EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is effective as of the 25th day of April, 2000
("Agreement") and is made by and between RMS TITANIC, INC., a Florida
corporation ("Company"), and GERALD COUTURE, a resident of the State of
Florida ("Executive").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive in accordance with the
terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and wishes to ensure the
availability of the Executive's services to the Company;
WHEREAS, the Executive desires to accept such employment and render his
services in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company desire to enter into this
Agreement, which will fully recognize the contributions of the Executive and
assure harmonious management of the Company's affairs.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual
covenants set forth in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the
Company and the Executive agree as follows:
1. Term of Employment
(a) Offer/Acceptance/Effective Date. The Company hereby offers
employment to the Executive and the Executive hereby accepts employment subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
(b) Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the
date first indicated above ("Effective Date") and shall remain in effect for a
period of one (1) year thereafter ("Term").
2. Duties.
(a) General Duties. The Executive shall serve as Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of the Company with duties and responsibilities that
are customary for such executives and any other duties and responsibilities
specifically assigned to him by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) Best Efforts. The Executive covenants to use his best
efforts to perform his duties and discharge his responsibilities pursuant to
this Agreement in a competent, diligent and faithful manner.
(c) Devotion of Time. The Executive shall devote no less than
forty (40) hours each month to the Company's affairs (exclusive of periods of
sickness and disability and of such normal holiday and vacation periods as have
been established by the Company). It is understood that the Executive maintains
a consulting practice in which he provides financial management services to
other companies, which the Executive is permitted to maintain during the term of
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this agreement. Executive understands and agrees that he may be required to
devote additional time in certain months (i.e. Form 10-K and Form 10-Q months)
at no additional consideration.
3. Compensation and Expenses.
(a) Base Salary. For the services of the Executive to be
rendered by him under this Agreement, the Company will pay the Executive an
annual base salary of $120,000 (the "Base Salary") which shall be subject to
increase as set forth in subsection (b) below.
The Base Salary shall be prorated over the time period that
the Executive performs services under this Agreement in any calendar year during
which this Agreement shall become effective after January 1st thereof or shall
terminate before December 31st thereof.
The Company shall pay the Executive his Base Salary in equal
installments no less than semi-monthly.
The Executive shall have the right, at his election, to
receive compensation in the form of the Company's common stock. Such stock shall
be valued for such purposes at fifty percent (50%) of the closing bid price of
the Company's common stock as quoted on the OTC electronic bulletin board,
NASDAQ or AMEX (or other established exchange) as of the date of Executive's
election. Such election may be for all or part of the Executive's compensation.
At the beginning of each calendar quarter, Executive shall give the Company
notice of his election to exercise his option to receive common stock in lieu of
cash compensation.
(b) Additional compensation. The Executive is entitled to
additional compensation for professional services rendered in mergers and
acquisitions, preparation of business plans, business valuations, Edgar filings,
and other such activities performed for the Company. Such additional
compensation shall be mutually agreed to by the parties.
(c) Bonus. Executive shall be entitled to an annual cash bonus
to be paid from funds specifically allocated by the Company for bonus payments
("Bonus Pool'). Executive shall be entitled to receive bonus compensation in an
amount as approved by the Company's Board of Directors based upon the
performance criteria established by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Such bonuses may be paid in cash or issued in shares of the Company's common
stock of equivalent value on such terms as approved by the Board of Directors
(valued at 50% of the closing bid price as of the last day of the fiscal year).
(d) Expenses. In addition to any compensation received
pursuant to this Section 3, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for all
reasonable, ordinary and necessary travel, entertainment and other expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of his duties under this Agreement,
provided that the Executive properly accounts for such expenses to the Company
in accordance with the Company's policies and practices.
(e) Subsidiary and Affiliate Payments. In recognition of the
fact that during the course of the performance of his duties hereunder, the
Executive may provide substantial benefits to the Company's subsidiaries or
affiliated companies, the Executive and the Company may at any time and from
time to time agree that all or any portion of the compensation due the Executive
hereunder may be paid directly to the Executive by one or more of the Company's
subsidiaries or affiliated companies.
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(f) Stock Options. Upon execution of this Agreement, the
Executive shall receive a nonqualified stock option to purchase 300,000 shares
of the common stock of Company. The exercise price for this option granted to
Executive hereunder shall be $1.625 per share, which is the closing price of
such shares as of April 24, 2000. The options granted hereunder will be
immediately exercisable upon receipt. The options shall have an exercise period
of ten (10) years from the date of this Agreement and contain a cashless
exercise provision. A form of the Stock Option Agreement is attached as Exhibit
"A".
4. Benefits.
(a) Employee Benefit Programs. In addition to the compensation
to which the Executive is entitled pursuant to the provisions of Section 3
above, during the Term the Executive will be entitled to participate in any
stock option plan, stock purchase plan, pension or retirement plan, and
insurance or other employee benefit plan that is maintained at that time by the
Company for its employees, including programs of life, disability, basic medical
and dental, and supplemental medical and dental insurance.
5. Termination.
(a) Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate the
Executive's employment pursuant to this Agreement at any time for cause upon
written notice. Such termination will become effective upon the giving of such
notice. Upon any such termination for cause, the Executive shall have no right
to compensation, bonus or reimbursement under Section 3 or to participate in any
employee benefit programs or other benefits to which he may be entitled under
Section 4 for any period subsequent to the effective date of termination. For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "cause" shall mean only:
(i) the Executive's conviction of a felony and all
appeals with respect thereto have been
extinguished or abandoned by the Executive;
(ii) the Executive's conviction of misappropriating
assets or otherwise defrauding the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or affiliates;
(b) Death or Disability. This Agreement and the Company's
obligations hereunder will terminate upon the death or disability of the
Executive. For purposes of this Section 5(b), "disability" shall mean that for a
period of six (6) months in any twelve-month period, the Executive is incapable
of substantially fulfilling the duties set forth in this Agreement because of
physical, mental or emotional incapacity resulting from injury, sickness or
disease as determined by an independent physician mutually acceptable to the
Company and the Executive. Upon any termination of this Agreement due to death
or disability, the Company will pay the Executive or his legal representative,
as the case may be, his Base Salary (which may include any accrued but unused
vacation time) at such time pursuant to Section 3(a) through the date of such
termination of employment (or, if terminated as a result of a disability, until
the date upon which the disability policy maintained pursuant to Section 4 (b)
(ii) begins payment of benefits) plus any other compensation that may be due and
unpaid. In the event of death or disability of the Executive, any obligations
that the Executive may owe the Company for repayment of loans or other amounts
shall be forgiven.
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(c) Voluntary Termination. Prior to any other termination of
this Agreement, the Executive may, on thirty (30) day's prior written notice to
the Company given at any time, terminate his employment with the Company. Upon
any such termination, the Company shall pay the Executive his Base Salary at
such time pursuant to Section 3(a) through the date of such termination of
employment.
6. Restrictive Covenants.
(a) Competition with the Company. The Executive covenants and
agrees that, during the Term of this Agreement, the Executive will not,
without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly
(whether as a sole proprietor, partner, stockholder, director, officer,
employee or in any other capacity as principal or agent), compete with the
Company. Notwithstanding this restriction, Executive shall be entitled to
invest in stock of other competing public companies so long as his ownership
is less than 5% of such company's outstanding shares.
(b) Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Executive
acknowledges that during his employment he will gain and have access to
confidential information regarding the Company and its subsidiaries and
affiliates. The Executive acknowledges that such confidential information as
acquired and used by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates
constitutes a special, valuable and unique asset in which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or affiliates, as the case may be, holds a legitimate
business interest. All records, files, materials and confidential information
(the "Confidential Information") obtained by the Executive in the course of
his employment with the Company shall be deemed confidential and proprietary
and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, as the case may be. The Executive will not, except
in connection with and as required by his performance of his duties under this
Agreement, for any reason use for his own benefit or the benefit of any person
or entity with which he may be associated, disclose any Confidential
Information to any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity for
any reason or purpose whatsoever without the prior written consent of the
Board of Directors of the Company, unless such information previously shall
have become public knowledge through no action by or omission of the
Executive.
(c) Subversion, Disruption or Interference. At no time during
the term of this Agreement shall the Executive, directly or indirectly,
interfere, induce, influence, combine or conspire with, or attempt to induce,
influence, combine or conspire with, any of the employees of, or consultants
to, the Company to terminate their relationship with or compete with or ally
against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the business
in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is then engaged
in.
(d) Enforcement of Restrictions. The parties hereby agree that
any violation by Executive of the covenants contained in this Section 6 will
likely cause irreparable damage to the Company or its subsidiaries and
affiliates and may, as a matter of course, be restrained by process issued out
of a court of competent jurisdiction, in addition to any other remedies
provided by law.
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7. Change of Control.
(a) For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control"
shall be deemed to have taken place if either G. Michael Harris or Arnie
Geller or the Employee are no longer a majority of the board of directors of
the Company for any reason.
(b) The Company and Executive hereby agree that if Executive
is in the employ of the Company on the date on which a Change of Control
occurs (the "Change of Control Date"), the Company will continue to employ the
Executive and the Executive will remain in the employ of the Company for the
period commencing on the Change of Control Date and ending on the expiration
of the Term, to exercise such authority and perform such executive duties as
are commensurate with the authority being exercised and duties being performed
by the Executive immediately prior to the Change of Control Date. If after a
Change of Control, the Executive is requested, and, in his sole and absolute
discretion, consents to change his principal business location, the Company
will reimburse the Executive for his relocation expenses, including without
limitation, moving expenses, temporary living and travel expenses for a time
while arranging to move his residence to the changed location, closing costs,
if any, associated with the sale of his existing residence and the purchase of
a replacement residence at the changed location, plus an additional amount
representing a gross-up of any state or federal taxes payable by Executive as
a result of any such reimbursements. If the Executive shall not consent to
change his business location, the Executive may continue to provide the
services required of him hereunder in either Georgia or Florida, and the
Company shall continue to maintain an office for the Executive at that
location commensurate with the Company's office prior to the Change of Control
Date.
(c) During the remaining Term after the Change of Control
Date, the Company will (i) continue to honor the terms of this Agreement,
including Base Salary and other compensation set forth in Section 3 hereof, and
(ii) continue employee benefits as set forth in Section 4 hereof at levels in
effect on the Change of Control Date (but subject to such reductions as may be
required to maintain such plans in compliance with applicable federal law
regulating employee benefits).
(d) If during the remaining Term on or after the Change of
Control Date (i) the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other
than for cause (as defined in Section 5 hereof), or (ii) there shall have
occurred a material reduction in Executive's compensation or employment related
benefits, or a material change in Executive's status, working conditions or
management responsibilities, or a material change in the business objectives or
policies of the Company and the Executive voluntarily terminates employment
within ninety (90) days of any such occurrence, or the last in a series of
occurrences, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive, subject to the
provisions of subparagraphs (e) and (f) below, a lump-sum payment equal to 299%
of Executive's current Base Salary in addition to any other compensation that
may be due and owing to the Executive under Section 3 hereof.
(e) The amounts payable to the Executive under any other
compensation arrangement maintained by the Company which became payable after
payment of the lump-sum provided for in paragraph (d), upon or as a result of
the exercise by Executive of rights which are contingent on a Change of Control
(and would be considered a "parachute payment" under Internal Revenue Code 280G
and regulations thereunder), shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that
such amounts, when added to such lump-sum, do not exceed 299% of the Executive's
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Base Salary (as computed in accordance with provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended and any regulations promulgated thereunder) for
determining whether the Executive has received an excess parachute payment. Any
such excess amount shall be deferred and paid in the next tax year.
(f) In the event of a proposed Change in Control, the Company
will allow the Executive to participate in all meetings and negotiations related
thereto.
8. Assignability. The rights and obligations of the Company under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and
assigns of the Company, provided that such successor or assign shall acquire all
or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company. The Executive's
rights and obligations hereunder may be assigned to a partnership, trust or
corporation controlled by the Executive.
9. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is deemed to be
invalid or unenforceable or is prohibited by the laws of the state or
jurisdiction where it is to be performed, this Agreement shall be considered
divisible as to such provision and such provision shall be inoperative in such
state or jurisdiction and shall not be part of the consideration moving from
either of the parties to the other. The remaining provisions of this Agreement
shall be valid and binding.
10. Notice. Notices given pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement shall be sent by certified mail, postage prepaid, or by overnight
courier, or telecopier to the following addresses:
To the Company: RMS TITANIC, INC.
301 CORBETT STREET, SUITE 470
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA 33756
To the Executive: GERALD COUTURE
901 CHESTNUT STREET, SUITE A
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA 33756
Either party may, from time to time, designate any other address to
which any such notice to it or him shall be sent. Any such notice shall be
deemed to have been delivered upon the earlier of actual receipt or four days
after deposit in the mail, if by certified mail.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal, substantive laws of the
State of Florida without giving effect to the conflict of laws rules thereof.
(b) Waiver/Amendment. The waiver by any party to this
Agreement of a breach of any provision hereof by any other party shall not be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by any party. No provision of
this Agreement may be terminated, amended, supplemented, waived or modified
other than by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom the
enforcement of the termination, amendment, supplement, waiver or modification is
sought.
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(c) Attorney's Fees. In the event any action is commenced, the
prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fee, costs and
expenses.
(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
replaces and supersedes any prior agreements or understandings.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this
Agreement effective as of the day and year first above written.
COMPANY:
RMS TITANIC, INC.
By:
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Its:
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EXECUTIVE:
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Gerald Couture
MTC/ej/213109
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