Exhibit 10.5

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
December 31, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Suhel Kanuga, an
individual, (the “Executive”) and SMAAASH ENTERTAINMENT INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”). The Company and the Executive may be referred to
herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of Executive as the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to provide such
services to the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company entered into that certain Share Exchange Agreement with
Simplicity Esports, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
(“Simplicity”), on December 21, 2018 (the “Share Exchange Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, in light of the foregoing, the Company and Executive desire to
memorialize their employment relationship on the terms, conditions and covenants
set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
the Parties hereby acknowledge, Executive and the Company agree as follows:

 

1.     Position. As of the Effective Date, Executive agrees to be employed by
the Company in the position of Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”). Executive’s
first day of work will be December 31, 2018 (the “Start Date”). Executive shall
report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (including any designated
committee thereof, the “CEO”). In his capacity as the CFO of the Company,
Executive shall act as the Company’s principal financial officer, and in such
capacity shall undertake the duties and responsibilities customary to that
position, subject in all instances to the direction and oversight of the CEO.
Executive understands and agrees that the CEO may prescribe such duties,
responsibilities, and powers to him as the CEO reasonably determines
appropriate, and that, in his sole discretion, the CEO may revise or otherwise
amend from time to time the Chief Financial Officer’s prescribed duties and
responsibilities, provided that such duties shall at all times be limited to
those customarily undertaken by a person in such position.

 

2.     Executive’s Effort. Executive shall devote sufficient time and his best
efforts, skill and attention to his position and to the business and interests
of the Company; provided, that nothing herein shall preclude Executive, (i)
subject to prior approval of the Board of Directors, from serving on the boards
of directors of other for-profit companies, and (ii) from engaging in charitable
activities including serving on the boards of directors of non-profit
organizations, so long as, in each case, and in the aggregate, such service and
management does not conflict with the performance of Executive’s duties
hereunder. Executive may be requested to serve as a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company and on the boards of directors of Company affiliates,
in each case for no additional compensation.

 

 

 

3.    Executive’s Location. The principal place of the Executive’s employment
shall be at New York, New York. Executive may be required to travel on Company
business during the Employment Term.

 

4.    Representations.

 

(a)       Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that: (i)
Executive has full power and capacity to execute and deliver, and to perform,
all of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement; (ii) upon execution and
delivery of this Agreement, this Agreement will be the valid and binding
obligation of Executive, enforceable against Executive in accordance with its
terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability
Exceptions (as defined below); and (iii) Executive is not now under any
obligation by contract, agreement or understanding to any person, business, or
other entity, that is inconsistent, or in conflict, with this Agreement or that
would prevent Executive from performing his obligations hereunder. Executive
also agrees that he will immediately inform the Company of any such
restrictions. For purposes hereof, “Enforceability Exceptions” means bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity).

 

(b)       The Company hereby represents and warrants to Executive that: (i) the
Company has full power and capacity to execute and deliver, and to perform, all
of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement; (ii) upon execution and
delivery of this Agreement, this Agreement will be the valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against Executive in accordance with its
terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability
Exceptions; and (iii) the Company is not now under any obligation by contract,
agreement or understanding to any person, business, or other entity, that is
inconsistent, or in conflict, with this Agreement or that would prevent the
Company from performing its obligations hereunder.

 

5.    Compensation.

 

(a)Base Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive a monthly base salary in the
amount of Eight Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty-Three Dollars and Thirty-Three
Cents ($8,333.33) (the “Base Salary”), which shall be payable on a monthly basis
or otherwise in accordance with the Company’s standard policies.

 

(b)Equity Grants. In addition to the Base Salary provided in Section 5(a) for
service rendered, Executive shall receive compensation in the form of an equity
grant of Three Thousand (3,000) shares of Company common stock, which shall be
granted monthly and which shall be fully vested immediately upon grant.

 

(c)Bonus. In addition to the Equity Grants provided for in Section 5(b), the
Executive shall be eligible to receive a quarterly bonus in the form of a cash
bonus and/or an equity grant of shares of the Company’s common stock (the
“Bonus”). Executive’s eligibility for any Bonus and the amount thereof shall be
determined solely at the discretion of the CEO. Any Bonus shall be payable no
later than 45 days following the quarterly period to which such Bonus relates,
subject to Executive’s employment with the Company on the last day of the
quarterly period to which the Bonus relates, except as provided in Section 7.

 

2

 

 

(d)Employee Benefits. During the Term and otherwise as set forth herein, the
Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans,
practices, and programs maintained by the Company, as in effect from time to
time (collectively, “Employee Benefit Plans”), on a basis which is no less
favorable than is provided to other similarly situated executives of the
Company, to the extent consistent with applicable law and the terms of the
applicable Employee Benefit Plans. Further, the Company shall pay the entire
group health premium for Executive and any dependents eligible to participate in
the Company’s group health plan. The Company reserves the right to amend or
cancel any Employee Benefit Plans at any time in its sole discretion, subject to
the terms of such Employee Benefit Plans and applicable law.

 

(e)Vacation; Paid Time Off; Holidays. During the Employment Term, the Executive
shall be entitled to paid vacation and paid holidays in accordance with the
Company’s policies for executive officers as such policies may exist from time
to time. Vacation will be taken at such times and dates as will not interfere
with Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company.

 

(f)Business Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for all
reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, entertainment, and travel
expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of the
Executive’s duties hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s expense
reimbursement policies and procedures.

 

(g)Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to
indemnification and insurance coverage for directors’ and officers’ liability
(such coverage to be provided through a Company-provided D&O policy), fiduciary
liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive’s position with the
Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available
to any other senior level executive or member of the Board of Directors and to
the full extent provided by or allowable under the Company’s certificate of
incorporation or by-laws, and such coverage and protections, with respect to the
various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified
prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years
following the end of the Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into
between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in
accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement.

 

3

 

 

6.     Term/Renewal. Unless earlier terminated as set forth herein, this
Agreement and the status and obligations of Executive thereunder as an employee
of the Company (except as provided for below) shall be effective for a period
ending one (1) year after the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”) and, after the
expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for
successive one (1) year terms (each a “Renewal Term” and, collectively with all
Renewal Terms and the Initial Term, the “Term”) unless, either Party gives the
other Party sixty (60) days’ advance written notice of its intention not to
renew this Agreement at the conclusion of the Initial Term or the then-current
Renewal Term, as applicable.

 

7.     Termination of Employment. The Term and Executive’s employment hereunder
may be terminated by the Company with or without Cause, or by the Executive with
or without Good Reason. In addition, in the event of the Executive’s death or
total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (“Disability”) during the Term, the Term and Executive’s
employment shall terminate on the date of death or Disability.

 

(a)Definition of Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean,
subject to the provisions herein:

 

(i)Executive’s willful failure to perform his duties (other than any such
failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness);

 

(ii)Executive’s willful failure to comply with any valid and legal directive of
the CEO;

 

(iii)Executive’s willful engagement in dishonesty, illegal conduct, or gross
misconduct, which is, in each case, materially injurious to the Company or its
affiliates;

 

(iv)Actions by Executive constituting embezzlement, misappropriation, or fraud,
whether or not related to the Executive’s employment with the Company;

 

(v)Executive’s conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime
that constitutes a felony (or state law equivalent) or a crime that constitutes
a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; or

 

(vi)Executive’s material breach of any material obligation under this Agreement,
which the Executive fails to correct within 10 days after the Executive receives
written notice from the CEO of such breach.

 

4

 

 

(b)Definition of Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason”
shall mean the occurrence of any of the following, in each case during the Term,
provided, however that failure of the Company’s shareholders to approve the
Share Exchange Agreement or the issuance of additional shares required under the
terms of the Share Exchange Agreement shall not constitute “Good Reason” or
require the payment of severance to Executive:

 

(i)a material reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary;

 

(ii)a material reduction in Executive’s target bonus opportunity;

 

(iii)a relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment from that set
forth in Section 3 by more than thirty-five (35) miles;

 

(iv)a material breach by the Company of any material provision of this
Agreement;

 

(v)at any time following a Change of Control (as defined below), a material
change in Executive’s title or responsibilities, or a material diminution by the
Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the
Executive immediately prior to a Change of Control.

 

(c)Definition of a Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change
in Control” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events (it
being agreed that, with respect to paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this definition
below, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred if the
applicable third party acquiring the Company is an “affiliate” of the Company
within the meaning of Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended):

 

(i)An acquisition (whether directly from the Company or otherwise) of fifty
percent (50%) or more of the Company’s then outstanding shares of stock by any
“Person” (as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the
Exchange Act or more than one Person acting as a group, immediately after which
such Person or group has “Beneficial Ownership” (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act).

 

(ii)Individuals who, as of the Effective Date constitute the entire Board of
Directors (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including without
limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar
transaction, to constitute at least a majority of the entire Board of Directors;
provided that any individual becoming a director of the Company subsequent to
the Effective Date shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s
election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least fifty
percent (50%) of the Incumbent Directors; but provided further, that any such
individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
threatened election contest relating to the election of members of the Board of
Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by
or on behalf of a Person other than the Board of Directors, including by reason
of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest
or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director.

 

5

 

 

(iii)Approval by the Board of Directors and, if required, stockholders of the
Company, or execution by the Company of any definitive agreement with respect
to, or the consummation of (it being understood that the mere execution of a
term sheet, memorandum of understanding or other non-binding document shall not
constitute a Change of Control):

 

(A)A merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the Company, where either
or both of the events described in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above would be the
result;

 

(B)A liquidation or dissolution of, or appointment of a receiver, rehabilitator,
conservator or similar person for, or the filing by a third party of an
involuntary bankruptcy against, the Company; or

 

(C)An agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company to any Person or more than one Person acting as a
group (other than a transfer to a subsidiary of the Company).

 

(d)Requirements for Termination.

 

(i)Executive may not terminate the Term and Executive’s employment for Good
Reason pursuant to Section 7(b)(i), Section 7(b)(ii), Section 7(b)(iii) or
Section 7(b)(iv), unless (x) the Executive, within thirty (30) days following
the occurrence of the such condition giving rise to Good Reason, notifies the
Company in writing of his intent to terminate with Good Reason; (y) the Company
fails to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after being so notified;
and (z) the Executive actually terminates no later than thirty (30) days after
the end of such thirty (30)-day cure period.

 

(ii)Solely in the case of an event of Cause described in Section 7(a)(i),
Section 7(a)(ii) or Section 7(a)(vi), (each, a “Cause Capable of Cure”), the
Company may not and shall not terminate the Term and Executive’s employment for
Cause unless the Company has provided written notice to Executive of the
existence of the circumstances providing grounds for termination for a Cause
Capable of Cure, and Executive has had at least fourteen (14) calendar days from
the date on which such notice is provided to cure such circumstances to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Company and has thereafter not cured such
circumstance within such fourteen (14) calendar day period.

 

6

 

 

(e)Termination for Cause, Without Good Reason or Company Non-Renewal. Upon (i)
termination of the Term and Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause,
(ii) termination of the Term and resignation by Executive without Good Reason,
or (iii) a non-renewal by the Company under Section 6, the Company shall pay to
Executive the following amounts (the “Accrued Amounts”):

 

(i)any accrued but unpaid monthly Base Salary (as provided for in Section 5(a)),
any accrued but unpaid monthly equity grants (as provided for in Section 5(b))
and accrued but unused vacation, which shall each be paid on the date required
by applicable law;

 

(ii)any bonus compensation awarded for the quarterly period preceding that in
which termination occurs, but unpaid on the date of termination (the “Prior
Quarterly Period Bonus”);

 

(iii)reimbursement for unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by the
Executive, which shall be subject to and paid in accordance with the Company’s
expense reimbursement policy, and provided that such expenses and required
substantiation and documentation are submitted within thirty (30) days following
termination;

 

(iv)such employee benefits, if any, to which the Executive may be entitled under
the Company’s employee benefit plans as of the Termination Date; provided that,
in no event shall the Executive be entitled to any payments in the nature of
severance or termination payments except as specifically provided herein; and

 

(v)all amounts otherwise required to be paid or provided by law.

 

(f)Termination due to Death or Disability. Upon termination of this Agreement
solely as a result of the death or Disability of Executive, Executive or his
estate shall receive:

 

(i)the Accrued Amounts; and

 

(ii)a one-time pro rata share (through the termination date) of any Bonus amount
for the quarterly period year in which such termination occurred (the “Pro-Rated
Bonus”).

 

7

 

 

(g)Termination Without Cause or With Good Reason. Upon (i) termination of the
Term and Executive’s employment by the Company without or other than for Cause,
(ii) or termination of the Term and resignation by Executive with Good Reason,
the Company shall provide to Executive:

 

(i)the Accrued Amounts and a Pro-Rated Bonus through the date of termination;

 

(ii)any salary that Executive would have earned through the end of the Term or
Renewal Term of the Agreement during which the Company terminated Executive’s
employment;

 

(iii)any unvested incentive awards (whether based in equity or cash, and
specifically including, but not limited to, stock options and restricted stock)
then held by the Executive shall immediately be vested in full;

 

(iv)any additional Equity Grants to which the Executive would have been entitled
pursuant to Section 5(b) for the remainder of the then applicable Initial Term
or Renewal Term, as applicable, had his employment not been so terminated prior
to the conclusion of the Term shall be issued and paid to Executive as of the
date of termination; and

 

(v)Section 11 shall no longer be of any force or effect for any period following
such termination.

 

As a pre-condition of receiving the payments and benefits described in this
Section 7(g)(ii) through 7(g)(v), inclusive, Executive shall, within 30 days of
the Termination Date, sign and return the General Release Agreement in the form
annexed hereto as Exhibit “A.”

 

(h)Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment
hereunder by the Company or by the Executive (other than termination on account
of the Executive’s death) shall be communicated by written notice of termination
(“Notice of Termination”) to the other Party hereto in accordance with this
Agreement. The Notice of Termination shall specify:

 

(i)The termination provision of this Agreement relied upon;

 

(ii)To the extent applicable, the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so
indicated; and

 

(iii)The applicable Termination Date.

 

(i)Executive Duties after Receipt of Notice of Termination for Cause. Subject to
the Company affording Executive a reasonable ability to cure a purported Cause
Capable of Cure, after the Company gives Executive notice of termination for
Cause and prior to termination of employment becoming effective, the Company
may, in its sole discretion: (i) require that Executive absent himself from the
office; (ii) require that Executive perform no work; (iii) require that
Executive abstain from taking any action as a director of the Company or of any
affiliate, provided that Executive shall continue to be paid his Base Salary
during such period of time.

 

8

 

 

(j)Termination Date. The Executive’s “Termination Date” shall be:

 

(i)If the Executive’s employment hereunder terminates on account of the
Executive’s death, the date of the Executive’s death;

 

(ii)If the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated on account of the
Executive’s Disability, the date that it is determined that the Executive has a
Disability;

 

(iii)If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause,
the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to the Executive;

 

(iv)If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment hereunder without
Cause, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; and

 

(v)If the Executive terminates his employment hereunder with or without Good
Reason, the date specified in the Executive’s Notice of Termination.

 

(k)Resignation of All Other Positions. Immediately upon the effective date of
any termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason,
Executive shall be deemed to have resigned automatically from membership on the
Board of Directors or the board of directors of any affiliate of the Company and
from any and all offices Executive holds at the Company or any affiliate of the
Company.

 

8.    Cooperation. The Parties agree that certain matters in which the Executive
will be involved during the Executive’s employment by the Company may
necessitate the Executive’s cooperation in the future. Accordingly, following
the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, to the extent
reasonably requested by the Company, the Executive shall cooperate with the
Company in connection with matters arising out of the Executive’s service to the
Company; provided that, the Company shall make reasonable efforts to minimize
disruption of the Executive’s other activities. The Company shall reimburse the
Executive for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such cooperation.

 

9.    Confidentiality.

 

(a)For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” is and shall be
trade secrets, knowledge, data or other confidential, secret or proprietary
information of the Company relating to trade secrets, discoveries, inventions,
products and product development, processes, practices, methods, techniques,
knowledge, know-how, information relating to governmental relations, technical
or other data, designs, formulas, test data, customer and supplier lists,
business plans, marketing or manufacturing plans and strategies, and product
pricing strategies or other subject matter pertaining to any business of the
Company or any of its clients, customers, consultants, licensees, subsidiaries
or affiliates, that, in any case, is not otherwise generally available to the
public and has not been disclosed by the Company to others not subject to
confidentiality agreements, which Executive may produce, obtain or otherwise
learn of during the course of Executive’s employment and/or association with the
Company, and whether produced, obtained, or learned of prior to, as of or
following the date hereof.

 

9

 

 

(b)At all times both during the Executive’s employment with the Company and
thereafter, the Executive shall keep confidential and agrees not to deliver,
reproduce, disclose or in any way allow any such Confidential Information to be
delivered to or used by any third parties for any purpose (including, without
limitation, any purpose harmful to the interests of the Company) except: (i)
while employed by the Company and solely in the business of and for the benefit
of the Company; (ii) when required to do so by a court of competent
jurisdiction, by any governmental agency having supervisory authority over the
business of the Company, or by any administrative body or legislature body
(including a committee thereof) with jurisdiction to order the Company to
divulge, disclose or make accessible such information; or (iii) with the
specific direction, authorization or consent of a duly authorized representative
of the Company.

 

(c)Upon the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive
shall promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all records, materials,
equipment, drawings, documents, lab notes and books and data of any nature
(electronic or otherwise) describing, including or pertaining to any
Confidential Information, and Executive will not take with him any description
containing or pertaining to any Confidential Information which Executive may
produce or obtain during the course of his services. The terms of this paragraph
shall survive termination of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Executive may retain his personal contacts, personal compensation data and,
subject to prior approval by the Company, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, any documents reasonably needed for tax return
preparation purposes.

 

(d)Notice of Immunity Under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, as amended by
the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement:

 

10

 

 

(i)The Executive will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal
or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that:

 

(A)is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official,
either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose
of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or

 

(B)is made in a complaint or other document filed under seal in a lawsuit or
other proceeding.

 

(ii)If the Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for
reporting a suspected violation of law, the Executive may disclose the Company’s
trade secrets to the Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information
in the court proceeding if the Executive:

 

(A)files any document containing trade secrets under seal; and

 

(B)does not disclose trade secrets except pursuant to court order.

 

(e)Nothing herein shall prevent Executive from making a report, or bringing a
claim, to any governmental agency, including the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department
of Justice, or the Attorney General of the State of New York.

 

(f)The Executive and the Company agree that this covenant regarding confidential
information is a reasonable covenant under the circumstances and further agree
that if in the opinion of any court of competent jurisdiction, such covenant is
not reasonable in any respect, such court shall have the right, power and
authority to excise or modify such provision or provisions of this covenant as
to the court shall appear not reasonable and to enforce the remainder of the
covenant as so amended.

 

10.  Work Made for Hire; Assignment. The Executive acknowledges that, by reason
of being employed by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted
by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is
“work made for hire” as defined in 17 U.S.C. § 101 and such copyrights are
therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply,
the Executive hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional
consideration, the Executive’s entire right, title, and interest in and to all
Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to
sue, counterclaim, and recover for all past, present, and future infringement,
misappropriation, or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto
throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to
reduce or limit the Company’s rights, title, or interest in any Work Product or
Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the
Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

 

11

 

 

11. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. Executive acknowledges and recognizes
the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its
subsidiaries and affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

 

(a)During the Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of one
(1) year from the date of termination of Executive’s employment for any reason,
the Executive shall not, anywhere within the United States either as principal,
agent, employee, consultant, partner, officer, director, shareholder, or in any
other individual or representative capacity, own, manage, finance, operate,
control or otherwise engage or participate in any manner or fashion in an
employment, business or other activity competitive with the Company. The
post-employment restriction contained in this section shall not apply in the
State of California.

 

(b)Executive further agrees that, during the Executive’s employment with the
Company and for a period of one (1) year from the date of termination of
Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, consultant, partner,
officer, director, shareholder, or in any other individual or representative
capacity, on the Executive’s behalf or any other persons or entity other than
the Company or its affiliates, (i) solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or
induce, directly or indirectly, any customer or prospective customer of the
Company with whom the Executive has had personal contact within the twelve (12)
month period prior to the Executive’s termination date, or (ii) solicit or
induce, or attempt to solicit or induce, directly or indirectly any person who
is, or during the twelve (12) month period prior to the Executive’s termination
date was, an employee or agent of, or consultant to, the Company or any of its
affiliates, to terminate its, his or her relationship therewith, or (iii) hire
or engage any person who is, or during the twelve (12) month period prior to the
Executive’s termination date was, an employee, agent of or consultant to the
Company or any of its affiliates.

 

(c)Executive understands that the provisions of this Section 11 may limit
Executive’s ability to earn a livelihood in a business similar to the business
of the Company but Executive nevertheless agrees and hereby acknowledges that
(i) such provisions do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to
protect the goodwill or other business interests of the Company, (ii) such
provisions contain reasonable limitations as to time and scope of activity to be
restrained, (iii) such provisions are not harmful to the general public, (iv)
such provisions are not unduly burdensome to Executive, and (v) the
consideration provided hereunder is sufficient to compensate Executive for the
restrictions contained in this Section 11. In consideration of the foregoing and
in light of Executive’s education, skills and abilities, Executive agrees that
Executive shall not assert that, and it should not be considered that, any
provisions of this Section 11 otherwise are void, voidable or unenforceable or
should be voided or held unenforceable

 

(d)If a judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that
the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an
unenforceable restriction against the Executive, the provisions of this
Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to
such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may
judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court
or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in
this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to
make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of
the other restrictions contained herein.

 

12

 

 

12. Jury Trial Waiver / Arbitration.

 

(a)THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AND KNOWINGLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN THE
EVENT ANY ACTION ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
EXECUTIVE’S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY IS LITIGATED OR HEARD IN ANY COURT.

 

(b)The Parties agree that this Agreement, and all matters or disputes relating
to the validity, construction, performance or enforcement hereof, and all
matters relating to the to the Executive’s employment hereunder or the
termination or non-renewal of such employment (whether or not based on contract,
tort or upon any federal, state or local statute, including but not limited to
claims asserted under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended,
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, any state Fair Employment
Practices Act, and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended), shall be
resolved exclusively through mediation/arbitration by JAMS/Endispute in the
County of New York in accordance with JAMS’ Streamlined Arbitration Rules and
Procedures.

 

(c)The terms of this Agreement shall be governed and construed under the laws of
the State of New York, except for the arbitration provision which shall be
governed by the Federal Arbitration Act.

 

(d)In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, each Party
hereby consents and agrees that the other Party shall be entitled to seek from
the arbitrator, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or
permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened
breach, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that money
damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of
posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be
in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages, or other
available forms of relief.

 

13

 

 

(e)Any action or proceeding by either of the Parties to enforce the arbitration
provision of this Agreement shall be brought only in a state or federal court
located in the State of New York, having jurisdiction over the County of New
York. The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of
such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of
any such action or proceeding in such venue.

 

13. Exit Obligations. Upon (a) voluntary or involuntary termination of the
Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 7 or (b) the Company’s request at any
time during the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall: (i) provide or
return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards,
access cards, identification cards, security devices, employer credit cards,
network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, pagers, fax
machines, equipment, speakers, webcams, manuals, reports, files, books,
compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb
drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives, negatives
and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and
stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or
contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession
or control of the Executive, whether they were provided to the Executive by the
Company or any of its business associates or created by the Executive in
connection with his employment by the Company; and (ii) delete or destroy all
copies of any such documents and materials not returned to the Company that
remain in the Executive’s possession or control, including those stored on any
non-Company devices, networks, storage locations, and media in the Executive’s
possession or control.

 

14. Publicity. During the Term, the Executive hereby irrevocably consents to any
and all uses and displays, by the Company and its agents, representatives and
licensees, of the Executive’s name, voice, likeness, image, appearance, and
biographical information.

 

15. Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement
contains all of the understandings and representations between the Executive and
the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and
contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both
written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. The Parties warrant that,
in agreeing to the terms of this Agreement, they have not relied upon any oral
statements or upon any written statements not contained in this Agreement. The
Parties mutually agree that the Agreement can be specifically enforced in court
and can be cited as evidence in legal proceedings alleging breach of the
Agreement.

 

16. Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or
modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and
signed by the Executive and the Company. No waiver by either of the Parties of
any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of
any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or
subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in
exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof
to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
such right, power, or privilege.

 

17. Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court or
arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if
any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken,
such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement,
the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such
modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth
in this Agreement.

 

14

 

 

(a)The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to
modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing
such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by
rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending
provision, adding additional language to this Agreement, or by making such other
modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the
Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

(b)The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court
shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should
one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal,
or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such
provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall
be construed as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions had not
been set forth herein.

 

18. Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this
Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement
is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or
paragraph.

 

19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile and .pdf signatures of this
Agreement shall be considered originals for purposes of this Agreement.

 

20. Tolling. Should the Executive violate any of the terms of the restrictive
covenant obligations articulated herein, the obligation at issue will run from
the first date on which the Executive ceases to be in violation of such
obligation.

 

21. Section 409A. The Parties intend for the payments and benefits under this
Agreement to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (“Section 409A”), or, if not so exempt, to be paid or provided in a
manner which complies with the requirements of such section, and intend that
this Agreement shall be construed and administered in accordance with such
intention. If any payments or benefits due to the Executive under this Agreement
would cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section
409A, such payments or benefits shall be restructured in a manner which does not
cause such an accelerated or additional tax. For purposes of the limitations on
nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, each payment of
compensation under this Agreement be treated as a separate payment of
compensation. Without limiting the foregoing and notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid
accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, amounts that would
be otherwise payable and benefits that would be otherwise provided during the
six month period immediately following the Executive’s separation from service
shall instead be paid on the first business day after the date that is six
months following Executive’s separation from service.

 

15

 

 

22. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by either Party
without the prior written consent of the other Party, to be given or withheld in
the sole discretion of the other Party. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of the Parties and their permitted successors and assigns.

 

23. Notice. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight carrier to the Parties
at the addresses set forth below (or such other addresses as specified by the
Parties by like notice):

 

If to the Company:

 

SMAAASH ENTERTAINMENT INC.

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor

New York, New York 10105
Attention: Board of Directors

 

with a copy to (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

Ellenoff, Grossman & Schole, LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10105
Attn: Benjamin Reichel, Esq.
Email: breichel@egsllp.com
Telephone: (212) 370-1300
Facsimile: (212) 370-7889

 

If to the Executive:

 

Suhel Kanuga

At the address set forth in the Company’s records

 

24. Withholding. The Company shall have the right to withhold from any amount
payable hereunder any Federal, state, and local taxes in order for the Company
to satisfy any withholding tax obligation it may have under any applicable law
or regulation.

 

25. Survival. Upon the expiration or other termination of this Agreement, the
respective rights and obligations of the Parties hereto shall survive such
expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the
intentions of the Parties under this Agreement or as otherwise specifically set
forth herein.

 

16

 

 

26. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FULL UNDERSTANDING. THE EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT HE HAS FULLY READ, UNDERSTANDS AND VOLUNTARILY ENTERS INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
THE EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT HE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
QUESTIONS AND CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF HIS CHOICE BEFORE SIGNING THIS
AGREEMENT.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

17

 

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
Effective Date.

                  SMAAASH ENTERTAINMENT INC.               By: /s/ SUHEL KANUGA
  By: /s/ F. Jacob Cherian     SUHEL KANUGA   Name: F. Jacob Cherian        
Title:   Chief Executive Officer  

 

18

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

GENERAL RELEASE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE

 

TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME OR MAY CONCERN, KNOW THAT:

 

Suhel Kanuga (the “Executive”), on Executive’s own behalf and on behalf of
Executive’s descendants, dependents, heirs, executors and administrators and
permitted assigns, past and present, in consideration for the amounts payable
and benefits to be provided to Executive under the employment agreement (the
“Agreement”) made and entered into as of December 31, 2018 (the “Effective
Date”), by and between Executive, and SMAAASH Entertainment, Inc. (the
“Company”) (each individually, “Party,” collectively, the “Parties”), does
hereby covenant not to sue or pursue any litigation or arbitration against, and
waives, releases and discharges the Company, its parents, subsidiaries,
affiliates, divisions, assigns, predecessors, insurers, successors, and the past
and present employees, officers, directors, insurers, attorneys, representatives
and agents thereof, both individually and in their business capacities, and
their employee benefit plans and programs and their administrators and
fiduciaries (collectively, the “Releasees”), from any and all claims, demands,
rights, judgments, defenses, actions, charges or causes of action whatsoever, of
any and every kind and description, whether known or unknown, accrued or not
accrued, that Executive ever had, now has or shall or may have or assert as of
the date of this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue against the Releasees
relating to his employment with the Company or service as a member of the Board
of Directors of the Company or the termination thereof or his service as an
officer or member of the Board of Directors of any subsidiary or affiliate of
the Company or the termination of such service, including, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, any claims, demands, rights, judgments, defenses,
actions, charges or causes of action related to employment or termination of
employment or that arise out of or relate in any way to the Age Discrimination
in Employment Act of 1967 (the “ADEA,” a law that prohibits discrimination on
the basis of age), the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the National Labor
Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
1991, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1866,
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Equal Pay Act of 1963,
the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, the Genetic
Information Nondiscrimination Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, the New York City Human
Rights Law, the New York State Civil Rights Law, the New York Equal Pay Law, the
New York Whistleblower Law, the New York Workers’ Compensation Law, the New York
City Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, all as amended, and other Federal, state and
local laws relating to discrimination on the basis of age, sex or other
protected class, the New York occupational safety and health laws, the New York
wage hour and wage-payment laws, and all claims under Federal, state or local
laws for quantum meruit, unjust enrichment, breach of oral promise, wrongful
discharge, tortious interference, injurious falsehood, defamation, negligent or
intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and any other
common law contract and tort claims; any claims for unpaid or lost benefits or
salary, bonus, vacation pay, severance pay, or other compensation; any claims
for attorneys’ fees, costs, disbursements, or other expenses; and any claims for
damages or personal injury; provided, however, that nothing herein shall release
the Company from any of its obligations to Executive under the Employment
Agreement to pay the amounts and provide the benefits upon which this General
Release and Covenant Not to Sue is conditioned, or any rights Executive may have
to indemnification under any charter or by-laws (or similar documents) of any
member of the Releasees or any insurance coverage under any directors and
officers insurance or similar policies.

 

19

 

 

Executive further agrees that this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue may
be pleaded by the Company as a full defense to any action, suit or other
proceeding covered by the terms hereof that is or may be initiated, prosecuted
or maintained by Executive or Executive’s heirs or assigns. Executive
understands and confirms that Executive is executing this General Release and
Covenant Not to Sue voluntarily and knowingly, but that this General Release and
Covenant Not to Sue does not affect Executive’s right to claim otherwise under
the ADEA.

 

In furtherance of the agreements set forth above, Executive hereby expressly
waives and relinquishes any and all rights under any applicable statute,
doctrine or principle of law restricting the right of any person to release
claims that such person does not know or suspect to exist at the time of
executing a release, which claims, if known, may have materially affected such
person’s decision to give such a release. In connection with such waiver and
relinquishment, Executive acknowledges that Executive is aware that Executive
may hereafter discover claims presently unknown or unsuspected, or facts in
addition to or different from those that Executive now knows or believes to be
true, with respect to the matters released herein. Nevertheless, it is the
intention of Executive to fully, finally and forever release all such matters,
and all claims relating thereto, that now exist, may exist or theretofore have
existed, as specifically provided herein. The Parties hereto acknowledge and
agree that this waiver shall be an essential and material term of the release
contained above. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to expand the scope of
the release as specified herein.

 

Executive agrees that at any time following the date hereof he will not make and
shall use all reasonable endeavors to prevent the making of, any disparaging or
derogatory statements whether or not the statements are true, whether in writing
or otherwise, concerning the Company or its past or current or future directors
or officers or employees or consultants, and the Company undertakes that at any
time following the date hereof its senior executives will not make and shall use
all reasonable endeavors to prevent the making of any disparaging or derogatory
statements whether or not the statement is true, whether in writing or otherwise
concerning the Executive, excluding in all events any statements required to be
made by law, regulation or necessary business practice, or under the public
disclosure requirements of any jurisdiction.

 

No provision of this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue should be read as
preventing Executive from making a report to, filing a charge or complaint with,
or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by, any
governmental agency, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the
National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Justice, or the Attorney
General of the State of New York, or a state or local fair employment practices
agency. While Executive may participate in such investigation or proceeding,
Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive waives Executive’s right to
recover monetary damages, of any kind, in such investigation or proceeding
arising from, or in any way relating to, Executive’s employment with, or
separation from, the Company that may have arisen prior to Executive’s signing
of this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue. Executive acknowledges that
this Release prohibits Executive from pursuing any claims against Employer
seeking monetary relief for Executive and/or as a representative on behalf of
others.

 

20

 

 

This General Release and Covenant Not to Sue shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, applicable to agreements
made and to be performed entirely within such State without regard to principles
of conflicts of laws.

 

To the extent that Executive is forty (40) years of age or older, this paragraph
shall apply. Executive acknowledges that Executive has been offered a period of
time of at least twenty-one (21) days to consider whether to sign this General
Release and Covenant Not to Sue, and the Company agrees that Executive may
cancel or revoke this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue at any time during
the seven (7) days following the date on which this General Release and Covenant
Not to Sue has been signed by the Parties to this General Release and Covenant
Not to Sue. In order to cancel or revoke this General Release and Covenant Not
to Sue, Executive must deliver to the Company written notice stating that
Executive is canceling or revoking this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue.
If this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue is timely cancelled or revoked,
none of the provisions of this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue shall be
effective or enforceable and the Company shall not be obligated to make the
payments to Executive or to provide Executive with the other benefits described
in the Agreement, and all contracts and provisions modified, relinquished or
rescinded hereunder shall be reinstated to the extent in effect immediately
prior hereto.

 

Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive has entered into this General
Release and Covenant Not to Sue knowingly and willingly and has had ample
opportunity to consider the terms and provisions of this General Release and
Covenant Not to Sue. Executive is hereby advised to consult legal counsel prior
to executive this General Release and Covenant Not to Sue.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this General Release and Covenant
Not to Sue to be executed on this _____ day of _____________, 20__.

 

  Suhel Kanuga

 

21