UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 26, 2021

 

 

 

QUANTUM COMPUTING INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   000-56015   82-4533053
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission   (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)   File Number)   Identification No.)

 

215 Depot Court SE, Suite 215

Leesburg, VA 20175

(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)

 

(703) 436-2161

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

(Former Name or Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
None   None   None

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The relevant information in Item 5.02 on this Current Report on Form 8-K, regarding the Liscouski Equity Compensation, the Liscouski Inducement Options, the Liscouski Options, the Roberts Options and the Morris Options, is incorporated herein by reference. The shares of common stock underlying the Liscouski Equity Compensation, the Liscouski Inducement Options, the Liscouski Options, the Roberts Options and the Morris Options were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) but qualified for exemption under Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation D of the Securities Act.

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

CEO Amended and Restated Employment Agreement

 

On April 26, 2021, Quantum Computing Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement”) with Mr. Robert Liscouski, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement supersedes and replaces Mr. Liscouski’s prior employment agreement with the Company. The Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement is for an initial term of three years and it will be automatically renewed for consecutive one-year terms at the end of the initial term. The Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement may be terminated with or without cause. Mr. Liscouski will receive an annual base salary of $400,000.00 and shall be eligible to earn a performance bonus of up to fifty percent (50%) of his base salary. Mr. Liscouski shall also receive 150,000 stock options per annum to purchase shares of common stock of the Company, beginning on the first anniversary of the Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Liscouski Equity Compensation”). The Liscouski Equity Compensation will vest over three years from date of its grant with one-third of the Liscouski Equity Compensation vesting on the date of grant, and the remainder of the Liscouski Equity Compensation vesting in equal monthly installments thereafter. To induce Mr. Liscouski to enter into the Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, Mr. Liscouski shall receive (i) 250,000 stock options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (the “Liscouski Inducement Options”); and (ii) 250,000 stock options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company upon the Company uplisting to NASDAQ, subject to the Company’s shareholders approving an amendment to the Quantum Computing Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Plan (the “Plan Amendment”) (the “Liscouski Options”).

 

Upon termination of Mr. Liscouski without cause, or as a result of Mr. Liscouski’s resignation for Good Reason (as such term is defined in the Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement) the Company shall pay or provide to Mr. Liscouski severance pay equal to his then current monthly base salary for 12 months from the date of termination and all stock options granted by the Company and then held by Mr. Liscouski shall be accelerated and become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of Mr. Liscouski’s termination.

 

CFO Employment Agreement

 

On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Roberts Employment Agreement”) with Mr. Christopher Roberts, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. The Roberts Employment Agreement is for an initial term of three years and it may be terminated with or without cause. Mr. Roberts will receive an annual base salary of $300,000.00 and shall be eligible to earn a performance bonus of up to fifty percent (50%) of his base salary. Mr. Roberts shall also receive 400,000 stock options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (the “Roberts Options”), which shall vest as follows: (i) 150,000 options shall vest immediately upon grant (ii) 83,333 options shall vest on the 12-month anniversary of the date of grant (iii), 83,333 options shall vest on the 24-month anniversary of the date of grant and (iv) 83,334 options shall vest on the 36-month anniversary of the date of grant.

 

Upon termination of Mr. Roberts without cause, or as a result of Mr. Roberts’ resignation for Good Reason (as such term is defined in the Roberts Employment Agreement) the Company shall pay or provide to Mr. Roberts severance pay equal to his then current monthly base salary for 12 months from the date of termination and all stock options granted by the Company and then held by Mr. Roberts shall be accelerated and become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of Mr. Roberts’ termination.

 

1

 

 

Chief Revenue Officer Employment Agreement

 

On April 29, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Morris Employment Agreement”) with Mr. David Morris, the Company’s Chief Revenue Officer. The Morris Employment Agreement is for an initial term of three years and it may be terminated with or without cause. Mr. Morris will receive an annual base salary of $415,000.00 and shall be eligible to earn a performance bonus subject to Mr. Morris achieving the performance milestones set forth in the Morris Employment Agreement. Mr. Morris shall also receive 200,000 stock options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (the “Morris Options”), which shall vest as follows: (i) 50,000 options shall vest on the first anniversary of the Morris Employment Agreement (ii) 50,000 shall vest on the second anniversary of the Morris Employment Agreement (iii), 100,000 options shall vest on the third anniversary of the Morris Employment Agreement.

 

Upon termination of Mr. Morris within twelve (12) months after a Change of Control (as such term is defined in the Morris Employment Agreement), the Company shall pay or provide to Mr. Morris severance pay equal to his then current monthly base salary for 6 months from the date of termination.

 

Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K contains only a brief description of the material terms of the Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, the Roberts Employment Agreement and the Morris Employment Agreement and does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties to the Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, the Roberts Employment Agreement and the Morris Employment Agreement and such descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Liscouski Amended and Restated Employment Agreement and the Roberts Employment Agreement, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively.

 

Item 9.01. Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Exhibit
10.1   Amended and restated Employment Agreement, dated April 26, 2021, by and between Quantum Computing Inc. and Robert Liscouski
10.2   Employment Agreement, dated April 26, 2021, by and between Quantum Computing Inc. and Christopher Roberts
10.3   Employment Agreement, dated April 29, 2021, by and between Quantum Computing Inc. and David Morris

 

2

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

  QUANTUM COMPUTING INC.
     
Dated: April 30, 2021 By: /s/ Christopher Roberts
 

Christopher Roberts

Chief Financial Officer

   

 

 

3

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement"), dated as of April 26 2021, (the “Effective Date”), by and between QUANTUM COMPUTING INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Robert Liscouski, an individual and resident of the State of Virginia (the “Executive”). The Company and Executive are hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party.”

 

WlTNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Executive is currently employed by the Company pursuant to an Employment Agreement (the “Original Employment Agreement”) dated as of February 15, 2018;

 

WHEREAS, the Company agrees to continue to employ the Executive and the Executive agrees to continue to be employed by the Company on the terms and conditions set forth therein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and obligations contained, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Employment and Location. The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby accepts employment by the Company, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

2. Duties and Responsibilities.

 

(a) Position and Duties. Commencing as of the Effective Date, Executive shall serve in the position of Chief Executive Officer. During the Employment Term, Executive shall (i) be subject to all of the Company’s policies, rules and regulations applicable to its executives, and (ii) perform such duties commensurate with Executive’s position as shall be assigned to Executive.

 

(b) Standard of Performance. Executive agrees that he will at all times faithfully and industriously and to the best of his ability, experience, and talents perform all the duties that may be required of and from him pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and consistent with his position. Such duties shall be performed at such place or places as the interests, needs, business, and opportunities of the Company shall reasonably require or render advisable.

 

(c) Exclusive Service.

 

(i) Executive shall devote substantially all of his business energies and abilities and substantially all of his productive time to the performance of his duties under this Agreement (reasonable absences during holidays and vacations excepted), and shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, render to others any service of any kind (whether or not for compensation) that, in the opinion of the Company, would materially interfere with the performance of his duties under this Agreement, and

 

(ii) Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, maintain any affiliation with, whether as an agent, consultant, Executive, officer, director, trustee or otherwise, nor shall he directly or indirectly render any services of an advisory nature or otherwise to, or participate or engage in, any other business activity.

 

 

 

3. Term of Employment. This Agreement and the employment relationship and terms hereunder shall continue from the Effective Date for (i) an initial term of 3 years (the “Initial Term”) to be automatically renewed for consecutive one-year terms at the end of the Initial Term unless either party gives at least 90 days written notice of its intention not to renew prior to the expiration of a term, or (ii) until Executive’s employment is terminated by either the Company or Executive pursuant to Section 5 (the “Employment Term”).

 

4. Compensation. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay the amounts and provide the benefits described in this Section 4, and Executive agrees to accept such amounts and benefits in full payment for Executive’s services under this Agreement.

 

(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the rate of Four Hundred Thousand dollars ($400,000) per year (the “Base Salary”), in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company applicable to executives. During the Employment Term, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or the Compensation Committee of the Board shall review the Base Salary and may provide for such increases (but not decreases) in Base Salary as it may, in its sole and absolute discretion, deem appropriate.

 

(b) Equity Compensation. The Company shall issue to the Executive 150,000 stock options (the “Annual Options”) to purchase shares of common stock of the company at a price per share equal to 110% of the fair market price of the common stock at the day of issuance annually, commencing on the first anniversary of the Effective Date hereof, under and subject to all of the provisions of the Company’s bona fide stock option plan (the “Plan”) then in effect. The Annual Option will vest over three years from date of its grant with one-third (1/3) of the Annual Option vesting on the date of grant, and the remainder of the Annual Option vesting in equal monthly installments thereafter according to the terms of the Plan and applicable award agreement. Not withstanding the foregoing, all unvested equity compensation shall be forfeit upon termination “For Cause” as described further herein.

 

(c) Bonus Plans.

 

(i) To induce the Executive to enter into this Agreement and upon execution thereof, Executive shall be eligible to receive a one-time signing bonus of 250,000 options to purchase common stock, at fair market value of the Company (the “Signing Bonus”) with an additional bonus of 250,000 options to purchase common stock, at fair market value, upon an uplisting to a senior stock exchange such as NASDAQ or NYSE and subject to plan approval.

 

(ii) Executive shall be eligible to receive a discretionary “Performance Bonus” of up fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary, for each calendar year during the Employment Term, subject to Executive achieving the performance milestones that are established and approved by the Board within 60 days following the beginning of such fiscal year, to be calculated and paid within 30 days after the end of the fiscal year in which such bonus was earned; provided, however, that the Company may delay the calculation and payment of any portion of such bonus which is based on the attainment of a revenue, earnings or similar milestone until the completion of the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year in question subject to Employee achieving the performance milestones that as set forth each year as reflected in Addendum A hereto. The company may waive the requirement to achieve any or all of the annual milestones based on circumstances determined by the Board of Directors.

 

2

 

 

(iii) Executive shall further be entitled to participate in such bonus programs and plans as the Company makes available from time to time to Company Executives of comparable status, subject to, and to the extent that, Executive is eligible under such bonus programs and plans in accordance with their respective terms.

 

(d) Fringe Benefits. Subject to Section 4 (e) below, Executive will be entitled:

 

1. to participate, on the same basis as other Executives of the Company, in any medical, dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance and flexible spending accounts (subject to certain co-payments by Executive). Executive’s participation in such plans shall be subject to all terms and conditions of such plans, including Executive’s ability to satisfy any medical or health requirements imposed by the underwriters of any insurance policies paid to fund the plans; and

 

2. to participate, on the same basis as other Executives of the Company, in the Company’s 401(k) plan, with said participation subject to all terms and conditions of such plans.

 

(e) Deduction from Compensation. The Company shall deduct and withhold from all compensation payable to Executive all amounts required to be deducted or withheld pursuant to any present or future law, ordinance, regulation, order, writ, judgment, or decree requiring such deduction and withholding.

 

5. Termination of Employment Period. Executive’s employment under the terms of this agreement may terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

5.1 Termination for Cause. At the election of the Company, for “Cause,” upon written notice by the Company to Executive. For the purposes of this Section, “Cause” for termination shall be deemed to exist upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

a. Executive’s conviction or entry of nolo contendere to any felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, fraud or embezzlement of Company property; or

 

b. Executive’s dishonesty, gross negligence or gross misconduct that is materially injurious to the Company or material failure to perform her/his duties under this Agreement which has not been cured by Executive within 10 days after he/she shall have received written notice from the Company stating with reasonable specificity the nature of such failure to perform; or

 

c. Executive’s illegal use or abuse of drugs, alcohol, or other related substances that is materially injurious to the Company.

 

3

 

 

5.2 Voluntary Termination by the Company. At the election of the Company, without Cause.

 

5.3 Death or Disability. Upon the death or disability of Executive. As used in this Agreement, “disability” shall occur when Executive, due to a physical or mental disability, for a period of 90 days in the aggregate whether or not consecutive, during any 360-day period, is unable to perform the services contemplated under this Agreement. However, upon Executive’s Death or Disability, all stock awards, including restricted stock and option awards, subject to this Agreement shall be immediately vested as of the date of such Disability or Death, whichever is applicable, and shall be delivered, subject to any requirements under this Agreement, to the Executive, in the event of his or her Disability, or in the event of the Executive’s Death, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Executive, or if the Executive has not so designated any beneficiary(ies), or no designated beneficiary survives the Executive, such shares shall be delivered to the personal representative of the Executive’s estate.

 

5.4 Termination for Good Reason. Subject to the notice and cure periods set forth in Section 6.5, at the election of Executive for “Good Reason” (as defined below), upon written notice by the Executive to the Company.

 

5.5 Voluntary Termination by Executive. At the election of Executive, without. Good Reason, upon not less than 30 days prior written notice by him/her to the Company.

 

6. Effect of Termination.

 

6.1 Termination for Cause, at the Election of Executive, or at Death or Disability. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause, the Company shall have no further obligations under this Agreement other than to pay to Executive Base Salary and accrued vacation through the last day of Executive’s actual employment by the Company. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated upon Executive’s death or disability, or at the election of Executive, the Company shall have no further obligations under this Agreement other than (i) to pay to Executive, in a single lump sum upon such termination, Base Salary and accrued vacation through the last day of Executive’s actual employment by the Company and (ii) to pay to Executive, in a single lump sum, pro rata portion of any bonus (to the extent earned prior to such termination) for the fiscal year in which termination occurs, pursuant to Section 4(c).

 

6.2 Voluntary Termination by the Company, or for Good Reason. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated during the term of this Agreement without Cause, or by Executive’s resignation for Good Reason, and Executive executes a release in favor of the Company substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A, not later than 30 days after Executive’s employment terminates, and the period in which Executive is entitled to revoke such release has expired without any such revocation, then the Company shall continue to pay to Executive the annual Base Salary in effect immediately prior to such termination for the twelve- month period following Executive’s last day of employment. In addition, the Company shall continue Executive’s coverage under and its contributions towards Executive’s health care, dental, and life insurance benefits on the same basis as immediately prior to the date of termination, except as provided below, for the twelve-month period following Executive’s last day of employment. In addition to the foregoing amounts, the Company shall pay Executive in a single lump sum, a pro rata portion of any bonus (to the extent earned prior to such termination) for the year in which termination occurs, pursuant to Section 4(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to any overriding laws, the Company shall not be required to provide any health care, dental, or life insurance benefit otherwise receivable by Executive if Executive is actually covered or becomes covered by an equivalent benefit (at the same cost to Executive, if any) from another source. Any such benefit made available to Executive shall be reported to the Company.

 

4

 

 

6.3 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement with respect to the timing of payments under Section 6, if, at the time of the Executive’s termination, the Executive is deemed to be a “specified employee” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then only to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, any payments to which the Executive may become entitled under Section 6 which are subject to Section 409A of the Code (and not otherwise exempt from its application) will be withheld until the first business day of the seventh month following the date of termination, at which time the Executive shall be paid an aggregate amount equal to six months of payments otherwise due to the Executive under the terms of Section 6, as applicable. After the first business day of the seventh month following the date of termination and continuing each month thereafter, the Executive shall be paid the regular payments otherwise due to the Executive in accordance with the terms of Section 6, as thereafter applicable.

 

6.4 Upon Executive’s termination without Cause during the term of this Agreement, or as a result of Executive’s resignation for Good Reason during the term of this Agreement, all stock options granted by the Company and then held by Executive shall be accelerated and become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of Executive’s termination.

 

6.5 As used in this Agreement, “Good Reason” means, without Executive’s written consent, (a) a “material diminution” (as such term is used in Section 409A of the Code) of the duties assigned to Executive (provided, however, that no termination of Executive’s service as a member of the Board, regardless of the reason therefore, shall constitute a “material diminution” of Executive’s duties for purposes of this Section 6.5); or (b) a material reduction in Base Salary or other benefits (other than a reduction or change in benefits generally applicable to all executive employees of the Company); or (c) relocation to an office more than 50 miles further from Executives current residence in Virginia than the Company’s current location in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area is located from such residence; or (d) a “Change of Control” of the Company, as that term is defined in the Control Plan; or (e), the acquisition (other than an acquisition directly from the Company) by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (the “Voting Stock”); provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of (i) 50% or more of the then outstanding Voting Stock, or (ii) Voting Stock which has the effect of increasing the percentage of Voting Stock owned by any such individual, entity or group to 50% or more of the then outstanding Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change of Control. In the event Executive resigns for Good Reason within twelve (12) months after a Change of Control or acquisition, as defined in (d) or (e) above, Executive shall receive, in addition to any severance to which he/she is entitled under § 5.2 of the Employment Agreement as amended, an additional sum equal to twelve (12) months of his/her base salary then in effect. Notwithstanding the occurrence of any of the events enumerated in this Section 6.5, no event or condition shall be deemed to constitute Good Reason unless (i) Executive reports the event or condition which the Executive believes to be Good Reason to the Board, in writing, within 45 days of such event or condition occurring and (ii) within 30 days after the Executive provides such written notice of Good Reason, the Company has failed to fully correct such Good Reason and to make the Executive whole for any such losses.

 

5

 

 

6.6 The provisions of this Section 6 and the payments provided hereunder are intended to be exempt from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and shall be interpreted and administered consistent with such intent. To the extent required for compliance with Section 409A, references in this Agreement to a “termination of employment” shall mean a “separation of service” as defined by Section 409A. It is further intended that each installment of the payments provided hereunder shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A. Neither the Company nor Executive shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A.

 

7. Covenants of Executive.

 

(a) Executive will truthfully and accurately make, maintain and preserve all records and reports that the Company may from time to time reasonably request or require;

 

(b) Executive will obey all rules, regulations and reasonable special instructions applicable to Executive, and will be loyal and faithful to the Company at all times, constantly endeavoring to improve Executive’s ability and knowledge of the business in an effort to increase the value of Executive’s services to the mutual benefit of the Parties;

 

(c) Executive will make available to the Company any and all of the information of which Executive has knowledge relating to the business of the Company or any of the Company's other Subsidiaries and will make all suggestions and recommendations which Executive feels will be of benefit to the Company;

 

(d) Executive will fully account for all money, records, goods, wares and merchandise or other property belonging to the Company of which Executive has custody, and will pay over and deliver the same promptly whenever and however he may be reasonably directed to do so;

 

(e) Executive acknowledges that as a condition of employment, he must sign and comply with the Executive Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A, which prohibits unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s proprietary information, among other obligations;

 

(f) Executive agrees that upon termination of his employment hereunder he will immediately surrender and turn over to the Company all books, records, forms, specifications, formulae, data, processes, papers and writings related to the business of the Company, and all other property belonging to the Company, together with all copies of the foregoing, it being understood and agreed that the same are the sole property, directly or indirectly, of the Company;

 

6

 

 

(g) Executive understands that in his performing work for the Company, he will be expected not to use or disclose any confidential information, including trade secrets, of any former employer or other person to Executive has an obligation of confidentiality. Rather, Executive further understands that he will be expected to use only that information which is generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to his own, which is common knowledge in the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain, or which is otherwise provided or developed by the Company. Executive agrees that he will not bring onto Company premises any unpublished documents or property belonging to any former employer or other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality. Executive hereby represents that he have disclosed to the Company any contract he has signed that may restrict Executive’s activities on behalf of the Company.

 

(h) Executive acknowledges and understands that the securities of the Company are publicly traded and subject to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result, Executive acknowledges and agrees that (i) he is required under applicable securities laws to refrain from trading in securities of the Company while in possession of material nonpublic information and to refrain from disclosing any material nonpublic information to anyone except as permitted by this Agreement in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, and (ii) he will communicate to any person to whom Executive communicates any material nonpublic information that such information is material nonpublic information and that the trading and disclosure restrictions in clause (i) above also apply to such person.

 

8. Nondisclosure and Noncompetition.

 

8.1 Proprietary Information.

 

(a) Executive agrees that all information and know-how, whether or not in writing, of a private, secret or confidential nature concerning the Company’s business or financial affairs (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company. By way of illustration, but not limitation, Proprietary Information may include inventions, products, processes, methods, techniques, formulas, designs, drawings, slogans, tests, logos, ideas, practices, projects, developments, plans, research data, financial data, personnel data, computer programs and codes, and customer and supplier lists. Executive will not disclose any Proprietary Information to others outside the Company except in the performance of his/her duties or use the same for any unauthorized purposes without written approval by an officer of the Company, either during or after his employment, unless and until such Proprietary Information has become public knowledge or generally known within the industry without fault by Executive, or unless otherwise required by law.

 

(b) Executive agrees that all files, letters, memoranda, reports, records, data, sketches, drawings, laboratory notebooks, program listings, or other written, photographic, electronic or other material containing Proprietary Information, whether created by Executive or others, which shall come into his custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive property of the Company to be used by Executive only in the performance of her/his duties for the Company.

 

7

 

 

(c) Executive agrees that his/her obligation not to disclose or use information, know-how and records of the types set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, also extends to such types of information, know-how, records and tangible property of subsidiaries and joint ventures of the Company, customers of the Company or suppliers to the Company or other third parties who may have disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company or to Executive in the course of the Company’s business.

 

8.2 Inventions.

 

(a) Disclosure. Executive shall disclose promptly to an officer or to attorneys of the Company in writing any idea, invention, work of authorship, whether patentable or un-patentable, copyrightable or un-copyrightable, including, but not limited to, any computer program, software, command structure, code, documentation, compound, genetic or biological material, formula, manual, device, improvement, method, process, discovery, concept, algorithm, development, secret process, machine or contribution (any of the foregoing items hereinafter referred to as an “Invention”) Executive may conceive, make, develop or work on, in whole or in part, solely or jointly with others. The disclosure required by this Section applies (a) to any invention related to the general line of business engaged in by the Company or to which the Company planned to enter during the period of Executive’s employment with the Company and for one year thereafter; (b) with respect to all Inventions whether or not they are conceived, made, developed or worked on by Executive during Executive’s regular hours of employment with the Company; (c) whether or not the Invention was made at the suggestion of the Company; and (d) whether or not the Invention was reduced to drawings, written description, documentation, models or other tangible form.

 

(b) Assignment of inventions to Company Exemption of Certain Inventions. Executive hereby assigns to the Company without royalty or any other further consideration Executive’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Inventions which Executive conceives, makes, develops or works on during employment and for one year thereafter, except as limited by 8.2(a) above and those Inventions that Executive develops entirely on Executive’s own time after the date of this Agreement without using the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information unless those Inventions either (a) relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the Invention to the Company’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (b) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company.

 

(c) Records. Executive will make and maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions. These records shall be and remain the property of the Company.

 

(d) Patents. Executive will assist the Company in obtaining, maintaining and enforcing patents and other proprietary rights in connection with any Invention covered by Section 8.2. Executive further agrees that his obligations under this Section shall continue beyond the termination of his employment with the Company, but if he is called upon to render such assistance after the termination of such employment, he shall be entitled to a fair and reasonable rate of compensation for such assistance. Executive shall, in addition, be entitled to reimbursement of any expenses incurred at the request of the Company relating to such assistance.

 

8

 

 

9. NO COMPETITION AND NON SOLICITATION.

 

(a) During Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason or for no reason, Executive will not directly or indirectly, absent the Company’s prior written approval, render services of a business, professional or commercial nature to any other person or entity in the area of quantum computing development or such other services or products provided by the Company at the time employment terminates in any geographical area where the Company does business at the time this covenant is in effect, whether such services are for compensation or otherwise, whether alone or in conjunction with others, as an employee, as a partner, or as a shareholder (other than as the holder of not more than 1% of the combined voting power of the outstanding stock of a public company), officer or director of any corporation or other business entity, or as a trustee, fiduciary or in any other similar representative capacity.

 

(b) During the Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason or for no reason, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, recruit, solicit or induce, or attempt to recruit, solicit or induce any employee or employees of the Company to terminate their employment with, or otherwise cease their relationship with, the Company.

 

(c) During the Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after termination of Executive’s employment for any reason or for no reason, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, contact, solicit, divert or take away, or attempt to solicit, contact, divert or take away, the business or patronage of any of the clients, customers or accounts, or prospective clients, customers or accounts, of the Company.

 

10. Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may not be changed orally but only by written documents signed by the Party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification, extension or discharge is sought; however, the amount of compensation to be paid to Executive for services to be performed for the Company hereunder may be changed from time to time by the Parties by written agreement without in any other way modifying, changing or affecting this Agreement or the performance by Executive of any of the duties of his employment with the Company. Any such written agreement shall be, and shall be conclusively deemed to be, a ratification and confirmation of this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in such written amendment. The waiver by any Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach thereof, nor of any breach of any other term or provision of this Agreement.

 

11. Notice. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly delivered (a) three business days after being received by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (b) three business days after being sent for next business day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service, in the case of the Company, to its principal office address, and in the case of Executive, to Executive’s residence address as shown on the records of the Company, or may be given by personal delivery thereof.

 

9

 

 

12. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be valid and enforceable under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, unenforceable or prohibited by applicable law, then in lieu of declaring such provision invalid or unenforceable, to the extent permitted by law (a) the Parties agree that they will amend such provision to the minimal extent necessary to bring such provision within the ambit of enforceability, and (b) any court of competent jurisdiction may, at the request of either party, revise, reconstruct or reform such provision in a manner sufficient to cause it to be valid and enforceable.

 

13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Executive Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement, forms the complete and exclusive statement of Executive’s employment agreement with the Company. It supersedes any other agreements, representations or promises made to Executive by anyone, whether oral or written. Changes in Executive’s employment terms, other than those changes expressly reserved to the Company’s discretion in this Agreement, require a written modification signed by an officer of the Company.

 

14. Force Majeure. Neither of the Parties shall be liable to the other for any delay or failure to perform hereunder, which delay or failure is due to causes beyond the control of said Party, including, but not limited to: acts of God; acts of the public enemy; acts of the United States of America or any state, territory or political subdivision thereof or of the District of Columbia; fires; floods; epidemics, quarantine restrictions; strike or freight embargoes. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 14 in every case the delay or failure to perform must be beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the Party claiming excusable delay.

 

15. Arbitration. All disputes concerning compliance with or the interpretation of this Agreement, or any other aspect of Executive’s employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, shall be resolved by a single arbitrator under the Employment Dispute Rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims by the Company concerning Executive’s compliance with the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition provisions of this Agreement are excluded from the scope of this Arbitration provision and may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereunder.

 

16. Recovery of Litigation Costs. If any legal action or other proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument delivered under or in connection with this Agreement, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default or misrepresentation in connection with any of the provisions of this Agreement, the successful or prevailing Party or Parties shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs incurred in that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it or they may be entitled.

 

10

 

 

17. Successors.

 

(a) No rights or obligations of Executive under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than Executive’s rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Upon Executive’s death, this Agreement and all rights of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s beneficiary or beneficiaries, personal or legal representatives, or estate, to the extent any such person succeeds to Executive’s interests under this Agreement. Subject to compliance with the terms of any Company sponsored benefit plan, Executive shall be entitled to select and change a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive following Executive’s death any benefit or compensation payable hereunder by giving the Company written notice thereof. In the event of Executive’s death or a judicial determination of Executive’s incompetence, reference in this Agreement to Executive shall be deemed, where appropriate, to refer to Executive’s beneficiary(ies), estate or other legal representative(s).

 

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

 

(c) The Company shall have the right to assign this Agreement to any successor of substantially all of its business or assets, and any such successor shall be bound by all of the provisions hereof.

 

18. Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the Parties shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the substantive laws of Commonwealth of Virginia without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereunder.

 

19. Counsel. The parties acknowledge and represent that, prior to the execution of this Agreement, they have had an opportunity to consult with their respective counsel concerning the terms and conditions set forth herein. Additionally, Executive represents that he has had an opportunity to receive independent legal advice concerning the taxability of any consideration received under this Agreement. Executive has not relied upon any advice from the Company and/or its attorneys with respect to the taxability of any consideration received under this Agreement. Executive further acknowledges that the Company has not made any representations to him with respect to tax issues.

 

20. No Punitive Damages. If any dispute arises regarding the application, interpretation or enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, including fraud in the inducement, the parties hereby waive their right to seek punitive damages in connection with said dispute.

 

21. Multiple Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

[Signatures on Next Page]

 

11

 

 

EXECUTED as of the day and year first above set forth.

 

QUANTUM COMPUTING INC.  
     
By:    

/s/ Robert Liscouski

 
   
EXECUTIVE  
     
By:

/s/ Christopher Roberts

 

CFO, Quantum Computing Inc.

  

12

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ADDENDUM A

 

Performance Milestones for 2021

 

Robert Liscouski

 

NASDAQ Uplist    
Recruit Independent Board Member for Audit Cmte   Q1/21
Uplist   Q2/21
Build Sales Team    
Hire Sales Team   Q3/21 – Q1/21
Hire Sales CRO   Q1/21
Partner Relationships    
Amazon Relationship   Q1/21
Solutions Provider   Q2/21
Hardware Provider   Q3/21
Sales    
Achieve first sales   Q2/21
Grow Sales   Q4/21
Hire VP Marketing   Q1/21
Develop PR Presence   Q1/21
Develop Product Marketing Strategy   Q2/21
Corp Strategic Plan ‘22/23   Q2/21
Define M&A Strat   Q2/21
Execute M&A Strat   Q4/21
Build Corp Infrastructure   Q3&4/21
Recruit Additional Independent Board Members   Q3/Q4/21
Management Infrastructure for Growth   Q4/21
Raise Additional Capital (as needed)   Q4/21

 

 

13

 

 

Exhibit 10.2 

 

QUANTUM COMPUTING INC.

215 Depot Court, SE
Leesburg, VA 20175

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of April 26, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), between Christopher Roberts (“Executive”) and Quantum Computing Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation.

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires that for the foreseeable future the Executive will serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer as well as a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive is willing to continue to serve in the foregoing positions on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable considerations, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective Date and Term of Employment. The initial term of this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and shall continue until the earlier of: (a) the date on which it is terminated pursuant to terms of this Agreement; or (b) three (3) years following the Effective Date (the “Term”).

 

2. Duties and Responsibilities. The Executive agrees to work for the Company as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) performing all of the duties and responsibilities inherent in such position. As the CFO the Executive shall report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and shall be subject to the supervision thereof, and Executive shall have such authority as is delegated by the CEO and the Board, which authority shall be sufficient for Executive to perform all of the duties of the office referenced herein. The Executive shall devote the Executive’s full business time and reasonable best efforts in the performance of the foregoing services. Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.4, Executive may accept other board memberships or service with other organizations that are not in conflict with Executive’s primary responsibilities and obligations to the Company.

 

3. Compensation and Benefits.

 

3.1 Salary. The Company shall pay Executive a base salary of $12,500.00 twice per calendar month (i.e., at an annualized rate of $300,000 per year), payable in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary thereafter shall be subject to annual review and adjustment, as determined by the Board (or the Compensation Committee of the Board) in its sole discretion, provided, however, that the Base Salary may not be decreased without the Executive’s consent unless the compensation payable to all executives of the Company is also similarly reduced.

 

3.2 Stock Options. The Company will grant to Executive options to purchase 400,000 shares of common stock, which shall vest as follows (i) 150,000 options shall vest immediately upon grant (ii) 83,333 options shall vest on the 12-month anniversary of the date of grant (iii), 83,333 options shall vest on the 24-month anniversary of the date of grant and (iv) 83,334 options shall vest on the 36-month anniversary of the date of grant. The stock options will be granted in a separate document, which will set forth the terms and conditions of the option grant.

 

 

 

3.3 Annual Incentive. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 and in subsequent fiscal years, Executive will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus in an amount up to fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary, subject to Executive achieving the performance milestones that are established and approved by the Board of Directors within 60 days following the beginning of such fiscal year, as set forth on Exhibit A, hereto. The bonus, if payable, shall be calculated and paid within 30 days after the end of the fiscal year in which such bonus was earned; provided, however, that the Company may delay the calculation and payment of any portion of such bonus which is based on the attainment of a revenue, earnings or similar milestone until the completion of the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year in question.

 

3.4 Long-Term Incentives. The Company may from time to time establish incentive programs, including but not limited to stock options, and the Executive will be eligible to participate in such incentive programs under terms to be set when such programs are approved by the Board and Shareholders.

 

3.5 Fringe Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in all bonus and benefit programs that the Company establishes and makes available to its executive employees, if any, to the extent that Executive’s position, tenure, salary, age, health and other qualifications make Executive eligible to participate, including, but not limited to health care plans, short and long term disabilities plans, life insurance plans, retirement plans, and all other benefit plans from time to time in effect. Executive shall also be entitled to take four (4) weeks of fully paid annual leave in accordance with Company policy.

 

3.6 Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. Executive shall be reimbursed for such reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by Executive while Executive is employed by the Company, which are directly related to the furtherance of the Company’s business, including compensation under the Company’s standard policies if Executive uses his personal vehicle for Company business where such business is more than one hundred fifty (150) miles from the Company’s main offices or Executive’s home, wherever such trip commences. The Executive must submit any request for reimbursement no later than fifteen (15) days following the date that such business expense is incurred in accordance with the Company’s reimbursement policy regarding same and business expenses must be substantiated by appropriate receipts and documentation. The Company may request additional documentation or a further explanation to substantiate any business expense submitted for reimbursement, and retains the discretion to approve or deny a request for reimbursement. If a business expense reimbursement is not exempt from Section 409A of the Code, any reimbursement in one calendar year shall not affect the amount that may be reimbursed in any other calendar year and a reimbursement (or right thereto) may not be exchanged or liquidated for another benefit or payment. Any business expense reimbursements subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such business expense is incurred by the Executive.

 

3.7 Indemnification. The Company shall continue to indemnify Executive to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, the Company’s Articles of Organization and the Company’s By-laws, each as they may be amended from time to time. The Executive shall be insured under the Company’s Directors’ and Officers’ liability policy in the same manner as other senior executives of the Company for as long as Executive is an officer or director of the Company and as long as the Company maintains such policy in force. Such indemnity and insurance shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company.

 

2

 

 

4. Termination of Employment Period. Executive’s employment under the terms of this agreement may terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

4.1 Termination for Cause. At the election of the Company, for “Cause,” upon written notice by the Company to Executive. For the purposes of this Section, “Cause” for termination shall be deemed to exist upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(a) Executive’s conviction or entry of nolo contendere to any felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, fraud or embezzlement of Company property; or

 

(b) Executive’s dishonesty, gross negligence or gross misconduct that is materially injurious to the Company or material failure to perform her/his duties under this Agreement which has not been cured by Executive within 10 days after he/she shall have received written notice from the Company stating with reasonable specificity the nature of such failure to perform; or

 

(c) Executive’s illegal use or abuse of drugs, alcohol, or other related substances that is materially injurious to the Company.

 

4.2 Voluntary Termination by the Company. At the election of the Company, without Cause.

 

4.3 Death or Disability. Upon the death or disability of Executive. As used in this Agreement, “disability” shall occur when Executive, due to a physical or mental disability, for a period of 90 days in the aggregate whether or not consecutive, during any 360-day period, is unable to perform the services contemplated under this Agreement.

 

4.4 Termination for Good Reason. Subject to the notice and cure periods set forth in Section 5.5, at the election of Executive for “Good Reason” (as defined below), upon written notice by the Executive to the Company.

 

4.5 Voluntary Termination by Executive. At the election of Executive, without Good Reason, upon not less than 30 days prior written notice by him/her to the Company.

 

5. Effect of Termination.

 

5.1 Termination for Cause, at the Election of Executive, or at Death or Disability. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause, the Company shall have no further obligations under this Agreement other than to pay to Executive Base Salary and accrued vacation through the last day of Executive’s actual employment by the Company. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated upon Executive’s death or disability, or at the election of Executive, the Company shall have no further obligations under this Agreement other than (i) to pay to Executive, in a single lump sum upon such termination, Base Salary and accrued vacation through the last day of Executive’s actual employment by the Company and (ii) to pay to Executive, in a single lump sum, a pro rata portion of any bonus (to the extent earned prior to such termination) for the fiscal year in which termination occurs, pursuant to Section 3.2.

 

3

 

 

5.2 Voluntary Termination by the Company, or for Good Reason. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated during the term of this Agreement without Cause, or by Executive’s resignation for Good Reason, and Executive executes a release in favor of the Company substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B, not later than 30 days after Executive’s employment terminates, and the period in which Executive is entitled to revoke such release has expired without any such revocation, then the Company shall continue to pay to Executive the annual Base Salary in effect immediately prior to such termination for the twelve- month period following Executive’s last day of employment. In addition, the Company shall continue Executive’s coverage under and its contributions towards Executive’s health care, dental, and life insurance benefits on the same basis as immediately prior to the date of termination, except as provided below, for the six-month period following Executive’s last day of employment. In addition to the foregoing amounts, the Company shall pay Executive in a single lump sum, a pro rata portion of any bonus (to the extent earned prior to such termination) for the year in which termination occurs, pursuant to Section 3.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to any overriding laws, the Company shall not be required to provide any health care, dental, or life insurance benefit otherwise receivable by Executive if Executive is actually covered or becomes covered by an equivalent benefit (at the same cost to Executive, if any) from another source. Any such benefit made available to Executive shall be reported to the Company.

 

5.3 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended Agreement with respect to the timing of payments under Section 5, if, at the time of the Executive’s termination, the Executive is deemed to be a “specified employee” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then only to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, any payments to which the Executive may become entitled under Section 5 which are subject to Section 409A of the Code (and not otherwise exempt from its application) will be withheld until the first business day of the seventh month following the date of termination, at which time the Executive shall be paid an aggregate amount equal to six months of payments otherwise due to the Executive under the terms of Section 5, as applicable. After the first business day of the seventh month following the date of termination and continuing each month thereafter, the Executive shall be paid the regular payments otherwise due to the Executive in accordance with the terms of Section 5, as thereafter applicable.

 

5.4 Upon Executive’s termination without Cause during the term of this Agreement, or as a result of Executive’s resignation for Good Reason during the term of this Agreement, all stock options granted by the Company and then held by Executive shall be accelerated and become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of Executive’s termination.

 

4

 

 

5.5 As used in this Agreement, “Good Reason” means, without Executive’s written consent, (a) a “material diminution” (as such term is used in Section 409A of the Code) of the duties assigned to Executive (provided, however, that no termination of Executive’s service as a member of the Board, regardless of the reason therefore, shall constitute a “material diminution” of Executive’s duties for purposes of this Section 5.5); or (b) a material reduction in Base Salary or other benefits (other than a reduction or change in benefits generally applicable to all executive employees of the Company); or (c) relocation to an office more than 50 miles further from Executives current residence in Virginia than the Company’s current location in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area is located from such residence; or (d) a “Change of Control” of the Company, as that term is defined in the Control Plan; or (e), the acquisition (other than an acquisition directly from the Company) by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (the “Voting Stock”); provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of (i) 50% or more of the then outstanding Voting Stock, or (ii) Voting Stock which has the effect of increasing the percentage of Voting Stock owned by any such individual, entity or group to 50% or more of the then outstanding Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change of Control. In the event Executive resigns for Good Reason within twelve (12) months after a Change of Control or acquisition, or if the Executive is terminated without cause within twelve (12) months after a Change of Control or acquisition, as defined in (d) or (e) above, Executive shall receive, in addition to any severance to which he/she is entitled under § 5.2 of the Employment Agreement as amended, an additional sum equal to twelve (12) months of his/her base salary then in effect. Notwithstanding the occurrence of any of the events enumerated in this Section 5.5, no event or condition shall be deemed to constitute Good Reason unless (i) Executive reports the event or condition which the Executive believes to be Good Reason to the Board, in writing, within 45 days of such event or condition occurring and (ii) within 30 days after the Executive provides such written notice of Good Reason, the Company has failed to fully correct such Good Reason and to make the Executive whole for any such losses.

 

5.6 The provisions of this Section 5 and the payments provided hereunder are intended to be exempt from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and shall be interpreted and administered consistent with such intent. To the extent required for compliance with Section 409A, references in this Agreement to a “termination of employment” shall mean a “separation of service” as defined by Section 409A. It is further intended that each installment of the payments provided hereunder shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A. Neither the Company nor Executive shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A.

 

6. Nondisclosure and Noncompetition.

 

6.1 Proprietary Information.

 

(a) Executive agrees that all information and know-how, whether or not in writing, of a private, secret or confidential nature concerning the Company’s business or financial affairs (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company. By way of illustration, but not limitation, Proprietary Information may include inventions, products, processes, methods, techniques, formulas, designs, drawings, slogans, tests, logos, ideas, practices, projects, developments, plans, research data, financial data, personnel data, computer programs and codes, and customer and supplier lists. Executive will not disclose any Proprietary Information to others outside the Company except in the performance of his/her duties or use the same for any unauthorized purposes without written approval by an officer of the Company, either during or after his employment, unless and until such Proprietary Information has become public knowledge or generally known within the industry without fault by Executive, or unless otherwise required by law.

 

5

 

 

(b) Executive agrees that all files, letters, memoranda, reports, records, data, sketches, drawings, laboratory notebooks, program listings, or other written, photographic, electronic or other material containing Proprietary Information, whether created by Executive or others, which shall come into his custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive property of the Company to be used by Executive only in the performance of her/his duties for the Company.

 

(c) Executive agrees that his/her obligation not to disclose or use information, know-how and records of the types set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, also extends to such types of information, know-how, records and tangible property of subsidiaries and joint ventures of the Company, customers of the Company or suppliers to the Company or other third parties who may have disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company or to Executive in the course of the Company’s business.

 

6.2 Inventions.

 

(a) Disclosure. Executive shall disclose promptly to an officer or to attorneys of the Company in writing any idea, invention, work of authorship, whether patentable or un-patentable, copyrightable or un-copyrightable, including, but not limited to, any computer program, software, command structure, code, documentation, compound, genetic or biological material, formula, manual, device, improvement, method, process, discovery, concept, algorithm, development, secret process, machine or contribution (any of the foregoing items hereinafter referred to as an “Invention”) Executive may conceive, make, develop or work on, in whole or in part, solely or jointly with others. The disclosure required by this Section applies (a) to any invention related to the general line of business engaged in by the Company or to which the Company planned to enter during the period of Executive’s employment with the Company and for one year thereafter; (b) with respect to all Inventions whether or not they are conceived, made, developed or worked on by Executive during Executive’s regular hours of employment with the Company; (c) whether or not the Invention was made at the suggestion of the Company; and (d) whether or not the Invention was reduced to drawings, written description, documentation, models or other tangible form.

 

(b) Assignment of inventions to Company; Exemption of Certain Inventions. Executive hereby assigns to the Company without royalty or any other further consideration Executive’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Inventions which Executive conceives, makes, develops or works on during employment and for one year thereafter, except as limited by 6.2(a) above and those Inventions that Executive develops entirely on Executive’s own time after the date of this Agreement without using the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information unless those Inventions either (a) relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the Invention to the Company's business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (b) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company.

 

6

 

 

(c) Records. Executive will make and maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions. These records shall be and remain the property of the Company.

 

(d) Patents. Executive will assist the Company in obtaining, maintaining and enforcing patents and other proprietary rights in connection with any Invention covered by Section 6.2. Executive further agrees that his obligations under this Section shall continue beyond the termination of his employment with the Company, but if he is called upon to render such assistance after the termination of such employment, he shall be entitled to a fair and reasonable rate of compensation for such assistance. Executive shall, in addition, be entitled to reimbursement of any expenses incurred at the request of the Company relating to such assistance.

 

6.3 Prior Contracts and Inventions; Information Belonging to Third Parties. Executive represents that there are no contracts to assign Inventions between any other person or entity and Executive. Executive further represents that (a) Executive is not obligated under any consulting, employment or other agreement which would affect the Company’s rights or my duties under this Agreement, (b) there is no action, investigation, or proceeding pending or threatened, or any basis therefor known to me involving Executive’s prior employment or any consultancy or the use of any information or techniques alleged to be proprietary to any former employer, and (c) the performance of Executive’s duties as an employee of the Company will not breach, or constitute a default under any agreement to which Executive is bound, including, without limitation, any agreement limiting the use or disclosure of proprietary information acquired in confidence prior to engagement by the Company. Executive will not, in connection with Executive’s employment by the Company, use or disclose to the Company any confidential, trade secret or other proprietary information of any previous employer or other person to which Executive is not lawfully entitled.

 

6.4 Noncompetition and Non-solicitation.

 

(a) During Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason or for no reason, Executive will not directly or indirectly, absent the Company’s prior written approval, render services of a business, professional or commercial nature to any other person or entity in the area of quantum computing development or such other services or products provided by the Company at the time employment terminates in any geographical area where the Company does business at the time this covenant is in effect, whether such services are for compensation or otherwise, whether alone or in conjunction with others, as an employee, as a partner, or as a shareholder (other than as the holder of not more than 1% of the combined voting power of the outstanding stock of a public company), officer or director of any corporation or other business entity, or as a trustee, fiduciary or in any other similar representative capacity.

 

7

 

 

(b) During the Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason or for no reason, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, recruit, solicit or induce, or attempt to recruit, solicit or induce any employee or employees of the Company to terminate their employment with, or otherwise cease their relationship with, the Company.

 

(c) During the Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after termination of Executive’s employment for any reason or for no reason, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, contact, solicit, divert or take away, or attempt to solicit, contact, divert or take away, the business or patronage of any of the clients, customers or accounts, or prospective clients, customers or accounts, of the Company.

 

6.5 Interpretation of Agreement. If any restriction set forth in this Section is found by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it extends for too long a period of time or over too great a range of activities or in too broad a geographic area, it shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time, range of activities or geographic area as to which it may be enforceable.

 

6.6 Restrictions Necessary. The restrictions contained in this Section are necessary for the protection of the business, proprietary information, and goodwill of the Company and are considered by Executive to be reasonable for such purpose. Executive agrees that any breach of this Section will cause the Company substantial and irrevocable damage and therefore, in the event of any such breach, in addition to such other remedies which may be available, the Company shall have the right to seek specific performance and injunctive relief. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees in such an action. In addition, the Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amount set forth in Section 5.2 or 5.3 shall terminate in the event Executive materially breaches any terms and conditions in Section 6.

 

7. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral relating to the subject matter of this Agreement between the Company and the Executive. For the avoidance of doubt, however, this Agreement is in addition to, and shall not supersede any stock option agreement between the Company and Executive.

 

8. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by both the Company and Executive.

 

9. Arbitration. All disputes concerning compliance with or the interpretation of this Agreement, or any other aspect of Executive’s employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, shall be resolved by a single arbitrator under the Employment Dispute Rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims by the Company concerning Executive’s compliance with the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition provisions of this Agreement are excluded from the scope of this Arbitration provision and may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereunder.

 

8

 

 

10. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted by this Agreement to be given to a party shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or by commercial messenger or courier service, or mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), or sent via facsimile (with receipt of confirmation of complete transmission) to the party at the party's last known address or facsimile number or at such other address or facsimile number as the party may have previously specified by like notice. If by mail, delivery shall be deemed effective three business days after mailing in accordance with this Section.

 

11. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of both parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any corporation into which the Company may be merged or which may succeed to its assets or business, provided, however, that the obligations of Executive are personal and shall not be assigned by her/him.

 

12. Miscellaneous.

 

12.1 No Waiver. No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of any right on any other occasion.

 

12.2 Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

12.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument and facsimile signatures delivered by fax or e-mail transmission shall be treated as originals.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

9

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Company and Executive has executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

  QUANTUM COMPUTING INC.
     
  By: /s/ Robert Liscouski
    Name: Robert Liscouski
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Date Executed: April 26, 2021

 

  By: /s/ Christopher Roberts
    Christopher Roberts
     
  Date Executed: April 26, 2021

 

[Signature page for employment agreement]

 

10

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Performance Goals for 2021

 

1. Uplisting the Company’s stock to the NASDAQ Exchange
2. Preparing, obtaining stockholder approval for, and managing an equity incentive plan
3. Designing and implementing a performance management plan
4. Designing and implementing a system of internal controls for financial reporting.

 

11

 

 

EXHIBIT B

General Release of Claims

 

1. Your Release of Claims. By signing this Agreement, you hereby agree and acknowledge that, for good and valuable consideration, you are waiving your right to assert any and all forms of legal claims against the Company1/ of any kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown, arising from the beginning of time through the date you execute this Agreement (the “Execution Date”). Except as set forth below, your waiver and release herein is intended to bar any form of legal claim, complaint or any other form of action (jointly referred to as “Claims”) against the Company seeking any form of relief including, without limitation, equitable relief (whether declaratory, injunctive or otherwise), the recovery of any damages, or any other form of monetary recovery whatsoever (including, without limitation, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and any other costs) against the Company, for any alleged action, inaction or circumstance existing or arising through the Execution Date.

 

Without limiting the foregoing general waiver and release, you specifically waive and release the Company from any Claim arising from or related to your prior employment relationship with the Company or the termination thereof, including, without limitation:

 

** Claims under any state or federal discrimination, fair employment practices or other employment related statute, regulation or executive order (as they may have been amended through the Execution Date) prohibiting discrimination or harassment based upon any protected status including, without limitation, race, national origin, age, gender, marital status, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation. Without limitation, specifically included in this paragraph are any Claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act and any similar Federal and state statute.
     
** Claims under any other state or federal employment related statute, regulation or executive order (as they may have been amended through the Execution Date) relating to wages, hours or any other terms and conditions of employment.
     
** Claims under any state or federal common law theory including, without limitation, wrongful discharge, breach of express or implied contract, promissory estoppel, unjust enrichment, breach of a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of public policy, defamation, interference with contractual relations, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, misrepresentation, deceit, fraud or negligence.

 

 

1/ For purposes of this Agreement, the Company includes the Company and any of its divisions, affiliates (which means all persons and entities directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company), subsidiaries and all other related entities, and its and their directors, officers, employees, trustees, agents, successors and assigns.

 

12

 

 

** Any other Claim arising under state or federal law.

 

You acknowledge and agree that, but for providing this waiver and release, you would not be receiving the economic benefits being provided to you under the terms of this Agreement. You further acknowledge that this release does not waive any claims you cannot by law waive and does not release any claims that arise after its execution.

 

It is the Company’s desire and intent to make certain that you fully understand the provisions and effects of this Agreement. To that end, you have been advised and given the opportunity to consult with legal counsel for the purpose of reviewing the terms of this Agreement. Also, because you are over the age of 40, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, allows you at least twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Agreement. ADEA also allows you to rescind your assent to this Agreement if, within seven (7) days after you sign this Agreement, you deliver by hand or send by mail (certified, return receipt and postmarked within such 7 day period) a notice of rescission to the Company. The eighth day following your signing of this Agreement is the Effective Date.

 

Also, consistent with the provisions of Federal law, nothing in this release shall be deemed to prohibit you from challenging the validity of this release under the discrimination laws (the “Federal Discrimination Laws”) or from filing a charge or complaint of employment-related discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or any state fair employment practices agency, or from participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or any state fair employment practices agency. Further, nothing in this release or Agreement shall be deemed to limit the Company’s right to seek immediate dismissal of such charge or complaint on the basis that your signing of this Agreement constitutes a full release of any individual rights under the Federal Discrimination Laws, or to seek restitution to the extent permitted by law of the economic benefits provided to you under this Agreement in the event that you successfully challenge the validity of this release and prevail in any claim under the Federal Discrimination Laws.

 

  By: /s/ Christopher Roberts
    Executive: Christopher Roberts

 

    Date signed: April 26, 2020

 

 

13

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

QUANTUM COMPUTING INC.
215 Depot Court, SE

Leesburg, VA 20175

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of this 29th day of April, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), between David Morris (“Employee”) and Quantum Computing Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation.

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires that for the foreseeable future the Employee will serve as the Company’s Chief Revenue Officer and the Employee is willing to continue to serve in the foregoing positions on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable considerations, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective Date and Term of Employment. The initial term of this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and shall continue until the earlier of: (a) the date on which it is terminated pursuant to terms of this Agreement; or (b) three (3) years following the Effective Date (the “Term”).

 

2. Duties and Responsibilities. The Employee agrees to work for the Company as its Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) performing all of the duties and responsibilities inherent in such position, including developing and implementing sales and marketing strategies, developing sales channels and partner development, adding new and profitable sales channels, partners and resellers, and generating customer revenue. As the CRO the Employee shall report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and shall be subject to the supervision thereof, and Employee shall have such authority as is delegated by the CEO, which authority shall be sufficient for Employee to perform all of the duties of the office referenced herein. The Employee shall devote the Employee’s full business time and reasonable best efforts in the performance of the foregoing services. Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.4, Employee may accept other board memberships or service with other organizations that are not in conflict with Employee’s primary responsibilities and obligations to the Company.

 

3. Compensation and Benefits.

 

3.1 Salary. The Company shall pay Employee a base salary of $17,291.67 twice per calendar month (i.e., at an annualized rate of $415,000 per year), payable in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary thereafter shall be subject to annual review and adjustment, as determined by the Board (or the Compensation Committee of the Board) in its sole discretion, provided, however, that the Base Salary may not be decreased without the Employee’s consent unless the compensation payable to all employees of the Company is also similarly reduced.

 

3.2 Stock Options. The Company will grant to Employee options to purchase up to 200,000 shares of common stock, which shall vest as follows (i) 50,000 options shall vest on the first anniversary of the Effective Date, (ii) 50,000 options shall vest on the second anniversary of the Effective Date, and (iii) 100,000 options shall vest on the third anniversary of the Effective Date. The stock options will be granted in a separate document, which will set forth the terms and conditions of the option grant. For avoidance of doubt, all unvested option or equity grants will be forfeit upon termination in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

3.3 Annual Incentive. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 and in subsequent fiscal years, Employee will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus, and an annual grant of stock options, subject to Employee achieving the performance milestones forth in Exhibit B hereto. The bonus, if payable, shall be calculated and paid within 30 days after the end of the fiscal year in which such bonus was earned; provided, however, that the Company may delay the calculation and payment of any portion of such bonus which is based on the attainment of a revenue, earnings or similar milestone until the completion of the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year in question.

 

3.4 Long-Term Incentives. The Company may from time to time establish incentive programs, including but not limited to stock options, and the Employee will be eligible to participate in such incentive programs under terms to be set when such programs are approved by the Board and Shareholders.

 

3.5 Fringe Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to participate in all bonus and benefit programs that the Company establishes and makes available to its employees, if any, to the extent that Employee’s position, tenure, salary, age, health and other qualifications make Employee eligible to participate, including, but not limited to health care plans, short and long term disabilities plans, life insurance plans, retirement plans, and all other benefit plans from time to time in effect. Employee shall also be entitled to take four (4) weeks of fully paid annual leave in accordance with Company policy.

 

3.6 Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. Employee shall be reimbursed for such reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by Employee while Employee is employed by the Company, which are directly related to the furtherance of the Company’s business, including compensation under the Company’s standard policies if Employee uses his personal vehicle for Company business where such business is more than one hundred fifty (150) miles from the Company’s main offices or Employee’s home, wherever such trip commences.  The Employee must submit any request for reimbursement no later than fifteen (15) days following the date that such business expense is incurred in accordance with the Company’s reimbursement policy regarding same and business expenses must be substantiated by appropriate receipts and documentation.  The Company may request additional documentation or a further explanation to substantiate any business expense submitted for reimbursement, and retains the discretion to approve or deny a request for reimbursement. If a business expense reimbursement is not exempt from Section 409A of the Code, any reimbursement in one calendar year shall not affect the amount that may be reimbursed in any other calendar year and a reimbursement (or right thereto) may not be exchanged or liquidated for another benefit or payment.  Any business expense reimbursements subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such business expense is incurred by the Employee.

 

3.7 Indemnification. The Company shall continue to indemnify Employee to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, the Company’s Articles of Organization and the Company’s By-laws, each as they may be amended from time to time. The Employee shall be insured under the Company’s Directors’ and Officers’ liability policy. Such indemnity and insurance shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company.

 

2

 

 

4. Termination of Employment. Either the Company or the Employee can terminate the employment at any time and for any reason, with 30 day written notice. In the event of termination, Executive shall be entitled to all option shares vested prior to the date of termination.

 

5. Effect of Termination. In the event that Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason and the Employee executes a release in favor of the Company substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A, not later than 30 days after the Employee’s employment terminates, and the period in which the Employee is entitled to revoke such release has expired without any such revocation, then the Company shall have no further obligations under this Agreement other than to pay (i) the Employee’s Base Salary and accrued vacation through the last day of Employee’s actual employment by the Company (ii) the annual Base Salary in effect immediately prior to such termination for the six month period following Employee’s last day of employment and (ii) the Employee’s coverage under and its contributions towards Employee’s health care, dental, and life insurance benefits on the same basis as immediately prior to the date of termination, except as provided below, for the six-month period following Employee’s last day of employment.

 

5.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement with respect to the timing of payments under this Section 5, if, at the time of the Employee’s termination, the Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then only to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, any payments to which the Employee may become entitled under Section 5 which are subject to Section 409A of the Code (and not otherwise exempt from its application) will be withheld until the first business day of the fourth month following the date of termination, at which time the Employee shall be paid an aggregate amount equal to six months of payments otherwise due to the Employee under the terms of Section 5, as applicable.

 

5.2 As used in this Agreement, a “Change of Control” of the Company, shall mean the acquisition (other than an acquisition directly from the Company) by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (the “Voting Stock”); provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of (i) 50% or more of the then outstanding Voting Stock, or (ii) Voting Stock which has the effect of increasing the percentage of Voting Stock owned by any such individual, entity or group to 50% or more of the then outstanding Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all unvested options held by the Employee shall immediately vest. In the event the Employee’s employment is terminated within twelve (12) months after a Change of Control or acquisition, as defined above, the Employee shall receive, in addition to any severance to which he/she is entitled under § 5 of the Employment Agreement as amended, an additional sum equal to six (6) months of his/her base salary then in effect.

 

5.3 The provisions of this Section 5 and the payments provided hereunder are intended to be exempt from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and shall be interpreted and administered consistent with such intent. To the extent required for compliance with Section 409A, references in this Agreement to a “termination of employment” shall mean a “separation of service” as defined by Section 409A. It is further intended that each installment of the payments provided hereunder shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A. Neither the Company nor Executive shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A.

 

3

 

 

6. Nondisclosure and Noncompetition.

 

6.1 Proprietary Information.

 

(a) Employee agrees that all information and know-how, whether or not in writing, of a private, secret or confidential nature concerning the Company’s business or financial affairs (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company. By way of illustration, but not limitation, Proprietary Information may include inventions, products, processes, methods, techniques, formulas, designs, drawings, slogans, tests, logos, ideas, practices, projects, developments, plans, research data, financial data, personnel data, computer programs and codes, and customer and supplier lists. Employee will not disclose any Proprietary Information to others outside the Company except in the performance of his/her duties or use the same for any unauthorized purposes without written approval by an officer of the Company, either during or after his employment, unless and until such Proprietary Information has become public knowledge or generally known within the industry without fault by Employee, or unless otherwise required by law.

 

(b) Employee agrees that all files, letters, memoranda, reports, records, data, sketches, drawings, laboratory notebooks, program listings, or other written, photographic, electronic or other material containing Proprietary Information, whether created by Employee or others, which shall come into his custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive property of the Company to be used by Employee only in the performance of her/his duties for the Company.

 

(c) Employee agrees that his/her obligation not to disclose or use information, know-how and records of the types set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, also extends to such types of information, know-how, records and tangible property of subsidiaries and joint ventures of the Company, customers of the Company or suppliers to the Company or other third parties who may have disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company or to Employee in the course of the Company’s business.

 

6.2 Inventions.

 

(a) Disclosure. Employee shall disclose promptly to an officer or to attorneys of the Company in writing any idea, invention, work of authorship, whether patentable or un-patentable, copyrightable or un-copyrightable, including, but not limited to, any computer program, software, command structure, code, documentation, compound, genetic or biological material, formula, manual, device, improvement, method, process, discovery, concept, algorithm, development, secret process, machine or contribution (any of the foregoing items hereinafter referred to as an “Invention”) Employee may conceive, make, develop or work on, in whole or in part, solely or jointly with others. The disclosure required by this Section applies (a) to any invention related to the general line of business engaged in by the Company or to which the Company planned to enter during the period of Employee’s employment with the Company and for one year thereafter; (b) with respect to all Inventions whether or not they are conceived, made, developed or worked on by Employee during Employee’s regular hours of employment with the Company; (c) whether or not the Invention was made at the suggestion of the Company; and (d) whether or not the Invention was reduced to drawings, written description, documentation, models or other tangible form.

 

4

 

 

(b) Assignment of inventions to Company; Exemption of Certain Inventions. Employee hereby assigns to the Company without royalty or any other further consideration Employee’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Inventions which Employee conceives, makes, develops or works on during employment and for one year thereafter, except as limited by 6.2(a) above and those Inventions that Employee develops entirely on Employee’s own time after the date of this Agreement without using the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information unless those Inventions either (a) relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the Invention to the Company's business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (b) result from any work performed by Employee for the Company.

 

(c) Records. Employee will make and maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions. These records shall be and remain the property of the Company.

 

(d) Patents. Employee will assist the Company in obtaining, maintaining and enforcing patents and other proprietary rights in connection with any Invention covered by Section 6.2. Employee further agrees that his obligations under this Section shall continue beyond the termination of his employment with the Company, but if he is called upon to render such assistance after the termination of such employment, he shall be entitled to a fair and reasonable rate of compensation for such assistance. Employee shall, in addition, be entitled to reimbursement of any expenses incurred at the request of the Company relating to such assistance.

 

6.3 Prior Contracts and Inventions; Information Belonging to Third Parties. Employee represents that there are no contracts to assign Inventions between any other person or entity and Employee. Employee further represents that (a) Employee is not obligated under any consulting, employment or other agreement which would affect the Company’s rights or my duties under this Agreement, (b) there is no action, investigation, or proceeding pending or threatened, or any basis therefor known to me involving Employee’s prior employment or any consultancy or the use of any information or techniques alleged to be proprietary to any former employer, and (c) the performance of Employee’s duties as an employee of the Company will not breach, or constitute a default under any agreement to which Employee is bound, including, without limitation, any agreement limiting the use or disclosure of proprietary information acquired in confidence prior to engagement by the Company. Employee will not, in connection with Employee’s employment by the Company, use or disclose to the Company any confidential, trade secret or other proprietary information of any previous employer or other person to which Employee is not lawfully entitled.

 

6.4 Noncompetition and Non-solicitation.

 

(a) During Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason or for no reason, Employee will not directly or indirectly, absent the Company’s prior written approval, render services of a business, professional or commercial nature to any other person or entity in the area of quantum computing development or such other services or products provided by the Company at the time employment terminates in any geographical area where the Company does business at the time this covenant is in effect, whether such services are for compensation or otherwise, whether alone or in conjunction with others, as an employee, as a partner, or as a shareholder (other than as the holder of not more than 1% of the combined voting power of the outstanding stock of a public company), officer or director of any corporation or other business entity, or as a trustee, fiduciary or in any other similar representative capacity.

 

5

 

 

(b) During the Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason or for no reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, recruit, solicit or induce, or attempt to recruit, solicit or induce any employee or employees of the Company to terminate their employment with, or otherwise cease their relationship with, the Company.

 

(c) During the Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months after termination of Employee’s employment for any reason or for no reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, contact, solicit, divert or take away, or attempt to solicit, contact, divert or take away, the business or patronage of any of the clients, customers or accounts, or prospective clients, customers or accounts, of the Company.

 

6.5 Interpretation of Agreement. If any restriction set forth in this Section is found by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it extends for too long a period of time or over too great a range of activities or in too broad a geographic area, it shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time, range of activities or geographic area as to which it may be enforceable.

 

6.6 Restrictions Necessary. The restrictions contained in this Section are necessary for the protection of the business, proprietary information, and goodwill of the Company and are considered by Employee to be reasonable for such purpose. Employee agrees that any breach of this Section will cause the Company substantial and irrevocable damage and therefore, in the event of any such breach, in addition to such other remedies which may be available, the Company shall have the right to seek specific performance and injunctive relief. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees in such an action. In addition, the Company’s obligation to pay Employee the amount set forth in Section 5.2 or 5.3 shall terminate in the event Employee materially breaches any terms and conditions in Section 6.

 

7. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral relating to the subject matter of this Agreement between the Company and the Employee. For the avoidance of doubt, however, this Agreement is in addition to, and shall not supersede any stock option agreement between the Company and Employee.

 

8. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by both the Company and Employee.

 

9. Arbitration. All disputes concerning compliance with or the interpretation of this Agreement, or any other aspect of Employee’s employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, shall be resolved by a single arbitrator under the Employment Dispute Rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims by the Company concerning Employee’s compliance with the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition provisions of this Agreement are excluded from the scope of this Arbitration provision and may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereunder.

 

6

 

 

10. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted by this Agreement to be given to a party shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or by commercial messenger or courier service, or mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), or sent via facsimile (with receipt of confirmation of complete transmission) to the party at the party's last known address or facsimile number or at such other address or facsimile number as the party may have previously specified by like notice. If by mail, delivery shall be deemed effective three business days after mailing in accordance with this Section.

 

11. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of both parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any corporation into which the Company may be merged or which may succeed to its assets or business, provided, however, that the obligations of Employee are personal and shall not be assigned by her/him.

 

12. Miscellaneous.

 

12.1 No Waiver. No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of any right on any other occasion.

 

12.2 Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

12.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument and facsimile signatures delivered by fax or e-mail transmission shall be treated as originals.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

7

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Company and Employee has executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

  QUANTUM COMPUTING INC.
     
  By: /s/ Robert Liscouski
    Name: Robert Liscouski
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  Date Executed: April 29, 2021
     
  By: /s/ David Morris
    David Morris
     
  Date Executed: April 29, 2021

 

[Signature page for employment agreement]

 

8

 

 

Exhibit A

 

General Release of Claims

 

1. Your Release of Claims. By signing this Agreement, you hereby agree and acknowledge that, for good and valuable consideration, you are waiving your right to assert any and all forms of legal claims against the Company1/ of any kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown, arising from the beginning of time through the date you execute this Agreement (the “Execution Date”). Except as set forth below, your waiver and release herein is intended to bar any form of legal claim, complaint or any other form of action (jointly referred to as “Claims”) against the Company seeking any form of relief including, without limitation, equitable relief (whether declaratory, injunctive or otherwise), the recovery of any damages, or any other form of monetary recovery whatsoever (including, without limitation, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and any other costs) against the Company, for any alleged action, inaction or circumstance existing or arising through the Execution Date.

 

Without limiting the foregoing general waiver and release, you specifically waive and release the Company from any Claim arising from or related to your prior employment relationship with the Company or the termination thereof, including, without limitation:

 

** Claims under any state or federal discrimination, fair employment practices or other employment related statute, regulation or executive order (as they may have been amended through the Execution Date) prohibiting discrimination or harassment based upon any protected status including, without limitation, race, national origin, age, gender, marital status, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation. Without limitation, specifically included in this paragraph are any Claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act and any similar Federal and state statute.

 

** Claims under any other state or federal employment related statute, regulation or executive order (as they may have been amended through the Execution Date) relating to wages, hours or any other terms and conditions of employment.

 

** Claims under any state or federal common law theory including, without limitation, wrongful discharge, breach of express or implied contract, promissory estoppel, unjust enrichment, breach of a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of public policy, defamation, interference with contractual relations, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, misrepresentation, deceit, fraud or negligence.

 

** Any other Claim arising under state or federal law.

 

 

1 / For purposes of this Agreement, the Company includes the Company and any of its divisions, affiliates (which means all persons and entities directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company), subsidiaries and all other related entities, and its and their directors, officers, employees, trustees, agents, successors and assigns.

 

9

 

 

You acknowledge and agree that, but for providing this waiver and release, you would not be receiving the economic benefits being provided to you under the terms of this Agreement. You further acknowledge that this release does not waive any claims you cannot by law waive and does not release any claims that arise after its execution.

 

It is the Company’s desire and intent to make certain that you fully understand the provisions and effects of this Agreement. To that end, you have been advised and given the opportunity to consult with legal counsel for the purpose of reviewing the terms of this Agreement. Also, because you are over the age of 40, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, allows you at least twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Agreement. ADEA also allows you to rescind your assent to this Agreement if, within seven (7) days after you sign this Agreement, you deliver by hand or send by mail (certified, return receipt and postmarked within such 7 day period) a notice of rescission to the Company. The eighth day following your signing of this Agreement is the Effective Date.

 

Also, consistent with the provisions of Federal law, nothing in this release shall be deemed to prohibit you from challenging the validity of this release under the discrimination laws (the “Federal Discrimination Laws”) or from filing a charge or complaint of employment-related discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or any state fair employment practices agency, or from participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or any state fair employment practices agency. Further, nothing in this release or Agreement shall be deemed to limit the Company’s right to seek immediate dismissal of such charge or complaint on the basis that your signing of this Agreement constitutes a full release of any individual rights under the Federal Discrimination Laws, or to seek restitution to the extent permitted by law of the economic benefits provided to you under this Agreement in the event that you successfully challenge the validity of this release and prevail in any claim under the Federal Discrimination Laws.

 

  By:  
  Executive: David Morris

 

  Date signed: ___________________

 

10

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Incentive Compensation

 

2021 Annual variable compensation of $104K per year

 

40% on a pro-rata basis for the successful contracts with integrators that results in 20 3rd party reps making customer calls with 4 active accounts in their pipeline by end of year (meaning they made a call and it moved forward), for example; KPMG, Deloitte, USG, and mid-tier companies i.e. Quantum Retail.

 

40% on a pro-rata basis for beginning 10 Proofs of Concept and two referenceable accounts of Qatalyst.

 

20% on a pro-rata basis for the successful partnership with 3 new Software companies (delivering optimization solutions to target client areas) or Computing Hardware that expand our product value and sales capacity

 

Up to 100,000 Options – vesting over three years - based upon meeting the performance criteria

 

2022 Annual variable compensation of $104K per year (based on review of prior year success)

 

25% on a pro-rata basis for the successful partnership with 9 new Software companies (delivering optimization solutions to target client areas) or Computing Hardware that expand our product value and sales capacity

 

25% on a pro-rata basis for the successful contracts with integrators that results in 50 3rd party reps making customer calls with 3-5 active accounts in their pipeline by end of year (meaning they made a call and it moved forward), for example; KPMG, Deloitte, USG, and mid-tier companies i.e. Quantum Retail

 

20% on a pro-rata basis for the Bookings of $5,000,000. 

 

o Bookings between $5,000,001 - $7,999,999 will be paid at 150% of the standard payments. 

 

o Bookings above $8,000,000 will be paid at 200% of the standard payments. 

 

20% on a pro-rata basis for revenue recognition of $4,000,000

 

10% on a pro-rata basis for beginning 25 new Proofs of Concept and 10 new referenceable accounts of Qatalyst

 

Up to 100,000 Options – vesting over three years - based upon meeting the performance criteria

 

2023 Annual variable compensation of $104K per year (based on review of prior year success)

 

32% on a pro-rata basis for the Bookings of $15,000,000. 

 

o Bookings between $15,000,001 - $19,999,999 will be paid at 150% of the standard payments. 

 

o Bookings above $20,000,000 will be paid at 200% of the standard payments. 

 

34% on a pro-rata basis for revenue recognition of $15,000,000.

 

34% on a pro-rata basis for 100 new contracts and 30 new referenceable accounts of Qatalyst

 

Up to 100,000 Options – vesting over three years - based upon meeting the performance criteria

 

 

11