EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This Executive Employment Agreement (this
"Agreement") is made and entered into as of this
day of August, 2006 (the "Effective Date"), by and
between New Motion, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") and Burton Katz
("Executive").
1.
Engagement and
Duties.
1.1 Commencing as of the Effective Date, and
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Company hereby engages and employs Executive as an
officer of the Company, with the title and designation of Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. Executive hereby accepts such
engagement and employment.
1.2 Executive's duties and responsibilities
shall be those normally and customarily vested in the office of
Chief Executive Officer of a corporation, subject to the
supervision, direction and control of the Board of Directors (the
"Board") of the Company. Executive shall report
directly to the Board.
1.3 Executive agrees to devote his primary
business time, energies, skills, efforts and attention to his
duties hereunder, and will not, without the prior written consent
of the Board, render any material services to any other for-profit
business concern. Executive will use his best efforts and abilities
faithfully and diligently to promote the Company's business
interests.
1.4 Except for routine travel incident to the
business of the Company, Executive shall perform his duties and
obligations under this Agreement principally from an office
provided by the Company in Irvine, California, or such other
location in Los Angeles or Orange County, California, as the Board
may from time to time determine.
2.
Term of
Employment. Executive's employment pursuant to this
Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall terminate
on the earliest to occur of the following (in any case, the
"Term"):
(a) the close of business on the third (3
rd ) anniversary of the Effective Date,
provided, that if the Company has not given Executive
written Notice (as defined below) of its decision not to renew the
Term on or before ninety (90) days prior to the end of the three
year Term then, unless otherwise terminated as provided below, the
Term shall be automatically extended until the earlier of (i) a
date which is ninety (90) days following the Company's delivery to
Executive of written Notice of the Company's decision not to renew
this Agreement beyond such date, and (ii) December 31,
2009;
(b) the death of Executive;
(c) delivery to Executive of written Notice of
termination by the Company if Executive suffers a
"Permanent Disability," which for purposes of this
Agreement shall mean a condition that entitles Executive to
benefits under an applicable Company long-term disability plan or,
if no such plan exists, a physical or mental disability which, in
the reasonable judgment of the Board, is likely to render Executive
unable to perform his duties and obligations under this Agreement
for 60 days in any 12-month period;
(d) delivery to Executive of written Notice of
termination by the Company for "Cause," which Notice shall identify
the particular details of the conduct that the Company believes
constitutes Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall
mean: (i) any act or omission knowingly undertaken or omitted by
Executive with the intent of causing damage to the Company, its
properties, assets or business or its stockholders, officers,
directors or employees; (ii) any fraud, misappropriation or
embezzlement by Executive resulting in a material personal profit
to Executive, in any case, involving properties, assets or funds of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) Executive's
consistent failure to materially perform his normal duties as
described in Section 1.2, other than any such failure
resulting from Executive's Permanent Disability; (iv) conviction
of, or pleading nolo contendere to, (A) any crime or offense
involving monies or other property of the Company; or (B) any
felony offense involving a crime of moral turpitude; or (v)
Executive's chronic or habitual use or consumption of drugs or
alcoholic beverages, in either case, that causes material damage to
the Company, its properties, assets or business, provided,
that to the extent any circumstances that would otherwise
constitute Cause shall be capable of cure, Executive shall be given
notice from the Board of Directors and no less than thirty days to
cure such circumstances prior to any termination of his employment
for Cause;
(e) delivery to Executive of written Notice of
termination by the Company "without Cause;"
(f) delivery to the Company of written Notice of
termination by Executive for "Good Reason," by
reason of: (i) the material diminution of Executive's duties, job
title or responsibilities as provided in Section 1 above;
(ii) a relocation of Executive's principal work location to a
location that is inconsistent with the terms of Section 1.4
above; or (iii) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement,
including without limitation, a material reduction in any component
of Executive's compensation or benefits as provided for herein;
or
(g) delivery to the Company of written Notice of
Termination by Executive without "Good Reason."
3.
Compensation; Executive
Benefit Plans.
3.1 Within 30 business days following the
Effective Date, the Company shall make available to the Executive
"Advance Funds" up to the amount of $30,000 through cash payment or
expense reimbursements directly related to and to assist with the
Executive's costs incurred in relocation of his personal residence
to Los Angeles or Orange County, California. All expenses to be
covered by such Advance Funds must be submitted to the Company for
prior approval. All such related Advance. Funds(s) shall remain
outstanding for the Term. Should the Executive remain employed
through the entire Term, the Advance Funds shall be additional
compensation to Executive and need not be repaid by Executive.
Should the Executive resign without Good Reason or be terminated
for Cause during the Term, then any amounts otherwise due Executive
upon such termination shall be retained by the Company and offset
against such Advanced Funds, and the remaining balance of such
Advanced Funds will be repayable by the Executive to the Company
within six months of termination.
3.2 The Company shall pay to Executive a
base salary (the "Base Salary") at an annual rate
of $300,000 for the period commencing on the Effective Date and
ending on the first (1 st ) anniversary of the Effective
Date. At the commencement of each subsequent twelve (12) month
period during the Term, the "Base Salary" shall increase by no less
than 5% (five percent) per annum from the previous year. The Base
Salary shall be payable in installments throughout the year in the
same manner and at the same times the Company pays base salaries to
similarly situated executive officers of the Company, but in any
event, no less frequently than monthly.
3.3 Commencing with fiscal year 2006 and
for each fiscal year during the Term thereafter during which
Executive is performing services to the Company, the Company shall
maintain a Management Incentive Program, pursuant to which the
Company will set aside in a fund (the "MIP Fund")
each fiscal year for payment (the "EBIT Bonus") to
Executive and such other members of management as determined by the
Board of Directors, an amount based upon of the Company's EBIT for
such fiscal year. Executive's EBIT Bonus will be no less than 30%
of MIP Fund. For purposes hereof, "EBIT" shall mean earnings before interest and taxes,
calculated based on the Company's audited consolidated financial
statements for the applicable fiscal year prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
Executive's EBIT Bonus for fiscal year 2006 will be pro rated for
the number of days Executive is employed hereunder in fiscal 2006,
but no less than $50,000 provided the Executive remains employed by
the company by December 31, 2006. The EBIT Bonus goal for Executive
is targeted at 5% of the total annual EBIT for 2007 and 2008. The
EBIT Bonus, if any, shall be payable in cash or cash equivalent on
April 15 of the year immediately following the fiscal year for
which such EBIT Bonus is calculated.
3.4 During the Term, Executive shall be
entitled each year to vacation for a minimum of three calendar
weeks (pro-rated for any partial year of service during the Term),
plus such additional period or periods as the Board may approve in
the exercise of its reasonable discretion, during which time his
compensation shall be paid in full. To the extent that Executive
does not use any such vacation during any year, up to two calendar
weeks of such unused vacation shall be carried over from year to
year; provided, however that in no event shall Executive's total
accrued but unused vacation at any time exceed five
weeks.
3.5 As an inducement to Executive to
accept this Agreement and serve as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, Executive will be granted an option to purchase 250,0000
shares of common stock of the Company (the "Common
Stock") at a per share exercise price of $3.40 (the
"Inducement Option"). The Inducement Option shall
be granted pursuant to the Company's 2005 Stock Plan (the
"Stock Plan"). Except as otherwise provided below,
and subject to earlier termination in accordance with its terms,
the Inducement Option shall vest as to 83,344 shares on the first
anniversary of the Effective Date and as to an additional 6,944
shares on the last day of each full calendar month thereafter until
fully vested. Consistent with Section 5.1(ii) below, the
option agreements covering the Inducement Option (the
"Option Agreements") will provide for the full
acceleration of all applicable vesting requirements upon (i) a
change of control of the Company, as defined in the applicable
agreement, and (ii) upon a termination of Executive's employment
without Cause, for Good Reason or due to Executive's death or
Permanent Disability.
3.6 During the Term, the Company shall pay to
Executive, in increments payable at the times that the Company pays
the Base Salary to Executive, an allowance of $1,000 per month for
costs associated with the lease or purchase, maintenance and
insurance of an automobile, and an additional allowance of $300 per
month for costs associated with use of Cellular Equipment and
Mobile Communication service or subscriptions or fees.
3.7 During the Term, Executive shall be entitled
to reimbursement from the Company for the reasonable costs and
expenses which he incurs in connection with the performance of his
duties and obligations under this Agreement, substantiated in a
manner consistent with the Company's practices and policies as
adopted or approved from time to time by the Board for executive
officers. For the avoidance of doubt, "business class" travel shall
constitute reasonable costs and expenses on any flight greater than
six (6) hours in duration.
3.8 The Company shall promptly pay or reimburse
to Executive legal fees actually incurred by Executive in
connection with the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement,
which fees shall not exceed $10,000 in the aggregate. The Company
shall also indemnify, hold harmless and defend Executive from any
legal action brought by Executive's former employer as a result of
his acceptance of the position with the Company. Executive will
fully cooperate in providing any defense.
3.9 The Company may deduct from any compensation
payable to Executive the minimum amounts sufficient to cover
applicable federal, state and/or local income and employment tax
withholding.
4.
Other
Benefits. During the
Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in all operative
employee compensation, fringe benefit and perquisite, and other
benefit and welfare plans or arrangements of the Company then in
effect from time to time and in which similarly situated executive
officers of the Company generally are entitled to participate,
including without limitation, to the extent then in effect,
incentive, group life, medical, dental, prescription, disability
and other insurance plans, all on terms at least as favorable as
those offered to similarly situated executives of the Company. The
Company will provide Executive, Director and Officer Liability
coverage of no less than two million dollars as set forth in
Section 13.5 below.
5.
Termination of
Employment. Subject
to the provisions of this Section 5, either the Company or
Executive may terminate Executive's employment at any time for any
reason or no reason. The following provisions shall control any
such termination of Executive's employment.
5.1 Termination Without Cause, for Good
Reason, or due to Executive's death or Permanent Disability.
The Company may terminate Executive's employment without Cause at
any time upon 15 days' prior written Notice to Executive, and
Executive may terminate his employment with Good Reason at any time
upon 15 days' prior written Notice to the Company, in each case,
subject to any applicable cure periods (in the case of a
termination without Cause or for Good Reason, the date specified in
any such Notice in accordance with this Section 5.1 shall
constitute the "Date of Termination"). For
purposes of clarity, the Company's delivery of Notice in accordance
with Section 2(a) of its decision not to renew the Term
shall not constitute termination without Cause, and shall be
governed by Section 5.5 below. Executive's employment shall
also terminate upon the occurrence of Executive's death or
Permanent Disability (in the case of a termination due to
Executive's death or Permanent Disability, the date of the death or
the date specified in a Notice from the Company indicating
termination due to Permanent Disability shall constitute the
"Date of Termination"). If Executive's employment
is terminated pursuant to this Section 5.1, the Company
shall promptly, or in the case of obligations described in clause
(e) below, as such obligations become due to Executive, pay or
provide to Executive (or his estate), (a) Executive's earned but
unpaid Base Salary accrued through such Date of Termination, (b)
accrued but unpaid vacation time through such Date of Termination,
(c) any EBIT Bonus required to be paid to Executive pursuant to
this Agreement for any fiscal year of the Company ending prior to
the Date of Termination, to the extent payable, but not previously
paid, (d) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred by
Executive prior to the Date of Termination that are reimbursable
under Section 3.7 above, and (e) any vested benefits and
other amounts due to Executive under any plan, program, policy of,
or other agreement with, the Company (together, the
"Accrued Obligations"). In addition, Executive (or
his estate) shall be entitled to the following payments and
benefits (the "Severance") from the
Company:
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payment, at the
time and in the manner specified in Section 5.2 below, of an
aggregate amount equal to Executive's Base Salary (at the rate then
in effect, but disregarding any reduction of Base Salary in
violation of this Agreement) that would have been payable to the
Executive had he remained employed by the Company for the period
(such period, or the period described in the next sentence, as
applicable, the "Severance Period") commencing on
the Date of Termination and ending on the third anniversary of the
Effective Date or, if later, the date which is three (3) months
following delivery by the Company of Notice of its decision not to
extend the Term (as contemplated by Section 2(a), which Notice, if
not previously given, shall be deemed to be given on the Date of
Termination for any reason other than death or Permanent
Disability). If termination occurs due to death or Permanent
Disability, then such amount shall be equal to the Base Salary that
would have been payable to the Executive had he remained employed
by the Company throu gh the third anniversary of the Effective
Date. The Severance ix yable to the Executive pursuant to this
paragraph (i) is hereinafter referred to as the "Base
Salary Severance";
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payment, at the
time specified in Section 5.2 below, of a pro rated portion
of the EBIT Bonus for the fiscal y( ar in which the Date of
Termination occurs, where such pro rated portion is equal to: (a)
the amount contributed to the MIP Fund, ii any, for the period (the
"EBIT Period") from January 1 of the applicable
fiscal year through the last day of the fiscal quarter in which
such Date of Termination occurs, multiplied by (b) 1. ratio
determined by dividing the number of days Executive was employed
during the EBIT Period by the total number of days in the EBIT
Period, multiplied lay (c) Executive's percentage of the MIP
Fund;
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as of the Date
of Termination, the Inducement Option will full
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