EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated November 30, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), by and between BOXLIGHT CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “Corporation”) and XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXX, an individual residing at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the “CEO”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto intending to be bound hereby, it is hereinafter agreed as follows:
1. Term. The Corporation hereby employs the CEO, and the CEO hereby accepts employment, for term commencing on Effective Date hereof and, subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 5 hereof, continuing for the period commencing on the Effective Date through December 31, 2020 (the “Initial Term”); which Initial Term may be renewed or extended by mutual agreement of the Corporation and the CEO (such Initial Term, as the same may be so renewed or extended, being hereinafter sometimes called the “Term of Employment”). The CEO shall perform the services specified herein, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated. This Agreement may be extended only upon the written consent of the parties hereto.
2. Duties and Responsibilities.
a. General. The CEO shall serve as the CEO of the Corporation and subject to the general direction and control of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) the Executive shall have responsibility for the overall day-to-day operation of the Corporation. In addition, the CEO shall have such other duties as are normally associated with and inherent in the executive capacity in which the CEO will be serving.
b. Time. The CEO shall devote his professional and business time, attention and energy to the Business (as defined herein) of the Corporation as necessary and appropriate to meet the requirements directed by the Board of Directors and further the interests of the Corporation. As used herein, the term “Business” shall mean and include the development and selling of education products and services.
c. Business Opportunities. The CEO covenants and agrees that if, during the Term of Employment, the CEO shall access an investment or business opportunity that is directly related to the Business of the Corporation (a “Business Opportunity”), the CEO shall submit full details of such Business Opportunity to the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and such Business Opportunity shall be the sole property of the Corporation.
3. Salary and Bonus.
a. Base Salary. During the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending December 31, 2020, the Corporation shall pay to the CEO a base salary (the “Base Salary”) at an annual rate of One Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand ($195,000) Dollars.
b. Bonuses. During the Term of Employment, the Board of Directors shall evaluate the performance of the Executive and, if deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, the Executive shall be awarded each quarter a cash bonus in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), beginning on the quarter ending December 31, 2017.
4. Incentive Awards and Fringe Benefits.
a. Stock Options. In addition to (and not in lieu of) the Base Salary, the compensation committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall grant to the CEO options (vesting in equal monthly installments over a one-year period commencing on January 2, 2018 (the “Grant Date”), entitling the CEO to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Corporation which shall represent One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares, pursuant to the Corporation’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”). The compensation committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall grant an additional One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares on both January 2, 1019 and January 2, 2020 with the same twelve-month vesting schedules. The exercise price for each of the stock option grants will be the closing market price on the grant date. Upon termination, the CEO has one year from the termination date to exercise any vested options.
b. Benefit Plans. In addition to the other compensation payable to the CEO hereunder, and except as otherwise set forth herein, the CEO shall be eligible to participate in all pension, profit sharing, retirement savings plan, 401K or other similar benefit, medical, disability and other employee benefit plans and programs generally provided by the Corporation to its senior staff from time to time hereafter (other than those provided pursuant to separately negotiated individual employment agreements or arrangements), subject to, and to the extent the CEO is eligible for the respective terms of such benefit plans and programs.
c. Expenses. During the Term of Employment, the Corporation shall pay or reimburse the CEO, upon submission of appropriate documentation by him, for all out-of-pocket expenses for entertainment, travel, meals, hotel accommodations, office expenses and the like incurred by him in the interest of the Business.
d. Vacation. The CEO shall be entitled to five (5) weeks annual paid vacation days per calendar year in accordance with Corporation policies.
e. Insurance. During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in any group insurance plan, including health insurance, term life insurance, and disability insurance policies (collectively, the “Corporation Plans”) from time to time maintained by the Corporation; provided that such insurance can be obtained on economically reasonable terms. The Corporation agrees to pay or reimburse the full amount of CEO’s premiums for disability, accident, death and dismemberment and/or life insurance coverage in the Corporation Plans. Should the Corporation not have an applicable Corporation Plan, the CEO shall be reimbursed for any economically reasonable health and welfare insurance premiums paid by the CEO.
5. Termination; Change of Control.
a. Death. If the CEO shall die prior to the expiration of the Term of Employment, the Corporation shall have no further obligation hereunder, other than to the CEO or his estate except to pay to the CEO’s estate the amount of the CEO’s Base Salary accrued to the date of his death. Such payment shall be made promptly after the date of death to the CEO’s estate.
b. Disability. If prior to the expiration of the Term of Employment, the CEO shall be prevented, during a continuous period of ninety (90) days (the “Disability Period”), from performing his duties by reason of “disability,” the Corporation may terminate this Agreement, in which event the CEO shall receive: (i) his Base Salary accrued to the date upon which any determination of disability shall have been made as hereinafter provided, and continuing until the date on which disability income payments commence under the Company’s long term disability plan (or the beginning of Social Security disability income, if sooner), which Base Salary payment may be reduced by the amount of any disability income payments the CEO may receive in connection with such occurrence of disability during the Disability Period under any policy or plan carried or maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation and under which the CEO is a beneficiary or participant. The CEO shall continue to have the right to receive the greater of his Current Benefits, or benefits, if any, under any Corporation Plans, but only in accordance with the terms of such plan or policy as they apply to persons whose employment has been terminated as a result of an employee’s permanent disability. Such payments shall be made to the CEO in accordance with its normal payroll policies and schedule.
For purposes of this Agreement, the CEO shall be deemed to have become disabled when the Board of Directors of the Corporation (excluding the Executive or any of his affiliates), upon the diagnosis of a reputable, licensed physician of the Corporation’s choice, in consultation with the CEO’s primary physician, shall have determined that the CEO shall have become unable to perform his duties under this Agreement, whether due to physical or mental incapacity or to infirmity caused by chronic alcoholism or drug use (excluding infrequent and temporary absences due to ordinary illness); provided that such incapacity shall have continued uninterrupted for a period of not less than ninety (90) days.
c. Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if prior to the expiration of the Term of Employment, the Corporation shall have the right to discharge the CEO “for Cause,” as defined below, then this Agreement shall terminate effective upon such discharge, and upon such termination, neither the Corporation nor any other member of the Corporation shall have any further obligation to the CEO or his estate, except that the Corporation will cause the Corporation to pay to the CEO, within thirty (30) days of such termination, or in the event of his subsequent death, his estate, an amount equal to the CEO’s Base Salary, as provided in Section 3 hereof, accrued to the date of termination. In addition, the CEO shall not, after the date of termination, be entitled to receive any further Current Benefits, or other benefits, if any, under any Corporation Plans. In the event of termination of the CEO’s employment for Cause, neither the Corporation nor any member of the Corporation shall be obligated to pay, and the CEO shall not be entitled to receive, any Bonus.
For the purposes hereof, the term “Cause” shall mean and be limited to a discharge resulting from any one of the following:
(i) the CEO’s conviction of a felony or any other crime involving moral turpitude,
(ii) a breach by the CEO of his fiduciary duties to the Corporation as specified herein, or
(iii) the CEO’s failure or refusal to follow the lawful polices or directives established by the Board of Directors; provided that in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii) above, the Board of Directors shall have first given written notice thereof to the CEO on each occasion describing in reasonable detail of the alleged breach, failure or refusal, and such breach or willful failure or refusal to follow written lawful policies or directives shall remain uncured for a period of sixty (60) days following receipt of each such notice.
d. Termination Without Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, express or implied, contained in this Agreement, the Corporation by action of its Board of Directors, may terminate the employment of the CEO at any time without Cause (a “Non-Cause Termination”); provided that the Corporation shall pay to the CEO severance pay equal to Twelve (12) months of the Base Salary then in effect (the “Severance Payment”), payable in equal monthly installments over the twelve month period following such Non-Cause Termination.
e. Other Reasons for Termination.
The CEO may terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the Term of Employment either (A) upon thirty (30) days written notice with Good Reason (“Termination With Good Reason”), or (B) for any or no reason by providing three (3) months’ advance written notice is given by the CEO to the Corporation.
As used herein, the term “Termination for Good Reason” shall mean: (a) a material reduction in the scope of the CEO’s title, authority, duties or responsibilities in effect as of the Effective Date, which reduction is not remedied by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after notification to the Corporation containing a reasonably detailed description of such reduction; (b) the Corporation’s breach of any material obligation owed to the CEO under this Agreement, including any Base Salary or; provided that the CEO has given the Corporation notice thereof describing in reasonable detail the alleged breach or failure, and the Corporation has failed to cure such breach or failure within a period of thirty (30) days following receipt of such notice.
In the event of a Termination Without Cause initiated by the CEO, the Corporation shall pay to the CEO, or in the event of his death, to his estate, the amount of the CEO’s Base Salary accrued to the date of termination. In the event of a Termination With Good Reason initiated by the CEO, the Corporation shall additionally pay to the CEO one full year’s Base Salary. The amounts set forth in this Section 5e shall be paid in full within thirty (30) days of the date of termination of employment.
6. Certain Covenants of the CEO
a. Confidential Information. The CEO acknowledges that in the course of his employment with the Corporation he may receive certain information, knowledge and data concerning the Business of the Corporation and its affiliates or pertaining to any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint venture, business, organization, entity or other person which the Corporation may do business with during the Term of Employment, which is not in the public domain, including but not limited to trade secrets, employee records, names and lists of suppliers and customers, programs, statistics, processes, techniques, pricing, marketing, software and designs, or any other matters, and all other confidential information of the Corporation and its and affiliates acquired in connection with your employment (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Confidential Information”), which the Corporation and its affiliates desire to protect. The CEO understands that such Confidential Information is confidential, and he agrees not to reveal or disclose or otherwise make accessible such Confidential Information to anyone outside of the Corporation or any affiliate and their respective officers, employees, directors, consultants or agents, so long as the confidential or secret nature of such Confidential Information shall continue, whether or not he is employed by the Corporation, except as may be required by law, regulation or court order.
b. Return of Information. At such time as the CEO shall cease to be employed by the Corporation or the Corporation for whatever reason or at any other time the Corporation may reasonably request, he shall promptly deliver and surrender to the Corporation all papers, memoranda, notes, records, reports, sketches, specifications, designs and other documents, writings (and all copies thereof), and other property produced by him or coming into his possession by or through his employment hereunder and relating to the Confidential Information referred to in this Section 6 or otherwise to the Business, and the CEO agrees that all such materials will at all times remain the property of the Corporation.
c. Non-Competition Agreement. CEO acknowledges that the agreements and covenants contained in this Section 6(c) are essential to protect the business, goodwill, trade secrets and confidential information of the Corporation and are appropriate in scope and the Business is conducted globally (the “Territory”). The CEO covenants and agrees that during the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the earlier of the CEO’s termination of employment for Good Reason or the second (2nd) anniversary following CEO’s termination of employment by the Company Without Cause or by the CEO without Good Reason (the “Restricted Period”), CEO shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) engage in any related business activity in the Territory that competes with the Business; (ii) render any services to any person for use in competing with the Corporation in connection with the Business in the Territory; or (iii) have an interest in any person engaged in any business that competes with the Corporation in connection with the Business in the Territory, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, including as a partner, member, officer, director, manger, principal, agent, trustee or consultant or any other relationship or capacity; provided, however, that each Restricted Party may own, directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, securities of any Person which are publicly traded if such Restricted Party (A) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such person and (B) does not, directly or indirectly, own 5% or more of any class of securities of such Person; or (iv) interfere with business relationships (whether formed heretofore or hereafter) between Buyer or any of its Affiliates and customers, suppliers or prospects of the Business.
d. Agreement Not to Solicit. For so long as the CEO shall be employed with the Corporation and for a period of two (2) years following the termination of this Agreement for any reason, the CEO agrees that he will not, either directly or indirectly, through any person, firm, association, corporation, partnership, agency or other business entity or person with which he is now or may hereafter become associated, (i) cause or induce any present or future employee of the Corporation to leave the employ of the Corporation or any affiliate to accept employment with the CEO or with such person, firm, association or corporation, agency or other business entity or (ii) solicit any person or entity which is a customer of the Corporation for the purpose of directly or indirectly furnishing services competitive with the Corporation.
e. Scope. It is expressly agreed that if any restrictions set forth in this Section 6 are found by any court having jurisdiction to be unreasonable because they are too broad in any respect, then and in each such case, the remaining restrictions herein contained shall, nevertheless, remain effective, and this Agreement, or any portion thereof, shall be considered to be amended so as to be considered reasonable and enforceable by such court, and the court shall specifically have the right to restrict the business or geographical scope of such restrictions to any portion of the business or geographic areas described above to the extent the court deems such restriction to be necessary to cause the covenants to be enforceable, and in such event, the covenants shall be enforced to the extent so permitted.
f. Specific Performance. The CEO acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or attempted breach of Section 6 of this Agreement may be inadequate, agrees that the Corporation shall be entitled to seek specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in case of any such breach or attempted breach, and further agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with the obtaining of any such injunctive or any other equitable relief.
7. Indemnification. Throughout the Term of Employment, the Corporation hereby agrees to maintain officers and directors’ liability insurance with one or more recognized insurance carriers and to cover the CEO under all of such policies and to provide indemnity to the CEO, in his capacity described in this Agreement, to the fullest extent provided under Georgia Law as provided herein. In addition, throughout the Term of Employment, the Corporation hereby agrees to agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the CEO and her Affiliates and, if applicable, the directors, officers, shareholders, employees, attorneys, accountants, agents and representatives of any affiliate of the CEO and the heirs, successors and assigns of the CEO or his affiliates (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) to the fullest extent permitted under Georgia law, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, costs, expenses, including without limitation the payment by the Corporation of all legal fees, court costs and filing fees, as incurred by the CEO (collectively, “Claims”), based upon, arising out of or otherwise in respect of (i) any act of omission or commission by the Corporation or its board of directors, (ii) the failure of the Corporation to perform or observe fully any covenant, agreement or provision to be performed or observed by the Corporation to any third party, or (iii) any third-party Claim arising out of or in connection with the operation of the Business of the Corporation.
8. Severability. In case of any term, phrase, clause, Section, section, restriction, covenant, or agreement contained in this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the same shall be deemed, and it is hereby agreed that the same are meant to be several, and shall not defeat or impair the remaining provisions hereof.
9. Waiver. The waiver by the Corporation of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the CEO shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent or continuing breach of this Agreement by the CEO.
10. Assignment; Binding Affect. This Agreement may not be assigned under any circumstances by either party. Neither the CEO nor his estate shall have any right to commute, encumber or dispose any rights to receive payments hereunder, it being agreed that such payment and the right thereto are nonassignable and nontransferable. Subject to the provisions of this Section 9 this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, the CEO’s heirs and personal representatives, and the successors and assigns of the Corporation.
11. Amendments. This Agreement may not be changed, amended, terminated or superseded orally, but only by an agreement in writing, nor may any of the provisions hereof be waived orally, but only by an instrument in writing, in any such case signed by the party against whom enforcement of any change, amendment, termination, waiver, modification, extension or discharge is sought.
12. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Governing Law. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby. Only an instrument in writing executed by the parties hereto may amend this Agreement.
13. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia. All actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought by the parties and heard and determined only in a Federal or state court located in the City of Atlanta and State of Georgia and the parties hereto consent to jurisdiction before and waive any objections to the venue of such courts. The parties hereto agree to accept service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding in any manner permitted for a notice hereunder.
14. Attorneys’ Fees. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7 above, in the event that any suit or other legal proceeding is brought for the enforcement of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that the prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to recover from the other party or parties upon final judgment on the merits reasonable attorneys’ fees, including attorneys’ fees for any appeal and costs incurred in bringing such suit or proceeding.
15. Headings. All descriptive headings of the several Sections or Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and same instrument. Facsimile and pdf signatures hereto shall have the same validity as original signatures hereto.
17. Representations and Warranties. (a) CEO represents and warrants to Corporation that (i) CEO is under no contractual or other restriction or obligation which is inconsistent with his execution of this Agreement or performance of his duties hereunder, (ii) CEO has no physical or mental disability that would hinder his performance of his duties under this Agreement, and (iii) CEO has had the opportunity to consult with an attorney of his choosing in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement.
18. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by certified mail, by personal delivery or by overnight courier to the CEO at his residence (as set forth in Corporation’s corporate records) or to the Corporation at its principal office and shall be effective upon receipt, if by personal delivery, three (3) business days after mailing, if sent by certified mail or one (1) business day after deposit with an overnight courier.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement as of the date and year first above written.
| BOXLIGHT CORPORATION | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Board Member, Compensation Committee Chair | |
| CEO | |
| XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXX |
