EXHIBIT 10.21
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 3, 2000
BY AND BETWEEN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.XXX, INC.
AND XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
March 16, 2000
Dear Xxxxxx:
We are pleased to offer you a full time exempt position as Vice President of
Mergers and Acquisitions. The anticipated start date is April 11, 2000, subject
to the favorable reference checks. The purpose of this letter is to set forth
the basic terms and conditions of your employment with
XxxxxxXxxxxxxXxxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. ("GDCC"). By signing this letter, you will be
agreeing to these terms. It is important that you understand clearly both what
your benefits are and what is expected of you by GDCC.
1. Duties. Your duties generally will include, but are not limited to,
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those duties normally performed by a Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions.
You may be assigned other duties as needed and your duties may change from time
to time on reasonable notice, based on the needs of GDCC and your skills, as
determined by GDCC. You will report directly to the President/CEO.
As an employee, you are required to exercise your specialized expertise,
independent judgment and discretion to provide high-quality services. You are
required to follow company policies and procedures adopted from time to time by
GDCC and to take such general direction as you may be given from time to time by
your supervisor. GDCC reserves the right to change these policies and procedures
at any time. You are required to devote your full energies, efforts and
abilities to your employment with GDCC.
2. Hours of Work. As a salaried exempt employee, you are expected to work
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the number of hours required to get the job done. At a minimum, to meet our
clients' needs you are generally expected to be present during the normal
working hours of GDCC, 8AM to 5PM local time. Your primary office will be in San
Diego.
3. Salary. Please see Exhibit A.
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4. Expenses. As an employee, you will be reimbursed for all reasonable
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travel and business expenses incurred on behalf of GDCC. Any expense over
$100.00 must be approved in writing in advance by Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
5. Employee Benefits. You will be eligible for the standard GDCC benefits
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which are generally applicable to full-time employees. These benefits are
subject to change, on a prospective basis at GDCC's discretion.
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6. Proprietary Rights; Duty To Disclose. Employee hereby acknowledges and
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agrees to be bound by the provisions of GDCC's enclosed "Confidentiality and
Nonsolicitation Agreement". Employee agrees during and after the term of this
employment, not to reveal confidential information, or trade secrets to any
person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity. Should employee reveal or
threaten to reveal this information, the Company shall be entitled to an
injunction restraining the employee from disclosing same, or from rendering any
services to any entity to whom said information has been or is threatened to be
disclosed. The right to secure an injunction is not exclusive, and the Company
may pursue any other remedies it has against the employee for a breach or
threatened breach of this condition, including the recovery of damages from the
employee.
7. Nonsolicitation Of Employees. Employee specifically agrees that during
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the term of this agreement and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, employee
shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or for any other person,
firm, corporation or other legal entity, solicit any then employee of GDCC to
leave the employment of GDCC.
8. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
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enforced in accordance with and subject to the laws of the State of California.
Any dispute or action between the employee and the Company resulting out of this
agreement must be brought in the jurisdiction of the State of California or it
is void.
9. Agreement to Arbitrate. You and GDCC agree that any and all disputes
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between you and GDCC (including claims against its employees, officers,
directors, agents, successors and assigns which arise out of or relate to their
actions on behalf of the Company) arising out of or in any way related to the
employment relationship, including any disputes upon termination, shall, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, be resolved by binding arbitration before a
single neutral arbitrator.
9.1 Scope of Agreement. The disputes subject to this agreement include,
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but are not limited to, all potential claims relating to employment, such as
breach of contract, tort, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination,
demotion, discipline or failure to accommodate, family and medical or pregnancy
disability leave, compensation or benefit claims, constitutional or common law
claims, and claims for attorneys' fees and costs to the fullest extend permitted
by law.
9.2 Pre-Arbitration Procedures. Prior to pursuing arbitration, you and
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GDCC agree to take the following steps:
9.2.1 The party claiming to be aggrieved shall furnish to the
other party a written statement of any and all disputes in sufficient detail to
apprise the other party of the substance of the claims and identifying any
witnesses or documents that support the claim and the relief requested or
proposed.
9.2.2 If the other party does not agree to furnish the relief
requested or proposed, or otherwise does not satisfy the demand of the party
claiming to be aggrieved, the aggrieved party may request that the dispute be
submitted to mediation. If both parties agree, the dispute shall be submitted to
nonbinding mediation before a neutral mediator jointly selected by the parties.
The parties will share the costs of the mediation.
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9.3 Arbitration Procedures.
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9.3.1 If the mediation does not produce a mutually satisfactory
resolution of the dispute, the aggrieved party may request arbitration before a
single neutral arbitrator. To do so, the aggrieved party must notify the other
party in writing of the claim it wishes to arbitrate. All claims must be brought
within the applicable statute of limitations period.
9.3.2 The arbitrator shall be mutually selected by the parties
or, if they are unable to reach agreement on an arbitrator, the parties agree to
use the then current National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of
the American Arbitration Association, except that the arbitrator shall be
selected by alternately striking names from a panel of five (5) neutral labor or
employment arbitrators designated by the American Arbitration Association.
9.3.3 The arbitration shall be governed by the rules set forth in
California Code of Civil Procedure section 1280 and following (and any successor
statue). The parties may engage in discovery pursuant to California Code of
Civil Procedure section 1283.05. The parties may be represented by an attorney
or other representative of their choosing. The arbitrator shall have the power
to enter any award permitted by applicable law that could be entered by a judge
of the Superior Court of the State of California or the United States District
Court sitting without a jury, and only such power.
9.3.4 By entering into this agreement, both parties understand
that they are giving up their constitutional right to have any such dispute
decided in a court of law before a jury and instead are accepting the use of
binding arbitration.
9.3.5 The arbitrator shall not have the authority to modify,
change or refuse to enforce the terms of the employment agreement. In addition,
the arbitrator shall not have the authority to require GDCC to change any lawful
policy or benefit plan.
9.3.6 Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay for
the cost of a court reporter to provide a written transcript of the proceedings.
9.3.7 The parties shall share equally the fees and costs of the
arbitrator. Each party shall bear their own legal fees and costs. However, if
any party prevails on a statutory claim that affords the prevailing party
attorneys' fees and costs, the arbitrator may award reasonable attorneys' fees
and costs to the prevailing party.
9.3.8 Arbitration shall be the exclusive final remedy for any
dispute between the parties to the fullest extent permitted by law. However,
nothing in this paragraph 9 shall limit the right of either party to apply for a
provisional remedy pursuant to California Civil Code section 1281.8(b) or any
successor statue.
9.3.9 The arbitrator shall promptly render a written award which
provides the factual and legal basis for the award.
9.3.10 This agreement to arbitrate survives the termination of
employee's
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employment with GDCC. This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties on the subject of resolution of employment disputes and supersedes
all prior understandings or agreements, written or oral, on the subject.
10. Assignments. The rights and obligations of GDCC under this agreement
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shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon its successors and assigns.
This agreement may not be assigned by you without the written consent of GDCC.
11. Integrated Agreement. This agreement and the Confidentiality and
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Nonsolicitation Agreement supersedes any prior agreements, representations or
promises of any kind, whether written, oral, express or implied between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter herein. It constitutes the
full, complete and exclusive agreement between you and GDCC with respect to the
subject matters herein. This Agreement may only be modified by a writing signed
by you and the President or Chief Financial Officer of GDCC.
12. Notices. All notices or other communications provided for by this
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agreement shall be made in writing and shall be deemed properly delivered when
(i) delivered personally or (ii) by the mailing of such notice by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, to the parties at the addresses set forth on
the signature page of this agreement (or to such other address as one party
designates to the other in writing).
13. Counterparts. This agreement may be executed in one or more
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counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
14. Severability. If any provision of this agreement is declared invalid by
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any court or tribunal, that provision is deemed deleted from this agreement as
though such provision had never been included herein. The remaining provisions
of the agreement shall remain in effect.
15. Performance Evaluation. There will be a probationary period of 90 days
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commencing on the first day of employment. At the end of the probationary period
an employee performance evaluation will be conducted. A satisfactory evaluation
will result in regular employee status. Failure to obtain a satisfactory
evaluation may result in the following:
1.) The extension of the probationary period.
2.) Termination of the employee.
This does not alter the at-will employment relationship between you and GDCC.
16. Terms of Employment. The term of this agreement is at will. You or GDCC
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may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause.
GDCC also reserves the right to modify your position or duties and to impose any
form of discipline it determines is appropriate at any time.
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In order to confirm your agreement with and acceptance of these terms, please
sign and return to our office no later than Monday, March 20, 2000. You are
being given two original copies, one copy for your records and the other should
be signed and returned to GDCC. If there is any matter in this letter, which you
wish to discuss further, please do not hesitate to speak to me.
Very truly yours,
XxxxxxXxxxxxxXxxxxxxx.xxx, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
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Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
President/CEO
Enclosure
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
I agree to the terms of employment set forth in this agreement. I
understand and I agree that am employed on an at will basis.
Dated: March 25, 2000
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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EXHIBIT A
Employee: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Initial Position: Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions
Status: Exempt
Approximate start date: April 11, 2000
Reports to: President/CEO
Annual Salary: $100,000 payable semi-monthly on the 15th and the last
day of each month.
Bonus: A bonus of $10,000 for each acquired company, upon the
closing of each corporate finance round. All terms of
such bonus are subject to approval by the Board of
Directors.
Stock Options: A grant of Incentive Stock Options ("ISOs") for
100,000 shares of Common Stock upon commencement of
work. Options will vest monthly over 36 months with
vesting of first three months deferred until the 90
day probation is completed and expire ten (10) years
from date of grant. In order to qualify for
preferential tax treatment, the exercise price of ISOs
must be no less than the fair market value of a share
of Common Stock on the date of the grant. All terms
and conditions of the stock option grants are in
accordance with C2i's standard stock option plan.
Business Expenses: Reasonable travel and expense reimbursement, with
proper advance approval.
Medical Expenses: GDCC offers Blue Shield of California as our
health plan provider to our employees. For
additional information regarding the health
benefits, please refer to the Blue Shield of
California Summary Plan.
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