EXHIBIT 10.10
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made this 1st day of January, 2002,
between Portfolio Recovery Associates, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company with its principal place of business in the City of Norfolk, Virginia
("Company") and Andrew Holmes ("Employee").
IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained herein and for other
considerations the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the
parties agree as follows:
1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
The Company hereby hires Employee as a Senior Vice President.
Subject to the LLC Agreement (as defined herein), he shall be vested with such
authority and responsibilities as may be conferred upon him by the Management
Committee of the Company (the "Management Committee") and the President of the
Company (The "President") and which are appropriate and customary to his office.
He shall report to and act under the direction of the President and Senior Vice
President Sales and Marketing. The Employee accepts such employment and agrees
to diligently and faithfully exercise the authority and discharge the
responsibility of his office to the best of his ability, devoting substantially
all of his business time, attention, and services to the affairs of the Company.
Except with the consent of the Management Committee, the Employee shall not
engage in any other pursuits for compensation while serving as an officer of the
Company.
2. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE.
The principal place of employment of Employee shall be at the
Company's principal executive offices in Norfolk, Virginia or where such offices
may be relocated within a twenty-five (25) mile radius of Norfolk, Virginia (the
"Metropolitan Area"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may be required to
travel beyond the Metropolitan Area as may be reasonably required to perform his
duties hereunder.
3. COMPENSATION.
(a) Base Salary. The Employee shall be paid a base salary at
the rate of $94,640 per year, which shall be paid in approximately equal
installments consistent with the Company's payroll policy, as it may exist from
time to time ("Base Salary").
(b) Management Bonus Program. The performance of the business
shall be reviewed at the end of each operating year and compared to such goals
as are set forth in the business plan for that year as developed and presented
by the Operating Member of the Company and approved by its Management Committee
(the "Business Plan"). If the results of operations for the year achieve the net
profitability goals for the year specified in the approved Business Plan and
Employee's contribution to such performance results are satisfactory as
determined in the sole discretion of the Management Committee, a bonus equal to
no less than
twenty percent (20%) of the Employee's Base Salary shall be paid to him (the
"Bonus"). If the results of operations for the year exceed the net profitability
goals of the approved Business Plan, the amount of the Employee's Bonus may be
increased in recognition of the degree to which performance exceeded such goals,
and the Employee's contribution to such superior performance results as
determined in the sole discretion of the Management Committee. If the results of
operations for the year fail to achieve such net profitability goals, the amount
(if any) of the Employee's Bonus shall be within the absolute discretion of the
Management Committee.
(c) Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled to a benefits
package consisting of: (i) four (4) weeks paid annual vacation and (ii) such
other employee benefits programs as may be offered by the Company to other
employees, provided that he shall not be entitled to participate in any
incentive bonus program adopted for non-management level employees during the
time the Management Bonus Program is in effect. In addition, the Company shall
reimburse Employee for reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee upon
appropriate documentation and in accordance with Company policies for senior
executives, as they may exist from time to time. The Company shall reimburse
Employee for his reasonable legal fees incurred with respect to the preparation
of this Agreement; provided, that, such reimbursement shall not exceed $1,000.
(d) Warrants. The Employee was granted warrants to acquire
equity interests in the Company in accordance with the terms set forth in
Exhibit A to the Employment Agreement between the Employee and the Company dated
March 31, 1999.
4. TERM.
The period of employment of Employee by the Company hereunder
(the "Employment Period") shall commence on the date hereof (the "Commencement
Date") and shall continue through the first anniversary thereof; provided, that,
commencing on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date and each
anniversary thereafter, the Employment Period shall be automatically extended
for one (1) additional year unless either party shall notify the other party at
least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Employment Period that it
intends to let the Agreement expire. The Employment Period may be sooner
terminated by either party in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement.
5. TERMINATION.
Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated during the
Employment Period under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. Employee's employment hereunder shall terminate
upon his death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of Employee's incapacity due
to physical or mental illness, Employee shall have been substantially unable to
perform his duties hereunder for an entire period of six (6) consecutive months
or nine (9) months in any twelve (12) month period, and within thirty (30) days
after written Notice of Termination is given after such period,
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Employee shall not have returned to the substantial performance of his duties on
a full-time basis, the Company shall have the right to terminate Employee's
employment hereunder for "Disability", and such termination in and of itself
shall not be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement.
(c) Cause. The Company shall have the right to terminate
Employee's employment for Cause, and such termination in and of itself shall not
be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement. For purposes of
this Agreement, the Company shall have "Cause" to terminate Employee's
employment upon Employee's:
(i) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a
felony; or
(ii) willful and continued failure to use reasonable best
efforts to substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than such
failure resulting from Employee's incapacity due to physical or mental
illness or subsequent to the issuance of a Notice of Termination by
Employee for Good Reason) or to obey the lawful written directives of
the Management Committee or the President after demand for substantial
performance is delivered by the Company in writing that specifically
identifies the manner in which the Company believes Employee has not
used reasonable best efforts to substantially perform his duties; or
(iii) willful misconduct (including, but not limited to, a
willful breach of the provisions of Section 9) that is economically
injurious to the Company or to any entity in control of, controlled by
or under common control with the Company ("Affiliates").
(d) Good Reason. Employee may terminate his employment for
"Good Reason" within thirty (30) days after Employee has actual knowledge of the
occurrence, without the written consent of Employee, of one of the following
events that has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice
thereof has been given by Employee to the Company:
(i) the relocation of the Company's principal executive
offices or Employee's own office location to a location beyond the
Metropolitan Area; or
(ii) the Company's failure to provide any material payments
due to be provided to Employee.
Employee's right to terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason shall not
be affected by his incapacity due to physical or mental illness. Employee's
continued employment during the thirty (30) day period referred to above in this
paragraph (d) shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with
respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder.
(e) Without Cause. The Management Committee or the President
shall have the right to terminate Employee's employment hereunder without Cause
by providing Employee with a Notice of Termination, and such termination shall
not in and of itself be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this
Agreement.
(f) Without Good Reason. Employee shall have the right to
terminate his employment hereunder without Good Reason by providing the Company
with a Notice of
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Termination, and such termination shall not in and of itself be, nor shall it be
deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement.
(g) Expiration of the Term. Unless the Company and the
Employee agree to continue the employment on an at will basis pending
negotiation of a new employment agreement, Employee's employment shall terminate
upon the expiration of the Employment Period and such expiration shall not be
deemed to be a termination by the Management Committee or the President without
Cause.
6. TERMINATION PROCEDURE.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Employee's
employment by the Company or by Employee during the Employment Period (other
than termination pursuant to Section 5(a)) shall be communicated by written
Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 12.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice
which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied
upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee's employment under the
provision so indicated.
(b) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" shall mean (i)
if Employee's employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death, (ii)
if Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5(b), thirty (30)
days after Notice of Termination (provided that Employee shall not have returned
to the substantial performance of his duties on a full-time basis during such
thirty (30) day period), (iii) if Employee's employment is terminated pursuant
to Section 5(g), the date of expiration, and (iv) if Employee's employment is
terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is
given or any later date (within thirty (30) days after the giving of such
notice) set forth in such Notice of Termination.
7. COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OR DURING DISABILITY.
In the event Employee is disabled or his employment terminates
during the Employment Period, the Company shall provide Employee with the
payments and benefits set forth below. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the
payments set forth in this Section 7 constitute liquidated damages for any claim
of breach of contract under this Agreement as it relates to termination of his
employment during the Employment Period. In order to receive any of the payments
sot forth below, prior to the payments of such amounts, Employee shall execute
and agree to be bound by an agreement relating to the waiver and general release
of any and all claims (other than claims for the compensation and benefits
payable under Section 7 hereof) arising out of or relating to Employee's
employment and termination of employment (the "Release"). Such Release must be
made in a form that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company, and shall run in
favor of the Company and its affiliates, and their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns.
(a) Termination by Management Committee without Cause or by
any individual (other than Steven D. Fredrickson) serving as President without
Cause. If Employee's employment is terminated by the Management Committee
without Cause or by any individual (other than Steven D. Fredrickson) serving as
President without Cause:
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(i) the Company shall pay to Employee (A) his Base Salary and
accrued vacation pay through the Date of Termination, as soon as
practicable following the Date of Termination, (B) a lump-sum payment
equal to the Employee's then current Base Salary and (C) a lump-sum
payment equal to the amount of the Bonus, if any, paid to Employee in
the year immediately prior to the year of termination. Such payment
under clauses (B) and (C) hereof shall be made as soon as
administratively feasible following the Date of Termination and
execution of a valid Release, but in no event more than forty-five (45)
days following the execution of such Release; and
(ii) Employee shall be entitled to any other rights,
compensation and/or benefits as may be due to Employee in accordance
with the terms and provisions of any agreements, plans or programs of
the Company.
(b) Termination by Steven P. Fredrickson if serving as the
President without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason. If Employee's employment
is terminated by Steven D. Fredrickson if serving as the President without Cause
or by Employee for Good Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to Employee (A) his Base Salary and
accrued vacation pay through the Date of Termination, as soon as
practicable following the Date of Termination, (B) a lump-sum payment
equal to one-half (0.5) times Employee's then current Base Salary and
(C) a lump-sum payment equal to one-half (0.5) times the amount of the
Bonus, if any, paid to Employee in the year immediately prior to the
year of termination. Such payment under clauses (B) and (C) hereof
shall be made as soon as administratively feasible following the Date
of Termination and execution of a valid Release, but in no event more
than forty-five (45) days following the execution of such Release; and
(ii) Employee shall be entitled to any other rights,
compensation and/or benefits as may be due to Employee in accordance
with the terms and provisions of any agreements, plans or programs of
the Company.
(c) Cause, by Employee without Good Reason or upon Expiration
of the Employment Period. If Employee's employment is terminated by the Company
for Cause or by Employee (other than for Good Reason) or upon expiration of the
Employment Period:
(i) the Company shall pay Employee his Base Salary and, to the
extent required by law or the Company's vacation policy, his accrued
vacation pay through the Date of Termination, as soon as practicable
following the Date of Termination; provided, that, if the Employee's
termination of employment occurs do to an expiration of the Employment
Period initiated by a notice provided to Employee by the Company under
Section 4 of the Agreement, notwithstanding the foregoing and in lieu,
thereof, the Company shall pay to Employee (A) his Base Salary and
accrued vacation pay through the Date of Termination, as soon as
practicable following the Date of Termination, (B) a lump-sum payment
equal to one-half (0.5) times Employee's then current Base Salary and
(C) a lump-sum payment equal to one-half (0.5) times the amount of the
Bonus, if any, paid to Employee in the year immediately prior to the
year of termination. Such payment under clauses (B) and (C) hereof
shall be made as soon as administratively
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feasible following the Date of Termination and execution of a valid
Release, but in no event more than forty-five (45) days following the
execution of such Release; and
(ii) Employee shall be entitled to any other rights,
compensation and/or benefits as may be due to Employee in accordance
with the terms and provisions of any agreements, plans or programs of
the Company.
(d) Disability. During any period that Employee fails to
perform his duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental
illness ("Disability Period"), Employee shall continue to receive his full Base
Salary set forth in Section 3(a) until his employment is terminated pursuant to
Section 5(b); provided, that, any such amounts shall be off-set, on a dollar for
dollar basis, for each dollar Employee receives by any disability insurance or
social security benefit. In the event Employee's employment is terminated for
Disability pursuant to Section 5(b):
(i) the Company shall pay to Employee (A) his Base Salary and
accrued vacation pay through the Date of Termination, off-set, on a
dollar for dollar basis, for each dollar Employee receives by any
disability insurance or social security benefit, as soon as practicable
following the Date of Termination and (B) a Bonus, for the year in
which the Date of Termination occurs, pro-rated to the Date of
Termination and payable at the same time as bonuses are customarily
paid; and
(ii) Employee shall be entitled to any other rights,
compensation and/or benefits as may be due to Employee in accordance
with the terms and provisions of any agreements, plans or programs of
the Company.
(e) Death. If Employee's employment is terminated by his
death:
(i) the Company shall pay in a lump sum to Employee's
beneficiary, legal representatives or estate, as the case may be,
Employee's (A) Base Salary through the Date of Termination and (B)
Bonus, for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, pro-rated
to the Date of Termination and payable at the same time as bonuses are
customarily paid; and
(ii) Employee's beneficiary, legal representatives or estate,
as the case may be, shall be entitled to any other rights, compensation
and benefits as may be due to any such persons or estate in accordance
with the terms and provisions of any agreements, plans or programs of
the Company.
8. MITIGATION.
Except as otherwise noted above, Employee shall not be
required to mitigate amounts payable under this Agreement by seeking other
employment, and there shall be no off-set against amounts due Employee under
this Agreement on account of subsequent employment except as specifically
provided herein.
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9. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; OWNERSHIP OF DOCUMENTS; NON-COMPETITION.
(a) Confidential Information. Employee shall hold in a
fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all trade secrets and
confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its
businesses and investments, which shall have been obtained by Employee during
Employee's employment by the Company and which is not generally available public
knowledge (other than by acts by Employee in violation of this Agreement).
Except as may be required or appropriate in connection with his carrying out his
duties under this Agreement, Employee shall not without the prior written
consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal
process, or as is necessary in connection with any adversarial proceeding
against the Company (in which case Employee shall use his reasonable best
efforts in cooperating with the Company in obtaining a protective order against
disclosure by a court of competent jurisdiction), communicate or divulge any
such trade secrets, information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the
Company and those designated by the Company or on behalf of the Company in the
furtherance of its business or to perform duties hereunder.
(b) Removal of Documents; Rights to Products. All records,
files, drawings, documents, models, equipment, and the like relating to the
Company's business, which Employee has control over shall not be removed from
the Company's premises without its written consent, unless such removal is in
the furtherance of the Company's business or is in connection with Employee's
carrying out his duties under this Agreement and, if so removed, shall be
returned to the Company promptly after termination of Employee's employment
hereunder, or otherwise promptly after removal if such removal occurs following
termination of employment. Employee shall assign to the Company all rights to
trade secrets and other products relating to the Company's business developed by
him alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the
Company.
(c) Nonsolicitation. During the Employment Period and for two
(2) years after Employee's employment is terminated for any reason, Employee
will not, directly or indirectly, solicit the customers, suppliers or key
employees of the Company to terminate their relationship with the Company (or to
modify such relationship in a manner that is adverse to the interests of the
Company), or to violate any valid contracts they may have with the Company.
(d) Noncompetition. During the Employment Period and for one
(1) year after Employee's employment is terminated for any reason (other than
pursuant to Section 5(d), by the Management Committee under Section 5(e), and by
any individual (other than Steven D. Fredrickson) serving as President under
Section 5(e)), Employee will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate,
control, be employed by, or perform services for any business, howsoever
organized and in whatsoever form, that engages in the same or a similar line of
business as the Company, as determined from its latest Business Plan, and which
is located in the market area of the Company existing on the date of termination
of Employee's employment with Company.
(e) Blue Pencil. If, at any time, the provisions of this
Section 9 shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, by reason of being
vague or unreasonable as to area, duration or scope of activity, this Section 9
shall be considered divisible and shall become and be immediately amended to
only such area, duration and scope of activity as shall be determined to be
reasonable and enforceable by the court or other body having jurisdiction over
the matter and Employee agrees that this Section 9 as so amended shall be valid
and binding as though any invalid or unenforceable provision had not been
included herein.
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(f) Injunctive Relief. In the event of a breach or threatened
breach of this Section 9, Employee agrees that the Company shall be entitled to
injunctive relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such
breach or threatened breach, Employee acknowledging that damages would be
inadequate and insufficient.
(g) Continuing Operation. Except as specifically provided in
this Section 9, the termination of Employee's employment or of this Agreement
shall have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 9.
10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY.
The limitation of liability and indemnity provisions of
Section 3.8(b)(c) and (d) of the LLC Agreement are a contractual benefit to
the Employee and are a material consideration for his employment.
11. GOVERNING LAW; LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
This Agreement, the employment relationship contemplated
herein and any claim arising from such relationship, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard
to its conflicts of laws rules. If any contest or dispute shall arise between
the Company and Employee regarding the provisions of this Agreement, each party
shall be responsible for the payment of its own legal fees and expenses relating
to such claim or dispute regardless of outcome.
12. NOTICES.
All notices hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail with adequate postage affixed,
as follows:
If to the Company, to:
Portfolio Recovery Associates, L.L.C.
c/o Angelo, Gordon & Co., L.P.
245 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10067
Attn: David Roberts
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If to the Employee, to:
Andrew Holmes
1105 Winchester Way
Chesapeake, VA 23320
13. LLC AGREEMENT.
The term "LLC Agreement" as used herein shall mean the Amended
and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company dated as of the
date hereof. All capitalized terms appearing in the text of this Agreement shall
have the same meanings as they have in the LLC Agreement to the extent not
defined herein.
14. SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT.
(a) Company's Successors. The Company may assign or transfer
this Agreement; provided, that, the Company will require any successor to assume
and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
that the Company would be required to perform it if no such assignment or
transfer had taken place.
(b) Employee's Successors. No rights or obligations of
Employee under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Employee other
than his rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only
by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Upon Employee's death, this
Agreement and all rights of Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and
be enforceable by Employee's beneficiary or beneficiaries, personal or legal
representative, or estate, to the extent any such person succeeds to Employee's
interests under this Agreement. Employee shall be entitled to select and change
a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any benefit or compensation payable
hereunder following Employee's death by giving the Company written notice
thereof. In the event of Employee's death or a judicial determination of his
incompetence, reference in this Agreement to Employee shall be deemed, where
appropriate, to refer to his beneficiar(y)(ies), estate or other legal
representative(s). If Employee should die following his Date of Termination
while any amounts would still be payable to hint hereunder if he had continued
to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons so
appointed in writing by Employee, or otherwise to his legal representatives or
estate.
15. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, or
waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing signed by
Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver is set
forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. No waiver by either
party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations,
oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof
have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this
Agreement. The respective rights and obligations of the parties
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hereunder shall survive Employee's termination of employment and the termination
of this Agreement to the extent necessary for the intended preservation of such
rights and obligations.
16. VALIDITY.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties
hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersede all prior
agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations
or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or
representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject matter. Any prior
agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein is hereby terminated and cancelled.
19. WITHHOLDING.
All payments hereunder shall be subject to any required
withholding of Federal, state and local taxes pursuant to any applicable law or
regulation.
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20. SECTION HEADINGS.
The section headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only, and they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its
interpretation.
"Company":
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.
By: /s/ JOSH BRAIN
--------------------------------------
Name: Josh Brain
Title: Corporate Manager
"Employee":
By: /s/ ANDREW HOLMES
--------------------------------------
Andrew Holmes
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