exv10w23






Exhibit 10.23




EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AND

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT




     AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) by and between USA Mobility, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”) and ___(the
“Executive”) dated as of October 30, 2008 (the
“Effective Date”).



     WHEREAS, the Executive is currently an employee of the Company;



     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is
in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to foster the continued employment of the
Executive, notwithstanding recent reductions-in-force of employees at the Company and
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in Section
1 hereof) of the Company;



     WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and
encourage the continued attention and dedication of the Executive in the Executive’s assigned
duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from any
future reductions-in-force of employees at the Company and any possible Change in Control of the
Company; and



     WHEREAS, the Board has concluded that the interests of the Company described above can be best
satisfied by agreeing to make certain payments to the Executive if the Executive’s employment is
terminated without cause (as defined in Section 1 hereof) either before or following a Change in
Control;



     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:


1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below:




     “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by
the Company, (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest and (iii) an
affiliate of the Company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act, in each case as determined by the Committee.



     “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 issued
under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person becoming
a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company
with another entity.



     “Cause” shall mean (A) dishonesty of a material nature that relates to the performance
of services for the Company by Executives; (B) criminal conduct (other than minor infractions and
traffic violations) that relates to the performance of services under for the Company by Executive;
(C) the Executive’s willfully breaching or failing to perform his duties as an employee of the
Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive having a Disability), within a
reasonable period of time after a written demand for substantial performance



 









 







is delivered to the
Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes
that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties; or (D) the willful engaging by the
Executive in conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or
otherwise. No act or failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be deemed “willful” unless done,
or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that such
action or omission was in the reasonable best interests of the Company.



     “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date
of this Agreement of any of the following events:




	 	(i)	 	Any Person (excluding any employee benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary of
the Company) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company’s outstanding securities then entitled ordinarily to vote for the election of
directors; or

	 
	 	(ii)	 	During any period of two (2) consecutive years commencing on or after the Effective
Date, the individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board or any
individuals who would be Continuing Directors (as defined below) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof; or

	 
	 	(iii)	 	The Board shall approve a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company; or

	 
	 	(iv)	 	The Board shall approve any merger, consolidation, or like business combination or
reorganization of the Company, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of
any event described in clause (i) or (ii), above.






     “Continuing Directors” shall mean the directors of the Company in office on the
Effective Date and any successor to any such director and any additional director who after the
Effective Date (i) was nominated or selected by a majority of the Continuing Directors in office at
the time of his or her nomination or selection and (ii) who is not an “affiliate” or “associate”
(as defined in Regulation 12B promulgated under the Exchange Act) of any person who is the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities representing ten percent (10%) or more of
the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities then entitled ordinarily to vote
for the election of directors.



     “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.



     “Disability” shall mean a condition or circumstance such that the Executive has become
totally and permanently disabled as defined or described in the Company’s long term disability
benefit plan applicable to executive officers as in effect at the time the Executive’s disability
is incurred.



     “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.



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     “Good Reason” shall mean, without the Executive’s express written consent, any of the
following, unless such act or failure to act is corrected prior to the Date of Termination
specified in the Notice of Termination given in respect thereof:




	 	(i)	 	the Executive is removed from the Executive’s position as was in effect prior to
the Change in Control for any reason other than (A) by reason of death, Disability or
Retirement or (B) for Cause; provided that such action results in a material diminution of
Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities;

	 
	 	(ii)	 	the Executive is assigned any duties inconsistent in a material respect with the
Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting relationships),
authority, duties or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to the Change in
Control if such assignment results in a material diminution in such position, authority,
duties or responsibilities (excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and
inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly
following notice thereof given by the Executive);

	 
	 	(iii)	 	the Company materially breaches any agreement under which the Executive provides
services;

	 
	 	(iv)	 	the Executive’s annual base salary or annual bonus opportunity as in effect
immediately prior to the Change in Control (or thereafter if higher) is reduced (except for
across-the-board reductions similarly affecting all senior executives of the Company and all
senior executives of any Person in control of the Company); provided such reduction is a
material diminution of Executive’s base compensation or a material breach of any agreement
under which the Executive provides services;

	 
	 	(v)	 	the failure by the Company to continue to provide the Executive with benefits at
least as favorable in the aggregate as those enjoyed by the Executive under the Company’s
pension, life insurance, medical, health and accident, disability, travel, deferred
compensation and savings plans in which the Executive was participating at the time of the
Change in Control, the taking of any action by the Company that would directly or indirectly
materially reduce such benefits in the aggregate or deprive the Executive of any material
fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control unless such
material fringe benefit is replaced with a comparable benefit, or the failure by the Company
to continue to provide the Executive with the number of paid vacation days to which the
Executive is entitled; provided such reduction in benefits and compensation is a material
breach of any agreement under which the Executive provides services;

	 
	 	(vi)	 	the failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor
to assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated in Section 11 hereof;

	 
	 	(vii)	 	any relocation of the Executive’s principal place of business as of the date
immediately preceding a Change in Control or thereafter that would require him to relocate
his principal residence by more than fifty (50) miles; or





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	 	(viii)	 	any purported termination of the Executive’s employment that is not effected
pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of Section 5(b) hereof,
which termination for purposes of this Agreement shall be ineffective.





Notwithstanding the foregoing, a termination shall not be treated as a termination for Good Reason
unless the Executive shall have delivered a Notice of Termination stating that the Executive
intends to terminate employment for Good Reason within thirty (30) days, and such Termination must
occur within seventy five (75) days, of the Executive’s having actual knowledge of the initial
occurrence of one or more of such events, provided, in each such event, the Company fails to cure
within thirty (30) days of receipt of such Notice of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement,
any good faith determination of “Good Reason” or good faith determination of the Company’s failure
to cure within the thirty (30) day period made by the Executive shall be conclusive.




     “Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange
Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company and (ii) any trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a subsidiary of the
Company.



     “Retirement” shall mean the Executive’s separation from service initiated by the
Executive after attainment by the Executive of age sixty-five (65).



     “Section 409A Penalties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16 of this
Agreement.



     “Specified Employee” shall mean any person described in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of
the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as determined from time to time by the Company
in its discretion.



     “Termination of Employment” shall mean and be interpreted in a manner consistent with
the definition of “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the
Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). The Company retains the right and discretion to
specify, and may specify, whether a Termination of Employment occurs for individuals providing
services to the Company immediately prior to an asset purchase transaction in which the Company is
the seller, who provide services to a buyer after and in connection with such asset purchase
transaction; provided, such specification is made in accordance with the requirements of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(4).


2. Term of Agreement. The term of this Agreement will commence as of the date hereof (the
“Effective Date”) and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2012. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control during the term of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of two years from the date of such Change in
Control, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided.



3. Termination Prior to any Changes in Control.




     (a) Termination Without Cause. Upon a Termination of Employment of the Executive
during the term of this Agreement by the Company without Cause prior to any Change



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in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Section 4 hereof. If Executive is
terminated for Cause during the term of this Agreement whether before or after any Change in
Control, Executive shall have no rights or benefits hereunder.



     (b) Notice of Termination. Prior to any Change in Control, the Company may effectuate
a Termination of Employment of Executive without Cause upon ten (10) days written notice, or for
Cause upon immediate written notice, in either case delivered to Executive by hand or in accordance
with Section 12 hereof.



     (c) Date of Termination. Executive’s last day of employment upon a Terminate of
Employment with the Company prior to any Change in Control shall be the date set forth in the
written notice delivered to Executive by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof.


4. Compensation upon Termination Without Cause Prior to any Change in Control; Release.
Prior to any Change in Control, upon Termination of Employment of the Executive by the Company
without Cause (other than because of death, Disability or Retirement) during the term of this
Agreement, in lieu of any severance benefits Executive would otherwise be eligible to receive under
any employment agreement or arrangement with the Company or under the Company’s severance plan, if
any, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits and payments against receipt from
Executive of a written, signed release of the Company and its Affiliates in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to the Company;




     (a) Continuation of Executive’s base salary payable in accordance with the Company’s ordinary
payroll practices for a period of twenty-six (26) weeks plus two (2) additional weeks for each year
of continuous severance by Executive with the Company and its Affiliates or predecessor entities
for up to a maximum of fifty two (52) weeks (the “Severance Period”) commencing on the Date of
Termination; and



     (b) Payment in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices of the product of the
(i) Executive’s Eligible Annual Bonus, multiplied by (ii) a fraction the numerator of which shall
be the number of days from January 1 of the year of Termination of Employment to the date of
termination, inclusive, and the denominator which shall be 365, at the time annual bonuses are paid
under the Company’s short term incentive plan for such year (the “STIP”) but in any event
no later than March 15 of the year following the date of termination. The “Eligible Annual
Bonus” for Executive shall be determined by the Company in good faith based upon the Company’s
actual performance during the full year in which Executive’s Termination of Employment occurred and the enumerated performance targets established by the Company under
the STIP for the Executive; and



     (c) Subject to Executive’s continued compliance with Section 9 hereof and the limitation in
Section 14, life, accident and health insurance benefits substantially similar to those that the
Executive was receiving immediately prior to the notice of termination until the earlier to occur
of (i) the end of the Severance Period or (ii) such time as the Executive is covered by comparable
programs of a subsequent employer.



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5. Termination Following Change in Control.




     (a) Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason. If a Change in Control shall have
occurred, upon a Termination of Employment during the term of this Agreement by the Company without
Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits
provided in Section 6 hereof.



     (b) Notice of Termination. Following a Change in Control, any purported Termination
of Employment by the Company or by the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice of
Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 12 hereof. For purposes of this
Agreement after a Change in Control, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, and shall specify the Date of Termination.
The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or
circumstance that contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the
Executive or the Company under this Agreement or preclude the Executive or the Company from
asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights under this
Agreement.



     (c) Date of Termination. Following a Change in Control, “Date of Termination”
shall mean the date within the term of the Agreement specified in the Notice of Termination, which
shall not be less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days from the date such Notice of
Termination is given, (except for a termination pursuant to paragraph (vi) of the definition of
Good Reason, in which event the date upon which any succession referred to therein becomes
effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination, or a Termination of Employment by the Company
for Cause, in which event the date such notice is received shall be the Date of Termination).


6. Compensation upon Termination without Cause or for Good Reason Following a Change in
Control; Release. Following a Change in Control, upon any Termination of Employment of the
Executive by the Company without Cause (other than because of death, Disability or Retirement), or
any Termination of Employment by the Executive for Good Reason, in any case, during the term of
this Agreement, in lieu of any severance benefits Executive would otherwise be eligible to receive
under any employment agreement or arrangement with the Company or under the Company’s severance
plan, if any, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, the Executive shall be
entitled to the following benefits and payments against receipt from Executive of a written, signed release of the Company and its Affiliates in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to the Company:




     (a) A cash lump sum payment (payable within ten (10) days of the Date of Termination) of full
base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time the Notice of
Termination is given or, if higher, at the rate in effect immediately prior to the reduction giving
rise (pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition of Good Reason) to such termination, plus all other
amounts to which the Executive is entitled under any other compensation or benefit plan of the
Company at the time such payments are due under the terms of such plans; and



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     (b) A cash lump sum payment (payable within ten (10) days of the Date of Termination) equal to
the sum of the Final Salary and the Target Bonus. “Final Salary” means the Executive’s
annual base salary as in effect on the Date of Termination or, if higher, the Executive’s annual
base salary in effect immediately prior to the reduction giving rise (pursuant to clause (iv) of
the definition of Good Reason) to such termination. “Target Bonus” means 100% of the
targeted cash bonus Executive would be entitled to receive if he (and, if applicable, the Company)
were to achieve all of the enumerated performance targets established by the Company under the STIP
for the Executive during the year in which the Date of Termination occurs; and



     (c) A cash lump sum payment payable within ten (10) days of the Date of Termination equal to
the product of (i) the Executive’s Final Salary, multiplied (ii) by a fraction the numerator of
which shall be the sum of (x) twenty six (26) plus the (y) product of two (2) multiplied by the
number of years of continuous service by Executive with the Company and its Affiliates or
predecessor entities up to a maximum of thirteen (13) years, and the denominator of which shall be
fifty-two (52); and



     (d) Subject to the Executive’s continued compliance with Section 9 hereof and the limitation
in Section 14, life, accident and health insurance benefits substantially similar to those that the
Executive was receiving immediately prior to the Change in Control (or thereafter, if higher) until
the earlier to occur of (i) the 18 month anniversary of the Date of Termination or (ii) such time
as the Executive is covered by comparable programs of a subsequent employer. Benefits otherwise
receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section 6(d) shall be reduced to the extent comparable
benefits are actually received during the 18 month period following termination, and any such
benefits actually received by the Executive shall be reported to the Company.



     (e) In addition to all other amounts payable under this Section 6, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive all benefits payable under any other plan or agreement relating to retirement
benefits (if any) (including plans or agreements of any successor following a Change in Control) in
accordance with the terms of such plan or agreement; provided that, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, the Executive shall be credited under such plans or agreements (including plans and
agreements of any successor) with one year additional service with the Company after the Date of
Termination for all purposes, including vesting, eligibility and benefit accrual; provided that if
the benefit attributable to such service cannot be paid from a tax-qualified plan of the Company,
such benefit shall be provided as an additional benefit (before offsets) under any supplemental executive retirement plan or restoration-type plan in which
the Executive participates, and if the Executive participates in no such plan, such benefit shall
be paid in a cash lump sum (payable within ten days of the Date of Termination); and provided
further that in no event shall such benefit be duplicated under two or more arrangements.


7. Full Settlement; Mitigation. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for
in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any
set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may
have against the Executive or others. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment or benefit provided for in Section 4 or Section 6 hereof by seeking other employment or
otherwise, nor (except as specifically provided in Section 4 or Section 6 hereof)


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shall the amount
of any payment or benefit provided for in Section 4 or Section 6 hereof be reduced by any
compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer or by
retirement benefits after the Date of Termination, or otherwise.



8. Certain Tax Consequences. Whether or not the Executive becomes entitled to the payments
and benefits described in Section 4 or Section 6 hereof, if any of the payments or benefits
received or to be received by the Executive in connection with a change in ownership or control of
the Company (as defined in section 280G of the Code (a “Statutory Change in Control”)) or the
Executive’s Termination of Employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other
plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a Statutory
Change in Control or any person affiliated with the Company or such person) (collectively, the
“Severance Benefits”) will be subject to any excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under section
4999 of the Code, then, subject to Section 8(c), the Company shall pay to the Executive an
additional amount equal to the Excise Tax (the Excise Tax Payment”); provided, however, that (i)
the Executive shall have made a timely request for such Excise Tax Payment and (ii) no part of the
Excise Tax Payment shall be made after the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the
taxable year in which the applicable excise taxes shall have been paid by the Executive.




     For purposes of determining whether any of the Severance Benefits will be subject to the
Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax:



     (a) all of the Severance Benefits shall be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning
of Code section 280G(b)(2), and all “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Code section
280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless, in the opinion of tax counsel
selected by the Company’s independent auditors and reasonably acceptable to the Executive, such
other payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, including by
reason of Code section 280G(b)(4)(A), or such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part)
represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Code
section 280G(b)(4)(B), in excess of the “Base Amount” as defined in Code section 280G(b)(3)
allocable to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax; and



     (b) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined
by the Company’s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Code section 280G(d)(3)
and (4).



     In the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken
into account hereunder at the time of Termination of Employment of the Executive, the Executive
shall repay to the Company, at the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally
determined (the “Reduced Excise Tax”), the difference of the Excise Tax Payment and the Reduced
Excise Tax. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account
hereunder at the time of the Termination of Employment of the Executive (including by reason of any
payment the existence or amount of which could not be determined at the time of the Excise Tax
Payment), the Company shall make an additional Excise Tax payment in respect of such excess (plus
any interest or penalties payable by the Executive with respect to such excess) at the time that
the amount of such excess is finally



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determined. The Executive and the Company shall each
reasonably cooperate with the other in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings
concerning the existence or amount of liability for Excise Tax with respect to the Severance
Benefits.



     (c) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, the Severance Benefits shall be
reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of such Severance Benefits shall be subject to
the Excise Taxes, but only if the sum of (A) the net amount of such Severance Benefits, without
reduction (but after imposition of the total amount of taxes under federal, state and local law)
plus (B) the amount of the Excise Tax Payment in respect of such excess plus any interest or
penalties payable by the Executive with respect to such excess (but after imposition of the total
amount of taxes under federal, state and local law applicable to such additional payment) exceeds
the net amount of such Severance Benefits, as so reduced (and after the imposition of the total
amount of taxes under federal, state and local law on such amounts or benefits).


9. Confidential Information; Non-Solicitation; Non-Competition. The Executive shall hold
in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret, proprietary, or confidential
materials, knowledge, data or any other information relating to the Company or any of its
affiliated companies, and their respective businesses (“Confidential Information”), which shall
have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its
affiliated companies and that shall not have been or now or hereafter have become public knowledge
(other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this
Agreement). During the term of this Agreement and (a) for a period of three years thereafter with
respect to Confidential Information that does not include trade secrets, and (b) any time
thereafter with respect to Confidential Information that does include trade secrets, the Executive
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law
or legal process, communicate or divulge any Confidential Information to anyone other than the
Company and those designated by it.




     In addition, the Executive shall not, at any time during the term of this Agreement and for a
period of two (2) years thereafter, (a) engage or become interested as an owner (other than as an
owner of less than five percent (5%) of the stock of a publicly owned company), stockholder,
partner, director, officer, employee (in an executive capacity), consultant or otherwise in any
business that is competitive with any business conducted by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies during the term of this Agreement or as of the Date of Termination, as applicable, or (b)
recruit, solicit for employment, hire or engage any employee or consultant of the Company or any
person who was an employee or consultant of the Company within two (2) years prior to the Date of Termination. The Executive acknowledges that these provisions are necessary for the
Company’s protection and are not unreasonable, since he would be able to obtain employment with
companies whose businesses are not competitive with those of the Company and its affiliated
companies and would be able to recruit and hire personnel other than employees of the Company. The
duration and the scope of these restrictions on the Executive’s activities are divisible, so that
if any provision of this paragraph is held or deemed to be invalid, that provision shall be
automatically modified to the extent necessary to make it valid.


10. Remedies. The Executive acknowledges that a violation or attempted violation on the
Executive’s part of Section 8 will cause irreparable damage to the Company, and the Executive



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therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled as a matter of right to an injunction, out of
any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or further violation of such
promises by the Executive or the Executive’s employees, partners or agents. The Executive agrees
that such right to an injunction is cumulative and in addition to whatever other remedies the
Company may have under law or equity.



11. Successors; Binding Agreement.




     (a) The Company will 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. As
used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as defined above and any successor to its
business and/or assets that assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or
otherwise. Prior to a Change in Control, the term “Company” shall also mean any Affiliate of the
Company to which the Executive may be transferred and the Company shall cause such successor
employer to be considered the “Company” and to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and this
Agreement shall be amended to so provide. Following a Change in Control the term “Company” shall
not mean any Affiliate of the Company to which Executive may be transferred unless Executive shall
have previously approved of such transfer in writing, in which case the Company shall cause such
successor employer to be considered the “Company” and to be bound by the terms of this Agreement
and this Agreement shall be amended to so provide. Failure of the Company to obtain an assumption
and agreement as described in this Section 11(a) prior to the effective date of a succession shall
be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to compensation from the Company in
the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled to under this Agreement if
the Executive were to terminate the Executive’s employment for Good Reason after a Change in
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.



     (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount would still be payable
hereunder if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s devisee,
legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.



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12. Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document given under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be addressed and delivered, in the case of the Company, to the
Secretary of the Company at the principal office of the Company and, in the case of the Executive,
to the Executive’s address as shown in the records of the Company or to such other address as may
be designated in writing by either party.



13. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this
Agreement such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any
applicable law or regulation.



14. In-Kind Benefits and Reimbursements. In-kind benefits and reimbursements provided
under this Agreement during any tax year of the Executive shall not affect in-kind benefits or
reimbursements to be provided in any other tax year of the Executive, provided, however that the
foregoing shall not apply to any applicable limits on amounts that may be reimbursed for medical
expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code and are not subject to liquidation or exchange
for another benefit. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, reimbursement requests
must be timely submitted by the Executive and, if timely submitted, reimbursements must be made on
or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the
expense was incurred. In no event shall the Employee be entitled to any reimbursement payments
after the last day of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was
incurred. This paragraph shall only apply to in-kind benefits and reimbursements that would result
in taxable compensation income to the Employee.



15. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive
and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto
at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or
provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar
or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No
agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject
matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.



16. Governing Law; Avoidance of Section 409A Penalty; Separate Payments. This Agreement
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without
regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, in the event of a payment to be made, or a benefit to be provided, pursuant to this
Agreement based upon Executive’s Termination of Employment at a time when the Executive is
determined to be a Specified Employee by the Company in its sole discretion and such payment or
provision of such benefit is not exempt or otherwise permitted under Section 409A of the Code
without the imposition of Section 409A Penalties, such payment shall not be made, and such benefit
shall not be provided, before the date which is six (6) months and one day after the Executive’s
Termination of Employment . All payments or benefits delayed pursuant to this Section shall be
aggregated into one lump sum payment following the first day of the seventh month after Executive’s
Termination of Employment in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices.




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     This Agreement is intended to be written, administered, interpreted and construed in a manner
such that no payment or benefits provided under the Agreement become subject to (a) the gross
income inclusion set forth within Code Section 409A(a)(1)(A) or (b) the interest and additional tax
set forth within Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B) (together, referred to herein as the “Section 409A
Penalties”), including, where appropriate, the construction of defined terms to have meanings that
would not cause the imposition of Section 409A Penalties. In no event shall the Company be
required to provide a tax gross-up payment to Executive with respect to Section 409A Penalties.



     For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, for purposes of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), each payment that the Executive may be eligible
to receive under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate and distinct payment.


17. Validity. If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared to be invalid or
unenforceable, in whole or in part, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full
force and effect.



18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in several counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the
same instrument.



19. Arbitration. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10 hereof, the parties agree that
any dispute, claim, or controversy based on common law, equity, or any federal, state, or local
statute, ordinance, or regulation (other than workers’ compensation claims) arising out of or
relating in any way to this Agreement, its termination or any Termination of Employment, including
whether such dispute is arbitrable, shall be settled by arbitration. This agreement to arbitrate
includes but is not limited to all claims for any form of illegal discrimination, improper or
unfair treatment or dismissal, and all tort claims. The Executive shall still have a right to file
a discrimination charge with a federal or state agency, but the final resolution of any
discrimination claim shall be submitted to arbitration instead of a court or jury. The arbitration
proceeding shall be conducted under the employment dispute resolution arbitration rules of the
American Arbitration Association in effect at the time a demand for arbitration under the rules is
made. The decision of the arbitrator(s), including determination of the amount of any damages
suffered, shall be exclusive, final, and binding on all parties, their heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns.



20. Status Prior to Change in Control. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall impair or
interfere in any way with the Executive’s right to terminate employment or the right of the Company
to terminate the Executive’s employment with or without Cause prior to a Change in Control.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as a contract of employment between the
Company and the Executive.



21. Legal Fees. The Company shall pay the Executive’s reasonable legal fees and expenses
that may be incurred by the Executive in contesting or disputing any Termination of Employment
following a Change in Control or in seeking to obtain or enforce any of Executive rights or
benefits provided by this Agreement, if the Executive is the prevailing party in


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connection with any such dispute. This Section 21 shall not apply to any action or proceeding
instituted by the Company to enforce Section 9 of this Agreement or to seek the remedies afforded
to the Company in Section 10 of this Agreement.



22. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter herein and supersedes any prior agreements between the Company and
the Executive. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or
undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those
expressly set forth herein.




     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and
year first above written.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	USA Mobility, Inc.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Bonnie Culp 	 
	 	 	Executive Vice President, HR 	 
	 
	 
	 
	 	Executive	 
	 
	 	(s)	 




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