EX-10.6



 





Exhibit 10.6




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




          THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of the Effective Date, by and between
FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC., a New York corporation (“Company”) and LEE FENSTERSTOCK (“Executive”).




WITNESSETH:




          WHEREAS, Company desires to employ Executive as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and
Executive desires to be employed in that position;




          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter set forth
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:




     1. Employment and Employment Period.



          (a) The Effective Date of this Agreement shall be the date of closing of the Recapitalization
Transaction that has been agreed to by Company and MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners
II, L.P. and Affiliates (“Recapitalization Transaction”).




          (b) Company agrees to employ Executive and Executive agrees to be employed by Company, on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, for a period commencing on the Effective Date and
continuing thereafter until the third anniversary thereof, unless sooner terminated pursuant to
Section 5 hereof (the “Employment Period”). The Employment Period shall automatically be extended
for one additional year upon the third anniversary of the Effective Date without the necessity of
any affirmative action by any party, unless either party provides at least six (6) months’ advance
written notice to the other party that the Employment Period will not be extended. Following the
termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, he shall resign any and all officerships and
directorships he then holds with Company or any of its Affiliates (as defined below).




     2. Title and Duties.



          (a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Company. Executive shall have the duties, responsibilities and authority commensurate
with such position and such other duties and responsibilities as may be reasonably assigned to
Executive by Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) or that are otherwise set forth in Company’s
By-Laws. Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, the Board shall appoint Executive as a
member and Chairman of the Board and thereafter shall nominate Executive for election as a member
of the Board when his seat on the Board is up for re-election. Executive shall report to the Board
and shall perform his assigned duties and responsibilities at the offices of Company in New York
City and other locations established by Company; provided, that, Executive may be
required to travel on Company business during the Employment Period.




          (b) During the Employment Period, Executive shall devote substantially all of his working time
and attention during normal working hours to the performance of his duties.




 









 







Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall restrict Executive from
managing his personal investments, personal business affairs and other personal matters, or serving
on civic or charitable boards or committees, if such activities do not interfere with the
performance of his duties hereunder or conflict with the Company’s interests.




     3. Compensation and Benefits. For the services rendered by Executive to Company
during the Employment Period, Company shall pay to Executive the compensation and benefits set
forth in this Section 3.



          (a) Base Salary. As compensation for services performed under and during the
Employment Period, Company shall pay to Executive, in regular periodic installments as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Date, a base salary (the “Base Salary”) at the rate of Three
Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) per year. Executive’s Base Salary shall be reviewed by
the Board, and the compensation committee of the Board where appropriate, each year and may be
adjusted upward from time to time at the discretion of the Board or the compensation committee of
the Board.




          (b) Annual Cash Bonus. Executive shall participate in Company’s annual bonus pool for
each fiscal year of Company that begins during the Employment Period; provided,
that ̧ Executive’s bonus with respect to the fiscal year that begins prior to the first
anniversary of the Effective Date shall be pro-rated to correspond to the portion of such fiscal
year that follows the first anniversary of the Effective Date. Executive’s annual bonus will be
paid under terms and conditions developed by the Board after good faith consultation with
Executive.




          (c) Benefits. At all times during the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled
to receive the employee benefits of Company on such basis as is comparable to those provided to
other senior executives of Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant benefits
plans and policies. Executive shall be entitled to vacation and paid holidays consistent with
Company’s practices as adopted from time to time.




     (d) Restricted Stock Units.




          (i) Company shall grant Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) to Executive in accordance
with the following schedule and subject to (A) the terms of the First Albany Companies Inc.
2007 Incentive Compensation Plan and the applicable award agreement (“Incentive Compensation
Plan”) and (B) the conditions noted below:



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	Grant Dates	 	Vesting Dates	 	Settlement Dates
	Upon closing of the Recapitalization Transaction: 1,000,000 shares

	 	10% upon closing of
Recapitalization
Transaction

	 	All shares settle on third anniversary of closing

	 

	 	30% on first anniversary
of closing
	 	 
	 

	 	30% on second anniversary
of closing
	 	 
	 

	 	30% on third anniversary
of closing
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	June 30, 2008: 250,000 shares

	 	One-third on June 30, 2009
	 	All shares settle on June 30, 2011
	 

	 	One-third on June 30, 2010	 	 
	 

	 	One-third on June 30, 2011	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	January 1, 2009,
Based Upon Achieving
Performance Targets:

	 	One-third on January 1,
2010
	 	All shares settle
on January 1, 2012
	250,000 shares

	 	One-third on January 1,
2011	 	 
	 

	 	One-third on January 1,
2012	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	June 9, 2009: 250,000 shares

	 	One-third on June 30, 2010
	 	All shares settle on June 30, 2012
	 

	 	One-third on June 30, 2011	 	 
	 

	 	One-third on June 30, 2012	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	January 1, 2010, Based Upon Achieving Performance Targets:

	 	One-third on January 1,
2011
	 	All shares settle on January 1, 2013
	250,000 shares

	 	One-third on January 1,
2012	 	 
	 

	 	One-third on January 1,
2013	 	 







          (ii) Performance Targets to which reference is made in Subsection (d)(i) of this
Section 3 shall be determined by the Board in good faith consultation with Executive.




          (iii) No RSUs shall be granted to Executive following the termination of his
employment for any reason; provided, that, RSUs may be granted on the day of
termination as provided in Section 5(d)(iii) of this Agreement.




          (iv) RSUs that have been granted to Executive during the Employment Period but have
not vested prior to the termination of Executive’s employment shall upon such termination be
automatically forfeited and shall never vest, except to the extent that RSUs granted prior
to or upon the termination of Executive’s employment shall vest in



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accordance with the provisions of Subsection (a), (c), (d), (f), or (g) of Section 5 of
this Agreement.




          (v) All vested RSUs shall be payable in shares of common stock upon the earliest of
(A) the third anniversary of the date of grant of such RSUs, (B) the six-month anniversary
of the date of the termination of Executive’s employment, (C) the date of Executive’s death,
or (D) the date of Executive’s disability (within the meaning of Section 5(g) of this
Agreement), reduced by any amount required for withholding of taxes. All RSUs shall be
structured and paid in a manner that complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”).



     4. Expenses. Subject to the reasonable policies and procedures of Company, Executive
shall be entitled to be fully reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred by him in the
performance of his duties hereunder, and Company will reimburse Executive from time to time for all
such reasonable expenses upon presentation of a written itemized account thereof together with such
vouchers, receipts and other evidence of such expenses to the extent applicable as Company may
reasonably deem to be necessary.



     5. Termination and Termination of Benefits. Executive’s employment with Company shall
terminate under the following circumstances:



          (a) Expiration of Employment Period Without Continued Employment of Executive by
Company. Executive’s employment shall terminate as of the last day of the Employment Period.
In such event, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 5, Executive shall be entitled
to the following payments and benefits and Company shall have no further obligations to Executive
under this Agreement:





          (i) Executive shall be entitled to receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary through
the last day of the Employment Period, and any accrued benefits payable to Executive in
accordance with Company’s benefits policies or the provisions of any benefit plan in which
he is then a participant to the extent provided therein;




          (ii) Company shall pay Executive a pro-rated bonus for the fiscal year in which
termination occurs, to be paid at the time such bonus would have been paid if Executive
remained employed, and shall also pay Executive any other bonus with respect to any other
fiscal year that had been earned at the time of the termination of Executive’s employment,
but not yet paid; and




          (iii) RSUs granted to Executive prior to the termination of his employment shall
continue to vest in accordance with the provisions of the Incentive Compensation Plan and
the schedule set forth in Section 3(d) of this Agreement, on condition that Executive agrees
to remain a member of the Board in good standing and to meet all obligations of a Board
member.



          (b) Termination By Executive Without Good Reason. Executive may resign from Company
at any time upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the Board. In the event of resignation by
Executive under this Subsection (b), the Board may elect to waive the period of notice, or any
portion thereof and thereby accelerate the date of termination. In the



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event of termination by Executive of his employment under this Subsection (b), Executive shall
be entitled to the following payments and benefits and Company shall have no further obligations to
Executive under this Agreement:





          (i) Executive shall be entitled to receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary through
the effective date of such termination as soon as practicable following the date of
termination and any accrued benefits payable to Executive in accordance with Company’s
benefits policies or the provisions of any benefit plan in which he is then a participant to
the extent provided therein; and




          (ii) Company shall pay Executive any bonus with respect to any concluded fiscal year
that had been earned at the time of the termination of Executive’s employment, but not yet
paid.



          (c) Termination by Company Without Cause. Executive’s employment under this Agreement
may be terminated by Company without Cause (as defined in Section 5(e) of this Agreement) upon a
vote of the majority of the members of the Board (excluding Executive) and sixty (60) days’ prior
written notice to Executive. In the event of such termination, Executive shall be entitled to the
following payments and benefits and Company shall have no further obligations to Executive under
this Agreement:





          (i) Company shall continue to pay to Executive his Base Salary until the date which is
twelve (12) months following the termination of his employment under this Section 5(c) (the
“Severance Period’’). Company shall also pay Executive a pro-rated bonus for the fiscal
year in which the Severance Period ends, to be paid at the time such bonus would have been
paid if Executive remained employed; and Company shall pay Executive any other bonus with
respect to any other fiscal year that had been earned at the time of the termination of
Executive’s employment, but not yet paid;




          (ii) Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for the continued benefit of
Executive for the Severance Period, the medical, hospitalization and dental insurance plans
and programs in which Executive was participating immediately prior to the date of
termination at the level in effect and upon substantially the same terms and conditions
(including, if applicable, contributions required by Executive for such benefits) as existed
immediately prior to the date of termination; provided, that, if Executive
cannot continue to participate in Company’s plans and programs providing such benefits,
Company shall arrange to provide Executive with the economic equivalent of such benefits
which he otherwise would have been entitled to receive under such plans and programs
(“Continued Benefits”). Such Continued Benefits shall terminate on the date or dates
Executive receives substantially similar coverage and benefits, without waiting period or
pre-existing condition limitations, under the plans and programs of a subsequent employer;
provided, that, the determination of coverage and benefits shall be made on
a plan by plan and benefit by benefit basis and Company’s obligation under this Section 5(c)
shall continue with respect to any plan or benefit that is not substantially similar to
those in effect when Executive’s employment terminated. At the end of the Severance Period,
Executive shall have the right to elect continuation coverage under COBRA to the extent
still eligible under applicable law;



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          (iii) Subject to Subsection (c)(iv) of this Section 5, Executive shall be paid or
provided any accrued benefits payable to Executive in accordance with Company’s benefits
policies or the provisions of any benefit plan in which he is then a participant to the
extent provided therein; and




          (iv) RSUs granted to Executive prior to the termination of his employment shall
continue to vest under the Incentive Compensation Plan in accordance with the schedule set
forth in Section 3(d) of this Agreement, on condition that Executive executes a settlement
agreement and release in such form as may be requested by Company which includes, without
limitation, a restrictive covenant substantially as set forth in Section 8(a) of this
Agreement, in accordance with and for a term not to exceed eighteen (18) months as provided
by the Incentive Compensation Plan.



          (d) Termination by Executive for Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment
hereunder for Good Reason by giving written notice to the Board within thirty (30) days after the
occurrence of any one of the events specified in Subsection (d)(i) of this Section 5, without his
prior written consent, specifying that such termination shall occur thirty (30) days after such
notice has been given to the Board, provided, however, that such notice shall not be effective to
cause termination under this Subsection (d) if the specified event is cured by Company within
thirty (30) days of such written notice thereof.





          (i) Only the following shall constitute “Good Reason” for such termination:




          (A) Failure by Company to perform fully the terms of this Agreement, or any
plan or agreement referenced in this Agreement, other than an immaterial and
inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and remedied by Company promptly (but
not later than five (5) days) after receiving notice thereof from Executive;




          (B) Any reduction in Executive’s Base Salary or failure to pay any bonuses or
other material amounts due under this Agreement in accordance herewith;




          (C) The assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent in any material
respect with his position or with his authority, duties or responsibilities as
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or any other action by Company which results
in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding
for this purpose any immaterial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and
remedied by Company promptly (but not later than ten (10) days after receiving
notice from Executive);




          (D) Any change in the place of Executive’s principal place of employment to a
location outside New York City;




          (E) Any failure by Company to obtain an assumption and agreement to perform
this Agreement by a successor to Company; or



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          (F) A Change of Control occurs and Executive does not continue thereafter as
the most senior executive officer of the business of the Company as conducted
immediately prior to the Change of Control. For purposes of this Section 5, “Change
of Control” shall mean a transaction or event as a result of which MatlinPatterson
Global Opportunities Partners II, L.P. (and/or one or more of its affiliates) shall
no longer have the right to elect all the members of the Board.




          (ii) In the event of termination by Executive for Good Reason for any of the reasons
set forth in Subsections (d)(i)(A) through (E) of this Section 5, Executive shall be
entitled to the following payments and benefits, and Company shall have no further
obligations under this Agreement:




          (A) Executive shall be entitled to receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary
through the effective date of such termination as soon as practicable following the
date of termination and any accrued benefits payable to Executive in accordance with
Company’s benefits policies or the provisions of any benefit plan in which he is
then a participant to the extent provided therein;




          (B) Company shall pay Executive a pro-rated bonus for the fiscal year in which
termination occurs, to be paid at the time such bonus would have been paid if
Executive remained employed, and shall also pay Executive any other bonus with
respect to any other fiscal year that had been earned at the time of the termination
of Executive’s employment, but not yet paid; and




          (C) Executive shall receive the benefits set forth in Section 5(c)(iv) of this
Agreement.




          (iii) In the event of termination by Executive for Good Reason for the reason set forth
in Subsection (d)(i)(F) of this Section 5, Executive shall be entitled to the termination
benefits set forth in Subsection (d)(ii)(A) and (B) of this Section 5. In addition: (A)
all RSUs granted to Executive prior to the termination of his employment shall immediately
vest upon termination; and (B) RSUs specified in the schedule set forth in Section 3(d) of
this Agreement that have not yet been granted to Executive, including without limitation all
shares the grant of which is otherwise contingent on achieving Performance Targets, shall be
granted to Executive on the date of his termination and shall immediately vest upon such
date. Benefits pursuant to this Subsection (d)(iii) shall be structured and paid in a
manner that complies with the requirements of Section 409A, including any requirement that
payment be delayed by six (6) months following termination of employment in order to comply
with Section 409A.



          (e) Termination by Company for Cause. Executive’s employment hereunder may be
terminated by Company for Cause, subject to the following conditions:





          (i) Only the following shall constitute Cause for termination:




          (A) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or “no contest” to, any
felony;



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          (B) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or “no contest” to, a
violation of criminal law involving Company and its business;




          (C) Executive’s commission of an act of fraud or theft, or material dishonesty
in connection with his performance of duties to Company; or




          (D) Executive’s willful refusal or gross neglect by Executive to perform the
duties reasonably assigned to him and consistent with his position with Company or
otherwise to comply with the material terms of this Agreement, which refusal or
gross neglect continues for more than fifteen (15) days after Executive receives
written notice thereof from Company providing reasonable detail of the asserted
refusal or gross neglect (and which is not due to a physical or mental impairment).




          (ii) In no event shall Executive’s employment be considered to have been terminated
for Cause unless and until Executive receives a copy of a resolution adopted by the Board
finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive is guilty of acts or
omissions constituting Cause, which resolution has been duly adopted by an affirmative vote
of a majority of the Board, excluding Executive and any individual alleged to have
participated in the acts constituting Cause. Any such vote shall be taken at a meeting of
the Board called and held for such purpose, after reasonable written notice is provided to
Executive setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide
a basis of termination for Cause and Executive is given an opportunity, together with
counsel, to be heard before the Board.




          (iii) In the event Executive is terminated for Cause, Executive shall be entitled only
to the payments and benefits described in Subsection (b) of this Section 5, and Company
shall have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement.



          (f) Death. Executive’s employment shall terminate upon his death. In such event,
Executive shall be entitled only to the following payments and benefits:





          (i) Executive shall be entitled to receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary through
the effective date of such termination as soon as practicable following the date of
termination and any accrued benefits payable to Executive in accordance with Company’s
benefits policies or the provisions of any benefit plan in which he is then a participant to
the extent provided therein;




          (ii) Company shall pay Executive a pro-rated bonus for the fiscal year in which
termination occurs, to be paid at the time such bonus would have been paid if Executive
remained employed, and shall also pay Executive any other bonus with respect to any other
fiscal year that had been earned at the time of the termination of Executive’s employment,
but not yet paid; and




          (iii) RSUs granted to Executive prior to the termination of his employment shall vest
upon such termination in accordance with the provisions of the Incentive Compensation Plan.



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          (g) Disability. In the event that Executive becomes disabled, as determined under
Company’s long-term disability income plan, and receives income replacement benefits under such
plan or another accident and health plan covering employees of Company for a period of not less
than three (3) months, or, in the absence of such plan or plans, by reason of Executive’s inability
to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, Executive’s employment shall be deemed
terminated by reason of disability; provided, that, in no event shall Executive be
terminated by reason of disability unless Executive receives written notice from Company, at least
fifteen (15) days in advance of such termination, stating its intention to terminate Executive by
reason of disability. In the event of termination by reason of disability, Executive shall be
entitled only to the payments and benefits described in Subsection (f) of this Section 5.




     6. Tax Indemnity.



          Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it is determined that
any payment or distribution by Company to Executive or for his benefit, whether paid or payable or
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”)
would be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”) (or any successor provision) (such excise tax, together with any such interest
and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), Executive shall be
entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount that, after payment
by Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
including any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the
Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment. Such Gross-Up Payment shall be
made to Executive within thirty (30) days following the date of determination that a Gross-Up
Payment is required to be paid to Executive in accordance with the remaining terms of this Section
6(b). Subject to the provisions of this Section 6(b), all determinations required to be made under
this Section 6, including whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up
Payment, shall be made by Company’s principal independent accounting firm at the time such
determination is made (the “Accounting Firm”). Executive agrees to promptly furnish information
requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with such determinations. The Accounting Firm shall
provide detailed supporting calculations both to Company and Executive within thirty (30) days
following the date an event occurs that could give rise to an excise tax on a Payment, or such
earlier time as is requested by Company. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding
upon Company and Executive except as provided elsewhere in this Section 6. As a result of the
uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination
by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that a Gross-Up Payment which will not have been
made by Company should have been made (the “Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations
required to be made hereunder. In the event that Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to this
Section 6 and Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting
Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment,
together with any penalties and interest related to such Underpayment, if any, shall be made
promptly by Company to Executive or for his benefit. Executive shall notify Company in writing of
any claim by the



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Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by Company of the
Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable after Executive knows of
such claim and shall apprise Company of the nature of the claim and the date on which the claim is
requested to be paid. Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty
(30) day period following the date on which Executive gives such notice to Company (or such shorter
period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If Company
notifies Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest
such claim, Executive shall:





          (i) give Company any information reasonably requested by Company relating to such
claim,




          (ii) take such action in connection with contesting the claim as Company reasonably
requests in writing from time to tune, including, without limitation, accepting legal
representation with regard to the claim by an attorney selected by Company, and acceptable
to Executive,




          (iii) cooperate with Company (at no cost to Executive) in good faith in order
effectively to contest the claim, and




          (iv) permit Company to participate in any proceedings relating the claim;


provided, however, that Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses
(including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall
indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax,
including interest and penalties with respect thereto, imposed as a result of such representation
and payments of costs and expenses. Without limitation of the foregoing provisions of this Section
6, Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole
option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either
direct Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any
permissible manner, and Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any
administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as
Company determines; provided, further, however, that (A) if Company directs Executive to pay such
claim and sue for a refund, Company shall advance the amount of such payment to Executive on an
interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from
any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with
respect to such advance; and (B) any request by Company that Executive extend the statute of
limitations relating to payment of taxes for his taxable year with respect to which such contested
amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, Company’s
control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be
payable hereunder and Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any
other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. If, after the
receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by Company pursuant to this Section 6, Executive becomes
entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, Executive shall (subject to Company’s
complying with the requirements of this Section 6) promptly pay to Company the amount of such
refund (together with any interest paid or credited


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thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced
by Company pursuant to this Section 6, a determination is made that Executive shall not be entitled
to any refund with respect to such claim and Company does not notify Executive in writing of its
intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days after such
determination, then such advance shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance
shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.




     7. Confidential Information; Removal of Documents; Certain Post-Employment
Undertakings.



          (a) Except (i) as required in order to perform his obligations under this Agreement, (ii) as
may otherwise be required by law or any legal process, or (iii) as is necessary in connection with
any adversarial proceeding against Company (in which case Executive shall use his reasonable best
efforts in cooperating with Company in obtaining a protective order against disclosure by a court
of competent jurisdiction), Executive shall not, without the express prior written consent of
Company, disclose or divulge to any other person or entity, or use or modify for use, directly or
indirectly, in any way, for any person or entity any of Company’s or an Affiliate’s (as defined
below) Confidential Information at any time during or after Executive’s employment. For purposes
of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean any valuable, competitively sensitive or
proprietary data and information related to business carried on by Company or any Affiliate (the
“Business”), including, without limitation, Trade Secrets (as defined below), that are not
generally known by or readily available to Company’s or any Affiliate’s competitors. “Trade
Secrets” shall mean information or data of Company or any Affiliate in connection with the
Business, including, but not limited to, technical or non-technical data, financial information,
programs, devices, methods, techniques, drawings, processes, financial plans, product plans, or
lists of actual or potential customers or suppliers, that: (A) derive economic value, actual or
potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means
by, other persons who can obtain economic value from their disclosure or use; and (B) are the
subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain their secrecy.
“Affiliate” shall mean an entity in control of, controlled by or under common control with Company.




          (b) All records, files, drawings, documents, models, equipment, and the like containing
Confidential Information or needed in the Business over which Executive has control shall not be
removed from Company’s premises without its written consent, unless such removal is in the
furtherance of the Business or is in connection with Executive’s carrying out his duties under this
Agreement and, if so removed, shall be returned to Company promptly after termination of
Executive’s employment hereunder, or otherwise promptly after removal if such removal occurs
following termination of employment. Company shall be the owner of all Trade Secrets and other
products relating to the Business developed by Executive alone or in conjunction with others as
part of his employment with Company.




          (c) In the scope of Executive’s employment with Company, Executive may be requested, alone or
with others, to create, invent, enhance, and modify items which are or could be deemed to be
Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges and agrees that all such information is intended
to be, and will remain, the sole and exclusive property of Company. If



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Executive’s employment with Company terminates for any reason, he shall promptly and fully
disclose all such property to Company, shall provide Company with any information that it may
reasonably request about such property and shall execute such agreements, assignments or other
instruments as may be reasonably requested by Company to reflect such ownership by Company and
shall fully cooperate with Company to protect the business relationships of Company and to insure
that there will be no unreasonable interference or disruption of such business relationships.




     8. Restrictive Covenants.



          (a) Executive covenants that, during the Employment Period, he will not, without the prior
written consent of Company, participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of a
Competitor or be employed by or perform services for a Competitor in a position substantially
similar to Executive’s position with Company; provided, however, that Executive may own, solely as
a passive investment, securities of any entity traded on any national securities exchange if
Executive is not a controlling person of (nor owns individually or as a member of a group, 5% or
more of) such entity. For purposes of this Section 8, “Competitor” means any broker-dealer or
financial advisory firm whose principal place of business is in the United States.




          (b) Executive covenants that in the event his employment by the Company shall terminate for
any reason, then during a period of twelve (12) months after the date of such termination,
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit for employment or hire anyone who was an
employee of Company within the period of 180 days prior to such termination.




     9. Remedy.



          (a) Executive acknowledges that: (i) as a result of Executive’s employment by Company,
Executive will obtain Confidential Information; (ii) the Confidential Information has been
developed and created by Company at substantial expense and the Confidential Information
constitutes valuable proprietary assets and Company will suffer substantial damage and irreparable
harm which will be difficult to compute if during the term of employment and thereafter, Executive
should divulge such Confidential Information in violation of the provisions of this Agreement;
(iii) the nature of Company’s business is such that it could be conducted anywhere in the world and
that it is not limited to a geographic scope or region, (iv) Company will suffer substantial damage
which will be difficult to compute if Executive should compete with Company or solicit or interfere
with Company’s employees, customers or clients in violation of this Agreement; (v) the provisions
of this Agreement are reasonable and necessary for the protection of Company’s business; (vi)
Executive will not be unreasonably precluded from earning a living following his termination of
employment if the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 of this Agreement are fully enforced; and (vii)
Company would not have entered into this Agreement unless Executive agreed to be bound by the terms
of Sections 7 and 8 of this Agreement.




          (b) Should Executive engage in or perform any of the acts prohibited by Section 7 or Section 8
hereof, it is agreed that Company shall be entitled to full injunctive relief, to be issued by any
competent court of equity, enjoining and restraining Executive and each and



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every other person, firm, organization, association, or corporation concerned therein, from
the continuance of such volatile acts.




     10. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
of Company, its successors and any person, firm, corporation or other entity that succeeds to all
or substantially all of the business, assets or property of Company. This Agreement may be
assigned, in whole but not in part, by Company to any successor to the Company or its business or
any subsidiary or Affiliate of Company, provided, that, such assignment does not
relieve Company of its obligations under this Agreement if the assignee fails to perform.
Executive may not assign any rights or delegate any duties in or under this Agreement.



     11. Waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement
shall not operate as or be construed as a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach thereof.



     12. Amendment or Modification. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived
or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company (other than Executive) acting on behalf of the
Board.



     13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to choice or conflict of law principles.



     14. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.



     15. Notices. Any notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be
sufficient if in writing, and if delivered by hand, by courier, by facsimile, or sent by certified
mail, return receipt requested, prepaid, to the address set forth below or such other address as
either party may from time to time designate in writing to the other and shall be deemed given as
of the date of the delivery if delivered by hand or by courier, if mailed, four (4) days after the
date of mailing.



	 	 	 
	If to Executive:

	 	Lee Fensterstock
	 

	 	445 Lafayette Street 
	 

	 	New York, NY 10003






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	If to Company:

	 	First Albany Companies Inc.
	 

	 	677 Broadway 
	 

	 	Albany, NY 12207
	 

	 	Attention: Patricia Craig
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	With a copy to:
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	Dewey Ballantine LLP
	 

	 	1301 Avenue of the Americas 
	 

	 	New York, NY 10019
	 

	 	Attention: Christopher P. Peterson






     16. Entire Agreement and Binding Effect. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements,
promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or
written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject
matter. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors, permitted assigns, and legal representatives.



     17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and
in pleading or providing any provision of this Agreement it shall not be necessary to produce more
than one of such counterparts.



     18. Headings. The Section headings appearing in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not be considered a part of this Agreement or in any way modify, amend or
affect its provisions.



     19. Indemnification. Company will, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable
law and Company’s By-Laws and consistent therewith, indemnify and hold Executive harmless against
expenses and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding
arising by reason of Executive’s employment by Company. In addition, Company shall cover Executive
under directors’ and officers’ liability insurance both during and, while potential liability
exists, after the term of employment in the same amount and to the same extent as Company covers
its other directors and officers.



     20. Drafting. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that this Agreement has been
drafted jointly by Company and Executive and each has had ample opportunity to review and
understand its provisions and seek competent legal advice.



     21. Dispute Resolution. Except as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement, all
disputes arising out of, or related to, this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by
binding arbitration in the City of New York, New York, in accordance with the applicable rules then
in effect of the American Arbitration Association, and the arbitrator’s decision shall be binding
and final, and judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof.



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     22. Survival. The respective obligations of, and benefits offered to Executive and
Company as provided in this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement to carry out
their intended purpose.



     23. Compliance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, no payment or benefit shall be paid at any time or in any manner that would result in
the imposition of additional tax pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. The parties agree that any
such payment or benefit will be restructured in order to comply with the requirements of Section
409A on a basis that preserves to the maximum extent possible the economic rights of Executive
hereunder.



          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the 21st
day of September, 2007.




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC.

 	 
	 	/s/ Peter McNierney
 	 
	 	By:  Peter McNierney 	 
	 	Title:  	President and Chief Executive Officer 	 
	 
	 	EXECUTIVE:

 	 
	 	/s/ Lee Fensterstock
 	 
	 	LEE FENSTERSTOCK 	 
	 	 	 
	 




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