INDEPENDENT CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS
CONSULTING AGREEMENT is dated this 1 day of November, 2007 (the “Effective
Date”) by and between UNITED
HEREITAGE CORPORATION,
a
Company duly incorporated pursuant to the laws of the state of Utah and having
an office at 0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx X, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the “Company”)
and GWB Petroleum Consultants Ltd.,
a
Canadian corporation with an office at 2911 Xxxxxxxxx Dr. S.W. Calgary, Alberta,
T3E-6E5, Canada (the “GWB”)
WHEREAS:
A.
The
Company is a public company, the shares of which trade on NASDAQ;
B.
The
Company wishes to obtain the services of GWB to provide the Company with a
Vice
President, Engineering and Production and GWB wishes to provide these officer
services to the Company in the capacity of an independent
contractor.
C.
GWB
has
identified Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx to the Company to fulfill the role of Vice
President, Engineering and Production (“Xxxxxxx” and or the “VPEP”) and has
represented to the Company that he has the necessary qualifications to operate
the Company as its VPEP;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals, the following representations
and
covenants and for other good and reliable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged by the parties, the parties hereto covenant and
agree as follows:
1.
ENGAGEMENT OF GWB AND APPOINTMENT OF VPEP
1.1
The
Company hereby engages GWB and GWB is hereby providing Xxxxxxx to function
as
the Company’s VPEP and Xxxxxxx, by executing this Agreement on the signature
page hereof, hereby obligates himself, on behalf of GWB, to act as the Company’s
VPEP subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2.
SERVICES OF GWB
2.1 During
the Term (as defined below), the VPEP shall perform all duties customarily
performed by a person with like title and position in a small publicly-held
corporation engaged in a business similar to the Company’s business.
(collectively, the “Services”). The parties agree that the Services will
require an average of between 100 and 200 hours of Xxxxxxx’x time per
month.
2.2 GWB
and
the VPEP shall at all times and in all respects do their utmost to enhance
and
develop the business interests and welfare of the Company.
2.3 The
VPEP
shall be subject to such supervision as may be imposed by the Company in its
sole discretion and GWB shall cause the VPEP to furnish regular reports and
any
other data and information relating to the Services as may, from time to time,
be requested by the Company.
3.
COMPENSATION
3.1
For
providing the Services, the Company shall pay the GWB $550 per day (the “Per
Diem Rate”) until January 1, 2008 then the amount shall be $12,000 per month
(the “Monthly Fee”). The Per Diem Rate and the Monthly Fee shall be payable on
the first of each month during the term of this Agreement and shall be payable
at GWB’s address set forth above. GWB’s annual compensation shall be evaluated
annually on the anniversary of the Effective Date.
3.2
The
Company hereby grants to the GWB warrants to purchase (i) 250,000 shares of
common stock at $2.00 per share which warrants will vest upon the completion
of
a Successful Pilot, as that term is defined below; (ii) warrants to purchase
250,000 shares of common stock at $2.00 per share which warrants will vest
when
the 30 day average production reaches 1,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day
(“boe/d” @ 6:1); (iii) warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock at
$2.50 per share which warrants will vest when the average production reaches
2,000 boe/d; and (iv) warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock at
$3.00 per share which warrants will vest when the average production reaches
3,000 boe/d. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Successful Pilot” means,
the announcement by the Company that it is moving forward with a development
program based upon the results of the pilot program of the Xxxxxxx
Field.
3.3
The
vesting of the warrants set forth above shall be subject to the provisions
of
Section 9 hereunder.
3.4 Upon
completion of the first year of this Agreement and provided it is not terminated
in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall pay GWB a renewal bonus,
payable in common stock of the Company (the “Stock Bonus”). The number of shares
comprising the Stock Bonus that GWB shall be entitled to receive shall be based
upon the cash compensation received by GWB during the first year of this
Agreement with the number of shares comprising the Stock Bonus based upon the
closing price of the Company’s shares of common stock on the last day of the
year to which the Stock Bonus is applicable. GWB shall be entitled to an
additional Stock Bonus at the end of the second year of this Agreement based
upon the annual compensation received by GWB in the second year of this
Agreement computed on the same basis as the computation of the Stock Bonus
for
the first year of this Agreement.
3.5 GWB
shall
be responsible for the payment of all taxes to the Internal Revenue Service
as
will as any taxes payable in the United States, including taxes payable to
any
state or local jurisdiction. GWB indemnifies the Company with respect to the
payment of any and all taxes owing and due for any cash compensation, stock
compensation or stock bonus compensation.
3.6
In
the
event of a transaction contemplated in Section 9 hereof which results in the
termination of this Agreement, GWB shall receive a 12 month severance package
payable upon the effective date of the transaction and only as to the cash
portion of GWB’s annual compensation.
4.
BUSINESS EXPENSES
4.1
The
Company shall reimburse GWB and/or the VPEP in accordance with the Company’s
policies for all reasonable business and travel expenses actually and properly
incurred by the Company in connection with GWB’s and/or VPEP’s duties hereunder.
Such reimbursement is subject to GWB and/or the VPEP keeping proper accounts
and
furnishing to the Company, within a reasonable time after the expenses are
incurred, all applicable statements, vouchers and other evidence of expenses
in
such form as the Company may reasonably require.
5.
TERM AND RENEWAL
5.1
The
term
of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and terminate two (2)
years from the date hereof, unless renewed or extended by the parties in writing
(the “Term”).
2
6.
TERMINATION
6.1 This
Agreement and the Term shall terminate automatically two (2) years from the
date
hereof, without any prior notice or any payment to GWB or upon the death or
permanent incapacity of the VPEP.
6.2 The
Company may terminate GWB’s engagement under this Agreement at any time upon the
occurrence of any of the following events. (a) the VPEP acting unlawfully,
dishonestly, negligently, incompetently or in bad faith; (b) the conviction
of
the VPEP of a felony; (c) the VPEP becoming permanently disable or disabled
for
a period exceeding 90 consecutive days or 90 days calculated on a cumulative
basis during the Term of this Agreement; or (d) the breach or default of any
term of this agreement by GWB and/or the VPEP if such breach or default has
not
been remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within 30 days
after
written notice of the breach or default has been delivered by the Company to
GWB.
6.3 GWB
may
terminate its obligations under this Agreement upon the default or breach of
any
term of this Agreement by the Company if such breach or default has not been
remedied or is not being remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of GWB within
30 days after written notice of the breach or default has been delivered by
GWB
to the Company.
6.4 In
the
event of the termination of GWB’s engagement under this Agreement as set forth
in Section 6.2, GWB will be entitled only to the cash compensation and stock
compensation earned by GWB hereunder as of the date of such termination.
7.
CONFIDENTIALITY
7.1
GWB
acknowledges and agrees that in the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement it and/or the VPEP may obtain knowledge of Confidential Information
(as defined below) relating to the business or affairs of the Company and/or
its
affiliated companies (the “Affiliated Companies”). GWB and the VPEP shall
not, without the prior written consent of the Company, either during the Term
or
for a period of 12 months thereafter: (a) use or disclose any Confidential
Information outside of the Company or the Affiliated Companies; (b) except
in
undertaking the Services, remove or aid in the removal from the premises of
the
Company or any of the Affiliated Companies any Confidential Information or
any
property or material relating thereto; or (c) use the Confidential Information
for any purpose other than in performing the Services.
7.2
GWB
shall exercise and insure that the VPEP exercises a reasonable degree of care
in
safeguarding the aforementioned Confidential Information against loss, theft,
or
other inadvertent disclosure, and further agrees to take all reasonable steps
necessary to ensure the maintenance of confidentiality.
7.3
Upon
the
termination of this Agreement, or upon the Company’s earlier request, GWB and/or
the VPEP shall promptly deliver to the Company all of the Confidential
Information that GWB and/or the VPEP may have in its and/or his possession
or
control.
7.4 In
this
Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean any information or knowledge
including, without limitation, any document, materials, formula, pattern,
design, system, program, device, software, plan, process, know how, research,
discovery, strategy, method, idea, client list, marketing strategy or employee
compensation, or copies or adaptations thereof, that: (a) relates to the
business or affairs of the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies; (b) is
private or confidential in that it is not generally known or available to the
public; and (c) gives or would give the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies
an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know of or
use
it.
3
7.5
Confidential
Information shall specifically not include anything that: (a) is in or enters
lawfully into the public domain other than as a result of a disclosure by GWB
and/or the VPEP; (b) becomes available to GWB and/or VPEP on a non-confidential
basis from a source other than the Company, or any of its representatives,
and
that source was not under any obligation of confidentiality; or (c) GWB is
required to disclose pursuant to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction
or by the operation of law; provided that, GWB and/or the VPEP provides prompt
prior written notice to the Company of such required disclosure and of the
action which is proposed to be taken in response. In such an event, and
only after GWB and/or VPEP shall have made a reasonable effort to obtain a
protective order or other reliable assurance affording such information
confidential treatment, GWB and/or the VPEP shall furnish only that portion
of
the Confidential Information which he is required to disclose.
8.
NON-SOLICITATION
8.1 GWB
and
VPEP covenant, undertake and agree with the Company that during the Term and
for
a period of one year from the date of expiration or termination of this
Agreement for any reason whatsoever, they shall not, on their own behalf or
on
behalf of any Person, whether directly or indirectly, in any capacity
whatsoever, offer employment to or solicit the employment of or otherwise entice
away from the employment of the Company or any of the Affiliated Companies,
any
individual who is employed or engaged by the Company or any of the Affiliated
Companies at the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement or who
was
employed or engaged by the Company or any of the Affiliated Companies within
the
one year period immediately preceding the date of expiration or termination
of
this Agreement, as applicable.
8.2
GWB and
the VPEP acknowledge and agree that the above restriction on non-solicitation
is
reasonable and necessary for the proper protection of the businesses, property
and goodwill of the Company and the Affiliated Companies.
9.
COMBINITION; CHANGE OF CONTROL; LIQUIDATION
9.1
(i) In the event of a Combination or Change of Control, as those terms are
defined below, all unvested warrants of GWB will immediately vest and shall
have
the right to receive upon exercise of their Warrants and payment of the exercise
price, subject in all cases to completion of a Successful Pilot, the kind and
amount of shares of capital stock or other securities or property which it
would
have been entitled to receive upon or as a result of such Combination or Change
of Control had such Warrants been exercised immediately prior to such event.
The
Company shall provide that the surviving or acquiring Person in such Combination
will assume by written instrument the obligations hereunder and the obligations
to deliver to GWB such shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance
with the foregoing provisions, it may be entitled to acquire. “Combination”
means
an event in which the Company consolidates with, merges with or into, or sells
all or substantially all of its assets to another Person or a transaction
pursuant to which the Company is not the surviving entity, where “Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Change of Control” shall mean the sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company
to
any other person. In the event of a Combination where consideration to the
holders of Common Stock in exchange for their shares is payable solely in cash
or (y) the dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company, GWB shall
be
entitled to receive, upon surrender of their Warrants, distributions on an
equal
basis with the holders of Common Stock or other securities issuable upon
exercise of their Warrants, as if the Warrants had been exercised immediately
prior to such event, less the Exercise Price.
4
10.
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS
10.1 The
Services undertaken by GWB under this Agreement shall be in full compliance
with
all applicable laws and consistent with a high degree of business
ethics.
11.
INDEMNIFICATION
11.1
GWB
shall indemnify and save harmless the Company for any demonstrated losses,
damages, costs or other amounts, including without limitation reasonable legal
fees, suffered or incurred by the Company arising out of third party claims
relating to the presence or activities of the GWB and/or the VPEP in performing
the Services to the extent that such losses, damages, costs or other amounts
are
caused by: (a) any breach of GWB’s obligations herein; and (b) any
negligence, willful misconduct or fraud on the part of GWB in performing the
Services.
11.2 Subject
to GWB’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 10, and provided
that GWB has not breached this Section 10, the Company shall indemnify and
save
harmless GWB and VPEP for any demonstrated losses, damages, costs or other
amounts, including without limitation reasonable legal fees, suffered or
incurred by GWB and/or the VPEP arising out of third party claims relating
to
the presence or activities of GWB and/or the VPEP in performing the Services
as
would reasonably be the case for all directors and officers of the Company.
Any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage currently in
place or obtained in the future by the Company will be extended to GWB and
the
VPEP without charge to GWB and/or the VPEP.
11.3
Neither
the Company, GWB or the VPEP shall be liable for any consequential loss,
including but not limited to, claims for loss of profit, revenue or capital,
loss of use of utilities, equipment or facilities, down-time cost, service
interruption, cost of money, injury or damage of any character
whatsoever.
12.
REMEDIES
12.1
GWB
acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Agreement by him could cause
irreparable damage to the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies and that
in
the event of a breach by GWB, the Company shall have in addition to any and
all
other remedies at law or in equity, the right to an injunction, specific
performance or other equitable relief to prevent any violation by GWB of any
of
the provisions of this Agreement. In the event of any such dispute, GWB
agrees that the Company shall be entitled, without showing actual damages,
to a
temporary or permanent injunction restraining the conduct of GWB pending a
determination of such dispute and that no bond or other security shall be
required from the Company in connection therewith. GWB acknowledges and agrees
that the remedies of the Company specified in this Agreement are in addition
to
and not in substitution for any other rights and remedies of the Company at
law
or in equity and that all such rights and remedies are cumulative and not
alternative or exclusive of any other rights or remedies and that the Company
may have recourse to any one or more of its available rights and remedies as
it
shall see fit.
13.
RIGHT OF SET-OFF
13.1
The
Company may set-off against the Fees any amount owing to the Company by GWB
under this Agreement.
5
14.
RELATIONSHIP
14.1
The
Company and GWB each acknowledge and agree that the only relationship between
GWB and the Company created by this Agreement shall for all purposes be that
of
an independent contractor. The Company shall have no obligation whatsoever
to: (a) pay or compensate GWB for (i) taxes of any kind whatsoever that arise
out of or with respect to any fee, remuneration or compensation provided to
GWB
under this Agreement; (ii) holding any position with the Company; (b) providing
benefits to GWB relating to: (i) sickness or accident, whether or not resulting
from the performance by GWB of his obligations under this Agreement; (ii)
retirement or pension benefits; or (iii) any other benefits provided by the
Company or any of the Affiliated Companies to any of their
employees.
14.2
GWB
shall fully indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against all
assessments, claims, liabilities, costs, expenses and damages that the Company
and/or any of the Affiliated Companies may suffer or incur with respect to
any
such taxes or benefits.
15.
SURVIVAL OF TERMS
15.1 Sections
8 through 12, inclusive, and this Section 14, shall survive and remain in
force notwithstanding the expiration or other termination of this Agreement
for
any reason whatsoever. Any expiration or termination of this Agreement
shall be without prejudice to any rights and obligations of the parties hereto
arising or existing up to the effective date of such expiration or termination,
or any remedies of the parties with respect thereto.
16.
NO ASSIGNMENT
16.1 Neither
GWB’s nor the VPEP’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement are not
assignable or delegable in whole or in part. The Company may assign this
Agreement to a successor (whether direct or indirect, whether by purchase,
merger, consolidation otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company; provided, however, that the Company will require
any successor to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the
same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform
it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, the
“Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined an any successor to its
business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to performed this
Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.
17.
SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
17.1 The
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted
assigns.
18.
WAIVER
18.1 Any
waiver of any breach or default under this Agreement shall only be effective
if
in writing signed by the party against whom the waiver is sought to be enforced,
and no waiver shall be implied by indulgence, delay or other act, omission
or
conduct. Any waiver shall only apply to the specific matter waived and only
in
the specific instance in which it is waived.
6
19.
GOVERNING LAWS
19.1
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties, the Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Texas
and
the parties hereto submit to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts
situate in the state of Texas.
20.
ARBITRATION
20.1 In
the
event of any dispute arising in the determination of the compensation to be
paid
pursuant to Section 3 hereof or of GWB’s compensation as set out in this
Agreement, the matter in dispute shall be referred to the auditors of the
Company for determination. If the auditors cannot agree on a determination
of
the matter in dispute within 10 days following the referral to them, the matter
in dispute shall be refereed to a single arbitrator under the Arbitration act
then in effect federally, and the arbitration shall take place in Xxxxxxx
County, Texas.
21.
FURTHER ASSURANCES
21.1 Each
of
the parties shall, on request by the other party, execute and deliver or cause
to be executed and delivered all such further documents and instruments and
do
all such further acts and things as the other party may reasonably require
to
evidence, carry out and give full effect to the terms, conditions, intent and
meaning of this Agreement and to ensure the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
22.
NOTICES
22.1
All
notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall
be given by delivering such notice or mailing such notice by pre-paid registered
mail to the addresses first set forth above or by facsimile transmission to
the
facsimile number set forth below each parties respective name on the signature
page hereof.. Any such notice or other communication shall, if delivered, be
deemed to have been given or made and received on the date delivered (or the
next business day if the day of delivery is not a business day), and if mailed,
shall be deemed to have been given or made and received on the fifth business
day following the day on which it was so mailed and if faxed (with confirmation
received) shall be deemed to have been given or made and received on the day
on
which it was so faxed (or the next business day if the day of sending is not
a
business day). The parties may give from time to time written notice of
change of address in the manner aforesaid.
23.
SEVERABILITY
23.1 If
any
provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then to the fullest extent permitted by
law:
(a) all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in order to carry out
the
intentions of the parties as nearly as may be possible; and (b) such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
24.
FORCE MAJEURE
24.1 In
the
event that either party is prevented from performing or is unable to perform
any
of its obligations under this Agreement due to any act of God; fire; casualty;
flood; war; strike; lockout; failure of public utilities; injunction or any
act,
exercise, assertion or requirement of governmental authority; epidemic;
destruction of production facilities; riots; insurrection; or any other cause
beyond the reasonable control of the party invoking this Section , if such
party
shall have used its reasonable efforts to avoid such occurrence, such party
shall give notice to the other party in writing promptly, and thereupon the
affected party’s performance shall be excused and the time for performance shall
be extended for the period of delay or inability to perform due to such
occurrence.
7
25.
COUNTERPARTS AND FACSIMILE
25.1
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and delivered by
facsimile, each of which when so executed shall constitute an original and
all
of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
26.
INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE
26.1
The
Company has recommended to GWB that it obtain independent legal advice prior
to
signing this Agreement. GWB acknowledges that he has received independent
legal advice or has waived the opportunity to do so and has elected to proceed
without benefit of same.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF
this
Agreement has been executed as of the Effective Date.
UNITED
HERITAGE CORPORATION
|
|
By:
___________________________
|
|
(Fax
No.) (000) 000 0000
|
|
GWB
PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS LTD.
|
|
________________________________
|
|
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, President
|
|
(Fax
No.) (000) 000-0000
|
|
|
|
Agreed
and Accepted
|
|
_________________________
|
|
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
8