EmploymentAgreement
Exhibit 10.3
Employment Agreement
This Employment Agreement (the Agreement), dated as of August 1, 2006 is entered into between SkyPostal, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company) whose address is 7805 NW 15th Street, Miami, Florida 33126, and A.J. Hernandez (the Executive) whose address is at 7440 SW 115 St. Miami, Florida 33156.
Recitals
A. The Company is engaged in international mail distribution services; and,
B. The Company desires to employ the Executive in connection with such business and as Chief Operating Officer and the Executive is willing to accept such employment, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Agreement
In consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual promises set forth in this Agreement, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company hereby employs the Executive as Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and the Executive hereby accepts such employment, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall be for five (5) years, commencing on the date hereof (the Commencement Date) and ending on the fifth anniversary of the Commencement Date, subject to earlier termination pursuant to the provisions of Section 10. This Agreement may be renewed thereafter only by a writing duly executed by both parties
3. Duties. During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company and shall perform all duties commensurate with his position and as may reasonably be assigned to him from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board). The Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The Executive shall devote his full business time and energies to the business and affairs of the Company and shall use his reasonable efforts, skills and abilities to promote the interests of the Company and to diligently and competently perform the duties of his position.
4. Compensation and Benefits. From and after the Commencement Date:
(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay compensation to the Executive at a gross rate of $175,000 per year (as in effect from time to time, the Salary) less all applicable tax withholdings, subject to periodic increase from time to time upon the review and determination of the Board in its discretion, which review shall be conducted no less frequently than annually on or about May 1st of each year. The Executives Salary shall be payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices and policies of the Company.
(b) Bonus Compensation. The Company shall pay to the Executive bonus compensation (Bonus Compensation) equal to one percent (1%) of the net income before taxes for each fiscal year, commencing with the current fiscal year of the Company, which bonus shall be payable at the end of the first quarter after conclusion of each fiscal.
(c) Vesting Stock Sale. The Executive shall also receive an option to purchase 2,226,154 shares of the Companys common stock, $0.0001 par value, at an exercise price of US$0.30 per share. The Executive will execute the purchase of these shares at the strike price of US$0.30 and
the company will accept a note for payment of said shares at Prime Rate as reported in the Wall Street Journal on the first day of every month. Payable in full on November 30, 2010. The Company will retain the right to repurchase the unvested shares as follows:
The Unvested Share Repurchase Right shall terminate with respect to the Unvested Shares for which it is not timely exercised. In addition, the Unvested Share Repurchase Right shall terminate and cease to be exercisable, and such Purchased Shares shall cease to be Unvested Shares and Purchaser shall thereupon acquire a vested interest therein (such shares to be hereinafter called the Vested Shares) as to one-third (1/3) of Purchasers Purchased Shares on November 1, 2008 and each of November 1, 2009; and November 1, 2010; provided, however, that one hundred percent (100%) of the Purchased Shares shall become Vested Shares upon the earliest to occur of, (i) Liquidity Event, and (ii) termination of Purchasers employment arrangement with the Company without Cause.
(d) Employee Benefits. During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in or benefit from, in accordance with the eligibility and other provisions thereof, such medical, life and disability insurance, pension, retirement, life insurance, bonus, profit sharing, 401(k) plans or policies (which shall include at a minimum medical insurance coverage (health, dental and supplemental insurance) for the Executive and his family) and such other benefits as the Company may make available to, or have in effect for, its executive personnel and employees from time to time.
(e) Life Insurance. The Company will obtain a whole life insurance policy in the amount of $2 million on the life of the Executive naming the Company as beneficiary. Upon termination of the Executives employment with the Company, the Company will cause the policy to be transferred to the Executives nominated beneficiary. The Executive will be responsible for all costs of such policy upon the change in beneficiary.
(f) Disability Insurance. During the term of this Agreement, the Company agrees to provide Executive with Disability Insurance that will cover at least eighty (80%) of the Executives Base Salary in the event of his inability to work.
(g) Directors and Officers Liability Insurance. During the term of this Agreement and for a period of five (5) years after the Executive ceases to be a director, the Company agrees to provide Executive with Directors and Officers Liability Insurance coverage of a minimum of $5 million.
(h) Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to twenty one (21) business days paid vacation in each calendar year and shall also be entitled to paid sick leave, holidays and other similar benefits in accordance with policies of the Company from time to time in effect for its executive personnel generally.
(i) Communications Equipment. The Company acknowledges that the Executive has provided his own personal lap top and cellular telephone for use in the business of the Company that receives and transmits electronic correspondence. The Company will pay the Executives phone service and usage and provide email service thru the Companys servers. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company acknowledges that the cellular telephone and personal lap top are the Executives personal property and shall be retained by Executive.
(j) Car Allowance. In lieu of a Company car, during the term of this Agreement, the Company will pay Executive a car allowance of One Thousand Dollars (US$1000) per month. Any reasonable maintenance expenses such as replacement tires, service maintenance and repairs will also be paid by the Company. In addition, during the Term of this Agreement, the Corporation shall provide Executive with a gas card.
(k) Association Dues. During the Term of this Agreement, the Corporation may pay reasonable initiation fees and dues payable in connection with the Executives membership(s) in
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those clubs and activities that in the opinion of the Board are in furtherance and directly related to the active conduct of the Corporations business and are consistent with sound tax planning.
(l) Federal Income Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold from compensation, bonuses and benefits payable under this Agreement, or arrange for the payment of, federal, state, local or other taxes as required pursuant to law or governmental regulation or ruling.
(m) Indemnity. In addition to any and all other indemnity rights to which the Executive may be entitled under the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, or otherwise, the Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the maximum extent permitted by law or future legislation or by current or future judicial or administrative decision (but, in the case of any future legislation or decision, only to the extent that it permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior to the legislation or decision) for any and all such director, losses, claims, suits, proceedings, arbitrations, mediations, liabilities, fines, assessments, settlements, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), whether suit is instituted or not and, if instituted, whether at any trial or appellate level (collectively, the Liabilities), which may arise in connection with, as a result of, or based upon the performance of Executives duties hereunder as an employee or director or his employment by the Company, including, without limitation, any derivative suits or other suits brought by or on behalf of the shareholders of the Company. In the event of any claim against the Executive which may give rise to Liabilities hereunder, the Executive shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Company, and the Company shall assume the defense thereof at its own cost and expense. Costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by Executive in defending a civil or criminal suit, action or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking to repay all amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized by the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise. If this subsection, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, or any portion thereof, is invalidated on any ground by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Company nevertheless shall indemnify Executive to the fullest extent permitted by all portions of this subsection, Articles of Incorporation or Bylaw that has not been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by law.
5. Reimbursement of Business Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, upon submission of reasonable supporting documentation in accordance with such guidelines as may be established from time to time by the Board, the Executive shall be reimbursed by the Company for all reasonable business expenses incurred by the Executive on behalf of the Company in connection with the performance of services under this Agreement. Reimbursement will be made within thirty (30) days of submission of properly documented expense reports.
6. Representation of Executive. The Executive represents and warrants that he is not a party to, or bound by, any agreement or commitment, or subject to any restriction, including, but not limited to, agreements related to previous employment containing confidentiality or non-compete covenants, which now or in the future may adversely affect the business of the Company or the performance by the Executive of his duties under this Agreement.
7. Company Property.
(a) The Company shall be the sole owner of all products and proceeds resulting from the Executives services hereunder, including, but not limited to, all materials, ideas, concepts, formats, developments, arrangements, packages, programs and other intellectual property that the Company develops or creates during Executives employment hereunder, free and clear of any claims by the Executive (or anyone claiming under the Executive) of any kind or character whatsoever. The Executive agrees, at the request and cost of the Company, to execute such assignments, certificates or other instruments as the Company may from time to time deem reasonably necessary or desirable to evidence, establish, maintain, perfect, protect, enforce or defend its right, title and interest in or to any such properties. Upon the termination of the Executives employment for any reason whatsoever, all
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documents, records, notebooks, equipment, price lists, specifications, programs, customer, and prospective customer list and other materials which refer or relate to any aspect of the Companys business which are in the possession of the Executive (including all copies thereof), shall be promptly returned to the Company.
(b) The Executive agrees that all processes, copyrights, trademarks, technologies and/or inventions (Inventions), including new contributions, improvements, brands, logos, ideas and discoveries, whether or not patentable or eligible for trademark or copyright protection, conceived, developed, invented or made by him during his employment by the Company shall belong to the Company, provided that such Inventions grew out of the Executives work with the Company, are related in any manner to the Companys business or are conceived or made on the Companys time or with the use of the Companys facilities or materials. The Executive shall (i) promptly disclose such Inventions to the Company; (ii) assign to the Company at the Companys cost, without additional compensation, all patent and other rights to such Inventions for the United States and foreign countries; (iii) sign all papers reasonably necessary to carry out the foregoing; and (iv) at the cost of the Company, give testimony in support of his inventorship.
8. Confidentiality; Non-compete.
(a) The Executive acknowledges that as a result of his employment with the Company, the Executive has and will continue to have knowledge of, and access to, the proprietary and confidential information of the Company (collectively, the Confidential Information). Accordingly, except as otherwise required by law, the Executive shall not, at any time during the term of this Agreement or for a one year period after the termination of this Agreement, use, reveal, report, publish, transfer or otherwise disclose to any Person, any of the Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Board, except to responsible officers, employees, advisers and consultants of the Company and other responsible persons who are in a contractual or fiduciary relationship with the Company and who have a need to know such information for purposes in the best interests of the Company. For purposes hereof; Confidential Information shall not include any information which: (i) at the time of disclosure is within the public domain; (ii) after disclosure becomes a part of the public domain or generally known within the industry through no fault, act or failure to act, error, effort or breach of this Agreement by the Executive; or (c) is required by order, statute or regulation, of any governmental authority to be disclosed to any federal or state agency, court or other body.
(b) If Confidential Information known to the Executive or in his possession is subpoenaed, subject to a demand for production, or any other form of legal process issued with respect to the Confidential Information by any judicial, regulatory, administrative, legislative or governmental authority, or any other Person, the Executive agrees to notify the Company promptly that such subpoena, demand or other legal process has been received. The Executive agrees to use, at the Companys request and expense, his commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with the requirements of applicable law, to protect the Confidential Information from disclosure and to cooperate with the Company in seeking protection from disclosure of the Confidential Information.
(c) Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Executive shall promptly deliver to the Company all originals and all copies that are in the Executives possession or control of the following: all customer lists, drawings, manuals, letters, notes, notebooks, reports and all other materials, including those of a secret or confidential nature, relating to the business of the Company.
(d) So long as the Executive remains employed by the Company and for a period of six (6) months after the termination of his employment (the Restricted Period), the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, engage or have an interest, anywhere in South Florida or any other geographic area where the Company does business or in which its products are marketed at the time of termination, alone or in association with others, as principal, officer, agent, employee, director, partner or stockholder (except as an employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Affiliates), in any business competitive
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with the business engaged in by the Company. During the Restricted Period, the Executive shall also not recruit or otherwise solicit or induce any person who is an employee of the Company to terminate his or her employment with the Company or hire any person who has left the employ of the Company during the preceding year. The ownership or control of up to five percent (5%) of the outstanding voting securities or securities of any class of a company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall not be deemed to be a violation of the provisions of this Section 10. In addition, commercialization of the GPS Based PDA Algorithm Process by Executive shall not be deemed prohibited by this Section 10. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10(d), in the event that (i) the Executive is terminated for any reason (other than for Cause (as hereinafter defined)), or (ii) the Company materially breaches this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 10(d) shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.
9. Remedies. The parties agree that, in the event of a breach of the provisions of Section 8, the Company would suffer irreparable harm. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that, in addition to any other remedies available to the Company, the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable relief to secure the enforcement of thereof. If any provisions of Section 7 relating to the time period, scope of activities, geographic area of restrictions or otherwise is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum permissible time period, scope of activities, geographic area or other matter of public policy, the maximum time period, scope of activities, geographic area or other matter, as the case may be, shall be reduced to the maximum which such court deems enforceable.
10. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated prior to the expiration of the term set forth in Section 2 upon the occurrence of any of the events set forth in, and subject to the terms of, this Section 10.
(a) Death. Upon the death of the Executive during the Term of Employment, the Company shall (i) pay to the estate of the deceased Executive any unpaid Base Salary through the Executives date of death, (ii) pay to the estate of the deceased Executive his accrued but unpaid Incentive Compensation, if any, for any Bonus Period ending on or before the Executives date of death, (iii) continue to pay to the estate of the deceased Executive the Base Salary the Executive was receiving prior to his death under Section 4.0 hereof for a period of 3 months following the Executives death, in the manner and at such times as the Base Salary otherwise would have been payable to the Executive. In addition, in the event that the Executives spouse and/or children shall be eligible and shall elect to receive COBRA coverage under the Companys health plans, the Company shall pay the premium payments applicable to such COBRA coverage during the applicable COBRA continuation coverage period. The Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of the Executives death, subject, however to the provisions of Section 5.0 and payment of compensation for unused vacation days that have accumulated during the calendar year in which such termination occurs).
(b) Disability. The Company shall at all times have the right, upon written notice to the Executive, to terminate the Term of Employment, if the Executive shall become entitled to benefits under the Companys disability plan as then in effect, or, if the Executive shall as the result of mental or physical incapacity, illness or disability, become unable to perform his obligations hereunder for a period of 150 days in any 12-month period. The Company shall have sole discretion based upon competent medical advice to determine whether the Executive continues to be disabled. Upon any termination pursuant to this Section 10.0, the Company shall (i) pay to the Executive any unpaid Base Salary through the effective date of termination specified in such notice, (ii) pay to the Executive his accrued but unpaid Incentive Compensation, if any, for any Bonus Period ending on or before the date of termination of the Executives employment with the Company, (iii) pay to the Executive a severance payment equal to 12 months of the Executives Base Salary at the time of the termination of the Executives employment with the Company, such amount to be paid in the manner and at such times as the Base Salary otherwise would have been payable to the Executive. The Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination,
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subject, however to the provisions of Section 5.0, and payment of compensation for unused vacation days that have accumulated during the calendar year in which such termination occurs).
(c ) Cause. This Agreement may be terminated at the Companys option, immediately upon written notice to the Executive for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, Cause shall mean Executives (i) conviction for fraud or embezzlement; or (ii) willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a written demand is delivered to him by the Company, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes that he has not substantially performed his duties. For purposes of this Agreement, no act or failure to act by Executive shall be deemed willful or negligent unless done, or admitted to be done, in bad faith or without the reasonable belief that the act or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Any act or failure to act on the basis of authority given by a resolution duly adopted by the Companys Board of Directors or on the basis of advice given by legal counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to have been done, or omitted to be done, in good faith and in the best interest of the Company. In addition to the foregoing, no termination of Executives employment shall be for Cause unless such termination shall have been authorized in advance by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and delivered to Executive following a meeting of the Board of Directors at which Executive shall have been afforded a reasonable opportunity to refute the purported grounds for termination for Cause.
(d) Termination by Executive.
i. The Executive shall at all times have the right, upon ninety (90) days written notice to the Company, to terminate the Term of Employment.
ii. Upon termination of the Term of Employment pursuant to this Section d (ii) (that is not a termination under Section d (iv) by the Executive without Good Reason, the Company shall (i) pay to the Executive any unpaid Base Salary through the effective date of termination specified in such notice and (ii) pay to the Executive his accrued but unpaid Incentive Compensation, if any, for any Bonus Period ending on or before the termination of Executives employment with the Company. The Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, subject, however, to the provisions of Section f (i), and payment of compensation for unused vacation days that have accumulated during the calendar year in which such termination occurs).
iii.. Upon termination of the Term of Employment pursuant to this Section (d) (that is not a termination under Section (f) ) by the Executive for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive the same amounts that would have been payable by the Company to the Executive under Section (e) of this Agreement if the Term of Employment had been terminated by the Company without Cause. The Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 5, and payment of compensation for unused vacation days that have accumulated during the calendar year in which such termination occurs).
iv.. For purposes of this Agreement, Good Reason shall mean (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executives position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 3 of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 3 of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company requiring the Executives principal place of employment to be at any location other than Miami, Florida, or the Company requiring the Executive to travel in excess of the amount of travel required by the Company prior to the date of this Agreement; or
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(iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executives employment otherwise than for Cause pursuant to Section 10 (c), or by reason of the Executives disability pursuant to Section 10 (b) of this Agreement, prior to the Expiration Date.
(e) Termination Without Cause. At any time the Company shall have the right to terminate the Term of Employment by written notice to the Executive. Upon any termination pursuant to this Section 10 (e) (that is not a termination under any of Sections 10 (a), 10 (b), 10 (c), 10 (d) or 10 (f), the Company shall (i) pay to the Executive any unpaid Base Salary through the effective date of termination specified in such notice, (ii) pay to the Executive the accrued but unpaid Incentive Compensation, if any, for any Bonus Period ending on or before the date of the termination of the Executives employment with the Company, (iii) continue to pay the Executives Base Salary and Incentive Compensation through the end of the term of this agreement from the date of termination hereunder (the Continuation Period), in the manner and at such time as the Base Salary and Incentive Compensation otherwise would have been payable to the Executive. The Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 5.0, and payment of compensation for unused vacation days that have accumulated during the calendar year in which such termination occurs).
(f) Change in Control of the Company.
i.. Payments. Unless otherwise provided in Section 10 (f) hereof, in the event that a Change in Control (as defined in paragraph (ii) of this Section 10 (f) in the Company shall occur during the Term of Employment, the Company shall (i) pay to the Executive any unpaid Base Salary through the effective date of termination, (ii) pay to the Executive the Incentive Compensation, if any, not yet paid to the Executive for any year prior to such termination, at such time as the Incentive Compensation otherwise would have been payable to the Executive, (iii) pay to the Executive his Termination Year Bonus, if any, at the time provided in Section 4 (b) hereof, and (iv) pay to the Executive within thirty (30) days of the termination of his employment hereunder, a single lump sum payment equal to 100% of the Executives annual Base Salary, Incentive Compensation, and the pro-rata value of the fringe benefits (based upon their cost to the Company) for the year immediately preceding the year in which his employment terminates. The Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for (x) reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 5.0, and (y) payment of compensation for unused vacation days that have accumulated during the calendar year in which such termination occurs).
ii.. For purposes of this Agreement, the term Change in Control shall mean approval by the shareholders of the Company of (i) a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of corporate transaction or series of transactions, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation or other transaction do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated companys then outstanding voting securities, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other transaction, (ii) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (iii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (unless such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, liquidation, dissolution or sale is subsequently abandoned).
(g). Resignation. Upon any termination of employment pursuant to this Section 10 (d), the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned as an officer, and if he was then serving as a director of the Company, as a director, and if required by the Board, the Executive hereby agrees to immediately execute a resignation letter to the Board.
(h). Survival. The provisions of this Section 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, as applicable.
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(i) Notice of Termination. A termination of the Executives employment under this Agreement shall be communicated by the terminating party by written notice of termination (Notice of Termination) that shall include (i) the date such termination is to be effective; (ii) the specific termination provision in this Section 10 upon which the terminating party has relied; and (iii) except for a termination under Section 10(a), the facts and circumstances claimed by the terminating party that provide a basis for the termination of the Executives employment under the provision indicated in the Notice of Termination.
11. Effect of Termination.
(a) Upon termination of the Executives employment under Section 10(a), 10(b), or 10(c), the Company shall have no further obligation under this Agreement to make any payments to or bestow any benefits on the Executive after the Termination Date (as defined below), other than payments and benefits accrued and due and payable to the Executive prior to the Termination Date and except in the event of a termination under Section 12(c), the pro rata Bonus Compensation for the fiscal year thereafter ending. For purposes of this Agreement, Termination Date means (i) if the Executives employment is terminated pursuant to Section 10(a) of this Agreement, the date of the Executives death; (ii) if the Executives employment is terminated by virtue of the expiration of this Agreement, the end of the Term; or (iii) if the Executives employment is terminated pursuant to Section 10(b), 10(c) or 10(d), a date not earlier than sixty (60) days after the date of the Executives receipt of Notice of Termination.
(b) If after a Change in Control (i) the Executives employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or (ii) is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason, then the parties agree that the provisions of Section 10(d) shall terminate and be of no further force and effect and, in addition to payments and benefits accrued and due and payable to the Executive prior to the Termination Date and the pro rata Bonus Compensation for the fiscal year thereafter ending, the Company shall pay to the Executive as severance, within five (5) business days after the Termination Date, a lump sum payment equal to the greater of (i) the balance of his Salary for the remainder of the existing term of this Agreement, or (ii) one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of his annual Salary as then in effect. The Company shall also provide Executive with all fringe benefits enjoyed by him at the Termination Date (on a basis consistent with the basis upon which such benefits were provided prior to such termination), until the second anniversary of the Termination Date or, to the extent that Executive is not eligible to participate in any Company fringe benefit plans (by the terms of any such plan), the after tax value of providing such benefits until the second anniversary of the Termination Date.
(c) For the purposes of all retirement plans of the Company applicable to the Executive and in effect on the date of the Notice of Termination, the Company shall provide for payment of retirement or death benefits to the Executive or his surviving spouse that are calculated to reflect service credits for the period ending on the Termination Date, as though the Executive were an Executive of the Company throughout this period.
(d) Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason, any disability insurance policy and life insurance policy maintained by the Company on the Executive shall be transferred into the name of the Executive at no cost to the Executive to the extent permitted under such policies.
12. Informal Dispute Resolution Procedure. Except as set forth below, the parties agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to the employment relationship between them and/or this Agreement, including the termination of that relationship and any disputes as to the enforceability or applicability of this dispute resolution provision, shall be resolved under the following procedures:
(a) The party claiming to be aggrieved shall furnish to the other party a written statement of the grievance identifying any witnesses or documents that support the grievance and the relief requested or proposed.
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(b) If the other party does not agree within five (5) business days after receipt of the statement to furnish promptly the relief requested or proposed, or otherwise does not satisfy the demand of the party claiming to be aggrieved within five business days after receipt of the statement, the parties shall promptly submit the dispute to nonbinding mediation before a mediator to be jointly selected by the parties. The Company will pay the cost of the mediation.
(c) If the mediation does not produce a resolution of the dispute within five business days after mediation commences, the parties hereby agree to submit any such dispute, controversy or claim to binding arbitration in conformance with the J*A*M*S/ENDISPUTE Arbitration Rules and Procedures for Employment Disputes (Employment Rules) but expressly excluding Rule 20 thereof, and further provided that, notwithstanding Rule 14 thereof, the parties hereby agree that the location of any such arbitration shall be Miami, Florida.
(d) The arbitrator shall have the authority to grant any relief authorized by law or in equity; provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit the right of either party to seek temporary injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall not have the authority to modify, change or refuse to enforce the terms of this Agreement. Any relief granted hereunder can be enforced exclusively by a court of competent jurisdiction in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The parties hereby irrevocably submit in any such arbitration suit, action or proceeding to be located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and waive any and all other forums and objections to such jurisdiction or venue that they may have under the laws of any state or country, including, without limitation, any argument that jurisdiction, situs and/or venue are inconvenient or otherwise improper. The prevailing party in any dispute between the parties, including but not limited to an action to enforce arbitration or an arbitration award, shall be entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys fees and costs, including costs of arbitration notwithstanding Rule 27 of the Employment Rules.
(e) Arbitration shall be the exclusive final remedy for all disputes between the parties, and the parties agree that no dispute shall be submitted to arbitration if the party claiming to be aggrieved has not complied with the preliminary steps in paragraphs (a) and (b) above.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to seek equitable relief pursuant to Section 11 in the event of a breach of Section 10 of this Agreement. In such event, the parties hereby irrevocably submit in any such arbitration suit, action or proceeding to be located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and waive any and all other forums and objections to such jurisdiction or venue that they may have under the laws of any state or country, including, without limitation, any argument that jurisdiction, situs and/or venue are inconvenient or otherwise improper.
13. Miscellaneous
(a) Survival. The provisions of Sections 4(g), (i) and (m), 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
(b) Entire Agreement: Counterparts. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties regarding the subject matter hereof and merges and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous agreements between the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. Delivery of executed signature pages hereof by facsimile transmission shall constitute effective and binding execution and delivery hereof.
(c) Modification. This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally, and no modification, termination or attempted waiver of any of the provisions hereof shall be binding unless in writing and signed by the parties hereto; provided, however, that Executives compensation may be increased at any time by the Company without in any way affecting any of the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, which in all other respects shall remain in full force and effect
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(d) Waiver. Failure of a party to enforce one or more of the provisions of this Agreement or to require at any time performance of any of the obligations hereof shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provisions by such party nor to in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or such partys right thereafter to enforce any provision of this Agreement, nor to preclude such party from taking any other action at any time which it would legally be entitled to take. All waivers to be effective must be signed by the waiving party.
(e) Successors and Assigns. Neither party shall have the right to assign this personal Agreement, or any rights or obligations hereunder, without the written consent of the other party. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties hereto and their respective legal representatives, heirs, executors, beneficiaries, estates, personal representatives, legatees, successors and permitted assigns.
(f) Additional Acts. The Executive and the Company each agrees to execute, acknowledge and deliver and file, or cause to be executed, acknowledged and delivered and filed, any and all further instruments, agreements or documents as may be reasonably necessary or expedient in order to consummate the transactions provided for in this Agreement and to do any and all further acts and things as may be reasonably necessary or expedient in order to carry out the purpose and intent of this Agreement.
(g) Communications. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given at the time personally delivered or five days after being deposited in the United States mail enclosed in a registered or certified postage prepaid envelope and addressed to the addresses set forth below, or to such other address as any party may specify by notice to the other party; provided, however, that any notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
To the Company: | SkyPostal, Inc. |
| 7805 NW 15th Street, |
| Miami, FL 33126 |
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To the Executive: | A.J. Hernandez |
| 7440 SW 115 St |
| Miami, FL 33356 |
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With a copy to : | Hunton & Williams |
| 1111 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2500 |
| Miami, Florida 33131 |
| Attn : Abigail C. Watts-FitzGerald, Esq. |
(h) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement and the provision held to be invalid or unenforceable shall be enforced as nearly as possible according to its original terms and intent to eliminate such invalidity or unenforceability.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.
(j) Definitions. For purposes hereof, (i) an Affiliate of any person means any Person or group (now or hereafter existing) controlling, controlled by or under common control with, the specified person or entity. and control of a person or entity (including, with correlative meaning, the terms control by and under common control with) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of an entity or individual, whether
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through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise, and (ii) a Person means any Individual, partnership, firm, trust, association, corporation, joint venture, joint stock company, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, governmental authority or other entity or organization.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has duly executed this Agreement as of the date set forth above.
SkyPostal, Inc. | ||
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By: |
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| Name: Albert P. Hernandez | |
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | |
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Executive: | ||
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| A.J. Hernandez | |
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