Exhibit 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made this 29th day of November, 2005 (this
"Agreement"), between eGene, Inc., ("Employer"), and Xxxxx Xxxx ("Employee"),
also jointly referred to hereafter as the ("parties"). In consideration for
the benefits and promises set forth herein the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment.
1.1 Employment Period: The term of employment will be for the period
commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending November 29, 2008 ("the
Term"), unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms and conditions
of this Agreement. If Employee's employment by Employer continues after the
end of the Term, such employment will continue on the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement but will be terminable by either party at any time
with or without cause or advance notice.
1.2 Position. Employer hereby employs Employee, and Employee agrees to be
employed as Chief Financial Officer of Employer.
1.3 Duties.
(a) Employee will perform such executive duties for Employer and for any of
Employer's affiliates, consistent with his position under this Agreement, and
as may be assigned him from time to time by Employer's Board of Directors.
(b) The Board of Directors will have review and veto rights regarding hiring,
promotion, demotion, or termination and setting salary of Employee.
(c) Employee shall comply with all rules, policies and procedures of Employer
as modified from time to time.
(d) Employee will perform all of Employee's responsibilities in compliance
with applicable laws.
(e) Duties are carried out at Employer's location in Irvine, CA and other
ancillary locations of the Employer.
1.4 Permitted Outside and Travel Activities
(a) Employee may serve as a director of other non-directly and materially
competing entities, and generally not exceeding five (5) such offices.
(b) Travel. During the term of Employee's employment, Employee will be granted
to travel between the Employer's various causes to be at (ref.: section 1.3
(e), and all other customary, agreed upon, and necessary business related
travels commensurate with Employee's position of Chief Financial Officer.
2. Compensation and Stock Options.
2.1 Base Salary. Employer will pay to Employee a base salary ("Base Salary")
at an annual rate of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000),
payable in such installments (but in no event less than monthly), subject to
withholdings and deductions as required or permitted by law, as is Employer's
policy with respect to other employees. Employee's Base Salary will be
reviewed annually by the Board of Directors.
2.2 Incentive Bonuses.
(a) Employer pays Employee an annual cash bonus of up to 50% as per
recommendation of the Board of Directors. This bonus is payable during the
month of December, on or before December 31, of each year of employment.
(b) Employer will grant Employee an additional annual bonus in the form of the
Employer's Stocks or Incentive Stock Options in the event Employer and/or
Employee achieves during the preceding year certain goals set forth in a plan
to be approved by the Board of Directors.
2.3 Incentive Stock Options. Employer, subject to the approval of Board of
Directors, has granted and the Employee has accepted a ten-year Incentive
Stock Option to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price
per share of $0.05. Vesting of options: Incentive Stock Option will vest over
12 months at the rate of 25% per quarter. All Incentive Stock Options granted
will participate fully in any and all stock splits or stock dividends.
2.4 Other Benefits and Reimbursements.
(a) Certain Benefits. Employee will be eligible to participate in all employee
benefit programs established by Employer that are applicable to management
personnel such as medical/dental /pension/long term care/life insurance plans
on a basis commensurate with Employee's position and in accordance with
Employer's policies from time to time, but nothing herein shall require the
adoption or maintenance of any such plan. Employee has the option of carrying
under his own name coverage, and being reimbursed by the Employer.
(b) Vacations, Holidays and Expenses. For the duration of Employee's
employment hereunder, Employee will be provided vacation [four weeks (4)], and
such holidays, sick leave as Employer makes available to its management
personnel generally. If Employee does not use all of his year's vacation time,
such unused time will accrue to Employee's benefit and may be added to next
year's vacation.
(c) Employer will reimburse Employee for those usual and customary expenses
incurred in connection with his fiduciary, Chief Financial Officer employment,
and related duties with the Employer.
(d) Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance. Employee is named as an
insured, covered person, or an additional insured under any of the Company's D
& O liability insurance policy.
3. Termination or Discharge by Employer.
3.1 Either party to this agreement may terminate employment at any time.
3.2 Termination for Cause:
As used herein the term "Cause" shall mean (I) acts of fraud, embezzlement or
other material and deliberate acts of injury to the Employer; (ii) the
refusal, disability or incapacity as determined by a health care provider
acceptable to the Board of Directors, or the failure of the Employee to follow
or comply with the reasonable and lawful directives of the Board of Directors.
3.3 Other Grounds for Termination/Resignation:
(A) Employee acknowledges and understands that the Employer may terminate
Employee's employment if any of the following events occur (I) the Employer is
sold; (ii) the Employer becomes a subsidiary of a non-related party; (iii) the
Employer experiences a 25% or more change in ownership (but not as a result of
an IPO); (iv) the Employer elects to have a new Chief Financial Officer. If
any of the foregoing events occur and the Employer elects to terminate
Employee's employment, Employee will be entitled to (a) his then current
salary for twelve (12) months; (b) incentive compensation, pro-rated on a
calendar year basis; (c) continuation of all of his insurances at the
Company's expense for twelve (12) months; (d) the immediate vesting of any
unvested stock options along with the five years exercise right of all
options.
(B) The Employer acknowledges und understands that the Employee may resign his
employment with the Employer if any one of the following events occur: (I) The
Employer is sold; (ii) the Employer becomes a subsidiary of a non-related
party; (iii) the Employer experiences a twenty five (25%) percent or more
change in ownership (but not as a result of an IPO); (iv) the Employer commits
any act of fraud, misrepresentation or bad faith against the Employee; (v) his
duties, reporting relationships or responsibilities are materially reduced;
(vi) the Employer elects to have a new Chief Financial Officer. If any of the
events described in clauses (I), (ii), (iii) occur and Employee elects to
resign, Employee shall be entitled to only (a) his then current salary for six
(6) months; (b) any unpaid incentive compensation pro-rated on a six (6) month
basis; (c) continuation of all of his insurances at the Employer's expense for
six (6) months. Furthermore, any unvested Stock Options shall be vested
immediately along with a five (5) years exercise rights of all his options. If
the events described in clauses (iv) or (v) or (vi) occur and Employee elects
to resign, he shall be entitled to the separation benefits in Section 3.3 (A)
4. Confidentiality
Employee shall not use or disclose any of the Confidential Information during
or after the Employment Period, except for the sole and exclusive benefit of
the Employer. Employee agrees that the Employer would be injured by any breach
of Employee's confidentiality agreement, and that the Employer may
specifically enforce the provisions of this Section by injunction or similar
remedy by any court of competent jurisdiction.
5. Non-Competition:
(A) Employee acknowledges that services to be rendered are of a special
character and have a value to the Employer. In view of the value of the
services, and because of the Confidential Information to be obtained by or
disclosed to Employee he covenants and agrees not, during the term of his
employment by Employer and for a period of one (1) year after termination of
such employment for any reason whatsoever, will not, directly or indirectly,
(a) engage as owner, employee, or otherwise, in the operations, management or
supervision of any type of business or enterprise engaged in any business
which is materially competitive with any business of Employer (b) solicit
orders from any current or past customer of Employer for products or services
offered or sold by, or competitive with products or services offered or sold
by, the Employer, (d) solicit any of Employers employees to leave the employ
of the Employer or hire or negotiate for the employment of any employee of the
Employer.
6. Dispute Resolution. Except for the right of Employer and Employee to seek
injunctive relief in court, any controversy, claim or dispute of any type
arising out of or relating to Employee's employment or the provisions of this
Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with this Section 6 regarding
resolution of disputes. Matters subject to these provisions include, without
limitation, claims or disputes based on statute, contract, common law and tort
and will include, for example, matters pertaining to termination,
discrimination, harassment, compensation and benefits. Matters to be resolved
under these procedures also include claims and disputes arising out of
statutes such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Law against
Discrimination. Nothing in this provision is intended to restrict Employee
from submitting any matter to an administrative agency with jurisdiction over
such matter. All discussions connected with this mediation provision will be
confidential and treated as compromise and settlement discussions. Reasonable
mediator's and attorney's fees will be paid by Employer.
7. Representation of Employee. Employee represents and warrants to Employer
that Employee is free to enter into this Agreement and has no material
commitment, arrangement or understanding to or with any party that restrains
or is in conflict with Employee's performance of the covenants, services and
duties provided for in this Agreement
8. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder is
sufficient if in writing and delivered by registered or certified mail to the
then existing legal address..
9. Reformation; Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or compliance
by any of the parties with any provision of this Agreement constitutes a
violation of any law, or is or becomes unenforceable or void, then such
provision, to the extent only that it is in violation of law, unenforceable or
void, shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary so that it is no longer
in violation of law, unenforceable or void, and such provision will be
enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. If such modification is not
possible, said provision, to the extent that it is in violation of law,
unenforceable or void, shall be deemed severable from the remaining provisions
of this Agreement, which provisions will remain binding on the parties.
10. Waivers. No failure on the part of either party to exercise, and no delay
in exercising any right or remedy hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof;
nor will any single or partial waiver of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach; nor
will any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy hereunder preclude
any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or
remedy granted hereby or by law.
12. Governing Law. The validity, construction and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of California respectively, without
regard to the conflicts of law provisions of such laws.
13. Delegation of Duties. Employee is permitted to delegate/outsource tasks
that fall into the ordinary scope of Chief Financial Officer's and broad
industry/business practices to accomplish the Employer's objective and protect
its interests; however, Employee can not delegate his main task without the
approval of the Board of Directors.
19. Survivability. The parties acknowledge and agree that all obligations and
rights under this Agreement that would naturally survive the expiration or
termination of this Agreement.
20. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
parties with respect to the relationship between Employee and Employer and
supersedes all prior Employment Agreements. This Agreement may be changed only
by an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any
waiver, change, modification, extension or discharge is sought, and any such
modification must be signed by the CEO, or a designated member of the Board of
Directors in combination with either CEO or President, in order to be
effective.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly signed and delivered this Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
eGene, Inc.
By/s/Xx. Xxxx X. Xxx
Name: Xx. Xxxx X .Xxx
Title: CEO
By/s/Xxxxx Xxxx
Name: Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
