Exhibit
10.9
Execution
Copy
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(this Agreement) is executed on May 7, 2004, but is effective as of January 1,
2004, by and between Quad/Graphics, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the Company),
and James Joel Quadracci (Executive).
WHEREAS, Executive is currently employed by the
Company as its Senior Vice President of Sales, having previously spent his
working career in various capacities with the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to
employ Executive upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement and, conversely, to be protected in the event Executives employment
is terminated for any reason;
WHEREAS, Executive desires to accept such
employment and to serve the Company upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement and accepts the restrictions on his
future employment as defined herein; and
WHEREAS, capitalized terms used but not defined
in the context of the Section in which such terms first appear shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 12.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in
consideration of the covenants set forth below, the continued employment of
Executive by the Company, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:
1. Employment; Term.
(a) Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and
Executive hereby agrees to serve the Company, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement.
(b) Term. The term of Executives employment with the Company
shall continue for a period of at least two years ending on December 31,
2005, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 4 hereof. If the
Executive is not notified on or before December 31, 2004, by the Chairman
of the Board or the Chairman of the Compensation Committee that the term of his
employment under this Agreement will not be extended, then it shall
automatically be extended (subject to Section 4) for an additional year,
and this process of automatic one-year extensions shall continue until
Executive is notified in any calendar year that the term will not be extended
beyond the end of the ensuing calendar year.
2. Nature of Employment.
(a) Position and Duties. Executive shall serve the Company as
its Chief Executive Officer and in such other capacities consistent with
Executives role as Chief
Executive Officer as may be reasonably assigned from time to time to
Executive by the Companys Board of Directors.
As Chief Executive Officer, Executive shall have overall charge and
responsibility for the business and affairs of the Company, subject to the
direction by the Board of Directors.
Executive shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the
Company. While employed by the Company,
Executive shall serve, without additional compensation, as a director of the
Company and, if elected or appointed thereto, in one or more offices of the
Company or of any Affiliate or as a director of any Affiliate.
(b) Commitment. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall
be employed by the Company full time and shall devote substantially all of the
Executives entire working time to the business and affairs of the Company and
its Affiliates, subject to vacation, absences because of illness, sabbaticals
approved in accordance with Company policy and approved leaves of absence.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, it shall not be a violation of this Section 2(b) for
the Executive to: (i) serve on civic or charitable boards or committees; (ii) serve
as a director (or similar capacity) of another business as long as such other
business is not a competitor of the Company; (iii) deliver lectures,
fulfill speaking engagements or teach occasional courses or seminars at
educational institutions; or (iv) manage his personal and business
finances; provided that the activities described in subsections (i), (ii), (iii) and
(iv) above do not interfere, in any material respect, with Executives
responsibilities under this Agreement.
3. Compensation.
(a) Base Salary. Executive shall receive a salary (Base
Salary) at the initial rate of Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
($225,000) per year. Executives Base Salary shall be subject to discretionary
increases (but not decreases) based on an annual review by the Companys Board
of Directors or its Compensation Committee. Executives Base Salary shall be
paid in accordance with the standard payroll practices of the Company in effect
from time to time.
(b) Bonus and Incentive Compensation. Executive
shall be eligible to earn an annual cash performance bonus and such long-term
incentive compensation as is established or awarded from time to time by the
Companys Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee and applied in a
manner consistent with the then current prevailing practices for other
executive officers of the Company.
(c) Vacations. Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks,
or such longer period as the Company may provide to all other executive
officers of the Company, of paid vacation each calendar year. The timing for
taking such vacation shall be reasonable in relation to the duties of
Executive. Such vacation shall not cumulate from year to year. Executive shall
also be entitled to all paid holidays and sabbaticals given by the Company to
all other executive officers of the Company.
(d) Fringe Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to
participate in or receive benefits under such retirement savings plans, life
insurance, health and accident plans or arrangements and other employee
benefits as are made available from time to time by the Company to all other
executive officers of the Company. Without limiting the generality of the
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