Exhibit
10.3
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(the “Agreement”) is made
and entered into to be effective as of March 23, 2007 by and
between ANTs software inc. , a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and the Executive set
forth on the signature page hereof (the
“Executive”).
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the agreements of the
parties contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1.
Employment . The Company hereby employs Executive to serve
in such capacity and with such title as are set forth on the
signature page hereto (the “Position”), and Executive
agrees to serve in the Position with the Company, or to serve in
suchother position or positions as the Company may determine in its
sole discretion. The Executive hereby accepts such employment and
agrees to devote his or her best efforts and his or her full time
and attention exclusively to the business and affairs of the
Company,as such business and affairs now exist and as they may be
hereafter changed or augmented, under and pursuant to the general
direction of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
“Board”) and the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. The Company shall retain full direction and control of the
manner, means and methods by which the Executive performs the
services for which he or she is employed hereunder and of the place
or places at which such services shall be rendered.
2.
Term of Employment
. The term of the Executive’s
employment shall continue until terminated by either party pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement. Executive is employed by the
Company “at will” and Executive’s employment may
be terminated at any time, by Executive or the Company, for any
reason and for no reason.
3.
Compensation and
Expenses .
(a)
Salary . As compensation for the Executive’s
services during the term of the Executive’s employment
hereunder, the Company shall pay the Executive an annual salary
(the “Salary”) as is set forth on the signature page
hereto, payable in 24 equal semi-monthly installments, subject to
required tax and other fiduciary withholding requirements. Both
Executive and Company agree and acknowledge that Executive’s
Salary may change following the date hereof, and the provisions
hereof apply to the then outstanding Salary.
(b)
Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for
all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by him or
her in connection with the performance by him or her of his or her
duties hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s
policies and procedures with respect thereto, as they may be
changed from time to time.
(c)
Stock Options
. As of the date of this Agreement
Executive has been granted the Stock Options set forth on
Attachment 1 hereto, and the aggregate number of shares subject to
such Stock Options is set forth on the signature page hereof. Both
Executive and Company agree and acknowledge that the Stock Option
grants and the number of shares of common stock subject to such
Stock Options may change following the date hereof, and the
provisions hereof apply to all such then outstanding Stock
Options.
(d)
Vacation . The Executive shall be entitled to that number
of annual paid personal days as are set forth on the signature page
hereto. Personal days taken for vacations shall be taken at such
times as the Executive and the Company may mutually
agree.
(e)
Other Employee Benefits
. The Executive shall be entitled to
participate in the Company’s health insurance plans or
programs and such other benefit plans as may be adopted, from time
to time, by the Company, to the extent that they, by their terms,
cover the Executive. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the
Company or any affiliate of the Company from terminating or
amending any employee benefit plan or program at any time or from
time to time.
(f)
Insurance . The Company may, at its discretion, secure at
its own expense certain insurance policies, including without
limitation, a “key-man” life insurance policy upon the
life of the Executive, payable to the Company in the event of the
Executive’s death. The Executive agrees that any such
insurance policy shall be for the Company’s benefit only and
acknowledges that no person claiming by or through the Executive
shall have any right to the proceeds of such insurance policies.
The Executive agrees to execute all documents and take all acts
reasonably requested by the Company to secure and enjoy the
benefits of such insurance policies.
4.
Restrictive Covenants
.
(a)
Other Business Ventures
. During the term of the
Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive shall not,
without the prior approval of the Board, directly or indirectly,
either as an officer, director, employee, agent, advisor,
consultant, principal, stockholder, partner, owner or in any other
capacity, on his own behalf or otherwise, in any way engage in,
represent, be connected with or have a financial interest in, any
business which is or, to the best of his or her knowledge, is about
to become competitive with the business of the Company; provided,
however, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit
the Executive from being a passive investor owning up to 1% of any
class of outstanding securities of any company whose stock is
publicly traded.
(b)
Proprietary Information and
Inventions Agreement . The
Executive agrees that the Executive’s employment by the
Company is conditioned upon the Executive promptly signing an
agreement in substantially the form of the Company’s standard
form of Proprietary Information and Inventions
Agreement.
5.
Termination of Employment by
Executive For Good Cause .
In the event the employment of the Executive with the Company is
terminated by the Executive for “Good Cause,” the
Executive shall immediately and fully vest in all of the Severance
Benefits set forth in Section 7 below. For purposes of this Section
5, “Good Cause” shall be defined as: (i) a decrease in
Executive’s compensation of greater than twenty-five percent
(25%) of his or her compensation (x) immediately prior to such
decrease or (y) in the aggregate over a period not exceeding two
years (not including any decrease in compensation that is applied
to each of the Company’s executive officers equally), (ii) a
material change in Executive’s corporate position, title or
responsibilities, or (iii) the relocation of the principal offices
of the Company more than 80 miles from their present location
without the Executive’s consent. In the event of the
existence of Good Cause, the Executive may terminate his employment
at any time.
6.
Termination of Employment Without
Cause . In the event the
employment of the Executive with the Company is terminated without
“Cause” after six months of employment, the Executive
shall immediately and fully vest in all of the Severance Benefits
set forth in Section 7 below. For purposes of this Section 6,
“Cause” shall be defined as the Executive’s: (i)
violation of any material provisions of any written agreement
between the Company and Executive, (ii) being convicted of a felony
and lapse of all rights of appeal, or (iii) commitment of any act
of willful misconduct, gross negligence, or dereliction of his or
her duties.
7.
Severance Benefits and
Election . In the event
that the employment of the Executive is terminated (i) by the
Executive for Good Cause pursuant to Section 5 or (ii) by the
Company without Cause pursuant to Section 6, Executive shall have
thirty days to elect the Release Severance or the No-Release
Severance as set forth below:
(a)
No-Release Severance
. Executive may elect to receive the
following severance benefits without agreeing to a general release
of all claims known and unknown: The Company shall pay Executive:
(i) a lump sum equal to six month’s base salary of the
Executive; (ii) any and all accrued but unpaid bonuses and (iii)
any and all target bonuses for the six month period following such
termination of employment, in all such cases within 30 days from
the effective date of the termination (the “No-Release
Severance”).
(b)
Partial Option
Acceleration .
Additionally, upon election of the No-Release Severance, the
Executive shall (A) immediately and fully vest in and have the
right to exercise 75% of any and all unvested stock options granted
to Executive, whether or not otherwise vested, subject to the
provisions concerning exercisability and restrictions on transfer
of such options, set forth below.
(c)
Release Severance
. Executive may elect to receive the
following severance benefits upon agreeing to a general release of
all claims known and unknown: The Company shall pay Executive: (i)
a lump sum equal to twelve month’s base salary of the
Executive; (ii) any and all accrued but unpaid bonuses and (iii)
any and all target bonuses for the twelve month period following
such termination of employment, in all such cases within 30 days
from the effective date of the termination (the “Release
Severance”). .
(d)
Full Option
Acceleration .
Additi