EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of the 31st day of July 2006 (the “Effective Date”) by and between J. Stewart Asbury III (“Executive”) and Adera Mines Limited (the “Company”).
WHEREAS, the Company believes that Executive’s service, experience, and knowledge are valuable to the Company in connection with its business; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive, and Executive desires to be employed by the Company, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company hereby employs Executive and Executive accepts such employment upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. Term of Employment. Subject to the provisions of Section 6, the term of Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on and as of the Effective Date and shall terminate thirty-six months from that date (the “Initial Term”). This Agreement will be automatically renewed for successive one year periods after the expiration of the Initial Term, unless Executive is otherwise notified in writing on or before the end of the Initial Term or any of the successive one year terms. In this Agreement the word “Term” shall, depending on the context used, refer to the Initial Term or to any renewal periods.
3. Duties; Extent of Service. During the Term, Executive (i) shall serve as an employee of the Company with the title and position of Chief Executive Officer, reporting to the Board of Directors of the Company, and shall have such executive responsibilities as the Board of Directors of the Company shall from time to time designate, provided that, in all cases Executive shall be subject to the oversight and supervision of the Board of Directors of the Company in the performance of his duties, and (ii) shall render all services reasonably incident to the foregoing. Executive hereby accepts such employment, agrees to serve the Company in the capacities indicated, and agrees to use Executive’s best efforts in, and shall devote Executive’s full working time, attention, skill and energies to, the advancement of the interests of the Company and the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.
4. Salary. During Executive’s employment under this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive a salary at the rate of $215,000 per annum (the “Salary”). Such Salary shall be subject to withholding under applicable law, shall be prorated for partial years and shall be payable in periodic installments not less frequently than monthly in accordance with the Company’s usual practice for its executive officers as in effect from time to time.
5. Benefits.
(a) Regular Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any and all medical, pension, dental and life insurance plans and disability income plans, retirement arrangements and other employment benefits that are in effect from time to time for executive officers of the Company generally. Such participation shall be subject to (i) the terms of the applicable plan documents (including, as applicable, provisions granting discretion to the Board of Directors of the Company or any administrative or other committee provided for therein or contemplated thereby) and (ii) generally applicable policies of the Company. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to review Executive’s health insurance needs and determine what policies or coverage the Company will provide.
(b) Vacation. During the Term, Executive shall receive paid vacation annually in accordance with the Company’s practices for executive officers, as in effect from time to time, but in any event not less than four weeks per calendar year.
(c) Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive during Executive’s employment hereunder to the extent in compliance with the Company’s business expense reimbursement policies in effect from time to time and upon presentation by Executive of such documentation and records as the Company shall from time to time require. The Board of Directors in its discretion may reimburse Executive for relocation expenses.
(d) Housing and Automobile Allowances. The Company shall provide to Executive, or for his benefit, living expenses in the amount of $3,000 per month during the first six months of the Term. The Company shall provide to Executive, or for his benefit, an automobile allowance in the amount of $1,000 per month during the Term. The living expense and the automobile allowance shall be a flat monthly amount for the stated periods.
(e) Taxation of Payments, Benefits and Allowances. The Company shall undertake to make deductions, withholdings and tax reports with respect to payments, benefits and allowances under this Agreement to the extent that it reasonably and in good faith believes that it is required to make such deductions, withholdings and tax reports. Payments, benefits and allowances made under this Agreement shall be in amounts net of any such deductions or withholdings. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to make any payments to compensate the Executive for any adverse tax effect associated with any payments, benefits or allowances or for any deduction or withholding from any payment, benefit or allowance.
(f) Grant of Stock Option. Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company shall grant to Executive an option to purchase 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.30 per share. The options shall vest on an equal thirty six month basis, at the rate of 27,778 per month, until 1,000,000 options shall be vested. The options shall have a five year term. Following Board approval of our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) (which is anticipated by August 30, 2006), your option grant shall be from the Plan and shall be subject to the terms thereof.
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(g) Exclusivity of Salary and Benefits. The Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits other than those provided under this Agreement. Compliance with the provisions of this Section 5 shall in no way create or be deemed to create any obligation, express or implied, on the part of the Company or any of its affiliates with respect to the continuation of any particular benefit or other plan or arrangement maintained by them or their subsidiaries as of or prior to the date hereof or the creation and maintenance of any particular benefit or other plan or arrangement at any time after the date hereof.
6. Termination and Termination Benefits. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2, Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate under the following circumstances set forth in this Section 6.
(a) Termination by the Company for Cause. Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated for Cause without further liability on the part of the Company other than for accrued but unpaid Salary through the date of termination effective immediately upon written notice to Executive. “Cause” shall mean the following:
(i) the commission by Executive of any act of embezzlement, fraud, larceny or theft on or from the Company or an affiliate of the Company;
(ii) the commission by Executive of, or indictment of Executive for a felony or any misdemeanor, which misdemeanor involves moral turpitude, deceit, dishonesty or fraud;
(iii) failure to perform, or materially poor performance of, Executive’s duties and responsibilities assigned or delegated under this Agreement, or any material misconduct or violation of the Company’s policies, in either case, which continues for a period of 30 days after written notice given to Executive; or
(iv) a material breach by Executive of any of the covenants, terms or provisions of this Agreement or any agreement between the Company and Executive regarding confidentiality and proprietary rights, as set forth in Section 7 below.
(b) Termination by Executive. Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated by Executive by written notice to the Board of Directors at least 60 days prior to such termination. Upon termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to this Section 6(b), all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall immediately terminate other than any obligation of the Company with respect to earned but unpaid Salary and earned benefits contemplated hereby to the extent accrued or vested through the date of termination.
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(c) Termination by the Company Without Cause. Subject to the payment of the Termination Benefits pursuant to Section 6(d), Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated without Cause by the Company upon written notice to Executive.
(d) (i) Certain Termination Benefits. Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement or otherwise required by law, all compensation and benefits payable to Executive under this Agreement shall terminate on the date of termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of termination of Executive’s employment with the Company pursuant to Section 6(c) above, (i) the Company shall pay to Executive the greater of (i) the sum of $60,000 or (ii) the salary due for the balance of the Term, and any unvested options owned by Executive (including, but not limited to, the option described in Section 5(f) above) shall vest. Collectively, these benefits shall be described herein as the “Severance Benefits”.
(ii) The parties hereto agree that the Severance Benefits are to be in full satisfaction, compromise and release of any claims arising out of any termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 6(c), and such amounts shall be contingent upon the Executive’s delivery of a general release of such claims upon termination of employment in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, it being understood that no Severance Benefits shall be provided unless and until the Executive executes and delivers such release.
(e) Death; Disability. Upon the death of the Executive, or upon the permanent disability (as defined below) of the Executive continuing for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days, all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall immediately terminate other than any obligation of the Company with respect to earned but unpaid Salary and earned benefits contemplated hereby to the extent accrued or vested through the date of termination. As used herein, the terms “permanent disability” or “permanently disabled” shall mean the inability of the Executive, by reason of injury, illness or other similar cause, to perform a major part of his duties and responsibilities in connection with the conduct of the business and affairs of the Company, as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Company.
(f) Notwithstanding termination of this Agreement as provided in this Section 6 or any other termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive’s obligations under Section 7 hereof shall survive any termination of Executive’s employment with the Company at any time and for any reason.
7. Confidentiality; Proprietary Rights.
(a) Confidential Information. As used in this Agreement, the term “Confidential Information” shall mean information belonging to the Company (for purposes of this Section 7 including all predecessors of the Company) of value to the Company or with respect to which Company has rights in the course of conducting its business and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other disadvantage to the Company. Confidential Information includes information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including, by way of example and without limitation, trade secrets, ideas, concepts, designs, configurations, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts processes, techniques, formulas, software, improvements, inventions, domain names, data, know-how, discoveries, copyrightable materials, marketing plans and strategies, sales and financial reports and forecasts, customer lists, studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, computer disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs and business plans, prospects and opportunities (such as possible acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or facilities) which have been discussed or considered by the management of the Company. Confidential Information includes information developed by Executive in the course of Executive’s employment by the Company, as well as other information to which Executive may have access in connection with Executive’s employment. Confidential Information also includes the confidential information of others with which the Company has a business relationship. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information does not include information in the public domain, unless due to breach of Executive’s duties under Section 7(b).
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(b) Confidentiality. In the course of performing services hereunder on behalf of the Company and its affiliates, Executive has had and from time to time will have access to Confidential Information. Executive agrees (i) to hold the Confidential Information in strict confidence, (ii) not to disclose the Confidential Information to any person (other than in the regular business of the Company or its affiliates), and (iii) not to use, directly or indirectly, any of the Confidential Information for any purpose other than on behalf of the Company and its affiliates. All documents, records, data, apparatus, equipment and other physical property, whether or not pertaining to Confidential Information, that are furnished to Executive by the Company or are produced by Executive in connection with Executive’s employment will be and remain the sole property of the Company. Upon the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason and as and when otherwise requested by the Company, all Confidential Information (including, without limitation, all data, memoranda, customer lists, notes, programs and other papers and items, and reproductions thereof relating to the foregoing matters) in Executive’s possession or control, shall be immediately returned to the Company.
(c) Third Party Agreements and Rights. Executive hereby confirms that Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party that restricts in any way Executive’s use or disclosure of information or Executive’s engagement in any business. Executive represents to the Company that Executive’s execution of this Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company and the performance of Executive’s proposed duties for the Company will not violate any obligations Executive may have to any such previous employer or other party. In Executive’s work for the Company, Executive will not disclose or make use of any information in violation of any agreements with or rights of any such previous employer or other party, and Executive will not bring to the premises of the Company any copies or other tangible embodiments of non-public information belonging to or obtained from any such previous employment or other party.
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(d) Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation. During and after Executive’s employment, Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company in the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against or on behalf of the Company that relate to events or occurrences that transpired while Executive was employed by the Company. Executive’s full cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with counsel to prepare for discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Company at mutually convenient times. During and after Executive’s employment, Executive also shall cooperate fully with the Company in connection with any investigation or review of any federal, state or local regulatory authority as any such investigation or review relates to events or occurrences that transpired while Executive was employed by the Company. The Company shall reimburse Executive for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with Executive’s performance of obligations pursuant to this Section 7(d).
(e) Inventions. Executive recognizes that the Company and its affiliates possess a proprietary interest in all of the Confidential Information and have the exclusive right and privilege to use, protect by copyright, patent or trademark, or otherwise exploit the processes, ideas and concepts described therein to the exclusion of Executive, except as otherwise agreed between the Company and Executive in writing. Executive expressly agrees that any products, inventions, discoveries or improvements made by Executive in the course of Executive’s employment, including any of the foregoing which is based on or arises out of the Confidential Information, shall be the property of and inure to the exclusive benefit of the Company. Executive further agrees that any and all products, inventions, discoveries or improvements developed by Executive (whether or not able to be protected by copyright, patent or trademark) during the course of his employment, or involving the use of the time, materials or other resources of the Company or any of its affiliates, shall be promptly disclosed to the Company and shall become the exclusive property of the Company, and Executive shall execute and deliver any and all documents necessary or appropriate to implement the foregoing.
(f) Business Opportunities. Executive agrees, while he is employed by the Company, to offer or otherwise make known or available to it, as directed by the Board of Directors of the Company and without additional compensation or consideration, any business prospects, contracts or other business opportunities that Executive may discover, find, develop or otherwise have available to Executive in the Company’s general industry and further agrees that any such prospects, contacts or other business opportunities shall be the property of the Company.
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(g) Acknowledgment. Executive acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 7 are an integral part of Executive’s employment arrangements with the Company.
8. Parties in Interest; Certain Remedies. It is specifically understood and agreed that this Agreement is intended to confer a benefit, directly or indirectly, on the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates, and that any breach of the provisions of this Agreement by the Executive or any of the Executive’s affiliates will result in irreparable injury to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, that the remedy at law alone will be an inadequate remedy for such breach. Accordingly, Executive agrees that if Executive breaches, or proposes to breach, any portion of this Agreement, the Company or its subsidiaries and affiliates shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedy it may have, to enforce the specific performance of this Agreement by Executive through both temporary and permanent injunctive relief without the necessity of posting a bond or proving actual damages, but without limitation of their right to damages and any and all other remedies available to them, it being understood that injunctive relief is in addition to, and not in lieu of, such other remedies.
9. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements between the parties with respect to any related subject matter.
10. Assignment; Successors and Assigns, etc. Neither the Company nor the Executive may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the other party; provided that the Company may assign its rights under this Agreement without the consent of the Executive in the event that the Company shall effect a reorganization, consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, partnership, organization or other entity, or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any other corporation, partnership, organization or other entity. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Executive, their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns.
11. Enforceability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any portion or provision of any section of this Agreement) shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
12. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of any party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach.
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13. Notices. Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, all notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively and severally called “Notices”) required or permitted to be given hereunder, or which are given with respect to this Agreement, shall be in writing, and shall be given by: (A) personal delivery (which form of Notice shall be deemed to have been given upon delivery), (B) by telegraph or by private airborne/overnight delivery service (which forms of Notice shall be deemed to have been given upon confirmed delivery by the delivery agency), (C) by electronic or facsimile or telephonic transmission, provided the receiving party has a compatible device or confirms receipt thereof (which forms of Notice shall be deemed delivered upon confirmed transmission or confirmation of receipt), or (D) by mailing in the United States mail by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid (which forms of Notice shall be deemed to have been given upon the fifth business day following the date mailed). Notices shall be addressed to the address set forth on the execution page of this Agreement, or to such other address as the receiving party shall have specified most recently by like Notice, with a copy to the other parties hereto.
14. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized representative of the Company.
15. Governing Law. This contract shall be construed under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be taken to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.
17. Arbitration. Any controversy, dispute or claim of whatever nature arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement or the interpretation, meaning, performance, breach or enforcement thereof, including any controversy, dispute or claim based on contract, tort, or statute, and including without limitation claims relating to the validity of this Agreement or relating to termination of employment, shall be resolved at the request of either party to this Agreement, by final and binding arbitration conducted at a location determined by the arbitrator in Los Angeles, California, administered by and in accordance with the then existing Rules of Practice and Procedure of J*A*M*S/Endispute, Inc.. (J·A·M·S), and judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered by any State or Federal Court having jurisdiction thereof. Either party may commence such proceeding by giving notice to the other party in the manner provided in Section 13 of this Agreement. Upon filing a demand for arbitration, all parties to the Agreement will have right of discovery to the maximum extent provided by law for actions tried before a court, and both agree that in the event of an arbitration, disputes as to discovery shall be determined by the arbitrator(s). The arbitrator(s) in any such proceeding shall apply California substantive law and the California Evidence Code to the proceeding. The arbitrator(s) shall have the power to grant all legal and equitable remedies (provisional and final) and award damages provided by California law. The arbitrator(s) shall prepare in writing and provide to the parties an award including findings of fact and conclusions of law. The arbitrator(s) shall not have the power to commit errors of law or legal reasoning, and the award may be vacated or corrected pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure §§1286.2 or 1286.6 for any such error. The Company shall pay all fees of the arbitrator, and each party shall bear its or his expenses, costs and attorney fees relating to the arbitration and recovery under any order and/or judgment rendered therein. In any such proceeding Richardson & Patel LLP may represent the Company regardless of whether such counsel has rendered advice to Executive in the past unless prohibited by law or rules of the California State Bar Association. The parties hereto hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of California for the purpose of enforcement of this agreement to arbitrate and any and all awards or orders rendered pursuant thereto.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
| ADERA MINES LIMITED | ||
| | | |
| By: | ||
Name: Sidney Anderson Title: Chairman of Board of Directors | ||
| EXECUTIVE: | ||
| | | |
| By: | /s/ | |
J. Stewart Asbury III ADDRESS: | ||
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