Exhibit 10.17
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of September 24, 1998, between AMERICAN TELESOURCE
INTERNATIONAL., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Charles R.
Poole ("Executive").
The Company and the Executive desire to enter into certain agreements
providing for Executive's employment with the Company.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ Executive and Executive
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accepts such employment for the period beginning August 1, 1998 (the "Start
Date") and ending upon termination pursuant to paragraph 1 (D) hereof (the
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"Employment Period").
(A) Services. During the Employment Period, Executive will be the President of
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the Company, and in connection therewith will render such services of an
executive and administrative character to the Company and its affiliates as are
customarily rendered by persons holding such position with similarly situated
companies, as the Board of Directors of American TeleSource International Inc.,
a Delaware, U.S.A. corporation (the "Board") may from time to time direct.
Executive will devote his best efforts and substantially all of his business
time and attention (except as otherwise specifically permitted herein and except
for vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity) to
the business of the Company and its affiliates and will faithfully and
diligently carry out such duties and have such responsibilities as are customary
among persons employed in substantially similar capacities for similar
companies. Executive will report to the President and shall faithfully and
diligently comply with all of its reasonable and lawful directives. For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "affiliates" means any corporation, limited
partnership, limited liability company or other entity engaged in the same
business as the Company or a related business, which controls, is controlled by
or is under common control with the Company.
(B) Salary. During the Employment Period and thereafter as provided in
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paragraph (D) below, the Company will pay Executive a base salary at the rate of
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not less than $127,000 per annum (or such higher amount as the Board may
establish from time to time), and will be payable in accordance with the
Company's regular payroll practices.
(C) Benefits. In addition to the compensation described above in this
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paragraph 1, Executive will be entitled during the Employment Period to the
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following benefits:
(1) such bonus as the Board in its sole discretion may from time to
time authorize, but in no event shall bonuses paid during a year exceed 50% of
Executive's base salary for such year;
(2) such health insurance and other benefits as are available from
time to time to the Company's salaried employees generally;
(3) in accordance with the Company's vacation and absence paid as in
effect from time to time, sick leave, personal time provided that Executive
shall have no less than three weeks vacation each year, with salary;
(4) reimbursement, upon submission of documentation in accordance
with the Company's regular expense policies, for reasonable business expenses
incurred on the Company's behalf by Executive;
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(5) participation in any savings plan, 401(k) plan, profit sharing
plan or pension plan as is available from time to time to the Company's salaried
employees generally; and
(6) opportunity to participate in any and all employee benefit plans
from time to time in effect for executives or salaried employees of the Company
generally (subject to any contribution therefore generally required by such
employees and except to the extent such plans are in a category of benefit
otherwise provided to Executive).
(D) Termination. Unless earlier terminated by termination of Executive's
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employment pursuant to any of the provisions immediately below, Executive's
employment with the Company will continue until the third anniversary of the
Start Date, and Executive's employment shall be renewed automatically for one-
year periods thereafter unless either party hereto gives written notice to the
other party, at least 120 days prior to the next anniversary date, that such
employment shall not be renewed:
(1) Death. In the event of Executive's death during the term hereof,
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Executive's employment hereunder shall immediately and automatically terminate.
Notwithstanding such event, the Company shall pay to Executive's designated
beneficiary or, if no beneficiary has been designated by Executive, to his
estate, the base salary at the rate in effect on the date of death for a period
of 6 months. The Company shall also pay to Executive's designated beneficiary
or, if no beneficiary has been designated by Executive, to his estate, any
incentive compensation that is earned but unpaid, based on the operations of the
Company for the whole year, prorated through the date of death.
(2) Disability.
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(a) The Company may terminate Executive's employment
hereunder, upon notice to Executive, in the event that Executive becomes
disabled during his employment hereunder through any illness, injury, accident
or condition of either a physical or psychological nature and, as a result, is
unable to perform substantially all of his duties and responsibilities hereunder
for 90 days during any period of 365 consecutive calendar days. In the event of
such termination, until the earliest of (i) the conclusion of the then-current
term of this Agreement and (ii) the conclusion of a period of 6 months following
the date of termination, the Company shall continue to pay Executive the base
salary at the Rate in effect on the date of termination and shall continue to
contribute to the cost of Executive's participation in the Company's group
medical and dental insurance plan, if any, provided that Executive is entitled
to continue such participation under applicable law and plan terms. The Company
will also pay Executive, in the case of such termination, any incentive
compensation that is earned but unpaid, based on the operations of the Company
for the whole year, prorated through the date of such termination;
(b) While receiving disability income payments under the
Company's disability income plan, if any, Executive shall be entitled to receive
the excess, if any, of base salary under paragraph I (B) hereof over such
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disability income payments, and shall be entitled to receive such bonus and
other benefits as are described in paragraph 1(C), until the termination of his
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employment and except to the extent a longer period is specified in paragraph
1(D)(2)(a).
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(3) Termination by the Company without Cause. The Company may at any
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time terminate Executive's employment without Cause (as defined below) by giving
Executive written notice of the effective date of termination. In the event of
such termination, the Company shall have the continuing obligation to make
payments of base salary in accordance with paragraph (B) above at the rate in
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effect on the effective date of such termination until the third anniversary of
the Start Date or until 24 months after the effective date of such termination,
whichever period is longer. Additionally, during such period following
termination as the Company shall have the continuing obligation to make payments
of base salary, the Company shall continue to contribute to the cost of
Executive's participation in the Company's group medical and insurance plans, if
any, provided that Executive is entitled to continue such participation under
applicable law and plan. The Company will also pay Executive, in the event of
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such termination, any incentive compensation that is earned but unpaid, based on
operations of the Company for the whole year, prorated through the date of his
termination.
(4) Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company shall have the
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right to terminate the Executive's employment at any time for any of the
following reasons (each of which is referred to herein as "Cause") by giving
Executive written notice of the effective date of termination (which effective
date may be the date of such notice):
(a) the willful breach of any provision of paragraphs 1(A), 2, 3, 4
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or 5 (including, but not limited to, a refusal to follow reasonable and lawful
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directives of the President; provided, however, that to the extent that such
breach is curable, the President will give Executive written notice of such
breach and Executive will have 30 days from the receipt of such notice to cure
such breach;
(b) any act of fraud, embezzlement or other material dishonesty with
respect to any aspect of the Company's business;
(c) continued use of illegal drugs;
(d) substantial failure of performance, repeated or continued after
written notice of such failure and explanation of such failure of performance,
which is reasonably determined by the Board of Directors to be materially
injurious to the business or interests of the Company; or
(e) conviction of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude.
If the Company terminates Executive's employment for any of the
reasons set forth above in this paragraph 1(D)4 , the Company shall have no
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other obligations hereunder (including the obligation to continue to make
payments of base salary as provided in paragraph 1(D)3 from and after the
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effective date of termination and shall have all other rights and remedies
available under this or any other agreement and at law or in equity.
(5) By the Executive for Good Reason. Executive may terminate his
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employment hereunder for Good Reason, upon written notice to the Company setting
forth the nature of such Good Reason in reasonable detail. "Good Reason" shall
mean:
(a) the material failure of the Company to provide Executive the base
salary and incentive compensation and benefits in accordance with the terms of
paragraph 1 and paragraph 6 hereof;
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(b) the material diminution in the nature or scope of Executive's
responsibilities, duties or authority; or
(c) the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined herein).
In the event of termination in accordance with this paragraph 1(D)(5), the
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Company shall continue to pay Executive the base salary at the rate in effect on
the effective date of such termination until the third anniversary of the Start
Date or until 24 months after the effective date of such termination, whichever
period is longer. Additionally, during such period following termination as the
Company shall have the continuing obligation to make payments of base salary,
the Company shall continue to contribute to the cost of Executive's
participation in the Company's group medical and insurance plans, if any,
provided that Executive is entitled to continue such participation under
applicable law and plan. The Company will also pay Executive, in the event of
such termination, any incentive compensation that is earned but unpaid, based on
operations of the Company for the whole year, prorated through the date of his
termination.
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A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any
"person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), becomes the "beneficial owner" (as such term
is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of outstanding
securities of the Company representing 40% or more of the combined voting power
of the outstanding securities of the Company, or (ii) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute
the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director whose election by the
Board of Directors or nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company
was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still
in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the shareholders of the
Company approve (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
entity (other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) at least 60% of the combined voting power of
the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation), (B) a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or (C) an agreement or agreements for the sale or
disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the
Company of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, events otherwise constituting a Change in Control
in accordance with the foregoing shall not constitute a Change in Control if
such events are solicited by the Company and are, if Executive is then a member
of the Board, approved, recommended or supported by Executive in his capacity as
a member of the Board of the Company in actions taken prior to, and with respect
to, such events.
(6) Voluntary Termination by Executive. Except as provided in
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paragraph 1(D)(5), in the event that Executive's employment with the Company is
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terminated by Executive, such termination shall be a breach of this Agreement
and the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder from and after the
date of such termination.
2. Nondisclosure. Executive acknowledges that during the course of his
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performance of services for the Company he has acquired and will acquire
technical knowledge with respect to the Company's business operations,
including, by way of illustration, the Company's existing and contemplated
services, trade secrets, patents and selling techniques and information,
customer lists, supplier lists, and confidential information relating to the
Company's policy and/or business strategy (all of such information herein
referenced to as the "Confidential Information"); provided, however, that the
term "Confidential Information" shall not include (a) any information which is
or becomes publicly available otherwise than through breach of this Agreement,
or (b) any information which is or becomes known or available to Executive on a
non-confidential basis and not in contravention of applicable law from a source
which is entitled to disclose such information to Executive. Executive agrees
that he will not, while he is employed by the Company, divulge to any person,
directly or indirectly, except to the Company or its officers and agents or as
reasonably required in connection with his duties on behalf of the Company, or
use, except on behalf of the Company, any Confidential Information acquired by
Executive during the term of his employment. Executive agrees that he will not,
at any time after his employment with the Company has ended, divulge to any
person directly or indirectly any Confidential Information. Executive further
agrees that if his relationship with the Company is terminated (for whatever
reason) he shall not take with him but will leave with the Company all records,
papers and computer data and any copies thereof relating to the Confidential
Information (or if such papers, records, computer data or copies are not on the
premises of the Company, Executive agrees to return such papers, records and
computer data immediately upon his termination). Executive acknowledges that
all such papers, records, computer data or copies thereof are and remain the
property of the Company.
3. Inventions and Patents. Executive agrees that all inventions,
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innovations or improvements relating to the Company's business or method of
conducting business (including new contributions, improvements, ideas and
discoveries, whether patentable or not) conceived or made by him during his
employment with the Company belong
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to the Company. Executive will promptly disclose such inventions, innovations or
improvements to the Board and perform all actions reasonably requested by the
Board to establish and confirm such ownership.
4. Other Businesses. During the Employment Period, Executive agrees
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that he will not, directly or indirectly except with the express written consent
of the Board, become engaged in, render material services for, or permit his
name to be used in connection with, or directly or indirectly counsel or consult
with, any business other than the business of the Company and its affiliates;
provided, however, that Executive may be a passive investor in any such business
(subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph 5 below).
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5. Noncompetition. Executive agrees that:
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(A) During the term he performs services for the Company and during
the Post-Employment Period (as defined below), Executive will not interfere with
the relationship between the Company or any affiliate and any employee, agent or
representative of the Company or any such affiliate.
(B) During the term he performs services for the Company and during
the Post-Employment Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly divert or
attempt to divert from the Company or any affiliate any business which provides
telecommunications services in the United States or Latin America, including,
without limitation, domestic and international call services or domestic and
international telecommunications networks for voice, data, fax and/or video
transmission between the United States and Latin America or within Latin
America, or any related business in which the Company has been actively engaged
during the term Executive performed services for the Company, nor interfere with
the relationships of the Company with customers, dealers, distributors,
franchisees or sources of supply.
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(C) During the term he performs services for the Company and during
the Post-Employment Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly own,
manage, operate control, be employed by, participate in, or be connected in any
manner with the ownership, management, operation or control of, any business or
enterprise which provides telecommunications services in the United States or
Latin America, including, without limitation, domestic and international call
services or domestic and international telecommunication networks for voice,
data, fax and/or video transmission between the United States and Latin America
or within Latin America, or any related business in which the Company has been
actively engaged during the then Executive performed services for the Company.
(D) For purposes hereof, the "Post-Employment Period" shall mean:
(i) in the event Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for Cause
pursuant to paragraph 1(D)(4), the 12-month period following Executive's
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termination of employment with the Company, or (ii) in the event Executive's
employment with the Company is terminated for any reason other reason, the
period during which the Company continues to make payments of base salary.
6. Stock Option. Effective as of the date hereof (the "Effective Date"),
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under the terms of the American TeleSource International, Inc. (ATSI) 1998 Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan"), ATSI, a Delaware corporation ("ATSI"), hereby grants
to Executive the option (the "Option") to purchase shares (the "Option Shares")
of Common Stock, no par value per share, of ATSI, subject to the requisite
approval of the Plan by ATSI's Board of Directors and ATSI's shareholders. The
number of Option Shares, the purchase price per Option Share and the
installments and dates in which the Executive shall have the right to exercise
the Option are attached to this Agreement as Exhibit "B". The Plan is attached
to this Agreement as Exhibit "A". Beginning on the Effective Date, such
installments shall be cumulative (i.e. once the right to purchase the number of
shares of an installment has accrued, such shares may be purchased at any time
thereafter, or in part from time to time, until the business day immediately
preceding the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Expiration Date") or
until such earlier date as set forth in the following paragraph. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive's
right to exercise the Option shall become fully vested (i.e., all unissued
Option Shares may be purchased at any time thereafter, or in part from time to
time, until the Expiration Date or until such earlier date as set forth in the
following paragraph).
Upon termination of Executive's employment pursuant to Paragraph 1(D)(4)
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(Termination by the Company for Cause) or paragraph 1(D)(6) (Voluntary
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Termination by Executive), the Option shall remain exercisable for the four
month period following such termination, but only to the extent such option was
exercisable at termination. Upon termination of Executive's employment pursuant
to paragraph 1(D)(1) (Death) or paragraph 1(D)(2) (Disability), the Option, to
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the extent then exercisable, shall remain exercisable for the one-year period
following such termination. Upon termination of Executive's employment
pursuant to paragraph (D)(3) (Termination by the Company without Cause) or
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paragraph 1(D)(5) (By the Executive for Good Reason), Executive's right to
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exercise the Option shall become fully vested and the Option shall remain
exercisable for the four-month period following such termination.
7. General Provisions.
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(A) Notices. Any notice provided for in this Agreement must be in
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writing and must be either personally delivered, or mailed by first class mail
(postage prepaid and return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight
courier service, to the recipient at the address below indicated:
To the Company: Attn.: Board of Directors
12500 Network Boulevard, Suite 407
San Antonio, Texas 78249
To Executive: At Executive's last known address as listed
with the Company
or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any
notice under this Agreement will be deemed to have been given when so delivered
or sent or if mailed, five days after so mailed.
(B) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this
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Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to he invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision in such jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction, or the
legality or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction, but this
Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if
such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein
except that any court having jurisdiction shall have the power to reduce the
duration, area or scope of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision and,
in its reduced form it shall be enforceable.
(C) Complete Agreement. This Agreement embodies the complete
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agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes and preempts any
prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties,
written or oral, which may have been related to the subject matter hereof in any
way.
(D) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is a personal service
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contract and is not assignable by the Executive. Subject to the Executive's
rights under paragraph 1(D)(5)(d), this Agreement may be assigned from time to
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time by the Company. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and such parties' respective successors, personal
representatives and permitted assigns.
(E) Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction,
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validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the internal
law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Texas.
(F) Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled
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to enforce his or its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover
damages (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel)
by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all
other rights existing in his or its favor. The parties hereto agree and
acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach or
threatened breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that any party may in
his or its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent
jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive relief in order to
enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement. Such
injunction or decree shall be available without the posting of any bond or other
security.
(G) Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement may be
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amended or waived only with the prior written consent of Executive and a
majority of the Board.
(H) Absence of Conflicting Agreements. Executive hereby warrants
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and covenants that his employment by the Company does not result in a breach of
the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement to which Executive is
subject.
(I) Survival. No termination of Executive's employment by either or
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both parties shall reduce or terminate Executive's covenants and agreements in
paragraphs 2, 3 and 5.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered on the day and year first above written.
"Company" AMERICAN TELESOURCE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
BY:____________________________________
Name:__________________________________
Title:_________________________________
"Executive"
_______________________________________
Charles R. Poole