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EXHIBIT 10.13
POLAND COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
One Commercial Plaza
Hartford, Connecticut
06103-3585 U.S.A.
STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 1997
Mr. Marek Sowa
Dzika 19/23 m. 38
00-172 Warszawa, Poland
This contract sets forth the understanding between you and Poland
Communications, Inc. (hereinafter, together with its Polish subsidiaries and
affiliates, collectively referred to as the "Company") with respect to your
employment with the Company.
1. TITLE/SALARY EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
A. Your employment with the Company will be for a 3 year period commencing
January 1, 1997. During that period you may be expected to continue your current
employment with one of the Company's affiliates, and/or enter into additional
employment agreements with one or more of the Company's affiliates.
B. You shall hold the position of Director of Corporate Development with
respect to the cable systems constructed, acquired and operated by the Company
and its affiliates.
C. Your base gross remuneration shall amount to 64,200 U.S. Dollars
annually (hereinafter referred to as the "Base Salary"), paid either directly by
Poland Communications Inc. and/or one or more of its affiliates. The Base Salary
shall be paid in 12 equal monthly installments of 5,350 U.S. Dollars each on the
last working day of each calendar month.
If part of your Base Salary is paid in Polish Zloty, that part shall be
calculated in accordance with the average rate of exchange of U.S. Dollars
announced by the National Bank of Poland in the daily Rzeczpospolita on the last
working day immediately preceding the relevant salary payment.
The amount of your Base Salary will be subject to annual performance
evaluation in January of each year.
D. In addition to your salary, you shall be eligible to receive an annual
bonus of up to 50% (fifty per cent) of the Base Salary ("Bonus"). The criteria
to receive a Bonus or a portion thereof shall be determined by the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.
The Bonus shall be paid out until the end of April of the following year
after drawing up the balance sheet of the Company. In the event the contract is
not renewed, your Bonus for the last period applicable shall be paid out within
one month from the last day of your employment with the Company.
You shall not be eligible for any Bonus is you leave voluntarily or are
terminated for cause, as defined in Section II(B) herein, prior to the end of
the period for which the Bonus is applicable.
E. In addition to your Base salary and Bonus, you shall be eligible for
participation in a stock option plan for the Company's executives, contingent
upon implementation of such a plan by the Company.
F. You will be provided with an automobile for your business and personal
use. Commencing January of 1997 the Company will provide you with an Opel Vectra
2.0 (with A/C) or similar vehicle.
G. Your professional development is important to the Company. It is
expected that you will be required to travel outside Poland in connection with
your duties and that you will have the opportunity to attend at least one
industry/business event outside Poland each year of your contract.
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H. You shall accrue vacation pursuant to the laws of the country of Poland.
I. The location of your office shall be in Warsaw.
II. TERM AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
A. The term of this contract shall be for three (3) years commencing as of
January 1, 1997. However, and except as set forth in Section II(B) below, the
Company may terminate your employment upon four (4) month's written notice at
any time during the term.
B. Notwithstanding Section II(A) above, the Company may terminate your
employment at any time, without further obligation of any kind or nature, in the
event that:
(i) The Company determines in its reasonable judgment that you are
engaging or have engaged in conduct or activities injurious to the
reputation and/or affairs of the Company; and/or
(ii) That you are convicted for activity of a criminal or illegal
nature under the laws of the Country of Poland; and/or
(iii) The Company determines that you have violated any substantive
policies and procedures of the Company, or any substantive personnel,
financial or other policies and procedures established by the Company;
and/or
(iv) You have violated the Conflict of Interest policy of the Company
as referenced in Section V of this contract.
Subsections (i) through (iv) above shall be considered "termination
for cause".
III. TRADE SECRETS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NON-COMPETITION.
During the term of your employment, you will acquire knowledge of
confidential and proprietary information regarding, among other things, the
Company's present and future operations, its customers and suppliers, pricing
and bidding strategies, and the methods used by the Company and its employees.
Therefore, you hereby agree to the following:
A. During your employment and after your employment ends with the Company
you will hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company, and shall
not directly or indirectly use or disclose any Trade Secret, as defined
hereinafter, that you may acquire during the term of your employment by the
Company for so long as such information remains a Trade Secret. The term "TRADE
SECRET" as used in this contract shall mean information including, but not
limited to, technical or non-technical data, a formula, a pattern, a
compilation, a program, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process,
financial data, financial plans, product plans or a list of actual or potential
customers or suppliers which:
(1) derives economic value, actual or potential from not being
generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by,
other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and
(2) is the subject of reasonable efforts by the Company to maintain
its confidentiality.
B. In addition to the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, you agree
that, during your employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years
after your termination/separation from the Company, you will hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company, and shall not directly or indirectly
use or disclose, any Confidential or Proprietary information, as defined
hereinafter, that you may have acquired (whether or not developed or compiled by
you and whether or not you were authorized to have access to such Information)
during the term of, in the course of or as a result of your employment by the
Company. The term "Confidential or Proprietary Information" as used in this
contract means any secret, confidential or proprietary information of the
Company not otherwise included in the definition of "TRADE SECRET" above. The
term "Confidential and Proprietary Information" does not include information
that has become generally available to the public by the act of one who has the
right to disclose such information without violating any right of the client to
which such information pertains.
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C. You agree that for a period of twelve (12) months after
termination/separation of your employment you will not hire or attempt to hire
for any purpose whatsoever (whether as an employee, consultant, adviser,
independent contractor or otherwise) any employee of the Company or any
affiliate thereof or any person who was an employee of the Company or any
affiliate thereof at any time during the one year period prior to the
termination of your employment.
D. You agree that for a period of twelve (12) months after
termination/separation of your employment you will not, directly or indirectly,
for any purpose whatsoever (whether as employee, consultant, advisor,
independent contractor or otherwise) engage in or solicit the same or
substantially similar business conducted by the Company i.e. the establishment
(including the installation and marketing) of cable television or in any area in
the country of Poland where the Company and its affiliates have established or
are in the process of establishing cable television construction or operations
as of the date of your termination. As compensation for potential income lost as
a result of this provision, within one month from termination/separation of your
employment you will receive a one-time payment from the Company in the amount
that will equal the value of Company automobile in your use at the time of
termination/separation.
You agree and acknowledge that, if a violation of any covenant contained in
this Section III occurs or is threatened, such violation or threatened violation
will cause irreparable injury to the Company, that the remedy at law for any
such violation or threatened violation will be inadequate and that the Company
shall be entitled to appropriate equitable relief.
The covenants contained in this Section shall inure to the benefit of the
Company, any successor of it and every subsidiary and affiliate.
IV. REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS.
You agree and acknowledge that, to the extent required by law, the
covenants specified in Section III contain reasonable limitations as to time,
geographical area and scope of activities to be restricted and that such
covenants do not impose a greater restraint on you than is necessary to protect
the good will, confidential information and other legitimate business interests
of the Company.
V. COMPANY POLICIES: CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
You agree to execute and abide by the Company's Conflict of Interest and
Integrity Policy attached to this contract as Schedule A and made a part of this
contract.
VI. RIGHTS TO MATERIALS.
All records, files, memorandum, reports, drawings, documents, and the like
(together with all copies thereof) relating to the business of the Company,
which you will use or prepare or come into contact within the course of, or as a
result of, your employment shall, as between the parties hereto, remain the sole
property of the Company. Upon your termination/separation from the Company you
shall return all such materials to the Company and agree that you shall not
thereafter cause removal of such materials from the premises of the Company.
VII. COMPLETE AGREEMENT; RELEASE.
A. This contract contains the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter contained herein and replaces any prior
understandings, whether written or oral, subject to execution of payments by the
Company as specified in Section VII(C) herein. This contract may not be modified
or amended in any way unless in writing and signed by you and the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.
B. This contract is in settlement of any and all prior claims you may have
arising out of your employment with the Company or its predecessors up to the
Effective Date. In consideration for this contract, you agree to unconditionally
release the Company, its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and their
shareholders, director, officers, employees and agents, from any and all claims,
demands or causes of action of any kind or nature that may have arisen up
through the date you sign acceptance of this letter, including, but not limited
to any claims
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for wages, incentives or benefits of any kind or nature; claims under local,
state or country law, statutes, regulations or ordinances; any other claims
based on any other local state or country law, statute or regulation in Poland;
any claim based on contract, express or implied; or any claim based in tort. You
acknowledge that all prior bonus or other amounts in excess of your base salary
that you have received satisfy any past claims for bonus or other compensation.
C. Based on prior employment agreements and understandings between you and
the Company, you shall receive the following amounts as compensation for
services rendered:
Ten thousand (10,000) U.S. Dollars as your 1996 annual bonus, to be
paid out by the end of April 1997.
Ten thousand (10,000) U.S. Dollars as compensation for your role in
the successful completion of the offering of senior notes by the Company,
to be paid out by the end of February 1997.
Two thousand and four hundred (2,400) U.S. Dollars as deferred portion
of your 1995 annual bonus, to be paid out by the end of March 1997.
VIII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
A. You and the Company agree that this contract and the terms and
conditions of your employment shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York. You and the Company agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
courts of the State of New York for any disputes arising out of your employment
of termination of this contract.
B. If any portion of this contract is deemed invalid or unenforceable, such
determination shall not effect the validity or enforceability of the remaining
provisions of the Agreement.
C. This contract shall be terminated automatically upon the coincidentally
with your death, except for the rights and obligations of either party accrued
up to your death.
If you are in agreement with the provisions of this contract, please sign
in the space provided below. Please retain one fully executed copy for your
records.
Poland Communications, Inc.
By: /s/ ROBERT E. FOWLER III
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Robert E. Fowler III
Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 20, 1997
I, Marek Sowa, acknowledge that I have received this contract and I agree
to the terms and information contained herein.
By: /s/ MAREK SOWA
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Date: February 20, 1997
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SCHEDULE A
CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND INTEGRITY POLICY
A. All employees of the Company must conduct their business and personal
affairs with such ethics and integrity that no conflict of interest with the
Company's business, real or implied, can be construed. A conflict of interest
shall be deemed to exist if an employee or an Affiliate (as defined in (F)
below) of the employee has any interest (including, but not limited to equity
ownership, interest arrangement, commission, gift, etc.) direct or indirect, in
a client, supplier, contractor, or other principal dealing with the Company or
its affiliates, and that interest is of such extent or nature that it might
reasonably be perceived by management to affect or tend to affect the employee's
judgment or decisions exercised on behalf of the Company.
B. An employee or any Affiliate of the employee shall not personally or on
behalf of the Company receive or be involved with any kickbacks, bribes,
gratuities, reciprocal arrangements or other improper or illegal arrangements,
or benefit personally from any rebates or discounts, with any other
organizations and personnel conducting or soliciting, currently or
prospectively, the business with the Company and its affiliates.
C. It is the Company's policy to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act or any other similar law or regulation affecting the Company's business
which prohibits bribes, kickbacks, or any other type of illegal and unethical
business dealings. An employee of the Company shall abide by and shall not
violate any such laws or regulations and agree to conduct him/herself in
accordance with such laws. More specifically, an employee or any Affiliate of an
employee shall not permit or be involved in any direct or indirect pay, award,
commission, or other compensation to any person or organization for purposes of
improperly or illegally inducing action of any kind whatsoever.
D. Where any questionable outside business activity is contemplated, an
employee must obtain prior Company approval.
E. Any violation of this policy shall subject an employee to immediate
termination for cause.
F. For purposes of this policy, Affiliate shall include, but not be limited
to, any relative by blood or by marriage or any entity in which the employee or
any such relative may have any financial, voting, controlling and/or management
interest.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & REPRESENTATION OF EMPLOYEE
As an employee of the Company, I acknowledge that I have read and
understand the Company Conflict of Interest Policy, and represent that I will
abide by the terms of this Policy.
By: /s/ Marek Sowa February 20, 1997
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Marek Sowa Date
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