OT-Paychecks
Talking about paychecks, I came across this doozy in the 10-Q for Metricom, the high speed wireless provider that is running out of cash. This guy is ostensibly being paid to sell the company, but the compensation is something else!
COMPENSATION DURING THE CEO TERM.
(a) Base Salary. MCOM shall initially pay Derrickson a monthly gross base salary in the amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($150,000.00) ("Base Salary") in accordance with MCOM's standard payroll processing schedule. Derrickson's Base Salary shall not be decreased absent Derrickson's prior written consent.
(b) Non-Discretionary Bonus for Additional Funding.
1) In recognition that Derrickson's services on behalf of MCOM may attract additional third party investment in MCOM, MCOM shall pay Derrickson an automatic and non-discretionary bonus equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the cash value of all new investment funds received by MCOM arising from negotiations entered into during the CEO Term and for a period of twenty-four months thereafter (cumulatively, the "Bonus Period"). For purposes of this Section 6, new investment funds received by MCOM during the Bonus Period shall include, without limitation, all venture capital and other private equity investment plus any amounts secured by MCOM through a new line of credit, loan, convertible note, or other debt arrangement. For each such line of credit or other debt arrangement, the non-discretionary bonus payment shall be calculated based on the amount that is actually paid to MCOM. Multiple draws on any line of credit or debt arrangement shall be taken into account separately in calculating the bonus, and no draws on a line of credit or debt arrangement that may create a bonus obligation to Derrickson shall be undertaken without approval of Metricom's Board of Directors.
To the extent that new investment funds secured during the Bonus Period include one or more investments received from Vulcan Ventures (where each separate investment shall be referred to singularly as a "Vulcan Investment"), then the non-discretionary bonus provided for above, with respect only to any Vulcan Investment shall be capped at a maximum of Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000).
The cap described in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be applied separately to each distinct Vulcan Investment, on a non-aggregated basis. For clarity, and by way of example, if Vulcan Ventures participates in multiple investment rounds during the Bonus Period committing "x" amount of dollars payable in separate rounds with each payment contingent upon MCOM's satisfaction of specified conditions at each round, the $350,000 limitation shall apply separately to the amount received at each round. To the extent, if any, that additional investors (i. e., investors other than Vulcan Ventures) participate in such rounds the cap shall not apply as to investments from such additional investors.
During the Bonus Period, the non-discretionary bonus shall be due and payable to Derrickson regardless of whether Derrickson is employed by or providing services to MCOM at the time any additional funding is received.
(2) Non-Discretionary Bonus for Liquidity Event. In addition to any non-discretionary bonus described in (b)(1) above, Derrickson shall also receive an automatic and non-discretionary bonus if there is a Liquidity Event during the Bonus Period. A "Liquidity Event" shall mean: (i) any sale, exchange, or transfer of substantially all of the assets of MCOM, (ii) any sale, exchange or transfer involving the common stock of MCOM if, immediately following the transaction, the persons who held MCOM common stock (or securities convertible into MCOM common stock) hold less than a majority of the combined equity of MCOM (or any successor entity), or (iii) any other sale or similar transaction in which MCOM undergoes a change of majority shareholder control in exchange for consideration. Upon the occurrence of a Liquidity Event, Derrickson shall receive a non-discretionary bonus equal one and a half percent (1.5%) of the purchase price paid in the Liquidity Event.
(3) Timing and Nature of Payment. Each non-discretionary bonus provided for herein shall be payable on or before the closing of the respective transactions. The parties further agree that, in each calendar year of the Bonus Period, the first One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) of any non discretionary bonus provided for herein shall, at Derrickson's election, be payable in cash or in shares of MCOM common stock (or in securities convertible to MCOM common stock), or in a combination thereof. If the cumulative non-discretionary bonus exceeds $1,000,000 in any calendar year during the Bonus Period, then the amount in excess of $1,000,000 shall be paid exclusively in shares of MCOM common stock (or in securities convertible to MCOM common stock). In all cases where the bonus is paid in the form of stock or other securities, the number of shares due and payable to Derrickson shall be calculated on the basis of the fair market value of the stock prior to the public announcement or closing of the applicable transaction. Thus, the total number of shares delivered to Derrickson will be calculated based on the value of MCOM prior to any investment which triggers the non-discretionary bonus.
7. COMPENSATION DURING THE CONSULTANT TERM
During the Consultant Term, Derrickson shall be compensated at the daily rate of Five Thousand Dollars ($5000.00) a day. Derrickson shall not be expected to work more than ten hours per day. If additional hours are required, then they shall be compensated at the hourly rate of $250 per hour. MCOM shall pay Derrickson for a minimum of three days of work a month -- even if no services are required in a month. |