EXHIBIT 10.43

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

AGREEMENT dated as of [**DATE]**between Digitas LLC, a Delaware limitedliability company (the “Company”), and **[EMPLOYEE NAME]**(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 Agreementis **[DATE]**. 

 

2. Employment Period. The period duringwhich the Company shall employ the Executive 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 the second 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 beautomatically extended by one year, unless at least 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 andresponsibilities customarily assigned to such position and such 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 anyperiods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive shall 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 responsibilitiesfaithfully and efficiently. It shall not be considered a violation of the foregoing for the Executive to (a) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (b) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educationalinstitutions and (c) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not materially 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 serviceshereunder during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive an annual salary (the “Base Salary”) of not less than **[AMOUNT]** payable at such times and intervals as the Company pays the base salaries of its otherexecutive employees. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually during the Employment Period for possible increase. The Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase, and the term “Base Salary” shall thereafter refer to the BaseSalary as so increased. 

 

(b) Annual Bonus. In addition tothe 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 **[TARGET]** of the annual Base Salary, the precise amount to be determined bythe Chief Executive Officer subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board. Executive’s Annual Bonus 

 

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for the calendar year **[YEAR]** shall be prorated based on the Effective Date. Annual bonuses areawarded for calendar year performance and are generally paid in March or April of the following year, subject to the conditions precedent that the Executive is employed on that date. Payment of the annual bonus will be made partially in cash andpartially in Digitas stock option. 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 by the 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 andbenefits under retirement 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 receiveprompt reimbursement for all reasonable 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 Companyfor submission of expense reports, receipts, or similar documentation of such expenses. 

 

6. Termination of Employment. 

 

(a) Termination by the Company. The Executive’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 performhis duties hereunder on a full-time basis by reason 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 shall be limited to: 

 

(i) wrongful misappropriation of the funds or property of the Company; 

 

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

 

(iii) admission, confession, indictment or plea bargain to, orconviction 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, businessor business relationships of the Company or which may tend to bring the Executive or the Company into disrepute, or the willful commission of any act which is a breach of the Executive’s fiduciary duties to the Company; 

 

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(v) thedeliberate 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 the continuation of such failure for a periodof 30 days after delivery by the Company 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 the policies of the Company, including butnot 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 omitted to be done bythe 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 made by the Boardin 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 ofTermination”) 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 definedbelow; or 

 

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

 

(d) Definitionof “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 adversely affected; or if the Executive’s principal place of employment immediately prior to the Change of Control is relocated to alocation 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 such failure 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 terminationspecifying which of the foregoing provisions is applicable and the factual basis therefor, and if the Company fails to remedy such material failure, the Date of Termination shall be the 30th business day after such Notice is given or such other dateas the Company and the Executive shall agree. 

 

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

 

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(i) For aperiod of twelve months 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 of Termination (but, in the case of a termination by the Executive for GoodReason, disregarding any reduction thereof that was the basis for such termination). 

 

(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 shallprovide the Executive with information and access to enable the Executive to continue COBRA coverage thereafter for the maximum permitted duration at the Executive’s expense; provided, that during any period when the Executive iseligible to receive any such benefits under another employer-provided plan or a government plan, the Group Health Benefits or substitute benefits provided by the Company under this clause may be made secondary to those provided under such otherplan; 

 

(iii) The Company shall pay the Executiveany 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 of claims, in a form acceptable to the Company, and onExecutive’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. In addition to the severance benefits provided for in Section 6(e), ifwithin 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 the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled toseverance benefits as follows: 

 

(i) For a periodof twelve months after the one-year anniversary of the Date of Termination, the Company shall 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 theExecutive 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 theapplicable stock option plan. 

 

(g) Additional Limitation.

 

(i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrarynotwithstanding, in the event that 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) theExcise Tax and (2) the total of the Federal, state, and local income 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 ThresholdAmount, the Executive shall be entitled to the full benefits payable under this Agreement. 

 

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(B) If theThreshold 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 theSeverance Payments which are in excess of the Threshold Amount, then the benefits payable under this Agreement shall be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent necessary so that the maximum Severance Payments shall not exceed the ThresholdAmount. To the extent that there is more than one 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 suchdetermination within 45 days after the Company has sent the 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 “baseamount” within the meaning of Section 280G(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 orpenalties incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax. 

 

(ii) The determination as to which of the alternative 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 detailed supporting 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 bythe Company or the Executive. For purposes of determining which of the 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 taxationapplicable to individuals for the calendar year in which the determination is 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 Dateof Termination, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could 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 isterminated by reason of the Executive’s death or for any other reason other than by the Company without 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 followingthe Date of Termination in the case of the Executive’s death, and through the Date of Termination in all other cases, 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

7. Employee Confidential Information, Noncompetition and Ownership Agreement. This Agreement does not affect theExecutive’s obligations under the Employee Confidential Information, Noncompetition and Ownership Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”) previously signed by the 

 

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Executive. Such obligations continue in full force and effect according to the terms of theConfidentiality Agreement. 

 

8. No Mitigation. In no eventshall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of 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 or communication (hereinafter “Notice”) which is or may be required to be given byany party to the other party in connectionwith this Agreement shall be in writing and given by facsimile, personal delivery, receipted delivery services, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and properly addressed to the otherparty as shown below. 

 

(b) Notices shall be effective on the datesent 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 Counsel

If to the Executive:
  
**[EMPLOYEE NAME**
   
**STREET ADDRESS**
   
**CITY, ST ZIP CODE]**

 

Or at the residenceaddress most recently filed with the Company. 

 

(c) Each party maydesignate by Notice to the other a new address to which any Notice may thereafter be given. 

 

10. Entire Agreement. 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 orwritten with the Company and its predecessor entities with respect to the subject matter hereof. 

 

11. Successors and Assigns. 

 

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

 

(b) The Company mayassign this Agreement to 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 that expressly agrees to assume and perform this Agreementin the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no such assignment 

 

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had taken place, and “Company” shall include any such successor that assumes and agrees toperform this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise. 

 

12.Miscellaneous. 

 

(a) This Agreement shall be governed byand construed in accordance with the laws of the 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 Agreementshall not affect the 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 provisionsof this Agreement, 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, thisAgreement shall not be deemed 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 which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 

 

(g) When required by the context, references to “the “Company” in this Agreement shall mean or shall include Digitas LLC, its successorsand assigns (subject to the provisions of Section 11 (b), its predecessors and its Affiliates. Affiliates are companies 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 Agreementas of the day and year first above written. 

 

[EMPLOYEE NAME]
   
DIGITAS LLC
   
Employee Name

 

Date:         /        /        
   
[AUTHORIZED OFFICER]

 

Date:        /         /        

 

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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 Actof 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), directlyor indirectly, of securities of the Company 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’s Board (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 theBoard, provided that any person becoming 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 atleast a majority of the Incumbent 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 otheractual or threatened solicitation 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 anIncumbent Director; or 

 

(c) the stockholders ofthe Company shall approve (A) any consolidation 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 suchterm is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 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 itsultimate 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 the liquidation 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 thenumber, of shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities 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 thenoutstanding 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 thanpursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction 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 combinedvoting power of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities 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