EXHIBIT 10.8
EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT
This Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement ("Agreement")
is made and entered into effective this 25th day of February, 1999, by and
between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC., a Nevada corporation ("Employer") and L. ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ("Employee").
In consideration of their mutual promises and covenants contained herein,
the receipt and legal sufficiency of which consideration is hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT. Employer shall employ Employee and Employee shall work for
Employer in the employment position described in Exhibit A hereto, which is
hereby incorporated herein and made a part of this Agreement. In this position,
Employee shall perform all assigned duties, comply with all employment policies,
and willingly obey all rules, regulations and special instructions that now
exist or that may hereafter be established by Employer from time to time.
Employee shall render such services and perform such duties at such places or in
such areas or territories as Employer shall direct. Employee warrants that all
information provided by Employee in applying for employment is true and correct.
2. STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE. Employee accepts employment with Employer on
the terms and conditions herein set forth. Employee recognizes that Employee
owes to Employer duties of loyalty, fidelity and obedience in all matters
pertaining to such employment. Employee agrees to serve Employer diligently and
faithfully, to perform all duties to the best of Employee's ability, and to
devote Employee's full time and best efforts to the conduct of Employer's
business.
3. COMPENSATION. In consideration for the services of Employee rendered
to Employer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and subject to the full
performance of Employee's obligations hereunder, Employer shall pay Employee
according to the provisions of the Employer's compensation plan described in
Exhibit A hereto. Employee shall receive no compensation or benefits, including
but not limited to paid holidays, paid vacation and paid health insurance, that
is not set forth in Exhibit A hereto. Employee understands that the
compensation plan is subject to modification by the Employer at any time.
4. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. Employee's term of employment under this Agreement
shall commence on the 25th day of February, 1999, and shall continue thereafter
until the 31st day of December 2000, unless prior thereto (a) within ninety (90)
days from the effective date hereof either Employer or Employee terminates this
Agreement with or without cause and for any reason whatsoever, (b) Employer, for
good cause, terminates Employer's employment of Employee, or (c) Employer and
Employee mutually agree to the termination of Employee's employment, in a
writing signed by both of them.
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5. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
A. DEFINITION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Employer is in the business
of designing, creating, perfecting, marketing, distributing, selling and
servicing computer software, and has built up an established and extensive trade
and reputation in the industry. Employer has developed and continues to develop
commercially valuable technical and non-technical information ("Confidential
Information") that is proprietary and confidential and/or constitutes Employer's
"trade secrets" within the meaning of the Idaho Trade Secrets Act, Idaho Code
Sections 48-801 -- 48-807. Such Confidential Information, which is vital to the
success of Employer's business, includes, but is not necessarily limited to:
programs, computer programs, system documentation, data compilations, manuals,
methods, techniques, processes, patented and/or unpatented technology, research,
know-how, development, designs, devices, inventions, the identities of
customers, prospective customers, suppliers and prospective suppliers, contracts
with suppliers and customers, sales proposals, methods of sales, marketing
research and data, pricing policies, cost information, financial information,
business plans, specialized requests of Employer's customers, and other
materials and documents developed by Employer. Confidential Information also
includes special hardware, product hardware, related software and related
documentation, either owned by Employer or in Employer's possession under an
agreement of nondisclosure. Through Employee's employment, Employee may become
acquainted with or contribute to the Employer's Confidential Information through
inventions, discoveries, improvements, software development, and/or in other
ways.
B. EMPLOYEE ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Employee agrees: (a)
to access only such Confidential Information as is necessary to perform
Employee's job function; (b) to allow access to Confidential Information under
Employee's control to only those of Employee's co-employees whose job functions
for Employer necessitate access to such Confidential Information; and (c) to
allow such co-employees to access only such Confidential Information under
Employee's control as is necessary to the co-employee's performance of his/her
job functions for Employer.
C. NONDISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Employee shall not, at
any time, either during or subsequent to employment, directly or indirectly,
appropriate, disclose or divulge any Confidential Information to any person not
then employed by Employer, unless authorized or directed by Employer. If
Employer authorizes or directs Employee to disclose Confidential Information to
any such third party, Employee must ensure that a signed confidentiality
agreement is or has been obtained from the third party to whom Confidential
Information is being disclosed and that all Confidential Information so
disclosed is clearly marked "Confidential."
D. RETURN OF CONFIDENTIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION. All Confidential
Information provided to Employee, and all documents and things prepared by
Employee in the course of Employee's employment, including but not necessarily
limited to correspondence, drawings, blueprints, manuals, letters, notes, lists,
notebooks, reports, flow-charts, computer programs, proposals, DayTimers,
planners, calendars, schedules, discs, data tapes, financial plans and
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information, business plans, and other documents and records, whether in hard
copy, magnetic media or otherwise, and any and all copies thereof, are the
exclusive property of Employer and shall be returned immediately to Employer
upon termination of employment or upon Employer's request at any time.
E. OWNERSHIP OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Employee hereby grants to
Employer, and Employer hereby accepts, the entire right, title, and interest of
Employee in and to any of the Confidential Information created or developed by
Employee, or that may be created or developed by Employee during the term of the
employment under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, all patents,
copyrights, trade secrets, and other proprietary rights in or based on the
Confidential Information. If the Confidential Information or any portion
thereof is copyrightable, it shall be deemed to be a "work made for hire," as
such term is defined in the copyright laws of the United States. Employee shall
cooperate with Employer or its designees and execute assignments, oaths,
declarations, and other documents prepared by Employer, to effect the foregoing
or to perfect or enforce any proprietary rights resulting from or related to
this agreement. Such cooperation and execution shall be at no additional
compensation to Employee; provided, however, Employer shall reimburse Employee
for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred at the specific request of
Employer.
6. NONCOMPETITION OBLIGATIONS. Employee will not during the term of
his/her employment with Employer, and for a period of eighteen (18) months
immediately following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee
will not offer for sale, or solicit the sale of products or services similar to
those sold by Employer, in or within the geographic area in which Employee was
assigned and/or worked for Employer, either for him/herself or on behalf of any
other person, firm, partnership, or corporation.
7. CUSTOMER NON-SOLICITATION. Employee will not, during the term of
employment hereunder and for eighteen (18) months following termination of such
employment for any reason, solicit, divert, take away, or attempt to solicit,
divert or take away, any of Employer's customers or the business or patronage of
any such customers, either for him/herself or on behalf of any other person,
firm, partnership or corporation.
8. CO-EMPLOYEE NON-SOLICITATION. Employee will not, during the term of
employment hereunder and for eighteen (18) months following termination of such
employment for any reason, solicit, recruit or hire any other employee of
Employer, either for him/herself or on behalf of any other person, firm,
partnership or corporation.
9. ENFORCEMENT.
A. REASONABLENESS OF RESTRICTIONS. Employee acknowledges that
compliance with this Agreement is reasonable and necessary to protect Employer's
legitimate business interests, including but not limited to the Employer's
goodwill.
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B. IRREPARABLE HARM. Employee acknowledges that a breach of
Employee's obligations under this Agreement will result in great, irreparable
and continuing harm and damage to Employer for which there is no adequate remedy
at law.
C. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. Employee agrees that in the event Employee
breaches this Agreement, Employer shall be entitled to seek, from any court of
competent jurisdiction, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce
the terms of this Agreement, in addition to any and all monetary damages allowed
by law, against Employee.
D. EXTENSION OF COVENANTS. In the event Employee violates any one or
more of the covenants contained in sections 6 through 8 of this Agreement,
Employee agrees that the running of the term of each such covenant so violated
shall be tolled during (a) the period(s) of any such violation by Employee and
(b) the pendency of any litigation (including appeals) concerning any such
violation by Employee.
E. JUDICIAL MODIFICATION. The parties have attempted to limit the
Employee's right to compete only to the extent necessary to protect Employer
from unfair business practices and/or unfair competition. The parties
recognize, however, that reasonable people may differ in making such a
determination. Consequently, the parties hereby agree that, if the scope or
enforceability of the restrictive covenant is in any way disputed at any time, a
court or other trier of fact may modify and enforce the covenant to the extent
that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances existing at that time.
F. ATTORNEY FEES. In the event it becomes necessary for Employer to
institute a suit at law or in equity for the purposes of enforcing any of the
provisions of this Agreement, Employer shall be entitled to recover Employer's
reasonable attorney's fees, plus court costs and expenses, from Employee.
G. WITHHOLDING FROM FINAL PAYCHECK. Employee expressly authorizes
Employer to withhold and deduct from Employee's final wages any amounts owed by
Employee to Employer at the time of the termination of employment, including but
not limited to, any draw deficiencies, reimbursement for unearned commissions,
and the value of unreturned or damaged company property. Employee further
expressly agrees to repay to Employer any additional sums owed by Employee to
Employer (above that which can be withheld) immediately upon termination of
Employee's employment. Employee agrees that this paragraph waives and
supersedes any and all federal, state and/or local laws to the contrary.
10. INDEMNITY. Employee warrants and represents that he/she has not
violated, is not violating, and will not violate any of the terms or conditions
of any prior employment agreement, restrictive covenant, or other agreement
entered into by him/her while in the employment of any other employer; that
he/she has not given and will not give to Employer at any time any customer
list, trade secret, or any other item of confidential information, obtained or
received while
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AND COMPETITION AGREEMENT - 4
in the employment of such other employer; that his/her employment with Employer
is not restricted or limited in any way by any such employment agreement or
restrictive covenant or by operation of any state, federal or local regulation,
statute or other law of any kind, name or nature, including but not limited to
trade secret laws and immigration laws; and that Employee is in all respects
duly qualified and eligible to work for Employer. In the event any legal or
administrative action is commenced against the Employee, Employer or both,
arising out of Employee's former employment by another employer or Employee's
illegal action or violation of one or more of the warranties and representations
set forth in this section, Employee agrees to indemnify Employer for all
damages, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, which Employer
may have to pay in connection with such legal or administrative action.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
A. SURVIVAL. Employee understands that this Agreement shall be
effective when signed and that the terms of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect not only during the continuation of his/her employment, but
also after the termination of employment for any reason by Employer or Employee.
B. WAIVER. Failure of the Employer to exercise or otherwise act with
respect to any of its rights under this Agreement shall not be construed as a
waiver of such breach, nor prevent the Employer from thereafter enforcing strict
compliance with any and all terms of this Agreement.
C. SEVERABILITY. If any part of this Agreement shall be adjudicated
to be invalid or unenforceable, as to duration, territory or otherwise, then
such part shall be deemed deleted from the Agreement or amended, as the case may
be, in order to render the remainder of the Agreement valid and enforceable.
D. AGREEMENT BINDING. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of Employer, Employer's successors and assigns, Employee and
Employee's heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.
E. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is made and entered into in the
State of Idaho and concerns employment situated in said state. This Agreement
shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Idaho.
F. TITLES AND CAPTIONS. All section and paragraph titles and captions
contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed
part of the context nor affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.
G. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains all the understandings
and agreements between the parties concerning matters set forth in this
Agreement. The terms of this
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Agreement supersede any and all prior statements, representations and agreements
by or between Employer and Employee, or either of them, concerning the matters
set forth in this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that no person who is an
agent or employee of Employer may orally or by conduct modify, delete, vary, or
contradict the terms or conditions of this Agreement or this paragraph. This
Agreement may be modified only by a written agreement signed by both parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have set their hands as of the date first
above written, and Employee acknowledges that he/she has read and understands
the entire contents of this Agreement and that he/she has received a copy of
this Agreement.
EMPLOYER:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
DATE: 3/2/99 By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Its: President and Chief Executive Officer
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EMPLOYEE:
DATE: 3/2/99 /s/ L. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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L. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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AND COMPETITION AGREEMENT - 6
EXHIBIT A TO EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY
AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT
EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 25, 1999
Employee's Job Title: Chief Financial Officer of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc.
Base Salary: $80,000 annually for the term of this Agreement,
payable at the same frequency as Employer's other
employees.
Stock Option: Employer shall grant to Employee an option to acquire
up to 20,000 shares of Employer's common stock pursuant
to and subject to the terms of the Non-qualified Stock
Option and Restricted Stock Plan. The options shall be
exercisable at the option price of $1.25 per share. The
options shall be subject to lock-ups and restrictions
required by the IPO underwriter. The options shall vest
as follows:
Continuous Employment
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from Signing Agreement Portion Exercisable
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December 31, 1999 1/3
December 31, 2000 1/3
December 31, 2001 1/3
Benefits: Employee shall participate in employee benefit
programs, such as paid vacation, life insurance,
medical, disability and other similar plans that now or
during the term of this Agreement are made generally
available to executives of Employer of comparable
position.
Expenses: Employer will reimburse Employee for reasonable
expenses for entertainment, travel, phone, day-to-day
expenses and similar items that he incurs on behalf of
Employer.
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AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT - 7
EMPLOYER:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
DATE: 3/2/99 By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Its: President and Chief Executive Officer
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EMPLOYEE:
DATE: 3/2/99 /s/ L. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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L. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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AND COMPETITION AGREEMENT - 8