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EXHIBIT 10.48
CHANGE OF CONTROL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT by and between MAPICS, Inc. (the "Company") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive"), dated as of the 31st day of March, 1998.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it
is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure that the
Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the
possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of
the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks
created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to encourage the
Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the
event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the
Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control
which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectations of the Executive
will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other corporations.
Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the
Company to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Certain Definitions.
(a) The "Effective Date" shall mean the first date during the Change
of Control Period (as defined in Section l(b)) on which a Change of Control (as
defined in Section 2) occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs during the Change of Control
Period and if the Executive's employment with the Company has been terminated
either by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason (as such
terms are defined in Section 5) within one year prior to the date on which the
Change of Control occurs, and unless it is reasonably demonstrated by the
Company that such termination of employment (i) was not at the request of a
third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of
Control and (ii) did not otherwise arise in connection with or anticipation of
the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective
Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of
employment.
(b) The "Change of Control Period" shall mean the period commencing on
the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of the date hereof;
provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof,
and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual
anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"),
unless previously terminated, the Change of Control Period shall be
automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date,
unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company
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shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not
be so extended.
2. Change of Control. For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of
Control" shall mean:
(a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 25% or more of
the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the
Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
"Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes
of this subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
of Control: (i) any acquisition by a Person who is on the date of this Agreement
the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, (ii) any acquisition directly from the Company, (iii) any
acquisition by the Company, (iv) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company, or (v) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to
a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c)
of this Section 2; or
(b) Individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, constitute
the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date of this Agreement whose election, or nomination
for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
Board; or
(c) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless, following such
Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and
entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior
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to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person
(excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, 25% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership
existed prior to the Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the
members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for
such Business Combination; or
(d) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
3. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive
in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the
Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period
commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such
date (the "Employment Period").
4. Terms of Employment.
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position
(including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority,
duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material
respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date, and (B)
the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive
was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location
less than 35 miles from such location.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of
vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees
to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the
business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge
the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of
this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable
boards or committees, (B) engage in other business activities that do not
represent a conflict of interest with the full execution of his duties to the
Company, and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not
significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities
as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly
understood and agreed that to the
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extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to
the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of
activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date
shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
(b) Compensation.
(i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid
at a monthly rate, at least equal to 12 times the highest monthly base salary
paid or payable, including any base salary which has been earned but deferred,
to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the
12-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date
occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed
no more than 12 months after the last salary increase awarded to the Executive
prior to the Effective Date and thereafter at least annually. Any increase in
Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to
the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced
after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this
Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this
Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" shall include any company controlled
by, controlling or under common control with the Company.
(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the
Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment
Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the
Executive's highest annual bonus for the last three full fiscal years prior to
the Effective Date (annualized in the event that the Executive was not employed
by the Company for the whole of such fiscal year). Each such Annual Bonus shall
be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next
following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the
Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus.
(iii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs
applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to
both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any, that
such distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit
opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most
favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the
Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or if
more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the
Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
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(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the
Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible
for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated
companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental,
disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident
insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall
such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits
which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of such
plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the
Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred
by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and
procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the
Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at
any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most
favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its
affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
5. Termination of Employment.
(a) Death or Disability. The Executive's employment shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the
Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has
occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability
set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with
Section 12(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's
employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall
terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the
Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days
after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time
performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties
with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive days as a result of
incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and
permanent by a physician selected by the
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Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal
representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
during the Employment Period with or without Cause. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to
perform substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of its
affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to
physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance
is delivered to the Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or Chief
Executive Officer believes that the Executive has not substantially performed
the Executive's duties, or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or
gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the
Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any
act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly
adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or
a senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice of counsel for the
Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the
Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation
of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and
until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution
duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the
entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for
such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to the Executive and the
Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the
Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive is
guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and
specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason or for no reason. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent
in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles
and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as
contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the
Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or
responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
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insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the
Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the
Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any
office or location other than as provided in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof or the
Company's requiring the Executive to travel on Company business to a
substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the Effective
Date;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
Section 11(c) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Section 5(c), any good faith determination of "Good
Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive. Anything in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, a termination by the Executive for any reason
during the 30-day period immediately following the first anniversary of the
Effective Date shall be deemed to be a termination for Good Reason for all
purposes of this Agreement.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause,
or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of
Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 12(b) of
this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means
a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this
Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable
detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the
Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such
notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than 30
days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the
Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which
contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of
the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive
or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in
enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or
any later date specified therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by the
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Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the
date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination or any
later date specified in such notice, (iii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be
the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case
may be.
6. Obligations of the Company upon Termination.
(a) Good Reason; Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If,
during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's
employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate
employment for Good Reason, then in consideration of Executive's services
rendered prior to such termination and of Executive's covenants contained in
Section 10 hereof:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in
cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of the following
amounts:
A. the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual Base Salary
through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (2) the
product of (x) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including any bonus or portion
thereof which has been earned but deferred, for the most recently completed
fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any (such amount being referred to
as the "Most Recent Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination,
and the denominator of which is 365, and (3) any compensation previously
deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings
thereon and subject to any prior election by the Executive to receive such
deferred amounts in installments) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case to
the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses
(1), (2), and (3) shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued
Obligations"); and
B. the amount equal to three times the sum of (1) the
Executive's Annual Base Salary and (2) the Most Recent Annual Bonus;
(ii) for three years after the Executive's Date of Termination,
or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan,
program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to the
Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have
been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and
policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's
employment had not been terminated or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in
effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of
the Company and its affiliated companies and their families, provided, however,
that if the Executive becomes re-employed with another employer and is eligible
to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided
plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary
to those provided under such other plan during such applicable period of
eligibility. For
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purposes of determining eligibility (but not the time of commencement of
benefits) of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans,
practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have
remained employed until three years after the Date of Termination and to have
retired on the last day of such period;
(iii) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company
shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits
required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive
under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the
Company and its affiliated companies (such other amounts and benefits shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits").
(iv) notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Executive shall forfeit his right to receive, or, to the extent
such amounts have previously been paid to the Executive, shall repay in full to
the Company within thirty (30) days of a final determination of the Executive's
liability therefor as set forth below, the amount described in Section
6(a)(i)(B) of this Agreement if at any time during the period of two years after
the Date of Termination he violates the Restrictive Covenants set forth in
Section 10 hereof.
(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives
under this Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the
timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid
to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of
Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 6(b) shall
include without limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries
shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable of
the following: (1) of the benefits provided by the Company and affiliated
companies to the estates and beneficiaries of peer executives of the Company and
such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies
relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer
executives and their beneficiaries at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date, or (2) similar benefits in effect on
the date of the Executive's death with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies and their beneficiaries.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason
of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for payment
of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits.
Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within
30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of Other
Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this Section 6(c) shall
include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date
to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable
of the following: (1) disability and other benefits generally provided by the
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Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their
families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies
relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other
peer executives and their families at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date, or (2) disability and other benefits
in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives
of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families.
(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive's employment
shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation
to pay to the Executive (x) his Annual Base Salary through the Date of
Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the
Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case to the extent theretofore
unpaid. If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment during the Employment
Period, excluding a termination for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations
and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. In such case, all Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days
of the Date of Termination.
7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or
limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan, program,
policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies
and for which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 12(f), shall
anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have
under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated
companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise
entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any
contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or
subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such
plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly
modified by this Agreement.
8. Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make the payments
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, except as
explicitly provided herein, such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the
Executive obtains other employment. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to
the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the
Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the
outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or
enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any
guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by the
Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in
each case interest on any delayed payment at the
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applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
9. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and
except as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any payment
or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether
paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments
required under this Section 9) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by
the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with
any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional
payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the
Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect
to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any
interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon
the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment
equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 9(a), if it shall be determined that the Executive is
entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Executive, after taking into
account the Payments and the Gross-Up Payment, would not receive a net after-tax
benefit of at least $100,000 (taking into account both income taxes and any
Excise Tax) as compared to the net after-tax proceeds to the Executive resulting
from an elimination of the Gross-Up Payment and a reduction of the Payments, in
the aggregate, to an amount (the "Reduced Amount") such that the receipt of
Payments would not give rise to any Excise Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall
be made to the Executive and the Payments, in the aggregate, shall be reduced to
the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c), all determinations
required to be made under this Section 9, including whether and when a Gross-Up
Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions
to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by Coopers &
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P. or such other certified public accounting firm as may be
designated by the Executive (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment,
or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. In the event that the
Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity
or group effecting the Change of Control, the Executive shall appoint another
nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required
hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting
Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne
solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this
Section 9, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within five days of the
receipt of the Accounting
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Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding
upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the
application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination
by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which
will not have been made by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"),
consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event
that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 9(c) and the
Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the
Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred
and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the
benefit of the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by
the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by
the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as
practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive is informed
in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such
claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive
shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following
the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period
ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due).
If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such
period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by
the Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim
as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including,
without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by
an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
effectively to contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
relating to such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and
payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation of the foregoing provisions of
this Section 9(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection
with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all
administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing
authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct
the Executive
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13
to pay the tax claimed and ▇▇▇ for a refund or contest the claim in any
permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a
determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial
jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall
determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay
such claim and ▇▇▇ for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such
payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold
the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax
(including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to
such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance;
and further provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating
to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which
such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be limited to
issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and
the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any
other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by
the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive
any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the
Company's complying with the requirements of Section 9(c)) promptly pay to the
Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited
thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive
of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), a determination
is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to
such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its
intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after
such determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be
required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent
thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
10. Restrictions on Conduct of the Executive. The Executive and the
Company understand and agree that the purpose of the provisions of this Section
10 is to protect legitimate business interests of the Company, as more fully
described below, and is not intended to eliminate the Executive's
post-employment competition with the Company per se, nor is it intended to
impair or infringe upon the Executive's right to work, earn a living, or acquire
and possess property from the fruits of his labor. The Executive hereby
acknowledges that the post-employment restrictions set forth in this Section 10
are reasonable and that they do not, and will not, unduly impair his ability to
earn a living after the termination of this Agreement. Therefore, subject to the
limitations of reasonableness imposed by law upon the restrictions set forth
herein by the time and geographical area described below, the Executive shall be
subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 10.
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14
(a) Definitions. The following capitalized terms used in this Section
10 shall have the meanings assigned to them below, which definitions shall apply
to both the singular and the plural forms of such terms:
"Competitive Services" means providing enterprise resource
planning software applications for discrete and batch-process mid-size
manufacturing enterprises (i.e., enterprises having annual revenue of $20
million to $500 million).
"Confidential Information" means any confidential or proprietary
information possessed by the Company or its affiliated entities or relating to
its or their business, including without limitation, any confidential customer
lists, details of client or consultant contracts, current and anticipated
customer requirements, pricing policies, price lists, market studies, business
plans, operational methods, marketing plans or strategies, product development
techniques or plans, unannounced computer software programs, computer software
program source code, data and documentation, data base technologies, computer
program structures and architectures, inventions and ideas, past, current and
planned research and development, compilations, devices, methods, techniques,
processes, financial information and data, business acquisition plans, new
personnel acquisition plans and any other information that would constitute a
"trade secret(s)" under the common law or statutory law of the State of Georgia.
"Determination Date" means the date of termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company for any reason whatsoever or any earlier
date (during the Employment Period) of an alleged breach of the Restrictive
Covenants by the Executive.
"Person" means any individual or any corporation, partnership,
joint venture, association or other entity or enterprise.
"Principal or Representative" means a principal, owner, partner,
shareholder, joint venturer, investor, member, trustee, director, officer,
manager, employee, agent, representative or consultant.
"Protected Customers" means customers of the Company that
purchased Competitive Services from the Company within one (1) year prior to the
Determination Date.
"Protected Employees" means employees of the Company who were
employed by the Company at any time within six (6) months prior to the
Determination Date.
"Restricted Period" means the period extending two (2) years from
the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company for any reason
whatsoever.
- ▇▇ -
▇▇
"▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇" means the following territory, in which
the Executive engages in the provision of Competitive Services on behalf of the
Company on the date of this Agreement: State of Georgia.
"Restrictive Covenants" means the restrictive covenants contained
in Section 10 hereof.
(b) Restrictive Covenants.
(i) Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Confidential
Information. The Executive understands and agrees that the Confidential
Information constitutes a valuable asset of the Company and its affiliated
entities, and may not be converted to the Executive's own use. Accordingly, the
Executive hereby agrees that the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, at
any time during the Restricted Period reveal, divulge, or disclose to any Person
not expressly authorized by the Company any Confidential Information, and the
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, at any time during the Restricted
Period use or make use of any Confidential Information in connection with any
business activity other than that of the Company. The parties acknowledge and
agree that this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, alter either the
Company's rights or the Executive's obligations under any state or federal
statutory or common law regarding trade secrets and unfair trade practices.
(ii) Nonsolicitation of Protected Employees. The Executive
understands and agrees that the relationship between the Company and each of its
Protected Employees constitutes a valuable asset of the Company and may not be
converted to the Executive's own use. Accordingly, the Executive hereby agrees
that during the Restricted Period the Executive shall not directly or indirectly
on the Executive's own behalf or as a Principal or Representative of any Person
or otherwise solicit or induce any Protected Employee to terminate his or her
employment relationship with the Company or to enter into employment with any
other Person.
(iii) Nonsolicitation of Protected Customers. The Executive
understands and agrees that the relationship between the Company and each of its
Protected Customers constitutes a valuable asset of the Company and may not be
converted to the Executive's own use. Accordingly, the Executive hereby agrees
that, during the Restricted Period, the Executive shall not, without the prior
written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, on the Executive's own
behalf or as a Principal or Representative of any Person or otherwise, solicit a
Protected Customer for the purpose of providing or selling Competitive Services;
provided, however, that the prohibition of this covenant shall apply only to
Protected Customers with whom the Executive had Material Contact on the
Company's behalf during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the Date of
Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive had "Material
Contact" with a Protected Customer if (a) he had business dealings with the
Protected Customer on the Company's behalf; (b) he was responsible for
supervising or coordinating the dealings between the Company and the Protected
Customer; or (c) he
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16
obtained Confidential Information about the customer as a result of his
association with the Company.
(iv) Noncompetition with the Company. The Executive understands
and agrees that, during the Restricted Period and within the Restricted
Territory, he shall not, directly or indirectly, on his own or on behalf of any
Person, be affiliated with as a Principal or Representative any Person engaged,
in whole or in part, in the provision of Competitive Services in a capacity
where Executive's duties or responsibilities for such Person will include
strategic planning, policymaking or management; provided, however, that the
provisions of Section 10 shall not be deemed to prohibit the ownership by the
Executive of any securities of the Company or its affiliated entities or not
more than five percent (5%) of any class of securities of any corporation having
a class of securities registered pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(c) Exceptions from Disclosure Restrictions. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall not be restricted from disclosing
or using Confidential Information that: (a) is or becomes generally available to
the public other than as a result of an unauthorized disclosure by the Executive
or his agent; (b) becomes available to the Executive in a manner that is not in
contravention of applicable law from a source (other than the Company or its
affiliated entities or one of its or their officers, employees, agents or
representatives) that is not bound by a confidential relationship with the
Company or its affiliated entities or by a confidentiality or other similar
agreement; (c) was known to the Executive on a non-confidential basis and not in
contravention of applicable law or a confidentiality or other similar agreement
before its disclosure to the Executive by the Company or its affiliated entities
or one of its or their officers, employees, agents or representatives; or (d) is
required to be disclosed by law, court order or other legal process; provided,
however, that in the event disclosure is required by law, the Executive shall
provide the Company with prompt notice of such requirement so that the Company
may seek an appropriate protective order prior to any such required disclosure
by the Executive.
(d) Enforcement of Restrictive Covenants.
(i) Rights and Remedies Upon Breach. In the event the Executive
breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of the
Restrictive Covenants, the Company shall have the following rights and remedies,
which shall be independent of any others and severally enforceable, and shall be
in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to
the Company at law or in equity:
(A) the right and remedy to enjoin, preliminarily and
permanently, the Executive from violating or threatening to violate the
Restrictive Covenants and to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically
enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, it being agreed that any breach
or threatened breach of the Restrictive Covenants would cause irreparable injury
to the Company and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to
the Company; and
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17
(B) the right and remedy to require the Executive to
account for and pay over to the Company all compensation, profits, monies,
accruals, increments or other benefits derived or received by the Executive as
the result of any transactions constituting a breach of the Restrictive
Covenants.
(ii) Severability of Covenants. The Executive acknowledges and
agrees that the Restrictive Covenants are reasonable and valid in time and scope
and in all other respects. If any court determines that any of the Restrictive
Covenants, or any part thereof, are invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of
the Restrictive Covenants shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full
effect, without regard to the invalid portions.
(iii) Attorneys' Fees. In any action relating to the enforcement
of the Restrictive Covenants, the prevailing party in such action shall be
entitled to be paid any and all costs and expenses incurred by him or it in
enforcing or establishing his or its rights thereunder, including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, whether suit be brought or not, and
whether or not incurred in trial, bankruptcy or appellate proceedings.
11. Successors.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior
written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this 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. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as
hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as
aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of
law, or otherwise.
12. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Georgia, without reference to principles of
conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions
hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or
modified otherwise than-by a
- 17 -
18
written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors
and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
If to the Executive:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
If to the Company:
MAPICS, Inc.
▇▇▇▇-▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Secretary
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this
Agreement such federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be
withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any
right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason
pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a
waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this
Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may
otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive
and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will"
and, subject to Section 1(a) hereof, prior to the Effective Date, the
Executive's employment may be terminated by either the Executive or the Company
at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case the Executive shall have
no further rights under this Agreement.
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19
However, absent termination of employment of the Executive, this Agreement may
not be terminated by the Company during the Change of Control Period and before
the Effective Date. From and after the Effective Date, this Agreement shall
supersede any other agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof, including without limitation any then-current employment
agreement between the Company and the Executive.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has
caused this Agreement to be executed in its name on its behalf by its
undersigned officer thereunto, duly authorized, all as of the day and year first
above written.
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------------
MAPICS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------
Title: President
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