listed in Paragraph 9 above. Executive also agrees that the work product
of Executive produced in the course of employment with APAC will be the property
of APAC and/or its affiliates. Executive agrees that APAC and/or its affiliates
shall own the copyright, patent, and other property rights in such work product,
and that this work product will be work made for hire for copyright purposes.
Upon termination of employment, Executive shall deliver to APAC all work
product, and all confidential information and trade secrets (including but not
limited to the items listed in Paragraph 10), and Executive shall not retain any
copies. If there is any breach or threatened breach by Executive of the
provisions of this paragraph or Xxxxxxxxx 00, XXXX xxxxx xx entitled to
injunctive relief against Executive or those persons or entities with whom
Executive is then affiliated, and to reasonable damages, including reasonable
attorneys fees. Such reasonable damages shall include at a minimum but not
exclusively the amount of any benefit which Executive would receive from
disclosing or using the information.
12. EMPLOYMENT LIMITATION. Executive agrees that for a period of one
(1) year after termination of employment with APAC, Executive will not directly
or indirectly solicit business from or sell any service or product to any
clients of APAC or clients of its affiliates for any types of insurance or other
services or products which are offered by or through APAC or its affiliates.
Clients include current insureds and any persons or entity insured or serviced
for a fee by APAC or its affiliates during the one-year period preceding
termination of Executive's employment. Executive also agrees that for a period
of six (6) months after termination of employment with APAC, Executive will not
accept employment in a similar job capacity with any entity which has a services
contract with APAC or with a company APAC owns or manages, or had such a
relationship with within the six (6) months preceding termination employment.
Executive also expressly agrees that for a period of two (2) years after
termination of employment with APAC, Executive will not directly or indirectly
induce, attempt to induce, or enable or support the inducement of any employee
to depart from or cease employment with APAC or its affiliates, nor will
Executive interfere with or disrupt APAC's or its affiliates relationships with
other employees. If there is any breach or threatened breach of this paragraph,
APAC and its affiliates shall be entitled to injunctive relief against Executive
or those persons or entities with whom Executives is then affiliated, and
reasonable damages, including reasonable attorneys fees.
13. ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES. Employee and APAC agree that any
employment-related dispute between them will be submitted for resolution by
arbitration, rather than by litigation. Employee waives the right to submit any
discrimination claims or other employment-related claims in a court proceeding,
and elects instead to submit any such claims to arbitration. This agreement to
resolve disputes through arbitration is not a waiver of any of Employee's
substantive rights or remedies under law, and the arbitrator shall have the
authority to grant any remedy or relief that could be granted in a court
proceeding. The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the American
Arbitration Association's National Rules for the Resolution of Employment
Disputes. If Employee initiates an arbitration proceeding, APAC will reimburse
Employee for one-half of the initial filing fee. The arbitrator shall also have
the authority to award reimbursement of fees and expenses as part of the remedy,
in accordance with applicable law. Employee and APAC agree that judgment upon
the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having proper
jurisdiction.
14. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES. This Agreement will be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan.
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15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT, ETC. This written contract is the entire
Employment Agreement between the parties, and it supersedes all prior
negotiations, employment interviews, communications, and understandings between
the Parties. There are no other Employment Agreements between the Parties. This
Agreement may only be changed by a written agreement signed by APAC's Chief
Executive Officer, and approved by its Board of Directors. If one or more of the
provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable, the remainder of the
Agreement shall be effective.
Dated this 13th day of May, 2002.
EXECUTIVE AMERICAN PHYSICIANS ASSURANCE
CORPORATION
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxx President and Chief Executive Officer
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