EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“
Agreement ”),
dated as of June 16, 2008, by and between GPS Industries, Inc., a
Nevada corporation (the “
Employer ”)
and David Chessler, an individual residing at 1026 Las Posas San
Clemente, CA 92673
(the
“
Executive ”).
RECITAL
WHEREAS, the
Employer and the Executive desire to set forth the terms pursuant
to which the Executive will be employed by the Employer as its
Chief Executive Officer.
NOW, THEREFORE, the
Employer and the Executive hereby agree as follows:
Section 1.
Employment
(a)
The
Employer shall employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees
to be employed by the Employer, upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter provided, for a term commencing June 16, 2008 (the
“
Effective Date ”)
and expiring December 31, 2011 unless earlier terminated
pursuant to the terms hereto (the “
Term ”).
(b)
The
Executive hereby represents, warrants and covenants that (1)
the Executive has the legal capacity to execute and perform
this Agreement, (2) this Agreement is a valid and binding
agreement enforceable against the Executive according to its
terms, (3) the execution and performance of this Agreement by
the Executive does not violate the terms of any existing
agreement or understanding to which the Executive is a party
or any rights of any third party, and (4) in performing his
services hereunder, Executive will not use any intellectual
property owned by any third party except with proper license
or other authorization.
Section 2.
Duties. The
Executive shall report to the Board of Directors of the Employer
(the “
Board ”)
and have the title of Chief Executive Officer of the Employer. The
Executive shall be appointed to the Employer’s board of
directors and be nominated for election as a member of the Board at
each annual meeting of shareholders of the Employer occurring
during the Term. The Executive shall have such duties as are
generally applicable to chief executive officers of companies
similar to that of the Employer and which are consistent with the
Executive’s experience, expertise and position as shall be
assigned to the Executive from time to time by the Board. During
the Term, and except for vacation in accordance with the
Employer’s standard vacation policies or due to illness or
incapacity, the Executive shall devote all of the Executive’s
business time, attention, skill and efforts exclusively to the
business and affairs of the Employer and its parents, subsidiaries
and affiliates. The Executive understands that the Employer is
currently headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with
substantial operations in Austin, Texas. While the Employer is
considering moving its headquarters to the Sarasota, Florida
region, no final decision has been made. Accordingly, Executive may
be required to spend all or a substantial portion of his time at
the Employer’s existing locations. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, to the extent that the following does not
impair Executive’s ability to perform Executive’s
duties pursuant to this Agreement, nor violate the terms of the
provisions set forth in Section 6 hereof, Executive may make
personal investments in such form or manner as will not require the
Executive’s services in the operation or affairs of the
business in which such investments are made. Further, it is
understood that the Executive owns directly or indirectly systems
relating to GPS golf course products (“Systems”)
consisting of approximately 2,000 GPS Video Display units
(“
Units ”)
in North America and 700 Units outside North America which the
Executive leases to golf courses (“
Leases ”).
To avoid conflict, so long as Executive is employed by the
Employer, the Executive hereby assigns all of his rights in all of
the advertising revenues generated from the Units. Should the
Executive no longer be employed by the Employer, any advertising
agreements that were then in existence with respect to the Units
shall be entitled to run throughout the term of the advertising
contracts except that the Executive shall be entitled to the
revenues therefrom from the effective date of his termination.
During the Term, the Executive will also negotiate and split with
the Employer a portion of all of the service and support revenue
that he receives, and the Employer in turn will provide service and
support to all of the courses covered by the Leases. During the
period ending on the earlier of December 31, 2011 or the
Termination Date, Employer will not sell its Units to golf courses
if such Units will interfere with the Leases, and the Executive
will not remove the Units from their existing locations so as to
compete with the Employer. As used herein, “
compete ”
means selling or leasing the Units to (a) courses which then use
Units provided by the Employer; or (b) courses which are on a
prospect list of the Employer with targeted transactions to take
place within nine months from the date of removal. Additionally,
during the Term, the Executive shall not acquire additional Systems
for lease to golf courses which the Employer or its contracted
lease financing company (after notice from the Executive) has
indicated it is interested in leasing. The Executive shall not
allocate more than five (5) hours a month to this business
activity.
Section 3.
Compensation. For
all services rendered by the Executive in any capacity required
hereunder during the Term, including, without limitation, services
as an officer, director, or member of any committee of the Employer
or any parent, subsidiary, affiliate or division thereof, the
Executive shall be compensated as follows:
(a)
The
Employer shall pay the Executive a fixed salary
(“
Base Salary ”)
at a rate of $120,000 per annum from the Effective Date through
December 31, 2009, $126,000 per annum from January 1,
2010 through December 31, 2010, and $132,000 per annum from
January 1, 2011 until the last day of the Executive’s
employment with the Employer. The Board may from time to time
further increase the Base Salary in its sole discretion. The Base
Salary shall be payable in accordance with the customary payroll
practices of the Employer.
(b)
For
each twelve-month period, commencing January 1, 2009, and each
annual period thereafter, Executive shall be entitled to a
bonus of 50% of the then applicable Base Salary (the
“
Bonus Amount ”)
if at least half of the Performance Criteria for such year have
been achieved as reflected in the table in Section 3(c) (the
“
Performance Criteria ”).
Any Bonus shall be payable within thirty days following the filing
date of the Employer’s 10-K Report for the applicable
year.
(c)
Executive
is hereby granted options (the "
Options ")
to purchase an aggregate of 60,000,000 shares of the Employer's
Common Stock (the "
Option Shares ").
The Options shall be divided into thirty-nine tranches (each a
"
Tranche ").
Tranches 1-15 shall have a term of 30 months and Tranches 16-39
shall have a term of two years from the date such Tranche vests. No
Tranche which requires the satisfaction of Performance Criteria
shall vest unless such Criteria have been met for the applicable
period as set forth on the following table. If such Criteria have
not been so met, the Options granted with respect to such
Tranche shall be deemed to have expired and may not be
exercisable. The Options are being granted pursuant to and
subject to the Employer's existing Stock Option Plan (the "
Plan "),
it being understood, however, that the grant hereunder is subject
to shareholder approval to increase the authorized number of Option
Shares eligible to be granted thereunder. The Employer shall use
its best efforts to obtain such approval as soon as practicable.
The terms of the Options are as follows:
|
Tranche
|
|
Number
of Option
Shares
|
|
Vesting
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
Performance Criteria
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
2,500,000
|
|
|
June 11, 2008
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
None
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
June 11, 2008
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Business plan completed, presented to the Board of Directors by
June 30, 2008 and subsequently approved by the Board.
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
2,500,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Formation of Lease Repurchase Company before August 15,
2008.
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
2,500,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Formation of Finance Company before August 15, 2008
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
100 plus installations (18 hole equivalent golf
courses).
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
100 plus installations (18 hole equivalent golf
courses).
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
2,200,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Gross revenue of over $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2009.
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
December 31 2009
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Gross revenue of over $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2009.
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Gross margin of over 30% for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2009.
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Gross margin of over 30% for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2009.
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
EBITDA neutral for year ending December 31, 2009.
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
EBITDA neutral for year ending December 31, 2009.
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Prepare business plan for 2010 by November 1, 2009 and subsequently
approved by the Board.
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Prepare business plan for 2010 by November 1, 2009 and subsequently
approved by the Board.
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
120 plus installations (18 hole equivalent golf
courses).
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
1,200,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
120 plus installations (18 hole equivalent golf
courses).
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Gross revenue of over $24,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Gross revenue of over $24,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Gross margin of over 35% for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2009.
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Gross margin of over 35% for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2009.
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
2,200,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
EBITDA positive of $2,000,000 for year ending December 31,
2010.
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
EBITDA positive of $2,000,000 for year ending December 31,
2010.
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
2,200,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Net profit positive of $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Net profit positive of $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Prepare business plan for 2011 by November 1, 2010 and subsequently
approved by the Board.
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Prepare business plan for 2011 by November 1, 2010 and subsequently
approved by the Board.
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
144 plus installations (18 hole equivalent golf
courses).
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
144 plus installations (18 hole equivalent golf
courses).
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Gross revenue of over $28,800,000 for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2011.
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Gross revenue of over $28,800,000 for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2011.
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Gross margin of over 40% for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2011.
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Gross margin of over 40% for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2011.
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
EBITDA positive of $2,400,000 for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2011.
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
EBITDA positive of $2,400,000 for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2011.
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Net profit $1,400,000 for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2011.
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Net profit $1,400,000 for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2011.
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.031
|
|
|
Prepare business plan for 2012 by November 1, 2011 and subsequently
approved by the Board.
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
.061
|
|
|
Prepare business plan for 2012 by November 1, 2011 and subsequently
approved by the Board.
|
|
The
number of Option Shares and the exercise prices shall be
adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends,
recapitalizations.
As
used herein, gross margin means net revenue divided by
installation costs (cost of goods and installation expenses).
EBITDA means for the Employer and its subsidiaries, an amount
equal to (a) the sum (without duplication) of (i) annual net
income
plus (ii)
to the extent deducted in determining annual net income, (A)
interest expense, (B) income tax expense, (C) depreciation and
amortization, (D) net losses on asset sales for such period, and
(E) other non-cash charges for such period (excluding any non-cash
charge to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve
for cash expenditures in any future period)
minus (b)
to the extent included in determining annual net income, (i) net
gains on asset sales for such period, (ii) other non-cash items
increasing annual net income (excluding any non-cash gains for such
period resulting from the reversal of an accrual or reduction or
elimination of a reserve established in a prior period to the
extent the related non-cash charge was excluded in accordance with
clause (a)(ii)(E) above). Net profit means the net income of the
Employer without regard to any financial reporting charge arising
from (a) the conversion of Series B Preferred Stock, (b) the
conversion of any other class or series of equity securities, (c)
depreciation and amortization, or (d) adjustments related to prior
transactions.
As
a condition to exercise of the Options, the Employer may
require the Executive to pay over to the Employer all
applicable federal, state and local taxes which the Employer
is required to withhold with respect to the exercise of the
Options. At the discretion of the Board of Directors and upon
the request of the Executive, the minimum statutory
withholding tax requirements may be satisfied by the
withholding of Option Shares otherwise issuable to the
Executive upon the exercise of the Options. The Executive
understands that: (a) unless the issuance of the Option Shares
to the Executive upon exercise of the Options is registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“
Securities Act ”),
the Option Shares will be “restricted securities”
within the meaning of Rule 144 under such Act; and (b) the Option
Shares may not be sold, transferred or assigned by the Executive
except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act or an exemption from registration under the
Securities Act. The Executive agrees that any certificates
evidencing Option Shares may bear a legend indicating that their
transferability is restricted in accordance with applicable state
and federal securities laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Employer shall use commercially reasonable best efforts as soon as
practicable to have the shares of common stock of the Employer
issuable upon the exercise of the Options covered by a registration
statement on Form S-8.
(d)
Except
as expressly modified by this Agreement, the Executive shall
be entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans or
programs, and to receive all benefits, perquisites and
emoluments, which are approved by the Board and are generally
made available by the Employer to salaried employees of the
Employer, to the extent permissible under the general terms
and provisions of such plans or programs and in accordance
with the provisions thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Agreement shall require any particular plan or
program to be continued nor preclude the amendment or
termination of any such plan or program, provided that such
amendment or termination is applicable generally to the
employees of the Employer.
(e)
The
Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation
per calendar year during the Term, and a car allowance of
$1,000 per month.
(f)
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, Executive hereby acknowledges
and consents to readjustments to the Performance Criteria for
any acquisitions by the Employer of an unaffiliated third
party. Any adjustments to the Performance Criteria, will be
mutually agreed upon between the Employer and the
Executive.
Section 4.
Business Expenses. The
Employer shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all necessary
expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive in connection with
the performance of the Executive’s duties and obligations
under this Agreement, subject to the Executive’s presentation
of appropriate vouchers in accordance with such expense account
policies and approval procedures as the Employer may from time to
time reasonably establish for employees (including but not limited
to prior approval of extraordinary expenses). Travel by air shall
be in coach except as to flights in excess of three hours, in which
case Executive shall be entitled to fly business class or
equivalent. Additionally, upon submission of appropriate
documentation, the Employer shall reimburse the Executive for all
travel related expenses incurred on behalf of the Employer during
the period May 2-May 20, 2008 (up to $25,000).
Section 5.
Effect of Termination of Employment.
(a)
Termination Generally .
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may
be terminated by the Employer, at any time, without
“Cause” or “Good Reason” (each as defined
below in Section 5(h));
provided ,
however ,
that Employer shall give Executive at least thirty (30) days’
prior written notice of such termination. The Employer may, in lieu
of the notice period, pay the Executive’s Base Salary for the
notice period. The date specified in any notice of termination as
the Executive’s final day of employment shall be referred to
herein as the “
Termination Date. ”
(b)
Accrued Obligations .
Except as set forth in this Section 5, in the event that
Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated for any
reason, then Executive shall be entitled to no compensation or
other benefits of any kind whatsoever, other than (i) payment
of any unpaid accrued vacation or business expenses,
(ii) payment of any other unpaid amounts due and owing under
any benefit, fringe or equity plans, and (iii) the opportunity
to continue health coverage under the Employer’s group health
plan in accordance with “COBRA” (“
COBRA Coverage ”)
(the foregoing payments and benefits collectively referred to
herein as “
Accrued Obligations ”).
(c)
Termination Without Cause, Resignation for Good Reason
.
In the event that the Employer terminates Executive’s
employment hereunder during the Term without “Cause”
(defined below in Section 5(h)(i)) or the Executive resigns for
“Good Reason” (defined below in Section 5(h)(iii)),
then the Executive shall be entitled to no compensation or other
benefits of any kind whatsoever, other than: (i) the Accrued
Obligations, (ii) the Severance Amount (defined below in
Section 5(h)(iv)) payable over the Severance Period (defined below
in Section 5(h)(v)) in accordance with the Employer’s normal
payroll practices, and (iii) the Executive’s Options (to
the extent not already vested), and any other stock options shares
granted to the Executive during the Term, shall become fully
vested, and the Executive shall be permitted to exercise the
Options for up to 24 months following the Termination Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) Options which are based on
Performance Criteria with respect to any prior year which have not
vested because the Performance Criteria for such year(s) have not
been achieved shall not vest; and (y) 50% of the Options that are
not based on Performance Criteria shall vest immediately, and the
remaining 50% of such Options shall vest on the second (2
nd )
anniversary of the Effective Date, provided that during the
24-month period, Employer does not secure a judgment in a court of
the State of Nevada or in the United States District Court in the
Nevada District against Executive for breach of his obligations
pursuant to this Agreement. In addition, if the Executive elects
COBRA Coverage following the Termination Date, the applicable cost
for such coverage during the Severance Period shall be that which
the Employer charges active employe
|