EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") is effective as of October 1, 2003
(the "Effective Date"), and is entered into by and between GEORGE KAZANTZIS., an
independent contractor ("Contractor"), and ENVIROKARE TECH, INC., a Nevada
corporation (the "Company").
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, by entering into this Agreement, the terms of Contractor's employment
with the Company shall be governed by the terms and conditions of this Agreement
and any prior agreement between Contractor and the Company or any of the
Company's affiliated entities relating to Contractor's employment with the
Company or any of its affiliated entities shall be superseded by the terms of
this Agreement except to the extent set forth herein. Provided however, that any
compensation due the Contractor for the period prior to this document shall be
subject to the terms of a separate agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties hereto agree as follows:
A G R E E M E N T
1. Employment. As of the Effective Date, the Company hereby employs Contractor
to serve in the capacity of Chief Operating Officer (COO). The Company's
Board of Directors (the "Board") may provide other designations of title to
the Contractor by the written mutual consent of the Board of Directors and
the Contractor.
Contractor agrees to perform the duties and functions of Chief Operating
Officer to the best of his ability as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Contractor shall endeavor through the application of his time, energy and
attention to execute his duties in a professional manner with competence
and integrity.
The term of this agreement shall be thirty six (36) months.
2. Employment Compensation And Benefits.
(A) Base Salary. Contractor's initial base salary shall be at the annual
rate of One Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($110,000) for the first 12
months hereof ($50,000 of which will be accrued as deferred
compensation); One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) for the
second 12 months hereof ($60,000 of which will be accrued as deferred
compensation) and One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($160,000) or
industry standard, whichever is greater, for the third 12 months
hereof (the "Base Salary"), which shall be payable at least as
frequently a withholding taxes. The Company, on the basis of
Contractor's performance and the Company's financial success and
progress, shall review this salary level at least annually. All
deferred compensation and interest is due and payable to the
contractor 36 months from the date of this agreement or sooner subject
to any termination provisions herein. Deferred compensation will
accrue interest at a annual rate two percentage points (2%) above the
prime lending rate as published in the Wall Street Journal (compounded
quarterly). The relevant deferred amount and all interest so accrued
thereon shall be an unsecured general obligation of the Company, due
and payable according to the terms herein.
(b) Incentive Compensation. As additional compensation to provide
incentives for Contractor to extend efforts which will assist in
increasing the profits of the Company, Contractor shall be eligible to
receive incentive compensation based on achieving individual and
organizational performance objectives in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Company's management compensation plan as may be
modified from time to time.
(c) Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse Contractor for all
reasonable amounts actually expended at the Contractor's discretion in
the course of performing his duties for the Company. Contractor will
tender receipts, copies or written accounts describing the amounts and
purpose of the expense to the Company.
(d) Other Benefits. As an independent contractor, no benefits other than
those described herein are offered to the Contractor under this
agreement. No medical, dental, life or disability insurance, pension
or 401K benefits are offered herein. Contractor may receive medical
insurance coverage after one year from date at the discretion of the
Company.
(A) Contractor shall during the term of this Agreement be provided with
the use of a cell phone, car allowance in the amount of $300 per
month, shared apartment expenses in Orlando, Florida and such other
equipment and services as the Contractor shall reasonably deem
necessary to perform his duties.
(B) Warrants. Contractor shall receive, upon signing this agreement, fully
vested warrants to purchase 1,200,000 shares of the Company's common
stock pursuant to the terms and conditions of the warrant agreement
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Of this number, the
following applies: In the event that the Company terminates this
agreement for "Cause" (as hereinafter defined) before the end of the
first year, any unexercised warrants to purchase up to 800,000 shares
shall be forfeited and cancelled. In the event that this agreement is
terminated by the Contractor without "Reason" (as hereinafter defined)
before the end of the first year, any unexercised warrants to purchase
up to 800,000 shares shall be forfeited and cancelled. In the event
that this agreement is terminated by the Contractor without "Reason"
(as hereinafter defined) before the end of the second year, any
unexercised warrants to purchase up to 400,000 shares shall be
forfeited and cancelled. In the event that this agreement is
terminated by the company for "Cause" ( as hereinafter defined) before
the end of the second year, any unexercised warrants to purchase up to
800,000 shares shall be forfeited and cancelled. In the event that
this agreement is terminated by either party with or without "Reason"
or "Cause" after the second anniversary of the date of this agreement,
any unexercised warrants to purchase up to 1,200,000 shares of the
Company's common stock shall not be subject to forfeiture for any
reason. Upon execution of this agreement, warrants to purchase 400,000
shares of the Company's common stock shall not be subject to
forfeiture for any reason.
(A) Authority: Contractor's authority including without limitation his
authority to bind Company to contracts, instruments and expenditures
of any kind and to dispose of or encumber Company assets shall not be
less than that specified or incidental to the Company's By-Laws as
presently in effect. Company hereby authorizes Contractor with
operating expense approval authority for up to $100,000 per expense
item and capital expense approval authority for up to $50,000 per
capital item.
(A) Insurance/Indemnification: Company will maintain Directors and
Officers liability insurance for the benefit of Contractor, throughout
the term of this agreement, in amounts considered prudent for publicly
traded companies of like size and engaging in similar businesses as
the Company. Board of Directors agrees to hold harmless the Contractor
for any liabilities created or ensuing from his conduct of business on
the Company's behalf. Company will provide contractor with written
proof of insurance at the time of execution of this agreement.
3. Termination.
(a) At Will. The Company shall employ Contractor at will, and either
Contractor or the Company may terminate Contractor's employment with
the Company at any time and for any reason, without "Cause" or
"Reason" (as hereinafter defined) by giving 90 days written notice and
subject to the obligations defined in Section 5 herein.
(b) The Company may at any time immediately terminate the employment of
the Contractor under this agreement for "Cause" (as hereinafter
defined), upon ninety (90) days written notice. For purposes of this
agreement, the term "Cause" shall mean gross or willful misconduct
leading to his being convicted of a non-misdemeanor felony in a U.S.
court of law. "Cause" shall not include unsatisfactory performance of
duties except as provided above. The Contractor may at any time
immediately terminate his employment under this agreement for "Reason"
(as hereinafter defined) upon ninety (90) days written notice. For
purposes of this agreement the term "Reason" shall mean (i) a material
breach by the Company of any term of this agreement including failure
to pay Contractor as prescribed in Section 2(a), (ii) any event of
bankruptcy or insolvency in respect of the Company (iii)any reduction
in Contractor's compensation or position or the duties or authority of
the Contractor to a level less than customary to the office of Chief
Executive Officer of an industrial corporation (subject to the terms
of the Company's By-Laws as presently in effect), (iv)any change in
control as defined in Section 4 herein (v) Contractor's death or
disability as defined in Section 3(c) below.
(c) "Disability" shall mean a physical or mental incapacity as a result of
which Contractor becomes unable to continue the performance of his
responsibilities for the Company and its affiliated companies and
which, at least six (6) months after its commencement, is determined
to be total and permanent by a physician agreed to by the Company and
Contractor, or in the event of Contractor's inability to designate a
physician, his legal representative. In the absence of agreement
between the Company and Contractor, each party shall nominate a
qualified physician and the two physicians so nominated shall select a
third physician who shall make the determination as to Disability.
(d) Return of Materials. In the event of any termination of Contractor's
employment for any reason whatsoever, Contractor shall promptly
deliver to the Company all Company property, including, but not
limited to, documents, data, and other information pertaining to
Confidential Information, as defined below. Executive shall not take
with him any documents or other information, or any reproduction,
summary or excerpt thereof, containing or pertaining to any
Confidential Information.
4. Change in Control.
(a) Statement of Purpose. The Company believes that it is in the best
interest of the Company and its stockholders to foster Contractor's
objectivity in making decisions with respect to any pending or
threatened Change in Control of the Company and to ensure that the
Company will have the continued dedication and availability of
Contractor, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a
Change in Control. The Company believes that these goals can best be
accomplished by alleviating certain of the risks and uncertainties
with regard to Contractor's financial and professional security that
would be created by a pending or threatened Change in Control and that
inevitably would distract Contractor and could impair his ability to
objectively perform his duties for and on behalf of the Company.
Accordingly, the Company believes that it is appropriate and in the
best interest of the Company and its stockholders to provide to
Contractor compensation arrangements upon a Change in Control that
lessen Contractor's financial risks and uncertainties and that are
reasonably competitive with those of other corporations. The purpose
of this provision is to provide that, in the event of a "Change in
Control," Contractor may become entitled to receive certain additional
compensation, as described herein, in the event of his termination
under specified circumstances.
(b) Definition of Change in Control. As used in this Agreement, the phrase
"Change in Control" shall mean:
(i) The acquisition (other than from the Company) by any person, entity or
"group," within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
(excluding, for this purpose, the Company or its subsidiaries, or any
executive benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiaries which
acquires beneficial ownership of voting securities of the Company), of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either
the then-outstanding shares of common stock or the combined voting
power of the Company's then-outstanding voting securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors; or
(ii)Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors of the Company (as of the date hereof the "Incumbent Board")
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company, provided that any person becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, is or was approved by a vote
of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent
Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose
initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors
of the Company) shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered
as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or
(iii)Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation with any other person, entity or corporation,
other than
(A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities
of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
voting securities of another entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of
the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or
such other entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation, or
(A) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of
the Company (or similar transaction) in which no person acquires
twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding voting securities; or
(C) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or other
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets.
5. Severance Payments
(a) In the event that (A) the Company shall at anytime terminate the
agreement without "Cause", or (B) the Contractor shall terminate the
agreement for "Reason" then and in each such case the Company shall
immediately (within thirty days)of the termination date pay and
provide to the Contractor in cash all accrued deferred salary and
interest and 50% of the "base salary" defined in Section 2(a) herein
for the ensuing twelve (12) month period beyond the termination date
or 50% for each remaining month of the agreement term, whichever is
less subject to any notice periods required herein. Additionally, all
of Contractor's unexercised warrants to purchase up to 1,200,000
shares of company common stock become non-forfeitable and fully
vested. Contractor will also be entitled to additional compensation
under specific circumstances of Change of Control as defined in
Section (4) above. In any event, if this agreement is not otherwise
terminated all accrued deferred compensation and interest are due and
payable to the Contractor on the date (36) months from the date of
execution of this agreement.
(b) In the event that (A) the Company shall at anytime terminate the
agreement for "Cause" or the Contractor shall terminate the agreement
without "Reason" then and in each such case the Company shall
immediately (within thirty days of the termination date) pay the
Contractor 50% of all accrued compensation plus interest.
(c) If this agreement is terminated as a result of a Change of Control
event, the Contractor shall receive additional cash compensation equal
to one (1.0) times the Contractor's annual Compensation rate at the
time of the Change of Control event. Such payment shall be due and
payable to the Contractor on the date of the Change of Control event.
(d) All rights of Contractor to compensation under the terms of this
Section 5 are absolute with no requirement to mitigate damages.
(e) The effective termination date, in all cases, shall be the date ninety
(90) days after written notification to the Contractor or the Company.
(f) In the event of termination of this agreement due to the Contractor's
death or disability, the compensation due to the Contractor at that
time shall be due and payable to the Contractor's heirs and/or
successors.
6. Nondisclosure of Confidential Information. Contractor acknowledges that
during the term of his employment with the Company, he will have access to
and become acquainted with information of a confidential, proprietary or
secret nature which is or may be either applicable to, or related in any
way to, the present or future business of the Company, the research and
development or investigation of the Company, or the business of any
customer of the Company ("Confidential Information"). For example,
Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, devices, secret
inventions, processes and compilations of information, records,
specifications, designs, plans, proposals, software, codes, marketing and
sales programs, financial projections, cost summaries, pricing formula, and
all concepts or ideas, materials or information related to the business,
products or sales of the Company and its customers and vendors. Contractor
shall not disclose any Confidential Information, directly or indirectly, or
use such information in any way, either during the term of this Agreement
or at any time thereafter, except as required in the course of employment
with the Company. Contractor also agrees to comply with the Company's
policies and regulations, as established from time to time for the
protection of its Confidential Information, including, for example,
executing the Company's standard confidentiality agreements. This section
shall survive termination of this Agreement.
7. Non-Solicitation. Contractor agrees that so long as he is employed by the
Company and for a period of six (6) months after termination of his
employment for any reason, he shall not (a) directly or indirectly solicit,
induce or attempt to solicit or induce any employee of the Company or any
of its affiliated companies to discontinue his employment with the Company;
(b) usurp any opportunity of the Company or any of its affiliated companies
of which Executive became aware during his tenure at the Company or which
is made available to him on the basis of the belief that Contractor is
still employed by the Company; or (c) directly or indirectly solicit or
induce or attempt to influence any person or business that is an account,
customer or client of the Company or any of its affiliated companies to
restrict or cancel the business of any such account, customer or client
with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. This section shall
survive termination of this Agreement.
8. Successors.
(a) This Agreement is personal to Contractor, and without the prior
written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Contractor
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution with the
exception that Contractor's warrants to purchase company common stock
up to 1,200,000 shares are assignable at the Contractor's discretion
and without any approval or encumbrance by the company. All such
assigned warrants entitle the assignees to all the same rights and
privileges as warrants issued to the Contractor pro rata. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
contractor's legal representatives.
(b) The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors,
heirs and assigns of the Company.
9. Governing Law. This Agreement is made and entered into in the State of
Florida, and the internal laws of Florida shall govern its validity and
interpretation in the performance by the parties hereto of their respective
duties and obligations hereunder.
10. Modifications. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by an
instrument in writing executed by all of the parties hereto.
11. Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth herein, this Agreement
supersedes any and all prior written or oral agreements between Contractor
and the Company. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the
parties hereto with respect to the terms and conditions of Contractor's
employment with the Company; provided, however, that this Agreement is not
intended to supersede any agreements that Contractor may previously have
entered into regarding the protection of trade secrets and confidential
information.
12. Dispute Resolution. Any controversy or dispute between the parties
involving the construction, interpretation, application or performance of
the terms, covenants, or conditions of this Agreement or in any way arising
under this Agreement (a "Covered Dispute") shall be subject to resolution
under the Laws of the State of Florida.
13. Notices. Any notice or communications required or permitted to be given to
the parties hereto shall be delivered personally or be sent by United
States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt
requested, and addressed or delivered as follows, or at such other
addresses the party addressed may have substituted by notice pursuant to
this Section:
To the Company: Enviorkare Tech, Inc.
5850 T.G. Lee Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32822
To Contractor: George Kazantzis
209 E. 56th Street Apt. 5G
New York, NY 10022
14. Captions. The captions of this Agreement are inserted for convenience and
do not constitute a part hereof.
15. Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement,
but this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein and there shall be
deemed substituted for such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision
such other provision as will most nearly accomplish the intent of the
parties to the extent permitted by the applicable law. In case this
Agreement, or any one or more of the provisions hereof, shall be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable within any governmental jurisdiction or
subdivision thereof, this Agreement or any such provision thereof shall not
as a consequence thereof be deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
in any other governmental jurisdiction or subdivision thereof.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together
constitute one in the same Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered effective as of the day and year first written above.
/s/ George Kazantzis
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George Kazantzis
ENVIROKARE TECH, INC.
by: /s/ Nicholas Pappas
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its: Chairman