EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10(h)
THIS
AGREEMENT dated as of July 15, 2004 is made between STRATOS GLOBAL
CORPORATION, a company incorporated under the laws of Canada and having its
head office at Xxxxxx Road, St. John’s, Newfound and (the “Company”) and
XXXX XXXXXXXX of 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx.
RECITALS
(a) | Since on or about July 15, 2002, the Executive has been providing services to the Company on secondment from his employer, Aliant Inc. | ||
(b) | On or about May 15, 2004, the Executive accepted the position of Senior Vice-President Corporate Services effective July 15, 2004 on terms set out in a term sheet of that date. | ||
(c) | It was agreed between the Executive and the Company that they would enter into an employment agreement to incorporate the terms set out in the term sheet and address other issues customarily found in Executive Employment Agreements. |
NOW THEREFORE for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1: TERM
1.1 Employment
The Company shall employ the Executive and the Executive shall perform
services on behalf of the Company as it employee as provided herein (during
the Period of Active Employment.
- 2 -
1.2 Period of Active Employment
In this Employment Agreement, “Period of Active Employment” shall mean the
period beginning on July 15, 2004 and terminating on the date on which is
the first of the following
occurs:
(i) | the four year term of the Executive’s employment ends on July 14, 2008; | ||
(ii) | the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for just cause as provided in Article 4.1 hereof; | ||
(iii) | the termination of the Executive’s employment by his resignation pursuant to Article 4.2 hereof; | ||
(iv) | the termination of the Executive’s employment without cause pursuant to Article 4.3 or Article 5.2 hereof; | ||
(v) | the termination of the Executive’s employment by reason of a disability of the Executive pursuant to Article 4.4 hereof; or | ||
(vi) | the death of the Executive (see Article 4.5). |
1.3 Provision of Consulting Services Beyond the Period of Active Employment
If the Executive’s Period of Active Employment ends at the end of the four
year term of the Executive’s employment on July 14, 2008, or if the
Executive’s employment is terminated without cause pursuant to Article 4.3
or Article 5.2 of this Agreement, the Company agrees that it will either:
(i) enter into a consulting agreement with the Executive for a period of
five years on terms substantially similar to those contained in the
draft Consulting agreement attached hereto as Schedule “C”; or (ii) will make
the following payments to the Executive:
(a) | payment of an amount equal to the present value of the consulting fees the Executive would have received under the terms of the consulting agreement, had it continued to the end of its term; and |
- 3 -
(b) | payment of an amount equal to the value of any Stratos options the Executive would have been entitled to exercise during the term of the consulting agreement, had he been engaged as a consultant for the full five year term of the consulting agreement. The Executive and the Company agree that the value of any such options will be calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model. |
ARTICLE 2: POSITION
2.1 Capacity and Services
The Company shall employ the Executive as its Senior Vice-President
Corporate Services. As such, the Executive shall perform duties customarily
performed by a Senior Vice-President Corporate Services of a corporation
engaged in a business similar to that of the Company. The Executive shall
perform these duties in accordance with the by-laws of the Company, the
instructions of the President and CEO and Company Policy.
2.2 Full time and Attention
The Executive shall devote substantially all of his working time, attention
and energies to the business and affairs of the Company. The Executive
agrees not to be employed or engaged in any capacity in promoting, or
undertaking or carrying on any other business without the prior written
consent of the Board of Directors of the Company (“the Board”), provided
that the Executive may, and upon such conditions as may be imposed by the
Board sit on the Board of Directors of unrelated companies, as long as
such positions do not place the Executive in a conflict of interest with
the business and affairs of the Company or interfere with the carrying out
of his duties and responsibilities for the Company. Nothing herein limits
the Executive from engaging in civic, political, or charitable activities,
so long as such activities do not unreasonably interfere with his services
for the Company.
ARTICLE
3: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
3.1 Compensation
- 4 -
The Executive shall receive the remuneration and benefits set out in
Schedule “A” attached hereto, which schedule forms part of this Employment
Agreement. The Executive will not be entitled to any additional
remuneration for being a director of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
3.2 Changes to Compensation
The Company will review the Executive’s remuneration and benefits annually
in light of the Executive’s performance and market conditions.
ARTICLE 4: TERMINATION
4.0 Restrictions on Exercise of Options after Termination
For the purposes of this Employment Agreement, “the Restricted Period” is
the period that commences at the end of the Period of Active Employment
and ends after the Board has given notice to the Executive in writing that
the Restricted Period has ended. Except as otherwise provided herein and in
Schedule A, such notice will be given promptly after the Board has approved
and released the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year
in which the Executive’s active employment terminates.
4.1 Termination by the Company for Just Cause
The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment under this Employment
Agreement for just cause by providing written notice to the Executive. If
the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for just cause, the
Company shall not be obligated to make any further payments under this
Employment Agreement except for amounts due to the Executive at the time of
termination. In this circumstance, all unvested options are automatically
cancelled.
For
these purposes, “just cause” shall mean Executive’s (a) conviction of
a felony or of a crime involving fraudulent conduct, (b) gross misconduct
or gross insubordination, (c)
- 5 -
repeated and wilful refusal or failure to perform the duties of his
position, or (d) wilful breach of any published policy of the Company or of
this Employment Agreement; provided, however, that, with respect to
subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d), the Company must first send to the
Executive written notice of the specific conduct that the Company contends
is the basis for a just cause termination and of the specific subparagraph
on which it relies, and the Company must provide the Executive at least
thirty (30) days in which to cure such alleged grounds, if it is curable.
Any
unexercised vested options cannot be exercised until the end of the
Restricted Period, as defined herein, after which time the Executive will
have 60 days to exercise these options. For the purposes of this
Article 4.1, the Board shall give the Executive notice that the
Restricted Period has ended, only after the Board has approved and released
the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year in which the
Executive’s active employment terminates and the Board has determined that
the audited financial statements do not reveal any material impropriety or
financial wrongdoing by the Executive. However, the Board, in its sole
discretion, may permit the Executive to exercise his options at any
earlier time.
4.2 Termination by Executive
The Executive may terminate his employment under this Employment Agreement
at any time by providing sixty (60) days’ written notice of his intention
to do so. On the giving of such notice, the Company shall have the right to
elect, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Executive’s employment at
any time during this sixty day period by providing the Executive with
written notice to that effect. Upon such termination, the Company shall
not be obligated to make any further payments under this Employment
Agreement, except for amounts due to the Executive to the end of the
sixty-day period.
In this circumstance, all unvested options are automatically cancelled at
the end of the sixty-day period and any unexercised vested options cannot
be exercised until the end of the Restricted Period, after which time the
Executive will have one full year to
exercise these options. However, the Board, in its sole discretion, may
permit the Executive to exercise his options at any earlier time.
- 6 -
4.3 Termination by the Company Without Cause
The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time without
cause by providing the Executive with written notice specifying his last
day of active employment (“the date of termination”). In lieu of additional
actual notice, the Company will pay to the Executive his monthly gross base
salary and 1/12 of his target STIP at the time of his termination each
month for a period of up to 12 months (“the Notice Period”), subject to the
Executive’s obligation to look for alternate employment and to advise the
Company when alternate employment is commenced. In the event that the
Executive does commence alternate employment prior to the end of the Notice
Period, the Company will cease paying salary continuation, will calculate
the amount of salary and target STIP that would have been paid during the
balance of the Notice Period and will pay in lump sum 50% of that amount,
subject to applicable deductions. Salary continuance payments will be
subject to all applicable withholdings or deductions.
The Company will also continue all group medical benefits and life
insurance plans in which the Executive was actually enrolled immediately
prior to the termination of his employment, with the exception of any
benefits that cannot be continued beyond the last day of the Executive’s
active employment with the Company under the terms of the applicable
insuring agreement or plan, for the Notice Period or until the Executive
obtains alternate employment, whichever is earliest.
If the Company terminates the employment of the Executive under this
Article 4.3, the Company shall not be obligated to make any further
payments under this Agreement, except for amounts due and remaining unpaid
at the time of such termination plus a pro-rated portion of STIP based on
service to his last day of active employment, payment of the amounts set
out in this Article 4.3, payment of the annual fees due to Aliant Inc. as
required by an agreement between the Company and Aliant dated
July 15, 2004
and any payments required by Article 1.3. Such payments will fully
discharge the Company’s obligation to the Executive under applicable
employment or labour statutes and laws.
- 7 -
In this circumstance, the Executive will be entitled to immediate vesting
of a pro-rata portion of any options that were scheduled to vest within one
year of the date on which the Executive receives notice of termination
under this Article 4.3, calculated by multiplying the number of options
that were scheduled to vest during the Notice Period by the number of
months from the last vesting date to the date of termination divided by
twelve. All other unvested options will be cancelled. However, none of the
Executive’s vested but unexercised options can be exercised until the end
of the Restricted Period. These options will expire one year after the
Board has given notice to the Executive that the Restricted Period has
ended unless the exercise period is extended because the Company enters
into the Consulting Agreement contemplated by Article 1.3 of this
Agreement. However, the Board, in its sole discretion, may permit the
Executive to exercise his options at any earlier time.
4.4 Disability
If the Company determines that the Executive has suffered a Disability as
defined herein, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment on 90
days’ written notice given to the Executive. “Disability” as used in this
Agreement shall mean a physical or mental incapacity that has prevented the
Executive from performing the duties customarily assigned to him for a
period of one hundred and eighty (180) days, whether or not (consecutive,
out of any 12 consecutive months, and that in the opinion of the Board,
acting on the basis of an independent medical opinion from a duly qualified
medical practitioner, is likely to continue to affect the Executive to
that degree. In lieu of providing the Executive with 90 days’ written
notice, the Company may elect to provide the Executive with pay in lieu of
such notice. In addition, the Company shall pay to the Executive any base
salary and pro-rated target STIP through the termination date and will
continue to pay the annual fees due to Aliant Inc. as required by an
agreement between the Company and Aliant dated July 15, 2004.
In this circumstance, all options which have not vested by the end of the
90-day notice period will be cancelled and all unexercised vested options
must be exercised within one year of the end of the 90-day notice period.
- 8 -
4.5 Death
In the event of death, the Executive’s employment shall terminate as if
he had tendered his resignation on that day and the Company shall have no
further obligations or responsibilities hereunder except to make payments
earned but not yet paid to the Executive through the date of his death,
plus any pro-rated target STIP through the date of termination.
In
this circumstance, all options that have not vested by the date of the
Executive’s death will be cancelled, and any unexercised vested options
must be exercised within one year of the Executive’s death.
ARTICLE 5: CHANGE OF CONTROL
5.1 Definition
For the purposes of this Agreement, “Change of Control” shall mean (a) the
acquisition of control in law (whether by sale, transfer, merger,
consolidation, or otherwise) of Stratos Global Corporation by a third party
(that is, the acquisition of Control over 50.1% of the issued and
outstanding voting shares of the Corporation), or (b) the sale, transfer,
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company to a third party.
5.2 Termination by the Company after a Change of Control
If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause in
the three-year period after a Change of Control, the Executive will be
entitled to receive, in lieu of the payment provided for in Article 4.3, a
lump sum payment in lieu of notice equal to 1.5 times his gross base salary
and target STIP at the time of such termination, in addition to base salary
and pro-rated target STIP through the date of termination. In addition, the
Company will maintain all group medical benefits and life insurance plans
in which the Executive was actually enrolled immediately prior to the
termination of his employment, with the exception of any benefits that
cannot be
continued beyond the last day of the Executive’s active employment with the
Company under the terms of the applicable insuring agreement or plan, for a
period of one
- 9 -
and one-half years following such termination or until the Executive
obtains alternate employment, whichever is earliest. In addition, the
Company will continue to pay the annual fees due to Aliant Inc. as required
by an agreement between the Company and Aliant dated July 15, 2004 and will
honour the obligations contained in Article 1.3 of this Agreement.
In this circumstance, there will be immediate vesting of all unvested
options. However, all unexercised options cannot be exercised until the end
of the Restricted Period. After the Executive receives notice from the
Board that the Restricted Period has ended, the Executive will have one
year in which to exercise the vested options unless the exercise period is
extended because the Company enters into the Consulting Agreement
contemplated by Article 1.3 of this Agreement. However, the Board, in its
sole discretion, may permit the Executive to exercise his options at any
earlier time.
ARTICLE 6: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, CONFIDENTIALY AND NON-COMPETITION
6.1 Schedule “B” Obligations
The Executive agrees to execute and be bound by the Intellectual Property,
Confidentiality, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement attached as
Schedule “B” to this Agreement.
6.2 Return of Documents
The Executive agrees that all documents (including software and information
in machine-readable form) of any nature pertaining to the activities of
the Company and its affiliated related associated or subsidiary companies,
including the information or materials referred to in Schedule “B” to this
Agreement, in the Executive’s possession now or any time during the Period
of Active Employment, are and shall be the property of the Company and that
all such documents and all copies of them shall be surrendered to the
Company whenever requested by the Company.
6.3 Non-disparagement
- 10 -
The Company agrees to refrain from making any statements or comments of a
defamatory or disparaging nature to third parties regarding the Executive
or his performance and shall refrain from making any statements or comments
publicly or to members of the investment community relating to the
Executive without the prior written approval of the Executive, except as
required by applicable laws and regulatory bodies.
ARTICLE 7: MISCELLANEOUS COVENANTS
7.1 Rights and Waivers
All rights and remedies of the parties are separate and cumulative, and
none of them, whether exercised or not, shall be deemed to be to the
exclusion of any other rights or remedies or shall be deemed to limit or
prejudice any other legal or equitable rights or remedies which either of
the parties may have.
7.2 Waiver
Any
purported waiver of any default, breach or non-compliance under this
Employment Agreement is not effective unless in writing and signed by the
party to be bound by the waiver. No waiver shall be inferred from or
implied by any failure to act or delay in acting by a party in respect of
any default, breach or non-observance or by anything done or omitted to be
done by the other xxxxx. The waiver by a party of any default, breach or
non-compliance under this Employment Agreement shall not operate as a
waiver of that party’s rights under this Employment Agreement in respect of
any continuing or subsequent default, breach or non-observance (whether of
the same or any other nature).
7.3 Severability
Any provision of this Employment Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent
of the prohibition or unenforceability and shall be severed from the
balance of this Employment Agreement, all
- 11 -
without affecting the remaining provisions of this Employment Agreement or
affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
7.4 Notices
(1) Any notice, certificate, consent, determination or other .communication
required
or permitted to be given or made under:- this Employment Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be effectively given and made if (i) delivered
personally, (ii) sent by prepaid courier service or mail, or (iii) sent
prepaid by fax or other similar means of electronic communication, in each
case to the applicable address set out below:
(a) | if to the Company, to: |
STRATOS GLOBAL CORPORATION
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
X.X.X.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
X.X.X.
Attention:
President and CEO, with a copy to the Chairman of the
Board
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
(b) | if to the Executive, to: |
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
(2) Any such communication so given or made shall be deemed to have been
given or made and to have been received on the day of delivery if
delivered, or on the day of faxing or sending by other means of recorded
electronic communication, provided that the day in either event is a
business day and the communication is so delivered, faxed or sent prior to
4:30 p.m. on that day. Otherwise, the communication shall be deemed to have
been given and made and to have been received on the next following
business day. Any such communication sent by mail
- 12 -
shall be deemed to have been given any made and to have been received on
the fifth business day following the mailing thereof; provided however that
no such communication shall be mailed during any actual or apprehended
disruption of postal services. Any such communication given or
made in any other manner shall be deemed to have been given or made and to
have been received only upon actual receipt.
(3) Any party may from time to time change its address under this Article
7.4 by notice to the other party given in the manner provided by this
Article.
7.5 Successors and Assigns
This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of, and be binding on,
the parties and their respective heirs, administrators, executors,
successors and permitted assigns. The Company shall have the right to
assign this Employment Agreement to any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company provided only that the Company must first require the successor to
expressly assume and agree to perform this Employment Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform
it if no such succession had taken place. The Executive by the, Executive’s
signature hereto expressly consents to such assignment. The Executive shall
not assign or transfer, whether absolutely, by way of security or
otherwise, all or any part of the Executive’s rights or obligations under
this Employment Agreement without the prior consent of the Company, which
may be arbitrarily withheld.
7.6 Amendment
No amendment of this Employment Agreement will be effective unless made in
writing and signed by the parties.
7.7 Entire Agreement
This Employment Agreement and its Schedules constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter of this
Employment Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings,
negotiations and discussions, whether oral or
- 13 -
written. There are no conditions, warranties, representations or other
agreements between the parties in connection with the subject matter of
this Employment Agreement (whether oral or written, express or implied,
statutory or otherwise) except as specifically set out in this Employment
Agreement.
7.8 Governing Law
This Employment Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Maryland.
7.9 Headings
The division of this Employment Agreement into Articles and the insertion
of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
construction or interpretation of this Employment Agreement.
ARTICLE 8: SATISFACTION OF ALL CLAIMS
8.1 Full Satisfaction
The terms set out in this Employment Agreement, provided that such terms
are satisfied by the Company, are in lieu of (and not in addition to) and
in full satisfaction of any and all other claims or entitlements
which the
Executive has or may have upon the termination of the Executive’s
employment pursuant to Articles 4 or 5 and the compliance by the Company
with these terms will affect a full and complete release of the Company and
its parent and their respective affiliates, associates, subsidiaries and
related companies from any and all claims which the Executive may have for
whatever reason or cause in connection with the Executive’s employment and
the termination of it, other than those obligations specifically set out in
this Employment Agreement. In agreeing to the terms set out in this
Employment Agreement, the Executive specifically agrees to executive a
formal release document to that effect and will deliver upon request
appropriate resignations from all offices and positions with the Company
and its parent and their respective affiliated, associated subsidiary or
affiliated. companies if, as and when requested by the Company upon
termination of the Executive’s employment within the circumstances
contemplated by this Employment Agreement.
- 14 -
ARTICLE 9: DISPUTE RESOLUTION
9.1 Dispute Resolution:
Should any disagreement, claim or controversy arise between the Executive
and the Company with respect to this Employment Agreement, the termination
of this Employment Agreement, or with respect to the rights and obligations
of the parties under this agreement or flowing from a termination of the
Executive’s employment, such dispute shall be settled by confidential final
and binding arbitration to be conducted in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association applicable to employment disputes. Any
such arbitration will occur in Bethesda, Maryland before a single
Arbitrator.
ARTICLE 10: EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
10.1 Acknowledgment.
The Executive acknowledges that: | |||
(a) | the Executive has had sufficient time to review this Employment Agreement thoroughly; | ||
(b) | the Executive has read and understands the terms of this Employment Agreement and the obligations hereunder; | ||
(c) | the Executive has been given an opportunity to obtain independent legal advice concerning the interpretation and effect of this Employment Agreement; and, | ||
(d) | the Executive has received a fully executed counterpart copy of this Employment Agreement. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed counterpart copies of this
Employment Agreement.
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||||||
Witness | XXXX XXXXXXXX | |||||||
STRATOS GLOBAL CORPORATION | ||||||||
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxx
|
||||||
Witness
|
XXX XXXX | |||||||
President and CEO |
SCHEDULE “A” TO THE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT OF XXXX XXXXXXXX
AGREEMENT OF XXXX XXXXXXXX
REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
1. Gross Base Salary. The Executive will receive an annual gross base
salary in the amount of $200,000 USD effective July 15, 2004, subject to
the provisions of Article 3 of the Employment Agreement.
2. Short Term Incentive Plan (“STIP”). The Executive will be eligible for
a short-term incentive payment at target of 50% of his gross base salary.
While the STIP structure will be reviewed periodically and can be changed
by the Board of Directors, for calendar year 2004:
(i) | 75% (of the 50%) of the STIP payment will be awarded based on the Company’s achievement of its corporate financial goals; and | ||
(ii) | 25% (of the 50%) will be awarded based on the Executive’s achievement of personal objectives. |
In
calendar year 2004, for the corporate financial component, 100% payment
of the 75% is based on the Company’s 100% attainment of financial goals, as
set out on an annual basis by the Board. The 100% is currently weighted as
follows: revenue (25%), EBITDA (50%) and Net Income (25%).
The personal objectives component will be based on the achievement of
personal objectives as approved by the Board. The Board will determinate
the level of attainment and the payout.
The
following additional terms. are also applicable:
(a) | no STIP payment will be paid unless 80% of the financial results are attained; | ||
(b) | at 80% attainment, 50% of the financial results component of the target will be paid; | ||
(c) | at 100% attainment, 100% of the financial results component of the target will be paid; | ||
(d) | at 120% attainment or greater, 150% of the financial results component of the target will be paid; and | ||
(e) | pro-rating will apply between levels of attainment. |
- 2 -
2.1 | The Executive and the Company will agree on the applicable structure, threshold and opportunities for future years. The financial results and the personal objectives components for each fiscal year are to be submitted by the Executive to the appropriate committees of the Board for review and final determination or approval by the Board by January 31 of each year. In the event that either or both of the (components are not submitted and/or approved by mid-February, the determination of these components must be set by the Board. The Board’s decision with respect to the financial results components and the personal objectives components in any calendar year is final. The financial results component will be adjusted for overlays for acquisitions and financings, as approved the board at the time of the acquisition, investment or financing. | |
3. | Long Term Incentive Plan. (On or about July 15, 2004, the Executive will receive an option grant of options valued at 50% of his gross base salary using the Black-Scholes valuation model to calculate option value. One third of these options will vest on each of the first, second and third anniversary dates following the date of the grant. These options will expire 7 years from the date on which they were granted. | |
3.1 | Thereafter, on an annual basis, the Board will make a market competitive option grant to the Executive taking into account the Board’s assessment of the Executive’s performance and market conditions. In this clause, “Market competitive option grant” means a grant that is comparable to grants made to similarly situated Executives in companies of similar size. However, in lieu of granting such options the Board could, in its discretion, offer to provide the Executive with a different type of long term incentive compensation of similar value. | |
3.2 | None of the options granted to the Executive can be exercised before the end of the Executive’s Period of Active Employment as defined in the Employment Agreement US rule and the end of the Restricted Period also as defined in the Employment Agreement, as applicable, except with the prior approval of the Board, which cannot be unreasonably withheld. However, in the two year period prior to the expiry of any set of options, the Executive may exercise such options after providing the Board with 72 hours’ notice of his intention to exercise the expiring options as long as such exercise would not contravene any applicable securities laws, policies or regulations. | |
3.3 | In cases where the Executive seeks prior approval of the Board to exercise options, the Executive shall make such request to the Chairman of the Board or to the Chair of the Compensation Committee of the Board who will have authority to approve such an exercise and will respond to the Executive’s request within 72 hours of receiving it. Both the Executive’s request and the response of the Chair of the Board or the Chair of the Compensation Committee to that request must be in writing. | |
3.4 | The Executive will act in accordance with the Company’s Share Retention Policy at the applicable level when options are exercised. |
- 3 -
4. | Other Elements of Compensation. The Executive’s annual compensation package shall also include: |
(a) | up to $18,000 USD for annual executive benefits, including the use of a car and other expenses for which receipts are provided; | ||
(b) | participation in the Company’s standard U.S. medical and life insurance programs, including group medical benefits, group life insurance and disability insurance, in accordance with the terms of the Company’s existing group health and insurance plan; and | ||
(c) | four weeks’ vacation annually. |
5. | Expenses Incidental to Employment. The Company shall reimburse the Executive in accordance with its normal policies and practice for his travel and other expenses or disbursements reasonably and necessarily incurred or made in connection with the Company’s business. | |
6. | Deductions. All payments by the Company to the Executive are subject to all necessary deductions and withholdings. | |
7. | Agreements with Aliant Inc. (“Aliant”). The Company agrees with the executive that it will continue as a member company in good standing in the MTT EPP and pay the annual fees required by its agreement with Aliant dated July 15, 2004 until the earlier of: July 15, 2008, the Executive’s death, the Executive’s resignation from the Company or the Executive’s termination by the Company for cause. |
SCHEDULE “B” TO THE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT OF XXXX XXXXXXXX
AGREEMENT OF XXXX XXXXXXXX
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-COMPETITION and
NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT
NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT
For and in consideration of the employment of XXXX XXXXXXXX (“Prentice”)
by Stratos Global Corporation (“Stratos”) as its Senior Vice-President
Corporate Services, Prentice agrees as follows:
1. | Prentice shall disclose immediately to Stratos all discoveries, inventions and developments to any intellectual property or any improvements to any discoveries or inventions and developments to any intellectual property made, conceived or first reduced to practice by Prentice, either solely or jointly with others, during his employment at Stratos which in any way relates to the existing or contemplated scope of Stratos’ business or logical extension thereof. At the expense of Stratos, and when requested (either during or subsequent to the contract), Prentice shall promptly execute patent application papers, assignments, and any other documents necessary and do all he thinks necessary to protect such discoveries, inventions, or improvements and assigns all rights respecting such discoveries, inventions, or improvements to Stratos. | |
2. | Prentice acknowledges that as Senior Vice President Corporate Services, and in any other position as he may be appointed to, Prentice is a fiduciary and will acquire information about certain matters and things which are confidential to Stratos (which, for the purpose of this Schedule B, includes its subsidiaries and affiliated companies) which information is the exclusive property of Stratos including, but not limited to, all information in respect of: |
3. | financial information; | ||
4. | marketing, pricing and sales policies, techniques and concepts; | ||
5. | business strategies, plans and objectives; | ||
6. | product design and manufacturing information; and | ||
7. | trade secrets. |
3. | Prentice acknowledges that the information referred to in paragraph 2 of this Schedule B and any other confidential information could be used to the detriment of Stratos. Accordingly, Prentice undertakes, covenants and agrees to treat confidentially all such information and to not disclose any such information to any third party, or use for the benefit of himself or any third party, either during his employment with Stratos, except as may be necessary in the proper discharge of his employment under this agreement, or |
- 2 -
after the date of termination of Prentice’s employment, however caused, except with the prior written approval of Strators, unless Prentice can reasonably prove on the balance of probabilities that the information was either (i) in the public domain, or (ii) was previously disclosed by Stratos without restriction on its use. |
4. | Without in any way limiting Practice’s fiduciary obligations to Stratos, Prentice agrees that for a period of one year after his Period of Active Employment ends (the “Non Competitive Period”), Prentice will not: |
(i) | directly or indirectly, become financially interested in, be employed by in a similar capacity, or render any consultation or business advice with respect to, any business that is materially competitive with Stratos in the business of the retail distribution of remote mobile and fixed communication services to the same customers serviced by Stratos (the Business”) other than as a passive investor in a publicly traded corporation of which he owns not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares; | ||
(ii) | solicit any Stratos customer with whom he has had material business contact in the 2 year period prior to the end of his active employment to remove its business from or reduce its business with Stratos; | ||
(iii) | take any action that will impair relations with customers and suppliers of Stratos; or | ||
(iv) | solicit any employee of Stratos to terminate his/her employment or hire any employee of Stratos. |
Prentice acknowledges that the Business is conducted globally, and that the territorial and time limitations set forth in this Paragraph 4 are reasonable and properly required for the adequate protection of the Business of Stratos. In the event any such territorial or time limitation is deemed to be unreasonable by a court of competent jurisdiction, Prentice agrees to the reduction of the territorial or time limitation to the area or period which such court shall consider reasonable. | ||
Any failure by Prentice to comply with the provisions of this Paragraph 4 shall relieve Stratos of any of its obligations pursuant to the Employment Agreement. |
5. | Prentice further agrees to refrain from making any statements or comments of a defamatory or disparaging nature to third parties regarding Stratos or its officers, directors, personnel, business or affiliates, and shall refrain from making any statements or comments publicly or to remembers of the investment community without the prior written approval of Stratos. | |
6. | Prentice understands and agrees that Stratos shall suffer irreparable harm in the event that Prentice breaches any of Prentice’s obligations under this Schedule B and that monetary |
- 3 -
damages shall be inadequate to compensate Stratos for such breach. Accordingly, Prentice agrees that, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Prentice of any of the provisions of this Schedule B, Stratos shall, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available to Stratos at law or in equity, be entitled to an interim injunction, interlocutory injunction and permanent injunction in order to prevent or to restrain any such breach by Prentice, or by any or all of Practice’s partners, co-ventures, employers, employees, servants, agents, representatives and any and all persons directly or indirectly acting for, on behalf of or with Prentice. |
7. | If any portion of the restrictions set forth in this Schedule B should, for any reason whatsoever, be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity or enforceability of the remainder of such restrictions shall not be adversely affected. | |
8. | Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions contained in this Schedule B are reasonable and valid and all defenses to their strict enforcement are waived by each party. | |
9. | The provisions of this Schedule B shall survive the termination of this Employment Agreement and shall be binding upon the parties after Prentice ceases to be an employee of Stratos. |
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
DATE: 8/17/04