THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT dated for reference the 6th day of August, 2008 BETWEEN:
Exhibit 4.5
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
dated for reference the 6th day of August, 2008
BETWEEN:
HELIX
BIOPHARMA CORP., a corporation amalgamated
under the
Canada Business Corporations Act and having its head
office at
#0 - 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X
0X0
(the
“Company”)
AND:
XXXXX
XXXX, Businessman, of 5 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X DE5
(the
“Executive”)
WHEREAS:
A. the
Executive was the Vice President of Technology of the Company from June 20, 2002
till December 1, 2006 and has been the Vice President of Research of the Company
since December 1, 2006;
B. the Board
of Directors wishes to continue the Executive’s appointment as the Vice
President of Research of the Company and the Executive has agreed to accept such
appointment;
C. The
parties wish to enter into an Employment Agreement which reflects the current
terms and conditions of the Executive’s office and employment with the
Company;
THEREFORE in consideration of
the recitals, the following covenants and the payment of one dollar made by each
party to the other, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged by each
party, the parties agree on the following terms:
ARTICLE
1 ENGAGEMENT AND DURATION
1.1 Engagement
The
Company hereby continues the employment of the Executive as the Vice President
of Research of the Company and the Executive accepts such employment and agrees
to continue to provide services to the Company in such capacity and on the terms
and conditions contained in this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges and
agrees that the Company shall have the right from time to time during the term
of this Agreement to change the title and / or office of the Executive on notice
to the Executive, provided that the changed title and / or office is comparable
to the Executive’s office at the date hereof.
1.2 Term
This
Agreement and the employment of the Executive pursuant hereto shall continue
until terminated by either party pursuant to ARTICLE 7 hereof.
ARTICLE
2 DUTIES
2.1 Performance of
Duties
The
Executive shall perform such services and duties as are normally provided by a
Vice President of Research,
or
comparable officer position, of a company in a business and of a size similar to
the Company’s, and such other services and duties as may reasonably be assigned
from time to time by the directors of the Company.
2.2 Standard of
Care
The
Executive shall, in exercising his powers and performing his functions, act
honestly and in good faith and in the best interests of the Company, shall
exercise the care, diligence and skill of a reasonably prudent person to the
extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive and
shall perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities.
2.3 Hours
The
Executive shall devote, his full time and attention during normal business hours
to the business and affairs of the Company.
2.4 Other Boards or
Committees
The
Executive’s performance of reasonable personal, civic or charitable activities
or the Executive’s service on any boards or committees of any private or public
companies shall not be deemed to interfere with the performance of the
Executive’s services and responsibilities to the Company pursuant to this
Agreement. The Executive agrees to inform the Board forthwith upon the Executive
being appointed to any such board or committee.
2.5 Principal Place of
Work
The
Executive shall perform his duties primarily at the Company’s principal
Executive offices which are currently located at #0 - 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0, or, subject to section 7.1(d), at such other
location as shall be approved by the Board.
2.6 Reporting
The
Executive shall report directly to the CEO.
2.7 Instructions
The
Executive will, subject to the terms of this Agreement, comply promptly and
faithfully with the Board’s reasonable and lawful instructions, directions,
requests, rules and regulations.
2.8 Change of
Control
In the
event of a change of control of the Company, the Company shall continue to
engage and the Executive shall continue to serve the Company in the same
capacity and have the same authority, responsibilities and status as he had as
of the date immediately prior to the change of control. Following a change of
control, the Executive's services shall be performed at such location as may be
mutually agreed upon between the Company and the Executive provided that such
location shall be within the York Region or Greater Metropolitan Toronto area,
Province of Ontario.
For the
purposes of this Agreement, the occurrence of any one of the following shall be
deemed to constitute a “change of control” (the “Change of
Control”):
(a) a change
in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company occurring within any
two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of such directors
are Incumbent Directors. "Incumbent Directors" shall mean directors of the
Company who either:
(i) are
directors of the Company as of the date hereof, or
(ii) are
elected, or nominated for election, as directors of the Company by the
affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time
of such election or nomination;
(b) upon
completion of any merger, arrangement or amalgamation involving the Company,
provided that upon such completion, less than a majority of the directors (or
other persons in a similar capacity, hereinafter referred to as “Merged
Directors”) of the merged, amalgamated, surviving or parent person (the “Merged
Entity”) are Incumbent Directors;
(c) when any
Control Person or any person acting jointly or in concert with a Control Person
votes against any proposal put before the shareholders of the Company by the
Board of Directors of the Company, and such proposal is in fact defeated by the
requisite majority of votes of shareholders of the Company;
(d) when any
Control Person or any person acting jointly or in concert with a Control Person
votes in favour of any proposal put before the shareholders of the Company other
than by the Board of Directors of the Company and such proposal is in fact
approved by the requisite majority of votes of shareholders of the
Company;
(e) when the
Company’s shares listed on any of The Toronto Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, The New
York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange (each, a “Recognized
Exchange”) are de-listed from such Recognized Exchange, provided
that:
(i)
the
Company’s shares are not concurrently listed on another Recognized Exchange;
and
(ii) at any
time prior to such de-listing, the Company has become either or both of the
following:
A. controlled,
directly or indirectly, by another person; or
B. a
subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of another person.
2.9 Interpretation
For
purposes of section 2.8 and this section 2.9:
(a) all
references to “Company” shall mean and include a Merged Entity as defined in
section 2.8(b);
(b) all
references to “Board of Directors” or “directors” shall mean and include Merged
Directors, as defined in section 2.8(b), of a Merged Entity;
(c) “Control
Person” means a person who, either alone or together with any person acting
jointly or in concert with such person, beneficially owns, or exercises control
or direction over, 20 per cent or more of the outstanding voting or equity
securities of any class of the Company;
(d) it is a
question of fact as to whether a person is acting jointly or in concert with a
Control Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
following shall be presumed to be acting jointly or in concert with a Control
Person:
(i) every
person who, as a result of any agreement, commitment or understanding, whether
formal or informal, with the Control Person or with any other person acting
jointly or in concert with the Control Person, acquires or offers to acquire
securities of the Company of the same class as those acquired by the Control
Person;
(ii) every
person who, as a result of any agreement, commitment or understanding, whether
formal or informal, with the Control Person or with any other person acting
jointly or in concert with the Control Person, intends to exercise jointly or in
concert with the Control Person or with any other person acting jointly or in
concert with the Control Person any voting rights attaching to any securities of
the Control Person; and
(iii) every
associate or affiliate (as such terms are used in the Ontario Securities Act) of
the Control Person;
(e) “person”
includes an individual, company, partnership, party, trust, fund, association
and any other organized group of persons and the personal or other legal
representative of a person to whom the context can apply according to
law;
(f) a person
shall be deemed to be an affiliate of another person if one of them is the
subsidiary of the
other
or if both are subsidiaries of the same person or if each of them is controlled
by the same person;
(g) a person
shall be deemed to be controlled by another person or by two or more persons
if,
(i) voting
securities of the first-mentioned person carrying more than 50 per cent of the
votes for the election of directors are held, otherwise than by way of
security only, by or for the benefit of the other person or by or for the
benefit of the other persons; and
(ii) the votes
carried by such securities are entitled, if exercised, to elect a majority of
the board of directors of the first-mentioned person;
(h) a person
shall be deemed to be a subsidiary of another person if:
(i) it is
controlled by,
A. that
other, or
B. that
other and one or more persons each of which is controlled by that other,
or
C. two or
more persons each of which is controlled by that other; or
(ii) it is a
subsidiary of a person that is that other's subsidiary;
(i) a person
shall be deemed to own beneficially securities beneficially owned by a person
controlled by the person or by an affiliate of such person; and
(j) a person
shall be deemed to own beneficially securities beneficially owned by its
affiliates.
ARTICLE
3 REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
3.1 Annual Base
Salary
The
Company shall pay or provide to the Executive, for his services under this
Agreement, an annual salary, effective as of June 1, 2007, of $160,000.00, and
an annual car allowance of $6000.00, payable semi-monthly on the fifteenth and
the second last banking day of the month as follows:
(a) base
salary of $6,666.67; and
(b) car
allowance of $250.00.
Should
the fifteenth day of any month not be a business day, the base salary and car
allowance otherwise due on such date shall be paid to the Executive on the
immediately preceding business day.
3.2 Annual
Review
The
annual base salary and car allowance referred to in subsection 3.1 shall be
reviewed in the last quarter of each fiscal year of the Company by the Board or
Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), in consultation with the
Executive, and shall be increased for the following fiscal year by such amount
as is determined by the Board or the Committee, provided that in no event
shall:
(a) the base
salary and car allowance be less than the base salary and car allowance payable
in the previous fiscal year; and
(b) the
increase, in percentage terms, be less than the percentage increase in the
Consumer Price Index, as published by Statistics Canada for the Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Area, over the previous year.
3.3 Bonus
The
Company will, within the first quarter of each fiscal year, pay to the Executive
an annual bonus, based on the Company’s achievement of milestones agreed to by
the Committee and the Executive of the prior fiscal year. Within the first
quarter of each fiscal year, the Committee and the Executive shall agree to
milestones of the Company and the bonus which will be awarded to the Executive
if one or more milestones are achieved. The Company may, in addition to the
foregoing, pay a bonus to the Executive from time to time based on performance
or milestones achieved but not previously agreed.
3.4 Reimbursement of
Expenses
The
Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by
him in the performance of this Agreement provided that the Executive provides
the Company with written expense accounts with respect to each calendar month.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing but for greater certainty, the
Company shall reimburse the Executive for insurance and maintenance costs
related to maintaining a car.
3.5 Insurance
The
Company shall provide the Executive with group life, long-term disability,
extended medical and dental insurance coverage in accordance with the policies
and procedures of the Company in effect and, to the extent permissible by law,
the Company shall extend medical and dental insurance coverage to the
Executive's wife and child dependents.
3.6 Directors and Officers
Liability Insurance
Throughout
the term of this Agreement, the Company shall provide the Executive with
director's and officer's liability insurance appropriate to the nature of his
responsibilities under this Agreement.
3.7 Vacation
The
Executive shall be entitled to four weeks paid vacation for each fiscal year of
the Company. In addition to the four weeks of paid vacation each fiscal year,
the Executive shall be entitled to statutory holidays and the number of paid
holidays provided for under the current policies and procedures of the Company.
The Executive may take in a fiscal year any of the four weeks paid vacation
earned but not taken in previous fiscal years, even if this would result in the
Executive taking more than six weeks paid vacation in the fiscal year, provided
that the Executive shall not be entitled to take more than 8 weeks paid vacation
in any fiscal year, and provided further that any vacation to be taken in a
fiscal year in excess of 4 weeks may only be taken at such times as are
reasonably convenient to the Executive and the Company as approved by the
President, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. The Executive may
elect at any time and from time to time to receive payment in lieu of vacation
earned in previous years and not taken, in which event the Executive shall be
paid normal salary for each day of such vacation earned and not taken. Any
payment so received shall be deemed to constitute vacation taken. The parties
agree that as at July 31, 2008, a total of 40 vacation days have been
earned by the Executive, and not taken.
3.8 Other
Benefits
In
addition to any other compensation or benefits to be received by the Executive
pursuant to this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in
all benefits which the Company may from time to time provide to its senior
employees, including the granting of stock options as approved by the Board or a
Board Committee.
3.9 Consideration
The
Executive acknowledges that his salary has been increased partially in
consideration of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in particular
but without limitation, ARTICLE 4 Non-Solicitation, ARTICLE 5 Confidentiality
and ARTICLE 6 Intellectual Property, and acknowledges that his increased salary
constitutes sufficient consideration therefor.
ARTICLE
4 NON-SOLICITATION
4.1 Terms
During
the term of this Agreement and for 24 months following the termination or of
this Agreement, the Executive shall not:
(a) solicit,
offer to employ or engage or accept as an employee any person who is employed or
engaged by the Company or any of its affiliates or who was so employed or
engaged during any part of the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the
Executive’s termination;
(b) advise
any person or entity not to do business with the Company or any of its
affiliates or otherwise take any action which may reasonably result in the
relations between the Company or any of its affiliates and any of its employees
or customers or potential employees or customers being impaired; or
(c) assist
any person or entity to do any things set out in clauses (a) or (b)
above.
ARTICLE
5 CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE
5.1 Confidential
Information
The term
“Confidential Information” means any and all information concerning any aspect
of the Company not publicly disclosed, which the Executive may receive or
develop as a result of his engagement by or involvement with the Company, and
including all clinical data, concepts, programs, processes, technical
information, trade secrets, systems, business strategies, financial information
and other information unique to the Company, its customers or principals. All
Confidential Information, including notes, diagrams, reports, notebook pages,
memoranda, biological and chemical materials and any excerpts thereof that
include Confidential Information are the property of the Company or parties for
whom the Company acts as agent or who are customers of the Company, as the case
may be, and are strictly confidential to the Company and/or such parties. The
Executive shall not make any unauthorized disclosure or use of and shall use his
best efforts to prevent unauthorized disclosure or use of such Confidential
Information.
5.2 Use of Confidential
Information
Except in
the necessary course of the business of the Company or as otherwise authorized
by the Company, and in accordance with such restrictions or conditions as the
Company may impose from time to time, the Executive will not:
(a) duplicate,
transfer or disclose nor allow any other person to duplicate, transfer or
disclose any of the Company’s Confidential Information;
(b) use the
Company’s Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the
Company; or
(c) incorporate,
in whole or in part, within any domestic or foreign patent application any
proprietary or Confidential Information disclosed by the Company.
5.3 Protection of Confidential
Information
The
Executive will safeguard all Confidential Information at all times so that it is
not exposed to or used by unauthorized persons, and will exercise at least the
same degree of care used to protect the Executive’s own Confidential
Information.
5.4 Exception
The
restrictive obligations set forth above shall not apply to the disclosure or use
of any information which:
(a) is or
later becomes publicly known under circumstances involving no breach of this
Agreement by the Executive;
(b) is
already known to the Executive at the time of receipt of the Confidential
Information;
(c) is
lawfully made available to the Executive by a third party; or
(d) is
disclosed by the Executive pursuant to a requirement of a governmental
department or agency or disclosure is otherwise required by operation of law,
provided that the Executive gives notice
in
writing to the Company of the required disclosure immediately upon its becoming
advised of such required disclosure and provided also that the Executive delays
such disclosure so long as it is reasonably possible in order to permit the
Company to appeal or otherwise oppose such required disclosure and provides the
Company with such assistance as the Company may reasonably require in connection
with such appeal or other opposition.
ARTICLE
6 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
6.1 Disclosure of
Works
The
Executive, acting in good faith, shall promptly disclose in writing to the
Company all discoveries, inventions, ideas, developments, improvements,
methodologies, designs, research data, know-how, works, creations and
intellectual property (whether or not the same are capable of patent, copyright,
industrial design or other intellectual property protection) developed, created,
made, conceived or contributed to, solely or jointly, in whole or in part, by
the Executive, during the period of his or her employment or engagement with the
Company or within the period immediately following the resignation or
termination of the Executive set forth in section 6.2 below (the “Period”),
whether foreseeable or unforeseeable, and whether or not developed, created,
made, conceived or contributed to prior to the execution of this Agreement,
outside of Company time or at any premises other than the Company’s, which,
wholly or partially:
(a) are
related to the business or research and development of the Company;
(b) resulted
from or with the use of any resources or facilities of the Company;
(c) resulted
from or in connection with the Executive’s activities, duties or services for
the Company; or
(d) were a
result of using any proprietary or Confidential Information of the
Company;
(collectively,
the “Works”).
6.2 “Period”
The
“Period” for Works described in section 6.1(a) is the greater of 1 year and the
period, if any, during which the Executive is subject to a restriction on
competition pursuant to any employment or consulting agreement entered into, or
which may hereafter be entered into, with the Company. The “Period” for Works
described in section 6.1(b), 6.1(c) and 6.2(d) is indefinite.
6.3 Ownership of
Works
The
Executive specifically acknowledges that all Works, including but without
limitation those Works created during the Period immediately following the
Executive’s resignation or termination, are works deemed to be made in the
course of or as a result of his or her employment or engagement with the
Company, and all right, title and interest in and to such Works shall vest in
and be the exclusive property of the Company upon their creation. In addition,
the Executive hereby waives all moral rights which the Executive may have in
such Works. The Executive further acknowledges that part of his or her
compensation as an employee of, or consultant to, the Company is compensation in
respect of the provisions contained in this ARTICLE 6.
6.4 Assignments
The
Executive will, at the request of the Company, execute all necessary
applications, assignments and other documents and provide all necessary
assistance during and subsequent to his or her employment or engagement, without
further compensation but at the expense of the Company, to enable the Company or
its nominees to acquire, perfect and maintain all rights, title and interest in
and to such Works including without limitation patent and copyright protection
in any and all countries, and to permit the Company and its nominees to enforce
such rights. The Executive shall assign to the Company all patents or copyright
protection respecting such Works filed in the name of the Executive. Should the
Executive fail to cooperate with such assignment of a Work, then the
Executive,
by execution of this Agreement, hereby appoints the President of the Company or
his/her appointee as the Executive’s Attorney-in-Fact, with the specific power
to create any patent, copyright or other intellectual property assignments
required by law to perfect assignment to the Company of any Work on behalf of
the Executive and the said President or his/her appointee will act in good faith
in exercising such power, and not beyond the scope of his authority
hereunder.
6.5 Records
The
Executive will keep and maintain for the Company precise and up to date written
records and materials for all Works, all copies of which shall be the property
of the Company. The Executive shall not take any action, directly or by the
assistance of any third party, which would adversely affect the value or the
validity of legal protection of the records, materials or Works.
ARTICLE
7 TERMINATION
7.1 The Executive’s Right to
Terminate
The
Executive may terminate his employment under this Agreement:
|
(a)
|
at
any time upon providing 60 days notice in writing to the
Company;
|
|
(b)
|
upon
a material breach or default of any term of this Agreement by the Company
if such material breach or default has not been remedied within 30 days
after written notice of the material breach or default has been delivered
by the Executive to the Company;
|
|
(c)
|
at
any time within 180 days of the date on which there is a Change of
Control; or
|
|
(d)
|
within 30 days of
being informed by or on behalf of the Board of Directors that the
Executive is required to perform his services primarily at a location
outside of the Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx area, Province of
Ontario.
|
For
purposes of section 7.1(c), the parties acknowledge and agree that there may be
more than one Change of Control during the term of this Agreement, and that
section 7.1(c) shall apply to each successive Change of Control.
7.2 Company’s Right to
Terminate
The
Company may terminate the Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any
time upon the occurrence of any of the following events
|
(a)
|
the
Executive acting unlawfully, dishonestly, or in bad faith with respect to
the business of the Company to the extent that it has a material and
adverse effect on the Company;
|
|
(b)
|
the
conviction of the Executive of an indictable offence under the Criminal
Code involving fraud or dishonesty in respect of the
Company;
|
|
(c)
|
a
material breach or default of any term of this Agreement by the Executive
if such material breach or default has had a material adverse effect on
the Company and has not been remedied within 30 days after written notice
of the material breach or default has been delivered by the Company to the
Executive; or
|
|
(d)
|
the
Executive dying or becoming permanently disabled. The Executive shall be
deemed to have become permanently disabled if in any year during the
employment period, because of ill health, physical or mental disability,
or for other causes beyond the control of the Executive, the Executive has
been continuously unable, as determined by two independent physicians of
at least ten years' experience who are members in good standing of the
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, to perform his duties
for 180 consecutive days, or if, during any year of the employment period,
the Executive has been unable, determined as set out above, to perform his
duties for a total of 270 days, consecutive or not. The term “any year of
the employment period” means any period of 12 consecutive months during
the employment period.
|
7.3 Severance Payment for
Termination under Section 7.1(b), 7.1(c), 7.1(d) or Voluntary
Termination
In the
event of:
|
(a)
|
the
termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to Section 7.1(b),
Section 7.1(c) or Section 7.1(d) of this Agreement;
or
|
|
(b)
|
the
voluntary termination of the Executive's employment by the Company in
circumstances other than those contemplated under Section 7.2
hereof;
|
then
|
(c)
|
the
Company shall pay to the Executive within ten days of such termination a
severance payment equal to the sum
of:
|
|
(i)
|
one
years’ annual base salary and car allowance under section 3.1 in effect
immediately prior to such termination (“Base Salary”);
plus
|
|
(ii)
|
that
number of months of Base Salary, if any, which is equal to the number of
full years of employment worked by the Executive pursuant hereto from and
after April 1, 2005, up to but not exceeding a maximum of one years’ Base
Salary (for a maximum total payable under sections 7.3(i) and 7.3(ii)
above, assuming the Executive provides his services continuously hereunder
until or beyond 2017, of two years’ Base Salary,);
plus.
|
|
(iii)
|
an
amount equal to the amount of any bonuses paid to the Executive within the
12 months immediately prior to termination;
plus
|
|
(iv)
|
all
expenses incurred by the Executive up to the date of termination pursuant
to ARTICLE 3 of this Agreement and not previously reimbursed;
and
|
|
(d)
|
to
the extent permitted under the Company’s life, disability, medical and
other insurance or benefit plans in effect at any time during the 12 month
period prior to termination and in which the Executive participated, the
Company shall continue the coverage of the Executive under such plans for
the number of months following termination which is equal to the number of
months of annual Base Salary payable to the Executive under
section7.3(c)(i), otherwise pay to the Executive the amount which the
Executive shall be required to pay for the same type and amount of plan
coverage for such period; and
|
|
(e)
|
the
expiry date of any stock options of the Company held by the Executive at
the date of termination shall be deemed to be extended, pursuant to
section 7.1(e)(i) of the Company’s amended 2000 Stock Option Plan, to the
earlier of the original expiry date of such options and 1 year following
the date of termination of the Executive’s employment, such options shall
continue to vest in accordance with their original vesting schedule during
such extension, and the option agreement(s) evidencing such option(s)
shall be deemed to be amended
accordingly.
|
7.4 Voluntary
Termination of the Executive
by the Company
For
greater clarity of Sections 7.1(b) and 7.3(b) of this Agreement, the occurrence
of any of the following events shall be deemed not to constitute a material
breach or default by the Company of this Agreement, but shall be deemed to
constitute voluntary termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company,
entitling the Executive to the severance payment set forth in section
7.3:
|
(a)
|
the
Board fails to reappoint the Executive as Vice President, Research or
comparable officer of the Company immediately following the close of each
annual general or other meeting of the Company at which directors
are elected;
|
|
(b)
|
the
Board removes the Executive from the position of Vice President, Research
or comparable officer of the Company;
or
|
|
(c)
|
the
Board changes the Executive’s responsibilities or authority in a
fundamental respect and such change is not accepted by the
Executive.
|
7.5 Payment following
Termination under Section 7.2(a), 7.2(b), or 7.2(c)
In the
event of the termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to Sections
7.2(a), 7.2(b), or 7.2(c) of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the
Executive the full amount of compensation accrued pursuant to subsection 3.1 of
this Agreement as of the date of termination.
7.6 Severance Payment for
Termination under Section 7.2(d)
In the
event of the termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to Section
7.2(d) of this Agreement, the Company shall pay the following amounts to the
Executive within ten days of the termination:
(a)
the
amount of compensation accrued pursuant to subsection 3.1 of this Agreement as
of the date of termination;
(b)
the
amount of compensation payable under subsection 3.1 of this Agreement for one
year after the date of termination; and
(c) an amount
equal to the annual bonus most recently paid to the Executive pursuant to
subsection 3.3 of this Agreement multiplied by the fraction of which the number
of days between the fiscal year end of the Company related to the bonus and the
date of termination is the numerator, and 365 is the denominator.
7.7 Remedies
The right
of the Company to terminate the employment of the Executive under Section
7.2(a), 7.2(b) and 7.2(c) hereof and the right of the Executive to terminate his
employment under Section 7.1(b) hereof are in addition to and not in derogation
of any other remedies which may be available to the Company or the Executive at
law or in equity.
7.8 Transition and Return of
Property
Upon the
termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive will
deliver to the Company all books, records, lists, brochures and other property
or intellectual property rights belonging to the Company or developed in
connection with the business of the Company, and will execute such transfer
documentation as is necessary to transfer such property or intellectual property
rights to the Company. In addition, following termination of the Executive’s
employment with the Company, the Executive will provide the Company with all
such assistance and cooperation as the Company may reasonably require to enable
a smooth transition of the duties and responsibilities of the Executive to such
other individual as the Company shall appoint.
ARTICLE
8 GENERAL
8.1 Personal
Nature
The
obligations and rights of the Executive under this Agreement are personal in
nature, based upon the singular skill, qualifications and experience of the
Executive.
8.2 Right To Use Employee’s Name
And Likeness
During
the term of this Agreement, the Executive hereby grants to the Company the right
to use the Executive’s name, likeness and/or biography in connection with the
services performed by the Executive under this Agreement and in connection with
the advertising or exploitation of any project with respect to which the
Executive performs services for the Company.
8.3 Legal
Advice
The
Executive hereby represents, warrants and acknowledges to the Company that he
has had the opportunity to seek and was not prevented nor discouraged by the
Company from seeking independent legal advice prior to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and that, in the event that he did not avail himself
of that opportunity prior to signing this Agreement, he did so voluntarily
without any undue pressure by the Company or otherwise, and agree that his
failure to obtain independent legal advice shall not be used by him as a defence
to the enforcement of his obligations under this Agreement.
8.4 Waiver
No
consent or waiver, express or implied, by any party to this Agreement of any
breach or default by any other party in the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver of any subsequent or
continuing breach or default in such party’s performance or in the terms,
covenants and conditions of this Agreement. The failure of any party to this
Agreement to assert any claim in a timely fashion for any of its rights or
remedies under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any such
claim and shall not serve to modify, alter or restrict any such party’s right to
assert such claim at any time thereafter.
8.5 Notices
(a) Any
notice relating to this Agreement or required or permitted to be given in
accordance with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally
delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid to the address of the
parties set out on the first page of this Agreement. Any notice shall be deemed
to have been received if delivered, when delivered, and if mailed, on the fifth
day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) after the mailing thereof. If
normal mail service is interrupted by strike, slowdown, force majeure or other
cause, a notice sent by registered mail will not be deemed to be received until
actually received and the party sending the notice shall utilize any other
services which have not been so interrupted or shall deliver such notice in
order to ensure prompt receipt thereof.
(b) Each
party to this Agreement may change its address for the purpose of this Section
8.5 by giving written notice of such change in the manner provided for in this
Section.
8.6 Applicable
Law
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, which
shall be deemed to be the proper law hereof. The parties hereto hereby submit to
the jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario. All obligations of the parties under
this Agreement are subject to receipt of all necessary approvals of the
applicable securities regulatory authorities.
8.7 Severability
If any
provision of this Agreement for any reason be declared invalid, such declaration
shall not affect the validity of any remaining portion of the Agreement, which
remaining portion shall remain in full force and effect as if this Agreement had
been executed with the invalid portion thereof eliminated, and it is hereby
declared the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining portions of this Agreement without including therein any such part,
parts or portion which may, for any reason, be hereafter declared
invalid.
8.8 Entire
Agreement
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and
supercedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings,
negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written and there are no
representations or warranties, express or implied, statutory or otherwise other
than set forth in this Agreement and there are no agreements collateral hereto
other than as are expressly set forth or referred to herein. This Agreement
cannot be amended or supplemented except by a written agreement executed by all
parties hereto.
8.9
Arbitration
In the
event of any dispute arising with respect to any matter relating to this
Agreement, the matter in dispute shall be referred to a single arbitrator under
the Commercial Arbitration
Act then in effect in Ontario, except in a case where this Agreement
explicitly provides for another remedy or dispute resolution process, as in
Section 8.14 of this Agreement.
8.10 Non-Assignability
This
Agreement shall not be assigned by any party to this Agreement without the prior
written consent of the other parties to this Agreement.
8.11 Burden And
Benefit
This
Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto
and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted
assigns.
8.12 Time
Time is
of the essence of this Agreement.
8.13 Survival
ARTICLE
4, ARTICLE 5, ARTICLE 6, and sections 7.7 and 7.8 of this Agreement shall
survive the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company and the
termination of this Agreement.
8.14 Equitable
Remedies
The
Executive acknowledges that any breach by him of any provision of ARTICLE 4,
ARTICLE 5 or ARTICLE 6 may result in material damage to the Company which cannot
be adequately compensated by a monetary award, and consents to the issuance of
an injunction or other equitable remedy to prohibit, prevent or enjoin any such
breach.
8.15 Counterparts
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts and such counterparts together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties
have duly executed this Agreement as of the date set out on the first page, with
effect as of June 1, 2007.
Per: /s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Authorized
Signatory /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
XXXXX
XXXX
