EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.1
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), dated as of February 28, 2006, is made and
entered into by and between SmartVideo Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, or its subsidiary or other affiliate thereof (SmartVideo
Technologies, Inc. or any such subsidiary or other affiliate referred to herein
individually and collectively as ("SVT” or “Company"), and Xxxxx Xxxx
("Executive"), a resident of the state of Florida.
IN
CONSIDERATION of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth below, the
parties hereby agree as follows:
1.
EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive as the President
of
the Company and Executive hereby accepts such continued employment, on the
terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2.
TERM.
(a)
Period
of Employment.
The
period of employment of Executive by the Company under this Agreement (the
“Employment Period”) shall commence on the date hereof (the “Commencement Date”)
and shall end on the second anniversary thereof (February 28, 2008). The
Employment Period may be sooner terminated by either party in accordance with
Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b).
Except as hereinafter provided, either the Company or Executive may terminate
this Agreement at any time, with or without cause. Such termination shall be
evidenced by delivery from the terminating party of a Notice of Termination
(as
defined below).
3.
POSITION AND DUTIES. During the Employment Period,
Executive shall serve as President,
and shall report solely and directly to the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the
Company. Executive shall have those powers and duties normally associated with
executives in entities comparable to the Company and such other powers and
duties as may be prescribed by the Company; PROVIDED THAT, such other powers
and
duties are consistent with Executive's position as President of the Company.
Executive covenants and agrees, at all times during his employment hereunder,
to
devote his full-time efforts, energies and skills to his duties as an Executive
of the Company, to serve the Company diligently and to the best of Executive’s
ability and at all times to act in compliance with the Company’s rules,
regulations, policies and procedures as shall be in effect from time to time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may continue with his consulting
services and other services to various broadcast companies, and semi-precious
jewelry sales, including a radio station in the Bahamas, phone jewels, as well
as continue to trade in passive investments so long as such services do not
interfere or have any material effect on Executive fulfilling his duties with
the Company. Executive further covenants and agrees that he will not, directly
or indirectly, engage or participate in any activities at any time during such
employment which conflict with the business of the Company.
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Executive
agrees that he will fulfill his duties at such locations as Executive believes
is reasonably appropriate for the betterment of the Company and to appropriately
fulfill his duties and obligations under this Agreement.
4.
COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS.
(a)
BASE
SALARY AND BONUS. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay Executive
a base salary at the rate of not less than $200,000.00 per year ("Base Salary").
Executive's Base Salary shall be paid in approximately equal installments in
accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices. The Compensation
Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") shall review Executive's Base Salary for increase (but not decrease)
no
less frequently than annually and consistent with the compensation practices
and
guidelines of the Company. If Executive's Base Salary is increased by the
Company, such increased Base Salary shall then constitute the Base Salary for
all purposes of this Agreement.
(b)
EXPENSES. The Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for all business
expenses, including the reasonable expenses related to travel to and from
Executive’s residence in Florida and the Company’s offices in Duluth, Georgia,
upon the presentation of reasonably itemized statements of such expenses in
accordance with the Company's policies and procedures now in force or as such
policies and procedures may be modified with respect to all senior executive
officers of the Company. The Company shall pay all travel and incidental travel
expenses commensurate with the position of the Executive. During the term of
the
Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to, at the sole expense of the Company,
non-dialup Internet access at the location designated by Executive, smart
cellular phone capable of full access to the Company’s products and a lap top,
tablet personal computer. Additionally, for purposes of performing those duties
required by the Company of Executive in the Atlanta, Georgia area, the Company
will reimburse Executive for rental costs of an apartment or condominium unit
near the Company’s Duluth, Georgia offices, not to exceed $1,500.00 per month.
(c)
VACATION. Executive shall be entitled to twenty (20) days of paid vacation
during each year of the Employment Period. In addition to vacation, Executive
shall be entitled to the number of sick days per year to which other senior
executive officers of the Company with similar tenure are entitled under the
Company's policies, as detailed in the Employee Handbook.
(d)
SERVICES FURNISHED. During the Employment Period, the Company shall furnish
Executive, all appropriate office space, secretarial and all other support
normally provided to and consistent with Executive’s position as President of
the Company.
(e)
WELFARE, PENSION AND INCENTIVE BENEFIT PLANS AND PERQUISITES. During the
Employment Period, Executive (and his spouse and dependents to the extent
provided therein) shall be entitled to participate in and be covered under
all
the welfare benefit plans or programs maintained by the Company from time to
time for the benefit of its senior executives including, without limitation,
all
medical, hospitalization, dental, disability, accidental death and dismemberment
and travel accident insurance plans and programs, and in Executive’s case, at
the sole cost and expense of the Company. The Company shall at all times provide
to Executive (and his spouse and dependents, under the age of 22 years old,
to
the extent provided under the applicable plans or programs) (subject to
modifications affecting all senior executive officers) the same type and levels
of participation and benefits as are being provided to other senior executives
(and their spouses and dependents to the extent provided under the applicable
plans or programs) on the Commencement Date. In addition, during the Employment
Period, Executive shall be eligible to participate in all pension, retirement,
savings and other employee benefit plans and programs maintained from time
to
time by the Company for the benefit of its senior executives.
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(f)
STOCK
OPTIONS.
(i)
On
the Commencement Date, the Company hereby grants to Executive stock options
to
acquire one million (1,000,000) shares of the Company's common stock, at an
exercise price of $2.10 per share, (each, an "Option" and collectively the
"Options") under such terms and conditions as provided for in clause (ii) below.
(ii)
The
Options described in paragraph (i) above shall be subject to the following
terms
and conditions:
(A) |
the Options shall be granted pursuant
to this
Agreement and the exercise price per share of each Option shall be
market
value on the Commencement Date of this
Agreement;
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(B) |
the
Options shall be separated between Incentive Stock Options (“ISO”) and
Nonqualified Stock Options (“NSO”), as shall be detailed by Executive to
the Company within seven (7) days of the Commencement
Date.
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(C) |
the
NSOs shall vest and be exercisable in the following percentages and
at the
following times: (1) fifty percent (50%) of the shares on the Commencement
Date, and (2) fifty percent (50%) of the shares on the first anniversary
of the Commencement Date;
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(D) |
the
ISOs shall vest and be exercisable in the following percentages and
at the
following times: (1) ten percent (10%) of the shares on the Commencement
Date, and (2) ten percent (10%) on each annual anniversary of the
Commencement Date for the succeeding nine (9)
years.
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(E) |
the
Options shall be issued on the execution of this Agreement and be
non-revocable by the Company or the Board of Directors or any third
party;
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(F) |
each
Option shall be exercisable for the ten (10) year period following
the
date of grant;
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(G) |
each
Option grant shall become 100% vested, fully exercisable and issued
cashless for the full amount per this Agreement and fully exercisable
upon
a Change in Control; and
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(H) |
each
Option shall be evidenced by, and subject to, a stock option agreement
whose terms and conditions are consistent with the terms
hereof.
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(iii)
“Change in Control” shall be defined as the acquisition of more than 50% of the
shares or the assets of the Company by individuals or entities not shareholders
at the Commencement Date.
5.
IMPACT
OF TERMINATION.
(a)
Executive's
employment hereunder may be terminated during the Employment Period, either
by
Executive or the Company, with or without cause. Nevertheless, if the Company
terminates Executive’s employment for “Cause” as defined below, other than b(i),
or if Executive resigns his employment with the Company prior to the end of
the
Employment Period without providing the requisite advance Notice of Termination
as defined in section 6 below, Executive forfeits those options that have not
vested as of the date of termination or resignation. On the other hand, if
the
Company terminates Executive without “Cause” as defined below or if Executive
resigns with the requisite advance Notice of Termination as defined in section
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below or Executive is terminated for “Cause” based upon b(i), a pro
rata
portion
of Executive’s unvested shares will vest immediately upon the termination
without Cause or resignation with the requisite advance Notice of Termination
or
under b(i). For example, if Company terminates Executive’s employment without
Cause halfway through his first year of employment 25% of his NSOs, or one-half
of the remaining unvested NSO shares, will automatically vest at the time of
termination and 5% of his unvested ISO shares will vest.
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(b)
“Cause”
-
For
purposes of this Agreement, “Cause”
shall
mean, without limitation: (i) the inability of Executive, through sickness
or
other incapacity, to perform the essential functions of his position for a
period in excess of ninety (90) substantially consecutive days or upon
Executive’s death (but Executive shall remain eligible for any death or
disability policies, if any, which the Employer maintains for Executive); (ii)
the commission of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the
commission of any other act or omission involving dishonesty or fraud;
(iii) substantial and repeated failure to perform duties of the office held
by Executive as reasonably directed by the Board after written notice of each
failure with the appropriate action Executive should take to cure such failure
and Executive’s failure to take such action; (iv) gross negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to the Company; (v) a material breach of this Agreement,
including the attached Confidentiality, Non-Compete or Non-Solicitation
Agreement, which is expressly incorporated into this Agreement and Executive’s
failure to cure such material breach after written notice and direction on
the
appropriate action Executive should take to cure the material default; (vi)
the
failure of Executive for any reason, within ten (10) days after receipt by
Executive of written notice thereof from the Company, to correct, cease or
otherwise alter any failure to comply with instructions or other action or
omission which the Board reasonably believes does or may materially or adversely
affect its business or operations; (vii) misconduct by Executive which is of
such a serious or substantial nature that a reasonable likelihood exists that
such misconduct will materially injure the reputation of the Company if
Executive were to remain employed by the Company; and (viii) harassing or
discriminating against the Company’s employees, customers or vendors in
violation of the Company’s policies.
6.
NOTICE
OF TERMINATION. Any termination of Executive's employment by the Company or
by
Executive during the Employment Period shall be communicated by written “Notice
of Termination” to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 12. For
other than a “Cause” termination (a “Cause” termination may be effected
immediately, without advance notice, unless Paragraph 5(b) requires notice
for a
“Cause” to properly exist), the Company shall provide Executive with Notice of
Termination thirty (30) days in advance of the termination date. In the event
of
a termination for reasons other than cause, Executive shall receive all
compensation and benefits for the remainder of the Employment Period as if
no
such notice of termination had occurred. Similarly, Executive must provide
the
Company with Notice of Termination thirty (30) days prior to his resignation.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice
which shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed
to provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision
so indicated.
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7.
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
Executive
agrees that as a condition of his employment under this Agreement, Executive
will execute and abide by the Confidentiality, Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation
Agreement, which is attached to this Agreement and is expressly incorporated
herein.
8.
INDEMNIFICATION.
The
Company agrees that if Executive is made a party or a threatened to be made
a
party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative (a "Proceeding"), by reason of the fact that Executive is
or
was a trustee, director or officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any subsidiary
as
a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation
or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without
limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not
the
basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee,
director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee,
director, officer, member, employee or agent, Executive shall be indemnified
and
held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law,
as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all Expenses incurred
or
suffered by Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall
continue as to Executive even if Executive has ceased to be an officer,
director, trustee or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and shall
inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators. As used in
this
Agreement, the term "Expenses" shall include, without limitation, damages,
losses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, excise taxes, settlements,
and
costs, attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, and disbursements and costs of
attachment or similar bonds, investigations, and any expenses of establishing
a
right to indemnification under this Agreement.
9.
GOVERNING
LAW.
The
construction and interpretation of this Agreement shall at all times and in
all
respects be governed by the laws of the State of Florida without regard to
its
rules of conflicts of laws. Any claim, complaint, or action brought under this
Agreement shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State
of
Florida, whose courts shall have exclusive
jurisdiction over claims, complaints, or actions brought under this Agreement,
and the Company and Executive hereby agree and submit to the personal
jurisdiction and venue thereof.
10.
WAIVER
OF
JURY TRIAL.
EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY RIGHT IT OR HE MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION
OR
PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT.
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11.
SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT.
(a)
COMPANY'S SUCCESSORS. No rights or obligations of the Company under this
Agreement may be assigned or transferred except that the Company will require
any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation
or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform
it
if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company"
shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor to its
business and/or assets (by merger, purchase or otherwise) which executes and
delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 11 or which otherwise
becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation
of
law.
(b)
EXECUTIVE'S SUCCESSORS. No rights or obligations of Executive under this
Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than his rights
to
payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or the
laws of descent and distribution. Upon Executive's death, this Agreement and
all
rights of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by Executive's beneficiary or beneficiaries, personal or legal representatives,
or estate, to the extent any such person succeeds to Executive's interests
under
this Agreement. Executive shall be entitled to select and change a beneficiary
or beneficiaries to receive any benefit or compensation payable hereunder
following Executive's death by giving the Company written notice thereof. In
the
event of Executive's death or a judicial determination of his incompetence,
reference in this Agreement to Executive shall be deemed, where appropriate,
to
refer to his beneficiary (ies), estate or other legal representative(s). If
Executive should die following his date of termination while any amounts would
still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts
unless otherwise provided herein shall be paid in accordance with the terms
of
this Agreement to such person or persons so appointed in writing by Executive,
or otherwise to his legal representatives or estate.
12.
NOTICE. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered either personally or by United
States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If
to
Executive:
Xxxxx
Xxxx
000
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxx.
Xxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
If
to the
Company:
SmartVideo
Technologies, Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxx. 000
Xxxxxx,
XX. 00000
Attention:
Chairman of the Board
or
to
such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in writing
in
accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective
only upon receipt.
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13.
MISCELLANEOUS. No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, or
waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing signed
by
Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver
is
set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. No waiver by either
party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions
at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations,
oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof
have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this
Agreement. The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder of
this Agreement shall survive Executive's termination of employment and the
termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary for the intended
preservation of such rights and obligations.
14.
VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions
of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
15.
COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
16.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except as other provided herein, this Agreement sets forth
the
entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter
contained herein and supersede all prior agreements, promises, covenants,
arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or
written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in
respect of such subject matter. Except as other provided herein, any prior
agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein is hereby terminated and cancelled.
17.
WITHHOLDING. All payments hereunder shall be subject to any required withholding
of Federal, state and local taxes pursuant to any applicable law or
regulation.
18.
NONCONTRAVENTION. The Company represents that the Company is not prevented
from entering into, or performing this Agreement by the terms of any law, order,
rule or regulation, its by-laws or declaration of trust, or any agreement to
which it is a party, other than which would not have a material adverse effect
on the Company's ability to enter into or perform this Agreement.
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19.
SECTION HEADINGS. The section headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of
reference only, and they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect
its
interpretation.
20.
SEVERABILITY. The invalidity of any one or more of the words, phrases,
sentences, clauses or sections contained in this Agreement shall not affect
the
enforceability of the remaining portions of this Agreement or any part thereof,
all of which are inserted conditionally on their being valid in law, and, in
the
event that any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses or sections
contained in this Agreement shall be declared invalid, this Agreement shall
be
construed as if such invalid word or words, phrase or phrases, sentence or
sentences, clause or clauses, or section or sections had not been inserted.
If
such invalidity is caused by duration, geographic scope or both, the otherwise
invalid provision will be considered to be reduced to a period or area which
would cure such invalidity.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
the
date first above written.
SmartVideo Technologies, Inc. | Executive | ||
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx. | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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