SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
This Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between by and between iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) and iAnthus Capital Management, LLC (“ICM” and together with Holdings, the “Company”) and Philippe Faraut (“Executive”), who resides at 515 Ocean Avenue, 303S, Santa Monica, CA 90402. Company and Executive may be referred to individually as a “Party” or collectively as the “Parties”.
WHEREAS, Executive has been employed by the Company since 2022 as Chief Financial Officer of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive are parties to an Employment Agreement effective November 14, 2022 (the “Employment Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Parties have reached certain mutual agreements and understandings with respect to Executive’s resignation from the Company, and desire to settle fully and finally any claims, disputes and obligations relating to Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination thereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED THAT:
(a) Severance Payment: In consideration of Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive a severance payment in the gross amount of One Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($175,000.00) (the “Severance Payment”), which shall be subject to all applicable federal, state, local and other legally required withholdings and deductions. The Severance Payment shall be paid out in equal installments for seven (7) months on regular Company pay days, commencing the first full payroll cycle following the Effective Date (as defined herein) (the “Severance Period”), subject to: (i) Employee’s execution of this Agreement; (ii) Employee not subsequently revoking this Agreement within the allotted time; and (iii) Employee’s compliance with Section 14.
(b) Restricted Stock Units: Executive and Holdings entered into Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements on November 23, 2022 (the “Nov 2022 RSU Agreement”), May 17, 2023 (the “May 2023 RSU Agreement”), September 1, 2023 (the “September 2023 RSU Agreement”), and November 15, 2023 (the “Nov 2023 RSU Agreement”), whereby under each of these RSU agreements, Holdings granted Executed Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) pursuant to its Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan. Executive and Employer acknowledge and agree that the RSUs granted to Executive pursuant to the Nov 22 RSU
Agreement and the May 2023 RSU Agreement shall accelerate and fully vest upon satisfactory completion of the services under the Consulting Services Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A of the Termination Date. Executive and Employer further acknowledge and agree that the RSUs granted to Executive pursuant to the September 2023 RSU Agreement and the Nov 2023 RSU Agreement shall be forfeited as of the Termination Date.
(c) COBRA: Executive’s employer-sponsored health and dental insurance benefits shall terminate effective April 30, 2024, subject to Executive right to elect continuation health insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”). In further consideration of Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Company shall pay the monthly premium for Executive’s continued participation in the Company’s health and dental insurance benefits pursuant to COBRA for one (1) year from the Termination Date, provided that Executive and any covered dependents are eligible for and timely elect to enroll in COBRA coverage. Thereafter, Executive’s continued participation in the Company’s health and dental insurance benefits pursuant to COBRA shall be at Executive’s sole expense. If Executive obtains employment that provides for comparable health insurance benefits, the Company’s obligation under this section to pay the Executive’s health and dental insurance benefits shall expire. Pursuant to this Paragraph, Executive is required to provide the Company notice if he obtains new employment that offers comparable health insurance benefits.
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In consideration of the compensation and benefits set forth herein, including without limitation, the Severance Payment, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged by Executive, Executive and Executive’s heirs, executors, representatives, administrators, agents insurers and assigns (collectively, the “Releasors”) hereby releases and discharges the Company and each of their respective present, former and future parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and related companies, as well as their shareholders, directors, trustees, officers, board members, employees, attorneys, heirs, successors, assigns, and agents (collectively, the “Company Releasees”), from any and all claims, causes of action, suits, debts, controversies, judgments, decrees, damages, liabilities, covenants, contracts and agreements, whether known or unknown, in law or equity, whether statutory or common law, whether federal, state, local or otherwise, including, but not limited to, any claims relating to, or arising out of any aspect of Executive’s employment with the Company, or the termination of such employment, or arising out of any aspect of the Employment Agreement, including without limitation:
(a) any and all claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, including by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; the New York State Executive Law; the New York State Human Rights Law; the New York Labor Law; the New York City Human Rights Law; the New York City Administrative Code; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act – Cal. Gov’t Code § 12900 et seq.; the California Labor Code; the California Constitution; the California Family Rights Act – Cal. Gov’t Code § 12945.2, all including any amendments and their respective implementing regulations, and any other federal, state, local, or foreign law (statutory, regulatory, or otherwise) that may be legally waived and released; however, the identification of specific statutes is for purposes of example only, and the omission of any specific statute or law shall not limit the scope of this general release in any manner;
(b) any and all claims arising under tort, contract, and quasi-contract law, including but not limited to claims of breach of an express or implied contract, wrongful or retaliatory discharge, fraud, defamation, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference with a contract or prospective business advantage, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, promissory estoppel, detrimental reliance, invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, nonphysical injury, personal injury or sickness, or any other harm;
(c) any and all claims arising under any Canadian law, British Columbia law, or provincial or local Canadian law;
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(d) any and all claims for compensation of any type whatsoever, including but not limited to claims for wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, incentive compensation, vacation, sick pay, and severance that may be legally waived and released; and
(e) any and all claims for monetary or equitable relief, including but not limited to attorneys' fees, back pay, front pay, reinstatement, experts' fees, medical fees or expenses, costs and disbursements, punitive damages, liquidated damages, and penalties.
Executive agrees that this Agreement constitutes a knowing and voluntary waiver of all rights or claims he may have against the Company Releasees. To the extent any claim is not releasable, Executive acknowledges that the payments and consideration received hereunder more than offset any monetary sums owing to Executive from any non-releasable claim. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit Executive from exercising Executive’s rights as specified in Paragraph 9(c) or shall prevent Executive from enforcing the terms of this Agreement.
(a) Executive further represents and warrants that he has never commenced or filed and agrees not to commence, file, voluntarily aid or in any way prosecute or cause to be commenced or prosecuted against the Company Releasees any action, charge, complaint or other proceeding, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 9(c).
(b) In the event Executive files any civil complaint or commences any litigation of any kind that is covered by the release in this Agreement, Executive shall immediately tender back all consideration received under this Agreement and pay all of the attorney’s fees, expenses and costs incurred by the Company Releasees in connection with the complaint or action filed. The Company Releasees shall also have the right of set-off against any obligation to Executive under this Agreement. In addition to the remedies noted above, the Company Releasees may pursue all other remedies available under law or equity to address Executive’s breach of this Agreement.
(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the California Civil Rights Department or other government agency charged with the enforcement of any law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee agrees to waive Employee’s right to recover monetary damages or any personal relief (including, but not limited to, reinstatement, back pay, front pay, damages, and attorneys’ fees) in connection with any such charge or complaint, as well as with regard to any charge, complaint or lawsuit filed by anyone else on Employee’s behalf, provided this shall not apply to any claim not releasable as a matter of law. Further, the tender back provision in Paragraph 9(b) above shall not apply to any administrative charges or filings referenced in this Paragraph 9(c). To the extent permissible by law, the Severance Payment will be credited against any sums received by Employee pursuant to a claim not releasable as a matter of law.
(a) Executive agrees that this Agreement constitutes a knowing and voluntary waiver of all rights or claims Executive may have against the Company Releasees, including without limitation, all rights or claims arising under ADEA, as amended.
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(b) EXECUTIVE recognizes that, in signing this AGREEMENT, EXECUTIVE is waiving HIS right to pursue any and all claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. 626 et seq. arising prior to the date that EXECUTIVE executes this agreement. EXECUTIVE understands that HE may take twenty-one (21) days from the date this agreement is presented to EXECUTIVE to consider whether to execute this agreement. EXECUTIVE is advised that HE may wish to consult with an attorney prior to execution of this agreement. Once EXECUTIVE has executed this agreement, HE may revoke the agreement at any time during the seven (7) day period following the execution of the agreement by providing a letter to THE COMPANY’S GENERAL COUNSEL AT ANDREW.Ryan@ianthus.com stating executive’s intent to revoke this Agreement.
(c) After seven (7) days have passed following executive’s execution of this agreement, the execution of this agreement shall be final and irrevocable. The Agreement shall become effective on the eighth day after Executive executes this Agreement (the “Effective Date”), unless Executive revokes it prior to the conclusion of such period.
(d) Executive’s acceptance of any portion of the Severance Payment described in Section 3 of this Agreement at any time subsequent to seven (7) days after Executive’s execution of this Agreement, shall constitute an admission by Executive that he did not revoke this Agreement during the revocation period of seven (7) days, and shall further constitute an admission by Executive that this Agreement has become effective and enforceable on each of the dates in which Executive executes it
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Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall be interpreted to prohibit disclosure of information to the limited extent permitted by and in accordance with the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“DTSA”). Stated otherwise, disclosures that are protected by the DTSA do not violate this Agreement. The DTSA provides that: “(1) An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that – (A) is made – (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” The DTSA further provides that: “(2) An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual – (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.” Nothing in this Paragraph shall be construed to prohibit Executive from exercising his rights as specified in Paragraph 9(c).
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ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:
_______________________________ Date: ___________
Philippe Faraut
iANTHUS CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.
iANTHUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
_____________________________ Date: ______________
Richard Proud
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Exhibit A
See attached – Form Consulting Services Agreement
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CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
This CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into and effective on this 5th day of April, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) by and between iAnthus Capital Management, LLC (“ICM”) and iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (“ICH” and together with ICM, the “Company”) and Philippe Faraut (the “Consultant”). Company and Consultant may be referred to individually as a “Party” or collectively as the “Parties”.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Consultant was employed by the Company since 2022 and served as Chief Financial Officer;
WHEREAS, Consultant’s employment with the Company terminated on April 5, 2024 and the Company desires to engage Consultant to provide certain transitional consulting services, as needed;
WHEREAS, Consultant has agreed to perform consulting work for the Company in providing support for certain transitional services defined by the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agrees as follows:
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CONSULTANT UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS AGREEMENT RESTRICTS CONSULTANT’S RIGHTS TO DISCLOSE OR USE COMPANY’S CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION DURING AND SUBSEQUENT TO CONSULTANT’S ENGAGEMENT.
CONSULTANT HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY AND FULLY UNDERSTANDS ITS TERMS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed as of the Effective Date.
Consultant iAnthus Capital Management, LLC
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Name: Philippe Faraut Name: Richard Proud
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Address of Notice for Consultant Address of Notice for Company
515 Ocean Avenue, 303S, 214 King Street West
Santa Monica, CA 90402 Suite 314
E-mail: Philippe@ianthus.com Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S6
Tel. No: (310) Attn: Andrew Ryan
Email: Andrew.Ryan@ianthus.com
EXHIBIT A
In addition, Company shall reimburse Consultant for all reasonable expenses Consultant incurs in connection with performing the Services and in accordance with Company’s Travel and Expense policy. To obtain reimbursement for expenses incurred during the execution of Consultant’s work, Consultant shall submit to Company an invoice listing all expenses along with any and all receipts. Company shall provide
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Consultant with the Travel and Expense policy. Company shall pay to Consultant invoiced undisputed amounts within thirty (30) after the date of invoice.
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