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Exhibit 10.5.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement is entered into on this 19th day of May, 1999 by and
between e.Digital Corporation ("Employer") ("Company") and Alfred H. Falk
("Employee").
1. Position and Title:
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Employee's position and title shall be President and CEO.
Employee shall report to the Company's Board of Directors.
Employee shall be responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business
and shall assume management responsibility for all functions and
individuals who are part of the Company's operations.
Employee shall be a member of the Board of Directors for the Company and
shall participate in all Board related activities.
2. Compensation:
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Employee's base compensation shall be $155,000 per year. In addition, a
guaranteed bonus of 35% of the base salary at the end of calendar year
1999. During subsequent years, Employee is eligible for a bonus to 25% of
the base salary conditioned on Employee meeting certain objectives
established by the Board of Directors. Future increases in base
compensation shall be at the determination of the Board of Directors, based
on performance.
3. Stock Options:
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In the event of any corporate occurrence affecting stock options, the
options of Employee will be treated equivalently with those of any senior
officers of the Company. In the event a Change of Control (51% or more)
occurs, all issued stock options shall become immediately vested.
4. Termination and Change of Control:
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In the event termination occurs for reasons other than: (1) cause or (2)
Employee's voluntary termination, six months severance shall be provided:
including base compensation; health and medical benefits; and outplacement
services.
For purposes of this agreement, "cause" shall be defined as contemplated by
Section 2924 of the California Labor Code.
In the event a Change of Control occurs and within twelve (12) months of
that event:
Employee is involuntarily terminated
OR
Employee terminates his employment with the Company for Good Reason (e.g.
the assignment of duties which are materially different than those of the
existing position or any failure to reappoint or reelect Employee to the
highest title held by Employee), Employee shall receive a termination
payment equal to one year of the then current annual compensation.
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5. Other Benefits:
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Employee shall receive insurance, medical, disability insurance, and health
benefits currently available to other senior executives as per existing
policies.
Employee shall be entitled to take four weeks of vacation annually.
To the extent currently available, Employee shall receive other such
benefits equal to those of other senior executives within the Company,
specifically including directors and officers insurance.
6. Arbitration Agreement:
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Any claim or controversy arising out of or related to this agreement, the
employment relationship or the subject matter hereof shall be settled by
binding arbitration before one arbitrator in Los Angeles, California in
accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American
Arbitration Association; and judgment upon any award rendered by the
arbitrator(s) may be entered as a judgment in any court having competent
jurisdiction. The party shall have rights to discover as provided in
Section 1283.05 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. The prevailing
party in any such dispute shall recover all of its costs and expenses,
including reasonable attorney fees.
7. Term of Agreement:
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The term of this agreement shall begin on the date first above written and
remain in effect for two years from that date.
This agreement supercedes any previous agreement between Employer and Employee.
INTENDING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND, the parties have executed this Employment
Agreement as of the date first above written.
e.Digital Corporation
By: /s/ ELWOOD G. NORRIS
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Elwood G. Norris, Chairman of the Board
By: /s/ ALFRED H. FALK
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Alfred H. Falk, Employee
