James Cardwell 21-06 23rd Avenue, C3 New York, NY 11105 Dear Jay:
EXHIBIT 10.01
SIBLING
ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
– Revised December 1, 2006 –
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
00-00 00xx
Xxxxxx, X0
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Dear Xxx:
Sibling Entertainment Group, Inc. (“Sibling”), a New York Corporation, currently having an address at 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, agrees to employ you and you agree to accept such employment on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
1) |
TERM. The term of your employment hereunder shall commence on December
1, 2006 and, unless terminated by Sibling pursuant to paragraph 8
hereof, shall continue through and until December 31, 2008. The
period from December 1, 2006 through December 31, 2008
(the “Employment Term”) notwithstanding any earlier termination
pursuant to Paragraph 14. |
2) | DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES/REPORTING |
a) | General.
Your title shall be “Chief Financial Officer and CFO” of Sibling.
You shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with
the traditional positions of a CFO of a publicly traded entertainment
company. You shall report solely and directly to the President and Board
of Directors of Sibling through December 31, 2006 after which time your
title shall be “Chief Operating Officer and COO” of Sibling
and you shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent
with the traditional positions of a COO of a publicly traded entertainment
company. |
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
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
President of Sibling or such other individual as may be designated by the
President and Board of Directors of Sibling. |
c) | Location.
The principal place of business shall be in the greater metropolitan New York
(Manhattan), New York area. |
3) |
EXCLUSIVITY. Except as otherwise provided herein, you hereby acknowledge and
agree that your engagement with 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 Sibling, or render any services of a business,
commercial or professional nature to any other person or organization that is a
competitor of Sibling or in a business similar to that of Sibling, without the
prior written consent of Sibling, except you shall be permitted to render
services for the following: |
a) | Denver
Civic Theatre, Inc. (“DCT”): It is understood that you currently
serve as a member of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Board of
the Denver Civic |
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Theatre,
Inc. (a not-for-profit) organization in the State of Colorado and may perform
all the duties and responsibilities under such appointment. 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 Sibling under this Agreement. |
b) | Sibling
Entertainment Inc. (“SEI”): It is understood that you currently serve
as an officer and director of SEI a company organized and operated in a similar
industry of Sibling that may hold investments in one or more entertainment
companies, 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 SEI, and so long as SEI does not actively pursue, acquire the
additional rights to any new entertainment projects that is deemed competitive
with the business of Sibling, except for passive investment interests, limited
partnership or limited liability membership interests. |
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 Sibling, do not
compete with 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 Sibling’s business. |
4) | COMPENSATION. |
a) | SALARY.
For all the services rendered by you in any capacity hereunder, Sibling agrees
to pay you the following: |
i) | For
the period between December 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006 Sibling agrees to pay
you two semi-monthly payments of Six Thousand ($6,000) dollars (1/12 x
$120,000) equivalent to One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000) per
annum |
ii) | For
the period between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008, Sibling agrees to pay
you the sum of One Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars ($165,000) per annum (“Salary”)
in accordance with Sibling’s then effective payroll practices. |
iii) | Your
Salary will be reviewed every six (6) months both during the first quarter of
Sibling’s fiscal year and the first quarter of each calendar year during
the Employment Term, commencing with Sibling’s first quarter beginning
after June 30, 2006, and |
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iv) | Your
Salary will, at that time, shall increase by a percentage that is generally
consistent with the range of percentages by which the salaries of other
comparable executives are then increased, but no less than six ( 6%) percent
bi-annually. |
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 as follows (“Bonus”): |
i) | Your
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. |
ii) | Your
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 Sibling Bonus Plan
attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference as Exhibit A. |
iii) | Your
Bonus for any fiscal year shall be payable with sixty (60) days after the end
of each fiscal year of 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 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
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 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 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 Sibling. |
5) | 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
Sibling, Sibling or any of Sibling’s affiliates (except as may be required
by law or in the performance of your duties hereunder consistent with Sibling’s
policies) and that you will comply with any confidentiality obligations of
Sibling or Sibling to a third party, whether under agreement or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, confidential information shall be deemed not to
include information which |
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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. |
6) | 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 Sibling, Sibling or any of Sibling’s
affiliates. |
7) | 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 Sibling, Sibling and/or any of Sibling’s affiliates
and any works in progress, shall be works-made-for-hire 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 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 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 Sibling, and Sibling shall have the right to use the
same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner Sibling determines
without any further payment to you whatsoever. You shall, from time to time, as
may be requested by Sibling, do any and all things which Sibling may deem
useful or desirable to establish or document 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 Sibling of any rights of ownership to which Sibling
may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of Sibling being your employer. |
8) | 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
Sibling or 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 Sibling’s
General Counsel, and |
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 Sibling’s General Counsel. |
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9) | 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 Sibling or 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 Sibling, Sibling
or any of Sibling’s affiliates or any of their officers, directors,
agents, employees, suppliers or customers. |
10) | 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 Sibling shall remain the exclusive property of Sibling. In the
event of the termination of your employment for any reason, Sibling reserves
the right, to the extent permitted by law and in addition to any other remedy
Sibling may have, to deduct from any monies otherwise payable to you the
following: |
i) | the
full amount of any debt you owe to Sibling, Sibling or any of Sibling’s
affiliates at the time of or subsequent to the termination of your employment
with Sibling, and |
ii) | the
value of the Sibling property which you retain in your possession after the
termination of your employment with 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
Sibling with respect to a breach of this paragraph. |
11) | 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 Sibling, Sibling or any of Sibling’s
affiliates or any of their officers, directors, agents or employees. |
12) | FAMILY
LEAVE POLICY & RIGHTS. |
a) | Regardless
of 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. |
c) | 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. |
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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
Sibling under the Act. |
13) | 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, 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, 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, Sibling and any other person with an interest in
the matter. |
14) | TERMINATION. |
a) | “CAUSE.” In
the event of “Cause” (as defined below), Sibling may terminate this
Agreement at any time effective upon delivery of written notice to Executive.
In such event, all of 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 Sibling and you. |
b) | “WITHOUT
CAUSE.” Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the
event this Agreement is terminated by Sibling prior to expiration of the Term
for any reason other than pursuant to Paragraphs 14 a) for Cause, this
Agreement shall be 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. |
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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 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 Sibling’s shareholders shall approve a definitive agreement (a) to
merge or consolidate Sibling with or into another corporation, unless the
holders of 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 Sibling. |
e) | YOUR
RIGHT TO TERMINATE FOR GOOD REASON. During the Term, you shall be entitled to
terminate your employment with 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 Sibling may no longer be a
public company; |
ii) | a
reduction by Sibling in Base Salary; |
iii) | the
relocation of Sibling’s principal offices to a location more than 35 miles
from the current locale or Sibling’s requiring you to be based anywhere
other than Sibling’s principal offices except for required travel on
Sibling’s business to an extent substantially consistent with your present
travel obligations; |
iv) | the
failure by Sibling to continue in effect without material change any
compensation or benefit plan in which you are entitled to participate, or the
failure by Sibling to |
Page 11 of 33
continue
your participation therein, or the taking of any action by 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 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 Sibling which materially
adversely changes the conditions or perquisites of your employment; |
v) | the
failure of 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 Sibling to maintain adequate D&O insurance coverage pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement; or |
vii) | the
breach by Sibling of any material term of this Agreement. |
15) | 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 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. |
16) | 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. |
17) | EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. You acknowledge that Sibling is an equal opportunity
employer. You agree that you will comply with Sibling policies and applicable
federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race,
color, creed, national origin, age, sex or disability. |
18) | 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 Sibling, to the attention of the General
Counsel of Sibling. Any notice given by mail shall be deemed to have been given
three days following such mailing. |
19) | ASSIGNMENT.
This is an Agreement for the performance of personal services by you and may
not be assigned by you. Sibling or Sibling may assign this Agreement to Sibling
or any affiliate of Sibling or any purchaser of all or substantially all of the
assets of Sibling or Sibling or any successor in interest to Sibling or
Sibling. |
20) | GOVERNING
LAW. This Agreement and all matters or issues collateral thereto shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Texas. |
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21) | NO
IMPLIED CONTRACT. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to
impose any obligation on 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. |
22) | 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. |
23) | 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. |
* * * * *
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,
SIBLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
By:_____________________ | _____________________ |
Print:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx ITS: President |
Date
|
ACCEPTED
AND AGREED: |
|
By:_____________________ | _____________________ |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | Date |
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