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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - MARILYN B. NEAL

Employment Agreement

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - MARILYN B. NEAL | Document Parties: DEX MEDIA EAST LLC | Dex Media, Inc You are currently viewing:
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DEX MEDIA EAST LLC | Dex Media, Inc

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Title: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - MARILYN B. NEAL
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 3/30/2004

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - MARILYN B. NEAL, Parties: dex media east llc , dex media  inc
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

 

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

         This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement"), effective as of November

8, 2002 (the "Effective Date"), is made by and between Marilyn Neal (the

"Executive") and Dex Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any of its

subsidiaries and affiliates (including without limitation Dex Media East LLC) as

may employ Executive from time to time (collectively, and together with any

successor thereto, the "Company").

 

                                    RECITALS

 

         A.        It is the desire of the Company to assure itself of the

                   services of the Executive by engaging the Executive to perform

                  services under the terms hereof.

 

         B.        The Executive desires to provide services to the Company on

                  the terms herein provided.

 

                                     AGREEMENT

 

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective

covenants and agreements set forth below the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.        CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

         (a)       "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other

                  Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or

                  under common control with, such Person where "control" shall

                  have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the

                  Securities Act.

 

         (b)       "Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble

                  hereto.

 

         (c)       "Annual Base Salary" shall have the meaning set forth in

                   Section 3(a).

 

         (d)       "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

         (e)       The Company shall have "Cause" to terminate the Executive's

                  employment hereunder upon:

 

                  (i)       The Executive's willful failure to substantially

                           perform the duties set forth in this Agreement (other

                           than any such failure resulting from the Executive's

                           Disability) which is not remedied within 30 days

                           after receipt of written notice from the Company

                           specifying such failure;

 

                  (ii)      The Executive's willful failure to carry out, or

                            comply with, in any material respect any lawful and

                           reasonable directive of the Board not inconsistent

                           with the terms of this Agreement, which is not

                           remedied within 30 days after receipt of written

                           notice from the Company specifying such failure;

 

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                  (iii)     The Executive's commission at any time of any act or

                           omission that results in, or that may reasonably be

                           expected to result in, a conviction, plea of no

                           contest, or imposition of unadjudicated probation for

                           any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

 

                   (iv)      The Executive's unlawful use (including being under

                           the influence) or possession of illegal drugs on the

                           Company's premises or while performing the

                           Executive's duties and responsibilities under this

                           Agreement; or

 

                  (v)       The Executive's commission at any time of any act of

                           fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, material

                            misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty against the

                           Company (or any predecessor thereto or successor

                           thereof).

 

         (f)       "Change in Control" shall mean a change in ownership or

                   control of the Company effected through a transaction or

                  series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock

                  to the general public through a registration statement filed

                  with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any

                  "person" or related "group" of "persons" (as such terms are

                  used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act)

                  (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee

                  benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its

                  subsidiaries, a Principal Stockholder or a "person" that,

                  prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is

                   controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company or

                  a Principal Stockholder) directly or indirectly acquires

                  beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under

                  the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more

                  than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of

                  the Company's securities outstanding immediately after such

                  acquisition.

 

         (g)       "Common Stock" shall mean common stock of the Company, par

                  value $0.01 per share.

 

         (h)       "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble

                  hereto.

 

         (i)       "Compensation Committee" means the Compensation Committee of

                  the Board.

 

         (j)       "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's

                  employment is terminated by her death, the date of her death;

                  (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to

                  Section 4(a)(ii) - (vi) either the date indicated in the

                  Notice of Termination or the date specified by the Company

                  pursuant to Section 4(b), whichever is earlier; (iii) if the

                  Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section

                  4(a)(vii) or Section 4(a)(viii), the expiration of the

                  then-applicable Term.

 

         (k)       "Dex West Transaction" shall mean the transaction contemplated

                  by the Rodney Purchase Agreement.

 

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         (l)       "Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the

                  Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for a

                  total of three months during any six-month period as a result

                  of incapacity due to mental or physical illness.

 

         (m)       "EBITDA" for a given period shall mean the sum of (i) the

                  consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation,

                  amortization, and extraordinary items and (ii) any management

                  or similar fees charged to the Company by any Principal

                   Stockholder (but only to the extent such fees are deducted

                  from the earnings described in the preceding subsection (i)),

                  all as reflected on the Company's audited consolidated

                  financial statements for such period.

 

         (n)       "Effective Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the

                  preamble hereto.

 

         (o)       "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,

                  as amended from time to time.

 

         (p)       "Executive" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble

                  hereto.

 

         (q)       "Executive Bonus Plan" shall mean the bonus plan to be

                  developed by the Compensation Committee which shall

                   incorporate the targets attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

         (r)       "Extension Term" shall have the meaning set forth in Section

                  2(b).

 

         (s)       The Executive shall have "Good Reason" to resign her

                   employment upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

                  (i)       Failure of the Company to continue the Executive in

                           the position of Executive Vice President and Chief

                           Operating Officer (or any other position not less

                           senior to such position);

 

                  (ii)      A material diminution in the nature or scope of the

                           Executive's responsibilities, duties or authority;

 

                   (iii)     Failure of the Company to make any material payment

                           or provide any material benefit under this Agreement

                           or any Option Agreement; or

 

                  (iv)      The Company's material breach of this Agreement;

 

                  provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing the

                  Executive may not resign her employment for Good Reason

                  unless: (A) the Executive provides the Company with at least

                  30 days prior written notice of her intent to resign for Good

                  Reason (which notice is provided not later than the 30th day

                  following the occurrence of the event constituting Good

                  Reason); and (B) the Company has not remedied the alleged

                  violation(s) within the 30-day period; and, provided, further,

                  that the Executive shall not have Good Reason to terminate her

                  employment due to the failure to consummate all or any portion

                  of the Dex West Transaction; and provided, further, that

                  Executive may resign her employment for Good Reason if

 

                                       3

 

<PAGE>

 

                   in connection with any Change in Control the purchaser does

                  not assume the severance provisions set forth in Section 5

                  (including corresponding definitions) (or substitute

                  substantially identical severance provisions) with respect to

                  the Executive and if Executive does not accept employment with

                  such purchaser in connection with the Change in Control.

 

         (t)       "Initial Term" shall have the meaning set forth in Section

                  2(b).

 

         (u)       "Notice of Termination" shall have the meaning set forth in

                  Section 4(b).

 

         (v)       "Option Agreement" shall mean an agreement to purchase Common

                  Stock pursuant to the Option Plan.

 

         (w)       "Option Plan" shall have the meaning set forth in Section

                  3(c).

 

         (x)       "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation,

                  limited liability company, business trust, joint stock

                  company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture,

                  governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.

 

         (y)       "Principal Stockholders" shall mean Carlyle Partners III, L.P.

                  a Delaware limited partnership; Welsh, Carson, Anderson &

                  Stowe IX, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership; and each of

                  their respective Affiliates.

 

         (z)       "Related Agreements" shall have the meaning set forth in

                  Section 14.

 

         (aa)      "Rodney Purchase Agreement" shall mean that certain Purchase

                  Agreement by and among Qwest Dex, Inc., Qwest Services

                  Corporation, Qwest Communications International Inc.

                  (collectively, the "Qwest Parties") and Dex Holdings LLC,

                  dated as of August 19, 2002, pursuant to which the Qwest

                  Parties have agreed to sell all of the interests of GPP LLC

                   (as described in the Rodney Purchase Agreement) to Dex

                  Holdings LLC on the terms and conditions set forth therein.

 

         (bb)      "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as

                  amended from time to time.

 

         (cc)      "Term" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 

2.        EMPLOYMENT

 

         (a)       The Company shall employ the Executive and the Executive shall

                  enter the employ of the Company, for the period set forth in

                  Section 2(b), in the position set forth in Section 2(c), and

                  upon the other terms and conditions herein provided.

 

         (b)       The initial term of employment under this Agreement (the

                   "Initial Term") shall be for the period beginning on the

                  effective date of this Agreement and ending on the third

                  anniversary thereof, unless earlier terminated as provided in

                  Section 4. The employment term hereunder shall automatically

                  be extended for successive one-

 

                                       4

 

<PAGE>

 

                  year periods (each, an "Extension Term" and, collectively with

                  the Initial Term, the "Term") unless either party gives notice

                  of non-extension to the other no later than 90 days prior to

                  the expiration of the then-applicable Term.

 

         (c)       Position and Duties. The Executive shall serve as Executive

                  Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company with

                  such customary responsibilities, duties and authority as may

                  from time to time be assigned to the Executive by the Board.

                   Such duties, responsibilities and authority may include

                  services for one or more subsidiaries or affiliates of the

                  Company including, without limitation, services for Dex Media

                  West LLC following the consummation of all or any portion of

                  the Dex West Transaction. The Executive shall report directly

                  to the Company's Chief Executive Officer. The Executive shall

                  devote substantially all her working time and efforts to the

                  business and affairs of the Company. The Executive agrees to

                  observe and comply with the Company's rules and policies as

                  adopted by the Company from time to time.

 

3.         COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS

 

         (a)       Annual Base Salary. During the Term, the Executive shall

                  receive a base salary at a rate of $325,000 per annum, which

                  shall be paid in accordance with the customary payroll

                  practices of the Company, subject to increase as determined by

                  the Compensation Committee (the "Annual Base Salary").

 

         (b)       Annual Bonus. With respect to each of the Company's fiscal

                   years that end during the Term, the Executive shall be

                  eligible to receive an annual performance-based bonus in

                  accordance with the terms of the Executive Bonus Plan. The

                  Executive Bonus Plan shall provide that (i) if the Company

                  achieves the Bank Case EBITDA Target (as set forth on Exhibit

                  A) for an applicable fiscal year, the Executive's annual bonus

                  shall be payable in an amount equal to 35% of her Annual Base

                  Salary, and (ii) if the Company achieves the Equity Case

                  EBITDA Target (as set forth on Exhibit A) for an applicable

                  fiscal year, the Executive's annual bonus shall be payable in

                   an amount equal to 75% of her Annual Base Salary. The

                  Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide

                  that the Executive shall be paid an additional bonus amount

                  pursuant to the Executive Bonus Plan with respect to any

                  fiscal year (up to a maximum aggregate annual bonus of 100% of

                  Annual Base Salary).

 

         (c)       Stock Option Plan. As of the Effective Date, the Executive

                  shall be granted an option to purchase 35,189 shares of Common

                  Stock, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Stock

                  Option Plan of Dex Media, Inc. (the "Option Plan") and an

                  Option Agreement entered into by and between Dex Media, Inc.

                  and the Executive as of the date hereof in substantially the

                  form attached hereto as Exhibit B. In the event that the Dex

                  West Transaction is consummated, then as of the Closing Date

                  (as defined in the Rodney Purchase Agreement), the Executive

                  shall be granted an option to purchase 35,188 shares of Common

                  Stock, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Option Plan

                  and an Option Agreement entered into by and between the

                  Executive and the Company (or its applicable affiliate).

 

                                       5

 

<PAGE>

 

         (d)       Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to

                  participate in employee benefit plans, programs and

                  arrangements of the Company now (or, to the extent determined

                  by the Board, hereafter) in effect which are applicable to the

                  senior executives of the Company in accordance with their

                  terms, including, without limitation, the Dex Media, Inc.

                  Pension Plan and the Dex Media, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan.

 

         (e)       Vacation. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to

                  paid vacation in accordance with the Company's vacation

                  policies applicable to senior executives of the Company. Any

                  vacation shall be taken at the reasonable and mutual

                  convenience of the Company and the Executive.

 

         (f)       Expenses. During the Term, the Company shall reimburse the

                  Executive for all reasonable travel and other business

                  expenses incurred by her in the performance of her duties to

                  the Company in accordance with the Company's expense

                  reimbursement policy.

 

         (g)       Relocation Expenses: In accordance with Company's applicable

                   relocation plans and policies, the Company shall pay or

                  reimburse Executive for the following reasonable, documented,

                  out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Executive in connection

                  with her relocation from her current Texas residence to the

                  Denver, Colorado metropolitan area: (a) travel,

                  transportation, meal and similar related moving expenses, (b)

                  closing costs, real estate commissions, attorney's fees and

                  other similar costs incurred in connection with Executive's

                  (i) purchase of any residence in the Denver, Colorado

                  metropolitan area and (ii) sale of her current Texas residence

                   and (c) the cost of temporary lodging in the Denver, Colorado

                  metropolitan area and the cost of weekly transportation

                  between Dallas, Texas and Denver, Colorado during the period

                  beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the earlier to

                  occur of (x) the first anniversary of the Effective Date and

                  (y) the date Executive sells her current Texas residence.

 

4.        TERMINATION

 

         The Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company

or the Executive, as applicable, without any breach of this Agreement only under

the following circumstances:

 

         (a)       Circumstances.

 

                  (i)       Death. The Executive's employment hereunder shall

                           terminate upon her death.

 

                  (ii)      Disability. If the Executive has incurred a

                           Disability, the Company may give the Executive

                           written notice of its intention to terminate the

                           Executive's employment. In that event, the

                           Executive's employment with the Company shall

                           terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of

                            such notice by the Executive, provided that within

                           the 30 days after such

 

                                       6

<PAGE>

 

                           receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to

                            full-time performance of her duties.

 

                  (iii)     Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate the

                           Executive's employment for Cause.

 

                  (iv)      Termination without Cause. The Company may terminate

                           the Executive's em


 
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