EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement ”), dated as of ______________,
200_ between _____________________, residing at
____________________________ (“ Executive
”), and HLS Systems International, Ltd. a British Virgin
Islands corporation having its principal office at 625 Broadway,
Suite 1111, San Diego, CA 92101 (the “
Company ”)
WHEREAS, the Company believes that Executive
provides unique management services for the Company and wishes to
retain the continued services of Executive as its
______________________; and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive have reached
an understanding with respect to the extension of Executive’s
employment with the Company for a three year period commencing as
of ___________, 200_ and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to
evidence their agreement in writing and to provide for the
employment of Executive by the Company on the terms set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the
foregoing facts, the mutual covenants and agreements contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the parties
hereby agree as follows:
1.
Employment, Duties and
Acceptance .
1.1 Effective as of ______________, 200_ the Company
hereby agrees to the continued employment of Executive as its
___________________ hereby accepts such continued employment on the
terms and conditions contained in the Agreement. During the term of
this Agreement, Executive shall make himself available to the
Company to pursue the business of the Company subject to the
supervision and direction of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the “ Board ” or “ Board
of Directors ”).
1.2 The Board may assign Executive such general
management and supervisory responsibilities and executive duties
for the Company as are appropriate and commensurate with
Executive’s position as __________________ of the Company
(“ ____ ”) and would otherwise be
consistent in stature and prestige with the responsibilities of a
______.
1.3 Executive accepts such employment and agrees to
devote substantially all of his business time, energies and
attention to the performance of his duties; provided, however, that
Executive may continue to be actively involved in educational and
civic activities to the extent that such activities do not
materially detract from the reasonable performance of his duties
(such material detraction to be evidenced by a resolution approved
by the majority of the Board and a written notice to Executive, in
which event Executive shall have one hundred and twenty (120) days
to reduce the level of such activities in a reasonable manner). The
Company recognizes the value to it of Executive’s continued
involvement in these activities and will reimburse Executive for
reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with such
activities. Nothing herein shall be construed as preventing
Executive from (i) making and supervising investments on a personal
or family basis (including trusts, funds and investment entities in
which Executive or members of his family have an interest) and (ii)
serving on the Board of Directors of not more than three
corporations involved primarily in “for profit”
business activities; provided, however, that these activities do
not materially interfere with the performance of his duties
hereunder or violate the provisions of Section 4.4
hereof.
2.
Compensation and
Benefits .
2.1 The Company shall pay to Executive a salary at
an annual base rate of not less than $_______ for the first
___-year period during the term hereof . During Executive’s
employment, salary will be paid not less frequently than every two
weeks without the prior written consent of Executive.
Executive’s annual base rate will be reviewed one month prior
to the commencement of the third year for purposes of determining
what the new base salary will be.
2.2 The Company shall also pay to Executive such
bonuses as may be determined from time to time by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors. The amount of annual bonus
payable to Executive may vary at the discretion of the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the
total bonus shall not exceed 50% of Executive’s annual base
rate under Section 2.1 as of the date the bonus is awarded. In
determining the annual bonus to be paid to Executive, the
Compensation Committee may, among other factors they believe to be
appropriate, consider, and give varying degrees of importance to,
Executive’s contribution to the following:
(a) growth in the Company’s per share
value;
(b) achievement by the Company of specific
identified targets selected by the Committee from time to
time;
(c) the attraction and retention of key executive
personnel by the Company;
(d) satisfaction of the Company’s capital
requirements;
(e) the establishment of strategic direction and
significant Company goals; and
(f) such other criteria as the Compensation
Committee deems to be relevant.
2.3 Executive shall be entitled to such insurance
and other benefits including, among others, medical and disability
coverage and life insurance as are afforded to other senior
executives of the Company, subject to applicable waiting periods
and other conditions which may be generally applicable. The Company
also shall purchase if possible (i) long term disability insurance
of not less than 50% of Executive’s then current annual
salary and (ii) split dollar life insurance with coverage of not
less than $1.0 million. The beneficiary of these policies shall be
designated by Executive and these policies shall be transferred to
Executive or his designees by the Company at his written
request.
2.4 Executive shall be entitled to five weeks of
vacation in each calendar year and to a reasonable number of other
days off for religious and personal reasons.
2.5 Executive shall be entitled, at his option, to
maintain a suitable automobile for business use. The Company shall
reimburse Executive for the costs of leasing such automobile and
for all other costs associated with the use of the vehicle,
including insurance costs, repairs and maintenance.
2.6 The Company will pay or reimburse executive for
all transportation, hotel and other expenses incurred by Executive
on business trips (including business or first class air travel on
scheduled flights of more than two (5) consecutive hours) and for
all other ordinary and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually
incurred by him in the conduct of the business of the Company
against itemized vouchers submitted with respect to any such
expenses.
2.7 Executive agrees that his services shall be
rendered primarily at the Company’s executive offices which
shall be located in, or within thirty (30) miles of, the
Company’s current executive offices located in
______________________.
2.8 The Company shall not move its executive offices
without Executive’s written consent. If such consent is
provided, the Company will reimburse Executive for the following,
which may be taxable to Executive:
(a) Usual and customary expenses incurred if
Executive sells his home himself or through a broker; however,
reimbursement for the broker’s commission (if Executive
utilizes the services of a broker) may not exceed six (6) percent
of the sales proceeds;
(b) Reasonable expenses incurred in moving
furniture, normal household goods and personal belongings to the
new location and incidental expenses related to the
move;
(c) Reasonable expenses (including travel and hotel)
while house-hunting, including four trips to the new location with
Executive’s spouse and children;
(d) Reasonable and customary closing costs incurred
in buying Executive’s new home; and
(e) Reasonable temporary living expenses incurred
while awaiting occupancy in Executive’s new
quarters.
3.
Term and Termination
.
3.1 The term of this Agreement commences as of
______________, 200_ and shall continue until ______________, 200_
unless sooner terminated as herein provided.
3.2 If Executive dies during the term of this
Agreement, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, except that
the Company shall pay to the legal representative of
Executive’s estate the base salary due Executive pursuant to
Section 2.1 hereof through the first anniversary of
Executive’s death (or the scheduled expiration under Section
3.1, if earlier than the first anniversary date) as well as a pro
rata allocation of bonus payments under Section 2.2 based on the
days of service during the year of death, and all amounts owing to
Executive at the time of termination, including for previously
accrued but unpaid bonuses, expense reimbursements and accrued but
unused vacation pay.
3.3 If Executive shall be rendered incapable by an
incapacitating illness or disability (either physical or mental) of
complying with the terms, provisions and conditions hereof on his
part to be performed for a period in excess of 180 consecutive days
during any consecutive twelve (12) month period, then the Company,
at its option, may terminate this Agreement by written notice to
Executive (the “ Disability Notice ”)
delivered prior to the date Executive resumes the rendering of
services hereunder; provided, however, if requested by Executive
(or a representative thereof) such termination shall not occur
until after examination of Executive by a medical doctor (retained
by the Company with the consent of Executive which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld) who certifies in a written report to
the Board with a copy of such report delivered simultaneously to
Executive that Executive is and shall be incapable of performing
his duties for in excess of two additional months because of the
continuing existence of such incapacitating illness or disability.
Notwithstanding such termination, the Company (a) shall make a
payment to Executive of a pro rata allocation of payments under
Section 2.2 based on the days of service during the year in which
the Disability Notice is delivered and (b) shall pay to Executive
the base salary due Executive pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof
through the second anniversary of the date of such notice (the
“ Disability Period ”), less any amount
Executive receives for such period from any Company-sponsored or
Company-paid for source of insurance, disability compensation or
governmental program. The Company shall also pay to Executive all
amounts owing to Executive at the time of termination, including
for previously accrued but unpaid bonuses, expense reimbursements
and accrued but unused vacation pay.
3.4 The Company, by notice to Executive, may
terminate this Agreement for Cause. As us