Employment Offer Letter, by and between the Registrant and Steven Miller, dated October 7, 2011
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EX-10.9 8 exhibit109-sx1a1.htm EX-10.9 Document
Exhibit 10.9
JAND, Inc.
295 Lafayette Street, 5th floor
New York, NY 10012
New York, NY 10012
October 7, 2011
Steve Miller.
Dear Steve:
JAND, Inc. (the “Company”) is pleased to offer you employment on the following terms:
1.Position. Your initial title will be Chief Financial Officer, and you will initially report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company, you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the Company. By signing this letter agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.
2.Cash Compensation. The Company will pay you a starting salary at the rate of $175,000 per year, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule. This salary will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the Company’s employee compensation policies in effect from time to time. In addition, you will be eligible to be considered for an incentive bonus for each fiscal year of the Company. The bonus (if any) will be awarded based on objective or subjective criteria established by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. Your target bonus will be equal to $50,000. Any bonus for the fiscal year in which your employment begins will be prorated, based on the number of days you are employed by the Company during that fiscal year. Any bonus for a fiscal year will be paid within 2 ½ months after the close of that fiscal year, but only if you are still employed by the Company at the time of payment. The determinations of the Company’s Board of Directors with respect to your bonus will be final and binding.
3.Employee Benefits. As a regular employee of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.
4.Stock Options. Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee, you will be granted an option to purchase [689,215] shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Option”). The exercise price per share of the Option will be determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee when the Option is granted. The Option will be subject to the terms and conditions applicable to options granted under the Company’s 2011 Stock Plan (the “Plan”), as described in the Plan and the applicable Stock Option Agreement. You will vest in 25% of the Option shares after 12 months of continuous service, and the balance will vest in equal monthly installments over the next 36 months of continuous service, as described in the applicable Stock Option Agreement. In addition, if the Company is subject to a Change in Control before your service with the Company terminates, then upon and at all times after such Change in Control, the vested portion of your Option shares will be determined by adding 12 months to the actual period of service that you have
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October 7, 2021
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completed with the Company. Further, if you are subject to an Involuntary Termination within 12 months after such Change in Control, then you will vest in all of your remaining unvested Option shares.
5.Severance Benefits.
(a)General. If you are subject to an Involuntary Termination, then you will be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 5. However, this Section 5 will not apply unless you (i) have returned all Company property in your possession, (ii) have resigned as a member of the Boards of Directors of the Company and all of its subsidiaries, to the extent applicable, and (iii) have executed a general release of all claims that you may have against the Company or persons affiliated with the Company. The release must be in the form prescribed by the Company, without alterations. You must execute and return the release on or before the date specified by the Company in the prescribed form (the “Release Deadline”). The Release Deadline will in no event be later than 50 days after your Separation. If you fail to return the release on or before the Release Deadline, or if you revoke the release, then you will not be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 5.
(b)Salary Continuation. If you are subject to an Involuntary Termination, then the Company will continue to pay your base salary for a period of six months after your Separation. Your base salary will be paid at the rate in effect at the time of your Separation and in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures. The salary continuation payments will commence within 60 days after your Separation and, once they commence, will include any unpaid amounts accrued from the date of your Separation. However, if the 60-day period described in the preceding sentence spans two calendar years, then the payments will in any event begin in the second calendar year.
(c)Lump-Sum Payment in Lieu of Health Benefit. If you are subject to an Involuntary Termination, the Company will pay you a lump-sum amount equal to the product of (A) six and (B) the monthly amount the Company was paying on behalf of you and your eligible dependents with respect to the Company’s health insurance plans in which you and your eligible dependents were participants as of the day of your Separation. Subject to the Company’s having first received an effective Release pursuant to Section 5(a) above, such payment will be made within 60 days after your Separation; however, if such 60-day period spans two calendar years, then the payment will be made in the second calendar year.
6.Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. Like all Company employees, you will be required, as a condition of your employment with the Company, to sign the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
7.Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will be “at will,” meaning that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this letter agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than you).
8.Tax Matters.
(a)Withholding. All forms of compensation referred to in this letter agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law.
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October 7, 2021
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(b)Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), each payment under Sections 5(b) and (c) is hereby designated as a separate payment. If the Company determines that you are a “specified employee” under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code at the time of your Separation, then (i) the payments under Sections 5(b) and (c), to the extent that they are subject to Section 409A of the Code, will commence on the first business day following (A) expiration of the six-month period measured from your Separation or (B) the date of your death and (ii) the installments that otherwise would have been paid prior to such date will be paid in a lump sum when the salary continuation payments commence.
(c)Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation from the Company. You agree that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.
9.Interpretation, Amendment and Enforcement. This letter agreement and Exhibit A supersede and replace any prior agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the Company and constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company regarding the subject matter set forth herein. This letter agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The terms of this letter agreement and the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance or validity of this letter agreement or arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with, this letter agreement, your employment with the Company or any other relationship between you and the Company (the “Disputes”) will be governed by New York law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in New York in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.
10.Definitions. The following terms have the meaning set forth below wherever they are used in this letter agreement:
“Cause” means (a) your unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets, which use or disclosure causes material harm to the Company, (b) your material breach of any agreement between you and the Company that continues for a period of 30 days after receiving written notification of such breach from the Company’s Board of Directors, (c) your material failure to comply with the Company’s written policies or rules that continues for a period of 30 days after receiving written notification of such failure from the Company’s Board of Directors, (d) your conviction of, or your plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (e) your gross negligence or willful misconduct that continues for a period of 30 days after receiving written notification of such negligence or misconduct from the Company’s Board of Directors, (f) your failure to perform assigned duties that continues for a period of 30 days after receiving written notification of the failure from the Company’s Board of Directors or (g) your failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of the Company or its directors, officers or employees, if the Company has requested your cooperation.
“Change in Control” means (a) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, (b) the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, (c) the closing of the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in one transaction or a series of related transactions or (d) the closing of the transfer of the Company’s outstanding securities, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons if, after such closing, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold a majority
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October 7, 2021
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of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company. The foregoing notwithstanding, a merger or consolidation of the Company does not constitute a “Change in Control” if immediately after the merger or consolidation a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the continuing or surviving entity, or any direct or indirect parent corporation of the continuing or surviving entity, will be owned by the persons who were the Company’s stockholders immediately prior to the merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting power of the Company’s capital stock immediately prior to the merger or consolidation.
“Involuntary Termination” means either (a) your Termination Without Cause or (b) your Resignation for Good Reason.
“Resignation for Good Reason” means a Separation as a result of your resignation within 12 months after one of the following conditions has come into existence without your consent:
(a)A reduction in your base salary by more than 10% (other than an across-the-board reduction applicable to all of the Company’s senior management team that does not disproportionately affect you);
(b)A material diminution of your authority, duties or responsibilities; or
(c)A relocation of your principal workplace to a location that is outside of the New York City metropolitan area.
A Resignation for Good Reason will not be deemed to have occurred unless you give the Company written notice of the condition within 90 days after the condition comes into existence and the Company fails to remedy the condition within 30 days after receiving your written notice.
“Separation” means a “separation from service,” as defined in the regulations under Section 409A of the Code.
“Termination Without Cause” means a Separation as a result of a termination of your employment by the Company without Cause, provided you are willing and able to continue performing services within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-l(n)(1).
* * * * *
Steve Miller
October 7, 2021
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We hope that you will accept our offer to join the Company. You may indicate your agreement with these terms and accept this offer by signing and dating both the enclosed duplicate original of this letter agreement and the enclosed Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and returning them to me. This offer, if not accepted, will expire at the close of business on , 2011. As required by law, your employment with the Company is contingent upon your providing legal proof of your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Your employment is also contingent upon your starting work with the Company on or before ___, 2011.
If you have any questions, please call me at (***) ***-****.
Very truly yours, | ||||||||
JAND, INC. | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Dave Gilboa | |||||||
Title: | Co-CEO |
I have read and accept this employment offer:
/s/ Steve Miller | |||||
Dated: | October 07, 2011 |
Attachment
Exhibit A: Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement