EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (AMENDED AND RESTATED) THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 22nd day of September, 2006, as amended effective August 1, 2007.
Exhibit 10.9
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (AMENDED AND RESTATED)
THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 22nd day of September, 2006, as amended effective August 1, 2007.
BETWEEN:
OILSANDS QUEST INC. (formerly known as Canwest Petroleum
Corporation), a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State
of Colorado, U.S.A. (hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”)
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T. XXXXXX XXXXXX, an individual residing in the Province of Alberta
(hereinafter referred to as the “Executive”)
WHEREAS the Corporation wishes to retain the services of the Executive as its Executive
Chairman;
AND WHEREAS the Executive wishes to accept employment with the Corporation in accordance with
the terms and conditions of this Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”);
AND WHEREAS the Executive and the Corporation have agreed to amend certain terms of the
Executive Employment Agreement entered into between them effective May 1st, 2006 (the
“Original Agreement”), as reflected in this agreement, such that this agreement amends and restates
the Original Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the employment of the Executive by the Corporation, and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 In this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
| (a) | “Act” means Alberta Business Corporation Act, as amended; |
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| (b) | “Affiliated” has the meaning set out in the Act, and an “Affiliate” means one
of two or more Affiliated bodies corporate; |
| (c) | “Business” means the exploration and development of North American oil sands
and oil shales and associated technology by the Corporation; |
| (d) | “Cause” means, without limiting its interpretation under common law, any
willful and gross misconduct by the Executive in relation to the performance of his
duties under this Agreement, or any gross neglect by the Executive of his duties under
this Agreement; |
| (e) | “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: |
| (i) | the purchase or acquisition of any Shares or Convertible
Securities by a Holder which results in the Holder beneficially owning, or
exercising control or direction over, Shares or Convertible Securities such
that, assuming the conversion of Convertible Securities beneficially owned or
over which control or direction is exercised by the Holder, the Holder would
beneficially own or exercise control or direction over Shares carrying the
right to cast more than thirty percent (30%) of the votes attaching to all
Shares; |
| (ii) | the amalgamation, consolidation or merger of the Corporation
with any other corporation pursuant to which the shareholders of the
Corporation immediately prior to such transaction do not own Shares of the
successor or continuing corporation which would entitle them to cast more than
thirty percent (30%) of the votes attaching to shares in the capital of the
successor or continuing corporation which might be cast to elect directors of
that corporation; |
| (iii) | the sale, lease or transfer by the Corporation of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to any Person other than a
Related Corporation; or |
| (iv) | approval by the shareholders of the Corporation of the
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation; |
| (v) | provided that, notwithstanding subparagraphs (i) — (iv) above,
any amalgamation, merger or other form of business combination transaction
between the Corporation and Oil Sands Quest Inc. shall not constitute a Change
of Control. |
| (f) | “Company Property” includes any materials, tools, equipment, devices, records,
files, data, tapes, computer programs, computer disks, software, communications,
letters, proposals, memoranda, lists, drawings, blueprints, correspondence,
specifications or any other documents or property belonging to the Corporation or any
Related Corporation; |
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| (g) | “Confidential Information” means any information of a confidential nature which
relates to the Business of the Corporation or any Related Corporation, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing: design and manufacturing information;
trade secrets; technical information; marketing strategies; sales and pricing policies;
financial information; accounting records; employee information; business, marketing
and technical plans; information relating to the Corporation’s business methods,
operations and techniques; research and development information; intellectual property;
industrial designs; computer programs; software; lists of suppliers or other supplier
information; and lists of present and prospective customer of the Corporation and other
customer information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not
include any information which: |
| (i) | is or becomes public knowledge through no fault of the
Executive (but only after the information becomes public knowledge); |
| (ii) | is independently developed by the Executive outside the scope
of his duties to the Corporation; or |
| (iii) | is or becomes lawfully available to the Executive from a
source other than the Corporation; |
| (h) | “Convertible Securities” means any securities convertible or exchangeable into
Shares or carrying the right or obligation to acquire Shares; |
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| (i) | “Effective Date” means the date first written above; |
| (j) | “Holder” means any Person or group of Persons acting jointly or in concert, or
associated or Affiliated with any such Person, group of Persons or any of such Persons
acting jointly or in concert; |
| (k) | “Monthly Base Salary” means the annual Base Salary paid to the Executive,
divided by 12; |
| (l) | “Notice” means any Notice given by one party to the other party in accordance
with Article 16; |
| (m) | “Notice Period” shall be twelve (12) months plus one (1) month for each
completed year of service by the Executive, calculated starting May 1, 2006, up to a
maximum aggregate of eighteen (18) months; |
| (n) | “Person” includes an individual, partnership, association, body corporate,
trustee, executor, administrator or legal representative, and “Persons” means a group
of more than one Person; |
| (o) | “Related Corporation” means any subsidiary, parent company, division,
Affiliate, predecessor or successor of the Corporation; |
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| (p) | “Shares” means the voting common shares of the Corporation and any other shares
of the Corporation which have the right to vote in respect of the board of directors of
the Corporation; |
| (q) | “Termination Date” means the last day actively worked by the Executive for the
Corporation; |
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| (r) | “Territory” means North America; |
| (s) | “Triggering Event” means the occurrence or omission of any event or course of
events which would constitute constructive dismissal of the Executive as an employee of
the Corporation under the common law and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, shall include the occurrence of any of the following without the Executive’s
consent (except in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment for
Cause or upon the death of the Executive, or Executive’s status as a director of the
Corporation, which is addressed by Section 14.1 hereof): |
| (i) | a material change (other than a change which is clearly
consistent with a promotion) in the Executive’s duties, responsibilities, title
or office with the Corporation, which includes the removal of the Executive
from, or any failure to re-elect or re-appoint the Executive to, any position
or office held by the Executive from time to time, without the prior consent of
the Executive; |
| (ii) | any failure by the Corporation to continue in effect any
material benefit, bonus, profit sharing, incentive, remuneration or
compensation plan, stock ownership, stock option or stock purchase plan,
pension plan or retirement plan contemplated by this Agreement without
providing alternative rights or benefits of reasonably equivalent or greater
value; |
| (iii) | the Corporation relocating the Executive to any place other
than Calgary or London, England without the consent of the Executive, except
for the requirements of normal business travel; or |
| (iv) | any breach by the Corporation of any provision of this
Agreement which is not rectified within a reasonable period of time after
notice of such breach has been provided by the Executive to the Corporation. |
1.2 The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience and ease of reference only, and
shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
1.3 All words in this Agreement importing the singular number include the plural, and vice versa.
All words importing gender include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
1.4 All monetary amounts are in Canadian dollars.
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ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT OF EXECUTIVE
EMPLOYMENT OF EXECUTIVE
2.1 The Corporation agrees to employ the Executive in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, and the Executive agrees to accept such employment.
2.2 The parties hereto agree that the relationship between the Corporation and the Executive is
that of employer and employee.
ARTICLE III
TERM OF AGREEMENT
TERM OF AGREEMENT
3.1 The term of this Agreement shall be for an indefinite period commencing on the Effective Date
(the “Term”), unless earlier terminated by the Corporation or the Executive pursuant to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE
DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE
4.1 The Executive shall, during the Term of this Agreement:
| (a) | perform the duties and responsibilities of the Executive Chairman of the
Corporation, including all those duties and responsibilities customarily performed by a
person holding the same or an equivalent position in corporations of a similar size to
the Corporation, in a similar Business to that of the Corporation in Canada and
publicly traded in the United States securities markets, subject to the following
provisions to clarify the distinct roles of the Executive Chairman and the Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation (the “CEO”): |
| (i) | the CEO will report to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation (the “Board”) through the Executive Chairman, who shall be the
senior executive of the Corporation; |
| (ii) | each of the Executive Chairman and the CEO will bring material
issues relating to the management of the Corporation to the attention of the
other and exchange with each other reasonably requested information; |
| (iii) | the Executive Chairman and the CEO will cooperate with each
other and work as partners on all matters relating to the management of the
Corporation and, in particular, shall jointly share responsibilities relating
to matters involving investor relations; |
| (iv) | subject to usual Board restrictions, the CEO will have primary
responsibility for exploration, operations, regulatory matters relating to
exploration, project development, communication with local press regarding
those issues, as well as community and aboriginal relations, whereas the
Executive Chairman will have primary responsibility for general corporate
strategy, strategic alliance, financing, communication
with national and international press, matters relating to securities
regulation including reserve reporting, and investor relations. |
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all in accordance with the policies, procedures and rules established by the
Corporation, provided that in light of the fact that the changes to this Agreement
from the Original Agreement reflect the consequences of a merger with the
Corporation’s subsidiary, Oil Sands Quest Inc., and because the day-to-day
interaction between the positions of Executive Chairman and the CEO have not been
worked out, although the Executive agrees with the description of his duties
vis-a-vis the CEO as recorded in sub-paragraphs (i) through (iv), inclusive, until
December 31, 2007, such terms shall be deemed to be on an interim basis and it is
agreed that the Executive is reserving his rights to elect to assert that anything
in the said sub-paragraphs is a Triggering Event as defined in paragraph 1.1(s),
above, and in the event that any of such items shall be considered by him, within
such one year period, to be a Triggering Event, then for the purposes of section
10.2, below, the Triggering Event shall be deemed to have occurred immediately
before the delivery of Notice pursuant to paragraph 10.4(a), below;
| (b) | accept such other or alternate office or offices or titles to which he may be
elected or appointed or granted by the board of directors of the Corporation, provided
that performance of the duties and responsibilities associated with such office or
offices shall be consistent with the duties provided for in Section 4.1(a).
Notwithstanding the formal title given to the Executive, and subject only to the
ordinary directions customarily given by a board of directors, the Executive shall have
the senior executive authority in the Corporation and/or any amalgamated corporation;
and |
| (c) | devote the whole of his working time, attention, efforts and skill to the
performance of his employment duties and responsibilities as set out herein, and truly
and faithfully serve the best interests of the Corporation at all times. |
4.2 The principal executive offices of the Corporation shall be in Calgary and the Corporation
shall have no obligation to maintain executive offices in any other city. It is understood and
agreed by the Corporation that the Executive maintains residences in Calgary and London, England
and divides his time between both locations, and that the Executive may carry out his duties and
responsibilities on behalf of the Corporation from either location as he deems appropriate, acting
reasonably.
ARTICLE V
BASE SALARY
BASE SALARY
5.1 During the Term of this Agreement, the Corporation shall pay to the Executive a salary of Three
Hundred Thousand Canadian Funds ($300,000) per annum (the “Base Salary”), less required statutory
deductions, payable in equal semi-monthly installments or otherwise as agreed by the Corporation
and the Executive. The Executive’s Base Salary will be reviewed by the board of directors of the
Corporation from time to time, and may be increased, but not decreased, at the discretion of the
board of directors.
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5.2 The Corporation shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in the performance of his employment duties and in accordance with the applicable policies
and guidelines of the Corporation. All payments or reimbursements of expenses shall be subject to
the submission by the Executive of appropriate vouchers, bills and receipts. It is expressly
acknowledged that the Executive shall have the right, at his option, to travel business class on
any airline flight over three (3) hours and that the Corporation shall reimburse the Executive
reasonable travel expenses associated with attendances by the Executive’s partner when she
accompanies him on business travel and/or other business functions.
5.3 Effective on the first anniversary date of this Agreement, the board of directors of the
Corporation shall, in good faith, consider the establishment of an individual pension program for
the Executive so as to treat the Executive in a fashion generally equivalent with the pension
treatment provided to Chairmen and/or Chief Executive Officers of corporations with a comparable
market capitalization, taking into account the Corporation’s assets, liabilities and cash flow.
ARTICLE VI
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
6.1 As a material inducement for the Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Corporation shall
pay the Executive a one time signing bonus of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), less
required statutory deductions (the “Signing Bonus”), upon execution and shall pay the Executive a
further lump sum of Seventeen Thousand Dollars ($17,000) less required statutory deductions (the
“Monthly Bonus”) within 30 days of the conclusion of each of the first, second and third months of
the Executive’s term of service pursuant to this Agreement. The Signing Bonus and Monthly Bonus
shall not be regarded as part of the Base Salary payable to the Executive pursuant to Article 5.1
hereof and shall be payable in addition to the Annual Bonus stipulated in Article 6.2 hereof. In
the event that the Signing Bonus or Monthly Bonus, or any part of them, has or have been paid
pursuant to the Original Agreement, then it or they shall not be paid again pursuant to this
Agreement.
6.2 The Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual incentive bonus of up to two hundred
percent (200%) of the Base Salary (the “Annual Bonus”), on such terms as may be determined by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation acting in their sole discretion.
6.3 The Executive shall be entitled to receive a stock option agreement entitling him to purchase
four million shares of the Corporation with those options priced on the date of the execution of
this Agreement and vesting as follows:
| (a) | 1,000,000 on execution of this Agreement; |
| (b) | 1,000,000 upon the conclusion of any amalgamation or joint venture achieved
between Canwest Petroleum Corporation and Oilsands Quest Inc.; |
| (c) | 1,000,000 upon 12 months completed service (calculated from a commencement date
of May 1, 2006) by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement; |
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| (d) | 1,000,000 upon 24 months completed service (calculated from a commencement date
of May 1, 2006) by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement. |
Said stock options shall be priced at US$6.75 per share (being fair market value as at the time
this agreement was entered into), and all such options shall have an exercise term of five (5)
years from the date of vesting. In the event that any part of the said options have been
provided pursuant to the Original Agreement, then they shall not be paid again pursuant to this
Agreement.
6.4 During the first year of the Executive’s employment, if the Corporation issues in excess of
twelve million stock options, the Executive shall receive a further thirty-three percent (33%) of
any stock options issued in excess of twelve million stock options in total on the same terms and
conditions as those stock options in excess of twelve million total stock options. After the first
year of employment, any further and additional grants of stock options shall be at the discretion
of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
6.5 The Executive shall enter into the Corporation’s standard form stock option agreement modified
so as to give effect to the provisions of this Executive Employment Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Executive hereby agrees that he will not exercise
the stock options and that the Corporation will not be obliged to issue any shares thereunder, if
the exercise of the stock option or the issuance of the shares shall constitute a violation by the
Executive or the Corporation of any provision of any law or regulation or of any rule of any
governmental authority, regulatory body, automated quotation system or stock exchange. The
Corporation shall in no event be obliged, by any act of the Executive or otherwise, to issue,
register or qualify for resale any securities issuable upon exercise of the stock options pursuant
to a prospectus or similar document or to take any other affirmative action in order to cause the
exercise of the stock options or the issue or resale of the shares issuable pursuant thereto to
comply with any law or regulation or any rule of any governmental authority, regulatory body or
stock exchanges, provided that the Corporation shall notify the exchange on which the Corporation’s
shares are listed for trading and other appropriate regulatory bodies in Canada or the United
States of the existence of the stock options and the exercise thereof.
6.6 Notwithstanding subsection 6.5 hereof, the provisions of the Corporation’s stock option plan,
the provisions of any stock option agreement entered into between the Corporation (including a
Related Corporation) and the Executive, and the provisions of any other incentive plan of the
Corporation in effect at the time, the Parties agree that upon termination of the Executive
pursuant to Sections 9.1, 10.2, or 11.1 hereof, the applicable vested stock options and other
incentive interests may be exercised by the Executive until the earlier of (i) the original date of
expiry of the stock options and other incentive interests, as the case may be; and (ii) two years
after the Termination Date. All stock options and other incentive interests which remain
unexercised after this time period shall terminate, be null and void and of no further force and
effect notwithstanding the terms of the relevant agreement, stock option plan or other incentive
plans of the Corporation in effect at the time, as applicable.
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ARTICLE VII
BENEFITS
BENEFITS
7.1 The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the employment benefits provided by
the Corporation for its senior executive employees (the “Benefits”), subject to the terms and
conditions of the applicable benefit plans established by the Corporation, as may be reasonably
amended by the Corporation from time to time.
ARTICLE VIII
VACATION
VACATION
8.1 The Executive shall be entitled to an annual paid vacation of six (6) weeks. Vacation may be
taken in such a manner and at such times as the Executive and the Corporation mutually agree.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION BY CORPORATION
TERMINATION BY CORPORATION
9.1 Subject to Section 9.3 and Section 9.5, the Corporation shall be entitled to terminate this
Agreement and the Executive’s employment at any time, for any reason, upon written Notice to the
Executive, in which case the Executive shall be entitled to receive the following compensation from
the Corporation, subject to the conditions set out in Section 9.2:
| (a) | a lump sum payment equal to the Monthly Base Salary as at the Termination Date,
multiplied by the number of months in the Notice Period; |
| (b) | a further lump sum payment equal to the value of the Executive’s benefits
(which value shall be deemed to be the monthly cost to Employer excluding GST or
similar taxes), multiplied by the number of months in the Notice Period; |
| (c) | a further lump sum payment equal to the Executive’s average Annual Bonus during
the last three (3) calendar years preceding the Termination Date (or, if the Executive
has been employed for less than three (3) calendar years, then for the period of
employment preceding termination), divided by twelve (12) and multiplied by the number
of months in the Notice Period; and |
| (d) | accelerated vesting of all unvested stock options granted to the Executive
pursuant to the Article 6.3 hereof; |
Payment of the amount set out in this Section 9.1 and the accelerated vesting of stock options
shall represent full and final settlement of any claims by the Executive against the Corporation or
any Related Corporation, arising out of or in any way connected to the Executive’s employment, or
the termination of such employment, whether at common law or under the provision of any statute or
regulation, or pursuant to the terms of any agreement between the parties.
9.2 Payment of the amounts set out in Section 9.1 shall be subject to the following Terms and
conditions:
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| (a) | the execution by the Executive of a release in favour of the Corporation and
any Related Corporations; |
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| (b) | any withholdings required by law to be made by the Corporation; and |
| (c) | the Executive’s right to receive the payments referred to in Section 9.1 shall
not be subject to any duty to mitigate, nor affected by any actual mitigation by the
Executive. |
9.3 The Corporation shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment
with the Corporation at any time, without notice, pay in lieu of notice or any other form of
severance or termination pay, for Cause.
9.4 Notwithstanding any other term or provision of this Article 9, upon termination of the
Executive’s employment by the Corporation for any reason, the Executive shall receive any Base
Salary and Benefits earned up to the Termination Date.
9.5 Notwithstanding Section 9.1, in the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated by the
Corporation for any reason during the three (3) month period immediately following the Effective
Date, the Corporation shall not be required to provide any compensation to the Executive other than
the Signing Bonus and any Base Salary and Benefits earned by the Executive up to the Termination
Date.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE
TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE
10.1 The Executive may terminate this Agreement and voluntarily resign from his employment with the
Corporation by providing ninety (90) days’ prior written Notice to the Corporation. Upon voluntary
resignation by the Executive pursuant to this Section 10.1, the Executive shall not be entitled to
receive any notice or pay in lieu of notice, or any other form of severance or termination pay
pursuant to this or any other agreement between the parties.
10.2 Subject to Section 10.6 and the conditions set out in Section 10.4, the Executive may
terminate his employment with the Corporation within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of either
of the following events, and receive the payments set out in Section 10.3:
| (a) | a Change of Control; or |
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| (b) | a Triggering Event. |
10.3 Upon the occurrence of either of the events set out in Section 10.2, and subject to the
conditions set out in Section 10.4, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the following
compensation from the Corporation:
| (a) | a lump sum payment equal to the Monthly Base Salary as at the Termination Date,
multiplied by the number of months in the Notice Period times 1.5; |
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| (b) | a further lump sum payment equal to the value of the Executive’s benefits
(which value shall be deemed to be the monthly cost to Employer excluding GST or
similar taxes), multiplied by the number of months in the Notice Period times 1.5; |
| (c) | a further lump sum payment equal to the Executive’s average Annual Bonus during
the last three (3) calendar years preceding the Termination Date (or, if the Executive
has been employed for less than three (3) calendar years, then for the period of
employment preceding termination), divided by twelve (12) and multiplied by the number
of months in the Notice Period times 1.5; and |
| (d) | the accelerated vesting of all stock options and other unvested incentive
compensation granted to the Executive and a period of ninety (90) days from the
Termination Date in which to exercise any unexercised stock options. |
Payment of the amounts set out in this Section 10.3 and the accelerated vesting of stock options
and any other incentive compensation shall represent full and final settlement of any claims by the
Executive against the Corporation or any Related Corporation, arising out of or in any way
connected to the Executive’s employment, or the termination of such employment, whether at common
law or under the provision of any statute or regulation, or pursuant to the terms of any agreement
between the parties.
10.4 Payment of the amounts set out in Section 10.3 shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
| (a) | receipt by the Corporation of Notice from the Executive, within ninety (90)
days of the occurrence of the Change of Control or the Triggering Event referred to in
Section 10.2, setting out the basis on which the Executive believes that a Change of
Control or a Triggering Event has occurred; |
| (b) | the execution by the Executive of a release in favour of the Corporation and
any Related Corporations; |
| (c) | the tendering by the Executive of his resignation from any position he may hold
as an officer or a director of the Corporation and any Related Corporations; |
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| (d) | any withholdings required by law to be made by the Corporation; and |
| (e) | the Executive’s right to receive the payments referred to in Section 10.3 shall
not be subject to any duty to mitigate, nor affected by any actual mitigation by the
Executive. |
10.5 Notwithstanding any other term or provision of this Article 10, upon termination of the
Executive’s employment by the Executive for any reason, the Executive shall receive any Base Salary
and Benefits earned up to the Termination Date.
10.6 Notwithstanding Section 10.2, in the event that the Executive terminates his employment with
the Corporation as the result of a Change of Control or a Triggering Event during the three (3)
month period immediately following the Effective Date, the Corporation shall not be required
to provide any compensation to the Executive other than the Signing Bonus and any Base Salary and
Benefits earned by the Executive up to the Termination Date.
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ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION UPON DEATH
TERMINATION UPON DEATH
11.1 This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the death of the Executive, in which case
the Executive’s estate shall be entitled to receive all Base Salary, pro-rated Annual Bonus and any
other incentive compensation earned by the Executive up to the Termination Date.
ARTICLE XII
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND NON-COMPETITION
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND NON-COMPETITION
12.1 The Executive acknowledges and agrees that in performing the duties and responsibilities of
his employment pursuant to this Agreement, he will occupy a position of high fiduciary trust and
confidence with the Corporation, pursuant to which he will develop and acquire wide experience and
knowledge with respect to all aspects of the business carried on by the Corporation and its Related
Corporations, and the manner in which such business is conducted. It is the express intent and
agreement of the Executive and the Corporation that such knowledge and experience shall be used
solely and exclusively in furtherance of the business interests of the Corporation and its Related
Corporations, and not in any manner detrimental to them. The Executive therefore agrees that, so
long as he is employed by the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement, he shall not engage in any
business activity that competes, whether directly or indirectly, with the business of the
Corporation or its Related Corporations. It shall not be a violation of this Section 12.1 for the
Executive to be involved as an investor or shareholder in securities issued by corporations that do
not compete directly or indirectly with the business of the Corporation, or where such investment
constitutes not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding securities of a business or
corporation whose shares are traded on a national securities exchange.
12.2 The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that in performing the duties and
responsibilities of his employment pursuant to this Agreement, he will become knowledgeable with
respect to a wide variety of Confidential Information which is the sole and exclusive property of
the Corporation or its Related Corporations, the disclosure or misuse of which would cause
irreparable harm to the Corporation or its Related Corporations. The Executive therefore agrees
that during the Term of this Agreement, and following the termination of the Executive’s employment
for any reason, he shall treat confidentially all Confidential Information belonging to the
Corporation or its Related Corporations, and shall not use or disclose the Confidential Information
for any purpose other than the bona fide performance of his duties under this Agreement, except
with the prior written consent of the board of directors of the Corporation, or as required by law.
12.3 The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, he
will acquire Company Property which is and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the
Corporation. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment and this Agreement for any reason, the
Executive shall return to the Corporation all Company Property, together with any copies or
reproductions thereof, which may have come into the Executive’s
possession during the course of or pursuant to this Agreement, and shall delete or destroy all
computer files on his personal computer which may contain any Confidential Information belonging to
the Corporation, or its Related Corporations.
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12.4 The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Corporation would suffer irreparable harm in
the event that any Confidential Information or other knowledge and experience acquired by the
Executive in relation to the business of the Corporation were disclosed to a competitor of the
Corporation or used for a competitive purpose for a reasonable period of time following the
termination of his employment. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that in the event his employment
with the Corporation is terminated for Cause by the Corporation, or in the event that the Executive
voluntarily resigns his employment with the Corporation, neither he nor any employee or agent of
the Executive shall, for a period of four (4) months from the Termination Date:
| (a) | be engaged, either directly or indirectly in any manner including, without
limitation, as an officer, director, shareholder, owner, partner, member, joint
venturer, employee, independent contractor, consultant, advisor or sales
representative, in any business or enterprise which competes with the business of the
Corporation or any Related Corporation, as such business was conducted as of the
Termination Date, with the exception that the Executive may be involved as an investor
or shareholder in securities issued by corporations that do not compete directly or
indirectly with the business of the Corporation, or where such investment constitutes
not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding securities of a business or
corporation whose shares are traded on a national securities exchange; |
| (b) | solicit, entice or attempt to solicit or entice, either directly or indirectly,
any customer or prospective customer of the Corporation or any Related Corporation as
at the Termination Date, to become a customer of any business or enterprise which
competes with the Corporation or any Related Corporation for any business as such
business was conducted by the Corporation or any Related Corporation as at the
Termination Date; or |
| (c) | solicit or entice, or attempt to solicit or entice, either directly or
indirectly, any employee of the Corporation or any Related Corporation as at the
Termination Date, to become employed by or connected with any business or enterprise
which competes with the Corporation or any Related Corporation for any business as such
business was conducted by the Corporation or any Related Corporation as at the
Termination Date. |
The restrictions set out in this Section 12.4 shall apply only within the Territory or to any
business that directly relates to the Territory.
12.5 In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive as the result of a
Change of Control or a Triggering Event in accordance with Section 10.2, or by the Corporation for
any reason other than Cause, the restrictions set out in Section 12.4 shall apply for the shorter
of the duration of the Notice Period or, in the event the Agreement is terminated
during the three (3) month period immediately following the Effective Date, the duration of that
three (3) month period.
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12.6 The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Corporation will suffer harm in the event that
the Executive breaches any of the obligations under this Article 12, and that monetary damages
would be difficult to quantify and may be inadequate to compensate the Corporation for such a
breach. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by
the Executive of any of the provisions of this Article 12, the Corporation shall be entitled to
seek, in addition to any other rights, remedies or damages available to the Corporation at law or
in equity, an interim and permanent injunction, in order to prevent or restrain any such breach or
threatened breach by the Executive.
12.7 The Executive hereby agrees that all restrictions contained in this Article 12 are reasonable
and necessary to protect the legitimate proprietary interests of the Corporation, and will not
unduly restrict his ability to secure comparable alternative employment following the termination
of his employment for any reason. If any covenant or provision of this Article 12 is determined to
be void or unenforceable in whole or in part, for any reason, it shall be deemed not to affect or
impair the validity of any other covenant or provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in
full force and effect.
ARTICLE XIII
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
13.1 Subject to the requirements of the Act, and subject to any other limitations imposed by
Colorado or other law to which the Corporation is subject, the Corporation shall indemnify and save
harmless the Executive from and against any and all personal liability which he incurs as a result
of performing his employment duties on behalf of the Corporation, including the payment of
reasonable legal fees incurred by the Executive, with the exception of the following:
| (a) | any liability arising from the Executive’s gross negligence, fraud or other act
of willful misfeasance; |
||
| (b) | any liability that the Corporation is prohibited by law from assuming; and |
| (c) | any liability of the Employee to the Corporation arising from this Agreement or
the Employee’s employment with the Corporation. |
13.2 Commencing with the hiring of the Executive, the Executive shall be authorized to obtain, and
the Corporation shall thereafter maintain, a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy in such
amounts as may be customary for corporations of a similar size and business and risk profile as the
Corporation in Canada, and the Executive shall be entitled to the benefit of such policy of
insurance during the Term of this Agreement and for so long after termination of the Agreement for
any reason as may agreed to by the parties acting reasonably, for the purpose of providing
continued insurance coverage for the benefit of the Executive for all acts or omissions covered by
Section 13.1 that occur prior to the Termination Date.
13.3 The provisions of this Article 13 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the
termination of this Agreement for any reason.
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ARTICLE XIV
BOARD REPRESENTATION
BOARD REPRESENTATION
14.1 Throughout the course of his employment with the Corporation, the Executive shall be entitled
to maintain a seat on the Board of Directors of the Corporation. If the Executive is not permitted
to hold such a Board seat, the Executive will be regarded as terminated by the Corporation pursuant
to Article IX hereof “without cause”.
14.2 The Corporation shall appoint Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (or a suitable alternative proposed by the
Executive and approved by the board of directors of the Corporation), of the City of Calgary, in
the Province of Alberta, as a member of the board of directors of the Corporation as soon as
reasonably practicable after the Effective Date hereof, and six months from the Effective Date the
board of directors of the Corporation shall permit the Executive to nominate a further individual
to the board of directors, and the existing board of directors shall give good faith consideration
to the appointment of said individual to the board of directors of the Corporation. Subsequent to
the appointment of the aforesaid directors, the board of directors of the Corporation shall
continue to nominate those directors for so long as those directors are willing to remain as
directors of the Corporation subject to the procedures set forth in the Nominating Committee
Charter of the Corporation and any vote of the shareholders of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XV
PRESS RELEASES
PRESS RELEASES
15.1 During the course of his employment, the Executive shall be entitled to review and approve any
and all press releases issued by the Corporation, to the extent that such press releases reflect
any material event with respect to the Corporation.
ARTICLE XVI
NOTICES
NOTICES
16.1 Any Notice required to be given hereunder may be provided by personal delivery, by registered
mail or by facsimile to the parties hereto at the following addresses:
To the Corporation:
Xxxxx 000, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: Xx. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Fax: 000-000-0000
Xxxxx 000, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: Xx. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Fax: 000-000-0000
To the Executive:
#402 The Grandview
000 - 00 Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
000 - 00 Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
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Any Notice, direction or other instrument shall, if delivered, be deemed to have been given and
received on the business day on which it was so delivered, and if not a business day, then on the
business day next following the day of delivery, and, if mailed, shall be deemed to have been given
and received on the fifth day following the day on which it was so mailed, and, if sent by
facsimile transmission, shall be deemed to have been given and received on the next business day
following the day it was sent.
16.2 Either party may change its address for Notice in the aforesaid manner.
ARTICLE XVII
GENERAL
GENERAL
17.1 This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Province of
Alberta, and the parties hereby attorn to the jurisdiction of the Alberta Courts. Should any
provision in this Agreement fail to comply with the requirements of the Alberta Employment
Standards Code or the Alberta Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act, as amended, or
any other applicable legislation, the Agreement shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
with those statutory requirements.
17.2 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof, and supersedes and replaces any and all prior agreements, undertakings,
representations or negotiations pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement, specifically
including the Original Employment Agreement. The parties agree that they have not relied upon any
verbal statements, representations, warranties or undertakings in order to enter into this
Agreement.
17.3 This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any way except by written instrument signed
by the parties hereto.
17.4 This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, together
with their personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
17.5 This Agreement is a personal services agreement and may not be assigned by either party
without the prior written consent of the other party.
17.6 The waiver by either party of any breach of the provisions of this Agreement shall not operate
or be construed as a waiver by that party of any other breach of the same or any other provision of
this Agreement.
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17.7 Should any provision in this Agreement be found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall not be
affected or impaired thereby in any way.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that they have read and understand the
terms of this Agreement, and that they have had an opportunity to seek independent legal advice
prior to entering into this Agreement, and that they have executed this Agreement with full force
and effect from the date first written above.
| OILSANDS QUEST INC. | ||||
| Per: | ||||
| Director | ||||
| T. XXXXXX XXXXXX | ||||
| Executive | ||||
