EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is effective as of November ___,
1998, by and between TeraGlobal Communications Corp., a Wyoming corporation
("TeraGlobal") and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx ("Employee") with respect to the following
facts.
A. Employer is engaged primarily in the development, production and sale
of interactive, multimedia communications technology and products.
B. Employer desires to engage Employee and Employee desires to accept
such engagement to provide such services to Employer as are set forth in this
Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT. Employer engages Employee to serve as Chief Technology Officer
and Employee hereby accepts such engagement upon the terms and conditions set
forth herein.
2. DUTIES. Employee will devote his full business time, knowledge and skill
to the performance of the duties and responsibilities as Chief Technology
Officer of Employer, as such duties and responsibilities are performed by
Employee as of the date of this Agreement. Employee shall report directly to
the Board of Directors of Employer. Employee will not engage in any other
gainful occupation which requires his personal attention without prior consent
of the Board of Directors of Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee
shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors reasonably may require
from time to time.
3. TERM AND TERMINATION.
3.1 TERM. The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of four (4)
years unless sooner terminated pursuant to any provision in this Section.
3.2 EVENTS TRIGGERING TERMINATION. At the written election of Employer in
its sole discretion, this Agreement shall terminate immediately, effective upon
the occurrence of any one of the following events:
(a) Employee's conviction of a felony or other crime involving moral
turpitude;
(b) After reasonable written notice, warning and opportunity to cure,
Employee's continuing material breach of or failure to perform his obligations
hereunder, continuing failure by Employee to abide by, conform with or otherwise
observe any material written policy of Employer, or the continuing failure to
conform to the reasonable directives of the Board of Directors of Employer;
(c) The death of Employee;
(d) The disability of Employee. Employee shall be deemed disabled if the
Employee shall become incapacitated by reason of sickness, accident or other
physical or mental disability and shall for a period of sixty (60) consecutive
days be unable to perform his normal duties hereunder, with or without
reasonable accommodation by Employer.
In the event that Employee's employment is terminated by Employer pursuant
to Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b), or 3.1(c), Employer shall promptly pay to Employee
(or in the event that such termination is pursuant to Section 3.1(c), to
Employee's estate or other legal representative) the annual base salary provided
for in Section 4.1 accrued to the date of Employee's termination and not
theretofore paid to Employee. Rights and benefits of Employee under the
benefits plans and programs of Employer shall be determined in accordance with
the terms of such plans and programs.
3.3 SEVERANCE COMPENSATION. If Employer terminates Employee's employment
with Employer and such termination is not pursuant to Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b),
or 3.1(c) then Employer shall continue to pay to Employee his annual base salary
in the same periodic installments provided for in Section 4.1 hereof, plus
pro-rata compensation for vacation time accrued and unused, for the balance of
the term of this Agreement (the "Severance Period"); provided, however, that the
severance compensation to be paid to Employee in respect of a termination for
the reason specified in Section 3.1(d) shall be integrated with any disability
insurance proceeds paid to Employee during the Severance Period so that Employee
receives no more than an amount equal to 100% of his annual base salary under
Section 4.1 during the Severance Period. In addition, during the Severance
Period Employer shall continue to pay the allowance set forth in Section 4.6 and
make all Employer contributions to medical and dental and life insurance
premiums for all Employer maintained plans under which Employee is an insured or
covered as of the commencement of the Severance Period.
4. COMPENSATION.
4.1 BASE SALARY. As compensation for all services rendered by Employee
under this Agreement, Employer shall pay Employee an annual base salary of One
Hundred Sixty Two Thousand Dollars ($162,000), payable bi-weekly in arrears or
otherwise in accordance with the standard payroll practices of Employer. This
annual base salary may be augmented by salary increases as determined by the
Board of Directors. All regular compensation shall be paid in accordance with
Employer's standard payroll procedures.
4.2 STOCK OPTIONS. Employee shall be eligible to receive options to
purchase common stock of Employer under Employer's 1997 Stock Option Plan, as
determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of Employer.
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4.3 WITHHOLDING. All compensation paid to Employee under this Agreement
shall be subject to customary withholding and employment taxes as required by
federal and state law.
4.4 OTHER BENEFITS. Employee shall be entitled to such other benefits,
including profit sharing plans and retirement benefits, as are provided to other
full-time employees of Employer, subject to any terms, conditions or
restrictions associated with such benefits, all as determined by written company
policy in effect from time to time during the term of this Agreement.
4.5 AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE. During the term of this Agreement, including
any Severance Period, Employee shall receive a $750 per month automobile
allowance.
5. VACATION. Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks annual paid
vacation per year, subject to accrual and use in accordance with written company
policy in effect from time to time during the term of this Agreement and
applicable law. Employee's vacation will be scheduled at those times which are
mutually convenient to Employer's business and Employee.
6. BUSINESS EXPENSES. During the term of this Agreement, Employer shall
reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business
expenses of Employee related to Employee's duties hereunder in accordance with
the policies and procedures of Employer in effect from time to time, including,
without limitation:
(a) Actual expenses for travel, meals and lodging for necessary travel
between Employer's business locations;
(b) Actual expenses for travel, meals and lodging for other travel
approved in advance by Employer; and
(c) Professional entertainment and promotional expenses approved in
advance by Employer.
7. TRADE SECRETS.
7.1 TRADE SECRETS IN GENERAL. During the course of Employee's employment,
Employee will have access to various trade secrets of Employer. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Trade Secret" shall mean information which is not generally
known to the public and, as a result, is of economic benefit to Employer in the
conduct of its business. Employee and Employer agree that Trade Secrets shall
include but not be limited to all information developed or obtained by Employer
and comprising the following items, whether or not such items have been reduced
to tangible form (e.g., physical writing): all methods, techniques, processes,
ideas, trade names, service marks, slogans, forms, customer lists, pricing
structures, menus, business forms, marketing programs and plans, layouts and
designs, financial information, operational methods and tactics, cost
information, the identity of or contractual arrangements with suppliers, the
identity or buying habits of customers, accounting procedures, and any document,
record or other information of Employer relating to the
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above. Trade Secrets include not only information belonging to Employer which
existed before the date of this Agreement, but also information developed by
Employee for Employer or its employees during the term of this Agreement.
7.2 RESTRICTION ON USE OF TRADE SECRETS. Employee agrees that his use of
Trade Secrets is subject to the following restrictions during the term of the
Agreement and for an indefinite period thereafter so long as the Trade Secrets
have not become generally known to the public:
(a) NON-DISCLOSURE. Employee will not publish or disclose, or allow
to be published or disclosed, Trade Secrets to any person who is not an employee
of Employer unless such disclosure is necessary for the performance of
Employee's obligations under this Agreement.
(b) USE RESTRICTION. Employee shall use any Trade Secret only for
the limited purpose for which it was disclosed. Employee shall not disclose any
Trade Secret to any third party (including subcontractors) other than in
accordance with customary practices and existing agreements with customers and
shall disclose the Trade Secret only to other employees of Employer or as
provided under such agreements with customers having a need to know. Employee
shall promptly notify Employer of any Trade Secret disclosed other than in
accordance herewith.
(c) NON-REMOVAL. Employee will not remove any Trade Secrets from
the offices of Employer or the premises of any facility in which Employer is
performing services, or allow such removal, other than in accordance with
customary practices and existing agreements with customers.
(d) SURRENDER UPON TERMINATION. Upon termination of his employment
with Employer for any reason, Employee will surrender to Employer all documents
and materials in his possession or control which contain Trade Secrets.
(e) PROHIBITION AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION. At any time after the
termination of his employment with Employer for any reason, Employee will not
engage in competition with Employer while making use of the Trade Secrets of
Employer.
7.3 INVENTIONS. Any and all inventions, innovations, or improvements
("Inventions") made, developed or created by the Employee (whether at the
request or suggestion of Employer or otherwise, whether alone or in conjunction
with others, and whether during regular hours of work or otherwise) during the
term hereof which may be directly or indirectly useful in, or relate to, the
business of Employer, shall be promptly and fully disclosed by Employee to
Employer and shall be Employer's exclusive property as against Employee and
Employee shall promptly deliver to an appropriate representative of Employer all
papers, drawings, models, data and other material relating to any Inventions
made, developed or created by him as aforesaid. Employee shall, at the request
of Employer, and without any payment therefor, execute any documents necessary
or advisable in the opinion of Employer's counsel to direct issuance of patents
or copyrights to Employer with respect to such Inventions as are to be
Employer's exclusive property as against Employee or to vest in Employer title
to such Inventions as against Employee. The expense of securing any such patent
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or copyright shall be borne by Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Agreement does not require assignment of an Invention which qualifies fully for
protection under Section 2870 of the California Labor Code, a copy which is
attached as Exhibit A.
7.4 NON SOLICITATION. During the term of employment of Employee and until
the expiration of twenty-four (24) months following the termination of the
employment of Employee, Employee shall not:
(a) advise or in any way encourage any person, firm or corporation
who is, at the time of termination of employment of Employee, or was at any time
during the term of employment of Employee with Employer, a customer or client of
Employer, to breach any contract with Employer;
(b) recruit, hire, assist others in the soliciting, recruiting or
hiring, or discuss other employment with, any person who is at the time of
termination of the employment of Employee with Employer, or was at anytime
during the employment of Employee with Employer, an employee of Employer, or
induce or attempt to induce any such employee to terminate his or her employment
with Employer; or
(c) use or disclose to any person, firm or corporation the name of
any present, former, prospective customer, client or employee of Employer.
8. UNFAIR COMPETITION, MISAPPROPRIATION OF TRADE SECRETS AND VIOLATION OF
SOLICITATION CLAUSES. Employee acknowledges that unfair competition,
misappropriation of Trade Secrets or violation of any of the provisions
contained in Section 7 would cause irreparable injury to Employer, that the
remedy at law for any violation or threatened violation thereof would be
inadequate, and that Employer shall be entitled to temporary and permanent
injunctive or other equitable relief without the necessity of proving actual
damages. Employee agrees that such relief shall be available in a court of law
regardless of the arbitration provisions contained in Section 16 of this
Agreement.
9. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Employee acknowledges that the obligations and
services to be provided by Employee hereunder are special and unique. Employee
agrees that he will not at any time during the term of employment serve as an
officer, director, employee, or otherwise have an interest in any entity that
engages in business similar to that of Employer and Employer's subsidiaries.
This provision shall not apply to equity or stock ownership interests of less
than 5% of any publicly traded company.
10. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The rights and obligations of the Employer under
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of Employer. Employee shall not be entitled to assign
any of his rights or obligations under this Agreement.
11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed, governed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
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12. AMENDMENTS. No amendment or modification of the terms or conditions of
this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the parties
hereto.
13. SEVERABILITY. Each term, condition, covenant or provision of this
Agreement shall be viewed as separate and distinct, and in the event that any
such term, covenant or provision shall be held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue in full
force and effect. Further, a court of competent jurisdiction shall have the
authority to rewrite and construe the provisions of this Agreement to render
them enforceable the maximum extent permitted by law, consistent with the
parties intent as evidenced herein.
14. WAIVER. A waiver by either party of a breach of provision or provisions of
this Agreement shall not constitute a general waiver, or prejudice the other
party's right otherwise to demand strict compliance with that provision or any
other provisions in this Agreement.
15. NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
shall be sufficient, if in writing, sent by certified mail to his residence in
the case of Employee, or hand delivered to the Employee, or to its principal
office (corporate office) in the case of the Employer.
16. ARBITRATION. Except as provided in Section 8, any dispute or claim that
may arise out of the provisions of this Agreement which cannot be resolved by
agreement of the parties acting in good faith within a reasonable time,
including any interpretation or alleged breach hereof, shall be resolved by
arbitration in accordance with the then-effective employment arbitration rules
of the San Diego, California, Chapter of the American Arbitration Association.
Except as otherwise set forth in Section 8 hereof, the parties intend that
litigation not be used to settle any dispute or claim arising out of this
Agreement. The written determination and award of the arbitrator or
arbitrators, as applicable, shall be final, binding and conclusive, and such
determination may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction with each
side to pay their own attorneys' fees and costs.
17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Employee acknowledges receipt of this Agreement and
agrees that this Agreement and Exhibit A attached hereto represent the entire
Agreement with Employer concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any
previous oral or written communications, representations, understandings or
Agreements with Employer or any officer or agent thereof. Employee understands
that no representative of the Employer has been authorized to enter into any
Agreement or commitment with Employee which is inconsistent in any way with the
terms of this Agreement.
18. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement shall not be construed against any party on
the grounds that such party drafted the Agreement.
19. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Employee acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to
consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement,
and that he has taken advantage of that opportunity to the extent that he
desires. Employee further acknowledges that he has read
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and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has
entered into it voluntarily based on his own judgment.
20. SURVIVORSHIP. The respective rights and obligations of Employee and
Employer hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent
necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.
21. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterpart
copies, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall be deemed one and the same instrument.
22. CURRENCY. All currency expressed herein shall be in United States
currency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first written above.
TeraGlobal Communications Corp.,
a Wyoming corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxx, Chief Operating Officer
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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EXHIBIT A
SECTION 2870
CALIFORNIA LABOR CODE
(a) Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that an
employee shall assign, or offer to assign, any of his or her rights in an
invention to his or her employer shall not apply to an invention that the
employee developed entirely on his or her own time without using the employer's
equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those
inventions that either:
(1) Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of
the invention to the employer's business, or actual or demonstrably
anticipated research or development of the employer; or
(2) Result from any work performed by the employee for the
employer.
(b) To the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports to
require an employee to assign an invention otherwise excluded from being
required to be assigned under subdivision (a), the provision is against the
public policy of this state and is unenforceable.
