EXHIBIT 10.6
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
the 1st day of June, 2006, by and between BV Pharmaceutical Inc., a Nevada
corporation (hereinafter called "Corporation"), and Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
(hereinafter called "Executive").
WITNESSETH:
In consideration of the compensation payable to Executive by the
Corporation pursuant to this Agreement, and the mutual promises, covenants,
representations and warranties contained herein, and other good and valuable
consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Parties hereto agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT AND POSITION. The Corporation hereby employs the Executive as
Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation, and the Executive hereby accepts
said employment and agrees to render such services to the Corporation on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. During the term of this
Agreement, the Executive shall report directly and solely to the President and
the board of directors and shall have such executive responsibilities to and
shall perform such executive services for the Corporation as may be consistent
with his titles. All other officers (excluding the President) and employees of
the Corporation shall report, directly or indirectly, to the Executive.
(a) CONDITION PRECEDENT. The commencement, validity and enforceability of
this Agreement are strictly conditioned upon Executive first complying with and
satisfying any and all applicable U.S., state, Canadian and provincial laws,
rules and regulations governing Executive's right to be employed by and work in
the jurisdiction in which Executive is assigned to work and/or perform duties
for the Corporation, specifically including, but not limited to, immigration,
employment and tax laws, rules and regulations.
2. TERM. Subject to the provisions for extension and termination set forth
in this Agreement, the initial term of this Agreement will begin on June 1, 2006
and shall terminate on May 31, 2009 unless sooner terminated ("Initial Term"),
provided that the term of this Agreement and the Executive's employment
hereunder shall be deemed to be extended for additional terms of one-year each
(each, an "Additional Term") commencing on the day after the expiration of the
Initial Term or the previous Additional Term unless either party elects to
terminate this Agreement at the end of the Initial Term or any Additional Term
by giving the other party written notice of such election at least sixty (60)
days before the expiration thereof. The Initial Term and all Additional Terms
shall be referred to collectively as the "Term".
3. COMPENSATION. As compensation for all services to be performed by the
Executive under this Agreement, the Corporation shall compensate Executive as
follows:
(a) BASE COMPENSATION. The Corporation shall pay the Executive base
compensation ("Base Salary") equal to One Hundred Thirty Two Thousand U.S.
Dollars ($132,000) per annum, which may be increased from time to time in such
amounts as are determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and shall
not be decreased without the Executive's written consent. The term "Base Salary"
shall refer to the Base Salary as so increased. The Base Salary will be payable
in installments in accordance with the Corporation's regular payroll practices
from time to time. The Base Salary and all other remuneration paid to the
Executive shall be subject to applicable employment and income tax withholding
taxes.
(b) BONUS. In addition to the Base Salary, the Corporation shall pay the
Executive during the term of this Agreement on each anniversary of the
commencement of the Initial Term such bonus payments as may be determined by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation based upon the Corporation's achievement
of the goals set forth in the Corporation's business plan as in effect from time
to time.
(c) STOCK GRANT. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, from time
to time, in the Board's sole discretion grant the Executive shares of the
Corporation's restricted Common Stock, and/or warrants and/or options to
purchase restricted shares of Common Stock, in amounts deemed appropriate by the
Board, based on the Executive's performance of his duties (the "Stock Grant")
The stock included in the Stock Grant shall be duly authorized, legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable upon the issuance thereof. The Corporation is
under no obligation or duty to issue any Stock Grant to Executive.
(d) BENEFITS. During the Term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be
eligible to participate in the standard fringe benefits package and incentive
compensation plans generally made available to the executive management
employees of the Corporation, as such benefits may be determined or changed from
time to time by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The fringe benefit
programs will include at a minimum reasonable hospital and major medical
insurance coverage for Executive and the family of the Executive. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall at a minimum
reimburse the Executive for the amount of Blue Cross insurance coverage costing
approximately $800 per month at the time this Agreement is entered into and
shall increase such reimbursement as the cost of such coverage is increased by
the provider thereof from time to time.
(e) EXPENSES. During the Term of this Agreement, the Corporation shall
reimburse the Executive for any and all expenses reasonably incurred by the
Executive incident to the performance of the duties imposed upon Executive
hereunder and which are substantiated in accordance with reasonable policies and
procedures of the Corporation in effect from time to time.
(f) AUTO ALLOWANCE. During the Term of this Agreement, the Corporation
shall pay to the Executive an automobile allowance of Four Hundred Dollars
($400) a month in addition to the Executive's Base Salary.
4. OFFICE. The Corporation will maintain an appropriately appointed and
furnished executive office in a location selected by the Executive at his
discretion from time to time, with a computer and such additional equipment and
office furnishings as are necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the
office of the Chief Operating Officer The Corporation shall provide the
Executive with secretarial and other administrative staff and support services
suitable to the Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Corporation shall at a
minimum pay One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per month towards the rental and
administrative expense of the Executive's office.
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5. TERMINATION.
(a) DEATH OR DISABILITY.
This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death.
The Corporation shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement because of
the Executive's disability during the Term. Such termination shall only become
effective if (i) one hundred and eighty (180) days shall elapse after the date
on which the Corporation gives the Executive written notice of its intention to
effect such a termination based on disability, and (ii) during such 180-day
period the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the
Executive's duties.
(b) TERMINATION BY THE CORPORATION.
The Corporation may terminate this Agreement for Cause at any time during
the Term, at which time the Term shall end. The Corporation shall give the
Executive written notice of such termination, setting forth in reasonable detail
the specific conditions that it considers to constitute Cause, and termination
shall be effective thirty (30) days after the delivery of such notice.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Cause" shall mean, when used with
respect to the termination of this Agreement by the Corporation, the conviction
of the Executive by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony involving a
crime of fraud or a financial crime against the Corporation, such as
embezzlement or other theft from the Corporation.
(c) TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.
The Executive may terminate this Agreement for Good Reason at any time
during the Term, at which time the Term shall end. The Executive shall give the
Corporation written notice of such termination, setting forth in reasonable
detail the specific conditions that the Executive considers to constitute Good
Reason, and termination shall be effective thirty (30) days after the delivery
of such notice.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Good Reason" means (a) any
failure by the Corporation to comply with any provision of this Agreement, other
than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure that is not taken in bad
faith and is remedied by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after receipt
of notice thereof from the Executive; or (b) the assignment to the Executive of
any duties or responsibilities inconsistent in any material respect with those
customarily associated with the positions held by the Executive during the Term.
6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE CORPORATION UPON TERMINATION
(a) TERMINATION FOR OTHER THAN GOOD REASON, FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY, OR FOR
CAUSE. If, during the Term, the Corporation terminates this Agreement due to the
death or disability of the Executive in accordance with Section 5(a) or for
Cause in accordance with Section 5(b), or the Executive terminates this
Agreement other than for Good Reason in accordance with Section 5(c), then the
Corporation shall pay to the Executive (or in the event of termination of
employment by reason of the Executive's death, his legal representative or his
estate if no representative has been appointed) in a lump sum in cash, within 30
days after the date of Termination, an amount equal to the accrued but unpaid
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salary pursuant to Section 3(a) and the bonuses as to which the goals set forth
on Exhibit B have been achieved but which have not been paid in accordance with
Section 3(b) (even if the deadline for such achievement has not yet occurred).
(b) TERMINATION FOR GOOD REASON OR OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE. If the Executive
terminates this Agreement for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c) or the
Corporation terminates this Agreement other than pursuant to Section 5(b) for
Cause, then the Corporation shall pay to the Executive, in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days after the date of Termination, an amount equal to two hundred
fifty percent (250%) of the salary that the Corporation would have been
obligated to pay the Executive pursuant to Section 3(a) during the Calculation
Period if the Agreement had remained unterminated until the end of the
Calculation Period plus the amount of all bonuses set forth on Exhibit B, except
for any bonus for which the deadline for achievement has passed that was not
earned on such deadline, and less any salary that has already been paid.
As used herein, "Calculation Period" shall mean the period (i) beginning on
the first day of the Initial Term and (ii) ending on (A) the last day of the
Initial Term if termination occurs more than sixty (60) days before the end of
the Initial Term, (B) the last day of the first Additional Term if termination
occurs sixty (60) days or fewer from the end of the Initial Term or during such
Additional Term before sixty (60) days from the end thereof, or (C) the last day
of the next succeeding Additional Term if termination occurs sixty (60) days or
less from the end of any Additional Term.
(c) OBLIGATION TO REIMBURSE EXPENSES. The obligation of the Corporation
under Sections 3(d)-(f) shall survive the termination of this agreement.
7. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
(a) NONDISCLOSURE. The Executive shall not, during or after the period
during which he is employed by the Corporation, and for five (5) years
thereafter, disclose any Confidential Information (as such term is defined
herein) to any Person for any reason or purpose whatsoever, other than in
connection with the performance of his duties under this Agreement. The term
"Confidential Information" shall mean all confidential information of or
relating to the Corporation and any of its Affiliates, including without
limitation, financial information and data, business plans and information
regarding prospects and opportunities (such as, by way of example only, client
and customer lists and acquisition, disposition, expansion, product development
and other strategic plans), but does not include any information that is or
becomes public knowledge by means other than the Executive's breach or
nonobservance of his obligations described in this Section 7. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Executive may disclose such Confidential Information as he
may be legally required to do so in connection with any legal or regulatory
proceeding; provided, however, that the Executive shall provide the Corporation
with prior notice of any such required or potentially required disclosure and
the Corporation may at its own expense seek appropriate confidential treatment
of any such Confidential Information that may be so required to be disclosed in
connection with any such legal or regulatory proceeding. The Executive's
obligation to refrain from disclosing any Confidential Information under this
Section 7 shall continue in effect in accordance with its terms following any
termination of this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that he will not use
any Confidential Information for any reason after his employment with the
Corporation is terminated other than as permitted in this Section 7.
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(b) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the
Corporation will have no adequate remedy at law, and would be irreparably
harmed, if the Executive breaches or threatens to breach any of the provisions
of this Section 7. The Executive agrees that the Corporation shall be entitled
to equitable and/or injunctive relief, on an ex parte basis, without notice and
without bond, to prevent any breach or threatened breach of this Section 7, and
to specific performance of each of the terms of this Section 7 in addition to
any other legal or equitable remedies that the Corporation may have. The
Executive further agrees that he shall not, in any equity proceeding relating to
the enforcement of the terms of this Section 7, raise the defense that the
Corporation has an adequate remedy at law.
(c) SPECIAL SEVERABILITY; SURVIVABILITY. The terms and provisions of this
Section 7 are intended to be separate and divisible provisions and if, for any
reason, any one or more of them is held to be invalid or unenforceable, neither
the validity nor the enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement
shall thereby be affected. This Section 7 shall survive the expiration or
termination of this Agreement.
8. FULL SETTLEMENT; MITIGATION. The Corporation's obligation to make the
payments provided for in, and otherwise to perform its obligations under, this
Agreement shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action that the Corporation may have against
the Executive or others other than a claim, right or action for fraud. In no
event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any
other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under
any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced,
regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment.
10. INDEMNIFICATION. The Corporation shall pay or indemnify the Executive
to the full extent permitted by Nevada law for all expenses, costs, liabilities
and legal fees which the Executive may incur in the discharge of his duties
hereunder.
11. NOTICES. All demands, notices, requests, consents and other
communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be personally delivered or sent by facsimile machine (with a
confirmation copy sent by one of the other methods authorized in this Section
11), commercial (including FedEx) or U.S. Postal Service overnight delivery
service, or, deposited with the U.S. Postal Service mailed first class,
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, as set forth below:
If to Corporation, addressed to:
BV Pharmaceutical Inc.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: CEO
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to the Executive:
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
______________________
______________________
Fax:
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Notices shall be deemed given upon the earliest to occur of (i) receipt by the
party to whom such notice is directed; (ii) if sent by facsimile machine, on the
day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in the jurisdiction to which
such notice is directed) such notice is sent if sent (as evidenced by the
facsimile confirmed receipt) prior to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time and, if sent after
5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, on the day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal
holiday in the jurisdiction to which such notice is directed) after which such
notice is sent; (iii) on the first business day (other than a Saturday, Sunday
or legal holiday in the jurisdiction to which such notice is directed) following
the day the same is deposited with the commercial carrier if sent by commercial
overnight delivery service; or (iv) the fifth day (other than a Saturday, Sunday
or legal holiday in the jurisdiction to which such notice is directed) following
deposit thereof with the U.S. Postal Service as aforesaid. Each party, by notice
duly given in accordance therewith may specify a different address for the
giving of any notice hereunder.
12. BINDING EFFECT; BENEFITS. This Agreement will be binding upon and will
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and assigns. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary, nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to
confer on any person other than the parties hereto or their respective heirs,
successors, executors, administrators or assigns any rights, remedies,
obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. There are no
third party beneficiaries to this Agreement.
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the final written
expression of all of the agreements between the Parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all understandings and negotiations
concerning the matters specified herein. No addition to or modification of any
provision of this Agreement will be binding upon any party unless made in
writing and signed by the party to be bound.
14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. Executive expressly consents to the sole and
exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts in the State of Texas for resolution
of any dispute hereunder, and consents to sole and exclusive venue in Xxxxxx
County, Texas. The prevailing party in any dispute resolution process shall be
entitled, in addition to an award determined by such process, to an award of
attorneys' fees, costs and expenses incurred in such process.
15 WITHHOLDING. The Corporation may withhold from any amounts payable under
this Agreement such taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any
applicable law or regulation.
16. HEADINGS. Headings of the Sections of this Agreement are for the
convenience of the parties only, and will be given no substantive or
interpretive effect whatsoever.
17. NO CONFLICT. The Executive represents and warrants that performance of
the terms of this Agreement will not breach or conflict with any agreement
entered into by the Executive, and that the Executive will not enter into any
agreement in conflict herewith.
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18. ASSIGNABILITY. Neither party hereto may assign any of its or his rights
or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party
hereto, which consent may be withheld in the sole discretion of such other
party.
19. WAIVERS. The failure or delay of the Corporation at any time to require
performance by the Executive of any provision of this Agreement, even if known,
will not affect the right of the Corporation to require performance of that
provision or to exercise any right, power or remedy hereunder, and any waiver by
the Corporation of any breach of any provision of this Agreement should not be
construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision,
a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right, power or remedy
under this Agreement. No notice to or demand on the Executive in any case will,
of itself, entitle the Executive to any other or further notice or demand in
similar or other circumstances.
20. CONSTRUCTION. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly
requires, (i) references in this Agreement to the plural include the singular,
the singular the plural, the masculine the feminine, the feminine the masculine
and the part the whole and (ii) the word "or" will not be construed as exclusive
and the word "including" will not be construed as limiting.
21. NO STRICT CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement has been prepared jointly and
will not be strictly construed against either party.
22. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an
original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and the Executive have executed this
Agreement on the day and year first above written.
BV PHARMACEUTICAL INC.
By: /s/ G. XXXXX XXXXX
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G. Xxxxx Xxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
/s/ XXXX XXXXXX XXXXX
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Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
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