Exhibit 10.2

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of
August 1, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), by and between DASAN Zhone Solutions,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Charles Vogt (“Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage Executive as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and Executive desires to be so engaged by the
Company in such positions, on the terms and conditions set forth and described
herein; and

 

WHEREAS, following Executive’s commencement of employment, the Company
anticipates relocating its headquarters from Oakland, California to Plano, Texas
(the “Headquarters Relocation”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, the parties agree as follows:

 

1. Employment.

 

(a)Position and Duties.  The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and
Executive hereby agrees to serve, subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
as an employee of the Company in the positions of President and Chief Executive
Officer.  Executive shall perform all services and acts necessary to fulfill the
duties and responsibilities of his position and shall render such services on
the terms set forth herein and shall report to the Company’s Board of
Directors(the “Board of Directors”). In addition, Executive shall have such
other executive and managerial powers and duties with respect to the Company as
may reasonably be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, to the extent
consistent with his positions and status as set forth above. During the term of
his employment, the Company shall cause Executive to be nominated to stand for
election to the Board of Directors at any meeting of stockholders of the Company
during which any such election is held and Executive’s term as a director will
expire if he is not reelected; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
obligated to cause such nomination if any of the events constituting Cause (as
defined below) have occurred and not been cured or the Executive ceases to serve
as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  Executive hereby
consents to serve as an officer and/or director of the Company or any subsidiary
or affiliate thereof without any additional salary or compensation, if so
requested by the Board of Directors.  

 

(b)Time Commitment.  Executive agrees to devote substantially all of his
business time, attention and energies to the performance of the duties assigned
hereunder, and to perform such duties diligently, faithfully and to the best of
his abilities. Subject to the terms of Section 11 below, this shall not preclude
Executive from devoting time to personal and family investments or serving on
community and civic boards, or participating in industry associations, provided
such activities do not interfere with his duties to the Company, as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors.  Executive agrees that he will not join
any additional boards, other than community and civic boards (which do not
interfere with his duties to the Company), without the prior approval of the
Board of Directors. Executive shall be subject to and comply with the policies
and procedures generally applicable to officers of the Company to the extent the
same are not inconsistent with any term of this Agreement.

 

2. Place of Performance.  Executive shall perform his duties and conduct his
business at the principal executive offices of the Company, except for required
travel on the Company’s business.

 

3. Compensation.

 

(a) Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive a base salary of $500,000 per
year (the “Annual Salary”).  Executive’s Annual Salary shall be reviewed on at
least an annual basis by the Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee,
and shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices.

 

(b) Bonus.  In addition to Executive’s Annual Salary, Executive shall be
eligible to participate in a performance-based annual bonus program, to be
earned and paid quarterly in equal installments.  Executive’s target bonus at
full accomplishment of the Company’s goals will be $125,000 per
quarter.  Executive’s actual bonus

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will be based upon the overall results of the Company compared to the quarterly
performance metrics as set forth in the annual operating plan approved by the
Board of Directors for each year.  The annual bonus plan and the final payout
will be approved by the Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee and is
subject to change.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s actual bonus for
each of the first four quarters commencing upon the Effective Date will in no
event be less than $125,000, subject to Executive’s continued employment with
the Company through the end of each applicable quarter.

 

(c)Sign-On Bonus.  On the first payroll date following the Effective Date, the
Company shall pay Executive a one-time sign-on bonus of $200,000, less
applicable withholdings and deductions (the “Sign-On Bonus”).  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Sign On Bonus shall
not be fully earned prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date and
will only be fully earned on the second anniversary of the Effective Date if
Executive remains continuously employed with the Company through the second
anniversary of the Effective Date.  In the event Executive’s employment with the
Company is terminated by pursuant to Sections 7(a)(iii) or (vi), Executive
hereby agrees to repay the Company the portion of the Sign-On Bonus calculated
by multiplying $200,000 by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is twenty-four
(24) less the number of full months elapsed between the Effective Date and
Executive’s termination date and (ii) the denominator of which is twenty-four
(24).

(d)Equity Awards.  On the Effective Date, as a material inducement to
Executive’s acceptance of employment with the Company, Executive will be granted
(i) an option to purchase 370,370 shares of the Company’s common stock (the
“Special Option”) and (ii) an option to purchase 148,148 shares of the Company’s
common stock (the “Initial Option”).  On the Effective Date, Executive will also
be granted 44,444 restricted stock units (the “Initial RSUs”) under the
Company’s 2017 Incentive Award Plan (the “2017 Plan”).  The Special Option will
vest in a single installment on the third anniversary of the Effective Date,
subject to Executive’s continued employment through such vesting date.  The
Initial Option will vest over a three year vesting schedule as follows:
thirty-three percent (33%) of the Initial Option will vest on the first (1st)
anniversary of the Effective Date and the remainder will vest in twenty-four
(24) equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to Executive’s continued
employment through each such vesting date.  Both the Special Option and the
Initial Option will have an exercise price equal to the “Fair Market Value” per
share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant (and for this purpose,
“Fair Market Value” as of the grant date shall mean the closing sales price for
a share of common stock as quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market system for such
date or, if there is no closing sales price for a share of common stock on the
grant date, the closing sales price for a share of common stock on the last
preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Board of Directors or its Compensation
Committee deems reliable).  The Initial RSUs will vest in three substantially
equal annual installments on June 10, 2021, 2022 and 2023, subject to
Executive’s continued employment through each such vesting date.  Each of the
Special Option and Initial Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions
of the award agreement pursuant to which the award is granted.  The Initial RSUs
shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the 2017 Plan and the award
agreement pursuant to which the award is granted.  The Special Option and the
Initial Option are being granted to Executive as an inducement material to
Executive’s entering into employment with the Company and are intended to
constitute an “employment inducement” award under Nasdaq Marketplace Rule
5635(c)(4). Executive shall be eligible to receive future equity awards as
determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

4. Business Expenses. During the term of Executive’s employment, the Company
will reimburse Executive for all ordinary and necessary business expenses
incurred by him in connection with his employment upon timely submission by the
Executive of receipts and other documentation in conformance with the Company’s
normal procedures.

 

5. Vacation, Holidays and Sick Leave. During the term of Executive’s employment,
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation, paid holidays and sick leave in
accordance with the Company’s standard policies for its officers.

 

6. Benefits. During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be
eligible to participate fully in all health benefits, insurance programs,
pension and retirement plans and other employee benefit and compensation
arrangements (collectively, the “Employee Benefits”) available to officers of
the Company generally.

 

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7. Termination of Employment.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
employment of Executive hereunder shall terminate on the first to occur of the
following dates:

 

(i) the date of Executive’s death or adjudicated incompetency;

 

(ii) the date on which Executive shall have experienced a Disability (as defined
below), and the Company terminates Executive’s employment on account of
Disability;

 

(iii) the date on which Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for
Cause (as defined below);

 

(iv) the date on which Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for
any reason other than the reasons set forth in (i) through (iii) above;

 

(v) the date on which Executive resigns his employment for Good Reason (as
defined below); or

 

(vi) the date on which Executive resigns his employment for a reason other than
Good Reason.

 

(b) For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean an illness, injury
or other incapacitating condition as a result of which Executive is
substantially unable to perform the services required to be performed under this
Agreement for (i) one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days; or (ii) a period or
periods aggregating more than two hundred forty (240) days in any period of
twelve (12) consecutive months. In the event the Company seeks to terminate
Executive’s employment due to Disability, the Company shall give notice to
Executive of the termination of Executive’s employment for Disability. Executive
agrees to submit to such medical examinations as may be necessary to determine
whether a Disability exists, pursuant to such reasonable requests made by the
Company from time to time. Any determination as to the existence of a Disability
shall be made by a physician approved by the Board of Directors and by Executive
(or, if Executive is unable to give such approval, by Executive’s
representative), which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Board
of Directors or Executive.

 

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following events:

 

(i) Executive’s willful or continual failure to substantially perform his duties
with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, or any failure to carry out, or
comply with, in any material respect any lawful and reasonable directive of the
Board of Directors consistent with the terms of this Agreement, which failure
continues for fifteen (15) days following Executive’s receipt of written notice
from the Board of Directors stating with specificity the duties the Board of
Directors has reasonably determined Executive to have willfully or continually
failed to substantially perform or such failure;

 

(ii) Executive’s conviction of, guilty plea to, or entry of a nolo contendere
plea to a felony or a crime of moral turpitude or commission of an act of fraud,
embezzlement or misappropriation against the Company or any subsidiary or
affiliate;

 

(iii) Executive’s engagement in willful or reckless misconduct that has caused
or is reasonably likely to cause demonstrable and material financial injury to
the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate; or

 

(iv) Executive’s willful and material breach of this Agreement, which breach
remains uncured (if capable of being cured) for fifteen (15) days following
Executive’s receipt of written notice from the Board of Directors stating with
specificity those provisions of this Agreement which Executive has breached.

 

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For purposes of Sections 7(c)(i), (iii) and (iv), an act on Executive’s part
shall not be deemed “willful,” “reckless,” or “continual” if done by Executive
in good faith and with reasonable belief that the act was in the best interest
of the Company.

 

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of
any of the following events without the Executive’s consent:

 

(i) a material diminution in Executive’s base compensation;

 

(ii) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities,
including a requirement that Executive report to a corporate officer or employee
instead of reporting directly to the Board of Directors;

(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which Executive must
perform his duties; provided that neither the requirement that Executive work
from the Company’s offices in Oakland, California prior to the Headquarters
Relocation or that Executive relocate to the Plano, Texas area in connection
with the Headquarters Relocation shall constitute “Good Reason” for purposes of
this Agreement; or

(iv) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the
Company of its obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Good Reason shall only exist if Executive shall
have provided the Company with ninety (90) days written notice of the initial
occurrence of any of the foregoing events or conditions, and the Company fails
to eliminate the conditions constituting Good Reason within thirty (30) days
after receipt of written notice of such event or condition from Executive.
Executive’s termination by reason of resignation from employment with the
Company for Good Reason shall be treated as involuntary.  Executive’s
resignation from employment with the Company for Good Reason must occur within
six (6) months following the initial existence of the act or failure to act
constituting Good Reason.  

 

(e)Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, unless otherwise
specified in a written agreement between Executive and the Company, Executive
shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices, directorships, and other
employment positions if any, then held with the Company, and shall take all
actions reasonably requested by the Company to effectuate the foregoing.

 

8. Compensation in Event of Termination.  The Company and Executive acknowledge
that Executive’s employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined
under applicable law, and that Executive’s employment with the Company may be
terminated by either party at any time for any or no reason, with or without
notice.  If Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall
not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or compensation other
than as provided in this Agreement.  Executive’s employment under this Agreement
shall be terminated immediately on the death of Executive.  Upon termination of
Executive’s employment for any reason, the Company shall have no further
obligation to Executive except to pay the amounts set forth in this Section 8.

 

(a) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Sections
7(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (vi), Executive or his estate, conservator or designated
beneficiary, as the case may be, shall be entitled to payment of any earned but
unpaid Annual Salary through the date of termination, as well as any accrued
vested benefits and unreimbursed business expenses to which Executive is
entitled. Following any such termination, neither Executive nor his estate,
conservator or designated beneficiary shall be entitled to receive any other
payment provided for hereunder with respect to any period after such
termination, except as Executive may otherwise be entitled pursuant to any
employee benefit plan.

 

(b) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section
7(a)(iv) or (v), Executive shall be entitled to receive, as his sole and
exclusive remedy, (i) payment of any earned but unpaid Annual Salary through the
date of termination, as well as any accrued vested benefits and unreimbursed
business expenses to which Executive is entitled; (ii) a lump sum payment equal
to Executive’s Annual Salary as in effect immediately prior to the date of
termination (the “Severance Payment”); and (iii) full acceleration of all
outstanding equity awards

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held by Executive (with the exception that the Special Option shall only vest on
an accelerated basis pursuant to this clause (iii) in the event such termination
occurs on or within 12 months following a Change in Control (as defined in the
2017 Plan)) (the “Equity Acceleration”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Executive will not receive the Severance Payment or the Equity Acceleration if
he does not sign a release of claims against the Company in a form reasonably
acceptable to the Company within fifty (50) days following his date of
termination, or he revokes the release.  The Severance Payment will be made on
the eighth (8th) day following the effective date of the release; provided that,
subject to Section 8(d), in no event will the Severance Payment be made beyond
the date specified in the first section of Section 8(c) below.

 

(c)This Agreement is not intended to provide for any deferral of compensation
subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), and, accordingly, the severance payments payable under Section 8(b)(ii)
shall be paid no later than the later of:  (i) the fifteenth (15th) day of the
third month following Executive’s first taxable year in which such severance
benefit is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, and (ii) the
fifteenth (15th) day of the third month following the first taxable year of the
Company in which such severance benefit is no longer subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture, as determined in accordance with Code Section 409A and any
Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder. To the extent
applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section
409A and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance
issued thereunder.  To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is
ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the provision
shall be read in such a manner that no payments payable under this Agreement
shall be subject to an “additional tax” as defined in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of
the Code.  Each series of installment payments made under this Agreement is
hereby designated as a series of “separate payments” within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code.  For purposes of this Agreement, all references to
Executive’s “termination of employment” shall mean Executive’s “separation from
service” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (“Separation
from Service”).

(d)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if at the time of
Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company Executive is a “specified
employee” as defined in Code Section 409A, as determined by the Company in
accordance with Code Section 409A, to the extent that the payments or benefits
under this Agreement are subject to Code Section 409A and the delayed payment or
distribution of all or any portion of such amounts to which Executive is
entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited
distribution under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), then such portion shall be
paid or distributed to Executive during the thirty (30) day period commencing on
the earlier of (i) the date that is six (6) months following Executive’s
Separation from Service, (ii) the date of Executive’s death, or (iii) the
earliest date as is permitted under Code Section 409A.

9. Representations.

 

(a) The Company represents and warrants that this Agreement has been authorized
by all necessary corporate action of the Company and is a valid and binding
agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms.  

 

(b) The Executive represents and warrants that he is not a party to any
agreement or instrument which would prevent him from entering into or performing
his duties in any way under this Agreement.

 

10. Confidentiality; Assignment of Inventions; Background Check.  As a condition
to the effectiveness of the Agreement, Executive will enter into the Company’s
standard Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement, a
copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Proprietary Rights
Agreement”), which Proprietary Rights Agreement is incorporated herein by
reference, and hereby agrees to comply with the terms and conditions thereof
during the term of Executive’s employment and thereafter in accordance with its
terms.  In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the
terms of the Proprietary Rights Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall
prevail and take precedence over the terms of the Proprietary Rights
Agreement.  A further condition of the effectiveness of the Agreement is the
satisfactory completion of a credit and/or criminal background check.

 

11. Restrictive Covenants. Executive agrees to fully comply with the covenants
set forth in this Section 11 (the “Restrictive Covenants”). Executive further
acknowledges and agrees that the Restrictive Covenants are

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reasonable and necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests,
including its Proprietary Information (as defined in the Proprietary Rights
Agreement) and goodwill.

 

(a)During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, and for a period
of one year immediately following the termination of such employment (the
“Non-Competition Restricted Period”), Executive will not, directly or
indirectly, for Executive’s own benefit or for the benefit of any other
individual or entity other than the Company: (i) operate, conduct, or engage in,
or prepare to operate, conduct, or engage in the Business (as defined below),
(ii) own, finance, or invest in (except as the holder of not more than one
percent of the outstanding stock of a publicly-held company) any Business, or
(iii) participate in, render services to, or assist any person or entity that
engages in or is preparing to engage in the Business in any capacity (whether as
an employee, consultant, contractor, partner, officer, director, or otherwise)
(x) which involves the same or similar types of services Executive performed for
the Company at any time during the last two years of Executive’s employment with
the Company or (y) in which Executive could reasonably be expected to use or
disclose Proprietary Information, in each case (i), (ii), or (iii) in the
Restricted Territory (as defined below).

 

(b)During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, and for a period
of one year immediately following the termination of such employment for any
reason (the “Non-Solicitation Restricted Period”), Executive will not, directly
or indirectly, for Executive’s own benefit or for the benefit of any other
individual or entity: (i) employ or hire any Company Personnel (as defined
below) in any capacity (whether as an employee, contractor, consultant or
otherwise); (ii) solicit or attempt to solicit for employment or hire any
Company Personnel in any capacity; (iii) entice or induce any Company Personnel
to leave his or her or their employment with the Company; or (iv) otherwise
negatively interfere with the Company’s relationship with any Company Personnel.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a general solicitation or advertisement for job
opportunities that Executive may publish without targeting any Company Personnel
shall not be considered a violation of Section 11(b)(ii).

 

(c)During the Non-Solicitation Restricted Period, Executive will not, directly
or indirectly, for Executive’s own benefit or for the benefit of any other
individual or entity: (i) solicit business from, or offer to provide products or
services that are similar to any product or service provided or that could be
provided by the Company or that are otherwise competitive with the Business to,
any Company Customer (as defined below); (ii) cause or encourage any Company
Customer to reduce or cease doing business with the Company, or (iii) otherwise
negatively interfere with the Company’s relationships with any Company Customer.

 

(d)At any time, the Company may in its sole discretion elect to waive any or
part of the Restrictive Covenants, provided any such waiver is expressly agreed
to in writing by the Board of Directors.

 

(e)Definitions. As used in the Restrictive Covenants:

 

(i)“Business” shall mean any business or part thereof that develops,
manufactures, markets, licenses, sells or provides any product or service that
competes with any product or service developed, manufactured, marketed,
licensed, sold or provided, or planned to be developed, manufactured, marketed,
licensed, sold or provided, by the Company, in each case at any time during
Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

(ii)“Company Customer” shall mean any individual or entity who (A) is, or was at
any time during the one year period prior to the termination of Executive’s
employment with the Company, a customer, supplier, or vendor of the Company of
whom Executive learned, with whom Executive had business contact or about whom
Executive obtained Proprietary Information (as defined in the Proprietary Rights
Agreement) at any time during Executive’s employment with the Company, or (B) is
a prospective customer, supplier, or vendor of the Company of whom Executive
learned, with whom Executive had business contact, or about whom Executive
obtained Proprietary Information as part of a solicitation of business on behalf
of the Company at any time during the one year period prior to Executive’s
termination of employment with the Company.

 

(iii)“Company Personnel” shall mean any individual or entity who is or was at
any time during the six-month period prior to Executive’s solicitation or other
activity prohibited by Section 11(b), employed or engaged (whether as an
employee, consultant, independent contractor or in any other capacity) by the
Company.

 

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(iv)“Restricted Territory” shall mean each city, county, state, territory and
country in which (A) Executive provided services or had a material presence or
influence at any time during the last two years of Executive’s employment with
the Company or (B) the Company is engaged in or has plans to engage in the
Business as of the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

12. Rights and Remedies upon Breach. In the event Executive breaches, or
threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of this Agreement, the
Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns shall have the
following rights and remedies, each of which shall be independent of the others
and severally enforceable, and each of which shall be in addition to, and not in
lieu of, any other rights or remedies available to the Company or its
subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns at law or in equity under this
Agreement or otherwise:

 

(a) Specific Performance. The right and remedy to have each and every one of the
covenants in this Agreement specifically enforced and the right and remedy to
obtain injunctive relief, it being agreed that any breach or threatened breach
of any of the restrictive covenants and agreements contained herein would cause
irreparable injury to the Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors
or assigns and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy at law to
the Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns.

 

(b) Accounting. The right and remedy to require Executive to account for and pay
over to the Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns, as
the case may be, all compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or
other benefits derived or received by Executive that result from any transaction
or activity constituting a material breach of this Agreement, except that
Executive shall be required to account for and pay over the aforementioned
compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits only
pursuant to an award rendered by an arbitrator and entered in a court of
competent jurisdiction, as set forth in Paragraph 22 herein, which finds that
Executive materially breached this Agreement and owes the Company such amounts
as a result of the material breach.

(c) Cessation of Payments.  The right to cease all severance payments to
Executive hereunder.

 

(d)Enforceability in all Jurisdictions.  Executive intends to and hereby confers
jurisdiction to enforce each and every one of the covenants and agreements
contained herein upon the courts of any jurisdiction within the geographic scope
of such covenants and agreements. If the courts of any one or more of such
jurisdictions hold any such covenant or agreement unenforceable by reason of the
breadth or such scope or otherwise, it is the intention of Executive and the
Company that such determination shall not bar or in any way affect the Company’s
or any of its subsidiaries’, affiliates’, successors’ or assigns’ right to the
relief provided above in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the
geographic scope of such covenants and agreements, as to breaches of such
covenants and agreements in such other respective jurisdictions, such covenants
and agreements as they relate to each jurisdiction being, for this purpose,
severable into diverse and independent covenants and agreements.

(e)Whistleblower Provision. Nothing herein is intended to or shall prevent
Executive from communicating directly with, cooperating with, or providing
information to, any federal, state or local government regulator, including, but
not limited to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Commodity
Futures Trading Commission, or the U.S. Department of Justice. Executive
acknowledges that the Company has provided Employee with the following notice of
immunity rights in compliance with the requirements of the Defend Trade Secrets
Act: (i) Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any
Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of proprietary information
of the Company that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local
government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or
investigating a suspected violation of law, (ii) Executive shall not be held
criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the
disclosure of proprietary information of the Company that is made in a complaint
or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made
under seal and (iii) if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company
for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the
proprietary information to Executive’s  attorney and use the proprietary
information in the court proceeding, if Executive files any document containing
the proprietary information under seal, and does not disclose the proprietary
information, except pursuant to court order.

 

13. Binding Agreement. This Agreement is a personal contract and the rights and
interests of the Executive hereunder may not be sold, transferred, assigned,
pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated by him. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive and his personal or legal
representatives,

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executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and
legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount would still be payable to
him hereunder had the Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless
otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to his devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such
designee, to his estate. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall by its
terms automatically be assigned to any successor in interest to the Company in a
change in control, including but not limited to any entity that acquires
substantially all of the assets, capital stock or operations of the Company.

 

14. Return of Company Property. Executive agrees that following the termination
of his employment for any reason, he shall return all property of the Company,
its subsidiaries, affiliates and any divisions thereof he may have managed which
is then in or thereafter comes into his possession, including, but not limited
to, documents, contracts, agreements, plans, photographs, books, notes,
electronically stored data and all copies of the foregoing as well as any
materials or equipment supplied by the Company to Executive.

 

15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Proprietary Rights
Agreement, contains all the understandings between the parties hereto pertaining
to the matters referred to herein, and supersedes all undertakings and
agreements, whether oral or in writing, previously entered into by them with
respect thereto. Executive represents that, in executing this Agreement, he does
not rely and has not relied upon any representation or statement not set forth
herein made by the Company with regard to the subject matter, bases or effect of
this Agreement or otherwise.

 

16. Amendment or Modification, Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be
amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is agreed to in writing,
signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company. The failure
of either party to this Agreement to enforce any of its terms, provisions or
covenants shall not be construed as a waiver of the same or of the right of such
party to enforce the same. Waiver by either party hereto of any breach or
default by the other party of any term or provision of this Agreement shall not
operate as a waiver of any other breach or default.

 

17. Notices. Any notice to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given when delivered personally, sent by courier or fax or registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed to
Executive at the most recent address on the Company’s payroll records and to the
Company at its principal executive office, addressed to the Chairman of the
Board, or to such other address as either party may subsequently give notice of
hereunder in writing.  Any notice delivered personally or by courier under this
Section 17 shall be deemed given on the date delivered and any notice sent by
telecopy or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, shall be deemed given on the date telecopied or mailed.

 

18. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remainder of the Agreement shall not in any
way be affected or impaired thereby. Moreover, if any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement shall be held to be excessively broad as
to duration, activity or subject, such provisions shall be construed by limiting
and reducing them so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent allowed by
applicable law.

 

19. Survivorship. The respective rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder, including but not limited to Executive’s obligations under Sections
10, 11 and 12, shall survive any termination of Executive’s employment or this
Agreement to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of such rights
and obligations.

 

20. Each Party the Drafter. This Agreement and the provisions contained in it
shall not be construed or interpreted for or against any party to this Agreement
because that party drafted or caused that party’s legal representative to draft
any of its provisions.

 

21. Governing Law; Venue. This contract shall be governed by the laws of the
State of Texas, without reference to any conflicts of laws rules that would
result in the application of the substantive laws of any other
jurisdiction.  The parties irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction
of the state and federal courts having jurisdiction over disputes arising in
Collin County, Texas, in any action to enforce an arbitration award or any other
suit brought hereunder.  Each party hereby agrees that any such court shall have
in personam jurisdiction over it and consents to service of process in any
manner authorized by Texas law.

 

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22. Binding Arbitration.  Except as provided in Section 12(a) of this Agreement,
any dispute, claim or controversy based on, arising out of or relating to
Executive’s employment or this Agreement shall be settled by final and binding
arbitration in Collin County, Texas, before a single neutral arbitrator in
accordance with the employment arbitration rules (the “Rules”) of the Judicial
Arbitration and Mediation Services/Endispute (“JAMS”) and the Federal
Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sec. 1, et seq., and judgment on the award rendered by
the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The Rules may be
found online at www.jamsadr.com and will be provided to Executive upon
request.   Arbitration may be compelled pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act
or applicable state law. If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator,
one shall be appointed by JAMS in accordance with its Rules.  Subject to Section
23 below, each party shall pay the fees of its own attorneys, the expenses of
its witnesses and all other expenses connected with presenting its case.  Other
costs of the arbitration, including the cost of any record or transcripts of the
arbitration, JAMS’ administrative fees, the fee of the arbitrator, and all other
fees and costs, shall be borne by the Company.  This Section 22 is intended to
be the exclusive method for resolving any and all claims by the parties against
each other for payment of damages under this Agreement or relating to
Executive’s employment; provided, however, that Executive shall retain the right
to file administrative charges with or seek relief through any government agency
of competent jurisdiction, and to participate in any government investigation,
including but not limited to (a) claims for workers’ compensation, state
disability insurance or unemployment insurance; (b) claims for unpaid wages or
waiting time penalties brought before any similar state agency in any applicable
jurisdiction; provided, however, that any appeal from an award or from denial of
an award of wages and/or waiting time penalties shall be arbitrated pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement; and (c) claims for administrative relief from the
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and/or any similar state
agency in any applicable jurisdiction’.  This Agreement shall not limit either
party’s right to obtain any provisional remedy, including, without limitation,
injunctive or similar relief, from any court of competent jurisdiction as may be
necessary to protect their rights and interests pending the outcome of
arbitration, in any court of competent jurisdiction.  Seeking any such relief
shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such party’s right to compel
arbitration.  Both Executive and the Company expressly waive their right to a
jury trial.

 

23. Attorney Fees. In the event that any dispute between the Company and
Executive should result in arbitration, the arbitrator may award to one or more
of the Prevailing Persons (as defined below) such reasonable attorney fees,
costs and expenses, as determined by the arbitrator. Any judgment or order
enforcing such arbitration may, in the discretion of the court entering such
judgment or order contain, a specific provision providing for the recovery of
attorney fees and costs incurred in enforcing such judgment or order and an
award of prejudgment interest from the date of the breach at the maximum rate of
interest allowed by law. For the purposes of this Section 23:

 

(a) “attorney fees” shall include, without limitation, attorney fees incurred in
the following:

 

(i) arbitration;

 

(ii) post-arbitration order or judgment motions;

 

(iii) contempt proceedings;

 

(iv) garnishment, levy, and debtor and third party examinations;

 

(v) discovery; and

 

(vi) bankruptcy litigation;

 

(b) “Prevailing Person” shall mean any person who is determined by the
arbitrator in the proceeding to have prevailed or who prevails by dismissal,
default or otherwise.

 

24. Headings. All descriptive headings of sections and paragraphs in this
Agreement are intended solely for convenience, and no provision of this
Agreement is to be construed by reference to the heading of any section or
paragraph.

 

25. Counterparts; Facsimile or .pdf Signatures. This Agreement may be executed
in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A

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facsimile, PDF (or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal
ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or any other type of copy of an
executed version of this Agreement signed by a party is binding upon the signing
party to the same extent as the original of the signed agreement.

 

26.Code Section 409A.  

(a)Any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits payable under this
Agreement shall be made in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) and shall be paid on or before the last day of Executive’s
taxable year following the taxable year in which Executive incurred the
expenses.  The amount of expenses reimbursed or in-kind benefits payable in one
year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits
payable in any other taxable year of Executive’s, and Executive’s right to
reimbursement for such amounts shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange
for any other benefit.

(b)In the event that the amounts payable under Section 8(b)(ii) are subject to
Section 409A of the Code and the timing of the delivery of Executive’s release
could cause such amounts to be paid in one or another taxable year, then
notwithstanding the payment timing set forth in such Section, such amounts shall
not be payable until the later of (i) the payment date specified in such section
or (ii) the first business day of the taxable year following the Executive’s
“separation from service.”

27.Withholding.  All applicable withholding taxes shall be deducted from any
payments to Executive hereunder.  

28.Knowing and Voluntary. Executive represents and agrees that, prior to signing
this Agreement, Executive has discussed the terms of this Agreement with legal
counsel of his choosing. Executive further represents and agrees that he is
entering into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily. Executive affirms that
no promise was made to cause him to enter into this Agreement, other than what
is promised in this Agreement. Executive further confirms that he has not relied
upon any other statement or representation by anyone other than what is in this
Agreement as a basis for his agreement.

(Signature Page Follows)

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement effective as
of the date first written above.

 

DASAN Zhone Solutions, Inc.EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

By: /s/ Thomas Cancro/s/ Charlie Vogt

Name: Thomas J. CancroName: Charles Daniel Vogt

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Employee PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS Assignment Agreement

 

[Attachment Omitted]