Document:

ex_110864.htm

Exhibit 10.5

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of the 7th day of May, 2015 between Tapinator, Inc (the “Company”) and Ilya Nikolayev (“Employee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Company is in the business of developing and publishing mobile games on the iOS, Android and Amazon platforms (the “Business”);

 

WHEREAS, Employee is currently the Chairman and CEO of the Company and the Company and Employee desire to continue such employment relationship on the terms set forth herein;

 

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto agree that this Agreement shall supersede any other agreements regarding Employee’s provision of services to the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, in further consideration of Employee’s employment by Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.            Term of Agreement.

 

The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of three years commencing on June 1, 2015 and continuing through May 30, 2018 (“Term”), unless otherwise terminated as set forth herein. The Term shall automatically renew for the two-year period beginning June 1, 2018 and ending May 30, 2020 (the “Renewal Term”) unless either party provides written notice to the other party of non-renewal on or before December 1, 2017.

 

2.            Scope of Employment.

 

A.           The Company agrees that during the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall employ Employee as Chairman and CEO to perform the services identified on Exhibit A and such other duties which are of the type and nature normally assigned to such employees of a business of the size, stature, and nature of the Company, as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time assign.

 

B.           Employee hereby accepts such employment and agrees that during the Term of this Agreement that:

 

(i)         Employee shall fully and faithfully perform such duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner, and agrees that fiduciary duties normally applicable to officers, including, without limitation, those of loyalty and due care, shall be applicable to Employee.

 

(ii)        Employee will devote his full working time and attention, as well as his best efforts and abilities to the performance of his duties hereunder and to the affairs of the Company; provided, that, the Executive shall be entitled to devote such time as may be reasonably required in connection with his passive personal investments, Board of Directorships, charitable and civic activities, of which the Executive shall make the Board aware, if and to the extent that such activities do not interfere with the performance of his duties under this Agreement.

 

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(iii)       Employee will not engage in any other activities which conflict, interfere with or otherwise adversely affect in any way the proper discharge of his duties hereunder and compliance with the covenants of Employee contained herein.

 

(iv)       Employee will comply with all lawful policies which from time to time may be in effect at the Company or adopted by the Company and conveyed to Employee.

 

3.            Compensation.

 

As compensation for the services to be performed by Employee hereunder, the Company agrees to pay to Employee, and Employee agrees to accept, the following:

 

A.           Salary. The Company will pay Employee a bases salary (the “Base Salary”) of $180,000, which shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices and pro-rated for any partial months; provided however, that such salary shall increase at a rate of five percent (5%) on January 1st, 2016, and 10% on January 1st of each subsequent year during the Term and during any Renewal Term.

 

B.           Performance Bonus. For each calendar year during the Term, the Employee will have the opportunity to earn an annual bonus of up to 150% of the Base Salary (the “Bonus”) paid to the Employee for such year based on the Company’s annual EBITDA prior to stock-based compensation, executive bonus accrual, and non-cash financing expenses (“Adjusted EBITDA”) as follows:

 

8% of Adjusted EBITDA up to $1 million of Adjusted EBITDA, plus

7% of Adjusted EBITDA between $1 million and $2 million of Adjusted EBITDA, plus

6% of Adjusted EBITDA above $2 million of Adjusted EBITDA

 

For purposes hereof, in the event that the Company consummates one or more acquisitions during the Term (an “Acquisition”), whether by merger, stock purchase, or asset purchase, the amount of any historical Adjusted EBITDA attributable to such Acquisition(s) shall not be included in the Adjusted EBITDA calculation above for purposes of determining any Bonus. The Bonus will be paid to Employee within 15 days from the completion of the Company’s annual audit and provided that Employee has not voluntarily resigned or been terminated with Cause prior to such payment..

 

C.           Options. The parties acknowledge that the Company intends to implement an Incentive Stock Option Plan prior to December 31, 2015 and that Employee shall be entitled to receive annual stock option grants during the Term and any Renewal Terms pursuant to this plan as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors.

 

D.           Employee Benefits. In addition to Employee’s compensation, the Company shall make available to such Employee, subject to change at any time by senior management and approved by the Board of Directors, during the Term hereof:

 

(i)         Participation in any plans, to the extent such plans are available to all similarly situated employees (unless restricted due to Employee’s income level), which are from time to time offered to the Company’s employees with respect to group health, life, accident and disability insurance or payment plans, retirement plans, profit sharing or similar employee benefits, if any, and subject to the satisfaction of insurance underwriting requirements; provided, however, that the Company may elect to provide cash compensation to cover individually purchased benefits in lieu of establishing corporate plans;

 

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(ii)        Twenty days of paid annual vacation, accrued based upon time employed (i.e. accrued at a rate of 12⁄3 days per month), plus paid holidays designated as such by the Company;

 

(iii)       The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by Employee in connection with Employee’s performance of services hereunder as soon as practicable in accordance with the Company’s reimbursement policy following submission to the Company by Employee of a written itemized account of such expenditures, together with receipts therefore, all in accordance with the Company’s policy and with applicable law, rules and regulations governing deductibility of such amounts under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

 

(v)        Other fringe benefits regularly provided to the similarly situated employees of the Company.

 

4.            Termination.

 

A.           Termination by the Company with Cause. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment with “Cause” as hereafter defined in this section upon written notice. “Cause” shall mean Employee’s: (i) conviction of, or indictment for, criminal negligence or felony, (ii) violation of the Company’s material policies or procedures that have been made known to Employee, or violation by Employee on Company premises of any law or material regulation, (iii) material breach or violation of this Agreement, (iv) commission of any act of theft, fraud, dishonesty, or falsification of any employment or Company records, (v) appropriation of a business opportunity or transaction in contravention of Employee’s duties to the Company, (vi) any willful or intentional action by Employee which has a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business, (vii) failure to perform the duties assigned or requested by the Board of Directors, or (viii) gross negligence, incompetence or willful misconduct by Employee in the performance of Employee’s duties. In the event that Employee is terminated with “Cause,” Employee shall only be entitled to the payment of Employee’s then-current accrued, unpaid Base Salary and accrued unused vacation, each prorated through the date of termination. In the case of an event of Cause under clauses (ii), (iii), (vi) or (vii), with the exception of any such events of Cause arising from breach of any of the provisions of Sections (i), (iv), (v) or (viii) hereof, Employee shall be provided the opportunity to cure such event within a reasonable time following written notice thereof and not to exceed thirty (30) days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), and if the Employee desires to effect a cure to same then Employee shall provide the Company with written notice within five business days following receipt of notice of Cause of such desire, and in the absence of such cure by Employee within the Cure Period Employee shall be deemed terminated upon the expiration of the Cure Period unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be provided the opportunity pursuant to the foregoing sentence to cure Employee’s repeated or persistent actions, failures or omissions occurring within a three month period which constitute Cause (in the absence of cure) hereunder and which would otherwise be curable but for such reoccurrence.

 

B.           Termination by Employee for Good Reason. Employee may terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason. “Good Reason” shall mean (i) a material diminution of Employee’s employment duties without Employee’s consent; or (ii) a material and persistent breach by the Company of Section 4 hereof. Employee shall provide the Company thirty (30) days prior written notice of his intention to resign for Good Reason which states his intention to resign and sets forth the reasons therefor, and any resignation without delivery of such notice shall be considered to be a resignation for other than Good Reason. In the event that Employee terminates his employment pursuant to this section, Employee shall be entitled to (i) payment of Employee’s then-current accrued, unpaid Base Salary and accrued, unused vacation, each prorated through the date of termination, and (ii) receive salary continuation payments at the rate of the Base Salary in effect on the date of termination, in accordance with the Company’s prevailing payroll practices, for a period of six months. During the thirty (30) day period following the delivery of such notice, Employee shall reasonably cooperate with the Company in locating and training Employee’s successor and arranging for an orderly transference of his responsibilities.

 

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C.           Termination Due to Employee’s Death or Disability. In the event that this Agreement and Employee’s employment is terminated due to Employee’s death or disability, Employee (or Employee’s legal representatives) shall be paid Employee’s then-current unpaid compensation and accrued, unused vacation, each prorated through the date of termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “disability” shall mean the mental or physical inability to perform satisfactorily the essential functions of Employee’s full-time duties, with or without a reasonable accommodation, as determined by a physician mutually agreed by the Company and Employee, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that any disability which continues (subject to any requirements of applicable law) for one hundred and twenty (120) days (whether or not consecutive) in any twenty-four (24) month period shall be deemed a total and permanent disability.

 

D.           Termination without Cause. The Company may terminate the Employee’s employment without Cause upon written notice. If the Company terminates the Employee’s employment without Cause, then, in addition to the payments for accrued and unpaid Base Salary and accrued, unused vacation, the Employee will be entitled to receive (i) salary continuation payments at the rate of the Base Salary in effect on the date of termination, in accordance with the Company’s prevailing payroll practices, for a period of 14 months (the “Severance Period”), and (ii) shall be entitled to receive any Bonus during the Severance Period that Employee would have been entitled to receive had he continued to be employed during such Severance Period. Any such payments set forth in the preceding sentence shall be subject to the prior execution and delivery of a general release in favor of the Company and compliance with the restrictive covenants contained in Sections 8 through 12.

 

E.           Resignation without Good Reason. The Employee shall have the right to terminate his employment other than for Good Reason upon 90 days’ prior written notice to the Company, and the Company shall have the right to elect to accept such resignation at any time during such 90 day period upon three business days prior written notice, which date shall be deemed the date of termination. The Company may elect to relieve the Employee prior to such three-day notice period, but the date of termination will remain at the end of such three-day notice period. If Executive resigns without Good Reason, he will be entitled to any accrued, unpaid Base Salary and accrued, unpaid vacation time and no more.

 

5.            Representations, Warranties and Certain Covenants of Employee.

 

Employee hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Company that:

 

A.           Employee is not subject to any agreement, including any confidentiality, non-solicitation, non competition, or invention assignment, agreement or other restrictive covenant, whether oral or written, which would in any way restrict or prohibit Employee’s ability to execute this Agreement, perform Employee’s obligations under this Agreement or otherwise comply with the terms of this Agreement;

 

B.           Employee has respected and at all times in the future will continue to respect the rights of Employee’s previous employer(s) in trade secret and confidential information in accordance with applicable agreements, if any, and applicable law;

 

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C.           Employee has left with Employee’s previous employers all proprietary documents, computer software programs, computer discs, customer lists, and any other material which is proprietary to Employee’s previous employer(s), has not taken copies of any such materials and will not remove or cause to be removed any such material or copies of any such material from such previous employer(s) in violation of Employee’s agreements, if any, with previous employers;

 

D.           Employee has not done, and hereafter will not do anything, by contract or otherwise, which would impair the rights of the Company in and to any Company Developments (as defined below), the Company Materials (as defined below), or the ability of Employee to perform Employee's obligations under this Agreement;

 

E.           Employee shall not, during the term of his employment with the Company, do anything or authorize any other person or entity to do anything contrary to the material rights and interests of the Company in contravention of Employee’s obligations under this Agreement;

 

F.           The information Employee supplied to the Company in connection with Employee’s employment is true, correct, and complete; and

 

G.           So long as Employee remains employed by the Company, any and all business opportunities from whatever source which Employee may receive or otherwise become aware of in connection with his employment with the Company relating to the Business of the Company shall belong to the Company, and unless the Company specifically, after full disclosure by Employee of each and any such opportunity, waives its right in writing, the Company shall have the sole right to act upon any of such business opportunities as the Company deems advisable.

 

6.            Work for Hire and Invention Assignment.     

 

A.           Employee agrees that any and all work performed hereunder and any resulting Developments shall be “work made for hire” within the meaning of the Copyright Act of 1976, as amended. Employee hereby assigns to the Company Employee’s entire right, title and interest in said Developments. Furthermore, Employee shall execute all instruments of assignment and any other documents requested by Company relating to the Company’s ownership of any and all Developments or to applications for patents, copyrights and trademarks and the enforcement and protection thereof.

 

B.           Employee shall mark all Developments with the Company’s copyright or other proprietary notice as directed by the Company and shall take all actions deemed necessary by the Company to protect the Company’s rights therein including, without limitation, the maintenance of such item in confidence to the same degree as required for Confidential Information (as herein defined) or as otherwise instructed by the Company. In the event that the Developments performed hereunder shall be deemed not to constitute works made for hire, or in the event that Employee should otherwise, by operation of law, be deemed to retain any rights (whether moral rights or otherwise) to any Developments, Employee agrees to assign to the Company, without further consideration, Employee’s entire right, title and interest therein.

 

C.           Employee further agrees to reasonably assist the Company in every proper way (but at the Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, or other rights or registrations with respect to Developments in any and all countries, and to that end will execute all documents necessary:

 

(i)         to apply for, obtain and vest in the name of the Company alone (unless the Company otherwise directs) letters patent, copyrights, or other analogous protection in any country throughout the world and when so obtained or vested to renew and restore the same;

 

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(ii)        to defend any opposition proceedings in respect of such applications and any opposition proceedings or petitions or applications for revocation of such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection; and

 

(iii)       to cooperate with the Company (but at the Company’s expense) in any enforcement or infringement proceeding on such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection.

 

7.            Confidential Information

 

A.  Confidential Information.

 

Employee acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(i)         During the course of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee will learn about, will help to develop and will develop, and will be entrusted in strict confidence with (1) confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets that are or will be owned by the Company and are not available to the general public or the Company’s competitors concerning the Company, including its sales, operations, financial condition, financial projections, profit margins, personnel matters (including the identity of the Company’s top-performing personnel, hiring criteria, and training techniques), intermediate and long-term business goals and strategic plans, promotional strategies and techniques, pricing and cost structure of services, customer identities, customer relationship histories, customer records, customer service matters, customer preferences, needs and idiosyncrasies, formal customers and prospects, identity of vendors and suppliers, special vendor and supplier pricing and delivery terms, computer programs and codes, research and development, specifications, algorithms, processes, formulas methods, technical data, know-how, complications, designs, drawings, photographs, other machine-readable records, business activity and other confidential aspects of the Company and its business and operations; (2) information which the Company will be required to keep confidential in accordance with confidentiality obligations to third parties; and (3) other matters and materials belonging to or relating to the internal affairs of the Company, including information recorded on any medium which gives it an opportunity to obtain an advantage over its competitors which do not know or use the same or by which the Company derives actual or potential value from such matter or material not generally being known to other persons or entities which might obtain economic value from its use or disclosure (all of the foregoing being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Confidential Information");

 

(ii)        It is imperative that the Employee treat whatever information the Company wants to protect from disclosure as genuinely “Confidential,” i.e. restricting access by pass code, stamping hard copies “Confidential,” and restricting access thereto except by personnel, and the like;

 

(iii)       The Company has developed or purchased and will develop or purchase the Confidential Information at substantial expense in a market in which the Company faces intense competitive pressure, and the Company has kept and will keep secret the Confidential Information; and

 

(iv)       The Company has a legitimate interest in protecting the goodwill, customer information, customer relationships, and use of Employee’s skills by means of enforcement of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement.

 

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B.  Confidentiality Covenants.

 

In consideration of Employee’s employment and compensation and other consideration described herein, Employee acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(i)         To the extent that Employee developed or had access to Confidential Information before entering into this Agreement, Employee represents and warrants that he has not used for his own benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity, and he has not disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other person or entity, other than the Company, any of the Confidential Information. Unless and until the Confidential Information becomes publicly known through legitimate means not involving an act or omission by Employee or the Company’s other employees or independent contractors:

 

(A)     The Confidential Information is, and at all times hereafter shall remain, the sole property of the Company;

 

(B)     Employee shall use his best efforts and the diligence to guard and protect the Confidential Information from disclosure to any competitor, customer or supplier of the Company or any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity;

 

(C)     Unless the Company gives Employee prior express written permission, during his employment and thereafter, Employee shall not use for his own benefit, or divulge to or use for the benefit of any competitor or customer or any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity, any of the Confidential Information which Employee may obtain, learn about, develop, or be entrusted with as a result of Employee's employment by the Company; and

 

(D)     Except in the ordinary course of the Company's Business, Employee shall not seek or accept any Confidential Information from any former, present, or future contractor or employee of the Company.

 

(ii)        Employee also acknowledges and agrees that all documentary and tangible Confidential Information including, without limitation, such Confidential Information as Employee has committed to memory, is supplied or made available by the Company to Employee solely to assist him in performing his duties under this Agreement. Employee further agrees that upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason:

 

(A)     Employee shall not remove from Company property, and shall immediately return to the Company, all documentary or tangible Confidential Information in his possession, custody, or control and not make or keep any copies, notes, abstracts, summaries, tapes or other record of any type of Confidential Information; and

 

(B)     Employee shall immediately return to the Company any and all other Company property belonging to or within the custody or possession of the Company or as to which the Company has the right of possession, in his possession, custody or control, including, without limitation, all internal manuals, customer or client work papers, data, software, and other written materials (and all copies thereof) prepared for internal use by the Company or used in connection with the Business or operations of the Company, any and all keys, security cards, passes, credit cards, and marketing literature.

 

8.            Return of Material. 

 

Upon termination of employment with Company, and regardless of the reason for such termination, or upon the Company’s request, Employee will leave with the Company, or promptly return to Company and its customers all documents, records, notebooks, magnetic tapes, disks, computers, network hardware, and other materials, including all copies in his possession or control which contain Confidential Information of Company and its customers and prospects or any other information concerning Company and its customers, prospects, products, services or customers, whether prepared by the Employee or others, including, without limitation, Company Materials and Developments.

 

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9.            Covenants Not To Compete and Anti-Piracy.

 

Employee acknowledges that the services rendered by Employee on behalf of the Company are of a special and unique character, that Employee is being provided a substantial equity stake in the Company, and that during the performance of such services, Employee will acquire, because of the special relationship among the Company, Employee and the Company’s customers and clients, valuable information, trade secrets, customer lists, proprietary information, financial information and unique skills. Accordingly, Employee covenants, in consideration of Employee’s employment and compensation and other consideration described above, that while Employee is employed by the Company and for such period of time as Employee is entitled to receive any post-Termination payments pursuant to Section 4 above, Employee shall not without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, either on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person work as an independent contractor for or be employed by another company, person, firm, corporation, proprietorship, partnership or other entity in competition with the Company which is engaged primarily in the Business. Employee acknowledges that in the event that Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, Employee will be able to earn a livelihood without violating the foregoing covenants.

 

10.          Non-Solicitation of Customers.

 

In consideration of his employment and compensation and other consideration described herein, Employee agrees that for a period of twelve (12) months immediately following the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will not, either for himself or on behalf of any other person or entity, directly or indirectly, solicit, attempt or offer to provide services or provide services, competitive with those services rendered or products sold by or on behalf of the Company during the term of this Agreement, to any past or present trade client of the Company for whom the Company has performed services or to whom the Company has sold products during the one (1) year period prior to the termination of Employee’s employment.

 

11.          Non-Solicitation of Employees.

 

In consideration of his employment and compensation and other consideration described herein, Employee agrees that Employee will not during both the term of this Agreement and the twelve (12) months following the termination of Employee's employment, without the written consent of the Company, for any reason, directly or indirectly, or by action in concert with others, induce or influence, or seek to induce or influence, any person who is engaged by the Company as an employee, agent, independent contractor or otherwise, to terminate his or her employment or engagement, nor shall Employee prior to the expiration of such period, directly or indirectly, solicit for employment or engagement, employ or engage, attempt to employ or engage, or advise or recommend to any other person or entity that such person or entity employ or engage or solicit for employment or engagement, any person or entity employed or engaged by the Company.

 

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12.          Equitable Relief.

 

Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Business is highly competitive, and that violation of any of the covenants and agreements provided for in Sections 8 - 12 of this Agreement would cause immediate, immeasurable and irreparable harm, loss and damage to the Company not adequately compensable by a monetary award. Accordingly, Employee agrees, without limiting any of the other remedies available to the Company, that any violation of said covenants, or any of them, may be enjoined or restrained by any court of competent jurisdiction, and that any temporary restraining order or emergency, preliminary or final injunctions may be issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, without notice and without bond. In the event any proceedings are commenced by the Company for any actual or threatened violation of any of said covenants or agreements or the Company shall engage legal counsel or incur other costs and expenses related to the enforcement of said covenants or agreements, Employee shall be liable to the Company to the extent the Company is the prevailing party in such proceedings (or in the absence of a proceeding, to the extent the services of attorneys and the incurrence of such other costs and expenses were reasonably required for the Company’s enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors) for all reasonable costs and expenses of any kind, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which the Company has incurred in connection with such proceedings or enforcement activities, including, without limitation, in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this section. Employee acknowledges that in the event that Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, Employee will be able to earn a livelihood without violation of the aforesaid covenants of this Agreement.

 

13.          Binding Effect and Benefit.

 

The provisions hereof shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, Employee, his heirs, executors, and administrators as well as to Company, its successors, and assigns; however, Employee’s services under this personal services contract are not assignable by Employee.

 

14.          Waivers.

 

No delay on the part of any party in the exercise of any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise or waiver thereof by any party of any right or remedy shall preclude the exercise or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

 

15.          Severability; Interpretation.

 

Whenever possible, each of the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law. If any provisions of this Agreement (including but not limited to Sections 8, 10 through 12) or the application of any provision of this Agreement to any party or circumstance shall be prohibited by, or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition without invalidating the remainder of such provision, any other provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to other parties or circumstances. Headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only.

 

16.          Entire Agreement.

 

Any and all prior discussions, understandings, and agreements, whether written or oral, express or implied, including, without limitation, any offer letter, held or made between Employee and the Company are superseded by and merged into this Agreement, which alone fully and completely expresses the agreement of the parties with regard to the matters addressed herein, and this Agreement is entered into with no party relying on any statement or representation made by any other party which is not contained in this Agreement.

 

17.          Amendments.

 

This Agreement may be modified, amended or supplemented only by execution of a written instrument signed by both Employee and the Company.

 

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18.          Survival.

 

The provisions of Sections 8, 10 through 12 and 13 through 24 shall survive any termination of Employee’s employment hereunder and any termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

19.          Notice.

 

Any notices or communications hereunder will be deemed sufficient if made in writing and hand-delivered, or if sent by facsimile with confirmation of transmission retained, or if mailed, postage prepaid, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, to the following addresses:

 

	If to the Company: 	 	If to Employee:
	Tapinator, Inc.	 	 	Ilya Nikolayev
	c/o Board of Directors	 	 	455 West 36th St., Apt. 1603
	140 West 57th St., 9C	 	 	New York, NY 10018
	New York, NY 10019	 	 	 

                                   

      

 

or to such other address as either party may designate for such party by written notice to the other given from time to time in the manner herein provided.

 

20.          Presumptions. 

 

In resolving any dispute or construing any provision hereunder, there shall be no presumptions made or inferences drawn because the attorneys for one of the parties drafted the Agreement.

 

 

21.          Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and by transmission of a facsimile or digital image containing the signature of an authorized person, each of which shall be deemed and accepted as an original, and all of which together shall constitute a single instrument.

 

 

 

22.          Arbitration/Waiver of Claims. 

 

The Parties hereby waive any claim they may have against either party regarding any affairs between the Parties prior to this Agreement.  The Parties agree that in the event of any and all disagreements and controversies arising from this Agreement such disagreements and controversies shall be subject to binding arbitration as arbitrated in accordance with the then current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association to be held in New York, NY before one neutral arbitrator. Either Party may apply to the arbitrator seeking injunctive relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is otherwise resolved. Without waiving any remedy under this Agreement, either Party may also seek from any court having jurisdiction any interim or provisional relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that Party, pending the establishment of the arbitral tribunal (or pending the arbitral tribunal’s determination of the merits of the controversy). In the event of any such disagreement or controversy, neither Party shall directly or indirectly reveal, report, publish or disclose any information relating to such disagreement or controversy to any person, firm or corporation not expressly authorized by the other Party to receive such information or use such information or assist any other person in doing so, except to comply with actual legal obligations of such Party or unless such disclosure is directly related to an arbitration proceeding as provided herein, including, but not limited to, the prosecution or defense of any claim in such arbitration.  The costs and expenses of the arbitration (including attorneys’ fees) shall be paid by the non-prevailing Party or as determined by the arbitrator.  The Parties are hereby waiving any claims against each other party for any activities or prior business transactions between the parties to date.  This paragraph shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

 

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered by the parties hereto as of the date set forth above.

 

	TAPINATOR, INC.	 	EMPLOYEE:	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	By:	/s/ Robert Crates	 	/s/ Ilya Nikolayev	 
	Director:	 	Employee Name:	 

                         

                                                

 

 

 

Caution to Employee: This Agreement affects important rights including, without limitation, rights to inventions and other intellectual property that Employee may develop during his Employment. DO NOT sign it unless you have read it carefully and are satisfied that you understand it completely.

 

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EXHIBIT A - SERVICES

 

Employee’s duties for and on behalf of the Company shall include the following:

 

Primary Functions* –

 

	 	
			1.

				
			To provide leadership and direction, including functional management of:

			

 

	 	
			●

				
			Product Development

			

	 	
			●

				
			Technology

			

	 	
			●

				
			Sales & Marketing

			

	 	
			●

				
			PR

			

	 	
			●

				
			Business Development

			

 

*Employee shall initially work at the Company headquarters in New York but may be permitted to work remotely in the event Employee chooses to relocate.ex_110865.htm

Exhibit 10.6

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of the 7th day of May, 2015 between Tapinator, Inc (the “Company”) and Andrew Merkatz (“Employee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Company is in the business of developing and publishing mobile games on the iOS, Android and Amazon platforms (the “Business”);

 

WHEREAS, Company desires to employ Employee, beginning June 1, 2015, as the President and CFO of the Company and define the terms and nature of their relationship, and Employee desires to be employed by the Company upon the terms and conditions stated herein;

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto agree that this Agreement shall supersede any other agreements regarding Employee’s provision of services to the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, in further consideration of Employee’s employment by Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.           Term of Agreement.

 

The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of three years commencing on June 1, 2015 and continuing through May 30, 2018 (“Term”), unless otherwise terminated as set forth herein. The Term shall automatically renew for the two-year period beginning June 1, 2018 and ending May 30, 2020 (the “Renewal Term”) unless either party provides written notice to the other party of non-renewal on or before December 1, 2017.

 

2.           Scope of Employment.

 

A.           The Company agrees that during the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall employ Employee as President and CFO to perform the services identified on Exhibit A and such other duties which are of the type and nature normally assigned to such employees of a business of the size, stature, and nature of the Company, as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time assign.

 

B.           Employee hereby accepts such employment and agrees that during the Term of this Agreement that:

 

(i)         Employee shall fully and faithfully perform such duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner, and agrees that fiduciary duties normally applicable to officers, including, without limitation, those of loyalty and due care, shall be applicable to Employee.

 

(ii)         Employee will devote his full working time and attention, as well as his best efforts and abilities to the performance of his duties hereunder and to the affairs of the Company; provided, that, the Executive shall be entitled to devote such time as may be reasonably required in connection with his passive personal investments, Board of Directorships, charitable and civic activities, of which the Executive shall make the Board aware, if and to the extent that such activities do not interfere with the performance of his duties under this Agreement.

 

Page 1

 

 

(iii)         Employee will not engage in any other activities which conflict, interfere with or otherwise adversely affect in any way the proper discharge of his duties hereunder and compliance with the covenants of Employee contained herein.

 

(iv)         Employee will comply with all lawful policies which from time to time may be in effect at the Company or adopted by the Company and conveyed to Employee.

 

3.           Compensation.

 

As compensation for the services to be performed by Employee hereunder, the Company agrees to pay to Employee, and Employee agrees to accept, the following:

 

A.           Salary. The Company will pay Employee a bases salary (the “Base Salary”) of $180,000, which shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices and pro-rated for any partial months; provided however, that such salary shall increase at a rate of five percent (5%) on January 1st, 2016, and 10% on January 1st of each subsequent year during the Term and during any Renewal Term.

 

B.           Performance Bonus. For each calendar year during the Term, the Employee will have the opportunity to earn an annual bonus of up to 150% of the Base Salary (the “Bonus”) paid to the Employee for such year based on the Company’s annual EBITDA prior to stock-based compensation, executive bonus accrual, and non-cash financing expenses (“Adjusted EBITDA”) as follows:

 

8% of Adjusted EBITDA up to $1 million of Adjusted EBITDA, plus

7% of Adjusted EBITDA between $1 million and $2 million of Adjusted EBITDA, plus

6% of Adjusted EBITDA above $2 million of Adjusted EBITDA

 

For purposes hereof, in the event that the Company consummates one or more acquisitions during the Term (an “Acquisition”), whether by merger, stock purchase, or asset purchase, the amount of any historical Adjusted EBITDA attributable to such Acquisition(s) shall not be included in the Adjusted EBITDA calculation above for purposes of determining any Bonus. The Bonus will be paid to Employee within 15 days from the completion of the Company’s annual audit and provided that Employee has not voluntarily resigned or been terminated with Cause prior to such payment..

 

C.           Options. The parties acknowledge that the Company intends to implement an Incentive Stock Option Plan prior to December 31, 2015 and that Employee shall be entitled to receive annual stock option grants during the Term and any Renewal Terms pursuant to this plan as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors.

 

D.           Employee Benefits. In addition to Employee’s compensation, the Company shall make available to such Employee, subject to change at any time by senior management and approved by the Board of Directors, during the Term hereof:

 

(i)         Participation in any plans, to the extent such plans are available to all similarly situated employees (unless restricted due to Employee’s income level), which are from time to time offered to the Company’s employees with respect to group health, life, accident and disability insurance or payment plans, retirement plans, profit sharing or similar employee benefits, if any, and subject to the satisfaction of insurance underwriting requirements; provided, however, that the Company may elect to provide cash compensation to cover individually purchased benefits in lieu of establishing corporate plans;

 

Page 2

 

 

(ii)         Twenty days of paid annual vacation, accrued based upon time employed (i.e. accrued at a rate of 12⁄3 days per month), plus paid holidays designated as such by the Company;

 

(iii)         The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by Employee in connection with Employee’s performance of services hereunder as soon as practicable in accordance with the Company’s reimbursement policy following submission to the Company by Employee of a written itemized account of such expenditures, together with receipts therefore, all in accordance with the Company’s policy and with applicable law, rules and regulations governing deductibility of such amounts under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

 

(v)         Other fringe benefits regularly provided to the similarly situated employees of the Company.

 

4.           Termination.

 

A.           Termination by the Company with Cause. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment with “Cause” as hereafter defined in this section upon written notice. “Cause” shall mean Employee’s: (i) conviction of, or indictment for, criminal negligence or felony, (ii) violation of the Company’s material policies or procedures that have been made known to Employee, or violation by Employee on Company premises of any law or material regulation, (iii) material breach or violation of this Agreement, (iv) commission of any act of theft, fraud, dishonesty, or falsification of any employment or Company records, (v) appropriation of a business opportunity or transaction in contravention of Employee’s duties to the Company, (vi) any willful or intentional action by Employee which has a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business, (vii) failure to perform the duties assigned or requested by the Board of Directors, or (viii) gross negligence, incompetence or willful misconduct by Employee in the performance of Employee’s duties. In the event that Employee is terminated with “Cause,” Employee shall only be entitled to the payment of Employee’s then-current accrued, unpaid Base Salary and accrued unused vacation, each prorated through the date of termination. In the case of an event of Cause under clauses (ii), (iii), (vi) or (vii), with the exception of any such events of Cause arising from breach of any of the provisions of Sections (i), (iv), (v) or (viii) hereof, Employee shall be provided the opportunity to cure such event within a reasonable time following written notice thereof and not to exceed thirty (30) days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), and if the Employee desires to effect a cure to same then Employee shall provide the Company with written notice within five business days following receipt of notice of Cause of such desire, and in the absence of such cure by Employee within the Cure Period Employee shall be deemed terminated upon the expiration of the Cure Period unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be provided the opportunity pursuant to the foregoing sentence to cure Employee’s repeated or persistent actions, failures or omissions occurring within a three month period which constitute Cause (in the absence of cure) hereunder and which would otherwise be curable but for such reoccurrence.

 

B.           Termination by Employee for Good Reason. Employee may terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason. “Good Reason” shall mean (i) a material diminution of Employee’s employment duties without Employee’s consent; or (ii) a material and persistent breach by the Company of Section 4 hereof. Employee shall provide the Company thirty (30) days prior written notice of his intention to resign for Good Reason which states his intention to resign and sets forth the reasons therefor, and any resignation without delivery of such notice shall be considered to be a resignation for other than Good Reason. In the event that Employee terminates his employment pursuant to this section, Employee shall be entitled to (i) payment of Employee’s then-current accrued, unpaid Base Salary and accrued, unused vacation, each prorated through the date of termination, and (ii) receive salary continuation payments at the rate of the Base Salary in effect on the date of termination, in accordance with the Company’s prevailing payroll practices, for a period of six months. During the thirty (30) day period following the delivery of such notice, Employee shall reasonably cooperate with the Company in locating and training Employee’s successor and arranging for an orderly transference of his responsibilities.

 

Page 3

 

 

C.           Termination Due to Employee’s Death or Disability. In the event that this Agreement and Employee’s employment is terminated due to Employee’s death or disability, Employee (or Employee’s legal representatives) shall be paid Employee’s then-current unpaid compensation and accrued, unused vacation, each prorated through the date of termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “disability” shall mean the mental or physical inability to perform satisfactorily the essential functions of Employee’s full-time duties, with or without a reasonable accommodation, as determined by a physician mutually agreed by the Company and Employee, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that any disability which continues (subject to any requirements of applicable law) for one hundred and twenty (120) days (whether or not consecutive) in any twenty-four (24) month period shall be deemed a total and permanent disability.

 

D.           Termination without Cause. The Company may terminate the Employee’s employment without Cause upon written notice. If the Company terminates the Employee’s employment without Cause, then, in addition to the payments for accrued and unpaid Base Salary and accrued, unused vacation, the Employee will be entitled to receive (i) salary continuation payments at the rate of the Base Salary in effect on the date of termination, in accordance with the Company’s prevailing payroll practices, for a period of 14 months (the “Severance Period”), and (ii) shall be entitled to receive any Bonus during the Severance Period that Employee would have been entitled to receive had he continued to be employed during such Severance Period. Any such payments set forth in the preceding sentence shall be subject to the prior execution and delivery of a general release in favor of the Company and compliance with the restrictive covenants contained in Sections 8 through 12.

 

E.           Resignation without Good Reason. The Employee shall have the right to terminate his employment other than for Good Reason upon 90 days’ prior written notice to the Company, and the Company shall have the right to elect to accept such resignation at any time during such 90 day period upon three business days prior written notice, which date shall be deemed the date of termination. The Company may elect to relieve the Employee prior to such three-day notice period, but the date of termination will remain at the end of such three-day notice period. If Executive resigns without Good Reason, he will be entitled to any accrued, unpaid Base Salary and accrued, unpaid vacation time and no more.

 

5.           Representations, Warranties and Certain Covenants of Employee.

 

Employee hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Company that:

 

A.           Employee is not subject to any agreement, including any confidentiality, non-solicitation, non competition, or invention assignment, agreement or other restrictive covenant, whether oral or written, which would in any way restrict or prohibit Employee’s ability to execute this Agreement, perform Employee’s obligations under this Agreement or otherwise comply with the terms of this Agreement;

 

B.           Employee has respected and at all times in the future will continue to respect the rights of Employee’s previous employer(s) in trade secret and confidential information in accordance with applicable agreements, if any, and applicable law;

 

Page 4

 

 

C.           Employee has left with Employee’s previous employers all proprietary documents, computer software programs, computer discs, customer lists, and any other material which is proprietary to Employee’s previous employer(s), has not taken copies of any such materials and will not remove or cause to be removed any such material or copies of any such material from such previous employer(s) in violation of Employee’s agreements, if any, with previous employers;

 

D.           Employee has not done, and hereafter will not do anything, by contract or otherwise, which would impair the rights of the Company in and to any Company Developments (as defined below), the Company Materials (as defined below), or the ability of Employee to perform Employee's obligations under this Agreement;

 

E.           Employee shall not, during the term of his employment with the Company, do anything or authorize any other person or entity to do anything contrary to the material rights and interests of the Company in contravention of Employee’s obligations under this Agreement;

 

F.           The information Employee supplied to the Company in connection with Employee’s employment is true, correct, and complete; and

 

G.           So long as Employee remains employed by the Company, any and all business opportunities from whatever source which Employee may receive or otherwise become aware of in connection with his employment with the Company relating to the Business of the Company shall belong to the Company, and unless the Company specifically, after full disclosure by Employee of each and any such opportunity, waives its right in writing, the Company shall have the sole right to act upon any of such business opportunities as the Company deems advisable.

 

6.           Work for Hire and Invention Assignment.     

 

A.           Employee agrees that any and all work performed hereunder and any resulting Developments shall be “work made for hire” within the meaning of the Copyright Act of 1976, as amended. Employee hereby assigns to the Company Employee’s entire right, title and interest in said Developments. Furthermore, Employee shall execute all instruments of assignment and any other documents requested by Company relating to the Company’s ownership of any and all Developments or to applications for patents, copyrights and trademarks and the enforcement and protection thereof.

 

B.           Employee shall mark all Developments with the Company’s copyright or other proprietary notice as directed by the Company and shall take all actions deemed necessary by the Company to protect the Company’s rights therein including, without limitation, the maintenance of such item in confidence to the same degree as required for Confidential Information (as herein defined) or as otherwise instructed by the Company. In the event that the Developments performed hereunder shall be deemed not to constitute works made for hire, or in the event that Employee should otherwise, by operation of law, be deemed to retain any rights (whether moral rights or otherwise) to any Developments, Employee agrees to assign to the Company, without further consideration, Employee’s entire right, title and interest therein.

 

C.           Employee further agrees to reasonably assist the Company in every proper way (but at the Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, or other rights or registrations with respect to Developments in any and all countries, and to that end will execute all documents necessary:

 

(i)         to apply for, obtain and vest in the name of the Company alone (unless the Company otherwise directs) letters patent, copyrights, or other analogous protection in any country throughout the world and when so obtained or vested to renew and restore the same;

 

Page 5

 

 

(ii)         to defend any opposition proceedings in respect of such applications and any opposition proceedings or petitions or applications for revocation of such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection; and

 

(iii)         to cooperate with the Company (but at the Company’s expense) in any enforcement or infringement proceeding on such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection.

 

7.           Confidential Information

 

A.  Confidential Information.

 

Employee acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(i)         During the course of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee will learn about, will help to develop and will develop, and will be entrusted in strict confidence with (1) confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets that are or will be owned by the Company and are not available to the general public or the Company’s competitors concerning the Company, including its sales, operations, financial condition, financial projections, profit margins, personnel matters (including the identity of the Company’s top-performing personnel, hiring criteria, and training techniques), intermediate and long-term business goals and strategic plans, promotional strategies and techniques, pricing and cost structure of services, customer identities, customer relationship histories, customer records, customer service matters, customer preferences, needs and idiosyncrasies, formal customers and prospects, identity of vendors and suppliers, special vendor and supplier pricing and delivery terms, computer programs and codes, research and development, specifications, algorithms, processes, formulas methods, technical data, know-how, complications, designs, drawings, photographs, other machine-readable records, business activity and other confidential aspects of the Company and its business and operations; (2) information which the Company will be required to keep confidential in accordance with confidentiality obligations to third parties; and (3) other matters and materials belonging to or relating to the internal affairs of the Company, including information recorded on any medium which gives it an opportunity to obtain an advantage over its competitors which do not know or use the same or by which the Company derives actual or potential value from such matter or material not generally being known to other persons or entities which might obtain economic value from its use or disclosure (all of the foregoing being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Confidential Information");

 

(ii)         It is imperative that the Employee treat whatever information the Company wants to protect from disclosure as genuinely “Confidential,” i.e. restricting access by pass code, stamping hard copies “Confidential,” and restricting access thereto except by personnel, and the like;

 

(iii)         The Company has developed or purchased and will develop or purchase the Confidential Information at substantial expense in a market in which the Company faces intense competitive pressure, and the Company has kept and will keep secret the Confidential Information; and

 

(iv)         The Company has a legitimate interest in protecting the goodwill, customer information, customer relationships, and use of Employee’s skills by means of enforcement of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement.

 

Page 6

 

 

B.  Confidentiality Covenants.

 

In consideration of Employee’s employment and compensation and other consideration described herein, Employee acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(i)         To the extent that Employee developed or had access to Confidential Information before entering into this Agreement, Employee represents and warrants that he has not used for his own benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity, and he has not disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other person or entity, other than the Company, any of the Confidential Information. Unless and until the Confidential Information becomes publicly known through legitimate means not involving an act or omission by Employee or the Company’s other employees or independent contractors:

 

(A)     The Confidential Information is, and at all times hereafter shall remain, the sole property of the Company;

 

(B)     Employee shall use his best efforts and the diligence to guard and protect the Confidential Information from disclosure to any competitor, customer or supplier of the Company or any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity;

 

(C)     Unless the Company gives Employee prior express written permission, during his employment and thereafter, Employee shall not use for his own benefit, or divulge to or use for the benefit of any competitor or customer or any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity, any of the Confidential Information which Employee may obtain, learn about, develop, or be entrusted with as a result of Employee's employment by the Company; and

 

(D)     Except in the ordinary course of the Company's Business, Employee shall not seek or accept any Confidential Information from any former, present, or future contractor or employee of the Company.

 

(ii)         Employee also acknowledges and agrees that all documentary and tangible Confidential Information including, without limitation, such Confidential Information as Employee has committed to memory, is supplied or made available by the Company to Employee solely to assist him in performing his duties under this Agreement. Employee further agrees that upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason:

 

(A)     Employee shall not remove from Company property, and shall immediately return to the Company, all documentary or tangible Confidential Information in his possession, custody, or control and not make or keep any copies, notes, abstracts, summaries, tapes or other record of any type of Confidential Information; and

 

(B)     Employee shall immediately return to the Company any and all other Company property belonging to or within the custody or possession of the Company or as to which the Company has the right of possession, in his possession, custody or control, including, without limitation, all internal manuals, customer or client work papers, data, software, and other written materials (and all copies thereof) prepared for internal use by the Company or used in connection with the Business or operations of the Company, any and all keys, security cards, passes, credit cards, and marketing literature.

 

8.           Return of Material. 

 

Upon termination of employment with Company, and regardless of the reason for such termination, or upon the Company’s request, Employee will leave with the Company, or promptly return to Company and its customers all documents, records, notebooks, magnetic tapes, disks, computers, network hardware, and other materials, including all copies in his possession or control which contain Confidential Information of Company and its customers and prospects or any other information concerning Company and its customers, prospects, products, services or customers, whether prepared by the Employee or others, including, without limitation, Company Materials and Developments.

 

Page 7

 

 

9.           Covenants Not To Compete and Anti-Piracy.

 

Employee acknowledges that the services rendered by Employee on behalf of the Company are of a special and unique character, that Employee is being provided a substantial equity stake in the Company, and that during the performance of such services, Employee will acquire, because of the special relationship among the Company, Employee and the Company’s customers and clients, valuable information, trade secrets, customer lists, proprietary information, financial information and unique skills. Accordingly, Employee covenants, in consideration of Employee’s employment and compensation and other consideration described above, that while Employee is employed by the Company and for such period of time as Employee is entitled to receive any post-Termination payments pursuant to Section 4 above, Employee shall not without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, either on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person work as an independent contractor for or be employed by another company, person, firm, corporation, proprietorship, partnership or other entity in competition with the Company which is engaged primarily in the Business. Employee acknowledges that in the event that Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, Employee will be able to earn a livelihood without violating the foregoing covenants.

 

10.         Non-Solicitation of Customers.

 

In consideration of his employment and compensation and other consideration described herein, Employee agrees that for a period of twelve (12) months immediately following the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will not, either for himself or on behalf of any other person or entity, directly or indirectly, solicit, attempt or offer to provide services or provide services, competitive with those services rendered or products sold by or on behalf of the Company during the term of this Agreement, to any past or present trade client of the Company for whom the Company has performed services or to whom the Company has sold products during the one (1) year period prior to the termination of Employee’s employment.

 

11.         Non-Solicitation of Employees.

 

In consideration of his employment and compensation and other consideration described herein, Employee agrees that Employee will not during both the term of this Agreement and the twelve (12) months following the termination of Employee's employment, without the written consent of the Company, for any reason, directly or indirectly, or by action in concert with others, induce or influence, or seek to induce or influence, any person who is engaged by the Company as an employee, agent, independent contractor or otherwise, to terminate his or her employment or engagement, nor shall Employee prior to the expiration of such period, directly or indirectly, solicit for employment or engagement, employ or engage, attempt to employ or engage, or advise or recommend to any other person or entity that such person or entity employ or engage or solicit for employment or engagement, any person or entity employed or engaged by the Company.

 

Page 8

 

 

12.         Equitable Relief.

 

Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Business is highly competitive, and that violation of any of the covenants and agreements provided for in Sections 8 - 12 of this Agreement would cause immediate, immeasurable and irreparable harm, loss and damage to the Company not adequately compensable by a monetary award. Accordingly, Employee agrees, without limiting any of the other remedies available to the Company, that any violation of said covenants, or any of them, may be enjoined or restrained by any court of competent jurisdiction, and that any temporary restraining order or emergency, preliminary or final injunctions may be issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, without notice and without bond. In the event any proceedings are commenced by the Company for any actual or threatened violation of any of said covenants or agreements or the Company shall engage legal counsel or incur other costs and expenses related to the enforcement of said covenants or agreements, Employee shall be liable to the Company to the extent the Company is the prevailing party in such proceedings (or in the absence of a proceeding, to the extent the services of attorneys and the incurrence of such other costs and expenses were reasonably required for the Company’s enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors) for all reasonable costs and expenses of any kind, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which the Company has incurred in connection with such proceedings or enforcement activities, including, without limitation, in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this section. Employee acknowledges that in the event that Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, Employee will be able to earn a livelihood without violation of the aforesaid covenants of this Agreement.

 

13.         Binding Effect and Benefit.

 

The provisions hereof shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, Employee, his heirs, executors, and administrators as well as to Company, its successors, and assigns; however, Employee’s services under this personal services contract are not assignable by Employee.

 

14.         Waivers.

 

No delay on the part of any party in the exercise of any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise or waiver thereof by any party of any right or remedy shall preclude the exercise or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

 

15.         Severability; Interpretation.

 

Whenever possible, each of the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law. If any provisions of this Agreement (including but not limited to Sections 8, 10 through 12) or the application of any provision of this Agreement to any party or circumstance shall be prohibited by, or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition without invalidating the remainder of such provision, any other provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to other parties or circumstances. Headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only.

 

16.         Entire Agreement.

 

Any and all prior discussions, understandings, and agreements, whether written or oral, express or implied, including, without limitation, any offer letter, held or made between Employee and the Company are superseded by and merged into this Agreement, which alone fully and completely expresses the agreement of the parties with regard to the matters addressed herein, and this Agreement is entered into with no party relying on any statement or representation made by any other party which is not contained in this Agreement.

 

17.         Amendments.

 

This Agreement may be modified, amended or supplemented only by execution of a written instrument signed by both Employee and the Company.

 

Page 9

 

 

18.         Survival.

 

The provisions of Sections 8, 10 through 12 and 13 through 24 shall survive any termination of Employee’s employment hereunder and any termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

19.         Notice.

 

Any notices or communications hereunder will be deemed sufficient if made in writing and hand-delivered, or if sent by facsimile with confirmation of transmission retained, or if mailed, postage prepaid, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, to the following addresses:

 

	If to the Company:	 	If to Employee: 
	Tapinator, Inc.	 	Andrew Merkatz
	c/o Board of Directors	 	455 CPW, 21a.
	140 West 57th St., 9C 	 	New York, NY 10025
	New York, NY 10019	 	 

 

 

 

or to such other address as either party may designate for such party by written notice to the other given from time to time in the manner herein provided.

 

20.         Presumptions. 

 

In resolving any dispute or construing any provision hereunder, there shall be no presumptions made or inferences drawn because the attorneys for one of the parties drafted the Agreement.

 

21.         Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and by transmission of a facsimile or digital image containing the signature of an authorized person, each of which shall be deemed and accepted as an original, and all of which together shall constitute a single instrument.

 

22.         Arbitration/Waiver of Claims. 

 

The Parties hereby waive any claim they may have against either party regarding any affairs between the Parties prior to this Agreement.  The Parties agree that in the event of any and all disagreements and controversies arising from this Agreement such disagreements and controversies shall be subject to binding arbitration as arbitrated in accordance with the then current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association to be held in New York, NY before one neutral arbitrator. Either Party may apply to the arbitrator seeking injunctive relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is otherwise resolved. Without waiving any remedy under this Agreement, either Party may also seek from any court having jurisdiction any interim or provisional relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that Party, pending the establishment of the arbitral tribunal (or pending the arbitral tribunal’s determination of the merits of the controversy). In the event of any such disagreement or controversy, neither Party shall directly or indirectly reveal, report, publish or disclose any information relating to such disagreement or controversy to any person, firm or corporation not expressly authorized by the other Party to receive such information or use such information or assist any other person in doing so, except to comply with actual legal obligations of such Party or unless such disclosure is directly related to an arbitration proceeding as provided herein, including, but not limited to, the prosecution or defense of any claim in such arbitration.  The costs and expenses of the arbitration (including attorneys’ fees) shall be paid by the non-prevailing Party or as determined by the arbitrator.  The Parties are hereby waiving any claims against each other party for any activities or prior business transactions between the parties to date.  This paragraph shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

 

 

[signature page follows]

 

Page 10

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered by the parties hereto as of the date set forth above.

 

	TAPINATOR, INC.	 	EMPLOYEE:	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	By:	/s/ Robert Crates	 	/s/ Andrew Merkatz	 
	Director:	 	Employee Name:	 

                    

 

 

 

 

Caution to Employee: This Agreement affects important rights including, without limitation, rights to inventions and other intellectual property that Employee may develop during his Employment. DO NOT sign it unless you have read it carefully and are satisfied that you understand it completely.

 

Page 11

 

 

EXHIBIT A - SERVICES

 

Employee’s duties for and on behalf of the Company shall include the following:

 

Primary Functions* –

 

	 	
			1.

				
			To provide required overall direction for corporate finance, accounting, and business affairs including:

			

 

	 	
			2.

				
			To provide financial analysis and support:

			

 

	 	
			3.

				
			To implement financial systems and controls:

			

 

	 	
			4.

				
			To manage compliance with public company status

			

 

	 	
			5.

				
			To provide leadership and direction, including functional management of:

			

 

	 	
			●

				
			Corporate development

			

	 	
			●

				
			M&A

			

	 	
			●

				
			Legal

			

	 	
			●

				
			HR

			

	 	
			●

				
			Facilities

			

	 	
			●

				
			Investor Relations

			

 

*Employee shall initially work at the Company headquarters in New York but may be permitted to work remotely in the event Employee chooses to relocate.

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