EXHIBIT NO. 10.4 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT NO. 10.4
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of the
_____
day of June 2010,
by and between UFood Restaurant Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation, with a business address of 000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxx, XX 00000 (the “Company”), and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, an
individual with a residence address of 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000 (the
“Executive”).
INTRODUCTION
1. The Company is in the better-for-you restaurant and nutritional product retail business
(the “Business”).
2. The Company wishes to employ the Executive as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
3. The Executive desires to be employed by the Company, pursuant to the terms and conditions
set forth herein.
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the premises and mutual promises herein below set forth, the parties
hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment Period. The term of the Executive’s employment by the Company pursuant
to this Agreement (the “Employment Period”) shall commence on the date hereof and shall
continue until October 15, 2013. Thereafter, the Employment Period shall automatically renew for
successive periods of one (1) year, unless either party shall have given to the other at least
ninety (90) days’ prior written notice of their intention not to renew the Executive’s employment
prior to the end of the Employment Period or the then applicable renewal term, as the case may be.
In any event, the Employment Period may be terminated as provided herein.
2. Employment; Duties. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Company hereby employs the Executive to act as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
during the Employment Period, and the Executive hereby accepts such employment. The duties
assigned and authority granted to the Executive shall be as determined by the Board of Directors
(the “Board”) from time to time. The Executive agrees to perform his duties for the
Company diligently, competently, and in a good faith manner.
3. Salary.
(a) Base Salary. The Executive shall be entitled to receive a salary from the Company
during the Employment Period at the rate of no less than Three Hundred Thousand ($300,000) per year
(the “Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the Company’s customary
payroll practices. The Executive’s Base Salary may be increased, but not decreased, on each
anniversary date of this Agreement, at the Board’s sole discretion.
(b) Equity Payments. In addition to the Base Salary, it is intended that the Executive
shall receive non-qualified options to purchase three million two hundred fifty thousand
(3,250,000) shares of the common stock of the Company (the “Options”). The Options shall
terminate ten (10) years from the date hereof, be exercisable at
$___ per share, and vest and be
exercisable as follows: (a) one million six hundred twenty-five thousand (1,625,000) Options shall
vest upon the date hereof; and (b) one million six hundred twenty-five thousand (1,625,000) Options
shall vest in equal amounts on the first day of each month for thirty-six months. Notwithstanding
the termination of this Agreement for any cause, the Executive shall receive the Options pursuant
to the terms set forth herein.
(c) Franchise and Development Fees. In addition to the foregoing, upon the
consummation by the Company of the sale of any franchise restaurant, the Company shall pay the
Executive a franchise fee of $10,000 (the “Franchise Fee”). To the extent any franchise
transaction is a part of an Area Development Agreement, the Franchise Fee shall be payable by the
Company to the Executive upon consummation of the franchise sale as follows : (i) $5,000 in cash,
and (ii) the remaining portion of such Franchise Fee shall be paid in such number of shares of the
Company’s common stock having an aggregate value of $5,000 on the date such Franchise Fee is due.
4. Bonus. The Executive’s annual bonus (if any) shall be in such amount as the Board
may determine in its sole discretion. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in any bonus
or other incentive program established by the Company for executives of the Company.
5. Other Benefits
(a) Insurance and Other Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
be entitled to participate in the Company’s insurance programs and any ERISA benefit plans, as the
same may be adopted and/or amended from time to time (the “Benefits”). The Executive shall
be entitled to paid personal days on a basis consistent with the Company’s other senior executives.
The Executive shall be bound by all of the policies and procedures established by the Company from
time to time.
(b) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an
annual vacation of such duration consistent with the Company’s policies from time to time.
(c) Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all
reasonable business, promotional, travel and entertainment expenses (“Reimbursable
Expenses”) incurred or paid by him during the Employment Period in the performance of his
services under this Agreement, provided that the Executive furnishes to the Company appropriate
documentation required by the Internal Revenue Code in a timely fashion in connection with such
expenses and shall furnish such other documentation and accounting as the Company may from time to
time reasonably request.
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6. Termination; Compensation Due Upon Termination of Employment. The Executive’s
employment hereunder may terminate as provided in paragraphs (a) through (e)
below, and subject to those payments to Executive that expressly survive the termination of
this Agreement as set forth in Section 3 hereof, the Executive’s right to compensation for periods
after the date his employment with the Company terminates shall be determined in accordance with
the provisions of paragraphs (a) through (e) below:
(a) Voluntary Resignation. The Executive may terminate his employment at any time
upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Company. In the event of the Executive’s
voluntary termination of employment, the Company shall have no obligation to make payments to the
Executive in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3 or 4, or, except as otherwise required by
law, to provide the benefits described in Section 5, for periods after the date on which the
Executive’s employment with the Company terminates due to the
Executive ’s voluntary resignation,
except for the payment of the Executive’s Base Salary accrued through the date of such resignation.
(b) Discharge for Cause. Upon (i) written notice to the Executive, and (ii)
Executive’s failure to cure such default within 30 days of receipt of notice, the Company may
terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause if any of the following events shall occur:
(i) the Executive’s continued and willful refusal or neglect to satisfactorily perform and
discharge his material duties and responsibilities;
(ii) the Executive’s gross misconduct that is injurious to the Company or the Executive’s
ability to perform his duties and responsibilities hereunder;
(iii) the Executive’s fraud, embezzlement or other acts of dishonesty;
(iv) the Executive’s conviction of, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a
felony or a crime;
(v) the Executive’s willful or prolonged absence from work (other than by reason of disability
due to physical or mental illness); or
(vi) the Executive’s breach of his obligations under Section 7 or Section 8.
In the event Executive is terminated for “Cause,” the Company shall have no obligation to make
payments to Executive in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3 or 4, or, except as otherwise
required by law, to provide the benefits described in Section 5, for periods after the Executive’s
employment with the Company is terminated on account of the Executive’s discharge for cause except
for the Executive’s base salary accrued through the date of such termination.
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(c) Disability. The Company shall have the right, but shall not be obligated to
terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder in the event the Executive becomes disabled such
that he is unable to discharge his duties to the Company for a period of ninety (90) consecutive
days or one hundred twenty (120) days in any one hundred eighty (180) consecutive day period (a
“Permanent Disability”). In the event of a termination of employment due to a Permanent
Disability, then the Company shall be obligated to continue to make payments to the Executive in an
amount equal to Executive’s then-current Base Salary and Benefits for the
Severance Period (as defined below), payable in the form of salary continuation for the
applicable Severance Period after the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated due to
a Permanent Disability. A determination of a Permanent Disability shall be made by a physician
satisfactory to both the Executive and the Company; provided, however, that if the
Executive and the Company do not agree on a physician, the Executive and the Company shall each
select a physician and those two physicians together shall select a third physician, whose
determination as to a Permanent Disability shall be binding on all parties.
(d) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the death of the
Executive. The Company shall be obligated to continue to make payments in an amount equal to
Executive’s then-current Base Salary and Benefits for the Severance Period following his death,
payable to the Executive’s beneficiary, as the Executive shall have indicated in writing to the
Company (or if no such beneficiary has been designated, to Executive’s estate).
(e) Termination for Good Reason or Without Cause. The Executive may terminate this
Agreement at any time for Good Reason. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason or this Agreement is terminated by the Company without Cause, the Company
shall pay to the Executive severance in an amount equal to the Executive’s then-current Base Salary
and Benefits for a period (the “Severance Period”) equal to the lesser of (i) 12 months or
(ii) the remainder of the then-current Employment Period, payable in the form of salary
continuation for the applicable Severance Period following the Executive’s termination, subject to
the Company’s regular payroll practices and required withholdings. For the purposes of this
Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following (without Executive’s express written
consent): (i) removal of Executive from his position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; (ii)
a reduction by Company in Executive’s then current annual base salary or other compensation, unless
said reduction is pari passu with other senior executives of the Company; (iii) the taking of any
action by the Company that would, directly or indirectly, materially reduce Executive’s benefits,
unless said reductions are pari passu with other senior executives of the Company; or (iv) breach
by Company of any material term of this Agreement that is not cured by Company within 30 days
following receipt by Company of written notice thereof.
7. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation. Unless Executive terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 6(e), for the duration of the Employment Period and three (3) years following
the Employment Period (the “Non-compete Period”), the Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, engage or invest in, own, manage, operate, finance, control or participate in the
ownership, management, operation, financing, or control of, be employed by, associated with, or in
any manner connected with, lend any credit to, or render services or advice to, any business, firm,
corporation, partnership, association, joint venture or other entity that engages or conducts any
business the same as or substantially similar to the Business or currently proposed to be engaged
in or conducted by the Company or included in the future strategic plan of the Business, anywhere
within the United States of America; provided, however, that the Executive may own
less than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of securities of any enterprise (but without
otherwise participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any
national or regional securities exchange or have been registered under Section 12(g) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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During the Employment Period and the Non-compete Period, Executive will not and will not cause
another person, business or commercial enterprise, without the express prior written approval of
the Company, to hire, recruit, solicit or otherwise induce or influence any proprietor, partner,
stockholder, lender, director, officer, employee, sales agent, joint venturer, investor, lessor,
customer, consultant, agent, representative or any other person which has a business relationship
with the Company or had a business relationship with the Company to discontinue or reduce such
employment, agency or business relationship.
The Executive recognizes and agrees that because a violation by him of his obligations under
this Section 7 will cause irreparable harm to the Company that would be difficult to quantify and
for which money damages would be inadequate, the Company shall have the right to injunctive relief
to prevent or restrain any such violation, without the necessity of posting a bond. The Non-compete
Period will be extended by the duration of any violation by the Executive of any of his obligations
under this Section 7.
The Executive expressly agrees that the character, duration and scope of the covenant not to
compete are reasonable in light of the circumstances as they exist at the date upon which this
Agreement has been executed. However, should a determination nonetheless be made by a court of
competent jurisdiction at a later date that the character, duration or geographical scope of the
covenant not to compete is unreasonable in light of the circumstances as they then exist, then it
is the intention of both the Executive and the Company that the covenant not to compete shall be
construed by the court in such a manner as to impose only those restrictions on the conduct of the
Executive which are reasonable in light of the circumstances as they then exist and necessary to
assure the Company of the intended benefit of the covenant to compete.
8. Confidentiality Covenants.
(a) The Executive understands that the Company, from time to time, may impart to him
confidential business information, whether such information is written, oral or graphic, including,
but not limited to, financial plans and records, marketing plans, business strategies and
relationships with third parties, present and proposed products, trade secrets, information
regarding customers and suppliers, strategic planning and systems and contractual terms
(collectively “Confidential Information”). The Executive hereby acknowledges Company’s
exclusive ownership of such Confidential Information.
(b) The Executive agrees as follows: (1) only to use the Confidential Information to provide
services to Company; (2) only to communicate the Confidential Information to fellow employees,
agents and representatives on a need-to-know basis; and (3) not to otherwise disclose or use any
Confidential Information. Upon demand by Company or upon termination of the Executive’s employment,
the Executive will deliver to Company all manuals, photographs, recordings and any other instrument
or device by which, through which or on which Confidential Information has been recorded and/or
preserved, which are in the Executive’s possession, custody or control.
9. Executive’s Representation. The Executive hereby represents that his entry into
this Employment Agreement will not violate the terms or conditions of any other agreement to which
the Executive is a party.
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10. Technology Ownership. The Executive hereby assigns to the Company all inventions,
discoveries, designs, trade secrets, formulae, processes, methods, techniques, mask works,
improvements, developments, concepts, computer programs, databases and works which the Executive
may make or acquire during the term of his employment hereunder, whether or not during working
hours and whether made solely or jointly with others, that (1) are related to the Business of the
Company at the time they are made or acquired, or (2) are made using the equipment, supplies,
facilities, or proprietary information of the Company, as well as all patents, patent applications,
copyrights, copyright registrations and all other intellectual property rights which cover, protect
or are embodied in any of the foregoing.
11. Arbitration. In the event of any breach arising from the performance of this
Agreement, either party may request arbitration. In such event, the parties will submit to
arbitration by a qualified arbitrator with the definition and laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. Such arbitration shall be final and binding on both parties.
12. Governing Law/Jurisdiction. This Agreement and any disputes or controversies
arising hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the internal
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts other than principles of law that would apply the law of
another jurisdiction. The parties agree that this Agreement was made and entered into in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and, subject to Section 11, each party hereby consents to the
jurisdiction of any competent federal or state court within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to
hear any dispute arising out of this Agreement.
13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes and cancels any
and all previous agreements, written and oral, regarding the subject matter hereof between the
parties hereto. This Agreement shall not be changed, altered, modified or amended, except by a
written agreement signed by both parties hereto.
14. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications called for or
contemplated hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered to
the party to whom addressed or when sent by telecopy (if promptly confirmed by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and addressed) to the parties, their successors
in interest, or their assignees at the following addresses, or at such other addresses as the
parties may designate by written notice in the manner aforesaid:
| (a) | to the Company at: |
UFood Restaurant Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xx. Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: 000-000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xx. Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: 000-000-0000
with
a copy to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
| (b) | to the Executive at: |
00 Xxxxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax:
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax:
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All such notices, requests and other communications will (i) if delivered personally to the
address as provided in this Section 14, be deemed given upon delivery, (ii) if delivered by
facsimile transmission to the facsimile number as provided for in this Section 14, be deemed given
upon facsimile confirmation, (iii) if delivered by mail in the manner described above to the
address as provided for in this Section 14, be deemed given on the earlier of the third business
day following mailing or upon receipt and (iv) if delivered by overnight courier to the address as
provided in this Section 14, be deemed given on the earlier of the first business day following the
date sent by such overnight courier or upon receipt (in each case regardless of whether such
notice, request or other communication is received by any other person to whom a copy of such
notice is to be delivered pursuant to this Section 14). Either party may, by notice given to the
other party in accordance with this Section 14, designate another address or person for receipt of
notices hereunder.
15. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement, or the application
thereof to any person or under any circumstance, shall to any extent be invalid or unenforceable,
the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such terms to the persons or under
circumstances other than those as to which it is invalid or unenforceable, shall be considered
severable and shall not be affected thereby, and each term of this Agreement shall be valid and
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. The invalid or unenforceable provisions shall,
to the extent permitted by law, be deemed amended and given such interpretation as to achieve the
economic intent of this Agreement.
16. Waiver. The failure of any party to insist in any one instance or more upon
strict performance of any of the terms and conditions hereof, or to exercise any right or privilege
herein conferred, shall not be construed as a waiver of such terms, conditions, rights or
privileges, but same shall continue to remain in full force and effect. Any waiver by any party of
any violation of, breach of or default under any provision of this Agreement by the other party
shall not be construed as, or constitute, a continuing waiver of such provision, or waiver of any
other violation of, breach of or default under any other provision of this Agreement.
17. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and any
successors and assigns of the Company. Neither this Agreement nor any right or obligation
hereunder may be assigned by the Executive. The Company may assign this Agreement and its right
and obligations hereunder, in whole or in part.
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18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
19. Headings. Headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not be deemed to have any substantive effect.
20. Opportunity to Seek Advice. The Executive acknowledges and confirms that he has
had the opportunity to seek such legal, financial and other advice and representation as he has
deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement.
21. Withholding and Payroll Practices. All salary, severance payments, bonuses or
benefits provided by the Company under this Agreement shall be net of any tax or other amounts
required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law and shall be paid in the ordinary
course pursuant to the Company’s then existing payroll practices.
[the next page is the signature page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
| UFood Restaurant Group, Inc. | ||||||
| By: | ||||||
| Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||||
| Title: President | ||||||
Witness:
|
EXECUTIVE: | |||||
| Name: | Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
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