**Exhibit 10.27**

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 

 

AGREEMENT dated as of June 22, 2001 between Digitas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company(the “Company”), and Brian Roberts (the “Executive”). 

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to set forth in a written agreement the terms and conditions of the Executive’s continuing employment by and continued services to the Company; 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Executive agree as follows: 

 

1 . Effective Date. The Effective Date of this Agreement is June 22, 2001. 

 

2. Employment Period. The period during which the Company shall employ theExecutive and the Executive shall serve the Company under this Agreement (the “Employment Period”) shall begin on the Effective Date and end on the second anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that on thesecond anniversary of the Effective Date and on each subsequent anniversary of such date (each such anniversary hereinafter referred to as a “Renewal Date”), the Employment Period shall be automatically extended by one year, unless atleast 60 days before a Renewal Date either party shall give notice to the other that the Employment Period shall not be so extended. 

 

3. Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as with the duties and responsibilities customarily assigned to such position andsuch other duties and responsibilities as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall from time to time assign to the Executive. 

 

4. Full-time Position. During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executiveshall devote his full business attention and time to the business and affairs of the Company and shall use his best efforts to carry out such responsibilities faithfully and efficiently. It shall not be considered a violation of the foregoing forthe Executive to (a) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (b) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (c) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do notmaterially interfere with the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. 

 

5. Compensation. 

 

(a) Base Salary. As compensation for the Executive’s services hereunder during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive an annual salary (the “Base Salary”) of not less than$165,000.00 payable at such times and intervals as the Company pays the base salaries of its other executive employees. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually during the Employment Period for possible increase. The Base Salary shall not bereduced after any such increase, and the term “Base Salary” shall thereafter refer to the Base Salary as so increased. 

 

(b) Annual Bonus. In addition to the Base Salary, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period the Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus (the“Annual Bonus”) of up to 40% of the annual Base Salary, the precise amount to be determined by the Chief Executive Officer subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board. Executive’s Annual Bonus for the calendar year2001 shall be prorated based on the Effective Date. Annual bonuses are awarded for calendar year performance and are generally paid in March of the following year, subject to the conditions precedent that the Executive is employed on that dateexcept as otherwise provided in this 

 

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agreement. Payment of the annual bonus will be made partially in cash and partially in Digitas stock options in a proportion consistent with Companypractices at that time. As more fully described below, all stock options granted to the Executive shall vest and become exercisable within 90 days after termination of employment within the two-year period following a Change in Control, whether bythe Company without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason (as hereinafter defined). 

 

(c) Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive employee benefits (including without limitation medical, life insurance and other welfare benefits and benefits underretirement and savings plans), Company-provided parking and paid vacation, in each case to the same extent as, and on the same terms and conditions as, other similarly situated senior executives of the Company from time to time. 

 

(d) Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for allreasonable expenses incurred by the Executive during the Employment Period in carrying out his duties under this Agreement, provided that the Executive complies with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company for submission of expensereports, receipts, or similar documentation of such expenses. 

 

6.Termination of Employment. 

 

(a) Termination by the Company. TheExecutive’s employment may be terminated by the Company under any of the following circumstances: 

 

(i) upon the “Disability” of the Executive, defined as the inability of the Executive to perform his duties hereunder on a full-time basis byreason of physical or mental incapacity, sickness or infirmity that continues for more than 180 days or for periods aggregating more than 180 days during any period of 365 consecutive days; 

 

(ii) for “Cause,” as defined below; or 

 

(iii) for any other reason (a termination without “Cause”).

 

(b) Definition of “Cause”. “Cause” means and shallbe limited to: 

 

(i) wrongful misappropriation of the funds orproperty of the Company; 

 

(ii) use of alcohol or illegal drugsinterfering with the performance of the Executive’s obligations, continuing after written warning of such actions; 

 

(iii) admission, confession, indictment or plea bargain to, or conviction of, a felony, or of any crime involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, theft,unethical or unlawful conduct; 

 

(iv) commission of any willful,intentional or grossly negligent act which could reasonably be expected to injure the reputation, business or business relationships of the Company or which may tend to bring the Executive or the Company into disrepute, or the willful commission ofany act which is a breach of the Executive’s fiduciary duties to the Company; 

 

(v) the deliberate or willful failure by the Executive (other than by reason of the Executive’s physical or mental illness, incapacity or disability) to substantially perform his duties with the Company and thecontinuation of such failure for a period of 30 days after delivery by the Company 

 

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to the Executive of Notice specifying the scope and nature of such failure and the Company’s intention to terminate the Executive for Cause. 

 

(vi) commission of any act which constitutes a material breach of thepolicies of the Company, including but not limited to the disclosure of any confidential information or trade secrets pertaining to the Company or any of its clients. 

 

For purposes of this Section, any act or failure to act of the Executive shall not be considered “willful” unless done or omittedto be done by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. The determination that any of the above described events constitute Cause shall be madeby the Board in its sole discretion. The Company shall give the Executive Notice of termination specifying which of the foregoing provisions is applicable. The effective date of the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (the“Date of Termination”) shall be the 30th business day after such Notice is given or such other date as the Company and the Executive shall agree. 

 

(c) Termination by the Executive. The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Executive under either of the following circumstances: 

 

(i) for “Good Reason,” as defined below; or 

 

(ii) for any other reason (a termination without “Good Reason”).

 

(d) Definition of “Good Reason”. “Good Reason”means termination at the Executive’s initiative: 

 

(i)within two years after a corporate Change in Control (as defined in Exhibit A to this Agreement) if the Executive’s title, duties, status, reporting relationship, authority, responsibilities or compensation have been materially and adverselyaffected; or if the Executive’s principal place of employment immediately prior to the Change of Control is relocated to a location more than 50 miles from such place of employment. 

 

(ii) after any material failure by the Company to comply with any provision of Section 5 of this Agreement, unless suchfailure is remedied by the Company within ten business days after receipt of Notice thereof from the Executive. 

 

The Executive shall give the Company Notice of termination specifying which of the foregoing provisions is applicable and the factual basis therefor, and if the Companyfails to remedy such material failure, the Date of Termination shall be the 30th business day after such Notice is given or such other date as the Company and the Executive shall agree. 

 

(e) Severance Benefits upon Certain Terminations. If during the Employment Period the Executive’s employment is terminated bythe Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall not be entitled to any further compensation or benefits provided for under this Agreement except as follows: 

 

(i) For a period of six months after the Date of Termination, the Companyshall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately before the Date of Termination (but, in the case of a termination by the Executive for Good Reason, disregarding any reduction thereof that was the basis for suchtermination). 

 

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(ii) The Company shall continue to provide the Executive with group health benefits pursuant to COBRA(the “Group Health Benefits”) for twelve months after the Date of Termination, and shall provide the Executive with information and access to enable the Executive to continue COBRA coverage thereafter for the maximum permitted duration atthe Executive’s expense; provided, that during any period when the Executive is eligible to receive any such benefits under another employer-provided plan or a government plan, the Group Health Benefits or substitute benefits provided bythe Company under this clause may be made secondary to those provided under such other plan; 

 

(iii) The Company shall pay the Executive any amounts that have been earned but not yet paid under Section 5 hereof. 

 

(iv) Receipt of severance benefits is conditioned on Executive’s execution and delivery of a separation agreement including a general release ofclaims, in a form acceptable to the Company, and on Executive’s strict compliance with the Employee Confidential Information, Noncompetition and Ownership Agreement substantially in the form attached. 

 

(f) Severance Benefits upon Terminations after Corporate Change in Control. Inaddition to the severance benefits provided for in Section 6(e), if within two years after a corporate Change in Control (as defined in Exhibit A to this Agreement) the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by theExecutive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to severance benefits as follows: 

 

(i) For a period of an additional six months, twelve months in total, after the Date of Termination, the Company shall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately before the Date ofTermination (but, in the case of a termination by the Executive for Good Reason, disregarding any reduction thereof that was the basis for such termination). 

 

(ii) Stock options previously granted to the Executive shall become vested immediately and shall be exercisable in accordance with the applicable stockoption plan 

 

(g) Additional Limitation. 

 

(i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the eventthat any compensation, payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (the “Severance Payments”),would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the following provisions shall apply: 

 

(A) If the Severance Payments, reduced by the sum of (1) the Excise Tax and (2) the total of the Federal, state, and localincome and employment taxes payable by the Executive on the amount of the Severance Payments which are in excess of the Threshold Amount, are greater than or equal to the Threshold Amount, the Executive shall be entitled to the full benefits payableunder this Agreement. 

 

(B) If the Threshold Amount is less than(x) the Severance Payments, but greater than (y) the Severance Payments reduced by the sum of (1) the Excise Tax and (2) the total of the Federal, state, and local income and employment taxes on the amount of the Severance Payments which are inexcess of the Threshold Amount, then the benefits payable under this Agreement shall be reduced (but 

 

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not below zero) to the extent necessary so that the maximum Severance Payments shall not exceed the Threshold Amount. To the extent that there is more thanone method of reducing the payments to bring them within the Threshold Amount, the Executive shall determine which method shall be followed; provided that if the Executive fails to make such determination within 45 days after the Company has sentthe Executive Notice of the need for such reduction, the Company may determine the amount of such reduction in its sole discretion. 

 

For the purposes of this Section 6(f), “Threshold Amount” shall mean three times the Executive’s “base amount” within the meaning of Section280G(b)(3) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder less one dollar ($1.00); and “Excise Tax” shall mean the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, and any interest or penalties incurred by the Executive with respectto such excise tax. 

 

(ii) The determination as to which of thealternative provisions of Section 6(f)(i) shall apply to the Executive shall be made by Arthur Andersen or any other nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailedsupporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the Date of Termination, if applicable, or at such earlier time as is reasonably requested by the Company or the Executive. For purposes of determining which ofthe alternative provisions of Section 6(f)(i) shall apply, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation applicable to individuals for the calendar year in which the determinationis to be made, and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of individual taxation in the state and locality of the Executive’s residence on the Date of Termination, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes whichcould be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. 

 

(h) Other Terminations. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death or for any other reason other than by the Companywithout Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation under this Agreement other than: 

 

(i) Base Salary through the 90th day following the Date of Termination in the case of the Executive’s death, and through the Date of Termination inall other cases, 

 

(ii) any unpaid Annual Bonus that Executivehas earned fully in accordance with Section 5(b) above, for a fiscal year that ended before the Date of Termination, 

 

(iii) benefits under and subject to the terms and conditions of any long-term disability insurance coverage in the case of termination because ofDisability, and 

 

(iv) vested benefits, if any, required to bepaid or provided by law. 

 

7. Employee Confidential Information,Noncompetition and Ownership Agreement. This Agreement does not affect the Executive’s obligations under the Employee Confidential Information, Noncompetition and Ownership Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”) previouslysigned by the Executive. Such obligations continue in full force and effect according to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement. 

 

8. No Mitigation. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to theExecutive under any of 

 

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the provisions of this Agreement and, except as specifically provided in Section 6(e)(ii) (health benefits) above, such amounts shall not be reduced,regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. 

 

9.Notices. 

 

(a) Each notice, demand, request, consent, report, approval orcommunication (hereinafter “Notice”) which is or may be required to be given by any party to the other party in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and given by facsimile, personal delivery, receipted delivery services, orby certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and properly addressed to the other party as shown below. 

 

(b) Notices shall be effective on the date sent via facsimile, the date delivered personally or by receipted delivery service, or three (3) days after the date mailed: 

 
If to the Company:  Digitas LLC   Prudential Tower   800 Boylston Street   Boston, MA 02199   Attn: General CounselIf to the Executive:  Brian Roberts   10 Governor Doherty Road   Billerica, MA 01821
 

Or at the residence address mostrecently filed with the Company. 

 

(c) Each party may designate by Notice to theother a new address to which any Notice may thereafter be given. 

 

10. EntireAgreement. This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements whether oral or written with the Company and its predecessor entities with respectto the subject matter hereof. 

 

11. Successors and Assigns. 

 

(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and shall not be assignable by theExecutive without the prior written consent of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives. 

 

(b) The Company may assign this Agreement to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) toall or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company that expressly agrees to assume and perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no such assignmenthad taken place, and “Company” shall include any such successor that assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise. 

 

12. Miscellaneous. 

 

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the 

 

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. 

 

(b) This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto. 

 

(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affectthe validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in part, the remaining portion of such provision, together with all other provisions of thisAgreement, shall remain valid and enforceable and continue in full force and effect to the fullest extent consistent with law. 

 

(d) The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of, or to assert any right under, this Agreement shall not bedeemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or of any other provision of or right under this Agreement. 

 

(e) The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and in no manner shall be construed as part of this Agreement. 

 

(f) This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of whichtogether shall constitute one and the same instrument. 

 

(g) When required bythe context, references to “the “Company” in this Agreement shall mean or shall include Digitas LLC, its successors and assigns (subject to the provisions of Section 11 (b), its predecessors and its Affiliates. Affiliates arecompanies that control, that are controlled by, or are under common control with Digitas LLC. 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. 

 

BRIAN ROBERTS
   
DIGITAS LLC

/s/ Brian Roberts
   
/s/ Anne Drapeau

Brian Roberts
   
Anne Drapeau
    
Chief People Officer

Date: 7/31/01
   
Date: 7/31/01

 

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EXHIBIT A 

DEFINITION OF “CHANGE IN CONTROL” 

 

“Change in Control” shall mean any of the following: 

 

(a) any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”)(other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any trustee, fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), together with all “affiliates”and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such person, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of theCompany representing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (A) the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities having the right to vote in an election of the Company’s Board (“Voting Securities”) or(B) the then outstanding shares of Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) (other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company); or 

 

(b) persons who, as of the Commencement Date, constitute the Company’sBoard (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including, without limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar transaction, to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any personbecoming a director of the Company subsequent to the Commencement Date shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election was approved by or such person was nominated for election by a vote of at least a majority of theIncumbent Directors; but provided further, that any such person whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of members of the Board or other actual or threatenedsolicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director;or 

 

(c) the stockholders of the Company shall approve (A) anyconsolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 underthe Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting shares of the Company issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any), (B)any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or (C) any plan or proposal for theliquidation or dissolution of the Company. 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a“Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (a) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company which, by reducing the number, of shares of Common Stock or other VotingSecurities outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by any person to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (A) the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities or (B) Common Stock;provided, however, that if any person referred to in this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Securities or Common Stock (other than pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, or similartransaction or as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company) and immediately thereafter beneficially owns twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (A) the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding VotingSecurities or (B) Common Stock, then a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (a). 

 

EXHIBIT A -1