EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made this First day of June,
2004, is entered into by Acies, Inc. a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and
Xxxxx Xxxxxx ("Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to enter into an employment
contract which will supersede any prior employment agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties
agree as follows:
1. Term of Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and
Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms set forth
in this Agreement, for the period commencing on July 1, 2004 (the "Commencement
Date") and ending on June 30, 2005, unless sooner terminated in accordance with
the provisions of Section 5 or extended as hereinafter provided (such period, as
it may be extended or terminated, is the "Agreement Term"), provided, however,
that beginning on July 1, 2005, the Agreement Term shall be extended
automatically on each anniversary of the Commencement Date for an additional one
year from the then current expiration date of the Agreement Term unless either
Executive or the Company provides written notice to the other party electing not
to extend the Agreement Term at least 3 months prior to the applicable
anniversary date.
2. Title; Capacity. The Company will employ Executive, and Executive
agrees to work for the Company, as its Vice President, Merchant Operations to
perform the duties and responsibilities inherent in such position and such other
duties and responsibilities as the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") shall
from time to time reasonably assign to him. Executive shall report directly to
the CEO and shall be subject to the supervision of, and shall have such
authority as is delegated to him by the CEO, which authority shall be sufficient
to perform his duties hereunder. Executive shall devote his full business time
and best efforts in the performance of the foregoing services, provided that he
may accept other Board memberships or other charitable organizations which are
not in conflict with his primary responsibilities and obligations to the
Company.
3. Compensation and Benefits.
3.1 Salary. The Company shall pay Executive an annual base salary of
$95,000.00 commencing on July 1, 2004, payable in accordance with the Company's
customary payroll practices. Such salary thereafter shall be subject to annual
review and upward or downward adjustment as determined by the Board of Directors
(the "Board") in each calendar year, provided that such annual adjustment shall
be at least equal to the general salary increase or decrease provided to Company
salaried employees for the applicable year.
3.2 Milestone Incentives. Executive shall be entitled to be
considered for annual performance based bonuses based on certain performance
factors. Such annual bonuses shall be measured and include but not limited to
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the following metrics: Revenue Milestone - $20,000 for achieved revenue growth
plan, Customer Retention Milestone - $20,000 for achieved customer retention
plan, Profitability Milestone - $20,000 for achieved profitability plan, Systems
Milestone - $20,000 for completed infrastructure.
3.3 Long-Term Incentives. Executive shall be granted stock options
to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock in an aggregate of one and a
half percent (1.5%) (on a fully diluted basis), of its common stock, at the
exercise price of $1.00 per share, and such options shall vest over three (3)
year time period, provided, that all options granted hereby shall be subject to
the provisions of the Corporation's stock option plan and subject to a stock
option agreement, evidencing the granting of such options.
3.4 Fringe Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in
all benefit programs that the Company establishes and makes available to its
Executive employees, if any, to the extent that Executive's position, tenure
(except as set forth in the second to last sentence of this Section 4.4),
salary, age, health and other qualifications make him eligible to participate,
including, but not limited to, health care plans, life insurance plans, dental
care plans, disability income plans, 401k plans, supplemental retirement plans,
and all other benefit plans from time to time in effect generally for Executives
and/or employees of the Company. Executive shall also be entitled to take fully
paid vacation in accordance with Company policy.
4. Termination of Employment Period. The Employment Period shall terminate
upon the occurrence of any of the following:
4.1 Termination of the Agreement Term. At the expiration of the
Agreement Term, but only if appropriate notice is given in accordance with
Section 1.
4.2 Termination for Cause. At the election of the Company, for cause
upon written notice by the Company to Executive. For the purposes of this
Section 4.2, "cause" for termination shall be deemed to exist upon the
occurrence of any of the following:
(a) a good faith finding by the Company that Executive has
engaged in dishonesty, gross negligence or gross misconduct that is materially
injurious to the Company which, if curable, has not been cured by Executive
within 30 days after he shall have received written notice from the Company
stating with reasonable specificity the nature of such conduct;
(b) Executive's conviction to any felony or crime, fraud or
embezzlement of Company property; or
(c) Executive's material breach of this Agreement, including
but not limited to, Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3, which, if curable, has not been
cured by Executive within 30 days after he shall have received written notice
from the Company stating with reasonable specificity the nature of such breach.
4.3 Voluntary Termination by the Company or for Good Reason. At the
election of the Company, without cause, at any time upon 30 days prior written
notice by the Company to Executive or by Executive for Good Reason (as defined
below):
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4.4 Death or Disability. Thirty days after the death or
determination of disability of Executive. As used in this Agreement, the
determination of "disability" shall occur when Executive, due to a physical or
mental disability, for a period of 30 consecutive days, or 90 days in the
aggregate whether or not consecutive, during any 360-day period, is unable to
perform the services contemplated under this Agreement. A determination of
disability shall be made by a physician satisfactory to both Executive and the
Company, provided that if Executive and the Company do not agree on a physician,
Executive and the Company shall each select a physician and these two together
shall select a third physician, whose determination as to disability shall be
binding on all parties.
4.5 Voluntary Termination by Executive. At the election of Executive
upon not less than 30 days prior written notice by him to the Company.
5. Effect of Termination.
5.1 Termination for Cause, at the Election of Executive or Upon
Expiration of the Agreement Term. In the event that Executive's employment is
terminated for cause pursuant to Section 4.2 or at the election of Executive
pursuant to Section 4.5, or upon the expiration of the Agreement pursuant to
Section 4.1, the Company shall have no further obligations under this Agreement
other than to pay to Executive the compensation and benefits, including payment
for accrued but untaken vacation days, otherwise payable to him under Section 3
through the last day of his actual employment by the Company. Executive shall
also be entitled to the pro rated portion of any bonus earned for any year
Executive elects to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.5.
5.2 Voluntary Termination by the Company or for Good Reason. In the
event that Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4.3, the
Company shall continue to pay to Executive his annual base salary then in effect
for thirty (30) days in the manner set forth in Section 3.1 or the salary due
under Section 3.1 for the remainder of the Agreement Term, whatever is greater,
payment for accrued but untaken vacation days, and a pro rata portion of any
bonus for the year in which termination occurs, as to which Executive shall have
no obligation to mitigate such amounts. In addition, the Company shall continue
its contributions toward Executive's health care, dental, disability and life
insurance benefits on the same basis as immediately prior to the date of
termination, except as provided below, for a period of twelve months from the
last day of Executive's employment or for the remainder of time left in the
Agreement Term, whichever is greater. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
shall not be required to provide any health care, dental, disability or life
insurance benefit otherwise receivable by Executive pursuant to this Section 5.2
if Executive is actually covered by an equivalent benefit (at the same cost to
Executive, if any) from another employer during which continuing benefits are
provided pursuant to this Section 5.2. Any such benefit made available to
Executive shall be reported to the Company. The amounts paid under this Section
5.2 shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, any severance benefits for
which Executive would be otherwise eligible.
5.3 Termination for Death or Disability. In the event that
Executive's employment is terminated by death or because of disability pursuant
to Section 4.4, the Company shall pay to Executive's estate or to Executive, as
the case may be, compensation which would otherwise be payable to him under
Section 3.1
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of this Agreement through the end of the month in which such termination occurs,
payment for any accrued but untaken vacation days, and the pro rata portion of
any bonus earned under Section 3.2 through the last day of employment. Executive
or his estate shall also be eligible to receive any benefits which he or it are
entitled to receive under the various Company fringe benefit plans for the
twelve months following Executive's death or disability. In addition to the
foregoing, in the event of termination pursuant to Section 4.4, all unvested
stock and stock options granted by the Company to Executive shall immediately
vest as of the date of termination.
5.4 Termination in the Event of a Change in Control.
(a) In the event Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated by the Company (other than for cause, disability or death as defined
herein) or by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below) within three months
before or 12 months following a Change in Control (as defined below), Executive
shall be entitled to the following:
(i) Any remaining unvested stock or stock options
awarded to Executive by the Company shall immediately vest
upon the occurrence of a Change in Control; and
(ii) the Company shall pay to Executive within fourteen
(14) days of delivery of a written notice of his termination
any and all unpaid base salary, any accrued but untaken
vacation pay, in each case to the extent not yet paid, and the
pro rata portion of any bonus earned in the year of
termination; and
(iii) the Company shall pay Executive's normal
post-termination benefits in accordance with the Company's
retirement, insurance and other benefit plan arrangements
(including non-qualified deferred compensation plans); and
(iv) the Company shall continue to pay to Executive his
average annual base salary for a period of six (6) months in
the manner set forth in Section 3.1 for the six consecutive
calendar months from the date of termination as to which
Executive shall have no mitigation obligations; and
(v) for six (6) months after Executive's date of
termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the
terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy,
the Company shall continue Executive's health care, dental,
disability and life insurance benefits on the same basis as
immediately prior to the date of termination; provided,
however, that if Executive becomes reemployed with another
employer during the period in which continued benefits are
being provided pursuant to this Section, the Company shall not
be required to continue such benefits if Executive is covered
by an equivalent benefit (at the same cost to him, if any) by
the new employer, and
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(vi) to the extent not otherwise paid or provided, the
Company shall timely pay or provide to Executive any other
amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which
Executive is eligible to receive following his termination of
employment under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract
or agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies;
provided, however, that the severance benefits provided under
this Section 5.4 shall be in lieu, and not in addition to, any
severance benefits for which Executive would be otherwise
eligible including, without limitation, the severance benefits
provided under Section 5.2.
(b) As used herein, "Change in Control" shall occur or be
deemed to occur if any of the following events occur:
(i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (ii)
any consolidation or merger of the Company (including, without
limitation, a triangular merger) where the shareholders of the
Company immediately prior to the consolidation or merger,
would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger,
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, shares representing
in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined
voting power of all the outstanding securities of the
corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or
merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any); or
(iii) a third person, including a "person" as defined in
Section 13(d) (3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act") (but other than (x) the Company,
(y) any employee benefit plan of the Company, or (z) investors
purchasing equity securities of the Company pursuant to a
financing or a series of financings approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company) becomes the beneficial owner (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or
indirectly, of Controlling Securities (as defined below).
"Controlling Securities" shall mean (a) prior to the Company's
initial public offering of its common stock registered under
the Securities Act of 1933 (an "IPO"), securities representing
50% or more of the total number of votes that may be cast for
the election of the directors of the Company, excluding
securities acquired pursuant to an employee stock ownership
plan or program of the Company now or hereafter existing; or
(b) after the Company's IPO, securities representing 25% or
more of the total number of votes that may be cast for the
election of the directors of the Company.
(c) As used herein, "Good Reason" means the occurrence,
without Executive's written consent, of any of the events or circumstances set
forth in clauses (i) through (vi) below which relates to the duties or
responsibilities of Executive. Notwithstanding the occurrence of any such event
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or circumstance, the sale or other disposition of the all or a portion of the
Company or its subsidiaries or joint ventures (regardless of the form of such
transaction) shall not constitute Good Reason nor create an event or
circumstance described below. In addition, notwithstanding the occurrence of any
of events enumerated in clause (i) through (vi), such occurrence shall not be
deemed to constitute Good Reason if, within 30 days after the giving by
Executive of notice of the occurrence or existence of an event or circumstance
specified below, such event or circumstance has been fully corrected and
Executive has been reasonably compensated for any losses or damages resulting
therefrom (provided that such right of correction by the Company shall only
apply to the first such notice given by Executive).
(i) the assignment to Executive of duties inconsistent
in any material respect with Executive's position (including
status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority
or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such
assignment or any other action or omission by the Company
which results in a diminution in such position, authority or
responsibilities; or
(ii) a reduction in Executive's annual base salary or
other compensation opportunities under annual or long-term
compensation incentive plans as the same may be increased from
time to time, provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply
to any decrease in compensation opportunities under annual or
long-term compensation incentive plans which occurs prior to a
Change in Control and which applies generally to senior
Executives of the Company; or
(iii) the failure by the Company to (A) continue in
effect any material compensation or benefit plan or program
(including without limitation any life insurance, medical,
health and accident or disability plan and any vacation
program or policy) (a "Benefit Plan") in which Executive
participates or which is applicable to Executive unless an
equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or
alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan or
program, or (B) continue Executive's participation therein (or
in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not
materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of
benefits provided and the level of Executive's participation
relative to other participants; or
(iv) a change by the Company in the location at which
Executive performs Executive's principal duties for the
Company to a new location that is both (A) outside a radius of
35 miles from Executive's principal residence immediately
prior to the date on which such change occurs and (B) more
than 20 miles from the location at which Executive performs
his principal duties for the Company immediately prior to the
date on which such change occurs; or a requirement by the
Company that Executive travel on Company business to a
substantially greater extent than is reasonable for a person
in his position with the Company; or
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(v) any material breach by the Company of any employment
agreement with Executive; or
(vi) the failure of the Company to obtain the written
agreement, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Executive,
from any successor to the Company to assume and agree to
perform this Agreement as required by Section 14.1.
5.5 Limitation on Benefits.
(a) It is the intention of Executive and the Company that no
payments made or benefits provided by the Company to or for the benefit of
Executive under this Agreement or any other agreement or plan pursuant to which
Executive is entitled to receive payments or benefits shall be non-deductible to
the Company by reason of the operation of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), relating to golden parachute payments.
(b) The Company agrees that in the event any payments to
Executive pursuant to this Agreement would result in a payment to Executive that
would trigger any obligations or penalties under Section 4999 of the United
States Internal Revenue Code ("Excise Tax"), the Company shall first submit to
its stockholders for approval the transaction that may result in the imposition
of the Excise Tax upon Executive in accordance with the regulations of the
Internal Revenue Code governing shareholder approval of transactions giving rise
to Excise Tax liability.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event it shall be
determined that any payment, award, benefit or distribution by the Company to or
for the benefit of Executive would be subject to the Excise Tax or any
corresponding provisions of state or local tax laws as a result of payment to
Executive, or any interest or penalties are incurred by Executive with respect
to such Excise Tax, then Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional
payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by Executive
of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such
taxes) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the
Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the payments.
6. Nondisclosure and Noncompetition.
6.1 Proprietary Information.
(a) Executive agrees that all information and know-how,
whether or not in writing, of a private, secret or confidential nature
concerning the Company's business or financial affairs (collectively,
"Proprietary Information") is and shall be the exclusive property of the
Company. By way of illustration, but not limitation, Proprietary Information may
include inventions, products, processes, methods, techniques, formulas,
compositions, compounds, projects, developments, plans, research data, clinical
data, financial data, personnel data, computer programs, and customer and
supplier lists. Executive will not disclose any Proprietary Information to
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others outside the Company or use the same for any unauthorized purposes without
written approval by an Executive of the Company, either during or after his
employment, unless and until such Proprietary Information has become public
knowledge without fault by Executive.
(b) Executive agrees that all files, letters, memoranda,
reports, records, data, sketches, drawings, laboratory notebooks, program
listings, or other written, photographic, or other tangible material containing
Proprietary Information, whether created by Executive or others, which shall
come into his custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive property of
the Company to be used by Executive only in the performance of his duties for
the Company.
(c) Executive agrees that his obligation not to disclose or
use information, know-how and records of the types set forth in paragraphs (a)
and (b) above, also extends to such types of information, know-how, records and
tangible property of subsidiaries and joint ventures of the Company, customers
of the Company or suppliers to the Company or other third parties who may have
disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company or to Executive in the course of
the Company's business.
6.2 Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation.
(a) During his employment with the Company, Executive shall
not, directly or indirectly, render services of a business, professional or
commercial nature to any other person or entity that competes with the Company's
business, whether for compensation or otherwise, or engage in any business
activities competitive with the Company's business, whether alone, as an
employee, as a partner, or as a shareholder (other than as the holder of not
more than one percent of the combined voting power of the outstanding stock of a
public company), Executive or director of any corporation or other business
entity, or as a trustee, fiduciary or in any other similar representative
capacity of any other entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the expenditure of
reasonable amounts of time as a member of other companies' Board of Directors
shall not be deemed a breach of this if those activities do not materially
interfere with the services required under this Agreement;
(b) For a period of one (1) year after the termination of
Executive's employment with the Company for any reason, or for a period of two
(2) years following Executive's voluntary resignation without Good Reason,
Executive will not directly or indirectly, absent the Company's prior written
approval, render services of a business, professional or commercial nature to
any other person or entity that competes with the Company's business ("Company"
as used herein shall be deemed to include the Company and any parent, subsidiary
or affiliate corporations) in the geographical area in which the Company does
business, whether for compensation or otherwise, or engage in any business
activities competitive with the Company's business, whether alone, as an
employee, as a partner, or as a shareholder (other than as the holder of not
more than one percent of the combined voting power of the outstanding stock of a
public company), Executive or director of any corporation or other business
entity, or as a trustee, fiduciary or in any other similar representative
capacity.
(c) For a period of one (1) year after termination of
Executive's employment for any reason, Executive will not recruit solicit or
induce, or attempt to induce, any employee or employees of the Company to
terminate their employment with, or otherwise cease their relationship with, the
Company; or
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(d) For a period of one (1) year after termination of
Executive's employment for any reason, Executive will not solicit, divert or
take away, or attempt to divert or to take away, the business or patronage of
any of the clients, customers or accounts, or prospective clients, customers or
accounts, of the Company which were contacted, solicited or served by Executive
while employed by the Company.
6.3 If any restriction set forth in this Section 7 is found by any
court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it extends for too
long a period of time or over too great a range of activities or in too broad a
geographic area, it shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period
of time, range of activities or geographic area as to which it may be
enforceable.
6.4 The restrictions contained in this Section 7 are necessary for
the protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and are considered by
Executive to be reasonable for such purpose. Executive agrees that any breach of
this Section 7 will cause the Company substantial and irrevocable damage and
therefore, in the event of any such breach, in addition to such other remedies
which may be available, the Company shall have the right to seek specific
performance and injunctive relief.
6.5 Other Agreements. Executive represents that his performance of
all the terms of this Agreement as an employee of the Company does not and will
not breach any (i) agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information,
knowledge or data acquired by him in confidence or in trust prior to his
employment with the Company or (ii) agreement to refrain from competing,
directly or indirectly, with the business of any previous employer or any other
party.
7. Notices. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon (a) a personal delivery, or (b)
deposit in the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, or (c) by facsimile transmission at the address of record of
Executive or the Company, or at such other place as may from time to time be
designated by either party in writing.
8. Pronouns. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this
Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms,
and the singular forms of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice
versa.
9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, and those documents referenced
herein, constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral relating to the
subject matter of this Agreement with the exception of the Employee Bonus
Agreement, and any rights and obligations set forth in any agreements governing
Executive's stock or stock options.
10. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written
instrument executed by both the Company and Executive.
11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
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12. Successors and Assigns.
12.1 Assumption by Successors. In the event of any Change in
Control, any successor shall succeed to all of the Company's duties,
obligations, rights and benefits hereunder. The Company shall require any
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise and whether or not after a Change in Control) to all or substantially
all of the business or assets of the Company to assume in writing prior to such
succession and to agree to perform its obligations under this Agreement in the
same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform
it if no such succession had taken place.
12.2 Successor Benefits. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of both parties and their respective successors and
assigns, including any corporation into which the Company may be merged or which
may succeed to its assets or business, provided, however, that the obligations
of Executive are personal and shall not be assigned by him.
13. Miscellaneous.
13.1 No Waiver. No delay or omission by the Company in exercising
any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other
right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion shall be
effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of
any right on any other occasion.
13.2 Captions. The captions of the sections of this Agreement are
for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or affect the
scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.
13.3 Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or
impaired thereby.
13.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year set forth above.
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
------------------------------
EXECUTIVE
Atlantic Synergy, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
--------------------------
Its: President, CEO
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