EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.1
This
Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is
made on the 24th
day of
October, 2006 by and between Electric Aquagenics Unlimited, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”),
and
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, an individual resident of the State of Georgia (the
“Employee”).
RECITALS
A. The
Employee and the Company are entering into this Agreement in connection with
the
hiring of the Employee.
B. The
Employee will be actively involved in the development of the plans for the
business operations and customer development initiatives of the Company, and
the
efforts of the Employee are expected to be of great importance to the successful
implementation of such plans.
C. The
Company owns or has access or rights to certain confidential and proprietary
information, including, without limitation, its customer list and other
information relating to its customers, which information is vital to the success
of the Company, and the Company wishes to protect and maintain this information,
which has been or may be developed by or which has or may become known to
Employee during his employment by the Company and which, if disclosed to the
Company’s competitors or if used in a competitive way, would be detrimental to
the Company’s business.
D. The
Company has developed and continues to develop important business relationships
with its customers, and Employee recognizes and acknowledges that he has and
will play a role in the development and maintenance of these relationships,
all
of which are vital to the Company’s business, and the Company wishes to protect
and maintain these relationships.
E. The
Company will employ individuals and engage consultants in which it will invest
substantial time and money in training in ways to make the Company competitive
and successful, and such Employees and consultants will possess important skills
and knowledge which will be obtained by them during their employment or
engagement, and the Company wishes to protect and maintain its relationships
with its Employees and consultants in order to further its
business.
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AGREEMENTS
In
consideration of the employment of Employee by the Company, and the mutual
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized
terms used in this Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the
meanings set forth in Schedule
1
attached
hereto.
2. Terms
of Engagement; Duties; Board of Directors.
(a) The
Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby accepts employment by the
Company, upon the terms and conditions contained herein. Employee shall be
employed as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company with
overall charge and responsibility for the business and affairs of the Company,
and shall report to and perform all of the executive duties as may from, time
to
time, be determined and assigned to him by the Board of Directors of the Company
provided
that
such duties shall be consistent with Employee’s title(s). The obligations of
Employee to start work and the obligations of the Company hereunder shall
commence not later than November 6, 2006 (“Effective
Date”).
(b) Throughout
the term of this Agreement, Employee shall:
(i) |
devote
all of Employee’s business effort, time, energy and skill (permitted
vacations and reasonable absences due to illness excepted) to the
duties
assigned by the Company and to the promotion of the Company’s
interests;
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(ii) |
faithfully,
loyally and industriously perform such duties, subject to the control
and
supervision of the Company’s Board of
Directors;
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(iii) |
diligently
follow and implement all lawful policies and decisions of the Company
that
are communicated to Employee;
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(iv) |
not
engage in, or otherwise be interested in, directly or indirectly,
any
other business or activity that would adversely affect the Company
Business or Employee’s ability to perform his duties under this Agreement;
and
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(v) |
be
expected to travel extensively on behalf of the Company (both domestically
and internationally).
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(c) The
Company shall nominate Employee for election to the Company’s Board of Directors
at the Company’s first annual shareholders’ meeting after the Effective Date.
Subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders, the Employee shall be elected
to and shall serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Employee
shall not participate in any vote of the Board of Directors that relates to
Employee’s employment by the Company, including without limitation, the scope of
Employee’s duties and any increase in Employee’s Base Salary or other
compensation and benefits. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever this Agreement
calls for any decision or consent to be made by the Company, Employee may not
make such decision or grant such consent on the Company’s behalf, such decision
or consent shall only be made or granted at the direction of the Company’s Board
of Directors.
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3. Compensation
and Benefits.
(a) In
consideration of the services rendered by Employee pursuant to this Agreement,
the Company shall provide Employee with the following remuneration and benefits,
which shall be the only compensation payable and benefits provided to Employee
with respect to his employment hereunder, and, Employee shall not be entitled
to
receive any compensation or benefits in addition to the following for any
services rendered by him in any capacity to the Company, unless agreed to in
writing by the Company:
(i) |
Base
Salary.
The Company agrees to pay Employee an annual base salary (“Base
Salary”)
of Two Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars and No/100 ($240,000) per year.
The
Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard
payroll practices for its employees.
The Company’s Board of Directors shall annually review the Employee’s Base
Salary and, in its sole discretion, may (but shall not be obligated
to)
increase such Base Salary. The Employee shall have no authority to
increase his Base Salary or any other compensation and benefits payable
to
Employee.
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(ii) |
Bonus.
The Company’s Board of Directors, with input from the Employee, shall
develop an annual bonus plan pursuant to which Employee as well as
other
Company employees may earn a bonus on an annual basis. The Employee
and
the Company’s Board of Directors shall jointly develop the performance
benchmarks for determining whether or not Employee (or any other
employees) have earned a bonus. If Employee meets the performance
benchmarks that are developed, Employee shall be eligible to earn
a bonus
at the end of the fiscal year of the Company of up to thirty percent
(30%)
of his Base Salary. Any bonus earned by Employee shall be paid to
Employee
within ninety (90) days after the end of the applicable fiscal year.
Employee shall not be eligible for a bonus for the Company’s fiscal year
ending December 31, 2006.
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(i) |
Options.
On the Effective Date, the Employee shall be granted options
(“Option”)
to purchase five hundred thousand (500,000) shares of the Company’s common
stock (“Shares”),
which the Company represents constitutes approximately 2.17% of the
Company’s fully diluted capital stock. The Option shall vest in
installments in accordance with the schedule below:
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· |
100,000
Shares shall vest on February 6, 2007
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· |
100,000
Shares shall vest on November 6, 2007
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· |
100,000
Shares shall vest on November 6, 2008
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· |
100,000
Shares shall vest on November 6, 2009
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· |
100,000
Shares shall vest on November 6, 2010
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The
exercise price per Share for the Option shall be equal to the closing sale
price
of the Company’s common stock on the date of this Agreement first written above.
The number of Shares subject to the Option will be equitably adjusted in
the
event of any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or other similar
event. The definitive terms and conditions of the Option shall be set forth
in a
separate option grant agreement to be entered into by the Employee and the
Company substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
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(iv) |
Benefit
Plans and Programs.
Employee shall be eligible to participate in all profit-sharing,
pension
and other retirement plans, health insurance and other benefit programs,
and management incentive, stock option and bonus plans as are from
time to
time established by the Company and which are made available to the
Company’s senior management. In the event any plan or program of
whatsoever nature is developed or maintained by the Company in the
future,
the Employee shall have no right therein by virtue of this Agreement;
such
right, if any, will only be granted by any such future plan or program.
Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company from terminating
or
amending any of such plans or programs at any time or from time to
time.
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(v) |
COBRA.
Until Employee is eligible for health coverage under the Company’s group
health insurance plan, the Company will reimburse Employee for his
(and
not any dependents) health insurance costs under Employee’s prior group
health insurance plan pursuant to COBRA; provided that the Company
shall
not be obligated for more than four (4) months of COBRA expenses
commencing on the Effective Date.
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(vi) |
Vacation
and Company Recognized Holidays.
Employee shall be entitled to twenty (20) business days paid vacation
per
calendar year, which vacation shall be earned (accrued) ratably throughout
the calendar year. Vacation days must be used by the Employee during
the
calendar year in which they are earned. The Employee is not entitled
to
carry over earned vacation days from one calendar year to the next
and any
earned vacation time that the Employee does not use during the calendar
year in which they were earned will be forfeited. In addition, the
Company
recognizes twelve (12) national and state holidays. Upon termination
of
this Agreement, unused accrued vacation will be not be paid to Employee
except in accordance with Section 13 of this
Agreement.
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(vii) |
Company
Car.
The Company shall reimburse Employee for the amount required to lease
an
automobile of Employee’s choice up to a maximum of Five Hundred Dollars
($500) per month. In addition, the Company will reimburse Employee,
up to
a maximum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) per year, for the following
properly documented expenses related to such automobile: (i) service,
(ii)
maintenance, (iii) repair and (iv) excess mileage fees required by
the
automobile lease, if such excess mileage is the result of required
business travel by the Employee on behalf of the Company.
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(viii) |
Reimbursable
Expenses
The Company shall reimburse the Employee for any and all reasonable,
ordinary, and necessary business expenses incurred by him in the
course of
performing his duties under this Agreement which are consistent with
the
Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel,
entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s
requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of
expenses.
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(b) Employee
acknowledges that, as a condition of his employment and continued employment
by
the Company, he has been asked to assign certain rights, and has been asked
not
to engage in certain activities which would be detrimental to the Company
Business, either during his employment or during certain periods following
termination of his employment, and Employee understands and acknowledges that
the compensation and benefits to be provided to him by the Company under Section
3(a)
above is
being provided in part for his agreement to these conditions, which are set
out
below.
4. Agreement
Not to Solicit Employees or Consultants.
During
the term of Employee’s employment by the Company and for a period of one (1)
year following the termination of such employment, regardless of the reason
for
or manner of termination, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly,
on
Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of others, solicit, divert or hire away, or
attempt to solicit, divert or hire away, any person employed by the Company,
whether or not such Employee is a full-time or temporary Employee of the Company
and whether or not such employment is pursuant to a written agreement for a
determined period of time or at will, or any consultant engaged by the
Company.
5. Agreement
Not to Solicit Customers.
During
the term of Employee’s employment by the Company and for a period of one (1)
year following the termination of such employment, regardless of the reason
for
or manner of termination, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly,
on
Employee’s own behalf or on the behalf of others, solicit, divert or
appropriate, or attempt to solicit, divert or appropriate any customer or
actively sought prospective customer of the Company, to or on behalf of any
Competing Business, with
a
view to selling or providing any product, equipment or service competitive
with
any product, equipment or service sold or provided by Company, provided that
the
restrictions set forth in this section shall apply only to customers or actively
sought prospective customers of the Company with which Employee
has
had
material contact. For purposes of this section, “material contact” means contact
between Employee and each customer or actively sought prospective customer:
(1)
with whom Employee dealt; or (2) whose dealings with the Company have been
directly supervised by Employee.
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6. Restrictions
on Use and Disclosure of Company Information
(a) Employee
agrees that during the term of his employment hereunder:
(i) |
he
will receive and hold all the Company Information in trust and in
strictest confidence;
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(ii) |
he
will protect the Company Information from disclosure and will in
no event
take any action causing any of the Company Information to lose its
character as Company Information, or fail to take the action necessary
in
order to prevent any Company Information from losing its status as
Company
Information; and
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(iii) |
except
as required by Employee’s duties in the course of employment by the
Company, he will not, directly or indirectly, use, publish, disseminate
or
otherwise disclose any Company Information to any third party without
the
prior written consent of the Company, which may be withheld in the
Company’s absolute discretion.
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(b) The
restrictions on Employee’s use or disclosure of Company Information, as set
forth in Section 6(a) above, shall survive, with respect to Confidential
Information, for a period of three (3) years following any termination of this
Agreement.
(c) The
restrictions on Employee’s use or disclosure of Company Information, as set
forth in Section 6(a) above, shall survive, with respect to Trade Secrets,
for
so long as such Company Information is a trade secret under applicable
law.
(d) If
Employee (or anyone to whom Employee transmits Company Information) becomes
legally compelled to disclose any Company Information covered by this Agreement
through subpoena, court order, or any other compulsory process, Employee shall
first promptly notify the Company so that it may either seek a protective order
(or other appropriate remedy) or waive compliance with the applicable provisions
of this Agreement. If such protective order (or other remedy) is not obtained,
or the Company waives compliance with the applicable provisions of this
Agreement, Employee (or anyone to whom Employee transmits Company Information)
shall furnish only that portion of the Company Information which Employee (or
anyone to whom Employee transmits Company Information) is advised by its counsel
is legally required to be disclosed, shall disclose them only to the parties
in
favor of whom the relevant order or waiver is obtained, and shall exercise
reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment
will be accorded to such disclosed information.
7. Inventions.
(a) Employee
agrees that all Subject Inventions and all patent and other intellectual
property and trade secret rights in and to Subject Inventions will become the
property of the Company, and Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company
all of Employee’s rights to all Subject Inventions, including all derivative
works thereof and in all media.
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(b) Employee
agrees that if he develops or reduces to practice an Invention during his
employment and there is a reasonable basis to believe that the Invention is
a
Subject Invention, Employee will promptly provide a written description of
the
Invention to the Company adequate to allow evaluation for a determination as
to
whether the Invention is a Subject Invention.
(c) Employee
further agrees that he will cooperate with attorneys or other persons designated
by the Company by explaining the nature of any Subject Invention for which
the
Company elects to file an application for patent protection, reviewing
applications and other papers and providing any other cooperation required
for
prosecution of the patent applications. The Company will be responsible for
all
expenses incurred for the preparation and prosecution of all patent applications
on Subject Inventions assigned to the Company.
8. Copyrights.
(a) The
Company shall own all right, title and interest in and to any Works. In
furtherance of the foregoing, Employee acknowledges that each Work is a
“work-made-for-hire” as defined under the U.S. Copyright Act (as amended). The
Company shall for copyright purposes be considered the sole and original author
of each Work, and shall have the sole and exclusive right (and may grant to
others the right) in perpetuity throughout the universe, to copyright, use,
transmit, broadcast, modify, change, adapt, edit or exploit each Work by any
means, for any purpose, in any media now or hereafter known. Employee warrants
and represents that each Work to Employee’s knowledge is an original creation
and that to Employee’s knowledge does not violate any law, or infringe any
copyright or other right of any person or entity. Employee waives any and all
rights (e.g.,
“moral
rights”) Employee may have in each Work, including but not limited to the right
to acknowledgment as author. Employee agrees not to use or include in any Work
any copyrighted, restricted or protected code, specifications, concepts, trade
secrets, or confidential information of any third party or any other information
that Employee would be prohibited from using by any confidentiality,
non-disclosure or other agreement with any third party. Employee
agrees to fully and promptly disclose in writing to the Company any Works as
such Works from time to time may arise.
(b) In
the
event a court of competent jurisdiction ever determines that any Work is not
a
“work made for hire” then, and regardless, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns
all right, title and interest in and to that Work to the Company (and/or its
successors or assigns). The foregoing assignment includes all worldwide rights
of any kind in and to each Work (whether or not such rights are recognized
in
the United States or any other country in the world), including without
limitation, all rights incident to patent, trademark or copyright ownership
(including renewals or extensions), to claims for damages by reason of past,
present or future infringement and to the right to xxx and recover such damages
for the use and benefit of the Company. If any such rights cannot be assigned
to
the Company, then Employee waives the enforcement of such rights, and if any
such rights cannot be assigned or waived, then Employee hereby grants to the
Company an exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, fully paid license,
with right to sublicense through multiple tiers, to such rights.
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(c) Employee
shall execute and deliver such confirmatory assignments, instruments, or
documents as Company deems necessary or desirable to protect, maintain,
establish or confirm Company’s rights to each
Work
without
requiring company to provide any further consideration therefor, failing which
Employee hereby appoints Company (and its successors or assigns) as his
attorney-in-fact to execute such documents. In this regard, Employee shall,
without charge to the Company other than reimbursement of Employee’s reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses, execute and deliver all such further documents,
including applications for patents and copyrights, and perform such acts, at
any
time during or after the term of this Agreement as may be necessary, to obtain
patents or copyrights in respect of each
Work
and to
vest title to each
Work
in the
Company, its successors, assigns or designees. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, Employee further agrees, during the Employment Period and
after the termination, cancellation, expiration or non-renewal thereof, without
regard to the reason for the termination, cancellation, expiration or
non-renewal, to give all lawful testimony which may be required in connection
with any proceedings involving each
Work
so
assigned by Employee.
(d) Employee
shall promptly notify the Company of any unauthorized use, known to the
Employee, of the Works. The Company shall have the right, in its sole and
absolute discretion, to determine whether or not to institute any type of action
against such unauthorized use.
9. Ability
to Earn Livelihood.
Employee
expressly agrees and acknowledges that the covenants and restrictions contained
in Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 hereof do not preclude Employee from earning
a
livelihood, nor do they unreasonably impose limitations on Employee’s ability to
earn a living. In addition, Employee agrees and acknowledges that the potential
harm to the Company of their non-enforcement outweighs any harm to the Employee
of their enforcement
by
injunction or otherwise.
10. Contracts
or Other Agreements.
Employee
represents and warrants that he is not a party to any contract, employment
agreement or other agreement with a former employer, business partner or any
other business with which Employee has been associated which prohibits Employee
during a period of time which includes the date of Employee’s commencement of
employment with the Company from: (i) competing with, or in any way
participating in a business which competes with such former employer or
business; (ii) soliciting personnel of such former employer or business to
leave
such former employer’s employment or to leave such business; or (iii) soliciting
customers of the former employer or business on behalf of another business.
If
Employee is the subject of any such agreement, and has any doubt as to its
applicability to Employee, Employee will immediately provide a copy of such
agreement to the Company so that the Company can make a determination as to
its
effect on Employee’s ability to undertake employment with the Company. Employee
will not disclose to the Company, or use or induce the Company to use, any
proprietary information or trade secrets of others.
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11. Return
of Materials.
All
Materials are the property of the Company. Employee will not remove from the
Company’s premises or copy or reproduce any Materials (except as Employee’s
employment by the Company shall require), and at the termination of Employee’s
employment, regardless of the reason for or manner of such termination, Employee
will leave at the principal office of the Company, or immediately return to
the
Company, all Materials or copies or reproductions thereof in Employee’s
possession, power or control. This Section 11 shall survive any expiration
or
termination of this Agreement.
12. Term
and Termination of this Agreement.
(a) Term.
The
term of the Employee’s employment shall commence on the Effective Date and
expire on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date, unless sooner
terminated as provided in this Agreement. On the third (3rd)
anniversary of the Effective Date, and on each one year anniversary thereafter,
this Agreement shall automatically extend for an additional one year term unless
either party delivers written notice to the other not less than sixty (60)
days
prior to the end of the then current term of its desire for this Agreement
to
not be so extended.
(b) Termination.
This
Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company hereunder may be terminated:
(i) immediately by the Company For Cause; (ii) upon ten (10) days written notice
by the Company to Employee for any reason other than For Cause; (iii)
immediately by Employee for Good Reason; or (iv) upon ten (10) days written
notice by Employee to the Company for any reason other than for Good Reason.
This Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company shall automatically
terminate without action by the Company upon Employee’s death or Permanent
Disability.
13. Effect
of Expiration and Termination.
(a) Rights
Following Expiration.
At
expiration of the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be terminated
and
the last day of such term shall be deemed to be the effective date of
termination for purposes of this Agreement, and neither party shall have any
further obligation to the other except
for
those rights and obligations of the parties hereto which survive the termination
as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
(b) Termination
For Cause.
In the
event of termination of the Employee by the Company For Cause, the Company
shall
have no further obligation to Employee except for the payment of unpaid Base
Salary under Section 3(a)(i)
hereof
through the date of termination, such amount being due and payable to Employee
within thirty (30) days following the effective date of termination. Employee
shall not be entitled to the payment of any unpaid bonus, whether or not earned,
or any unused accrued vacation days, if Employee is terminated For Cause. In
addition, all unvested Options shall immediately terminate and the previously
vested Options, must be exercised by Employee during the sixty (60) days
immediately following the date of termination (and if not so exercised, all
such
Options shall automatically and irrevocably terminate). The payment of the
Base
Salary pursuant to this section is expressly conditioned upon Employee observing
all covenants contained in this Agreement that survive termination and Employee
shall forfeit any payment due hereunder in the event of such
breach.
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(c) Termination
without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason; Non-renewal of Agreement by the
Company.
In the
event of termination of the Employee by the Company other than For Cause,
resignation by Employee for Good Reason, or non-renewal of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 12(a) above because of a written notice delivered by the
Company to Employee pursuant to such section (other than a non-renewal For
Cause), the Company shall have no further obligation to Employee except that
(1)
all unvested Options shall immediately vest and, together with the previously
vested Options, must be exercised during the sixty (60) days immediately
following the date of termination (and if not so exercised, all such Options
shall automatically and irrevocably terminate) and (2) the Company shall be
obligated to Employee for the payment of the following:
(i) Base
Salary.
Unpaid
Base Salary under Section 3(a)(i) hereof through the date of termination, such
amount being due and payable within thirty (30) days following the date of
termination; and
(ii) Vacation.
Any
earned but unused vacation days for the year in which Employee is terminated,
such amount being due and payable within thirty (30) days following the date
of
termination; and
(iii) Severance.
The
Severance Payment, which shall be paid ratably over the twelve month period
immediately following the date of termination, in accordance with the Company’s
then standard payroll practices and procedures and subject to applicable Federal
and state tax withholdings.
To
secure
the Company’s obligation to make the Severance Payment, within seven (7) days
after the Effective Date, the Company shall deposit, at its election, either
(1)
cash in the amount of Two Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($240,000) or (2)
an
irrevocable letter of credit with a face amount of Two Hundred Forty Thousand
Dollars ($240,000), with an agreed upon escrow agent (“Escrow
Agent”)
who
shall hold such funds (or letter of credit) in escrow pursuant to the terms
and
conditions contained in that certain Escrow Agreement substantially in the
form
of Exhibit
B
attached
hereto. The Company shall be entitled to all interest earned on such escrowed
funds.
The
payment of the Base Salary pursuant to this section is expressly conditioned
upon Employee observing all covenants contained in this Agreement that survive
termination and Employee shall forfeit any payment due hereunder in the event
of
such breach.
(d) Termination
Due to Death or Permanent Disability.
In the
event of termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company
due to Employee’s death or Permanent Disability: (1) the Company shall have no
further obligation to Employee except the Company shall be obligated to Employee
for the payment of the following:
(i) Base
Salary.
Unpaid
Base Salary under Section 3(a)(i) hereof through the date of termination, such
amount being due and payable within thirty (30) days following the date of
termination; and
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(ii) Vacation.
Any
earned but unused vacation days for the year in which Employee is terminated,
such amount being due and payable within thirty (30) days following the date
of
termination; and
(2)
all
unvested Options shall immediately terminate and all vested Options must be
exercised, if at all, within sixty (60) days immediately following the date
of
death or Permanent Disability, and thereafter such Options shall automatically
and irrevocably terminate.
(e) Resignation
by Employee.
In the
event of termination by reason of Employee’s resignation (other than for Good
Reason), the Company shall have no further obligation to Employee except for
the
payment of unpaid Base Salary under Section 3(a)(i)
hereof
through the date of termination, such amount being due and payable to Employee
within thirty (30) days following the effective date of termination, and upon
such resignation, all options (vested and unvested) shall immediately and
automatically terminate. The payment pursuant to this section is expressly
conditioned upon Employee not breaching the covenants and restrictions contained
in Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 hereof, and Employee automatically forfeits
any
and all remaining payments due hereunder in the event of such
breach.
(f) Effect
of Termination.
Upon
termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company
hereunder, regardless of the reason for or manner of termination, Employee’s
covenants in Section
4
(Agreement Not to Solicit Employees or Consultants), Section 5
(Agreement Not to Solicit Customers), Section 6 (Restrictions on Use and
Disclosure of Company Information)
hereof
shall survive the termination of Employee’s employment hereunder for so long as
and to the extent provided therein, and Employee’s representations, warranties
and covenants under Section
7 (Inventions), Section 8 (Copyrights), Section 10 (Contracts or Other
Agreements) and Section 11 (Return of Materials)
of this
Agreement shall survive without limitation the termination of Employee’s
employment hereunder.
14. Remedies.
Employee
agrees that the covenants contained in Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 of
this
Agreement are of the essence of this Agreement; that each of such covenants
is
reasonable and necessary to protect and preserve the business, interests and
properties of the Company, and that irreparable loss and damage will be suffered
by the Company should Employee breach any of such covenants. Therefore, Employee
agrees and consents that, in addition to all the remedies provided at law or
in
equity, the Company shall be entitled to a temporary restraining order and
temporary and permanent injunctions to prevent a breach or contemplated breach
of any of such covenants. The existence of any claim, demand, action or cause
of
action of Employee against the Company shall not constitute a defense to the
enforcement by the Company of any of the covenants or agreements
herein.
15. Severability.
The
parties agree that each provision in this Agreement is separate, distinct and
severable from the other and remaining provisions of this Agreement, and that
the invalidity or unenforceability of any Agreement provision shall not affect
the validity and enforceability of any other provision or provisions of this
Agreement. Further, if any provision of this Agreement is ruled invalid or
unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction because of a conflict between
such provision and any applicable law or public policy, such provision shall
be
valid and enforceable to the extent such provision is consistent with such
law
or public policy.
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16. Further
Action.
The
parties agree to perform all further acts and execute, acknowledge and deliver
any documents which may be reasonably necessary, appropriate or desirable to
carry out the provisions of this Agreement.
17. Assistance
in Litigation.
Employee
agrees that following the termination of his employment hereunder, regardless
of
the reason for or manner of such termination, other than death or a Permanent
Disability that prevents his cooperation, he shall, upon reasonable notice,
to
the extent that it does not unreasonably interfere with Employee’s business or
personal affairs, furnish such information and give such assistance (not
requiring travel) to the Company in any controversy or matter involving
litigation as may reasonably be requested by the Company. The Company shall
compensate Employee for all reasonable expenses and Employee’s time incurred
while so assisting the Company. Employee is not obligated to assist in any
controversy or litigation between the Company and Employee.
18. Notices.
Any
notice, request, demand, or other communication required to be given hereunder
shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to have been fully given if
personally delivered or if mailed by overnight delivery to the parties at the
following addresses, or at such other addresses as shall be given in writing
by
either party to the other party hereto:
If
to the
Company:
Electric
Aquagenics Unlimited, Inc.
0000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx X
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
Attention:
Xx. Xxx Xxxxxx
|
With
copies to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
000
00xx
Xx.,
XX
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
12
If
to
Employee:
Xxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
With
copies to:
Xxxx,
Xxxx and Xxxxx LLC
00
X.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Notices
sent hereunder shall be deemed delivered (i) if by hand or local courier, when
delivered to the address for the party to whom such notice is sent and such
delivery is accepted or refused by such party, or (ii) if sent by overnight
courier, on the next business day (i.e., a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday
or other day on which national banks are not open for business in Atlanta,
Georgia) after being delivered to such courier.
19. Assignment.
All
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any
of
the parties hereto will bind and inure to the benefit of any of the parties
and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives,
successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not; provided
that the
Employee may not assign his rights or delegate his obligations under this
Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company (to be granted or
withheld in the Company’s sole discretion). The Company may assign its rights
under this Agreement.
20. Waiver.
No
consent or waiver by a party with respect to any breach or default by the other
party hereunder shall be effective unless in writing, and no such waiver or
consent shall be deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver with respect
to
any other breach or default by such party of the same provision or any other
provision of this Agreement. Failure on the part of a party to complain of
any
act or failure to act of the other party or to declare such other party in
default shall not be deemed or constitute a waiver of any rights
hereunder.
21. Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed and construed as to both substantive and procedural
matters in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard
to
the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided however, if enforcement of
any
part of this Agreement is sought in a jurisdiction other than Georgia, this
Agreement shall be governed and construed as to both substantive and procedural
matters in accordance with the laws of such jurisdiction, without regard to
the
conflict of laws principles thereof.
13
22. Interpretation.
Should
any provision of this Agreement require a judicial interpretation, it is agreed
that the judicial body interpreting or construing this Agreement shall not
apply
the assumption that the terms of this agreement shall be more strictly construed
against one party by reason of the rule of legal construction that an instrument
is to be construed more strictly against the party which itself or through
its
agents prepared the agreement. The parties acknowledge and agree that they
and
their agents have each had the opportunity to participate equally in the
negotiations and preparation of this Agreement, and Employee acknowledges that
he has had the opportunity to consult legal counsel regarding the terms
hereof.
23. Reasonableness.
Employee
acknowledges that he has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful
consideration to the restraints imposed upon the Employee by this Agreement,
and
is in full accord as to their necessity for the reasonable and proper protection
of the Company Information. The Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees
that
each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect
to
subject matter, time period and geographical area, as applicable.
24. Modification.
No
amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon
the
Company or Employee unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties further agree that if a judicial
or
quasi-judicial entity declares the agreement invalid in whole or in part, it
may
modify the terms of the Agreement and give effect to the Agreement as
modified.
25. Attorney’s
Fees.
In
the
event of any dispute between the parties arising out of or in any way connected
with this Agreement resulting in any litigation or arbitration, then the
prevailing party in such litigation or arbitration shall be entitled to recover
its costs of prosecuting and/or defending same, including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees at trial and all appellate levels. The provisions of
this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
26. Withholdings;
Setoff.
All
compensation and benefits to Employee hereunder shall be reduced by all Federal,
state, local and other withholdings and similar taxes and payments required
by
applicable law. Upon ten (10) business days written notice to Employee, the
Company may withhold and use any amounts due under this Agreement to Employee,
at its option, to offset any damages, losses, costs in expenses suffered by
the
Company as a result of any act or omission whatsoever of Employee; provided,
however,
that if
Employee within
five (5) business days after receiving any such notice by the Company gives
the
Company written notice that Employee disputes
that the Company has been so damaged by his acts or omissions, then such
compensation and benefits shall be paid the Escrow Agent (defined by Section
13(c)(iii),
and held
there until either the earlier of (a) the written approval of both Employee
and
the Company, or (b) a court order directing that such compensation and benefits
be paid to Employee or retained by the Company. Initially the fees of the escrow
agent shall be shared equally by the parties, and upon resolution of the dispute
the non-prevailing party shall reimburse the prevailing party for its share
of
such fees. The provisions of this Section 26 shall constitute a complete and
absolute right of setoff against any such payments which may become due to
Employee from the Company.
14
27. Headings.
Titles
and captions contained in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of
convenience and for reference and in no way define, limit or extend or describe
the scope of this Agreement or the intent of any provision contained in this
Agreement.
28. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties on the subject matter
herein. All prior understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter
of this Agreement are hereby expressly terminated. Employee acknowledges that
during the term of his employment by the Company the protections afforded the
Company under this Agreement dealing with the solicitation of customers and
Employees of the Company may, as a condition of his continued employment,
require changes to the provisions in such sections relating to job description,
business, and titles. Accordingly, Employee agrees to promptly enter into
modifications to such sections as are reasonably requested by the Company and
as
are mutually agreed upon from time to time during the term of this
Agreement.
29. Arbitration.
With
the
sole exception of injunctive relief contemplated by Section 14 of this
Agreement, and any injunctive relief sought by Company against Employee for
breaches of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Agreement, any controversy or
claim arising out of any aspect of the relationship of the parties hereto will
be settled by binding arbitration in the State of Georgia by a panel of three
arbitrators, of which Company will choose one arbitrator, Employee will choose
one arbitrator, and those arbitrators will choose the third arbitrator, who
will
act as Chair of the panel. The arbitrators will select the rules and procedures
under which the arbitration will be conducted. Judgment upon any arbitration
award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof, and the parties
consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Georgia for this
purpose.
Initials:_____ Initials:_____
THIS
AGREEMENT, AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYEE’S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY, CONTAINS AN
ASSIGNMENT OF CERTAIN PATENT, COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS AND MAY AFFECT
EMPLOYEE’S RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS OWNED BY EMPLOYEE AT THE TIME EMPLOYMENT BY THE
COMPANY BEGAN AND CONTAINS RESTRICTIONS ON EMPLOYEE’S ACTIVITIES AND EMPLOYEE’S
USE OR DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY BOTH DURING AND
FOLLOWING EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY. EMPLOYEE EXPRESSLY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS
THAT HIS EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES ARE SUCH THAT NONE OF THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS AGREEMENT WOULD PREVENT HIM FROM EARNING A LIVELIHOOD FOLLOWING TERMINATION
OF HIS EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
15
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have each executed and delivered
this
Agreement as of the date first shown above.
EMPLOYEE:
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx
THE
COMPANY:
ELECTRIC
AQUAGENICS UNLIMITED, INC.
By:
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: CEO
- Interim
[Please
Initial Paragraph 29]
16
SCHEDULE
1
(a) “Company
Information” means Confidential Information and Trade Secrets.
(b) “Company’s
Business” means the business of developing, manufacturing and
marketing specialized equipment which uses water electrolysis to
create fluids which are used in commercial, residential and industrial cleaning,
disinfecting, remediating, hydrating and moisturizing property, equipment
and food supplies.
(c) “Competing
Business” means any business organization of whatever form engaged in any
business or enterprise which is the same as, or substantially the same as,
the
Company’s Business.
(d) “Confidential
Information” means any information learned by Employee as a result of employment
with the Company relating to the Company’s services and equipment; customer
names, addresses and locations; customer contacts at each location; current
and
previous sales; customer service dates, and any and all information gathered
by
the Company or the Employee relating to potential customers; Company route
sheets, invoices, daily activity reports, price lists and supplements; Company
routes or territories; Company sales volume, strategy and marketing information;
information relating to research, production, development, compositions, methods
or other secret or confidential matters of the Company or of its customers;
all
computer software, computer programs, listings, codes, flowcharts, and
printouts; all inventions, ideas, designs, processes, drawings or models; all
formulas, reports, and business documents; any of the Company’s copyrighted and
copyrightable, technical or scientific know-how; and/or any other confidential
information relating to the Company’s business. Confidential information does
not include information which has been voluntarily disclosed to the public
by
the Company, been independently developed and disclosed to the general public
by
others, or otherwise entered the public domain through lawful
means.
(e) “For
Cause” means one or more of the following:
(i) |
Employee
commits fraud, theft or embezzlement against the
Company;
|
(ii) |
Employee’s
conviction of, confession to, or pleading guilty or “no contest” to, a
felony under any state or Federal statute;
|
(iii) |
Employee’s
failure to observe or perform any covenant, condition or provision
of this
Agreement, and such failure is not remedied within ten (10) business
days
after notice from the Company which describes in reasonable detail
the
nature of such failure and the actions which can Employee can take
to cure
such failure; provided that Employee shall not be entitled to notice,
and
shall have no right to cure any breach of Section 4, 5, or 6 of this
Agreement;
|
(iv) |
Employee,
in the performance of his duties under this Agreement, engages in
conduct
or activities that has a material adverse effect on the reputation
of the
Company or its business;
|
(v) |
Employee
appropriates (or attempts to appropriate) a material business opportunity
of the Company; or
|
(vi) |
Employee
abuses alcohol or drugs while on Company
business.
|
(f) “Good
Reason” means one or more of the following has occurred without the Employee’s
consent:
(i) |
Employee’s
title (Chief Executive Officer and President) is
reduced;
|
(ii) |
Employee
is (A) not elected as a director of the Company at the Company’s next
annual stockholder’s meeting immediately following the Effective Date, (B)
not re-elected during the term of this Agreement as a director of
the
Company at any subsequent stockholder’s meeting, or (C) removed as a
director of the Company without
cause;
|
(iii) |
The
Employee is required to relocate to a principal place of employment
more
than fifty (50) miles from his principal place of employment with
the
Company in Kennesaw, Georgia, as of the Effective Date;
|
(iv) |
Employee’s
Base Salary or eligibility to earn the bonus is reduced;
or
|
(v) |
a
failure by the Company to comply with any material provision of this
Agreement which has not been cured within 10 business days after
written
notice of such noncompliance has been given by Employee to the
Company.
|
(g) “Invention”
means any invention, discovery, or idea, whether or not patentable, including,
but not limited to, any useful process, method, formula, technique, machine,
manufacture, composition of matter, algorithm or computer program, design,
know-how, technical information or data, as well as improvements thereto, which
is new or which the Employee has a reasonable basis to believe may be
new.
(h) “Materials”
means all documents or tangible or intangible materials, including computer
data, prepared by or at the direction of Employee or provided to or obtained
by
Employee during the course of employment by the Company which contain Company
Information.
(i) “Permanent
Disability” shall mean that, due to physical, mental or emotional problems of
the Employee, Employee is unable, after reasonable accommodation by the Company,
to perform his normal duties for the Company for ninety days in any period
of
one hundred eighty consecutive days.
18
(j) “Person”
means any person or entity, or subsidiary, division or department
thereof.
(k) “Severance
Payment” shall mean an amount equal to twelve (12) months of the then current
Base Salary of Employee.
(l) “Subject
Invention” means any Invention which is conceived or first practiced by the
Employee, alone or in a joint effort with others, during the Employee’s
employment by the Company, whether prior to or following execution of this
Agreement, which (i) may be reasonably expected to be used in a product or
service of the Company, or a product or service similar to a Company product
or
service; (ii) results from work that the Employee has been assigned as part
of
his or her duties as Employee for the Company; (iii) is an area of technology
which is the same as or substantially related to the areas of technology with
which the Employee is involved; or (iv) is useful, or which the Employee
reasonably expects may be useful, in any manufacturing or product or service
design process of the Company.
(m) “Trade
Secrets” means information of the Company, without regard to form, including,
but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, formulas, patterns,
compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, drawings, processes,
financial data, financial plans, product or service plans or lists of actual
or
potential customers or suppliers which is not commonly known by or available
to
the public and which information (i) derives economic value, actual or
potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily
ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value
from its disclosure or use; and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are
reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
(n) “Work”
means a work of authorship, whether or not copyrightable, and in whatever form
or medium and all derivative works thereof, which are, have been or will be
created, made, or developed by Employee for the Company.