EXHIBIT 2.4(e)
XXXXXXX XXXXX
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement') dated as of August 5, 1998,
between I-Storm, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and its wholly owned
subsidiary, LVL Communications Corporation, a California corporation,
(collectively, the "Company"), each with its principal place of business in
the United States at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, 00000
(herein called the "Company") and XXXXXXX XXXXX (herein called the
"Employee") residing at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000.
1. EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby employs Employee as the Vice President
and Executive Creative Director of I-Storm Inc. and as the Vice President
and Executive Creative Director of LVL Communications Corporation reporting
to the Company's President. Employee will be responsible for management
and supervision of all Company activities for the term of this Agreement,
and the Employee hereby accepts such employment upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall have commenced as of July 15,
1998 (the "Employment Date") and shall continue in effect for a term of 36
months, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6 of this Agreement. Thereafter, this Agreement shall be
automatically renewed on a year-to-year basis unless either party shall
provide the other with notice in writing of the termination of this
Agreement at least 60 days' prior to the expiration of this Agreement at
the end of its original term or any renewal thereof. For purposes of this
Agreement, the "term of this Agreement" shall refer to the initial term and
all renewal terms hereof. In the event of termination by the Company prior
to the expiration of this Agreement at the end of its original term or any
renewal thereof, the Company shall pay the Employee severance pay and
benefits required by Section 6(e) of this Agreement unless
termination by the Company is for a reason specified in Sections 6(a), 6(b)
or 6(c) hereunder
3. COMPENSATION. For all services rendered by the Employee under this
Agreement, the Company shall pay the Employee a salary and fringe benefits
as follows:
(a) Cash Compensation: The Company shall pay the Employee a base
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salary during the term of this Agreement, payable semi-monthly, at the
rate of $240,000 per year. Employee will be eligible to receive an
fiscal annual performance bonus of up to 50% of base salary based upon
achievement of reasonable and achievable Company goals as determined
and approved in good faith by the Board of Directors to be paid no
later than 30 days from the end of such year. Employee shall be
eligible for annual performance appraisal and merit increase. Company
may, but is not obligated to, increase Employee's salary as Company
deems appropriate.
(b) Stock Options: The Company shall grant the Employee stock options
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to purchase 75,000 common shares of the Company at $0.50 per share, of
which 37,500 shares shall vest ratably over a period of 36 months from
the Employment Date; and of which 37,500 shares will only vest upon
the Company's sales revenue meeting or exceeding twelve million
dollars ($12,000,000) for any twelve month period from the Employment
Date and upon the Company's quarterly revenue exceeding operating
expenses for the same twelve month period, as determined by the Board
of Directors at its sole discretion.
(c) Medical, Insurance, and Other Benefits: The Employee shall at his
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option be entitled to participate with other employees of the Company
in all group fringe benefit plans or other group arrangements
authorized and adopted from time to time. Employee shall also receive
such other benefits including
vacation, holidays, and sick leave, as Company generally provides to
its employees holding similar positions as that of Employee.
(d) Expenses: The Company shall either pay directly or reimburse
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Employee for reasonable travel, entertainment and other business
expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of his duties
hereunder; provided that the incurring of such expenses shall be
subject to such policies as shall be established by the Board of
Directors of the Company from time to time, and Employee shall submit
to the Company such documentation to substantiate such expenses as the
Company shall reasonably request.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude the Company from awarding
additional compensation or benefits to Employee during the term of this
Agreement, upon approval of Company's Board of Directors, whether in the
form of raises, bonuses, additional fringe benefits, or otherwise.
4. DUTIES. During the term of this Agreement, the Employee hereby promises
to perform and discharge faithfully the duties which may be assigned to him
from time to time by the Board of Directors in connection with the conduct
of its business so long as such duties are reasonably related to the
Employee's duties as an Executive Officer of the Company. Employee will be
responsible for all activities of the Company as determined by the
President and as required of officers of the Company under applicable state
and federal law, and will have all relevant executives and their respective
subordinates report to him. Employee is employed to actively serve on a
full-time basis as an executive officer of the Company.
5. EXTENT OF SERVICES; OTHER INTERESTS. During the term of this Agreement,
the Employee shall devote all of his working time, attention and energies
which are reasonably required for the performance of his duties and the
business of the Company
and shall travel as reasonably required to discharge the duties of his
position with the Company as assigned by its President. The Employee shall
not during the term of this Agreement be engaged in any other business
activities that are, or could potentially be, in competition with the
business activities of the Company whether or not such business activities
are pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage. Subject to the
foregoing, the Employee may engage in investment, business, professional
and continuing education activities so long as such activities do not
substantially interfere with the performance of his duties as an Officer of
the Company.
6. TERMINATION. Payment of severance described in this Section 6 shall be
paid no later than ten (10) days after becoming due.
(a) Death: In the event of Employee's death during the term hereof,
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this Agreement shall terminate immediately and, except as expressly
set forth in this paragraph, the Company shall have no further
liability hereunder to Employee or his estate. The Company shall
continue to pay to Employee's estate his salary and continued stock
option vesting for a period of three (3) months from and after the
date of death during the term of this Agreement.
(b) Permanent Disability. In the event that Employee becomes totally
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disabled during the term hereof and such total disability continues
for a period in excess of ninety (90) days, whether consecutive or in
the aggregate during any 12 month period, at the end of such period of
disability the Employee shall be considered as permanently disabled
and this Agreement shall terminate immediately and, except as
expressly set forth in this paragraph, the Company shall have no
further liability hereunder to Employee. The Company shall continue to
pay to Employee his salary and continue stock option vesting for the
period of disability and a period of two (2) months from and after the
date of total disability commencing with the expiration of the first
90 day period of such disability as severance pay hereunder.
Employee shall be considered as totally disabled if, and when because
of injury, illness or physical or mental disability, he is prevented
from effectively performing the duties of his employment. The
determination of total disability shall be made by the Board of
Directors of the Company, but said decision shall not be unreasonable
or arbitrary and shall be supported by the opinion (at the Company's
expense) of at least one licensed physician, unless Employee shall
without justification fail to submit to the necessary physical or
mental examinations. It is understood that Employee's occasional
sickness of short duration shall not result in Employee being
considered totally disabled, and Employee shall continue to be
compensated hereunder during such periods of occasional sickness so
long as they shall not exceed the greater of twelve (12) days in a
calendar year or the amount of sick leave available to any other
employee of the Company.
(c) Involuntary Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate this
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Agreement for cause. For the purposes of this Agreement, a termination
for "cause" shall mean a termination resulting from a good faith and
reasonable determination by the Company's Board of Directors that
Employee (i) has committed a felony or act of moral turpitude which
would materially injure the Company or its reputation or, (ii) has
intentionally or willfully and repeatedly breached his duties
hereunder in a material respect and, if curable, has failed to cure
the same within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice of
such breach from the Board of the Company. Such notice must be given
to Employee following each claimed breach, whether or not curable. In
the event of termination for cause, the Company shall have no further
liability hereunder to Employee from and after the date of such
termination.
(d) Termination Without Cause. Termination of Employee by the
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Company for any reason other than in paragraphs 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c)
hereof shall be considered Termination Without Cause.
(e) Salary and Benefit Continuation Upon Termination Without Cause.
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Upon the Company's termination of Employee's employment for any reason
whatsoever prior to the expiration of the original term or any annual
renewal of the term of this Agreement, except for (i) termination upon
death as set forth in paragraph 6(a) hereof; (ii) termination upon
permanent disability as set forth in paragraph 6(b) hereof; or (iii)
termination for cause pursuant to paragraph 6(c) hereof ("Termination
without Cause"); or (iv) Employee's voluntarily electing not to
continue in the employment of the Company under conditions other than
Constructive Discharge; then the Company within thirty (30) days after
such termination, and in lieu of all other obligations, the Company
hereunder, shall: 1) pay to Employee a lump-sum payment equal to his
then base salary for a period equal to twelve (12) months; 2) provide
Employee, at Company's cost, with employment benefits consisting of
life, health, dental and long-term disability insurance for a period
of 12 months after termination; and 3) enter into a Post-termination
Consulting Agreement as defined below in paragraph 6(f) hereof.
Thereafter, any continuation of benefits under the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) will be at Employee's cost.
(f) Post-termination Consulting Agreement. Upon the Termination
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Without Cause, the Employee will hold himself available to provide
consulting services to the Company for a period terminating one year
after the Termination Date (the "Consulting Period"). Employee will
provide the consulting services only upon the request of the Company's
President and for no more than ten hours per week at such times and
places as are mutually convenient to Employee and the Company.
However, Employee will perform those services at times and places that
do not reasonably conflict with his responsibilities to his then
current employer. Employee will perform services as an independent
contractor with the customary and usual independence associated
therewith, and he will not be deemed an employee or agent of the
Company or have the authority to bind, or to enter into any contract
on behalf of, the Company,
unless expressly authorized in writing to do so. The Company will pay
Employee a consulting fee of $150.00 per hour for each hour actually
worked at the Company's request. The Company's Board of Directors has
determined that Employee will be providing "substantial services" to
the Company during the Consulting Period such that any option held by
Employee on the Termination Date, if not fully vested at the time,
will continue to vest at the rate of 1/36 of the option grant per
month during the Consulting Period provided that total vesting shall
not exceed the original total shares granted under each stock option.
Any option held by Employee at the Termination Date will remain
exercisable for 36 months from the Termination Date even though the
employment of Employee will terminate on the Termination Date.
7. NONDISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Employee recognizes and
acknowledges that the Company's trade secrets and proprietary processes as
they may exist from time to time are valuable, special and unique assets of
the Company's business, access to and knowledge of which are essential to
the performance of the Employee's duties hereunder. The Employee will not
during or after the term of his employment, disclose such secrets or
processes to any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity for
any reason or purpose whatsoever, nor shall the Employee make use of any
such secrets or processes for his own purposes or for the benefit of any
person, firm, corporation, or other entity (except the Company) under any
circumstances during or after the term of his employment; provided that,
after the expiration of the term of his employment these, restrictions
shall not apply to such secrets and processes which are then, or from time
to time thereafter, in the public domain (provided that he was not
responsible, directly or indirectly, for permitting such secrets or
processes to enter the public domain without the Company's consent).
8. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE OR INTERFERE. With the exception of activities
associated with the purchase and subsequent operation of the Company.,
Employee agrees that during the term of this Agreement and for a period of
one (1) year after the date of
Termination under this Agreement, whichever occurs first; (a) Employee
shall not intentionally interfere with, disrupt or attempt to disrupt the
relationship, contractual or otherwise between the Company and any
customer, supplier, lessor or employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and (b) Employee shall not as a sole proprietor or otherwise
for his own account or as a partner, employee, officer, director, manager,
agent, distributor, consultant, marketing representative, associate,
investor or otherwise (except as to a less than 5% interest in a public
company listed on the Nasdaq, a national, or a regional exchange), directly
or indirectly, own, purchase, organize or take preparatory steps for the
organization of, finance, work for, provide services to, advise, acquire,
lease, operate, manage or invest in or permit his name to be used or
employed in connection with any business which engages directly in
competition with the Company. Employee further agrees that the covenants
and other provisions of this paragraph shall cover his activities in the
whole of North America, Europe and Asia (the "Territory"). The parties
hereto agree that the covenants contained in this paragraph (b) shall be
construed as if the covenants are divided into separate and distinct
covenants in respect of each of the products and services of the Company,
each capacity in which the party is prohibited from competing, and each
part of the world in which such competition is prohibited from taking
place. The territorial restrictions contained in this Section 8 are
properly required for the adequate protection of the Company and in the
event any covenant or other provision contained this Section 8 shall be
deemed to be illegal, unenforceable, or unreasonable by a court or other
tribunal of competent jurisdiction. With respect to any part of the
Territory or otherwise, such covenant or provision shall not be affected
with respect to any other part of the Territory or otherwise, and each of
the parties hereto agrees and submits to the reduction of said territorial
restriction or other provisions to such an area or otherwise, as said court
shall deem reasonable. The parties further agree that if any provision of
this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, it shall not affect the
enforceability of the remaining provisions and the court shall enforce all
remaining provisions to the extent permitted by law.
9. INVENTIONS. The Employee hereby sells, transfers, and assigns to the
Company, or to any person or entity designated by the Company, at of the
entire right, title and interest of the Employee in and to all inventions,
ideas, disclosures, and improvements, whether patented or unpatented, and
copyrightable material made or conceived by the Employee, solely or jointly
during the term hereof which relate to methods, apparatus, formulae,
designs, products, processes or devices, sold, leased, used, or under
consideration or development by the Company, or which otherwise relate to
or pertain to the business, functions, or operations of the Company. The
Employee agrees to communicate promptly and to disclose to the Company, in
such form as the Employee may be required to do so, all information,
details, and data pertaining to the aforementioned inventions, ideas,
disclosures, and improvements and to execute and deliver to the Company
such formal transfers and assignments and such other papers and documents
as may be required of the Employee to permit the Company or any person or
entity designated by the Company to file and prosecute the patent
applications and, as to copyrightable material, to obtain copyright
thereof.
For the purposes of this Agreement, an invention shall be deemed to have
been made during the term of Employee's employment if, during such period,
the invention was conceived or first actually reduced to practice by the
Company, and Employee agrees that any patent application filed within one
(1) year after termination of this employment shall be presumed to relate
to an invention which was made during the term of Employee's employment
unless Employee can provide satisfactory evidence to the contrary.
10. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The parties hereto acknowledge that (a) the
covenants and restrictions set forth in Sections 8, 9 and 10 of this
Agreement are necessary, fundamental and required for the protection of the
business of the Company, (b) such covenants and restrictions are material
inducements to investors to enter into agreements to invest in the Company,
and (c) a breach of any of such covenants and restrictions by Employee will
result in irreparable harm and damages to the Company which cannot be
adequately compensated by a monetary award. Accordingly, in the
event of breach or threatened breach of such provisions by Employee,
Employee expressly agrees that the Company shall be entitled to the
immediate remedy of a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction
or such other form of injunctive or equitable relief as may be used by any
court of competent jurisdiction to restrain or enjoin the Employee from
breaching any such covenant or provision or to specifically enforce the
provisions hereof. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the
Company from pursuing any other remedies for such breach or threatened
breach.
11. INSURANCE. The Company, at its election and for its benefit, may insure
the Employee against accidental loss or death and the Employee shall submit
to such physical examination and supply such information as may be required
in connection therewith.
12. NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this
Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by registered or
certified mail to his last known residence in the case of the Employee or
to its last known principal office in the case of the Company.
13. WAIVER OF BREACH. The waiver by either party of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed by a waiver
of any subsequent breach.
14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
15. ASSIGNMENT. The rights and obligations of the parities under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the
successors of such parties.
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This instrument contains the entire agreement of the
parties and supersedes all existing agreements between them. It may not be
changed orally but only by an agreement in writing signed by the party
against whom enforcement of any waiver, modification, extension or
discharge is sought.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day
first written above.
XXXXXXX XXXXX
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
EMPLOYEE: ----------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
COMPANY I-STORM, INC
By: /s/ Xxxxx XxXxxx
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Xxxxx XxXxxx
Chairman of the Board
