EXHIBIT 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT sets forth the agreement reached the 18th day of
November, 1997, but based on ongoing negotiations since September 9th when the
options were priced at market, by and between XXXXXX X. XXXX (hereinafter
referred to as "Employee") and AgriBioTech, Inc., a Nevada Corporation
(hereinafter referred to as "Corporation").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to employ the Employee; and
WHEREAS, the Employee desires to accept such employment with the
Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the Employee and the Corporation desire to set forth their
employment relationship in a written agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein
set forth, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follow:
ARTICLE 1.00 - EMPLOYMENT
1.01 EMPLOYMENT. The Corporation hereby offers to employ the Employee upon
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth and the Employee accepts such
offer and agrees to abide by the terms and conditions hereof, and the terms and
conditions of the Corporation's and its affiliated corporations' Articles of
Incorporation, Bylaws and Employee Manual except as otherwise set forth herein.
The Employee shall be considered a Regular Employee from the effective date of
employment, i.e., not a Probationary Employee.
1.02 DUTIES. Employee's title shall be Vice President, Director of
Research. Employee shall report directly to the President of the Corporation.
Employee shall perform all services reasonably required by the Corporation in
furtherance of the Corporation's business purposes as determined, from time to
time, by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The Employee will work only
for AgriBioTech, Inc. and its subsidiaries, as may be needed except as may be
mutually agreed by Employee and Corporation and not except for limited Access
Plant Technology responsibilities as a consultant. Employee may retain his
ownership in Access Plant Technology and said ownership shall not be considered
a conflict of interest. The Chief Executive Officer or an unaffiliated Board
member shall sign off on all agreements between Corporation and Access Plant
Technology in order to avoid potential conflicts, while enabling corporation to
use Access Plant Technology services where beneficial. In addition and as part
of his duties hereunder, the Employee shall, if elected to such position, serve
as a director of the Corporation.
ARTICLE 2.00 - TERM AND TERMINATION
2.01 TERM. The Corporation agrees to employ the Employee commencing on
January 1, 1998 and continuing for at least four years from the date of
employment unless terminated pursuant to 2.02 below. Duties of Employee shall
include direct responsibility for all research activities and research personnel
of Corporation, including traditional genetics and biotechnology. Employee
shall work with CEO on strategic decisions on biotechnology partners and types
of partnerships and agreements. Employee shall be responsible for leading the
team(s) which make germplasm decisions.
Notwithstanding anything included here, Employee, Corporation's Chief
Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer agree, understand and acknowledge
that to effectively perform their individual
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responsibilities, they must work together as a team. As such, they agree to
discuss with each other significant business issues to help maximize
Corporation's progress toward its mission statement and objectives.
2.02 TERMINATION. The Corporation may, by giving zero (0) days notice to
the Employee, terminate this Agreement with cause. Notwithstanding the above,
this Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the death of the Employee, and
shall terminate upon ten (10) working days notice by the Corporation if, in the
opinion of the Corporation, Employee becomes unable to perform services required
pursuant to this Agreement because of illness or injury. Any decision to
terminate this Agreement by the Corporation shall not be voted upon by the
Employee in any capacity whatsoever. In no event shall termination of this
Agreement relieve the parties hereto of any rights or obligation which survives
the termination of this Agreement as set forth herein. In the event of
Employee's death, Employee's heirs may exercise vested options within one year
as specified in the option agreement.
Termination as a result of management change: It is understood and agreed
that current Chief Executive Officer, other senior management and founding
owners, i.e., Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx desire
Employee to become an integral part of the core management team. As such,
Employee is to diligently utilize his talents, experience and expertise to
achieve Corporation's mission statement and objectives. It is understood that
both the Corporation and Employee are making at least a four year commitment. In
the event there is a change in Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and at
any time thereafter (i) the Employee is terminated or (ii) in the sole
determination of the Employee, there is a significant change in the duties,
responsibilities, or compensation of the Employee, then Employee shall
immediately be vested in full on all stock options referenced in Section 3.02
and shall be entitled to receive a payment equal to (a) his full Compensation as
set forth in Section 3.01 for two (2) years from the date of such termination or
determination, less $1, and (b) other employee benefits (excluding long term
disability and life insurance for two (2) years from the date of such
termination or determination. In addition to the foregoing, for a period of one
(1) year following any such change of the Chief Executive Officer, Employee
shall have the option of terminating this Agreement without justification and,
in such event, will be entitled to (i) immediately be vested in the stock
options referenced in Section 3.02 which would otherwise become vested on the
next anniversary of employment following such termination and (ii) receive his
full Compensation as set forth in Section 3.01 and other employee benefits for
one (1) year following such termination.
In the event Corporation desires to terminate this Agreement without cause,
Employee will be entitled to (i) immediately be vested in the stock options
referenced in Section 3.02 which would otherwise become vested on the next
anniversary of employment following such termination and (ii) receive his full
Compensation as set forth in Section 3.01 and other employee benefits (excluding
long term disability and life insurance) for one (1) year following such
termination.
In the event Employee, Chief Operating Officer and/or Corporation's Board
of Directors determine that the duties of Vice President, Director of Research,
cannot be performed satisfactorily from two geographic offices (Waterford, CT
and Las Vegas, NV), Employee shall agree to locate at one location selected by
the Board of Directors, or cooperate in selecting a successor and developing an
effective transition. Employee shall agree to give Corporation a minimum of nine
(9) months notice and to assist Corporation in all reasonable respects in
finding a successor to the Employee's duties and responsibilities and in the
transition process. In the event Employee decides not to move to one location,
then Employee shall not be entitled to cash compensation or to vest options
beyond the end of the transition period and shall not vest options not yet
vested on the date a transition is completed to a new Vice President, Director
of Research. The intent of this paragraph is for Employee to vest options during
the one year period of decision making and transition period.
ARTICLE 3.00 - COMPENSATION
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3.01 SALARY. The Corporation covenants and agrees to pay Employee, as
consideration for his services, Compensation consisting of an annualized salary
of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND ($120,000.00). Employee shall be entitled to an
increase in the above described Compensation annually beginning July 1, 1998.
Such increase will be determined by the Compensation committee. The salary will
be payable in equal bi-weekly installments, less payroll deductions for income
tax, FICA, withholding and any other deductions as authorized by the Employee.
All bonuses included on compensation, if applicable, will be paid, less
applicable payroll deductions, in July of each year.
3.02 STOCK OPTIONS. Employee shall be granted 500,000 options to purchase
the Corporation's common stock. Ownership in said options shall vest on the
following schedule; subject to Employee continuing employment with Corporation
on the vesting date:
A) 100,000 vest at signing of Agreement, exercisable at $8.50 per share
through June 30, 2003.
B) 100,000 vest on the first anniversary of employment, exercisable at
$8.50 per share through June 30, 2003,
C) 100,000 vest on the second anniversary of employment, exercisable at
$9.00 per share through June 30, 2003,
D) 100,000 vest on the third anniversary of employment, exercisable at
$9.50 per share through June 30, 2003,
E) 100,000 vest on the fourth anniversary of employment, exercisable at
$10.00 per share through June 30, 2003.
3.03 BONUS. For the purpose of causing Employee's compensation to equal the
reasonable value of his services to the Corporation and to reflect any
outstanding contribution to Corporation by Employee, the Corporation may pay
Employee, in addition to the compensation for services described in Section 3.01
above, a bonus in any amount determined by the Corporation in its sole
discretion. The bonus, if any, less payroll deductions for income taxes, FICA,
withholding and any other deductions authorized by the Employee, shall be paid
by the Corporation to the Employee at such time or times as the Corporation in
its sole discretion determines.
3.04 VACATION. During the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall be
entitled to a vacation pursuant to the Employee Manual, but not less than four
weeks per year during which time Employee's Compensation shall be paid in full.
Employee will be granted an accrual for two (2) weeks of vacation upon
commencement of employment and will be eligible to take any accrued vacation
upon commencement of employment.
3.05 BENEFITS. During the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall be
entitled to receive insurance and other benefits generally available to all
employees of the Corporation. In the event Employee elects not to be covered by
certain of the Corporation's benefits, the Corporation will contribute the cost
it would otherwise incur toward alternate benefits obtained by the Employee.
3.06 RELOCATION. The Corporation and Employee agree that for the Employee
to perform the services required by the Corporation, Employee shall initially
have two offices (Waterford, CT and Las Vegas, NV). Corporation shall pay $2,000
per month expense allowance for the Connecticut office, including equipment and
support expenses which Employee shall provide (amount to be reviewed
periodically). In the event, the Board of Directors subsequently determine that
a relocation to Las Vegas is needed to perform the duties, Employee shall elect
to relocate or implement an efficient, timely transition. The Corporation will
reimburse the Employee for the reasonable and necessary expenses of such
relocation. Such expenses will include moving of the Employee's household goods,
for the sale of the Employee's current residence, and expenses for travel,
lodging, meals, etc. for up to two house hunting trips to Las Vegas and the
actual relocation.
During the dual office time period of employment, Corporation shall provide
an apartment or other accommodations in Las Vegas, to be mutually determined by
Employee and Corporation.
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3.07 INDEMNIFICATION. The Corporation agrees to indemnify the Employee to
the full extent allowed by the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and
Nevada law with respect to any claim, investigation, proceeding, or action
against or involving the Employee relating to this employment by the
Corporation. Such indemnification shall include advancement of attorney fees
during any such event and shall cover any adverse economic consequences to
Employee including judgments, settlements, and attorney fees. This Section 3.07
will survive termination of this Agreement irrespective of the reason for
termination.
ARTICLE 4.00 - SPECIFIC OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
4.01 CORPORATION'S OBLIGATIONS. The Corporation shall provide the employee
with and pay Employee's expenses for the following:
A. Such equipment, materials and supplies as the Employee requires for the
performance of his services.
B. Costs, including tuition, meals, lodging, and transportation incurred
by the Employee to fulfill his duties and responsibilities to the Corporation,
including professional dues, publications, and continuing professional
education.
4.02 EMPLOYEE'S OBLIGATIONS. The Employee agrees that during the term of
this Agreement, he shall:
A. Faithfully and to the best of his ability and skill serve the
Corporation and perform his duties pursuant to this Agreement;
B. Maintain records in the manner established by the Corporation; and
C. Keep current all records, reports, insurance records and clerical work
required by Corporation.
ARTICLE 5.00 - COVENANTS
5.01 COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. The Corporation and Employee acknowledge and
confirm that Employee shall not compete with the Corporation while employed or
for a two to five year period after employment ceases. Corporation shall pay
Employee the larger of $120,000.00 or a sum equal to actual compensation for the
preceding 12 months per year for the Non-Compete period selected by Corporation
(2-5 years). "Compete" shall mean any relationship with any entity whose primary
business is based on turf grass, forage grass or alfalfa seed products.
5.02 COVENANT FOR PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. The parties hereto
recognize that the Corporation and its affiliated corporations and Employee are
desirous of exchanging information during the term of this Agreement and during
the period of the time Employee is affiliated with the Corporation and its
affiliated corporations relating to the research, development, and marketing of
seed, seed products, seed related products and technology for application in the
general field of farming and ranching and that during the above periods of time,
the Corporation and its affiliated corporations may disclose to the Employee
certain information pursuant to this Agreement which the Corporation and its
affiliated corporations deems proprietary (hereinafter referred to as
"Information").
In order to protect the Information, the parties hereto agree that during
the period of Employee's affiliation with the Corporation and its affiliated
corporations, and for a period of two (2-5) years from the termination date of
any affiliation with the Corporation and its affiliated corporations, Employee
shall not disclose Information it receives or has received from Corporation or
its affiliated corporations that is proprietary in nature, including, but not by
way of limitation, Information marked PROPRIETARY or CONFIDENTIAL or STRICTLY
PRIVATE or INTERNAL DATA, to any other person, firm or corporation, or use it
for its own benefit except as provided herein, and shall use no less stringent
degree of care to avoid disclosure or use of such Information than Employee
employs with respect to his own proprietary information which it does not wish
to be disseminated, published or disclosed.
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The parties hereto agree that Information shall not be deemed proprietary
and Employee shall have no obligation with respect to any such Information
which:
A. Is already known to Employee through lawful channels of communication;
B. Is or becomes publicly known through no wrongful act of Employee;
C. Is rightfully received from a third party without similar restriction
and without breach of this Agreement;
D. Is independently developed by Employee without breach of this
Agreement;
E. Is furnished to a third party by Corporation and its affiliated
corporations without a similar restriction on the third party's rights; or
F. Is approved for release by written authorization of Corporation or its
affiliated corporations. Either party may, without breach of this Agreement,
disclose Information to the government by reason of a governmental requirement
or to a court by reason of operation of law.
Employee shall not be liable for (1) inadvertent disclosure or use of
Information provided that (a) it used not less than the same degree of care in
safeguarding such Information as it used for its own Information of like
importance, and (b) upon discovery of such inadvertent disclosure or use of such
Information, it shall endeavor to prevent any further inadvertent disclosure or
use, or (2) unauthorized disclosure or use of Information by persons who are or
who have been in its employ, unless it fails to safeguard such Information with
not less than the same degree of care as it uses for its own proprietary
Information of like importance.
In the event Information should be lost, stolen or otherwise compromised,
the party formerly in possession of that Information shall promptly notify the
Corporation by phone, and follow up with a detailed report in writing within ten
(10) days. A coordinated effort shall then be made to recover such Information.
All copies of written data delivered by one party hereto to the other party
pursuant to this Section shall be and remain the property of such one party, and
all such written data, and any copies thereof, shall be promptly returned to
such one party upon written request, or destroyed at such one party's option.
Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed as granting or
conferring any rights by license or otherwise, expressly, implied, or otherwise
for any invention, discovery or improvement made, conceived, or acquired prior
to or after the term of this Agreement.
Employee and Corporation agree that the period set forth herein is
reasonable and further that the period set forth herein does not terminate at
the termination of this Agreement, but shall continue throughout any period of
affiliation, and for a two to five (2-5) year period thereafter. This covenant
may be enforced by specific performance or any available legal or equitable
remedy, including, but not by way of limitation, temporary restraining orders or
preliminary and permanent injunctions, and the Corporation and its affiliated
corporations shall be entitled to recover from Employee all court costs and
reasonable attorney's fees incurred in enforcing this covenant. The remedies
hereunder shall not be exclusive of each other, but shall be cumulative.
5.04 DEFINITION OF AFFILIATION. Affiliation, as used in this Article, shall
mean any proprietary, employment or fiduciary relationship of the Employee with
the Corporation and its affiliated corporations, including, but not limited to,
the position of Employee as director, officer, employee or consultant of the
Corporation or its affiliated corporations.
ARTICLE 6.00 - GENERAL MATTER.
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6.01 NEVADA LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of Nevada and shall be construed in accordance therewith.
6.02 NO WAIVER. No provision of this Agreement may be waived except by an
agreement in writing signed by the waiving party. A waiver of any term or
provision shall not be construed as waiver of any other term or provision.
6.03 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties,
their heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assignees. The parties
agree to do any and all things necessary to effectuate the purpose of this
Agreement.
6.04 CONSTRUCTION. Throughout this Agreement, the singular shall include
the plural; the plural shall include the singular; and the masculine and neuter
shall include the feminine, wherever the context so requires.
6.05 TEXT TO CONTROL. The headings of articles and sections are included
solely for convenience of reference. If any conflict between any heading and the
text of this Agreement exists, the text shall control.
6.06 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is declared by an
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, such invalidity
shall not affect the remaining provisions. On the contrary, such remaining
provisions shall be fully severable, and this Agreement shall be construed and
enforced as if such invalid provisions never had been inserted in this
Agreement.
6.07 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended, altered or revoked at any
time, in whole or in part, by filing with this Agreement a written instrument
setting forth such charges, signed by the Corporation and the Employee.
6.08 NOTICES. All notices required to be given by this Agreement shall be
made in writing either by:
A. Personal delivery to the party requiring notice and securing a written
receipt, or
B. Mailing notice in the U.S. mails to the last known address of the party
requiring notice, which shall be the address shown on the records of the
Corporation for the Employee, by certified mail, return receipt requested.
The effective date of the notice shall be the date of the written receipt
received upon delivery in Paragraph A above or four (4) days after the date the
notice was delivered to the U.S. mail as posted on the receipt in Paragraph B
above.
The parties hereby execute this Employment Agreement on the day and year
first written above.
AGRIBIOTECH, INC.
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President/CEO
EMPLOYEE:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
--------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
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