EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
4.15
THIS
AGREEMENT is made effective as of the 31st day of
July, 2008.
BETWEEN:
|
|
CROSSHAIR EXPLORATION &
MINING CORP., a British Columbia company, having its principal
business office at Suite 1240 - 1140 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X0X 0X0.
|
|
(the
“Company”)
|
AND:
|
|
XXXXXX X. XXXXXX,
businessman, of 0000 Xxxx 00xx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X0X 0X0
|
|
(“Executive”)
|
WHEREAS
the Company wishes to employ the Executive to provide the services hereinafter
described;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth
below the parties hereto agree as follows:
SERVICES,
POSITION AND TERM
|
(a)
|
The
Company will employ the Executive, and the Executive will serve the
Company, on the terms and conditions set out
herein.
|
(b)
|
The
Executive will hold the position of Chief Financial Officer, and perform
those services normally or usually associated with the position of a
senior executive officer, and such other duties consistent with the
position of Chief Financial Officer as may from time to time reasonably be
delegated to the Executive by the Company (the “Services”). The
Executive acknowledges that the effective performance of the Services may
require that the Executive travel from time to time as required by the
Company.
|
(c)
|
The
Executive will be employed to perform the Services for a term commencing
September 2, 2008 (the “Commencement Date”) and the Executive’s employment
will continue until terminated in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement (the “Term”).
|
2.
|
PERFORMANCE
BY EXECUTIVE
|
The
Executive will perform the Services in a competent and efficient manner, and
will carry out all lawful instructions and directions from time to time given by
the Company’s Board of
- 1
-
Directors. The
Executive will devote 100% of his working time and attention to the affairs of
the Company.
3.
|
COMPENSATION
AND BENEFITS
|
3.1
|
Salary
|
The
Company will pay to the Executive an annual salary of C$150,000 (the “Salary”),
less appropriate deductions and withholdings. The Company will review
the Salary from time to time during the Term and may, in its sole discretion,
increase the Salary.
3.2
|
Bonus
|
The
Company will pay a bonus to the Executive of up to C$50,000 per year, to be paid
in cash semi-annually. The amount of the bonus shall be determined by
the Company's Compensation Committee based upon the Executive's
performance. The Company and the Executive will, within 90 days of
the Commencement Date, jointly develop a set of objective criteria for adoption
by the Company’s Compensation Committee for their use when considering the
Executive’s eligibility for bonus.
3.3
|
Incentive
Plans
|
(a)
|
The
Company shall grant the Executive:
|
|
(i)
|
on
execution of this Agreement, an option to purchase 150,000 common shares
in the capital stock of the Company (the “Initial Grant”) at a price of
C$0.50 per share. The Initial Grant shall vest in accordance
with the provisions of the Company’s stock option plan in effect as of the
date of the Initial Grant.
|
|
(ii)
|
on
the first anniversary of the date of the Initial Grant and each
anniversary thereafter, an option to purchase 100,000 common shares in the
capital stock of the Company (the “Annual Grant”). Each Annual
Grant shall vest in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s stock
option plan in effect as of the date of the Annual
Grant.
|
(b)
|
The
pricing of the options in each Annual Grant shall be at the market price
of the common shares at the date of the Annual Grant in accordance with
the provisions of the Company’s stock option plan in effect as of that
date.
|
(c)
|
The
Annual Grant is subject to the provision that the aggregate number of
incentive stock options held by the Executive at any given time shall not
exceed 5% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of the Company at
such time.
|
(d)
|
The
Company shall permit the Executive to participate in any other incentive
compensation plan, retirement plan or similar plan offered by the Company
from time to time to its senior executives generally in the manner and to
the extent authorized by the Board of Directors of the
Company.
|
- 2
-
All of
the above is hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Option
Commitment”.
3.4
|
Benefits
|
The
Company shall provide the Executive with employee benefits comparable to those
provided by the Company from time to time to other senior executives of the
Company generally. These benefits are to include at
least:
(a)
|
payment
of professional dues to the Certified Management Accountants of British
Columbia and payment of professional development/continued education
required to maintain the Executive’s CMA
designation;
|
(b)
|
participation
in the Company’s group benefit plan, which includes extended health,
dental, long-term disability, the waiting period for which will be
waived;
|
(c)
|
C$1,000,000
of term life insurance and accidental death insurance with proceeds
payable to the Executive's estate or as otherwise directed by the
Executive; and
|
(d)
|
payment
by the Company of C$150 per month to the
Executive towards the cost of membership dues at a downtown business or
fitness club.
|
3.5
|
Vacation
|
The
Executive will be entitled to annual vacation of four weeks during each year of
the Term, unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Company and the Executive (the
“Vacation”). Unused Vacation time may be carried forward into the
immediate following calendar year and taken in that year as vacation time or as
cash payment at the option of the Executive.
3.6
|
Expenses
|
The
Company will reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by the Executive directly related to the performance by the Executive
of the Services. The Executive will account for such expenses in
accordance with the policies and directions of the Company’s board of
directors.
4.
|
TERMINATION
|
4.1
|
Definitions
|
In this
Agreement:
(a)
|
“Control Change” means
the occurrence of both:
|
|
(i)
|
the
acquisition or continuing ownership of securities (“Convertible
Securities”) convertible into, exchangeable for or representing the right
to acquire shares of the Company and/or shares of the Company as a result
of which a person, group of persons or persons acting jointly or in
concert, or persons associated or affiliated within the meaning of the
Business Corporations
Act (British Columbia)
|
- 3
-
with
any such person, group of persons or any of such persons acting jointly or
in concert (collectively, “Acquirors”), beneficially own shares of the
Company and/or Convertible Securities such that, assuming only the
conversion, exchange or exercise of Convertible Securities beneficially
owned by the Acquirors, the Acquirors would beneficially own shares that
would entitle the holders thereof to cast more than 20% of the votes
attaching to all shares in the capital of the Company that may be cast to
elect directors of the Company;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
the
exercise of the voting power of all or any such shares so as to cause or
result in the election of two or more directors of the Company who were
not Incumbent Directors;
|
(b)
|
“Disability” means the
inability of the Executive to substantially perform the Services for a
continuous or cumulative period of four months in any 12 month period
where such inability is a result of physical or mental illness or
injury;
|
(c)
|
“Good Reason” shall
include, without limitation, the occurrence of any of the following
without the Executive’s written
consent:
|
|
(i)
|
a
change (other than those that are clearly consistent with a promotion) in
the Executive’s position or duties (including any position or duties as a
director of the Company), responsibilities (including, without limitation,
to whom the Executive reports and who reports to the Executive), title or
office in effect immediately prior to a Control
Change;
|
|
(ii)
|
a
reduction by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the Executive’s
salary, benefits or any other form of remuneration or any change in the
basis upon which the Executive’s salary, benefits or any other form of
remuneration payable by the Company or its subsidiaries is determined or
any failure by the Company to increase the Executive’s salary, benefits or
any other forms of remuneration payable by the Company or its subsidiaries
in a manner consistent (both as to frequency and percentage increase) with
practices in effect immediately prior to a Control Change or with
practices implemented subsequent to a Control Change with respect to the
senior executives of the Company and its subsidiaries, whichever is more
favourable to the Executive;
|
|
(iii)
|
any
failure by the Company or its subsidiaries to continue in effect any
benefit, bonus, profit sharing, incentive, remuneration or compensation
plan, stock ownership or purchase plan, pension plan or retirement plan in
which the Executive is participating or entitled to participate
immediately prior to a Control Change, or the Company or its subsidiaries
taking any action or failing to take any action that would adversely
affect the Executive’s participation in or reduce his rights or benefits
under or pursuant to any such plan, or the Company or its subsidiaries
failing to increase or improve such rights or benefits on a basis
consistent with practices in effect immediately prior to a Control Change
or with practices implemented subsequent to a Control Change with respect
to the senior
|
- 4
-
|
|
executives
of the Company and its subsidiaries, whichever is more favourable to the
Executive;
|
|
(iv)
|
the
Company or its subsidiaries relocating the Executive to any place other
than the location at which he reported for work on a regular basis
immediately prior to a Control Change or a place within 10 kilometres of
that location, except for required travel on the Company’s or a
subsidiary’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the
Executive’s obligations immediately prior to a Control
Change;
|
|
(v)
|
any
failure by the Company or its subsidiaries to provide the Executive with
the number of paid vacation days to which he was entitled immediately
prior to a Control Change or the Company or its subsidiaries failing to
increase such paid vacation on a basis consistent with practices in effect
immediately prior to a Control Change or with practices implemented
subsequent to a Control Change with respect to the senior executives of
the Company and its subsidiaries, whichever is more favourable to the
Executive;
|
|
(vi)
|
the
Company or its subsidiaries taking any action to deprive the Executive of
any material fringe benefit not hereinbefore mentioned and enjoyed by him
immediately prior to a Control Change, or the Company or its subsidiaries
failing to increase or improve such material fringe benefits on a basis
consistent with practices in effect immediately prior to a Control Change
or with practices implemented subsequent to a Control Change with respect
to the senior executives of the Company and its subsidiaries, whichever is
more favourable to the Executive;
|
|
(vii)
|
any
breach by the Company of any provision of this
Agreement;
|
|
(viii)
|
the
good faith determination by the Executive that, as a result of a Control
Change or any action or event thereafter, the Executive’s status or
responsibility in the Company or its subsidiaries have been diminished or
the Executive is being effectively prevented from carrying out his duties
and responsibilities as they existed immediately prior to the Control
Change; or
|
|
(ix)
|
the
failure by the Company to obtain, in a form satisfactory to the Executive,
an effective assumption of its obligations hereunder by any successor to
the Company;
|
(d)
|
“Just Cause” means
conduct of the Executive that constitutes just cause to terminate the
Executive’s employment without any notice or compensation in lieu of
notice at common law.
|
4.2
|
Payments
in the Event of Termination Without Just
Cause
|
If the
employment of the Executive is terminated by the Company other than for Just
Cause (and not by reason of Disability or death), then the Company
will:
- 5
-
(a)
|
at
the option of the Executive, provide to the Executive 24 months notice of
termination or a lump sum payment amount equal to two times the annual
Salary (the “Notice Period”);
|
(b)
|
continue
the Executive’s participation in the Incentive Plans and Benefits provided
to the Executive immediately preceding the date of the termination
(excluding any short or long term disability plan) until the earliest of
the expiration of the Notice Period set out in Subsection 4.2(a) and the
death of the Executive; and
|
(c)
|
maintain
in effect the Executive’s right to purchase shares of the Company in
accordance with Sections 3.3(a)(i) and 3.3(a)(ii) of this Agreement until
the earliest of the expiration of the Notice Period set out in Subsection
4.2(a) and the death of the
Executive.
|
4.3
|
Resignation
by Executive
|
(a)
|
The
Executive may resign from his employment under this Agreement by providing
to the Company a minimum of one month’s and a maximum of three month’s
prior written notice of such resignation and, in such case, the Executive
will be entitled to exercise all options under the Option Commitment, or
any other Plans and Programs, that will have vested as of the last full
business day before the expiry of the period of notice of resignation
given by the Executive.
|
(b)
|
Upon
receipt of written notice of resignation under Subsection 4.4(a) of this
Agreement, the Company may, at its option, earlier terminate the
employment of the Executive in which
case:
|
|
(i)
|
the
Executive will be entitled to exercise all options under the Option
Commitment, or any other Plans and Programs, that will have vested as of
the last full business day before the expiry of the period of notice of
resignation given by the Executive;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
the
Company will pay the Executive an amount equal to the Salary payable from
the date of termination by the Company until the earlier of the date of
resignation selected by the Executive and three months from the date the
Executive gave notice of
resignation.
|
(c)
|
Notwithstanding
Subsections 4.3(a) and 4.3(b) of this Agreement, the Executive will be
entitled to the payments and benefits set out in Section 4.2 of this
Agreement if the Company does anything that constitutes a Good Reason and
does anything that would constitute a constructive dismissal of the
Executive by the Company as determined in accordance with common
law.
|
4.4
|
Death
and Disability
|
(a)
|
Death. If
the Executive dies during the Term,
then:
|
|
(i)
|
employment
of the Executive will terminate as of the date of death;
and
|
- 6
-
|
(ii)
|
the
Company will pay to the estate of the
Executive:
|
|
a.
|
unpaid
Salary, if any, up to the date of
death;
|
|
b.
|
any
compensation or benefits payable or owing to the Executive on or after
death in accordance with the terms of any Incentive plans or Benefits
plans in which the Executive is participating immediately prior to his
death; and
|
|
c.
|
any
options that were not purchased by the Executive pursuant to the Sections
3.3(a)(i) and 3.3(a)(ii) as of the date of death shall vest in accordance
with Sections 3.3(a)(i) and 3.3(a)(ii) of this Agreement, and may
thereafter be exercised by the estate of the
Executive.
|
(b)
|
Disability. If
the Executive suffers from a Disability during the Term, then the
Executive will be entitled to compensation as set out in Subsection 4.2(a)
of this Agreement;
|
|
(i)
|
continue
to participate in any Incentive plans and to receive Benefits (other than
Benefits relating to Disability) to which the Executive would have
otherwise been entitled during the Notice Period;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
any
Benefits relating to Disability that the Executive is entitled to as
determined by the terms and conditions of any applicable Benefit plans,
provided that if the Executive receives any Benefits under this Subsection
4.4(b) during any portion of the Notice Period, then the Company will not
be obligated to pay to the Executive the amounts covered by such Benefits
that would otherwise be payable to the Executive under Subsection
4.4(b)(i).
|
4.5
|
Other
Conditions
|
The
obligations of the Company to the Executive on termination of employment of the
Executive by the Company or by the Executive for any reason are subject to the
following conditions:
(a)
|
the
Company may at any time or from time to time amend or terminate any
Benefits or Plans and Programs that are continued or available after the
date of termination of the Executive provided that the subject Benefits or
Plans and Programs are similarly terminated or amended for all executives
of the Company;
|
(b)
|
the
Executive will not be obligated to make reasonable efforts to find
alternative employment for any period during which the Company is
obligated to continue participation in Benefits and Plans and Programs
under section 4, and the participation in Benefits and Plans and Programs
pursuant to Section 4 will not be reduced or discontinued as a result of
any employment of the Executive that commences after the employment of the
Executive with the Company ceases;
|
(c)
|
the
Executive shall not be prohibited in any manner whatsoever from obtaining
employment with or otherwise forming or participating in a business
competitive to the
|
- 7
-
|
business
of the Company after termination of his employment by the Company without
Just Cause or termination by the Executive of his employment for Good
Reason.
|
(d)
|
The
Company shall pay, to the full extent provided by law, without requiring
the Executive first to pay such fees and expenses, all legal fees and
expenses that the Executive,
the Executive’s legal representatives or the Executive’s family may
reasonably incur or face arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement (but this Agreement only), including any litigation concerning
the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of
this Agreement or any action by the Executive, the Executive’s legal
representatives or the Executive’s family to enforce his or their rights
under the Agreement (but this Agreement only), regardless of the outcome
of such litigation, and the Company agrees to pay interest, compounded
quarterly, on the total unpaid amount payable under this Agreement, such
interest to be calculated at a rate equal to 2% in excess of the prime
commercial annual lending rate for Canadian dollar demand loans announced
from time to time by the Royal Bank of Canada during the period of such
non-payment.
|
4.6
|
Accelerated
Vesting of Incentive Stock Options
|
Notwithstanding
the vesting provisions set out in Sections 3.3(a)(i) and 3.3(a)(ii) and in any
option agreement entered into by the Company and the Executive with respect to
the Executive’s options under Section 3.3(a)(i) and 3.3(a)(ii), in the event of
the termination of the employment of the Executive for any reason other
than:
(a)
|
termination
for Just Cause; or
|
(b)
|
the
Executive being convicted of an indictable criminal offence in the nature
of fraud,
|
(any
termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, other than for the
reasons listed above, or any termination for reasons set out in Subsection
4.3(c), or by reason of the Executive’s Disability or death, being a
“Non-Critical Termination”)
the
Executive’s options under Section 3.3(a)(i) and 3.3(a)(ii) will be deemed to be
fully vested and immediately exercisable on the first to occur of:
(c)
|
in
the event of a Control Change that results from a takeover bid, on the
date that the bidder takes up and pays for the Company shares under the
subject bid or such earlier date as the Company’s Board of Directors may
permit by resolution in accordance with the Company’s stock option plan in
effect as of the date of the grant of such
options;
|
(d)
|
in
the event of a Control Change that results from some other transaction, on
the date that the Company or its shareholders become subject to the
principal transaction document governing the terms of the subject
transaction; and
|
(e)
|
in
the event of a Non-Critical Termination, on the date of termination, the
date of Disability or the date of death, as the case may
be.
|
- 8
-
For the
purposes of sections 4.6(c) and 4.6(d) the Company agrees that it shall, in
accordance with the terms of the stock option plan and in the event of a Control
Change resulting from a negotiated takeover bid or similar transaction, and
subject to the cooperation of the offeror, take all reasonable efforts to
provide for a cashless exercise of such options and the conditional tender to
any such takeover bid or similar transaction of the underlying shares issuable
upon the exercise of such options, and to cause the options to fully vest and
become immediately exercisable at the time of such exercise or conditional
tender.
5. GENERAL
PROVISIONS
5.1
|
Enforceability
and Severability
|
It is the
desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be
enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies
applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. In the
event that any provision of this Agreement conflicts with the law under which
this Agreement is to be construed or if any such provision is held invalid by a
court with jurisdiction over the parties hereto, such provision will be deemed
to be restated to reflect as nearly as possible the original intentions of the
parties in accordance with applicable law. The remainder of this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect. In the event any such
deemed restatement of any such provision prevents the accomplishment of a
fundamental purpose of this Agreement, the Company and the Executive will
immediately commence negotiations in good faith to provide the party which has
been adversely affected by such restatement with value (in cash or in kind)
equivalent to the value that such party would have received had such provision
not been restated.
5.2
|
Assignment
and Benefit
|
The
Executive will not assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder. The Company may assign this Agreement to any
successor to the Company and the provisions hereof will inure to the benefit of,
and be binding upon, each successor of the Company, whether the successor arises
by merger, consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all of its
assets. This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive’s successors and legal
representatives.
5.3
|
Entire
Agreement
|
This
Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements or
understandings, whether oral or written and whether express or implied, between
the parties hereto. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that any
prior agreements or representations, whether oral or written and whether express
or implied, between the Executive and the Company, are hereby terminated and the
Executive has no rights or entitlements under any such prior agreements or
representations against the Company.
- 9
-
5.4
|
Notices
|
All
notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder will be in
writing and sufficient if delivered personally or sent by telecopy (with
confirmation of receipt) or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to the
Company, at
Suite
1240 - 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX X0X 0X0
If to the
Executive, at
0000 Xxxx
00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX X0X 0X0
or to
such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished
to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. Each such
notice, request or communication will be deemed to have been given when received
or, if given by mail, when delivered at the address specified in this Section or
on the fifth business day following the date on which such communication is
posted, whichever occurs first.
5.5
|
Amendments
and Waivers
|
No
modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of, or consent required by,
this Agreement, nor any consent to any departure herefrom, will be effective
unless it is in writing and signed by the parties hereto. Such
modification, amendment, waiver or consent will be effective only in the
specific instance and for the purpose for which given.
5.6
|
Headings
|
Descriptive
headings are for convenience only and will not control or affect the meaning or
construction of any provision of this Agreement.
5.7
|
Counterparts
|
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof will
be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts together will
constitute but one agreement.
5.8
|
Canadian
Dollars
|
All
dollar amounts referred to herein will be in lawful currency of
Canada.
5.9
|
Governing
Law
|
This
Agreement and its application and interpretation will be governed exclusively by
the laws of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable in British
Columbia.
- 10
-
5.10
|
Attornment
|
Each
party will submit to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of British Columbia
and all Courts having appellate jurisdiction thereover in any suit, action or
other proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement commenced in such
Court by one party against the other party (a “Permitted Action”), and each
party waives and will not assert by way of motion as defence or otherwise in any
Permitted Action, any claim that:
(a)
|
such
party is not subject to the jurisdiction of such
Court;
|
(b)
|
such
permitted action is brought in an inconvenient
forum;
|
(c)
|
the
venue of such permitted action is improper;
or
|
(d)
|
any
subject matter of such permitted action may not be enforced in or by such
Court.
|
In any
suit or action brought to obtain a judgment for the recognition or enforcement
of any final judgement rendered in a Permitted Action no party to this Agreement
will seek, other than by way of appeal, in any Court of any jurisdiction any
review pertaining to the merits of any Permitted Action, whether or not such
party appears in or defends the Permitted Action.
5.11
|
Independent
Legal Advice
|
The
Executive hereby acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to obtain
independent legal advice regarding this Agreement and has either obtained such
advice or has waived his right to obtain such advice.
5.12
|
Survival
|
Section 4
of this Agreement will survive the termination of employment of the Executive
and will continue in full force and effect.
5.13
|
Collection
and Use of Personal Information
|
The
Executive acknowledges that the Company will collect, use and disclose health
and other personal information for employment and business related
purposes. The Executive consents to the Company collecting, using and
disclosing health and other personal information of the Executive for employment
and business related purposes in accordance with the privacy policy of the
Company.
5.14
|
Time
|
Time is
of the essence.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first written above.
CROSSHAIR
EXPLORATION & MINING CORP.
- 11
-
Per:
|
|
“Xxxxx
Xxxxxx”
|
|
Authorized
Signatory
|
Signed,
Sealed and Delivered by XXXXXX X.
|
)
|
||
XXXXXX
in the presence of:
|
)
)
|
||
“Xxxxx Xxxxxx”
|
)
|
“Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
Signature)
|
)
)
|
XXXXXX
X. XXXXXX
|
|
Xxxxx Xxxxxx.
|
)
|
||
Name
|
)
)
|
||
Unit 103 – 6554 – 000xx Xxxxxx
|
)
|
||
Address
|
)
)
|
||
Xxxxxx, XX, X00 0X0
|
)
|
||
Administrator
|
)
)
|
||
Occupation
|
)
|
- 12
-