Exhibit 10.51
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of this September 15, 2020 (“Effective Date”), by and between Gresham Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of DPW Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“DPW”),with an address of 201 Shipyard Way, Newport Beach, California 92663 (the “Company”) and Jonathan Read, an individual (the “Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company as its Chief Executive Officer and the Company wishes to employ Executive in such capacity;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the respective covenants and agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
Executive shall devote a sufficient amount of his working time and efforts during the Company's normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries in order to diligently and faithfully perform his duties and responsibilities duly assigned to him pursuant to this Agreement. Executive shall perform his duties consistent with the State of Delaware’s duty of care and duty of loyalty standards. Executive shall be permitted to carry on additional activities provided that none of the additional activities interferes with the performance of the duties and responsibilities of Executive or are determined to be inconsistent with the position, standing, stature, reputation or best interests of the Company; nothing in this Section 1, shall prohibit Executive from (a) serving as a director or member of a committee of entities that do not, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Board, compete with the Company or otherwise create, or could create, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Board, a conflict of interest with the business of the Company: (b) delivering lectures, fulfilling speaking engagements, and any writing or publication relating to his area of expertise; (c) serving as a director or trustee of any governmental, charitable or educational organization; or (d) engaging in additional activities in connection with personal and/or business investments and community affairs.
Bonus | ||||
Net Income (US dollars)(1) | % of Base Salary | US dollars | ||
5% -7% | 20.00% | US $50,000.00 | ||
> 7% -8½% | 35.00% | US $87,500.00 | ||
> 8½% - 10% | 50.00% | US $125,000.00 | ||
> 10% | 100.00% | US $250,000.00 |
All bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation provided to the Executive shall be subject to the Company’s Clawback Policy for Restatements, which is appended hereto as Appendix A.
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For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Cause” shall mean the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially his duties and responsibilities for the Company (other than any such failure resulting from Executive’s death or Disability) after a written demand by the Board for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Company, which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties and responsibilities, which willful and continued failure is not cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days of his receipt of such written demand; (b) the conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony, or (c) finding of a court that the executive has committed fraud, dishonesty or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstratively injurious to the Company.
“Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following: (i) the accumulation (if over time, in any consecutive twelve (12) month period), whether directly, indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of 50.l% or more of the shares of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer of shares of Common Stock (other than a merger or consolidation where the stockholders of the Company prior to the merger or consolidation are the holders of a majority of the voting securities of the entity that survives such merger or consolidation), (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or (iii) if DPW beneficially owns less then Thirty Percent (30%) of the shares of Common Stock, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Executive, during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, the individuals
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who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control for the purposes of this Agreement: (A) any acquisitions of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock directly from the Company or from any affiliate of the Company, or (B) any acquisition of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored by or maintained by the Company, or (C) any acquisitions of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock directly from the Company by, or a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or reorganization with, DPW, or any of its affiliates.
“Disability” shall mean a physical or mental disability that prevents the performance by the Executive, with or without reasonable accommodation, of his duties and responsibilities hereunder for a period of not less than an aggregate of three (3) months during any six (6) consecutive months.
“Good Reason” shall mean (1) the assignment, without the Executive’s consent, to the Executive of duties that are significantly different from, and that result in a diminution of, the duties that he assumed on the Effective Date or the imposition of a requirement that Executive report to any person other than the Board and/or the Chief Executive Officer; (2) the assignment, without the Executive’s consent to the Executive of a title that is different from and subordinate to the title Chief Executive of the Company, provided, however, for the absence of doubt following a Change of Control, should the Executive cease to retain either the title or responsibilities assumed on the Effective Date, or Executive is required to serve in a diminished capacity or lesser title in a division or unit of another entity (including the acquiring entity), such event shall constitute Good Reason regardless of the title of Executive in such acquiring company, division or unit; (3) material breach by the Company of this Agreement; and (4) the relocation of Executive’s regular office to a location that is more than twenty-five (25) miles from Executive’s current office.
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For purposes hereof, a business shall not be deemed to be in competition with the business of the Company, nor shall any products or services be deemed to compete with those of the Company, unless the Company presently produces, sells or distributes or, has, during the Term, plans to produce, sell or distribute, such products or services.
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With respect to the activities described in Paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) above, the restrictions of this Section 9(b) shall continue during the Term and until termination of the Separation Period following the termination of this Agreement or of the Executive’s employment with the Company (including upon expiration of this Agreement), whichever occurs later; provided, however that, in the event this Agreement or Executive’s employment is terminated by Executive for Good Reason or is terminated by Company without Cause, then the restrictions contained in Section 9(b) shall continue during the Term, and not beyond.
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[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have caused this Executive Employment Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
GRESHAM WORLDWIDE, INC. | ||
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By: |
| /s/ Jeffrey A. Bentz |
Name: |
| Jeffrey A. Bentz |
Title: |
| Chairman of the Board of Directors |
EXECUTIVE | ||
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By: |
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Name: |
| Jonathan Read |
ACCEPTED AND AGREED: | ||
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DPW HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
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By: |
| /s/ Milton C. Ault, III |
Name: |
| Milton C. Ault, III |
Title: |
| Chief Executive Officer |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have caused this Executive Employment Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
GRESHAM WORLDWIDE, INC. | ||
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By: |
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Name: |
| Jeffrey A. Bentz |
Title: |
| Chairman of the Board of Directors |
EXECUTIVE | ||
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By: |
| /s/ Jonathan Read |
Name: |
| Jonathan Read |
ACCEPTED AND AGREED: | ||
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DPW HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
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By: |
| /s/ Milton C. Ault, III |
Name: |
| Milton C. Ault, III |
Title: |
| Chief Executive Officer |
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Appendix A
CLAWBACK POLICY FOR RESTATEMENTS
In the event that DPW Holdings, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries (including its subsidiaries, the “Corporation”) is required under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) to prepare an accounting restatement to correct an accounting error on an interim or annual financial statement included in a report on Form l0-Q or 10-K, due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal security laws, the Board shall determine whether the restatement was caused by the knowing misconduct of the CEO, CFO or other Section 16 Officer:
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