Employment Agreement, dated August 22, 2018, by and between Solis Tek Inc. and Alan Lien

Exhibit 10.01

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated August 22, 2018 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Solis Tek Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of Nevada (the “Company”), and Alan Lien, an individual (the “Executive”) with reference to the following facts:

WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as the President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to retain Executive as its President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter into this Agreement directly between Executive and the Company, on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, which will supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and Executive, oral or written with respect to its subject matter.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(b) “Cause” means any of the following:

provided, however, that prior to the determination that “Cause” under this Section 1(b) has occurred, the Board shall (A) provide to Executive in writing, in reasonable detail, the reasons for the determination that such “Cause” exists, (B) other than with respect to clause (v) above which specifies the applicable period of time for Executive to remedy his breach, afford Executive a reasonable opportunity to remedy any such breach, (C) provide Executive an opportunity to be heard by the Board (with counsel present) prior to the final decision to terminate Executive’s employment hereunder for such “Cause” and (D) make any decision that such “Cause” exists in good faith and with the approval of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the independent members of the Board. For purposes hereof, no act shall be deemed “willful” if taken (or omitted) on the reasonable belief that it was in the best interest of the Company or upon the advice of counsel or other expert.

The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Company or any successor or affiliate thereof to discharge or dismiss Executive for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to constitute grounds for termination for Cause.

(c) Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” means the first to occur of any of the following transactions that also constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5): (A) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated; (B) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the capital stock of the Company’s subsidiary corporations); (C) the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (D) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger; or (E) an acquisition of the Company in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following transactions shall not constitute a Change in Control hereunder: (i) a sale by the Company of its securities in a bona fide financing transaction; and (ii) a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company. To the extent required for compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred if such transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).

Benefits upon a Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the vesting and/or exercisability of twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding unvested equity awards then held by Executive (the “Equity Awards”) shall be accelerated as of immediately prior to the effective date of the Change of Control transaction. Further, in the event that the Equity Awards are not assumed or substituted and would otherwise terminate prior to and in connection with the Change in Control, the vesting and/or exercisability of an additional fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Awards shall be accelerated as of immediately prior to the effective date of the Change of Control transaction.

(d) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder.

(e) “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions without Executive’s written consent:

Executive must provide written notice to the Company of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events or conditions without Executive’s written consent within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of such event. The Company or any successor or affiliate shall have a period of thirty (30) days to cure such event or condition after receipt of written notice of such event from Executive. “Good Reason” shall not exist unless and until the Company fails to cure the condition within the allotted timeframe.

(f) “Involuntary Termination” means (i) Executive’s Separation from Service by reason of Executive’s discharge by the Company (or its successor(s) within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control) other than for Cause, or (ii) Executive’s Separation from Service by reason of Executive’s resignation of employment with the Company (or its successor(s) within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control) for Good Reason. Executive’s Separation from Service by reason of Executive’s death or discharge by the Company following Executive’s Permanent Disability shall not constitute an Involuntary Termination. Executive’s Separation from Service by reason of resignation from employment with the Company for Good Reason shall be an “Involuntary Termination” only if such Separation from Service occurs within six (6) months following the initial existence of the act or failure to act constituting Good Reason, and then only after an opportunity to cure has been provided in accordance with Section 1(d), or within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, as provided for hereinabove in this Sub-section.

(g) “Permanent Disability” of Executive shall be deemed to have occurred if Executive shall become physically or mentally incapacitated or disabled or otherwise unable fully to discharge his duties hereunder for a period of ninety (90) consecutive calendar days or for one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in any one hundred eighty (180) calendar-day period. The existence of Executive’s Permanent Disability shall be determined by the Company on the advice of a physician chosen by the Company and the Company reserves the right to have Executive examined by a physician chosen by the Company at the Company’s expense.

(h) “Separation from Service,” with respect to Executive, means Executive’s “separation from service,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

(i) “Stock Awards” means all stock options, restricted stock and such other awards granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option and equity incentive award plans or agreements and any shares of stock issued upon exercise thereof.

2. Services to Be Rendered.

(a) Duties and Responsibilities. Executive shall continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The Company shall continue to nominate and recommend that Executive serve as a director on the Board and as its Chairman. In the performance of such duties, Executive shall report directly to and shall be subject to the direction of the Board. Executive hereby consents to serve as an officer and/or director of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof without any additional salary or compensation. Executive’s primary place of work shall be chosen by the Executive, in his own reasonable discretion. Executive shall also render services at such other places within or outside the United States as the Board may direct from time to time. Executive shall be subject to and comply with the policies and procedures generally applicable to senior executives of the Company to the extent the same are not inconsistent with any term of this Agreement.

(b) Exclusive Services. Executive shall at all times faithfully, industriously and to the best of his ability, experience and talent perform to the satisfaction of the Board all of the duties that may be assigned to Executive hereunder and shall devote substantially all of his productive time and efforts to the performance of such duties. Executive agrees that he will not join any boards, other than community and civic boards (which do not interfere with his duties to the Company), without the prior approval of the Board, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Except as provided below, the Company shall be entitled to all benefits, profits or other issues arising from or incidental to all work, services and advice performed or provided by Executive. Provided that the activities listed below do not materially interfere with Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company and are not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Employee from:

3. Compensation and Benefits. The Company shall pay or provide, as the case may be, to Executive the compensation and other benefits and rights set forth in this Section 3.

(a) Base Salary. As of the Effective Date, the Company shall pay to Executive a base salary (the “Base Salary”) of $280,000 per year, payable in accordance with the Company’s usual pay practices (and in any event no less frequently than monthly).

(b) Annual Salary Increase. The Base Salary shall increase at an annual rate of ten percent (10%) of the Base Salary in effect for the year immediately preceding such increase. Executive’s Base Salary shall be subject to review annually by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee and may be greater increased but not decreased.

(c) Annual Bonus. Executive shall be entitled to participate in any bonus plan that the Board and/or Compensation Committee of the Board or its designee may approve for the senior executives of the Company. Any bonus awarded under this Section 3(c) shall be calculated following the close of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates, and paid in a lump sum by no later than two and one-half (2 ½) months following the end of the fiscal year in which such bonus award is earned, provided that Executive remains employed on the date of payment (and has not given notice of resignation).

(d) Signing Bonus. The Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum signing bonus of $46,500 within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date.

(e) Performance-Based Bonus. In addition to any other compensation that Executive is entitled to under this Agreement, and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 3(d), the Company shall pay to Executive an annual performance-based bonus (the “Performance-Based Bonus”) as follows:

Any Performance-Based Bonus awarded under this Section 3(d) shall be calculated following the close of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates, and paid in a lump sum by no later than two and one-half (2 ½) months following the end of the fiscal year in which such bonus award is earned, provided that Executive remains employed on the date of payment (and has not given notice of resignation).

(f) Equity Awards. On the Effective Date, the Company shall grant to Executive an option to purchase six percent (6%) of the Company’s total outstanding shares of common stock, exercisable at any time, for a period of five (5) years at one hundred percent (100%) of the closing price on the last trading day preceding the Effective Date. Subsequently, on each of the first (1^st), second (2^nd) and third (3^rd) year anniversaries of the Effective Date, the Company shall grant to Executive an option to purchase three percent (3%) of the Company’s then total outstanding shares of common stock exercisable, for a five (5) year period from the date of each grant, at one hundred percent (100%) of the closing price on the last trading day preceding the first (1^st), second (2^nd) and third (3^rd) anniversaries of the Effective Date, respectively. Executive has the right to execute such options on a “net exercise” or similar “cashless” conversion. Executive shall also be entitled to participate in any equity or other employee benefit plan that is generally available to senior executive officers, as distinguished from general management, of the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Executive’s participation in and benefits under any such plan shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the governing document of the particular plan.

(g) Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in benefits under the Company’s benefit plans, profit sharing and arrangements, including, without limitation, any employee benefit plan or arrangement made available in the future by the Company to its employees or senior executives, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements. The Company shall have the right to amend or delete any such benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Company to its employees or senior executives and not otherwise specifically provided for herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Term (as hereinafter defined), the Company will provide, at the Company’s expense, health and major medical insurance benefits to the Executive and his family members which are at least equal to the benefits provided to the Executive and his family members immediately prior to the Effective Date.

(h) Expenses. The Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder, subject to (i) such policies as the Company may from time to time establish, (ii) Executive furnishing the Company with evidence in the form of receipts satisfactory to the Company substantiating the claimed expenditures, and (iii) Executive receiving advance approval from the Board in the case of expenses (or a series of related expenses) in excess of $5,000.

(i) Vacation. Executive shall have the right to four weeks of vacation during each successive one year period of his employment by the Company, which vacation time shall be taken at such time or times in each such one year period so as not to materially and adversely interfere with the performance of his responsibilities under this Agreement. Executive shall not be entitled to carry over any unused vacation time from one year to the next and any accrued but unused vacation time will be waived. In addition, Executive shall be entitled to additional paid time off in accordance with the policies of the Company applicable to senior management personnel from time to time.

(j) Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from amounts payable or benefits accorded to Executive under this Agreement all federal, state and local income, employment and other taxes, as and in such amounts as may be required by applicable law.

4. Employment Term. The term of this Agreement (as it may be extended by the following sentence or terminated earlier pursuant to Section 5, the (“Employment Term”) shall begin on the Effective Date and end on the fourth (4^th) anniversary of the Effective Date. The Employment Term shall be automatically extended for additional one-year periods unless, at least sixty (60) days prior to the end of the expiration of the Employment Term, Executive or the Board notifies the other party in writing (a “Non-Renewal Notice”) that it does not wish to extend such Employment Term. Executive’s employment hereunder shall be coterminous with the Employment Term, unless sooner terminated as provided in Section 5.

5. Termination; Severance. Executive shall be entitled to receive benefits upon a Separation from Service only as set forth in this Section 5:

(a) General. Either the Board or Executive may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder, for any reason, at any time prior to the expiration of the Employment Term, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other party. Upon termination of Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason, Executive shall be deemed simultaneously to have resigned from any other position or office he may at the time hold with the Company or any of its affiliates. In addition, upon termination of Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason, including, without limitation, expiration of the Employment Term, the Company shall (i) reimburse Executive for any expenses properly incurred under Section 3(g) and which have not previously been reimbursed as of the effective date of the termination, (ii) pay Executive for any accrued, but unused, vacation time as of the effective date of the termination, and (iii) pay Executive for any other accrued and unpaid compensation under Section 3, including, but not limited to, Base Salary through and including the effective date of termination (the “Termination Date”) (collectively, the “Accrued Compensation”). The Accrued Compensation will be paid in a lump sum on the Termination Date or on the first business day after the Termination Date, if the Termination Date falls on a weekend or holiday.

(b) Separation from Service by Death or Following Permanent Disability. Subject to Sections 5(e) and 10(p) and Executive’s continued compliance with Section 6, in the event of Executive’s Separation from Service as a result of Executive’s death or discharge by the Company following Executive’s Permanent Disability, Executive or Executive’s estate, as applicable, shall be entitled to receive his base salary through the end of the month in which Executive’s Separation from Service occurs as a result of Executive’s death or Permanent Disability.

(c) Severance upon Involuntary Termination. Subject to Sections 5(e) and 10(p) and Executive’s continued compliance with Section 6, if Executive’s employment is Involuntarily Terminated, Executive shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of any severance benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled under any severance plan or program of the Company, the benefits provided below, which, with respect to clause (ii) and the last sentence of clause (iii) (if applicable) will be payable in a lump sum within ten (10) days following the effective date of Executive’s Release (as hereinafter defined):

(d) Termination for Cause or Voluntary Resignation Without Good Reason. In the event of Executive’s termination of employment as a result of Executive’s discharge by the Company for Cause or Executive’s resignation without Good Reason (other than as a result of Executive’s death or Separation from Service by reason of discharge by the Company following Executive’s Permanent Disability), the Company shall not have any other or further obligations to Executive under this Agreement (including any financial obligations) except that Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Compensation. In addition, in the event of Executive’s Separation from Service as a result of Executive’s discharge by the Company for Cause or Executive’s resignation without Good Reason (other than as a result of Executive’s death or Separation from Service by reason of discharge by the Company following Executive’s Permanent Disability), all vesting of Executive’s unvested Stock Awards previously granted to him by the Company shall cease and none of such unvested Stock Awards shall be exercisable following the 90^th day following the date of such termination. The foregoing shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any and all other rights and remedies which may be available to the Company under the circumstances, whether at law or in equity.

(e) Termination in Connection with a Change in Control Event. Subject to Sections 5(f) and 10(p) and Executive’s continued compliance with Section 6, if Executive’s employment is Involuntarily Terminated within twelve (12) months after consummation of a Change in Control transaction or within ninety (90) days prior to the consummation of a Change in Control or if terminated after an agreement has been executed that contemplates the consummation of an Change in Control but before it closes, Executive shall be entitled to receive, in addition to (A) any severance benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled under any severance plan or program of the Company and (B) pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof, the vesting and/or exercisability of any outstanding unvested portions of such Stock Awards shall be automatically accelerated so as to be immediately vested and exercisable as of the date of Involuntary Termination and shall remain exercisable through the Severance Period (subject to earlier termination (A) in connection with a recapitalization or similar transaction pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans governing such Stock Awards or (B) the contractual term of the Stock Award).

(f) Release. As a condition to Executive’s receipt of any post-termination benefits pursuant to Sections 5(b), (c) or (d) above, Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s incapacity as a result of his Permanent Disability, Executive’s legal representative) shall execute and not revoke a general release of all claims in favor of the Company (the “Release”) in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company. In the event the Release does not become effective within the fifty-five (55) day period following the date of Executive’s Separation from Service, Executive shall not be entitled to the aforesaid payments and benefits.

(g) Exclusive Remedy. Except as otherwise expressly required by law (e.g., COBRA) or as specifically provided herein, all of Executive’s rights to salary, severance, benefits, bonuses and other amounts hereunder (if any) accruing after the termination of Executive’s employment shall cease upon such termination. In the event of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, Executive’s sole remedy shall be to receive the payments and benefits described in this Section 5. In addition, Executive acknowledges and agrees that he is not entitled to any reimbursement by the Company for any taxes payable by Executive as a result of the payments and benefits received by Executive pursuant to this Section 5, including, without limitation, any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code.

(h) No Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 5 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 5 be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as the result of employment by another employer or self-employment or by retirement benefits; provided, however, that loans, advances or other amounts owed by Executive to the Company may be offset by the Company against amounts payable to Executive under this Section 5.

(i) Return of the Company’s Property. In the event of Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, the Company shall have the right, at its option, to require Executive to vacate his offices prior to or on the effective date of separation and to cease all activities on the Company’s behalf. Upon Executive’s termination of employment in any manner, as a condition to Executive’s receipt of any severance benefits described in this Agreement, Executive shall immediately surrender to the Company all lists, books and records of, or in connection with, the Company’s business, and all other property belonging to the Company, it being distinctly understood that all such lists, books and records, and other documents, are the property of the Company. Executive shall deliver to the Company a signed statement certifying compliance with this Section 5(h) prior to the receipt of any severance benefits described in this Agreement.

6. Certain Covenants.

(a) Confidential Information. Executive recognizes and acknowledges that by reason of Executive’s employment by and service to the Company before, during and, if applicable, after the Employment Term, Executive will have access to certain confidential and proprietary information relating to the Company’s business, which may include, but is not limited to, unique business strategies, theories and concepts, information regarding plans, strategies, opportunities, processes, ideas, research and know-how developed by or for the Company, trade secrets, patents, other intellectual property, clinical studies, regulatory dossiers, manufacturing, marketing, personnel, financial data, technical information, methods, processes, formulae and information which Company has obtained from third parties (collectively referred to as “Confidential Information”). Executive acknowledges that such Confidential Information is a valuable and unique asset of the Company and Executive covenants that he will not, unless expressly authorized in writing by the Company, at any time during the course of Executive’s employment use any Confidential Information or divulge or disclose any Confidential Information to any person, firm or corporation except in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company and in a manner consistent with the Company’s policies regarding Confidential Information. Executive also covenants that at any time after the termination of such employment, directly or indirectly, he will not use any Confidential Information or divulge or disclose any Confidential Information to any person, firm or corporation, unless such information is in the public domain through no fault of Executive or except when required to do so by a court of law, by any governmental agency having supervisory authority over the business of the Company or by any administrative or legislative body (including a committee thereof) with apparent jurisdiction to order Executive to divulge, disclose or make accessible such information. All written Confidential Information (including, without limitation, in any computer or other electronic format) which comes into Executive’s possession during the course of Executive’s employment shall remain the property of the Company. Except as required in the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company, or unless expressly authorized in writing by the Company, Executive shall not remove any written Confidential Information from the Company’s premises, except in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company and in a manner consistent with the Company’s policies regarding Confidential Information. Upon termination of Executive’s employment, Executive agrees to return immediately to the Company all written Confidential Information (including, without limitation, in any computer or other electronic format) in Executive’s possession. As a condition of Executive’s continued employment with the Company and in order to protect the Company’s interest in such proprietary information, the Company shall be allowed to require Executive’s execution of a confidentiality agreement and/or proprietary information and inventions agreement, as reasonably requested by the Board not inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph 6(b).

(b) Solicitation of Employees. During the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage any person to leave the employment of the Company or any of its affiliates, any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates.

(c) Solicitation of Consultants and other Third Parties. During the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, hire, solicit or encourage any person to cease work with the Company or any of its affiliates, consultants, distributors, licensees or other third party partners then under contract with the Company or any of its affiliates within one year of the termination of such consultant’s engagement by the Company or any of its affiliates..

(d) Rights and Remedies Upon Breach. If Executive breaches or threatens to commit a breach of any of the provisions of this Section 6 (the “Restrictive Covenants”), the Company shall have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Company under law or in equity:

(e) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 6, the term “Company” means not only Solis Tek Inc., but also any company, partnership or entity which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with Solis Tek Inc.

7. Insurance; Indemnification.

(a) Insurance. The Company shall have the right to take out life, health, accident, “key-man” or other insurance covering Executive, in the name of the Company and at the Company’s expense in any amount deemed appropriate by the Company. Executive shall assist the Company in obtaining such insurance, including, without limitation, submitting to any required examinations and providing information and data required by insurance companies.

(b) Indemnification. Executive will be provided with indemnification against third party claims related to his work for the Company to the fullest extent permitted by California law. The Company shall provide Executive with directors and officers liability insurance coverage at least as favorable as that which the Company shall maintain for members of the Board and other executive officers.

8. General Relationship. Executive shall be considered an employee of the Company within the meaning of all federal, state and local laws and regulations including, but not limited to, laws and regulations governing unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, industrial accident, labor and taxes.

9. Representations and Warranties of Executive. Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which the Executive is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which Executive is subject, (b) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, (c) Executive is not a party to or bound by any consulting agreement, non-compete agreement, confidentiality agreement or similar agreement with any other person or entity that would affect the Company or the obligations of Executive hereunder and (d) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Executive, this Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

10. Miscellaneous.

(a) Modification; Prior Claims. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersedes all existing agreements between them concerning such subject matter. This Agreement may be amended or modified only with the written consent of Executive and an authorized representative of the Company. No oral waiver, amendment or modification will be effective under any circumstances whatsoever.

(b) Assignment; Assumption by Successor. The rights of the Company under this Agreement may, without the consent of Executive, be assigned by the Company, in its sole and unfettered discretion, to any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise, acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company. The Company will require any successor(s) (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company expressly to assume and to agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place; provided, however, that no such assumption shall relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. As used in this Agreement, the “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.

(c) Survival. The covenants, agreements, representations and warranties contained in or made in Sections 3(e), 3(f), 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment.

(d) Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating, any rights enforceable by any person not a party to this Agreement.

(e) Waiver. The failure of either party hereto at any time to enforce performance by the other party of any provision of this Agreement shall in no way affect such party’s rights thereafter to enforce the same, nor shall the waiver by either party of any breach of any provision hereof be deemed to be a waiver by such party of any other breach of the same or any other provision hereof.

(f) Section Headings. The headings of the several sections in this Agreement are inserted solely for the convenience of the parties and are not a part of and are not intended to govern, limit or aid in the construction of any term or provision hereof.

(g) Notices. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered as follows with notice deemed given as indicated: (i) by personal delivery when delivered personally; (ii) by overnight courier upon written verification of receipt; (iii) by email, telecopy or facsimile transmission upon acknowledgment of receipt of electronic transmission; or (iv) by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, upon verification of receipt. Notice shall be sent to Executive at the address listed on the Company’s personnel records and to the Company at its principal place of business, or such other address as either party may specify in writing.

(h) Severability. All Sections, clauses and covenants contained in this Agreement are severable, and in the event any of them shall be held to be invalid by any court, this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such invalid Sections, clauses or covenants were not contained herein.

(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with and subject to, the laws of the State of California applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such state without regard to its conflicts of law rules.

(j) Jurisdiction and Venue. The Company and Executive hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit, for themselves and their property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the California State courts or the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and the Company and Executive hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agree that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such California State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The Company and Executive irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. The Company and Executive agree that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

(k) Non-transferability of Interest. None of the rights of Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be assignable or transferable except through a testamentary disposition or by the laws of descent and distribution upon the death of Executive. Any attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition (other than as aforesaid) of any interest in the rights of Executive to receive any form of compensation to be made by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be void.

(l) Gender. Where the context so requires, the use of the masculine gender shall include the feminine and/or neuter genders and the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, and the word “person” shall include any corporation, firm, partnership or other form of association.

(m) Counterparts. The parties may execute this Agreement in multiple counterparts, each of which constitutes an original as against the party that signed it, and both of which together constitute one agreement. The signatures of both parties need not appear on the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.

(n) Construction. The language in all parts of this Agreement shall in all cases be construed simply, according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any of the parties hereto. Without limitation, there shall be no presumption against any party on the ground that such party was responsible for drafting this Agreement or any part thereof.

(o) Withholding and other Deductions. All compensation payable to Executive hereunder shall be subject to such deductions as the Company is from time to time required to make pursuant to law, governmental regulation or order.

(p) Code Section 409A.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.