This EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT (the “Agreement” ) dated as of
February 23, 2009 (the “Date of this
Agreement” ), is made by and between Local.com
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
“Employer” or “Company” ),
and Brenda Agius (the “Executive” ).
WHEREAS, the
Employer wishes to employ the Executive on the terms set forth
below.
WHEREAS, Executive
wishes to accept such employment.
Accordingly, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
The Employer
hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts such
employment, for an initial term commencing as of the Date of this
Agreement and ending on the first anniversary of such date, unless
sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4 or Section 5; with such employment to continue
thereafter for successive one-year periods in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement beginning on each anniversary of the Date
of this Agreement (subject to termination as aforesaid) unless
either party notifies the other party in writing not less than
thirty (30) days before expiration of the initial term and
each annual renewal thereof (the period during which the Executive
is employed hereunder being hereinafter referred to as the
“Term” ) of an intent not to renew this
Agreement.
During the Term,
the Executive shall be employed by the Employer as its Chief
Financial Officer, and as such, the Executive shall faithfully
perform for the Employer the duties and have the powers customary
for such position, including general financial oversight of the
Employer’s operations and preservation of the
Employer’s assets. During the Term, the Executive shall be
required to report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Employer
(the “CEO” ). The Executive shall devote
substantially all of her business time and effort to the
performance of her duties hereunder, and shall work primarily at
the Employer’s main business offices. Executive shall not be
prohibited from engaging in such personal, charitable, or other
nonemployment activities as do not interfere with full time
employment hereunder and which do not violate the other provisions
of this Agreement.
3.1 Salary
. In consideration of the services to be rendered under this
Agreement, the Employer shall pay the Executive during the Term a
salary at the rate of Two Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($260,000)
per annum (the “Annual Salary” ), in accordance
with the customary payroll practices of the Employer applicable to
senior executives, provided the payments are no less frequent than
monthly (or, if there is no such policy, payments shall be
semi-monthly). The Annual Salary shall be annually reviewed by the
Employer for possible increases. The Annual Salary shall be subject
to possible further increase from time to time at the discretion of
the CEO, the Board of Directors of the Employee (
“Board” ), or a committee of
the Board
designated for such purpose. Any increased Annual Salary shall
thereupon be the “Annual Salary” for the
purposes hereof. The Executive’s Annual Salary shall not be
decreased without her prior written consent at any time during the
Term.
3.2 Incentive
Compensation . During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible
to receive, in addition to her Annual Salary, an annual bonus (the
“Bonus” ) of up to forty percent (40%) of the
Annual Salary. Any increase in the bonus target shall thereupon be
the “Bonus” for the purposes hereof. The amount of such
Bonus and any performance standards or goals required to be
attained in order to receive such Bonus shall be mutually agreed
upon by Executive and the CEO or such committee of the Board as
they shall designate for such purpose from time to time and
memorialized in a writing executed by Executive and Employer, as
may be amended from time to time by the mutual written agreement of
Employer and Executive. The Bonus shall be declared and paid
according to the Company’s payroll policies and practices.
Any actual Bonus paid shall be determined by achievement of
mutually agreed goals and company performance.
3.3 Stock
Options . The Executive shall be granted options to purchase
Two Hundred Sixty (260,000) shares of the common stock of the
Employer pursuant to the Employer’s Equity Incentive Plans
(the “Options” ). At the option of the Executive
as of the date of grant, the Options may be intended to qualify as
“incentive stock options” within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The Options shall be granted on the Executive’s first day of
employment and shall have an exercise price equal to the closing
stock price on such date the Options will be issued as
follows:
|
|
Grant 1
|
|
Options to purchase 130,000 shares
of Employer’s common stock ( “Grant 1”
).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant 2
|
|
Options to purchase 43,333 shares of
Employer’s common stock ( “Grant 2”
).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant 3
|
|
Options to purchase 43,333 shares of
Employer’s common stock ( “Grant 3”
).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant 4
|
|
Options to purchase 43,334 shares of
Employer’s common stock ( “Grant 4”
).
|
Grant 1 will
vest over a period of 3 years, with one-third (1/3) vesting
after twelve months of employment and the remainder on a quarterly
basis thereafter, provided that the Executive is employed by the
Employer as of each such Option vesting date. Grant 2 will vest
over a period of 3 years, with one-third (1/3) vesting after
twenty-four months of employment and the remainder on a quarterly
basis thereafter, provided that the Executive is employed by the
Employer as of each such Option vesting date. Options in Grant 3
will vest over a period of 3 years, with one-third (1/3)
vesting after thirty-six months of employment and the remainder on
a quarterly basis thereafter, provided that the Executive is
employed by the Employer as of each such Option vesting date.
Options in Grant 4 will vest over a period of 3 years, with
one-third (1/3) vesting after forty-eight months of employment and
the remainder on a quarterly basis
2
thereafter,
provided that the Executive is employed by the Employer as of each
such Option vesting date. The vesting periods shall be subject to
possible acceleration in the discretion of the CEO or such
committee of the Board as they shall designate for such purpose
from time to time. The Options shall become fully vested
immediately and shall remain exercisable during the term of each
such option as if the Executive were still employed by Employer
upon (i) a Change of Control, defined below, of the Employer,
or (ii) a termination of the executive by Employer without
Cause (defined in Section 5.1(a) below), or a termination by
Executive for Good Reason (defined in Section 5.2(a) below),
if such event of termination without cause or for good reason
occurs within 120 days prior and/or subsequent to the
execution and delivery of an acquisition, merger, consolidation or
other agreement which results in a Change of Control. For purposes
of this Agreement “Change of Control” shall mean the
occurrence of any one of the following events:
(a) any
Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing thirty-five percent (35%)
or more, excluding in the calculation of Beneficial Ownership
securities acquired directly from the Company, of the combined
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting
securities;
(b) any
Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing over fifty percent
(50.00%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding voting securities;
(c) the
following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority
of the number of directors of the Company then serving: individuals
who, as of February 23, 2009, constitute the Board of
Directors of the Company (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
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by
the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a
vote of the at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still
in office who either were directors on February 23, 2009 or
whose appointment, election or nomination for election was
previously so approved or recommended;
(d) there
is a consummated merger or consolidation of the Company or any
direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other
corporation, other than (A) 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) more than fifty percent (50.00%)
of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the
Company or such surviving or parent equity outstanding immediately
after such merger or consolidation or (B) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the
Company (or similar transaction) in which no person, directly or
indirectly, acquired twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding
securities (not including in the securities beneficially owned by
such person any securities acquired directly from the Company or
its Affiliates); or
3
(e) the
stock holders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation
of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets (or any transaction having a similar
effect), other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at
least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the
Company immediately prior to such sale.
The terms of this
Section 3.3 shall be included in the applicable stock option
agreements between Employer and Executive relating to the issuance
of the Options. For purposes of this Section 3.3, the
following terms used above shall have the following
meanings:
“Affiliate” shall mean an affiliate of the
Company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time (the “Exchange Act”
);
“Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning set
forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; and
“Person” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not
include (1) the Company, (2) a trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company,
(3) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to
an offering of such securities or (4) a corporation owned,
directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of
Common Stock of the Company.
3.4
Benefits . Except as otherwise provided herein, the
Executive shall be entitled to participate in any group life,
medical or disability insurance plans, health programs, retirement
plans, fringe benefit programs and similar benefits that may be
available to other senior executives of the Employer generally, on
the same terms as such other executives, to the extent that the
Executive is eligible under the terms of such plans or programs as
they may be in effect from time to time. Employer will provide
coverage for the Executive under the Employer’s health
benefits plan and will pay 100% of the cost of spouse or dependent
coverage up to a total of $1,500 per month. Coverage under the
health benefits plan will be in effect commencing with the first
month following thirty (30) days of Executive’s
employment.
3.5
Expenses . The Employer shall pay or reimburse the Executive
for all ordinary and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually
incurred (and, in the case of reimbursement, paid) by the Executive
during the Term in the performance of the Executive’s
services under this Agreement, provided that (i) such
expenditure is of a nature qualifying it as a proper business
expense deduction on the Employer’s federal and state income
tax returns and (ii) the Executive submits proof of such
expenses, with the properly completed forms as prescribed from time
to time by the Employer, no later than 30 days after the end
of the monthly period in which such expenses have been so incurred.
In addition, the Employer will pay the Executive a non-
4
accountable
relocation expense of $75,000, 1 / 2
which is payable on
February 23, 2009 and the remaining 1 / 2
payable on April 1, 2009.
Should Executive’s employment terminate pursuant to Section
5.1 within one year of payment of relocation expense, then
Executive will, within 180 days after said Termination,
reimburse Employer for 100% of the relocation expense already
received from the Employer, less any applicable taxes already paid
or due.
3.6 Compliance
with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code; Short-Term
Deferral Exemption . This Agreement is not intended to provide
for any deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of
the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Code ”) and,
accordingly, any compensation provided pursuant to this Agreement
is intended to be paid not later than the later of: (i) the
fifteenth day of the third month following Executive’s first
taxable year in which such benefit is no longer subject to a
substantial risk of forfeiture, and (ii) the fifteenth day of
the third month following the first taxable year of the Employer in
which such benefit is no longer subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture, as determined in accordance with Section 409A of
the Code and any Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued
thereunder. The date determined under this subsection is referred
to as the “ Short-Term Deferral Date .”
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event that
any benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement are not actually
or constructively received by the Executive on or before the
Short-Term Deferral Date, to the extent such benefit constitutes a
deferral of compensation subject to Code Section 409A, then
such benefit shall be paid upon the Executive’s separation
from service, with respect to the Employer and its affiliates
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, Executive and the Company shall in good faith amend this
Agreement to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements
under Section 409A of the Code and any regulations or other
guidance issued thereunder, in order to ensure that any amounts
paid or payable hereunder are not subject to the additional 20%
income tax thereunder while maintaining to the maximum extent
practicable the original intent of this Agreement.
4.
Termination upon Death or Disability .
If the Executive
dies during the Term, the Term shall terminate as of the date of
death, and the obligations of the Employer to or with respect to
the Executive shall terminate in their entirety upon such date
except as otherwise provided under this Section 4. If the
Executive becomes disabled for purposes of the long-term disability
plan of the Employer for which the Executive is eligible, or, in
the event that there is no such plan, if the Executive by virtue of
ill health or other disability is unable to perform substantially
and continuously the duties assigned to her for more than 180
consecutive or non-consecutive days out of any consecutive 12-month
period, then the Employer shall have the right, to the extent
permitted by law, to terminate the employment of the Executive upon
notice in writing to the Executive. Upon termination of employment
due to death or disability, (i) the Executive (or the
Executive’s estate or beneficiaries in the case of the death
of the Executive) shall be entitled to receive any Annual Salary
and other benefits earned and accrued under this Agreement prior to
the date of termination (and reimbursement under this Agreement for
expenses incurred prior to the date of termination), including, but
not limited to a pro-rata Bonus for the year of termination (which
in no event shall be less than a similar pro-rata portion of the
Executive’s bonus for the preceding year) to be paid at such
time as Bonuses are ordinarily paid; (ii) in the case of
termination due to
5
disability, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive her Annual Salary for twelve
(12) months following such termination less any amounts for which
Executive is eligible to receive from long term disability
insurance benefits under disability coverage furnished by the
Employer to the Executive during such twelve (12) month
period; (iii) the Executive (or, in the case of her death, her
spouse and/or dependents) shall continue to receive all applicable
benefits elected by Executive for which she received reimbursement
for pursuant to Section 3.4 herein for a period of twelve
(12) months following such termination and Company shall
continue to pay for the foregoing in accordance with
Section 3.4 herein as if no such termination had occurred; and
(iv) the Executive (or, in the case of her death, her estate
and beneficiaries) shall have no further rights to any other
compensation or benefits hereunder on or after the termination of
employment, or any other rights hereunder, except as otherwise
provided in the plans and policies of the Employer.
5. Certain
Terminations of Employment .
5.1 Termination
for Cause; Termination of Employment by the Executive without Good
Reason .
(a) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean
the Executive’s:
(i) conviction
of (or pleading nolo contendere to) a felony involving the crime of
theft or a related or similar act of unlawful taking, or a felony
involving the federal or California securities or pension laws, or
any felony, which results in material economic harm to the
Employer;
(ii) engagement
in the performance of her duties hereunder or otherwise to the
material and demonstrable detriment of the Employer, in willful
misconduct, willful or gross neglect, fraud, misappropriation or
embezzlement;
(iii) After
notice from the Board of Directors, and, if requested by Executive,
the opportunity to be heard by the Board of Directors, the failure
to adhere to the lawful and reasonable directions of the Board that
are consistent with the terms of this Agreement (so long as the
directive does not give the Executive Good Reason (as defined
below) to terminate her employment as described in
Section 5.2), or the failure to devote substantially all of
the business time and effort to the Employer (except for any
activities expressly authorized by the Employer);
(iv) material
breach of any of the provisions of Section 6, other than
inadvertent breaches; or
(v) breach
in any material respect of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and failure to cure such breach within thirty
(30) days following written notice from the Employer
specifying such breach; provided however, if Executive delivers
written notice to Employer during the 30 day cure period
requesting to be heard at a meeting of the Board, her termination
under this Section 5.2(a)(v) shall not be effective until such
Board meeting at which Executive had an opportunity to be
heard.
6
provided that
Cause shall not exist except on written notice given to the
Executive at any time not more than 60 days following the
later of either the occurrence of any of the events described above
or Employer’s actual knowledge thereof, which events in any
case must have occurred after the effective date of this
Agreement.
(b) The
Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder
for Cause, and the Executive may terminate her employment for any
or no reason on at least 30 days’ and not more than
60 days’ written notice given to the Employer. If the
Employer terminates the Executive for Cause, or the Executive
terminates her employment and the termination by the Executive is
not covered by Section 4 or 5.2, (i) the Executive shall
receive Annual Salary and other benefits earned and accrued under
this Agreement prior to the termination of employment (and
reimbursement under this Agreement for expenses incurred prior to
the termination of employment); and (ii) the Executive shall
have no further rights to any other compensation or benefits
hereunder on or after the termination of employment, or any other
rights hereunder, except as otherwise provided in the plans and
policies of the Employer.
5.2 Termination
by the Employer without Cause; or by the Executive for Good
Reason .
(a) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall
mean, unless otherwise consented to in writing by the
Executive;
(i) a
reduction in Annual Salary or in benefits of the Executive, or the
failure of the Employer timely to make any Annual Salary payment
due to the Executive, provided that such deferral or failure to pay
continues unremedied for more than thirty
(30) days;
(ii) any
action by the Employer that re
|