EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
Execution Version
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is entered into as of July 22, 2014, (the Effective Date) by and between SCG Financial Merger I Corp., a Delaware corporation (together with any successor thereto, the Company), and Robert Michelson (the Executive).
The Company and Executive, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1.
Representations and Warranties. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that (a) Executive is not bound by any restrictive covenants and has no prior or other obligations or commitments of any kind (written, oral or otherwise) that would in any way prevent, restrict, hinder or interfere with Executives acceptance of employment with the Company or the performance of all duties and responsibilities hereunder to the fullest extent of Executives ability and knowledge, and (b) Executive has full power and capacity to execute and deliver, and to perform all of Executives obligations under, this Agreement.
2.
Term. Unless otherwise terminated as provided herein, the term of employment pursuant to this Agreement will be for a period of two and one half years, commencing on the Effective Date (the Term); provided that Executives employment pursuant to this Agreement may be extended upon the mutual agreement of Executive and the Company and to the extent extended, the Term will include all such extension periods.
3.
Duties. Executive will hold the office of Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Parent (as defined below) and each of its subsidiaries (CEO). Executive will have such duties, responsibilities, functions and authority consistent with the position of chief executive officer, as may be assigned, from time to time, by and subject to the direction and supervision of, and shall report to, the Companys Executive Chairman or if there is no Executive Chairman or the Executive Chairman is unavailable the Companys board of directors (the Board), including, in Executives capacity as CEO, such duties and responsibilities to the Company, the subsidiaries of the Company and RMG Networks Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Parent), consistent with the position of chief executive officer, as may be assigned, from time to time, by and subject to the direction and supervision of the Companys Executive Chairman or the Board. During the period of employment, Executive will serve as a member of the Board, and a member of the board of directors of the Parent and each of its other subsidiaries. All officers of the Parent, the Company and their subsidiaries shall report to Executive or his designee, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Companys Executive Chairman shall have direct and immediate access to all Parent, Company and subsidiary employees. During the period of employment, and excluding any periods of vacation or personal leave to which Executive is entitled, (i) Executive will render Executives services on a full-time basis to the Company, primarily at the Companys facility in and around Dallas, Texas, (ii) Executive will apply on a full-time basis all of Executives skill and experience to the performance of Executives duties, and (iii) Executive may have no other employment and, without the prior written consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), no outside business activities (provided that the management of Executives personal or family assets and affairs and Executives time spent on charitable activities will not be deemed outside activities so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with Executives performance of duties under this Agreement). Executive will perform Executives duties under this Agreement with fidelity and loyalty to the Company, to the best of Executives ability, experience and talent in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner consistent with Executives duties and responsibilities and in accord with best practices within the Companys industry. So long as they are not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, Executive shall also comply with all policies, rules and regulations of the Company as well as all lawful directives and instructions from the Companys Executive Chairman or the Board of the Parent. The Company shall have the right to purchase in Executives name a key man life insurance policy naming the Company and any of its subsidiaries as the sole beneficiary thereunder, and Executive agrees to cooperate with the Companys procurement of such policy, provided that any information provided to an insurance company or broker shall not be provided to the Company without the prior written authorization of Executive.
4.
Compensation. In exchange for services rendered by Executive hereunder, the Company will provide Executive with the following compensation and benefits during Executives employment under this Agreement:
(a)
Compensation. During the period of employment, the Company will pay Executive a salary (the Base Salary) of $350,000 per annum, subject to consideration for annual or other increases as may be determined by the Board, in accordance with the general payroll practices of the Company in effect from time to time. Executives compensation under this Agreement will be subject to such withholding as may be required by law.
(b)
Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible for a quarterly bonus, beginning with the fourth calendar quarter of 2014, of $100,000 conditioned upon the achievement of performance criteria established by the Board after the Boards consultation with Executive. Based on the books and records of the Company, the Board shall, in good faith determine the achievement of the performance criteria and entitlement to any bonus for each calendar quarter.
The quarterly bonus for each calendar quarter during the period of employment shall be paid to Executive on a date chosen by the Board, which date shall be no later than forty five days after the end of such quarter, so long as Executive is employed by the Company as of the last day of the quarter to which such bonus relates.
(c)
Benefits. During the period of employment, Executive and Executives eligible dependents will be offered the opportunity to participate in such medical and other employee benefit plans for which they are eligible as may be established from time to time by the Board for other employees of the Company or the subsidiaries of the Company and for other executive employees of the Company or the subsidiaries of the Company, and at rates and terms that are not more expensive to Executive than those extended to other such employees. In no event shall Executive be eligible to participate in any severance plan or program of the Company or its subsidiaries, except as set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
(d)
Vacation. During the period of employment, Executive will be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation per calendar year in accordance with the Companys policy in effect from time to time. Paid vacation to which Executive is entitled in any calendar year may not be carried forward to any subsequent calendar year and no compensation shall be payable in lieu thereof. Vacation days will be taken at such times and dates at the discretion of the Executive and as will not significantly interfere with Executives duties and responsibilities to the Company.
(e)
Expense Reimbursement. During the period of employment the Company will reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business and travel expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of the duties and responsibilities hereunder, subject to written policies and procedures for expense verification and documentation that the Company or the Board may adopt from time to time. The Company shall provide Executive with an apartment and automobile in the Dallas, Texas area during the period of employment. The Company shall pay the reasonable cost of the Executive to travel between Chicago, Illinois and Dallas, Texas via commercial airline during the period of employment. To the extent the use of such automobile, apartment and/or travel is taxable, the Company will pay the Executive an additional amount such that after payment of all taxes on such amount the Executive is left with amount equal to the aggregate tax imposed on such payments and benefits.
(f)
Equity Incentive Plan.
(i)
The Company shall grant the Executive an option under the SCG Financial Corp. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan), subject to Board approval (which approval has already been obtained), to purchase 500,000 shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock), at the current fair market value as of the Effective Date. The terms of this option are set forth more fully in the Stock Incentive Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(ii) If the average of the closing prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market (or, if the NASDAQ Global Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded) over a period of 20 days, consisting of the day as of which such price is being determined and the 19 consecutive business days prior to such day, equals or exceeds $6.00 per share, the Company, subject to Board approval (which approval has already been obtained), shall grant Executive an option to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock under the Plan at the then current fair market value subject to a three year vesting schedule.
(iii) If the average of the closing prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market (or, if the NASDAQ Global Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded) over a period of 20 days, consisting of the day as of which such price is being determined and the 19 consecutive business days prior to such day, equals or exceeds $10.00 per share, the Company, subject to Board approval (which approval has already been obtained), shall grant Executive an option to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock under the Plan at the then current fair market value subject to a three year vesting schedule.
5.
Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Executives employment hereunder will terminate under any of the following conditions:
(a)
Death. Except as provided for in Section 6(c), Executives employment under this Agreement and any obligations hereunder will terminate automatically upon the date of Executives death.
(b)
Disability. The Company will have the right to terminate this Agreement if Executive becomes disabled; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 5(b) shall not excuse the Company from its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Family and Medical Leave Act providing for Executives continued employment during such disability. For purposes of this Agreement, disabled shall mean that the Executive suffers from a physical or mental impairment that prevents Executive from performing the essential functions of Executives position, as set forth in this Agreement, for (i) ninety (90) days or more (whether or not consecutive) in any twelve month period or (ii) a period of ninety (90) consecutive days, in each case, as determined by a physician satisfactory to both Executive and the Company (and, if they cannot agree, then one to be selected and mutually accepted by their respective doctors).
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(c)
Termination for Cause. Executives employment hereunder may be terminated by the Board (excluding, for this purpose, Executive, if applicable) at any time for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, Cause for termination means the following:
(i)
Executive is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to any felony or any crime or offense involving acts of theft, fraud, embezzlement or other misappropriation of funds, whether from the Company or otherwise;
(ii)
Executives commission of any act of moral turpitude that brings the Company into public disrepute or disgrace or causes harm to the customer relations, operations or business prospects of the Company;
(iii)
any material breach by Executive of Executives obligations under this Agreement or any other written agreement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which Executive fails to cure, if curable, within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such breach;
(iv)
Executives material breach of written policies or procedures of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in each case that have been provided to Executive, been made available to him in either physical or electronic format or of which he has knowledge which causes, or could reasonably be expected to cause, harm to the Company or its subsidiaries which Executive fails to cure, if curable, within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice of such event;
(v)
any intentional misrepresentation of a fact material to the Company's business at any time by Executive to the Company or any of its affiliates or the Board;
(vi)
to the extent consistent with the terms of this Agreement, Executives willful failure or refusal to comply with the lawful instruction of the Companys Executive Chairman or the Board which Executive fails to cure, if curable, within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice of such event; or
(viii)
Executives reporting to work under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, or other alcohol or drug abuse that adversely affects the performance of Executives duties or responsibilities.
In order to effect a termination for Cause, the Board (excluding, for this purpose, Executive, if applicable) must terminate Executives employment within sixty (60) days of (x) the expiration of the cure period for any act or failure to act that remains uncured under this Section 5(c), if applicable, or (y) the Boards (excluding, for this purpose, Executive, if applicable) discovery of such action, event or inaction that constitutes Cause.
(d)
Constructive Termination. If any of the following events shall have occurred, Executive shall be deemed to have been constructively terminated:
(i)
the Companys material breach of this Agreement which remains uncured following thirty (30) days prior written notice from Executive;
(ii)
a reduction in Executives Base Salary, other than a reduction in the same percentage as is applied to all senior officers of the Company; or
(iii)
a material diminution in Executive's duties or authority.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no act or failure to act by the Company shall give rise to Constructive Termination if cured within thirty (30) days of written notice by the Executive to the Company received within thirty (30) days of the discovery of the occurrence of such act or failure to act. Further, Executive must terminate Executives employment within sixty (60) days following the expiration of the cure period for any act or failure to act that remains uncured under this Section 5(d) in order to effect a termination for Constructive Termination.
(e)
Termination After Notice. Executives employment hereunder may be terminated either by the Company without Cause or by the Executive, in which event Executive will be entitled to receive Executives Base Salary for each day following notice of such termination that Executive reports and is available for work until the termination date and Executives bonus for any quarterly period which is completed as of the effective date of such termination (and, as provided by this Agreement, a pro rata portion thereof for the then quarterly period), if any, as provided in this Agreement. To the extent reasonably practicable, Executive will provide the Company with at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of Executives intent to terminate employment pursuant to this Section 5(e). If Executives employment is being terminated pursuant to any provision of Section 5(c) above, Company shall provide Executive with notice of the section and the specific reasons for such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may elect to provide Executive with compensation and benefits during any notice period and request or direct Executive not to perform duties for Company during such period.
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(f)
Resignation from Board. Upon termination of Executives employment for any reason or resignation of employment by Executive for any reason, unless otherwise requested by the Board, Executive agrees to resign from the Board, the board of directors of the Parent and each of its other subsidiaries and all other positions held at the Company and its affiliates, and Executive, at the Boards request, will execute any documents necessary to reflect such resignation.
6.
Payments Upon Termination.
(a)
Accrued Compensation. Upon termination of Executives employment hereunder, the Company will be obligated to pay and Executive will be entitled to receive the Base Salary and quarterly bonus that have accrued for services performed until the date of termination and which have not yet been paid. In addition, (i) Executive will be entitled to any vested benefits to which Executive is entitled under the terms of any applicable benefit plan of the Company, and, to the extent applicable, short-term or long-term disability plan or program with respect to any disability, and in all events subject to the payment timing and other restrictions as may be set forth in such plan or program, and (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law and the terms of the Companys health insurance, long-term healthcare insurance and life insurance plans, Executive and Executives family may (but will not be required to) elect to continue to participate in the Companys health insurance, long-term healthcare insurance and life insurance plans, including any period required pursuant to COBRA or other applicable law.
(b)
Without Cause or for Constructive Termination. Upon termination of Executives employment by the Company without Cause or a resignation by Executive for Constructive Termination, the Company will be obligated to pay and Executive will be entitled to receive: (i) if within six months after the Effective Date (a) all of the amounts and benefits described in Section 6(a), and (b) subject to Section 6(f), Executives then base salary (paid in accordance with the Companys ordinary payroll policies) during the period beginning on the date of Executives termination of employment and ending on the date that is six months following the date of Executives termination of employment; or (ii) if after six months from the Effective Date (a) all of the amounts and benefits described in Section 6(a), and (b) subject to Section 6(f), Executives then base salary (paid in accordance with the Companys ordinary payroll policies) during the period beginning on the date of Executives termination of employment and ending on the date that is one year following the date of Executives termination of employment or through the end of the Term, if greater (the Severance Amount). Further, Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business and travel expenses incurred during the period of employment by Executive in the performance of the duties and responsibilities hereunder, subject to written policies and procedures for expense verification and documentation that the Company or the Board may adopt from time to time.
(c)
Death; Disability. Upon termination of Executives employment upon the death of Executive pursuant to Section 5(a) or upon Executives becoming disabled pursuant to Section 5(b), the Company will be obligated to pay, and Executive will be entitled to receive (i) all of the amounts and vested benefits described in Section 6(a) and (ii) any Bonus determined under, and payable pursuant to, Section 4(b). For purposes of this Section 6(c), Executives designated beneficiary will be such individual beneficiary or trust, located at such address, as Executive may designate by notice to the Company from time to time or, if Executive fails to give notice to the Company of such a beneficiary, Executives estate. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Company will have no duty, in any circumstances, to attempt to open an estate on behalf of Executive, to determine whether any beneficiary designated by Executive is alive or to ascertain the address of any such beneficiary, to determine the existence of any trust, to determine whether any person or entity purporting to act as Executives personal representative (or the trustee of a trust established by Executive) is duly authorized to act in that capacity, or to locate or attempt to locate any beneficiary, personal representative, or trustee.
(d)
Other Termination. Upon: (i) resignation of employment by Executive other than for Constructive Termination or (ii) termination of employment by the Company for Cause, the Company will have no further liability under or in connection with this Agreement, except to provide all of the amounts and vested benefits described in Section 6(a) and to reimburse expenses as set forth in Section 4(e).
(e)
Breach Post-Termination. If (i) the Company has any obligation pursuant to Section 6(a)-(c) to make payments or provide other benefits to Executive following the last day of Executives employment by the Company, and (ii) (A) Executive breaches in any material respect the terms and conditions of the Release, Section 7 or Section 8 or (B) engages in conduct in violation of Section 9, then the Company may, upon providing thirty (30) days prior written notice (and providing the Executive the reasonable opportunity to cure such breach or violation during such thirty (30) day period) in its discretion and without limiting any other remedies that may be available to the Company, cease providing any such payments or other benefits pursuant to Section 6(b).
(f)
Release. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, payments of the Severance Amount are conditioned on Executive (or, in the event of Executives death or disability, the estate of Executive or the authorized legal representative, if any, of Executive, respectively) executing on or before the twenty-first (21st) day following Executives Separation from Service (as defined below), and not revoking, a release agreement of all claims against the Company (the Release), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, and continued compliance in all material respects with the provisions of Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9.
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7.
Ownership of Intellectual Property. During the period of Executives employment or service with the Company, to the extent that Executive, alone or with others, develops, makes, conceives, contributes to or reduces to practice, or has prior to the date hereof done any of the foregoing, any intellectual property related to the duties of Executive hereunder or which results in any way from Executive using the resources of the Company or any of its affiliates, whether or not during working hours, such intellectual property is and will be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The foregoing provision shall not apply to any intellectual property that is not related to the direct out of home advertising or digital signage industry of the Company (the Business) and which was not developed using resources of the Company or any of its affiliates or during working hours. To the extent any such intellectual property can be protected by copyright, and is deemed in any way to fall within the definition of work made for hire as such term is defined in 17 U.S.C. §101, such intellectual property will be considered to have been produced under contract for the Company as a work made for hire. In any event, and regardless of whether such intellectual property is deemed to be a work made for hire, Executive will disclose any and all such intellectual property to the Company and does hereby assign to the Company any and all right, title and interest which Executive may have in and to such intellectual property. Upon the Companys request at any time and at their expense, including any time after termination of Executives employment, to the extent Executive can reasonably do so, Executive will execute and deliver to the Company such other documents as the Company deems reasonably necessary to vest in the Company the sole ownership of and exclusive worldwide rights in and to, all of such intellectual property.
8.
Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges and agrees that, during the period of employment, Executive may have access to and become familiar with various trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information of the Company or any of its affiliates including, but not limited to, the Companys existing and contemplated services and products, documentation, technical data, contracts, business and financial methods, practices and plans, costs and pricing, lists of the Companys customers, prospective customers and contacts, suppliers, vendors, consultants and employees, methods of obtaining customers, suppliers, vendors, consultants and employees, financial and operational data of the Companys present and prospective customers, suppliers, vendors, consultants and employees, and the particular business requirements of the Companys present and prospective customers, suppliers, vendors, consultants and employees, marketing and sales literature, records, software, diagrams, source code, object code, product development, trade secrets; and the Companys techniques of doing business, business strategies and standards (including all non-public information of the Company, collectively, the Confidential Information); provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary "Confidential Information" will exclude any information that is already generally available to the public. Executive expressly agrees not to disclose any Confidential Information, directly or indirectly, nor use Confidential Information in any way, either during the period of employment and during the five year period thereafter. Specifically, during the period of employment and during the five year period thereafter, Executive (i) will maintain the Confidential Information in strict confidence; (ii) will not disclose any Confidential Information to any person or other entity; (iii) will not use any Confidential Information to the detriment of the Company or any of its affiliates; (iv) will not authorize or permit such use or disclosure; and (v) will comply with the lawful policies and procedures of the Company regarding use and disclosure of Confidential Information. All files, papers, records, documents, drawings, specifications, equipment and similar items relating to the business of the Company and Confidential Information, whether prepared by Executive or otherwise coming into Executives possession, will at all times remain the exclusive property of the Company and such items and all copies thereof will be returned to the Company at the Companys request or upon the expiration or termination of Executives employment. In connection with Executives termination of employment with the Company, Executive will reasonably cooperate with the Company in completing and signing a termination statement or affidavit in the form reasonably proscribed by the Company, which will contain Executives certification that Executive has no tangible Confidential Information in Executives possession.
9.
Restrictive Covenants. In the course of the employment of Executive hereunder, and because of the nature of Executives responsibilities, Executive will acquire valuable and confidential information and trade secrets with regard to the Companys and its affiliates business operations, including, but not limited to, the Confidential Information. In addition, Executive may develop on behalf of the Company, a personal acquaintance with some of the Companys and its affiliates customers and prospective customers. As a consequence, Executive will occupy a position of trust and confidence with respect to the Companys and its affiliates affairs and its services. In view of the foregoing, and in consideration of the remuneration paid and to be paid to Executive under this Agreement, Executive agrees that it is reasonable and necessary for the protection of the goodwill and business of the Company and its affiliates that Executive make the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement regarding the conduct of Executive during and after the employment relationship with the Company, and that the Company may suffer irreparable injury if Executive engages in conduct prohibited thereby. In consideration of Executives employment hereunder, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, Executive agrees as follows:
(a)
Non-Competition. Except upon Executives termination by the Company without Cause or for Constructive Termination, during the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date that is one year following the end of the period of employment (such period, which will be extended by the amount of time during which Executive is in violation of any provision of this Section 9, the Restricted Period), Executive will not, in the United States (the Territory), engage in, manage, operate, finance, control or participate in the ownership, management or financing or control of, become employed by, or become affiliated or associated with, directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, shareholder, owner, co-owner, affiliate, partner, agent, representative, consultant, independent contractor or advisor, or otherwise render services or advice to, guarantee any obligation of, or acquire or hold (of record, beneficially or otherwise) any direct or indirect interest in a business that sells or provides
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products or services that are the same as or substantially similar to or otherwise competitive with the products or specialized services (provided that such specialized services shall not include those services which would unreasonably restrict Executive from utilizing Executives education and expertise in future employment, as long as such employment and specialized services are not competitive with the Company or any of its subsidiaries) sold or provided, or that Executive has knowledge are planned to be sold or provided, by the Company or its subsidiaries in the Business at any time while Executive is an employee or director of the Company (a Competitor); provided, however, that Executive may own, as a passive investment, shares of capital stock of any Competitor if (A) such shares are listed on a national securities exchange or traded on a national market system in the United States, (B) Executive, together with any of Executives affiliates and Executives immediate family members (which shall mean Executives wife and direct lineal descendants, but shall not include any other blood relative), owns beneficially (directly or indirectly) less than five percent (5%) of the total number of shares of such entitys issued and outstanding capital stock, and (C) neither Executive nor any of Executives affiliates is otherwise associated directly or indirectly with such Competitor or any of its affiliates.
(b)
Non-Solicitation. Except upon Executives termination by the Company without Cause or for Constructive Termination, during the Restricted Period, Executive will not, either on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any third party (except the Company or any of its affiliates), directly or indirectly (and except in the case of broad solicitations that do not directly target a specific individual):
(i)
(A) seek to induce or otherwise cause any person or entity that is a then-current customer of the Company, or has been a customer of the Company or one of its affiliates within the then-preceding twenty-four (24) months (a Customer), or any prospective customer to which the Company or one of its affiliates has made a proposal at that time or has taken actions or made efforts of which Executive is aware related to making a proposal at that time (1) to cease being a customer of or to not become a customer of the Company or one of its affiliates, or (2) to divert any business of such Customer from the Company or one of its affiliates, or otherwise, to discontinue or alter in a manner adverse to the Company or one of its affiliates, such business relationship, or (B) in any manner that is in competition with the Company or one of its affiliates: solicit for business, provide services to, do business with or become employed or retained by, any Customer or potential customer solicited the Company or one of its affiliates;
(ii)
hire, solicit or encourage to leave the employment or service of the Company or one of its affiliates, any officer or employee of the Company or one of its affiliates, or hire or participate (with another third party) in the process of hiring any person or entity who is then, or who within the preceding six (6) months was an employee of the Company or one of its affiliates, or provide names or other information about the Companys or its affiliates employees to any person or entity under circumstances which could lead to the use of that information for purposes of recruiting or hiring; or
(iii)
except as an employee of a Customer as permitted herein, otherwise interfere with, disrupt, or attempt to interfere with or disrupt, the relationship between the Company or one of its affiliates and any of their respective Customers, suppliers, consultants or employees.
(c)
Non-Disparagement. During the period of employment and thereafter, Executive will not at any time publish or communicate to any person or entity, directly or indirectly, any Disparaging (as defined below) remarks, comments or statements concerning the Company, its parent, subsidiaries and affiliates, or any of their respective present and former members, managers, directors, officers, successors and assigns. During the period of employment and thereafter, Company will not at any time publish or communicate to any person or entity, directly or indirectly, any Disparaging remarks, comments or statements concerning Executive. Disparaging remarks, comments or statements are those that impugn the character, honesty, integrity, reputation, morality or business acumen or abilities in connection with any aspect of the operation of business of the individual or entity being disparaged. This Section 9(c) will not be applicable to (i) truthful testimony obtained through subpoena, (ii) any truthful information provided pursuant to investigation by any Governmental Authority, or (iii) any truthful information provided pursuant to any claim by the Executive or the Company under this Agreement or any of the other documents relating to the Transaction asserted in good faith.
(d)
Acknowledgment. The parties agree that the restrictions placed upon Executive are reasonable and necessary to protect the Companys legitimate interests. Executive acknowledges that, based upon the advice of legal counsel and Executives own education, experience and training, (i) these provisions will not prevent Executive from earning a livelihood and supporting Executive and Executives family during the Restricted Period, (ii) the Company conducts Business in the Territory, (iii) the Company competes with other businesses that are or could be located in any part of the Territory, (iv) prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement, the Company (and the Executive on behalf of the Company) did Business in and marketed products and services throughout the Territory, (v) the restrictions contained in this Agreement are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the business and goodwill of the Company, (vi) the foregoing restrictions on competition are fair and reasonable in type of prohibited activity, geographic area covered, scope and duration, (vii) the consideration provided by the Company under this Agreement is not illusory, and (viii) such provisions do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill or other business interests of the Company. In consideration of the foregoing, and in light of Executives education, skills, and abilities, Executive agrees that Executive will not assert that, and it should not be considered that, any provision of this Section 9 are otherwise void, voidable or unenforceable, or should be voided or held unenforceable.
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(e)
Additional Time. Executive agrees that the period during which the covenants contained in this Section 9 will be effective will be computed by excluding from such computation any time during which Executive is in violation of any provision of this Section 9.
(f)
Independent Agreement. The covenants on the part of Executive in this Agreement will be construed as an agreement independent of any other agreement and independent of any other provision of this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Executive against the Company, whether predicated upon this Agreement or otherwise, (other than the Companys willful and intentional failure to pay the Severance Amount, if payable hereunder) will not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants. Each of the covenants of this Agreement are given by Executive as part of the consideration for this Agreement and as an inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement.
(g)
Subsequent Employment. Executive hereby covenants and agrees to, as promptly as possible following Executives acceptance of any subsequent employment or consulting arrangement that Executive undertakes on behalf of persons or entities other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries during the Restricted Period, notify the Company in writing of any such arrangement, provided, however, that failure to so provide such notice shall not result in any claim for damages by Company hereunder unless any subsequent employment or consulting arrangement that Executive undertakes is on behalf of a Competitor. Executive agrees that, during the Restricted Period, the Company may notify any person or entity employing or otherwise retaining the services of Executive or evidencing an intention of employing or retaining the services of Executive of the existence and provisions of this Section 9.
10.
Reformation. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, should any duration, scope or geographical restriction on business activities covered under any provision of this Agreement be found by any court of competent jurisdiction to be less than fully enforceable due to its breadth of restrictiveness or otherwise, Executive and the Company intend that such court will enforce this Agreement to the full extent the court may find permissible by construing such provisions to cover only that duration, extent or activity which may be enforceable. Executive will, at the Companys request, join the Company in requesting that such court take such action. Executive and the Company acknowledge the uncertainty of the law in this respect and intend that this Agreement will be given the construction that renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.
11.
Conflicts of Interests. During the period of employment, without the prior written approval of the Company, Executive will not knowingly engage in any activity which is in conflict with the Companys interests. In furtherance of this covenant, Executive agrees during the period of employment that: (a) Executive will notify the Company of any conflicts of interest or excessive gifts or offers of gifts or remuneration from customers, suppliers or others doing or seeking to do business with the Company; (b) Executive will not receive remuneration from any party doing business with or competing with the Company unless the prior written consent of the Company is first obtained; and (c) Executive will promptly inform the Company of any business opportunities that come to Executives attention that relate to the existing or prospective business of the Company, and Executive will not participate in any such opportunities on behalf of any person or entity other than the Company; provided, however, that Executive may, whether or not during working hours, engage in reasonable time addressing issues related to Executives charitable efforts and managing Executives personal investments to the extent that such investments and time do not conflict with the Companys interests.
12.
Unique Nature of Agreement. Executive recognizes that the services to be rendered by Executive are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary, and intellectual character involving a high degree of skill and having a peculiar value, the loss of which will cause Company immediate and irreparable harm, which cannot be adequately compensated in damages. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of this Agreement, Executive consents that the Company may be entitled to injunctive relief, both preliminary and permanent, without bond or proof of specific damages, and Executive will not raise the defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law. In addition, the Company may be entitled to any other legal or equitable remedies as may be available under law. The remedies provided in this Agreement will be deemed cumulative and the exercise of one will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy at law or in equity for the same event or any other event.
13.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
Severability. The covenants, provisions and sections of this Agreement are severable, and in the event that any portion of this Agreement is held to be unlawful or unenforceable, the same will not affect any other portion of this Agreement, and the remaining terms and conditions or portions thereof will remain in full force and effect. This Agreement will be construed in such case as if such unlawful or unenforceable portion had never been contained in this Agreement, in order to effectuate the intentions of the Company and Executive in executing this Agreement.
(b)
No Waiver. The failure of either the Company or Executive to object to any conduct or violation of any of the covenants made by the other under this Agreement will not be deemed a waiver of any rights or remedies. No waiver of any right or remedy arising under this Agreement will be valid unless set forth in an appropriate writing signed by both the Company and Executive.
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(c)
Assignment. This Agreement is binding upon the Company and Executive and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns; provided that, the services to be rendered by Executive to the Company under this Agreement are personal in nature and, therefore, Executive may not assign or delegate Executives rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, and any attempt to do so will be null and void. The Company may assign its rights under this Agreement or delegate its duties and responsibilities under this Agreement to any subsidiary of the Company or to any entity acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or to any other entity into which the Company may be liquidated, merged or consolidated. In furtherance of such right of assignment, Executive agrees to acknowledge such assignment in writing.
(d)
Survival. Provisions of this Agreement which by their nature are intended to survive termination of Executives employment with the Company or expiration of this Agreement will survive any such termination or expiration of this Agreement, including Section 1, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9, Section 10, Section 12 and Section 13.
(e)
Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of Delaware without giving effect to the choice of laws principles thereof.
(f)
Jurisdiction; Venue. Each of the parties hereto by its execution hereof:
(i)
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court covering the Dallas, Texas area for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based on this Agreement or the subject matter hereof, and agrees that any state and federal court serving Dallas, Texas will be deemed to be a convenient forum; and
(ii)
waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any such proceeding brought in any of the above-named courts, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of such courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that any such proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of such proceeding is improper, or that this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such court.
The parties hereto hereby consent to service of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by the laws of Texas, and agree that service of process by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified in or pursuant to this Agreement is reasonably calculated to give actual notice.
(g)
Disputes or Controversies. Executive recognizes that should a dispute or controversy arising from or relating to this Agreement be submitted for adjudication to any court, the preservation of the secrecy of Confidential Information may be jeopardized. Therefore, if the dispute or controversy involves significant trade secrets of the Company or its subsidiaries, then, at the Companys reasonable request, all pleadings, documents, testimony, and records relating to any such adjudication will be maintained in secrecy and will be available for inspection by the Company, Executive and their respective attorneys, experts and other agents, who will agree, in advance and in writing, to receive and maintain all such information in secrecy, except as may be limited by them in writing.
(h)
No Oral Modifications. No alterations, amendments, changes or additions to this Agreement will be binding upon either the Company or Executive unless reduced to writing and signed by both the Company and Executive.
(i)
Notices. All notices under this Agreement will be sent and deemed duly given when posted in the United States first-class mail, postage prepaid to the addresses set forth on the signature page of this Agreement. These addresses may be changed from time to time by written notice to the appropriate party.
(j)
Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the entire understanding between the Company and Executive, and supersedes as of the Effective Date all prior oral or written communications, proposals, representations, warranties, covenants, understandings or agreements between the Company and Executive, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, including the Prior Agreements. By entering into this Agreement, Executive certifies and acknowledges that Executive has carefully read all of the provisions of this Agreement, and that Executive voluntarily and knowingly enters into said Agreement.
(k)
NO JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE THE RIGHT ANY OF THEM MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH EXECUTIVES EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT.
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(l)
Advice of Counsel and Construction. The parties acknowledge that all parties to this Agreement have been represented by counsel, or had the opportunity to be represented by counsel of their choice. Accordingly, the rule of construction of contract language against the drafting party is hereby waived by all parties. Additionally, neither the drafting history nor the negotiating history of this Agreement may be used or referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(m)
Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify Executive with respect to activities in connection with Executives employment hereunder to the fullest extent provided in the Companys bylaws and as provided under state law.
(n)
Section 409A. Each payment under this Agreement, including each payment in a series of installment payments, is intended to be a separate payment for purposes of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-2(b), and is intended to be: (i) exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder (Section 409A), including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exemption as specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the involuntary separation pay exception within the meaning of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) in compliance with Section 409A, including, but not limited to, being paid pursuant to a fixed schedule or specified date pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(a) and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. If, nonetheless, this Agreement either fails to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A or is not exempt from the application of Section 409A, then the parties hereby agree to amend or to clarify this Agreement in a timely manner so that this Agreement either satisfies the requirements of Section 409A or is exempt from the application of Section 409A, provided, however, that no such amendment or clarification shall reduce the economic benefit that Executive was to derive from this Agreement prior to such amendment or clarification.
(o)
Separation from Service. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement that are designated under this Agreement as payable upon Executives termination of employment shall be payable only upon Executives separation from service with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A (a Separation from Service) and, except as provided below, any such compensation or benefits shall not be paid, or, in the case of installments, shall not commence payment, until the later of: (i) the thirtieth (30th) day following Executives Separation from Service; or (ii) if the Executive is a specified employee, then no payment or benefit that is payable on account of the Executives separation from service shall be made before the date that is six months after the Executives separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of the Executives death) if and to the extent that such payment or benefit constitutes deferred compensation (or may be nonqualified deferred compensation) under Section 409A and such deferral is required to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. Any payment or benefit delayed by reason of the prior sentence shall be paid out or provided in a single lump sum at the end of such required delay period in order to catch up to the original payment schedule and the remaining payments shall be made as provided in this Agreement. Unless otherwise required to comply with Section 409A, a payment or benefit shall not be deferred if:
(x) it is not made on account of the Executives separation from service,
(y) it is required to be paid no later than within 2 ½ months after the end of the taxable year of the Executive in which the payment or benefit is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, as that term is defined for purposes of Section 409A, or
(z) the payment satisfies the following requirements: (A) it is being paid or provided due to the Companys termination of the Executives employment without Cause or the Executives termination of employment pursuant to a Constructive Termination, (B) it does not exceed two times the lesser of (1) the Executives annualized compensation from the Company for the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the termination of the Executives employment occurs, and (2) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which the Executives employment terminates, and (C) the payment is required under this Agreement to be paid no later than the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the Executive incurs a separation from service.
For purposes of this provision, the Executive shall be considered to be a specified employee if, at the time of his separation from service, the Executive is a key employee, within the meaning of Section 416(i) of the Code, of the Company (or any person or entity with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Section 414(b) or Section 414(c) of the Code) any stock in which is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise.
(p)
Counterparts; Electronic Signature. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Further, this Agreement may be executed by transfer of an originally signed document by facsimile, e-mail or other electronic means, any of which will be as fully binding as an original document.
(Signatures on following page.)
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EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EXECUTIVE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT, HAS CONSULTED WITH AN ATTORNEY OF EXECUTIVES CHOOSING TO THE EXTENT EXECUTIVE DESIRES LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING THIS AGREEMENT, AND UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year above written.
COMPANY:
SCG FINANCIAL MERGER I CORP.
/s/ Gregory H. Sachs
By: Gregory H. Sachs
Title: Executive Chairman
Address:
RMG Networks Holding Corporation
Attention: Gregory H. Sachs
615 N. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Email:   ***@***
Copy to:
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Attention: Ameer Ahmad
77 West Wacker Drive
Suite 3100
Chicago, IL 60601
Facsimile: (312) 456-8435
Email: ***@***
Signature Page to Executive Employment Agreement
EXECUTIVE:
/s/ Robert Michelson
ROBERT MICHELSON
Address:
136 Beach Road
Glencoe, IL 60022
Copy to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Facsimile: (312) 862-2200
Attention: Sanford E. Perl, P.C.
Signature Page to Executive Employment Agreement