THE UNDERSIGNED HAVE CAREFULLY READ THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS, KNOW THE CONTENTS THEREOF, FULLY UNDERSTAND IT, AND SIGN THE SAME AS HIS OR ITS OWN FREE ACT.
By: Clarence E. Smith, Director & CEO
Susan M. Woodward, individually
PROTOKINETIX, INCORPORATED
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
This CONSULTING AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of ________ ___, 2017 and made effective as of January 1, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), by and between ProtoKinetix, Incorporated, a Nevada corporation (“Company”), and Susan M. Woodward, an individual (“Consultant”).
WHEREAS, the Company is a bio-technology company in the business of developing anti-aging glycoproteins (“AAGP”) for the purpose of enhancing cell survival and health in various applications including transplant procedures, engraftment of tissue and cell preservation;
WHEREAS, Consultant will be resigning as Chief Financial Officer from the Company effective December 31, 2017 and possesses a depth of knowledge regarding the Company and its financials so that Consultant would provide valuable knowledge to the Company in the future; and
WHEREAS, on the Effective Date the Company and Consultant desire to enter into an agreement to perform certain services for the Company and Consultant has agreed to provide such services, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
AGREEMENT:
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and Consultant agree as follows:
1. Services. During the Term (as defined below) of this Agreement Consultant will provide the Company with such general corporate, administrative, and technical services as requested by the Company (collectively, the “Services”).
2. Compensation and Expenses.
(a) Compensation. Consultant shall receive compensation equal to $_______ per hour in exchange for the Services provided to the Company on an as needed basis starting on January 1, 2018 until December 31, 2020. The Company agrees to pay Consultant on the first day of every month starting February 1, 2018 during the Term of this Agreement for such Services rendered in the prior month.
(b) Existing Options. Consultant currently holds the following options: (i) an option to purchase 2,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company exercisable at $0.04 per share, with an expiration date of February 25, 2020 pursuant to the option agreement dated May 4, 2015; (ii) an option to purchase 4,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company exercisable at $0.04 per share, with an expiration date of February 25, 2020 pursuant to the option agreement dated May 4, 2015; (iii) an option to purchase 4,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company exercisable at $0.08 per share, with an expiration date of December 31, 2019 pursuant to the option agreement under the 2015 Stock Option and Stock Bonus Plan (the “2015 Plan”) dated January 1, 2016; and (iv) an option to purchase 4,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company exercisable at $0.05 per share, with an expiration date of December 31, 2020 pursuant to the option agreement dated January 1, 2017 under the 2017 Stock Option and Stock Bonus Plan (the “2017 Plan”), (collectively the “Options”). As incentive to Consultant to enter into this Agreement, Consultant, as an ongoing consultant to the Company, may exercise the Options up until their respective expiration dates. Consultant’s resignation as of December 31, 2017 as CFO will not act as a termination date for purposes of the 2015 Plan or the 2017 Plan.
(c) Expenses. Promptly upon the completion of each month of Services, but no later than the 10th day of the following month, Consultant shall provide the Company with an invoice for Permitted Expenses (defined below). Such invoice shall be accurate, complete, and include sufficient detail and receipts to substantiate amounts due hereunder. Amounts due shall be payable within 30 business days of the Company’s receipt of a correct and undisputed invoice from Consultant. “Permitted Expenses” include the following: (i) when requested by the Company, reasonable expenses for travel, and (ii) other expenses specifically approved by the Company in writing. Notwithstanding the above, the Company will not be responsible for any single expense in excess of $500 or aggregate expenses in any one month of more than $2,000 without prior written approval of the Company.
3. Ownership.
(a) Ownership of Work Products. To the extent that the Services provided hereunder include original material subject to copyright (referred to as “Work Product”), Consultant agrees that the Services are done as a “work for hire” as that term is defined under U.S. copyright law, and that as a result, the Company shall own all copyrights in and to the Work Product. To the extent that the Work Product does not qualify as a work for hire under applicable law, and to the extent that the Work Product includes material subject to copyright, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary right protection, Consultant hereby assigns to the Company, its successors and assigns, all right, title and interest in and to the Work Product, including all copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and other proprietary rights therein (including renewals thereof). Consultant shall execute and deliver such instruments and take such other action as may be required and requested by the Company to carry out the assignment contemplated by this paragraph. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Consultant hereby waives all moral rights in and to the Work Product.
(b) License for Prior Works. By incorporating into any Services any original work or authorship created prior to this Agreement (“Prior Works”), Consultant thereby grants the Company a worldwide, perpetual, nonexclusive, transferable license to use, distribute, publish, or publicly display such Prior Works and modify such Prior Works as incorporated into the Services.
(c) Ownership of Equipment. Unless otherwise expressly set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, any and all tangible equipment, materials, documentation, or other items provided by the Company in connection with this Agreement shall remain the property of the Company.
(d) Ownership of Intellectual Property. The Company shall retain title to and all rights in all intellectual property provided by the Company in connection with the Services, including, but not limited to, any know-how related to the Services or products provided or developed in the course of Consultant’s Services or the creation of Work Product, such as hardware, software, data, media or other tools or technologies.
4. Confidentiality.
(a) Nature of Confidential Information. In this Agreement, “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, information, whether or not in written form, which has a business purpose and is not known or generally available from sources outside the Company or typical of industry practice, including but not limited to, the Company’s internal structure, financial affairs, programs, software systems, procedures, manuals, confidential reports, marketing methods, the amount, nature and type of services and methods used and preferred by the Company’s vendors and customers and the fees paid by such persons or entities; the identity of the Company’s present and prospective customers and vendors; customer and vendor lists; any data relating to a customer or vendor of the Company; the Company’s business arrangements and costs; and information regarding earnings, forecasts, reports and technical data of the Company, provided that Confidential Information does not include:
(i) Information that is in the public domain at the date hereof or becomes part of the public domain after the date hereof through no act or omission of Consultant;
(ii) Information which Consultant can prove was in its possession prior to the date hereof and was not acquired by Consultant from the Company or any person under a confidentiality obligation to the Company;
(iii) Documents or information independently developed by or for Consultant; and
(iv) Information received by Consultant without restriction as to disclosure from a third party who has the lawful right to disclose the same.
(b) Agreement to Keep Information Confidential. Consultant acknowledges the confidential and proprietary nature of the Confidential Information, shall keep all Confidential Information in strict confidence and will not disclose or dispose of any Confidential Information to any third party. Consultant may, however, disclose the Confidential Information to its officers, employees, advisers and agents who need to know the Confidential Information for the purposes of the evaluating and assessing the Confidential Information. All individuals receiving any Confidential Information under this Agreement shall be directed by Consultant to treat the Confidential Information confidentially pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement prevents Consultant from disclosing any Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law, regulation, court order or securities regulatory authority.
(c) No-Trade. Consultant acknowledges that it may be in possession of material nonpublic information which is considered to be any information concerning the Company that is both (i) material (meaning the average investor would want to know such information before deciding whether to buy, sell or hold securities of the Company, or, in other words, information that could affect the market price of Company securities); and (ii) nonpublic (meaning the information has not been disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC or in a press release issued by the Company that has been broadly disseminated to the investing public). Information is not considered public until the second business day after such disclosure in an SEC filing or press release. If such material nonpublic information is disclosed to the public, Consultant may not trade in Company securities until the second business day after such disclosure (i.e., the second day after the applicable SEC filing or press release). The prohibition on trading while in possession of material nonpublic information continues for as long as any information Consultant has is both material and nonpublic and can continue even after Consultant’s engagement with the Company has terminated.
5. Termination.
(a) Term. This Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and continue until the earlier of December 31, 2020 (the “Term”) or until terminated.
(b) Termination for Cause. The Company will have the right to terminate Consultant upon written notice for Cause. The term “Cause” means as a result of (i) any breach of any written policy of the Company; (ii) conduct involving moral turpitude, including, but not limited to, misappropriation or conversion of assets of the Company (other than immaterial assets); (iii) Consultant’s conviction of, or entry of a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony; or (iv) a material breach of this Agreement. The term “Cause” shall not mean as a result of the death or disability of Consultant.
(c) Termination Upon a Change of Control. This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon a Change of Control of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall mean any of the following:
(i) Any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or any other corporate reorganization, other than any such consolidation, merger or reorganization in which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, continue to hold at least a majority of the voting power of the surviving entity in substantially the same proportions (or, if the surviving entity is a wholly owned subsidiary, its parent) immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization; or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is a party in which in excess of 50% of the Company’s voting power is transferred; or
(ii) The sale, lease, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, except where such sale, lease transfer or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
(d) Survival. In the event of termination of this Agreement for any reason, Sections 3 through 7 shall survive indefinitely.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification. Each party agrees to indemnify and save the other, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, consultants and agents (each an “Indemnified Party”) harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, actions, suits, proceedings, damages liabilities or expenses of whatsoever nature or kind, including any investigation expenses incurred by any Indemnified Party to which an Indemnified Party may become subject by reason of breach of this Agreement or of law by the defaulting party. Notwithstanding the above, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Consultant from and against any claims, damages, losses or expenses incurred by Consultant which arise out of any acts or omissions taken in good faith by Consultant in connection with or related to Consultant’s performance of the Services.
7. General Terms.
(a) Return of Work Product. Consultant agrees, promptly upon completion of the Services or other termination of this Agreement, to deliver to the Company all Work Product and to return all notes, designs, code, storage devices, documents and any other Company materials, including Confidential Information. Consultant shall not retain any such materials without the Company’s written approval.
(b) No Employer-Employee Relationship. The Company and Consultant understand, acknowledge, and agree that Consultant’s relationship with the Company will be that of an “independent contractor” and not that of an employee. Consultant will be an “independent contractor” and Consultant will be entitled to work at such times and places as Consultant determines appropriate, will not be under the direction or control of the Company or the manner in which Consultant performs the Services. Consultant will not be entitled to any of the benefits which the Company may make available to its employees (which benefits may in the future include, but not be limited to, unemployment insurance benefits, group health or life insurance, profit-sharing or retirement benefits).
(c) Taxes. Consultant is and will be solely responsible for, and will file, on a timely basis, all tax returns and payments required to be filed with, or made to, any federal, state or local tax authority (including, but not limited to Social Security, federal, state, Medicare, and all of other taxes) with respect to the performance of Services and receipt of fees under this Agreement. No part of the compensation payable to Consultant will be subject to withholding by the Company for the payment of any social security, federal, state or any other employee payroll taxes. If required by the Company, Consultant shall prepare and sign such documents affirming Consultant’s citizenship and residency for tax purposes.
(d) Client Solicitation. While providing Services to the Company, Consultant shall not solicit work, remuneration or other benefits of any kind directly from any the Company contacts or affiliates without the express, prior written consent of the Company.
(e) Notices. All notices, demands, requests, or other communications that may be or are required to be given, served, or sent by any party to any other party pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by email, next-day courier, or mailed by first-class, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, addressed as follows:
If to the Company: ProtoKinetix, Incorporated Attn: Clarence E. Smith, President & CEO | With a copy to: Burns Figa & Will PC Attn: Victoria B. Bantz, Esq. |
| |
If to Consultant: Susan Woodward | |
(f) Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without prior written consent of the other.
(g) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, not including any other agreement pursuant to which securities of the Company are issued to Consultant, represents the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations, agreements, arrangements, and understandings, if any, either written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, none of which shall be used to interpret or construe this Agreement. If any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement or the documents and instruments executed and delivered in connection herewith is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
(h) Law Governing. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado even though Consultant may perform services or reside in other states or countries.
(i) Amendments. Neither party may amend this Agreement or rescind any of its existing provisions without the prior written consent of the other party.
(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and will become effective and binding upon the parties at such time as all of the signatories hereto have signed a counterpart of this Agreement. All counterparts so executed shall constitute one Agreement binding on all of the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all of the parties are not signatory to the same counterpart. In all other respects, this Agreement shall continue to remain in full force and effect. Facsimile or .pdf transmissions containing signatures shall be considered delivery and shall be deemed binding.
(k) Remedies. As the violation by Consultant of the provisions of Sections 3 and/or 4 of this Agreement would cause irreparable injury to the Company, and there is no adequate remedy at law for such violation, the Company shall have the right to seek specific performance or injunctive relief against Consultant without the posting of a bond or other security. The remedies available with respect to the rights and obligations under this Agreement are cumulative, and this section shall not be construed to limit in any manner whatsoever any other rights or remedies that may be available for any breach of this Agreement.
8. Venue. All disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement and all actions to enforce this Agreement shall be adjudicated in the state or federal courts sitting in Denver, Colorado. The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding relating to any such dispute. So far as is permitted under applicable law, this consent to personal jurisdiction shall be self-operative and no further instrument or action, other than service of process or as permitted by law, shall be necessary in order to confer jurisdiction upon the undersigned in any such court.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Consulting Agreement on the date first written above.
ProtoKinetix, Incorporated By: _____________________________ Clarence E. Smith, President and CEO | Consultant: _____________________________ Susan M. Woodward |
EXHIBIT B – ESCROW AGREEMENT
ESCROW AGREEMENT
This Escrow Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of November __, 2017, by
and among ProtoKinetix Incorporated, a Nevada corporation
(“ProtoKinetix”), Susan M. Woodward, an individual residing in the state of Ohio (“Ms. Woodward”
) and
Burns, Figa & Will, P.C., counsel to ProtoKinetix and escrow agent by agreement of the parties.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and General Release, dated November __, 2017 between ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward (the “Settlement Agreement”), the parties have agreed to place certain funds (the “Escrow Funds”) in an escrow account with the escrow agent, Burns, Figa & Will, P.C.
WHEREAS, Ms. Woodward desires to have the funds due her pursuant to the Settlement Agreement deposited in escrow for her benefit, to secure ProtoKinetix’s performance under the Settlement Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Escrow Funds are to be delivered to Escrow Agent upon execution of the Settlement Agreement by both parties and are to be held in escrow and released in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and mutual promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:
TERMS OF THE ESCROW
The parties hereby agree to Burns, Figa & Will P.C. acting as an escrow agent, whereby it shall hold the Escrow Funds for Ms. Woodward’s benefit, until such time as the specific instructions set forth in Section 1.4 of this Agreement have been satisfied.
ProtoKinetix will cause the Escrow Funds to be wired to Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. into the Burns, Figa & Will P.C. COLTAF Trust Account promptly upon ProtoKinetix’s execution of the Settlement Agreement.
This Agreement begins on the date it is executed by both parties and terminates on the date the Escrow Funds have been released. However, if the terms of this Agreement have not been satisfied prior to December 31, 2017, all Escrow Funds shall be returned to ProtoKinetix on January 2, 2018.
The Escrow Funds will be delivered to Ms. Woodward, as follows:
ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward agree that Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. will release $6,000.00, representing Ms. Woodward’s December compensation and $110,000.00, representing payment for the transfer of Ms. Woodward’s options to acquire a total of 12 million shares of ProtoKinetix’s common stock held by Ms. Woodward under certain stock option agreements pursuant to that certain assignment and limited power of attorney attached as EXHIBIT D to the Settlement Agreement. The Escrow Funds shall be sent by wire to Ms. Woodward’s bank account one business days after both of the following have occurred:
| (i) | the date that Ms. Woodward notifies Burns, Figa & Will P.C. and ProtoKinetix in writing that all property of, and information pertaining to ProtoKinetix and its business in her possession has been returned to ProtoKinetix. Paper documents and physical property shall be delivered via courier to ProtoKinetix (directly or through Mr. McDonough, a director of ProtoKinetix) and electronically stored property and information shall be made available on a file sharing platform with access provided to ProtoKinetix and ProtoKinetix’s legal counsel; and |
| (ii) | the date that Ms. Woodward delivers to Burns, Figa & Will P.C. the properly executed document in the form of EXHIBIT D to the Settlement Agreement. Burns, Figa & Will P.C. will deliver the option agreements and assignments to ProtoKinetix. |
Any fees due and owing to Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. with respect its role as an escrow agent will be paid directly by ProtoKinetix.
ARTICLE II
MISCELLANEOUS
2.1 No waiver or any breach of any covenant or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof, or of any other covenant or provision herein contained. No extension of time for performance of any obligation or act shall be deemed an extension of the time for performance of any other obligation or act.
2.2 All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sent to the addresses set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
2.3 This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the permitted successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
2.4 This Agreement is the final expression of, and contains the entire agreement between, the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings with respect thereto. This Agreement may not be modified, changed, supplemented or terminated, nor may any obligations hereunder be waived, except by written instrument signed by the parties to be charged or by its agent duly authorized in writing or as otherwise expressly permitted herein.
2.5 Whenever required by the context of this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and masculine shall include the feminine. This Agreement shall not be construed as if it had been prepared by one of the parties, but rather as if all parties had prepared the same.
2.6 The parties hereto expressly agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado. Any action to enforce, arising out of, or relating in any way to, any provisions of this Agreement shall only be brought in a state or federal court sitting in Denver County, Colorado.
2.7 Burns, Figa & Will, P.C.’s duties hereunder may be altered, amended, modified or revoked only by a writing signed by ProtoKinetix, Ms. Woodward and Burns, Figa & Will, P.C.
2.8 Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth herein and may rely and shall be protected in relying or refraining from acting on any instrument reasonably believed by Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. shall not be personally liable for any act it may do or omit to do hereunder as the escrow agent while acting in good faith and in the absence of gross negligence, fraud and willful misconduct, and any act done or omitted by the Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. pursuant to the advice of its attorneys-at-law shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith, in the absence of gross negligence, fraud and willful misconduct.
2.9 Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. is hereby expressly authorized to disregard any and all warnings given by any of the parties hereto or by any other person or corporation, excepting only orders or process of courts of law and is hereby expressly authorized to comply with and obey orders, judgments or decrees of any court. Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. will provide each party with prompt notice of and a copy of each and all such warnings, orders, judgments and decrees. In case Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. obeys or complies with any such order, judgment or decree, it shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person, firm or corporation by reason of such decree being subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside, vacated or found to have been entered without jurisdiction.
2.10 Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. shall not be liable in any respect on account of the identity, authorization or rights of the parties executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver the Settlement Agreement or any documents or papers deposited or called for thereunder in the absence of gross negligence, fraud and willful misconduct.
2.11 Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. shall be entitled to employ such legal counsel and other experts as it may deem necessary or proper to advise it in connection with the its duties hereunder, may rely upon the advice of such counsel, and may pay such counsel reasonable compensation; provided that the costs of such compensation shall be borne by the Burns, Figa & Will, P.C
2.12 Burns, Figa & Will, P.C.’s responsibilities as escrow agent hereunder shall terminate if it shall resign by giving written notice to ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward. In the event of any such resignation, ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward shall appoint a successor escrow agent and Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. shall deliver to such successor escrow agent any Escrow Funds and other related documents held by Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. If no successor escrow agent is appointed within the seven business day period then Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. shall return the Escrow Funds as provided in Section 1.3 above.
2.13 If Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. reasonably requires other or further instruments in connection with this Agreement or obligations in respect hereto, the necessary parties hereto shall join in furnishing such instruments.
2.14 It is understood and agreed that should any dispute arise with respect to the delivery or ownership or right of possession of the Escrow Funds held by Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. hereunder, Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. is authorized and directed in its sole discretion (1) to retain in its possession without liability to anyone all or any part of said documents, the Escrow Funds or documents until such disputes shall have been settled either by mutual written agreement of the parties concerned or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction after the time for appeal has expired and no appeal has been perfected, but Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. shall be under no duty whatsoever to institute or defend any such proceedings or (2) to deliver the Escrow Funds and any other property and documents held by Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. to a state court having competent subject matter jurisdiction and located in Denver, Colorado in accordance with the applicable procedure therefore.
2.15 Each of ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. and its partners, employees, agents and representatives from any and all claims, liabilities, costs or expenses in any way arising from or relating to the duties or performance of Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby other than any such claim, liability, cost or expense to the extent the same shall have been determined by final, unappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct of Burns, Figa & Will, P.C.
2.16 Each of ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward understand, acknowledge, and agree that the law firm of Burns, Figa & Will P.C. represents only ProtoKinetix with respect to this Agreement and the Settlement Agreement, and has offered no legal, tax, or other advice to Ms. Woodward. Ms. Woodward has retained the law firm of Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis to provide Ms. Woodward independent legal and tax advice, and has consulted with such other advisors as she has determined necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.
2.17 Each of ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward understand that Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. has acted as legal counsel to ProtoKinetix as described herein and may in the future continue to act as legal counsel to ProtoKinetix, including in connection with the interpretation of and disputes under this Agreement. In its role as escrow agent, Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. may have certain conflicts of interest with ProtoKinetix, which conflicts may also impact Ms. Woodward. After consultation with independent counsel to the extent such party determines such consultation necessary or appropriate, each of ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward waive any and all of such conflicts with respect to Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. serving as escrow agent herein and as legal counsel to ProtoKinetix.
2.18 This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to choice of laws principles. The parties agree that any action to enforce this Agreement shall be brought in the District Court for Denver County, Colorado, with all parties agreeing and stipulating that such Court has jurisdiction over them and over such an action.
2.19 This Agreement may be signed in counterparts and is effective as of the signing of all parties. Documents with signatures of the parties that are transmitted by facsimile transmission or copies of documents scanned in PDF format that are transmitted by e-mail shall be effective immediately upon signature by all parties, and shall be as valid and binding as though they were original documents.
2.20 Each party has cooperated in the drafting, negotiation and preparation of this Agreement. In any construction to be made of this Agreement, the same shall not be construed against either party on the basis of that party being the drafter of such language.
2.21 ProtoKinetix and Ms. Woodward shall be responsible for their own expenses and fees incurred with the drafting, review and execution of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Escrow Agreement as of date first written above.
PROTOKINETIX, INCORPORATED By: _____________________________ Clarence E. Smith, CEO & President | SUSAN WOODWARD, CONSULTANT By: _____________________________ Susan M. Woodward, individually |
BURNS, FIGA & WILL, P.C. By: ____________________________ Herrick K. Lidstone, Jr., President | |
EXHIBIT C – LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
PROTOKINETIX, INC.
November __, 2017
To Whom It May Concern:
Susan M. Woodward was appointed Chief Financial Officer of ProtoKinetix, Incorporated on October 1, 2014. During her time as Chief Financial Officer, she played an important role in resolving the Cease Trade Order with the British Columbia Securities Commission, in relocating the Company from Vancouver, British Columbia to the United States, in setting up the accounting records and policies and procedures necessary for the Company to function efficiently and effectively and for assisting in the process of assuring compliance with regulatory agencies. During her tenure as Chief Financial Officer, all tax and FBAR returns for the Company were filed from 1999 onward, all Forms 10-Q and Forms 10-K were submitted on time, and audit fees steadily decreased due in part to the quality and accuracy of the information that was provided to Davidson & Company.
We wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors.
EXHIBIT D – ASSIGNMENT AND LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
ASSIGNMENT AND LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
THIS ASSIGNMENT AND LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY is made as of the ____ day of November 2017 by Susan Woodward whose address is c/o Peter Brosse (“Assignor”), and ProtoKinetix, Incorporated, c/o Clarence Smith (“Assignee”).
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, and pursuant to a certain Settlement Agreement dated November ___, 2017, between Assignor and Assignee (“settlement Agreement”) and a certain Escrow Agreement among Assignee, Assignor and Burns, Figa &Will, P.C. dated November ___, 2017 (“Escrow Agent”) and effective upon receipt of One Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($110,000.00) as provided in the Settlement Agreement and the Escrow Agreement:
1. Represents and warrants to the Assignee that she is the sole owner of options to acquire 12 million shares of the Assignee’s common stock as follows (collectively the “Options”), and no other person claims or has the right to claim any interest therein:
| a. | Options to acquire 4 million shares of the Company’s common stock held by the Consultant under a certain Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated May 4, 2015 but effective February 26, 2015, the original agreement being attached hereto as Exhibit A; |
| b. | Options to acquire 4 million shares of the Company’s common stock held by the Consultant under a certain Stock Option Agreement dated January 1, 2016, the original agreement being attached hereto as Exhibit B; and |
| c. | Options to acquire 4 million shares of the Company’s common stock held by the Consultant under a certain Stock Option Agreement dated January 1, 2017, the original agreement being attached hereto as Exhibit C. |
2. The Assignor hereby orders, assigns, conveys, and transfers to the Assignee all of Assignor’s right, title, and interest in and to the Options and disclaims any further rights in the Options or in the agreements reflecting the Options.
3. The Assignor hereby constitutes and appoints any officer of the Assignee as attorney-in-fact irrevocably to transfer the Options and cancel the agreements reflecting the Options and for no other purpose. This limited power of attorney shall terminate December 31, 2017.
In witness whereof, the undersigned hereby executes this Assignment and Limited Power of Attorney for the purposes stated herein, as of the first date written above.
| ASSIGNOR: Susan Woodward | |
| | |
| _______________________________ | |
State of Ohio | ) | |
| ) ss. | |
County of _________ | ) | |
The foregoing instrument was subscribed to, acknowledged, and attested before me a Notary Public in and for County and State by Susan Woodward who appeared personally and physically before me to do so and who advised me that she was so appearing and executing the foregoing document without coercion and of her own free will for the purposes stated therein.
Witness my hand and official seal this ___day of November, 2017.
____________________________________
Notary Public
My commission expires: ______________________