EXHIBIT 10.24
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made as of August 1, 2002 (this
"Agreement"), between Net2Phone, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to assure itself of the services of the
Executive and the Executive and the Company are willing to enter into an
agreement to that end, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of good and valuable consideration the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby
covenant and agree as follows:
1. Employment
The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive
hereby agrees to accept employment with the Company, on and subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement.
2. Term
Unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 5 hereof, the period of
this Agreement and the Executive's employment hereunder (the "Agreement Term")
shall commence as of the date hereof, (the "Effective Date"), and shall expire
on the third anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that the
Agreement Term shall be automatically extended for an additional year on the
third anniversary of the Effective Date and on each anniversary of the Effective
Date thereafter (each an "Extension Date"), unless written notice of
non-extension is provided by either party to the other party at least 90 days
prior to such anniversary.
3. Position, Authority and Responsibilities
(a) The Executive shall serve as, and with the title, office and
authority of, President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing of the Company or such
other senior executive position as may be assigned to him from time to time, and
shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
(b) The Executive shall have all of the powers, authority, duties and
responsibilities usually incident to the position and office of President of
Worldwide Sales and Marketing and such duties consistent with such position or
such other senior executive position as may be assigned from time to time by the
Chief Executive Officer.
(c) The Executive agrees to devote substantially all of his business
time, efforts and skills to the performance of his duties and responsibilities
under this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall
preclude the Executive from (i) serving on corporate, civic or charitable boards
or committees, (ii) delivering lectures, fulfilling charitable engagements or
teaching at educational institutions and/or (iii) managing his personal
investments, provided that in any such case that such activities do not
materially interfere with the Executive's performance of his duties and
responsibilities hereunder and do not violate the provisions of Section 10
hereof.
(d) The Executive shall perform his duties at the principal offices of
the Company located in Newark, New Jersey, but from time to time the Executive
may be required to travel to other locations in the proper conduct of his
responsibilities under this Agreement.
4. Compensation
In consideration of the services rendered by the Executive during the
Agreement Term, the Company shall pay or provide the Executive the amounts and
benefits set forth below. Employee is to be considered for future increases in
the salary, bonus and equity incentives described below with due regard for his
position within senior management of the Company and the relationship of such
position to other executive positions.
(a) Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive an initial annual base
salary (the "Base Salary") of $225,000. The Executive's Base Salary shall be
paid in arrears in substantially equal installments at monthly or more frequent
intervals, in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company. The
Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually (based upon July 31
fiscal year). by the Chief Executive Officer for consideration of appropriate
merit increases and, once established, the Base Salary shall not be decreased
during the Agreement Term. All reviews shall take into account the time that has
elapsed since any prior adjustment in compensation.
(b) Bonus Provisions. (i) The Company shall provide the Executive with
an opportunity to earn an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") equal to at least
25% of the Base Salary for each fiscal year during the Agreement Term beginning
with the 2003 fiscal year pursuant to a bonus plan to be established by the
Company. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid to the Executive no later than
in the first regular pay period of the Company that occurs after the first
fiscal quarter of the year that immediately follows the year in which the Annual
Bonus was earned, notwithstanding any expiration of this Agreement as of the
last day of such year. (ii) In addition to the Annual Bonus payments, Company
shall pay to Executive the following three special bonuses: A. $25,500.00 on or
before March 15, 2003; B. $42,000.00 on or before October 31, 2003; and C.
$42,000.00 on or before October 31, 2004.
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(c) Equity Incentives.
(i) Except as provided in this Agreement, the treatment of
options to purchase shares of the Common Stock of the Company ("Common
Stock") granted to the Executive prior to the Effective Date under the
Company's stock incentive plans shall be governed by the applicable
stock option agreements. The Executive shall be eligible, from time to
time, to receive additional awards of stock options or other equity
incentives, as determined by the Board.
(d) Employee Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate
in all employee benefit plans, programs, practices or other
arrangements of the Company in which other senior executives of the
Company are generally eligible to participate from time to time,
including, without limitation, any qualified or non-qualified pension,
profit sharing and savings plans, any death benefit and disability
benefit plans, and any medical, dental, health and welfare plans,
except to the extent that a separate arrangement is implemented for the
Executive on terms no less favorable than as provided to the other
senior executives agreed to by the Executive that is intended to
replace any such general arrangement. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, (i) the Company shall continue to provide the
Executive with life insurance coverage with a death benefit that is not
less than the amount as is in effect as of the Effective Date and (ii)
the Company shall provide the executive with disability insurance
coverage consistent with the disability insurance coverage provided to
other senior executives of the Company.
(e) Fringe Benefits and Perquisites. The Executive shall be entitled to
all fringe benefits and perquisites that are generally made available
to senior executives of the Company from time to time on the same basis
as is made available to such other executives. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Company shall provide the Executive
with the following:
(i) Executive offices and support staff appropriate to the
Executive's position;
(ii) Prompt reimbursement of all reasonable travel and other
business expenses and disbursements incurred by the Executive in the
performance of his duties under this Agreement in accordance with the
Company's normal practices and procedures, including professional
association dues upon proper accounting therefore;
(iii) Paid vacation during each calendar year, to be taken in
an amount equal to and in accordance with the Company's vacation policy
for senior executives;
(iv) An automobile allowance consistent with the automobile
allowance policy for the Company's senior executive officers; and
(v) Such other fringe benefits as the Executive and the Board
may mutually agree from time to time.
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5. Termination of Employment
The Agreement Term and the Executive's employment hereunder shall be
terminated upon the happening of any of the following events:
(a) Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate the
Agreement Term and the Executive's employment hereunder for Cause. For purposes
of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i) conviction of the Executive, by a court of competent
jurisdiction, of, or Executive's plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony
under the laws of the United States or any state thereof;
(ii) misappropriation by the Executive of the Company's funds;
or
(iii) the commission by the Executive of an act of proven
fraud with respect to the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be
considered to have terminated the Executive's employment for "Cause" unless and
until (i) the Executive receives written notice from the Chief Executive Officer
or the Board identifying in reasonable detail the acts or omissions constituting
such "Cause" and the provision of this Agreement relied upon by the Company for
such termination and (ii) such acts or omissions are not cured by the Executive
within 30 days of the Executive's receipt of such notice.
(b) Termination other than for Cause. The Chief Executive
Officer shall have the right to terminate the Agreement Term and the Executive's
employment hereunder for any reason at any time, including for any reason that
does not constitute Cause, subject to the consequences of such termination as
set forth in this Agreement.
(c) Resignation for Good Reason. The Executive may voluntarily
terminate the Agreement Term and his employment hereunder for Good Reason. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) any action by the Company that results in a diminution of
the Executive's authority or responsibilities;
(ii) any adverse modification of the Executive's positions,
titles or reporting relationships;
(iii) any failure by the Company to comply with the
compensation and benefits provisions of Section 4 hereof or any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Company;
(iv) the relocation, without the Executive's written consent,
of the Executive's principal office from Newark, New Jersey; or
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(v) any failure by the Company to obtain an assumption of this
Agreement by a successor corporation as required under Section 11(a) hereof.
In no event shall the Executive be considered to have terminated his
employment for "Good Reason" unless and until (i) the Company receives written
notice from the Executive identifying in reasonable detail the acts or omissions
constituting such "Good Reason" and the provision of this Agreement relied upon
by the Executive for such termination, and (ii) such acts or omissions are not
cured by the Company within 30 days of the Company's receipt of such notice.
(d) Resignation other than for Good Reason. The Executive may
voluntarily terminate the Agreement Term and his employment hereunder at any
time for any reason, including for any reason that does not constitute Good
Reason by giving the Company 30-days advance written notice of such termination.
(e) Disability. The Company may terminate the Agreement Term
and the Executive's employment hereunder upon the Executive's Disability. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the inability of the
Executive to perform his duties to the Company on account of physical or mental
illness for a period of six consecutive full months, or for a period of nine
full months during any 18-month period. The Executive's employment shall
terminate in such case on the last day of the applicable period following
written notice by the Company of the election to terminate the Executive's
employment due to the Executive's Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
no event shall the Executive be terminated by reason of Disability unless the
Executive is eligible to begin receiving long-term disability benefits from a
Company-sponsored long-term disability plan.
(f) Death. The Agreement Term and the Executive's employment
hereunder shall terminate upon his death.
6. Compensation Upon Termination of Employment
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event the Agreement Term and the Executive's employment by the Company is
terminated, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and severance
benefits set forth below:
(a) Resignation for Good Reason; Termination without Cause. In the
event the Agreement Term and the Executive's employment hereunder is terminated
by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Company for any reason other than for
Cause, Disability or death, the Company shall pay to the Executive and provide
him with the following:
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(i) Severance Payment. The Company shall continue to pay the Executive,
his then current Base Salary, in accordance with the Company's general payroll
practice, for the greater of (a) one year (two years in the event the
termination by Executive for Good Reason or by the Company for any reason other
than Cause occurs within 6 months following a Change of Control as hereinafter
defined) following such termination or (b) the remainder of the then current
term of this Agreement. In addition, during such period the Executive shall be
entitled to receive annual payments, at the time and in a manner consistent with
the Company's payment of annual bonuses, of an amount equal to the Executive's
then-current Annual Bonus percentage under Section 4(b) hereof, multiplied by
his then-current Base Salary if and only if such bonus would have been earned
under the plan in place immediately prior to the Executive's termination. For
the purposes of this Agreement, "Change in Control" means a change in ownership
or control of the Company effected through any of the following:
A. any "person," as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") (other than
(W) the Company, (X) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefit plan of the Company, (Y) any corporation or
other entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of
Common Stock or (Z) any person who, immediately prior to the date
hereof, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of
the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting
securities) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d 3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of
the Company's then outstanding voting securities.
B. during any period of not more than two consecutive years, not
including any period prior to the date hereof, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director
(other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in
connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including,
but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of
directors of the Company) whose election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either
were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;
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C. a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation
or other entity, other than (X) a merger or consolidation which would
result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding
or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving or parent
entity) 80% or more of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving or parent entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (Y) a
merger or consolidation effected to implement a re-capitalization of
the Company (or similar transaction) in which no "person" (as defined
in the Exchange Act) acquired 50% or more of the combined voting power
of the Company's then outstanding securities; or
D. a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for
the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of
its assets (or any transaction having a similar effect);or
E. the Company ceases to be publicly owned, i.e, its shares cease to be
traded in any public market.
(ii) Accrued Rights. The Company shall pay the Executive a
lump-sum cash amount, within 10 days of the date of termination, equal to the
sum of (A) his earned but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination,
(B) any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any completed calendar year, and (C)
any unreimbursed business expenses or other amounts due to the Executive from
the Company as of the date of termination. In addition, the Company shall
provide to the Executive all payments, rights and benefits due as of the date of
termination under the terms of the Company's compensation or benefit plans,
programs or awards (together with the lump-sum payment, the "Accrued Rights").
(iii) Bonus Rights. The Company shall pay the Executive,
within 10 days of the date of termination, a lump-sum cash amount equal to a pro
rata portion of the Annual Bonus for any partial calendar year of service
through the date of termination (the "Bonus Rights").
(iv) Continued Benefits. Subject to Section 8 hereof, for a
two-year period following the date of termination, the Company shall continue to
provide the Executive and his eligible dependents, at its sole cost, with the
medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverages ("Welfare Benefits")
that were provided to the Executive immediately prior to termination of
employment.
(v) Stock Options. Notwithstanding the provisions of any stock
incentive plan or award agreement between the Company and the Executive to the
contrary, (i) 100% of the options to purchase Common Stock which are not fully
vested and exercisable as of the date of termination shall become fully vested
and exercisable and (ii) the period during which all non-exercised options held
by Executive shall remain exercisable shall be extended until the tenth
anniversary dates of their respective dates of grant. All such award agreements
shall be amended by the Company and the Executive to reflect the foregoing
provision.
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(vi) Life and Disability Insurance. The Company shall fully
fund the life insurance and disability policies described in Section 4(d)
hereof.
(vii) Car Allowance. Until the second anniversary of the date
of termination, the Company shall continue to provide the Executive with the
automobile allowance described in Section 4(e)(iv) hereof.
(b) Resignation without Good Reason; Termination for Cause. In the
event the Executive voluntarily terminates the Agreement Term and his employment
hereunder other than for Good Reason, or in the event the Agreement Term and the
Executive's employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, the
Company shall pay and provide to the Executive all Accrued Rights and Bonus
Rights to the date of termination and the Executive shall retain any rights that
he has pursuant to any stock option agreement with the Company in accordance
with the terms thereof.
(c) Disability; Death. In the event the Agreement Term and the
Executive's employment hereunder is terminated by reason of the Executive's
Disability or death, the Company shall pay the Executive (or his legal
representative) and provide him with the following:
(i) Severance Payment. The Company shall continue to pay the
Executive, his then current Base Salary, in accordance with the Company's
general payroll practices, for the one-year period following the date of such
termination. In addition, during such one-year period the Executive shall be
entitled to receive one payment, at the time and in a manner consistent with the
Company's payment of annual bonuses, of an amount equal to the Executive's
then-current Annual Bonus percentage under Section 4(b) hereof, multiplied by
his then current Base Salary if and only if such bonus would have been earned
under the plan in place immediately prior to the Executive's termination.
(ii) Accrued Rights. The Company shall pay the Executive a
lump-sum cash amount, within 10 days of the date of termination, equal to the
Accrued Rights.
(iii) Bonus Rights. The Company shall pay the Executive,
within 10 days of the date of termination, a lump-sum cash amount equal to the
Bonus Rights.
(iv) Continued Benefits. Subject to Section 8 hereof, for a
one-year period following the date of termination, the Company shall continue to
provide the Executive and his eligible dependents, at its sole cost, with the
Welfare Benefits that were provided to the Executive immediately prior to
termination of employment.
(v) Stock Options. Notwithstanding the provisions of any stock
incentive plan or award agreement between the Company and the Executive to the
contrary, (A) all options to purchase Common Stock which are not fully vested
and exercisable as of the date of termination shall become fully vested and
exercisable and (B) the period during which such options shall be exercisable
shall be extended until the tenth anniversary of the dates of their respective
grants. All such award agreements shall be amended by the Company and the
Executive to reflect the foregoing provision.
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7. Indemnification
The Company agrees to provide to the Executive all rights of
indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and by its Certificate
of Incorporation and By-laws. The Company agrees to maintain directors' and
officers' insurance for the benefit of Employee providing coverage identical
to that provided to other executive officers of the Company. The
indemnification and directors' and officers' coverage shall extend to actions
and services undertaken or performed by Executive, not only as an employee of
Company, but as an employee, agent, director or consultant of any other entity
for which Executive renders services at the request of Company.
8. No Mitigation or Offset
The Executive shall not be required to seek other employment or to
reduce any severance benefit payable to him under Section 6 hereof, and no such
severance benefit shall be reduced on account of any compensation received by
the Executive from other employment; provided, however, to the extent that the
Executive becomes eligible to receive welfare benefits pursuant to employee
benefit plans of a new employer that are comparable to the Welfare Benefits that
the Company is obligated to provide to the Executive pursuant to Sections
6(a)(iv) and 6(c)(iv), the Company's obligation to provide such Welfare Benefits
shall cease. The Company's obligations to the Executive under this Agreement,
including, without limitation, any obligation to provide severance benefits,
shall not be subject to set-off or counterclaim in respect of any debts or
liabilities of the Executive to the Company.
9. Tax Withholding; Method of Payment
All compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
reduction by all applicable withholding, social security and other federal,
state and local taxes and deductions for income, employment, excise and other
taxes. Any lump-sum payments provided for in Section 6 hereof shall be made in a
cash payment, net of any required tax withholding, no later than 10 business
days following the Executive's date of termination. Any payment required to be
made to the Executive under this Agreement that is not made in a timely manner
shall bear interest at an interest rate equal to 120% of the monthly compounded
applicable federal rate as in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code.
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10. Restrictive Covenants
(a) Confidential Information. During the Agreement Term and at all
times thereafter, the Executive agrees that he will not divulge to anyone (other
than the Company or any persons employed or designated by the Company) any
knowledge or information of a confidential or proprietary nature relating to the
business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including,
without limitation, all trade secrets (unless readily ascertainable from public
or published information or trade sources) and confidential commercial
information, and the Executive further agrees not to disclose, publish or make
use of any such knowledge or information without the consent of the Company.
(b) Non-competition. The Executive acknowledges that (i) the Company is
currently engaged in the business of providing high quality, low-cost telephone
calls over the Internet and related products and services ("Internet
Telephony"), (ii) his work for the company will give him access to trade secrets
of and confidential information concerning the Company, and (iii) the agreements
and covenants contained in this Agreement are essential to protect the business
and goodwill of the Company. Accordingly, the Executive covenants and agrees
that during the Restricted Period (defined below), the Executive shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Company, (1) engage or participate in
the business of developing, managing or operating any Internet Telephony
business (a "Competitive Business") on his own behalf or on behalf of any person
or entity, and the Executive shall not acquire a financial interest in any
Competitive Business (except for publicly traded equity interests that do not
exceed five percent (5%) of such class of equity) or (2) directly or indirectly
solicit or encourage any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to
leave the employment of the Company or any of its affiliates. For purposes
hereof, the "Restricted Period" shall be the Agreement Term (as may be
terminated pursuant to Section 6 hereof) and, except in the event of a
termination described in Section 6(a) hereof, the 12-month period following any
termination of the Executive's employment hereunder. The provisions of this
paragraph 10 (b) shall supersede and replace any prior non-competition agreement
entered into by Executive with Company.
(c) Non-disparagement. Executive covenants and agrees that Executive
shall not make or publish any written or oral statements or remarks concerning
the Company including, without limitation, remarks which may be disparaging,
deleterious or damaging to the integrity, reputation or good will of the
Company, its management, board members or employees. Except as may be required
by law or authorized in advance by Company, Executive covenants and agrees that
Executive shall not make or publish any written or oral statements or opinions
regarding Company, including its present and former employees, officers and
directors.
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(d) Enforcement. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company
will have no adequate remedy at law, and could be irreparably harmed, if the
Executive breaches or threatens to breach any of the provisions of Section 10 of
this Agreement. The Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to
equitable and/or injunctive relief to prevent any breach or threatened breach of
this Section 10, and to specific performance of each of the terms of this
Section in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies that the Company
may have. The Executive further agrees that he shall not, in any equity
proceeding relating to the enforcement of the terms of this Section 10, raise
the defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law.
11. Successors and Assigns
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
of the Company, its successors and any person or other entity that succeeds to
all or substantially all of the business, assets or property of the Company. To
the extent not otherwise provided by application of law, the Company will
require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation, transfer or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
business, assets or property of the Company, to expressly assume and agree to
perform the obligations of the Company under this Agreement in the same manner
and to the same extent that the Company is required to perform hereunder. As
used in this Agreement, the "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore
defined and any successor to its business, assets or property as aforesaid which
executes and delivers an agreement provided for in this Section 11(a) or which
otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by
operation of law. Except as provided by the foregoing provisions of this Section
11(a), this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Company without the prior
written consent of the Executive. In the event that this Agreement is assigned
to any person or entity as may be permitted hereunder, the Company shall be
secondarily liable in the event that any such person or entity shall fail to
satisfy its obligations under Section 4, 6 or 7 hereof.
(b) This Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amounts are due and
payable to the Executive hereunder, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall be paid to the Executive's designated beneficiary or, if there is
no such designated beneficiary, to the legal representatives of the Executive's
estate. This Agreement is personal in nature and the obligations of the
Executive hereunder are not be assignable to any person.
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12. Entire Agreement/Amendment
This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as specifically provided
herein, cancels and supersedes any and all other agreements between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any amendment or modification of this
Agreement shall not be binding unless in writing and signed by the parties
hereto.
13. Severability/No Waiver
(a) In the event that any provision of this Agreement is determined to
be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and conditions of this
Agreement shall be unaffected and shall remain in full force and effect, and any
such determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
(b) The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term
of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such
party's rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon
strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.
14. Notices
All notices which may be necessary or proper for either the Company or
the Executive to give to the other shall be in writing and shall be delivered by
hand or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by
air courier, to the Executive at:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
[Address]
and shall be sent in the manner described above to the General Counsel of the
Company at the Company's principal executives offices at:
Net2Phone, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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and shall be deemed given when dispatched, provided that any notice required
under Section 5 hereof or notice given pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall be
deemed given only when received. Any party may by like notice to the other party
change the address at which he or they are to receive notices hereunder.
15. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and enforceable in accordance with
the laws of the State of New Jersey, without giving effect to the principles of
conflict of laws thereof.
16. Arbitration
Except for any action brought under Section 10 which may be brought by
the Company directly in any court of competent jurisdiction, any controversy or
claim arising out of, or related to, this Agreement, or the breach thereof,
shall be settled by binding arbitration in the City of Newark, New Jersey in
accordance with the rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration
Association, and the arbitrator's decision shall be binding and final, and
judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof.
17. Legal Fees and Expenses
The Company shall pay the legal fees and expenses incurred by the
Executive in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement. To provide the
Executive with reasonable assurance that the purposes of this Agreement will not
be frustrated by the cost of its enforcement, the Company shall pay and be
solely responsible for any attorneys' fees and expenses and any court or
arbitration costs incurred by the Executive as a result of a claim that the
Company has breached or otherwise failed to perform this Agreement or any
provision hereof regardless of which party, if any, prevails in the contest.
18. Counterparts
This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon
the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
NET2PHONE, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, CEO
Executive
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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