CONSULTING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
The Consulting Agreement (the “Agreement”) is between Certiplex Corp., a Montana Corp. (the “Company”) and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (the “Consultant”). effective as of October 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”)
WHEREAS, the Consultant desires to accept such role under the terms hereof.
(a) Death. The Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the death of Consultant.
(d) For purposes of the Agreement, “Cause” shall mean:
(i) the material breach of any provision of the Agreement by Consultant which has not been cured within five business (5) days after the Company provides notice of the breach to Consultant; provided, however, if the act or omission that is the subject of such notice is substantially similar to an act or omission with respect to which Consultant has previously received notice and an opportunity to cure, then no additional notice is required and the Agreement may be terminated immediately upon the Company’s election and written notice to Consultant);
(ii) the entry of a plea of guilty or judgment entered after trial finding Consultant guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment in excess of one year involving moral turpitude (meaning a crime that includes the commission of an act of gross dishonesty or bad morals);
(iii) willfully engaging by Consultant in conduct that the Consultant knows or reasonably should know is detrimental to the reputation, character or standing or otherwise injurious to the Company or any of its shareholders, direct or indirect subsidiaries and Affiliates, monetarily or otherwise;
(iv) without limiting the generality of Section 6(d)(i), the breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Sections 8, 9 or 10; or
(v) a ruling in any state or federal court or by an arbitration panel that the Consultant has breached the provisions of a non-compete or non-disclosure agreement, or any similar agreement or understanding which would in any way limit, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Consultant’s ability to perform under the Agreement now or in the future.
(i) Any change in the duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) of Consultant that is inconsistent in any adverse respect with Consultant’s position(s), duties, responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to such change (including any diminution of such duties or responsibilities) or (B) an adverse change in Consultant’s titles or offices (including, membership on the Board of Directors) with the Company;
(ii) a reduction in Consultant’s Base Salary or Bonus opportunity;
(iii) the relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices out of Montana;
(iv) the failure of the Company to continue in effect any material Consultant benefit plan, compensation plan, welfare benefit plan or fringe benefit plan in which Consultant is participating immediately prior to the date of the Agreement or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect Consultant’s participation in or reduce Consultant’s benefits under any such plan, unless Consultant is permitted to participate in other plans providing Consultant with substantially equivalent benefits;
(v) any refusal by the Company to continue to permit Consultant to engage in activities not directly related to the business of the Company which Consultant was permitted to engage in prior to the date of the Agreement;
(vi) the Company’s failure to provide in all material respects the indemnification set forth in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, or any other written agreement between Consultant and Company;
(vii) the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption agreement from any successor giving rise to a Change of Control as contemplated in Section 10;
(viii) any other breach of a material provision of the Agreement by the Company.
6, For purposes of clauses (iii) through (vi) and (ix) above, an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action taken in good faith and which is remedied by the Company within ten (10) days after receipt of notice thereof given by Consultant shall not constitute Good Reason. Consultant’s right to terminate employment with Good Reason shall not be affected by Consultant’s incapacity due to mental or physical illness and Consultant’s continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any event or condition constituting cause.
(a) Upon Death of Consultant. During the Term, if Consultant’s employment is terminated due to his death, Consultant’s estate shall be entitled to receive the Base Salary set forth in Section 3 accrued through the date of death and any bonus Fully-Earned (as herein defined) through the date of such termination; provided, however, Consultant’s estate shall not be entitled to any other benefits (except as provided by law or separate agreement). “Fully-Earned” shall mean that for purposes of determining whether the Consultant shall be entitled to a bonus, that such Consultant shall be treated as if he had been employed through the last date of the regular period for determining whether or not a bonus is payable in the standard manner that all such Consultants are evaluated even though Consultant is no longer employed by the Company, and him eligibility for an incentive bonus, if any, shall be determined accordingly. Further, a surviving spouse of Consultant shall be eligible for continuation of family benefits pursuant to Section 3(c) subject to compliance with Plan provisions at the full premium rate (Company plus Consultant portion) for a one year period after the date of termination.
(b) For Disability; By Company Without Cause; By Consultant with Good Reason.
If the Agreement is terminated under Section 6 (b), (e) or (f):
(i) Consultant shall be entitled to receive his Base Salary set forth in Section 3 accrued through the date of such termination and any bonus Fully-Earned through the date of such termination, and shall receive a severance equal to 12 months salary, paid out in 12 equal monthly installments; and
(ii) Except as provided for in the Section 7(b), Consultant shall not have any rights which have not previously accrued upon termination of the Agreement.
(c) By Company With Cause. In the event of termination of Consultant’s employment Section 6(c) Consultant shall be entitled to receive the Base Salary and benefits set forth in Section 3 accrued through the date of termination, and he shall not be entitled to any other benefits (except as required by law).
(a) The Company shall disclose to consultant, or place Consultant in a position to have access to or develop, trade secrets or confidential information of Company or its Affiliates; and/or shall entrust Consultant with business opportunities of Company or its Subsidiaries; and/or shall place Consultant in a position to develop business good will on behalf of Company or its Subsidiaries.
(b) The Consultant acknowledges that in his employment hereunder he occupies a position of trust and confidence and agrees that he will treat as confidential and will not, without prior written authorization from the Company, directly or indirectly, disclose or make known to any person or use for her own benefit or gain, the methods, process or manner of accomplishing the business undertaken by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or any non-public information, plans, formulas, products, trade secrets, marketing or merchandising strategies, or confidential material or information and instructions, technical or otherwise, issued or published for the sole use of the company, or information which is disclosed to the Consultant or in any way acquired by him during the term of the Agreement, or any information concerning the present or future business, processes, or methods of operation of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or concerning improvement, inventions or know how relating to the same or any part thereof, it being the intent of the Company, with which intent the Consultant xxxxxx agrees, to restrict him from disseminating or using for his own benefit any information belonging directly or indirectly to the Company which is unpublished and not readily available to the general public.
14. Applicable Law and Venue. The Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes, by the laws of the State of Montana.
In witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed the Agreement as of the day and year above written.
\s\ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: President
Consultant:
\s\ Xxxxxx xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx