EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is effective as of November ___,
1998, by and between TeraGlobal Communications Corp., a Wyoming corporation
("TeraGlobal") and Xxxx Xxx ("Employee") with respect to the following facts.
A. Employer is engaged primarily in the development, production and sale of
interactive, multimedia communications technology and products.
B. Employer desires to engage Employee and Employee desires to accept such
engagement to provide such services to Employer as are set forth in this
Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT. Employer engages Employee to serve as President and Employee
hereby accepts such engagement upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
2. DUTIES. Employee will devote his full business time, knowledge and skill to
the performance of the duties and responsibilities as President of Employer, as
such duties and responsibilities are performed by Employee as of the date of
this Agreement. Employee shall report directly to the Board of Directors of
Employer. Employee will not engage in any other gainful occupation which
requires his personal attention without prior consent of the Board of Directors
of Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall perform such other
duties as the Board of Directors reasonably may require from time to time.
3. TERM AND TERMINATION.
3.1 TERM. The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of four (4)
years unless sooner terminated pursuant to any provision in this Section.
3.2 EVENTS TRIGGERING TERMINATION. At the written election of Employer in
its sole discretion, this Agreement shall terminate immediately, effective upon
the occurrence of any one of the following events:
(a) Employee's conviction of a felony or other crime involving moral
turpitude;
(b) After reasonable written notice, warning and opportunity to cure,
Employee's continuing material breach of or failure to perform his obligations
hereunder, continuing failure by Employee to abide by, conform with or otherwise
observe any material written policy of Employer, or the continuing failure to
conform to the reasonable directives of the Board of Directors of Employer;
(c) The death of Employee;
(d) The disability of Employee. Employee shall be deemed disabled if the
Employee shall become incapacitated by reason of sickness, accident or other
physical or mental disability and shall for a period of sixty (60) consecutive
days be unable to perform his normal duties hereunder, with or without
reasonable accommodation by Employer.
In the event that Employee's employment is terminated by Employer pursuant
to Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b), or 3.1(c), Employer shall promptly pay to Employee
(or in the event that such termination is pursuant to Section 3.1(c), to
Employee's estate or other legal representative) the annual base salary provided
for in Section 4.1 accrued to the date of Employee's termination and not
theretofore paid to Employee. Rights and benefits of Employee under the benefits
plans and programs of Employer shall be determined in accordance with the terms
of such plans and programs.
3.3 SEVERANCE COMPENSATION. If Employer terminates Employee's employment
with Employer and such termination is not pursuant to Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b),
or 3.1(c) then Employer shall continue to pay to Employee his annual base salary
in the same periodic installments provided for in Section 4.1 hereof, plus
pro-rata compensation for vacation time accrued and unused, for the balance of
the term of this Agreement (the "Severance Period"); provided, however, that the
severance compensation to be paid to Employee in respect of a termination for
the reason specified in Section 3.1(d) shall be integrated with any disability
insurance proceeds paid to Employee during the Severance Period so that Employee
receives no more than an amount equal to 100% of his annual base salary under
Section 4.1 during the Severance Period. In addition, during the Severance
Period Employer shall continue to pay the automobile allowance set forth in
Section 4.5 and make all Employer contributions to medical and dental and life
insurance premiums for all Employer maintained plans under which Employee is an
insured or covered as of the commencement of the Severance Period.
4. COMPENSATION.
4.1 BASE SALARY. As compensation for all services rendered by Employee
under this Agreement, Employer shall pay Employee an annual base salary of One
Hundred Sixty-Two Thousand Dollars ($162,000), payable in accordance with the
standard payroll practices of Employer. This annual base salary may be augmented
by salary increases as determined by the Board of Directors. All regular
compensation shall be paid in accordance with Employer's standard payroll
procedures.
4.2 STOCK OPTIONS. Employee shall be eligible to receive options to
purchase common stock of Employer under Employer's 1997 Stock Option Plan, as
determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of Employer.
4.3 WITHHOLDING. All compensation paid to Employee under this Agreement
shall be subject to customary withholding and employment taxes as required by
federal and state law.
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4.4 OTHER BENEFITS. Employee shall be entitled to such other benefits,
including retirement benefits, as are provided to other full-time employees of
Employer, subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions associated with such
benefits, all as determined by written company policy in effect from time to
time during the term of this Agreement.
4.5 AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE. During the term of this Agreement, including any
Severance Period, Employee shall receive a $750 per month automobile allowance.
5. VACATION. Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks annual paid vacation
per year, subject to accrual and use in accordance with written company policy
in effect from time to time during the term of this Agreement and applicable
law. Employee's vacation will be scheduled at those times which are mutually
convenient to Employer's business and Employee.
6. BUSINESS EXPENSES. During the term of this Agreement, Employer shall
reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business
expenses of Employee related to Employee's duties hereunder in accordance with
the policies and procedures of Employer in effect from time to time, including,
without limitation:
(a) Actual expenses for travel, meals and lodging for necessary travel
between Employer's business locations;
(b) Actual expenses for travel, meals and lodging for other travel approved
in advance by Employer; and
(c) Professional entertainment and promotional expenses approved in advance
by Employer.
7. TRADE SECRETS.
7.1 TRADE SECRETS IN GENERAL. During the course of Employee's employment,
Employee will have access to various trade secrets of Employer. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Trade Secret" shall mean information which is not generally
known to the public and, as a result, is of economic benefit to Employer in the
conduct of its business. Employee and Employer agree that Trade Secrets shall
include but not be limited to all information developed or obtained by Employer
and comprising the following items, whether or not such items have been reduced
to tangible form (e.g., physical writing): all methods, techniques, processes,
ideas, trade names, service marks, slogans, forms, customer lists, pricing
structures, menus, business forms, marketing programs and plans, layouts and
designs, financial information, operational methods and tactics, cost
information, the identity of or contractual arrangements with suppliers, the
identity or buying habits of customers, accounting procedures, and any document,
record or other information of Employer relating to the above. Trade Secrets
include not only information belonging to Employer which existed before the date
of this Agreement, but also information developed by Employee for Employer or
its employees during the term of this Agreement.
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7.2 RESTRICTION ON USE OF TRADE SECRETS. Employee agrees that his use of
Trade Secrets is subject to the following restrictions during the term of the
Agreement and for an indefinite period thereafter so long as the Trade Secrets
have not become generally known to the public:
(a) NON-DISCLOSURE. Employee will not publish or disclose, or allow to
be published or disclosed, Trade Secrets to any person who is not an employee of
Employer unless such disclosure is necessary for the performance of Employee's
obligations under this Agreement.
(b) USE RESTRICTION. Employee shall use any Trade Secret only for the
limited purpose for which it was disclosed. Employee shall not disclose any
Trade Secret to any third party (including subcontractors) other than in
accordance with customary practices and existing agreements with customers and
shall disclose the Trade Secret only to other employees of Employer or as
provided under such agreements with customers having a need to know. Employee
shall promptly notify Employer of any Trade Secret disclosed other than in
accordance herewith.
(c) NON-REMOVAL. Employee will not remove any Trade Secrets from the
offices of Employer or the premises of any facility in which Employer is
performing services, or allow such removal, other than in accordance with
customary practices and existing agreements with customers.
(d) SURRENDER UPON TERMINATION. Upon termination of his employment with
Employer for any reason, Employee will surrender to Employer all documents and
materials in his possession or control which contain Trade Secrets.
(e) PROHIBITION AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION. At any time after the
termination of his employment with Employer for any reason, Employee will not
engage in competition with Employer while making use of the Trade Secrets of
Employer.
7.3 INVENTIONS. Any and all inventions, innovations, or improvements
("Inventions") made, developed or created by the Employee (whether at the
request or suggestion of Employer or otherwise, whether alone or in conjunction
with others, and whether during regular hours of work or otherwise) during the
term hereof which may be directly or indirectly useful in, or relate to, the
business of Employer, shall be promptly and fully disclosed by Employee to
Employer and shall be Employer's exclusive property as against Employee and
Employee shall promptly deliver to an appropriate representative of Employer all
papers, drawings, models, data and other material relating to any Inventions
made, developed or created by him as aforesaid. Employee shall, at the request
of Employer, and without any payment therefor, execute any documents necessary
or advisable in the opinion of Employer's counsel to direct issuance of patents
or copyrights to Employer with respect to such Inventions as are to be
Employer's exclusive property as against Employee or to vest in Employer title
to such Inventions as against Employee. The expense of securing any such patent
or copyright shall be borne by Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Agreement does not require assignment of an Invention which qualifies fully for
protection under Section 2870 of the California Labor Code, a copy which is
attached as Exhibit A.
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7.4 NON SOLICITATION. During the term of employment of Employee and until
the expiration of twenty-four (24) months following the termination of the
employment of Employee, Employee shall not:
(a) advise or in any way encourage any person, firm or corporation who
is, at the time of termination of employment of Employee, or was at any time
during the term of employment of Employee with Employer, a customer or client of
Employer, to breach any contract with Employer;
(b) recruit, hire, assist others in the soliciting, recruiting or
hiring, or discuss other employment with, any person who is at the time of
termination of the employment of Employee with Employer, or was at anytime
during the employment of Employee with Employer, an employee of Employer, or
induce or attempt to induce any such employee to terminate his or her employment
with Employer; or
(c) use or disclose to any person, firm or corporation the name of any
present, former, prospective customer, client or employee of Employer.
8. UNFAIR COMPETITION, MISAPPROPRIATION OF TRADE SECRETS AND VIOLATION OF
SOLICITATION CLAUSES. Employee acknowledges that unfair competition,
misappropriation of Trade Secrets or violation of any of the provisions
contained in Section 7 would cause irreparable injury to Employer, that the
remedy at law for any violation or threatened violation thereof would be
inadequate, and that Employer shall be entitled to temporary and permanent
injunctive or other equitable relief without the necessity of proving actual
damages. Employee agrees that such relief shall be available in a court of law
regardless of the arbitration provisions contained in Section 16 of this
Agreement.
9. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Employee acknowledges that the obligations and services
to be provided by Employee hereunder are special and unique. Employee agrees
that he will not at any time during the term of employment serve as an officer,
director, employee, or otherwise have an interest in any entity that engages in
business similar to that of Employer and Employer's subsidiaries. This provision
shall not apply to equity or stock ownership interests of less than 5% of any
publicly traded company.
10. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The rights and obligations of the Employer under
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of Employer. Employee shall not be entitled to assign any
of his rights or obligations under this Agreement.
11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed, governed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
12. AMENDMENTS. No amendment or modification of the terms or conditions of this
Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
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13. SEVERABILITY. Each term, condition, covenant or provision of this Agreement
shall be viewed as separate and distinct, and in the event that any such term,
covenant or provision shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
Further, a court of competent jurisdiction shall have the authority to rewrite
and construe the provisions of this Agreement to render them enforceable the
maximum extent permitted by law, consistent with the parties intent as evidenced
herein.
14. WAIVER. A waiver by either party of a breach of provision or provisions of
this Agreement shall not constitute a general waiver, or prejudice the other
party's right otherwise to demand strict compliance with that provision or any
other provisions in this Agreement.
15. NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
shall be sufficient, if in writing, sent by certified mail to his residence in
the case of Employee, or hand delivered to the Employee, or to its principal
office (corporate office) in the case of the Employer.
16. ARBITRATION. Except as provided in Section 8, any dispute or claim that may
arise out of the provisions of this Agreement which cannot be resolved by
agreement of the parties acting in good faith within a reasonable time,
including any interpretation or alleged breach hereof, shall be resolved by
arbitration in accordance with the then-effective employment arbitration rules
of the San Diego, California, Chapter of the American Arbitration Association.
Except as otherwise set forth in Section 8 hereof, the parties intend that
litigation not be used to settle any dispute or claim arising out of this
Agreement. The written determination and award of the arbitrator or arbitrators,
as applicable, shall be final, binding and conclusive, and such determination
may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction with each side to pay
their own attorneys' fees and costs.
17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Employee acknowledges receipt of this Agreement and agrees
that this Agreement and Exhibit A attached hereto represent the entire Agreement
with Employer concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any previous
oral or written communications, representations, understandings or Agreements
with Employer or any officer or agent thereof. Employee understands that no
representative of the Employer has been authorized to enter into any Agreement
or commitment with Employee which is inconsistent in any way with the terms of
this Agreement.
18. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement shall not be construed against any party on the
grounds that such party drafted the Agreement.
19. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Employee acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to
consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement,
and that he has taken advantage of that opportunity to the extent that he
desires. Employee further acknowledges that he has read and understands this
Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it
voluntarily based on his own judgment.
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20. SURVIVORSHIP. The respective rights and obligations of Employee and Employer
hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent
necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.
21. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterpart
copies, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall be deemed one and the same instrument.
22. CURRENCY. All currency expressed herein shall be in United States currency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first written above.
TeraGlobal Communications Corp.,
a Wyoming corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxx, Chief Executive
Officer
/s/ Xxxx Xxx
-------------------------------
Xxxx Xxx
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EXHIBIT A
SECTION 2870
CALIFORNIA LABOR CODE
(a) Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that an
employee shall assign, or offer to assign, any of his or her rights in an
invention to his or her employer shall not apply to an invention that the
employee developed entirely on his or her own time without using the employer's
equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those
inventions that either:
(1) Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of
the invention to the employer's business, or actual or demonstrably
anticipated research or development of the employer; or
(2) Result from any work performed by the employee for the
employer.
(b) To the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports to
require an employee to assign an invention otherwise excluded from being
required to be assigned under subdivision (a), the provision is against the
public policy of this state and is unenforceable.
