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EXHIBIT 10.5
XXXXX.XXX NETWORKS LLC
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the "AGREEMENT") is entered into by and
between XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX ("EXECUTIVE"), XXXXX.XXX NETWORKS LLC (the "COMPANY")
and XXXXX.XXX NETWORKS ("XXXXX.XXX") as of this 27th day of January, 1999.
Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
them in the LLC Agreement (as hereinafter defined).
WHEREAS, the Company, Xxxxx.xxx and Hearst HomeArts, Inc. ("HEARST")
have entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement of even date herewith
(the "LLC AGREEMENT");
WHEREAS, Executive presently is an executive employee and shareholder of
Xxxxx.xxx and Executive has extensive knowledge with respect to the operations
of Xxxxx.xxx;
WHEREAS, the LLC Agreement contemplates that Executive will become the
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Management Committee
of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement under the terms
and conditions contained herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as
follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT. Commencing upon the Closing Date (as such term is defined
in the LLC Agreement), Executive shall render full-time services to the Company
as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Management
Committee of the Company for at least three (3) years from the date hereof (the
"TERMINATION DATE") unless terminated earlier pursuant to paragraph 5 hereto. In
her capacity as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the
Management Committee, Executive shall report directly to the Management
Committee. The Executive shall possess the responsibilities, duties, and
authorities that are customarily associated with such position. Executive will
devote her best efforts and substantially all of her business time and attention
to the business of the Company and Xxxxx.xxx.
2. COMPENSATION.
(a) SALARY. Executive shall receive a salary in the amount of
$200,000.00 per year, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings.
Such salary amount shall be reviewed from time to time as determined by the
Management Committee of the Company.
(b) BONUS. Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus
as set forth in EXHIBIT A hereto.
(c) ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. Executive shall be entitled to all
benefits for which she is eligible under the terms and conditions of the
Company's standard benefits programs and practices which may be in effect from
time to time and provided by the Company to its employees generally.
(d) OPTIONS. Executive shall be eligible to receive additional
option grants from time to time as determined by the Management Committee of the
Company.
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3. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES. By and in consideration of the salary and
benefits to be provided by the Company hereunder, except with the prior written
consent of the Company's Management Committee, Executive agrees that, during the
period commencing with the date hereof and during the period Executive is
entitled to Severance Benefits hereunder, she will not directly or indirectly
through any person, firm or corporation engage or prepare to engage in any
activity in competition with the Company, make any financial investment in
(except that Executive may own up to two percent (2%) of the shares in a
publicly traded company which may compete with the Company) provide other
services to, or establish a business relationship with, a business or individual
engaged in or preparing to engage in competition with the Company. Executive may
engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not
breach any provision of this Agreement or materially interfere with the
performance of her duties hereunder.
4. PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS. Executive
agrees to continue to abide by her obligations pursuant to Xxxxx.xxx's
Proprietary Information Agreement assigned to the Company on the date hereof
(attached hereto as EXHIBIT B), including but not limited to, the obligation to
refrain from using or disclosing the proprietary and confidential information of
the Company as an assignee of all rights, responsibilities and obligations of
Xxxxx.xxx thereto. Executive acknowledges that these obligations continue even
after her employment with the Company has terminated.
5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Executive's employment relationship with
the Company is at-will, and either Executive or the Company may terminate that
employment relationship at any time and for any reason, with or without Cause
(as defined below in paragraph 5(c)) upon giving thirty (30) days written notice
to the other party; provided, however, that the Company may effect an immediate
termination of this Agreement upon a termination for Cause. This at-will
employment relationship cannot be changed except in writing signed by the
Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company.
(a) Should the Executive be terminated pursuant to an Involuntary
Termination (as defined below in paragraph 5(b)) prior to the Termination Date,
the Executive shall receive (i) Severance Benefits (as hereinafter defined) for
the greater of (A) the number of months remaining until the Termination Date,
beginning on the date that she is effectively terminated or (B) a period of six
(6) months, beginning on the date she is effectively terminated, (ii) all vested
options held by the Executive (and such vested options shall be exercisable for
three (3) months after the date of Executive's termination of employment) and
(iii) all unvested options held by the Executive which would have vested had the
Executive been an employee of the Company through the Termination Date shall
immediately accelerate (the "ACCELERATED OPTIONS') (the Accelerated Options
shall be exercisable by the Executive for a period of three (3) months after the
date of Executive's termination of employment). "SEVERANCE BENEFITS" shall mean
(I) the Executive's base salary as defined in paragraph 2(a), which shall be
paid at semi-monthly intervals on the 15th and the last day of each calendar
month and will be subject to all applicable withholding requirements and (II)
benefits as described in paragraph 2(c); provided, however, that the Company
shall in no event be required to provide any benefits after such time as the
Executive becomes entitled to receive benefits of the same type from another
employer or recipient of Executive's services (such entitlement being determined
without regard to any individual waivers or other similar arrangements).
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, "INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION"
shall mean (i) the involuntary termination of Executive's employment with the
Company other than a termination for Cause (as defined below in paragraph 5(c)),
disability (as defined in paragraph 5(d)) or as a result of death or (ii)
Executive's voluntary resignation within sixty (60) days following (A) a
material reduction in the scope of her duties and responsibilities or the level
of management to which she reports, (B) a reduction in the
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level of her compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target
bonuses under any corporate-performance based incentive program) by more than
fifteen (15%) percent or (C) a relocation of her principal place of employment
by more than fifty (50) miles; provided, that the Company may cure such
reduction or relocation within ten (10) days of notice thereof. Involuntary
Termination shall not include the termination of her employment by reason of
retirement, death or disability.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive's employment will
be deemed to be terminated for "CAUSE" if her termination occurs for any of the
following reasons: (i) her commission of any felony, any crime involving the
Company, or any crime involving fraud, moral turpitude or dishonesty; (ii) any
unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company's proprietary information or
breach of paragraph 3 or 4 of this Agreement; (iii) any intentional misconduct
or gross negligence on her part which has a materially adverse effect on the
Company's business or reputation; or (iv) her repeated and willful failure to
perform the duties, functions and responsibilities of her executive position
after a written warning from the Company. Physical or mental disability shall
not constitute "CAUSE."
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive's employment will
be deemed terminated for Disability if Executive becomes disabled for purposes
of the long-term disability plan of the Company for which the Executive is
eligible, or, in the event that there is no such plan, if the Executive by ill
health or other disability is unable to perform substantially and continuously
the duties assigned to her for more than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive or
non-consecutive days out of any consecutive twelve (12) month period.
6. NONSOLICITATION. During her employment with the Company and for one
(1) year thereafter, Executive agrees that she will not, either directly or
through others, solicit or attempt to solicit any employee, consultant, or
independent contractor of the Company to terminate his or her relationship with
the Company in order to become an employee, consultant, or independent
contractor to or for any other person or business entity.
7. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) NOTICES. All notices, requests, consents, and other
communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or delivered
by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), or private overnight
mail (delivery confirmed by such service), to the address listed below, or to
such other address as either party shall designate by notice in writing to the
other in accordance herein:
If to the Company:
Xxxxx.xxx Networks LLC
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxx, XX
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Executive:
Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
00000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile:________________________
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(b) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the complete,
final and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement between Executive, the
Company, Xxxxx.xxx and Hearst with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement is entered into without reliance upon any promise, warranty, or
representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein,
and it supersedes any other such promises, warranties, representations, or
agreements.
(c) SEVERABILITY. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that (i)
she has had an opportunity to seek the advice of counsel in connection with this
Agreement and (ii) the Restrictive Covenants (as hereinafter defined) are
reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects. If it
is determined that any of the provisions of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, any of the Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of the provisions of this Agreement shall not
thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the
invalid portions.
(d) DURATION AND SCOPE OF COVENANTS. If any court or other
decision-maker of competent jurisdiction determines that any of Executive's
covenants contained in this Agreement, including, without limitation, any of the
Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the
duration or geographical scope of such provision, then, after such determination
has become final and unappealable, the duration and scope of such provisions, as
the case may be, shall be reduced so that such provision becomes enforceable
and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be
enforced.
(e) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Executive acknowledges and agrees that
any breach by her of any of the provisions of paragraph 3, 4 or 6 (the
"RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS") would result in irreparable injury and damage for which
money damages would not provide an adequate remedy. Therefore, if Executive
breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of
paragraphs 3, 4 or 6, the Company and its affiliates shall have the right and
remedy to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced (without posting
bond and without the need to prove damages) by any court having equity
jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the right to an entry against
Executive of restraining orders and injunctions (preliminary, mandatory,
temporary or permanent) against violations, threatened or actual, and whether or
not then continuing, of such covenants, which rights and remedies shall be in
addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the
Company and its affiliates under law or equity (including, without limitation,
the recovery of damages).
(f) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall bind the heirs,
personal representatives, successors, assigns, executors, and administrators of
each party, and inure to the benefit of each party, its heirs, successors, and
assigns.
(g) APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been
entered into and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
the State of California, as applied to contracts made and to be performed
entirely within the State of California without regard to principles of the
conflict of laws.
(h) HEADINGS. The section headings contained herein are for
reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(i) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly authorized and caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date set forth above.
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXXX.XXX NETWORKS LLC
AN INDIVIDUAL
/s/ Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
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XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
Title:
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XXXXX.XXX NETWORKS
By: _/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Title: CFO
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EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
SIGNATURE PAGE
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EXHIBIT A
BONUS PLAN
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A
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EXHIBIT B
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AGREEMENT
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT B
