EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of September 22, 2021 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (“Executive”), Piedmont Lithium Inc. (the “Company”) and Piedmont Lithium Carolinas,
Inc.
WHEREAS, Executive is party to that certain Employment Agreement with Piedmont Lithium Inc. (“Piedmont Carolinas”) and Piedmont Lithium
Limited (“Piedmont Australia”), dated December 9, 2020 (the “Prior Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which Executive serves as Vice President – General Counsel and
Secretary;
WHEREAS, Piedmont Australia has completed a transaction pursuant to which the business of Piedmont Australia was redomiciled in the United States and is now operated by the
Company;
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to supersede the Prior Employment Agreement and employ Executive, and Executive wishes to accept employment with the Company, as the Executive Vice
President and Chief Legal Officer of the Company, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows:
1.1. “Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.2. “Cause” means any of the following: (A) the willful or negligent failure by Executive to substantially perform Executive’s
duties under this Agreement; (B) willful breach of fiduciary duty involving personal benefit; (C) willful breach by Executive of any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Articles V, VI or VII of this Agreement; (D) indictment or arraignment of
Executive for any misdemeanor involving dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony; or (E) any other willful conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, its business, or its reputation. For purposes of this definition, no
act, or failure to act, on Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.
Except in the case of grounds described in clause (D) above, the Executive shall not be considered to have been terminated for Cause unless the Board has first provided him with (1) written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the alleged
conduct constituting grounds for Cause, (2) a reasonable opportunity to meet with the Board (which may be telephonic) and to contest such grounds with counsel of Executive’s choosing, and (3) if such grounds are susceptible to cure, a period of at
least 30 days within which to effect such cure, and subsequent to such meeting with the Board, a separate vote of the Board in which Executive has been determined to be guilty of such alleged conduct constituting grounds for Cause.
1.3. “Change
in Control” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term (or substantially similar term as the case may be) in the Piedmont Lithium Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) or any successor equity
compensation plan of the Company.
1.4. “COBRA”
means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.
1.5. “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.6. “Covered
Termination” means (i) an Involuntary Termination Without Cause or (ii) a voluntary termination for Good Reason. For the avoidance of doubt, neither (x) the termination of Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or
Disability nor (y) the expiration of this Agreement due to non-renewal pursuant to the terms of Section 2.2 of this Agreement will be deemed to be a Covered Termination.
1.7. “Disability”
means Executive’s inability (as determined by an independent physician appointed by the Company and reasonably acceptable to Executive or Executive’s representatives) due to accident or physical or mental illness, to adequately and fully perform
the duties that Executive was performing for the Company when the disability began, with the reasonable expectation, based on the advice of such independent physician, that such inability will continue for at least 90 consecutive days, or for at
least 180 non-consecutive days during any 12-month period. Any determination made by such independent physician will be final, conclusive, and binding upon the Company, Executive, and their successors in interest.
1.8. “Good
Reason” means any of the following taken without Executive’s written consent: (i) failure or refusal by the Company to comply in any material respect with the material terms of this Agreement, (ii) a material diminution in Executive’s
duties, title, authority or responsibilities, (iii) a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary (unless the annual base salary of all other executive officers is similarly reduced by not more than 20% based on formal Board action), or (iv) the Company
requiring Executive to relocate his personal residence, provided that any request or directive from the Company to not work in such office pursuant to any stay-at-home or work from home or similar law, order, directive, request or recommendation
from a governmental entity shall not give rise to Good Reason under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s resignation shall not constitute a resignation for “Good Reason” as a result of any event described in the preceding
sentence unless (x) Executive provides written notice thereof to the Company within sixty (60) days after the Executive’s discovery of the first occurrence of such event, (y) to the extent correctable, the Company fails to remedy such circumstance
or event within thirty (30) days following the Company’s receipt of such written notice and (z) the effective date of Executive’s resignation for “Good Reason” is not later than ninety (90) days after the discovery of the initial existence of the
circumstances constituting Good Reason.
1.9. “Involuntary
Termination Without Cause” means Executive’s dismissal or discharge by the Company other than for Cause or by reason of Executive’s death or Disability.
1.10. “Section
409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective
Date.
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1.11. “Separation
from Service” means Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).
ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY
EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY
2.1. Position
and Duties. Subject to terms set forth herein, Executive shall serve in an executive capacity and shall perform such duties and have such authorities as are customarily associated with the position of Executive Vice President and Chief
Legal Officer of the Company and such other duties as are reasonably assigned to Executive by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Board within the scope of his employment with the Company. During the term of Executive’s employment with
the Company, Executive will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention (except for vacation periods and absences due to reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the
Company’s general employment policies or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement) to the business of the Company.
2.2. Term. The
term of this Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder shall commence on the Effective Date and shall terminate upon the termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement (the “Term”).
2.3. Employment
at Will. The Company shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, with or without Cause, and, in the case of a termination by the Company, with or without prior notice. In addition to Executive’s
right to resign for Good Reason, Executive shall have the right to resign at any time and for any reason or no reason at all, upon thirty (30) days’ advance written notice to the Company; provided, however, that if Executive has provided a
resignation notice to the Company, the Company may determine, in its sole discretion, that such termination shall be effective on any date prior to the effective date of termination provided in such notice (and, if such earlier date is so required,
then it shall not change the basis for Executive’s termination of employment nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of Executive’s employment by the Company) and any requirement to continue salary or benefits shall cease as of such
earlier date. Upon certain terminations of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive may become eligible to receive the severance benefits provided in Article IV of this Agreement.
2.4. Deemed Resignations. Except as otherwise determined by the Board or as otherwise agreed to in writing by Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates prior to the termination of Executive’s employment with
the Company or any of its affiliates, any termination of Executive’s employment shall constitute, as applicable, an automatic resignation of Executive: (a) as an officer of the Company and each of its affiliates; (b) from the Board; and (c) from
the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any affiliate of the Company and from the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any corporation, limited liability entity, unlimited
liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any of its affiliates holds an equity interest and with respect to which board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) Executive serves as such designee or other
representative of the Company or any of its affiliates. Executive agrees to take any further reasonable and customary actions that the Company or any of its affiliates reasonably requests to effectuate or document the foregoing.
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2.5. Employment
Policies. The employment relationship between the parties shall also be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of
inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.
ARTICLE III
COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION
3.1. Base
Salary. As of the Effective Date, Executive shall receive for services to be rendered hereunder an annualized base salary of $350,000 (“Base Salary”), payable
on the regular payroll dates of the Company (but no less often than monthly), subject to increase in the sole discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board.
3.2. Annual
Bonus. For each calendar year ending during the Term, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) (i) targeted at fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary
(which, for the avoidance of doubt, will not be calculated on a pro-rated basis for 2021, giving effect to the entire period of employment in 2021 in which Executive worked for the Company under the Prior Employment Agreement and this Agreement)
(the “Target Bonus”) or such other amount as determined in the sole discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board, (ii) with a maximum Annual Bonus opportunity equal to 200% of the Target Bonus, and
(iii) on such terms and conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board. The actual amount of any Annual Bonus (if any) will be determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board and will be (i) subject to
achievement of any applicable bonus objectives and/or conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board and (ii) subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the date the Annual Bonus is paid (except as
otherwise provided in Section 4.1). The Annual Bonus for any calendar year will be paid at the same time as bonuses for other Company executives are paid related annual bonuses generally, but no later than March 15 of the calendar year following
the calendar year to which the bonus relates.
3.3. Standard
Company Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to all rights and benefits for which Executive is eligible under the terms and conditions of the standard Company benefits and compensation practices that may be in effect from
time to time and are provided by the Company to its executive employees generally, as well as any additional benefits provided to Executive consistent with past practice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.3 shall not create or be deemed
to create any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt or maintain any benefits or compensation practices at any time.
3.4. Paid Time
Off. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to such periods of paid time off (“PTO”) each year as provided from time to time under the Company’s PTO policies and as otherwise provided for
executive officers, as it may be amended from time to time, but in no event shall Executive be entitled to less than 20 days of PTO per year.
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3.5. Equity
Awards. Executive will be eligible to receive equity incentive grants as determined by the Board or a committee of the Board in its sole discretion. It is currently contemplated that Executive will receive an annual equity award under the
Plan having a grant date fair value equal to approximately seventy-five percent (75%) of Executive’s Base Salary. All equity awards granted to Executive will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable award agreement
approved by the Board or a committee thereof (the “Award Agreements”).
ARTICLE IV
SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS
SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS
4.1. Severance
Benefits. Upon Executive’s termination of employment, Executive shall receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and other accrued and unpaid compensation, including any accrued but unpaid vacation. If the termination is due to a Covered
Termination, provided that Executive (A) delivers an effective general release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates in a reasonable and customary form provided by the Company to the Executive promptly upon termination, containing
restrictions no greater than those set forth in this Agreement (a “Release of Claims”) that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days following the Covered Termination and (B) continues to
comply with Articles V through VII of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to receive the severance benefits described in Section 4.1(a) or (b), as applicable.
(a) Covered Termination Not Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination which occurs at any time other than during the period beginning three (3) months prior to
a Change in Control and ending twelve (12) months after a Change in Control (the “CIC Protection Period”), Executive shall receive the following:
(i) An amount equal to
twelve (12) months of Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect (or required to be in effect before any diminution that is the basis of Executive’s termination for Good Reason) at the time of Executive’s termination of employment, payable in a
lump sum payment, less applicable withholdings, as soon as administratively practicable following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and, in any event, no later than the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of the Covered Termination; provided, however, if such sixty (60) day period falls in two different calendar years, payment will be made in the later calendar year.
(ii) Subject to Executive’s
timely election of continuation coverage under COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents to maintain continued health coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA
through the earlier of (A) the twelve-month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (B) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s
plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service
Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments.
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(iii) Equity Award Treatment. Notwithstanding anything set forth in an Award Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, all equity awards granted to Executive that are outstanding and unvested as of immediately prior to
Executive’s termination of employment shall become immediately and fully vested as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment (with performance-based awards vesting based upon the target level of performance).
(b) Covered Termination Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination that occurs during the CIC Protection Period, Executive shall receive the following:
(i) An amount equal to two
(2) times the sum of (i) Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect (or required to be in effect before any diminution that is the basis of Executive’s termination for Good Reason) at the time of Executive’s termination of employment and
(ii) Executive’s Target Bonus in effect for the year in which Executive’s termination of employment occurs, payable in a lump sum payment, less applicable withholdings, as soon as administratively practicable following the date on which the Release
of Claims becomes effective and, in any event, no later than the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of the Covered Termination; provided, however, if such sixty
(60) day period falls in two different calendar years, payment will be made in the later calendar year.
(ii) Notwithstanding
anything set forth in an award agreement or incentive plan to the contrary, (A) a pro-rata portion of Executive’s Annual Bonus for the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination occurs based on actual achievement of the applicable bonus
objectives and/or conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board for such year (determined by multiplying the amount of the Annual Bonus that would be payable for the full fiscal year by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be
equal to the number of days during the fiscal year of termination that Executive is employed by, and performing services for, the Company and the denominator of which is 365 days) and (B) the amount of any Annual Bonus earned, but not yet paid, for
the fiscal year prior to Executive’s termination, in each case, payable, less applicable withholdings, at the same time bonuses for such year are paid to other senior executives of the Company, but in no event later than March 15 of the year
following the year of Executive’s termination of employment.
(iii) Subject to Executive’s
timely election of continuation coverage under COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents to maintain continued health coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA
through the earlier of (A) the twelve-month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (B) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s
plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service
Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments.
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(iv) Equity Award Treatment. Notwithstanding anything set forth in an Award Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, all equity awards granted to Executive that are outstanding and unvested as of immediately prior to
Executive’s termination of employment shall become immediately and fully vested as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment (with performance-based awards vesting based upon the target level of performance).
4.2. 280G
Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or distribution Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“Payment”) would
(a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then
such Payment shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable
federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the largest payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. The
accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, or such other accounting firm with similar expertise as designated by the Company before the effective date of
the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm shall provide its calculations to the
Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. Any
good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits pursuant to this Section 4.2 will occur in the following order:
(1) reduction of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits payable to Executive. Nothing in this Section 4.2 shall require the Company or any of its affiliates to be responsible for, or have any liability
or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code.
4.3. Section 409A.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement:
(a) All provisions of this
Agreement are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and the applicable Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”) or an exemption
therefrom and shall be construed and administered in accordance with such intent. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term
deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement are exempt from, or compliant with,
Section 409A and in no event shall the Company or any of its affiliates be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Executive on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.
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(b) If Executive is deemed
at the time of Executive’s Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this
Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code which would subject Executive to a tax obligation under Section 409A, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to
Executive prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six- month period measured from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i)
period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.
(c) Any reimbursements
payable to Executive pursuant to the Agreement shall be paid to Executive no later than 30 days after Executive provides the Company with a written request for reimbursement, and to the extent that any such reimbursements are deemed to constitute
“nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (i) such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive promptly, but in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred,
(ii) the amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and (iii) Executive’s right to such payments or
reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit; provided, that the foregoing clause shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered
by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period in which the arrangement is in effect.
(d) For purposes of
Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive’s right to receive installment payments under the Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate
payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.
4.4. Mitigation.
Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any
compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another employer or by any retirement benefits received by Executive after the date of the Covered Termination, or otherwise.
4.5. Equity
Coordination. For the avoidance of doubt, all equity awards, including stock options, restricted stock units and other equity-based compensation granted by the Company to Executive under the Company’s equity-based compensation plans shall
be subject to the terms of such plans and Executive’s equity award agreements with respect thereto; provided, however, that in the event of a conflict between the plans/award agreements and this Agreement in connection with a termination of
Executive, the terms of this Agreement shall control and determine the resolution of such conflict.
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ARTICLE V
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS
5.1. Proprietary
Information. All Company Innovations shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company without further compensation and are “works made for hire” as that term is defined under the United States copyright laws. Executive shall
promptly notify the Company of any Company Innovations that Executive solely or jointly Creates. “Company Innovations” means all Innovations, and any associated intellectual property rights, which Executive
may solely or jointly Create, during Executive’s employment with the Company, which (i) relate, at the time Created, to the Company’s business or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) were developed on any amount of
the Company’s time or with the use of any of the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information, or (iii) resulted from any work Executive performed for the Company. “Create” means to
create, conceive, reduce to practice, derive, develop or make. “Innovations” means processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, improvements, inventions (whether or not protectable under patent
laws), works of authorship, information fixed in any tangible medium of expression (whether or not protectable under copyright laws), mask works, trademarks, trade names, trade dress, trade secrets, know-how, ideas (whether or not protectable under
trade secret laws), and other subject matter protectable under patent, copyright, moral rights, mask work, trademark, trade secret or other laws regarding proprietary rights, including new or useful art, combinations, discoveries, formulae,
manufacturing techniques, technical developments, discoveries, artwork, software and designs. Executive hereby assigns (and will assign) to the Company all Company Innovations. Executive shall perform (at the Company’s expense), during and after
Executive’s employment, all acts reasonably deemed necessary or desirable by the Company to assist the Company in obtaining and enforcing the full benefits, enjoyment, rights and title throughout the world in the Company Innovations. Such acts may
include execution of documents and assistance or cooperation (i) in the filing, prosecution, registration, and memorialization of assignment of patent, copyright, mask work or other applications, (ii) in the enforcement of any applicable
Proprietary Rights, and (iii) in other legal proceedings related to the Company’s Innovations. “Proprietary Rights” means patents, copyrights, mask work, moral rights, trade secrets and other proprietary
rights. No provision in this Agreement is intended to require Executive to assign or offer to assign any of Executive’s rights in any invention for which Executive can establish that no trade secret information of the Company was used, and which
was developed on Executive’s own time, unless the invention relates to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or the invention results from any work performed by Executive for the Company.
5.2. Confidentiality.
In the course of Executive’s employment with the Company and the performance of Executive’s duties on behalf of the Company and its affiliates hereunder, Executive will be provided with, and will have access to, Confidential Information (as defined
below). In consideration of Executive’s receipt and access to such Confidential Information, and as a condition of Executive’s employment, Executive shall comply with this Section 5.2
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(a) Both during the Term and
thereafter, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, Executive shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any person or entity and shall not use any Confidential Information except for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates.
Executive shall follow all Company policies and protocols regarding the security of all documents and other materials containing Confidential Information (regardless of the medium on which Confidential Information is stored). Except to the extent
required for the performance of Executive’s duties on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates, Executive shall not remove from facilities of the Company or any of its affiliates any information, property, equipment, drawings, notes, reports,
manuals, invention records, computer software, customer information, or other data or materials that relate in any way to the Confidential Information, whether paper or electronic and whether produced by Executive or obtained by the Company or any
of its affiliates. The covenants of this Section 5.2(a) shall apply to all Confidential Information, whether now known or later to become known to Executive during the period that Executive is employed by or affiliated with the Company or any of
its affiliates.
(b) Notwithstanding
any provision of Section 5.2(a) to the contrary, Executive may make the following disclosures and uses of Confidential Information:
(i) disclosures to other employees, officers or directors of the Company or any of its affiliates who have a need to know or
for whom it is appropriate to share the information in connection with the businesses of the Company or any of its affiliates or in connection with performance reviews of employees of the Company;
(ii) disclosures to customers and suppliers when, in the reasonable and good faith belief of Executive, such disclosure is in
connection with Executive’s performance of Executive’s duties;
(iii) disclosures and uses that are approved in writing by the Board; or
(iv) disclosures to a person or entity that has (x) been retained by the Company or any of its affiliates to provide services to
the Company and/or its affiliates and (y) agreed in writing to abide by the terms of a confidentiality agreement.
(c) Upon the expiration of
the Term, and at any other time upon request of the Company, Executive shall promptly and permanently surrender and deliver to the Company all documents (including electronically stored information) and all copies
thereof and all other materials of any nature containing or pertaining to all Confidential Information and any other Company property (including any Company-issued computer, mobile device or other equipment) in Executive’s possession, custody or
control and Executive shall not retain any such documents or other materials or property of the Company or any of its affiliates. Within ten (10) days of any such request, Executive shall certify to the Company in writing that all such documents,
materials and property have been returned to the Company or otherwise destroyed.
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(d) “Confidential Information” means all confidential, competitively valuable, non-public or proprietary information that is conceived, made, developed or acquired by or disclosed to Executive (whether conveyed
orally or in writing), individually or in conjunction with others, during the period that Executive is employed or engaged by the Company or any of its affiliates (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or
otherwise) including: (i) technical information of the Company, its affiliates, its investors, customers, vendors, suppliers or other third parties, including computer programs, software, databases, data, ideas, know-how, formulae, compositions,
processes, discoveries, machines, inventions (whether patentable or not), designs, developmental or experimental work, techniques, improvements, work in process, research or test results, original works of authorship, training programs and
procedures, diagrams, charts, business and product development plans, and similar items; (ii) information relating to the Company or any of its affiliates’ businesses or properties, products or services (including all such information relating to
corporate opportunities, operations, future plans, methods of doing business, business plans, strategies for developing business and market share, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations,
acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or acquisition targets or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within customers’ organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or marketing and merchandising
techniques, prospective names and marks) or pursuant to which the Company or any of its affiliates owes a confidentiality obligation; and (iii) other valuable, confidential information and trade secrets of the Company, its affiliates, its customers
or other third parties. Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, e-mail, voice mail, electronic
databases, maps, drawings, architectural renditions, models and all other writings or materials of any type including or embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression
are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or its other applicable affiliates and be subject to the same restrictions on disclosure applicable to all Confidential Information pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of this
Agreement, Confidential Information shall not include any information that (A) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or wrongful act of Executive or any of Executive’s agents; (B) was available to
Executive on a non-confidential basis before its disclosure by the Company or any of its affiliates; (C) becomes available to Executive on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or any of its affiliates; provided, however,
that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation with respect to confidentiality to, the Company or any of its affiliates; or (D) is required to be disclosed by applicable law.
(e) Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Executive from lawfully: (i) initiating communications directly with, cooperating with, providing information to, causing information to be provided to, or otherwise assisting in an
investigation by, any governmental authority regarding a possible violation of any law; (ii) responding to any inquiry or legal process directed to Executive from any such governmental authority; (iii) testifying, participating or otherwise
assisting in any action or proceeding by any such governmental authority relating to a possible violation of law; or (iv) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law. Additionally,
pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (1) in confidence to a
federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; (B) is made to the individual’s attorney in relation to a
lawsuit for retaliation against the individual for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (C) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this Agreement requires
Executive to obtain prior authorization before engaging in any conduct described in this paragraph, or to notify the Company that Executive has engaged in any such conduct.
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5.3. Mutual
Nondisparagement. Subject to Section 5.2(e) above, Executive agrees that from and after the Effective Date, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, make, publish, or communicate any disparaging or defamatory comments regarding the
Company, or any of its respective current or former directors, officers, members, managers, partners, or executives. The Company agrees that it will counsel its senior officers and directors to not make, publish, or communicate any disparaging or
defamatory comments regarding Executive. The foregoing shall not be violated by truthful statements in response to legal process, required governmental testimony or filings or administrative or arbitral proceedings (including, without limitation,
depositions in connection with such proceedings), and the foregoing limitation on the Company’s senior executives and directors shall not be violated by statements that they in good faith believe are necessary or appropriate to make in connection
with performing their duties and obligations to the Company or any of its affiliates.
5.4. Remedies.
Executive’s and the Company’s duties under this Article V shall survive termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination of this Agreement. Because of the difficulty of measuring economic losses to the Company and
its affiliates as a result of a breach or threatened breach of the covenants set forth in this Article V, Section 6.2 and Article VII, and because of the immediate and irreparable damage that would be caused to the Company and its affiliates for
which they would have no other adequate remedy, Executive acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of Article V, as well as Executive’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.2 and Article VII below, would be
inadequate, and Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in case of any such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or
that money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall not be the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ exclusive remedy for a breach but
instead shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company and each of its affiliates at law and equity.
5.5. Modification.
The covenants in this Article V, Section 6.2 and Article VII, and each provision and portion hereof, are severable and separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant (or portion thereof) shall not affect the provisions of any other
covenant (or portion thereof). If it is determined by an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Article V, Section 6.2 and Article VII is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or
unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the arbitrator or the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.
ARTICLE VI
OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES
OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES
6.1. Other
Activities.
(a) Except as otherwise
provided in Section 6.1(b), Executive shall not, during the term of this Agreement undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise, other than ones in which Executive is a passive investor, unless Executive obtains
the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer; provided, however, that Executive shall be permitted to manage personal investments to the extent such investments do not otherwise breach the Company’s policies or the terms and conditions
of this Agreement or any other agreement between the Executive and the Company.
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(b) Executive may engage in
civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder.
6.2. Competition/Investments.
During the term of Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive shall not (except on behalf of the Company) directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor, associate, representative, consultant,
or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which are known by Executive to compete
directly with the Company or any of its affiliates, throughout the world, in any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company; provided, however, that anything above to the contrary notwithstanding, Executive may own, as
a passive investor, securities of any competitor corporation, so long as Executive’s direct holdings in any one such corporation do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than 3% of the voting stock of such corporation. In addition, during the term
of Executive’s employment by the Company and for the one (1) year period thereafter, in order to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, including the value of the Company’s confidential information, trade secrets, goodwill and
training, which Executive acknowledges and agrees Executive has received and will continue to receive, Executive shall not (except on behalf of the Company) directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor,
associate, representative, consultant, or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which
is known by Executive to (a) contact, deal with or otherwise be involved in any transaction(s) or agreement(s) relating to any lithium mineral, mining or other related rights of the Company and its affiliates in the geographic area commonly
referred to as the “Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt” (collectively, the “Non-Compete Area”); or (b) take any action to circumvent or usurp any right, property or interest associated with or beneficial to the
reasonable development and operation of the assets of the Company and its affiliates within the Non-Compete Area. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Section 6.2 is excessive in
duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law
of that state.
6.3. Defense
of Claims; Cooperation. During the Term and thereafter, upon reasonable request from the Company, Executive shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company and its affiliates in the defense of any claims or actions
that may be made by or against the Company or any of its affiliates that relate to Executive’s actual or prior areas of responsibility or knowledge. Executive shall further use commercially reasonable efforts to provide reasonable and timely
cooperation in connection with any actual or threatened claim, action, inquiry, review, investigation, process, or other matter (whether conducted by or before any court, arbitrator, regulatory, or governmental entity, or by or on behalf of the
Company or any of its affiliates), that relates to Executive’s actual or prior areas of responsibility or knowledge.
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ARTICLE VII
NONINTERFERENCE
NONINTERFERENCE
Executive shall not, during the term of Executive’s employment by the Company and, solely with respect to clause (ii) below, for twelve (12) months
thereafter, either on Executive’s own account or jointly with or as a manager, agent, officer, employee, consultant, partner, joint venturer, owner or stockholder or otherwise on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly
solicit, induce attempt to solicit any of (i) its customers or clients to terminate their relationship with the Company or to cease purchasing services or products from the Company or (ii) its officers or employees or offer employment to any person
who is an officer or employee of the Company; provided, however, that a general advertisement to which an employee of the Company responds shall in no event be deemed to result in a breach of this
Article VII. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Article VII is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the
parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.1. Notices.
Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by facsimile or electronic mail) or the third day after mailing by first class mail, to the
Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed on the Company’s books and records.
8.2. Tax
Withholding. Executive acknowledges that all amounts and benefits payable under this Agreement are subject to deduction and withholding to the extent required by applicable law.
8.3. Severability.
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect
under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as
if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.
8.4. Clawback. Amounts paid or payable under this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures adopted by the Company or any of its
affiliates applicable to Executive, which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture and/or recoupment of amounts paid or payable under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company
and each of its affiliates reserves the right, without the consent of Executive, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to this Agreement with retroactive effect.
8.5. Waiver. Any
waiver of this Agreement must be executed by the party to be bound by such waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, they shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of
the same or any other provision of this Agreement or any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any subsequent time. The failure of either party hereto to take any action by reason of any breach will not deprive such party of
the right to take action at any time.
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8.6. Complete
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter, and will supersede all prior
agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, but not limited to, the Prior Employment Agreement, which shall be terminated
and of no further force or effect following the Effective Date. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein or therein, and cannot be modified or amended except in a
writing signed by a duly-authorized officer of the Company and Executive.
8.7. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
8.8. Headings.
The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.
8.9. Successors
and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not
assign Executive’s rights or delegate Executive’s duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.
8.10. Effect of
Termination. The provisions of Section 2.4 and Articles IV, V, VII and VIII and those provisions necessary to interpret and enforce them, shall survive any termination of this Agreement and any termination of the employment relationship
between Executive and the Company.
8.11. Third-Party
Beneficiaries. Each affiliate of the Company that is not a signatory to this Agreement shall be a third-party beneficiary of Executive’s obligations under Sections 2.4 and 8.14 and Articles V, VI and VII and shall be entitled to enforce
such obligations as if a party hereto.
8.12. Executive
Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that (a) Executive was represented by counsel in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement, and (b) that Executive has read and understands the Agreement, is fully aware of its
legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on Executive’s own judgment.
8.13. Choice of
Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of North Carolina without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof. With respect to any claim
or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the arbitration provisions of Section 8.14 and recognize and agree that should any resort to a court be necessary and permitted under this Agreement, then they
consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts (as applicable) located in North Carolina.
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8.14. Jurisdiction.
The parties agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, whether in contract, tort or otherwise,
must be brought in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina or in the courts of the State of North Carolina located in Charlotte, North Carolina, so long as one of such courts has subject matter jurisdiction over
such suit, action or proceeding. Any cause of action arising out of this Agreement is deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the State of North Carolina. Each of the parties irrevocably consents to the personal jurisdiction of such
courts (and the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such
suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient form. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere
in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court.
[Signature page follows]
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In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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PIEDMONT LITHIUM CAROLINAS, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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Accepted and Agreed:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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[Signature page to Executive Employment Agreement for Xxxxx Xxxxxxx]
