Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx XXX
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 0X
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
212-943-1921x41
May 5, 1998
Board of Directors
Paradise Music & Entertainment, Inc.
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx - 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Gentlemen:
This letter will memorialize our agreement with respect to my joining Paradise
Music & Entertainment, Inc. (the "Company") as its interim Chief Operating
Officer ("COO").
1. The appointment will be effective upon the execution of a counterpart
of this letter (the "Effective Date") by all of the members of the Board of
Directors (the "Board") of the Company.
2. The term of this interim appointment (the "Term") will be from the
Effective Date through the sooner of (i) the closing of a secondary public
offering (the "Secondary Closing") of the Company's stock in an amount that
yields net proceeds to the Company of at least $5 million, or (ii) the ninth
month anniversary of the Effective Date. The appointment can be terminated by me
at any time during the Term upon 60 days written notice, or immediately and
without prior notice if for any reason the Weekly Draw as set forth below is not
paid in a timely manner or the Company has breached this agreement. The
appointment can be terminated at any time during the Term by the Board on 60
days written notice, or immediately and without prior notice in the event that
the Board terminates the appointment because it has determined that I have acted
with gross negligence or willful misconduct in fulfilling my duties as COO. Any
compensation payable in accordance with Section 4 below shall be paid through
the effective date of termination or expiration, as the case may be.
3. My duties and the scope of my authority as COO will be as set forth in
that certain memorandum dated as of even date hereof and heretofore presented to
the Board (the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference), together
with such substantive changes as the Board and I mutually agree upon hereafter
in good faith.
4. My compensation for rendering services to the Company as its COO shall
be as follows:
(a) $10,000 payable on each of the first and fifteenth of each month, in
arrears. In addition, you have agreed to assume up to $1,000 per month of the
costs related to the furniture, Dell 4200 power server, Ricoh 64 page per minute
scanner, fax server, scanner PC, laptops, 10base 100x hubs, desktop, and other
computer equipment that the Company will be using throughout the Term, and
thereafter if the position becomes permanent. The Company also agrees to award
me 45,000 shares of the Company's common stock, either in the form of options at
a nominal per share strike price or in the form of restricted stock awards (the
"Shares"), which Shares will vest on a pro rata basis bi-monthly throughout the
Term.
(c) The Company also agrees to pay all of my ordinary and reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses in furtherance of my performance of services hereunder,
as and when the same are presented with reasonably sufficient detail and
supporting documentation as may be required by the Board from time to timer.
(d) The Company also agrees to pay for the services of any secretarial,
paralegal, or financial analyst support staff provided by me at such hourly,
weekly, per diem or other rates as are approved in advance by the Executive
Committee of the Board. A separate statement detailing the support services so
provided shall be rendered bi-monthly and promptly paid upon submission.
5. In rendering services as COO, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold me
harmless in the performance of such duties to the same extent as it has
indemnified each of the Company's Executive Vice Presidents or other
Board of Directors
Paradise Music & Entertainment, Inc.
May 5, 1998
Page 2 of 3
corporate officers. The Company shall also take all steps reasonably necessary
and appropriate, if any, to cover such services under the Company's existing
insurance policies, and to keep the same in effect throughout the Term.
6. Other than as set forth above, I shall be entitled to no other benefits
or perquisites, and I shall provide my own office furniture and computer or
other equipment required for me to render the services required; provided,
however, that the Company agrees to pay for (a) the reimbursement set forth in
4(a) above, and (b) the cost of moving such furniture and equipment to and from
the Company's premises and to insure the same while they are located at the
Company's premises.
7. The Company and each Board member executing this agreement acknowledges
that I am entering into this agreement in the expectation that if the
performance of my duties is satisfactory hereunder, that upon the Secondary
Closing I shall be offered an employment agreement as COO (to perform
substantially similar duties with a substantially similar scope of
responsibility) at a base rate of compensation at least equal to $225,000 per
annum. Such employment agreement shall provide for incentive compensation in the
form of cash bonuses or stock awards (or the combination of the two) upon
achieving certain performance objectives as we shall mutually agree upon and
memorialize in such employment agreement. Other than as specifically set forth
herein, the employment agreement shall be on the same terms and conditions, and
subject to the same benefits, entitlements and perquisites as are enjoyed by the
Company's Executive Vice Presidents under the terms of their present employment
agreements.
8. The Company and each Board member executing this agreement acknowledges
that I am leaving the full time practice of law to accept the position of
interim COO, but will need to devote some time, from time to time, during the
Term to the servicing of my law clients and to insure a smooth transition from
private practice. The Company agrees to permit me to perform such services for
the benefit of my clients so long as such legal services do not materially and
adversely effect the performance of my obligations as COO.
If the above accurately reflects our understanding, please execute a counterpart
of this letter in the space provided below.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx XXX
----------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx XXX
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:
PARADISE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Chairman
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
----------------------------- -----------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Director Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Director
Board of Directors
Paradise Music & Entertainment, Inc.
May 5, 1998
Page 3 of 3
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
----------------------------- -----------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Director Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Director
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx /s/ Xxx Xxxxx
----------------------------- -----------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Director Xxx Xxxxx, Director
