Exhibit 10.3
IMAGEWARE SOFTWARE, INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(REVISED MARCH 1, 1999)
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), which was entered into as of
July 20, 1997 by and between ImageWare Software, Inc., a California
Corporation (herein the "Company") and Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, (herein "Xxxxxxxxx"),
is amended to read in full as hereinafter set forth.
It is hereby agreed as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT AND TERM. The Company hereby employs Xxxxxxxxx as Vice
President, Sales and Business Development (VP, Sales and Business
Development) of the Company and Xxxxxxxxx agrees to his employment by the
Company as its VP, Sales and Business Development the term of which
employment shall be a period of three years commencing March 1, 1999 and
ending February 28, 2002.
2. DUTIES. During the term of this Agreement, Xxxxxxxxx shall devote
substantially all of his working time, energies and skills to the management
of the Company's business. Xxxxxxxxx shall render services consistent with
those of the VP, Sales and Business Development of a corporation and shall
perform all duties incident to such office and all such further similar
duties that may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors of the Company.
3. COMPENSATION. Devermann's compensation under this Agreement shall
be as follows:
(a) BASE SALARY. The Company shall pay to Xxxxxxxxx, a base
salary (the "Base Salary") of $103,731 per year from March 1, 1999
through February 28, 2002. In addition, each year during the term of
this Agreement, Xxxxxxxxx shall be reviewed for purposes of determining
the appropriateness of increasing his salary hereunder, provided that in
any event, Xxxxxxxxx shall receive a cost-of-living increase equal to
the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index applicable to the San
Diego, California area increased during the prior fiscal year. Such Base
Salary shall be payable in semi-monthly installments in accordance with
the regular employee payment practice of the Company. All payments shall
be subject to the deduction of payroll taxes and similar assessments as
required by law.
(b) BONUS. In addition to his Base Salary, Xxxxxxxxx shall be
eligible to participate in any Company Bonus Plan, adopted from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
4. EXPENSES AND BENEFITS. Xxxxxxxxx is authorized to incur reasonable
expenses in connection with the business of the Company, including expenses
for entertainment, travel and similar matters. The Company will reimburse
Xxxxxxxxx for
such expenses upon presentation by Xxxxxxxxx of such accounts and records as
the Company shall from time to time reasonably require. The Company also
agrees to provide Xxxxxxxxx with the following benefits:
(a) INSURANCE. Major medical health insurance and disability
insurance which shall provide not less than two-thirds of Devermann's
then current Base Salary in disability payments commencing three months
after permanent or partial disability occurs and life group or term life
insurance in an amount equal to two times Devermann's Base Salary.
(b) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Participation in any other employee
benefit plans now existing or hereafter adopted by the Company for its
employees.
(c) VACATIONS. Xxxxxxxxx shall be entitled to a paid vacation for a
period in each calendar year of not less than three weeks, to be taken
at such times as mutually agreed with the Company.
5. TERMINATION. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement
shall terminate upon the first to occur of the expiration of the term
provided for in Section 1 or the death of Xxxxxxxxx. However, nothing
contained in this Section 5 shall be construed to abrogate the obligations of
the Company to Xxxxxxxxx, or his personal representative, or his heirs, as
the case may be, in respect of all rights which shall accrue prior or
subsequent to termination.
6. DISABILITY. In the event that Xxxxxxxxx becomes permanently disabled
during the term of this Agreement, then Xxxxxxxxx shall continue in the
employ of the Company, but his compensation hereunder shall be limited to the
amount of his Base Salary then in effect, as set forth in Section 3(a)
hereof, which compensation shall be reduced by any amounts which Xxxxxxxxx
receives from worker's compensation, social security, state disability
programs or the disability insurance provided by the Company to Xxxxxxxxx. In
such event, Devermann's employment hereunder shall continue after his
permanent disability and until the first to occur of (a) the expiration of
the term specified in Section 1, or (b) the death of Xxxxxxxxx; and during
such period of time Xxxxxxxxx shall not be entitled to payment of expenses or
benefits specified in Section 4 hereof, except that the Company shall
continue to provide Xxxxxxxxx with the insurance benefits specified in
Section 4(b) hereof.
(a) DEFINITION OF DISABILITY. As used in this Paragragh 6,
"permanent disability" shall mean three (3) months of substantially
continuous disability. Disability shall be deemed "substantially
continuous" if, as a practical matter, Xxxxxxxxx by reason of his mental
or physical health, is unable to sustain reasonably long periods of
substantial performance of his duties. Frequent long illnesses, though
different from the preceding illness and though separated by relatively
short periods of performance, may be deemed to be "substantially
continuous." Disability shall be determined in good faith by a vote of
not less than 75% of the Board of Directors of the Company, excluding
Xxxxxxxxx if he is a director, whose decision shall be final and binding
upon Xxxxxxxxx.
Xxxxxxxxx hereby consents to medical examinations by such physicians
and medical consultants as the Company shall from time to time require.
7. TERMINATION BY COMPANY FOR CAUSE. The Company shall have the right
to terminate Devermann's employment as VP, Sales and Business Development of
the Company for "Cause," in which event no compensation shall be paid or
other benefits furnished to Xxxxxxxxx after termination for Cause.
Termination for Cause shall be effective immediately upon notice being sent
to Xxxxxxxxx.
(i) DEFINITION OF CAUSE. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term "Cause" shall mean (1) any material act of dishonest by Xxxxxxxxx
against the Company; or (2) willful misconduct or gross negligence by
Xxxxxxxxx in carrying out his duties as VP, Sales and Business Development
of the Company; or (3) material breach of this Agreement by Xxxxxxxxx; or
(4) misconduct by Xxxxxxxxx, such as intoxication or other misconduct
which has a substantial adverse effect on the business of the Company, or
(5) other circumstances indicative of Devermann's failure materially to
comply with the terms of his employment and which have had or may have a
substantial adverse effect on the business of the Company.
8. TERMINATION BY COMPANY OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE. The Company shall
have the right to terminate Devermann's employment prior to its normal
expiration under this Agreement, without cause, in which event the Company
shall pay Xxxxxxxxx in one lump sum, an amount equal to the full amount of
his Base Salary for a period of one year from the date of his termination of
employment.
9. RESIGNATION BY XXXXXXXXX FOR CAUSE - CHANGE IN CONTROL OR
DIMINUTION IN DUTIES. In the event that there is a change in Control of the
Company or in the event that the Board of Directors materially reduces the
scope and/or authority of Devermann's duties as Vice President of Sales and
Business Development, then Xxxxxxxxx may terminate his employment by giving
the Company 30 days advance written notice. In such event, Xxxxxxxxx shall be
entitled to payment of his entire unpaid Base Salary for a period of one year
from the date of his termination of employment.
(a) As used in this Agreement, the term "Change of Control" shall
mean the occurrence of any of the following events during the term hereof:
(i) Any "person" (such as tat term is used in Section 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act)) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, or securities of the Company
representing 50% or more of the total voting power represented by the
Company's then outstanding voting securities; or
(ii) Any merger or consolidation of the Company with any
other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in
the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent 50% or more of the total voting power represented by
the Company's then outstanding
voting securities (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
voting securities of the Company or such other surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation); or
(iii) a majority of the directors of the Company which were
not nominated by the Company's management (or were nominated by management
pursuant to an agreement with persons that acquired sufficient voting
securities of the Company to de facto control it) are elected to the Board of
Directors by the Company's shareholders; or
(iv) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or
disposition by the company of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets.
10. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall enter into an Officers and
Directors Indemnification Agreement with Xxxxxxxxx that shall provide the
Executive with the maximum amount of protection allowed under the laws of
California to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the Company's
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws with respect to such subject matter.
11. NO PROSELYTIZING OF EMPLOYEES. During the term of Devermann's
employment and for a period of 24 months following termination of his
employment (for whatever reason), Xxxxxxxxx shall not, on his own behalf or
on behalf of any other person or entity, directly or indirectly, solicit or
encourage any person then an employee of the Company to leave the employ of
the Company for the purpose of forming of joining another business.
12. NO SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. During the term of Devermann's
employment and for a period of 24 months following termination of his
employment (for whatever reason), Xxxxxxxxx shall not, on his own behalf or
on behalf of any other person or entity, directly or indirectly, solicit,
entice away or divert any person or entity then a client of customer of the
Company to become a client or customer of any other person or entity.
13. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) NOTICES. Any notices to be given hereunder by either party to
the other shall be in writing and may be effected either by personal delivery
or by fax, private courier, or certified mail, postage prepaid with return
receipt requested. Mailed notices shall be addressed to the parties at the
addresses set forth below, but each party may change his or its address by
written notice in accordance with this Section 11(a). Notices delivered
personally shall be deemed communicated as of actual receipt; faxes, private
courier deliveries or mailed notices shall be deemed communicated as of one
day after faxing, delivery by a private courier or mailing.
If to Xxxxxxxxx:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
0000 X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx,XX 00000
If to the Company:
ImageWare Software, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
(b) SEVERABILITY. If any provision in this Agreement is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, or unenforceable,
the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force
without being impaired or invalidated in any way.
(c) LAW GOVERNING AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of California.
(d) ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
bind the parties hereto and their representative legal representatives,
successors and assigns.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
date first above written.
/s/ Xxx Xxxxxx /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Chairman and CEO VP, Sales and Business Development
