Employment Agreement between iAsiaWorks, Inc. and Suzanne Chu

Summary

This agreement is between iAsiaWorks, Inc. and Suzanne Chu, who is employed as Vice President of Marketing. Suzanne Chu will work full-time, report to the CEO, and be based in Hong Kong. She will receive a monthly salary, be eligible for a year-end bonus, and continue to vest in her stock options. The agreement allows either party to terminate employment at any time with 14 days' notice, and provides for a severance payment if terminated without cause. The agreement also includes non-solicitation and non-disclosure obligations for Suzanne Chu.

EX-10.16 11 0011.txt EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH SUZANNE CHU EXHIBIT 10.16 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT This AGREEMENT is entered into as of May 14, 2000, by and between Suzanne Chu ("Executive") and iAsiaWorks, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"). 1. Duties and Scope of Employment. ------------------------------ (a) Position and Duties. For the term of her employment ------------------- under this Agreement, the Company agrees to employ Executive in the position of Vice President of Marketing. Executive shall report to the Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), and her position will be based at the Company's Asia regional headquarters in Hong Kong. Executive's duties will include developing and implementing the Company's worldwide marketing strategy. (b) Obligations to the Company. During the term of her -------------------------- employment, Executive shall devote her full business efforts and time to the Company; provided, however, that this shall not preclude Executive from serving as a member of the board of directors of up to three other companies to the extent such other companies do not compete with the Company and to the extent such service does not materially impact the ability of Executive to fulfill her obligations to the Company. Executive shall comply with the Company's policies and rules, as they may be in effect from time to time during the term of her employment. (c) No Conflicting Obligations. Executive represents and -------------------------- warrants to the Company that he is under no obligations or commitments, whether contractual or otherwise, that are inconsistent with her obligations under this Agreement. Executive represents and warrants that he will not use or disclose, in connection with her employment by the Company, any trade secrets or other proprietary information or intellectual property in which Executive or any other person has any right, title or interest and that her employment by the Company as contemplated by this Agreement will not infringe or violate the rights of any other person or entity. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that she has returned all property and confidential information belonging to any prior employers. (d) Commencement Date. The employment of executive by the ----------------- Company shall be governed by this agreement as of the date first written above (the "Effective Date"). (e) Term of Employment. ------------------ (i) Basic Rule. The Company agrees to continue ---------- Executive's employment, and Executive agrees to remain in employment with the Company, from the Commencement Date set forth in Section 1(d) until the date when Executive's employment terminates pursuant to Subsection (ii) below (the "Employment Period"). Executive's employment with the Company shall be "at will," which means that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive's employment at any time, for any reason, with or Without Cause. Any contrary representations, which may have been made to Executive shall be superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement shall constitute the full and complete agreement between Executive and the Company of the "at will" nature of Executive's employment, which may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company. (ii) Termination. The Company or Executive may terminate ----------- Executive's employment at any time for any reason (or no reason), and with "Cause" or "Without Cause," by giving the other party fourteen (14) days' notice in writing. Executive's employment shall terminate automatically in the event of her death. 2. Cash and Incentive Compensation. ------------------------------- (a) Salary. The Company shall pay Executive a monthly Base ------ Salary payable in Hong Kong dollars, in an amount equivalent to $12,500 U.S. dollars, less applicable withholdings and deductions in accordance with the Company's payroll policies. (The compensation specified in this Subsection (a), together with any increases in such compensation that the Company may grant from time to time, are referred to in this Agreement as "Base Salary.") (b) Bonus. Executive will be eligible to earn a year-end ----- cash bonus based on the financial and operational performance of the Company, with particular emphasis on the performance of the Company's marketing department ("Target Bonus"). The specific goals and objectives shall be determined by the Company's CEO. Executive's Target Bonus shall not exceed $37,500 U.S. dollars and the Company will determine and pay Executive's Target Bonus for the year 2000 at the end of the calendar year 2000. The criteria and monetary level of Target Bonuses for successive years of employment shall be determined by the CEO at the Company's discretion. (c) Stock Option. The unvested shares of Executive's stock ------------ option granted by the Company under the Stock Option Plan, dated _____1995 (the "Plan") shall continue to vest pursuant to the Plan. (d) Effect of Termination. --------------------- (a) (i) Termination Without Cause. If the Company ------------------------- terminates Executive's employment "Without Cause," then Executive shall receive a lump sum severance payment equal to four (4) months of her Base Salary. For all purposes under this Agreement, a termination for "Cause" shall mean a good faith determination by the Company's Board of Directors that Executive's employment be terminated for any of the following reasons: (i) willful misconduct which materially damages the Company; (ii) willful failure to attempt to substantially perform your duties with the Company after a written demand for such performance is delivered to Executive by the Board of Directors or by the CEO, which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board of Directors or CEO believes Executive has not substantially performed her duties, and which Executive does not remedy within thirty (30) days after receipt of such demand; (iii) misappropriation of the assets of the Company; or (iv) conviction of, or a plea of "guilty" or "no contest" to a felony under the laws of the United States or any state 2 thereof. A termination of Executive's employment in any other circumstance or for any other reason will be a termination "Without Cause." Vacation and Executive Benefits. During the term of her ------------------------------- employment, Executive shall be eligible for paid vacation, in accordance with the Company's standard policy for similarly situated employees, as it may be amended from time to time. During the term of her employment, Executive shall be eligible to participate in any employee benefit plans maintained by the Company for similarly situated employees, subject in each case to the generally applicable terms and conditions of the plan in question and to the determinations of any person or committee administering such plan. 3. Business Expenses. During the term of her employment, Executive ----------------- shall be authorized to incur necessary and reasonable travel and other business expenses in connection with her duties hereunder. The Company shall reimburse Executive for such expenses upon presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Company's generally applicable policies. 4. Non-Solicitation and Non-Disclosure. ----------------------------------- (a) Non-Solicitation. During the period commencing on the ---------------- date of this Agreement and continuing until the first anniversary of the date when Executive's employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, personally or through others, solicit or attempt to solicit (on Executive's own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity) for hire any employee or consultant of the Company or any of the Company's affiliates. (b) Non-Disclosure. As a condition of employment, Executive -------------- will execute the Company's standard Proprietary Information Agreement, a copy of which is attached. 5. Legal Fees. The Company will pay Executive's reasonable ---------- attorneys' fees in connection with negotiating and drafting this Agreement. 6. Successors. ---------- (a) Company's Successors. This Agreement shall be binding -------------------- upon any successor (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company's business and/or assets. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term "Company" shall include any successor to the Company's business and/or assets which becomes bound by this Agreement. (b) Executive's Successors. This Agreement and all rights ---------------------- of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. 7. Indemnity. The Company will indemnify and provide a defense to --------- Executive to the full extent permitted by law and its bylaws with respect to any claims arising out of the 3 performance of her duties as an employee, director or officer of the Company. To the same extent, the Company will pay, and subject to any legal limitations, advance all expenses, including reasonable attorney fees and costs of court- approved settlements, actually and necessarily incurred by Executive in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding and in connection with any appeal, which has been brought against Executive by reason of her service as an officer, director or agent of the Company, or her acceptance of this Agreement or the performance of her duties thereunder. The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain coverage for Executive under a liability insurance policy or policies that cover the actions of officers and directors of the Company. 8. Arbitration. Any controversy between the parties hereto involving ----------- the construction or application of any terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement, or any claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof or with your employment with the Company or any termination of that employment, will be submitted to and settled by final and binding arbitration in Palo Alto, California, in accordance with the Model Employment Dispute Resolution Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the "Rules"), or any other applicable rules of the AAA then in effect. Any arbitrator shall be selected pursuant to such Rules and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. 9. Miscellaneous Provisions. ------------------------ (a) Notice. Notices and all other communications ------ contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by overnight courier, U.S. registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid. Mailed notices shall be addressed to Executive at the home address which she most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the attention of its Secretary. (b) Modifications and Waivers. No provision of this ------------------------- Agreement shall be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time. (c) Whole Agreement. No other agreements, representations --------------- or understandings (whether oral or written) which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by either party with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement, the Proprietary Information Agreement, and applicable stock option agreements and stock plans, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. (d) Taxes. All payments made under this Agreement shall be ----- subject to reduction to reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld by law. 4 (e) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, ------------- construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California (except provisions governing the choice of law). (f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any ------------ provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect. (g) No Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and ------------- obligations of Executive hereunder are personal to Executive and may not be transferred or assigned by Executive at any time. The Company may assign its rights under this Agreement to any entity that assumes the Company's obligations hereunder in connection with any sale or transfer of all or a substantial portion of the Company's assets to such entity. (h) Headings. The headings of the paragraphs contained in -------- this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. (i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or ------------ more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year first above written. EXECUTIVE /s/ Suzanne Chu ------------------------------------- Suzanne Chu iAsiaWorks, Inc. By:/s/ Jonathan Beizer ----------------------------- Title: CFO --------- 5