EXHIBIT 10d
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of the 1st day of
June, 1998, by and between Bell Atlantic Corporation, its successors and assigns
("Bell Atlantic"), and Donald J. Sacco, Executive Vice President - Human
Resources of Bell Atlantic (the "Key Executive"). In this Agreement, "Bell
Atlantic Companies" means all of, and "Bell Atlantic Company" means any one of,
Bell Atlantic, all corporate subsidiaries or other companies affiliated with
Bell Atlantic, all companies in which Bell Atlantic directly or indirectly owns
a substantial equity interest, and their successors and assigns.
WHEREAS, Bell Atlantic and the Key Executive have previously entered into
an Executive Retention and Employment Agreement last amended May 15, 1996 (the
"Prior Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, Bell Atlantic and the Key Executive wish to supersede, in its
entirety, the Prior Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the Key Executive and
Bell Atlantic hereby agree as follows:
1. Term of Employment. The term of employment under this Agreement (the
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"Term of Employment") shall commence on June 1, 1998 and end on the second
anniversary of such date.
2. Obligations of the Bell Atlantic Companies. During the Term of
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Employment, the Bell Atlantic Companies shall have the following obligations and
duties and shall provide the following compensation to the Key Executive.
(a) Salary. One or more Bell Atlantic Companies shall employ the Key
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Executive as an officer and senior manager and shall compensate the Key
Executive at a base salary of not less than his current base salary.
(b) STIP. The Key Executive shall participate in the Bell Atlantic
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Senior Management Short Term Incentive Plan or any successor to that plan
("STIP") and shall be eligible each year during the Term of Employment for
a potential maximum award which shall not be less than the potential
maximum award he is eligible to receive for the performance year 1998.
(c) Stock Options. The Key Executive shall participate in the Bell
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Atlantic 1985 Incentive Stock Option Plan or any successor to that plan
(the "Stock Option Plan") and shall receive an annual grant of options
thereunder with a value equal to or greater than 1.2 multiplied by the Key
Executive's base salary on the date of grant.
(d) Vacation. The Key Executive shall have the same holidays per
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calendar year recognized by his employing company for its management
employees (presently 11) and shall have an aggregate of 4 management
personal days and 5 weeks
vacation per calendar year, provided that such management personal days and
vacation days shall be scheduled with due regard to the needs of the
business.
(e) Other Benefit Plans. To the extent not otherwise modified by the
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terms of this Agreement, the Key Executive shall be eligible to participate
in all of the benefit and compensation plans, and the programs or
perquisites, applicable to similarly-situated senior managers of Bell
Atlantic, as those plans and programs may be amended, supplemented,
replaced or terminated from time to time.
3. Obligations of the Key Executive. During the Term of Employment, the
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Key Executive shall have the following obligations and duties.
(a) Officer. The Key Executive shall continue to fully and faithfully
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perform his duties and responsibilities as an officer, reporting only to
the Chief Executive Officer.
(b) Executive. The Key Executive shall serve in such executive
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capacities, with such titles and authorities, as the Board of Directors of
Bell Atlantic (the "Board") or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to
time prescribe, and the Key Executive shall perform all duties incidental
to such positions, shall cooperate fully with the Board and the Chief
Executive Officer, and shall work cooperatively with the other officers of
the Bell Atlantic Companies.
(c) Entire Business Efforts. The Key Executive shall continue to
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diligently devote his entire business skill, time and effort to the affairs
of the Bell Atlantic Companies in accordance with the duties assigned to
him, and shall perform all such duties, and otherwise conduct himself, in a
manner reasonably calculated in good faith by him to promote the best
interests of the Bell Atlantic Companies. Prior to the Key Executive's
termination of employment, except to the extent specifically permitted by
the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, and except for memberships on
boards of directors which the Key Executive holds on the date of this
Agreement, the Key Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, render any
services of a business, commercial or professional nature to any other
person or organization other than a Bell Atlantic Company or a venture in
which a Bell Atlantic Company has a financial interest, whether or not the
services are rendered for compensation.
4. Potential Interim Amount. Upon the Key Executive's execution of this
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Agreement, Bell Atlantic shall credit $722,784 to the Company Contribution sub-
account contained within the Key Executive's account under the Bell Atlantic
Income Deferral Plan ("IDP"). The parties acknowledge that such credit is in
complete satisfaction of, and will fully discharge, any right or entitlement
that the Key Executive may have, now or in the future, to a Potential Interim
Amount ("PIA") under the IDP or under any other benefit plan maintained by any
Bell Atlantic Company.
5. Prior Agreement Payments.
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(a) Retention Award. Upon the Key Executive's execution of this
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Agreement, the Key Executive's rights to the Retention Award provided for
in Section
3(e) of the Prior Agreement will fully vest, and the restriction on the
Award under such Section 3(e) will immediately lapse.
(b) Severance. Upon the Key Executive's execution of this Agreement,
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Bell Atlantic shall pay the Key Executive the value of the Severance
Payment, including the Global Balanced Fund Account, provided for in
Section 3(h) of the Prior Agreement. Such value shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of the Prior Agreement, except that the
value shall be determined as of June 1, 1998. The parties acknowledge that
this payment shall be in complete satisfaction of, and will fully
discharge, any right or entitlement that the Key Executive may have, now or
in the future, to the Severance Payment.
6. Terminations of Employment.
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(a) Voluntary Resignation, Retirement, or Discharge for Cause. In the
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event that, prior to the end of the Term of Employment, the Key Executive
voluntarily resigns or retires for any reason (except a "constructive
discharge", as hereinafter defined), or is discharged by Bell Atlantic for
"cause" (as hereinafter defined), the Key Executive shall forfeit any and
all rights to receive the compensation and benefits set forth in Section 2
of this Agreement which as of the relevant date have not yet been earned
under this Agreement, but shall otherwise be eligible to receive any and
all compensation and benefits for which a similarly-situated senior manager
would be eligible under the applicable provisions of the compensation and
benefit plans in which he is then eligible to participate, as those plans
may be amended from time to time.
(b) Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "cause" shall mean
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(i) grossly incompetent performance or substantial or continuing
inattention to or neglect of the duties and responsibilities assigned to
the Key Executive; fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement involving any
Bell Atlantic Company; or a material breach of the Employee Code of
Business Conduct or Paragraphs 8 (Non-Compete/No Solicitation),9 (Return of
Property; Intellectual Property Rights) or 10 (Proprietary and Confidential
Information) of this Agreement; each of the foregoing as determined in the
reasonable discretion and judgment of the Chief Executive Officer of Bell
Atlantic, or (ii) commission of any felony of which the Key Executive is
finally adjudged guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction. In the event
that Bell Atlantic terminates the employment of the Key Executive for
cause, it will state in writing the grounds for such termination and
provide this statement to the Key Executive within 10 business days after
the date of termination.
(c) Involuntary Terminations. Except in the case of a discharge for
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cause, in the event that Bell Atlantic discharges the Key Executive, or the
Key Executive is "constructively discharged" (as hereinafter defined),
prior to the end of the Term of Employment, then the Key Executive shall be
entitled to receive, as liquidated damages, subject to signing and
delivering the Release (attached as Exhibit A), the following payments,
credits and benefits in lieu of any payment, credit or benefit otherwise
provided in Section 2 of this Agreement, provided that each payment, credit
and benefit shall be contingent upon the absence, at the time such payment,
credit or
benefit is due, of any act that would constitute a material breach of this
Agreement:
(i) Salary: through the Term of Employment, on a monthly
basis, an amount equal to the monthly salary which would have been
paid to the Key Executive under Section 2 of this Agreement, assuming
that his annual rate of salary would have been increased each January
1 by the greater of (A) 5%, or (B) the general percentage increase, if
any, approved by the Human Resources Committee ("HRC") of the Board
for comparable positions in the senior management group based on the
HRC's review of market-median values for such comparable positions;
(ii) Short-Term Incentives: through the Term of Employment, on
an annual basis, not later than 30 days after the date on which
incentives are awarded by Bell Atlantic under the STIP for the prior
year's performance, an amount equal to the value of the potential
maximum award which the Key Executive would have been entitled to
receive under the STIP based on the maximum STIP award for comparable
positions in the senior management group, without adjustment for
individual performance;
(iii) Stock Options: through the Term of Employment, on an
annual basis, within 30 days of the granting of stock options for the
year to senior managers, an amount equal to 1.2 multiplied by the
annual salary amount determined in accordance with clause (i) above;
provided further, with respect to any and all Bell Atlantic stock
options which are outstanding on the date of the Key Executive's
separation from service, the Key Executive shall be deemed, for
purposes of determining the duration of the Key Executive's right to
exercise any and all such stock options, to have remained in active
service with Bell Atlantic continuously through the Term of
Employment, and then to have separated from service with whatever
rights would then be applicable to a holder of such options under the
Stock Option Plan;
(iv) IDP Benefits: through the Term of Employment, company
credits to the Company Contribution sub-account contained within the
Key Executive's account under the IDP to the fullest extent provided,
and at the same time such amounts would have been credited, as if the
Key Executive had remained actively employed until the end of the Term
of Employment and received salary and maximum STIP awards determined
in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) above; provided further, that
Bell Atlantic shall also credit to such IDP sub-account an amount each
year equal to the sum of (A) the amount which the Key Executive would
otherwise have been eligible to receive as company matching
contributions under the Bell Atlantic Savings Plan or any successor to
that plan (if he had fully participated in contributions to that plan)
and (B) the pay credits which the Key Executive would otherwise have
been eligible to receive under the Bell Atlantic Cash Balance Plan or
any successor to that plan;
(v) Split- Dollar Benefits: regardless of whether the Key
Executive is retirement eligible at the time of his separation from
service, split-dollar life insurance benefits applicable to a retiring
participating senior manager, under
the terms of the Bell Atlantic Senior Management Estate Management
Program; and
(vi) Flexible Perquisites: through the Term of Employment, on a
monthly basis, $2,000 in lieu of the Flexible Perquisites Account
allowance that the Key Executive would have been entitled to receive.
(d) Constructive Discharge. The Key Executive shall be deemed to have
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been "constructively discharged" for purposes of this Agreement if the Key
Executive is an "Employee in Good Standing" (as hereinafter defined) and he
terminates his employment for any of the following reasons: Bell Atlantic
(or the Key Executive's employing company) has materially breached this
Agreement; the Key Executive's responsibilities have been significantly
reduced in type or scope; there has been a significant adverse change in
the Key Executive's reporting relationship; there has been a significant
adverse change in the Key Executive's relative compensation (including a
negative individual performance adjustment which causes the Key Executive's
STIP award for a particular year to be reduced by 10% or more); Ivan
Seidenberg is not elected Chairman of the Board by December 31, 1998 or is
removed from or resigns from that position during the Term of Employment
(unless the Board determines that such event results from Mr. Seidenberg's
death, "Disability" (as defined in Section 4(a) of his Employment
Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1998), or his election to terminate his
employment "without Good Reason" (as provided in Section 4(c) of his
Employment Agreement)); or there has been a "change of control" of Bell
Atlantic. For purposes of this Agreement, a change of control of Bell
Atlantic shall mean that any of the following events or circumstances has
occurred:
(i) any "Person" (as such term is used in sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes a beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of shares of one or more classes of
stock of Bell Atlantic representing 20% or more of the total voting
power of Bell Atlantic's then outstanding voting stock, provided,
however, that if such beneficial ownership is acquired in a
transaction that has been negotiated and approved by the Board, such
acquisition of beneficial ownership shall not be treated as a change
of control of Bell Atlantic for purpose of this Agreement;
(ii) a tender offer (for which a filing has been or is required
to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission under section
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) is made for the stock of
Bell Atlantic, and the Person making the offer owns or has accepted
for payment shares of one or more classes of Bell Atlantic stock which
represent, when combined with any shares otherwise acquired and owned
by such Person, 20% or more of the total voting power of Bell
Atlantic's then outstanding stock, provided, however, that if such
tender offer has been negotiated and approved by the Board, such
tender offer and stock acquisition shall not be treated as a change of
control of Bell Atlantic for purposes of this Agreement; or
(iii) there ceases to be a majority of the Board comprised of
individuals who either (A) have been members of the Board continuously
for a period of not less than two years, or (B) are new directors
whose election by the
Board or nomination for election by shareowners of Bell Atlantic was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in
office who either were directors described in clause (A) hereof or
whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved.
(e) Definition of Employee in Good Standing. For purposes of this
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Agreement, the Key Executive will be considered to be an "Employee in Good
Standing" on a given date if, on or before that date, the Key Executive has
not terminated employment for any reason (other than "constructive
discharge" as defined in Section 6(d) of this Agreement), has not tendered
oral or written notice of intent to resign or retire effective as of a date
on or before the given date (other than pursuant to a "constructive
discharge" as defined in Section 6(d) of this Agreement), and has not
behaved in a manner that would be grounds for discharge with cause as
defined in Section 6(b) of this Agreement.
(f) Disability or Death. If, during the Term of Employment at a time
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when the Key Executive is an Employee in Good Standing, the Key Executive
terminates employment on account of disability (within the meaning of the
applicable disability benefit plans in which the Key Executive participates
from time to time) or dies, and provided Bell Atlantic receives a Release
in the form of Exhibit A from the Key Executive (in the case of disability)
or from his estate (in the case of death), then Bell Atlantic shall
continue to pay to the Key Executive (in the case of disability) or pay to
the Key Executive's estate (in the case of death) the amounts determined as
if, at the date of termination of employment on account of disability or
death, the Key Executive had been terminated without cause under Section
6(c) of this Agreement; provided, however, that in the case of a
termination of employment on account of disability, the amounts paid
pursuant to Sections 6(c)(i) and (ii) of this Agreement shall reduce dollar
for dollar the disability benefits which would otherwise be payable to the
Key Executive during the remainder of the Term of Employment under the
various disability benefit plans in which he participates.
7. Payments Subject to Excise Tax. In the event that it shall be
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determined, in the manner described in Exhibit B, that any payment or
distribution by any Bell Atlantic Company to or for the benefit of the Key
Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Bell
Atlantic shall pay the Key Executive an additional amount, determined in
accordance with and subject to the provisions of Exhibit B, to compensate the
Key Executive for his excise tax cost.
8. Prohibition Against Competitive Activities.
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(a) Prohibited Conduct by the Key Executive. During the period of the
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Key Executive's employment with any Bell Atlantic Company, and for a period
of 24 months following the Key Executive's termination of employment for
any reason from all Bell Atlantic Companies, the Key Executive, without the
prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of Bell Atlantic shall
not:
(i) personally engage in "Competitive Activities" (as defined in
Section 8(b) of this Agreement); or
(ii) work for, own, manage, operate, control or participate in
the ownership, management, operation or control of, or provide
consulting or advisory services to, any individual, partnership, firm,
corporation or institution engaged in Competitive Activities, or any
company or person affiliated with such person or entity engaged in
Competitive Activities; provided, however, that the Key Executive's
purchase or holding, for investment purposes, of securities of a
publicly-traded company shall not constitute "ownership" or
"participation in ownership" for purposes of this paragraph so long as
the Key Executive's equity interest in any such company is less than a
controlling interest.
(b) Competitive Activities. For purposes of this Agreement,
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"Competitive Activities" means business activities relating to products or
services of the same or similar type as the products or services which (i)
are sold (or, pursuant to an existing business plan, will be sold) to
paying customers of one or more Bell Atlantic Companies, and (ii) for which
the Key Executive then has responsibility to plan, develop, manage, market
or oversee, or had any such responsibility within the prior 24 months.
Notwithstanding the previous sentence, a business activity will not be
treated as a Competitive Activity if the geographic marketing area of the
relevant products or services sold by the Key Executive or a third party
does not overlap with the geographic marketing area for the applicable
products and services of the Bell Atlantic Companies.
(c) No Solicitation of Bell Atlantic Employees. During the period of
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the Key Executive's employment with any Bell Atlantic Company, and for a
period of 24 months following the Key Executive's termination of employment
for any reason from all Bell Atlantic Companies, the Key Executive shall
not, without the consent of the Chief Executive Officer of Bell Atlantic:
(i) recruit or solicit any active employee of any Bell Atlantic
Company for employment or for retention as a consultant or service
provider;
(ii) hire or participate (with another company or third party)
in the process of hiring (other than for a Bell Atlantic Company) any
person who is then an active employee of any Bell Atlantic Company, or
provide names or other information about Bell Atlantic employees to
any person or business (other than a Bell Atlantic Company) under
circumstances which could lead to the use of that information for
purposes of recruiting or hiring; or
(iii) interfere with the relationship of any Bell Atlantic
Company with any of its employees, agents, or representatives.
(d) Waiver. Nothing in this Agreement shall bar the Key Executive
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from requesting, at the time of the Key Executive's termination of
employment or at any time thereafter, that the Chief Executive Officer of
Bell Atlantic waive, in his sole discretion, Bell Atlantic's rights to
enforce some or all of this Section.
9. Return of Property; Intellectual Property Rights. The Key Executive
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agrees that on or before the Key Executive's termination of employment for any
reason with all Bell Atlantic Companies, the Key Executive shall return to the
appropriate Bell Atlantic Company all
property owned by each such company or in which any such company has an
interest, including files, documents, data and records (whether on paper or in
tapes, disks, or other machine-readable form), office equipment, credit cards
and employee identification cards. The Key Executive acknowledges that Bell
Atlantic or an applicable Bell Atlantic Company is the rightful owner of any
programs, ideas, inventions, discoveries, copyright material or trademarks which
the Key Executive may have originated or developed, or assisted in originating
or developing, during the Key Executive's period of employment with any Bell
Atlantic Company, where any such origination or development involved the use of
company time or resources, or the exercise of the Key Executive's
responsibilities for or on behalf of any such company. The Key Executive shall
at all times, both before and after termination of employment, cooperate with
Bell Atlantic in executing and delivering documents requested by any Bell
Atlantic Company, and taking any other actions, that are necessary or requested
by Bell Atlantic to assist any Bell Atlantic Company in patenting, copyrighting
or registering any programs, ideas, inventions, discoveries, copyright material
or trademarks, and to vest title thereto in the applicable company.
10. Proprietary and Confidential Information. The Key Executive shall at
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all times preserve the confidentiality of all proprietary information and trade
secrets of any and all Bell Atlantic Companies, except to the extent that
disclosure of such information is legally required. "Proprietary information"
means information that has not been disclosed to the public, and which is
treated as confidential within the business of any Bell Atlantic Company, such
as strategic or tactical business plans; undisclosed financial data; ideas,
processes, methods, techniques, systems, patented or copyrighted information,
models, devices, programs, computer software or related information; documents
relating to regulatory matters and correspondence with governmental entities;
undisclosed information concerning any past, pending or threatened legal
dispute; pricing and cost data; reports and analyses of business prospects;
business transactions which are contemplated or planned; research data;
personnel information and data; identities of users and purchasers of any Bell
Atlantic Company's products or services; and other confidential matters
pertaining to or known by one or more Bell Atlantic Companies, including
confidential information of a third party which the Key Executive knows a Bell
Atlantic Company is bound to protect.
11. Nondisclosure. Unless and until the precise terms of this Agreement,
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and the precise amount of any payment eligible to be paid or actually paid under
this Agreement, are disclosed in writing to the public by any Bell Atlantic
Company, the Key Executive shall hold the terms of this Agreement and the amount
of any payment, benefit, credit, or right hereunder in strict confidence, except
that the Key Executive may disclose such details (i) on a confidential basis to
his spouse (if any), and to any financial counselor, tax adviser or legal
counsel retained by the Key Executive, or (ii) to the extent such disclosure is
legally required.
12. Assignment by Bell Atlantic. The obligations of Bell Atlantic
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hereunder shall be the obligations of any and all successors and assigns of Bell
Atlantic. Bell Atlantic may assign this Agreement without the Key Executive's
consent to any company that acquires all or substantially all of the stock or
assets of Bell Atlantic, or into which or with which Bell Atlantic is merged or
consolidated. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Key Executive, and no
person other than the Key Executive (or the Key Executive's estate) may assert
the rights of the Key Executive under this Agreement.
13. Non-Benefit Bearing Payments. The amounts to be paid, provided, or
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credited under Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Agreement shall not be treated as
compensation for
purposes of computing or determining any additional benefit to be paid, provided
or credited under any savings plan, insurance plan, pension plan, or other
employee benefit plan maintained by any Bell Atlantic Company.
14. Deferrals under IDP. Amounts otherwise payable to the Key Executive
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under Section 6 of this Agreement may be deferred under the IDP or any successor
plan, but only if and to the extent that a valid deferral election is in place
and deferral of such amounts is permitted under the terms of the IDP or
successor plan.
15. Forfeiture of IDP Amounts. The Key Executive acknowledges that if he
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breaches Section 8 (Non-Compete/No Solicitation) of this Agreement or engages in
serious misconduct that is contrary to written policies of Bell Atlantic and is
harmful to any Bell Atlantic Company or its reputation, he may forfeit any
balance remaining in any Company Contribution sub-account contained within his
account under the IDP.
16. Waiver. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the
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terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such term, covenant or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of any
right or power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or
relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times.
17. Additional Remedies. In addition to any other rights or remedies,
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whether legal, equitable or otherwise, which each of the parties may have, the
Key Executive acknowledges that Sections 8 (Non-Compete/No Solicitation), 9
(Return of Property), 10 Proprietary and Confidential Information), and 11
(Nondisclosure) of this Agreement are essential to the continued good will and
profitability of Bell Atlantic and further acknowledges that the application and
operation thereof shall not involve a substantial hardship upon the Key
Executive's future livelihood. The parties hereto further recognize that
irreparable damage to Bell Atlantic will result in the event that these sections
of the Agreement are not specifically enforced and that monetary damages will
not adequately protect Bell Atlantic from a breach of these sections of the
Agreement. If any dispute arises concerning the violation by the Key Executive
of these sections of the Agreement, the parties hereto agree that an injunction
may be issued restraining such violation pending the determination of such
controversy, and no bond or other security may be required in connection
therewith.
18. Reformation and Severability. The Key Executive and Bell Atlantic
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agree that the agreements contained herein and within the Release shall each
constitute a separate agreement independently supported by good and adequate
consideration, and shall each be severable from the other provisions of the
Agreement and the Release. If an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction
determines that any term, provision or portion of this Agreement or the Release
is void, illegal or unenforceable, the other terms, provisions and portions of
this Agreement or the Release shall remain in full force and effect and the
terms, provisions and portions that are determined to be void, illegal or
unenforceable shall either be limited so that they shall remain in effect to the
extent permissible by law, or such arbitrator or court shall substitute, to the
extent enforceable, provisions similar thereto or other provisions, so as to
provide to Bell Atlantic, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the
benefits intended by this Agreement and the Release.
19. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
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writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or
messenger, transmitted by telex or telegram or mailed by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, as follows:
(a) If to Bell Atlantic, to:
Bell Atlantic Corporation
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Executive Vice President
and General Counsel
(b) If to the Key Executive, to:
121 Concourse West
Brightwaters, New York 11718
or to such other person or address as either of the parties shall hereafter
designate to the other from time to time by similar notice.
20. Arbitration. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this
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Agreement, except any dispute arising out of or relating to Sections 8 through
11 of this Agreement, shall be settled by final and binding arbitration, which
shall be the exclusive means of resolving any such dispute, and the parties
specifically waive all rights to pursue any other remedy, recourse or relief.
With respect to disputes by Bell Atlantic arising out of or relating to Sections
8 through 11 of this Agreement, Bell Atlantic has retained all its rights to
legal and equitable recourse and relief, including but not limited to injunctive
relief, as referred to in Section 17 of this Agreement. Notice of the existence
of a dispute which a party wishes to have resolved by arbitration shall be
provided pursuant to Section 19 of this Agreement. The arbitration shall be
expedited and conducted in New York, New York pursuant to the Center for Public
Resources ("CPR") Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration of Employment Disputes
in effect at the time of notice of the dispute before one neutral arbitrator
appointed by CPR from the CPR Panel of Neutrals unless the parties mutually
agree to the appointment of a different neutral arbitrator. The arbitration
shall be governed by the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 1-16,
and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitration may be entered by any
court having jurisdiction. The finding of the arbitrator may not change the
express terms of this Agreement and shall be consistent with the arbitrator's
understanding of the findings a court of proper jurisdiction would make in
applying the applicable law to the facts underlying the dispute. In no event
whatsoever shall such an arbitration award include any award of damages other
than the amounts in controversy under this Agreement. The parties waive the
right to recover, in such arbitration, punitive damages.
21. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
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accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
22. Entire Agreement. Except for the terms of other compensation and
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benefit plans in which the Key Executive participates, this Agreement shall set
forth the entire
understanding of Bell Atlantic and the Key Executive and shall supersede all
prior agreements and communications, whether oral or written, between Bell
Atlantic and the Key Executive including, without limitation, the Prior
Agreement. This Agreement shall not be modified except by written agreement of
the Key Executive and Bell Atlantic.
23 Tax Withholding. Any payment made pursuant to this Agreement will be
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subject to applicable withholding taxes under federal, state and local law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
date first set forth above.
BELL ATLANTIC CORPORATION
By:
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Ivan Seidenberg
Chief Executive Officer
THE KEY EXECUTIVE
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Donald J. Sacco
EXHIBIT A
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THIS RELEASE (the "Release") is entered into by _____________________ (the
"Key Executive"), for the benefit of BELL ATLANTIC CORPORATION (the "Company"),
and all companies, and their officers, directors and employees, which are
affiliated with the Company or in which the Company owns a substantial economic
interest, and any benefit plan maintained by any Bell Atlantic Company (or any
plan administrator of any such plan). Capitalized terms in this document which
are not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to
them in the Employment Agreement between the Company and the Key Executive,
dated ____________, _____ (the "Agreement").
WHEREAS, the Key Executive has separated from service with the Key Executive's
employing company (the "Employer") on __________ , _____ (the "Separation Date")
pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, and the Key Executive wishes to execute
this Release as contemplated under the terms of the Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Key Executive affirms as follows:
1. The Key Executive hereby waives any and all claims which the Key Executive
might have against any Bell Atlantic Company, and any benefit plan maintained by
any Bell Atlantic Company (or any plan administrator of any such plan), for
salary payments, vacation pay, incentives, bonuses, or other remuneration or
employee benefits of any kind, with the exception of any obligations of the
Company or Employer arising after the Separation Date under Sections 6 and 7 of
the Agreement.
2. Except as provided in Section 1 hereof, the Key Executive hereby
voluntarily releases and discharges each and every Bell Atlantic Company and
their successors and assigns, and the directors, officers, employees, and agents
of each of them, and any benefit plan maintained by any Bell Atlantic Company
(or any plan administrator of any such plan), of and from any and all debts,
obligations, claims, demands, judgments or causes of action of any kind
whatsoever, known or unknown, in tort, contract, by statute or on any other
basis, for equitable relief, compensatory, punitive or other damages, expenses
(including attorneys' fees), reimbursements or costs of any kind which the Key
Executive might have or assert against any of said entities or persons as of the
Separation Date by reason of the Key Executive's employment by any Bell Atlantic
Company or the termination of said employment, and all circumstances related
thereto, including but not limited to, any and all claims, demands, rights and
causes of action, including those which might arise out of allegations relating
to a claimed breach of an alleged oral or written employment contract, or
relating to purported employment discrimination or civil rights violations, such
as, but not limited to, those arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 (42 U.S.C. Section 2000e et seq.), the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871
-- ---
(42 U.S.C. Sections 1981 and 1983), Executive Order 11246, as amended, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (29 U.S.C. Section 621 et
--
seq.), the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (29 U.S.C. Section 206(d)(1)), the
- ---
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sections 701-794), the Civil Rights Act of
1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act ("ERISA") or any other applicable federal, state or local
employment discrimination statute or ordinance.
3. The Key Executive hereby reaffirms all covenants and promises given by the
Key Executive under the Agreement, and all other terms and conditions of the
Agreement, in all respects.
4. Should any provision of this Release be declared or be determined by any
court to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms or
provisions shall not be affected thereby, and said illegal or invalid part, term
or provision shall be deemed not to be a part of this Release.
STATEMENT BY THE KEY EXECUTIVE WHO IS SIGNING BELOW: THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED
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ME IN WRITING TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO EXECUTING THIS RELEASE. THE
COMPANY HAS FULFILLED ITS DUTIES TO ME UNDER THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFITS
PROTECTION ACT, AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS RELEASE IS LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE BY
THE COMPANY. I HAVE CAREFULLY READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
RELEASE AND HAVE HAD SUFFICIENT TIME AND OPPORTUNITY (OVER A PERIOD OF
SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN 21 DAYS) TO CONSULT WITH MY PERSONAL TAX, FINANCIAL AND
LEGAL ADVISORS PRIOR TO EXECUTING THIS DOCUMENT, AND I INTEND TO BE LEGALLY
BOUND BY ITS TERMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT I MAY REVOKE THIS RELEASE WITHIN SEVEN
(7) DAYS FOLLOWING MY SIGNING, AND THIS RELEASE WILL NOT BECOME ENFORCEABLE OR
EFFECTIVE UNTIL THAT SEVEN-DAY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED.
THE UNDERSIGNED, intending to be legally bound, has executed this Release as
of the ___ day of _________, _____, that being the Key Executive's Separation
Date.
THE KEY EXECUTIVE
Signed:
----------------------------------
THIS IS A RELEASE
READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING
EXHIBIT B
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Determination of Gross-Up Payment. In the event that any payment
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or benefit received or to be received by the Key Executive pursuant to the
terms of the Agreement (the "Contract Payments") or of any other plan,
arrangement or agreement of any Bell Atlantic Company ("Other Payments"
and, together with the Contract Payments, the "Payments") would be subject
to the excise tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") as determined in accordance with this
paragraph, Bell Atlantic shall pay to the Key Executive, at the time
specified below, an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that
the net amount retained by the Key Executive, after deduction of the Excise
Tax on Payments and any federal, state and local income tax and the Excise
Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment, and any interest, penalties or additions to
tax payable by the Key Executive with respect thereto, shall be equal to
the total present value (using the applicable federal rate (as defined in
Section 1274(d) of the Code) in such calculation) of the Payments at the
time such Payments are to be made. For purposes of determining whether any
of the Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such
Excise Tax, (i) the total amount of the Payments shall be treated as
"parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code,
and all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of section
280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax,
except to the extent that, in the written opinion of independent counsel
selected by Bell Atlantic and reasonably acceptable to the Key Executive
("Independent Counsel"), a Payment (in whole or in part) does not
constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2)
of the Code, or such "excess parachute payments" (in whole or in part) are
not subject to the Excise Tax; (ii) the amount of the Payments that shall
be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A)
the total amount of the Payments or (B) the amount of "excess parachute
payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code (after
applying clause (i) hereof); and (iii) the value of any noncash benefits or
any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by Independent Counsel
in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the
Code. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the
Key Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest
marginal rates of federal income taxation applicable to individuals in the
calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and
local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation applicable to
individuals as are in effect in the state and locality of the Key
Executive's residence in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is
to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that can
be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes, taking into
account any limitations applicable to individuals subject to federal income
tax at the highest marginal rates.
Timing of Gross-Up Payment. The Gross-Up Payments provided for in
--------------------------
this Exhibit B shall be made upon the earlier of (i) the payment to the Key
Executive of any Payment or (ii) the imposition upon the Key Executive or
payment by the Key Executive of any Excise Tax.
Adjustments to Gross-Up Payment. If it is established pursuant to a
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final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding or
the written opinion of Independent Counsel that the Excise Tax is less than
the amount previously taken into account hereunder, the Key Executive shall
repay to Bell Atlantic within thirty (30) days of
the Key Executive's receipt of notice of such final determination or
opinion the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction
(plus the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax
and federal, state and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment
being repaid by the Key Executive if such repayment results in a reduction
in Excise Tax or a federal, state and local income tax deduction) plus any
interest received by the Key Executive on the amount of such repayment,
provided, however, that if any such amount has been paid by the Key
Executive as an Excise Tax or other tax, the Key Executive shall cooperate
with Bell Atlantic in seeking a refund of any tax overpayments, and shall
not be required to make repayments to Bell Atlantic until the overpaid
taxes and interest thereon are refunded to the Key Executive. If it is
established pursuant to a final determination of a court or an Internal
Revenue Service proceeding or the written opinion of Independent Counsel
that the Excise Tax exceeds the amount taken into account hereunder
(including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot
be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), Bell Atlantic shall
make an additional Gross-Up Payment in respect of such excess within thirty
(30) days of Bell Atlantic's receipt of notice of such final determination
or opinion.
Change in Law or Interpretation. In the event of any change in, or
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further interpretation of, sections 280G or 4999 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, the Key Executive shall be entitled, by
written notice to Bell Atlantic, to request a written opinion of
Independent Counsel regarding the application of such change to any of the
foregoing, and Bell Atlantic shall use its best efforts to cause such
opinion to be rendered as promptly as practicable. All fees and expenses
of Independent Counsel incurred in connection with this Exhibit B shall be
borne by Bell Atlantic.