Re: EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Dear Jonathan,
Exhibit 10.2.2
Re: EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Dear Xxxxxxxx,
We are all delighted to be able to extend you this offer and look forward to working with you. To indicate your acceptance of the Company’s offer, please sign and date this letter in the space provided below and return it to me, along with a signed and dated original copy of the Confidentiality Agreement, on or before Dec 16, 2020.
The Company requests that you begin work in this new position on or after Dec 16, 2020. Please indicate the date (either on or before the aforementioned date) on which you expect to begin work in the space provided below. In all cases your start date with us will be the date reflected in the accompanying Executive Employment Contract.
Very truly yours,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
President & CEO/Founder
Metamaterial Inc.
ACCEPTED AND AGREED BY:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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(Signature) |
Date December 16th 2020 |
Schedule A: Job Description and Terms of Reference
Schedule B: Bonus Terms of Reference
Attachment 2: At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, and Invention Assignment Agreement
Attachment 3: Employment policies and handbook
This offer of employment is open for acceptance until 11:59 pm EST on 16th December 2020
THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT as of the 16 day of December, 2020.
BETWEEN:
METAMATERIAL INC., a corporation incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of Ontario and having its registered office at 0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0 (“Corporation”)
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XX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX, a resident of the United States, (“Executive”) (together with the Corporation, the “Parties” or each individually, a “Party”)
WHEREAS:
A. The Corporation is engaged in the business of development and manufacture of smart materials (the “Business”);
B. The Executive and the Corporation wish to confirm the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment with the Corporation;
C. The Corporation is in the process of completing a reverse take-over of Torchlight Energy Inc. (the “RTO”).
NOW THEREFORE IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual terms, covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
The Executive shall be employed in the position of Chief Technology Officer of the META Entities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement effective December 16, 2020 (“Effective Date”). The Executive shall report directly to the CEO of Metamaterial Inc. (the “CEO”).
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Executive as CTO of the META Entities shall include those duties and responsibilities as are customary in such position. The Executive will also have such duties and responsibilities as are commensurate with his status of CTO as may from time to time be assigned by the CEO. The Executive will perform such duties and responsibilities including but not limited to those set out in Schedule A, and will observe all reasonable instructions given to the Executive by the CEO to the best of Executive’s ability and in accordance with reasonable business standards and subject to a balanced scorecard that will be agreed upon by the Executive and the CEO within a reasonable time following the Effective Date, at the Corporation’s discretion.
(b) The Executive acknowledges that, as CTO, he owes fiduciary duties to the Corporation and that he will devote full-time to the position CTO and shall not engage in any other business, occupation or activity or accept any other employment or remuneration, appointment to an agency, board or organization external to the Corporation without prior written approval of the CEO, except that the Corporation acknowledges and agrees that Executive may continue to perform duties in his existing role with OptDx, Inc., and his advisory agreement with DigiLens, Inc.
(c) The Executive will at all working times conduct himself with a standard of professionalism and integrity expected of someone in his position. The Parties agree that the performance of his duties and responsibilities requires both the highest level of integrity and the Corporation’s complete confidence in the Executive’s relationship with employees as well as persons outside the Corporation with whom the Executive may deal in the course of his employment.
(d) The Executive will truly and faithfully account for and deliver to the Corporation and its subsidiaries, affiliates or associated corporations (collectively, “META Entities”) all money, securities and things of value belonging to the applicable META Entities that the Executive may from time to time receive for, from or on account of the applicable META Entities; and
(e) The Executive will abide and be bound by the rules and policies of the Corporation, including its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Employee Handbook, as amended from time to time and provided to the Executive.
(f) The Executive represents and warrants that he is free to act in the position of CTO of the Corporation, and is not bound by any restrictive covenants or non-competition arrangements that would prevent him from carrying out his duties under this Agreement.
The Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall be at-will, meaning that either Executive or the Corporation may terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, with or without Cause, subject to the terms of Article 7 below. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive are superseded by this Agreement.
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(a) Salary: The Corporation shall pay the Executive an initial salary at the rate of $150,000 USD (the “Initial Salary”) per year. Upon the Corporation achieving a public offering of shares of its securities or the securities of Torchlight Energy Inc. in connection with the announce RTO and the up-listing process on the Nasdaq Exchange, (the “Funding Milestone”), which is expected to complete in Q1 2021, the Corporation shall increase the Executive’s salary to the rate of $250,000 USD (the “Base Salary”) per year. The Initial Salary and Base Salary will be paid in bi-weekly instalments, less all deductions required by law, or in any other manner as may be agreed between the Corporation and the Executive.
(b) Quarterly Bonus: During each calendar quarter of Executive’s employment, except for any quarter that begins or ends during the Notice Period (as defined below), the Executive will be eligible to receive a quarterly bonus up to a target of $50,000 in cash and up to an additional 0.25% of fully vested options, over eight consecutive quarters (the “Quarterly Bonus”). The number of options will be calculated over the total issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation at the time of granting of such options in accordance to the Board approved ESOP plan (the “Quarterly Bonus”). It is anticipated that once the Corporation up-lists on the Nasdaq the ESOP plan will offer the Executive the choice of i) a Non-Qualified Stock Option (“NSO”) plan or ii) an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”) plan and iii) a Restricted Stock Unit (“RSU”) plan. The amount of the Quarterly Bonus (if any) will be determined by the Corporation or its Board of Directors (the “Board”) in their sole discretion, based on their assessment of Executive’s achievement of the initial criteria and objectives set forth in Schedule B. The Quarterly Bonus, if any, will be paid and options will be granted to the Executive within thirty (30) days following the approval of the Corporation’s quarter-end financial statements. Beyond the initial eight quarters, the Quarterly Bonus will continue as a cash-only incentive.
(c) Employee Stock Option Plan: The Corporation shall recommend to its human resources and compensation committee of the Board (the “HRCC”) the granting to the Executive of an option to acquire 1,115,000 common shares of META (the “Stock Option”) at the closing market price of the Corporation’s common shares on the day prior to the first day after the expiry of the Blackout Period as defined in the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Employee Stock Option Plan (the “ESOP”) applicable on the date of this agreement. The Stock Option, shall be granted (i) in accordance with the then current ESOP of the Corporation and the stock option agreement between the Parties, and at all times shall be subject to the terms and conditions (including vesting provisions) of the ESOP and (ii) only upon such granting of options being recommended by the HRCC and approved by the Board. Notwithstanding any vesting provisions to the contrary in the ESOP, Executive’s Stock Option will commence vesting as of the first day of Executive’s employment.
(d) Benefit Plan: The Executive will be entitled to participate in the group benefit plans now or hereinafter established by the Corporation and on the same cost sharing basis as is currently in effect for other executives. The terms of the benefit plans (including provider) are subject to change. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, modify, or discontinue benefits plans at any time in accordance with applicable laws.
(e) Vacation: The Executive shall be entitled to twenty-five (25) working days’ paid vacation per calendar year in accordance with the Corporation’s vacation policy set out in the Employee Handbook, such vacation to be taken at a time or times mutually convenient to the Executive and the Board of the Corporation. Any accrued but otherwise unused vacation entitlements will be governed by the vacation policies of the Corporation as amended.
(f) Reimbursement of Expenses: The Corporation shall reimburse the Executive for necessary and reasonable business expenses including, without limitation, travel, entertainment, and other expenses actually and properly incurred by the Executive in the course of performing his duties and responsibilities hereunder, subject to the Executive furnishing to the Corporation for review on a quarterly basis a report detailing the expenses of the Executive and having available supporting receipts and particulars.
(g) Policies: Any payments and entitlements set forth in this Article 4 shall be made in accordance with the Corporation’s policies and applicable law. A copy of the Corporation’s current Employee Handbook is attached as Attachment 3.
(a) The Executive shall be employed by the Corporation at its offices located in Pleasanton, California. The Executive acknowledges that the Corporation has its registered office in Halifax and has operations in London and may be required from time to time to travel on behalf of the Corporation throughout the world.
(b) The Executive agrees that, as a senior executive and as a salaried employee, he will be required to work beyond regular office hours for which no overtime payment will be made, and that the schedule of work will be determined by duties and responsibilities as assigned.
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The Corporation agrees to maintain directors and officers liability Insurance for the benefit of the Executive having coverage and policy limits having the same terms and conditions as the one maintained for the directors and officers of the Corporation.
The parties covenant and agree that this Agreement and the Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time in the following manner in the following circumstances:
(a) Resignation Without Good Reason. Executive may resign Executive’s employment without Good Reason at any time upon providing the Corporation six (6) months’ advance written notice (the “Notice Period”), including, where possible, to provide overlap with incoming replacement for training purposes. During the Notice Period, Executive will continue to receive Executive’s then-current Base Salary and benefits, however, Executive will not be entitled to any Quarterly Bonuses for any calendar quarter that ends or begins during the Notice Period. Executive acknowledges that the Corporation shall still have the right to terminate Executive’s employment for Cause during the Notice Period and may waive all or part of the Notice Period upon Executive’s request, at the Corporation’s sole discretion. In the event that the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause, or agrees to waive any or all of the Notice Period, Executive’s employment with the Corporation shall cease immediately as of such termination for Cause or date agreed on by the Parties and Executive shall have no further entitlement to Base Salary, benefits, Quarterly Bonuses, or any other benefits under this Agreement.
(b) Termination without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason. Subject to Executive signing and not revoking a separation agreement and release of known and unknown claims in the form provided by the Company (including nondisparagement and no cooperation provisions) (the “Release”) and provided that such Release becomes effective and irrevocable no later than sixty (60) days following the termination date or such earlier date required by the release (the “Release Deadline”), if the Executive’s employment is terminated without Cause by the Corporation (except in the case of death or Disability) or Executive resigns his employment for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the following:
The Executive agrees that the foregoing payments reflected in Section 7(b) represents the Executive’s complete entitlement to severance or other benefits in the event of the termination of Executive’s employment. Executive further acknowledges that if the Release does not become effective by the Release Deadline, Executive will forfeit any rights to severance or benefits under this Section 7(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement.
For the purposes of this Agreement,
“Cause” means
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“Good Reason” means any one of the following events which occurs without the Executive’s express or implied agreement (but does not include any of these events where there is termination of the Executive’s employment for just cause or disability):
In order for Good Reason to be invoked under this Agreement, the Executive must provide the Corporation with thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of the first occurrence of the event giving rise to Good Reason setting forth the basis for Executive’s resignation and allow the Corporation thirty (30) days following such notice to cure such occurrence. If the Corporation does not remedy the situation to eliminate the Good Reason within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Executive’s written notice pursuant to this provision, the Executive may then terminate his employment for Good Reason but Executive must resign from all positions Executive then holds with the Company to be effective not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the cure period.
(c) Termination for Cause. The Corporation at may terminate Executive’s employment with Cause at any time, immediately and without notice. In the event of the termination of Executive’s employment for Cause, Executive will be entitled only to the Basic Payments.
(d) Death. For greater certainty, Executive’s employment will terminate immediately upon the death of the Executive and no payments will be required to be made to the Executive’s estate pursuant to this Agreement except for the Basic Payments.
(e) The Parties acknowledge and agree that the payment(s) provided to the Executive under this Article 7 includes, fulfils and discharges of all of the obligations of the Corporation and the META Entities to the Executive and is inclusive of and in full satisfaction of any claim or entitlement by the Executive to reasonable notice, pay in lieu of notice, and any compensation under applicable employment standards legislation or equivalent legislation and common or civil law, provided however, under no circumstances will the entitlements with which the Executive is provided fall below the minimum requirements under applicable employment standards legislation, as amended from time to time.
(f) Resignation of Positions on Termination of this Agreement. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive shall immediately on his date of termination resign all offices and directorships he holds in the Corporation or the META Entities, if any.
(a) Incapacity to Perform Duties. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the ability to provide his full time and attention as provided in Section 2(c) is a bona fide occupational requirement of his position as CTO. For purposes of this Agreement, Disability means that the Executive is unable to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the Executive then assigned position with or without reasonable accommodation for a continued period of 180 days in any consecutive 12-month period.
For the purpose of identifying and avoiding actual and potential conflicts of interest, the Executive personally shall have a continuing obligation to disclose to the Corporation any personal assets, investments and commercial involvements, and those of their spouse, if known, that may raise concerns about the actual and potential conflicts of interest and shall, at least annually, provide a formal report to the Corporation.
As a condition of this Agreement, Executive agrees to execute the At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, and Invention Assignment Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), attached hereto as Attachment 2. In the event of any conflict between the Confidentiality Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement shall control. For the avoidance of doubt, any intellectual property that constitutes an Invention under the Confidentiality Agreement shall remain the property of the Company and assigned thereto in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, regardless of whether it was conceived, authored, invented, developed, or reduced to practice in Executive’s role with OptDx, Inc., unless such Invention qualifies fully under the provisions of Section 2870 of the California Labor Code as set forth in Section 3.G. of the Confidentiality Agreement, or the Invention
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was conceived, authored, invented, developed, or reduced to practice in Executive’s role with OptDx, Inc., (and outside of his role at the Company) in the period ending on March 31, 2021.
This Agreement may not be amended without the mutual written consent of the Executive and the Corporation. It is agreed that this Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the Executive and the Corporation without causing termination of this Agreement.
(a) Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Executive shall be sufficiently given if delivered to the Executive personally, by email or if mailed by registered mail to the Executive’s address last known to the Corporation.
(b) Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Corporation shall be sufficiently given if sent by registered mail, email or faxed to the CEO.
(c) Any notice sent by registered mail shall be deemed to be received on the 4th day after it has been posted for delivery.
(d) This Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, the ESOP, and any stock option agreement between Executive and the Corporation, constitutes the entire Agreement between the Parties with respect to the employment and appointment of the Executive replaces and supersedes any other agreements, understandings, or promises between the Executive and the Corporation. Any modifications to this Agreement must be made in accordance with Article 11hereof otherwise such modification shall have no force and effect and shall be void.
(e) The Corporation shall be authorized and entitled to deduct from payments under this Agreement, and all compensation and payments (in whatever form) that the Corporation provides to the Executive, any deductions required by law or otherwise agreed to by the Executive.
(f) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be construed in any way as additions to or limitations of the covenants and agreements contained in it.
(g) The failure or delay by either party in exercising any rights under this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of such rights and any single or partial exercise by either party of any right shall not preclude any further exercise of such rights or any other rights.
(h) The various sections and subsections, phrases and sentences in this Agreement are severable and if any section or subsection or any identifiable part is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable by any court, tribunal or other body or person of competent jurisdiction, this shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions or identifiable parts.
(i) Unless the context requires otherwise words importing one gender include all other genders and words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa.
(j) This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California and the laws of the United States of America applicable therein. Any relating to or arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the State of California and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Executive and the Company irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.
(k) All references to dollars herein shall be deemed to be references to the lawful currency of the United States.
(l) This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, which, taken together shall constitute one Agreement.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, legal personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement and all of the rights and obligations of the Executive hereunder may not be transferred or assigned by the Executive at any time.
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No party hereto shall be held responsible or liable or be deemed to be in default or in breach of this Agreement for its delay, failure or inability to meet any of its obligations under this Agreement caused by or arising from any cause which is unavoidable or beyond the reasonable control of such party, including war, warlike operations, riot, insurrection, pandemic, orders of government, strikes, lockouts, disturbances or any act of God or other cause which frustrates the performance of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not, in any event, be discharged from its payment obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.
The Executive acknowledges that the Corporation has advised the Executive to obtain independent legal advice with respect to the entry into this Agreement and confirms that he have either done so or has knowingly waived their right to do so. The Executive further acknowledges that this Agreement has been entered into by him freely and voluntarily and not the result of any threat, promise or undue Influence made or exercised by the Corporation or any other party.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have set their hand and affixed their seals as of the day and year first above written.
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED
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METAMATERIAL INC. |
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Per: |
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XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX |
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XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX |
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SCHEDULE ‘A’
Chief Technology Officer
Job Description and Terms of Reference
Job Purpose: The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will report directly to the CEO. He/she should combine a broad knowledge of the potential value in emerging technologies, and a keen understanding of how these technologies can affect the Company’s business and business processes. This person also needs strong communication and interpersonal skills to influence senior executives. The CTO’s function is to help them evaluate different paths to achieving the business goals, advance corporate culture in addition to being a spokesperson for the organization. As META is pushing the boundaries of innovation in optics, the successful candidate CTO will be contributing in major corporate and organizational decisions.
The CTO will focus his/her efforts on using and establishing tools to provide better processes, business management systems and services to improve operations, to enable the Corporation to reach its financial and marketing goals using an innovative technology approach. At the same time, the CTO is the public face of the technology department. He represents the Corporation at conferences, trade and other events that strengthen the corporate brand image.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Your leadership role will encompass:
Strategic:
Functional:
Beyond Functional:
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Content of reports will be developed to utilize standard reporting templates and the use of balanced scorecard metrics to determine performance.
Professional Standards and Performance Review: As an experienced professional, you will maintain high professional standards and act in accordance with best practice. You will support the development of the professional standards of the team and take a continuous approach to improvement and your own personal development. As a senior representative of the Company, you act in line with the Company Code of Conduct. You will also participate in the performance review process.
Desired Qualifications:
PhD in related field, senior management executive experience (8+ years) Proven experience in business management systems, project management, OPEX/CAPEX planning.
Proven experience in corporate governance and quality control systems. Experience in VC and Capital Markets fundraising Business Development, Fundraising and Sales.
Additional Expertise:
ITAR management experience.
Business Ethics implementation.
Delegated Authority: TBD with CEO.
I agree that the above Terms of Reference accurately describes the above post and has been jointly developed.
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Employee’s name and |
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XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX
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Date December 16th 2020. |
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Date December 16, 2020. |
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SCHEDULE ‘B’
Bonus Terms of Reference
Bonus allocated over four quarters. Five performance categories to be tracked on a quarterly with prior Board and CEO approval using a balanced scorecard:
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