EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the first day of October 2013 (the “Agreement”), by and between Cinedigm Corp f/k/a Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp., a Delaware Corporation (the "Company"), and Adam M. Mizel (the "Employee").

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to an Employment Agreement dated October 19, 2011, as amended to extend the term through September 30, 2013 (“Prior Agreement”), the Company has employed the Employee as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Employee and the Employee desires to continue to be employed as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company beyond September 30, 2013 upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prior Agreement as amended and restated herein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee agree that they are voluntarily entering into this Agreement and, as of the date hereof, neither party knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to give rise to the right to terminate the Employee’s employment hereunder by the Company for Cause (as defined below) or by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined below);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.           Employment.  The Company agrees to employ the Employee, and the Employee agrees to be employed by the Company under the terms of this Agreement, for the period stated in Section 3 hereof and upon the other terms and conditions herein provided.

 

2.           Position and Responsibilities.  The Employee shall serve as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).  The Employee shall be responsible for such duties as are commensurate with his office and shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, who shall have the power to expand the Employee’s duties, responsibilities and authority and, when considered necessary or in the best interests of the Company, to override the Employee’s decisions and actions, including, without limitation, the Employee’s recommendations to the Board of Directors.

 

3.           Term.  Except as otherwise provided for herein, the term of this Agreement shall be from October 3, 2011 (the “Effective Date”) through September 30, 2014 (the “Term”).  Upon the expiration of the Term, this Agreement, except for the provisions that survive pursuant to this paragraph 3 and paragraph 9, will have no further force or effect.  In the event the Employee remains employed by the Company after the Term expires and the parties have not executed a successor written agreement, the Employee’s employment will be at-will; provided, however, that the Employee, for the duration of his at-will employment, will remain entitled to the

 

severance benefit described, and in accordance with the terms set forth, in Section 6(b) of this Agreement.

 

4.           Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses.

 

(a)           Salary.  For all services rendered by the Employee in any capacity during his employment under this Agreement, including, without limitation, service as an executive, officer, director, or member of any committee of the Company or of any subsidiary, affiliate, or division thereof, the Company shall pay the Employee, in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, a salary (“Base Salary”) at the minimum rate of $425,000 per year commencing with the Effective Date, subject to increase for subsequent years in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”).

 

(b)           Bonus.  For periods prior to fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, the Employee shall be eligible for a bonus based on overall Company Performance with goals to be established by the Committee.  The Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s Management Annual Incentive Plan or any amended or successor plan thereto (“MAIP”).  For each of fiscal years ending March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, the target bonus shall be $212,500 (the “Target Bonus”).  The Employee’s bonuses shall be based on Company performance with goals to be established annually by the Committee.  Bonuses shall be paid at the same time bonuses are paid to other executives of the Company, which payment shall be made during the calendar year that includes the close of such fiscal year, but no later than August 31st following the fiscal year for which the bonus is earned, and shall be subject to the terms of the MAIP.

 

(c)           Reimbursement of Expenses.  In accordance with Company policies then in effect, the Company shall pay directly, or reimburse the Employee for, reasonable travel, entertainment and other business related expenses incurred by the Employee in the performance of his duties under this Agreement.

 

(d)           Stock Option Grant. In connection with the extension of the Term as set forth in this Agreement, the Committee approved a grant to the Employee as of October 15, 2013, the date this Agreement is executed (the “Grant Date”) of 600,000 stock options (the “Options”) to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan as amended (the “EIP”).  The Options are non-statutory options. The grant is a two-year grant. The Options have an exercise price equal to the lesser of $1.40 per share or the 20-day trailing average closing price of the Common Stock preceding the Grant Date; provided, however, that in no event shall the exercise price per share be less than the last closing price of the Common Stock on the Grant Date.  The Options have a term of 10 years.  The Vesting Date shall be:

 

(i)           the first anniversary of the Grant Date with respect to 200,000 Options;

 

(ii)           the second anniversary of the Grant Date with respect to 200,000 Options; and

 

(iii)           the third anniversary of the Grant Date with respect to 200,000 Options.

 

In the event of the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company, other than due to death or Disability (as defined below), vested Options may be exercised after termination but in no event later than 90 days after termination (and in no event later than the expiration of the Options). In the event of the Employee’s termination due to his death or Disability, vested Options may be exercised after termination but in no event later than 180 days after death or Disability (and in no event later than the expiration of the Options).  The terms set forth in this paragraph 4(d), and all other terms governing, the Options shall be set forth in a separate Stock Option Agreement between the Company and the Employee and in accordance with the EIP.

 

(e)           Special Bonus.  In connection with the extension of the Term as set forth in this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to a special one-time bonus of $150,000, payable in a lump sum in cash upon the occurrence of the event as described in Exhibit A.

 

5.           Participation in Benefit Plans.  Employee will be entitled to participate in all benefit plans and programs that the Company provides to senior executives in line with the Company’s current practices, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of such benefit plans and programs as may be modified by the Company in its sole discretion or as required by law from time to time; provided that the Company will pay the full cost of medical and dental coverage for the Employee and his eligible dependents.  For the period of the Term prior to October, 2013, the Company will provide the Employee with an automobile allowance of $12,000 annually adjusted for increases in the consumer price index.

 

6.           Termination.  (a) The Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and the Employee’s employment prior to the expiration of the Term upon the conviction of the Employee in a recognized court of law in the United States of theft or embezzlement of money or property, fraud, unauthorized appropriation of any tangible or intangible assets or property or any other felony involving dishonesty or moral turpitude (“Cause”).  The Company shall have no obligations to the Employee for any period subsequent to the effective date of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 6(a), except for the payment of salary and benefits earned prior to such termination.

 

(b)           The Company shall also have the right to terminate this Agreement and the Employee’s employment prior to the expiration of the Term other than for Cause upon thirty (30) days’ notice and the Employee has the right to resign and terminate this Agreement at any time for Good Reason (each such termination shall not include a termination of employee’s employment with the Company due to the Employee’s death or Disability).  In the event that the Company terminates this Agreement and the Employee's employment for reason(s) other than Cause hereof (and other than due to the Employee’s death or Disability) or if the Employee resigns for Good Reason, the Employee shall be entitled to continue to receive his Base Salary (plus earned bonuses, if any) for 12 months following his termination, payable in accordance with regular payroll practices of the Company.  During such period, the Employee shall have a duty to seek other employment, but shall not be required to accept any position other than a position (i) as a senior executive officer with the same general responsibilities that the Employee

 

possessed at the Company at the time of the Employee's termination from the Company and (ii) with a company equal or larger in earnings and tangible net worth than the Company at the time of the Employee's termination.  The Employee may, however, accept any full-time position at any level and at any salary with any entity, profit or non-profit, and the Employee, by accepting such employment, shall be conclusively deemed to have fulfilled his duty to seek employment under this Section 6(b).  The Company shall be entitled to reduce the salary (including bonus) paid to the Employee during his employment by another entity by an amount equal to the amount earned by the Employee from any such employment during such period, provided, that, such salary reduction shall not apply to the extent the Employee takes a one-off consulting job.  In the event that a dispute shall arise as to this Section 6(b), (i) the Company shall continue to pay the Employee's salary (including bonus) into an escrow account not under the control of the Company and (ii) the Company shall pay the legal fees and expenses incurred by the Employee in litigating any dispute under this Section 6(b) in the event that the Employee prevails in such dispute.

 

(c)           If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the Company terminates this Agreement and the Employee’s employment for any reason other than for Cause (and other than due to the Employee’s death or Disability), or if the Employee resigns for Good Reason, in each event within two years after a Change in Control (as defined in the EIP), in lieu of the amount payable under Section 6(b), the Employee will receive a lump sum payment equal to his then Base Salary (plus earned bonus, if any) multiplied by two; provided however that such payment shall be limited to an amount which would not result in an “excess parachute payment” as that term is defined in Internal Revenue Code section 280G.

 

(d)           For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason”  means, without the Employee's consent,  (i) a reduction in the Employee’s title or job responsibilities compared with the Employee’s title or job responsibilities on the date of this Agreement (other than the removal of the title of Chief Financial Officer), (ii) any requirement that the Employee relocate to a work location more than 50 miles from the city of New York, New York which is considered a material change; or (iii) any material breach of this Agreement by the Company, which breach is not cured by the Company within 3 business days of the Employee notifying the Company that it is in breach.  With respect to the event described in (ii) above, the Employee will be deemed to have been required to relocate (“Deemed Relocation”) in the event that: (x) the Company has required or is requiring that he work in a location that is more than 50 miles from New York, New York, for more than 55% of his regular working hours during any six (6) consecutive month period during the term of this Agreement, and (y) the following additional provisions are satisfied: (a) the Employee shall have provided notice to the Company within a period not to exceed 90 days that a Deemed Relocation event under this Agreement has occurred, and (b) the Company does not remedy the Deemed Relocation event within 30 days of such notice by the Employee.

 

7.           Disability.  If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the Employee is completely disabled in the written opinion of a physician mutually agreeable to the Employee (or his legal representative) and the Company, or in the event that no such physician is chosen, if the Employee is unable to perform his services on substantially a full-time basis for a period in excess of six consecutive months, the Company shall be entitled to reduce the salary (including bonus) paid to the Employee by subtracting from such salary and bonus (i) the salary of such

 

person as is hired by the Company to perform the office of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and (ii) any amounts received by the Employee from any disability insurance policy maintained by the Company in favor of the Employee; provided, however, that in no event shall the salary (including bonus) paid to the Employee plus any disability insurance proceeds actually paid to the Employee be less than the minimum annual salary applicable in such year.  In no event will Employee's salary and bonus be reduced by more than 50% during the first three years of the Term.

 

8.           Death.  The Employee's employment shall be terminated as a result of the Employee's death; provided, however, that in such event of the Employee’s death prior to the expiration of the Term, the Company shall pay to the Employee's estate an amount equal to one half of the annual Base Salary plus any earned but unpaid bonus.  Such payment shall be made in a lump sum immediately following the Employee’s death.

 

9.           Confidential Information; Non-Competition; Enforceability.

 

(a)           The Employee shall not at any time, whether before or after the termination of this Agreement, divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company or any subsidiary thereof) any knowledge or information with respect to confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices, material, or research or development work of the Company or any subsidiary thereof, or with respect to any other confidential or secret aspect of the business of the Company or any subsidiary thereof.

 

(b)           For a period of one year after the termination of his employment, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, engage or become interested in (as owner, stockholder, partner or otherwise) the operation of any business similar to or in competition (direct or indirect) with the Company within the United States.  If any court construes the covenant in this Section 9 or any part thereof, to be unenforceable because of its duration or the area covered thereby, the court shall have the power to reduce the duration or area to the extent necessary so that such provision is enforceable.  This paragraph 9(b) shall not apply to the Employee’s ownership of less than 5% of the stock of a corporation whose stock is traded on a nationally recognized stock exchange.

 

(c)           The covenants set forth in this Section 9 shall be deemed separable and the invalidity of any covenant shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other covenant.  If any period of time or limitation of geographical area stated in Section 9(b) is longer or greater than the maximum period or geographical area permitted by law, then the period of time or geographical area stated therein shall be deemed to be such maximum permissible period of time or geographical area, as the case may be.  All parties recognize that the foregoing covenants are a prime consideration for the Company to enter into this Agreement and that the Company's remedies at law for damages in the event of any breach shall be inadequate.  In the event that there is a breach of any of the foregoing covenants, the Company shall be entitled to institute and prosecute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce specific performance of any such covenants by the Employee or to enjoin the Employee from performing acts in breach of any such covenant.

 

10.           Tax Withholding.  The Company shall withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, local or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

 

11.           Effect of Prior Agreements.  This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior agreements between the Company or any predecessor of the Company and the Employee.

 

12.           Notices. All notices that are required or may be given pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be in writing and will be sufficient in all respects if given in writing and (i) delivered personally, (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or (iii) sent via a responsible overnight courier, to the parties at their respective addresses set forth above, or to such other address or addresses as either party will have designated in writing to the other party hereto. The date of the giving of such notices delivered personally or by carrier will be the date of their delivery and the date of giving of such notices by certified or registered mail will be the date five days after the posting of the mail.  A copy of any notices provided to the Employee under this provision shall be sent to Bob Marshall at ***@***, or such other party or address as the Employee may designate in writing.

 

13.           General Provisions.

 

(a)           Nonassignability.  Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall be assignable by the Employee or his beneficiaries or legal representatives without the Company's prior written consent; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 13(a) shall preclude (i) the Employee from designating a beneficiary to receive any benefit payable hereunder following his death, or (ii) the executors, administrators, or other legal representatives of the Employee or his estate from assigning any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

 

(b)           No Attachment.  Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation or to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall be null, void and of no effect.

 

(c)           Binding Agreement.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Employee and the Company and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

(d)           Compliance with 409A.

 

(i)           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, it is intended that the provisions of this Agreement satisfy the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder (“Section 409A”) and this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered, as necessary, so that the payments and benefits set forth herein shall be exempt from or shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(ii)           To the extent that the Company determines that any provision of this Agreement would cause the Employee to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A, the Company shall be entitled to reform such provision to attempt to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A.  To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to the Employee and the Company without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

(iii)           Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement or elsewhere to the contrary, if on his termination date the Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A, any payments or benefits due upon, or within the six month period following and due to,  a termination of the Employee’s employment that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and which do not otherwise qualify under the exemptions under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1, shall be paid or provided to the Employee in a lump sum on the earlier of (1) the first day following the six month anniversary of the Employee’s separation from service (as such term is defined in Section 409A) for any reason other than death, and (2) the date of the Employee’s death, and any remaining payments and benefits shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for such payment or benefit.

 

14.           Modification and Waiver.

 

(a)           Amendment of Agreement.  This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto, and approved by a majority of the members of the Board who were not nominated by the Employee.

 

(b)           Waiver.  No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such waiver or estoppel.  No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

15.           Severability.  If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement not held so invalid, and each such other provision shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way affect the rest of such provision not held so invalid, and the rest of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Agreement, shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect

 

16.           Headings.  The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

17.           Governing Law.  This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of New York, and its validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement shall be governed by the laws of said State other than the conflict of laws provisions of such laws.

 

18.           Survival of Provisions. Neither the termination of this Agreement, nor of the Employee's employment hereunder, will terminate or affect in any manner any provision of this Agreement that is intended by its terms to survive such termination, including without limitation, the provisions of paragraph 9 hereof.

 

19.           Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Employee in the event the Employee is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit, or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that the Employee is an officer or director of the Company against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Employee in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if the Employee acted in good faith and in a manner the Employee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Employee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its officers thereunto duly authorized, and the Employee has signed this Agreement, on October 15, 2013.

 

		CINEDIGM CORP.
		By:	/s/ Chris McGurk
		Name:		Chris McGurk
		Title:		Chairman & CEO
		Employee
		/s/ Adam M. Mizel
		Adam M. Mizel