INDEPENDENT CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS
CONSULTING AGREEMENT is dated this 1 day of November, 2007 (the “Effective
Date”) by and between UNITED
HEREITAGE CORPORATION,
a
Company duly incorporated pursuant to the laws of the state of Utah and having
an office at 0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx X, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the “Company”)
and APPLWEOOD
ENERGY, INC., a
Canadian corporation with an office at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxx,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X0X 0X0, Xxxxxx (the “Applewood”)
WHEREAS:
A.
The
Company is a public company, the shares of which trade on NASDAQ;
B.
The
Company wishes to obtain the services of Applewood to provide the Company
with a
Chief Operating Officer and Applewood wishes to provide these officer services
to the Company in the capacity of an independent contractor.
C.
Applewood
has identified Xxxx X. Xxxxxx to the Company to fulfill the role of Chief
Operating Officer (“Xxxxxx” and or the “COO”) and has represented to the Company
that he has the necessary qualifications to operate the Company as its COO;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals, the following representations
and
covenants and for other good and reliable consideration, the sufficiency
of
which is hereby acknowledged by the parties, the parties hereto covenant
and
agree as follows:
1.
ENGAGEMENT OF APPLEWOOD AND APPOINTMENT OF COO
1.1
The
Company hereby engages Applewood and Applewood is hereby providing Xxxxxx
to
function as the Company’s COO and Xxxxxx, by executing this Agreement on the
signature page hereof, hereby obligates himself, on behalf of Applewood,
to act
as the Company’s COO subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
2.
SERVICES OF APPLEWOOD
2.1 During
the Term (as defined below), the COO shall perform all duties customarily
performed by a person with like title and position in a small publicly-held
corporation engaged in a business similar to the Company’s business.
(collectively, the “Services”). The parties agree that the Services will
require an average of between 100 and 200 hours of Xxxxxx’x time per
month.
2.2 Applewood
and the COO shall at all times and in all respects do their utmost to enhance
and develop the business interests and welfare of the Company.
2.3 The
COO
shall be subject to such supervision as may be imposed by the Company in
its
sole discretion and Applewood shall cause the COO to furnish regular reports
and
any other data and information relating to the Services as may, from time
to
time, be requested by the Company.
3.
COMPENSATION
3.1
For
providing the Services, the Company shall pay Applewood annual compensation
of
$120,000 payable as follows: $5,000 per month (the “Monthly Fee”) and a signing
bonus equal to $60,000, payable in common stock of the Company upon execution
of
this contract, based upon the closing price of the Company’s shares on the date
this Agreement is executed. The Monthly Fee shall be payable on the first
of
each month during the term of this Agreement and shall be payable at Applewood’s
address set forth above. Applewood’s annual compensation shall be evaluated
annually on the anniversary of the Effective Date.
3.2
The
Company hereby grants to Applewood warrants to purchase (i) 400,000 shares
of
common stock at $2.00 per share which warrants will vest upon the completion
of
a Successful Pilot, as that term is defined below; (ii) warrants to purchase
400,000 shares of common stock at $2.00 per share which warrants will vest
when
the 30 day average production reaches 1,000 barrels of oil equivalent per
day
(“boe/d”); (iii) warrants to purchase 400,000 shares of common stock at $2.50
per share which warrants will vest when the average production reaches 2,000
boe/d; and (iv) warrants to purchase 400,000 shares of common stock at $3.00
per
share which warrants will vest when the average production reaches 3,000
boe/d.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Successful Pilot” means, the
announcement by the Company that it is moving forward with a development
program
based upon the results of the pilot program of the Xxxxxxx Field. For the
purposes of this agreement barrels of oil equivalent per day (“boep/d”) shall
equate daily natural gas production on the basis of 6mcf/d equals one barrel
of
oil per day.
3.3
The
vesting of the warrants set forth above shall be subject to the provisions
of
Section 9 hereunder.
3.4 Upon
completion of the first year of this Agreement and provided it is not terminated
in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall pay Applewood a renewal
bonus, payable in common stock of the Company (the “Stock Bonus”). The number of
shares comprising the Stock Bonus that Applewood shall be entitled to receive
shall be based upon the annual compensation received by Applewood during
the
first year of this Agreement with the number of shares comprising the Stock
Bonus based upon the closing price of the Company’s shares of common stock on
the last day of the year to which the Stock Bonus is applicable. Applewood
shall
be entitled to an additional Stock Bonus at the end of the second year of
this
Agreement based upon the annual compensation received by Applewood in the
second
year of this Agreement computed on the same basis as the computation of the
Stock Bonus for the first year of this Agreement.
3.5 Applewood
shall be responsible for the payment of all taxes to the Internal Revenue
Service as will as any taxes payable in the United States, including taxes
payable to any state or local jurisdiction. Applewood indemnifies the Company
with respect to the payment of any and all taxes owing and due for any cash
compensation, stock compensation or stock bonus compensation.
3.6
In
the
event of a transaction contemplated in Section 9 hereof which results in
the
termination of this Agreement, Applewood shall receive a 12 month severance
package payable upon the effective date of the transaction and only as to
the
cash portion of Applewood’s annual compensation.
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4.
BUSINESS EXPENSES
4.1
The
Company shall reimburse Applewood and/or the COO in accordance with the
Company’s policies for all reasonable business and travel expenses actually and
properly incurred by the Company in connection with Applewood’s and/or COO’s
duties hereunder. Such reimbursement is subject to Applewood and/or the COO
keeping proper accounts and furnishing to the Company, within a reasonable
time
after the expenses are incurred, all applicable statements, vouchers and
other
evidence of expenses in such form as the Company may reasonably
require.
5.
TERM AND RENEWAL
5.1
The
term
of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and terminate two
(2)
years from the date hereof, unless renewed or extended by the parties in
writing
(the “Term”).
6.
TERMINATION
6.1 This
Agreement and the Term shall terminate automatically two (2) years from the
date
hereof, without any prior notice or any payment to Applewood or upon the
death
or permanent incapacity of the COO.
6.2 The
Company may terminate Applewood’s engagement under this Agreement at any time
upon the occurrence of any of the following events. (a) the COO acting
unlawfully, dishonestly, negligently, incompetently or in bad faith; (b)
the
conviction of the COO of a felony; (c) the COO becoming permanently disable
or
disabled for a period exceeding 90 consecutive days or 90 days calculated
on a
cumulative basis during the Term of this Agreement; or (d) the breach or
default
of any term of this agreement by Applewood and/or the COO if such breach
or
default has not been remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company
within 30 days after written notice of the breach or default has been delivered
by the Company to Applewood.
6.3 Applewood
may terminate its obligations under this Agreement upon the default or breach
of
any term of this Agreement by the Company if such breach or default has not
been
remedied or is not being remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of Applewood
within 30 days after written notice of the breach or default has been delivered
by Applewood to the Company.
6.4 In
the
event of the termination of Applewood’s engagement under this Agreement as set
forth in Section 6.2, Applewood will be entitled only to the cash compensation
and stock compensation earned by Applewood hereunder as of the date of such
termination.
7.
CONFIDENTIALITY
7.1
Applewood
acknowledges and agrees that in the performance of its obligations under
this
Agreement it and/or the COO may obtain knowledge of Confidential Information
(as
defined below) relating to the business or affairs of the Company and/or
its
affiliated companies (the “Affiliated Companies”). Applewood and the COO
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, either during
the
Term or for a period of 12 months thereafter: (a) use or disclose any
Confidential Information outside of the Company or the Affiliated Companies;
(b)
except in undertaking the Services, remove or aid in the removal from the
premises of the Company or any of the Affiliated Companies any Confidential
Information or any property or material relating thereto; or (c) use the
Confidential Information for any purpose other than in performing the
Services.
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7.2
Applewood shall exercise and insure that the COO exercises a reasonable degree
of care in safeguarding the aforementioned Confidential Information against
loss, theft, or other inadvertent disclosure, and further agrees to take
all
reasonable steps necessary to ensure the maintenance of confidentiality.
7.3
Upon
the
termination of this Agreement, or upon the Company’s earlier request, Applewood
and/or the COO shall promptly deliver to the Company all of the Confidential
Information that Applewood and/or the COO may have in its and/or his possession
or control.
7.4 In
this
Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean any information or knowledge
including, without limitation, any document, materials, formula, pattern,
design, system, program, device, software, plan, process, know how, research,
discovery, strategy, method, idea, client list, marketing strategy or employee
compensation, or copies or adaptations thereof, that: (a) relates to the
business or affairs of the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies; (b) is
private or confidential in that it is not generally known or available to
the
public; and (c) gives or would give the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies
an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know of
or use
it.
7.5
Confidential
Information shall specifically not include anything that: (a) is in or enters
lawfully into the public domain other than as a result of a disclosure by
Applewood and/or the COO; (b) becomes available to Applewood and/or COO on
a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, or any of its
representatives, and that source was not under any obligation of
confidentiality; or (c) Applewood is required to disclose pursuant to an
order
of a court of competent jurisdiction or by the operation of law; provided
that,
Applewood and/or the COO provides prompt prior written notice to the Company
of
such required disclosure and of the action which is proposed to be taken
in
response. In such an event, and only after Applewood and/or COO shall have
made a reasonable effort to obtain a protective order or other reliable
assurance affording such information confidential treatment, Applewood and/or
the COO shall furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information which
he
is required to disclose.
8.
NON-SOLICITATION
8.1 Applewood
and COO covenant, undertake and agree with the Company that during the Term
and
for a period of one year from the date of expiration or termination of this
Agreement for any reason whatsoever, they shall not, on their own behalf
or on
behalf of any Person, whether directly or indirectly, in any capacity
whatsoever, offer employment to or solicit the employment of or otherwise
entice
away from the employment of the Company or any of the Affiliated Companies,
any
individual who is employed or engaged by the Company or any of the Affiliated
Companies at the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement or who
was
employed or engaged by the Company or any of the Affiliated Companies within
the
one year period immediately preceding the date of expiration or termination
of
this Agreement, as applicable.
8.2
Applewood and the COO acknowledge and agree that the above restriction on
non-solicitation is reasonable and necessary for the proper protection of
the
businesses, property and goodwill of the Company and the Affiliated
Companies.
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9.
COMBINITION; CHANGE OF CONTROL; LIQUIDATION
9.1
(i) In the event of a Combination or Change of Control, as those terms are
defined below, all unvested warrants of Applewood will immediately vest and
shall have the right to receive upon exercise of their Warrants and payment
of
the exercise price, subject in all cases to completion of a Successful Pilot,
the kind and amount of shares of capital stock or other securities or property
which it would have been entitled to receive upon or as a result of such
Combination or Change of Control had such Warrants been exercised immediately
prior to such event. The Company shall provide that the surviving or acquiring
Person in such Combination will assume by written instrument the obligations
hereunder and the obligations to deliver to Applewood such shares of stock,
securities or assets as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, it
may be
entitled to acquire. “Combination”
means
an event in which the Company consolidates with, merges with or into, or
sells
all or substantially all of its assets to another Person or a transaction
pursuant to which the Company is not the surviving entity, where “Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Change of Control” shall mean the sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company
to
any other person. In the event of a Combination where consideration to the
holders of Common Stock in exchange for their shares is payable solely in
cash
or (y) the dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company, Applewood
shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender of their Warrants, distributions
on
an equal basis with the holders of Common Stock or other securities issuable
upon exercise of their Warrants, as if the Warrants had been exercised
immediately prior to such event, less the Exercise Price.
10.
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS
10.1 The
Services undertaken by Applewood under this Agreement shall be in full
compliance with all applicable laws and consistent with a high degree of
business ethics.
11.
INDEMNIFICATION
11.1
Applewood shall indemnify and save harmless the Company for any demonstrated
losses, damages, costs or other amounts, including without limitation reasonable
legal fees, suffered or incurred by the Company arising out of third party
claims relating to the presence or activities of the Applewood and/or the
COO in
performing the Services to the extent that such losses, damages, costs or
other
amounts are caused by: (a) any breach of Applewood’s obligations herein;
and (b) any negligence, willful misconduct or fraud on the part of Applewood
in
performing the Services.
11.2 Subject
to Applewood’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 10, and
provided that Applewood has not breached this Section 10, the Company shall
indemnify and save harmless Applewood and COO for any demonstrated losses,
damages, costs or other amounts, including without limitation reasonable
legal
fees, suffered or incurred by Applewood and/or the COO arising out of third
party claims relating to the presence or activities of Applewood and/or the
COO
in performing the Services as would reasonably be the case for all directors
and
officers of the Company. Any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
coverage currently in place or obtained in the future by the Company will
also
be extended to Applewood and the COO without charge to Applewood and/or the
COO.
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11.3
Neither
the Company, Applewood or the COO shall be liable for any consequential loss,
including but not limited to, claims for loss of profit, revenue or capital,
loss of use of utilities, equipment or facilities, down-time cost, service
interruption, cost of money, injury or damage of any character
whatsoever.
12.
REMEDIES
12.1
Applewood
acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Agreement by him could cause
irreparable damage to the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies and that
in
the event of a breach by Applewood, the Company shall have in addition to
any
and all other remedies at law or in equity, the right to an injunction, specific
performance or other equitable relief to prevent any violation by Applewood
of
any of the provisions of this Agreement. In the event of any such dispute,
Applewood agrees that the Company shall be entitled, without showing actual
damages, to a temporary or permanent injunction restraining the conduct of
Applewood pending a determination of such dispute and that no bond or other
security shall be required from the Company in connection therewith. Applewood
acknowledges and agrees that the remedies of the Company specified in this
Agreement are in addition to and not in substitution for any other rights
and
remedies of the Company at law or in equity and that all such rights and
remedies are cumulative and not alternative or exclusive of any other rights
or
remedies and that the Company may have recourse to any one or more of its
available rights and remedies as it shall see fit.
13.
RIGHT OF SET-OFF
13.1
The
Company may set-off against the Fees any amount owing to the Company by
Applewood under this Agreement.
14.
RELATIONSHIP
14.1
The
Company and Applewood each acknowledge and agree that the only relationship
between Applewood and the Company created by this Agreement shall for all
purposes be that of an independent contractor. The Company shall have no
obligation whatsoever to: (a) pay or compensate Applewood for (i) taxes of
any
kind whatsoever that arise out of or with respect to any fee, remuneration
or
compensation provided to Applewood under this Agreement; (ii) holding any
position with the Company; (b) providing benefits to Applewood relating to:
(i)
sickness or accident, whether or not resulting from the performance by Applewood
of his obligations under this Agreement; (ii) retirement or pension benefits;
or
(iii) any other benefits provided by the Company or any of the Affiliated
Companies to any of their employees.
14.2
Applewood shall fully indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against
all assessments, claims, liabilities, costs, expenses and damages that the
Company and/or any of the Affiliated Companies may suffer or incur with respect
to any such taxes or benefits.
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15.
SURVIVAL OF TERMS
15.1 Sections
8 through 12, inclusive, and this Section 14, shall survive and remain in
force notwithstanding the expiration or other termination of this Agreement
for
any reason whatsoever. Any expiration or termination of this Agreement
shall be without prejudice to any rights and obligations of the parties hereto
arising or existing up to the effective date of such expiration or termination,
or any remedies of the parties with respect thereto.
16.
NO ASSIGNMENT
16.1 Neither
Applewood’s nor the COO’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement are
not assignable or delegable in whole or in part. The Company may assign this
Agreement to a successor (whether direct or indirect, whether by purchase,
merger, consolidation otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company; provided, however, that the Company will require
any successor to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in
the
same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to
perform
it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, the
“Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined an any successor to its
business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to performed
this
Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.
17.
SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
17.1 The
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted
assigns.
18.
WAIVER
18.1 Any
waiver of any breach or default under this Agreement shall only be effective
if
in writing signed by the party against whom the waiver is sought to be enforced,
and no waiver shall be implied by indulgence, delay or other act, omission
or
conduct. Any waiver shall only apply to the specific matter waived and only
in
the specific instance in which it is waived.
19.
GOVERNING LAWS
19.1
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties, the Agreement shall
be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Texas
and
the parties hereto submit to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts
situate in the state of Texas.
20.
ARBITRATION
20.1 In
the
event of any dispute arising in the determination of the compensation to
be paid
pursuant to Section 3 hereof or of Applewood’s compensation as set out in this
Agreement, the matter in dispute shall be referred to the auditors of the
Company for determination. If the auditors cannot agree on a determination
of
the matter in dispute within 10 days following the referral to them, the
matter
in dispute shall be refereed to a single arbitrator under the Arbitration
act
then in effect federally, and the arbitration shall take place in Xxxxxxx
County, Texas.
21.
FURTHER ASSURANCES
21.1 Each
of
the parties shall, on request by the other party, execute and deliver or
cause
to be executed and delivered all such further documents and instruments and
do
all such further acts and things as the other party may reasonably require
to
evidence, carry out and give full effect to the terms, conditions, intent
and
meaning of this Agreement and to ensure the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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22.
NOTICES
22.1
All
notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall
be given by delivering such notice or mailing such notice by pre-paid registered
mail to the addresses first set forth above or by facsimile transmission
to the
facsimile number set forth below each parties respective name on the signature
page hereof.. Any such notice or other communication shall, if delivered,
be
deemed to have been given or made and received on the date delivered (or
the
next business day if the day of delivery is not a business day), and if mailed,
shall be deemed to have been given or made and received on the fifth business
day following the day on which it was so mailed and if faxed (with confirmation
received) shall be deemed to have been given or made and received on the
day on
which it was so faxed (or the next business day if the day of sending is
not a
business day). The parties may give from time to time written notice of
change of address in the manner aforesaid.
23.
SEVERABILITY
23.1 If
any
provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then to the fullest extent permitted by
law:
(a) all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect
in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in order to carry out
the
intentions of the parties as nearly as may be possible; and (b) such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
24.
FORCE MAJEURE
24.1 In
the
event that either party is prevented from performing or is unable to perform
any
of its obligations under this Agreement due to any act of God; fire; casualty;
flood; war; strike; lockout; failure of public utilities; injunction or any
act,
exercise, assertion or requirement of governmental authority; epidemic;
destruction of production facilities; riots; insurrection; or any other cause
beyond the reasonable control of the party invoking this Section , if such
party
shall have used its reasonable efforts to avoid such occurrence, such party
shall give notice to the other party in writing promptly, and thereupon the
affected party’s performance shall be excused and the time for performance shall
be extended for the period of delay or inability to perform due to such
occurrence.
25.
COUNTERPARTS AND FACSIMILE
25.1
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and delivered by
facsimile, each of which when so executed shall constitute an original and
all
of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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26.
INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE
26.1
The
Company has recommended to Applewood that it obtain independent legal advice
prior to signing this Agreement. Applewood acknowledges that he has
received independent legal advice or has waived the opportunity to do so
and has
elected to proceed without benefit of same.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF
this
Agreement has been executed as of the Effective Date.
UNITED
HERITAGE CORPORATION
|
|
By:
___________________________
|
|
(Fax
No.)
|
|
APPLEWOOD
ENERGY INC.
|
|
________________________________
|
|
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx, President
|
|
(Fax
No.) (000) 000-0000
|
|
Agreed
and Accepted
|
|
_________________________
|
|
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
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