Document:

Exhibit 10.18

 

INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement (“Agreement”)
is entered into on the 1st day of May 2009, by and between Sabre
Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter “SABRE”), and
Business Resource Consulting, LLC, a Connecticut Limited Liability Company
hereinafter (“Contractor”) address: 150 Knotter Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410.

 

For good and valuable
consideration which sufficiency is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Term. The term of this Agreement shall
coincide with Sabre’s 2010 Fiscal Year, and shall begin on May 1, 2009 and
last through April 30, 2010.

 

Parties further agree
that not later than Ninety (90) days before the expiration of the Term of this
Agreement, that both Sabre and Consultant shall in good faith, discuss and
propose reasonable terms of extension and/or renewal of this Agreement, based
upon mutually agreeable conditions.

 

2.                                      Services and Title. Contractor agrees to provide the
services of Peter J. Sandore as an Advisor to the CEO and the Board of
Directors of Sabre Industries, Inc. Contractor’s official title during the
term of this Agreement shall be “Advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors”.

 

3.                                      Service Fee.  Sabre shall, during the Term of this
Agreement, pay Contractor as compensation for the Services as follows:

 

a.               Base Compensation.

 

	
  5/1/2009

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  5/31/2009

  	
   

  	
  $36,190 (due 5/15/2009)

  
	
  6/1/2009

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  6/30/2009

  	
   

  	
  $36,190

  
	
  7/1/2009

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  7/31/2009

  	
   

  	
  $36,190

  
	
  8/1/2009

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  8/31/2009

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  
	
  9/1/2009

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  9/30/2009

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  
	
  10/1/2009

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  10/31/2009

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  
	
  11/1/2009

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  11/30/2009

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  
	
  12/1/2009

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  12/31/2009

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  
	
  1/1/2010

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  1/31/2010

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  
	
  2/1/2010

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  2/28/2010

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  
	
  3/1/2010

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  3/31/2010

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  
	
  4/1/2010

  	
   

  	
  through

  	
   

  	
  4/30/2010

  	
   

  	
  $20,000

  

 

b.              Commission. In addition to Contractor’s Base Compensation,
Contractor shall be eligible for a commission based upon a percentage of the
incremental business generated by Contractor through Peter J. Sandore to be
calculated as set forth in Appendix “A”. Commissions shall not be earned for
any entity or area not appearing on Appendix “A”. During the term of this
Agreement, the entities and areas listed on Appendix “A” may be modified,
provided any modification is in writing and signed by both parties.

 

Commissions shall be
earned at the time the order is invoiced to the customer. Payment of
commissions shall be made quarterly based upon the total net invoice amounts. “Net
Invoice Amount” shall mean the total price at which an order is invoiced to the
customer, excluding shipping and insurance costs, sales, use and excise taxes,
and freight charges, and any tariffs, duties and export fees for international
shipments. However, any amounts invoiced that are subsequently deemed
uncollectible based upon reasonable commercial standards, shall be deducted by
Sabre from future payments in the quarter the amounts are deemed uncollectible.
Additionally, no amount allocated to any entity or area on Appendix “A” shall
be applied to any other entity or area. If an amount may be allocable to more
than one entity or area on Appendix “A”, allocation of that amount shall be in
the following order: (1) Monopole modification material as set forth on
Appendix “A”; (2) Crown Castle or American Tower; (3) Sabre Site Solutions;
(4) Monopole modification
construction (5) Atlantic Telecom Network, Inc.

 

1

 

As consideration for the
Noncompetition terms contained in Paragraph 7 of this Agreement, upon
termination and/or expiration of this Agreement, with the exception of a
termination in accordance with Paragraph 17, Contractor shall be paid
commissions earned pursuant to the preceding paragraph until December 31,
2010. On orders taken prior to December 31, 2010, commissions shall be
earned at the time the order is invoiced to the customer at the rate set forth
in this Agreement, even if the invoice is sent after December 31, 2010.
From May 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, commissions shall be based
upon a percentage of the incremental business generated by Contractor to be
calculated as set forth in Appendix “B”. Commissions shall not be earned for
any entity or area not appearing on Appendix “B”. The entities and areas listed
on Appendix “B” may be modified, provided any modification is in writing and
signed by both parties. The aggregate amount of Contractor’s total earned
commissions shall not exceed $1,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2010, and $750,000 for
Fiscal Year 2011. Contractor shall not earn or be entitled to any commissions
for orders taken after December 31, 2010.

 

In the event that Company
desires to hire the Contractor as an employee at Contractor’s and/or Peter J.
Sandore’s discretion, they (he) may either maintain the Commission Structure, or
negotiate a comparable compensation package with the Company.

 

c. Additional Payment
in the Event of Sale of the Company.  During the term of this Agreement, in addition
to the compensation agreed upon in Paragraphs 3(a) and (b), Contractor
and/or it’s members or employees (herein Contractor) may be eligible for
additional payments, in the event of a Sale of the Company. The eligibility and
amount for any such additional payment shall be in the sole discretion of
Company’s CEO.

 

4.                                           Independent Contractor
Relationship.
The relationship of Contractor and/or it’s members or employees (hereinafter
Contractor) to Sabre is solely that of an independent contractor. Contractor is
solely responsible for the conduct and control of the Services and is not an
employee of SABRE for any purpose. Contractor is solely responsible for and
shall pay all federal, state and local income taxes, Social Security taxes and
any other similar obligations, under any law or regulation, domestic or
foreign; arising from its performance of this Agreement or receipt of
compensation thereof. Contractor understands that no medical, dental, health,
vacation or sick leave or other benefits including, without limitation, stock
option or bonus plans, and/or 401(K) contributions and/or participation,
provided to SABRE’s employees shall be provided to Contractor by SABRE during
or after the term of this Agreement. Contractor shall promptly return all
equipment purchased by SABRE for Contractor’s use during the term of this
Agreement to SABRE at the termination of this Agreement. Contractor shall not
enter into, nor represent it has the authority to enter into, any contracts or
commitments on behalf of SABRE, and shall hold SABRE harmless from any loss,
damage, liability or expense resulting from any illegal or tortuous acts or
omissions of Contractor.

 

5.                                           Billing and Payment. Contractor shall provide SABRE with an
invoice for the base compensation amount on or before the first of every month.
Such invoice shall indicate date(s) and description of Services rendered
and address to which payment is to be sent. SABRE shall pay Contractor’s
invoice within 30 days after its receipt thereof.

 

6.                                           Contractor Warrants.

 

a)                                           Contractor and/or it’s members or
employees (hereinafter Contractor) has the experience and skills necessary to
perform and provide the Services required pursuant to this Agreement. All
Services provided by Contractor shall be performed (a) in a professional
manner, with a high grade, nature and quality, commensurate with that which is
customary in the industry, and (b) in compliance with all applicable
federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations and ordinances and of SABRE’s
applicable rules while Contractor is on SABRE’s premises.

 

b)                                          Contractor warrants that Contractor shall
maintain insurance policies that are sufficient to protect Contractor against
all applicable risks. As required by applicable law, Contractor shall obtain
health insurance, including worker’s compensation (with statutory limits) or
disability insurance for Contractor as a contractor under this Agreement and
further waives any claim against SABRE in connection with the foregoing.

 

2

 

7.                                 Non-Competition. Independent of any obligation under any
other contract or agreement between Contractor and SABRE, during the term of
this Agreement, and for the period of time that SABRE continues to pay
Contractor commissions pursuant to Paragraph 3, Contractor shall not, directly
or indirectly, whether as an individual for his/her own account, or for or with
any other person, firm, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
or other entity whatsoever, which is or intends to be engaged in a business
competitive with the  products or services sold, marketed
or distributed by SABRE:

 

a)                                 Own, manage, operate, participate in,
consult with, or work for any business offering competitive products or
services to those offered by SABRE as of the date of the separation of
Contractor’s relationship with SABRE;

 

b)                                Solicit, interfere with, or endeavor to
entice away from SABRE, any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or entity
of any kind whatsoever, which was or is a client or customer for which SABRE
performed services, with respect to any business, product or service that is
competitive to the products or services offered by SABRE as of the date of the
separation of Contractor’s Relationship with SABRE;

 

c)                                 Solicit or endeavor to induce any of
SABRE’s employees or consultants, who were employed or retained during
Contractor’s relationship with SABRE, to terminate their relationship with
SABRE, or take away such employees or consultants, or attempt to solicit,
induce, recruit, encourage or take away employees or consultants of SABRE,
either for Contractor or for any other person or entity;

 

d)                                Induce or attempt to induce any supplier,
licensee or other business relation of SABRE to cease doing business with
SABRE, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such supplier,
licensee or business relation and SABRE.

 

8.                                      Confidential
Information.

 

a)                                 Company Information. Contractor agrees at all times during
the term of this Agreement and/or the payment of commissions to Contractor by
Sabre, to hold in strictest confidence, and not to use, except for the benefit
of SABRE, or to disclose to any person, firm, corporation or other entity
without written authorization of SABRE, any Confidential Information of SABRE
which Contractor obtains or creates. Contractor further agrees not to make
copies of such Confidential Information except as authorized by SABRE.

 

Contractor understands
that “Confidential Information” means any SABRE proprietary information,
technical data, trade secrets, or know-how, including, but not limited to,
information relating to past, present, or future business of SABRE, or any
plans therefore, market information, actual or prospective personnel or
clients, strategy, budgets, pricing, research, development, operating results,
services, business plans or designs, cost and pricing strategies or
information, client requirements and preferences, marketing research, work
product (including all documentation,
creative works, know-how and information created in whole or in part by
Contractor during Contractor’s Relationship with SABRE whether or not
copyrightable or otherwise protectable) or other competitively sensitive
business information, and all related databases, compilations and records
disclosed to Contractor by SABRE, either directly or indirectly, in writing,
orally or by drawings or observation by Contractor during the period of the
Relationship, whether or not during working hours.

 

Contractor understands
that “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, information
pertaining to any aspects of SABRE’s business which is either information not
known by actual or potential competitors of SABRE or is proprietary information
of SABRE or its customers or suppliers, whether of a technical nature or
otherwise. Contractor further understands that “Confidential Information” does
not include any of the foregoing items which have become publicly and widely
known and made generally available (without expending significant time or
effort) through no wrongful act of Contractor’s or of others who were under
confidentiality obligations as to the item or items involved.

 

All “Confidential
Information” is and shall remain SABRE’s exclusive property, and Contractor
further agrees that all  information used by Contractor in
connection with his/her job is confidential and valuable property of SABRE, and
that any such information developed by Contractor during the performance of
such employment is and shall remain the exclusive property of SABRE. Contractor
recognizes and acknowledges that SABRE’s business matters and affairs
(including, but not limited to, the nature and extent of SABRE’s assets and
holdings and any information related to SABRE’s business relationships,
developmental concepts, business practices and policies, pricing structures,
methods of business operation, operational techniques, banking and lending

 

3

 

relationships, or details
of any financial information related to the size and scope of SABRE,) are
valuable to SABRE and included within the definition of Confidential
Information.

 

b)                                Former Contractor or Employee
Relationship.
Contractor represents that it’s performance of all terms of this Agreement as
an Contractor or consultant of SABRE has not breached and will not breach any
agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired
by Contractor in confidence or trust prior or subsequent to the commencement of
this Agreement and/or the payment of commissions to Contractor by Sabre, and
Contractor will not disclose to SABRE direct or advise SABRE to use, any
inventions, confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to
any previous employer or any other party.

 

c)                                 Third Party Information. Contractor recognizes that SABRE has
received and in the future will receive confidential or proprietary information
from third parties subject to a duty on SABRE’s part to maintain the
confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited
purposes. Upon Sabre advising Contractor when this Third Party Information
Confidentiality Obligation applies, Contractor agrees to hold all such
confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to
disclose it to any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary
in carrying out Contractor’s work for SABRE consistent with SABRE’s agreement
with such third party.

 

9.                                 Return of SABRE
Documents.
Contractor agrees that, at the time of termination of this Agreement and/or the
payment of commissions to Consultant by Sabre, it will deliver to SABRE (and
will not keep in his/her possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any
and all devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists,
correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, laboratory
notebooks, materials, flow charts; equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions
of any aforementioned items developed by Contractor pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement or otherwise belonging to SABRE, its successors or assigns.
Contractor further agrees that any property situated on SABRE’s premises and
owned by SABRE, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets or
other work areas, is subject to inspection by SABRE personnel at any time with
or without notice.

 

10.                          Business Opportunity.  Contractor represents and acknowledges
that the foregoing restrictions will not prevent Contractor from obtaining
gainful employment or contracts in his field of expertise or cause him undue
hardship; and that there are numerous other employment and contract
opportunities available to him that are not affected by the foregoing
restrictions. Both parties further acknowledge that the foregoing terms and
restrictions are reasonable and necessary, in order to protect SABRE’s and
Contractor’s legitimate interests, and that any violation thereof would result
in irreparable injury to the aggrieved party.

 

11.                          Remedies. In the event of any violation of any
term in this Agreement, both parties shall be authorized and entitled to obtain
from any court of competent jurisdiction, preliminary and permanent injunctive
relief, as well as an equitable accounting of all profits or benefits arising
out of such violation. The aggrieved party shall further be entitled to damages
directly or indirectly sustained by said party as a result of such violation,
including but not limited to attorney fees and costs incurred in enforcing this
Agreement.

 

In the event of the
violation of any of the foregoing restrictions, the period, if any, herein
specified for such restrictions shall abate during the time of violation
thereof, and that portion remaining at the time of commencement of any
violations shall not begin to run until such violation has been fully and
finally cured.

 

12.                          Representations and
Covenants.

 

a)                                 Contractor agrees to execute promptly any
proper oath, or verify any proper document, required to carry out the terms of
this Agreement upon SABRE’s reasonable and necessary written request to do so.

 

b)                                Contractor hereby warrants that he/she is
not now under any legal or contractual obligation that would conflict in any
manner with the obligations and duties he/she is undertaking herein, and that
his/her execution of this Agreement will not breach any agreement to which
he/she is now a party.

 

c)                                 Contractor certifies and acknowledges
that it has carefully read all of the provisions of this Agreement and that
he/she understands and will fully comply with such provisions.

 

4

 

13.                          General Provisions.

 

a)                                 In the event any of the foregoing
restrictions are held to be in any respect an unreasonable restriction upon
Contractor, then the court so holding shall reduce the territory to which it
pertains and/or the period of time in which it operates, or effect any other
change to the extent necessary, to render any of the restrictions enforceable.
Each of the terms and provisions of this Agreement is, and is to be deemed,
severable in whole or in part, and if any term or provision, or the application
thereof to circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and shall remain in
full force and effect.

 

b)                                The captions contained herein are solely
for the convenience of the parties, and shall not be deemed to govern the
meaning or intent of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

c)                                 The rights and obligations of SABRE
hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, any successor or
assign of SABRE. This Agreement is personal to Contractor and shall not be
assigned by it to any other party whatsoever.

 

d)                                The waiver or non-enforcement by SABRE,
of any breach of any provision of this Agreement, shall not operate or be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by Contractor.

 

e)                                 This Agreement, unless stated otherwise
herein, may only be amended by the written mutual agreement of the parties
hereto.

 

(f)                               The provisions of this Agreement shall
survive the assignment of this Agreement by SABRE to any successor in interest
or other assignee.

 

g)                                Contractor acknowledges and specifies
that this Agreement is supported by adequate consideration in the form of
Contractor’s contract for services with SABRE.

 

h)                                Contractor acknowledges and specifies
that it entered knowingly into this Agreement.

 

14.                          Non-Disparagement. The parties agree that their
professional and personal reputations are important and should not be impaired
by either party after this Agreement is executed. Contractor agrees not to
disparage the professional or personal reputation of SABRE, its officers,
shareholders, directors, or management, and SABRE agrees that it will not
disparage Contractor’s professional or personal reputation.

 

15.                          Indemnity. Excluding any claims based upon the
negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of this Agreement by Sabre,
Contractor hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold SABRE harmless from and
against any and all claims, damages, losses and expenses, including but not
limited to attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of or resulting from
any claim, action or other proceeding (including without limitation any
proceeding by any of that is based upon (a) Contractor’s breach of this
Agreement, (b) the unauthorized conduct or actions of Contractor within or
outside the scope of this Agreement, or (c) any negligent act or omission
or willful misconduct of Contractor.

 

16.                          Governing Law. This Agreement and the obligations of
the parties hereunder shall be interpreted, construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of Pennsylvania, except for its conflict of laws rules and
principles. Any legal action or proceedings with respect to this Agreement
shall be initiated in the jurisdiction of the state or federal courts of the
State of New York and venued in the State of New York for resolution.

 

17.                          Breach. This Agreement may be terminated, at any
time, by either party in the event of a material breach by the other of any
term or obligation contained in this Agreement. In the event of a breach, and
when practicable, written notice shall be served upon the breaching party,
notifying such party of the breach. The breaching party shall have ten (10) calendar
days in which to cure the breach from the date of the letter. If, after ten
calendar days, the breaching party has not cured the breach, the nonbreaching
party shall provide notice of the termination of the Agreement and reason
therefore. A material breach is defined as an act,

 

5

 

anticipated or actual,
which substantially affects the performance or ability to perform under this
Agreement. Termination of the Agreement under this paragraph shall be immediate
upon notice of failure to cure.

 

One party’s waiver of a
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as
a continuing waiver or waiver of any other provision, obligation, right, or
privilege.

 

In the event Sabre terminates
the Agreement for a breach by Contractor, Contractor shall not be entitled to
further payments of the base compensation or payment of commissions set forth
in Paragraph 3 earned beyond the date of the breach. In the event the parties
dispute the existence or anticipation of a valid material breach, then the
terms of this Paragraph 17 shall not be final or conclusive, until a ruling
and/or judgment by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction is diligently obtained,
pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 16 herein.

 

18.                               Termination. Effective after December 2010,
either party may terminate this Agreement by written notice of termination via
certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address in Paragraph 19 of
this Agreement. Such termination shall be effective thirty (30) days after the
date of postmark of any notice. The ability of either party to terminate this
Agreement shall in no way be interpreted as an at-will employment provision and
shall not otherwise affect Contractor’s status as an independent contractor
under this Agreement. In the event of a termination, all compensation due
pursuant to Paragraph 3(a) shall be prorated to the date of termination,
with no further base compensation due after the date of termination.

 

At any time during the
term of this Agreement, and by mutual agreement, Sabre may hire
Contractor as an employee. In the event Contractor becomes a Sabre employee,
this Agreement shall terminate, and the compensation due pursuant to Paragraph
3 shall be prorated to the date of hire, provided further compensation and
commissions due Contractor after such date of hire, are negotiated in good
faith by both parties, based upon general provisions of Sections 3(a), (b), and
(c) herein.

 

19.                               Notices. Any notice or other communication
required or desired to be given in this Agreement shall be in writing and
addressed to the parties, respectively, as follows:

 

Business Resource
Consulting, LLC 

150 Knotter Drive

Cheshire, CT 06410

Attention: Peter J.
Sandore

 

James D. Mack

Sabre Industries, Inc.

1120 Welsh Road, Suite 210

Gwynedd Corporate Center 

North Wales, PA 19454

 

20.                               Entire
Agreement; Modifications. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
understandings between the parties, and supersedes all offers, negotiations and
other agreements concerning the subject matter contained herein. Any
modifications to this Agreement must be in writing and agreed upon by both
parties.

 

21.                               Waiver of
Jury Trial.
The parties knowingly, voluntarily, and intentionally waive any right to a jury
trial with respect to any claims arising in connection with this Agreernent.22.  Windfalls. In the event of an  acquisition of Sabre during the term of this
Agreement, if any, that would dramatically increase the amounts of business set
forth in Appendix “A”, those amounts will be disregarded for purposes of
calculating commissions  due pursuant to
this Agreement.

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	
  Business Resource Consulting, LLC

  	
   

  	
  Sabre Industries, Inc.,

  
	
  a Connecticut Limited Liability Company

  	
   

  	
  a Delaware Corporation

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
  /s/ Peter J. Sandore

  	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ James D. Mack

  
	
  Name:

  	
  Peter J. Sandore

  	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
  James D. Mack

  
	
   

  	
  Managing Member

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  CEO

  

 

6

 

APPENDIX
A

 

	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  amount of the total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3, exceeding
  $1,331,643.33 for American Tower Corp.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3 exceeding $4,686,716.47
  for Crown Castle USA, Inc.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%)  of the total Net Invoice Amount as
  defined in Paragraph 3 exceeding $11,135,000, the Fiscal Year 2010 budgeted
  projection for Sabre Site Solutions.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  Three percent (3%) of
  the total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3 for all monopole
  modification materials excluding construction.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3 for all monopole
  modification related construction.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3, for all sales to Atlantic
  Telecom Network, Inc.

  

 

7

 

APPENDIX
B

 

	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  amount of the total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3, exceeding
  $1,109,702.77 for American Tower Corp.[Calculated by taking $1,331,643.33
  multiplied by 1.25, dividing by 12 and multiplying by 8].

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  amount of the total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3, exceeding
  $3,905,597.05 for Crown Castle USA, Inc. [Calculated by taking
  $4,686,716.47 multiplied by 1.25, dividing by 12 and multiplying by 8].

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  amount of the total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3, exceeding
  two-thirds (2/3) of the Fiscal Year 2011 budgeted projection for Sabre Site
  Solutions [Calculated by taking FY 2011 budgeted projection as established on
  May 1, 2010, dividing by 12, and multiplying by 8].

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  Three percent (3%) of
  the amount of the total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3, for all
  monopole modification materials excluding construction.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  amount of the total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3, for all
  monopole modification related construction.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ·

  	
  One percent (1%) of the
  total Net Invoice Amount as defined in Paragraph 3, for sales to Atlantic
  Telecom Network, Inc.

  

 

8Exhibit 10.19

 

SABRE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

 

As
of May 9, 2006

 

James
D. Mack

248 Shadow Valley Bend

Dakota
Dunes, South Dakota 57049

 

Dear
Mr. Mack:

 

Sabre
Communications Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), hereby agrees to employ you
and you hereby agree to accept such employment under the following terms and
conditions:

 

1.             Term of
Employment.  Except for
earlier termination as provided in Section 10
below, your employment with the Company shall be for a term commencing on May 9,
2006 (the “Effective Date”)
and terminating on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Term”). 
The Term shall automatically renew for successive one-year periods
unless either party sends the other a notice of non-renewal at least 30 days
prior to any such renewal.

 

2.             Compensation.

 

(a)  During the Term,
you shall be compensated for all services rendered by you under this agreement
at the rate of $350,000 per annum (the “Base
Salary”).  Such Base
Salary shall be payable in such manner as is consistent with the Company’s
payroll practices for 

 

 

executive employees.  Prior to each anniversary of the Effective
Date during the Term, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) shall review your performance,
the earnings of the Company during the prior year and the Company’s prospects
for the coming year and shall consider, in its sole discretion, whether to
increase the Base Salary payable hereunder.

 

(b)  During the Term,
you shall be eligible to receive a bonus with respect to each year during the
Term based on your meeting objectives outlined by and as determined by the
Board in its sole and absolute discretion. 
With respect to the first three years of the Term, we have discussed an
annual bonus of up to your Base Salary and establishing reasonable objectives
substantially similar to those on the attached Exhibit A.

 

(c)  During the Term,
you shall also be eligible to participate in the Company’s stock option
plan.  We have discussed that options for
approximately 5% of the equity of the Company’s parent company would be
available for grant under that plan. 
Grants would be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board.

 

3.  Duties.

 

(a)  During the Term,
you shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
subject to the direction of the Board. 
Your offices shall be located at the Company’s headquarters (the Company’s
headquarters is currently in Sioux City, Iowa), the Company’s facility in Texas
and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the latter being understood as the
location you intend to spend a majority of your time.  You shall make yourself available for
meetings with the Board and/or otherwise at such locations and at such times as
the Board may reasonably request, or as are necessary or advisable for the Company’s
business.

 

2

 

(b)  You shall devote
your full business time, energies and attention to the business and affairs of
the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

(c)  You shall, except
as otherwise provided herein, be subject to the Company’s rules, practices and
policies applicable to the Company’s executive employees.

 

(d)  Subject to the
direction and control of the Board, you shall have authority to hire executives
and to determine the duties and compensation of such employees.

 

4.  Benefits.  During the Term, you shall be entitled to
such benefits, if any, as are generally provided by the Company to its
executive employees including, without limitation, personal leave, sick leave,
five weeks of vacation leave and holiday leave to the extent such leaves are
provided generally to executive employees. 
You also shall have the benefit of any life and medical insurance plans,
retirement, disability, pension, deferred compensation, profit-sharing and
other similar plans as the Company may have or may establish from time to time
for its executive employees.  The
benefits provided to you pursuant to this Section 4
shall be substantially similar to and, in the aggregate, shall be equal to or
greater than the benefits provided to you by the Company immediately prior to
the date hereof.  The foregoing, however,
shall not be construed to require the Company to establish any such plans or to
prevent the Company from modifying or terminating any such plans, and no such
action or failure thereof shall affect this agreement.  During your employment hereunder, you shall
be entitled to participate in any other fringe benefits which are or may be
provided generally to the Company’s executive employees.

 

5.  Board
Membership.  You shall
be appointed to the Board and of the board of 

 

3

 

directors of Sabre Communications Holdings, Inc.,
and shall serve as a director during the Term hereof.

 

6.  Expenses.  The Company will reimburse you for reasonable
expenses, including travel expenses, incurred by you in connection with the
business of the Company upon the presentation by you of appropriate
substantiation for such expenses.

 

7.  Restrictive
Covenants.

 

(a)  During such time
as you shall be employed by the Company (which term, for purposes of this Section 7 and Section 8 below, shall include the
Company as well as any of its subsidiaries or affiliates), and for a period of
two (2) years thereafter, you shall not, nor shall any of your affiliates,
without the prior written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly, or by
action in concert with others, own, manage, operate, join, control, finance or
participate in, or participate in the ownership, management, operation, control
or financing of, or be connected as a principal, agent, representative,
consultant, employee, investor, owner, partner, manager, joint venturer or
otherwise with, or permit your name to be used by or in connection with, any
business, enterprise or other entity engaged anywhere in the United States in
competition with any then current business or operations of the Company; provided,
however, that this agreement shall not prevent the beneficial ownership for
investment purposes of 2% or less of any class of equity securities of any
entity that are registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.

 

(b)  The parties hereto
intend that the covenants contained in this Section 7
shall be 

 

4

 

deemed a series of separate
covenants for each country, state, county and city in which the Company’s
business is conducted.  If, in any
judicial proceeding, a court shall refuse to enforce all the separate covenants
deemed included in this Section 7
because, taken together, they cover too extensive a geographic area, the
parties intend that those of such covenants (taken in order of the countries,
states, counties and cities therein which are least populous) which if
eliminated would permit the remaining separate covenants to be enforced in such
proceeding shall, for the purpose of such proceeding, be deemed eliminated from
the provisions of this Section 7.

 

8.  Confidentiality,
Non-Interference, Proprietary Information and Non-Solicitation.

 

(a)  Confidentiality.  In the course of your employment by the
Company, you will have access to confidential or proprietary data or
information of the Company and its operations. 
You will not at any time divulge or communicate to any person nor shall
you direct any Company employee to divulge or communicate to any person (other
than to a person bound by confidentiality obligations similar to those
contained herein and other than as necessary in performing your duties
hereunder) or use to the detriment of the Company or for the benefit of any
other person, any of such data or information. 
No business conducted by you or any organization of which you, directly
or indirectly, are an owner, officer, director, partner, shareholder, employee,
agent, advisor or consultant in any state or country in which the Company
and/or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates conduct business shall use any
name, designation or logo which is substantially similar to that presently used
by the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.  The term “confidential or proprietary data or
information” as used in this agreement shall mean information not generally
available to the public or generally known within the Company’s industry,
including, without limitation, personnel information, 

 

5

 

financial information,
customer lists, supplier lists, trade secrets, information regarding
operations, systems, services, knowhow, computer and any other processed or
collated data, computer programs, pricing, marketing and advertising data.

 

(b)  Non-Interference.  You agree that you will not at any time after
the termination of your employment by the Company, for your own account or for
the account of any other person, interfere with the Company’s relationship with
any of its suppliers, customers or employees.

 

(c)  Proprietary Information and Disclosure.  You agree that you will at all times promptly
disclose to the Company, in such form and manner as the Company may reasonably
require, any inventions, improvements or procedural or methodological
innovations, programs methods, forms, systems, services, designs, marketing
ideas, products or processes (whether or not capable of being trade-marked,
copyrighted or patented) conceived or developed or created by you during or in
connection with your employment hereunder and which relate to the business of
the Company and any subsidiaries or affiliates (“Intellectual Property”). 
You agree that all such Intellectual Property shall be the sole property
of the Company.  You further agree that
you will execute such instruments and perform such acts as may reasonably be
requested by the Company to transfer to and perfect in the Company all legally
protectible rights in such Intellectual Property.

 

(d)  Return of Property.  All written materials, records and documents
made by you or coming into your possession during your employment concerning
any products, processes or equipment, manufactured, used, developed,
investigated or considered by the Company or otherwise concerning the business
or affairs of the Company, shall be the sole property of the 

 

6

 

Company, and upon
termination of your employment, or upon request of the Company during your
employment, you shall promptly deliver same to the Company.  In addition, upon termination of your
employment, or upon request of the Company during your employment, you will
deliver to the Company all other Company property in your possession or under
your control, including, but not limited to, financial statements, marketing
and sales data, patent applications, drawings and other documents, and all
Company credit cards and automobiles.

 

(e)  Nonsolicitation of Customers or Clients.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, you agree that you will not, during
the course of your employment by the Company hereunder and for a period of two (2) years
following its termination, at any time or in any manner, either directly or
indirectly, for you or for or on behalf of any organization (other than the
Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates), solicit or attempt to solicit any
business similar to the business of the Company from any customers or clients
of the Company or divert or attempt to divert any business from the Company.  A “customer” or “client” shall mean any
organization with which the Company (including its predecessors) has dealt with
or provided services to, regardless of whether such organization was solicited
or provided services by you at any time during your employment, whether during
the usual hours of employment or otherwise.

 

(f)  Nonsolicitation of Employees.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
agreement, you agree that during the course of your employment by the Company
hereunder and for a period of two (2) years following its termination,
either on your behalf or on behalf of any organization (other than the
Company), you shall not directly or indirectly, solicit, divert or otherwise
encourage or attempt to solicit, divert or otherwise encourage employees or agents
of the Company to enter into any employment, consulting or advisory arrangement
or contract with 

 

7

 

or to perform any services
for or on your behalf or on behalf of any organization (other than the Company),
or to enter into any kind of business, including, without limitation, the
business or any similar business of the Company.

 

(g)  Survival.  The
obligations contained in Section 7
and this Section 8 will
survive the termination of your employment with the Company and the Term and
will be fully enforceable thereafter.

 

9.  Equitable
Relief.  With
respect to the covenants contained in Sections
7 and 8 of this
agreement, you agree that any remedy at law for any breach of said covenants
may be inadequate and that the Company shall be entitled to specific
performance or any other mode of injunctive and/or other equitable relief to
enforce its rights hereunder or any other relief a court might award.

 

10.  Earlier
Termination.  Your
employment shall terminate prior to the expiration of the Term on the following
terms and conditions:

 

(a)  Your employment
shall terminate automatically on the date of your death.

 

(b)  Your employment
shall terminate if you are unable to perform your duties hereunder for 120 days
(whether or not continuous) during any period of 180 consecutive days by reason
of physical or mental disability (“Disability”).  The Disability shall be deemed to have
occurred on the 120th day of your absence or lack of adequate performance.

 

(c)  Your employment
shall terminate immediately upon the Company’s sending you written notice
terminating your employment hereunder for “Cause,”
which shall mean (A) your 

 

8

 

continuing, repeated and
willful refusal and failure (other than during periods of illness, disability
or vacation) to perform your duties under this agreement or under any lawful
directive of the Company, (B) your willful misconduct or gross negligence
in the performance of your duties which is materially injurious to the Company,
monetarily or otherwise, (C) your willful breach of this agreement, (D) except
as provided in clause (E) below, your final, non-appealable conviction of
any felony or the entering of a guilty plea to any felony, other than motor
vehicle offenses, or (E) your indictment for any felony on account of an
action taken by you constituting theft or embezzlement from the Company, or
other fraudulent action against the Company. 
Upon termination of your employment under this agreement for Cause
pursuant to this Section 10(c),
the Company shall have no obligations (including severance or otherwise)
hereunder.

 

(d)  Your employment
shall terminate immediately upon the Company’s sending you written notice
terminating your employment hereunder (without Cause therefor having been given
by you) for any reason or for no reason. 
Upon any such termination, the Company’s sole obligation to you shall be
(i) to pay you at a per annum rate equal to your Base Salary in effect at
the time of such termination for a period of two years (which shall be paid as
and when such amounts would have been due had your employment continued), and (ii) subject
to (x) your timely election of continuation coverage under the
Consolidated Budget Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”) and (y) your continued
copayment of premiums at the same level and cost to you as if you were an
employee of the Company (excluding, for purposes of calculating cost, an
employee’s ability to pay premiums with pre-tax dollars) continued
participation in the Company’s group health plan (to the extent permitted under
applicable law and the terms of such plan) which covers you during the
Severance Period at the Company’s expense provided that you are eligible and
remain eligible for COBRA coverage; provided, 

 

9

 

however, that in the event
that you obtain other employment that offers substantially similar or improved
group health benefits, such continuation of coverage by the Company under this
sub-section shall immediately cease;  provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to
you under this Section 10(d) until
(i) you shall have delivered to it a release of all claims in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and (ii) the release
shall have become effective and irrevocable under all applicable law.

 

(e)  Your employment
shall terminate on the 30th day following your notification of your intention
to terminate your employment as a result of Constructive Termination (as
defined herein).  For purposes of this
agreement, “Constructive Termination”
shall mean a material adverse change (which is not cured by the Company within
thirty (30) days after receipt of notice from you) in your compensation terms
or title.  In the event of your
resignation by reason of a Constructive Termination, you shall be entitled to
the amounts that would have been paid to you had your employment been
terminated pursuant to Section 10(d) hereof.  Any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 10(e) shall be paid as
and when such amounts would have been due had your employment continued; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to
you under this Section 10(e) until
(i) you shall have delivered to it a signed release of all claims in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and (ii) the release
shall have become effective and irrevocable under all applicable law.  “Constructive Termination” will cease to
exist for an event on the 60th day following its occurrence, unless you shall
have given the Company written notice thereof prior to such date.

 

(f)  Your employment
shall terminate six months following your sending the Company written notice
terminating your employment hereunder for any reason (other than

 

10

 

Constructive
Termination).  In the event of the
termination of your employment under this Section 10(f),
the Company shall have no obligations (including severance or otherwise)
hereunder.

 

(g)  Except as
specifically set forth in Section 10(d) or
Section 10(e) above,
upon termination of your employment under this agreement, the Company’s
obligations hereunder shall cease.

 

(h)  The Company
acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this agreement shall require you to
accept an offer of employment with, or make any investment in, any successor to
the Company.

 

11.  Representation
and Warranty.  The
execution, delivery and performance of this agreement by you will not conflict
with or result in a violation of any agreement to which you are a party or any
law, regulation or court order applicable to you.  Without limiting the foregoing, you are not a
party to any agreement with, or otherwise under any obligation to, any of your
former employers relating to competition. 
Any inaccuracy of any of the statements set forth in this Section 11 shall constitute “Cause”
for purposes of this agreement, in which event we would be entitled to
terminate your employment under Section 10(c) above
with the effect set forth therein.

 

12.  Entire
Agreement; Modification.  This agreement constitutes the full and
complete understanding of the parties and will, on the Effective Date,
supercede all prior agreements and writings between you, the Company and its
affiliates with respect to your employment arrangements (the “Prior Agreements”).  You and the Company hereby respectively
release 

 

11

 

each other and the Company’s affiliates, effective
as of the Effective Date, from all obligations to the other party under the
Prior Agreements; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 12 shall affect your rights
under any prior agreement with your prior employer, all of which you agree and
acknowledge are the sole responsibility of your prior employer and not of the
Company or any of its affiliates.  No
representations, inducements, promises, agreements or understandings, oral or
otherwise, have been made by either party to this agreement, or anyone acting
on behalf of either party, which are not set forth herein, and any others are
specifically waived.  This agreement may
not be modified or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the
party against which enforcement thereof may be sought.

 

13.  Severability.  Any term or provision of this agreement which
is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this
agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or
provisions of this agreement in any other jurisdiction.

 

14.  Waiver of
Breach.  The waiver
of either party of a breach of any provision of this agreement, which waiver
must be in writing to be effective, shall not operate as or be construed as a
waiver of any subsequent breach,

 

15.  Notices.  All notices hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be sent by express mail or by certified or registered mail, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested, if to you, to your residence as listed in
the Company’s records, and if to the Company, 2101 Murray Street, P.O. Box
658, Sioux City, Iowa 51102, attention of Chairman of the Board of Directors,
with a copy 

 

12

 

to Proskauer Rose LLP, 1585 Broadway, New York, New
York 10036, attention of James D. Meade, Esq.

 

16.  Assignability;
Binding Effect.  This
agreement shall not be assignable by you without the written consent of the
Board.  This agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of you, your legal representatives, heirs and
distributees, and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company, its successors and assigns.

 

17.  Governing
Law.  All questions pertaining to
the validity, construction, execution and performance of this agreement shall
be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa,
without regard to the conflicts or choice of law provisions thereof.

 

18.  Headings.  The headings of this agreement are intended
solely for convenience of reference and shall be given no effect in the
construction or interpretation of this agreement.

 

19.  Counterparts.  This agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

20.  Arbitration.  Except as set forth in Section 9, any dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively
by arbitration to be held in the City of New York, in accordance with the
commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association then
in effect except as modified by this Section 20.  There shall be three arbitrators appointed in
accordance with those rules; one appointed by you, one appointed by the 

 

13

 

Company and the other by the two other
arbitrators.  As part of its award, the
arbitral tribunal shall make an allocation between the parties of the fees and
expenses of the American Arbitration Association, the fees and expenses of the
arbitrators, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, the cost of any
transcript and all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, at the discretion of the
arbitral tribunal taking into account the merits of their claims and
defenses.  The arbitral tribunal shall
render its award on an expedited basis. 
Failure by either party to submit to, or participate in good faith in,
arbitration under this Section 20
(which shall include failure to appoint an arbitrator within 30 days after
service of the demand for arbitration hereunder or such later time as may be
prescribed by the American Arbitration Association) shall result in the
arbitral tribunal issuing an award in favor of the other party if such other
party has submitted to arbitration under this Section 20.  Judgment may be entered on the arbitral
tribunal’s award in any court having jurisdiction, and the parties irrevocably
consent to the jurisdiction of the New York state or federal courts for that
purpose.  The arbitral tribunal may grant
injunctive or other relief, but shall not grant special or punitive
damages.  Nothing in this Section 20 shall preclude any party
from seeking (a) temporary injunctive relief from a court of competent
jurisdiction pending appointment of an arbitral tribunal pursuant this Section 20 or  (b) equitable relief from a court of
competent jurisdiction at any time, as provided in Section 9.

 

21.  Review of
this Agreement.  You
acknowledge that you have (a) carefully read this agreement, (b) had
an opportunity to consult with independent counsel with respect to this
agreement and (c) entered into this agreement of your own free will.

 

22.  Withholding
Taxes.  The Company may withhold from any and all
amounts payable to you such federal, state and local taxes as may be required
to be withheld pursuant to any 

 

14

 

applicable laws or regulations.

 

If this letter correctly sets forth our
understanding, please sign the duplicate original in the space provided below
and return it to the Company, whereupon this shall constitute the employment
agreement between you and the Company effective and for the term as stated
herein.

 

[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT
PAGE]

 

15

 

	
   

  	
  SABRE
  COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/
  Peter Van Raalte

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
  Peter
  Van Raalte

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:

  	
  Chairman

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  AGREED
  AS OF THE DATE 

  FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  /s/ James D. Mack

  	
   

  
	
  JAMES D. MACK

  	
   

  

 

16

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