Exhibit 10.23

 

Portions of this exhibit marked [*] are requested to be treated confidentially.

 

HSW International, Inc.

 

2008 Executive Compensation Plan

 

1.                                       Purpose

 

The purpose of the HSW International, Inc. (“HSWI” or the “Company”) 2008
Executive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the interests of the
Company by (i) motivating key employees of HSWI to execute upon and achieve the
HSWI business plan, and (ii) retaining key employees.

 

2.                                       Eligibility and Participation

 

The individuals listed on Appendix A will be the “Participants” in the Plan. 
Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Participants will be eligible to receive
compensation hereunder.

 

3.                                       Amount Available for Awards

 

a)  Number.   Subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors, the
following shall be allocated to the Plan (collectively, the “Bonus Pool”):

 

i)  30,769 shares of the Company’s common stock (“Shares”);

 

ii) 100,000 options to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock (“Options”);
and

 

iii) $100,000 (“Tax Offset”).

 

b)  Restrictions.  The Shares and Options shall be issued immediately upon the
implementation of the Plan.  Those Shares in the Bonus Pool shall be restricted
stock, which shall vest on January 31, 2009 (the “Distribution Date”), in the
amount as specified herein.  Those Options in the Bonus Pool shall fully vest on
the Distribution Date, in the amount as specified herein.  The Tax Offset shall
be paid on January 31, 2009, in accordance with the Plan.

 

c)  Adjustment.  If there shall occur a stock dividend, stock split, share
combination, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization,
merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange of shares or
other similar event affecting the Shares, the Shares subject to this Plan shall
be deemed to relate to such number and class of securities of HSWI, cash or
other property received in exchange for or in respect of such Shares, and the
number of Shares allocated to the Plan shall be adjusted in such manner to avoid
any dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan.

 

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4.                                       Allocation of the Bonus Pool

 

The Bonus Pool shall be allocated among the Participants according to their
percentage specified on Appendix A.

 

5.                                       Vesting of the Bonus Pool

 

a)  Performance.  The number of shares which shall vest on the Distribution Date
shall be calculated according to the following criteria (the “Performance
Criteria”):

 

i)                                         33.4% of the Bonus Pool will vest if
[*] has launched the [*] version of the “HowStuffWorks” website by [*] 2008;

 

ii)                                      33.3% of the Bonus Pool will vest if at
[*] has displayed at least [*] page views during 2008; and

 

iii)                                   33.3% of the Bonus Pool will vest if [*]
has at least US$ [*] gross revenues in 2008, not including related party
transactions.

 

6.                                       Forfeitures

 

In the event that any Participant is not employed on December 31, 2008, due to
resignation by the Participant or termination by the Company for cause, the
portion of the Bonus Pool allocated to the Participant shall be forfeited.  In
the event that any portion of the Bonus Pool does not become vested because of
failure to meet the Performance Criteria, then such portion shall be forfeited.

 

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[*] Confidential treatment requested; certain information omitted and filed
separately with the SEC.

 

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Appendix A

 

Named Personnel

 

Percentage of Plan

 

 

 

 

 

Henry Adorno, Vice Chairman

 

30

%

 

 

 

 

Greg Swayne, President & COO

 

30

%

 

 

 

 

[*]

 

[*]

%

 

 

 

 

Shawn Meredith, CFO

 

10

%

 

 

 

 

[*]

 

[*]

%

 

 

 

 

[*]

 

[*]

%

Total:

 

100

%

 

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[*] Confidential treatment requested; certain information omitted and filed
separately with the SEC.

 

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