Employment agreement between the registrant and Ona Karasa



 Exhibit 10.26 
  
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
  
 between 
  
 ATLAS DMT 
  
 A DIVISION OF AVENUE A, INC. 
  
 and 
  
 ONA M. KARASA 
  









 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
  
 This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is dated as of September 9,
2002, between Atlas DMT, a division of Avenue A, Inc., a Washington corporation (“Atlas”), and Ona M. Karasa (“Executive”). 
  
 WHEREAS, Executive desires to serve as Senior Vice President of Development and Technology of Atlas and Atlas desires to retain the services of Executive
upon the terms and conditions set forth herein; and 
  
 WHEREAS,
Executive is willing to continue to provide services to Atlas upon the terms and conditions set forth herein. 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are
hereby acknowledged, Atlas and Executive hereby agree as follows: 
  

	1.	EMPLOYMENT 

  
 Atlas will employ Executive and Executive will accept employment by Atlas as Senior Vice President of Development and Technology. During Executive’s
employment, Executive shall serve Atlas faithfully and to the best of her ability, devoting substantially all her working time, attention and energies to the business of Atlas. Executive’s status, duties and responsibilities shall be reasonably
commensurate with her title, and she shall perform such duties as lawfully assigned to her. Executive shall not engage in any other business activity (except the management of personal investments and charitable and civic activities which in the
aggregate do not interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder) without first obtaining the written consent of Avenue A, Inc.’s President and CEO. 
  

	2.	COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

  
 a) Compensation will be $230,000 per year paid semi-monthly in 24 equal payments. 
  
 b) Executive will receive a signing bonus of $30,000 to be paid on or before September 30, 2002. This bonus will be subject
to customary withholding for federal taxes. 
  
 c) Executive will
be eligible to participate in the Avenue A, Inc. 2002 executive bonus plan. Subject to meeting established financial goals, Board approval and other conditions of the plan, Executive will participate on a pro rata basis for the period from September
9 to December 31, 2002. 
  









 d) During her employment, Executive will be entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans in
which executives of Atlas may participate. 
  

	3.	TERMINATION 

  
 Employment of Executive pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated as follows: 
  

	 	3.1.	By Atlas 

  
 With or without Cause (as defined below), Atlas may terminate the employment of Executive at any time upon giving Notice of Termination (as defined
below). 
  

	 	3.2.	By Executive 

  
 Executive may terminate her employment at any time, for any reason, upon giving Notice of Termination. 
  

	 	3.3.	Automatic Termination 

  
 This Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate automatically upon the death or total disability of Executive. The term
“total disability” as used herein shall mean Executive’s inability to perform the duties set forth in paragraph 1 hereof for a period or periods aggregating ninety (90) calendar days in any 12-month period as a result of physical or
mental illness, loss of legal capacity or any other cause beyond Executive’s control, unless Executive is granted a leave of absence by the Board of Directors of Avenue A, Inc. Executive and Atlas hereby acknowledge that Executive’s
ability to perform the duties specified in paragraph 1 hereof is of the essence of this Agreement. Termination hereunder shall be deemed to be effective (a) at the end of the calendar month in which Executive’s death occurs or (b) immediately
upon a determination by the Board of Directors of Avenue A, Inc. of Executive’s total disability, as defined herein. 
  

	 	3.4.	Notice 

  
 The term “Notice of Termination” shall mean at least thirty (30) days’ written notice of termination, by either party, of Executive’s
employment, during which period Executive’s employment and performance of services will continue; provided, however, that Atlas may, upon notice to Executive and without reducing Executive’s compensation during such period, excuse
Executive from any or all of her duties during such period. . The effective date of the termination (the “Termination Date”) of Executive’s employment hereunder shall be the date on which such 30-day period expires. 
  

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	4.	TERMINATION PAYMENTS AND ACCELERATION OF VESTING 

  
 In the event of termination of the employment of Executive, all compensation and benefits set forth in this Agreement shall terminate except as
specifically provided in this section 4. 
  

	 	4.1.	Termination by Atlas 

  
 a) Upon termination by Atlas, Atlas shall pay Executive any unpaid annual base salary at the rate of pay in effect at the time of termination (hereinafter
“Base Salary”) through the Termination Date. Such payment will be made on the Termination Date or within 15 days thereafter. 
  
 b) If (1) Avenue A, Inc. winds up the Atlas division’s business or if (2) Avenue A, Inc. sells all or substantially all of the assets of the Atlas
division, and if Atlas or the purchaser of all or substantially all of the Atlas assets (hereinafter referred to as “Purchaser”) terminates Executive’s employment without Cause in connection with such winding up or sale, then
Executive shall be entitled to receive termination payments equal to three months annual Base Salary, plus an additional three months Base Salary for each full year in which the Executive has been employed with Atlas, up to a total termination
benefit of nine months annual Base Salary. In the case of termination of Executive by Purchaser without Cause within one year of the date of sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Atlas, such termination shall be deemed to be “in
connection” with that sale. In the case of termination of Executive by Atlas without Cause within 180 days of the completion date of the winding up of the Atlas business or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Atlas, such
termination shall be deemed “in connection” with those events. 
  
 c) The termination payments will be paid semi-monthly in equal parts in accordance with the same time schedule that Atlas or Purchaser makes its customary payroll. Atlas or Purchaser may deduct customary withholdings
including social security, federal and state income taxes, and state disability insurance from these severance payments; however, any and all such obligations shall be Executive’s responsibility. Atlas or Purchaser will issue and file
appropriate tax documents in connection with any termination payments. 
  
 d) The termination payments described in this section 4 are expressly contingent upon Executive’s signing upon termination a release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, and are further contingent upon Executive’s full
compliance with the terms of her previously executed Confidentiality, Inventions Assignment, Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreement with Atlas (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). In the event Executive were to materially breach this
Confidentiality Agreement, her right to any termination payments under this Agreement shall be extinguished and Atlas or Purchaser 

  

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shall cease payments, and Executive shall immediately return to Atlas or Purchaser any termination payments already made. If Executive is terminated by Atlas
or Purchaser for Cause, Executive shall not be entitled to receive any of the foregoing benefits, other than those set forth in clause (a) above. 
  
 e) If (1) Avenue A, Inc. winds up the Atlas division’s business or if (2) Avenue A, Inc. sells all or substantially all of the assets of the Atlas
division, and if Atlas or Purchaser terminates Executive’s employment without Cause in connection with such winding up or sale, then the portion of any Avenue A, Inc. stock option or substitute option granted by Purchaser held by Executive
immediately prior to the Termination Date that is unvested shall automatically vest, immediately prior to the Termination Date, in an amount equal to the portion that would have vested during the “Applicable Period” (as defined in the
table below) immediately following the Termination Date, assuming, for purpose of determining the amount, that no termination had occurred and Executive had continued Executive’s employment with Atlas or Purchaser during the Applicable Period
In the case of termination of Executive by Purchaser without Cause within one year of the date of sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Atlas, such termination shall be deemed to be “in connection” with that sale. In the case
of termination of Executive by Atlas without Cause within 180 days of the completion date of the winding up of the Atlas business or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Atlas, such termination shall be deemed “in connection”
with those events. 
  

			
	 Executive’s Continuous Employment with Atlas or Purchaser
	  	Applicable Period
		
	 Less than one year
	  	Three Months
		
	 At least one year but less than two years
	  	Six Months
		
	 2 years or more
	  	Nine Months

  
 If the end of the Applicable Period
falls in the middle of a quarter for option vesting purposes, the vesting acceleration described above shall be pro rated for the actual number of days between the beginning of such quarter and the last day of the Applicable Period. 
  

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	 	4.2.	Termination by Executive 

  
 In the case of termination of Executive’s employment by Executive for any reason, Executive shall be paid the compensation set forth in clause 4.1
(a) and shall not be entitled to the benefits under clauses 4.1(b) or 4.1(e) above. 
  

	 	4.3.	Termination as a Result of Death or Total Disability 

  
 In the event of termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to subparagraph 3.3, Executive or her estate shall be paid the compensation set forth
in clause 4.1 (a) and shall not be entitled to any of the benefits under clauses 4.1(b) or 4.1(e) above. 
  

	 	4.4.	Cause 

  
 Wherever reference is made in this Agreement to termination being with or without Cause, “Cause” shall include, without limitation, the
occurrence of one or more of the following events: 
  
 a) willful misconduct, insubordination, or dishonesty in the performance of Executive’s duties or other knowing and material violation of Atlas’s or Purchaser’s policies and procedures in effect from time to time which
results in a material adverse effect on Atlas or Purchaser; 
  
 b) the continued failure of Executive to satisfactorily perform her duties after receipt of written notice that specifically identifies the areas in which Executive’s performance is deficient; 
  
 c) willful actions (or intentional failures to act) in bad
faith by Executive with respect to Atlas or Purchaser that materially impair Atlas’s or Purchaser’s business, goodwill or reputation; 
  
 d) conviction of Executive of a felony involving an act of dishonesty, moral turpitude, deceit or fraud, or the commission of acts that
could reasonably be expected to result in such a conviction; 
  
 e) current use by the Executive of illegal substances; or 
  
 f) any material violation by Executive of Executive’s Confidentiality Agreement with Atlas. 
  

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	5.	CONFIDENTIALITY, NONCOMPETITION AND NONSOLICITATION AGREEMENT 

  
 Executive is subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement entered into concurrently with this Agreement and the terms of the Confidentiality
Agreement shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with Atlas. 
  

	6.	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTORS; NO VIOLATION 

  
 In order to induce Atlas to enter into this Agreement, Executive represents and warrants to Atlas that neither the execution nor the performance of this
Agreement by Executive will violate or conflict in any way with any other agreement by which Executive may be bound, or with any other duties imposed upon Executive by corporate or other statutory or common law. 
  

	7.	NOTICE AND CURE OF BREACH 

  
 Whenever a breach of this Agreement by either party is relied upon as justification for any action taken by the other party pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement, other than pursuant to the definition of “Cause” set forth above, before such action is taken, the party asserting the breach of this Agreement shall give the other party at least 14 days’ prior written notice of the
existence and the nature of such breach before taking further action hereunder and shall give the party purportedly in breach of this Agreement the opportunity to correct such breach during the 14-day period. 
  

	8.	FORM OF NOTICE 

  
 All notices given hereunder shall be given in writing, shall specifically refer to this Agreement and shall be personally delivered or sent by telecopy or
other electronic facsimile transmission or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address set forth below or at such other address as may hereafter be designated by notice given in compliance with the terms hereof:

  

			
	 If to Executive:
	  	 Ona M. Karasa
 6977 Island Center Road
 Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

		
	 If to Atlas:
	  	 Avenue A, Inc.
 506 Second Avenue
 Seattle, WA 98104
 Facsimile: (206) 521-8808
 Attention: President and CEO


  

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 If notice is mailed, such notice shall be effective upon mailing, or if notice is personally delivered or sent by
telecopy or other electronic facsimile transmission, it shall be effective upon receipt. 
  

	9.	ASSIGNMENT 

  
 This Agreement is personal to Executive and shall not be assignable by Executive. Atlas may assign its rights hereunder to (a) any corporation resulting
from any merger, consolidation or other reorganization to which Avenue A, Inc. is a party or (b) any corporation, partnership, association or other person to which Atlas may transfer all or substantially all of the assets and business of Atlas
existing at such time. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. 
  

	10.	WAIVERS 

  
 No delay or failure by any party hereto in exercising, protecting or enforcing any of its rights, titles, interests or remedies hereunder, and no course
of dealing or performance with respect thereto, shall constitute a waiver thereof. The express waiver by a party hereto of any right, title, interest or remedy in a particular instance or circumstance shall not constitute a waiver thereof in any
other instance or circumstance. All rights and remedies shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies. 
  

	11.	ARBITRATION 

  
 Any controversies or claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be fully and finally settled by arbitration in the city of Seattle in
accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect (the “AAA Rules”), conducted by one arbitrator either mutually agreed upon by Atlas and Executive or chosen in accordance with
the AAA Rules, except that the parties thereto shall have any right to discovery as would be permitted by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for a period of 90 days following the commencement of such arbitration and the arbitrator thereof shall
resolve any dispute which arises in connection with such discovery. The prevailing party shall be entitled to costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof. 
  

	12.	AMENDMENTS IN WRITING 

  
 No amendment, modification, waiver, termination or discharge of any provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure therefrom by either party
hereto, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing, specifically identifying this 

  

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Agreement and the provision intended to be amended, modified, waived, terminated or discharged and signed by Atlas and Executive, and each such amendment,
modification, waiver, termination or discharge shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No provision of this Agreement shall be varied, contradicted or explained by any oral agreement, course of
dealing or performance or any other matter not set forth in an agreement in writing and signed by Atlas and Executive. 
  

	13.	APPLICABLE LAW 

  
 This Agreement shall in all respects, including all matters of construction, validity and performance, be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the state of Washington, without regard to any rules governing conflicts of laws. 
  

	14.	SEVERABILITY 

  
 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, for any reason, including, without limitation, the
duration of such provision, its geographical scope or the extent of the activities prohibited or required by it, then, to the full extent permitted by law (a) all other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and
shall be liberally construed in order to carry out the intent of the parties hereto as nearly as may be possible, (b) such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision
hereof, and (c) any court or arbitrator having jurisdiction thereover shall have the power to reform such provision to the extent necessary for such provision to be enforceable under applicable law. 
  

	15.	HEADINGS 

  
 All headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting,
this Agreement. 
  

	16.	COUNTERPARTS 

  
 This Agreement, and any amendment or modification entered into pursuant to paragraph 12 hereof, may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. 
  

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	17.	ENTIRE AGREEMENT 

  
 This Agreement on and as of the date hereof, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Atlas and Executive
with respect to the subject matter hereof and all prior or contemporaneous oral or written communications, understandings or agreements between Atlas and Executive with respect to such subject matter are hereby superseded and nullified in their
entireties. 
  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and
entered into this Agreement on the date set forth above. 
  

	
	 EXECUTIVE:

	
	 /s/ Ona M. Karasa

	

	 Ona M. Karasa


  

			
	 Avenue A, Inc.

		
	By	 	 /s/ Brian McAndrews

	 	 	

	 	 	 Brian McAndrews

	 	 	 Its President and CEO


  

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 EXHIBIT A 
  

WAIVER AND RELEASE 
  
 For and in consideration of the severance payments and benefits set out in the Employment Agreement attached hereto, Executive, on behalf of herself and
her agents, heirs, successors and assigns, expressly waives any claims against and releases Atlas, Avenue A, Inc. (including Atlas’s, Avenue A, Inc’s officers, directors, stockholders, managers, agents and representatives) from any and all
claims, demands, liabilities, damages, obligations, actions or causes of action of any kind, known or unknown, past or present, arising out of, relating to, or in connection with Executive’s employment, termination of employment, or the holding
of any office with Atlas or any other related entity. The claims released by Executive include, but are not limited to, claims for defamation, libel, invasion of privacy, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, wrongful
termination, constructive discharge, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, or for violation of any federal, state or other governmental statute or ordinance, including, without
limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Employment Retirement Income Security Program or any other legal
limitation on the employment relationship. 
  
 This waiver and
release shall not waive or release claims (1) where the events in dispute first arise after execution of this Release; (2) for rights or benefits due under the Employment Agreement attached hereto; or (3) relating to Executive’s rights to
indemnity as a corporate officer of Atlas. 
  
 Executive agrees
she has been provided the opportunity to consider for twenty-one (21) days whether to enter into this Release, and has voluntarily chosen to enter into it on this date. Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days following the
execution of this Release; this Release shall become effective following expiration of this seven (7) day period. This Release shall be effective when signed. Executive acknowledges that she is voluntarily executing this Release, that she has
carefully read and fully understands all aspects of this Release and the attached Employment Agreement, that she has not relied upon any representations or statements not set forth herein or made by Avenue A’s agents or representatives, that
she has been advised to consult with an attorney prior to executing the Release, and that, in fact, she has consulted with an attorney of her choice as to the subject matter and effect of this Release. 
  

					
			
	  	 	 	 	  
	
	 	 	 	

	 Ona M. Karasa
	 	 	 	Date

  

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