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Exhibit 10.1  

 
 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT    
  

This
Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into effective as of October 11, 2002, between SoundView Technology Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and Gerard P. Maus (the "Employee"). 

 
 

W I T N E S S E T H:    
  

        The Corporation desires to confirm the continued employment of the Employee in order to have the benefits of his expertise and knowledge. The Employee, in turn,
desires to continue his employment with the Corporation on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The parties, therefore, enter into this Agreement to establish the terms and conditions of the
Employee's continued employment with the Corporation. 

        In
consideration of the mutual covenants and representations contained in this Agreement, the Corporation and the Employee agree as follows: 

        1.    Employment of Employee; Duties.

        The
Corporation agrees to employ the Employee, and the Employee agrees to be employed by the Corporation, as a Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
in the Old Greenwich office, for the period specified in Section 2 (the "Employment Period"), subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. During the Employment Period, the Employee shall report to the Chief Executive Officer or such other senior executive as the Corporation may deem appropriate
from time to time and he shall assume such duties and responsibilities as may be properly assigned to him by the Corporation. 

        2.    Employment Period.    The Employment Period shall begin on November 1, 2002 and shall continue until the
later of December 31, 2003, or the payment of the 2003 Bonus. 

        3.    Base Salary.    During the Employment Period, the Corporation shall pay the Employee at a monthly rate equal to
an annual salary of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) (the "Base Salary"). The Base Salary shall be payable in equal periodic installments which are not less frequent than the periodic
installments in effect for salaries of other senior executives of the Corporation. The Base Salary shall be subject to annual review for upward adjustments based on the policies of the Corporation and
the Employee's contributions to the business of the Corporation. 

        4.    Annual Bonus Plan    During the Employment Period, the Employee shall be entitled to participation at the senior
executive level in the Corporation's bonus plan. For the period ending December 31, 2002, the Employee shall be entitled to a guaranteed bonus of at least One Hundred Thousand Dollars
($100,000) (the "2002 Guaranteed Bonus"), and for the period from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003, a guaranteed bonus of at least
Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) (the "2003 Guaranteed Bonus"). The 2002 Guaranteed Bonus shall be paid no later than
January 31, 2003 and the 2003 Guaranteed Bonus shall be paid no later than January 31, 2004. The 2002 and 2003 Guaranteed Bonuses are intended to be, and are understood by Employee to
be, an inducement to continued employment throughout the Employment Period and continued employment by the Employee throughout the period covered by the applicable Guaranteed Bonus, except as may
otherwise be provided in Section 8, is a requirement for payment to be made by the Corporation. The amount of the bonus, if any, in excess of the 2003 Guaranteed Bonus, shall take into account
various factors, including the overall financial performance of the Corporation and may include, if applicable, achievement of objective written goals set for the Executive by mutual agreement with
the Corporation, it being understood that the goal for achieving all such objectives shall be a total bonus for 2003 of at least Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand ($450,000) dollars, but it also being
understood and agreed that any such additional bonus shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Corporation. 

 

        5.    Benefits.

        (a)    In
addition to and except for the matters governed by this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to all employee benefits and perquisites, including but not limited
to pension, deferred compensation plans, incentive, stock options, group life insurance, disability, sickness and accident insurance and health benefits under such plans and programs as provided to
other Managing Directors of the Corporation from time to time. 

        (b)    The
Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation as well as holidays, leave of absence and leave for illness and temporary disability in accordance
with the policies of the Corporation. 

        (c)    The
Employee shall be entitled to reimbursement for normal and customary business expenses in accordance with the Company's policies for expense reimbursement. The
Corporation shall pay the Employee's reasonable relocation expenses associated with his move from the Boston, Ma. area to the Old Greenwich, Connecticut area, not to exceed $75,000. 

        6.    Restricted Stock Grant.

        The
Employee shall be granted One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares of restricted stock of the Corporation on his first day of employment at the Company (currently scheduled for
November 1, 2002). In addition, the Employee shall receive a restricted stock grant on January 31, 2003 of Fifty Thousand (50,000) Shares and a further grant of restricted stock at the
time of the payment of the 2003 Guaranteed Bonus of One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares. The terms of the restricted stock grants shall be set forth in a Restricted Stock Agreement in the general
form of Exhibit 1 and shall vest annually over a three (3) year period. In the event of changes in the Common Stock of the Corporation by reason of any stock dividend,
spin-off, split-up, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, business combination or exchange of shares and the like, the Corporation shall make an equitable adjustment to the
number of restricted shares to be granted hereunder. 

        7.    Non-Disclosure; Non-Competition

        7.1    Employee Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Assignment of Inventions Agreement.    As
a condition to this Agreement, Employee agrees to execute and comply with the terms and conditions of the "SoundView Technology Group, Inc. Employee Non-Disclosure,
Non-Competition and Assignment of Inventions Agreement" (the "Non-Disclosure Agreement") attached as Exhibit 1. 

        7.2    Confidentiality.    Employee covenants and agrees to keep this Agreement and its terms confidential and to not
discuss or disclose the terms of this Agreement or any of the discussions or correspondence relating thereto with any past, present or future employees of the Corporation, any prospective employer(s)
or any representatives thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may discuss and disclose the terms of this Agreement with his attorney, financial advisors and immediate family members,
provided he first informs such individuals of their obligation to keep that information confidential. 

        8.    Termination.

        8.1    Termination by the Corporation.

        (a)    The
Corporation may terminate the Employee's employment under this Agreement without Cause (as defined in Section 8.1(b)), at any time by giving notice thereof to
the Employee. The Employment Period shall terminate as of the date of such termination of employment. 

        (b)    The
Corporation may terminate the Employee's employment under this Agreement for Cause at any time by notifying the Employee of such termination. For all purposes of
this Agreement, the Employment Period shall end as of the date of such termination of employment. "Cause" shall mean the Executive's (i) neglect,
failure or refusal to timely perform the duties of his employment (other 

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than by reason of a physical or mental illness or impairment), or his gross negligence in the performance of his duties, (ii) material breach of any agreements, covenants and representations
made in any employment agreement or other agreement with the Corporation or any subsidiary, (iii) violation of any law, rule, regulation or by-law of any governmental authority
(state, federal or foreign), any securities exchange or association or other regulatory or self-regulatory body or agency applicable to the Corporation or any subsidiary or any material
general policy or directive of the Corporation or any subsidiary, (iv) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, fraud or unethical
business conduct, or a felony, (v) giving or accepting undisclosed material commissions or other payments in cash or in kind in connection with the affairs of the Corporation or its clients,
(vi) failure to obtain or maintain any registration, license or other authorization or approval that the Corporation or any subsidiary reasonably believes is required in order for the Grantee
to perform his duties, it being understood and agreed that at a minimum the Executive shall obtain a Series 27 license within ninety days of his first day of work, or (vii) habitual
abuse of alcohol or drugs. 

        8.2    Termination by the Employee.    The Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time, for any reason or for no
reason at all, by giving notice thereof to the Corporation at least thirty (30) days before the effective date of such termination. The Employment Period shall terminate as of the date of such
termination of employment. 

        8.3    Severance Benefits.

        (a)    If
the Employee's employment under this Agreement is terminated on or before the end of the Employment Period by the Corporation without Cause (as defined in
Section 8.4) or by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined in Section 8.3(d)) (i) the Corporation shall pay the Employee a lump sum
cash payment, within thirty (30) days of the date of such termination, equal to the minimum 2002 Guaranteed Bonus, if not yet paid, and the 2003 Guaranteed Bonus. 

        (b)    If
the Employee's employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Corporation for Cause or by the Employee without Good Reason, the Corporation shall pay the
Employee a lump sum cash payment within thirty (30) days of the date of such termination, equal to (i) Employee's unpaid Base Salary to the termination date. 

        (c)    If
the Employee's employment under this Agreement is terminated by reason of the death of the Employee or the total disability of the Employee (as defined in
Section 7.4), the Corporation shall pay a prorated portion of the 2002 Guaranteed Bonus (prorated from November 1, 2002 to the date of termination) if the death or disability occurs
during 2002, or all of the 2002 Guaranteed Bonus if the death or disability occurs after December 31, 2002 but prior to the payment of the 2002 Bonus by the Corporation, and a prorated portion
of the 2003 Guaranteed Bonus (prorated from January 1, 2003 to the date of termination if the death or disability occurs during 2003 or prior to the payment of the 2003 Guaranteed Bonus). 

        (d)    "Good Reason" means any material failure by the Corporation to pay or provide the compensation and benefits under this
Agreement; provided that, in each such event, the Employee shall give the Corporation notice thereof which shall specify in reasonable detail the circumstances constituting Good Reason, and there
shall be no Good Reason with respect to any such circumstances cured by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after such notice. 

        (e)    If
the Employee is entitled to receive payments or other benefits under this Agreement upon the termination of his employment with the Corporation, the Employee hereby
irrevocably waives the right to receive any payments or other benefits under any other severance or similar plan maintained by the Corporation ("Other Severance
Plan"), provided, however, that if the payments and other benefits provided under such Other Severance Plan exceed the payments and other benefits under this Agreement, the
Employee, in his sole discretion, may elect to receive the payments and benefits under such Other Severance Plan in lieu of the payments and benefits under this Agreement upon his 

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termination of employment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing contained herein shall affect Employee's rights with respect to any stock option, restricted stock or
other equity participation granted pursuant to any stock option, restricted stock, or other equity participation plan of the Corporation or its affiliates, all of which shall be governed by the terms
of the governing documents, including the specific grant documents. 

        8.4    Termination by Death or Disability.    Except for the right to the payment of any unpaid Base Salary or
prorated Guaranteed Bonus, as provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the Employee's death. If the Corporation
determines in good faith that the Employee has a "total disability" (within the meaning of such term or of a similar term as defined in the Corporation's long-term disability plan as in
effect from time to time), the Corporation may
terminate his employment under this Agreement by notifying the Employee thereof at least thirty (30) days before the effective date of such termination. 

        9.    Notices.    Any notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be
sufficient if in writing and if sent by registered or certified mail to the Employee at the last address he has filed in writing with the Corporation or, in the case of the Corporation, to the
Corporation's principal executive offices. 

        10.    Withholding Taxes.    The Corporation shall have the right, to the extent required by law, to withhold from any
payment of any kind due to the Employee under this Agreement to satisfy the tax withholding obligations of the Corporation under applicable law. 

        11.    Binding Agreement; Waiver.    This Agreement shall be binding upon the Employee and the Corporation on and
after the date of this Agreement. The rights and obligations of the Corporation under this agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Corporation and any successor of the
Corporation, and the benefits of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Employee's estate and beneficiaries in the event of the Employee's death or legal guardian in the event of his total
disability. Neither party may assign his or its duties or rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however that (i) the Corporation may assign
this Agreement to any subsidiary, parent or affiliate, without the consent of the Employee, and such assignment shall not, in and of itself, constitute, a termination of employment under this
Agreement and (ii) this Agreement may be assigned without consent in connection with any sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets or upon any merger, consolidation or
reorganization of the Corporation with or into any other corporation. 

        12.    Entire Agreement.    This Agreement and the SoundView Technology Group, Inc. Employee
Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Assignment of Inventions Agreement constitute the entire understanding of the Employee and the Corporation with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes and voids any and all prior agreements or understandings, written or oral, regarding the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be changed, modified, or discharged
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the parties. 

        13.    Governing Law and Severability.    This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York
(without giving effect to choice of law principles or rules thereof that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York) and the invalidity or
unenforceability of any provisions hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating or affecting the remaining provisions hereof, and any such
prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 

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        14.    Arbitration.    DISPUTES REGARDING THE EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CORPORATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, ANY DISPUTE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WHICH CANNOT BE RESOLVED BY NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE EMPLOYEE, BUT EXCLUDING ANY DISPUTES REGARDING THE EXECUTIVE'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE
RESTRICTIONS OF THE EMPLOYEE NON-DISCLOSURE, NON-COMPETITION AND ASSIGNMENT OF INVENTIONS AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN SECTION 6 OF THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO, AND
SOLELY DETERMINED BY, FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION CONDUCTED BY JAMS/ENDISPUTE, INC.'S ARBITRATION RULES APPLICABLE TO EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES, AND THE PARTIES AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE FINAL AWARD
OF THE ARBITRATOR IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO THE INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY MATTER RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT; IN
ALL OTHER CASES THE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY THE LAWS OF THE STATE SPECIFIED IN THE CORPORATION'S ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY AS IN EFFECT FROM TIME TO TIME (IF ANY). ARBITRATION MAY BE HELD
IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, OR SUCH OTHER PLACE AS THE PARTIES HERETO MAY MUTUALLY AGREE, AND SHALL BE CONDUCTED SOLELY BY A FORMER JUDGE. JUDGMENT UPON THE AWARD BY THE ARBITRATOR MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY
COURT HAVING JURISDICTION THEREOF. 

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

	 	 	 	 	SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Mark F. Loehr

Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	EMPLOYEE:
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	

	Date:	 	
	 	 

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Exhibit 2
  
    SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.
  
    EMPLOYEE NON-DISCLOSURE, NON-COMPETITION 
  AND ASSIGNMENT OF INVENTIONS AGREEMENT    
  

+

        In
consideration and as a condition of the continued employment of Troy Nickerson (the "Employee") by SoundView Technology Group, Inc. (the "Company"), the Employee hereby agrees
with the Company as follows: 

        1.    Use of Confidential Information.    During the course of the Employee's employment with the Company, the
Employee has and will continue to gain access to or knowledge of, or work on the development or creation of Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). The Employee hereby agrees that he will
not at any time, whether during or after the termination of his employment, reveal to any person or entity any Confidential Information of the Company or of any third party which the Company is under
an obligation to keep confidential, except as may be required in the ordinary course of performing his duties as an employee of the Company or except as may be required pursuant to a subpoena or
summons, issued by or a final order of a court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental or regulatory authority, and the Employee shall keep secret all Confidential Information and shall not
use or attempt to use any such information in any manner, except as may be required in the ordinary course of performing his duties as an employee of the Company. 

        2.    Definition of Confidential Information.    As used herein, the term "Confidential Information" shall mean all
trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information relating to the Company, including, without limitation: (a) supplier and customer lists, supplier and customer-specific information,
user lists, vendor lists and content provider lists; (b) planning data and selling and marketing strategies; (c) product and process designs, formulas, processes, plans, drawings,
concepts, techniques, systems, strategies, software programs and works of authorship; (d) manufacturing and operating methods; (e) research and development data and materials, including
those related to the research and development of products,
materials or manufacturing and other processes; (f) financial and accounting information, financial and accounting records, pricing information, projects, budgets, projections and forecasts;
(g) all industrial and intellectual property rights, including, without limitation, patents, patent applications, patent rights, trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, service marks,
service mark applications, copyrights, copyright applications, databases, algorithms, computer programs and other software, know-how, trade secrets, proprietary processes and formulae,
inventions, trade dress, logos, design and all documentation and media constituting, describing or relating to the above; and (h) other information with respect to the Company, which, if
divulged to the Company's competitors, would impair the Company's ability to compete in the marketplace. 

        Confidential
Information shall not include: (i) information that at the time of disclosure is in the public domain through no fault of the Employee; (ii) information
received from a third party outside of the Company that was disclosed without a breach of any confidentiality obligation; or (iii) information approved for release by written authorization of
the Company. 

        In
the event the Employee becomes legally compelled to disclose Confidential Information pursuant to a subpoena, summons, order or other judicial or governmental process, the Employee
shall provide the Company with prompt notice thereof so that the Company may seek a protective order or another appropriate remedy, or waive compliance with the relevant provisions of this agreement.
In the event such a protective order or other remedy is not obtained, or that such a waiver is granted, the Employee shall furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information that is legally
required. 

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        3.    Return of Confidential Information.    The Employee hereby further agrees that during his employment he shall
not take, use or permit to be used any notes, memoranda, reports, lists, records, drawings, sketches, specifications, software programs, data, documentation or other materials of any nature relating
to any matter within the scope of the business of the Company or concerning any of its dealings or affairs otherwise than in the ordinary course of his employment or for the benefit of the Company.
The Employee further agrees that he shall not, after the termination of his employment, use or permit to be used any such notes, memoranda, reports, lists, records, drawings, sketches, specifications,
software programs, data, documentation or other materials, it being agreed that all of the foregoing shall be and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company and that promptly following the
termination of his employment, the Employee shall deliver all of the foregoing, and all copies thereof, to the Company at its main office. 

        4.    Assignment of Developments.    If at any time or times in the course of his employment the Employee shall
(either alone or with others) make, conceive, discover or reduce to practice any invention, modification, discovery, design, development, improvement, process, software program,
work-of-authorship, documentation, formula, data, technique, know-how, secret or intellectual property right whatsoever or any interest therein (whether or not
patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes or subject to analogous protection) (herein called "Developments") that (a) relates to the business of the Company or any of the
products or services being developed, manufactured, sold or provided by the Company or which may be used in relation therewith, (b) results from tasks assigned to
the Employee by the Company or (c) results from the use of premises or personal property (whether tangible or intangible) owned, leased or contracted for by the Company, such Developments and
the benefits thereof shall immediately become the sole and absolute property of the Company and its assigns, and the Employee shall promptly disclose to the Company (or any persons designated by it)
each such Development and hereby assigns any rights the Employee may have or acquire in the Developments and benefits and/or rights resulting therefrom to the Company and its assigns without further
compensation and shall communicate, without cost or delay, and without publishing the same, all available information relating thereto (with all necessary documentation, plans and models) to the
Company. 

        Upon
disclosure of each Development to the Company, the Employee will, during his employment and at any time thereafter, at the reasonable request and cost (including reasonable charges
for the Employee's time following his termination of employment with the Company) of the Company, sign, execute, make and do all such deeds, documents, acts and things as the Company and its duly
authorized agents may reasonably require: 

	a.
	to
apply for, obtain and vest in the name of the Company alone (unless the Company otherwise directs) letters patent, copyrights, trademarks, service marks or other analogous
protection in any country throughout the world and when so obtained or vested to renew and restore the same; and

	b.
	to
defend any opposition proceedings in respect of such applications and any opposition proceedings or petitions or applications for revocation of such letters patent, copyrights,
trademarks, service marks or other analogous protection. 

        In
the event the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, to secure the Employee's signature on any letters patent, copyrights, trademarks, service marks or other analogous protection
relating to a Development because of an action or inaction on the part of the Employee, whether because of the Employee's physical or mental incapacity or for any other reason whatsoever caused by the
Employee, the Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Employee's agent and attorney-in-fact, to act
for and in his behalf and stead to execute and file any such application or applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of any such letters patent,
copyrights, trademarks, service marks 

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and other analogous protection thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Employee. 

        5.    Non-Competition.    While employed at the Company, the Employee agrees that he will not, whether
alone or as an individual proprietor, partner, officer, director, consultant, agent, employee or stockholder of any company or other commercial enterprise, directly or indirectly, engage in any
business activity that competes with any business conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries at any time during the period of the Employee's employment with the Company, or any business
planned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries at any time during the period of the Employee's
employment with the Company nor otherwise assist such company or other commercial enterprise in engaging in such business activity. The Employee's ownership of any class of securities of a public
company not in excess of one percent (1%) of such class of such securities and such ownership shall not, by itself, violate the terms of this Paragraph 5. 

        6.    Non-Solicitation of Company Employees.    While employed at the Company and for a period of one
(1) year after termination of the Employee's employment for any reason (whether voluntary or involuntary), the Employee will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, recruit or hire any employee
of the Company to work for a third party other than the Company or engage in any activity that would cause any such employee to violate any agreement with the Company. 

        7.    Employee Representations.

        (a)  The
Employee hereby represents and warrants to the Company that, except as specifically disclosed in writing to the Company prior to commencing employment with the
Company, the Employee is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employees or other party to refrain from using or disclosing any trade secret or confidential or proprietary
information in the course of his employment with the Company or to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or any other party. 

        (b)  The
Employee further represents and warrants to the Company that his performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of the Company does not and will
not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by the Employee in confidence or in trust prior to his employment with the Company, and the Employee
will not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous employer or others. 

        8.    Injunctive Relief.    The Employee agrees that any breach of this Agreement by the Employee will cause
irreparable damage to the Company and that in the event of such breach the Company shall have, in addition to any and all remedies of law, the right to an injunction, specific performance or other
equitable relief to prevent the violation of the Employee's obligations hereunder. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedy available for
such breach or threatened breach. The prevailing party in any litigation arising under this Agreement shall be entitled to recover his or its reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses in addition to all
other available remedies. 

        9.    Miscellaneous.

        (a)  The
Employee understands that this Agreement does not create an obligation on the Company or any other person or entity to continue the Employee's employment or to
exploit any Developments. 

        (b)  Any
waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision or any
other provision hereof. 

        (c)  The
Employee hereby acknowledges that the type and periods of restriction imposed in the provisions of this Agreement are fair and reasonable and are reasonably required
for the 

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protection of the Company's proprietary information and the goodwill associated with the business of the Company. The Employee hereby further acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement shall
be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, the Employee agrees that if any particular
provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed amended to delete therefrom the portion thus adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable,
such deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of such provision in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made. In addition, if any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, it shall be construed by limiting and reducing it, so as to be
enforceable to the extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 

        (d)  The
Employee's obligations under this Agreement intended to apply following the Employee's termination of employment with the Company shall survive the termination of
the Employee's employment regardless of the manner of such termination and shall be binding upon the Employee's heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. 

        (e)  The
term "Company" shall include SoundView Technology Group, Inc. and any of its subsidiaries and divisions. The Company shall have the right to assign this
Agreement to its successors and assigns, and all covenants and agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by said successors or assigns. 

        (f)    This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly therein
(without regard to principles of conflicts of laws). 

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Employee Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Assignment of
Inventions Agreement as of the    day of October 2002. 

	

 	

 Signature
	

 	

 Name—please print
	

 	

	

 	

 Address

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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

W I T N E S S E T H

Exhibit 2 SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC. EMPLOYEE NON-DISCLOSURE, NON-COMPETITION AND ASSIGNMENT OF INVENTIONS AGREEMENTQuickLinks
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Exhibit 10.1    
  

        AMENDMENT
NUMBER EIGHT, dated as of July 29, 2002 (this "Amendment"), to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
November 27, 1998, as previously amended, modified and supplemented and as last amended by Amendment Number Seven, dated as of March 28, 2002 (the "Credit
Agreement"), among SUPERIOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC. (formerly known as Superior/Essex Corp.), a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), ESSEX GROUP INC., a Michigan corporation ("Essex" and, together with the Company, the
"Borrowers"), each of the Guarantors party thereto (the "Guarantors") (which Guarantors include Superior
TeleCom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Parent")), the lending institutions from time to time party thereto (each a
"Lender" and, collectively, the "Lenders"), BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Administrative Agent, MERRILL
LYNCH & CO., as Documentation Agent, and FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication Agent (the "Agents"). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement. 

        WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to make, and have made, certain loans and other extensions of credit to the Borrowers; 

        WHEREAS,
the Borrowers have requested that the Agents and the Lenders amend certain sections of the Credit Agreement relating, among other things, to (i) the timing of certain
scheduled term loan repayments and (ii) the timing for testing compliance by the Borrowers with certain financial covenants; and 

        WHEREAS,
the Agents and the Lenders have considered and agreed to the Borrowers' requests, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Amendment; and 

        WHEREAS,
the consent of the Required Lenders and the Required Lenders of each Tranche of Term Loans is necessary to effect this Amendment; 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby
agree as follows: 

SECTION ONE—AMENDMENTS  

        1.1.    Amendments to Section 4 (Payments) of the Credit Agreement.    

        (a)  Section 4.02(b)
shall be amended by deleting the text thereof in its entirety and replacing it with the following: 

        "(b)
In addition to any other mandatory repayments or commitment reductions pursuant to this Section 4.02, on each date set forth below, the Borrowers shall be required to repay
that principal amount of Tranche A Term Loans, to the extent then outstanding, set forth opposite such date (each such repayment, as the same may be reduced as provided in Sections 4.01 and 4.02(i), a 

 

"Tranche A Term Loan Scheduled Repayment," and each such date, a "Tranche A Term Loan Scheduled Repayment
Date"): 

	Tranche A Term Loan

Scheduled Repayment Date
	 	Amount

	September 16, 2002	 	4,088,424.28
	September 30, 2002	 	7,672,566.98
	October 31, 2002	 	1,069,341.18
	November 29, 2002	 	4,508,145.09
	December 31, 2002	 	8,167,599.72
	January 31, 2003	 	8,553,394.43
	

Quarterly Payment Date in March 2003	
 	

11,250,571.24
	Quarterly Payment Date in June 2003	 	11,250,571.24
	Quarterly Payment Date in September 2003	 	11,250,571.24
	Quarterly Payment Date in December 2003	 	48,384,770.40
	May 27, 2004	 	190,622,685.16

All
Tranche A Term Loans will be repaid on the Tranche A Term Loan Maturity Date." 

        (b)  Section 4.02(c)
shall be amended by deleting the text thereof in its entirety and replacing it with the following: 

        "(c)
In addition to any other mandatory repayments or commitment reductions pursuant to this Section 4.02, on each date set forth below, the Borrowers shall be required to repay
that principal amount of Tranche B Term Loans, to the extent then outstanding, set forth opposite such date (each such repayment, as the same may be reduced as provided in Sections 4.01 and 4.02(i), a
"Tranche B Term Loan Scheduled Repayment," and each such date, a "Tranche B Term Loan Scheduled Repayment
Date"): 

	Tranche B Term Loan

Scheduled Repayment Date
	 	Amount

	September 16, 2002	 	5,194,540.72
	September 30, 2002	 	9,748,367.33
	October 31, 2002	 	1,358,649.67
	November 29, 2002	 	5,727,816.31
	December 31, 2002	 	10,377,330.35
	January 31, 2003	 	10,867,501.19
	

Quarterly Payment Date in March 2003	
 	

14,294,394.73
	Quarterly Payment Date in June 2003	 	14,294,394.73
	Quarterly Payment Date in September 2003	 	14,294,394.73
	Quarterly Payment Date in December 2003	 	61,475,190.25
	

Quarterly Payment Date in March 2004	
 	

36,502,264.99
	Quarterly Payment Date in June 2004	 	34,282,178.89
	Quarterly Payment Date in September 2004	 	34,282,178.89
	Quarterly Payment Date in December 2004	 	34,282,178.89
	

Quarterly Payment Date in March 2005	
 	

34,282,178.89
	Quarterly Payment Date in June 2005	 	34,282,178.89
	November 27, 2005	 	34,241,912.87

All
Tranche B Term Loans will be repaid on the Tranche B Term Loan Maturity Date." 

2

 

        1.2    Amendment to Section 7.19 (Receivables Financing Agreement) of the Credit Agreement.    

        Section 7.19
of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the phrase "four weeks" contained therein and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "two weeks". 

        1.3    Amendment to Section 8.11A (Monthly Covenants) of the Credit Agreement.    

        Section 8.11A
of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new paragraph immediately following the last paragraph thereof: 

        "Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8.11A, (i) the Company will not be required to comply with Section 8.11A(c) with respect to the
month ended June 30, 2002, and (ii) the Company will not be required to comply with Section 8.11A(a) with respect to the month ended July 31, 2002. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained in this Section 8.11A or in Section 7.01(a), compliance by the Company with Section 8.11A(b) with respect to the month ended August 31, 2002 shall
be tested on September 16, 2002." 

        1.4    Amendment to Section 8 (Negative Covenants) of the Credit Agreement    

        Section 8
of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new Section 8.18 immediately following Section 8.17 at the end thereof: 

        "Section 8.18.    New Receivables Financing Agreements.    The Company will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, enter into any new accounts receivable facility which replaces the Essex Funding Agreement without the consent of the majority (in number) of the Lenders on the Steering Committee of
the Lenders." 

SECTION TWO—CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS  

        (a)  This
Amendment shall become effective on the date (the "Amendment No. 8 Effective Date") on which the
Administrative Agent shall have received: 

        (i)    counterparts
of this Amendment executed by each Borrower, the Required Lenders and the Required Lenders of each Tranche of Term Loans; 

        (ii)    payment
in full of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett and Policano & Manzo) pursuant to the Credit Agreement (which costs and expenses shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds and distributed by the
Administrative Agent to the parties entitled thereto); and 

        (iii)
an Officer's Certificate from the Borrowers certifying that no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing (after giving effect to this Amendment) and, in the view of
the Steering Committee of the Lenders, no material adverse fact or circumstance or development has become known or been disclosed. 

        (b)  The
effectiveness of this Amendment (other than Section Three) is further conditioned upon the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section Three
hereof. 

SECTION THREE—REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES  

        Each of the Parent and the Company hereby confirms, reaffirms and restates the representations and warranties made by it in Section 6 of the Credit
Agreement and all such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof (it being understood and agreed that any representation or warranty which by
its terms is made as of a specified date shall be required to be true and correct only as of such specified date), except such representations and warranties need not be true and correct to the extent
that changes in the facts and conditions on which 

3

 

such representations and warranties are based are required or permitted under the Credit Agreement or such changes arise out of events not prohibited by the covenants set forth in Sections 7
and 8 of the Credit Agreement or otherwise permitted by consents or waivers. The Company hereby further represents and warrants (which representations and warranties shall survive the execution and
delivery hereof) to the Agents and each Lender that: 

        (a)  Each
Credit Party has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Amendment and has taken all corporate actions necessary to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment; 

        (b)  No
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; 

        (c)  No
consent of any person other than all of the Lenders and the Agents parties hereto, and no consent, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or
report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability against any Credit
Party of this Amendment; 

        (d)  This
Amendment has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each Credit Party by a duly authorized officer or attorney-in-fact of such
Credit Party, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be
limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, preferential transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and remedies generally, (b) general principles of equity (whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and by the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, or (c) public policy considerations or court administrative, regulatory or other governmental decisions that may limit rights to
indemnification or contribution or limit or affect any covenants or agreements relating to competition or future employment; and 

        (e)  The
execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment will not violate (i) any provision of law applicable to any Credit Party or (ii) any contractual
obligation of any Credit Party, other than such violations that would not reasonably be expected to result in, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. 

SECTION FOUR—MISCELLANEOUS  

        (a)  Except
as herein expressly amended, the Credit Agreement and all other agreements, documents, instruments and certificates executed in connection therewith, except as
otherwise provided herein, are ratified and confirmed in all respects and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms. 

        (b)  This
Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same
agreement. 

        (c)  THIS
AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 

        (d)  This
Amendment shall not constitute a consent or waiver to or modification of any provision, term or condition of the Credit Agreement, other than such terms,
provisions, or conditions that are required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Amendment. All terms, provisions, covenants, representations, warranties, agreements and conditions
contained in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, shall remain in full force and effect. 

        (e)  Each
of the Borrowers, the Parent and their respective Subsidiaries acknowledges and consents to all of the terms and conditions of this Amendment and agrees that this
Amendment and all 

4

 

documents executed in connection herewith do not operate to reduce or discharge such obligations of the Borrowers, the Parent and their respective Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement or the other
Credit Documents. Each of the Borrowers, the Parent and their respective Subsidiaries further acknowledges and agrees that such Borrowers, the Parent and their respective Subsidiaries each has no
claims, counterclaims, offsets, or defenses to the Credit Documents and the performance of such obligations of the Borrowers, the Parent and their respective Subsidiaries thereunder or if such
Borrowers, the Parent and their respective Subsidiaries did have any such claims, counterclaims, offsets or defenses to the Credit Documents or any transaction related to the Credit Documents, the
same are hereby waived, relinquished and released in consideration of the Lenders' execution and delivery of this Amendment. Each of the Borrowers, the Parent and their respective Subsidiaries listed
as a Guarantor on the signature pages hereof acknowledges that it is a Guarantor under the Credit Agreement. 

5

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.1

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