EXHIBIT 10.18
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of this 16th day of October, 1997, is
by and between Alpine Gem Flower Shippers, Inc, a Montana corporation (the
"Company") and a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S.A. Floral Products, Inc.
("USFloral"), a Delaware corporation, and Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. ("Employee").
RECITALS
The Company desires to continue to employ Employee and to have the benefit
of his skills and services, and Employee desires to continue employment with the
Company, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, terms, covenants
and conditions set forth herein, and the performance of each, the parties
hereto, intending legally to be bound, hereby agree as follows:
AGREEMENTS
1. Employment; Term. The Company hereby employs Employee to perform the
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duties described herein, and Employee hereby accepts employment with the
Company, for a term beginning on the date hereof and continuing for a period of
two years (the "Term").
2. Position and Duties. The Company hereby employs Employee as President.
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As such, Employee shall have responsibilities, duties and authority reasonably
accorded to and expected of the president of the Company. Employee will report
directly to the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). Employee
hereby accepts this employment upon the terms and conditions herein contained
and agrees to devote all of his professional time, attention, and efforts to
promote and further the business of the Company. Employee shall faithfully
adhere to, execute, and fulfill all policies established by the Company.
3. Compensation. For all services rendered by Employee, the Company shall
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compensate Employee as follows:
(a) Base Salary. Effective on the date hereof, the base salary payable to
Employee shall be $80,000 per year, payable on a regular basis in accordance
with the Company's standard payroll procedures, but not less than monthly. On
at least an annual basis, the Board will review Employee's performance and may
make increases to such base salary if, in its sole discretion, any such increase
is warranted.
(b) Incentive Bonus. During the Term, Employee shall be eligible to
receive an incentive bonus up to the amount, based upon the criteria, and
payable at such times as are, specified in Exhibit A attached hereto. The
amount, manner of payment, and form of consideration, if any, shall be
determined by the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, and such
determination shall be binding and final. To the extent that such bonus is to
be determined in light of financial performance during a specified fiscal period
and this Agreement commences on a date after the start of such fiscal
period, any bonus payable in respect of such fiscal period's results may be
prorated. In addition, if the period of Employee's employment hereunder expires
before the end of a fiscal period, and if Employee is eligible to receive a
bonus at such time (such eligibility being subject to the restrictions set forth
in Section 6 below), any bonus payable in respect of such fiscal period's
results may be prorated.
(c) Stock Options. Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company shall
grant Employee options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company's common stock,
which shall vest at the rate of 25% per year, commencing one year from the date
of grant. The options will have an exercise price equal to the initial public
offering price per share.
(d) Perquisites, Benefits, and Other Compensation. During the Term,
Employee shall be entitled to receive all perquisites and benefits as are
customarily provided by the Company to its employees, subject to such changes,
additions, or deletions as the Company may make generally from time to time, as
well as such other perquisites or benefits as may be specified from time to time
by the Board.
4. Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse Employee for (or,
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at the Company's option, pay) all business travel and other out-of-pocket
expenses reasonably incurred by Employee in the performance of his services
hereunder during the Term. All reimbursable expenses shall be appropriately
documented in reasonable detail by Employee upon submission of any request for
reimbursement, and in a format and manner consistent with the Company's expense
reporting policy, as well as applicable federal and state tax record keeping
requirements.
5. Place of Performance. The parties agree that Employee will not be
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required by the Company to relocate from his present residence to another
geographic location. However, if Employee agrees to relocate upon request by
the Company, the Company will provide Employee with a relocation allowance, in
an amount determined by the Company, to assist Employee in covering the costs of
moving himself, his immediate family, and their personal property and effects.
The total amount and type of costs to be covered shall be determined by the
Company, in light of prevailing Company policy at the time.
6. Termination; Rights on Termination. Employee's employment may be
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terminated in any one of the followings ways, prior to the expiration of the
Term:
(a) Death. The death of Employee shall immediately terminate the Term, and
no severance compensation shall be owed to Employee's estate.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental
illness or injury, Employee shall have been unable to perform the material
duties of his position on a full-time basis for a period of four consecutive
months, or for a total of four months in any six-month period, then 30 days
after written notice to the Employee (which notice may be given before or after
the end of the aforementioned periods, but which shall not be effective earlier
than the last day of the applicable
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period), the Company may terminate Employee's employment hereunder if Employee
is unable to resume his full-time duties at the conclusion of such notice
period. Subject to Section 6(f) below, if Employee's employment is terminated
as a result of Employee's disability, the Company shall continue to pay Employee
his base salary at the then-current rate for the lesser of (i) twelve months
from the effective date of termination, or (ii) whatever time period is
remaining under the then-current period of the Term (without regard to renewals
thereof). Such payments shall be made in accordance with the Company's regular
payroll cycle.
(c) Termination by the Company "For Cause." The Company may terminate the
Term 10 days after written notice to Employee "for cause," which shall be: (i)
Employee's material breach of this Agreement, which breach is not cured within
10 days of receipt by Employee of written notice from the Company specifying the
breach; (ii) Employee's gross negligence in the performance of his duties
hereunder, intentional nonperformance or mis-performance of such duties, or
refusal to abide by or comply with the directives of the Board, his superior
officers, or the Company's policies and procedures, which actions continue for a
period of at least 10 days after receipt by Employee of written notice of the
need to cure or cease; (iii) Employee's willful dishonesty, fraud, or misconduct
with respect to the business or affairs of the Company or USFloral, and that in
the judgment of the Company or USFloral materially and adversely affects the
operations or reputation of the Company or USFloral; (iv) Employee's conviction
of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude; or (v) Employee's abuse of
alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal) that, in the Company's judgment, materially
impairs Employee's ability to perform his duties hereunder. In the event of a
termination "for cause," as enumerated above, Employee shall have no right to
any severance compensation.
(d) Without Cause. At any time after the commencement of employment, the
Company may, without cause, terminate the Term and Employee's employment,
effective 30 days after written notice is provided to the Employee. Should
Employee be terminated by the Company without cause, subject to Section 6(f)
below, Employee shall receive from the Company the base salary at the rate then
in effect for whatever time period is remaining under the then-current period of
the Term (without regard to renewals thereof). Such payments shall be made in
accordance with the Company's regular payroll cycle. If Employee resigns or
otherwise terminates his employment for any reason or for no reason, Employee
shall receive no severance compensation.
(e) Payment Through Termination. Upon termination of Employee's employment
for any reason provided above, Employee shall be entitled to receive all
compensation earned and all benefits and reimbursements (including payments for
accrued vacation and sick leave, in each case in accordance with applicable
policies of the Company) due through the effective date of termination.
Additional compensation subsequent to termination, if any, will be due and
payable to Employee only to the extent and in the manner expressly provided
above in this Section 6. With respect to incentive bonus compensation, Employee
shall be entitled to receive any bonus declared but not paid prior to
termination. In addition, in the event of a termination by the Company under
Section 6(b) or 6(d), Employee shall be entitled to receive incentive bonus
compensation through the end of the Company's fiscal year in which termination
occurs, calculated as if Employee had
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remained employed by the Company through the end of such fiscal year, and paid
in such amounts, at such times, and in such forms as are determined pursuant to
Section 3(b) above and Exhibit A attached hereto. Except as specified in the
preceding two sentences, Employee shall not be entitled to receive any incentive
bonus compensation after the effective date of termination of his employment.
All other rights and obligations of USFloral, the Company, and Employee under
this Agreement shall cease as of the effective date of termination, except that
Employee's obligations under Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 below shall survive such
termination in accordance with their terms.
(f) Right to Offset. In the event of any termination of Employee's
employment under this Agreement, the Employee shall have no obligation to seek
other employment; provided, that in the event that Employee secures employment
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or any consulting or other similar arrangement during the period that any
payment is continuing pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6, the Company
shall have the right to reduce the amounts to be paid hereunder by the amount of
Employee's earnings from such other employment.
7. Restriction on Competition.
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(a) During the Term, and thereafter, if Employee continues to be employed
by the Company and/or any other entity owned by or affiliated with the Company
or USFloral on an "at will" basis, for the duration of such period, and
thereafter for a period equal to the longer of (x) two years, or (y) the period
during which Employee is receiving any severance pay from the Company, Employee
shall not, directly or indirectly, for himself or on behalf of or in conjunction
with any other person, company, partnership, corporation, business, group, or
other entity (each, a "Person"):
(i) engage, as an officer, director, shareholder, owner, partner, joint
venturer, or in a managerial capacity, whether as an employee, independent
contractor, consultant, advisor, or sales representative, in any business
selling any products or services in direct competition with the Company or
USFloral including without limitation the importing, brokerage, shipping or
marketing of floral products, or any business engaging in the consolidation of
the floral industry, within the United States (the "Territory");
(ii) call upon any Person who is, at that time, within the Territory, an
employee of the Company or USFloral for the purpose or with the intent of
enticing such employee away from or out of the employ of the Company or
USFloral;
(iii) call upon any Person who or that is, at that time, or has been,
within one year prior to that time, a customer of the Company or USFloral within
the Territory for the purpose of soliciting or selling products or services in
direct competition with the Company or USFloral within the Territory; or
(iv) on Employee's own behalf or on behalf of any competitor, call upon
any Person who or that, during Employee's employment by the Company or USFloral
was either called
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upon by the Company or USFloral as a prospective acquisition candidate or was
the subject of an acquisition analysis conducted by the Company or USFloral.
(b) The foregoing covenants shall not be deemed to prohibit Employee from
acquiring as an investment not more than one percent of the capital stock of a
competing business, whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or
through the automated quotation system of a registered securities association.
(c) It is further agreed that, in the event that Employee shall cease to be
employed by the Company or USFloral and enters into a business or pursues other
activities that, at such time, are not in competition with the Company or
USFloral, Employee shall not be chargeable with a violation of this Section 7 if
the Company or USFloral subsequently enters the same (or a similar) competitive
business or activity or commences competitive operations within 100 miles of the
Employee's new business or activities. In addition, if Employee has no actual
knowledge that his actions violate the terms of this Section 7, Employee shall
not be deemed to have breached the restrictive covenants contained herein if,
promptly after being notified by the Company or USFloral of such breach,
Employee ceases the prohibited actions.
(d) For purposes of this Section 7, references to "USFloral" shall mean
U.S.A. Floral Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries and affiliates.
(e) The covenants in this Section 7 are severable and separate, and the
unenforceability of any specific covenant shall not affect the provisions of any
other covenant. If any provision of this Section 7 relating to the time period
or geographic area of the restrictive covenants shall be declared by a court of
competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum time period or geographic area, as
applicable, that such court deems reasonable and enforceable, said time period
or geographic area shall be deemed to be, and thereafter shall become, the
maximum time period or largest geographic area that such court deems reasonable
and enforceable and this Agreement shall automatically be considered to have
been amended and revised to reflect such determination.
(f) All of the covenants in this Section 7 shall be construed as an
agreement independent of any other provision in this Agreement, and the
existence of any claim or cause of action of Employee against the Company or
USFloral, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not
constitute a defense to the enforcement by USFloral or the Company of such
covenants; provided, that upon the failure of the Company to make any payments
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required under this Agreement, the Employee may, upon 30 days' prior written
notice to the Company, waive his right to receive any additional compensation
pursuant to this Agreement and engage in any activity prohibited by the
covenants of this Section 7. It is specifically agreed that the period of two
years stated at the beginning of this Section 7, during which the agreements and
covenants of Employee made in this Section 7 shall be effective, shall be
computed by excluding from such computation any time during which Employee is in
violation of any provision of this Section 7.
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(g) If the time period specified by this Section 7 shall be reduced by law
or court decision, then, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6 above,
Employee shall be entitled to receive from the Company his base salary at the
rate then in effect solely for the longer of (i) the time period during which
the provisions of this Section 7 shall be enforceable under the provisions of
such applicable law, or (ii) the time period during which Employee is not
engaging in any competitive activity, but in no event longer than the applicable
period provided in Section 6 above. If Employee is subject to a restriction on
competitive activity as a party to that certain Agreement and Plan of
Contribution, dated as of July __, 1997, by and among USFloral, AGFS Acquisition
Corp., the Company, Employee and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the "Merger Agreement"), then
Employee shall abide by, and in all cases be subject to, the restrictive
covenants (whether in this Section 7 or in the Merger Agreement) that, in the
aggregate, impose restrictions on Employee for the longest duration and the
broadest geographic scope (taking into account the effect of any applicable
court decisions limiting the scope or duration of such restrictions), it being
agreed that all such restrictive covenants are supported by separate and
distinct consideration. This Section 7(g) shall be construed and interpreted in
light of the duration of the applicable restrictive covenants.
(h) Employee has carefully read and considered the provisions of this
Section 7 and, having done so, agrees that the restrictive covenants in this
Section 7 impose a fair and reasonable restraint on Employee and are reasonably
required to protect the interests of the Company and USFloral, and their
respective officers, directors, employees, and stockholders. It is further
agreed that the Company and Employee intend that such covenants be construed and
enforced in accordance with the changing activities, business, and locations of
the Company and USFloral throughout the term of these covenants.
8. Confidential Information. Employee hereby agrees to hold in strict
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confidence and not to disclose to any third party any of the valuable,
confidential, and proprietary business, financial, technical, economic, sales,
and/or other types of proprietary business information relating to the Company
and/or USFloral (including all trade secrets), in whatever form, whether oral,
written, or electronic (collectively, the "Confidential Information"), to which
Employee has, or is given (or has had or been given), access as a result of his
employment by the Company. It is agreed that the Confidential Information is
confidential and proprietary to the Company and/or USFloral because such
Confidential Information encompasses technical know-how, trade secrets, or
technical, financial, organizational, sales, or other valuable aspects of the
Company's and USFloral's business and trade, including, without limitation,
technologies, products, processes, plans, clients, personnel, operations, and
business activities. This restriction shall not apply to any Confidential
Information that (a) becomes known generally to the public through no fault of
the Employee; (b) is required by applicable law, legal process, or any order or
mandate of a court or other governmental authority to be disclosed; or (c) is
reasonably believed by Employee, based upon the advice of legal counsel, to be
required to be disclosed in defense of a lawsuit or other legal or
administrative action brought against Employee; provided, that in the case of
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clauses (b) or (c), Employee shall give the Company reasonable advance written
notice of the Confidential Information intended to be disclosed and the reasons
and circumstances surrounding such disclosure, in order to permit the Company to
seek a
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protective order or other appropriate request for confidential treatment of the
applicable Confidential Information.
9. Inventions. Employee shall disclose promptly to the Company and
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USFloral any and all significant conceptions and ideas for inventions,
improvements, and valuable discoveries, whether patentable or not, that are
conceived or made by Employee, solely or jointly with another, during the period
of employment or within one year thereafter, and that are directly related to
the business or activities of the Company or USFloral and that Employee
conceives as a result of his employment by the Company, regardless of whether or
not such ideas, inventions, or improvements qualify as "works for hire."
Employee hereby assigns and agrees to assign all his interests therein to the
Company or its nominee. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, Employee
shall execute any and all applications, assignments, or other instruments that
the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain Letters Patent of the
United States or any foreign country or to otherwise protect the Company's
interest therein.
10. Return of Company Property. Promptly upon termination of Employee's
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employment by the Company for any reason or no reason, Employee or Employee's
personal representative shall return to the Company (a) all Confidential
Information; (b) all other records, designs, patents, business plans, financial
statements, manuals, memoranda, lists, correspondence, reports, records, charts,
advertising materials, and other data or property delivered to or compiled by
Employee by or on behalf of the Company, USFloral or their respective
representatives, vendors, or customers that pertain to the business of the
Company or USFloral, whether in paper, electronic, or other form; and (c) all
keys, credit cards, vehicles, and other property of the Company or USFloral.
Employee shall not retain or cause to be retained any copies of the foregoing.
Employee hereby agrees that all of the foregoing shall be and remain the
property of the Company or USFloral, as the case may be, and be subject at all
times to their discretion and control.
11. No Prior Agreements. Employee hereby represents and warrants to the
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Company that the execution of this Agreement by Employee, his employment by the
Company, and the performance of his duties hereunder will not violate or be a
breach of any agreement with a former employer, client, or any other Person.
Further, Employee agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its
officers, directors, and representatives for any claim, including, but not
limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses of investigation, of any
such third party that such third party may now have or may hereafter come to
have against the Company or such other persons, based upon or arising out of any
non-competition agreement, invention, secrecy, or other agreement between
Employee and such third party that was in existence as of the date of this
Agreement. To the extent that Employee had any oral or written employment
agreement or understanding with the Company, this Agreement shall automatically
supersede such agreement or understanding, and upon execution of this Agreement
by Employee and the Company, such prior agreement or understanding automatically
shall be deemed to have been terminated and shall be null and void.
12. Assignment; Binding Effect. Employee understands that he has been
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selected for employment by the Company on the basis of his personal
qualifications, experience, and skills.
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Employee agrees, therefore, that he cannot assign all or any portion of his
performance under this Agreement. This Agreement may not be assigned or
transferred by the Company without the prior written consent of Employee.
Subject to the preceding two sentences, this Agreement shall be binding upon,
inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their
respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employee accepts employment with a subsidiary
or affiliate of USFloral other than the Company, unless Employee and his new
employer agree otherwise in writing, this Agreement shall automatically be
deemed to have been assigned to such new employer (which shall thereafter be an
additional or substitute beneficiary of the covenants contained herein, as
appropriate), with the consent of Employee, such assignment shall be considered
a condition of employment by such new employer, and references to the "Company"
in this Agreement shall be deemed to refer to such new employer. If the Company
is merged with or into another subsidiary or affiliate of USFloral, such action
shall not be considered to cause an assignment of this Agreement, and the
surviving or successor entity shall become the beneficiary of this Agreement and
all references to the "Company" shall be deemed to refer to such surviving or
successor entity. It is intended that USFloral will be a third-party beneficiary
of the rights of the Company under this Agreement. No other Person shall be a
third-party beneficiary.
13. Complete Agreement; Waiver; Amendment. This Agreement is not a
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promise of future employment. Employee has no oral representations,
understandings, or agreements with the Company or any of its officers,
directors, or representatives covering the same subject matter as this
Agreement. This Agreement together with the Merger Agreement, is the final,
complete, and exclusive statement and expression of the agreement between the
Company and Employee with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and
cannot be varied, contradicted, or supplemented by evidence of any prior or
contemporaneous oral or written agreements. This written Agreement may not be
later modified except by a further writing signed by a duly authorized officer
of the Company and Employee, and no term of this Agreement may be waived except
by a writing signed by the party waiving the benefit of such term.
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14. Notice. Whenever any notice is required hereunder, it shall be given
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in writing addressed as follows:
To the Company: Alpine Gem Flower Shippers, Inc.
X.X. Xxx 0000, 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
with a copy to: USA Floral Products, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
To Employee: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Notice shall be deemed given and effective three days after the deposit in the
U.S. mail of a writing addressed as above and sent first class mail, certified,
return receipt requested, or, if sent by express delivery, hand delivery, or
facsimile, when actually received. Either party may change the address for
notice by notifying the other party of such change in accordance with this
Section 15.
16. Severability; Headings. If any portion of this Agreement is held
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invalid or inoperative, the other portions of this Agreement shall be deemed
valid and operative and, so far as is reasonable and possible, effect shall be
given to the intent manifested by the portion held invalid or inoperative. This
severability provision shall be in addition to, and not in place of, the
provisions of Section 7(e) above. The paragraph headings herein are for
reference purposes only and are not intended in any way to describe, interpret,
define or limit the extent or intent of the Agreement or of any part hereof.
17. Equitable Remedy. Because of the difficulty of measuring economic
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losses to the Company and/or USFloral as a result of a breach of the restrictive
covenants set forth in Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10, and because of the immediate and
irreparable damage that would be caused to the Company and/or USFloral for which
monetary damages would not be a sufficient remedy, it is hereby agreed that in
addition to all other remedies that may be available to the Company or USFloral
at law or in equity, the Company and USFloral shall be entitled to specific
performance and any injunctive or other equitable relief as a remedy for any
breach or threatened breach of the aforementioned restrictive covenants.
18. Arbitration. Any unresolved dispute or controversy arising under or
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in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration
conducted in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association
then in effect. The arbitrators shall not have the
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authority to add to, detract from, or modify any provision hereof nor to award
punitive damages to any injured party. A decision by a majority of the
arbitration panel shall be final and binding. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrators' award in any court having jurisdiction. The direct expense of any
arbitration proceeding shall be borne by the Company. Each party shall bear its
own counsel fees. The arbitration proceeding shall be held in the city where
the Company is located. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and/or
USFloral shall be entitled to seek injunctive or other equitable relief, as
contemplated by Section 17 above, from any court of competent jurisdiction,
without the need to resort to arbitration.
19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be construed
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according to the laws of the State of Montana, without regard to its conflict of
laws principles.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have cause this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first written above.
ALPINE GEM FLOWER SHIPPERS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
___________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Title: President
EMPLOYEE:
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
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EXHIBIT A
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Under USFloral's Incentive Bonus Plan, Employee will be eligible to earn up to
100% of Employee's base salary in bonus compensation, payable out of a bonus
pool determined by the Board of Directors of USFloral or a compensation
committee thereof, depending upon the achievement of specified criteria and
payable in the form of cash, stock options, or other non-cash awards, in such
proportions, and in such forms, as are determined by the Board of Directors of
USFloral or a compensation committee thereof. Bonuses under the Incentive Bonus
Plan will be determined by measuring Employee's performance, the Company's
performance and USFloral's performance based on the following criteria, weighted
as indicated, and measured against target performance levels established by the
Board of Directors of USFloral or such compensation committee: (i) USFloral's
profit - 25%, (ii) the profit of the Company - 50% and (iii) revenue growth of
the Company due to acquisitions -25%.
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