EXHIBIT 10.4
REVISED EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
THIS AGREEMENT made by and between DAVEL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC., an
Illinois Corporation, hereinafter called "Employer" or "Davel," and Paul
Demirdjian, hereinafter called "Employee". In consideration of the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth below, the parties agree as follows:
1. Term of Employment: Employee is now employed under a previous
contractual agreement as Senior Vice President of Operations dated June 11,
1997. The purpose of this Agreement is to clarify, amend and restate the
Agreement dated June 11, 1996. Employer hereby employs Employee and Employee
hereby agrees to be so employed as Senior Vice President of Operations of
Employee and to work at such places as directed by Employer. This Employment
Contract shall be effective on the first day of January, 1996 and shall continue
through December 31st, 1998 or until terminated by one of the parties as
hereinafter provided, or until the Employee's death, permanent disability or
retirement. At the end of the term this Agreement shall continue for consecutive
one year terms unless either party gives written notice of its intent not to
renew the Agreement at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the original
term or any renewal or extended term.
2. Duties:
a. The Employee agrees to accept the duties commonly involved in
carrying out the position for which employed and any other duties as
may be required by Employer. The Employer shall have the right at any
time during the term of this Agreement to change the duties of
Employee or assign duties different from the duties originally
assigned.
b. The Employee shall devote his best efforts, on a full-time basis,
to the Employer's business, and will not engage in any employment or
enterprise detracting from this goal. Employee shall travel as
reasonably required in the performance of his duties hereunder.
c. The Employee as Senior Vice President of Operations, and in such
other offices as from time to time assigned in Davel or associated
enterprises, shall perform the duties of Senior Vice President of
Operations which shall consist of the duties normally associated with
such positions and such other duties as shall be from time to time
assigned. The Employee shall report to and be responsible to the Chief
Executive Officer in the regular conduct of his duties.
3. Base Compensation: The Employee shall be paid a base salary of $145,000
per annum during the term of this Agreement. The Employee's base compensation
shall be payable in accordance with Employer's payroll practices. Employee shall
be reimbursed for his reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of his
duties hereunder upon presentation of proper evidence thereof as required by
Employer.
4. Bonus. In addition to base compensation, the Employee shall receive an
annual bonus to be determined as a percentage of the Employee's base salary. The
range of percentages to be applied to the Employee's base salary for the
computation of bonus shall be based on the percentage growth in the Earnings Per
Share (EPS), adjusted for extraordinary items (including but not limited to the
1995 write down of ComTel assets) of Employer for the year to which the bonus is
applicable. From within the percentage range so established, the CEO, in
consultation with the Chairman of the Board, shall recommend to the Compensation
Committee of the Board for approval the specific percentage to be applied based
on the performance and contribution of the Employee. The range of percentages
shall be established in accordance with the following table:
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If the Percentage EPS the range of percentages
Growth for Year is for determining bonus shall be
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0 to 17% 5% to 15%
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(Greater-than) 17% to 22% 10% to 20%
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(Greater-than) 22% to 27% 15% to 25%
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(Greater-than) 27% to 32% 20% to 35%
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(Greater-than) 32% 30% to 45%
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For example, if the EPS for 1995 is 94c and the 1996 EPS is $1.20, then the
percentage EPS growth is 28% (26/94) and the applicable range is 27% to 32%. If
within the applicable range, the CEO upon consultation with the Chairman of the
Board and upon approval of the Compensation Committee, determines based on the
performance and contribution of the Employee that the appropriate percentage is
29%, then the employees bonus shall be 29% of the Base compensation provided at
(P)3.
5. Stock Options and Grants:
a) Options to purchase stock of the Employer shall be awarded to
the Employee annually pursuant to the terms of this Employment
Contract and otherwise in accordance with the terms and conditions of
the Employer's Stock Option Plan based upon EPS percentage growth,
adjusted for extraordinary items (including but not limited to the
1995 write down of ComTel assets), and the performance and
contribution of the Employee as determined by the CEO in
consultation with the Chairman of the Board and subject to approval by
the Compensation Committee. The actual number of options awarded shall
be determined by multiplying the Employee's base salary, as set forth
at (P)3, above, times a percentage, selected by the CEO in
consultation with the Chairman of the Board and approved by the
Compensation Committee, from the range of percentages applicable to
the achieved EPS percentage growth as set forth in the following
table:
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If the Percentage EPS the range of percentages
Growth for Year is for determining option awards shall be
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0 to 17% 10% to 20%
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(Greater-than) 17% to 22% 21% to 40%
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(Greater-than) 22% to 27% 41% to 80%
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(Greater-than) 27% to 32% 81% to 160%
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(Greater-than) 32% 161% to 240%
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The dollar amount so determined shall be divided by the exercise price
of the options awarded to determine the actual number of options. The
exercise price shall be determined in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Employer's Stock Option Plan. Except as otherwise
accelerated, options so awarded shall vest one-third when awarded,
one-third twelve months after the date of the award and the balance 24
months after the date of the award. All options shall be exercisable
when vested.
For example, if the EPS for 1995 is 94c and the 1996 EPS is $1.20,
then the percentage EPS growth is 28% (26/94) and the applicable range
is 81% to 160%. The CEO, upon consultation with the Chairman of the
Board and upon approval of the Compensation Committee, determines,
based on the performance and contribution of the Employee, that the
appropriate percentage is 90%. If the exercise price of the options
determined in accordance with the terms of the Employee Stock Option
Plan is $13.00 per share, then the number of options awarded would be
determined by dividing 90% of the Employee's Base compensation
provided at (P)3 by the exercise price of $13.00 per share.
b. The Employee shall be eligible for annual stock grants valued at
$30,000. One-half of the shares constituting each annual grant shall
not be transferred for six months following such grant; the remaining
one-half of such shares shall not be transferred for eighteen months
following such grant. All restrictions on transfer after six months
from the date of each grant shall be removed in the event of a change
in control. Each annual grant shall be deemed to be issued on the
first business day of each calendar year or, if later, the first
business day following the execution of this Agreement.
6. Other Benefits and Vacation:
a. Employer has established a 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan to provide
for voluntary Employee before and after tax contributions. The Profit
Sharing Plan may also provide for Employer contributions as may be
from time to time determined by the Employer consistent with and
subject to the terms of the plan as established by the Employer.
Employee may participate in such plan provided he is otherwise
qualified under the terms and conditions of any such Profit Sharing
Plan.
b. The Employee shall be entitled to vacations in accordance with
the regular policies of the employer as in effect from time to time.
Vacation shall be scheduled at the convenience of the Employer.
c. The Employer shall maintain an IRC (S)125 plan, or similar
arrangement as from time to time permitted by the Internal Revenue
Code as then in effect, for health insurance premiums and other
permitted (S)125 benefits and the Employee shall be permitted to
divert compensation for such premiums and other benefits.
d. The Employee shall be entitled to participate in the regular
Health Insurance plan of the Employer as from time to time in effect
on the terms and conditions as provided for employees generally.
e. The Employer shall provide an automobile to Employee for business
use to be accounted for by the Employee consistent with the normal
business practices of Employer as from time to time established.
7. Nondisclosure and Noncompetition: The Employee hereby agrees as a
condition of Employment to
a. At all times while this Agreement is in force and after its
termination or expiration for whatever reason, the Employee agrees to
refrain from
disclosing, either directly or indirectly, the Employer's customer
lists, trade secrets, or other confidential material. Employee agrees
to take reasonable security measures to prevent accidental disclosure
of such information. All files, records, documents, drawings,
specifications, equipment and similar items relating to Employer's
business, whether prepared by the Employee or otherwise coming into
his possession, shall remain the exclusive property of the Employer.
b. During the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall not,
directly or indirectly, either as an employee, employer, consultant,
agent, principal, partner, stockholder, corporate officer, director or
in any other individual or representative capacity, engage or
participate in any business of any nature which is in competition in
any way with the business of the Employer.
c. For a period of one (1) year after the expiration or termination
of this Agreement, except in the case of a termination by the Employer
for any reason other than the causes set forth at (P)8(d) below and
except in the case of a termination in connection with or at anytime
after a change of control and for which the Employee is entitled to
severance pay computed in accordance with the provisions of (P)8(c),
the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, either as an employee,
employer, consultant, agent, principal, partner, stockholder,
corporate officer, director or in any other individual or
representative capacity, engage or participate in any business of any
nature which is in competition with the Employer in the business of
telecommunications within the existing market areas of the Employer
for which Employee had significant responsibility and in which
Employee materially participated in the management and operation of
the Employer.
d. Employer shall be entitled to injunctive and/or other equitable
relief to prevent or remedy a breach of the provisions of the
Agreement and to secure their enforcement, in addition to any other
remedies or damages which may be available to Employer.
8. Termination:
a. This Agreement may be terminated by either party giving two (2)
weeks written notice of termination to the other party. If requested
by the Employer, the Employee agrees to cooperate in training his
successor following notice of termination of this Agreement. If the
Employer terminates the agreement, the Employer, in addition to all
salary and bonus pro-rated through the date of termination, shall pay
severance pay equal to the lesser of six months base compensation or
the remaining base compensation due under this Agreement.
b. Upon a change in control of the ownership of Employer all stock
options previously awarded to the Employee shall vest and be
immediately exercisable.
c. Upon a change of control the term of this Agreement shall be
automatically revised to eighteen months from the date of such change
in control if at the time of such change of control the remaining term
of this Agreement, or any extended or renewal term, is less than
eighteen months. If at or after a change in control, any of the
following occur
(i) The Employer or any successor of Employer terminates
the employee, or
(ii) The Employee elects to terminate employment by
written notice within 60 days of the date of any change in
control, or
(iii) The Employee is required to move more than 100 miles
from his current place of employment and the Employee elects to
resign by written notice, or
(iv) The Employee is required to assume a position which
requires a change in title or a diminution of responsibilities
and the Employee elects to resign by written notice,
then the amount of severance pay due shall be equal to the sum of
the following:
(i) salary for services performed pro-rated through the
date of termination, plus
(ii) the greater of six months base compensation or the
remaining base compensation due under this Agreement, plus
(iv) cash bonus computed by determining the bonus for one
year at the maximum possible rate pursuant to (P)4, dividing the
amount so determined by twelve and then multiplying the result by
the greater of six or the number of months (or parts
thereof) remaining on the term of this Agreement.
The Employee may, in any event, elect in the Employee's sole
discretion to receive a lesser amount of severance pay. Any payment
made in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph shall be due
in full upon the occurrence of any of the events described in
(P)8(c)(i), (P)8(c)(ii), (P)8(c)(iii) or (P)8(c)(iv). In the event of
a payment in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, Employer
shall provide Employee and dependents insured at the time of
termination health insurance substantially similar to that then
provided for the greater of the remaining term of the contract or six
months. Payment and provision of health insurance in accordance with
the terms of this (P)8 shall be satisfaction in full of all sums due
to Employee by reason of this Agreement. A change of control shall be
deemed to have occurred at anytime David Hill (the principal
shareholder) or his descendants own less than 30% of the issued and
outstanding voting shares of the Employer.
d. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, the
Employer may terminate this Agreement if the termination is based on a
violation by the Employee of (P)7 of this Agreement, or on fraud,
embezzlement, securities law violation, sexual harassment of other
employees, criminal indictment or conviction, or other conduct
involving crimes, misdemeanors or moral turpitude. In the event of
termination pursuant to this paragraph, no severance pay shall be
payable to Employee as otherwise provided herein and the Employee
shall be entitled only to the base compensation provided for herein
earned prior to the date of termination computed pro rata up to and
including the date of termination.
e. The death or permanent disability of the Employee shall terminate
this Agreement and the employment of the Employee. Upon the death or
permanent disability of the Employee, all previously awarded options
shall vest and become immediately exercisable by the estate of the
employee.
9. Severability: In the event any one or more of the provisions of this
Agreement should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
10. Assignment: This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in
part, by the Employee but shall inure to the benefit of and bind the successors
and any assigns of Employer.
11. Fees and Costs: If any action at law or in equity is necessary to
enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the party substantially
prevailing shall be entitled to its costs incurred in such action, including
reasonable attorney fees, in addition to any other relief that may be proper
hereunder or at law or in equity.
12. Notices: All notices hereunder shall be given in writing by personal
service or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed
to the parties at the following respective addresses, or at such other address
as may be designated:
Employer Employee
-------- --------
Davel Communications Group, Inc. Paul Demirdjian
601 W. Morgan 3518 Saddleback
Jacksonville, Illinois 62650 Lutz, FL 33549
13. Entire Agreement: This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement of
the parties. No modification, variance or change in any of its terms or
provisions shall be valid unless in writing and signed by both parties.
14. Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
15. Waiver: The failure of either party at any time to require
performance by the other party of any provision hereunder shall in no way affect
the right of that party thereafter to enforce the same or any other provision of
this Agreement; nor shall the waiver by either party of the breach of any
provision hereof be a waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision or of
the provision itself.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement in duplicate
originals on this 28th day of February, 1997.
DAVEL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
______________________________________
Robert D. Hill, CEO
EMPLOYEE
______________________________________
Paul Demirdjian