Richard Bernstein 6900 W Princeton Avenue Denver, CO 80235 Dear Richard:
EXHIBIT 10.02
SIBLING
MUSIC CORP.
SIBLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
0000 X
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Dear Xxxxxxx:
Sibling Entertainment Group, Inc. (“Sibling”), a New York Corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiary Sibling Music Corp. (“SMC”), a Delaware Corporation currently having an address at 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 and registered to do business in the State of Colorado with an address at 000 0xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, agrees to employ you and you agree to accept such employment on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
24) | TERM.
The term of your employment hereunder shall commence on December 1, 2006
and, unless terminated by SMC and/or Sibling pursuant to paragraph 8 hereof,
shall continue through and until December 31, 2008. The period from
December 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006 (the “Employment
Term”) notwithstanding any earlier termination pursuant to Paragraph 14.
|
25) | DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES/REPORTING |
a) | General.
Your title shall be “President” of SMC and “Vice President”
of Sibling. You shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent
with the traditional positions of President of a music recording and publishing
company a Vice President of a publicly traded entertainment company. You shall
report solely and directly to the CEO of SMC and Sibling and the Board of
Directors of SMC. |
b) | Services.
Except as herein otherwise specified, during the Employment Term you shall
devote your entire business time, attention and energies to the business of SMC
and Sibling. You agree to perform such duties, and such other duties reasonable
and consistent with such office as may be assigned to you from time to time by
the CEO of Sibling and Board of Directors of SMC or such other individual as
may be designated by the CEO of Sibling. |
c) | Location.
The principal place of business shall be in the greater metropolitan Denver,
Colorado area. |
26) | EXCLUSIVITY.
Except as otherwise provided herein, you hereby acknowledge and agree that your
engagement with SMC and Sibling under this Agreement is exclusive and that
during the Employment Term hereof you shall not, directly or indirectly,
whether for compensation or otherwise, engage in any business that is
competitive with the business of SMC and Sibling, or render any services of a
business, commercial or professional nature to any other person or organization
that is a competitor of SMC and Sibling or in a business similar to that of SMC
and Sibling, without the prior written consent of SMC and Sibling, except you
shall be permitted to render services for the following: |
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a) | Denver
Civic Theatre, Inc. (“DCT”): It is understood that you currently
serve as a member of the Board of Directors and the President of the Denver
Civic Theatre, Inc. (a not-for-profit) organization in the State of Colorado
and may perform all the duties and responsibilities under such appointment and
receive the appropriate compensation for such services. SMC and Sibling
encourages your participation and shall not restrict your involvement with
other not-for-profit and charitable organizations including theatrical and
performance based organizations provided such participation does not prohibit
your duties to SMC and Sibling under this Agreement. |
b) | Xxxxxxxxx
Companies, Inc.(“BCI”): It is understood that you currently serve as
an officer and director of BCI a company organized and operated in a similar
industry of SMC and you may continue to serve in such positions, except you
shall not devote more than approximately ten percent (10%) of your professional
working hours to BCI. |
c) | Other
Prior Partnerships and Corporations: It is understood that you may own part or
control singularly or with others, limited partnership, limited liabilities
companies, or other corporations within the theatrical, film or entertainment
industries that may own various residual rights, royalties and other income for
which you may still possess certain legal responsibilities to such entities and
their limited investors, except you shall not devote more than approximately
five percent (5%) of your professional working hours towards such activities
and responsibilities. |
d) | Other
Corporate Investments. The Exclusivity Provisions shall also not prohibit your
ownership or services in connection with investments which you or members of
your family or your charitable trusts or foundations (directly or indirectly)
and future investments which (a) do not require devotion of a substantial
amount of your personal professional services which shall include, without
limitation, passive investment interests, limited partnership interests or
limited liability membership interests and (b) other than SMC and Sibling, do
not compete with SMC and Sibling’s business when the investment is made,
provided however that you may own directly or indirectly up to 5% of a publicly
held company, limited partnership interests, or limited liability membership
interests or other passive investment interests in private companies even if it
does compete with SMC and Sibling’s business. |
27) | COMPENSATION. |
a) | SALARY.
For all the services rendered by you in any capacity hereunder: |
i) | For
the period between December 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, SMC agrees to pay
you the sum of One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000) per annum
(“Salary”), payable by either SMC or Sibling in accordance with
SMC’s then effective payroll |
ii) | Your
Salary will be reviewed every six (6) months both during the first quarter of
SMC’s fiscal year and the first quarter of each calendar year during the
Employment Term, commencing with SMC’s first quarter beginning after June
30, 2007, and |
iii) | Your
Salary, at that time, shall increase by a percentage that is generally
consistent within the range of percentages by which the salaries of other
comparable executives are increased, but no less than six (6%) percent
bi-annually. |
iv) | Your
Salary shall be payable solely by SMC. |
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b) | ANNUAL
BONUS. In addition to your Salary, you shall be entitled to receive bonus
compensation for each of the fiscal years during the Employment Term,
determined and payable from both SMC (“SMC Bonus”) and Sibling (“Sibling
Bonus”) as follows: |
i) | Your
SMC Bonus and Sibling Bonus for each of the fiscal years during the Employment
Term will be based upon a measurement of performance against objectives as
established and determined by the Board of Directors of SMC and Sibling. |
ii) | Your
SMC Bonus as determined above shall not be less than two (2%) percent of the
“Pre-Tax Profits” (as defined in Exhibit A), if any, and shall be
payable to you in accordance with the terms and conditions of that certain SMC
Bonus Plan attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference as Exhibit
A. |
iii) | Your
Sibling Bonus as determined above shall not be less than two (2%) percent of
the “Pre-Tax Profits” (as defined in Exhibit A), if any, and shall be
payable to you in accordance with the terms and conditions of that certain SMC
and Sibling Bonus Plan attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference as Exhibit A. |
iv) | Your
Bonus for any fiscal year shall be payable within sixty (60) days after the end
of each fiscal year of SMC and Sibling. |
c) | SIGNING
BONUS. In addition to Salary you will be entitled to a Twenty-Thousand
($20,000) dollars signing bonus payable in two installments: |
i) | Ten
Thousand ($10,000) dollars within thirty (30) days of the signing of this
Agreement; and |
ii) | Ten
Thousand ($10,000) dollars on the first (1st) anniversary or this
Agreement. |
d) | BENEFITS.
You shall be entitled to participate in such vacation, medical, dental and life
insurance, 401(k), pension and other plans as SMC and/or Sibling may have or
establish from time to time and in which you would be entitled to participate
pursuant to the terms thereof. The foregoing, however, shall not be construed
to require SMC and/or Sibling to establish any such plans or to prevent the
modification or termination of such plans once established, and no such action
or failure thereof shall affect this Agreement. It is further understood and
agreed that all benefits you may be entitled to as an employee of SMC and/or
Sibling shall be based upon your Salary, as set forth above, and not upon any
bonus compensation due, payable or paid to you hereunder, except where the
benefit plan expressly provides otherwise. |
e) | BUSINESS
EXPENSES. During your employment with SMC and Sibling, you shall be reimbursed
for such reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of
your duties hereunder as are customarily reimbursed to comparable executives of
SMC and Sibling. |
28) | CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION and OTHER RESTRICTIONS. |
a) | Confidential
Agreement. You agree that you shall not, during the Employment Term or
at any time thereafter, use for your own purposes, or disclose to or for
the benefit of any third party, any trade secret or other confidential
information of SMC and Sibling, SMC and Sibling or any of SMC and Sibling’s
affiliates (except as may be required by law or in the performance of
your duties hereunder consistent with SMC and Sibling’s policies)
and that you will comply with any confidentiality obligations of SMC and
Sibling or SMC and Sibling to a third party, whether under agreement or
otherwise. |
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, confidential information shall be deemed not to include
information which |
i) | is
or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a
disclosure by you or any other person who directly or indirectly receives such
information from you or at your direction or |
ii) | is
or becomes available to you on a non-confidential basis from a source which is
entitled to disclose it to you. |
29) | NO
EMPLOYEE SOLICITATION. You agree that, during the Employment Term and for one
(1) year thereafter, you shall not, directly or indirectly, engage, employ, or
solicit the employment of any person who is then or has been within six (6)
months prior thereto, an employee of SMC and Sibling, SMC and Sibling or any of
SMC and Sibling’s affiliates. |
30) | SMC
AND SIBLING OWNERSHIP. The results and proceeds of your services hereunder,
including, without limitation, any works of authorship resulting from your
services during your employment with SMC and Sibling, SMC and Sibling and/or
any of SMC and Sibling’s affiliates and any works in progress, shall be
works-made-for-hire and SMC and Sibling shall be deemed the sole owner
throughout the universe of any and all rights of whatsoever nature therein,
whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or
developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner SMC and
Sibling determines in its sole discretion without any further payment to you
whatsoever. If, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not
legally be a work-for-hire and/or there are any rights which do not accrue to
SMC and Sibling under the preceding sentence, then you hereby irrevocably
assign and agree to assign any and all of your right, title and interest
thereto, including, without limitation, any and all copyrights, patents, trade
secrets, trademarks and/or other rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether
or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed
to SMC and Sibling, and SMC and Sibling shall have the right to use the same in
perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner SMC and Sibling determines
without any further payment to you whatsoever. You shall, from time to time, as
may be requested by SMC and Sibling, do any and all things which SMC and
Sibling may deem useful or desirable to establish or document SMC and Sibling’s
exclusive ownership of any and all rights in any such results and proceeds,
including, without limitation, the execution of appropriate copyright and/or
patent applications or assignments. To the extent you have any rights in the
results and proceeds of your services that cannot be assigned in the manner
described above, you unconditionally and irrevocably waive the enforcement of
such rights. This paragraph is subject to, and shall not be deemed to limit,
restrict, or constitute any waiver by SMC and Sibling of any rights of
ownership to which SMC and Sibling may be entitled by operation of law by
virtue of SMC and Sibling being your employer. |
31) |
LITIGATION. You agree that, during the Employment Term, for one (1) year
thereafter and, if longer, during the pendency of any litigation or other
proceeding, |
i) | You
shall not communicate with anyone (other than your own attorneys and tax
advisors and, except to the extent necessary in the performance of your duties
hereunder) with respect to the facts or subject matter of any pending or
potential litigation, or regulatory or administrative proceeding involving SMC
and Sibling or SMC and Sibling or any of their officers, directors, agents,
employees, suppliers or customers, other than any litigation or other
proceeding in which you are a party-in-opposition, without giving prior notice
to SMC and Sibling’s General Counsel, and |
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ii) | In
the event that any other party attempts to obtain information or documents from
you with respect to matters possibly related to such litigation or other
proceeding, you shall promptly so notify SMC and Sibling’s General
Counsel. |
32) | NO
RIGHT TO GIVE INTERVIEWS OR WRITE BOOKS, ARTICLES, ETC. You agree that during
the Employment Term and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, except as
authorized by SMC and Sibling or SMC and Sibling, you shall not (i) give any
interviews or speeches, or (ii) prepare or assist any person or entity in the
preparation of any books, articles, television or motion picture productions or
other creations, in either case, concerning SMC and Sibling, SMC and Sibling or
any of SMC and Sibling’s affiliates or any of their officers, directors,
agents, employees, suppliers or customers. |
33) | RETURN
OF PROPERTY. All documents, data, recordings, or other property, whether
tangible or intangible, including all information stored in electronic form,
obtained or prepared by or for you and utilized by you in the course of your
employment with SMC and Sibling shall remain the exclusive property of SMC and
Sibling. In the event of the termination of your employment for any reason, SMC
and Sibling reserves the right, to the extent permitted by law and in addition
to any other remedy SMC and Sibling may have, to deduct from any monies
otherwise payable to you the following: |
i) | the
full amount of any debt you owe to SMC and Sibling, SMC and Sibling or any of
SMC and Sibling’s affiliates at the time of or subsequent to the
termination of your employment with SMC and Sibling, and |
ii) | the
value of the SMC and Sibling property which you retain in your possession after
the termination of your employment with SMC and Sibling. In the event that the
law of any state or other jurisdiction requires the consent of an employee for
such deductions, this Agreement shall serve as such consent. You acknowledge
and agree that the foregoing remedy shall not be the sole and exclusive remedy
of SMC and Sibling with respect to a breach of this paragraph. |
34) | NON-DISPARAGEMENT.
You agree that you shall not, during the Employment Term and for a period of
one (1) year thereafter, criticize, ridicule or make any statement which
disparages or is derogatory of SMC and Sibling, SMC and Sibling or any of SMC
and Sibling’s affiliates or any of their officers, directors, agents or
employees. |
35) | FAMILY LEAVE POLICY & RIGHTS. |
a) | Regardless
of SMC and Sibling’s status or qualification under the Family Leave Act of
1993 (the “Act”), you will be entitled to all rights and benefits
required under this Act including, but not limited to the following: |
i) | Birth
and or child care of the newborn child of the employee |
ii) | Placement
through xxxxxx care or adoption of a child with the employee |
iii) | To
care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition |
iv) | If
the employee is unable to work because of a serious medical condition. |
b) | Partial
Paid Family Leave Policy. In addition to any rights provided under Paragraph 12
a), you will also be entitled to up to fifteen (15) weeks of partially paid
leave at two-thirds (2/3) of your normal base salary. All other benefits
including insurance, bonuses and other rights shall be continued at their full
amounts as defined by this agreement. |
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c) | SMC
and Sibling may reduce the amount received under Paragraph 12 b) by any amount
you may receive through any compensation or award received under Paragraph 13,
or through your participation in any disability insurance plan or program. |
d) | After
15 weeks, you shall have the absolute right to return to work in same position
with the same duties regardless of any limitation that may be available to SMC
and Sibling under the Act. |
36) | PERMANENT
DISABILITY. If, for any reason including physical, mental illness, failure,
refusal or other inability, you cannot perform a majority of your usual duties
for a period of longer than 120 consecutive days, SMC and Sibling’s
obligation to pay Salary shall be reduced to fifty (50%). If your disability
and inability to perform your duties exceeds 180 consecutive days, SMC and
Sibling may terminate this Agreement effective upon 30 days prior written
notice to you. In such event, Executive shall be entitled to receive: |
i) | Fifty
(50%) Percent of your Salary continued for a period of 6 months or the
expiration of the Term, whichever occurs first; and |
ii) | a
prorated portion of Bonus Compensation, if any, otherwise payable pursuant to
this Agreement or any partial fiscal year that has occurred prior to the
effective date of termination, whichever is greater; and |
iii) | any
insurance previously provided for a period of 6 months or the expiration of the
Term, whichever occurs first. |
iv) | Disagreement
as to the anticipation of a permanent disability/suspension and/or the date
such permanent disability/suspension commenced shall be settled by the majority
decision of 3 neutral arbitrators (or, if applicable, licensed physicians) one
to be selected by each party to the dispute, the two thus appointed shall
choose the third, and the three thus appointed shall constitute the board of
arbitration. Such board, acting by majority vote within 30 days after choosing
the third arbitrator, shall resolve such disagreement and their decision shall
be final and binding on you, SMC and Sibling and any other person with an
interest in the matter. |
37) | TERMINATION. |
a) | “CAUSE.” In
the event of “Cause” (as defined below), SMC and Sibling may
terminate this Agreement at any time effective upon delivery of written notice
to Executive. In such event, all of SMC and Sibling’s obligations
hereunder will immediately terminate without further liability. Moreover, you
shall not be entitled to receive any severance, fringe benefits, compensation
or other such rights, nor shall you be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion
of Bonus Compensation otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement “Cause” shall include, but is not limited
to: |
i) | fraud,
felonious conduct or dishonesty or (ii) willful misconduct or gross negligence
in the performance of your duties hereunder; provided, however, that bona fide
disagreements or disputes as to expense reimbursement shall not be deemed fraud
or felonious conduct or your breach of any material provision of this
Agreement; or |
ii) | breach
of any material provision of this Agreement or any other material agreement
between SMC and Sibling and you. |
b) | “WITHOUT
CAUSE.” Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the
event this Agreement is terminated by SMC and Sibling prior to expiration of the
Term for any reason other than pursuant to Paragraphs 14 a) for Cause, this
Agreement shall be |
Page 19 of 33
deemed
to have been terminated “Without Cause” and you shall be entitled to receive
all of the compensation, rights and benefits described in this Agreement through the
expiration of the Term as if this Agreement were in full force. |
c) | You
must receive 30 days prior written notice of termination regardless of the
reason for termination. |
d) | CHANGE
IN CONTROL. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, you are permitted to terminate this
Agreement Without Cause following a “Change In Control” (as defined
below) and shall be entitled to receive all of the compensation, rights and
benefits described in this Agreement following the effective date of
termination or through the expiration of the Employment Term, whichever is
longer, and the severance described in Paragraph 15, as if this Agreement were
in full force. If any other Officer’s options are acquired pursuant to a
Change In Control, your options will be acquired on terms and at all times at
least equal to any other Officer. |
“CHANGE
IN CONTROL.” For purposes of this Agreement “Change In Control” shall mean
and be deemed to have occurred on the earliest of the following dates: |
i) | the
date, pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Act and the rules promulgated
thereunder, a person shall have acquired beneficial ownership of more than 45%
of the Voting Stock; |
ii) | the
date the persons who were members of the Board at the beginning of any 24-month
period shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board, unless the election,
or the nomination for election by SMC and Sibling’s shareholders, of each
new director was approved by two-thirds of the members of the Board then in
office who were in office at the beginning of the 24-month period; or |
iii) | the
date SMC and Sibling’s shareholders shall approve a definitive agreement
(a) to merge or consolidate SMC and Sibling with or into another corporation,
unless the holders of SMC and Sibling’s capital stock immediately before
such merger or consolidation will, immediately following such merger or
consolidation, hold as a group on a fully-diluted basis the ability to elect at
least a majority of the directors of the surviving corporation (assuming
cumulative voting, if applicable), or (b) to sell or otherwise dispose of all
or substantially all the assets of SMC and Sibling. |
e) | YOUR
RIGHT TO TERMINATE FOR GOOD REASON. During the Term, you shall be entitled to
terminate your employment with SMC and Sibling for “Good Reason” (as
defined below) following a Change In Control. For purposes of this Agreement
“Good Reason” shall mean any of the following events which occurs
without your express written consent: |
i) | the
assignment of any duties inconsistent with your status as an Officer or a
substantial alteration in the nature or status of your responsibilities from
those in effect immediately prior to a Change In Control other than any such
alteration primarily attributable to the fact that SMC and Sibling may no
longer be a public company; |
ii) | a
reduction by SMC and Sibling in Base Salary; |
iii) | the
relocation of SMC and Sibling’s principal offices to a location more than
35 miles from the current locale or SMC and Sibling’s requiring you to be
based anywhere |
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other
than SMC and Sibling’s principal offices except for required travel on SMC
and Sibling’s business to an extent substantially consistent with your
present travel obligations; |
iv) | the
failure by SMC and Sibling to continue in effect without material change any
compensation or benefit plan in which you are entitled to participate, or the
failure by SMC and Sibling to continue your participation therein, or the
taking of any action by SMC and Sibling which would directly or indirectly
materially reduce any of the benefits of such plans enjoyed by you at the time
of the Change In Control, or the failure by SMC and Sibling to provide you with
the number of paid vacation days to which you is entitled hereunder, or the
taking of any other action by SMC and Sibling which materially adversely
changes the conditions or perquisites of your employment; |
v) | the
failure of SMC and Sibling to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any
successor to assume and agree to perform the Services contemplated by this
Agreement; |
vi) | the
failure of SMC and Sibling to maintain adequate D&O insurance coverage
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; or |
vii) | the
breach by SMC and Sibling of any material term of this Agreement. |
38) | SEVERANCE.
Upon expiration of the Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to receive: |
a) | Base
Salary continuation for a period of 6 months; and |
b) | a
prorated portion of Bonus Compensation, if any, otherwise payable for 6 months
or any partial fiscal year that has occurred prior to the expiration of the
Employment Term, whichever is greater; and |
c) | Insurance
continuation for a period of 6 months. |
d) | TERMINATION
OF BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (except
as otherwise provided in paragraph 8(d) with respect to medical, dental and
life insurance), coverage under all SMC and Sibling benefit plans and programs
(including, without limitation, vacation, 401(k) plan, the pension plans,
long-term disability plans, car insurance and accidental death and
dismemberment and business travel and accident insurance) will terminate upon
the termination of your employment except to the extent otherwise expressly
provided in such plans or programs. |
39) | DEATH.
If you die prior to the end of the Employment Term, your beneficiary or estate
shall be entitled to receive your Salary up to the date on which the death
occurs and any pro-rated Bonus. |
40) | EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. You acknowledge that SMC and Sibling is an equal
opportunity employer. You agree that you will comply with SMC and Sibling
policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws prohibiting
discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex or
disability. |
41) | NOTICES.
All notices required to be given hereunder shall be given in writing, by
personal delivery or by mail at the respective addresses of the parties hereto
set forth above, or at such other address as may be designated in writing by
either party, and in the case of SMC and Sibling, to the attention of the
General Counsel of SMC and Sibling. Any notice given by mail shall be deemed to
have been given three days following such mailing. |
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42) | ASSIGNMENT.
This is an Agreement for the performance of personal services by you and may
not be assigned by you. SMC and Sibling or SMC and Sibling may assign this
Agreement to SMC and Sibling or any affiliate of SMC and Sibling or any
purchaser of all or substantially all of the assets of SMC and Sibling or SMC
and Sibling or any successor in interest to SMC and Sibling or SMC and Sibling. |
43) | GOVERNING
LAW. This Agreement and all matters or issues collateral thereto shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Texas. |
44) | NO
IMPLIED CONTRACT. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to
impose any obligation on SMC and Sibling to renew this Agreement or any portion
thereof. The parties intend to be bound only upon execution of a written
agreement and no negotiation, exchange of draft or partial performance shall be
deemed to imply an agreement. Neither the continuation of employment nor any
other conduct shall be deemed to imply a continuing agreement upon the
expiration of this Agreement. |
45) | ENTIRE
UNDERSTANDING. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties
hereto relating to the subject matter herein contained, and can be changed only
by a writing signed by both parties hereto. |
46) |
VOID PROVISIONS. If any provision of this Agreement, as applied to either party
or to any circumstances, shall be adjudged by a court to be void or
unenforceable, the same shall be deemed stricken from this Agreement and shall
in no way affect any other provision of this Agreement or the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement. |
* * * * *
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please sign and date one copy of this letter and return it to the undersigned whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours,
SMC AND SIBLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
By:_____________________ | _____________________ |
Print:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx ITS: President |
Date |
ACCEPTED
AND AGREED: |
|
By:_____________________ | _____________________ |
Print: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | Date |
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