Exhibit 10.1
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS is dated on the 26th day of June, 2012.
BETWEEN:
GLOBAL STEVIA CORP.
(the "Company")
AND:
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A. The Company desires to retain the Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (the "Contractor"),
to provide the Company with services customary of a publicly traded company's
Chief Executive Officer and President (the "Services");
B. The Contractor has agreed to provide the Services to the Company on the terms
and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES that in consideration of the mutual
covenants and promises set forth herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by
each, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORITY OF CONTRACTOR
1.1 Appointment of Contractor. The Company hereby appoints the Contractor to
perform the Services for the benefit of the Company as hereinafter set forth,
and the Company hereby authorizes the Contractor to exercise such powers as
provided under this Agreement. The Contractor accepts such appointment on the
terms and conditions herein set forth.
1.2 Performance of Services. The Services hereunder have been and shall continue
to be provided on the basis of the following terms and conditions:
(a) the Contractor shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the
Company;
(b) the Contractor shall faithfully, honestly and diligently serve the
Company and cooperate with the Company and utilize maximum
professional skill and care to ensure that all services rendered
hereunder, including the Services, are to the satisfaction of the
Company, acting reasonably, and the Contractor shall provide any other
services not specifically mentioned herein, but which by reason of the
Contractor's capability the Contractor knows or ought to know to be
necessary to ensure that the best interests of the Company are
maintained; and
(c) the Company shall report the results of the Contractor's duties
hereunder as may be requested by the Company from time to time.
1.3 Authority of Contractor. The Contractor shall have no right or authority,
express or implied, to commit or otherwise obligate the Company in any manner
whatsoever except to the extent specifically provided herein or specifically
authorized in writing by the Company.
1.4 Independent Contractor. In performing the Services, the Contractor shall be
an independent contractor and not an employee or agent of the Company, except
that the Contractor shall be the agent of the Company solely in circumstances
where the Contractor must be the agent to carry out its obligations as set forth
in this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require the
Contractor to provide the Services exclusively to the Company and the Contractor
hereby acknowledges that the Company is not required and shall not be required
to make any remittances and payments required of employers by statute on the
Contractor's behalf and the Contractor or any of its agents shall not be
entitled to the fringe benefits provided by the Company to its employees.
ARTICLE 2
CONTRACTOR'S AGREEMENTS
2.1 Expense Statements. The Contractor may incur expenses in the name of the
Company as agreed in advance in writing by the Company, provided that such
expenses relate solely to the carrying out of the Services. The Contractor will
immediately forward all invoices for expenses incurred on behalf of and in the
name of the Company and the Company agrees to pay said invoices directly on a
timely basis. The Contractor agrees to obtain approval from the Company in
writing for any individual expense of $500 or greater or any aggregate expense
in excess of $2,000 incurred in any given month by the Contractor in connection
with the carrying out of the Services.
2.2 Travel Expenses. The Company may require the Contractor to travel or
temporarily relocate to oversee local operations. If relocation or travel is
required, the Company shall provide the Contractor with reasonable
accommodations as well as travel expenses. During extended relocation, the
Contractor shall be provided with paid visits back to his home residence. Any
expenses subject to this Section 2.2 shall be discussed and agreed upon by the
Contractor and the Company before they are undertaken.
2.3 Regulatory Compliance. The Contractor agrees to comply with all applicable
securities legislation and regulatory policies in relation to providing the
Services, including but not limited to United States securities laws (in
particular, Regulation FD) and the policies of the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission.
2.4 Prohibition Against Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx. The Contractor hereby acknowledges that
the Contractor is aware, and further agrees that the Contractor will advise
those of its directors, officers, employees and agents who may have access to
Confidential Information, that United States securities laws prohibit any person
who has material, non-public information about a company from purchasing or
selling securities of such a company or from communicating such information to
any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that
such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.
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ARTICLE 3
COMPANY'S AGREEMENTS
3.1 Cash Compensation. Compensation for agreeing to enter into this Agreement
and provide the Services to be rendered by the Contractor pursuant to this
Agreement shall be $8,000 per month during the term of this Agreement.
3.2 Information. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, including without
limitation Article 5 hereof, and provided that the Contractor agrees that it
will not disclose any material non-public information to any person or entity,
the Company shall make available to the Contractor such information and data and
shall permit the Contractor to have access to such documents as are reasonably
necessary to enable it to perform the Services under this Agreement. The Company
also agrees that it will act reasonably and promptly in reviewing materials
submitted to it from time to time by the Contractor and inform the Contractor of
any material inaccuracies or omissions in such materials.
ARTICLE 4
DURATION, TERMINATION AND DEFAULT
4.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective as of May 1, 2012 (the
"Effective Date"), and shall continue to June 30, 2013 (the "Term") or until
earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement may
be extended for an additional 12 months at the option of the Company.
4.2 Termination. Without prejudicing any other rights that the Company may have
hereunder or at law or in equity, the Company may terminate this Agreement
immediately upon it election to do so, or if it so elects, upon delivery of
written notice to the Contractor if:
(a) the Contractor breaches section 2.2 or 2.3 of this Agreement;
(b) the Contractor breaches any other material term of this Agreement and
such breach is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company
within thirty (30) days after written notice describing the breach in
reasonable detail is delivered to the Contractor;
(c) the Company acting reasonably determines that the Contractor has
acted, is acting or is likely to act in a manner detrimental to the
Company or has violated or is likely to violate the confidentiality of
any information as provided for in this Agreement;
(d) the Contractor is unable or unwilling to perform the Services under
this Agreement, or
(e) the Contractor commits fraud, serious neglect or misconduct in the
discharge of the Services.
4.3 Termination with Notice. Either the Contractor or the Company may terminate
this Agreement by providing at least ninety (90) days prior written notice to
the other party.
4.4 Duties Upon Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason,
the Contractor shall upon receipt of all sums due and owing, promptly deliver
the following in accordance with the directions of the Company:
(a) a final accounting, reflecting the balance of expenses incurred on
behalf of the Company as of the date of termination; and
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(b) all documents pertaining to the Company or this Agreement, including
but not limited to, all books of account, correspondence and contracts
in his possession, provided that the Contractor shall be entitled
thereafter to inspect, examine and copy all of the documents which it
delivers in accordance with this provision at all reasonable times
upon three (3) days' notice to the Company.
4.5 Compensation of Contractor on Termination. Upon termination of this
Agreement, the Contractor shall be entitled to receive as its full and sole
compensation in discharge of obligations of the Company to the Contractor under
this Agreement all sums due and payable under this Agreement to the date of
termination and the Contractor shall have no right to receive any further
payments; provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to offset
against any payment owing to the Contractor under this Agreement any damages,
liabilities, costs or expenses suffered by the Company by reason of the fraud,
negligence or wilful act of the Contractor, to the extent such right has not
been waived by the Company.
ARTICLE 5
CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-COMPETITION
5.1 Maintenance of Confidential Information. The Contractor acknowledges that in
the course of its appointment hereunder the Contractor will, either directly or
indirectly, have access to and be entrusted with information (whether oral,
written or by inspection) relating to the Company or its respective affiliates,
associates or customers (the "Confidential Information"). For the purposes of
this Agreement, "Confidential Information" includes, without limitation, any and
all Developments (as defined herein), trade secrets, inventions, innovations,
techniques, processes, formulas, drawings, designs, products, systems,
creations, improvements, documentation, data, specifications, technical reports,
customer lists, supplier lists, distributor lists, distribution channels and
methods, retailer lists, reseller lists, employee information, financial
information, sales or marketing plans, competitive analysis reports and any
other thing or information whatsoever, whether copyrightable or uncopyrightable
or patentable or unpatentable. The Contractor acknowledges that the Confidential
Information constitutes a proprietary right, which the Company is entitled to
protect. Accordingly the Contractor covenants and agrees that during the Term
and thereafter until such time as all the Confidential Information becomes
publicly known and made generally available through no action or inaction of the
Contractor, the Contractor will keep in strict confidence the Confidential
Information and shall not, without prior written consent of the Company in each
instance, disclose, use or otherwise disseminate the Confidential Information,
directly or indirectly, to any third party.
5.2 Exceptions. The general prohibition contained in Section 5.1 against the
unauthorized disclosure, use or dissemination of the Confidential Information
shall not apply in respect of any Confidential Information that:
(a) is available to the public generally in the form disclosed;
(b) becomes part of the public domain through no fault of the Contractor;
(c) is already in the lawful possession of the Contractor at the time of
receipt of the Confidential Information; or
(d) is compelled by applicable law to be disclosed, provided that the
Contractor gives the Company prompt written notice of such requirement
prior to such disclosure and provides assistance in obtaining an order
protecting the Confidential Information from public disclosure.
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5.3 Developments. Any information, data, work product or any other thing or
documentation whatsoever which the Contractor, either by itself or in
conjunction with any third party, conceives, makes, develops, acquires or
acquires knowledge of during the Contractor's appointment with the Company or
which the Contractor, either by itself or in conjunction with any third party,
shall conceive, make, develop, acquire or acquire knowledge of (collectively the
"Developments") during the Term or at any time thereafter during which the
Contractor is engaged by the Company that is related to the business of mining
property acquisition and exploration shall automatically form part of the
Confidential Information and shall become and remain the sole and exclusive
property of the Company. Accordingly, the Contractor does hereby irrevocably,
exclusively and absolutely assign, transfer and convey to the Company in
perpetuity all worldwide right, title and interest in and to any and all
Developments and other rights of whatsoever nature and kind in or arising from
or pertaining to all such Developments created or produced by the Contractor
during the course of performing this Agreement, including, without limitation,
the right to effect any registration in the world to protect the foregoing
rights. The Company shall have the sole, absolute and unlimited right throughout
the world, therefore, to protect the Developments by patent, copyright,
industrial design, trademark or otherwise and to make, have made, use,
reconstruct, repair, modify, reproduce, publish, distribute and sell the
Developments, in whole or in part, or combine the Developments with any other
matter, or not use the Developments at all, as the Company sees fit.
5.4 Protection of Developments. The Contractor does hereby agree that, both
before and after the termination of this Agreement, the Contractor shall perform
such further acts and execute and deliver such further instruments, writings,
documents and assurances (including, without limitation, specific assignments
and other documentation which may be required anywhere in the world to register
evidence of ownership of the rights assigned pursuant hereto) as the Company
shall reasonably require in order to give full effect to the true intent and
purpose of the assignment made under Section 5.3 hereof. If the Company is for
any reason unable, after reasonable effort, to secure execution by the
Contractor on documents needed to effect any registration or to apply for or
prosecute any right or protection relating to the Developments, the Contractor
hereby designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and
agents as the Contractor's agent and attorney to act for and in the Contractor's
behalf and stead to execute and file any such document and do all other lawfully
permitted acts necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Company to effect
such registration or to apply for or prosecute such right or protection, with
the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Contractor.
5.5 Remedies. The parties to this Agreement recognize that any violation or
threatened violation by the Contractor of any of the provisions contained in
this Article 5 will result in immediate and irreparable damage to the Company
and that the Company could not adequately be compensated for such damage by
monetary award alone. Accordingly, the Contractor agrees that in the event of
any such violation or threatened violation, the Company shall, in addition to
any other remedies available to the Company at law or in equity, be entitled as
a matter of right to apply to such relief by way of restraining order, temporary
or permanent injunction and to such other relief as any court of competent
jurisdiction may deem just and proper.
5.6 Reasonable Restrictions. The Contractor agrees that all restrictions in this
Articl 5 are reasonable and valid, and all defenses to the strict enforcement
thereof by the Company are hereby waived by the Contractor.
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ARTICLE 6
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Notices. All notices required or allowed to be given under this Agreement
shall be made either personally by delivery to or by facsimile transmission to
the address set forth above or to such other address as may be designated from
time to time by such party in writing.
6.2 Independent Legal Advice. The Contractor acknowledges that:
(a) this Agreement was prepared for the Company;
(b) the Contractor has been requested to obtain his own independent legal
advice on this Agreement prior to signing this Agreement;
(c) the Contractor has been given adequate time to obtain independent
legal advice;
(d) by signing this Agreement, the Contractor confirms that he fully
understands this Agreement; and
(e) by signing this Agreement without first obtaining independent legal
advice, the Contractor waives his right to obtain independent legal
advice.
6.3 Change of Address. Any party may, from time to time, change its address for
service hereunder by written notice to the other party in the manner aforesaid.
6.4 Entire Agreement. As of from the date hereof, any and all previous
agreements, written or oral between the parties hereto or on their behalf
relating to the appointment of the Contractor by the Company are null and void.
The parties hereto agree that they have expressed herein their entire
understanding and agreement concerning the subject matter of this Agreement and
it is expressly agreed that no implied covenant, condition, term or reservation
or prior representation or warranty shall be read into this Agreement relating
to or concerning the subject matter hereof or any matter or operation provided
for herein.
6.5 Further Assurances. Each party hereto will promptly and duly execute and
deliver to the other party such further documents and assurances and take such
further action as such other party may from time to time reasonably request in
order to more effectively carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement and
to establish and protect the rights and remedies created or intended to be
created hereby.
6.6 Waiver. No provision hereof shall be deemed waived and no breach excused,
unless such waiver or consent excusing the breach is made in writing and signed
by the party to be charged with such waiver or consent. A waiver by a party of
any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of a further
breach of the same provision.
6.7 Amendments in Writing. No amendment, modification or rescission of this
Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in writing and signed by the
parties hereto.
6.8 Assignment. Except as herein expressly provided, the respective rights and
obligations of the Contractor and the Company under this Agreement shall not be
assignable by either party without the written consent of the other party and
shall, subject to the foregoing, enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Contractor and the Company and their permitted successors or assigns. Nothing
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herein expressed or implied is intended to confer on any person other than the
parties hereto any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by
reason of this Agreement.
6.9 Severability. In the event that any provision contained in this Agreement
shall be declared invalid, illegal or unenforceable by a court or other lawful
authority of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be deemed not to
affect or impair the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall continue to have full force and effect.
6.10 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.
6.11 Number and Gender. Wherever the singular or masculine or neuter is used in
this Agreement, the same shall be construed as meaning the plural or feminine or
a body politic or corporate and vice versa where the context so requires.
6.12 Time. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. In the event that any
day on or before which any action is required to be taken hereunder is not a
business day, then such action shall be required to be taken at or before the
requisite time on the next succeeding day that is a business day. For the
purposes of this Agreement, "business day" means a day which is not Saturday or
Sunday or a statutory holiday in Newfoundland, Canada.
6.13 Enurement. This Agreement is intended to bind and enure to the benefit of
the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Contractor and the personal
legal representatives of the Contractor.
6.14 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each
of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which will together
constitute one and the same instrument.
6.15 Currency. Unless otherwise provided, all dollar amounts referred to in this
Agreement are in lawful money of the United States of America.
6.16 Electronic Means. Delivery of an executed copy of this Agreement by
electronic facsimile transmission or other means of electronic communication
capable of producing a printed copy will be deemed to be execution and delivery
of this Agreement as of the effective date of this Agreement.
6.17 Proper Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the law of State of Nevada. The parties hereby attorn to the jurisdiction
of the Courts in the State of Nevada.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.
GLOBAL STEVIA CORP. XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Per: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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