Unassociated Document
Exhibit 99.1
LOANOUT AGREEMENT
This LOANOUT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 28, 2011 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Worldwide Officers, Inc. a California Corporation (“Lender”), and VLOV, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), for the services of Lender’s employee, Bennet P. Tchaikovsky (“Executive”). Executive is made a party to this Agreement solely for the purpose of acknowledging Section 4 hereof. Lender and the Company shall each be referred to as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”
RECITAL
WHEREAS, the Parties entered into a Loanout Agreement dated as of April 27, 2010, for the services of Executive as Chief Financial Officer to the Company, which agreement expired on April 26, 2011, although Executive has continued to act as Chief Financial Officer at the request of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue retaining the services of Executive as its Chief Financial Officer pursuant to the terms set forth hereinafter, which terms are acceptable to Lender;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual agreements herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Engagement, Duties and Acceptance.
1.1 Effective as of the Effective Date, the Company engages Lender for, and Lender agrees to supply and make available to the Company, the services of Executive to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) during the Term (as defined in Section 3.1), on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement. During the Term, Executive shall make himself available to the Company and to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates as directed to pursue the business of the Company subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).
1.2 The Board may assign Executive such general management and supervisory responsibilities and executive duties for the Company as appropriate and commensurate with Executive’s position as CFO with the understanding that Executive shall be based where Lender’s principal offices are located.
1.3 Lender agrees that during the Term, Executive shall serve as CFO on a full-time basis and shall devote all of his business time, energies and attention to the performance of his duties hereunder and as CFO. Nothing herein shall be construed as precluding Executive from owning, purchasing, selling, or otherwise dealing in any manner with any property or engaging in any business whatsoever, including without limitation, providing consulting services, acting as a director of another company, or starting a new business, without notice to, participation of, and liability to the Company; provided, however, that all such activities shall not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or violate the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof.
2. Term and Termination.
2.1 The term of this Agreement shall be one (1) year commencing as of the Effective Date, which term shall thereafter renew automatically for an additional one year unless sooner terminated as herein provided (each such one-year period a “Term” or the “Term”).
2.2 If Executive dies during the Term, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate.
2.3 The Company reserves the right to terminate this Agreement upon ten (10) days written notice if, for a continuous or accumulated period of forty-five (45) days during the Term, Executive is prevented from discharging his duties under this Agreement due to any physical or mental disability.
2.4 The Company reserves the right to declare Lender in default of, and terminate for cause, this Agreement if Executive willfully breaches or habitually neglects the duties which he is required to perform under this Agreement, or if Executive commits such acts of dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, gross negligence or willful misconduct as would prevent the effective performance of his duties or which results in material harm to the Company or its business. Termination under this Section 2.4 shall be effective upon written notice to Lender pursuant to Section 6.3. Such termination shall be without prejudice to any other remedy to which the Company may be entitled either at law, in equity, or under this Agreement.
2.5 This Agreement may be terminated at any time by Lender upon not less than ninety (90) days written notice by Lender to the Board pursuant to Section 6.3.
2.6 This Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Company upon not less than thirty (30) days written notice by the Company to Lender pursuant to Section 6.3.
2.7 Upon termination as provided herein, the obligations of Lender and the Company under this Agreement shall immediately cease, with the exception of the covenants included in Section 4, and provided that the Company shall pay Lender any fee and expenses accrued and unpaid under Section 3.
3. Fees and Expenses. For all services to be rendered by Executive pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall compensate Lender as follows:
3.1 Cash Fee.
(a) The Company shall pay Lender a cash fee of $29,534 for Executives’ services from April 27, 2011 through September 27, 2011, payable to an account designated by Lender on the Effective Date.
(b) Subject to the continuous services of Executive during a Term, the Company shall pay Lender a cash fee of $90,000 for the services of Executive during such Term, payable to an account designated by Lender in four equal installments of $22,500 during such Term on dates to be agreed upon by the Parties, such dates being October 31, 2011, December 28, 2011, March 28, 2012 and June 28, 2012 for the Term commencing as of the Effective Date; provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated prior to the end of such Term, Lender shall return to the Company portion of the cash fee paid pro rata to the post-termination portion of such Term.
3.2 Stock Fee.
(a) For Executive’s services from April 27, 2011 through September 27, 2011, the Company shall grant Lender or its designee a restricted stock award of 19,855 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Common Stock”), and upon such additional terms and conditions as set forth in a restricted stock award agreement to be entered into between the Parties.
(b) For each Term, the Company shall grant Lender or its designee a restricted stock award of such number of shares of Common Stock equal to $200,000.00, $100,000 of which will be calculated based on the closing price of the Common Stock as quoted on the quotation system or stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading (the “Market”) on the first day of such Term (or on the first day a quote is available thereafter if the first day of such Term falls on a day that the Market is closed for business), and the other $100,000 will be calculated based on the closing price of the Common Stock as quoted on the Market on the day immediately following the initial 6-month period of such term (or on the first day a quote is available thereafter if such day falls on a day that the Market is closed for business), such day being the “grant date,” and upon such additional terms and conditions as set forth in a restricted stock award agreement to be entered into between the Parties.
(c) In connection with the issuance of the shares of Common Stock under this Section 3.2, Lender hereby represents and warrants to the Company, as of the date hereof and as of the commencement of each Term, that:
(i) The Shares will be acquired for investment for Lender’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the public resale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Lender has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in or otherwise distributing the same;
(ii) Lender understands that the acquisition of the shares of Common Stock involves substantial risk. Lender has experience as an investor in securities of companies and acknowledges that it is able to fend for itself, can bear the economic risk of its investment and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment and protecting its own interests in connection with this investment;
(iii) Lender is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act; and
(iv) Lender understands that (A) the shares of Common Stock are characterized as "restricted securities" under the Securities Act, inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering, and (B) under the Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances. Lender is familiar with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as presently in effect, and understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act.
3.3 D&O Insurance. During the Term, the Company shall include Executive as insured under a directors and officers insurance policy (the “D&O Insurance”) with initial coverage of $5,000,000.00 from an insurance carrier that has a minimum rating of XII A as defined by the A.M. Best Company. If any member of the Board enters into an indemnification agreement with the Company as part of the D&O Insurance, Executive shall be entitled to enter into an agreement of like tenor with the Company. Additionally, if the Board decides to increase the coverage of the D&O Insurance, Executive shall be covered by such policy.
3.4 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Lender the amount of $5,065.40 for expenses incurred by Lender or Executive on behalf of the Company from April 27, 2011 through September 27, 2011, payable to an account designated by Lender on the Effective Date. In addition, the Company shall reimburse Lender for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive during a Term, upon presentation by Executive of such documentation and records as the Company shall from time to time require; provided, however, that any expense in excess of $500.00 shall require the prior written approval of the Company. When Executive is required to travel on behalf of the Company’s business, the cost of an economic class ticket for any flight that is less than two (2) hours, and the cost of a business class ticket for any flight that is two (2) hours or more, shall be included hereunder as reimbursable business expenses.
3.5 All payments herein shall be made to Lender via wire transfer without deduction for any applicable wire transfer fees.
4. Protection of Confidential Information; Non-Competition.
4.1 Lender acknowledges (and shall require Executive to so acknowledge) that:
(a) As a result of Executive’s association with the Company pursuant to this Agreement, Executive will obtain secret and confidential information concerning the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (referred to collectively in this Section 4 as the “Group”), including, without limitation, trade secrets and any information concerning products, processes, formulas, designs, inventions (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, and whether or not reduced to practice), discoveries, concepts, ideas, improvements, techniques, methods, research, development and test results, specifications, data, know-how, software, formats, marketing plans, and analyses, business plans and analyses, strategies, forecasts, customer and supplier identities, characteristics and agreement (“Confidential Information”). In addition, Executive may become aware of business opportunities that may be beneficial to the Group including, but not limited, opportunities to acquire or purchase, or, except for Permitted Competitive Investments, otherwise make equity or debt investments in, companies primarily involved in a Competitive Business (“Corporate Opportunities”), during the Term, whether in the course of his services or otherwise, and that such Corporate Opportunities shall considered to be business opportunities of the Group.
(b) The Group will suffer substantial damage which will be difficult to compute if, during the Term or thereafter, Lender and/or Executive should enter a business competitive with the Group or divulge Confidential Information.
(c) The provisions of this Agreement are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the business of the Group.
4.2 Lender agrees (and shall require Executive to so agree) that it will not at any time, either during the Term or thereafter, divulge to any person or entity any Confidential Information obtained or learned by it as a result of Executive’s services with the Group, except (i) as required in the course of performing Executive’s duties hereunder, (ii) to the extent that any such information is in the public domain other than as a result of the breach by Lender of its obligations under this Section 4, (iii) where required to be disclosed by court order, subpoena or other government process, or (iv) if such disclosure is made without Lender’s knowing intent by Lender and/or Executive to cause material harm to the Group. If Lender and/or Executive shall be required to make disclosure pursuant to the provisions of clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, they shall promptly, but in no event more than 24 hours after learning of such subpoena, court order, or other government process, notify the Company pursuant to Section 6.3 and shall, at the Company’s expense: (a) take reasonably necessary and lawful steps required by the Group to defend against the enforcement of such subpoena, court order or other government process, and (b) permit the Group to intervene and participate with counsel of its choice in any proceeding relating to the enforcement thereof.
4.3 Upon termination of this Agreement, Executive will promptly deliver to the Group all memoranda, correspondence, notes, records, reports, manuals, drawings, blue-prints and other documents (and all copies thereof) relating to the business of the Group and all property associated therewith, which he may then possess or have under his control whether prepared by him or others.
4.4 During the Term and terminating three years thereafter, Lender agrees (and shall require Executive to so agree) that Executive, without the prior written permission of the Company, shall not for any reason whatsoever, (i) enter into the employ of or render any services to any person, firm or corporation engaged in any business which is in competition with the Group’s principal existing business at the time of termination (“Competitive Business”); (ii) engage in any Competitive Business as an individual, partner, shareholder, creditor, director, officer, principal, agent, employee, trustee consultant, advisor or in any other relationship or capacity; (iii) employ, or have or cause any other person or entity to employ, any person who was employed by the Group at the termination of this Agreement; or (iv) solicit, interfere with, or endeavor to entice away from the Group, for the benefit of a Competitive Business, any of its customers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) neither Lender nor Executive shall not be precluded from investing and managing the investment of, its or his assets in the securities of any corporation or other business entity which is engaged in a Competitive Business if such securities are traded on a national stock exchange or in the over-the-counter market and if such investment does not result in its or his beneficially owning, at any time, more than 2% of any class of the publicly-traded equity securities of such Competitive Business (“Permitted Competitive Investment”); and (ii) during the Term and terminating one year thereafter (except for investments in a class of securities trading on public markets), Lender and Executive: (a) shall be prohibited from taking for itself or himself personally any Corporate Opportunities, and (b) shall refer to the Company for consideration (before any other party) any and all Corporate Opportunities that arise during the Term or for a period of one year thereafter. If the Company determines not to exploit any Corporate Opportunity, the Company shall determine what, if anything, should be done with such opportunity. Neither Lender nor Executive shall be entitled to any compensation, as a finder or otherwise, if either the Company or Lender or Executive introduces such opportunity to other persons, it being understood that any such compensation shall be paid to the Company.
4.5 If either Lender or Executive commits a breach of any provision of this Section 4, the Company shall have the right:
(a) to have such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed by Lender and Executive that the services being rendered hereunder to the Company are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and that any breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to the Group and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy to the Group;
(b) to require Lender and/or Executive to account for and pay over to the Company all monetary damages determined by a non-appealable decision by a court of law to have been suffered by the Group as the result of any actions constituting a breach of any such provision, and Lender and Executive hereby agree to account for and pay over such damages to the Company; and
(c) to not perform any obligation owed to Lender under this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Company shall also have the right, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to adjust any amount due and owing or to be due and owing to Lender, whether under this Agreement or any other agreement between the Company and Lender in order to satisfy any losses to the Group as a result of such breach.
4.6 If Lender or Executive shall violate any covenant contained in Section 4.4, the duration of such covenant so violated shall be automatically extended for a period of time equal to the period of such violation.
5. Lender Representations. Lender represents that it is a validly existing corporation and has the sole and exclusive right and authority to provide the services of Executive to the Company as contemplated by this Agreement, and that the entering into and performance of this Agreement by Lender and the provision of services hereunder by Executive and the acceptance thereof by the Company will not violate any law, rule, regulation, order, contract or agreement to which either Lender or Executive is a party or is bound or affected.
6. Miscellaneous Provisions.
6.1 The parties acknowledge and agree that the relationship between the Company and Lender is that of independent contractors and not that of employer and employee. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create or will be deemed to create or constitute a joint venture or partnership between the Company and Lender.
6.2 Lender shall be responsible for the payment of all withholding, payroll and other taxes payable in respect of the payments received by Lender under this Agreement and hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any obligation or penalty arising from the failure to pay such taxes
6.3 All notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally to the party to receive the same, when delivered via overnight courier providing for next day delivery service (“Overnight Courier”), when transmitted by facsimile (electronic receipt confirmed), or when mailed first class postage prepaid, by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the party to receive the same at his or its address set forth below, or such other address as the party to receive the same shall have specified by written notice given in the manner provided for in this Section 6.3. All notices shall be deemed to have been given: (a) as of the date of personal delivery, (b) the first business day after delivery via Overnight Courier, (c) on the electronically confirmed date of receipt during business hours of the facsimile transmittal (or the following business day if the facsimile is received after 5:30 p.m. PDT), or (d) three calendar days after the date of deposit (postage pre-paid) with the U.S. Postal Service if delivered via first class or certified mail.
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If to Lender or
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Worldwide Officers, Inc.
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Executive:
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6571 Morningside Drive
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Huntington Beach, CA 92648
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Attn: Bennet P. Tchaikovsky
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Fax: (310) 496-2693
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If to the Company:
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VLOV Inc.
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11/F, 157 Taidong Road
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Xiamen Guanyin Shan Commercial Operation Centre, A3-2
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Siming District, Xiamen
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Fujian Province, P.R. China
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Attn: Qingqing Wu
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Fax: +86-592-2345777
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With a copy to:
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LKP Global Law, LP
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1901 Avenue of the Stars Suite 480
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Los Angeles, CA 90067
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Attn: Kevin K. Leung, Esq.
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Fax: (424) 239-1890
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6.4 In addition to Section 3.3, the Company, shall to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Executive for any liability, damages, losses, costs and expenses arising out of alleged or actual claims (collectively, “Claims”) made against Executive for any actions or omissions during the Term by Executive as an officer of the Company.
6.5 The provisions of Section 4 and any provisions relating to payments to Lender after termination of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.
6.6 This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties and is intended to supersede all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements. No provisions of this Agreement may be waived or changed except by writing by the party against whom such waiver or change is sought to be enforced. The failure of any party to require performance of any provision hereof or thereof shall in no manner affect the right at a later time to enforce such provision.
6.7 All questions with respect to the construction of this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall be determined in accordance with the law of the State of Nevada applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in the State of Nevada. Any disputes, claims or causes of action by one party against the other arising out of, in related to or concerning this Agreement shall be commenced and maintained in any state or federal court located in Los Angeles County of the State of California, and Lender hereby submits to the jurisdiction and venue of any such court.
6.8 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Lender, but shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon its successors and assigns.
6.9 It is the desire and intent of the parties that the terms, provisions, covenants and remedies contained in this Agreement shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any such term, provision, covenant or remedy of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall, to any extent, be construed to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, then such term, provision, covenant or remedy shall be construed in a manner so as to permit its enforceability under the applicable law, to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any case, the remaining provisions of the Agreement and the application thereof to any person or circumstance other than those to which they have been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain valid and in full force and effect.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Loanout Agreement as of the date first above written.
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| COMPANY: |
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| VLOV, INC. |
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/s/ Qingqing Wu
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Name: Qingqing Wu
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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| LENDER: |
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| WORLDWIDE OFFICERS, INC. |
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| /s/ Bennet P. Tchaikovsky |
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| Name: Bennet P. Tchaikovsky |
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| Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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| SECTION 4 OF THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGED BY: |
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| EXECUTIVE: |
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/s/ Bennet P. Tchaikovsky
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Bennet P. Tchaikovsky
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