EX-10 2 exhibit_10-1.htm EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT EMPLOYMENT, NON-COMPETITION AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.1
EMPLOYMENT, NON-COMPETITION
AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT NON-COMPETITION AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is effective as of the 17th day of June, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Emergent Health Corp, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (the “Employee”).
A. The Company is engaged in the sale of nutraceutical products.
B. The Company is desirous of employing Employee as the President and Chief Executive Officer.
ARTICLE I
Employee accepts the employment described in Article I of this Agreement and agrees to devote his good faith efforts to the faithful and diligent performance of the services described herein, including the performance of such other services and responsibilities as the Company may, from time to time, stipulate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may: (i) serve on the board of directors of other entities or serve in any capacity with any hobby, avocation, civic, educational, religious, professional or charitable activity or organization provided that such service does not materially interfere or conflict with his duties hereunder; and (ii) make and manage personal investments of his choice and (iii) serve as a consultant to third parties including Beneffect, LLC (marketers of a Liquid Oxygen product) on a less than full time basis. Employee shall comply with and be bound by the Company’s operating policies, procedures and practices in effect from time to time during the terms of his employment.
ARTICLE II
2.2 Termination. The Employment Term and Employment of Employee may be terminated as follows:
(a) Automatically, without the action of either party, upon the death of the Employee.
(c) By the Employee upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Company.
(d) Upon expiration of the Employment Term should Employee not elect to continue in the employment of the Company for the next successive renewal term.
(e) By the Company “Without Cause,” and without notice which shall mean a termination of the Employee’s employment by the Company other than pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2(a), Section 2.2(b) and Section 2.2(f) hereof or by virtue of the Company not renewing the term of this Agreement at a time where Employee is ready, willing and able to renew the term of this Agreement. Any termination of Employee which occurs within six months of a “Change in Control” of Company and other than for “Cause,” shall be deemed a termination Without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” occurs when there is: (a) a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company; (by any person
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or entity that is not a shareholder of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s outstanding securities; (c) the approval of a merger, sale or consolidation of the Company with any other company, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger consolidation; or (d) the shareholders and/or board of directors of the Company approve a plan of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.
(f) By the Company for “Cause” (as defined below).
(a) Voluntary Termination/Termination For Cause. Upon: (i) termination of the Employee’s employment for “Cause” pursuant to Sections 2.2(f); or (ii) Employee’s resignation; or (iii) the expiration of the Employment Term, because the Employee elects not to extend the Employment Term, Employee shall be entitled to receive his base salary, bonus, benefits and expense reimbursements solely through the date of his remaining term of his entire employment agreement duration.
(b) Death/Total Disability. Subject to the terms of Section 2.4(d) below, upon the termination of the Employment Term by reason of the death or Total Disability of the Employee, pursuant to Sections 2.2(a) or (b), the Employee (or, in the case of death, his estate) shall be entitled to receive his base salary through the date of death or determination of Total Disability and to the end of his employment agreement. If there is less than 12 months remaining on the agreement the continuation of full compensation for the greater of the duration of the remaining entire employment agreement or 12 months.
(c) Without Cause. Subject to the terms of Section 2.4(d) below, if Employee’s employment is terminated Without Cause, pursuant to Section 2.2(e), Employee will be entitled to receive his base salary through the date of termination plus the greater of the remaining entire employment agreement or eighteen (18) months additional salary to be paid out over the ensuing eighteen (18) month period in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practice (subject to applicable withholding tax).
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the following reasons: (i) Employee fails to substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than any such failure due to his physical or mental illness), and such l failure is not remedied within ten (10) business days after written notice from the Company’s board of directors, which written notice shall state that failure to remedy such conduct may results in an involuntary termination for Cause; (ii) Employee engages in willful and serious misconduct (including, but not limited to, an act of fraud or embezzlement) that has caused or is reasonably expected to result in material injury to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) Employee is convicted of or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a: (A) crime that materially adversely affects his ability to perform his duties on behalf of the Company; or (B) felony; (iv) Employee engages in alcohol or substance abuse which adversely affects his ability to perform his duties; or (v) Employee willfully breaches any of his obligations hereunder or under any other agreement between himself and the Company, and such willful breach is not remedied within ten (10) business days after written notice from the Company’s board of directors, which written notice shall state that failure to remedy such conduct may result in an involuntary termination for Cause.
ARTICLE III
ARTICLE IV
CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-SOLICITATION, NON-COMPETE
AND QUIT CLAIM AGREEMENT
4.1 Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that, as of a result of the employment hereunder, Employee will acquire, develop, and use information that is not generally known to the public or to the Company’s industry, including but not limited to, certain records, phone locations, documentation, software programs, email and mobile strategies, price lists, customer lists, contract prices for the Company’s services, business plans and prospects of the Company, equipment configurations, ledgers and general information, employee records, mailing lists, accounts receivable and payable ledgers, financial and other
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records of the Company or its affiliates, and other similar matters, as well as any information disclosed to the Company by any third party under which the Company has a confidentiality obligation to the third party (all such information pertaining to the Company, its affiliates or disclosed to Company under confidentiality from third parties being hereinafter referred to as “Confidential Information”). Employee further acknowledges and agrees that the Confidential Information is of great value to the Company and its affiliates and that the restrictions and agreements contained in this Agreement are reasonably necessary to protect the Confidential Information and the goodwill of the Company. Accordingly, Employee hereby agrees that:
(a) Employee will not, while employed by the Company or for three years thereafter, directly or indirectly, except in connection with Employee’s performance of the duties under this Agreement, or as otherwise authorized in writing by the Company for the benefit of the Company or its “Affiliates” (as hereinafter defined), divulge to any person, firm, corporation, limited liability company, or organization, other than the Company or its Affiliates (hereinafter referred to as “Third Parties”), or use or cause or authorize any Third Parties to use, the Confidential Information, except as required by law; and
(b) Upon the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company any and all Confidential Information, including drawings, notebooks, notes, records, keys, disks data and other documents and materials belonging to the Company or its Affiliates which is in his possession or under his control relating to the Company or its Affiliates or abstracts therefrom, regardless of the medium upon which it is stored, and will deliver to the Company upon such termination of employment any other property of the Company or its Affiliates which is in his possession or control.
4.2 Non-Solicitation Covenant. Employee hereby covenants and agrees that while employed by the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall not: (i) directly or indirectly, endeavor to entice away from the Company or its Affiliates any person, firm, corporation, limited liability company or other entity that was a customer of the Company at any time while Employee was an employee of the Company or its Affiliates or who is a “prospective vendor or customer” of the Company; or (ii) induce, attempt to induce or hire any employee (or any person who was an employee during the year preceding the date of any solicitation) of the Company or its Affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or its Affiliates or to otherwise perform services directly or indirectly for others, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such employee and the Company or its Affiliates. For purposes hereof, “prospective vendor or customer” shall mean any person or entity which has been solicited for business by Employee or any officer or other employee of the Company or its Affiliates at any time during Employee’s employment.
4.3 Non-Competition Covenant. Employee acknowledges that the covenants set forth in this Section 4.3 are reasonable and are granted in part in consideration of the new management team of the Company to join the Company and arrange for Employee to be a substantial shareholder. Employee also acknowledges that the enforcement of the covenants set forth in this Section 4.3 will not preclude Employee form being gainfully employed in such manner and to the extent as to provide a standard of living for himself, the members of his family and the others dependent upon him of at least the level to which he and they have become accustomed and may
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expect. Employee hereby agrees that he shall not, during his employment and for a period of two (2) years after the end of his employment directly or indirectly, engage in any proprietorship, partnership, firms trust, company, limited liability company or other entity, other than the Company (whether as owner, partner, trustee, beneficiary, stockholder, member, officer, director, employee, independent contractor, agent, servant, consultant, manager, lessor, lessee, or otherwise) that competes with the Company in the Business of the Company in the Restricted Territory (as defined herein), other than acquiring an ownership interest in a company listed on a recognized Stock exchange in an amount which does not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding Stock of such corporation. For purposes of this Agreement: (i) the term “Business of the Company” shall include all business activities and ventures in which the Company is engaged in from time to time, including but not limited to the sale of nutraceutical products, provided in no event shall the sale of any liquid oxygen products be deemed a violation of any of the restrictive covenants contained herein; and (ii) the term “Restricted Territory” means any state in the United States of America.
4.4 Remedies.
(a) Injunctive Relief. Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that a violation of any of the provisions of Sections 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 could cause immediate and irreparable harm, loss and damage to the Company not adequately compensable by a monetary award. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that the time periods and territorial areas provided for herein are reasonable in order to adequately protect the Business of the Company, the enjoyment of the Confidential Information and the goodwill of the Company. Without limiting any of the other remedies available to the Company at law or in equity, or the Company’s right or ability to collect money damages, Employee agrees that any actual or threatened violation of any of the provisions of Sections 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 may be immediately restrained or enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction, injunction may be issued in any court of competent jurisdiction, without notice and without bond. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the provisions of this Article IV shall survive the termination of Employee’s employment.
(b) Enforcement: It is the desire of the parties that the provisions of Sections 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies in each jurisdiction in which enforcement might be sought. Accordingly, if any particular portion of Sections 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 shall ever be adjudicated as invalid or unenforceable, or if the application thereof to any party or circumstance shall be adjudicated to be prohibited by or invalidated by such laws or public policies, such section or sections shall be: (i) deemed amended to delete there from such portions so adjudicated; or (ii) modified as determined appropriate by such a court, such deletions or modifications to apply only with respect to the operation of such section or sections in the particular jurisdictions so adjudicating on the parties and under the circumstances as to which so adjudicated.
(c) Legal Fees. In any action to enforce the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reimbursement from the other party of reasonable legal fees and costs.
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4.5 Company. All references to the Company in this Article IV shall include “Affiliates” of the Company, as that term is construed under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
4.6 Quit Claims. By execution of this Agreement, Employee: (i) assigns and quit claims to the Company all right, title and interest as relates to the Business of the Company in any patentable or potentially patentable invention or design within the meaning of Title 35 of the United States Code, and any utility or design created or discovered by the Employee during the course of his employment with the Company; and (ii) agrees that if during the course of his employment by the Company, he discovers, invents or produces, without limitation, any information, formulae, product, device, software, system, technique, drawing, program or process, which is a “trade secret” within applicable law or deemed to be such in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, such information formulae, product, device, system, technique, drawing, program or process shall be assigned to the Company. Employee agrees to fully cooperate with the Company in: (A) protecting the value and secrecy of any such trade secrets, and further agrees to execute any and all documents the Company deems necessary to document any such assignment to the Company; and (B) Employee designates the Company his attorney-in-fact to execute any documents the Company may deem necessary that relates to any such trade secret or assignment thereof to the Company.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement does not apply to any invention (“Employee Owned Invention(s)”) for which no equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of the Company was used and which was developed entirely on the Employee’s own time, unless: (a) the invention relates: (i) to the Business of the Company; or (ii) to the Company’s actual research or development; or (b) the invention results from any work performed by the Employee for the Company. Except as noted on the signature page hereof, Employee claims no right in any inventions as of the date hereof.
ARTICLE V
| To Employee at: | The address set forth on the signature page hereof. |
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| To Company at: | Emergent Health Corp |
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| 0000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
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| Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 |
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Any party may change its address for purposes of this paragraph by giving the other party written notice of the new address in the manner set forth above.
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which could result in both parties incurring greater legal expense than in retaining Xxxx as counsel.
5.7 Arbitration. If there is any dispute between the parties concerning any matter relating to this Agreement, the exclusive basis for adjudication of this Agreement (except with respect to the performance of the covenants and obligations as set forth in Article IV above) shall be by arbitration as detailed herein. Either party may submit the dispute to binding arbitration. Any such arbitration proceeding will be conducted in Xxxx County, Illinois and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, will be conducted under the auspices of JAMS/Mediation, Inc., in accordance with the then current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator shall allow such discovery as the arbitrator determines appropriate under the circumstances. The arbitrator shall determine which party, if either, prevailed and shall award the prevailing party its costs. Each party will bear his, her or its respective attorneys’ fees. The award and decision of the arbitrator shall be conclusive and binding on all parties to this Agreement and judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties acknowledge and agree that any arbitration award may be enforced against either or both of them in a court of competent jurisdiction and each waives any right to contest the validity or enforceability of such award. The parties further agree to be bound by the provisions of any statute of limitations which would be applicable in a court of law to the controversy or claim which is the subject of any arbitration proceeding initiated under the Agreement. The parties further agree that they are entitled in any arbitration proceeding to the entry of an order, by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to an opinion of the arbitrator, for specific performance of any of the requirements of this Agreement.
In any action to enforce any of the provisions of Article IV hereof, the action shall be litigated in the state or federal courts situated in Xxxx County, Illinois, to which jurisdiction and venue all parties consent. Each party hereby waives his, her or its right to trial by jury with respect to such action and agrees that the prevailing party such action shall be entitled to reimbursement from the other party of his, her or its legal fees and costs incurred in connection with such actions. Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief, without the necessity of posting bond to remedy any breach of any of the terms of Article IV of this Agreement by Employee.
5.8 Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
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the date hereof. As a material inducement to Employee to fund the Note, Company agrees that it shall not apply any amount of the Note proceeds toward the payment of salary or other obligations of the Company to any of its current or past employees, officers or directors or any of their respective Affiliates that were accrued prior to the Effective Date without the prior written consent of Employee. In addition, Employee shall have the right to exercise any of the rights set forth in the Note for his own benefit and enforcement of any of those rights shall not be deemed a breach of any fiduciary duty or other obligation owing from Employee to the Company. Employee shall have the right for injunctive relief without the necessity of posting bond to enforce any of his rights with respect to the Note.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date first set forth above.
COMPANY: |
| EMPLOYEE: | |||
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Emergent Health Corp |
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| /s/Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
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| Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
By: | /s/Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
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Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
| Address: | 0000 Xxx Xx | |
Title: | Chairman |
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| Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | |
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| Employee Owned Inventions: | None |
Signature Page
EXHIBIT A
COMPENSATION
1. | Base Salary. $275,000.00 per annum, subject to increase in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company. |
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3. | Executive options. Employee will be granted stock options with an exercise price of $226,233 in the aggregate to purchase an amount equal to 5% of the fully diluted capitalization of the Company (inclusive of the options per Sections 2 and 3 hereof) after giving effect to the issuances of the next $3,000,000 in equity capital raised by the Company, as well as any new stock options granted through the date of closing upon such equity. The impact of the options per Sections 2 and 3 hereof in additional converted financing raised through the S1 and a full option pool (enough to anticipate all future grants to distributors and new employees). These options will vest monthly over three years and will fully vest upon change in change in control. |
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A-1