Employment Agreement - Catuity Inc. and Bejamin Garton
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BENJAMIN GARTON AND CATUITY, INC.
December 4, 2001
Ben Garton
65 Wilson Street
Newtown NSW 2042
Australia
Dear Ben,
As a result of the recent review of our operations and planning meeting in San
Francisco, we have decided to restructure the company to better meet our new
corporate objectives.
Under this new structure, we would like to promote you to VP Product Development
& Implementation. In this role you will retain responsibility of ongoing Product
Development efforts and will also manage the day-to-day operations of the
Implementation team in Arlington.
Since our current customer base is entirely in North America, this position will
continue to be based in Arlington and therefore we request you and your family
relocate to Arlington early in the New Year if you accept this promotion. The
purpose of this letter is to clarify the details of your relocation and confirm
the initial terms and conditions of your employment while you are located in the
U.S.
As you have requested we have created a six-month trial period effective
Wednesday January 16, 2002. Since you and your family have spent little or no
time in the U.S. your relocation will be transitioned in two phases. The first
six-month phase will allow both parties to determine if the arrangement is
suitable prior to making the transfer permanent. During this period, you and
your family will travel on B1 and B2 visas, which are limited to 180 days.
Assuming both you and the company wish to make the transfer permanent, new visas
will be obtained to allow you and your family to stay in the U.S.
During this trial period you will report to Jonathan Adams in the Arlington, VA
office. Due to the increase in responsibilities, and in return for you waiving
your current employment agreement restrictions (including the restrictive travel
clause and your paid leave day per month), your salary will be increased to
A$210,000 per annum effective January 14, 2002 plus reasonable expenses
(detailed on the next page) to allow your family to be comfortable while you
work and to be able to make an informed decision to stay for an additional two
years.
Prior to your departure, the company will purchase an open-end round-trip
economy class, air transportation for you, your wife and two children to travel
on or around the dates specified. In the event that the flights need to be
rescheduled for business reasons, the penalty will be borne by the company. In
the event that the flights need to be rescheduled for personal reasons, the
penalty will be borne by you.
You and your family will travel on the standard corporate travel insurance
policy for the duration of the trial period. Should you, your wife or either of
your two children receive any non-elective medical treatment, which, for
whatever reason, the insurer is not required to pay, the company will cover the
shortfall. In addition, should you, your wife or either of your two children
become seriously ill during your U.S. assignment, such that they need to be
transferred back to Sydney for long term care, the company will cover any
shortfall in coverage for medical expenses related to the transfer (but not
subsequent care in Australia) which, for whatever reason, the insurer is not
required to pay.
During the probationary period, the company will:
1. Pay your revised AUD salary into your Australian bank account on a
fortnightly basis as per the current arrangement.
2. Pay you an expense allowance of U.S. $800.00 per fortnight in advance,
payable by check by direct debit with your salary check.
3. Provide the two bedroom furnished apartment in the Courthouse Plaza,
Arlington. The company will pay all utilities, including broadband
internet access, excluding long distance personal phone calls.
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4. Provide one company cell phone for your use. The company will pay all
charges, except long distance costs for personal calls to Australia.
5. Arrange and pay for the lease of mid-sized car for business and
personal use for the duration your temporary assignment in the US. The
company will reimburse all expenses associated with the car with the
exception of gasoline.
6. Cover the costs of any business-related trips within the US, including
airfares, accommodation, car rental, etc.
During the six-month period and the two-year period following where applicable,
the following conditions will apply to your employment:
You will waive your existing restrictive travel conditions. However,
the company will make a good faith effort to limit business trips so
that you are away from your family for no more than four (4)
consecutive nights every fortnight (where the fortnight cycle is the
same as your salary cycle).
Your existing special leave entitlement will be waived.
You will be entitled to U.S. public holidays.
You and your family will be provided transportation back to Sydney
after each consecutive twelve-month period in the U.S. The time spent
there will be vacation time unless otherwise decided between you and
your supervisor. In any case, after the six-month trial period or after
the two year assignment the company will pay for you and your family to
relocate back to Sydney.
Your annual leave, sick leave, long service leave, superannuation and
other such entitlements will continue to accrue as an employee of the
Australian division.
Should you decide to terminate your employment with the company while
on assignment in the US, you will be required to give six (6) month's
notice. You will serve out your notice period in the US.
Should the company decide to terminate your employment without cause
while on assignment in the US, the company will continue to be required
to give you nine (9) month's notice or salary in lieu of notice. You
will leave the U.S. within one (1) month of giving notice and serve out
the remainder of the notice period in Sydney, unless an alternative
time period in the U.S. is mutually agreed upon.
The costs of all vehicles, housing, storage, etc. in Sydney while you
are on assignment in the US will continue to be your responsibility.
During the trial period we will place William Ho as the "interim" manager of
Product Development based in Sydney. Should you decide to return to Australia at
the completion of your "trial" period, the Company will replace you back in your
former position based on the appropriate AUD salary for this position at this
time. We ask that you and your family make a decision to remain in this position
in the U.S. by the 14th of April 2002. If you decide to stay with the company in
the U.S. we will have effected a smooth transition to William and he will be
given the position as long as he has performed to the company's satisfaction
based on his objectives and performance.
After the trial period and your full acceptance to work in this role and reside
in the U.S. for at least two years your salary will increase to $125,000 U.S.
and you will report to the CEO in the U.S. or the appropriate manager designated
by the CEO. At that time you will convert to Catuity's U.S. payroll and your
pay, taxes, benefits and expenses will then become based on standard U.S.
practice. You will continue to participate in the company's Employee Stock
Option Program and any profit sharing or bonus plan approved by the company's
board of directors.
Your allowance for personal expenses will discontinue after the six-month
period. As will the housing and transportation allowance Catuity pays directly.
An incentive to continue use of the company lease car will be offered to you at
that time. Any personal items you wished shipped to the U.S. will be provided
based on corporate relocation guidelines we are developing for U.S. employees
with consideration given to international requirements.
We sincerely hope that the above arrangements will be satisfactory. The
transition period is more expensive for the company and is being provided as an
accommodation to you and your family to allow you to make a long term decision
In order to accept these terms and conditions, please sign and date this letter
and return it to me immediately.
Yours faithfully,
Michael V. Howe
President & CEO
Terms agreed to: /s/ Ben Garton
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December 6, 2001
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