UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 8, 2016 (June 3, 2016)
Towerstream Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware |
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001-33449 |
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20-8259086 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
88 Silva Lane Middletown, RI |
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02842 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (401) 848-5848
(Former name or former 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))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On June 8, 2016 and effective June 14, 2016, Towerstream Corporation (the "Company") appointed Frederick Larcombe, 60, as the Company's Chief Financial Officer. From 2008 to the present, Mr. Larcombe, as a principal of Your CFO Solution, a group of seasoned financial professionals, has provided senior financial leadership services on an outsourced basis to several companies in various industries since 2008. He has served as Chief Financial Officer of Rittenhouse Foods, Inc. (a private food distribution company) from 2015 to the present and as Chief Financial Officer of InterCore, Inc. (OTCPink: ICOR) (a publicly-held developer of software to monitor driver fatigue) from 2010 to the present. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of Taft & Partners, LP (a professional services firm) from 2012 to 2016 and as Chief Financial Officer of iBio, Inc. (NYSE: IBIO) (a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company) from 2009 to 2011. Mr. Larcombe began his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. A Canadian subsidiary of InterCore, Inc. was placed into a reorganization bankruptcy proceeding under Canadian law in April 2015. Mr. Larcombe received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Seton Hall University, was designated a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey (currently inactive), and is an alumnus of the Executive Development Program at Harvard Business School. Mr. Larcombe is to receive compensation of $5,120 per week pursuant to an engagement letter agreement (the "Engagement Letter") between the Company and Mr. Larcombe filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Engagement Letter has a term of six months.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Larcombe and any other persons pursuant to which Mr. Larcombe was appointed as an officer of the Company. In addition, there are no family relationships between Mr. Larcombe and any director, executive officer, or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer. Furthermore, since the inception of the Company, there have been no transactions in which the Company was or is to be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which Mr. Larcombe had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, and there are currently no such proposed transaction.
On June 3, 2016, the Company entered into a Separation Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) with Joseph Hernon, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Hernon resigned from all positions with the Company and its subsidiaries. Among other terms and conditions, the Separation Agreement provides for the mutual release of claims, liabilities and causes of action by Mr. Hernon and the Company and payment of three months of base salary, or an aggregate of $81,250, in a lump sum payment due July 1, 2016.
Unless revoked, the Separation Agreement becomes effective eight days following execution. Mr. Hernon’s decision to resign did not result from any disagreement with the Company, the Company’s management or the Board of Directors.
The foregoing description of the terms of the Engagement Letter and Separation Agreement do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the Separation Agreement and Engagement Letter and Separation Agreement, which are filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
Description of Exhibit |
10.1 |
Engagement Letter dated June 8, 2016 |
10.2 | Separation Agreement dated June 3, 2016 |
SIGNATURE
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.
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TOWERSTREAM CORPORATION |
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Date: June 8, 2016 |
By: |
/s/ Philip Urso |
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Philip Urso, Interim Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit 10.1
FREDERICK LARCOMBE
107 Mill Pond Road, Belle Mead, NJ 08502 / 609-802-6466 / frederick@larcombe.us
June 8, 2016
Mr. Philip Urso
Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Towerstream Corporation
88 Silva Lane
Middletown, RI 02842
Gentlemen:
This letter outlines the terms and objectives of the services to be provided to Towerstream Corporation (the "Company") by me in connection with the services as described below.
If you are satisfied with the arrangement described in this letter, please indicate your agreement by signing in the space provided on the last page and returning a copy to me.
1) SCOPE OF SERVICES
I will fulfill the role of Chief Financial Officer and assume all the responsibilities and perform all the duties normally associated with such a position. In that connection:
a) |
I will: |
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i) |
Report to Messrs. Urso and Giftakis, the Company's Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, respectively, and maintain the typical lines of communication between the Chief Financial Officer's position and Mr. William Busch, the Chairman of the Company's Audit Committee. |
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ii) |
Closely coordinate with you and keep you informed regarding of the status of agreed upon goals and priorities at all times. |
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iii) |
Commit to providing services for a minimum of four days per week. In this connection, I will typically be on-site at the Company's offices in Middletown, Rhode Island three days each week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) and work one day each week from my home office located in Belle Mead, New Jersey. As required and with reasonable notice, the actual timing of those three days may be temporarily modified by the Company or me. If requested, I will be on-site at the Company's offices additional days each week and available to visit other locations. |
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iv) |
Be available to you and Company personnel on a twenty four hour, seven day-a-week basis. That consists of regular business hours on the East Coast as well as at any other time during evenings, nights, and weekends. |
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v) |
Act as an independent contractor and have no authority to bind or commit the Company in any manner unless specifically authorized in writing by one of you. |
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vi) |
Inform you of any irregularities or material errors that come to my attention during the performance of my services. However, my services are not designed, and should not be relied upon, to disclose fraud or illegal acts should they exist. |
b) |
The Company will: |
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i) |
Make all records and appropriate personnel available to me to enable me to carry out all of the duties and responsibilities described above. |
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ii) |
Name me as a "named insured" on its Directors & Officers Insurance Policy and maintain that policy in effect during the term of this engagement. |
2) TERM
a) |
The term of this engagement will be for the six-month period from June 14, 2016 to December 14 2016. |
b) |
This engagement may be extended for increments of one month periods by mutual agreement provided that the Company provides written notice to me of its intent to do so at least 30 calendar days before the expiration of the original term of this engagement (or any extensions thereto). |
3) |
FEES, RETAINER, & EXPENSES |
a) |
Fees |
The Company and I agree that compensating me on a weekly basis would be an equitable arrangement for both parties. In recognition of the length of the term of this engagement and the number of days of services requested for each week, my hourly rate is $160 per hour. Assuming four days each week as previous described in Paragraph #1(c) and eight hours each day, this would equate to $5,120 per week. This rate will be fixed through December 31, 2016.
I will invoice the Company on the 15th and the last day of each month for services performed during the weeks ended within those periods. The Company agrees to pay such invoices within seven calendar days of receipt and, if possible, via ACH electronic transfer to the following account:
Account holder's name: |
Frederick Larcombe |
Account number: |
1020055990348 |
Bank name: | Wells Fargo |
Bank routing number for ACH transfers: |
021200025 |
b) |
Retainer |
The Company agrees to remit a retainer of $10,000 upon the signing of this agreement. This retainer will be applied to reduce the amount due on my final invoice(s).
c) |
Expenses |
Expenses incurred by me will be invoiced on a weekly basis. Such weekly expenses are expected to be limited to transportation via my personal car to the Company's offices, lodging at a nearby hotels suggested by the Company, and meals.
4) THE FINE PRINT
a) |
This engagement may be terminated by either party for non-compliance with the terms of this letter with ten calendar days' written notice with the exception of immediate termination without notice in the event of lapse of the Company's Directors and Officers Insurance Policy. It is agreed that termination by either party does not relieve the Company of its obligation to pay me for services rendered and reimbursement of expenses incurred through the end of the period of service. |
b) |
All services and work product delivered in connection with this engagement shall be based upon documents and information supplied to me by the Company and its personnel. |
c) |
My liability to the Company for any cause of action or claim of any type shall not exceed the total fee paid by the Company to me for services rendered in connection with this engagement. |
d) |
If I am required by a subpoena or other legal action to produce documents, testify, or provide evidence regarding any investigation or legal proceeding to which the Company is a party, the Company shall compensate me for such time incurred at the rate of $200 per hour and reimburse me for all reasonable related costs and expenses, including the cost of legal representation of my choice, which I incur in that connection. |
e) |
It is understood and agreed that I am an independent contractor and am not, nor shall be considered to be, an agent or representative of the Company. I shall not act or represent myself, directly or by implication, as an agent or representative of the Company or in any manner create any obligation on behalf of, or in the name of, the Company unless specifically authorized in writing by one of you. |
f) |
The Company and I agree that any controversy arising from or relating to this agreement shall be resolved by arbitration in the State of Delaware. The controversy shall be resolved before a single arbitrator in accordance with substantive and procedural law of the State of Delaware and the Rules for Professional Accounting and Related Services Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration award shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties and enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction. The prevailing party in any such proceedings will recover the reasonable expenses thereof, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. |
g) |
The Company and I acknowledge and agree that all information communicated to either party by the other party in connection with the services rendered in connection with this engagement shall be received in confidence, shall be used only for purposes of this agreement, and no such confidential information shall be disclosed by the respective parties or their agents or personnel without the prior written consent of the other party. Except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law or professional standards, the parties’ obligations under this section do not apply to information that: (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Company or me, (ii) was known to either the Company or me or had been previously possessed by the Company or me without restriction against disclosure at the time of receipt thereof by the Company or me, (iii) was independently developed by the Company or me without violation of this Agreement or (iv) the Company and me agree from time to time to disclose. Each party shall be deemed to have met its nondisclosure obligations under this paragraph as long as it exercises the same level of care to protect the other’s information as it exercises to protect its own confidential information, except to the extent that applicable law or professional standards impose a higher requirement. I may retain, subject to the terms of this paragraph, copies of the Company’s confidential information in my internal records consisting of back-up copies of computer files. If either party receives a subpoena or other validly issued administrative or judicial demand requiring it to disclose the other party’s confidential information, such party shall provide prompt written notice to the other party of such demand in order to permit such party to seek a protective order. So long as the notifying party gives notice as provided herein, the notifying party shall thereafter be entitled to comply with such demand to the extent permitted by law, subject to any protective order or the like that may have been entered in the matter. |
I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to Towerstream and help you to achieve your objectives. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at 609-802-6466 or frederick@larcombe.us.
Sincerely,
/s/ Frederick Larcombe
Frederick Larcombe
* * * * *
Accepted and agreed.
/s/ Philip Urso
Name: Philip Urso Date: June 8, 2016
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer
Towerstream Corporation
Exhibit 10.2
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of the 3rd day of June 2016 by and between Joseph P. Hernon (“Employee”) and Towerstream Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), (together, the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, Employee is employed as the Chief Financial Officer and
WHEREAS, the Company and Employee desire to enter into this Agreement providing for Employee’s amicable resignation from the Company’s employment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Termination Date . Employee acknowledges that his last day of employment with the Company shall be June 3, 2016 (the “Termination Date”). Employee shall resign effective as of June 3, 2016 from all offices associated with the Company or any subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”). Employee further understands and agrees that, as of the Termination Date, he will be no longer authorized to conduct any business on behalf of the Company as an executive or to hold himself out as an officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except as otherwise provided herein. Any and all positions and/or titles held by Employee with the Company or any Subsidiaries of the Company will be deemed to have been resigned as of the Termination Date, except as otherwise provided herein.
2. Severance Payment. The Company shall pay or provide to Employee the following benefits:
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(a) |
Three months of Employee’s current base salary of $325,000 payable on July 1, 2016, paid to Employee in a single lump sum payment, less applicable statutory deductions and tax withholdings. |
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(b) |
Health benefits as presently provided to Employee at Company’s cost paid through September 30, 2016, and thereafter should Employee timely elect to continue coverage under a group health insurance plan sponsored by the Company or one of its affiliates and timely make the premium payments, Employee may make such election and pay the full cost of continued coverage under the COBRA for Employee and any eligible dependents until the earlier of the date Employee is no longer entitled to continuation coverage under COBRA. |
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(c) |
Employee shall not be released from the black-out periods for the next financial reporting quarter following conclusion of the Termination Date or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), trading obligations typically required for an Employee in this position. |
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(d) |
Employee shall be responsible for the payment of all payroll taxes, Medicare and other taxes, and shall indemnify the Company with respect to the payment of all such amounts. Except as otherwise set forth herein, Employee will not be entitled to payment of any bonus, vacation or other incentive compensation. Any tax, penalties or interest as a result thereof shall be the sole responsibility of Employee who agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company with respect thereto. |
3. Mutual Release . In consideration for the payments and benefits described above and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties hereby release and forever discharge each other and, as to the Company, its Subsidiaries, as well as its affiliates and all of their respective directors, officers, employees, members, agents, and attorneys, and as to Employee, all of his heirs, successors and assigns, of and from any and all manner of actions and causes of action, suits, debts, claims, and demands whatsoever, in law or equity, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, which the Parties ever had, now has, or hereafter may have on account of Employee’s employment with the Company, the termination of his employment with the Company, and/or any other fact, matter, incident, claim, injury, event, circumstance, happening, occurrence, and/or thing of any kind or nature which arose or occurred prior to the execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any and all claims for wrongful termination; breach of any implied or express employment contract; unpaid compensation of any kind; breach of any fiduciary duty and/or duty of loyalty; breach of any implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress; defamation; fraud; unlawful discrimination, harassment; or retaliation based upon age, race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, national origin, medical condition, disability, handicap, or otherwise; any and all claims arising under arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , as amended (“Title VII”); the Equal Pay Act of 1963 , as amended (“EPA”); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 , as amended (“ADEA”); the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 , as amended (“ADA”); the Family and Medical Leave Act , as amended (“FMLA”); the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 , as amended ("ERISA"); the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 , as amended (“SOX”); the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 , as amended (“WARN”); and/or any other federal, state, or local law(s) or regulation(s); any and all claims for damages of any nature, including compensatory, general, special, or punitive; and any and all claims for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in any of these matters (the “Release”). The Company acknowledges, however, that Employee does not release or waive any rights to contribution or indemnity under this Agreement to which he may otherwise be entitled. The Company also acknowledges that Employee does not release or waive any claims, and that he retains any rights he may have, to any vested 401(k) monies (if any) or benefits (if any), or any other benefit entitlement that is vested as of the Termination Date pursuant to the terms of any Company-sponsored benefit plan governed by ERISA. Nothing contained herein shall release the Company from its obligations set forth in this Agreement. This mutual release will not become effective unless and until the payments and provisions in paragraph 2(a) herein have been made. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Parties shall not have released each other with respect to any law, rule or regulation existing or hereafter adopted pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
4. Nondisparagement . The Parties agree that they will not disparage, verbally or in writing, each other, and further Employee will not disparage any of the Company's current or former employees, officers, managers, executives, vendors, suppliers, advisors, manufacturers or agents.
5. Confidential Information; Non-Compete; Non-Solicitation; Proprietary Matters .
(i) Confidential Information . Employee understands and acknowledges that during the course of his employment by the Company and during the Term of this Agreement, he had access to Confidential Information (as defined below) of the Company. Employee agrees that, at no time during the Term or thereafter, will Employee (a) use Confidential Information for any purpose other than in connection with services provided under this Agreement or (b) disclose Confidential Information to any person or entity other than to the Company or persons or entities to whom disclosure has been authorized by the Company. As used herein, “Confidential Information” includes all data or material (regardless of form) with respect to the Company or any of its assets, prospects, business activities, officers, directors, employees, borrowers, or clients which is: (a) a trade secret, as defined by the Uniform Trade Secrets Act: (b) provided, disclosed, or delivered to Employee by the Company, any officer, director, employee, agent, attorney, accountant, consultant, or other person or entity employed by the Company in capacity, any client, borrower, advisor, or business associate of the Company, or any public authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any business activity conducted by the Company; or (c) produced, developed, obtained or prepared by or on behalf of Employee or the Company (whether or not such information was developed in the performance of the Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Confidential Information” shall not include any information, data, or material which, at the time of disclosure or use, was generally available to the public other than by a breach of this Agreement, was available to the party to whom disclosed on a non-confidential basis by disclosure or access provided by the Company or a third party without breaching any obligations of the Company or such third party, or was otherwise developed or obtained legally and independently by the person to whom disclosed without a breach of this Agreement. This Section 6(i) shall not preclude Employee from disclosing Confidential Information if compelled to do so by law or valid legal process, provided that if Employee believes Employee is so compelled by law or valid legal process, Employee will notify the Company in writing sufficiently in advance of any such disclosure to allow the Company the opportunity to defend, limit, or otherwise protect its interests against such disclosure unless such notice is prohibited by law. The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Section 6(i) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason.
(ii) Non-Compete . Employee agrees that, for a period of three months following the Effective Date, he will fully comply with and not, directly or indirectly, engage in or become interested financially in, any line of business in which the Company was engaged or had a formal plan to enter during the period of Employee’s employment with the Company, including but not limited to the business of providing fixed, shared, mobile, or portable wireless broadband, VoIP, or telecommunication services, either on his own behalf or as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, consultant, associate, employee, owner, agent, creditor, independent contractor, or co-venturer of any third party; provided, however, that Employee shall be entitled to continue to invest in stocks, bonds, or other securities in any such business (without otherwise participating in such business) if: (a) such stocks, bonds, or other securities are listed on any United States securities exchange or are publicly traded in an over the counter market; and such investment does not exceed, in the case of any capital stock of any one issuer, five percent of the issued and outstanding capital stock, or in the case of bonds or other securities, five percent of the aggregate principal amount thereof issued and outstanding; or (b) such investment is completely passive and no control or influence over the management or policies of such business is exercised. The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Section 6(ii) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason. Employee agrees that, for a period of three months following the Effective Date, he will not, directly or indirectly, for or on behalf of himself or any third party, solicit any customers of the Company with respect to products or services competitive with products or services then being sold by the Company.
(iii) Non-Solicitation . Employee agrees that he will not, at any time during the 12 months after the Termination Date, for his own account or benefit or for the account or benefit of any other person, firm or entity, directly or indirectly, solicit for employment any employee of the Company (or any person who was an employee of the Company in the 90-day period before such solicitation) or induce any employee of the Company (or any person who was an employee of the Company in the 90-day period before such inducement) to terminate his employment with the Company. Notwithstanding the above, the restrictions relating to persons employed in the 90-day period referenced in the parentheticals in the immediately preceding sentence shall not apply to a person who was a party to an employment agreement with the Company and who terminates her employment for Good Reason or is terminated by the Company without Cause. The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Section 6(iii) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason.
(iv) Proprietary Matters . Employee expressly agrees that any and all improvements, inventions, discoveries, processes, or know-how that are generated or conceived by Employee during the term of his employment or the during the Term, whether conceived during Employee’s regular working hours or otherwise, will be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Whenever requested by the Company (either during the Term or thereafter), Employee will assign or execute any and all applications, assignments and/or other documents, and do all things which the Company reasonably deems necessary or appropriate, in order to permit the Company to: (a) assign and convey, or otherwise make available to the Company, the sole and exclusive right, title, and interest in and to said improvements, inventions, discoveries, processes or know-how; or (b) apply for, obtain, maintain, enforce and defend patents, copyrights, trade names, or trademarks of the United States or of foreign countries for said improvements, inventions, discoveries, processes, or know-how. However, the improvements, inventions, discoveries, processes, or know-how generated or conceived by Employee and referred to in the Section 6.1(iv) (except those which may be included in the patents, copyrights, or registered trade names or trademarks of the Company) will not be exclusive property of the Company at any time after having been disclosed or revealed or have otherwise become available to the public or to a third party on a non-confidential basis other than by a breach of the Agreement or after they have been independently developed or discussed without a breach of this Agreement by a third party who has no obligation to the Company. The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Section 6.1(iv) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason.
(v) Injunctive Relief . Employee acknowledges and agrees that any violation of Sections 6(i) through 6(iv) of this Agreement would result in irreparable harm to the Company and, therefore, agrees that, in the event of an actual, suspected, or threatened breach of Sections 6(i) through 6(iv) of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining Employee from committing or continuing such actual, suspected or threatened breach. The parties acknowledge and agree that the right to such injunctive relief shall be cumulative and shall not be in lieu of, or be construed as a waiver of the Company’s right to pursue, any other remedies to which it may be entitled in law or in equity. The Parties agree that for purposes of Sections 6(i) through 6(iv) of the Agreement, the term “Company” shall include the Company and its affiliates.
6. Return of Company Property . Immediately upon the Termination Date, Employee agrees that he will return to the Company all information and documents (including electronically stored information) relating to his employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, all reports, spreadsheets and presentations. Immediately upon the Termination Date, Employee must return to the Company all keys, key cards, iPad, cell phones, personal computers/laptops, jump drives, and other equipment issued or loaned to Employee during his employment with the Company.
7. Assistance with Claims . Employee agrees that, throughout the Term and thereafter, Employee will assist the Company in the defense of any claims that may be made against the Company and will assist the Company in the prosecution of any claims that may be made by the Company, to the extent such claims may relate to services performed by Employee for the Company. Employee agrees to promptly inform the Company if Employee becomes aware of any lawsuits or potential claims that may be filed against the Company. For any assistance occurring after termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, the Company agrees to provide reasonable compensation to Employee for such assistance. Employee also agrees to promptly inform the Company if asked to assist in any investigation of the Company (or its actions) that may relate to services performed by Employee for the Company, regardless of whether a lawsuit has been filed against the Company with respect to such investigation.
8. Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution . Except as to matters preempted by ERISA or other laws of the United States of America, this Agreement shall be interpreted solely pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, exclusive of its conflicts of laws principles. Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, for the purposes of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. In any such action the prevailing party, as determined by the trier of fact, shall have its reasonable attorney’s fees awarded and paid by the non-prevailing party.
9. Entire Agreement . This Agreement may not be changed or altered, except by a writing signed by both Parties. Until such time as this Agreement has been executed and subscribed by both Parties hereto: (i) its terms and conditions and any discussions relating thereto, without any exception whatsoever, shall not be binding nor enforceable for any purpose upon any party; and (ii) no provision contained herein shall be construed as an inducement to act or to withhold an action, or be relied upon as such. This Agreement constitutes an integrated, written contract, expressing the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties.
10. Assignment . Employee has not assigned or transferred any claim he is releasing, nor has he purported to do so. If any provision in this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, all other provisions will remain fully enforceable. This Agreement binds Employee’s heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, and assigns, and will insure to the benefit of all Released Parties and their respective heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, and assigns.
11. Acknowledgement . Employee acknowledges that he: (a) has carefully read this Agreement in its entirety; (b) has been presented with the opportunity to consider it for at least twenty-one (21) days; (c) has been advised that Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP has acted as counsel to the Company and not to the Employee, and the Employee has been advised to consult and has been provided with an opportunity to consult with legal counsel of his choosing in connection with this Agreement; (c) has been advised to consult and has been provided with an opportunity to consult with legal counsel of his choosing in connection with this Agreement; (d) fully understands the significance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and has discussed them with his independent legal counsel or has been provided with a reasonable opportunity to do so; (e) has had answered to his satisfaction any questions asked with regard to the meaning and significance of any of the provisions of this Agreement; (f) is signing this Agreement voluntarily and of his own free will and agrees to abide by all the terms and conditions contained herein; and (f) following his execution of this Agreement, he has seven (7) days in which to revoke his release and that, if he chooses not to so revoke, this Agreement shall become effective and enforceable on the eighth (8th) day following his execution of this Agreement (the “Effective Date” (subject to paragraph 12(b) above). To revoke the Release, Employee understands that he must give a written revocation to the Company, within the seven (7) day period following the date of execution of this Agreement. If the last day of the revocation period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday in the State of New York, then the revocation period shall not expire until the next following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. If Employee revokes the Release, this Agreement will not become effective or enforceable and Employee acknowledges and agrees that he will not be entitled to any benefits hereunder, including in Section 2. Employee further acknowledges that upon any violation of his continuing obligations under Section 5 or Sections 6(i), 6(ii), 6(iii) or 6(iv), Employee shall not be entitled to any benefits hereunder, including in Section 2, and Employee shall immediately repay to the Company upon written demand any severance pay or benefits that already have been paid to Employee.
12. Notices . For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered (i) personally, (ii) by first class mail, certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (iii) by overnight courier, with acknowledged receipt, and properly addressed as follows:
If to the Company:
Towerstream Corporation
88 Silva Lane
Middletown, Rhode Island 02842
If to Employee:
Joseph P. Hernon
________________
13. Binding Effect. This Agreement will be deemed binding and effective immediately upon its execution by the Employee; provided, however, that in accordance with the ADEA, Employee’s waiver of ADEA claims under this Agreement is subject to the following: the Employee may consider the terms of his waiver of claims under the ADEA for twenty-one (21) days before signing it and may consult legal counsel if the Employee so desires. The Employee may revoke his waiver of claims under the ADEA within seven (7) days of the day he executes this Agreement. The Employee’s waiver of claims under the ADEA will not become effective until the eighth (8th) day following the Employee’s signing of this Agreement. The Employee may revoke his waiver of ADEA claims under this Agreement by delivering written notice of his revocation, via facsimile and overnight mail, before the end of the seventh (7th) day following the Employee’s signing of this Agreement to: Avital Even-Shoshan, Esq., Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP, 61 Broadway, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10006, Fax: 212-930-9725. In the event that the Employee revokes his waiver of ADEA claims under this Agreement prior to the eighth (8th) day after signing it, the remaining portions of this Agreement shall remain in full force in effect, except that the obligation of the Company to provide the payments and benefits set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement shall be null and void. The Employee further understands that if the Employee does not revoke the ADEA waiver in this Agreement within seven (7) days after signing this Agreement, his waiver of ADEA claims will be final, binding, enforceable, and irrevocable.
THE EMPLOYEE UNDERSTANDS THAT FOR ALL PURPOSES OTHER THAN HIS WAIVER OF CLAIMS UNDER THE ADEA, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE FINAL, EFFECTIVE, BINDING, AND IRREVOCABLE IMMEDIATELY UPON ITS EXECUTION.
14. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
16. Counsel Representation . The Parties hereto further agree that this Agreement has been carefully read and fully understood by them. Each Party hereby represents, warrants, and agrees that he was represented by counsel in connection with the Agreement, has had the opportunity to consult with counsel about the Agreement, has carefully read and considered the terms of this Agreement, and fully understands the same. Employee represents, warrants and acknowledges that he has retained independent counsel and that counsel to the Company does not represent Employee.
[signature page follows immediately]
IN WITNESS HEREOF , the Parties hereby enter into this Agreement and affix their signatures as of the date first above written.
TOWERSTREAM CORPORATION
By: /s/ Philip J. Urso Signature
Philip J. Urso Printed Name
Interim Chief Executive Officer Title
June 3, 2016 Date Signed |
JOSEPH P. HERNON
By: /s/ Joseph P. Hernon Signature
Joseph P. Hernon Printed Name
June 3, 2016 Date Signed |