EXHIBIT 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into, and
shall be binding this 1st day of February 2002, by and between the E Com
Ventures (ECMV), Inc., a Florida corporation ("Employer") and Xxxx Xxxxxx
("Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Employer, is engaged in the business of selling perfumes and
cosmetics on a discount basis, investing in and developing Internet related
businesses; and
WHEREAS, Executive is experienced in the management and operation of
such business and is professionally qualified to perform such services for the
Employer; and
WHEREAS, Employer desires to retain the services of the Executive; and
WHEREAS, Executive is desirous of obtaining employment with the
Employer on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises set forth
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, Employer and Executive agree as follows:
1. Recitals, Representations and Warranties. The foregoing recitals are
true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference. In addition to
the foregoing recitals, Executive represents that he has not been convicted of
any crime, has not been declared insolvent and has not filed for bankruptcy. In
addition to the foregoing recitals, Employer represents and warrants that the
individual executing this Agreement has authority to do so.
2. Employment. In exchange for the Compensation (as hereinafter
defined) and subject to the other terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
Employer hereby employs Executive, as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board, to perform the Executive Duties (as hereinafter defined) and
Executive hereby accepts such employment.
3. Duties. The Executive shall perform such executive and
administrative services in the running of the business of the Employer as the
Employer's Board of Directors may assign to the Executive during the Term (as
hereinafter defined). During the Term (as hereinafter defined), the Executive
shall report directly to ECMV's Board of Directors.
a. Performance of Executive Duties & Adherence to Policies.
During the Term (as hereinafter defined), Executive shall render the Executive
Duties exclusively for Employer, shall perform the Executive Duties to the best
of his ability and shall operate Employer's business efficiently and profitably
adhering, at all times, to the policies of the Employer and ECMV.
4. Term. The term of the Agreement shall commence on February 1, 2002
and shall expire on January 31, 2005.
5. Compensation. In consideration of and as compensation in full for
Executive's performance of the Executive Duties hereunder, Employer agrees to
compensate Executive as follows:
a. Signing Bonus. Employer shall pay Executive a signing bonus
of $250,000 as of February 1, 2002. Such signing bonus shall be in consideration
of and as compensation for services provided to Employer in fiscal 2001.
b. Salary. During the term of this Agreement, Employer shall
pay Executive a gross annual salary of Four Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars
($460,000)("Salary"). Such Salary shall be paid by Employer in accordance with
Employer's regular payroll practices. Employer shall be entitled to deduct or
withhold from all Salary payable hereunder all amounts required to be deducted
or withheld from same pursuant to state or federal law.
c. Stock Option Plan:
(1) Executive shall be granted five hundred thousand
( 500,000) options of ECMV Inc., at a price equal to the price of the stock at
the close of the market on January 31, 2002. Such options shall vest 1/3 each
after each twelve (12) month period from date of contract.
d. Performance Bonus Plan.
The Executive shall be entitled to a bonus equal to:
(1) 20% of Executive's salary to the extent that
Net Income of the Company exceed $1,000,000.
(2) a) An additional 2% of Executive's salary
for each increment of $100,000 in the
Company's Net Income over $1,000,000 up to
$6,000,000, and b) to the extent that the
Company's net income exceeds $6,000,000,
executive shall receive a bonus of 130% of
salary plus 3% of executive's salary for
each $100,000 increment over $6,000,000.
(3) For the purpose of this paragraph, Net
Income is defined as net income reported in
S.E.C. Form 10-K (after taking into account
extraordinary income or loss).
(4) Withholding. Employer shall be entitled to
deduct or withhold from all bonus payments
paid persuant to this paragraph 5.b. all
amounts required to be deducted or withheld
from same pursuant to state or federal law.
e. 401k Plan, Expense Reimbursement & Insurance. Executive
shall be entitled to participate in the Employer's 401(k) plan, be reimbursed
for business expenses and receive full health, disability and life insurance.
f. Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to take up to twenty
(20) working days of vacation per twelve (12) month period during the Term.
g. Increases In Salary, Additional Bonuses & Additional
Options. Each year after the initial term, Executive's salary shall be increased
by the higher of 5% or C.P.I.
6. Early Termination of Contract.
a. Early Termination. To the extent that the Company shall
decide to terminate this agreement prior to January 31, 2005, Executive shall be
entitled to compensation as defined in paragraph 5 (including salary, stock plan
and insurance coverage) for the greater of twelve months or the remainder of the
Term of the Agreement as if Executive was still employed and this agreement was
in full effect.
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7. Miscellaneous.
a. Notices. All notices, demands or other communications given
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given only
upon hand delivery thereof or upon the first business day after mailing by
United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed as follows:
To Employer: E Com Ventures, Inc.
00000 X.X. 000 Xxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
To Executive: Xxxx Xxxxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
or to such other address or such other person as any party shall designate, in
writing, to the other for such purposes and in the manner hereinabove set forth.
b. Accuracy of Statements. No representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement, and no statement delivered or information supplied
to any party pursuant hereto, contains an untrue statement of material fact or
omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements or
information contained herein or therein not misleading. The representations and
warranties made in this Agreement will be continued and will remain true and
complete in all material respects and will survive the execution of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
c. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth all the
promises, covenants, agreements, conditions and understandings between the
parties hereto, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements,
understandings, inducements or conditions, expressed or implied, oral or
written, except as herein contained.
d. Binding Effect; Survival & No Assignment. This Agreement
shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their heirs, administrators,
successors and assigns. This Agreement shall survive and remain effective during
any bankruptcy of the Employer. Executive may not assign or transfer his
interest herein, or delegate his Executive Duties hereunder, without the written
consent of Employer. Any assignment or delegation of duties in violation of this
provision shall be null and void.
e. Amendment. The parties hereby irrevocably agree that no
attempted amendment, modification, termination, discharge or change
(collectively, "Amendment") of this Agreement shall be valid and effective,
unless the parties shall agree in writing to such Amendment.
f. No Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement
shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the party against whom
it is asserted, and any such written waiver shall only be applicable to the
specific instance to which it relates and shall not be deemed to be a continuing
or future waiver.
g. Gender and Use of Singular and Plural. All pronouns herein
shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural,
as the identity of the party or parties, or their personal representatives,
successors and assigns may require.
h. Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendments may be
executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
i. Headings. The article and section headings contained in
this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way
the meaning or interpretation of the Agreement.
j. Arbitration & Governing Law. Any controversy, claim or
dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or Executive's
employment with Employer shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with
applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association and judgment upon the
award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
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thereof. This arbitration clause shall be exactly as the arbitration clause
signed by all Perfumania employees. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Florida and any proceeding arising
between the parties in any manner pertaining or related to this Agreement shall,
to the extent permitted by law, be held in Dade County, Florida.
k. Further Assurances. The parties hereto will execute and
deliver such further instruments and do such further acts and things as may be
reasonably required to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
l. No Third Party Beneficiary. This Agreement is made solely
and specifically among and for the benefit of the parties hereto, and their
respective successors and assigns subject to the express provisions hereof
relating to successors and assigns, and no other person shall have any rights,
interest or claims hereunder or be entitled to any benefits under or on account
of this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise.
m. Severability. This Agreement is intended to be performed in
accordance with, and only to the extent permitted by, all applicable laws,
ordinances, rules, and regulations of the jurisdiction in which the parties do
business. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any
person or circumstances shall, for any reason or to any extent, be invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby, but
rather shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
n. Attorneys' Fees. In connection with any proceeding arising
out of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover costs
and attorneys' fees, through all appeals, from the other party.
o. Renegotiation. To the extent that Employer will make a
significant acquisition or merger, this Agreement shall be renegotiated at terms
no less favorable than this Agreement.
p. Change in Control. To the extent that Employer undergoes a
significant change in control or is acquired, all items under Section 5,
Compensation, shall be doubled for the duration of the term of this agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employer and Executive have executed this Agreement
as of the date first above written.
WITNESSES: EMPLOYER:
By:
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E COM VENTURES, INC.
EXECUTIVE:
By:
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XXXX XXXXXX
Date: February 1, 2002
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