EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(this
"Agreement") is made and entered into effective as of August 9, 2006 (the
"Effective Date"), by and between Innovative Software Technologies, Inc., a
California corporation (the "Employer" or “Company”), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx,
an individual resident in Florida (the "Executive").
BACKGROUND:
The
Employer desires to employ the Executive as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, and the Executive desires to accept such employment, on the terms
and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
The
parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1.
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EMPLOYMENT
TERMS AND DUTIES
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1.1 Employment.
The
Employer hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts
employment by the Employer, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
1.2 Term.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 5, the term of the Executive's employment under
this Agreement will be three years, beginning on the Effective Date and ending
on the third anniversary of the Effective Date. Beginning on the Termination
Date, the term of employment shall automatically renew on a year-to-year basis
(each such year being referred to as a "Renewal Period") unless and until
terminated earlier pursuant to Section 6 hereof or until terminated by the
Employer or the Executive by written notice at least 90 days before the
commencement of such Renewal Period.
1.3 Duties.
The
Executive will have such duties as are assigned or delegated to the Executive
by
the Board of Directors and will initially serve as Chief Executive Officer
of
the Employer. The Executive will devote his time, attention, skill, and energy
to the business of the Employer on a full-time basis, will use his reasonable
best efforts to promote the success of the Employer's business, and will
cooperate fully with the Board of Directors in the advancement of the best
interests of the Employer. Nothing in this Section 1.3 will prevent the
Executive from engaging in additional business activities, personal investments
and community affairs that are not inconsistent with the Executive's duties
under this Agreement; however, Executive must obtain permission of the Board
of
Directors before serving on the board of directors of another company. If the
Executive is elected as a director of the Employer or as a director or officer
of any of its affiliates, the Executive will fulfill his duties as such director
or officer without additional compensation.
2.
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COMPENSATION
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2.1
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Basic
Compensation.
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(a)
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Salary.
The Executive will be paid an annual salary of $84,000, subject to
adjustment as provided below (the "Salary"), which will be payable
in
equal periodic installments according to the Employer's customary
payroll
practices, but no less frequently than monthly. The Salary will be
reviewed by the Board of Directors not less frequently than annually,
and
may be adjusted upward or downward in the sole discretion of the
Board of
Directors, but in no event will the Salary be less than $84,000 per
year.
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(b)
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Signing
Bonus.
The Executive will be paid a Signing Bonus of $25,000 in cash within
ten
days of the closing of a fundraising, or series of related fundraising
events, in which Employer raises a gross cumulative amount in excess
of $2
million.
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Initials
_________ _________
Executive
Employer
1
(c)
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Benefits.
The Executive will, during the Employment Period, be permitted to
participate in such pension, profit sharing, bonus, life insurance,
hospitalization, major medical or health plan, and other employee
benefit
plans of the Employer that may be in effect from time to time, to
the
extent the Executive is eligible under the terms of those plans
(collectively, the "Benefits").
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2.2 Incentive
Compensation.
As
additional compensation (the "Incentive Compensation") for the services to
be
rendered by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, the Employer will pay
the
Executive with respect to each Fiscal Year during the Employment Period
according to any performance-based incentive compensation plan (if any) that
may
be adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time for similar-level
employees. However, the Company and/or its Board of Directors shall be under
no
obligation to implement any such plan, in which case Executive shall not be
entitled to any Incentive Compensation hereunder.
2.3 Withholding.
All
compensation and amounts payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement other
than the Signing Bonus shall be subject to all applicable taxes and payroll
deductions.
3.
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FACILITIES
AND EXPENSES
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3.1 General.
The
Employer will furnish the Executive office space, equipment, supplies, and
such
other facilities and personnel as the Employer deems necessary or appropriate
for the performance of the Executive's duties under this Agreement. The Employer
will pay the Executive's dues in such professional societies and organizations
as the Chief Executive Officer deems appropriate, and will pay on behalf of
the
Executive (or reimburse the Executive for) reasonable expenses incurred by
the
Executive at the request of, or on behalf of, the Employer in the performance
of
the Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement, and in accordance with the
Employer's employment policies, including reasonable expenses incurred by the
Executive in attending conventions, seminars, and other business meetings,
in
appropriate business entertainment activities, and for promotional expenses.
The
Executive must file expense reports with respect to such expenses in accordance
with the Employer's policies.
3.2 Automobile.
The
Employer will provide the Executive $-0- per month as an automobile allowance.
The Executive will own or lease his automobile directly and will maintain and
insure it at his own expense, for his business use in connection with his
employment under this Agreement
4.
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VACATIONS
AND HOLIDAYS
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The
Executive will be entitled to four weeks of paid vacation each Fiscal Year
in
accordance with the vacation policies of the Employer in effect for its
executive officers as modified from time to time. Vacation must be taken by
the
Executive at such time or times as approved by the Chairman of the Board or
Chief Executive Officer. The Executive will also be entitled to the paid
holidays and other paid leave set forth in the Employer's policies. Up to two
weeks of vacation days during any Fiscal Year that are not used by the Executive
during such Fiscal Year may be used in the subsequent Fiscal Year.
5.
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TERMINATION
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5.1 Events
of Termination.
The
Employment Period, the Executive's Basic Compensation and Incentive
Compensation, and any and all other rights of the Executive under this Agreement
or otherwise as an employee of the Employer will terminate (except as otherwise
provided in this Section 5):
(a)
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upon
the death of the Executive;
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Initials
_________ _________
Executive
Employer
2
(b)
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upon
the disability of the Executive (as defined in Section 5.2) immediately
upon notice from either party to the
other;
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(c)
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for
cause (as defined in Section 5.3), immediately upon notice from the
Employer to the Executive, or at such later time as such notice may
specify; or
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(d)
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for
good reason (as defined in Section 5.4) upon not less than thirty
days'
prior notice from the Executive to the
Employer.
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In
addition to the other termination provisions of this Agreement, Employer may
terminate the Employee’s employment without Cause at any time.
5.2 Definition
of Disability.
For
purposes of Section 5.1, the Executive will be deemed to have a "disability"
if,
for physical or mental reasons, the Executive is unable to perform the
Executive's duties under this Agreement for 120 consecutive days, or 180 days
during any twelve-month period, as determined in accordance with this Section
5.2. The disability of the Executive will be determined by a medical doctor
selected by written agreement of the Employer and the Executive upon the request
of either party by notice to the other. If the Employer and the Executive cannot
agree on the selection of a medical doctor, each of them will select a medical
doctor and the two medical doctors will select a third medical doctor who will
determine whether the Executive has a disability. The determination of the
medical doctor selected under this Section 5.2 will be binding on both parties.
The Executive must submit to a reasonable number of examinations by the medical
doctor making the determination of disability under this Section 5.2, and the
Executive hereby authorizes the disclosure and release to the Employer of such
determination and all supporting medical records. If the Executive is not
legally competent, the Executive's legal guardian or duly authorized
attorney-in-fact will act in the Executive's stead, under this Section 5.2,
for
the purposes of submitting the Executive to the examinations, and providing
the
authorization of disclosure, required under this Section 5.2.
5.3 Definition
of "For Cause."
For
purposes of Section 5.1, the phrase "for cause" means: (a) the Executive's
material breach of this Agreement if Executive has been given a reasonable
opportunity to comply with such policy or cure his failure to comply (which
reasonable opportunity must be granted during the thirty-day period preceding
termination of this Agreement); (b) the Executive's failure to adhere to any
written Employer policy if the Executive has been given a reasonable opportunity
to comply with such policy or cure his failure to comply (which reasonable
opportunity must be granted during the fifteen-day period preceding termination
of this Agreement); (c) the appropriation (or attempted appropriation) of a
material business opportunity of the Employer, including attempting to secure
or
securing any personal profit in connection with any transaction entered into
on
behalf of the Employer; (d) the misappropriation (or attempted misappropriation)
of any of the Employer's funds or property; or (e) the conviction of, (or its
procedural equivalent), or the entering of a guilty plea or plea of no contest
with respect to, a felony, the equivalent thereof, or any other crime with
respect to which imprisonment is a possible punishment. Termination for cause
shall be effected only through a vote of the majority of the board of
directors.
5.4 Definition
of "For Good Reason." For
purposes of Section 5.1, the phrase "for good reason" means any of the
following: (a) The Employer's material breach of this Agreement; (b) the
assignment of the Executive without his consent to a position, responsibilities,
or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of responsibility than his
position, responsibilities, or duties at the Effective Date; or (c) the
relocation of the Employer's principal executive offices more than thirty (30)
miles from its current location; (d) the requirement by the Employer that the
Executive be based anywhere other than the Employer's principal executive
offices, in either case without the Executive's consent, or (e) a Change in
Control of the Employer.
5.5 Termination
Pay.
Effective upon the termination of this Agreement, the Employer will be obligated
to pay the Executive (or, in the event of his death, his designated beneficiary
as defined below) only such compensation as is provided in this Section 5.5.
For
purposes of this Section 5.5, the Executive's designated beneficiary will be
such individual beneficiary or trust, located at such address, as the Executive
may designate by notice to the Employer from time to time or, if the Executive
fails to give notice to the Employer of such a beneficiary, the Executive's
estate. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Employer will have no duty,
in any circumstances, to attempt to open an estate on behalf of the Executive,
to determine whether any beneficiary designated by the Executive is alive or
to
ascertain the address of any such beneficiary, to determine the existence of
any
trust, to determine whether any person or entity purporting to act as the
Executive's personal representative (or the trustee of a trust established
by
the Executive) is duly authorized to act in that capacity, or to locate or
attempt to locate any beneficiary, personal representative, or
trustee.
Initials
_________ _________
Executive
Employer
3
(a)
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Termination
by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Employer without
Cause.
If
the Executive terminates this Agreement for good reason, or if the
Employer terminates the Employee without Cause, the Employer will
pay the
Executive (i) the Executive's Salary for the shorter of (A) the remainder,
if any, of the calendar month in which such termination is effective
and
for twelve consecutive calendar months thereafter or (B) the remaining
portion of the original term of this Agreement or, if the Agreement
is in
a Renewal Period, then remaining portion of such Renewal Term, and
(ii)
that portion of the Executive's Incentive Compensation, if any, for
the
Fiscal Year during which the termination is effective, prorated through
the date of termination.
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(b)
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Termination
by the Employer for Cause.
If
the Employer terminates this Agreement for Cause the Executive will
be
entitled to receive his Salary only through the date such termination
is
effective, but will not be entitled to any Incentive Compensation
for the
Fiscal Year during which such termination occurs or any subsequent
Fiscal
Year.
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(c)
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Termination
upon Disability.
If
this Agreement is terminated by either party as a result of the
Executive's disability, as determined under Section 5.2, the Employer
will
pay the Executive his Salary through the remainder of the calendar
month
during which such termination is effective and for the lesser of
(i) six
consecutive months thereafter, or (ii) the period until disability
insurance benefits commence under the disability insurance coverage
furnished by the Employer to the
Executive.
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(d)
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Termination
upon Death.
If
this Agreement is terminated because of the Executive's death, the
Executive will be entitled to receive his Salary through the end
of the
calendar month in which his death occurs, and that part of the Executive's
Incentive Compensation, if any, for the Fiscal Year during which
his death
occurs, prorated through the end of the calendar month during which
his
death occurs.
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(e)
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Benefits.
The Executive's accrual of, or participation in plans providing for,
the
Benefits will cease at the effective date of the termination of this
Agreement, and the Executive will be entitled to accrued Benefits
pursuant
to such plans only as provided in such
plans.
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6.
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NON-DISCLOSURE
COVENANT; EMPLOYEE
INVENTIONS
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6.1 Acknowledgments
by the Executive.
The
Executive acknowledges that (a) during the Employment Period and as a part
of
his employment, the Executive will be afforded access to Confidential
Information; (b) public disclosure of such Confidential Information could have
an adverse effect on the Employer and its business; (c) because the Executive
possesses substantial technical expertise and skill with respect to the
Employer's business, the Employer desires to obtain exclusive ownership of
each
Employee Invention, and the Employer will be at a substantial competitive
disadvantage if it fails to acquire exclusive ownership of each Employee
Invention; (d) the Employer has required that the Executive make the covenants
in this Section 6 as a condition to employment; and (e) the provisions of this
Section 6 are reasonable and necessary to prevent the improper use or disclosure
of Confidential Information and to provide the Employer with exclusive ownership
of all Employee Inventions.
6.2 Agreements
of the Executive.
In
consideration of the compensation and benefits to be paid or provided to the
Executive by the Employer under this Agreement, the Executive covenants as
follows:
Initials
_________ _________
Executive
Employer
4
(a)
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Confidentiality.
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(i)
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During
and at all times following the Employment Period, the Executive will
hold
in confidence the Confidential Information and will not disclose
it to any
person except with the specific prior written consent of the Employer
or
except as otherwise expressly permitted by the terms of this
Agreement.
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(ii)
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Any
trade secrets of the Employer will be entitled to all of the protections
and benefits under applicable state or federal law including trade
secret
law. If any information that the Employer deems to be a trade secret
is
found by a court of competent jurisdiction not to be a trade secret
for
purposes of this Agreement, such information will, nevertheless,
be
considered Confidential Information for purposes of this Agreement.
The
Executive hereby waives any requirement that the Employer submit
proof of
the economic value of any trade secret or post a bond or other
security.
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(iii)
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None
of the foregoing obligations and restrictions applies to any part
of the
Confidential Information that the Executive demonstrates was or became
generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure
by the Executive.
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(iv)
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The
Executive will not remove from the Employer's premises (except to
the
extent such removal is for purposes of the performance of the Executive's
duties at home or while traveling, or except as otherwise specifically
authorized by the Employer) any document, record, notebook, plan,
model,
component, device, data, or computer software or code, whether embodied
in
a disk or in any other form (collectively, the "Proprietary Items").
The
Executive recognizes that, as between the Employer and the Executive,
all
of the Proprietary Items, whether or not developed by the Executive,
are
the exclusive property of the Employer. Upon termination of this
Agreement
by either party, or upon the request of the Employer during the Employment
Period, the Executive will return to the Employer all of the Proprietary
Items in the Executive's possession or subject to the Executive's
control,
and the Executive shall not retain any copies, abstracts, sketches,
or
other physical or electronic embodiment of any of the Proprietary
Items.
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(b)
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Employee
Inventions.
Each Employee Invention will belong exclusively to the Employer.
The
Executive acknowledges that all of the Executive's writing, works
of
authorship, and other Employee Inventions are works made for hire
and the
property of the Employer, including any copyrights, patents, semiconductor
mask protection, or other intellectual property rights pertaining
thereto.
If it is determined that any such works are not works made for hire, the
Executive hereby assigns to the Employer all of the Executive's right,
title, and interest, including all rights of copyright, patent,
semiconductor mask protection, and other intellectual property rights,
to
or in such Employee Inventions. The Executive covenants that he will
promptly:
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(i)
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disclose
to the Employer in writing any Employee
Invention;
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(ii)
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assign
to the Employer or to a party designated by the Employer, at the
Employer's request and without additional compensation, all of the
Executive's right to the Employee Invention for the United States
and all
foreign jurisdictions;
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(iii)
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execute
and deliver to the Employer such applications, assignments, and other
documents as the Employer may request in order to apply for and obtain
patents or other registrations with respect to any Employee Invention
in
the United States and any foreign
jurisdictions;
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Initials
_________ _________
Executive
Employer
5
(iv)
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sign
all other papers necessary to carry out the above obligations;
and
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(v)
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give
testimony and render any other assistance but without expense to
the
Executive in support of the Employer's rights to any Employee
Invention.
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6.3 Disputes
or Controversies.
The
Executive recognizes that should a dispute or controversy arising from or
relating to this Agreement be submitted for adjudication to any court,
arbitration panel, or other third party, the preservation of the secrecy of
Confidential Information may be jeopardized. All pleadings, documents,
testimony, and records relating to any such adjudication will be maintained
in
secrecy and will be available for inspection by the Employer, the Executive,
and
their respective attorneys and experts, who will agree, in advance and in
writing, to receive and maintain all such information in secrecy, except as
may
be limited by them in writing.
7.
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NON-COMPETITION
AND NON-INTERFERENCE
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7.1 Acknowledgments
by the Executive.
The
Executive acknowledges that: (a) the services to be performed by him under
this
Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary, and intellectual
character; (b) the Employer's business is national in scope and its products
are
marketed throughout the United States and Canada; (c) the Employer competes
with
other businesses that are or could be located in any part of the United States
or Canada; (d) the Employer has required that the Executive make the covenants
set forth in this Section 7 as a condition to employment by Employer; and (e)
the provisions of this Section 7 are reasonable and necessary to protect the
Employer's business.
7.2 Covenants
of the Executive.
In
consideration of the acknowledgments by the Executive, and in consideration
of
the compensation and benefits to be paid or provided to the Executive by the
Employer, the Executive covenants that he will not, directly or
indirectly:
(a)
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during
the Employment Period, except in the course of his employment hereunder,
and during the Post-Employment Period, 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 the Executive's name or any similar
name to, lend Executive's credit to or render services or advice
to, any
business whose products or activities compete in whole or in part
with the
products or activities of the
Employer
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(b)
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whether
for the Executive's own account or for the account of any other person,
at
any time during the Employment Period and the Post-Employment Period,
solicit business of the same or similar type being carried on by
the
Employer, from any person known by the Executive to be a customer
of the
Employer, whether or not the Executive had personal contact with
such
person during and by reason of the Executive's employment with the
Employer;
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(c)
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whether
for the Executive's own account or the account of any other person
(i) at
any time during the Employment Period and the Post-Employment Period,
solicit, employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent
contractor, or otherwise, any person who is or was an employee of
the
Employer at any time during the Employment Period or in any manner
induce
or attempt to induce any employee of the Employer to terminate his
employment with the Employer; or (ii) at any time during the Employment
Period and for three years thereafter, interfere with the Employer's
relationship with any person, including any person who at any time
during
the Employment Period was an employee, contractor, supplier, or customer
of the Employer; or
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(d)
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at
any time during or after the Employment Period, disparage the Employer
or
any of its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, or
agents.
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Initials
_________ _________
Executive
Employer
6
For
purposes of this Section 7.2, the term "Post-Employment Period" means the one
year period beginning on the date of termination of the Executive's employment
with the Employer.
If
any
covenant in this Section 7.2 is held to be unreasonable, arbitrary, or against
public policy, such covenant will be considered to be divisible with respect
to
scope, time, and geographic area, and such lesser scope, time, or geographic
area, or all of them, as a court of competent jurisdiction may determine to
be
reasonable, not arbitrary, and not against public policy, will be effective,
binding, and enforceable against the Executive.
The
period of time applicable to any covenant in this Section 7.2 will be extended
by the duration of any violation by the Executive of such covenant.
The
Executive will, while the covenant under this Section 7.2 is in effect, give
notice to the Employer, within ten days after accepting any other employment,
of
the identity of the Executive's employer. The Employer may notify such employer
that the Executive is bound by this Agreement and, at the Employer's election,
furnish such employer with a copy of this Agreement or relevant portions
thereof.
8.
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GENERAL
PROVISIONS
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8.1 Injunctive
Relief and Additional Remedy.
The
Executive acknowledges that the injury that would be suffered by the Employer
as
a result of a breach of the provisions of this Agreement (including any
provision of Sections 6 and 7) would be irreparable and that an award of
monetary damages to the Employer for such a breach would be an inadequate
remedy. Consequently, the Employer will have the right, in addition to any
other
rights it may have, to obtain injunctive relief to restrain any breach or
threatened breach or otherwise to specifically enforce any provision of this
Agreement, and the Employer will not be obligated to post bond or other security
in seeking such relief. Without limiting the Employer's rights under this
Section 8 or any other remedies of the Employer, if the Executive breaches
any
of the provisions of Section 6 or 7, the Employer will have the right to cease
making any payments otherwise due to the Executive under this
Agreement.
8.2 Covenants
of Sections 6 and 7 are Essential and Independent
Covenants.
The
covenants by the Executive in Sections 6 and 7 are essential elements of this
Agreement, and without the Executive's agreement to comply with such covenants,
Employer would not have entered into this Agreement or employed or continued
the
employment of the Executive. The Employer and the Executive have independently
consulted their respective counsel and have been advised in all respects
concerning the reasonableness and propriety of such covenants, with specific
regard to the nature of the business conducted by the Employer.
The
Executive's covenants in Sections 6 and 7 are independent covenants and the
existence of any claim by the Executive against the Employer under this
Agreement or otherwise will not excuse the Executive's breach of any covenant
in
Section 6 or 7.
If
the
Executive's employment hereunder expires or is terminated, this Agreement will
continue in full force and effect as is necessary or appropriate to enforce
the
covenants and agreements of the Executive in Sections 6 and 7.
8.3 Representations
and Warranties by the Executive.
The
Executive represents and warrants to the Employer that the execution and
delivery by the Executive of this Agreement does not, and the performance by
the
Executive of the Executive's obligations hereunder will not, with or without
the
giving of notice or the passage of time, or both: (a) violate any judgment,
writ, injunction, or order of any court, arbitrator, or governmental agency
applicable to the Executive; or (b) conflict with, result in the breach of
any
provisions of or the termination of, or constitute a default under, any
agreement to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is or
may
be bound.
8.4 Obligations
Contingent on Performance.
The
obligations of the Employer hereunder, including its obligation to pay the
compensation provided for herein, are contingent upon the Executive's
performance of the Executive's obligations hereunder.
Initials
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Executive
Employer
7
8.5 Waiver.
The
rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not
alternative. Neither the failure nor any delay by either party in exercising
any
right, power, or privilege under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of
such
right, power, or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right,
power, or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right,
power, or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege.
To
the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) no claim or right arising
out of this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole or in part,
by a
waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the
other party; (b) no waiver that may be given by a party will be applicable
except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no notice to
or
demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such
party or of the right of the party giving such notice or demand to take further
action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement.
8.6 Binding
Effect; Delegation of Duties Prohibited.
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the parties
hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, and legal
representatives, including any entity with which the Employer may merge or
consolidate or to which all or substantially all of its assets may be
transferred. The duties and covenants of the Executive under this Agreement,
being personal, may not be delegated.
8.7 Notices.
All
notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must
be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when (a) delivered
by
hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent by facsimile (with written
confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by registered mail,
return receipt requested, or (c) when received by the addressee, if sent by
a
nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in each
case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile numbers set forth below (or
to
such other addresses and facsimile numbers as a party may designate by notice
to
the other parties):
If
to Employer:
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Innovative
Software Technologies, Inc.
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0000
XXX Xxxx., Xxxx 0-000
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Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
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||
Facsimile
No.:(000) 000-0000
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||
With
a copy to:
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Xxxxx
& Xxxxxxx LLP
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000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
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Xxxxx,
XX 00000
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Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
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Facsimile
No.: (813) 221 - 4210
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||
If
to the Executive:
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Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
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0000
Xxxxxxxxx 00xx
Xxxxxxx
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Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
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8.8 Entire
Agreement; Amendments.
This
Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to
the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings,
oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof. This Agreement may not be amended orally, but only by an agreement
in
writing signed by the parties hereto.
8.9 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Florida without regard
to
conflicts of laws principles.
8.10 Jurisdiction.
Any
action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any right
arising out of, this Agreement may be brought against either of the parties
in
the courts of the State of Florida County of Palm Beach, or, if it has or can
acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the Southeast
District of Florida, and each of the parties consents to the jurisdiction of
such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such action or
proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. Process in any action
or proceeding referred to in the preceding sentence may be served on either
party anywhere in the world.
Initials
_________ _________
Executive
Employer
8
8.11 Section
Headings, Construction.
The
headings of Sections in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and
will not affect its construction or interpretation. All references to "Section"
or "Sections" refer to the corresponding Section or Sections of this Agreement
unless otherwise specified. All words used in this Agreement will be construed
to be of such gender or number as the circumstances require. Unless otherwise
expressly provided, the word "including" does not limit the preceding words
or
terms.
8.12 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of
competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain
in
full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or
unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to
the
extent not held invalid or unenforceable.
8.13 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be
deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken
together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.
8.14 Waiver
of Jury Trial.
THE
PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE A JURY TRIAL IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO
THIS
AGREEMENT.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as
of
the date above first written above.
EMPLOYER:
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EXECUTIVE:
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By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx - CEO
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Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
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WITNESS
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||
/s/
Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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||
By:
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||
Xxxxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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Initials
_________ _________
Executive
Employer
9
EXHIBIT
A
Definitions
"Agreement"--this
Employment Agreement, including this Exhibit A hereto, as amended from time
to
time.
"Basic
Compensation"--Salary
and Benefits.
"Benefits"--as
defined in Section 2.1(d).
"Board
of Directors"--the
board of directors of the Employer.
“Change
in Control"
--shall
be deemed to have occurred upon the happening of any one of the following
events:
a.
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any
person, entity, or group thereof acting in concert (a "Person")
(other than (A) the Employee, or any “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 12b-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of any of the foregoing,
(B) the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, (C) a trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any
of its subsidiaries, (D) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities or (E) a corporation owned,
directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock in
the
Company) being or becoming the "beneficial owner" (as such term is
defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of securities
of
the Company which, together with securities previously owned, confer
upon
such Person the combined voting power, on any matters brought to
a vote of
shareholders, of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting
securities of the Company; or
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b.
|
the
sale, assignment or transfer of assets of the Company or any subsidiary
or
subsidiaries, in a transaction or series of transactions, if the
aggregate
consideration received or to be received by the Company or any such
subsidiary in connection with such sale, assignment or transfer is
greater
than fifty percent (50%) of the book value, determined by the Company
in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of the
Company's
assets determined on a consolidated basis immediately before such
transaction or the first of such transactions;
or
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c.
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the
merger, consolidation, share exchange or reorganization of the Company
(or
one or more direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) as a
result of
which the holders of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company
as
a group would receive fifty percent (50%) or less of the combined
voting
power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving or
resulting entity or any parent thereof immediately after such merger,
consolidation, share exchange or reorganization;
or
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d.
|
the
adoption of a plan of complete liquidation or the approval of the
dissolution of the Company; or
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e.
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the
commencement (within the meaning of Rule 13e-4 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) of a tender or exchange offer which, if successful,
would result in a Change of Control of the Company; or
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f.
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a
determination by the Board of Directors of the Company, in view of
the
then current circumstances or impending events, that a Change of
Control
of the Company has occurred or is imminent, which determination shall
be
made for the specific purpose of triggering the operative provisions
of
this Agreement.
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"Confidential
Information"--any
and
all:
a.
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trade
secrets concerning the business and affairs of the Employer, product
specifications, data, know-how, formulae, compositions, processes,
designs, sketches, photographs, graphs, drawings, samples, inventions
and
ideas, past, current, and planned research and development, current
and
planned manufacturing or distribution methods and processes, customer
lists, current and anticipated customer requirements, price lists,
market
studies, business plans, computer software and programs (including
object
code and source code), computer software and database technologies,
databases, systems, structures, and architectures (and related formulae,
compositions, processes, improvements, devices, know-how, inventions,
discoveries, concepts, ideas, designs, methods and information),
and any
other information, however documented, that is a trade secret within
the
meaning of the Florida Uniform Trade Secrets Act;
and
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b.
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information
concerning the business and affairs of the Employer (which includes
historical financial statements, financial projections and budgets,
historical and projected sales, capital spending budgets and plans,
the
names and backgrounds of key personnel, personnel training and techniques
and materials), however documented except as disclosed by Employer
to the
public; and
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c.
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notes,
analysis, compilations, studies, summaries, and other material prepared
by
or for the Employer containing or based, in whole or in part, on
any
information included in the
foregoing.
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"disability"--as
defined in Section 5.2.
"Effective
Date"--the
date stated in the first paragraph of the Agreement.
"Employee
Invention"--any
idea, invention, technique, modification, process, or improvement (whether
patentable or not), any industrial design (whether registerable or not), any
mask work, however fixed or encoded, that is suitable to be fixed, embedded
or
programmed in a semiconductor product (whether recordable or not), and any
work
of authorship (whether or not copyright protection may be obtained for it)
created, conceived, or developed by the Executive, either solely or in
conjunction with others, during the Employment Period, or a period that includes
a portion of the Employment Period, that relates directly to the business then
being conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Employer, and any such item
created by the Executive, either solely or in conjunction with others, following
termination of the Executive's employment with the Employer, that is based
upon
or uses Confidential Information.
"Employment
Period"--the
term of the Executive's employment under this Agreement.
"Fiscal
Year"--the
Employer's fiscal year, as it exists on the Effective Date or as changed from
time to time.
"for
cause"--as
defined in Section 5.3.
"for
good reason"--as
defined in Section 5.4.
"Incentive
Compensation"--as
defined in Section 2.2.
"Noncompetition
Agreement"--as
defined in Section 7.
"person"--any
individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general or
limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust,
association, organization, or governmental body.
"Post-Employment
Period"--as
defined in Section 7.2.
"Proprietary
Items"--as
defined in Section 6.2(a)(iv).
"Salary"--as
defined in Section 2.1(a).