EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of December 1,
1998 is entered into between THOMAS E. BIDDIX, residing at 688 Carriage Hill
Road, Melbourne, FL 32940 ("Executive"), and PRE-CELL SOLUTIONS, INC., a
Colorado corporation having its principal office at 255 East Drive, Suite C,
Melbourne, Florida 33326 ("Company").
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to provide for the employment
of Executive by the Company on the terms set forth herein;
IT IS AGREED:
1. Employment, Duties and Acceptance.
1.1 The Company hereby employs Executive as its President and
Chief Executive Officer and President to supervise and control the Company's
business. All of Executive's powers and authority in any capacity shall at all
times be subject to the reasonable direction and control of the Company's board
of directors (the "Board").
1.2 The Board may assign to Executive such other executive
duties for the Company or any Affiliate (as defined in Section 5.1) as are
consistent with Executive's status as Chief Executive Officer and President.
1.3 Executive accepts such employment and agrees to devote a
sufficient portion of his business time, energies and attention to the
performance of his duties. Executive shall perform his duties primarily in and
from the Company's offices located in Melbourne, Florida.
2. Compensation and Benefits.
2.1 The Company shall pay to Executive a base salary
("Salary") at the aggregate rate of $180,000 per annum during the Employment
Term (as such term is defined in Section 3.1, below). Executive's Salary shall
be paid in equal, periodic installments, in accordance with
the Company's normal payroll procedures and shall be subject to withholding
taxes and other normal payroll deductions.
2.2 The Company may award Executive a bonus (the "Bonus") at
the sole discretion of the Board, which Bonus shall be determined based upon
Executive's performance and the Company's performance generally. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Executive understands that the Company is not obligated under any
circumstances, to award any such Bonus.
2.3 The Company shall annually review Executive's performance.
Based upon such review and such other factors as the Company may consider, the
Company may determine to increase Executive's salary. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Executive understands that the Company is not obligated under any
circumstances, to award any such increase in salary.
2.4 Executive shall be entitled to such medical, dental and
disability insurance which is no less favorable than generally afforded to other
senior executives of the Company, subject to applicable waiting periods and
other conditions. Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of vacation in each
employment year and to a reasonable number of other days off for religious and
personal reasons. Executive acknowledges that the Company may, from time to
time, apply for and take out in its own name and at its expense, life, health,
disability, accident or other insurance, including key man insurance, upon
Executive that the Company may deem necessary and advisable to protect its
interests hereunder; and Executive agrees to submit to any medical or other
reasonable examination necessary for such purpose and to assist and cooperate
with the Company in procuring such insurance; and Executive acknowledges that he
shall have no right, title or interest in or to such insurance.
2.5 The Company will pay or reimburse Executive for all
transportation, hotel and other expenses reasonably incurred by Executive on
business trips and for all other ordinary and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
actually incurred by him in the conduct of the business of the Company against
itemized vouchers submitted with respect to any such expenses approved in
accordance with customary procedures.
2.6 Simultaneous with the execution of this Agreement, the
Company will grant Executive the option to purchase 4,000,000 shares of the
Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share at an exercise price of $.04
per share (the "Option"). The Option shall fully vest one year after the grant
date and shall remain exercisable for a period of five years after vesting. The
Option
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shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement entered into between the Company
and Executive of even date herewith.
3. Term and Termination.
3.1 The term of this Agreement commences as of December 1,
1998 and shall continue until December 1, 2001 (the "Employment Term"), unless
sooner terminated or extended as herein provided.
3.2 If Executive dies during the term of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall thereupon terminate.
3.3 The Company, by notice to Executive, may terminate this
Agreement if Executive shall fail because of illness or incapacity to render,
for six consecutive months, services of the character contemplated by this
Agreement.
3.4 The Company, by not less than 30 days notice to Executive,
may terminate this Agreement without cause at any time. In the event of such
termination the Company shall pay to Executive the salary due Executive pursuant
to Paragraph 2.1 through the Employment Term as provided in Section 3.1.
Notwithstanding such termination, the provisions of paragraph 4 shall survive.
3.5 The Company, by notice to Executive, may terminate this
Agreement for cause. As used herein, "cause" shall include, but not be limited
to: (a) the refusal or failure by Executive to carry out specific directions of
the Board of Directors which are of a material nature, or the refusal or failure
by Executive to perform a material part of Executive's duties hereunder; (b) the
commission by Executive of a material breach of any of the provisions of this
Agreement; (c) common law fraud or dishonest action by Executive in his
relations with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or with any
customer or business contact of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates ("dishonest" for these purposes shall mean Executive's knowingly or
recklessly making of a material misstatement or omission for his personal
benefit); or (d) the conviction of Executive of any crime involving an act of
moral turpitude. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "cause" for termination shall
be deemed to exist with respect to Executive's acts described in clauses (a) or
(b) above, unless the Company shall have given written notice to Executive
specifying the "cause" with reasonable particularity and, within ten business
days after such notice, Executive shall not have cured or eliminated the problem
or thing giving rise to such "cause;" provided, however,
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that a breach of any provision of clauses (a) or (b) above, involving the same
or substantially similar actions or conduct for which the Company previously
gave notice of termination and with respect to which, Executive satisfactorily
cured, shall be grounds for termination for cause without any additional notice
from the Company. Notwithstanding such termination, the provisions of paragraph
4 shall survive.
3.6 The Executive, by notice to the Company, may terminate
this Agreement if the Company materially breaches any of the provisions of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not have grounds
for termination unless Executive shall have given written notice to the Company
specifying the breach with reasonable particularity and, within ten days after
such notice, the Company shall not have cured or eliminated the problem or thing
giving rise to such breach; provided, however, that a breach of any provision of
this Agreement involving the same or substantially similar actions or conduct
for which the Executive previously gave notice of termination and with respect
to which, the Company satisfactorily cured, shall be grounds for termination for
cause without any additional notice from the Executive. In the event of
termination by Executive under this Section 3.6, the Company shall pay to
Executive the Salary due Executive pursuant to paragraph 2.1 hereof through the
Employment Term. Notwithstanding such termination, the provisions of paragraph 4
shall survive termination if the Company continues to pay Executive the Salary
as provided in the immediately preceding sentence.
4. Protection of Confidential Information; Non-Competition.
4.1 Executive acknowledges that:
(a) As a result of his employment with the Company,
Executive will obtain secret and confidential information concerning the
business of the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates (referred to
collectively in this paragraph 4 as the "Company"), including, without
limitation, financial information, designs and other proprietary rights, trade
secrets and "know-how," customers and sources ("Confidential Information").
(b) The Company will suffer substantial damage which
will be difficult to compute if, during the period of his employment with the
Company or thereafter, Executive should divulge Confidential Information.
(c) The provisions of this Agreement are reasonable
and necessary for the protection of the business of the Company.
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4.2 Executive agrees that he will not at any time, either
during the term of this Agreement or thereafter, divulge to any person or entity
any Confidential Information obtained or learned by him as a result of his
employment with, or prior retention by, the Company, except (i) in the course of
performing his duties hereunder; (ii) with the Company's express written
consent; (iii) to the extent that any such information is in the public domain
other than as a result of Executive's breach of any of his obligations
hereunder; or (iv) where required to be disclosed by court order, subpoena or
other government process. If Executive shall be required to make disclosure
pursuant to the provisions of clause (iv) of the preceding sentence, Executive
promptly, but in no event more than 72 hours after learning of such subpoena,
court order, or other government process, shall notify, by personal delivery or
by electronic means, confirmed by mail, the Company and, at the Company's
expense, Executive shall: (a) take all reasonably necessary and lawful steps
required by the Company to defend against the enforcement of such subpoena,
court order or other government process, and (b) permit the Company to intervene
and participate with counsel of its choice in any proceeding relating to the
enforcement thereof.
4.3 Upon termination of his employment with the Company,
Executive will promptly deliver to the Company all memoranda, notes, records,
reports, manuals, drawings, blueprints and other documents (and all copies
thereof) relating to the business of the Company and all property associated
therewith, which he may then possess or have under his control; provided,
however, subject to Executive's obligations under this Section 4, that Executive
shall be entitled to retain copies of such documents reasonably necessary to
document his financial relationship (both past and future) with the Company.
4.4 If Executive commits a breach, or threatens to commit a
breach, of any of the provisions of Sections 4.2, the Company shall have the
right and remedy:
(a) to have the provisions of this Agreement
specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being
acknowledged and agreed by Executive that any such breach or threatened breach
will cause irreparable injury to the Company and that money damages will not
provide an adequate remedy to the Company; and
(b) to require Executive to account for and pay over
to the Company all monetary damages suffered by the Company as the result of any
transactions constituting a breach of any of the provisions of Sections 4.2, and
Executive hereby agrees to account for and pay over such damages to the Company.
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Each of the rights and remedies enumerated in this Section 4.4
shall be independent of the other, and shall be severally enforceable, and such
rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other
rights and remedies available to the Company under law or equity.
In connection with any legal action or proceeding arising out
of Section 4.4, the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be
entitled to be reimbursed by the other party for the reasonable attorneys' fees
and costs incurred by the prevailing party.
4.5 If Executive shall violate any covenant contained in
Section 4 the duration of such covenant so violated shall be automatically
extended for a period of time equal to the period of such violation.
4.6 The provisions of this paragraph 4 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement for any reason.
5. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement:
5.1 "Affiliate" shall mean any entity that, directly or
indirectly, is controlled by, controlling, or under common control with the
Company.
6. Miscellaneous Provisions.
6.1 All notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in
writing, and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally
to the party to receive the same, when transmitted by electronic means, or when
delivered by reputable overnight courier, postage prepaid, addressed to the
party to receive the same at his or its address set forth below, or such other
address as the party to receive the same shall have specified by written notice
given in the manner provided for in this Section 6.1. All notices shall be
deemed to have been given upon actual receipt.
If to Executive:
Thomas E. Biddix
688 Carriage Hill Road
Melbourne, Fl, 32940
If to the Company:
Pre-Cell Solutions, Inc.
255 East Drive, Suite C
Melbourne, Florida 33326
Attention: Chairman of the Board
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6.2 This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the
parties relating to the employment of Executive and are intended to supersede
all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements. No provisions of this
Agreement may be waived or changed except by a writing by the party against whom
such waiver or change is sought to be enforced. The failure of any party to
require performance of any provision hereof or thereof shall in no manner affect
the right at a later time to enforce such provision.
6.3 All questions with respect to the construction of this
Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall be
determined in accordance with the law of the State of Florida applicable to
agreements made and to be performed entirely in Florida.
6.4 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. This Agreement shall not
be assignable by Executive, but shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon Executive's heirs and legal representatives.
6.5 Should any provision of this Agreement become legally
unenforceable, no other provision of this Agreement shall be affected, and this
Agreement shall continue as if the Agreement had been executed absent the
unenforceable provision.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first above written.
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Thomas E. Biddix
-----------------------------------
Thomas E. Biddix
PRE-CELL SOLUTIONS, INC.
By: /s/ Timothy F. McWilliams
---------------------------------
Printed name: Timothy F. McWilliams
Title: COO
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