EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this " Agreement ")
effective as of July 7, 2009 (the “ Effective Date
”), by and between Bonds.com Group, Inc. , a Delaware
corporation (“ Bonds ” or the “
Employer ”) having an office at 1515 South Federal
Highway, Suite 212, Boca Raton FL, 3432, and Christopher
Loughlin , an individual residing at __________ (the "
Executive ").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Employer is engaged in the business
of providing a platform for trading in securities, primarily
consisting of debt securities issued by various corporations,
municipalities and/or other entities; and
WHEREAS, the Executive possesses the experience
necessary in management and operations of the Employer’s
business in order to fulfill the responsibilities as a senior
executive officer of the Employer; and
WHEREAS, the Employer desires to employ the
Executive, the Executive desires to be employed by the Employer,
and the Executive has specifically provided to the Employer all
assurances that there is no prohibition or restraint legally or
otherwise in the Employer obtaining the services of the Executive,
all in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement;
and
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the covenants and promises hereinafter
contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Employer and the Executive represent, covenant and agree as
follows:
1.
Employment . The Employer hereby employs the
Executive as Chief Operating Officer of Bonds in accordance with
the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and the Executive
hereby accepts such employment with the Employer.
2.
Term . The term of the Executive's employment
hereunder shall begin on the Effective Date and end on December 31,
2012 (the “ Initial Term ”). This
Agreement shall automatically renew for an additional twelve (12)
month period (the “ Renewal Term ”) if, ninety
(90) days prior to the end of the Initial Term, neither party has
given notice of termination or an intent not to renew, or the
parties have not mutually agreed upon the terms of a successor
employment agreement. The Initial Term and the Renewal
Term, if any, shall be collectively referred to herein as the
“Term.”
3.
Compensation . As compensation for all services rendered by
the Executive to the Employer pursuant to this Agreement, Executive
shall receive the following amounts during the Term:
(a)
Base Salary. Executive shall receive an annual
base salary as set forth in the table below (the “ Base
Salary ”). The Base Salary shall be payable in
accordance with Employer's standard payroll
practices. Amounts payable to the Executive shall be
reduced by required withholdings and other customary and/or
authorized deductions. During the Renewal
Term, if any,
the Executive shall continue to receive the Base Salary he was
receiving in the year prior to the Renewal Term.
(b)
Stock Award . In connection with the commencement of
Executive’s employment, subject to approval by the Board of
Directors of Bonds (the “Board”), the Employer will
grant Executive an option (the “ Option ”) to
purchase 3,750,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per
share (the "Common Stock") of Bonds. The Common Stock
will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value (as
determined by the Board) on the date of the grant. The
vesting schedule will be as follows: (i) 25% of shares of Common
Stock, or 937,500 shares of Common Stock, will be fully vested as
of the Effective Date; and (ii) 234,375 shares of Common Stock
shall vest every three months thereafter.
(c)
Performance-Based Bonus Payments . During the
Term Executive shall receive a performance-based quarterly bonus
payment linked to the achievement of gross revenues (as such term
is generally understood in the bond trading industry), as set forth
on Schedule I hereto.
(d)
Discretionary Bonus . At the Board of
Directors’ sole discretion, the Executive may also be
entitled to receive a yearly bonus, in an amount and form (either
cash, equity or otherwise) as determined by the Board.
4.
Vacation and Executive Benefits . During the
Term:
(a)
Vacation and Sick Time . The Executive shall be
entitled to twenty-five (25) accruable paid vacation and/or sick
days per calendar year, in accordance with the Employer's
vacation/sick day policy as applicable to employees
generally. Vacation shall be taken upon reasonable
advance notice to the Employer, and at such times, so as not to
interfere with the proper operation of the Employer's
business. The Executive shall be entitled to accrue days
not taken during his employment and will be paid out following his
resignation or termination.
(b)
Executive Insurance Benefits. The Executive
shall be entitled to participate in the health, dental, and 401(k)
plans, if any, maintained by Employer, as well as any other benefit
plans made available to employees of Employer
generally. The Employer will cover 100% of the monthly
premiums for health, dental and vision (the “ Health and
Welfare Benefit Plans ”). The terms of the
Executive’s participation in such Health and Welfare
Benefit
Plans shall be determined by the Board in its
discretion and in accordance with those plans. These
plans are subject to change in the Employer’s sole
discretion. Starting on January 1, 2010, Employer will
also incorporate the Executive in the life and long-term disability
insurance plans maintained by the Employer, and cover any expenses
in connection therewith.
(c)
Business Expenses . Upon submission of itemized
expense statements and proper written receipts, the Employer shall
reimburse the Executive for all necessary and reasonable business
travel, entertainment and other business expenses incurred by the
Executive according to the policies defined by the Employer for
fulfillment of his employment duties.
(d)
Other Allowances . During the Term, the Executive
shall also receive the following monthly payments: Auto Allowance:
$1,300 per month.
5.
Description of Duties . During the Term, the
Executive shall act as Chief Executive Officer of the Employer and
shall:
(a) Devote
on a full time basis all necessary time, best efforts, professional
skills, attention and energies to perform his duties hereunder to
Employer;
(b) Act
in accordance herewith, and in all accounts be responsible and
responsive to, the Employer;
(c) Perform
such services as may be expected by the Board of Directors and the
Chief Operating Officer, including, without limitation, the
following duties:
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developing and
implementing the nationwide expansion of the Employer’s
business;
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working and
cooperating diligently with the Board of Directors to develop,
implement and execute the business plan of Employer, including
without limitation meeting and implementing the strategy of the
Employer as set forth by the Board of Directors in good
faith;
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taking all
necessary steps to ensure continued existence of the Employer and
compliance by the Employer with all legal, financial and regulatory
requirements;
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providing all
necessary assistance to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of
Directors and Employer in building an appropriate organization
structure;
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maintaining
financial discipline and meeting topline and bottomline goals
reasonably set forth by the Board of Directors from time to
time;
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engaging in
duties consistent with the office of Chief Operating Officer;
and
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engaging in
such other lawful activities as directed by the Board of Directors
from time to time.
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6.
General Services . During the Term, the Executive
shall:
(a) Observe
the Employer’s policies and standards of conduct, as well as
customary standards of business conduct, including any standards
prescribed by law or regulation and generally adhere to the
Employer’s employee handbook;
(b) Perform
the Executive’s duties hereunder in a manner that preserves
and protects the Employer’s business reputation;
and
(c) Do
all things and render such services as may be necessary or
beneficial in carrying out any of the foregoing.
7.
Confidential Information and Assignment of Inventions
Agreement . The Executive hereby acknowledges that
the Executive has executed Bonds’ form of Confidential
Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (the
“Confidentiality and Assignment
Agreement”). The Executive and the Employer hereby
acknowledge that such Confidentiality and Assignment Agreement is
an integral part of this Agreement and is thus incorporated herein
its entirety by reference.
8.
Intentionally Omitted .
9.
Covenant Not to Compete . (a) The Executive agrees that
while employed by the Employer and for a continuous period of six
(6) months following the date of the termination, expiration or
cessation of the Executive’s employment with the Employer for
any reason whatsoever (the “Restricted Period”), the
Executive shall not (without the express prior written consent of
the Board), directly or indirectly engage in, own, manage, operate,
join, control, or perform services for a Restricted Enterprise (as
defined herein) or associate with any entity, incorporated or
otherwise, which engages in a Restricted Enterprise in the United
States whether as a director, officer, employee, agent,
shareholder, partner, owner, independent contractor or
otherwise. As used herein, a “Restricted
Enterprise” shall be any activity involving the business of
providing an electronic or online platform for trading in
securities, primarily consisting of debt securities issued by
various corporations, municipalities and/or other entities in the
United States of America. For purposes of this Section
9, the term “Employer” shall mean the Employer and any
of their subsidiaries.
(b) During
the Term, the Executive shall devote his full business time and
attention to the business of the Employer and the Executive will
not engage in or devote time to any personal business activities or
business ventures that may interfere (as determined in good faith
by the Board of Directors) with his duties hereunder without the
express prior written consent of the Board. Executive
further agrees to diligently adhere to the Conflict of Interest
Guidelines attached as Exhibit A
hereto. The Executive warrants and represents that he
has the full right and authority to enter into this Agreement and
to render services as required under this Agreement and that by
signing this Agreement and rendering such services, he is not
breaching any contract or legal obligation he owes to any third
party.
(a) The
Executive shall not, either alone or in association with others,
(i) solicit, or permit any organization directly or indirectly
controlled by or affiliated with the Executive to solicit, any
employee of the Employer to leave the employ of the Employer, and
(ii) for a period of two (2) years after the termination,
expiration or cessation of the Executive’s employment with
the Company for any reason, solicit for employment, hire, or engage
as an independent contractor, or permit any organization directly
or indirectly controlled by or affiliated with the Executive to
solicit for employment, hire, or engage as an independent
contractor, any person who is or was either employed or engaged as
an independent contractor by the Employer.
(b) Without
limiting his obligations under section (a) above, for a period of
two (2) years after the termination, expiration or cessation of the
Executive’s employment with the Employer for any reason,
Executive shall not (1) engage or participate in any effort or act
to solicit the Employer’s customers, suppliers, associates,
employees or consultants to cease, reduce or diminish doing
business, or their association or employment with the Employer; or
(2) interfere in any manner in the contractual or employment
relationship between the Employer and any such customer, supplier,
associate, employee or consultant of the Employer. For purposes of
this Section 10, the term “Employer” shall mean the
Employer and any of its subsidiaries. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the restrictions set forth in Section 10(b) above
shall not prohibit Executive from engaging in a general
solicitation that is not specifically targeted or directed at the
Employer’s customers, suppliers, employees, contractors or
clients.
11.
Termination; Payments Upon Termination .
(a)
Termination by the Company
. The Employer may terminate
the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or
without Cause (as defined below). In case Employer
terminates Executive without Cause, Employer shall give Executive
thirty (30) days’ notice by delivering a Notice of
Termination (as defined below). The Employer may, in
lieu of the notice period, pay the Exe