UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 29, 2008

 

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-32887   11-3547680

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

23 Main Street, Holmdel, NJ   07733
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (732) 528-2600

 

 

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On July 29, 2008, Vonage Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) approved the appointment of Marc P. Lefar to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer effective on July 29, 2008. Mr. Lefar replaces Jeffrey Citron, the Company’s Chairman, Chief Strategist and Interim Chief Executive Officer, who had assumed the additional role of Interim Chief Executive Officer following the departure of the Company’s prior Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Citron is stepping down as Interim Chief Executive Officer as of July 29, 2008 but will continue as Chairman of the Board. The Company has eliminated the position of Chief Strategist.

Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lefar, age 44, was Founder and Principal of Marketing Insights, a technology and media consultancy that he founded in May 2007. Prior to founding that firm, Mr. Lefar served as Chief Marketing Officer of Cingular Wireless from February 2003 to April 2007. Mr. Lefar also served as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Value-Added Services of Cable and Wireless Global from 2000 to 2002. He also held senior leadership roles at Verizon Wireless and GTE Wireless. Mr. Lefar spent the first nine years of his career at Procter & Gamble.

Lefar Agreements

Effective July 29, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Mr. Lefar providing for his employment, commencing as of July 29, 2008, as Chief Executive Officer for an initial term of three years. The term will automatically renew for additional one-year periods, unless either party gives notice at least 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term. In the event of a change in control, the term will also be automatically extended until the first anniversary of the change of control if the term would otherwise be terminated within such one-year period, subject to automatic annual renewals as described above. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lefar reports to the Company’s Board of Directors. All employees of the Company will report to Mr. Lefar or one of his designees.

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Lefar is entitled to receive an annual base salary of not less than $850,000, subject to review for increase not less than annually by the Company’s compensation committee. Mr. Lefar also is eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance-based bonus in accordance with the Company’s annual bonus program for senior executives. Annual bonus payments under the program in 2007 related to the achievement of revenue, subscriber line acquisition costs, pre-marketing operating income per line, churn and adjusted operating loss targets, as well as personal contribution. The Company’s budget and business plan for the last several years has involved significant operating losses. Therefore, annual bonuses are paid even if the Company has operating losses. For 2008, except as otherwise determined by the Company’s compensation committee in its sole discretion, Mr. Lefar will not be entitled to a performance bonus. Mr. Lefar’s employment agreement contains a target annual bonus equal to 75% of Mr. Lefar’s annual base salary for 2009 and 100% in 2010 and thereafter, subject to review for increase not less than annually by the Company’s compensation committee.

Mr. Lefar was granted a one-time payment of $865,000 as a sign-on bonus and to compensate him for early termination of his prior business affairs, payable not later than July 31, 2008, and nonqualified options (the “Sign-On Options”) to acquire 6,500,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value (“Common Stock”). If, on or prior to January 1, 2009, either the Company delivers a required notice terminating Mr. Lefar’s employment for cause, or he delivers a required notice to the Company resigning from his employment other than for good reason, the Company will be entitled to recoup from Mr. Lefar $500,000 of the one-time payment.

The stock option grant was made on July 29, 2008 and the Sign-On Options will vest in four equal annual installments over a four-year period commencing on the calendar day before the first anniversary of the date of grant. These options have a term of ten years and a per share exercise price equal to $1.42 per share, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 29, 2008, the date of grant. If the financing contemplated by the commitment letter signed by the Company on July 22, 2008 (assuming conversion of all convertible securities and exercise of all outstanding options and warrants) is expected to be substantially more dilutive than the capitalization as contemplated by the commitment letter, the Company and Mr. Lefar will discuss in good faith the award of additional Company equity to Mr. Lefar.

 

- 2 -


Upon a change of control of the Company, all outstanding Sign-On Options held by Mr. Lefar will become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to such change of control. Upon termination of Mr. Lefar’s employment without cause by the Company or by Mr. Lefar for good reason (in either case, other than in the context of a change of control of the Company), then for each outstanding Sign-On Option held by Mr. Lefar, an additional amount will vest and become immediately excercisable equal to the number of Sign-On Options that would vest on the next vesting tranche multiplied by a fraction where (1) the numerator is 12 plus the number of full and fractional months that had elapsed between the option vesting date immediately prior to such termination and such termination date and (2) the denominator is 12. Upon a non-renewal of the employment agreement by the Company, Mr. Lefar will vest pro rata in the next vesting tranche to the extent he continues to be employed by the Company beyond the expiration of the term of the employment agreement, such pro rata portion to be based on the full and fractional months that elapse from the day immediately after the expiration of such term through his termination of employment with the Company. Upon a termination of Mr. Lefar’s employment by the Company without cause or for non-renewal, or by Mr. Lefar for good reason, all outstanding options (whether part of the Sign-On Options or not) granted by the Company to Mr. Lefar will, to the extent vested, remain exercisable for at least 180 days after the termination, or until the end of the term of the option, if earlier. Upon a termination of Mr. Lefar’s employment by Mr. Lefar without good reason, all vested outstanding options granted by the Company to Mr. Lefar shall remain exercisable for at least 60 days after termination, or until the end of the term of the option, if earlier.

Mr. Lefar is entitled to relocation benefits customarily made available to a chief executive officer. Prior to his relocation, for up to one year, the Company must pay for or reimburse Mr. Lefar for the cost of temporary housing (i.e., furnished housing, including utilities). During the term of the employment agreement, the Company must promptly pay for or reimburse Mr. Lefar for his commercial air and car transport between his primary residence in Atlanta, Georgia and the Company’s principal offices. The Company must pay for or reimburse Mr. Lefar for amounts up to a maximum of $250,000 in 2008 and $350,000 in 2009 plus the cost of commercial air travel (i.e., the cost of a first-class, fully refundable, direct flight booked one week prior to travel), to be used by Mr. Lefar for private air travel from and to the Company’s principal offices until Mr. Lefar’s relocation to the New Jersey area. The Company will also pay Mr. Lefar’s reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection with the negotiation and documentation of his employment agreement, up to a maximum of $50,000. The Company will gross-up for tax purposes any income arising from such relocation, transportation and legal expense reimbursements that are treated as nondeductible taxable income.

During the term of his employment agreement, if the Company terminates Mr. Lefar’s employment without cause or he resigns with good reason or if Mr. Lefar receives notice of non-renewal of his employment agreement with the Company and, in each case, Mr. Lefar provides us with a general release of claims, he will be entitled to a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination, an amount equal to two times his base salary (one year in the event of non-renewal of Mr. Lefar’s employment agreement), payment of medical, dental and vision continuation coverage premiums for Mr. Lefar and his dependents under COBRA in excess of the amount he would have paid if he were an active employee for the COBRA continuation coverage period until he receives such coverage from another employer and up to $50,000 of outplacement services. If Mr. Lefar’s employment is terminated by reason of death or disability, he will be entitled to a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination and an amount equal to his base salary for one year (reduced by the projected net amount of any disability benefits received by Mr. Lefar under the Company’s group disability policy).

Upon a change of control of the Company meeting specified criteria that occurs prior to July 29, 2009, if Mr. Lefar is then employed by the Company or prior thereto has been terminated by the Company without cause in contemplation of the change of control, Mr. Lefar will be entitled to an additional bonus if, and only if, the Combined Value (as defined below) is less than $4,135,000. The “Combined Value” is defined as the sum of the Value Bonus and the Triggered Severance Amount (if any), each as defined below. To the extent Mr. Lefar is entitled to an additional bonus, such additional bonus will equal the difference between $4,135,000 and the Combined Value and shall be payable in a lump sum 60 days after the termination covered by the Triggered Severance Amount, if applicable, or, if not, 60 days after the change of control. The Triggered Severance Amount shall apply only if Mr. Lefar is notified at a date prior to or at the change of control that he is being terminated without cause within 30 days after the change of control or Mr. Lefar notifies the Company prior to or at the change of control that he is resigning for good reason within 30 days after the change of control or Mr. Lefar has been terminated without cause in contemplation of the change of control. It shall not apply in any other situation. The “Triggered Severance Amount” is a lump-sum amount equal to Mr. Lefar’s base salary in effect on the date employment is terminated for a two-year period. The “Value Bonus” is a value ranging from (A) $0 in the event the

 

- 3 -


per share closing price of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or other national securities exchange or automated quotation system, in the event the Company’s common stock is no longer traded on the New York Stock Exchange) (the “Exchange”) on the date immediately prior to the change of control is $1.42 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and similar transactions) or less, to (B) $4,135,000 in the event the per share closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Exchange on the date immediately prior to such change of control is $2.06 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and similar transactions) or more, with the value increasing ratably from $0 to $4,135,000 as the stock price increases from $1.42 to $2.06 per share (in each case, as adjusted), or approximately $64,609.375 in value per $0.01 increase in share price (as adjusted).

The employment agreement provides that Mr. Lefar will receive an additional payment to reimburse for any excise taxes imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, together with reimbursement for any additional taxes incurred by reason of such payments.

Under the terms of Mr. Lefar’s employment agreement, he has agreed not to disclose any confidential information concerning the Company’s business. In addition, Mr. Lefar has agreed not to solicit or to interfere with the Company’s relationship with any of the Company’s employees, officers or representatives or to interfere with the Company’s relationship with any of the Company’s customers, clients, suppliers, licensees or other business relations until 12 months following termination of his employment. Furthermore, Mr. Lefar has entered into a noncompetition agreement pursuant to which he has agreed not to provide services to the portion of any entity that sells and markets residential/home broadband connectivity or broadband voice service as an employee thereof or as a direct individual consultant thereto (or through an entity specifically formed for such activity) until 12 months following termination of his employment.

On July 29, 2008, the Company also entered into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Lefar. The indemnification agreement provides indemnity, including the advancement of expenses, to Mr. Lefar against liabilities incurred in the performance of his duties to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Election of Lefar to Board of Directors

On July 29, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company increased the size of the Board of Directors from eight to nine members and, effective upon and subject to commencement of his employment, elected Mr. Lefar to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Lefar will not serve on any committees. Under Mr. Lefar’s employment agreement, unless prohibited by legal or regulatory requirements, the Board of Directors is required to nominate Mr. Lefar for re-election as a member of the Board of Directors at the expiration of the then current term.

Separation Agreement with Citron

On July 29, 2008, the Company entered into a Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Separation Agreement”) with Jeffrey Citron, the Company’s Chairman, Chief Strategist and Interim Chief Executive Officer, who stepped down as Chief Strategist and Interim Chief Executive Officer effective July 29, 2008.

Mr. Citron will continue as non-executive Chairman of the Board until at least July 29, 2009, subject to specified exceptions, and will have such duties, responsibilities and authority as determined from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company has also agreed, subject to specified exceptions, to recommend to the Board that Mr. Citron be nominated for re-election to the Board of Directors at the Company’s 2009 annual meeting of stockholders.

As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Citron will be entitled to (i) an annual retainer of $125,000 in cash (in lieu of Board and committee meeting fees), (ii) annual option grants of immediately exercisable, non-qualified stock options (granted quarterly on the first day of each quarter, beginning October 1, 2008, in accordance with Vonage’s Revised Non-Executive Director Compensation Program (the “Non-Executive Director Program”)) in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount awarded to a non-employee director and (iii) annual restricted stock grants of shares of Vonage common stock (granted quarterly on the first day of each quarter, beginning October 1, 2008, in accordance with the Non-Executive Director Program) in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount awarded to a non-employee director.

 

- 4 -


Pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, the Company agreed, in consideration for a general release and certain other obligations, to make a payment of $350,000 to Mr. Citron, which constitutes Mr. Citron’s pro-rata bonus for 2008 and will be paid in a lump sum payment not later than August 13, 2008. Mr. Citron was also granted nonqualified options (the “Citron Options”) to acquire 750,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The stock option grant was made on July 29, 2008 and the Citron Options will vest over a four-year period, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of grant and the remainder vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter. These options have a term of ten years and have a per share exercise price equal to $1.42 per share, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 29, 2008, the date of grant. The Company will also pay Mr. Citron’s reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection with the negotiation and documentation of the Separation Agreement, up to a maximum of $25,000.

As described below, the Company will enter into a Consulting Agreement with a limited liability company of which Mr. Citron is the president and managing member. As partial consideration for the consulting services, Mr. Citron was also granted nonqualified options (the “Consulting Options”) to acquire 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The stock option grant was made on July 29, 2008 and the Consulting Options will vest over a four-year period, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of grant and the remainder vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter. These options have a term of ten years and have a per share exercise price equal to $1.42 per share, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 29, 2008, the date of grant. During the term of the Consulting Agreement, Mr. Citron is entitled (to the extent reasonably practicable) to participate in all employee healthcare plans, programs and arrangements of the Company, in accordance with their respective terms, as may be amended from time to time, and on a basis no less favorable than that made available to senior executives of the Company.

All of Mr. Citron’s unvested options and other equity-based awards granted prior to the Separation Agreement will continue to vest in accordance with their respective terms as long as Mr. Citron continues to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Upon Mr. Citron’s cessation of service as a member of the Board of Directors, all unvested options and other equity-based awards that have not otherwise expired by their terms will become fully vested and exercisable, as applicable, without regard to the satisfaction of any performance criteria.

Consulting Agreement with KEC Holdings LLC

On July 29, 2008, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”) with KEC Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company of which Mr. Citron is the president and managing member (the “Consultant”). The Consultant will perform such consulting, advisory and related services to and for the Company as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Consultant agreed to devote a maximum of 40% of its time, and to cause Mr. Citron to devote a maximum of 40% of his business time, to the performance of such services. During the term of the Consulting Agreement, the Consultant may not engage in any activity that has a conflict of interest with the Company, including any competitive employment, business, or other activity, and it may not assist any other person or organization that competes, or intends to compete, with the Company.

The term of the Consulting Agreement expires July 29, 2009, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the Consulting Agreement. The Company will pay to the Consultant an aggregate consulting fee of $250,000, payable bi-weekly in substantially equal installments. The Company will also reimburse the Consultant for properly documented reasonable travel and other business-related expenses. During the term of the Consulting Agreement, the Company will also reimburse the Consultant for the reasonable, itemized expenses associated with renting an off-site office space and employing an assistant to Mr. Citron; provided, however, that such reasonable expenses may not exceed an aggregate of $150,000 without the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

- 5 -


Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On July 29, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved, effective as of such date, the Second Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, which amended the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company to eliminate all references to Chief Strategist.

A complete copy of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated By-laws is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the amendments embodied in the Second Amended and Restated By-laws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of Article I, Article II, Article III and Article V of the Second Amended and Restated By-laws.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On July 29, 2008, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Lefar’s appointment. A copy of the press release issued by the Company is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  3.1    Second Amended and Restated By-laws of Vonage Holdings Corp.
10.1    Employment Agreement dated as of July 29, 2008 by and between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Marc P. Lefar.
10.2    Indemnification Agreement dated as of July 29, 2008 by and between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Marc. P. Lefar.
10.3    Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Marc P. Lefar under the Vonage Holdings Corp. 2006 Incentive Plan.
10.4    Separation Agreement and General Release dated as of July 29, 2008 by and between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Jeffrey A. Citron.
10.5    Consulting Agreement dated as of July 29, 2008 by and between Vonage Holdings Corp. and KEC Holdings LLC.
10.6    Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Jeffrey A. Citron under the Vonage Holdings Corp. 2006 Incentive Plan.
99.1    Press Release issued by Vonage Holdings Corp. on July 29, 2008.

 

- 6 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
  Date: August 4, 2008     By:   /s/ Marc P. Lefar
        Marc P. Lefar
        Chief Executive Officer

 

- 7 -

Exhibit 3.1

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

OF

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

Effective July 29, 2008


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

ARTICLE I

   STOCKHOLDERS    1

1.1

   Place of Meetings    1

1.2

   Annual Meeting    1

1.3

   Special Meetings    1

1.4

   Notice of Meetings    1

1.5

   Voting List    1

1.6

   Quorum    2

1.7

   Adjournments    2

1.8

   Voting and Proxies    2

1.9

   Action at Meeting    2

1.10

   Nomination of Directors    3

1.11

   Notice of Business at Annual Meetings    5

1.12

   Conduct of Meetings    6

1.13

   No Action by Consent in Lieu of a Meeting    8

ARTICLE II

   DIRECTORS    8

2.1

   General Powers    8

2.2

   Number, Election and Qualification    8

2.3

   Classes of Directors    8

2.4

   Terms of Office    8

2.5

   Quorum    8

2.6

   Action at Meeting    8

2.7

   Removal    8

2.8

   Vacancies    9

2.9

   Resignation    9

2.10

   Regular Meetings    9

2.11

   Special Meetings    9

2.12

   Notice of Special Meetings    9

2.13

   Meetings by Conference Communications Equipment    9

2.14

   Action by Consent    9

2.15

   Committees    9

2.16

   Compensation of Directors    10

ARTICLE III

   OFFICERS    10

3.1

   Titles    10

3.2

   Election    10

3.3

   Qualification    10

3.4

   Tenure    10

3.5

   Resignation and Removal    11

3.6

   Vacancies    11

3.7

   Chairman of the Board    11

3.8

   Chief Executive Officer    11

3.9

   Vice Presidents    11

 

i


3.10

   Secretary and Assistant Secretaries    11

3.11

   Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers    12

3.12

   Salaries    12

ARTICLE IV

   CAPITAL STOCK    12

4.1

   Issuance of Stock    12

4.2

   Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares    12

4.3

   Transfers    13

4.4

   Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates    14

4.5

   Record Date    14

4.6

   Regulations    14

ARTICLE V

   GENERAL PROVISIONS    14

5.1

   Fiscal Year    14

5.2

   Corporate Seal    14

5.3

   Waiver of Notice    14

5.4

   Voting of Securities    15

5.5

   Evidence of Authority    15

5.6

   Certificate of Incorporation    15

5.7

   Severability    15

5.8

   Pronouns    15

ARTICLE VI

   AMENDMENTS    15

 

ii


ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

1.1 Place of Meetings . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, if not so designated, at the principal office of the corporation.

1.2 Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on a date and at a time designated by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (which date shall not be a legal holiday in the place where the meeting is to be held). If no annual meeting is held in accordance with the foregoing provisions, a special meeting may be held in lieu of the annual meeting, and any action taken at that special meeting shall have the same effect as if it had been taken at the annual meeting, and in such case all references in these By-laws to the annual meeting of the stockholders shall be deemed to refer to such special meeting.

1.3 Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

1.4 Notice of Meetings . Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. The notices of all meetings shall state the place, date and time of the meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If notice is given by mail, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation. If notice is given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified in Section 232 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

1.5 Voting List . The Secretary shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation. The list shall also be

 

1


produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

1.6 Quorum . Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of the capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

1.7 Adjournments . Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these By-laws by the stockholders present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum, or, if no stockholder is present, by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting. It shall not be necessary to notify any stockholder of any adjournment of less than 30 days if the time and place of the adjourned meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which adjournment is taken, unless after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

1.8 Voting and Proxies . Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a proportionate vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person (including by means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting) or may authorize another person or persons to vote for such stockholder by a proxy executed or transmitted in a manner permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized agent and delivered (including by electronic transmission) to the Secretary of the corporation. No such proxy shall be voted upon after three years from the date of its execution, unless the proxy expressly provides for a longer period.

1.9 Action at Meeting . When a quorum is present at any meeting, any matter other than the election of directors to be voted upon by the stockholders at such meeting shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock present or represented and voting on such matter (or if there are two or more classes of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each such class, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of that class present or represented and voting on such matter), except when a different vote is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws. When a quorum is present at any meeting, any election by stockholders of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote on the election.

 

2


1.10 Nomination of Directors .

(a) Except for (1) any directors entitled to be elected by the holders of preferred stock, (2) any directors elected in accordance with Section 2.8 hereof by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy or newly-created directorships or (3) as otherwise required by applicable law or stock market regulation, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures in this Section 1.10 shall be eligible for election as directors. Nomination for election to the Board of Directors at a meeting of stockholders may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the corporation who (x) complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 1.10(b) and (y) is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting.

(b) To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received in writing by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation as follows: (i) in the case of an election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that (x) in the case of the annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation to be held in 2007 or (y) in the event that the date of the annual meeting in any other year is advanced by more than 20 days, or delayed by more than 60 days, from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be so received not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and (B) the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs; or (ii) in the case of an election of directors at a special meeting of stockholders, provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the 90th day prior to such special meeting and (y) the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of such special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting (or the public announcement thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice.

The stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth: (A) as to each proposed nominee (1) such person’s name, age, business address and, if known, residence address, (2) such person’s principal occupation or employment, (3) the class and number of shares of stock of the corporation which are beneficially owned by such person, and (4) any other information concerning such person that must be disclosed as to nominees in proxy solicitations pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); (B) as to the stockholder giving the notice (1) such stockholder’s name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, (2) the class and number of shares of stock of the corporation which are owned, beneficially and of record, by such stockholder, (3) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder, (4) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person(s) named in its notice and (5) a representation

 

3


whether the stockholder intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination; and (C) as to the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made (1) such beneficial owner’s name and address, (2) the class and number of shares of stock of the corporation which are beneficially owned by such beneficial owner, (3) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such beneficial owner and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made and (4) a representation whether the beneficial owner intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination. In addition, to be effective, the stockholder’s notice must be accompanied by the written consent of the proposed nominee to serve as a director if elected. The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the corporation. A stockholder shall not have complied with this Section 1.10(b) if the stockholder (or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made) solicits or does not solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee in contravention of the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 1.10.

(c) The chairman of any meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.10 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee in compliance with the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 1.10), and if the chairman should determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.10, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting and such nomination shall be disregarded.

(d) Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 1.10 shall obligate the corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director submitted by a stockholder.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.10, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a written instrument executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

4


(f) For purposes of this Section 1.10, “public disclosure” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones New Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

1.11 Notice of Business at Annual Meetings .

(a) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (1) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (2) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (3) properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, (i) if such business relates to the nomination of a person for election as a director of the corporation, the procedures in Section 1.10 must be complied with and (ii) if such business relates to any other matter, the business must constitute a proper matter under Delaware law for stockholder action and the stockholder must (x) have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.11(b) and (y) be a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting.

(b) To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received in writing by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that (x) in the case of the annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation to be held in 2007 or (y) in the event that the date of the annual meeting in any other year is advanced by more than 20 days, or delayed by more than 60 days, from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be so received not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and (B) the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting (or the public announcement thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice.

The stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text relating to the business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the By-laws, the language of the proposed amendment), and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (2) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (3) the class and number of shares of stock of the corporation which are owned, of record and beneficially, by the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, (4) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and

 

5


any material interest of the stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, in such business, (5) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting and (6) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal. Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting of stockholders except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11; provided that any stockholder proposal which complies with Rule 14a-8 of the proxy rules (or any successor provision) promulgated under the Exchange Act, and is to be included in the corporation’s proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this Section 1.11. A stockholder shall not have complied with this Section 1.11(b) if the stockholder (or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made) solicits or does not solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s proposal in contravention of the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 1.11.

(c) The chairman of any meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether business was properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.11 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s proposal in compliance with the representation with respect thereto required by this Section 1.11), and if the chairman should determine that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.11, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting and such business shall not be brought before the meeting.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present business, such business shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.11, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a written instrument executed by the such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as a proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(e) For purposes of this Section 1.11, “public disclosure” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones New Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

1.12 Conduct of Meetings .

 

6


(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, in the Chairman’s absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence, by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen by vote of the stockholders at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

(b) The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

(c) The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. If no announcement is made, the polls shall be deemed to have opened when the meeting is convened and closed upon the final adjournment of the meeting. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted.

(d) In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is present, ready and willing to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law.

 

7


1.13 No Action by Consent in Lieu of a Meeting . Stockholders of the corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

ARTICLE II

DIRECTORS

2.1 General Powers . The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise all of the powers of the corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation.

2.2 Number, Election and Qualification . Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be established by the Board of Directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot. Directors need not be stockholders of the corporation.

2.3 Classes of Directors . Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The allocation of directors among classes shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

2.4 Terms of Office . Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such director was elected; provided, that each director initially appointed to Class I shall serve for a term expiring at the corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders held in 2007; each director initially appointed to Class II shall serve for a term expiring at the corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders held in 2008; and each director initially appointed to Class III shall serve for a term expiring at the corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders held in 2009; provided further, that the term of each director shall continue until the election and qualification of a successor and be subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

2.5 Quorum . The greater of (a) a majority of the directors at any time in office and (b) one-third of the number of directors fixed by the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than such a quorum, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

2.6 Action at Meeting . Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board of Directors unless a greater number is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation.

2.7 Removal . Subject to the rights of holder of any series of Preferred Stock, directors of the corporation may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the votes which all the stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors or class of directors.

 

8


2.8 Vacancies . Subject to the rights of holder of any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancy or newly-created directorships on the Board of Directors, however occurring, shall be filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall not be filled by the stockholders. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of a successor or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

2.9 Resignation . Any director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the corporation at its principal office or to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event.

2.10 Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.

2.11 Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place designated in a call by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, two or more directors, or by one director in the event that there is only a single director in office.

2.12 Notice of Special Meetings . Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director (a) in person or by telephone at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, (b) by sending written notice via reputable overnight courier, telecopy or electronic mail, or delivering written notice by hand, to such director’s last known business, home or electronic mail address at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting, or (c) by sending written notice via first-class mail to such director’s last known business or home address at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the meeting.

2.13 Meetings by Conference Communications Equipment . Directors may participate in meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

2.14 Action by Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the written consents or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

2.15 Committees . The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The Board of

 

9


Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members of the committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors and subject to the provisions of law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may from time to time request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these By-laws for the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.

2.16 Compensation of Directors . Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary entities in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

3.1 Titles . The officers of the corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other titles as the Board of Directors shall determine, including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate.

3.2 Election . The Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders. Other officers may be appointed by the Board of Directors at such meeting or at any other meeting.

3.3 Qualification . No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

3.4 Tenure . Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, each officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the resolution electing or appointing such officer, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

10


3.5 Resignation and Removal . Any officer may resign by delivering a written resignation to the corporation at its principal office or to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event.

Any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, no officer who resigns or is removed shall have any right to any compensation as an officer for any period following such officer’s resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal, whether such officer’s compensation be by the month or by the year or otherwise, unless such compensation is expressly provided for in a duly authorized written agreement with the corporation.

3.6 Vacancies . The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in any office for any reason and may, in its discretion, leave unfilled for such period as it may determine any offices other than those of Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term of such officer’s predecessor and until a successor is elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

3.7 Chairman of the Board . The Board of Directors may appoint from its members a Chairman of the Board, who need not be an employee or officer of the corporation. If the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman of the Board, such Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders.

3.8 Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall report to the Board of Directors and shall be responsible for the day-to-day management and business operations of the corporation and such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders.

3.9 Vice Presidents . Any Vice President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In the absence or inability of the Chief Executive Officer to act, the Board of Directors may designate any Executive Vice President to assume the powers and discharge all of the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries . The Secretary shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of the secretary, including without limitation the duty and power to give notices of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, to attend all meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors and keep a record of the proceedings, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as required, to be

 

11


custodian of corporate records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.

Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.

In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any meeting of stockholders or directors, the chairman of the meeting shall designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting.

3.11 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers . The Treasurer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the Treasurer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of treasurer, including without limitation the duty and power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation, to deposit funds of the corporation in depositories selected in accordance with these By-laws, to disburse such funds as ordered by the Board of Directors, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board of Directors statements of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the corporation.

The Assistant Treasurers shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Treasurer may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.

3.12 Salaries . Officers of the corporation shall be entitled to such salaries, compensation or reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

4.1 Issuance of Stock . Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the corporation or the whole or any part of any shares of the authorized capital stock of the corporation held in the corporation’s treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner, for such lawful consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.

4.2 Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares . The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Every holder of stock of the corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to

 

12


have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, representing the number of shares held by such holder registered in certificate form. Each such certificate shall be signed in a manner that complies with Section 158 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of stockholders or among such holders and the corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.

If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of each certificate representing shares of such class or series of stock, provided that in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of each certificate representing shares of such class or series of stock a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests a copy of the full text of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Sections 151, 202(a) or 218(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or, with respect to Section 151 of General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

4.3 Transfers . Shares of stock of the corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these By-laws. Transfers of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only on the books of the corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of stock of the corporation. Subject to applicable law, shares of stock represented by certificates shall be transferred only on the books of the corporation by the surrender to the corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or the authenticity of signature as the corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, the corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the corporation in accordance with the requirements of these By-laws.

 

13


4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity and posting of such bond as the Board of Directors may require for the protection of the corporation or any transfer agent or registrar.

4.5 Record Date . The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action. Such record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action to which such record date relates.

If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on which the meeting is held. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

4.6 Regulations . The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of shares of stock of the corporation shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

ARTICLE V

GENERAL PROVISIONS

5.1 Fiscal Year . Except as from time to time otherwise designated by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January of each year and end on the last day of December in each year.

5.2 Corporate Seal . The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors.

5.3 Waiver of Notice . Whenever notice is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, a written waiver signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before, at or after the time stated in such notice, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

14


5.4 Voting of Securities . Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise designate, the Chief Executive Officer or the Treasurer may waive notice of, and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact for this corporation (with or without power of substitution) at any meeting of stockholders or securityholders of any other entity, the securities of which may be held by this corporation.

5.5 Evidence of Authority . A certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such action.

5.6 Certificate of Incorporation . All references in these By-laws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.

5.7 Severability . Any determination that any provision of these By-laws is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of these By-laws.

5.8 Pronouns . All pronouns used in these By-laws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons may require.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENTS

These By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new By-laws may be adopted by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

15

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Copy

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”), dated July 29, 2008, by and between VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Marc P. Lefar (the “ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to enter into an employment agreement with the Executive and the Executive is willing to serve as an employee of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

1. Employment and Duties .

(a) General . The Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, reporting to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”). The Company has taken all necessary and appropriate action to obtain Board approval to increase the number of directors on the Board, and the Executive has been elected to the Board effective with, and subject to, his commencement of employment. Thereafter, during the Executive’s term of employment, the Board shall nominate the Executive for re-election as a member of the Board at the expiration of the then current term, provided that the foregoing shall not be required to the extent prohibited by legal or regulatory requirements. The Executive shall have the duties, responsibilities, and authority customarily held by the chief executive officer of a public corporation. All employees of the Company shall report to the Executive or one of his designees. The Executive shall also perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time require, consistent with the general level and type of duties and responsibilities customarily associated with such position. The Executive’s principal place of employment shall be the principal offices of the Company, currently located in the Holmdel, New Jersey area; provided , however , that the Executive understands and agrees that he shall be required to travel from time to time for business reasons.

(b) Exclusive Services . For so long as the Executive is employed by the Company, the Executive shall devote his full-time working time to his duties hereunder, shall conform to and use his good faith efforts to comply with the lawful and good faith directions and instructions given to him by the Board and shall use his good faith efforts to promote and serve the interests of the Company. Further, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, render services to any other person or organization without the consent of the Board or otherwise engage in activities that would interfere significantly with the faithful performance of his duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may serve on (i) corporate boards, with the Board’s prior consent, or (ii) civic or charitable boards or engage in charitable activities without remuneration therefor. Additionally, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may


manage his personal investments, and serve as an executor, trustee, or in a similar fiduciary capacity in connection therewith, provided that such activities do not contravene the first sentence of this Section l(b).

2. Term of Employment . The term of employment under this Agreement (the “ Term ”) shall commence as of the date hereof (the “ Effective Date ”) and shall terminate on the third anniversary of the Effective Date; provided , however, that the Term shall be automatically extended without further action of either party for additional one-year periods, unless written notice of either party’s intention not to extend has been given to the other party at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the then-effective Term. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, the Term shall be automatically extended without further action of either party for an additional one-year period from the date of such Change of Control if the Term would otherwise be terminated within such one-year period, subject to further automatic renewals as provided above. A “ Change of Control ” as used herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Company’s 2006 Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Incentive Plan ”); provided , however , that subpart (i) of such definition shall not apply to the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership (as defined in the Incentive Plan), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company by Silver Point Finance, LLC to the extent Silver Point Finance, LLC has Beneficial Ownership of less than 35% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.

3. Compensation and Other Benefits . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall pay and provide the following compensation and other benefits to the Executive during the Term as compensation for services rendered hereunder:

(a) Base Salary . The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) of not less than $850,000, payable in substantially equal installments at such intervals as may be determined by the Company in accordance with its ordinary payroll practices as applicable to senior executives as established from time to time. The Base Salary shall be reviewed for increase by the Compensation Committee of the Board in good faith, based upon the Executive’s performance, not less often than annually. The Base Salary may be increased, but not decreased below its then current level, from time to time by the Board, and as so increased shall thereafter be the “ Base Salary .”

(b) One-Time Payment. The Executive shall be entitled to receive a one-time payment equal to $865,000, payable in a single lump sum within two business days following the Effective Date, to induce the Executive to join the Company and to compensate the Executive for early termination of his prior business affairs.

(c) Sign-On Option Grant . On the Effective Date, the Executive shall be issued a one-time sign-on option grant of 6,500,000 nonqualified stock options (the “ Options ”) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the Effective Date. The Options shall be granted under the form of stock

 

-2-


option agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Nonqualified Option Agreement ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Incentive Plan or any stock option agreement thereunder, the following provisions of this Section 3(c) shall govern the terms of the Options (and all other outstanding options issued by the Company to the Executive to the extent specifically provided). Upon (i) a Change of Control of the Company, all outstanding Options shall become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to such Change of Control, and (ii) termination of the Executive’s employment without Cause by the Company or by the Executive for Good Reason (in either case, other than in the context of a Change of Control of the Company), then an additional amount of outstanding Options granted by the Company to the Executive shall become vested and immediately exercisable as of the date of such termination in accordance with the provisions of the immediately following sentence. For each outstanding Option, such additional amount shall be equal to the number of Options that would vest on the next vesting tranche multiplied by a fraction where (1) the numerator is 12 plus the number of full and fractional months that had elapsed between the Option vesting date immediately prior to such termination and such termination date, and (2) the denominator is 12. Upon a non-renewal of this Agreement by the Company, the Executive shall vest pro rata in the next vesting tranche to the extent he continues to be employed by the Company beyond the expiration of the Term, such pro rata portion to be based on the full and fractional months that elapse from the day immediately after the expiration of the Term through his termination of employment with the Company. Upon a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or for non-renewal, or by the Executive for Good Reason, all outstanding options granted by the Company to the Executive (whether part of the Options or not) shall (to the extent vested) remain exercisable for at least 180 days after the termination, or until the end of the term of the option, if earlier. Upon a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive without Good Reason, all vested outstanding options granted by the Company to the Executive shall remain exercisable for at least 60 days after termination, or until the end of the term of the option, if earlier. If, in connection with a Financing (as defined in Section 4(a)(iii) below), the fully diluted capitalization of the Company (assuming conversion of all convertible securities and exercise of all outstanding options and warrants) is expected to be substantially more dilutive than the capitalization as contemplated by the Commitment Letter, the parties hereto agree to discuss in good faith the award of additional Company equity to the Executive. In the event the parties hereto are unable to resolve in good faith whether a substantial dilution to the capitalization has occurred or whether the proposed award of additional Company equity is proportional in light of such dilution, they agree to submit the issue to arbitration on an expedited basis in accordance with Section 12 of this Agreement for the arbitrator to make such determination.

(d) Annual Cash Bonus . Except as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board in its sole discretion, the Executive shall not be entitled to any bonus for 2008 performance. For 2009 performance, the Executive shall be eligible to receive a lump sum performance-based bonus targeted at 75% of his Base Salary (the applicable percentage of his Base Salary being referred to herein as the “ Bonus Target Percentage ”) in accordance with the Company’s annual bonus program, as applicable to senior executives as in effect from time to time (the “ Bonus Program ”). For

 

-3-


performance in 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter during the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual lump sum performance-based bonus targeted at 100% of his Base Salary in accordance with the Bonus Program. The Bonus Target Percentage shall be reviewed for increase by the Compensation Committee of the Board in good faith not less often than annually. The Bonus Target Percentage may be increased, but not decreased below its then current level, from time to time by the Board, and as so increased shall thereafter be the “ Bonus Target Percentage .” The amount, if any, of the Executive’s annual bonus shall be determined by the Board and should be paid in the calendar year following the calendar year for which it was earned prior to March 15th. The bonus shall be prorated for any year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated due to: (i) the Executive’s resignation for Good Reason; (ii) the Company’s termination of the Executive’s employment without Cause; (iii) the Executive’s death or disability (as defined in Section 4(c) below); or (iv) the Company’s delivery of a notice of non-renewal pursuant to Section 2 hereof. If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause or the Executive resigns from his employment other than for Good Reason prior to the end of the fiscal year for which the bonus is payable, the Executive shall not receive any portion of such bonus.

(e) Employee Benefit Plans . The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee welfare, pension, and fringe benefit plans, programs and arrangements of the Company, in accordance with their respective terms, as may be amended from time to time, and on a basis no less favorable than that made available to other senior executives of the Company.

(f) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for reasonable travel and other business-related expenses incurred by the Executive in the fulfillment of his duties hereunder upon presentation of written documentation thereof, in accordance with the applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures of the Company as in effect from time to time. Permitted business expenses shall include first-class airplane travel for Company business trips. The reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(f) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(g) Vacation . The Executive shall be entitled to 20 days paid time off for each fiscal year during the Term. If the Executive does not use any portion of the allotted paid time off in any fiscal year, the Executive shall be entitled to add any and all unused paid time off to the paid time off permitted under this Agreement for the following fiscal year.

(h) Relocation Benefits . The Executive shall be entitled to relocation benefits customarily made available to a chief executive officer. During the period prior to the Executive’s relocation (but in no event for a period in excess of three hundred sixty-five (365) days), the Company shall pay, or reimburse the Executive for, the cost of temporary housing ( i.e. , furnished housing, including utilities) for the Executive while the Executive is at the Company’s principal offices, to be paid, if reimbursed, to the Executive monthly in arrears subject to the submission of reasonable documentation. The Company shall gross up for tax purposes any income arising from such payment or

 

-4-


reimbursement that is treated as nondeductible taxable income to the Executive so that the economic benefit is the same to the Executive as if such payment or benefits were provided on a non-taxable basis to the Executive. The payment or reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(h) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(i) Commuting Benefits. During the Term, the Company shall promptly pay, or reimburse the Executive for the Executive’s commercial air and car transport between his primary residence in Atlanta, Georgia and the Company’s principal offices. The Company shall also promptly reimburse the Executive (subject to the submission of reasonable documentation), for amounts up to a maximum of $250,000 in 2008 and $350,000 in 2009, plus the cost of commercial air travel (i.e., the cost of a first-class, fully refundable, direct flight booked one week prior to travel), to be used by the Executive for private air travel from and to the Company’s principal offices in Holmdel, New Jersey. The benefit described in the immediately preceding sentence shall cease upon the Executive’s relocation to the New Jersey area. The Company shall gross up for tax purposes any income arising from such payment or reimbursement of commuting expenses that is treated as nondeductible taxable income to the Executive so that the economic benefit is the same to the Executive as if such payment or benefits were provided on a non-taxable basis to the Executive. The payment or reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(i) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(j) Legal Fees. Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, the Company shall pay the Executive’s reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection with the negotiation and documentation of this Agreement, up to a maximum of $50,000, and to the extent such amount is taxable to the Executive, the Company shall gross up for tax purposes any income arising from such fees so that the economic benefit is the same to the Executive as if such payment was provided on a non-taxable basis to the Executive. The reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(j) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(k) Other Benefits and Perquisites . The Executive shall be entitled to such other benefits and perquisites as may be available generally to other senior executives of the Company. The reimbursement of all expenses under this Section 3(k) shall be subject to Section 4(d)(vii) of this Agreement.

(l) Additional Bonus . Upon a Change of Control of the Company that also satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5) within one year of the Effective Date, if the Executive is then employed by the Company or prior thereto has been terminated by the Company without Cause in contemplation of a Change of Control, the Executive shall be entitled to an additional bonus (the “ Additional Bonus ”) if, and only if, the Combined Value (as defined below) is less than $4,135,000. The “ Combined Value ” is defined as the sum of the Value Bonus and the Triggered Severance Amount (if any), each as defined below. To the extent the Executive is entitled to an Additional Bonus, such Additional Bonus shall equal the difference between $4,135,000 and the Combined Value and shall be payable in a lump sum sixty (60) days after the termination covered by the Triggered Severance Amount, if applicable, or, if

 

-5-


not, sixty (60) days after the Change of Control. The Triggered Severance Amount shall apply only if the Executive is notified at a date prior to or at the Change of Control that he is being terminated without Cause within thirty (30) days after the Change of Control or the Executive notifies the Company prior to or at the Change of Control that he is resigning for Good Reason within thirty (30) days after the Change of Control or the Executive has been terminated without Cause in contemplation of the Change of Control. It shall not apply in any other situation. The “ Triggered Severance Amount ” shall be the value of the severance described in Section 4(b)(i)(B) of this Agreement. The “ Value Bonus ” is a value ranging from (A) $0 in the event the per share closing price of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or other national securities exchange or automated quotation system, in the event the Company’s common stock is no longer traded on the New York Stock Exchange) (the “ Exchange ”) on the date immediately prior to the Change of Control is $1.42 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and similar transactions) or less, to (B) $4,135,000 in the event the per share closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Exchange on the date immediately prior to such Change of Control is $2.06 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and similar transactions) or more, with the value increasing ratably from $0 to $4,135,000 as the stock price increases from $1.42 to $2.06 per share (in each case, as adjusted), or approximately $64,609.375 in value per $0.01 increase in share price (as adjusted). For purposes of this Section 3(l), the definition of “ Change of Control ” shall include only clauses (iii) and (iv) of the definition of Change of Control contained in the Incentive Plan as in effect on the date hereof.

4. Termination of Employment .

(a) Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason .

(i) If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, or if the Executive resigns from his employment hereunder other than for Good Reason, the Executive shall only be entitled to payment of any unpaid Base Salary through and including the date of termination or resignation, any unpaid expense reimbursement or tax gross ups, any accrued but unused vacation, any unpaid bonus for a completed fiscal year and any other amounts or benefits required to be paid under this Agreement through the date of termination or resignation, including but not limited to those under Sections 3(b), 3(f), 3(h), 3(i), 3(j) and 3(l) hereof (in each case only to the extent earned or accrued prior to such date of termination or resignation), or provided by law or under any plan, program, policy or practice of the Company (the “ Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits ”). The Executive shall have no further right under this Agreement to receive any other compensation or benefits after such termination or resignation of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, on or prior to January 1, 2009, either the Company delivers a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 4(e) below) to the Executive terminating the Executive’s employment for Cause, or the Executive delivers a Notice of Termination to the Company resigning from his

 

-6-


employment hereunder other than for Good Reason, the Company shall be entitled to recoup from the Executive $500,000 of the one-time payment described in Section 3(b) of this Agreement (the “ Recoupment Amount ”). To the extent not prohibited by law, the Company may set off any portion of the Recoupment Amount to which it is entitled hereunder against amounts of Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits otherwise payable to the Executive that are not subject to Section 409A (as defined in Section 4(c) below).

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean: (A) any act or omission that constitutes a material breach by the Executive of his obligations under this Agreement; (B) the willful and continued failure or refusal of the Executive (not as a consequence of illness, accident or other incapacity) to perform the duties reasonably required of him hereunder; (C) the Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, (x) any felony or (y) another willful crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude or which reflects negatively upon the Company in a material manner or otherwise materially impairs or impedes its operations; (D) the Executive’s engaging in any willful misconduct, gross negligence or act of dishonesty with regard to the Company or his material duties, which conduct is injurious to the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, the “ Company Group ”); (E) the Executive’s material breach of either a material written policy of the Company or, to the extent the Executive is aware of such rules or has been informed by the Company’s counsel, the relevant rules of any governmental or regulatory body applicable to the Company; or (F) the Executive’s refusal to follow the lawful directions of the Board; provided , however , that no event or condition described in clauses (A), (B), (E) or (F) shall constitute Cause unless (i) the Company first gives the Executive written notice of its intention to terminate his employment for Cause and the grounds for such termination, and (ii) such grounds for termination (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by the Executive within 30 days of his receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, the Executive has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter).

(iii) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without the Executive’s prior written consent: (A) a failure by the Company to timely pay material compensation due and payable to the Executive in connection with his employment; (B) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base Salary or Bonus Target Percentage; (C) a material diminution of the authority, duties or responsibilities of the Executive from those set forth in this Agreement, including without limitation, ceasing to be the chief executive officer of the Company (or its ultimate parent following a

 

-7-


Change of Control) or the removal of the Executive from the Board by the Company (other than for Cause) or the failure to re-elect the Executive to serve on the Board; (D) the Company requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from the Holmdel, New Jersey area; or (E) a material breach by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement; provided , however , that no event or condition described in clauses (A) through (E) shall constitute Good Reason unless (x) the Executive gives the Company within 60 days of the occurrence of the Good Reason event, written notice of his intention to terminate his employment for Good Reason and the grounds for such termination, and (y) such grounds for termination (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by the Company within 30 days of its receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, the Company has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter). Such termination for Good Reason by the Executive must occur within 120 days of the occurrence of the Good Reason event. In addition, “ Good Reason ” shall also include: (1) a failure to consummate a Financing (as defined below) by December 31, 2008, in which case the proviso in the second sentence immediately preceding this sentence shall apply, but with “20 days” replacing both the “60 day” and “30 day” requirements; or (2) the closing of the financing transaction contemplated by that certain Commitment Letter (Senior Secured First Lien Credit Facility/Convertible Secured Second Lien Notes), dated as of July 22, 2008, between the Company and Silver Point Finance, LLC (the “ Commitment Letter ”), or an alternative financing within six (6) months of the date hereof (any such financing being referred to as a “ Financing ”), that does not allow the Company to operate in a substantially equivalent manner (or a manner more favorable to the Company) to that contemplated by the Commitment Letter. In order for the Executive to claim Good Reason based on clause (2) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Executive must notify the Company in writing within ten (10) business days after the Financing has closed of his determination and intent to terminate for Good Reason and include in such notice the grounds for such determination with reasonable specificity. The Company may by written notice agree, in which case the termination for Good Reason shall take place on the date of such agreement. If the Company does not respond within ten (10) business days from the giving of notice, the Company shall be deemed to agree on the tenth (10 th ) business day. The Company may also by written notice to the Executive within such ten (10) business day period disagree, indicating the reasons therefor with specificity. In such case, the arbitrator under Section 12 of this Agreement shall resolve such determination on an expedited basis, and the termination for Good Reason shall be effected, if at all, if and when the arbitrator determines that the grounds set forth in the Executive’s notice constitute Good Reason. The Executive shall continue to be employed as provided herein until any such agreement or

 

-8-


determination by the arbitrator (or another intervening event) and if the arbitrator does not find Good Reason, thereafter pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(b) Termination Without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason; Company Non-extension .

(i) If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or if the Executive resigns from his employment hereunder for Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment terminates due to non-extension by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive, subject to Section 4(d) below: (A) a pro rata portion of his bonus (if any) for the year in which the termination of employment occurs, which amount shall be payable in the calendar year following the calendar year of termination prior to March 15th; (B) an amount equal to the Executive’s Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the date the Executive’s employment is terminated) for a two-year period ( provided that the period shall be one year in the event of the Executive’s termination of employment due to the Company’s non-extension of the Term pursuant to Section 2 hereof) following the Executive’s termination of employment as described in this Section 4(b), which amount shall be payable in lump sum 60 days following the separation from service, provided that subsections (iii) and (iv) below are complied with; (C) the Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits; and (D) to the extent the Executive is entitled to the Additional Bonus, the Additional Bonus, which amount shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(l). In addition to the foregoing, the Company shall pay up to a maximum amount of $50,000 for outplacement services for the Executive, such payment to be made to an agency selected by the Executive, based on the customary fees charged by nationally rated firms engaged in such services. The Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement to receive any other compensation or benefits after such termination or resignation of employment.

(ii) If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or if the Executive resigns from his employment hereunder for Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment terminates due to non-extension by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive on a monthly basis the group medical, dental and vision continuation coverage premiums for the Executive and his dependents under COBRA in excess of the amount the Executive would have paid if he were an active employee for the COBRA continuation coverage period, provided that the Executive or his dependents are eligible and remain eligible for COBRA coverage; and provided , further , that in the event that

 

-9-


the Executive receives group health coverage from another employer of him (in which event the Executive shall promptly notify the Company in writing), such continuation of coverage by the Company under this Section 4(b)(ii) shall immediately cease. For purposes of this Agreement, “ COBRA ” shall mean the requirements of (1) Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and (2) Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”).

(iii) The Company shall not be required to make the payments and provide the benefits provided for under Sections 4(b)(i) (other than the Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits) and 4(b)(ii), unless the Executive executes and delivers to the Company a release in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , and the release has become effective and irrevocable in its entirety.

(iv) If, following a termination of employment without Cause or a resignation for Good Reason, the Executive materially breaches provisions of Sections 5 or 7 hereof, the Executive shall not be eligible, as of the date of such material breach, for the payments and benefits described in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii), and any and all obligations and agreements of the Company with respect to such payments shall thereupon cease (and the Company shall be entitled to recoup any and all such payments and benefits previously paid or awarded to the Executive), provided , however , that no event or condition described in Sections 5 or 7 shall constitute a breach unless (i) the Company first gives the Executive written notice of its intention to terminate his payments and benefits described in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) and the grounds for such loss of eligibility for payments and benefits, and (ii) such grounds for termination of payments and benefits (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by the Executive within 30 days of his receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, the Executive has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter).

(c) Termination Due to Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate automatically on the Executive’s death. In the event of the Executive’s disability, the Company shall be entitled to terminate his employment. In the event of termination of the Executive’s employment by reason of the Executive’s death or disability, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or his estate, as applicable), subject to Section 4(d) below, (i) a pro rata portion of the Executive’s bonus (if any) for the year in which the termination of employment occurs, which amount shall be payable in the year following the year of termination of employment prior to March 15th; (ii) the Executive’s Base Salary through and including the date of termination; (iii) an amount equal to 12 months of the Executive’s Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the date the Executive’s employment is terminated), which amount shall be payable in a

 

-10-


lump sum 60 days following the separation from service, provided that such amount shall be reduced (but in no event to an amount below zero) by the projected tax-adjusted amount of disability payments, excluding any supplemental disability benefits funded through employee contributions, to be received by the Executive during the six (6) month period following such separation; and (iv) the Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits. For purposes of this Agreement, “ disability ” means that the Executive has been unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for 180 days in any one-year period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that as a result of absence because of mental or physical incapacity the Executive incurs a “separation from service” within the meaning of such term under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), the Executive shall on such date automatically be terminated from employment as a disability termination.

(d) Payments Subject to Section 409A .

(i) The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Section 409A (except to the extent exempt as short-term deferrals or otherwise) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. If the Executive notifies the Company (with specificity as to the reason therefor) that the Executive believes that any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of compensation, including equity compensation or benefits) would cause the Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company shall, after consulting with the Executive, reform such provision to attempt to comply with Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to the Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A. If the Executive notifies the Company (with specificity as to the reason therefor) that the Executive believes that any of the Company’s plans, programs or payroll practices would cause the Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A, the Company shall in good faith discuss with the Executive any proposed modifications to such plans, programs or payroll practices that are reasonably necessary to comply with Section 409A.

(ii) Subject to this Section 4(d), payments or benefits under Sections 4(b) or 4(c) shall begin only upon the date the Executive incurs a “separation from service” within the meaning of such term under Section 409A. For purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references

 

-11-


to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” The provisions under this Section 4(d) shall apply with respect to distribution of the payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to the Executive under Sections 4(b) and 4(c), as applicable.

(iii) It is intended that each installment, if any, of the payments and benefits provided under Sections 4(b) and 4(c) shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A. Neither the Company nor the Executive shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A.

(iv) Each installment of the payments and benefits due under Sections 4(b) or 4(c) that, in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein, will in all circumstances, regardless of when the separation from service occurs, be paid within the Short-Term Deferral Period (as hereinafter defined) shall be treated as a short-term deferral within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) to the maximum extent permissible under Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, the “ Short-Term Deferral Period ” means the period ending on the later of the 15 th day of the third month following the end of the Executive’s tax year in which the separation from service occurs and the 15 th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s tax year in which the separation from service occurs; and

(v) If, as of the date of the “separation from service” of the Executive from the Company, the Executive is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then with regard to any payment or the provision of any benefit that is specified herein as subject to this Section or is otherwise considered “deferred compensation” under Section 409A (whether under this Agreement, any other plan, program, payroll practice or any equity grant) and is payable upon the Executive’s separation from service, such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided until the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month-and-one-day period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Executive, and (B) the date of the Executive’s death (the “ Delay Period ”) and this Agreement and each such plan, program, payroll practice or equity grant shall hereby be deemed amended accordingly. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to the Executive in a lump sum with interest at the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the Delay Period ( provided that any payment measured by a change in value that continues during the Delay Period shall not be credited with interest for the Delay Period), and any

 

-12-


remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

(vi) The determination of whether and when a separation from service of the Executive from the Company has occurred shall be made in a manner consistent with, and based on the presumptions set forth in, Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). Solely for purposes of this Section 4(d)(vi), “ Company ” shall include all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Sections 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code.

(vii) All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent that such reimbursements or in-kind benefits are subject to Section 409A. All expenses or other reimbursements paid pursuant herewith that are taxable income to the Executive shall in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Executive incurs such expense or pays such related tax. With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A, the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, of in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year, provided that the foregoing clause shall not be violated without regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect and such payments shall be made on or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense occurred. Any tax gross-up shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Executive remits the related tax.

(viii) Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

(e) Notice of Termination . Any termination of employment by the Company or the Executive shall be communicated by a written “ Notice of Termination ” to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 22 of this Agreement. In the event of a termination by the Company for Cause, or resignation by the Executive for Good Reason, the Notice of Termination shall (i) indicate the specific termination

 

-13-


provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) specify the date of termination, which date shall not be more than 30 days after the giving of such notice. The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder to the extent that such fact or circumstance is on the same asserted basis within the definition for the termination. In the event of a termination by the Company without Cause, or resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason, the Notice of Termination shall specify the date of termination, which date shall not be less than 30 days after the giving of such notice.

(f) Resignation from Directorships and Officerships . The termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason shall constitute the Executive’s resignation from (i) any director, officer, or employee position the Executive has with members of the Company Group, and (ii) all fiduciary positions (including as a trustee) the Executive holds with respect to any employee benefit plans or trusts established by the Company. The Executive agrees that this Agreement shall serve as written notice of resignation in this circumstance.

5. Confidentiality .

(a) Confidential Information . The Executive agrees to enter into and be subject to the Company’s Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C .

(b) Exclusive Property . The Executive confirms that all Confidential Information (as defined in the Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement) is and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company Group. All business records, papers and documents kept or made by the Executive relating to the business of the Company Group shall be and remain the property of the Company Group. Upon the request and at the expense of the Company Group, the Executive shall promptly make all disclosures, execute all instruments and papers, and perform all acts reasonably necessary to vest and confirm in the Company Group, fully and completely, all rights created or contemplated by this Section 5(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall maintain ownership and use of his rolodex and other address books.

6. Noncompetition . The Executive agrees to enter into and be subject to the Company’s Non-Compete Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D .

7. Non-Solicitation and Non-Hire . The Executive agrees that for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending 12 months following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (the “ Restricted Period ”), other than in the good faith performance of his duties to the Company as chief executive officer, the

 

-14-


Executive shall not, directly or indirectly: (a) interfere with or attempt to interfere with the relationship between any person who is, or was during the then-most recent 12-month period, an employee, officer, representative or agent of the Company Group, or solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any of them to leave the employ of any member of the Company Group or violate the terms of their respective contracts, or any employment arrangements, with such entities; or (b) hire, recruit or attempt to hire any person who was employed by any member of the Company Group at any time during the then-most recent 12-month period; provided , that this clause (b) shall not apply to the recruitment or hiring of any individual whose employment with any member of the Company Group has been terminated for a period of six months or longer; or (c) induce or attempt to induce any customer, client, supplier, licensee or other business relation of any member of the Company Group to cease doing business with any member of the Company Group, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any member of the Company Group and any customer, client, supplier, licensee or other business relation of any member of the Company Group, provided the foregoing clause (c) shall not apply to consumers. Nothing in this Section 7 shall be violated by the Executive serving upon request as a reference, so long as he does not have a business relationship with the person to whom the reference is being given, and nothing in this Section 7 shall be violated by the Executive engaging in general advertising that is not specifically targeted at the persons referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) that have a relationship with a member of the Company Group. As used herein, the term “ indirectly ” shall include, without limitation, the Executive’s authorizing the use of the Executive’s name by any competitor of any member of the Company Group to induce or interfere with any employee or business relationship of any member of the Company Group.

8. Certain Remedies .

(a) Injunctive Relief . Without intending to limit the remedies available to either party hereto, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Section 12 hereof, each of the parties hereto agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 5, 6, 7 or 10 of this Agreement may result in material and irreparable injury to the other party for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it shall not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of such a breach or threat thereof, any non-breaching party shall be entitled to seek a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction, or both, without bond or other security, restraining the breaching party from engaging in activities prohibited by the covenants contained in Sections 5, 6, 7 or 10 of this Agreement or such other relief as may be required specifically to enforce any of the covenants contained in this Agreement. Such injunctive relief in any court shall be available to the non-breaching party in lieu of, or prior to or pending determination in, any arbitration proceeding.

(b) Extension of Restricted Period . In addition to the remedies the Company may seek and obtain pursuant to Section 12 hereof, the Restricted Period may, in the court’s discretion, be extended by any and all periods during which the Executive shall be found by a court possessing personal jurisdiction over him to have been in violation of the covenants contained in Sections 5 through 7 of this Agreement.

 

-15-


9. Defense of Claims . The Executive agrees that, during the Term, and for a period of six months after termination of the Executive’s employment, upon request from the Company, the Executive shall cooperate with the Company in connection with any matters the Executive worked on during his employment with the Company and any related transitional matters. In addition, the Executive agrees to cooperate with the Company in the defense of any claims or actions that may be made by or against the Company Group, except if the Executive’s reasonable interests are adverse to the Company Group in such claim or action. The Company agrees to promptly reimburse the Executive for all of the Executive’s reasonable travel and other direct expenses incurred, or to be reasonably incurred, to comply with the Executive’s obligations under this Section 9.

10. Nondisparagement . Each of the Company and the Executive agrees during the term hereof and for one year thereafter not to make, directly or indirectly (with the intent to damage the other), any derogatory, negative or disparaging public statement about the other party hereto (or, as applicable, any other member of the Company Group, any current or former officers, directors, or employees thereof). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Executive or the Company from, truthfully and in good faith: (i) disclosing that the Executive is no longer employed by the Company; (ii) making any disclosure of information required by law; (iii) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought by, any federal regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization, or the Company’s designated legal, compliance or human resources officers; (iv) filing, testifying, participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation of any federal, state or municipal law relating to fraud, or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any self-regulatory organization; or (v) making statements (in the case of the Executive) in the good faith performance of his duties to the Company.

11. Source of Payments . All payments provided under this Agreement, other than payments made pursuant to a plan which provides otherwise, shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company, and no special or separate fund shall be established, and no other segregation of assets shall be made, to assure payment. The Executive shall have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any investments which the Company may make to aid the Company in meeting its obligations hereunder. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

12. Arbitration . Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Executive’s employment by the Company that cannot be mutually resolved by the parties to this Agreement and their respective advisors and representatives shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in New Jersey in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association before one arbitrator of exemplary qualifications and stature, who shall be selected jointly by an individual to be designated by the Company and an individual to be selected by the

 

-16-


Executive, or if such two individuals cannot promptly agree on the selection of the arbitrator, who shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the arbitrator shall allow for discovery sufficient to adequately arbitrate any claims, including access to essential documents and witnesses. The award of the arbitrator with respect to such dispute or controversy shall be in writing with sufficient explanation to allow for such meaningful judicial review as is permitted by law, and that such decision shall be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction and shall be binding on the parties hereto. The remedies available in arbitration shall be identical to those allowed at law. The arbitrator shall be entitled to award to the prevailing party in any arbitration or judicial action under this Agreement reasonable attorneys’ fees and any costs of the arbitration payable by such party, consistent with applicable law, provided that no such award shall be made against the Executive unless the arbitrator finds the Executive’s positions in such arbitration or dispute to have been frivolous or taken in bad faith.

13. Nonassignability; Binding Agreement .

(a) By the Executive . This Agreement and any and all of the Executive’s rights, duties, obligations or interests hereunder shall not be assignable or delegable by the Executive.

(b) By the Company . This Agreement and any and all of the Company’s rights, duties, obligations or interests hereunder shall not be assignable by the Company, except as incident to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and then only if the Company’s obligations hereunder are assumed by the assignee.

(c) Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto, any successors to or permitted assigns of the Company, and the Executive’s heirs and the personal representatives of the Executive’s estate.

14. Withholding . Any payments made or benefits provided to the Executive under this Agreement shall be reduced by any applicable withholding taxes or other amounts required to be withheld by law or contract.

15. Excise Tax .

(a) In the event it shall be determined that any payment, benefit or distribution (or combination thereof) by the Company, any of the Company’s affiliates, one or more trusts established by the Company for the benefit of its employees, or any other person or entity, to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation any stock option, stock appreciation right, phantom equity awards or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any restriction on the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing) (a “ Payment ”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by

 

-17-


Section 4999 of the Code by reason of being “contingent on a change in ownership or control” of the Company, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Excise Tax ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (a “ Gross-Up Payment ”) in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and the Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 15(a) hereof, all determinations required to be made under this Section 15, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the Company, and reasonably satisfactory to the Executive (the “ Accounting Firm ”), which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the closing of the change in ownership or control of the Company, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 15, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive (or to the appropriate taxing authority on the Executive’s behalf) when due immediately prior to the date the Executive is required to make payment of any Excise Tax or other taxes. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall so indicate to the Executive in writing. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive absent a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction; provided , however , that no such determination shall eliminate or reduce the Company’s obligation to provide any Gross-Up Payment that shall be due as a result of such contrary determination. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) and the possibility of similar uncertainty regarding state or local tax law at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment determined by the Accounting Firm to be due to (or on behalf of) the Executive is lower than the amount actually due (“ Underpayment ”). In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 15(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred as promptly as possible and notify the Company and the Executive of such calculations, and any such Underpayment (including the Gross-Up Payment to the Executive) shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive within five (5) business days after receipt of such determination and calculations.

(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the

 

-18-


Company of any Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten (10) business days after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) day period following the date on which he gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall (i) give the Company any information which is in the Executive’s possession reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim, (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company, (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such claim, and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided , however , that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 15(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided , further , that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall pay the amount of such claim to the Executive, and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such payment or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such payment (including the applicable Gross-Up Payment); provided , further , that if the Executive is required to extend the statute of limitations to enable the Company to contest such claim, the Executive may limit this extension solely to such contested amount. The Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. The reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Executive due to a tax contest or litigation addressing the existence or amount of an Excise Tax liability shall be reimbursed promptly, but in no event be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the taxes that are subject of the contest or litigation are remitted to the taxing authority (or if no taxes are remitted as a result of such audit or litigation, the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of the litigation). In addition,

 

-19-


without extending the time of any obligation in this Section 15, any tax Gross-Up Payment shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Executive remits the related tax.

(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount paid by the Company pursuant to this Section 15, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to a Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund received (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the obligation to refund any amount shall be a violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, such obligation to refund shall be null and void.

(e) To the extent that the applicable regulations under Code Section 280G permits a later recalculation by the Company, or requires a later recalculation, of whether the Payments are subject to the Excise Tax, the provisions of this Section 15 shall again be applied based upon such recalculation.

16. Amendment; Waiver . This Agreement may not be modified, amended or waived in any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto. The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this Agreement.

17. Governing Law . All matters affecting this Agreement, including the validity thereof, are to be governed by, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State.

18. Survival of Certain Provisions . The rights and obligations set forth in Sections 3(c), 3(d), 3(l), 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d), Sections 5 through 12 and Section 15 hereof shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement.

19. Entire Agreement; Supersedes Previous Agreements . This Agreement, together with the (i) Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement, (ii) Non-Compete Agreement, (iii) Nonqualified Option Agreement and (iv) Indemnification Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008, between the Company and the Executive, each as amended from time to time, contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous negotiations, commitments, agreements and writings with respect to the subject matter hereof, all such other negotiations, commitments, agreements and writings shall have no further force or effect, and the parties to any such other negotiation, commitment, agreement or writing shall have no further rights or obligations thereunder.

20. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed by either of the parties hereto in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

-20-


21. Headings . The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

22. Notices . All notices or communications hereunder shall be in writing, addressed as follows:

To the Company:

23 Main Street

Holmdel, N.J. 07733

Attention: Office of the Chief Legal Officer

To the Executive:

Marc P. Lefar

at the last address on record with the Company

All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective (i) if sent by hand delivery, upon receipt, or (ii) if sent by electronic mail or facsimile, upon confirmation of receipt by the sender of such transmission, or (iii) if sent by courier or certified or registered U.S. mail, upon receipt.

23. Severability . In the event that any court having jurisdiction shall determine that any restrictive covenant or other provision contained in this Agreement shall be unreasonable or unenforceable in any respect, then such covenant or other provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such other court deems it reasonable or enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such covenant or other provision wholly unenforceable, the remaining covenants and other provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

-21-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed by its officer pursuant to the authority of its Board, and the Executive has executed this Agreement, as of the day and year first written above.

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By   /s/ Jeffrey A. Citron
Name:   Jeffrey A. Citron
Title:   Chairman of the Board
7/29/08

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
/s/ Marc P. Lefar
Marc P. Lefar
Date: 7/29/08

 

-22-


Exhibit A

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

 

Exhibit A


Exhibit A

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

2006 INCENTIVE PLAN

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Participant ”:                                     

Date of Award ”:                             

This Agreement, effective as of the Date of Award set forth above, represents the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options by Vonage Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the ” Company ”), to the Participant named above, pursuant to the provisions of the Vonage Holdings Corp. 2006 Incentive Plan (the ” Plan ”). Capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to them under the Plan, unless specifically set forth herein.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

  1. Grant of Options

The Company hereby grants to the Participant Nonqualified Stock Options to purchase Shares in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement as follows:

(a) Number of Shares Covered by the Options :                     

(b) “ Option Price ”: $              per Share

(c) “ Option Term ”: The Options have been granted for a period of ten years, ending on the tenth anniversary of the Date of Award.

 

  2. Vesting of Options

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, the Options vest and become exercisable as to 1/4 th of the Shares on the calendar day before each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the Date of the Award.

(b) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of a Change of Control (which, for purposes of this Agreement, shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 (or any successor section thereto) of that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of July [_], 2008, between the Company and the Participant, as such agreement may be amended from time to time (the “Employment Agreement” )), the Options will fully vest and become exercisable immediately prior to such Change of Control.


(c) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event that the Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable in accordance with Section 3(c) (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(d) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event that the Employment Agreement is not renewed by the Company in accordance with Section 2 (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement, and the Participant continues to be employed by the Company beyond the expiration of the Term (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable in accordance with Section 3(c) (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(e) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s death, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to one-half the number of unvested Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(f) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s disability, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to one-half the number of unvested Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company with Cause, the Options will terminate immediately and be of no force or effect.

(h) To the extent vested in accordance with this Section 2, the Options will remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(i) For purposes of this Section 2, the terms “ Cause ,” “ Good Reason ” and “ disability ” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

  3. Exercise of Options

The Options may be exercised by any means specified in Section 7(d) of the Plan, as well as by a broker cashless exercise procedure, all of which the Committee hereby approves.

 

  4. Termination of Options

To the extent vested in accordance with Section 2 above, the Options will terminate, and be of no force or effect, upon the earlier of:

 

2


(a) the date of termination of the Participant’s employment if such termination is for Cause, the first anniversary of such date if the Participant’s employment terminates for a reason as set forth in Sections 2(e) or 2(f) above, 60 days following such date if such termination is due to the Participant’s resignation without Good Reason, or 180 days following such date if such termination is for any other reason; and

(b) the expiration of the Option Term.

 

  5. Rights as Stockholder

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares covered by the Options until such time as the Option Price has been paid and the Shares have been issued and delivered to the Participant.

 

  6. Transferability

Unless permitted by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Options may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the Participant’s lifetime, may be exercised only by the Participant or in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity, the Participant’s legal guardian or representative.

 

  7. Miscellaneous

(a) This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required or, the Committee determines are advisable. The Participant agrees to take all steps the Company determines are necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities law in exercising his rights under this Agreement. The Committee shall have the right to impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option as it deems necessary or advisable under applicable federal securities laws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or market upon which Shares are then listed or traded, and/or any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to Shares. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant.

 

3


(c) The Options are intended not to provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the forgoing or any provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if any provision of this Agreement or the Plan contravenes Section 409A of the Code or could cause the Participant to incur any tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify such provision in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or to satisfy the conditions of any exception therefrom, or otherwise to avoid the imposition of the additional income tax and interest under Section 409A of the Code, while maintaining, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent and economic benefit to the Participant, without materially increasing the cost to the Company, of the applicable provision.

(d) Delivery of the Shares underlying the Options upon exercise will be subject to the Participant satisfying all applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes. The Company shall have authority to deduct or withhold from all amounts payable to the Participant in connection with the Options, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable taxes required by law. The Participant shall have the right to cover the minimum statutory withholding by directing the Company to withhold Shares that would otherwise be received by him, by utilization of a cashless broker transaction or by any other means permitted by Section 18 of the Plan.

(e) To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Participant have executed this Agreement as of the Date of Award.

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
 
Participant

 

4


Exhibit B

Form of Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release

 

Exhibit B


CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT and GENERAL RELEASE (hereinafter referred to as this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Marc P. Lefar (“Executive”) and Vonage Holdings Corp. (defined herein to include its affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors and successors and hereinafter referred to as “Vonage” or “the Company”), effective as of [              ] (the “Effective Date”). Executive and Vonage are hereafter referred to as the “Parties.”

WHEREAS, Executive was employed by Vonage as its Chief Executive Officer;

WHEREAS, Executive and Vonage entered into an Employment Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008 (the “Employment Agreement”);

WHEREAS, [description of nature of termination];

WHEREAS, Vonage and Executive have read this Agreement and have had the opportunity to review it with their respective legal counsel; and

WHEREAS, Vonage and Executive desire to resolve any and all issues and claims between them, including without limitation Executive’s employment and his separation therefrom, as well as any and all issues and claims arising from or relating to the Employment Agreement, and to reach an amicable accord and settlement concerning their future relationship.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1. Separation and Post-Employment Benefits . Executive ceased performing duties for Vonage on [              ] (the “Termination Date”), and Executive’s services on any and all boards of directors, boards of trustees and executive and/or management committees of Vonage of which he was a member ended on such date. The terms of Executive’s separation from Vonage are now being agreed to, as described herein.

2. Salary . Executive agrees that Vonage has no obligation to make, and will not make, any additional salary payments to Executive that have not already been paid, except for any and all earned, accrued or owed amounts, but not yet paid, to which Executive is entitled up to and including the Termination Date, including any unpaid expense reimbursement or tax gross ups, any accrued but unused vacation and any other amounts or benefits required to be paid under the Employment Agreement or provided by law or under any plan, program, policy or practice of Vonage (“Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits”), payable in a lump sum within five (5) days after the revocation period described in Paragraph 18(d) below. Any further entitlement that Executive may have to compensation shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement.


3. Non-Admission . It is specifically understood and agreed that this Agreement does not constitute and is not to be construed as an admission or evidence of (a) any violation by Vonage or Executive, of any federal, state or municipal law, statute or regulation, or principle of common law or equity, (b) the commission by Executive or Vonage of any other actionable wrong, or (c) any wrongdoing of any kind whatsoever on the part of Executive or Vonage, and shall not be offered, argued or used for that purpose.

4. General Release .

(a) In exchange for the consideration provided in this Agreement, and as a material inducement for both Parties entering into this Agreement, Executive for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, legal representatives, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to for purposes of this Paragraph 4 as “Executive”) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases and forever discharges Vonage and its past, present and future affiliates and related entities, parent and subsidiary corporations, divisions, shareholders, predecessors, future officers, directors, trustees, fiduciaries, administrators, executives, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to for purposes of this Paragraph 4 as “Vonage”) for any and all waivable claims, charges, demands, sums of money, actions, rights, promises, agreements, causes of action, obligations and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, whether known or unknown, existing or contingent, suspected or unsuspected, apparent or concealed, foreign or domestic (hereinafter collectively referred to as “claims”) which he has now or in the future may claim to have against Vonage based upon or arising out of any facts, acts, conduct, omissions, transactions, occurrences, contracts, claims, events, causes, matters or things of any conceivable kind or character existing or occurring or claimed to exist or to have occurred prior to the Effective Date in any way whatsoever relating to or arising out of Executive’s employment with Vonage. Such claims include, but are not limited to, claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq .; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq .; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq .; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq .; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq .; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d); Section 806 of the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq .; the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq .; any other federal, state or local statutory laws including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the New Jersey Wage Payment Law, the New Jersey Family Leave Act, all as amended; the common law of the State of New Jersey; any claim under any local ordinance, including, but not limited to, any ordinance addressing fair employment practices; any common law claims, including but not limited to actions in tort, defamation and breach of contract; any claim or damage arising out of Executive’s employment with or separation from Vonage (including a claim for retaliation) under any common law theory or any federal, state or local statute or ordinance not expressly referenced above; and any and all claims for counsel fees and costs.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 4(d) and 4(e) below, Executive represents and affirms that he has not filed or caused to be filed on his behalf any claim for relief against Vonage or any releasee and, to the best of his knowledge and belief, no outstanding claims for relief have been filed or asserted against Vonage or any releasee on his behalf.

 

-2-


(c) In waiving and releasing any and all waivable claims whether or not now known, Executive understands that this means that, if he later discovers facts different from or in addition to those facts currently known by him, or believed by him to be true, the waivers and releases of this Agreement will remain effective in all respects — despite such different or additional facts and his later discovery of such facts, even if he would not have agreed to this Agreement if he had prior knowledge of such facts.

(d) Nothing in this Paragraph, or elsewhere in this Agreement, prevents or prohibits Executive from filing a claim with a government agency, such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that is responsible for enforcing a law on behalf of the government. However, Executive understands that, because Executive is waiving and releasing, among other things, any and all claims for monetary damages and any other form of personal relief (per Paragraph 4(a) above), Executive may only seek and receive non-monetary forms of relief through any such claim.

(e) Nothing in this Paragraph, or elsewhere in this Agreement, is intended as, or shall be deemed or operate as, a release by Executive of his rights under the Parties’ Indemnification Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008, as amended from time to time (the “Indemnification Agreement”), or any other rights to indemnification relating to his performance of services as an officer and/or director of Vonage, including but not limited to those rights to indemnification set forth in Vonage’s Certificate of Incorporation as in effect on the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Paragraph 4(e) are intended as recitals only and are not intended to provide Executive with any additional contractual rights beyond those contained in the Indemnification Agreement or the Certificate of Incorporation. Furthermore, nothing herein shall affect Executive’s rights to Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or as provided in Section 6 hereof.

5. Consideration and Post-Employment Benefits .

(a) Vonage, for and in consideration of the undertakings of Executive set forth herein and pursuant to Paragraph 4(b)(i) of the Employment Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, and provided that Executive does not revoke this Agreement pursuant to Paragraph 18(d) below, agrees that Vonage will pay or provide the following to Executive, subject to Section 4(d) of the Employment Agreement: (1) a pro rata portion of his bonus, if any, for [the year in which the termination of employment occurs], which amount shall be payable in [the calendar year following the calendar year of termination] prior to March 15th; (2) $[              ], which represents an amount equal to Executive’s base salary (at the rate in effect on the Termination Date) for a [two-year/one-year] period following the Termination Date, which amount shall be payable in lump sum 60 days following the separation from service; (3) to the extent Executive is entitled to the Additional Bonus (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Additional Bonus, which amount shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(l) of the Employment Agreement, and (4) at the request of Executive, an amount not exceeding $50,000 for outplacement services for Executive, such payment to be made to an agency selected by Executive, based on the customary fees charged by nationally rated firms engaged in such services. Any payment for the outplacement services addressed in clause (4) will be paid by [December 31 of the year following cessation of such outplacement services]. All payments are

 

-3-


subject to applicable tax withholding. Executive shall be solely responsible for all taxes on the payments under this Agreement. Additionally, Vonage shall pay to Executive on a monthly basis the group medical, dental and vision continuation coverage premiums for Executive and his dependents under COBRA in excess of the amount Executive would have paid if he were an active employee for the COBRA continuation coverage period, provided that Executive or his dependents are eligible and remain eligible for COBRA coverage; and provided , further , that in the event that Executive receives group health coverage from another employer of him (in which event, Executive shall promptly notify Vonage in writing), such continuation of coverage by Vonage hereunder shall immediately cease. For purposes of this Agreement, “COBRA” shall mean the requirements of (1) Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and (2) Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if Executive materially breaches provisions of Vonage’s Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), or Section 7 of the Employment Agreement, Executive shall not be eligible, as of the date of such material breach, for the payments and benefits described in Paragraph 5(a) above, and any and all obligations and agreements of Vonage with respect to such payments shall thereupon cease (and Vonage shall be entitled to recoup any and all such payments and benefits previously paid or awarded to Executive), provided , however , that no event or condition described in the Confidentiality Agreement or Section 7 of the Employment Agreement shall constitute a breach unless (i) Vonage first gives Executive written notice of its intention to terminate his payments and benefits described in Paragraph 5(a) above and the grounds for such loss of eligibility for payments and benefits, and (ii) such grounds for termination of payments and benefits (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by Executive within 30 days of his receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, Executive has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter).

(c) In accordance with the provisions of Section 3(c) of the Employment Agreement and the Parties’ Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of July 29, 2008 [describe any other equity agreements between Vonage and Executive](collectively, the “Equity Agreement”), the Parties agree that [describe Executive’s equity] are vested with respect to [              ] shares of Vonage’s Common Stock (the “Vested Equity”), and that any options underlying such Vested Equity are immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable until [              ]. Other than the Vested Equity, all equity awarded by Vonage to Executive has terminated and is of no further force or effect.

6. Prior Agreements . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements entered into by Vonage and Executive, except for the following: (1) Sections 3(c), 3(d), 3(l) and 4(d), Sections 5 through 12 and Section 15 of the Employment Agreement, which terms survive the termination of the Employment Agreement pursuant to Section 18 thereof, (2) the Parties’ Non-Compete Agreement dated as of July 29, 2008, (3) the Confidentiality Agreement, (4) the Equity Agreement and (5) the Indemnification Agreement. [List other appropriate agreements between Vonage and Executive.]

 

-4-


7. Resignation from Directorships and Officerships . Pursuant to Paragraph 4(f) of the Employment Agreement, Executive affirms that his notice of resignation submitted on [              ] constitutes his immediate resignation from (i) any director, officer or employee position that Executive has with Vonage, and (ii) all fiduciary positions (including as a trustee) Executive holds with respect to any employee benefit plans or trusts established by Vonage.

8. Confidentiality of Agreement . Executive agrees to keep secret and strictly confidential the terms of this Agreement (except to the extent this Agreement is publicly filed) and further represents and warrants that he will not disclose, make known, discuss or relay any information concerning this Agreement, or any of the discussions leading up to this Agreement, to anyone (other than members of his immediate family, accountants or attorneys who have first agreed to keep said information confidential and to not disclose it to others), and that he has not done so. The foregoing shall not prohibit or restrict such disclosure as required by law or in connection with Vonage’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental or regulatory body or as may be necessary for the prosecution or defense of claims relating to the performance or enforcement of this Agreement or prohibit or restrict Executive (or Executive’s attorney) or Vonage from responding to any such inquiry about this settlement or its underlying facts and circumstances by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange, any other self-regulatory organization, or in response to a duly served and effective subpoena or discovery request in the course of any litigation. Prior to making any disclosure other than to his immediate family, accountants or attorneys, Executive shall provide Vonage with as much notice as practicable that he has been requested or compelled to make disclosure and shall cooperate with Vonage to maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement to the fullest extent possible.

9. Return of Property and Documents . Executive represents and warrants that he has returned, or will immediately return, to Vonage all Vonage property (including, without limitation, any and all computers, BlackBerries, identification cards, card key passes, corporate credit cards, corporate phone cards, files, memoranda, keys and software) in Executive’s possession and that he has not, and will not, retain any duplicates or reproductions of such items. Executive further represents and warrants that he has delivered to Vonage all copies of any Confidential Information (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) in his possession or control and has destroyed all copies of any analyses, compilations, studies or other documents in his possession that contain any Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall maintain ownership and use of his rolodex and other address books, and Vonage agrees to cooperate with Executive in the transfer to Executive of cell phone and BlackBerry numbers used by Executive if such numbers are registered in Vonage’s name.

10. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder to Vonage shall be in writing and shall be delivered, either by hand, by facsimile, by overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed as indicated below or to such changed address as Vonage may subsequently designate:

Vonage Holdings Corp.

23 Main Street

Holmdel, New Jersey 07733

Attention: Office of Chief Legal Officer

 

-5-


Any such notice, request, demand or other communication to Vonage delivered in the manner specified above shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt by Vonage.

All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder to Executive shall be in writing and shall be delivered, either by hand, by facsimile, by overnight courier, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed as indicated below or to such changed address as Executive may subsequently designate:

Marc P. Lefar

at the last address on record with Vonage

Any such notice, request, demand or other communication to Executive delivered in the manner specified above shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt by Executive.

11. Severability . If, at any time after the Effective Date, any provision of this Agreement shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be illegal, void or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect. The illegality or unenforceability of such provision, however, shall have no effect upon, and shall not impair the enforceability of, any other provision of this Agreement, provided , however , that upon finding that Paragraph 4(a) is illegal and/or unenforceable, Vonage shall be released from any obligation to make any payment pursuant to Paragraph 5 of this Agreement, and Executive shall repay to Vonage any and all amounts already received pursuant to Paragraph 5.

12. Choice of Law; Arbitration . The terms of this Agreement and all rights and obligations of the Parties, including its enforcement, shall be interpreted and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Pursuant to Section 12 of the Employment Agreement, which is incorporated by operation thereof and reference herein, any disputes arising out of this Agreement and which are mandatorily arbitrable shall be settled exclusively by arbitration before the American Arbitration Association at a location in New Jersey.

13. Injunctive Relief . Notwithstanding the limited agreement to arbitrate set forth in Paragraph 12 of this Agreement, any claim alleging breach of the non-disparagement obligations under Section 10 of the Employment Agreement or alleging breach of Paragraph 8 of this Agreement may be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New Jersey, where the parties consent to jurisdiction and agree not to argue that it is an inconvenient forum for resolution of the claim. A material breach of Section 10 of the Employment Agreement or Paragraph 8 of this Agreement shall be considered to be irreparable harm, where no adequate remedy at law would be available in respect thereof. The Parties agree that neither Party will have any obligation to post a bond to obtain said injunctive relief.

14. Modification of Agreement . No provision of this Agreement may be modified, altered, waived or discharged unless such modification, alteration, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Parties hereto. No waiver by either Party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other Party shall be

 

-6-


deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

15. Withholding . Vonage may withhold from amounts payable or benefits provided under this Agreement any and all federal, state and local taxes that are required to be withheld and reported by any applicable laws and regulations. Vonage may also withhold and report any amounts necessary pursuant to the benefit plans, policies or arrangements of Vonage or otherwise, in accordance with any applicable Vonage policies, laws and/or regulations.

16. Entire Agreement; Headings . Other than as set forth in Paragraph 6 hereof, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties hereto and any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements, discussions or understandings between the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof, including relating to severance payments or compensation, have been and are merged into and superseded by this Agreement. The headings of the sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

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

18. EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES AND WARRANTS THAT:

(a) he has read the terms of this Agreement and that he understands its terms and effects, including the fact that he has agreed to release and forever discharge Vonage or any releasee from any legal action arising out of his employment relationship with Vonage, the terms and conditions of that employment relationship, and the termination of that employment relationship;

(b) he has signed this Agreement voluntarily and knowingly in exchange for the consideration described and referenced herein, which he acknowledges as adequate and satisfactory to him;

(c) he has been informed that he has the right to consider this Agreement for a period of twenty-one (21) days from receipt prior to entering into this Agreement and he has signed on the date indicated below after concluding that this Agreement is satisfactory;

(d) he has been informed that he has the right to revoke this Agreement for a period of seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement by giving written notice to Vonage to the attention of Office of Chief Legal Officer, Vonage Holdings Corp., 23 Main Street, Holmdel, New Jersey 07733. This Agreement shall not be effective or enforceable until Executive’s right to revoke this Agreement has lapsed;

(e) he has been and is hereby advised in writing by Vonage to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement and he has consulted with his attorney and fully discussed and reviewed the terms of this Agreement with his attorney;

(f) neither Vonage, nor any of its agents, representatives or attorneys have made any representations to Executive concerning the terms or effects of this Agreement other than those contained and referenced herein; and

 

-7-


(g) this Agreement shall be governed, interpreted and enforced by and under the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to choice of law principles.

 

    VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:         By:    
  MARC P. LEFAR      
Dated:         Dated:    

 

-8-


Exhibit C

Form of Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement

 

Exhibit C


Execution Copy

Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement

In consideration of my employment with Vonage Holdings Corp. (“Vonage”) (if such employment has not yet commenced) or my continued employment with Vonage, as the case may be, I agree to be bound by the terms of this Employee Confidentiality and Innovations Agreement (this “Agreement.”). I understand that as a result of my employment with Vonage (“Employment”), I may have access to information of a confidential nature about Vonage’s business, through the delivery of documents and permitted visits to Vonage’s premises. I understand that Vonage needs to maintain the confidentiality of that information, and I agree, as set forth below, to treat such information confidentially.

In addition, I understand and agree that if I develop Innovations (as defined in this Agreement) as a result of or in connection with my Employment, Vonage will have rights in those Innovations as set forth in this Agreement.

Terms of Agreement

 

A. Confidential Information

 

1. “Confidential Information” means all information, whether written or oral, tangible or intangible, and including trade secrets and data of whatever nature, disclosed by Vonage or any of its representatives or agents, whether before or after the date of this Agreement, or which may otherwise be made available or become known to me, which is either expressly designated by Vonage as being confidential or is disclosed under circumstances that should reasonably indicate to me that the disclosed information ought to be treated as confidential. “Confidential Information” shall not include information which

 

  (i) becomes or has been generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by me in violation of this Agreement,

 

  (ii) was in my possession from a third-party source prior to its disclosure by Vonage or its representatives,

 

  (iii) becomes available to myself from a third-party source other than Vonage or its representatives, or

 

  (iv) is independently developed by myself without use of any of the Confidential Information. The burden of establishing the availability of the foregoing exceptions shall be on myself;

provided , however , that in (ii) and (iii) above the third-party source obtained the information without violation of the rights of Vonage and all restrictions on use or


disclosure of such information from that third-party source are observed by myself.

 

2. I agree to use Confidential Information only for purposes directly related to my Employment. Without prior written consent of Vonage, I agree not to disclose any Confidential Information in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part.

 

3. If I am requested or required (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose Confidential Information supplied to it, I shall promptly notify Vonage of such request(s). If, in the opinion of my legal counsel, I am compelled to disclose Confidential Information to any tribunal or else stand liable for contempt or suffer other censure or penalty, I may do so without liability under this Agreement, provided I make reasonable efforts to have my disclosure limited to the narrowest scope practicable under the circumstances, including cooperation in any request for a protective order and seeking to have any proceedings held in camera , with a sealed record.

 

4. Upon termination of my Employment for any reason, I shall, upon request, promptly deliver to Vonage all copies of any Confidential Information in my possession or control and shall destroy all copies of any analyses, compilations, studies or other documents in my possession that contain any Confidential Information.

 

B. Innovations

 

1. Innovations ” means discoveries, developments, concepts and ideas, whether or not protectable under law, relating to Vonage’s present and prospective business activities, the name and extent of those business activities being known to me by reason of my Employment, such as (but not limited to) inventions, know-how, discoveries, improvements, original works of authorship, designs, software, source code, object code, programs, formulas, processes, developments, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, service marks, logos and related proprietary information and materials, whether patentable, copyrightable, subject to trademark registration, or not, and all drafts, proposals, sketches, revisions and demonstration and “beta” versions thereof, written, created, developed or produced or to be written, created, developed or produced.

 

2. In consideration of my Employment, I acknowledge and agree that all Innovations created by me (either working alone or as part of a group)

 

  (i) during the term of my Employment, and

 

  (ii)

within six months after the end of the term if they (a) were made using equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information of Vonage, or (b) were developed at least in part on Vonage’s time, or (c) relate either to Vonage’s present or prospective business activities known to me when the Innovation was conceived, or (d) result from any work that I perform in the course of my employment,

 

- 2 -


 

shall be the property of Vonage, free of any reserved or other rights of any kind on my part. To achieve that result:

 

  (i) I hereby permanently, irrevocably, exclusively and absolutely assign to Vonage all right, title and interest in and to all Innovations and all right, title and interest in and to all patents, domain names, trade secrets, trademarks and other intellectual property derived therefrom, effective when each Innovation first becomes capable of being so assigned, transferred or vested;

 

  (ii) I agree to deliver all Innovations to Vonage no later than the end of the term of my Employment, unless Vonage requests otherwise;

 

  (iii) As to any Innovation that is a copyrightable work, I agree that such Innovation constitutes and shall constitute a work made-for-hire as defined in the United States Copyright Act of 1976; that Vonage is and shall be the author of said work made-for hire and the owner of all rights in and to such Innovation throughout the universe, in perpetuity and in all languages, for all now known or hereafter existing uses, media and forms, including, without limitation, the copyrights therein and thereto throughout the universe for the initial term and any and all extensions and renewals thereof; and that Vonage shall have the right to make such changes therein and such uses thereof as it may deem necessary or desirable. To the extent that such copyrightable Innovation is not recognized as a work-made-for-hire, I hereby permanently, irrevocably, exclusively and absolutely assign, transfer and convey to Vonage, without reservation, all of my right, title and interest throughout the universe in perpetuity in such Innovation, including, without limitation, all rights of copyright and copyright renewal in such Innovation or any part thereof; and

 

  (iv) I hereby waive all rights of “droit moral” or “moral rights of authors” or any similar rights or principles of law which I may now or later have in the Innovations. I warrant and represent that I have the right to execute this certificate, that each Innovation is and shall be new and original with me and not an imitation or copy of any other material, and that to the best of my knowledge, each of the Innovations does not and shall not violate or infringe upon any common law or statutory right of any party including, without limitation, contractual rights, copyrights, trademarks, patents, service marks and rights of privacy, publicity, or any other right of any person or entity and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to litigation.

 

3. I agree to execute such further documents and do such other act as may be reasonably required by Vonage or its successors, licensees, or assignees to evidence or effectuate Vonage’s rights under this Agreement. Vonage’s rights in the Innovations may be assigned, licensed, or otherwise transferred.

 

- 3 -


4. I hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Vonage with full power of substitution, to be my true and lawful attorney to execute, acknowledge, swear and file all instruments and documents, and to take any action which shall be deemed necessary, appropriate or desirable to perfect its rights in any Innovation created by me (working alone or as part of a group). This appointment shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable and survive my death, disability or bankruptcy.

 

5. Except as the context otherwise requires, “Vonage” also includes all Affiliates of Vonage. “Affiliate” means any person that directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with Vonage.

 

6. This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey applicable to contracts executed and wholly performed in that state. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter and may not be amended or modified except by a written instrument executed by each of the patties. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder.

 

7. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when signed by each of the parties on any counterpart, whether or not all of the parties have signed any one counterpart.

Execution

MY SIGNATURE below SIGNIFIES THAT I have COMPLETELY READ, and FULLY UNDERSTAND and AGREE to this CONFIDENTIALITY AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT.

 

           
Applicant Print Name     Home Address of Applicant
       
Signature of Applicant     Date
       
Vonage Signature     Date

 

- 4 -


Exhibit D

Form of Non-Compete Agreement

 

Exhibit D


Execution Copy

NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT , dated this 29 th day of July, 2008, by and between Vonage Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices at 23 Main Street, Holmdel, New Jersey 07733 (“Vonage”), and Marc P. Lefar (“Employee”).

In consideration of Employee’s employment with Vonage or continued employment with Vonage, as the case may be, Employee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Non-Compete Agreement (“Agreement”) as follows:

 

  1. Restriction on Competition . During the period of Employee’s employment with Vonage and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, Employee will not provide services to the portion of any entity that sells and markets residential/home broadband connectivity or broadband voice service (a “Competitive Entity”) as an employee thereof or as a direct individual consultant thereto (or through an entity specifically formed for the purpose of evading the limitations hereof) anywhere within the “Territory,” that term meaning within the United States and Canada in those States and provinces (or States and provinces contiguous thereto) in which Vonage conducts or is substantially prepared to conduct its business on the date of Employee’s employment termination. Nothing contained in this Section 1 shall be deemed to prohibit Employee from acquiring or holding, solely for investment, publicly traded securities of a Competitive Entity, provided such securities do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than five percent (5%) of any class or series of outstanding securities of such Competitive Entity.

 

  2. Specific Remedies . If Employee commits a breach of any of the provisions of Section 1, Vonage shall have the right to have such provisions specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach will cause irreparable injury to Vonage and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy.

 

  3. Independence, Severability and Non-Exclusivity . The right enumerated in Section 2 shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other rights and remedies available to Vonage at law or in equity. If any of the covenants contained in Section 1 (“Covenants”) or any part of any of them, is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, this shall not affect the remainder, or rights or remedies under this Agreement, which shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid portions. The parties intend to and do hereby confer jurisdiction on courts located within the geographical scope of the Covenants. If any of the Covenants is held to be invalid or unenforceable because of the duration or geographical area, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the duration and/or area and, in its reduced form, such Covenant shall then be enforceable. No such holding of invalidity or unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall bar or in any way affect Vonage’s right to the relief provided in Section 2 or otherwise in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographical scope of the Covenants.


  4. Successors; Binding Agreement . This Agreement and all obligations of Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Vonage and Vonage’s successors in interest.

 

  5. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto relating to its subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, preliminary agreements and agreements relating to that subject matter.

 

  6. Law Governing . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey (without giving effect to conflicts of law provisions).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year set forth above.

 

Vonage Holdings Corp.     AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
By:          
      Employee Signature
Name:          
Title:          
      Date

 

- 2 -

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Copy

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made as of the 29th day of July, 2008, by and between Vonage Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation), and Marc P. Lefar (the “Indemnitee”), a director or officer of the Corporation.

WHEREAS, it is essential to the Corporation to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons available, and

WHEREAS, the substantial increase in corporate litigation subjects directors and officers to expensive litigation risks at the same time that the availability of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance has been severely limited, and

WHEREAS, it is now and has always been the express policy of the Corporation to indemnify its directors and officers, and

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer without adequate protection, and

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires the Indemnitee to serve, or continue to serve, as a director or officer of the Corporation.

NOW THEREFORE, the Corporation and the Indemnitee do hereby agree as follows:

1. Agreement to Serve . The Indemnitee agrees to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Corporation for so long as the Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until such time as the Indemnitee tenders a resignation in writing.

2. Definitions . As used in this Agreement:

(a) The term “Change in Control” shall mean, and shall be deemed to have occurred if, on or after the date of this Agreement, (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Corporation acting in such capacity or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Corporation’s then outstanding Voting Securities (as defined below), (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Corporation and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Corporation’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so


approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other entity other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Corporation or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Corporation of (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets.

(b) The term “Corporate Status” shall mean the status of a person who is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, fiduciary, partner, trustee, member, employee or agent of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any employee benefit plan).

(c) References to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to Vonage Holdings Corp., any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which Vonage Holdings Corp. (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had the power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if the Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, the Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as the Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

(d) The term “Expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and expenses of experts, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with actions, suits, proceedings, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, hearings, inquiries or investigations, including any costs or expenses incurred defending, being a witness in or participating in, or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or to participate in, such actions, suits, proceedings, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, hearings, inquiries or investigations, including any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as a result of actual or deemed receipt of payments for the foregoing, but shall not include the amount of judgments, fines or penalties against the Indemnitee or amounts paid in settlement in connection with such matters.

(e) References to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an

 

- 2 -


employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Agreement.

(f) The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry, investigation or other proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Corporation or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, and any appeal therefrom.

(g) The term “Special Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither currently is, nor in the past three years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Corporation or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Special Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(h) The term “Voting Securities” shall mean any securities of the Corporation that vote generally in the election of directors.

3. Indemnity of Indemnitee . Subject to Sections 6, 7 and 9, the Corporation shall indemnify the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding as to which the Indemnitee is, was or is threatened to be made a party (or is a witness or participant in or otherwise involved with) by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, to the fullest extent permitted by law (as such may be amended from time to time). To the extent that a change in applicable law (whether by statute or judicial decision) permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently hereunder, the Indemnitee shall enjoy the greater benefits so afforded by such change without any further action by the Corporation. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof:

(a) Indemnification in Third-Party Proceedings . The Corporation shall indemnify the Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(a) if the Indemnitee was or is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or otherwise involved in any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor or a Proceeding referred to in Section 6 below) by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in connection therewith, against all Expenses, liabilities, losses, judgments, fines, ERISA taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner which the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

- 3 -


(b) Indemnification in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation . The Corporation shall indemnify the Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(b) if the Indemnitee was or is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or otherwise involved in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in connection therewith, against all Expenses and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner which the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, except that, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification shall be made under this Section 3(b) in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation, unless, and only to the extent, that the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of such liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such Expenses as the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

4. Indemnification of Expenses of Successful Party . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein (other than a Proceeding referred to in Section 6), the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection therewith. Without limiting the foregoing, if any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse to the Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication that the Indemnitee was liable to the Corporation, (iii) a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Indemnitee, (iv) an adjudication that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and (v) with respect to any criminal proceeding, an adjudication that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, the Indemnitee shall be considered for the purposes hereof to have been wholly successful with respect thereto.

5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness . To the extent that the Indemnitee is, by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which the Indemnitee is not a party, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection therewith.

6. Exceptions to Right of Indemnification . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, except as set forth in Section 10, the Corporation shall not indemnify the Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by the Indemnitee unless (a) the initiation thereof was approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or (b) the Proceeding was commenced following a Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not indemnify the Indemnitee to the extent the Indemnitee is reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, and in the event the Corporation makes any indemnification payments to the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee is subsequently

 

- 4 -


reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, the Indemnitee shall promptly refund such indemnification payments to the Corporation to the extent of such insurance reimbursement.

7. Notification and Defense of Claim . As a condition precedent to the Indemnitee’s right to be indemnified, the Indemnitee must notify the Corporation in writing as soon as practicable of any Proceeding for which indemnity will or could be sought. With respect to any Proceeding of which the Corporation is so notified, the Corporation will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense and/or to assume the defense thereof at its own expense, with legal counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee. After notice from the Corporation to the Indemnitee of its election so to assume such defense, the Corporation shall not be liable to the Indemnitee for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, other than as provided below in this Section 7. The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his or her own counsel in connection with such Proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Corporation of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee unless (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Corporation, (ii) counsel to the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position on any significant issue between the Corporation and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such Proceeding or (iii) the Corporation shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel for the Indemnitee shall be at the expense of the Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement. The Corporation shall not be entitled, without the consent of the Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or as to which counsel for the Indemnitee shall have reasonably made the conclusion provided for in clause (ii) above. The Corporation shall not be required to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent. The Corporation shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner that would impose any penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s written consent. Neither the Corporation nor the Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold or delay their consent to any proposed settlement.

8. Advancement of Expenses . In the event that the Corporation does not assume the defense pursuant to Section 7 of any Proceeding of which the Corporation receives notice under this Agreement, any Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in defending such Proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding; provided, however, that the payment of such Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay all amounts so advanced in the event that it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Agreement. Such undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of the Indemnitee to make repayment. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 8 shall be unsecured and interest-free. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which the Indemnitee has made written demand to the Corporation in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in

 

- 5 -


such advancement that are certified by affidavit of the Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.

9. Procedures .

(a) In order to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including in such request such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Subject to Section 29 hereof, any such indemnification or advancement of Expenses shall be made as soon as practicable after written demand by the Indemnitee therefor is presented to the Corporation, and in any event within (i) in the case of indemnification under Sections 4, 5 or 9(d) or advancement of Expenses, 20 business days after receipt by the Corporation of the written request of the Indemnitee, or (ii) in the case of all other indemnification, 45 business days after receipt by the Corporation of the written request of the Indemnitee, unless with respect to requests under this clause (ii) the Corporation determines, by clear and convincing evidence, within the 45 business-day period referred to above that the Indemnitee did not meet the applicable standard of conduct. Such determination, and any determination that advanced Expenses must be repaid to the Corporation, shall be made as follows:

(x) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Special Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors of the Corporation, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee (unless the Indemnitee shall request that such determination be made by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, in which case the determination shall be made in the manner provided below in clauses (y)(1) or (y)(2)).

(y) in all other cases, in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (1) by a majority vote of the directors of the Corporation consisting of persons who are not at that time parties to the Proceeding (“disinterested directors”), whether or not a quorum, (2) by a committee of disinterested directors designated by a majority vote of disinterested directors, whether or not a quorum, (3) if there are no disinterested directors, or if the disinterested directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion to the Board, or (4) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

(b) In the event that a Change in Control shall have occurred and the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Independent Counsel, the Special Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 9(b). The Special Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee, unless the Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The party making the determination shall give written notice to the other party advising it of the identity of the Special Independent Counsel so selected. The party receiving such notice may, within seven days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the other party a written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Special Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Special Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as

 

- 6 -


Special Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made, the Special Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Special Independent Counsel unless and until a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 business days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification, no Special Independent Counsel shall have been selected or if selected, shall have been objected to, in accordance with this paragraph either the Corporation or the Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Corporation or the Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Special Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Special Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is favorably resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Special Independent Counsel. The Corporation shall pay the reasonable and necessary fees and expenses of Special Independent Counsel incurred in connection with its acting in such capacity. The Corporation shall pay any and all reasonable and necessary fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this paragraph, regardless of the manner in which such Special Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, any Special Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

(c) The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner that the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

(d) The Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in so cooperating shall be borne by the Corporation (irrespective of the determination as to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification), and the Corporation hereby indemnifies the Indemnitee therefrom.

10. Remedies . The right to indemnification or advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall be enforceable by the Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction if the Corporation denies such request, in whole or in part, or if no disposition thereof is made within the applicable periods referred to in Section 9. Unless otherwise required by law, the burden of proving that indemnification or advancement of Expenses is not appropriate shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Corporation that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable

 

- 7 -


standard of conduct. Indemnitee’s Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred in connection with any action instituted by the Indemnitee to enforce or interpret its right to indemnification, in whole or in part, shall also be indemnified by the Corporation, regardless of whether the Indemnitee is ultimately successful in such action, unless as a part of such action a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that each of the material assertions made by the Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that until such final judicial determination is made, the Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 8 to advancement of Expenses with respect to such action.

11. Partial Indemnification . If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Corporation for some or a portion of the Expenses, liabilities, losses, judgments, fines, ERISA taxes or penalties or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses, liabilities, losses, judgments, fines, ERISA taxes or penalties or amounts paid in settlement to which the Indemnitee is entitled.

12. Subrogation . In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights.

13. Contribution .

(a) If the indemnification provided for in this Agreement for any reason is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to the Indemnitee in respect of any Expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, then the Corporation, in lieu of indemnifying the Indemnitee hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnitee as a result of such Expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Corporation and the Indemnitee, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Corporation and the Indemnitee in connection with the action or inaction which resulted in such Expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. In connection with the registration of the Corporation’s securities, the relative benefits received by the Corporation and the Indemnitee shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions that the net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Corporation and the Indemnitee, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the applicable prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the securities so offered. The relative fault of the Corporation and the Indemnitee shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Corporation or the Indemnitee and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

- 8 -


(b) The Corporation and the Indemnitee agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 13 were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. In connection with the registration of the Corporation’s securities, in no event shall the Indemnitee be required to contribute any amount under this Section 13 in excess of the lesser of (i) that proportion of the total securities sold under such registration statement which is being sold by the Indemnitee or (ii) the proceeds received by the Indemnitee from its sale of securities under such registration statement. No person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 10(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

14. Notice to Insurers . If, at the time of the receipt by the Corporation of a notice of a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses by the Indemnitee, the Corporation has liability insurance in effect which may cover such claim, the Corporation shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such claim to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Corporation shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such claim in accordance with the terms of such polices.

15. Mutual Acknowledgment . Both the Corporation and the Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the Corporation from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. The Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Corporation has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the Corporation’s right under public policy to indemnify the Indemnitee.

16. Liability Insurance . To the extent the Corporation maintains liability insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, the Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably insured of the Corporation’s directors, if the Indemnitee is a director; or of the Corporation’s officers, if the Indemnitee is not a director of the Corporation but is an officer.

17. Indemnification Hereunder Not Exclusive . The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled under the Certification of Incorporation, the By-laws, any other agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of Delaware, any other law (common or statutory), or otherwise, both as to action in the Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office for the Corporation. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit the Corporation from purchasing and maintaining insurance, at its expense, to protect itself or the Indemnitee against any expense, liability or loss incurred by it or the Indemnitee in any such capacity, or arising out of the Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Indemnitee would be indemnified against such expense, liability or loss under this Agreement; provided that the Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise

 

- 9 -


indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

18. No Special Rights . Nothing herein shall confer upon the Indemnitee any right to continue to serve as an officer or director of the Corporation for any period of time or at any particular rate of compensation.

19. Savings Clause . If this Agreement or any portion thereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee as to Expenses, liabilities, losses, judgments, fines, ERISA taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any Proceeding to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

20. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute the original.

21. Binding Effect; Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation), spouses, heirs and personal and legal representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect, and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business or assets of the Corporation, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer, employee, agent of fiduciary (as applicable) of the Corporation or of any other enterprise at the Corporation’s request.

22. Headings . The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

23. Modification and Waiver . This Agreement may be amended from time to time to reflect changes in Delaware law or for other reasons. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

24. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered by hand or (ii) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

- 10 -


(a)    if to the Indemnitee, to:

  

Marc P. Lefar

25 Ball Mill Place

Atlanta, Georgia 30350

(b)    if to the Corporation, to:

  

Vonage Holdings Corp.

23 Main Street

Holmdel, New Jersey 07733

Attn: Chief Legal Officer

or to such other address as may have been furnished to the Indemnitee by the Corporation or to the Corporation by the Indemnitee, as the case may be.

25. Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. The Indemnitee may elect to have the right to indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of Expenses interpreted on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the applicable Proceeding, to the extent permitted by law, or on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time such indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of Expenses is sought. Such election shall be made, by a notice in writing to the Corporation, at the time indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of Expenses is sought; provided, however, that if no such notice is given, and if the General Corporation Law of Delaware is amended, or other Delaware law is enacted, to permit further indemnification of the directors and officers, then the Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted under the General Corporation Law, as so amended, or by such other Delaware law, as so enacted.

26. Enforcement . The Corporation expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement in order to induce the Indemnitee to continue to serve as an officer or director of the Corporation, and acknowledges that the Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in continuing in such capacity.

27. Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein; and any prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein is hereby terminated and cancelled. For avoidance of doubt, the parties confirm that the foregoing does not apply to or limit the Indemnitee’s rights under Delaware law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws.

28. Consent to Suit . In the case of any dispute under or in connection with this Agreement, the Indemnitee may only bring suit against the Corporation in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County. The Indemnitee hereby consents to the

 

- 11 -


exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, and the Indemnitee hereby waives any claim the Indemnitee may have at any time as to forum non conveniens with respect to such venue. The Corporation shall have the right to institute any legal action arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court of competent jurisdiction. Any judgment entered against either of the parties in any proceeding hereunder may be entered and enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction.

29. Section 409A . It is intended that any indemnification payment or advancement of Expenses made hereunder shall be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”) pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(10). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any indemnification payment or advancement of Expenses made hereunder shall be determined to be “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, then (i) the amount of the indemnification payment or advancement of Expenses during one taxable year shall not affect the amount of the indemnification payments or advancement of Expenses during any other taxable year, (ii) the indemnification payments or advancement of Expenses must be made on or before the last day of the Indemnitee’s taxable year following the year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) the right to indemnification payments or advancement of Expenses hereunder is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

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

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
/s/ Jeffrey A. Citron

Name: Jeffery A. Citron

Title: Chairman of the Board

7/29/08
INDEMNITEE:
/s/ Marc P. Lefar
Marc P. Lefar

 

- 12 -

Exhibit 10.3

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

2006 INCENTIVE PLAN

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Participant :                                 

Date of Award :                             

This Agreement, effective as of the Date of Award set forth above, represents the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options by Vonage Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), to the Participant named above, pursuant to the provisions of the Vonage Holdings Corp. 2006 Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). Capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to them under the Plan, unless specifically set forth herein.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

  1. Grant of Options

The Company hereby grants to the Participant Nonqualified Stock Options to purchase Shares in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement as follows:

(a) Number of Shares Covered by the Options :                     

(b) “ Option Price ”: $              per Share

(c) “ Option Term ”: The Options have been granted for a period of ten years, ending on the tenth anniversary of the Date of Award.

 

  2. Vesting of Options

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, the Options vest and become exercisable as to 1/4 th of the Shares on the calendar day before each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the Date of the Award.

(b) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of a Change of Control (which, for purposes of this Agreement, shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 (or any successor section thereto) of that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of July [_], 2008, between the Company and the Participant, as such agreement may be amended from time to time (the “Employment Agreement” )), the Options will fully vest and become exercisable immediately prior to such Change of Control.


(c) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event that the Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable in accordance with Section 3(c) (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(d) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event that the Employment Agreement is not renewed by the Company in accordance with Section 2 (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement, and the Participant continues to be employed by the Company beyond the expiration of the Term (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable in accordance with Section 3(c) (or any successor section thereto) of the Employment Agreement and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(e) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s death, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to one-half the number of unvested Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(f) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s disability, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to one-half the number of unvested Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company with Cause, the Options will terminate immediately and be of no force or effect.

(h) To the extent vested in accordance with this Section 2, the Options will remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(i) For purposes of this Section 2, the terms “ Cause ,” “ Good Reason ” and “ disability ” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

 

  3. Exercise of Options

The Options may be exercised by any means specified in Section 7(d) of the Plan, as well as by a broker cashless exercise procedure, all of which the Committee hereby approves.

 

  4. Termination of Options

To the extent vested in accordance with Section 2 above, the Options will terminate, and be of no force or effect, upon the earlier of:

 

2


(a) the date of termination of the Participant’s employment if such termination is for Cause, the first anniversary of such date if the Participant’s employment terminates for a reason as set forth in Sections 2(e) or 2(f) above, 60 days following such date if such termination is due to the Participant’s resignation without Good Reason, or 180 days following such date if such termination is for any other reason; and

(b) the expiration of the Option Term.

 

  5. Rights as Stockholder

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares covered by the Options until such time as the Option Price has been paid and the Shares have been issued and delivered to the Participant.

 

  6. Transferability

Unless permitted by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Options may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the Participant’s lifetime, may be exercised only by the Participant or in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity, the Participant’s legal guardian or representative.

 

  7. Miscellaneous

(a) This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required or, the Committee determines are advisable. The Participant agrees to take all steps the Company determines are necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities law in exercising his rights under this Agreement. The Committee shall have the right to impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option as it deems necessary or advisable under applicable federal securities laws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or market upon which Shares are then listed or traded, and/or any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to Shares. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant.

 

3


(c) The Options are intended not to provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the forgoing or any provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if any provision of this Agreement or the Plan contravenes Section 409A of the Code or could cause the Participant to incur any tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify such provision in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or to satisfy the conditions of any exception therefrom, or otherwise to avoid the imposition of the additional income tax and interest under Section 409A of the Code, while maintaining, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent and economic benefit to the Participant, without materially increasing the cost to the Company, of the applicable provision.

(d) Delivery of the Shares underlying the Options upon exercise will be subject to the Participant satisfying all applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes. The Company shall have authority to deduct or withhold from all amounts payable to the Participant in connection with the Options, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable taxes required by law. The Participant shall have the right to cover the minimum statutory withholding by directing the Company to withhold Shares that would otherwise be received by him, by utilization of a cashless broker transaction or by any other means permitted by Section 18 of the Plan.

(e) To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Participant have executed this Agreement as of the Date of Award.

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
   
  Participant

 

4

Exhibit 10.4

Execution Copy

SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This SEPARATION AGREEMENT and GENERAL RELEASE (hereinafter referred to as this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Jeffrey A. Citron (“Executive”) and Vonage Holdings Corp. (defined herein to include its affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors and successors and hereinafter referred to as “Vonage”), effective as of July 29, 2008 (the “Effective Date”). Executive and Vonage are hereafter referred to as the “Parties.”

WHEREAS, Executive has been employed by Vonage as its Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategist;

WHEREAS, Executive and Vonage entered into an Employment Agreement, amended and restated effective as of February 8, 2006 (the “Employment Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Executive is resigning from his positions as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategist, effective as of the Effective Date, which resignations, pursuant to Section 4(f) of the Employment Agreement, constitute Executive’s resignation from any officer or employee position Executive has with the Company Group (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and all fiduciary positions (including as trustee) Executive holds with respect to any employee benefit plans or trusts established by Vonage, also effective as of the Effective Date;

WHEREAS, the Parties agree that Executive is not resigning as a member of the Board of Directors of Vonage Holdings Corp. (the “Board”) and that Executive shall serve as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vonage Holdings Corp. (“Chairman of the Board”);

WHEREAS, Vonage and Executive have read this Agreement and have had the opportunity to review it with their respective legal counsel; and

WHEREAS, Vonage and Executive desire to resolve any and all issues and claims between them, including without limitation Executive’s employment and his separation as an employee of Vonage, as well as any and all issues and claims arising from or relating to the Employment Agreement, and to reach an amicable accord and settlement concerning their future relationship.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1. Separation of Employment; Non-Executive Chairman; Consulting Arrangement .

(a) Effective as of the Effective Date, Executive hereby resigns from his positions as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategist of Vonage, from all director (other than as a director of Vonage Holdings Corp.), officer and employee positions Executive has with the Company Group (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and from all fiduciary positions (including as trustee) Executive holds with respect to any employee benefit plans or trusts established by Vonage. The Parties agree that Executive is not resigning as a director of the Board and shall serve as Chairman of the Board (as long as Executive remains a member of the


Board) for at least one year after the Effective Date (or such earlier period if the Board in its sole discretion determines that Executive has breached the duties, responsibilities and authority of the Chairman of the Board assigned by the Board). Vonage agrees to recommend to the Board that Executive be nominated for re-election to the Board at Vonage’s 2009 annual meeting of stockholders; provided , however , that Vonage need not make such a recommendation if Vonage in good faith has determined that Executive has breached the duties, responsibilities and authority of the Chairman of the Board assigned by the Board. As Chairman of the Board, Executive shall have such duties, responsibilities and authority as determined from time to time by the Board. As Chairman of the Board, Executive shall be entitled to (i) an annual retainer of $125,000 in cash (in lieu of Board and committee meeting fees), (ii) annual option grants of immediately exercisable, non-qualified stock options (granted quarterly on the first day of each quarter, beginning October 1, 2008, in accordance with Vonage’s Revised Non-Executive Director Compensation Program (the “Non-Executive Director Program”)) in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount awarded to a non-employee director and (iii) annual restricted stock grants of shares of Vonage common stock (granted quarterly on the first day of each quarter, beginning October 1, 2008, in accordance with the Non-Executive Director Program) in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount awarded to a non-employee director. As long as Executive is Chairman of the Board, he shall be entitled to use of a cubicle in the executive pod area at Vonage’s corporate headquarters and to use of the helipad at such headquarters. In addition, as long as Executive is a member of the Board, he may use his Vonage e-mail address, and Vonage agrees to forward to Executive any e-mails sent to Executive’s Vonage e-mail address during the three-year period following Executive’s cessation of service as a member of the Board (“Cessation of Service”).

(b) Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, KEC Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company of which Executive is the President (the “Consultant”), is entering into a consulting agreement with Vonage (the “Consulting Agreement”) to perform such consulting, advisory and related services to and for Vonage as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of Vonage. The Consultant is providing consulting services to Vonage from the Effective Date through the first anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Consulting Term”).

(c) On the Effective Date, and in partial consideration for the provision of services by the Consultant, Executive shall be issued an option grant of 1,000,000 nonqualified stock options (the “Consulting Options”) to purchase shares of Vonage’s common stock at a price per share equal to the closing price of Vonage’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the Effective Date. The Consulting Options shall be granted on the option form attached hereto as Exhibit A .

(d) During the Consulting Term, Executive shall be entitled (to the extent reasonably practicable) to participate in all employee healthcare plans, programs and arrangements of Vonage, in accordance with their respective terms, as may be amended from time to time, and on a basis no less favorable than that made available to senior executives of Vonage.

2. Non-Admission . It is specifically understood and agreed that this Agreement does not constitute and is not to be construed as an admission or evidence of (a) any violation by Vonage or Executive, of any federal, state or municipal law, statute or regulation, or principle of common law or equity, (b) the commission by Executive or Vonage of any other actionable wrong, or (c) any wrongdoing of any kind whatsoever on the part of Executive or Vonage, and shall not be offered, argued or used for that purpose.

 

2


3. General Release .

(a) In exchange for the consideration provided in this Agreement, and as a material inducement for both Parties entering into this Agreement, Executive for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, legal representatives, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to for purposes of this Paragraph 3 as “Executive”) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases and forever discharges Vonage and its past, present and future affiliates and related entities, parent and subsidiary corporations, divisions, shareholders, predecessors, future officers, directors, trustees, fiduciaries, administrators, executives, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to for purposes of this Paragraph 3 as “Vonage”) for any and all waivable claims, charges, demands, sums of money, actions, rights, promises, agreements, causes of action, obligations and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, whether known or unknown, existing or contingent, suspected or unsuspected, apparent or concealed, foreign or domestic (hereinafter collectively referred to as “claims”) which he has now or in the future may claim to have against Vonage based upon or arising out of any facts, acts, conduct, omissions, transactions, occurrences, contracts, claims, events, causes, matters or things of any conceivable kind or character existing or occurring or claimed to exist or to have occurred prior to the Effective Date in any way whatsoever relating to or arising out of Executive’s employment with Vonage. Such claims include, but are not limited to, claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq .; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq .; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq .; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq .; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq .; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d); Section 806 of the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq .; the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq .; any other federal, state or local statutory laws including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the New Jersey Wage Payment Law, the New Jersey Family Leave Act, all as amended; the common law of the State of New Jersey; any claim under any local ordinance, including, but not limited to, any ordinance addressing fair employment practices; any common law claims, including but not limited to actions in tort, defamation and breach of contract; any claim or damage arising out of Executive’s employment with or separation from Vonage (including a claim for retaliation) under any common law theory or any federal, state or local statute or ordinance not expressly referenced above; and any and all claims for counsel fees and costs.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 3(d) and 3(e) below, Executive represents and affirms that he has not filed or caused to be filed on his behalf any claim for relief against Vonage or any releasee and, to the best of his knowledge and belief, no outstanding claims for relief have been filed or asserted against Vonage or any releasee on his behalf.

(c) In waiving and releasing any and all waivable claims whether or not now known, Executive understands that this means that, if he later discovers facts different from or in addition to those facts currently known by him, or believed by him to be true, the waivers and releases of this Agreement will remain effective in all respects — despite such different or additional facts and his later discovery of such facts, even if he would not have agreed to this Agreement if he had prior knowledge of such facts.

 

3


(d) Nothing in this Paragraph, or elsewhere in this Agreement, prevents or prohibits Executive from filing a claim with a government agency, such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that is responsible for enforcing a law on behalf of the government. However, Executive understands that, because Executive is waiving and releasing, among other things, any and all claims for monetary damages and any other form of personal relief (per Paragraph 3(a) above), Executive may only seek and receive non-monetary forms of relief through any such claim.

(e) Nothing in this Paragraph, or elsewhere in this Agreement, is intended as, or shall be deemed or operate as, a release by Executive of his rights under the Parties’ Indemnification Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2006 (which is amended hereby to provide that “Corporate Status” shall include Executive’s performance of consulting services to Vonage as a member, manager and officer of the Consultant; as such agreement is hereby amended, the “Indemnification Agreement”), or any other rights to indemnification relating to his performance of services as an officer and/or director of Vonage, including but not limited to those rights to indemnification set forth in Vonage’s Certificate of Incorporation as in effect on the date hereof.

(f) In exchange for the consideration provided in this Agreement, and as a material inducement for both Parties entering into this Agreement, Vonage hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases and forever discharges Executive, his heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, legal representatives, successors and assigns from any and all claims, other than claims arising out of any criminal conduct, breach of fiduciary duty, or willful or intentional wrongdoing by Executive, which it has now or in the future may claim to have against Executive based upon or arising out of any facts, acts, conduct, omissions, transactions, occurrences, contracts, claims, events, causes, matters or things of any conceivable kind or character existing or occurring or claimed to exist or to have occurred prior to the Effective Date in any way whatsoever relating to or arising out of Executive’s employment with or separation of employment from Vonage.

4. Consideration and Post-Employment Benefits .

(a) Vonage, for and in consideration of the undertakings of Executive set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound, agrees that Executive is entitled to: (i) a lump sum cash payment of $350,000, which is equal to the pro rata portion of Executive’s 2008 target bonus and which shall be paid within 15 days of the Effective Date; (ii) an option grant on the Effective Date of 750,000 nonqualified stock options to purchase shares of Vonage’s common stock at a price per share equal to the closing price of Vonage’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the Effective Date (under the form of option agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A ); and (iii) payment of any unpaid base salary through and including the Effective Date and any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided by law or under any plan, program, policy or practice of Vonage. All of Executive’s unvested options and other equity-based awards shall continue to vest in accordance with their respective terms as long as Executive continues to serve as a member of the Board. Upon Executive’s Cessation of Service, all unvested options and other equity-based awards that have not otherwise expired by their terms shall become fully vested and exercisable, as applicable, without regard to the satisfaction of any performance criteria. Following the Cessation of Service, Executive may exercise the unexpired stock options for a period of two years following the date of Cessation of Service (subject to earlier expiration of the term of the option as may be provided in the applicable stock incentive plans and stock

 

4


option agreements). Except as set forth in this Agreement, Executive shall have no further rights to receive any other compensation, severance or benefits after the Effective Date. All payments are subject to applicable tax withholding, and Executive shall be solely responsible for all taxes on the payments under this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if Executive breaches (i) Section 7 of the Employment Agreement (which is amended hereby to provide that the “Restricted Period” shall extend from September 1, 2005 through the second anniversary of the date of Cessation of Service) or (ii) Section 7 of this Agreement, Executive shall not be eligible, as of the date of such breach, for the payments and benefits described in Paragraph 4(a) above, and any and all obligations and agreements of Vonage with respect to such payments shall thereupon cease (and Vonage shall be entitled to recoup any and all such payments and benefits previously paid or awarded to Executive), provided , however , that no event or condition described in Section 7 of the Employment Agreement (as hereby amended) or Section 7 of this Agreement shall constitute a breach unless (A) Vonage first gives Executive written notice of its intention to terminate his payments and benefits described in Paragraph 4(a) above and the grounds for such loss of eligibility for payments and benefits, and (B) such grounds for termination of payments and benefits (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by Executive within 30 days of his receipt of such notice (or, in the event that such grounds cannot be corrected within such 30-day period, Executive has not taken all reasonable steps within such 30-day period to correct such grounds as promptly as practicable thereafter).

5. Prior Agreements . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements entered into by Vonage and Executive, except for the following: (a) Sections 4(g) (as amended hereby to provide that such section shall apply to a change in ownership or control during the term of Executive’s service as a director of Vonage), 5, 6, 7 (as amended by Paragraphs 4(b) and 7 of this Agreement), 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of the Employment Agreement, (b) the Parties’ Non-Compete Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2005 (which is amended hereby to provide that the “Term” shall extend from September 1, 2005 to the second anniversary of the date of Cessation of Service), (c) the Parties’ Vonage Confidentiality and Inventions Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2003 (which is amended hereby (i) to provide that the term “Innovations” shall also include all of the results and proceeds of the Consultant’s and Executive’s performance under the Consulting Agreement and (ii) to confirm that Section 6 thereof shall also be deemed to refer to the Consultant’s period as a consultant to Vonage as well as the course of Executive’s employment by Vonage), (d) the option agreements and other agreements memorializing equity-based or other long-term incentives (as amended hereby) and (e) the Indemnification Agreement.

6. Confidentiality of Agreement . Executive agrees to keep secret and strictly confidential the terms of this Agreement (except to the extent this Agreement is publicly filed or the terms hereof are disclosed in a public filing) and further represents and warrants that he will not disclose, make known, discuss or relay any information concerning this Agreement, or any of the discussions leading up to this Agreement, to anyone (other than members of his immediate family, accountants or attorneys who have first agreed to keep said information confidential and to not disclose it to others), and that he has not done so. The foregoing shall not prohibit or restrict such disclosure as required by law or in connection with Vonage’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental or regulatory body or as may be necessary for the prosecution or defense of claims relating to the performance or enforcement of this Agreement or prohibit or restrict Executive (or Executive’s attorney) or Vonage from

 

5


responding to any such inquiry about this settlement or its underlying facts and circumstances by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange, any other self-regulatory organization, or in response to a duly served and effective subpoena or discovery request in the course of any litigation. Prior to making any disclosure other than to his immediate family, accountants, financial advisors or attorneys, Executive shall provide Vonage with as much notice as practicable that he has been requested or compelled to make disclosure and shall cooperate with Vonage to maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement to the fullest extent possible.

7. No Hire . Executive agrees that, for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the first anniversary of the date of Cessation of Service, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, hire, recruit or attempt to hire any person who is employed by any member of the Company Group (as defined in the Employment Agreement) as of the Effective Date (other than employees who have given notice to a member of the Company Group prior to the Effective Date of their intention to terminate employment with such member of the Company Group) or subsequently is employed by any member of the Company Group; provided , that this prohibition shall not apply to the recruitment or hiring of any individual whose employment with any member of the Company Group has been terminated by a member of the Company Group or who has not otherwise been employed by a member of the Company Group for a period of at least six months.

8. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder to Vonage shall be in writing and shall be delivered, either by hand, by facsimile, by overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed as indicated below or to such changed address as Vonage may subsequently designate:

Vonage Holdings Corp.

23 Main Street

Holmdel, New Jersey 07733

Attention: Office of Chief Legal Officer

Any such notice, request, demand or other communication to Vonage delivered in the manner specified above shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt by Vonage.

All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder to Executive shall be in writing and shall be delivered, either by hand, by facsimile, by overnight courier, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed as indicated below or to such changed address as Executive may subsequently designate:

Jeffrey A. Citron

at the last address on record with Vonage

Any such notice, request, demand or other communication to Executive delivered in the manner specified above shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt by Executive.

9. Severability . If, at any time after the Effective Date, any provision of this Agreement shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be illegal, void or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect. The illegality or unenforceability

 

6


of such provision, however, shall have no effect upon, and shall not impair the enforceability of, any other provision of this Agreement, provided , however , that upon finding that Paragraph 3(a) is illegal and/or unenforceable, Vonage shall be released from any obligation to make any payment pursuant to Paragraph 4 of this Agreement, and Executive shall repay to Vonage any and all amounts already received pursuant to Paragraph 4, to the extent Executive makes a claim against Vonage.

10. Choice of Law; Arbitration . The terms of this Agreement and all rights and obligations of the Parties, including its enforcement, shall be interpreted and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Pursuant to Section 13 of the Employment Agreement, which is incorporated by operation thereof and reference herein, any disputes arising out of this Agreement and which are mandatorily arbitrable shall be settled exclusively by arbitration before the American Arbitration Association at a location in New Jersey.

11. Injunctive Relief . Notwithstanding the limited agreement to arbitrate set forth in Paragraph 10 of this Agreement, any claim alleging breach of the non-disparagement obligations under Section 10 of the Employment Agreement or alleging breach of Paragraph 6 of this Agreement may be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New Jersey, where the parties consent to jurisdiction and agree not to argue that it is an inconvenient forum for resolution of the claim. A material breach of Section 10 of the Employment Agreement or Paragraph 6 of this Agreement shall be considered to be irreparable harm, where no adequate remedy at law would be available in respect thereof. The Parties agree that neither Party will have any obligation to post a bond to obtain said injunctive relief.

12. Cooperation in Litigation . From and after the Effective Date, each Party shall fully cooperate with the other in the defense or prosecution of any litigation or proceeding already instituted or which may be instituted hereafter against or by such other Party relating to or arising out of the conduct of the business of Vonage (other than litigation between the Parties arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement). In the event Executive requests separate counsel in connection with any such litigation or proceeding, Vonage agrees that it shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to any required conflict waiver.

13. Modification of Agreement . No provision of this Agreement may be modified, altered, waived or discharged unless such modification, alteration, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Parties hereto. No waiver by either Party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other Party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

14. Withholding . Vonage may withhold from amounts payable or benefits provided under this Agreement any and all federal, state and local taxes that are required to be withheld and reported by any applicable laws and regulations. Vonage may also withhold and report any amounts necessary pursuant to the benefit plans, policies or arrangements of Vonage or otherwise, in accordance with any applicable Vonage policies, laws and/or regulations.

15. Entire Agreement; Headings . Other than as set forth in Paragraph 5 hereof, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties hereto and any and all prior and

 

7


contemporaneous agreements, discussions or understandings between the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof, including relating to severance payments or compensation, have been and are merged into and superseded by this Agreement. The headings of the sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

16. Legal Fees . Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, Vonage shall pay Executive’s reasonable legal fees incurred in connection with the negotiation and documentation of this Agreement, up to a maximum of $25,000.

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

18. EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES AND WARRANTS THAT:

(a) he has read the terms of this Agreement and that he understands its terms and effects, including the fact that he has agreed to release and forever discharge Vonage or any releasee from any legal action arising out of his employment relationship with Vonage, the terms and conditions of that employment relationship, and the termination of that employment relationship;

(b) he has signed this Agreement voluntarily and knowingly in exchange for the consideration described and referenced herein, which he acknowledges as adequate and satisfactory to him;

(c) he has been and is hereby advised in writing by Vonage to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement and he has consulted with his attorney and fully discussed and reviewed the terms of this Agreement with his attorney;

(d) neither Vonage, nor any of its agents, representatives or attorneys have made any representations to Executive concerning the terms or effects of this Agreement other than those contained and referenced herein; and

(e) this Agreement shall be governed, interpreted and enforced by and under the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to choice of law principles.

 

    VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:   /s/ Jeffrey A. Citron     By:   /s/ John S. Rego
  JEFFREY A. CITRON      
Dated: 7/29/08     Dated: 7/29/08

 

8


Exhibit A

Form of Option

 

A-1


EXHIBIT A

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

2006 INCENTIVE PLAN

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Participant ”: Jeffrey Citron

Date of Award ”:                         

This Agreement, effective as of the Date of Award set forth above, represents the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options by Vonage Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), to the Participant named above, pursuant to the provisions of the Vonage Holdings Corp. 2006 Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). Capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to them under the Plan, unless specifically set forth herein.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

  1. Grant of Options

The Company hereby grants to the Participant Nonqualified Stock Options to purchase Shares in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement as follows:

(a) Number of Shares Covered by the Options: [1,000,000/750,000]

(b) “ Option Price ”: $              per Share

(c) “ Option Term ”: The Options have been granted for a period of ten years, ending on the tenth anniversary of the Date of Award.

 

  2. Vesting of Options

(a) Subject to Section 2(e) below, the Options vest and become exercisable over a period of four (4) years, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the Date of Award and the remainder vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter provided that the Participant continues to serve as a Non-Employee Director of the Company or a Subsidiary on the applicable vesting date.


(b) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event that a Change of Control becomes effective while the Participant continues to serve as a Non-Employee Director of the Company or a Subsidiary, the Options will vest and become exercisable as to all the Shares covered thereby as of the effective date of the Change of Control.

(c) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s death, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to all the Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(d) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s Disability, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to all the Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(e) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with Section 2(a) above, if the Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director of the Company is terminated for cause as determined by the Committee under the terms of the Plan, the Options will terminate immediately and be of no force or effect.

(f) To the extent vested in accordance with this Section 2, the Options will remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(g) For purposes of this Section 2, the following term shall have the meaning set forth below:

“Disability” means the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

 

  3. Exercise of Options

(a) The Options may be exercised by written notice to the Company, specifying the number of Shares the Participant then desires to purchase, accompanied by the Option Price of such Shares, and as soon as practicable after receipt of such notice and payment, such Shares will be issued in the Participant’s name. The Committee reserves the right to modify the exercise procedures from time to time.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3, the Participant must submit a check payable to the order of Vonage Holdings Corp. for an amount in United States dollars equal to the Option Price of such Shares, or tender Shares to the Company having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to such Option Price, or a combination thereof. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may direct the Company to withhold a number of Shares covered by the Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to such Option Price.

 

2


  4. Termination of Options

To the extent vested in accordance with Section 2 above, the Options will terminate, and be of no force or effect, upon the earlier of:

(a) the date of termination of the Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director of the Company if such termination is for cause as determined by the Board, or the second anniversary of such date if the Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director of the Company terminates for any other reason; and

(b) the expiration of the Option Term.

 

  5. Rights as Stockholder

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares covered by the Options until such time as the Option Price has been paid and the Shares have been issued and delivered to the Participant.

 

  6. Transferability

Unless permitted by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Options may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the Participant’s lifetime, may be exercised only by the Participant or in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity, the Participant’s legal guardian or representative.

 

  7. Miscellaneous

(a) This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan's terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement.

 

3


(b) This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required or, the Committee determines are advisable. The Participant agrees to take all steps the Company determines are necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities law in exercising his or her rights under this Agreement. The Committee shall have the right to impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option as it deems necessary or advisable under applicable federal securities laws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or market upon which Shares are then listed or traded, and/or any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to Shares. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant.

(c) The Options are intended not to provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the forgoing or any provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if any provision of this Agreement or the Plan contravenes Section 409A of the Code or could cause the Participant to incur any tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify such provision in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or to satisfy the conditions of any exception therefrom, or otherwise to avoid the imposition of the additional income tax and interest under Section 409A of the Code, while maintaining, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent and economic benefit to the Participant, without materially increasing the cost to the Company, of the applicable provision.

(d) Delivery of the Shares underlying the Options upon exercise will be subject to the Participant satisfying all applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes. The Company shall have authority to deduct or withhold from all amounts payable to the Participant in connection with the Options, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable taxes required by law.

(e) To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Participant have executed this Agreement as of the Date of Award.

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  
   
  Participant

 

5

Exhibit 10.5

Execution Copy

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made this 29th day of July, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by Vonage Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and KEC Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Consultant”).

INTRODUCTION

The Company desires to retain the services of the Consultant and the Consultant desires to perform certain services for the Company. In consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties agree as follows:

1. Services . The Consultant agrees to perform such consulting, advisory and related services to and for the Company as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Consultant agrees to devote a maximum of 40% of its time, and to cause its President to devote a maximum of 40% of his business time, to the performance of such services. During the Consultation Period (as defined below), the Consultant shall not engage in any activity that has a conflict of interest with the Company, including any competitive employment, business, or other activity, and it shall not assist any other person or organization that competes, or intends to compete, with the Company.

2. Term . This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until the first anniversary of the Effective Date (such period being referred to as the “Consultation Period”), unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 4; provided , however , that the provisions of Section 6 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

3. Compensation .

3.1 Consulting Fee . The Company shall pay to the Consultant an aggregate consulting fee of $250,000, commencing on the first ordinary Company payroll date following the Effective Date and payable bi-weekly in substantially equal installments.

3.2 Reimbursement of Expenses . During the Consultation Period, the Company shall reimburse the Consultant for reasonable travel and other business-related expenses incurred by the Consultant in the fulfillment of its duties hereunder upon presentation of written documentation thereof, in accordance with the applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures of the Company as in effect from time to time. With respect to reasonable business-related airline expenses, the Consultant shall be eligible for air travel reimbursement based on the cost of a first-class ticket on a commercial airline to and from the applicable business destination(s). During the Consultation Period, the Company shall also reimburse the Consultant for the reasonable, itemized expenses associated with renting an off-site office space and employing an assistant to Jeffrey A. Citron; provided , however , that such


reasonable expenses shall not exceed an aggregate of $150,000 without the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

4. Termination . The Company may terminate the Consultation Period, effective immediately upon receipt of written notice, if the Consultant breaches any provision of Section 6.

5. Cooperation . The Consultant shall use its best efforts in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement. The Company shall provide such access to its information and property as may be reasonably required in order to permit the Consultant to perform its obligations hereunder. The Consultant shall cooperate with the Company’s personnel, shall not interfere with the conduct of the Company’s business and shall observe all rules, regulations and security requirements of the Company concerning the safety of persons and property.

6. Inventions and Proprietary Information .

6.1 Inventions .

(a) It is contemplated that from the time to time, the Company may ask the Consultant to provide technology and business consulting services relating to telecommunications (the “Project”). The Company shall provide to the Consultant reasonable access to the Company’s network, personnel and equipment as necessary for the Consultant to complete the Project. All intellectual property created or developed by the Consultant during participation in the Project (“Inventions”) shall be considered a work for hire for the benefit of the Company and owned solely by the Company. The Consultant hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest in all Inventions and any and all related patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names and other industrial and intellectual property rights and applications therefor, in the United States and elsewhere and appoints any officer of the Company as its duly authorized attorney to execute, file, prosecute and protect the same before any government agency, court or authority. Upon the request of the Company and at the Company’s expense, the Consultant shall execute such further assignments, documents and other instruments as may be necessary or desirable to fully and completely assign all Inventions to the Company and to assist the Company in applying for, obtaining and enforcing patents or copyrights or other rights in the United States and in any foreign country with respect to any Invention. The Consultant also hereby waives all claims to moral rights in any Inventions.

(b) The Consultant shall promptly disclose to the Company all Inventions and will maintain adequate and current written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and as may be specified by the Company) to document the conception and/or first actual reduction to practice of any Invention. Such written records shall be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.

(c) It is understood that the Consultant will be providing consulting services to the Company on a non-exclusive basis, and that the Consultant may provide similar or the same services to others; provided , however , that the Consultant shall not provide any services in violation of the last sentence of Section 1 of this Agreement. All intellectual property

 

2


created or developed by the Consultant when not participating in the Project shall be owned solely by the Consultant.

6.2 Proprietary Information .

(a) The Consultant acknowledges that its relationship with the Company is one of high trust and confidence and that in the course of its service to the Company it will have access to and contact with Proprietary Information. The Consultant agrees that it will not, during the Consultation Period or at any time thereafter, disclose to others, or use for its benefit or the benefit of others, any Proprietary Information or Invention.

(b) For purposes of this Agreement, Proprietary Information shall mean, by way of illustration and not limitation, all information (whether or not patentable and whether or not copyrightable) owned, possessed or used by the Company, including, without limitation, any Invention, formula, vendor information, customer information, apparatus, equipment, trade secret, process, research, report, technical data, know-how, computer program, software, software documentation, hardware design, technology, marketing or business plan, forecast, unpublished financial statement, budget, license, price, cost and employee list that is communicated to, learned of, developed or otherwise acquired by the Consultant in the course of its service as a consultant to the Company.

(c) The Consultant’s obligations under this Section 6.2 shall not apply to any information that (i) is or becomes known to the general public under circumstances involving no breach by the Consultant or others of the terms of this Section 6.2, (ii) is generally disclosed to third parties by the Company without restriction on such third parties, or (iii) is approved for release by written authorization of the Board.

(d) The Consultant represents that its retention as a consultant with the Company and its performance under this Agreement does not, and shall not, breach any agreement that obligates it to keep in confidence any trade secrets or confidential or proprietary information of its or of any other party or to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of any other party. The Consultant shall not disclose to the Company any trade secrets or confidential or proprietary information of any other party.

(e) The Consultant acknowledges that the Company from time to time may have agreements with other persons or with the United States Government, or agencies thereof, that impose obligations or restrictions on the Company regarding inventions made during the course of work under such agreements or regarding the confidential nature of such work. The Consultant agrees to be bound by all such obligations and restrictions that are known to it and to take all action necessary to discharge the obligations of the Company under such agreements.

6.3 Remedies . The Consultant acknowledges that any breach of the provisions of this Section 6 shall result in serious and irreparable injury to the Company for which the Company cannot be adequately compensated by monetary damages alone. The Consultant agrees, therefore, that, in addition to any other remedy it may have, the Company shall be entitled to enforce the specific performance of this Agreement by the Consultant and to

 

3


seek both temporary and permanent injunctive relief (to the extent permitted by law) without the necessity of proving actual damages.

7. Independent Contractor Status . The Consultant shall perform all services under this Agreement as an “independent contractor” and not as an agent of the Company. The Consultant is not authorized to assume or create any obligation or responsibility, express or implied, on behalf of, or in the name of, the Company or to bind the Company in any manner.

8. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder to the Company shall be in writing and shall be delivered, either by hand, by facsimile, by overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed as indicated below or to such changed address as the Company may subsequently designate:

Vonage Holdings Corp.

23 Main Street

Holmdel, New Jersey 07733

Attention: Office of Chief Legal Officer

Any such notice, request, demand or other communication to the Company delivered in the manner specified above shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt by the Company.

All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder to the Consultant shall be in writing and shall be delivered, either by hand, by facsimile, by overnight courier, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed as indicated below or to such changed address as the Consultant may subsequently designate:

KEC Holdings LLC

at the last address on record with the Company

Any such notice, request, demand or other communication to the Consultant delivered in the manner specified above shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt by the Consultant.

9. Pronouns . Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular forms of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa.

10. Indemnification . The Company shall defend, indemnify and hold the Consultant and its officers, directors, members and employees harmless from and against any and all third-party costs, losses, damages, claims, suits or proceedings arising in any way from, and to the extent attributable to, the Consultant’s performance under this Agreement; provided , however , that the Company shall not indemnify for any grossly negligent or intentionally malicious actions or omissions of the Consultant or its officers, directors, members and employees. The Consultant agrees promptly to notify the Company of any claim as to which indemnification is sought, cooperate fully in the defense of such claim, and permit the Company or its insurance carrier to control the defense and settlement of such claim.

 

4


11. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

12. Amendment . This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by both the Company and the Consultant.

13. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflicts of law principles.

14. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, both parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any corporation with which, or into which, the Company may be merged or which may succeed to its assets or business, provided, however, that the obligations of the Consultant shall not be assigned by it.

15. Miscellaneous .

15.1 No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of any right on any other occasion.

15.2 The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.

15.3 In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year set forth above.

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:   /s/ John S. Rego
Title:   CFO
KEC HOLDINGS LLC
By:   /s/ Jeffrey A. Citron
Title:   Managing Member
7/29/08

 

5

Exhibit 10.6

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.

2006 INCENTIVE PLAN

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Participant ”: Jeffrey Citron

Date of Award ”:                         

This Agreement, effective as of the Date of Award set forth above, represents the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options by Vonage Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), to the Participant named above, pursuant to the provisions of the Vonage Holdings Corp. 2006 Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). Capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to them under the Plan, unless specifically set forth herein.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

  1. Grant of Options

The Company hereby grants to the Participant Nonqualified Stock Options to purchase Shares in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement as follows:

(a) Number of Shares Covered by the Options: [1,000,000/750,000]

(b) “ Option Price ”: $              per Share

(c) “ Option Term ”: The Options have been granted for a period of ten years, ending on the tenth anniversary of the Date of Award.

 

  2. Vesting of Options

(a) Subject to Section 2(e) below, the Options vest and become exercisable over a period of four (4) years, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the Date of Award and the remainder vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter provided that the Participant continues to serve as a Non-Employee Director of the Company or a Subsidiary on the applicable vesting date.


(b) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event that a Change of Control becomes effective while the Participant continues to serve as a Non-Employee Director of the Company or a Subsidiary, the Options will vest and become exercisable as to all the Shares covered thereby as of the effective date of the Change of Control.

(c) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s death, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to all the Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(d) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with this Section 2, in the event of the Participant’s Disability, the Options will (i) vest and become exercisable as of the date thereof as to all the Shares covered thereby and (ii) remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(e) To the extent not previously vested in accordance with Section 2(a) above, if the Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director of the Company is terminated for cause as determined by the Committee under the terms of the Plan, the Options will terminate immediately and be of no force or effect.

(f) To the extent vested in accordance with this Section 2, the Options will remain exercisable until they terminate in accordance with Section 4 below.

(g) For purposes of this Section 2, the following term shall have the meaning set forth below:

“Disability” means the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

 

  3. Exercise of Options

(a) The Options may be exercised by written notice to the Company, specifying the number of Shares the Participant then desires to purchase, accompanied by the Option Price of such Shares, and as soon as practicable after receipt of such notice and payment, such Shares will be issued in the Participant’s name. The Committee reserves the right to modify the exercise procedures from time to time.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3, the Participant must submit a check payable to the order of Vonage Holdings Corp. for an amount in United States dollars equal to the Option Price of such Shares, or tender Shares to the Company having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to such Option Price, or a combination thereof. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may direct the Company to withhold a number of Shares covered by the Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to such Option Price.

 

2


  4. Termination of Options

To the extent vested in accordance with Section 2 above, the Options will terminate, and be of no force or effect, upon the earlier of:

(a) the date of termination of the Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director of the Company if such termination is for cause as determined by the Board, or the second anniversary of such date if the Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director of the Company terminates for any other reason; and

(b) the expiration of the Option Term.

 

  5. Rights as Stockholder

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares covered by the Options until such time as the Option Price has been paid and the Shares have been issued and delivered to the Participant.

 

  6. Transferability

Unless permitted by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Options may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the Participant’s lifetime, may be exercised only by the Participant or in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity, the Participant’s legal guardian or representative.

 

  7. Miscellaneous

(a) This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement.

 

3


(b) This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required or, the Committee determines are advisable. The Participant agrees to take all steps the Company determines are necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities law in exercising his or her rights under this Agreement. The Committee shall have the right to impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option as it deems necessary or advisable under applicable federal securities laws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or market upon which Shares are then listed or traded, and/or any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to Shares. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant.

(c) The Options are intended not to provide for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the forgoing or any provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if any provision of this Agreement or the Plan contravenes Section 409A of the Code or could cause the Participant to incur any tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify such provision in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or to satisfy the conditions of any exception therefrom, or otherwise to avoid the imposition of the additional income tax and interest under Section 409A of the Code, while maintaining, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent and economic benefit to the Participant, without materially increasing the cost to the Company, of the applicable provision.

(d) Delivery of the Shares underlying the Options upon exercise will be subject to the Participant satisfying all applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes. The Company shall have authority to deduct or withhold from all amounts payable to the Participant in connection with the Options, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable taxes required by law.

(e) To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Participant have executed this Agreement as of the Date of Award.

 

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
   
  Participant

 

5

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Contact:
   Charlie Sahner
   732-528-2677
   Charles.Sahner@vonage.com

MARC LEFAR NAMED CEO OF VONAGE

New Leadership, New Financing and New Products

Set Stage for Company Growth

HOLMDEL, NJ, July 29, 2008 — Vonage today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Marc Lefar Chief Executive Officer of Vonage. Lefar replaces Interim CEO Jeffrey Citron, who had assumed the additional role in April of 2007. Citron will assume the role of non-executive Chairman of the Board and serve as a consultant on long-term strategy.

“I believe there is no better person than Marc to lead Vonage at this time. He possesses a wealth of telecom experience and a strong mix of strategy, finance and operating skills. His marketing expertise is second to none,” said Citron. “The Board believes he will bring a fresh perspective to addressing the opportunities and challenges ahead and will help the Company to realize future growth and profitability.”

-more-


Page 2

“Jeffrey and the talented Vonage team have helped to change the way people think about communication,” said Lefar, commenting on his appointment. “Moving forward, we will continue to improve the customer experience from end to end. A friendly user experience combined with meaningful, intuitive features will accelerate growth and improve loyalty.”

For more than four years, Lefar served as Chief Marketing Officer of Cingular Wireless, (now AT&T Mobility). During his tenure, the company’s customer base more than tripled and subscriber churn declined by nearly 50%. He played a critical role in the successful integration of AT&T Wireless, launched the award-winning “Raising the Bar” advertising campaign and drove product initiatives that yielded several billion dollars in new revenues. After leaving Cingular, Lefar founded Marketing Insights, a technology and media consultancy.

Prior to joining Cingular, Lefar was Executive Vice President, Marketing and Value-Added Services at Cable & Wireless Global. He also held senior leadership roles at Verizon Wireless and GTE Wireless. Lefar started his career at Procter & Gamble.

Vonage also announced last week that it entered into a commitment letter to raise up to $215 million in a private debt refinancing. The company will use those proceeds along with some cash on hand to repay its existing debt which could come due on December 16, 2008.

“We believe this arrangement will eliminate much of the uncertainty surrounding our financial prospects and demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the long-term value of our business,” said Jeffrey Citron.

Vonage this week also unveiled its Vonage Pro SM bundled service targeted to digital-savvy customers referred to as prosumers – short for professional consumers. Vonage Pro will allow users to stay connected whether using their main phone or via their PC

 

2


-more-

Page 3

using Vonage’s SoftPhone ® client, called Vonage Companion™. Among other features, Vonage Pro includes 25 Vonage Visual Voicemail ® messages - transcriptions of voicemails sent to a user’s e-mail or cell phone.

“By combining the much-talked-about Vonage Companion with a user’s home phone, Vonage is empowering customers to connect in a personal way, without boundaries,” said Lefar.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s operational plans and its proposed private debt refinancing. The forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management’s belief as of that time with respect to future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the Company’s damaging and disruptive intellectual property and other litigation; the Company’s ability to consummate the proposed private debt refinancing, which is subject to numerous uncertainties, including but not limited to successful negotiation of definitive documentation for the financing arrangement and satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to closing, which include obtaining stockholder approval of the potential issuance of shares of common stock upon the conversion of convertible notes; the Company’s ability to refinance the Company’s outstanding convertible notes, which can be put to it in December 2008; the Company’s history of net operating losses and the Company’s need for cash to finance the Company’s growth; the competition the Company faces; the Company’s dependence on its customers’ existing broadband connections; differences between the Company’s service and traditional phone services, including the Company’s 911 service; uncertainties relating to regulation of VoIP services; system disruptions or flaws in the Company’s technology; the risk that VoIP does not gain broader acceptance; and other factors that are set forth in the “Risk Factors” section, the “Legal Proceedings” section, the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” section and other sections of Vonage’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as well as in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, and therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to today.

-more-

 

3


Page 4

About Vonage

Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a leading provider of digital phone services with over 2.6 million subscriber lines. Our award-winning technology enables anyone to make and receive phone calls with a touch tone telephone almost anywhere a broadband Internet connection is available. We offer feature-rich and cost-effective communication services that offer users an experience similar to traditional telephone services.

Our Residential Premium Unlimited and Small Business Unlimited calling plans offer consumers unlimited local and long distance calling, and popular features like call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail — for one low, flat monthly rate. For more information about Vonage’s products and services, please visit http://www.vonage.com.

Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage(R) is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp.

Vg-a

###

 

4