EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
Agreement, dated as of June 19, 2006 (the “Effective
Date”),
is
between Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx (the “Executive”)
and
a21, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Texas (the
“Company”
or
“a21”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the
Company desires to employ the Executive, and the Executive is willing to render
services to the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter
set forth.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants, agreements and promises
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as
follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT.
The
Company shall employ the Executive as its interim President and Chief Operating
Officer, and the Executive hereby accepts such employment upon the terms and
subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, commencing on the Effective
Date and continuing until terminated pursuant to Paragraph 4 hereof (the
“Employment
Period”).
2. DUTIES.
(a) The
Executive shall report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and to the Board
of Directors (the “Board”).
The
Executive shall perform and discharge diligently and faithfully such duties
as
may be assigned to him from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer and/or
the Board as are customary for the position of President and Chief Operating
Officer. The Executive shall be based in Great Falls, Virginia, will travel
to
the Company’s offices in Jacksonville, Florida, New York, New York, Fairfield,
Iowa and London, UK as necessary and his position will require reasonable travel
outside of such areas.
(b) The
Executive, for four (4) business days per calendar week, shall devote his
business time, attention, skills and energies to the performance of his duties
hereunder and to the promotion of the business of the Company, consistent with
such duties, and shall not during the Employment Period be employed or engaged
in any other business activity, whether or not such activity is pursued for
gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage which would not allow him to
contribute his time, attention, skills and energies to the performance of his
duties hereunder and to the promotion of the business of the Company for such
four (4) business days per calendar week; provided, however, that this shall
not
be construed as preventing the Executive from accepting or maintaining
directorships with companies which do not compete with the Company, investing
his personal assets in businesses which do not compete with the Company, and
engaging in for profit, not-for-profit and civic activities that do not
interfere with the Executive’s duties.
3. COMPENSATION.
(a) Salary.
For
services rendered by the Executive hereunder during the Employment Period,
the
Company shall pay him a base salary (the “Salary”)
at the
monthly gross rate of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) in accordance with
the
Company’s ordinary payroll practices.
(b) Bonus.
At the
beginning of the Employment Period, the Company shall pay the Executive
additional compensation in the form of a bonus (the “Bonus”)
of
Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) for work for the Company prior to the
Effective Date.
(c) Stock
Options.
Subject
to final approval of the Board of Directors of a21, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive, as soon as practicable following the Effective Date,
nonqualified stock options in accordance with the terms of the a21 stock option
plan and the standard stock option agreement thereunder; provided, however,
that
such options shall provide the Executive with the right to purchase 400,000
common shares of a21 at a purchase price of $.46 per common share, all of which
shall vest on December 19, 2006 unless the Executive’s employment is terminated
for Cause (as hereinafter defined). All options shall immediately vest upon
a
change in control. The options are exercisable, after they have vested, for
five
(5) years after the Effective Date unless the Executive’s employment is
terminated for Cause, in which case they shall expire unexercised.
(d) Expense
Reimbursement.
The
Executive is authorized to incur reasonable expenses related to the performance
of his duties under this Agreement in accordance with budgets and guidelines
established by the Company from time to time or otherwise approved by the
Principal Financial Officer or Board of Directors. The Company shall promptly
reimburse the Executive for all such expenses in accordance with its expense
reimbursement policy in effect from time to time.
(e) Taxes.
All
payments and benefits provided to the Executive hereunder shall be reported
as
taxable income to the extent required by law and shall be subject to applicable
income and payroll withholding taxes.
4. TERM
AND TERMINATION.
(a) The
term
of this Agreement (the “Employment
Period”)
shall
commence on the Effective Date and continue for six (6) months unless terminated
earlier in accordance with this Paragraph 4.
(b) Termination
Without Cause.
Either
party hereto may terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment for any
reason at any time during the Employment Period, effective upon thirty (30)
days
written notice to the other party. In the event the Company terminates this
Agreement and the Executive’s employment without Cause (as hereinafter defined),
the Company shall pay to the Executive (i) any unpaid Salary accrued as of
the
date of termination, and (ii) the Salary due under any remaining term of this
Agreement in installments in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll
practices. The Executive shall not be entitled to any further payments or
benefits except as required by any federal or state law requiring continuation
of benefits.
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(c) Termination
for Cause.
The
Company may terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment for Cause
(as hereinafter defined) at any time, effective immediately upon giving the
Executive written notice of such termination. As used herein, the term
“Cause”
shall
mean any of the following events:
(i)
the
Executive’s conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or no contest to
a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude (which is likely to have an adverse
effect on the Company or the Executive’s ability to perform his duties
hereunder) or a felony which may result in a term of imprisonment;
(ii)
the
Executive’s breach of this Agreement or willful failure to carry out the lawful
directives of the Board consistent with Paragraph 2(a) hereof (provided the
Company has given the Employee advance written notice specifying the nature
of
such breach or failure to carry out the lawful directives of the Board and
a
period of at least fifteen (15) days to cure such breach or failure); or
(iii)
the
Executive’s (A) willful gross misconduct, including, without limitation,
dishonesty, fraud or theft, or (B) willful bad faith act or failure to act
that
is injurious to the business or reputation of the Company.
In
the
event of termination for Cause, the Company shall pay to the Executive any
unpaid Salary and any unused vacation days accrued as of the date of
termination, and the Executive shall not be entitled to any further payments
or
benefits except as required by any federal or state law requiring continuation
of benefits.
(d) Death.
If the
Executive dies during the Employment Period, this Agreement and the Executive’s
employment shall terminate as of the date of his death. The Company shall pay
to
the Executive’s estate any unpaid Salary accrued as of the date of termination,
and the Executive’s estate shall not be entitled to any further payments or
benefits pursuant to Paragraph 3 except as required by any federal or state
law
requiring continuation of benefits.
5. NON-SOLICITATION.
(a) Non-Solicitation
of Employees.
The
Executive hereby agrees that during the Employment Period and for a period
of
ninety (90) days thereafter (the “Survival
Period”),
he
shall not, directly or indirectly through any other individual, person or
entity, employ, solicit or induce any individual who is, or was at any time
during the Executive’s employment by the Company, an employee of the Company to
terminate or refrain from renewing or extending his or her employment by the
Company or to become employed by or enter into a contractual relationship with
the Executive or any other individual, person or entity. For the purposes of
Paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of this Agreement the “Company” shall be deemed to include
the Company and each of its Affiliates. For the purposes hereof, Affiliates
shall mean with respect to any person, any person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such other person
at
any time during the period for which the determination of affiliation is being
made.
(b) Non-Solicitation
of Suppliers or Vendors.
The
Executive hereby agrees that during the Employment Period and the Survival
Period he shall not, directly or indirectly through any other individual, person
or entity, solicit, persuade or induce any individual, person or entity which
is, or at any time during the Employment Period was, a supplier of any product
or service to the Company, or vendor of the Company (whether as a distributor,
agent, commission agent, employee or otherwise), to terminate, reduce or refrain
from renewing or extending his, her or its contractual or other relationship
with the Company.
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(c) Non-Solicitation
of Customers.
The
Executive hereby agrees that during the Employment Period and the Survival
Period he shall not, directly or indirectly through any other individual, person
or entity, solicit, persuade or induce any individual, person or entity which
is, or at any time during the Employment Period was, a customer of the Company
to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual
or
other relationship with the Company in regard to the purchase of products or
services manufactured, marketed or sold by the Company, or to become a customer
of or enter into any contractual or other relationship with the Executive or
any
other individual, person or entity in regard to the purchase of products or
services similar or identical to those manufactured, marketed or sold by the
Company.
6. CONFIDENTIALITY.
The
Executive agrees that during the Employment Period, and thereafter, he shall
not
divulge to anyone, other than as necessary in the performance of his duties
hereunder or as required by law or legal process, confidential information
of
the Company, its affiliates or its customers, including, without limitation,
know-how, trade secrets, customer lists, costs, profits or margin information,
markets, sales, pricing policies, operational methods, plans for future
development, data, drawings, samples, processes or products and other
information disclosed to the Executive or known by him as a result of or through
his employment by the Company, which is not generally known in the businesses
in
which the Company is engaged and which relates directly or indirectly to the
Company’s products or services or which is directly or indirectly useful in any
aspect of the Company’s business. In the event the Company is bound by a
confidentiality agreement with a customer, supplier or other party regarding
the
confidential information of such customer, supplier or other party, which
provides greater protection than specified above in this Paragraph 6, the
provisions of such other confidentiality agreement shall be binding upon the
Executive and shall not be superseded by this Paragraph 6. Upon the termination
of the Executive’s employment hereunder or at any other time upon the Company’s
request, the Executive shall deliver forthwith to the Company all memoranda,
notes, records, reports, computer disks and other documents (including all
copies thereof) containing such confidential information.
7. NON-COMPETITION.
The
Executive hereby agrees that during the Employment Period and the Survival
Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, anywhere in the entire
United States, own, manage, operate, control or participate in the ownership,
management, operation or control of, or be connected as an officer, employee,
partner, director, independent contractor or in any other capacity with, or
have
any financial interest in, or aid or assist anyone else in the manufacture,
sale
or representation of products or the provision of services identical or similar
to the products and services manufactured, sold, represented or provided by
the
Company, and which products or services are marketed to the same customer base
as the products or services offered by the Company, at any time during the
Employment Period or the Survival Period, or which are included in any business
plans of the Company in existence and under consideration at the time of
termination and of which Executive was aware.
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8. REMEDIES.
The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedy at law for a breach
or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Paragraphs 5, 6 or 7 of this
Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of that fact, in the event
of
a breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of
Paragraphs 5, 6 or 7 of this Agreement, it is agreed that in addition to its
remedy at law, the Company shall be entitled to appropriate equitable relief
in
the form of specific performance, preliminary or permanent injunction, temporary
restraining order or any other appropriate equitable remedy which may then
be
available. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
it
is expressly understood and agreed that, although the Executive and the Company
consider the restrictions contained in Paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 to be reasonable
for the purpose of preserving the Company’s goodwill and other proprietary
rights, if a final judicial determination is made by a court having jurisdiction
that the time and scope of the restrictions in such Paragraphs is an
unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against the Executive,
the
provisions of such Paragraphs shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed
amended to apply as to the maximum time and scope permitted and to such other
extent as the court may determine to be reasonable.
9. REPRESENTATION/WARRANTY.
The
Executive represents and warrants that he is not bound by the terms of a
confidentiality agreement or non-competition agreement or any other agreement
with a former employer or other third party which would preclude him from
accepting employment by the Company or which would preclude him from effectively
performing his duties for the Company. The Company represents and warrants
that
it has all requisite corporate power and authority to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that this Agreement is binding
on the Company and enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
10. NOTICES.
Any
notices or other communications required to be given pursuant to this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given: (i) upon delivery, if by hand;
(ii) after two (2) business days if sent by express mail or air courier; (iii)
four (4) business days after being mailed (seven (7) business days for
international mailings), if sent by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested; or (iv) upon transmission, if sent by
facsimile (provided that a confirmation copy is sent in the manner provided
in
clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this Paragraph 10 within thirty-six (36) hours
after such transmission), except that if notice is received by facsimile after
5:00 p.m. on a business day at the place of receipt, it shall be effective
as of
the following business day. All communications hereunder shall be delivered
to
the respective parties at the following addresses:
If
to the
Company:
a21,
Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Chief Executive Officer
with
a
copy to:
Loeb
& Loeb LLP
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
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If
to the
Executive:
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxx
At
his
residential address on
file
at
the corporate office of a21, Inc.
or
to
such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have previously
furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
11. GOVERNING
LAW/JURISDICTION.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of
the
State of Florida, regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under
applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof. The parties hereto hereby
irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state or federal courts
sitting in Jacksonville, Florida in connection with any controversy or claim
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the negotiation or breach
thereof, and hereby waive any claim or defense that such forum is inconvenient
or otherwise improper. Each party hereby agrees that any such court shall have
in personam jurisdiction over it and consents to service of process in any
matter authorized by Florida law.
12. SEVERABILITY.
Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision or portion of any provision of this
Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any
applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such finding or construction shall
not affect the remainder of the provisions of this Agreement, which shall be
given full force and effect without regard to the invalid or unenforceable
provision, and such invalid or unenforceable provision shall be modified
automatically to the least extent possible in order to render such provision
valid and enforceable, but only if the provision as so modified remains
consistent with the parties’ original intent.
13. WAIVER
OF BREACH.
The
waiver by either party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement
by
the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
breach.
14. SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective heirs, successors, representatives and assigns.
This
Agreement is assignable to any legal successor of the Company. This Agreement
may not be assigned by the Executive.
15. ENTIRE
AGREEMENT.
This
Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the Company
and the Executive with regard to all matters contained herein and incorporates
and supersedes all prior agreements between the parties concerning the
employment of the Executive by the Company. There are no other agreements,
conditions or representations, oral or written, express or implied, with regard
thereto. This Agreement may be amended only in writing, signed by both parties.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth
above.
a21,
INC.
|
EXECUTIVE
|
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
|
||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
|
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Title: Chief
Executive Officer
|
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