Exhibit 10.81
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is entered into by IMPACT MEDIA,INC.,
a Nevada corporation (the "Employer") and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Netgateway, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
(the "Employee"), and is dated effective as of the Effective Time (as defined
in that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger among the Employer, the Company
and Galaxy Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation ("GAC") dated March 10,
2000 (the "Merger Agreement")) of the merger of GAC with and into the
Employer (the "Merger").
Employer desires to retain the Employee to supply services to the
Employer, and the Employee desires to provide the services to the Employer, on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
In consideration of (i) the Employee's agreement to supply the services
under this Agreement and (ii) the mutual agreements set forth below, the
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Employer and the Employee agree
as follows:
1. SERVICES; TERM.
(a) The Employer hereby employs the Employee, and the Employee hereby
agrees to be employed by the Employer, as President of the Employer, and
the Employee will use his best efforts to perform services for the Employer in
accordance with directions given to Employee from time to time by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Employer (the "Board").
(b) The Employee shall participate in the operation of the business of
the Employer (the "Business"), and assume and perform all duties and
responsibilities consistent with his title and position (the "Services") as from
time to time requested by the Employer.
(c) The Employee shall be employed for the period commencing on the
effective date of this Agreement (the "Effective Date") and ending on the second
anniversary of the Effective Date, unless sooner terminated pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement (such period being referred to as the "Employment
Period"). If the Merger is not consummated pursuant to the Merger Agreement,
this Agreement shall be of no force and effect.
2. PERFORMANCE BY EMPLOYEE. During the Employment Period, the Employee
shall devote all of his business time, attention, knowledge and skills to, and
use his best efforts to perform, the Services and shall promote the interests of
the Employer in carrying out the Services. Other than the restrictions contained
in Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to
preclude the Employee from continuing to serve on the board of directors of any
business corporation or any charitable organization on which he now serves or,
subject to the prior approval of
the Board, from accepting appointment to additional boards of directors,
provided that such activities do not materially interfere with the performance
of Employee's duties hereunder.
3. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. During the Employment Period:
(a) BASE COMPENSATION. As compensation for the Services, the
Employer shall pay Employee an annual base salary at the rate of $104,100 per
year or such higher amount as the Employer's Compensation Committee (the
"Committee") may from time to time determine (the "Base Salary"), payable in
accordance with the Employer's payroll practices. The Base Salary shall be
increased (but not decreased, unless a change in job duties substantiates a
decrease in salary and such decrease is approved by the Employee's manager or
direct superior) for cost of living adjustments, and subject to discretionary
increase (or decrease, if a change in job duties substantiates a decrease in
salary), as determined by an annual review by the Committee on or prior to
each anniversary of the Effective Date.
(b) CASH BONUSES. In the event that Employee shall be employed by
the Employer on September 1, 2000, Employee shall be entitled to a one-time
cash bonus of $15,615. In addition, for each calendar year during the
Employment Period, at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, Employee
shall be entitled to participate in any annual bonus plan of the Employer and
to receive an annual performance bonus from the Employer in accordance with
the terms thereof.
(c) STOCK OPTIONS. The Employee has been or will be granted options
pursuant to the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan for Non-Executives (the
"Options") to purchase up to 12,500 shares of the common stock, par value $.001
per share, of the Company, on terms and conditions to be embodied in a separate
agreement between the Employer and the Employee to be entered into as of the
date of the closing of the merger between the Company and Employer,
substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A (the "Option Agreement").
(d) BENEFIT PLANS. The Employee shall be entitled to receive benefits
from the Employer consistent with those in effect for the Employer's employees,
as those benefits are revised from time to time by the Board of Directors of the
Employer. Except as specifically provided in this Section 3, nothing contained
herein is intended to require the Employer to maintain any existing benefits or
create any new benefits.
(e) VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS. The Employee shall be entitled to vacation
and paid holidays in accordance with the Employer's policy.
4. TERMINATION.
(a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. If the Employee dies during the Employment
Period, the Employment Period shall terminate as of the date of the Employee's
death. If the Employee becomes unable to perform the Services for 180
consecutive days due to a physical or mental disability, (i) the Employer may
elect to
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terminate the Employment Period any time thereafter, and (ii) the Employment
Period shall terminate as of the date of such election. All disabilities shall
be certified by a physician acceptable to both the Employer and the Employee,
or, in case the Employer and the Employee cannot agree upon a physician within
15 days, then by a physician selected by physicians designated by each of the
Employer and the Employee. The Employee's failure to submit to any physical
examination by such physician after such physician has given reasonable notice
of the time and place of such examination shall be conclusive evidence of the
Employee's inability to perform his duties hereunder.
(b) CAUSE. The Employer, at its option, may terminate the Employment
Period and all of the obligations of the Employer under this Agreement for
Cause. The Employer shall have "Cause" to terminate the Employee's employment
hereunder in the event of (i) the Employee's conviction of, or plea of guilty or
NOLO CONTENDERE to a felony, (ii) the Employee's gross negligence in the
performance of the Services, which is not corrected within 15 business days
after written notice, (iii) the Employee's knowingly dishonest act, knowing bad
faith or willful misconduct, or a violation of Company or Employer policy in the
performance of the Services to the material detriment of the Company or
Employer, or (iv) the Employee's other material breach of his obligations under
this Agreement, which is not corrected within a reasonable period of time
(determined in light of the cure appropriate to such material breach, but in no
event less than 15 business days) after written notice.
(c) WITHOUT CAUSE. The Employer, at its option, may terminate the
Employment Period without Cause at any time or the Employee may in any time
elect to terminate this Agreement, in each case upon 30 days advance written
notice.
(d) TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE FOR GOOD REASON. The Employee may terminate
this Agreement upon 60 days prior written notice to the Employer for Good Reason
(as defined below) if the basis for such Good Reason is not cured within a
reasonable period of time (determined in light of the cure appropriate to the
basis of such Good Reason, but in no event less than 15 business days) after the
Employer receives written notice specifying the basis of such Good Reason. "Good
Reason" shall mean (i) the failure of the Employer to pay any undisputed amount
due under this Agreement; (ii) a substantial diminution in benefits provided
under this Agreement (which shall not include any decrease in salary approved in
accordance with Section 3(a) hereof); or (iii) the Employer's material breach of
its obligations under this Agreement.
(e) WITHOUT GOOD REASON. The Employee, at his option, may terminate the
Employment Period without Good Reason at any time upon 30 days advance written
notice.
(f) PAYMENTS IN THE EVENT OF TERMINATION. Upon the termination of the
Employment Period by reason of death or disability, by the Employee without Good
Reason, or by the Employer for Cause, the Employer shall pay to the Employee, or
his estate, as the case may be, the Base Salary and Performance Bonus
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earned to the date of death or termination for disability or Cause, or date of
termination by the Employee, as the case may be. In addition, all vested and
unexercised Options shall remain exercisable by the Employee for a period of 365
days. Upon the termination of the Employment Period by the Employer without
Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason, the Employer shall pay to the Employee
(A) the Base Salary and Performance Bonus earned to the date of such
termination, and (B) an additional amount in a lump sum in cash equal to the
lesser of (x) the Base Salary at the time of termination for a period of six
months; or (y) the Base Salary at the time of termination for a period beginning
on the date of such termination and ending on the date that the Employment
Period would have ended pursuant to this Agreement had there been no termination
of Employee's employment. In addition, all vested and unexercised Options shall
become and remain exercisable by the Employee until the expiration date of the
Options pursuant to the Option Agreement.
(f) TERMINATION OF OBLIGATIONS. In the event of termination of the
Employment Period in accordance with this Section 4, all obligations of the
Employer and the Employee under this Agreement shall terminate, except for any
amounts payable by the Employer as specifically set forth in Sections 4(f) of
this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement, the provisions of Section 5 and Section 6 shall survive such
termination in accordance with their respective terms, and the relevant
provisions of Section 7 shall survive such termination indefinitely. In the
event of termination of the Employment Period in accordance with this Section 4,
the Employee agrees to cooperate with the Employer in order to ensure an orderly
transfer of the Employee's duties and responsibilities.
5. CONFIDENTIALITY; NON-DISCLOSURE.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 5(a), the Employee shall not
disclose any confidential or proprietary information of the Company and the
Employer or of their affiliates or subsidiaries to any person, firm,
corporation, association or other entity (other than the Company, the Employer,
their subsidiaries, officers or Employees, attorneys, accountants, bank lenders,
agents, advisors or representatives thereof) for any reason or purpose
whatsoever (other than in the normal course of business on a need-to-know basis
after the Company or the Employer has received assurances that the confidential
or proprietary information shall be kept confidential), nor shall the Employee
make use of any such confidential or proprietary information for his own
purposes or for the benefit of any person, firm, corporation or other entity,
except the Company and the Employer. As used in this Section 5(a), the term
"confidential or proprietary information" means all information which is or
becomes known to the Employee and relates to matters such as trade secrets,
research and development activities, new or prospective lines of business
(including analysis and market research relating to potential expansion of the
business), books and records, financial data, customer lists, marketing
techniques, financing, credit policies, vendor lists, suppliers, purchases,
potential business combinations, services procedures, pricing information and
private processes as they may exist from time to time; PROVIDED that the term
"confidential or proprietary information" shall not include information that is
or become
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generally available to the public (other than as a result of a disclosure in
violation of this Agreement by the Employee or by a person who received such
information from the Employee in violation of this Agreement).
(b) If the Employee is requested or (in the opinion of his counsel)
required by law or judicial order to disclose any confidential or proprietary
information, the Employee shall provide the Company and the Employer with prompt
notice of any such request or requirement so that the Company or the Employer
may seek an appropriate protective order or waiver of the Employee's compliance
with the provisions of Section 5(a). The Employee will not oppose any reasonable
action by, and will cooperate with, the Company or the Employer to obtain an
appropriate protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential
treatment will be accorded the confidential or proprietary information. If,
failing the entry of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, he
is, in the opinion of his counsel, compelled by law to disclose a portion of the
confidential or proprietary information, the Employee may disclose to the
relevant tribunal without liability hereunder only that portion of the
confidential or proprietary information which counsel advises the Employee he is
legally required to disclose, and each of the parties hereto agrees to exercise
such party's best efforts to obtain assurance that confidential treatment will
be accorded such confidential or proprietary information. During the Employment
Period, and for matters arising from events or circumstances occurring during
the Employment Period, the Company and the Employer will provide for the defense
of matters arising under this provision.
6. NON-SOLICITATION. The Employee agrees that he shall not, during and
for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date that is
one year after the termination of the Employment Period, for any reason
whatsoever, either individually or as an officer, director, stockholder,
partner, agent or principal of another business firm, induce any Employee of the
Company, the Employer or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries to terminate
such person's employment with the Company, the Employer or such affiliate or
subsidiary or hire any Employee of the Company, the Employer or any of their
affiliates to work with any business affiliated with the Employee, provided,
that the provisions of this Section 6 shall not apply in the event that the
Company or the Employer materially breaches its obligations under this
Agreement.
7. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) ENFORCEABILITY. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto
that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent
permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in
which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, although the Employee and the Employer
consider the restrictions contained in this Agreement to be reasonable for the
purpose of preserving the Employer's goodwill and proprietary right, if any
particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or
unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed amended to delete therefrom the
portion thus adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such deletion to apply
only with respect to the operation of such provision in the particular
jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made. It is expressly
5
understood and agreed that although the Employer and the Employee consider the
restrictions contained in Section 6 to be reasonable, if a final determination
is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any
other restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable against the
Employee, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed amended to apply as
to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may
judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable.
(b) REMEDIES. The parties acknowledge that the Company's and the
Employer's damages at law would be an inadequate remedy for the breach by the
Employee of any provision of Section 5 or Section 6, and agree in the event of
such breach that the Company or the Employer may obtain temporary and permanent
injunctive relief restraining the Employee from such breach, and, to the extent
permissible under the applicable statutes and rules of procedure, a temporary
injunction may be granted immediately upon the commencement of any such suit.
Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company or the
Employer from pursuing any other remedies available at law or equity for such
breach or threatened breach of Section 5 or Section 6 of this Agreement.
(c) WITHHOLDING. The Employer shall withhold such amounts from any
compensation or other benefits referred to herein as payable to the Employee on
account of payroll and other taxes as may be required by applicable law or
regulation of any governmental authority.
(d) ASSIGNMENT; BENEFIT. This Agreement is personal in its nature and
the parties hereto shall not, without the written consent of the other, assign
or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder; PROVIDED that
the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, each
successor of the Company and the Employer, whether by merger, consolidation,
transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or otherwise.
(e) INDEMNITY. The Employer hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the
Employee harmless consistent with the Employer's policy against any and all
liabilities, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs), claims,
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with any proceeding arising out of the Employee's
employment with the Employer (whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, other than proceedings by or in the right of the Company or the
Employer), if with respect to the actions at issue in the proceeding the
Employee acted in good faith and in a manner Employee reasonably believed to be
in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and the Employer, and
(with respect to any criminal action) Employee had no reason to believe
Employee's conduct was unlawful. Said indemnification arrangement shall (i)
survive the termination of this Agreement, (ii) apply to any and all qualifying
acts of the Employee which have taken place during any period in which he was
employed by the Employer, irrespective of the date of this Agreement or the term
hereof, including, but not limited to, any and all qualifying acts as an officer
and/or director of any affiliate while the Employee is
6
employed by the Employer and (iii) be subject to any limitations imposed from
time to time under applicable law.
(f) NOTICES. All notices or other communications which are required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered personally
or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, sent by overnight courier, or sent by facsimile (with confirmation of
receipt), addressed as follows:
If to the Employer:
Galaxy Enterprises, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
With copies to:
Netgateway, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Nida & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: C. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to the Employee:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
c/o Galaxy Enterprises, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
or at such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have
furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. If such notice
or communication is mailed, such communication shall be deemed to have been
given on the fifth business day following the date on which such communication
is posted.
(g) DISPUTE RESOLUTION; ATTORNEYS' FEES. The Employer and the Employee
agree that any dispute arising as to the parties' rights and obligations
7
hereunder shall be resolved by binding arbitration before a private judge to be
determined by mutually agreeable means. In such event, the Employer and the
Employee shall have the right to full discovery. The Employee shall have the
right, in addition to any other relief granted by such arbitrator, to attorneys'
fees in the event that a claim brought by the Employee is decided in the
Employee's favor (with the amount of such fees being limited to those expended
defending the claim or claims decided in favor of the Employee). Any judgment by
such arbitrator may be entered into any court with jurisdiction over the
dispute.
(h) ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Employee acknowledges that he has been advised by
Employer to seek the advice of independent counsel prior to reaching agreement
with Employer or any of the terms of this Agreement.
(i) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No modification, amendment or waiver, of
any provision of, or consent required by, this Agreement, nor any consent to any
departure herefrom, shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the
parties hereto. Such modification, amendment, waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.
(j) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS; CERTAIN INTERPRETATIONS. Descriptive headings
are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or
construction of any provision of this Agreement.
(k) COUNTERPARTS; ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to
be an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute
one agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement among the parties
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and supersede
all prior agreements or understandings among the parties with respect to the
Employee's employment by the Employer.
(l) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
(M) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE EMPLOYER AND THE
EMPLOYEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT LOCATED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY
FOR PURPOSES OF ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND THE EMPLOYEE AGREES NOT
TO COMMENCE ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING RELATING THERETO EXCEPT IN SUCH COURT. EACH OF
THE COMPANY, THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH HE
8
MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING
BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A
COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
[Signature page follows.]
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first written above.
IMPACT MEDIA, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
President
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
10
EXHIBIT A
NETGATEWAY, INC.
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO THE
1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EXECUTIVES
GRANT OF COMPENSATION OPTION
Grantee: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Date of Grant: ____________________
Stock Option Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of the date of grant
first set forth above, between Netgateway, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Optionee").
The Compensation Committee established by the Board of Directors of the
Company has adopted the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan for Non-Executives (the
"Plan") for the purpose of attracting and retaining employees (including
officers), consultants and persons willing to serve as directors of the Company,
or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.
The Optionee is an employee, consultant or director of the Company, or
a Subsidiary or Affiliate.
Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined have the
same meanings as set forth in the Plan.
In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth
below, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. GRANT OF OPTION; EXERCISE PRICE. Pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the
Company hereby grants to the Optionee as of the date hereof (the "Grant Date),
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and subject further to the terms
and conditions herein set forth, the right and option to purchase (the "Option")
from the Company all or any part of an aggregate of 12,500 shares (the "Shares")
of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common
Stock") at a purchase price of $______ per Share (the "Exercise Price"), such
Option to be exercisable as hereinafter provided.
2. TYPE OF OPTION. The Option is a non-qualified stock option and is not
eligible to be an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
3. EXPIRATION DATE. The Option shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the
Grant Date (the "Expiration Date"), unless earlier terminated in accordance with
Paragraph 7.
4. NONTRANSFERABILITY. The Option and any other rights granted hereunder shall
not be transferable or assignable by the Optionee (whether by operation of law
or otherwise) except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, if then
permitted under Rule 16b-3, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as
defined under the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder, and shall be exercisable during
the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or his guardian or legal
1
representative, nor shall the Option or any other rights granted hereunder be
subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to
transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of the Option or of such rights
contrary to the provisions hereof or of the Plan, or upon any levy of attachment
or similar process upon the Option or such rights, the Option and such rights
shall, at the election of the Company, become null and void.
5. EXERCISE OF OPTION. (a) Subject to the other terms of this Agreement and the
Plan regarding the exercisability of the Option, the Option may be exercised in
accordance with the following schedule:
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
ANNIVERSARY PERCENTAGE OF
FOLLOWING GRANT DATE ORIGINAL OPTION EXERCISABLE
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
One 34.0%
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Two 33.0%
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Three 33.0%
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Shares issued upon a partial exercise of an Option shall be deducted from the
number of Shares issuable upon any subsequent exercise of the Option. The Option
shall be void and of no effect after the Expiration Date unless earlier
cancelled pursuant to Paragraph 7 hereof.
(b) The Option may be exercised at any time, or from time to time, to
the extent of any or all full Shares as to which the Option has become
exercisable, by giving written notice of such exercised (the "Notice of
Exercise") to the Company's Secretary and paying an amount equal to the Exercise
Price multiplied by the number of Shares being purchased pursuant to the Option
(the "Total Exercise Price") (i) in United States dollars in cash or by check,
bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company, (ii) through the
delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock already owned by the Optionee
with any aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Total
Exercise Price, (iii) by having Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value on
the date of exercise equal to the Total Exercise Price sold by a broker-dealer
under circumstances meeting the requirements of 12 C.F.R. Section 220 or any
successor thereof, or (iv) by any combination of the above methods of payment.
Further, the Optionee may not purchase fewer than 100 Shares at any one time
unless the number purchased at such time is the total number of Shares then
exercisable. "Fair Market Value" as of a particular date shall mean the last
sale price of the Common Stock as reported on a national securities exchange or
on the Nasdaq SmallCap or National Market System or, if a last sale reporting
quotation is not available for the Common Stock, the average of the bid and
asked prices of the Common Stock as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or
on Nasdaq's OTC Bulletin Board Service, or if not so reported, as listed in the
National Quotation Bureau, Inc.'s "Pink Sheets." If such quotations are
unavailable, or with respect to other appropriate security, property, assets,
business or entity, "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair market value of such
item as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
6. TAXES. The Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate is authorized to withhold
from any payment relating to the Option (including from a distribution of
Shares) or any other payment to the Optionee, amounts of withholding and other
taxes due in connection with any transaction involving the Option, and to take
such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company or
such Subsidiary or Affiliate and the Optionee to satisfy obligations for the
payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to the Option.
This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares or other
property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of the
Optionee's tax obligations.
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7. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, ETC. (a) Upon the occurrence of Grantee's ceasing
for any reason to be employed by the Company (such occurrence being a
"termination of the Grantee's employment"), the Option (i) to the extent not
previously vested, shall terminate and become null and void immediately upon
such termination of the Grantee's employment, and (ii) to the extent already
vested, shall be exercisable for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the
termination of Grantee's employment. As determined by the Committee, upon a
termination of the Grantee's employment by reason of disability or death, the
Option may be exercised, but only to the extent that the Option was outstanding
and exercisable on such date of disability or death, up to a one-year period
following the date of such termination of the Grantee's employment.
(b) In the event of the death of the Grantee, the Option may be
exercised by the Grantee's legal representative, but only to the extent that the
Option would otherwise have been exercisable by the Grantee.
(c) A transfer of the Grantee's employment between the Company and any
subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be a termination of the
Grantee's employment.
8. ADJUSTMENTS. In the event that the Committee shall determine, in its sole
discretion, that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of
cash, shares of Common Stock, or other property), recapitalization, stock split,
reverse split, any reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination,
repurchase, share exchange, license arrangement, strategic alliance or other
similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an
adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the
rights of the Optionee under the Plan, then the Committee shall make such
equitable changes or adjustments as it deems necessary or appropriate to any or
all of (i) the number and kind of Shares which may thereafter be issued in
connection with Options, (ii) the number and kind of Shares issued or issuable
in respect of outstanding Options, and (iii) the Exercise Price relating to any
Option.
9. NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. The Optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder
with respect to any Shares subject to the Option prior to the date of issuance
to the Optionee of a certificate or certificates for such Shares.
10. NO RIGHTS TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan or in the Option or
this Agreement shall confer upon the Optionee the right to continue in Service
or be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan or this
Agreement or to interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or
any Subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate the Optionee's Service.
11. COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL AND EXCHANGE REQUIREMENTS. The Plan, the granting and
exercising of Options thereunder, the delivery of Shares upon the exercise of
the Option and the other obligations of the Company under the Plan and this
Agreement shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and
regulations, and to such approvals by any regulatory or governmental agency as
may be required. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the issuance or
delivery of Shares under the Option until completion of such stock exchange
listing or registration or qualification of such Shares or other required action
under any state, federal or foreign law, rule or regulation as the Company may
consider appropriate, and may require the Optionee to make such representations
and furnish such information as it may consider appropriate in connection with
the issuance or delivery of Shares in compliance with applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
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12. CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS. In the event of a Change in Control (as
defined in the Plan), the Option shall become fully vested and exercisable,
whether or not theretofore vested and exercisable.
13. OPTIONEE BOUND BY PLAN. The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy
of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof.
14. NOTICES. All notices or any other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and delivered personally or by registered or certified mail or overnight
courier, addressed, if to the Company, to Netgateway, Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇; Attention: General Counsel, and if to the Optionee, at
the address set forth on the signature page hereof, subject to the right of
either party to designate at any time hereafter in writing some other address.
15. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California without giving effect to the
conflict of laws principles thereof.
16. NO ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations
of the Optionee hereunder may be transferred or assigned by the Optionee except
as set forth in paragraph 4 hereof.
17. BENEFITS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto. This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto
and not for the benefit of any other party.
18. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be
illegal and unenforceable by any court of law, the remaining provisions shall be
severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms.
19. AMENDMENTS. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the parties
hereto.
20. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
21. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. Optionee acknowledges that, as of the date hereof, the
Plan and the Option granted herein are subject to the approval of the Company's
shareholders, in accordance with applicable provisions of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by
a Vice President, and Optionee has executed this Agreement, both as of the day
and year first above written.
NETGATEWAY, INC.
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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