EXHIBIT 10.3
GOLF ▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into by and
between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ("Executive"), residing at _____________, Denver, CO
_______, and Golf ▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company"), with
head offices located at ______________, on the last date on which both parties
have signed this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to employ Executive and to assure itself of the
services of Executive on the terms set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be so employed under the terms set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises, mutual covenants, the
above recitals, and the agreements herein set forth, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Parties agree to the following terms and conditions of the Executive's
employment.
1. EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY. The Company agrees to employ Executive as its
part-time Co-Chairman ("Co-Chairman"), and Executive accepts such employment on
the terms and conditions set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event that (i) the Company has not located and hired a full-time Chief Executive
Officer prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of September 18, 2003,
by and among the Company, DPE Acquisition Corp. and Direct Petroleum
Exploration, Inc. (the "Merger Agreement"), or (ii) Executive elects, in his
sole discretion prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement and prior to the date that the Company has hired another
full-time Chief Executive Officer, to serve as the Company's full-time
Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (collectively, "Chief Executive
Officer"), the Company agrees to employ Executive as its full-time Chief
Executive Officer and Executive accepts such employment on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
2. DUTIES.
2.1 With respect to any period during which Executive serves solely as
the Company's Co-Chairman, Executive shall render non-exclusive, part-time
services to the Company as the Co-Chairman of the Company's Board of
Directors ("Board"). Executive shall have primary responsibility for the
Company's strategy and operations and shall supervise and oversee the
Company's Chief Executive Officer and other management personnel. Executive
shall report directly to the Board. Executive will work at the Company's
facility in Denver, Colorado, subject to necessary business travel. During
Executive's employment as the Co-Chairman of the Company, Executive shall
devote such time as he deems necessary, but not less than two days per week
of his business time (except for vacation periods and reasonable periods of
illness or other incapacity permitted by the Company's general employment
policies) to the business of the Company.
2.2 With respect to any period during which Executive serves as the
Company's Chief Executive Officer, Executive shall render exclusive,
full-time services to the Company as the Co-Chairman of the Company's Board
and the Chief Executive Officer and President. Executive shall have primary
responsibility for the Company's strategy and operations and shall
supervise and oversee all management personnel. Executive shall report
directly to the Board. Executive will work at the Company's facility in
Denver, Colorado, subject to necessary business travel. During Executive's
employment as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Executive shall
devote all of his business time (except for vacation periods and reasonable
periods of illness or other incapacity permitted by the Company's general
employment policies) to the business of the Company.
3. TERM. Executive's employment shall commence on ___________ (the
"Effective Date") and shall continue for a three (3)-year period from the
Effective Date. This Agreement shall automatically renew for another one
(1)-year period at the option of the Executive. Thereafter, this Agreement shall
automatically renew for consecutive one (1) year periods unless either party
provides written notice to the other party of an intention not to renew at least
ninety (90) days prior to the end of the then current one (1)-year period. In
the event that the Company terminates this Agreement as provided in the prior
sentence, Executive shall be entitled to receive an end of employment service
bonus in the form of continuing salary payments, at Executive's last base
salary, less applicable withholdings and deductions, for a period of one (1)
month for each year of service (prorated for partial years) provided to the
Company under this Agreement (e.g., two months of salary shall be paid by the
Company if this Agreement is terminated at the end of Executive's second year of
service to the Company). The payments required by this Section 3 shall be in
addition to, and not in lieu of, any severance payments required to be paid by
the Company to Executive pursuant to Section 14.
4. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. The employment relationship between the parties
shall also be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the
Company, including those relating to protection of confidential information and
assignment of inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ
from or are in conflict with the Company's general employment policies or
practices, this Agreement will control.
5. COMPENSATION.
5.1 In the event that Executive serves solely as the Company's
Co-Chairman, during the first six (6) months of this Agreement, Executive's
base salary will be $96,000 per year, less standard payroll deductions and
withholdings. Thereafter, Executive's base salary will be $120,000 per
year, less standard payroll deductions and withholdings, provided that
Executive's base salary shall not increase from $96,000 per year to
$120,000 per year unless and until the Company first achieves $500,000 of
EBITDA (as determined in good faith by the Executive and the Board) after
the date of this Agreement.
5.2 In the event that Executive serves as the Company's Chief
Executive Officer, during the first six (6) months of this Agreement,
Executive's base salary will be $200,000 per year, less standard payroll
deductions and withholdings. Thereafter, Executive's base salary will be
$250,000 per year, less standard payroll deductions and withholdings,
provided that Executive's base salary shall not increase from $200,000 per
year to $250,000 per year unless and until the Company first achieves
$500,000 of EBITDA (as determined in good faith by the Executive and the
Board) after the date of this Agreement.
5.3 Executive will be paid semi-monthly in accordance with Company
practice and policy. Executive will be considered for annual increases in
base salary then in effect in accordance with Company policy and subject to
review and approval by the Board (or any authorized committee thereof).
Executive shall be reimbursed by the Company on a timely basis for all
reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the
performance of his duties on behalf of the Company including, but not
limited to, reasonable business travel, lodging, phone, fax and business
entertainment expenses.
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6. EXECUTIVE BONUS PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. Executive shall be eligible to
participate in any annual bonus plan that may be established by the Board for
the Executive or its executive team generally. The total annual target bonus
that Executive may be eligible to earn shall be divided into two equal
increments, and the Board shall determine whether Executive has earned any bonus
payments on the date that is six (6) months and twelve (12) months after the
commencement of the annual bonus plan. The prerequisites for Executive's earning
of any such bonus, and the amount of any bonus that may be awarded, shall be
determined by the terms and conditions of the applicable bonus plan. Executive
shall receive payment of any bonuses that he has earned within fifteen (15) days
after the Board's determination, made in its sole discretion, as to whether
Executive has satisfied the terms and conditions established for Executive's
earning of a bonus under the applicable bonus plan, and the amount of any bonus
payable to Executive, if any.
7. STOCK OPTIONS. Subject to the approval of the Board, the Company may
grant Executive an option (the "Option") to purchase shares of the Company's
common stock pursuant to a stock option plan approved by the Board (the "Plan").
The Option shall have an exercise price, vesting schedule and other terms and
conditions as determined by the Board (or any authorized committee thereof). As
long as Executive serves solely as Co-Chairman of the Company, the amount, terms
and conditions of any such Option shall be substantially identical to the
amount, terms and conditions of stock options granted by the Board to any other
chairman or co-chairman of the Company.
8. STANDARD COMPANY BENEFITS. Executive will be entitled to all rights and
benefits for which for which other executives of the Company are entitled, on
terms comparable thereto, including, without limitations, participation in
pension and profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, group insurance policies and
plans, medical, health, vision and disability insurance policies and plans, and
the like, which may be maintained by the Company for the benefit of its
executives. The Company may modify its benefits programs from time to time as it
deems necessary.
9. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Executive will be required as a condition of
employment to sign and abide by the Company's standard proprietary information
and inventions agreement (the "Proprietary Information Agreement"). Nothing in
the Proprietary Information Agreement shall limit or otherwise circumscribe any
confidentiality agreement Executive may have previously entered into with
Company.
10. EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY. Executive agrees that all business procured by
Executive on behalf of the Company while employed by the Company is and shall
remain the exclusive property of the Company.
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11. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES.
11.1 Subject to the following provisions of this Section 11,
throughout Executive's employment with the Company, Executive may engage in
civic, not-for-profit and for-profit activities.
11.2 As long as Executive serves solely as the Company's Co-Chairman,
Executive may serve as a director of other corporations and may engage in
other businesses (including, without limitation, presiding over and
managing the day-to-day operations of Wavetech Geophysical, Inc. and Oil
Exchange, Inc.) and may devote any time he deems necessary for such
activities as long as such activities are not in direct conflict with the
primary business of the Company. The Company acknowledges that Executive is
currently a stockholder, board member and officer of Oil Exchange, Inc. and
Wavetech Geophysical, Inc. and that the business activities of such
companies are not currently in direct conflict with the primary business of
the Company.
11.3 As long as Executive serves as the Company's Chief Executive
Officer, Executive may serve as a director of other corporations and may
engage in other businesses as long as such activities are not in conflict
with the primary business of the Company and so long as any such material
activities have been approved in advance by a majority of the Board
(excluding Executive).
12. NONSOLICITATION. Throughout Executive's employment with the Company and
for one (1) year thereafter, Executive shall not, without first obtaining the
prior written approval of the Company, directly or indirectly solicit, induce,
persuade or entice, or attempt to do so, or otherwise cause, or attempt to
cause, any employee or independent contractor of the Company to terminate his or
her employment or contracting relationship in order to become an employee, or
independent contractor to or for any other person or entity.
13. NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT. Executive's employment relationship with the
Company is at-will, provided that both Executive and the Company must provide
the other party with notice of its intention to terminate this Agreement at
least ninety (90) days prior to his last day of employment with the Company (the
"Separation Date"), and provided further that, during such time as Executive
serves as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, neither Executive nor the
Company may terminate the employment relationship unless and until the Company
has located and hired a replacement chief executive officer. Accordingly,
subject to the foregoing sentence, both the Executive and the Company may
terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without Cause or Good
Reason.
14. TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE/RESIGNATION FOR GOOD REASON. If the Company
terminates Executive's employment without Cause (to the extent permitted by
Section 13 above) or Executive resigns his employment for Good Reason, Executive
shall be eligible to receive severance in the form of continuing salary
payments, at Executive's last base salary, less applicable withholdings and
deductions, for a period of nine (9) months after his Separation Date. If the
Company terminates Executive's employment without Cause (to the extent permitted
by Section 13 above) or Executive resigns his employment for Good Reason, then,
in addition to receiving the salary continuation payments referenced in the
preceding sentence, Executive will also become vested in seventy-five percent
(75%) of the shares subject to Option and any other options that may have been
granted to Executive. Except as provided in this Section 14, all stock options
granted to Executive shall cease vesting as of the Separation Date, and shall be
exercisable thereafter only pursuant to the terms of the applicable stock option
plans and agreements. Executive shall not be entitled to receive any of the
severance pay or vesting rights provided under this Section 14 unless and until
Executive executes a full release of claims against the Company, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, and such release is
received by the Company on or before sixty (60) days after the Separation Date.
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15. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE/RESIGNATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON. If the Company
terminates Executive's employment at any time for Cause or Executive resigns his
employment without Good Reason (to the extent permitted by Section 13 above),
Executive's salary shall cease as of the Separation Date, and Executive will not
be entitled to severance pay, accelerated vesting, pay in lieu of notice or any
other such compensation, other than payment of accrued salary and such other
benefits as expressly required in such event by applicable law or the terms of
any applicable Company benefit plans. The stock options granted to Executive
shall cease vesting as of the Separation Date, and shall be exercisable
thereafter only pursuant to the terms of the applicable stock option plans and
agreements.
16. DEFINITION OF CAUSE. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means that
one or more of the following has occurred: (i) Executive's conviction of any
felony or any crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty; (ii) Executive's
participation in a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii)
Executive's threats or acts of violence in the workplace or in the course and
scope of any business activity, unlawful harassment of any employee or
independent contractor of the Company, theft or unauthorized conversion or
transfer of any Company opportunity to Executive or to any third party, or
breach of Executive's Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement with the
Company which results in any material harm to the Company; (iv) Executive's
gross negligence or intentional and willful refusal to follow the reasonable,
material and lawful directions of the Board which Executive fails to cure within
seven (7) business days of receiving written notice from the Company thereof; or
(v) Executive's material non-performance or breach of this Agreement or any
other contract between the Company and Executive or any statutory duty owed by
Executive to the Company (excluding those duties and obligations set forth in
clauses (iii) and (iv) above) that Executive does not cure within ten (10)
business days after Executive's receipt of written notice thereof (provided such
violation is capable of cure). Executive shall only be entitled to receive two
(2) written notice and cure periods pursuant to clause (v) above. The Company
agrees that any notice issued to Executive pursuant to clause (v) shall contain
a description of all acts and omissions then known to the Company that warrant
issuance of a notice. For purposes of this Agreement, Executive's death shall
constitute "Cause" for termination effective as of Executive's death.
17. DEFINITION OF GOOD REASON. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good
Reason" shall mean that the Company has taken any one of the following actions
without Executive's consent: (i) Executive's base salary is reduced by five
percent (5%) or more (other than a voluntary reduction or "across-the-board"
salary reductions which are applied to all of the Company's executive
employees); (ii) Executive's position or duties are materially reduced, and such
reduction is not remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days after written
notice thereof is received by the Company from Executive; (iii) Executive's
principal place of employment is moved to a location which results in an
increase in Executive's one-way commute from his current principal residence in
Denver, Colorado by twenty-five (25) miles or more; (iv) any material breach by
the Company of its obligations under this Agreement that is not remedied by the
Company within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice of such breach
from Executive or (v) Executive's title is changed in any manner. Executive may
resign his employment for Good Reason pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and
(v) above, only if Executive resigns within forty-five (45) days of the date
Executive knows or reasonably should know of the event that forms the basis for
his resignation for Good Reason. Executive may resign for Good Reason pursuant
to clause (iv) of this subsection only if Executive resigns within sixty (60)
days of the date he provides the Company with written notice of the Company's
material breach of its obligations under this Agreement, and provided the
Company fails to cure its material breach within the thirty (30) day cure period
provided in clause (iv).
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18. PARACHUTE PAYMENTS. If any severance, accelerated vesting or other
payment or benefit Executive would receive pursuant to a change in control from
the Company or otherwise ("Payment") would (i) constitute a "parachute payment"
within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise Tax"), then such Payment
shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount. The "Reduced Amount" shall be either (x)
the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the
Payment being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and
including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount, after taking into account
all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the
Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in
Executive's receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the
Payment.
The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of
the day prior to the effective date of the change in control shall perform the
foregoing calculations. If the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is
serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting
the change in control, the Company shall appoint a nationally recognized
accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder. The Company shall
bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm
required to be made hereunder.
The accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall
provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to
the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days before the closing
date of the change in control (if requested at that time by the Company or
Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. If the
accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable with respect to a
Payment, either before or after the application of the Reduced Amount, it shall
furnish the Company and Executive with an opinion reasonably acceptable to
Executive that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to such Payment. Any
good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final,
binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive
19. TAXES. Executive agrees to be responsible for the payment of any taxes
due on any and all compensation, stock option, or benefit provided by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement. Executive agrees to indemnify the Company
and hold the Company harmless from any and all claims or penalties asserted
against the Company for any failure to pay taxes due on any compensation, stock
option, or benefit provided by the Company pursuant to this Agreement. Executive
expressly acknowledges that the Company has not made, nor herein makes, any
representation about the tax consequences of any consideration provided by the
Company to Executive pursuant to this Agreement
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20. SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will
be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law.
If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable,
in whole or in part, this determination will not affect any other provision of
this Agreement and the provision in question will be modified so as to be
rendered enforceable in a manner consistent with the intent of the parties
insofar as possible.
21. WAIVER. No waiver of any provision shall be deemed to have occurred
unless memorialized in a writing signed by the waiving party. If either party
should waive any breach of any provision of this Agreement, Executive or the
Company will not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding
breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.
22. NOTICES. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been received upon the earlier of personal delivery (including
hand-delivery and personal delivery by facsimile transmission) or the third day
after mailing by first class mail or overnight delivery, to the Company at its
primary office location and to Executive at his address as listed on the
Company's payroll at the time notice is given.
23. COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the complete, final, and
exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement between Executive and the Company
with regard to the subject matter contained herein. It is entered into without
reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained
herein, and it cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by a
duly-authorized member of the Board of the Company and Executive. Each party has
carefully read this Agreement, has been afforded the opportunity to be advised
of its meaning and consequences by his or its respective attorneys, and signs
the same of his or its own free will
24. CONSTRUCTION & COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement shall be deemed to have
been drafted jointly by the parties, and no ambiguity in the Agreement shall be
construed against either the Company or Executive. This Agreement may be
executed in two counterparts, each of which need not contain signatures of more
than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same
Agreement. Facsimile signatures shall be deemed as effective as original
signatures.
25. HEADINGS. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for
convenience only and will not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to
affect the meaning thereof.
26. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their
respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that
Executive may not assign any of his duties hereunder and Executive may not
assign any of his rights hereunder without the written consent of the Company,
which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably.
27. ATTORNEY FEES. If either party brings any action to enforce his or its
rights hereunder, the prevailing party in any such action will be entitled to
recover his or its reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in connection
therewith.
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28. CHOICE OF LAW. All questions concerning the construction, validity and
interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of
Colorado as applied to contracts made and to be performed entirely within
Colorado.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, GOLF ▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.,
an Individual a Delaware corporation
________________________________
_______________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ [___________]
Director, Board of Directors
Date: ____________
Date: ____________
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EXHIBIT A
RELEASE
In consideration of the severance benefits that I will receive under the
attached agreement, I hereby release, acquit and forever discharge Golf
▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc. and its officers, directors, agents, servants, employees,
attorneys, shareholders, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries and
affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of
action, costs, expenses, attorneys' fees, damages, indemnities and obligations
of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown,
suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any
way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to and
including the date I sign this Release, including but not limited to: all such
claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected
with my employment with the Company or the termination of that employment;
claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, profit sharing,
stock, stock options, or any other equity or ownership interests in the Company,
vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay, or any
other form of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law,
statute, or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990; the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA"), as amended;
tort law; contract law; wrongful discharge; discrimination; harassment; fraud;
defamation; emotional distress; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing.
If I am forty years of age or older at the time I execute this Release, the
following provisions of this paragraph shall apply: I acknowledge that I am
knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights I may have under the
ADEA, and that the consideration given for the waiver and release in the
preceding paragraph hereof is in addition to anything of value to which I was
already entitled. I further acknowledge that I have been advised by this writing
that: (a) my waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may
arise after the execution date of this Agreement; (b) I have been advised hereby
that I should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement
(although I may voluntarily choose not to do so); (c) I have twenty-one (21)
days to consider this Agreement (although I may choose to voluntarily execute
this Agreement earlier); (d) I have seven (7) days following the execution of
this Agreement by the parties to revoke the Agreement; (e) this Agreement will
not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired,
which shall be the eighth day after this Agreement is executed by me.
AGREED: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
By:
____________________________
Date:
__________________________
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