Exhibit 10.23

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of October 24, 2002 (the
“Effective Date”) by and between Microtune, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and William L. Housley (“Employee”).

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Employment.

 

(a) As of the Effective Date, Employee shall serve as the President and Chief
Operating Officer (COO) of the Company. Employee agrees to perform such
reasonable responsibilities and duties as may be required of him by the Board of
Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and the CEO in such capacity. Employee
shall report directly to the CEO. Employee agrees not to terminate the Term
prior to the second (2nd) anniversary of the Effective Date, except for Certain
Reasons (as defined below). In the event Employee voluntarily resigns one of the
positions but continues on in full capacity in the other position, this
Agreement shall continue in full effect. In the event the Employee becomes CEO,
this Agreement shall also remain in full effect.

 

(b) The Board may terminate the Term at any time, by giving Employee thirty (30)
days advance notice in writing. However, if the Board terminates the Term
without Cause (as defined below) within two (2) years after the Effective Date,
the Company shall pay Employee severance benefits as set forth in Section 6. Any
termination of employment by the Company or by Employee for any reason
whatsoever during the term of this Agreement shall be communicated by written
notice of termination to the other party hereto (“Notice of Termination”).

 

(c) In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company that
results in termination of the Term, the Company shall pay Employee severance
benefits as set forth in Section 7.

 

2. Duties and Scope of Employment.

 

(a) Positions and Duties. Employee will continue to serve as President and COO
(or one capacity only, pursuant to 1.(a) above) of the Company while employed
hereunder. Employee will render such business and professional services in the
performance of his duties, consistent with Employee’s position within the
Company, as shall reasonably be assigned to him by the Board.

 

(b) Obligations. During the Term, Employee will perform his duties faithfully
and to the best of his ability and will devote his full business efforts and
time to the Company.

 

(c) Term. The term of the Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall
commence as of the Effective Date and shall continue for a period of two (2)
years from the date hereof (the “Initial Term”). The Initial Term hereof will be
automatically renewed for additional terms (each a “Renewal Term,” and,
together, with the Initial Term, collectively the “Term”) of one

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(1) year unless either party hereto provides the other party hereto written
notice of its election not to renew this Agreement thirty (30) days prior to the
expiration of the Initial Term, or, if applicable, thirty (30) days prior to the
expiration of any Renewal Term.

 

3. Compensation.

 

(a) Employee’s initial base salary shall be paid at a rate of $190,000 per year.
Employee’s base salary will be reviewed annually by the compensation committee
of the Board, or by the Board if at such time there is no compensation
committee.

 

(b) During the Term, Employee will be entitled to participate in the employee
benefit plans currently and hereafter maintained by the Company of general
applicability to other senior executives of the Company, including, without
limitation, the Company’s group medical, dental, vision, disability, dependent
care, life insurance, flexible-spending account and 401(k) plans. The Company
reserves the right to cancel or change the benefit plans and programs it offers
to its employees at any time.

 

(c) The Company will reimburse Employee for reasonable travel, entertainment or
other expenses incurred by Employee in the furtherance of or in connection with
the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s
expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time.

 

4. Covenant Not to Compete or Solicit.

 

(a) Non-Competition. Employee agrees that if the Company terminates his
employment for Cause or Employee terminates his employment with the Company
other than for Certain Reasons, then for two (2) years from the Date of
Termination he will not directly or indirectly engage in (whether as an
employee, consultant, proprietor, partner, director or otherwise), or have any
ownership interest in, or participate in the financing, operation, management or
control of, any person, firm, corporation or business that engages in or (to
Employee’s knowledge, after due inquiry) intends to engage in a Restricted
Business (as defined below).

 

Ownership of (i) no more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding voting stock
of a publicly traded corporation, or (ii) any stock presently owned by Employee,
shall not constitute a violation of this provision.

 

(b) Non-Solicitation. For a period of two (2) years from the Date of
Termination, Employee shall not:

 

(i) solicit, encourage, or take any other action which is intended to induce any
other employee of the Company to terminate his employment with the Company, or

 

(ii) interfere in any manner with the contractual or employment relationship
between the Company and any such employee of the Company.

 

The foregoing shall not prohibit any entity with which the Employee may be
affiliated from hiring a former employee of the Company.

 

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(c) Worldwide. The parties acknowledge that the market for radio frequency tuner
products is worldwide, and that, in this market, products from any nation
compete with products from all other nations. Accordingly, in order to secure to
the Company all possible benefits, the parties agree that the provisions of this
Section 4 shall apply to each of the states and counties of the United States,
and to each nation worldwide.

 

(d) Severability. The parties intend that the covenants contained in the
preceding paragraphs shall be construed as a series of separate covenants, one
for each state of the Union, and each nation. Except for geographic coverage,
each such separate covenant shall be deemed identical in terms to the covenant
contained in proceeding paragraphs. If, in any judicial proceeding, a court
shall refuse to enforce any of the separate covenants (or any part thereof)
deemed included in said paragraphs, then such unenforceable covenant (or such
part) shall be deemed eliminated from this Agreement for the purpose of those
proceedings to the extent necessary to permit the remaining separate covenants
(or portions thereof) to be enforced. In the event that the provisions of this
Section 4 should ever be deemed to exceed the time or geographic limitations, or
the scope of this covenant, permitted by applicable law, then such provisions
shall be reformed to the maximum time or geographic limitations, as the case may
be, permitted by applicable laws.

 

5. Certain Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
have the meanings set forth below.

 

(a) “Base Compensation” means Employee’s rate of annual salary, as in effect for
the twelve-month period ending on the date six months prior to any Change of
Control or on the Date of Termination, whichever is higher. In no event shall
Base Compensation be less than $190,000 for purposes of Severance Benefit
calculations. Base Compensation does not include elements such as bonuses,
reimbursement of interest paid on guaranteed loans, auto allowances, nor any
income from equity based compensation, such as may result from the exercise of
stock options or stock appreciation rights, or the receipt of restricted stock
awards or the lapse of the restrictions on such awards. If Employee is employed
by the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries for less than one full calendar
year immediately preceding the Change of Control, Employee’s “highest annual
bonus” will be determined by annualizing the bonus earned during employee’s
period of employment.

 

(b) “Cause”, for purposes of this Agreement, means (i) if Employee is determined
by a court of law or pursuant to arbitration to have committed a willful act of
embezzlement, fraud or dishonesty which resulted in material loss, material
damage or material injury to the Company, (ii) Employee’s conviction of, or plea
of nolo contendere to, a felony, or (iii) Employee’s continued substantial
violations of his employment duties after Employee has received a written demand
for performance from the Company which specifically sets forth the factual basis
the Company’s belief that Employee has not substantially performed his duties.
In such an event, at the election of the Company, Employee shall have no rights
under this Agreement other than payment of compensation and reimbursement of
business expenses pursuant to this Agreement through the date of termination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have been
terminated for Cause without (i) reasonable notice to Employee setting forth the
reasons for the Company’s intention to terminate for Cause, and (ii) an
opportunity for Employee, together with counsel, if any, to be heard before the
Board.

 

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(c) “Certain Reasons” means (A) a reduction in cash compensation (exclusive of
bonuses) or a material reduction in benefits, except as part of a salary or
benefit reduction program by the Company that is applicable generally to all
executives, (B) a material demotion in responsibilities or duties, (C)
relocation of Employee’s workplace to any place more than fifty miles from
Dallas, Texas, without Employee’s consent or (D) a material breach by the
Company of this Agreement or any other material agreement between the Company
and Employee.

 

(d) “Change of Control” means a change of control of a nature which would be
required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation
14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange
Act”), or in response to any other form or report to the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any stock exchange or the Nasdaq National Market on which the
Company’s shares are listed which requires the reporting of a change of control.
In addition, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if any person
(as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or
becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing more than 35% of the combined voting power of the Company’s
then outstanding securities.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing definition, “Change of Control” for purposes of
this Agreement, shall exclude the acquisition of securities representing more
than 35% of the combined voting power of the Company by any of its wholly owned
subsidiaries, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities of the
Company under an employee benefit plan now or hereafter established by the
Company. As used herein, the term “beneficial owner” shall have the same meaning
as under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and related case law.

 

(e) “Constructive Termination” means the resignation by Employee due to any
diminution or adverse change in the circumstances of employment including,
without limitation, reporting relationships, job description, duties,
responsibilities, compensation, perquisites, office or location of employment.
The Board will determine in good faith whether a Constructive Termination has
occurred after (i) Employee has provided the Board reasonable notice setting
forth the reasons as to why he believes there has been a Constructive
Termination, and (ii) Employee, together with counsel, if any, is given an
opportunity to be heard before the Board.

 

(f) “Date of Termination” shall mean a date which is (1) specified in the Notice
of Termination if the Term is terminated by Employee; or (2) thirty (30) days
from the date on which a Notice of Termination is delivered to Employee, if the
Term is terminated by the Company.

 

(g) “Disability” means that Employee is unable by reason of accident or illness
(including mental illness) to perform the material duties of his regular
position with the Company after a physician acceptable to both the Company and
Employee (which acceptance will not be unreasonably withheld) determines that
such inability is certain or likely to continue for a period of more than ninety
(90) days. Employee will cooperate fully with the physician. If the physician
determines that Employee is disabled, the physician will certify to the Company
that Employee is disabled and the physician’s determination in that respect will
be conclusive. The Company will pay the physician’s fee.

 

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(h) “Restricted Business” means any business that is engaged in or (to
Employee’s knowledge, after due inquiry) preparing to engage in the design,
manufacture, marketing, sale or distribution of semiconductors or modules (or
components thereof) which provide the function of a radio frequency tuner or
compete with radio frequency products under development by the Company at the
time of this Agreement or during Employee’s tenure as an executive of the
Company.

 

6. Severance Benefits for Termination resulting from other than a Change of
Control.

 

(a) Involuntary Termination. If Employee’s employment is terminated by the Board
other than for Cause, or if Employee terminates his employment for Certain
Reasons, then (i) Employee shall be paid compensation at a rate equal to his
then current Base Compensation and the highest annual bonus paid to Employee
during the prior three (3) years until two years following Date of Termination
as severance benefits, (ii) options granted to Employee under the Company’s
employee stock plans, if any, shall immediately vest and become exercisable as
to the number of shares which would have otherwise vested had Employee continued
to be employed for twenty-four (24) months following the Date of Termination
(but in no event may the shares which so vest exceed the number of shares
subject to such options), (iii) the Company will continue to provide Employee
coverage under a plan providing whatever medical, dental, disability, life or
insurance benefits were in effect at the time of such termination for two (2)
years following the Date of Termination and (iv) any outstanding loans owed by
Employee to Company will be forgiven and (v) any repurchase rights held by the
Company on options exercised or stock owned by the Employee will be canceled on
the Date of Termination.

 

(b) Voluntary Termination; Termination for Cause. No severance benefits shall be
paid if Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by
Employee without Certain Reasons.

 

7. Termination of Employment Following Change of Control. If within two (2)
years following a Change of Control, Employee’s employment with the Company
terminates as the result of a Constructive Termination or is terminated by the
Company for other than Cause, then the Company shall provide to Employee as soon
as practicable, but not more than ten (10) business days following the Date of
Termination, each of the following benefits:

 

(a) Severance Benefits. The Company shall pay Employee a lump sum severance
benefit which shall equal two (2) times the sum of (i) Employee Base
Compensation, plus (ii) the highest annual bonus paid to Employee during the
last three (3) full calendar years immediately prior to the Change of Control.

 

(b) Equity Compensation. All unvested stock options, stock appreciation rights
and restricted stock awards held by Employee on the Date of Termination shall be
deemed fully vested and exercisable on such Date of Termination, provided that
if any option, right or award would, as a result of such accelerated
exercisability no longer qualify for exemption under section 16 of the Exchange
Act, then such option, right or award shall be fully vested but shall not become
exercisable until the earliest date on which it could become exercisable and
also qualify for exemption from section 16 of the Exchange Act. All vested
options held by Employee, including

 

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those deemed fully vested as of the Date of Termination, shall remain
exercisable for a period of one (1) year from the Date of Termination; provided,
however, in no event shall any option remain exercisable beyond the maximum
period allowed therefor in the stock option plan under which it was granted. Any
repurchase rights held by the Company on stock owned or options exercised by the
Employee shall be canceled on the Date of Termination. This Agreement shall
serve as an amendment to all of Employee’s outstanding stock options, restricted
stock awards, repurchase rights, and stock appreciation rights as of the Date of
Termination;

 

(c) Accrued Bonus. The Company shall pay Employee an amount equal to the pro
rata amount of the annual bonus accrued under the Company’s executive officer
bonus plan, if any, for the portion of the year prior to the Date of
Termination.

 

(d) Other Benefits. The Company shall provide to Employee for a period of
twenty-four (24) months following the Date of Termination, coverage under a plan
providing health and welfare benefits, at least comparable to those benefits in
effect on the Date of Termination, including but not limited to medical, dental,
vision, disability, dependent care and life insurance coverage. At the Company’s
election, health benefits may be provided by reimbursing Employee for the cost
of converting a group policy to individual coverage, or for the cost of extended
COBRA coverage. The Company shall also pay to Employee an amount calculated to
pay any income taxes due as a result of the payment by the Company on Employee’s
behalf for such health benefits. Such tax payment shall be calculated to place
Employee in the same after-tax position as if no such income taxes had been
imposed. Finally, the Company shall forgive any loans outstanding by the
Employee payable to the Company.

 

(e) Other Benefits Payable. The benefits described in subsections (a) through
(d) above shall be payable in addition to, and not in lieu of, all other accrued
or vested or earned but deferred compensation, rights, options or other benefits
which may be owed to Employee following termination of employment, irrespective
of whether Employee’s termination was preceded by a Change of Control,
including, without limitation, accrued vacation or sick pay, amounts or benefits
payable under any employment agreement or any bonus or other compensation plans,
stock option plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, life insurance
plan, health plan, disability plan or similar plan.

 

(f) Indemnification. For at least six years following a Change of Control,
Employee shall continue to be indemnified under the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, each as may be amended from time to time, at least to
the same extent as prior to the Change of Control, and Employee shall be covered
by the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, the fiduciary liability
insurance and the professional liability insurance policies that are the same
as, or provide coverage at least equivalent to, those the Company carried prior
to the Change of Control.

 

8. Payment Obligations Absolute. The Company’s obligation to pay the benefits
described herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected
by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
may have against Employee or anyone else. In the event of any dispute concerning
Employee’s right to payment, the Company shall nevertheless continue to pay to
Employee the Base Compensation until the dispute is resolved. Any such amounts
paid following

 

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Employee’s termination of his employment shall be credited against the amounts
otherwise due to Employee under this Agreement or, in the event the Company
prevails, shall be repaid to the Company.

 

9. Legal Fees. The Company shall also pay forthwith upon written demand from
Employee all legal fees and expenses reasonably incurred by Employee in seeking
to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement. In the
event Employee does not prevail in any ensuing arbitration or litigation, the
Company shall absorb its own costs, expenses, and attorney’s fees, and Employee
shall reimburse the Company for one-half of Employee’s costs, expenses, and
attorney’s fees.

 

10. Successors; Binding Agreement. The Company shall require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to
expressly 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
succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such agreement
prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this
Agreement and shall entitle Employee to compensation from the Company in the
same amount and on the same terms as Employee would be entitled hereunder if the
Company had terminated Employee’s employment without Cause after a Change of
Control, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on
which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of
Termination. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as
defined herein and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid
which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section or which
otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by
operation of law.

 

11. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Notices. Any notice, report or other communication required or permitted to
be given hereunder shall be in writing to both parties and shall be deemed given
on the date of delivery, if delivered, or three days after mailing, if mailed
first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the following addresses:

 

(i)     If to Employee, at the address set forth below Employee’s signature at
the end hereof.

 

(ii)    If to the Company:

 

Microtune, Inc.

2201 Tenth Street

Plano, Texas 75074

Attention: Board of Directors, Compensation Committee

 

or to such other address as any party hereto may designated by notice given as
herein provided.

 

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(b) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas as applied to
agreements made and performed in Texas by residents of Texas.

 

(c) Amendments. This Agreement shall not be changed or modified in whole or in
part except by an instrument in writing signed by each party hereto.

 

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each
of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one
and the same agreement.

 

(e) Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

12. Conflicting Terms. In the event that words or terms of this Employment
Agreement conflict with the words or terms of any other agreement or contract,
including, without limitation, any stock plan, notice of grant, or restricted
stock purchase agreement or option agreement entered into in connection with the
employment of Employee by the Company, the interpretation of this Agreement
shall prevail.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

 

MICROTUNE, INC.

BY:

 

/s/     DOUGLAS J. BARTEK

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Douglas J. Bartek, CEO and Chairman

 

As approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on October
23, 2002

 

EMPLOYEE

 

/s/    WILLIAM L. HOUSLEY

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William L. Housley

 

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