Exhibit
10.32


 


DIRECT REPORTS AGREEMENT


 


This Agreement (this “Agreement”), effective as
of December 15, 2003, is between Fargo Electronics, Inc., a Delaware
corporation located at 6533 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344
(“Fargo”) and Paul W.B. Stephenson, an individual residing at
                                                                            (the ”Executive”).


 


A.                                   The
Executive is currently employed as Fargo’s Chief Financial Officer.


 


B.                                     The
Board considers that the Executive’s services are of significant value to the
Company and its shareholders.  
Therefore, the Fargo and the Board believe that the establishment and
maintenance of a program that provides the Executive with security if a Change
of Control of Fargo occurs is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders.


 


C.                                     This
Agreement, which has been approved by the Board, sets forth the benefits that
the Fargo agrees will be provided to the Executive in the event the Executive’s
employment with Fargo or its Successor is terminated in connection with a
Change in Control under the circumstances described below.


 


Accordingly, the Company
and Executive each intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:


 


1.                                       Definitions



 


For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms
will have the meaning set forth below unless the context clearly requires
otherwise.  Terms defined elsewhere in
the Agreement will have the same meaning throughout the Agreement.


 


A.                                   “Base
Pay” means the Executive’s annual base salary from Fargo or any Successor
at the rate in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control or at the time
Notice of Termination is given, whichever is greater.  Base Pay includes only the gross cash salary excluding incentive
compensation.


 


B.                                     “Board”
means the board of directors of Fargo or any Successor duly qualified and
acting at the time in question.  On and
after the date of a Change in Control, any duty of the Board in connection with
this Agreement is nondelegable and any attempt by the Board to delegate any such
duty is ineffective.


 


C.                                     “Cause” means:


 


(i)                                     the Executive’s gross misconduct that is
materially and demonstrably injurious to Fargo or any Successor;


 


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(ii)                                  the Executive’s willful and continued
failure to perform substantially the Executive’s duties with Fargo or any
Successor (unless the Executive cannot perform these duties due to bodily
injury or physical or mental illness or if the Change in Control has so changed
the Executive’s responsibilities that the change constitutes a Good Reason for
termination.  If Fargo or any Successor
determines that the Executive has not performed his or her duties under the
terms of this clause after a Change of Control occurs, Fargo or any Successor
will specifically identify these areas and provide the Executive a reasonable
period of time to take corrective actions; or


 


(iii)                               the Executive’s conviction (including a plea of nolo
contendere) of willfully engaging in illegal conduct constituting a felony or
gross misdemeanor under federal or state law which is materially and
demonstrably injurious to Fargo or any Successor or which impairs the
Executive’s ability to perform substantially the Executive’s duties for the
Company.


 


For the purpose of this clause, a “gross or willful”
action will mean an act that is done by the Executive in bad faith and without
reasonable belief that it was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
Fargo or any Successor.  Any action
based on a resolution of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof will be
conclusively presumed to be done in good faith. If the Executive has other
duties not related to Fargo (such as charitable or service on other Boards)
prior to the Change of Control, continuation of those actions is conclusively presumed
to be done in good faith. If there is a dispute regarding the termination of
the Executive for cause, such dispute shall be subject to the dispute
resolution as described in Section 5(g) of this Agreement.


 


D.                                    “Change
in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following on or after April
30, 2001:


 


(i)                                     the sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all of the assets of
Fargo or any Successor, in one transaction or in a series of related
transactions, to any Successor;


 


(ii)                                  the approval by the stockholders of Fargo
or any Successor of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of
Fargo or any Successor;


 


(iii)                               any entity, other than a “bona fide underwriter,”
becomes, after the date of this Agreement, the “beneficial owner” (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of (i) 20
percent or more, but not more than 50 percent, of the combined voting power of
Fargo’s or any Successor’s outstanding securities ordinarily having the right
to vote at elections of directors, unless the transaction resulting in such
ownership has been approved in advance by the “continuity directors” or (ii)
more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of Fargo’s or any Successor’s
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of
directors (regardless of any approval by the continuity directors);


 


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(iv)                              a merger or consolidation to which Fargo
or any Successor is a party if the stockholders of Fargo or any Successor
immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation have,
solely on account of ownership of securities of Fargo or any Successor at such
time, “beneficial ownership” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act)
immediately following the effective date of such merger or consolidation of
securities of the surviving corporation representing (i) 50 percent or more,
but not more than 80 percent, of the combined voting power of the surviving
corporation’s then outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote
at elections of directors, unless such merger or consolidation has been
approved in advance by the continuity directors, or (ii) less than 50 percent
of the combined voting power of the surviving corporation’s then outstanding
securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of directors
(regardless of any approval by the continuity directors); or


 


(v)                                 the continuity directors cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board.


 


A “continuity director” means any individual who is a
member of the Board on the date of the Agreement, and any individual who
subsequently becomes a member of the Board whose election or nomination for
election by Fargo’s or any Successor’s stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the directors who are continuity directors (either by a
specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of Fargo or any Successor
in which such individual is named as a nominee for director without objection
to such nomination). A “bona fide underwriter” means an entity engaged in
business as an underwriter of securities that acquires securities of Fargo or
any Successor through such entity’s participation in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting until the expiration of 40 days after the date of such
acquisition.


 


E.                                      “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Any reference to a specific provision of the Code includes a
reference to such provision as it may be amended from time to time and to any
successor provision.


 


F.                                      “Date
of Termination” means the last day of regular paid employment.


 


G.                                     “ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.  Any reference to a specific provision of
ERISA includes a reference to such provision as it may be amended from time to
time and to any successor provision.


 


H.                                    “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Any reference to a specific provision of the
Exchange Act or to any rule or regulation thereunder includes a reference to
such provision as it may be amended from time to time and to any successor
provision.


 


I.                                         “Good Reason” means:


 


(i)                                     a change in the Executive’s title(s),
status, position(s), authority, duties or responsibilities as an executive of
Fargo or any Successor as in effect


 


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immediately prior to the Change in Control which, in
the Executive’s reasonable judgment, is material and adverse.  However, if the changes are those that are
consistent with working for a subsidiary of another company or if the change in
duties is directly attributable to the fact that Fargo or any Successor is no
longer publicly owned, then these will not be material and adverse.  Provided, that Good Reason does not include
such a change that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice
of such change is given by the Executive;


 


(ii)                                  a reduction by Fargo or any Successor in
the Executive’s Base Pay, or an adverse change in the form or timing of the
payment thereof, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or as
thereafter increased; provided, however, that Good Reason does not include such
a reduction that applies to all employees of Fargo or any Successor and is not
more than 20% of the Executive’s Base Pay;


 


(iii)                               the failure by Fargo or any Successor to provide to
the Executive (and/or the Executive’s family and dependents) substantially
similar benefits to those the Successor provides to its employees;


 


(iv)                              Fargo or any Successor’s requiring the
Executive to be based in a different metropolitan area (other than the
Minneapolis or St. Paul metropolitan area) 
from where the Executive’s office is located immediately prior to the
Change in Control, except for required travel on Fargo’s or any Successor’s
business, and then only to the extent substantially consistent with the
business travel obligations which the Executive undertook on behalf of Fargo
during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Change in Control (without
regard to travel related to or in anticipation of the Change in Control);


 


(v)                                 the failure by Fargo to obtain from any
Successor the assent to this Agreement contemplated by Section 5(a) of the
Agreement;


 


(vi                                  any purported termination by Fargo or any
Successor of the Executive’s employment that is not properly effected pursuant
to a Notice of Termination and pursuant to any other requirements of this
Agreement, and, for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination
will be effective; or


 


The Executive’s continued employment does not
constitute consent to, or waiver of any rights arising in connection with, any
circumstances constituting Good Reason. 
The Executive’s termination of employment for Good Reason as defined
above will constitute Good Reason for all purposes of the Agreement
notwithstanding that the Executive may also thereby be deemed to have retired
under any applicable benefit plan, policy or practice of Fargo or any
Successor.


 


J.                                        “Notice
of Termination” means a written notice given on or after the date of a
Change in Control unless the Executive’s termination before the date of the
Change in Control was either a condition of the Change in Control or was at the
request or insistence of any entity related to the Change in Control in which
case the written notice


 


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may be given before the date of the Change in Control which indicates
the specific termination provision in the Agreement pursuant to which the
notice is given


 


K.                                    “Other
Arrangement” is any Benefit Plan or other plan, policy or practice of the
Company or any other agreement between the Executive and Fargo, other than this
Agreement.


 


L.                                      “Fargo” means Fargo Electronics,
Inc. and includes any successor to Fargo Electronics, Inc.


 


M .                              “Successor”
means any individual, corporation partnership, group, association or other
person,” as such term is used in Section 13(d) or Section 14(d) of the Exchange
Act, other than the Fargo, any affiliate or any benefit plan(s) sponsored by
the Fargo that succeeds to, or has the practical ability to control (either
immediately or solely with the passage of time), the parent corporation’s
business directly, by merger, consolidation or other form of business combination,
or indirectly, by purchase of the parent corporation’s outstanding securities
ordinarily having the right to vote at the election of directors or all or
substantially all of its assets or otherwise. 
Successor shall also mean the entity that exists after the Change in
Control occurs, regardless of what form such entity shall take.


 


2.                                       Term
of Agreement.  This Agreement is
effective immediately and will have an initial term ending on December 31,
2004.  After this initial term, this
Agreement will automatically continue for consecutive one-year terms (“Renewal
Periods”) however, each such extension must be approved by the Company’s Board
of Directors.  The Company or the
Executive can choose to terminate this Agreement by giving notice 90 (ninety)
calendar days prior to the automatic renewal that the Agreement will not be
extended.


 


Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if a Change
in Control has occurred during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement will
continue in effect for a period of 12 months following the month during which
the Change in Control occurs.


 


3.                                       Benefits
upon a Change in Control Termination. 
The Executive will become entitled to the benefits described in this
Section 2 if and only if (i) Fargo or any Successor terminates the Executive’s
employment for any reason other than the Executive’s death or Cause, or the
Executive terminates the Executive’s employment with the Successor for Good
Reason, and (ii) the termination is within 12 months after the date of the
Change in Control (or before the Change in Control if at the request of or
required by the Successor related to the change in control.


 


(a)                                  Cash Payment. 
Not more than 30 days following the Date of Termination, or, if later,
not more than 30 days following the date of the Change in Control, the Company
or the Successor will make a lump-sum cash payment to the Executive in an
amount equal to the sum of 150% of the Executive’s Base Pay.


 


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(b)                                 Stock Options.  
100% of the Executive’s unvested options under the 1998 Stock Option
Plan will vest fully.


 


(c)                                  Other Stock Options. 
If other stock options under any plans after the 1998 Stock Option Plan
are issued, these stock options will be treated as if the stock options had
vested at 100% in connection with the Change in Control.  Any difference between the value of such
stock options that actually vested in connection with the Change in Control and
100% vesting shall be calculated and Fargo or the Successor will pay such
amount not more than 30 days following the Date of Termination.


 


 4.                                    Indemnification.  Following a Change in Control, Fargo or any
Successor will indemnify and advance expenses to the Executive for damages,
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, judgments, fines, penalties,
settlements and reasonable fees and expenses of the Executive’s counsel)
incurred in connection with all matters, events and transactions relating to
the Executive’s service to or status with Fargo’s or any Successor’s employee
benefit plan or other service.  Fargo or
any Successor must do so to the extent that would have been required under
applicable law, corporate articles, bylaws or agreements or instruments of any
nature with or covering the Executive, as in effect immediately prior to the
Change in Control and to any further extent as may be determined or agreed upon
following the Change in Control.


 


5.                                       Miscellaneous.


 


(a)                                  Successors.  Fargo must
have any Successor, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Executive, assent to the fulfillment by the Company of the Company’s
obligations under this Agreement. 
Failure by any Successor to enter into such agreement will constitute
Good Reason for termination by the Executive of the Executive’s employment.


 


(b)                                 Binding Agreement. 
This Agreement inures to the benefit of, and is enforceable by, the
Executive, or in the event of death or incapacity of the Executive, the
Executive’s personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.


 


(c)                                  No Mitigation. 
The Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any
benefits the Successor becomes obligated to provide to the Executive in
connection with this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise.


 


(d)                                 No Setoff.  The
Successor has no right to setoff benefits owed to the Executive under this
Agreement against amounts owed (or claimed to be owed) by the Executive to
Fargo or the Successor under this Agreement or otherwise.


 


(e)                                  Taxes.  All benefits
to be provided to the Executive in connection with this Agreement will be
subject to required withholding of federal, state and local income, excise and
employment-related taxes.  The
Successor’s good faith


 


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determination with respect to its obligation to
withhold such taxes relieves it of any obligation that such amounts should have
been paid to the Executive.


 


(f)                                    Notices.  For the
purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for
in, or required under, this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to
have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by United States
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested to the address of either
party on the first page of this Agreement or to any other address of which one
party notifies the other.


 


(g)                                 Disputes.  The parties
agree that any dispute, controversy or claim arising under or in connection
with this Agreement will be settled exclusively by binding arbitration
administered by the American Arbitration Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota
in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in effect.  The
arbiter’s decision will be binding on both parties. The Successor will pay all
fees and costs of the arbitration including legal fees.


 


(h)                                 Related Agreements and Other Arrangements. 
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof other than the options outstanding under
the stock option plan, and no agreements or representations, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter to this Agreement have
been made by any party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.  If there are any other Agreements or
provisions in other Agreements to the contrary, this Agreement shall apply and
take precedence.


 


(i)                                     No Employment or Service Contract. 
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to provide the Executive with any
right to continue in the employ of Fargo or the Successor for any period of
specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the
Executive’s rights or the rights of Fargo or the Successor.


 


(j)                                     Payment; Assignment. 
Benefits payable under this Agreement will be paid only from the general
assets of the Successor and the Executive will be a general unsecured creditor.


 


(k)                                  Late Payments. 
Benefits not paid under this Agreement when due will accrue interest at
the rate of 18% per year, or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law.


 


(l)                                     Survival.  The
respective obligations and benefits of this Agreement shall survive termination
until the obligations are satisfied.


 


(m)                               Amendments; Waivers. 
No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Chief Operating Officer of Fargo.  No waiver of any breach of this Agreement,
or of compliance with any


 


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condition or provision of this Agreement will be
deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at any time.


 


(n)                                 Governing Law. 
This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties as to all
matters shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota (without regard
to the conflict of laws principles of any jurisdiction).


 


(o)                                 Further Assurances. 
The parties to this Agreement agree to perform, or cause to be
performed, such further acts and deeds, and to execute and deliver, or cause to
be executed and delivered, such additional or supplemental documents or
instruments as may be reasonably required by the other party to carry into
effect the intent and purpose of this Agreement.


 


(p)                                 Interpretation. 
The invalidity or unenforceability of all or any part of any provision
of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of the
remainder of such provision or of any other provision of this Agreement, which
will remain in full force and effect.


 


(q)                                 Counterparts. 
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which
will be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one
and the same instrument.


 


 


Fargo and the Executive
have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.


 


	
   

  	
  FARGO ELECTRONICS, INC.

  
	
   

  
	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   /s/

  	
  Gary R. Holland

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  CEO

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Agreed to as of this 15th
  day of December, 2003

  
	
   

  
	
   

  	
  /s/ Paul W.B.
  Stephenson

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Paul W.B. Stephenson

  



 


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