extent that work product of any work done by the Executive while employed by the Employer is not deemed to be “work made for hire,” the Executive hereby assigns all proprietary rights, including patent and copyright, in these works to the Employer without further compensation. The Executive further agrees to: (1) disclose promptly to the Employer all such work which the Executive may make solely, jointly or commonly with others; (2) assign all work to the Employer; and (3) execute and sign any and all applications, assignments or other instruments which the Employer may deem necessary in its sole discretion in order to enable the Employer, at its expense, to apply for, prosecute and obtain copyrights, patents, trademarks or other proprietary rights in the Untied States and foreign countries and in order to transfer to the Employer all right, title and interest in said work.
| (vi) | upon the Employer’s violation of the material provisions of this Agreement that is not cured by Employer within 10 business days after receipt of written notice from Executive. |
| (b) | Death. This Agreement shall terminate upon the death of the Executive. |
| (c) | Disability. The Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment under this Agreement upon the permanent disability of the Executive. The Executive shall be considered disabled (whether permanent or temporary) if: (1) he is disabled as defined in a disability insurance policy the Company purchases for the benefit of the Executive; or (2) if no such policy is in effect, he is incapacitated to such an extent that he is |
unable to perform for a six-month period substantially all of his duties for the Employer that he performed prior to such incapacitation.
| (d) | By the Employer for Cause. The Employer may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Employer shall have “Cause” to terminate the Executive's employment hereunder upon the following: |
(i) the continued and material failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties hereunder, including, but not limited to, failure to perform the duties described in the job description attached as Exhibit A (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness);
(ii) the gross misconduct by the Executive which is materially injurious to the Employer, monetarily or otherwise;
(iii) knowing and intentional breach of any material provision of the non-competition covenants set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 of this Agreement; or
(iv) indictment of a felony involving moral turptitude or relating to the Company’s assets, activities or operations; or
(v) commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement or any other illegal or criminal conduct in the course of Executive’s employment with the Company, or related to the Company’s assets, activities, or operations;
provided, however, that if such violation is susceptible to cure, clauses (i) and (ii) shall not constitute Cause unless the Company first provides 10 days’ prior written notice to Executive of such violations, specifying in reasonable detail the basis therefore and stating that it constitute grounds for termination for Cause under this Agreement, and Executive then fails to cure the actions or omissions that constitute the violation within 10 business days following receipt of such notice; provided further, that (i) above shall not be interpreted to apply where the Company fails in the ordinary course of its business or operations to achieve its anticipated operating plan or business performance goals, or where Executive fails to achieve any performance goals, milestones, or bonus goals established pursuant to this Agreement or in the course of Executive’s employment during the term of this Agreement.
| (e) | By the Employer upon Termination of Business. Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, the Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Employer by written notice to the Executive: |
| (i) | if the Employer makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, files a voluntary bankruptcy petition, files a petition or answer seeking a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any law, or there shall have been filed any |
petition or application for the involuntary bankruptcy of the Employer, or other similar proceeding, in which an order for relief is entered or which remains undismissed for a period of thirty days or more, or the Employer seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of the Employer or any material part of its assets; or
| (ii) | a decision by the Employer to terminate its business and liquidate |
its assets.
| (f) | By the Executive without Cause. The Executive may resign his |
employment without breaching this Agreement at any time by giving the Employer Notice of Termination no less than 30 days before the last date the Executive intends to work for the Employer. If the Executive resigns his employment, except as required by law (e.g., continuation of health insurance under COBRA), the Employer will have no obligation to provide compensation, stock options or benefits to the Executive after the Date of Termination.
�� | 5.2 | Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive's employment by the Employer or by the Executive (other than termination upon death pursuant to subsection 5.1(b) above) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party following any applicable notice and cure periods set forth above. |
| 5.3 | Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean: (i) if the Executive's |
employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death; (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated for Cause, the date on which a Notice of Termination is received by the Executive after the applicable notice and cure periods; (iii) if the Executive resigns under 5.1(f) (without Cause), the date specified in the Notice of Termination which shall be no less than 30 days before the last date the Executive intends to work for the Employer; (iv) if the Executive's employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in a Notice of Termination by the Employer or the Executive, which date shall be no less than 30 days following the date on which Notice of Termination is given.
| 5.4 | Compensation Upon Termination. |
| (a) | Following termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1(a) (by Executive for Cause) or 5.1(e) (by Employer upon termination of business), the Executive shall be paid his base compensation as outlined in section 3.1, in an amount equal to 9 months’ salary as of the Date of Termination, payable to the Executive, less all lawful deductions, within 30 days after the Date of Termination. |
| (b) | Following the termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement pursuant to Sections 5.1(d) (by Employer for Cause), the Executive shall be entitled to compensation (salary, any earned portion of the Executive’s annual bonus pursuant to the bonus compensation plan and unpaid vacation) only through the Date of Termination. |
| (c) | Following the termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1(b) (by Employer upon Executive’s death), the Employer shall pay to the Executive's estate the compensation which would otherwise be payable to the Executive to the end of the month in which his death occurs. This payment shall be in addition to life insurance benefits, if any, paid to the Executive's estate under policies for which the Employer pays all premiums and the Executive's estate is the beneficiary. |
| (d) | In the event of permanent disability of the Executive as described in Section 5.1(c), if the Employer elects to terminate this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to receive compensation and benefits through the Date of Termination; any such payment, |
however, shall be reduced by disability insurance benefits, if any, paid to the Executive under policies (other than group policies) for which the Employer pays all premiums and the Executive is the beneficiary.
| (e) | Following termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement by reason of non-renewal of this Agreement by the Employer under Section 1.2, the Executive shall be paid his base compensation as outlined in Section 3.1, in an amount equal to 6 months’ base salary as of the Date of Termination, payable to the Executive, less all lawful deductions, within 30 days after the Date of Termination. |
| (f) | In the event the Employer terminates the Executive’s employment for any reason other than set forth in Section 5.1, the Executive shall receive the greater amount of (i) an amount equal to 9 months’ base salary as of the Date of Termination, or (ii) an amount equal to the Executive’s salary that would become due between the Date of Termination and the expiration of the then applicable term as established under Article 1, payable to the Executive, less all lawful deductions, within 30 days after the Date of Termination. |
| 5.5 | Remedies. Any termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall not prejudice any other remedy to which the Employer or the Executive may be entitled, either at law, equity, or under this Agreement. |
ARTICLE 6
GENERAL PROVISIONS
| 6.1 | Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Idaho. |
| 6.2 | Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof shall be settled by an arbitrator mutually agreeable to both Company and Executive in the City of Boise and County of Ada, Idaho, in accordance with the applicable employment arbitration rules then existing of the American Arbitration Association and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. |
| 6.3 | Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any and all other Agreements, whether oral or in writing, between the Employer (including its subsidiaries and affiliates) and the Executive with respect to the employment of the Executive by the Employer. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises, or agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by either party, or anyone acting on behalf of any party, that are not embodied in this Agreement, and that no agreement, statement, or promise not contained in this Agreement shall be valid or binding. |
| 6.4 | Successors and Assigns. This Agreement, all terms and conditions hereunder, and all remedies arising herefrom, shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Employer, any successor in interest to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Employer, and the heirs, administrators, successors and assigns of the Executive. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto may not be assigned or transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other party. |
| 6.5 | Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other |
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
| If to the Executive: | Michael R. Whyte |
2336 E. Gossamer Lane
Boise ID 83706
| If to the Employer: | HyperSpace Communications, Inc. c/o |
MPC Computers, LLC.
| With copy to: Attn: General Counsel |
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
| 6.6 | Reformation; Severability. It is the intent of the Employer and the Executive that the provisions of this Agreement, including Article 4, be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies of each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought, and the parties hereto prospectively consent to the reformation of the terms of Article 4 by the arbitrator to achieve the enforcement of the terms of Article 4 to the fullest and broadest extent permissible in terms of duration, geographic scope, and limitation on competition. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by or is unlawful or unenforceable under any applicable law of any jurisdiction, then as to such jurisdiction, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof. To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall not affect any other provision in this Agreement and the remainder of such provision and the remainder of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. Provided however, should the duration, geographical extent of, or business activity constrained by any limitation or restriction set forth in this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such limitation or restriction shall be construed to cover only the maximum duration or extent, or those activities which may be lawfully, validly and enforceably limited or restricted by this Agreement under applicable law |
| 6.7 | Section Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any terms of this Agreement. |
| 6.8 | Survival of Obligations. Termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement for any reason shall not relieve the Employer or the Executive of any obligation accruing or arising prior to such termination. |
| 6.9 | Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement of both the Employer and the Executive. |
| 6.10 | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute only one legal instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when copies hereof, when taken together, shall bear the signatures of both parties hereto. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. |
| 6.11 | Fees and Costs. The Company will pay the arbitrator’s fees in any arbitration under section 6.2. If any arbitration is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall recover from the non-prevailing party such prevailing party’s reasonable attorneys |
fees and costs (other than the arbitrator’s fees) in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer and Executive have executed this the Executive Employment Agreement effective as of the date first set forth above.
| | | “THE EMPLOYER” | |
| | | HYPERSPACE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | |
| | | | |
| | | By:/s/ John P. Yeros | |
| | | Name: John P. Yeros | |
| | | Title: CEO | |
| | | | | |
| | | “THE EXECUTIVE” | |
| | | | | |
| | | /s/ Michael R. Whyte | |
| | | Michael R. Whyte | |
Exhibit A
Job Description
| Job Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
| Reporting To: | Chief Executive officer |
Summary: Responsible for directing the company's overall financial policies. Oversees all financial functions including accounting, budget, credit, insurance, tax, and treasury.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. | Establishes, or recommends to management, major corporate economic strategies, objectives, and policies for company. |
2. | Recommends modifications to existing corporate programs. |
3. | Prepares reports which summarize and forecast company business activity and financial position in areas of income, expenses, and earnings based on past, present, and expected operations. Works with Business Development group to structure deals. Assists with partner management and initial introductions. |
4. | Directs preparation of budgets, reviews budget proposals, and prepares necessary supporting documentation and justification. |
5. | Advises management and manages all insurance and risk management aspects of the Company. |
6. | Provides management with timely reviews of organization's financial status and progress in its various programs and activities. Responsible for billings, collections, procurement and closing the books on a monthly basis. Responsible for all Financial and SEC reporting for the Company. Responsible for all SEC filings. |
7. | Directs the execution of all the Company’s accounting policies and evaluates new policies to determine their impact on the Company. |
8. | Advises management on desirable operational adjustments due to tax code revisions. Manages all tax operations of the Company. |
9. | Arranges for audits of company's accounts. |
10. | Prepares reports required by regulatory agencies. |
11. | Establishes relations with banks and other financial institutions. |
12. | Part of the Company’s M&A team. Responsible for financial due diligence, control evaluation and valuation, deal structure of target acquisitions. |
13. | Responsible for compliance and internal controls at the Company. |
14. | Participates in legal contract drafting, review and negotiation. Manages relationship with outside Legal counsel on Securities Law matters and some commercial matters. |
15. | Manages relationship with Audit Committee. |
16. | Manages relationship with Transfer Agent and operational relationship with the American Stock Exchange. Responds to questions from shareholders. |
Exhibit B
Executive Bonus Compensation Plan
1. Management Incentive Plan. During each calendar year of the Executive Employment Agreement, beginning 2007, Executive shall be entitled to receive 45% of his base salary for that year as a bonus (the “Target Bonus”) upon completion of targeted goals, objectives and milestones established and approved by the Board. Prior to the commencement of each calendar year, Executive shall submit to the Board for approval a proposed “Bonus Plan” for the upcoming calendar year. Executive’s proposed Bonus Plan shall include a description of the goals, objectives and milestones and attendant bonus payments that shall be made by the Company to Executive in the event the Company attains such goals, objectives and milestones. The Board shall review, and at the Board’s discretion, modify and adopt the Bonus Plan, specifying the terms, conditions and amounts. The Bonus Plan as modified and adopted by a resolution of the Board shall be the Bonus Plan in effect for the respective calendar year. The bonus shall be paid no more than 30 days after the filing of the Company’s Form 10-K.
3. Termination. In the event Executive is terminated before the end of any calendar year by the Employer without “Cause” (as defined in Section 5.1(d)), or by election of the Executive for “Cause” (as set forth in Section 5.1(a)), Executive shall receive the Target Bonus for that year no later than thirty (30) days following such termination.
4. Bonus Payout. The Board may elect to pay up to 50% of the bonus in fully vested and exercisable restricted stock or stock units issued under the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.