UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
April 28, 2023
LFTD PARTNERS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada |
| 000-52520 |
| 87-0479286 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
| Commission File Number |
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14155 Pine Island Drive, |
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| 32224 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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847-915-2446
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Section 1 - Registrant’s Business and Operations
Item 1.01.Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
A.Asset Purchase Agreement
On April 28, 2023, Lifted Liquids, Inc. doing business as Lifted Made (“Lifted Made”), a wholly owned subsidiary of LFTD Partners Inc. purchased nearly all of the assets (the “Purchased Assets”) of its hemp flower products supplier Oculus CRS, LLC, Aztec, New Mexico (“Oculus”) for a total purchase price of $368,488 in cash. The Purchased Assets include, but are not limited to, Oculus’ operational equipment, office equipment, raw materials, inventory, cash on hand, accounts receivable, and a contract (the “Machine Purchase Contract”) to purchase, for a total of $309,213 (the “Machine Purchase Price”), a new machine that is ready for delivery, and that when delivered and installed will be used to automate a substantial portion of the manufacturing of the hemp flower products. $99,910 of the Machine Purchase Price had already been paid by Oculus, leaving $209,303 as the remaining portion of the Machine Purchase Price (the “Machine Purchase Final Payment”).
The $368,488 purchase was paid by Lifted Made using cash on hand. At the closing, Oculus applied the entire Purchase Price to pay off all of Oculus’ liabilities as of the closing date (the “Oculus Liabilities”), including the Machine Purchase Final Payment. The only asset of Oculus that was not included in the Purchased Assets was Oculus’ rights as the plaintiff in a pending lawsuit filed by Oculus against a particular customer for an alleged breach of contract.
B.Agreement and Plan of Merger
Simultaneously with Lifted Made’s purchase of the Purchased Assets, Lifted Made executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”) with Oculus CHS Management Corp. (the “Management Corp.”), pursuant to which the Management Corp. was merged with and into Lifted Made, with Lifted Made being the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Merger”). The only assets of the Management Corp. were multi-year employment contracts with the owners/managers of Oculus, Chase and Hagan Sanchez (the “Employment Agreements”).
The Merger consideration (the “Merger Consideration”) will be paid by Lifted Made to Chase and Hagan Sanchez in two installments.
The first installment of the Merger Consideration was paid by Lifted Made to Chase and Hagan Sanchez at the closing of the Merger, and consisted of 100 shares of unregistered common stock of LIFD.
The second installment of the Merger Consideration will be paid by Lifted Made to Chase and Hagan Sanchez following the first anniversary of the closing of the Merger which will be April 28, 2024. The second installment of the Merger Agreement will be calculated and paid out as follows:
(1) Lifted Made’s CEO Nick Warrender, in consultation with LIFD’s President and CFO William “Jake” Jacobs, will analyze and make a written determination (the “Determination”) of the incremental pre-tax cash flow that Nick Warrender estimates is generating for Lifted Made above and beyond the annual profits that are currently being generated for Lifted Made due to Lifted Made’s current business relationship with Oculus (the “Incremental Pre-Tax Profits”), after taking into account all relevant financial factors including but not limited to the purchase price of the Purchased Assets, the merger consideration, and all items of income, expense and investment directly and indirectly associated with Lifted Made’s hemp flower products division, which Determination will be final and legally binding on all of the parties; and
(2) Within five days following delivery of the Determination, Lifted Made will pay Chase and Hagan Sanchez a second installment of Merger consideration equal to five times the Incremental Pre-Tax Profits, provided that (a) 20% of such second installment of Merger consideration shall be paid in the form of cash, (b) 80% of such second installment of Merger consideration shall be paid in the form of unregistered shares of common stock of LIFD, which unregistered shares of common stock of LIFD shall be valued at $5 per share regardless of whether LIFD’s common stock is then trading at a price that is lower or higher than $5
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per share, and (c) such second installment of Merger consideration shall be subject to a minimum value of $1 million dollars and a maximum value of $6 million dollars (with the stock portion of the second installment of Merger consideration being valued at $5 per share under all circumstances.)
As examples, for illustrative purposes only:
(a)If, according to Mr. Warrender’s Determination, the Incremental Pre-Tax Profits of Lifted being generated by the business is $500,000, then the second installment of the Merger Consideration would be calculated as $500,000 X 5 = $2,500,000, of which ($2,500,000 X .2) = $500,000 would be in the form of cash, and the remaining $2,000,000 would be paid in the form of ($2,000,000/$5) = 400,000 newly issued shares of unregistered LIFD Common Stock;
(b)If, according to Mr. Warrender’s Determination, the Incremental Pre-Tax Profits of Lifted being generated by the business is $25,000, then the second installment of the Merger Consideration would be the minimum of $1,000,000, of which ($1,000,000 X .2) = $200,000 would be in the form of cash, and the remaining $800,000 would be paid in the form of ($800,000/$5) = 160,000 newly issued shares of unregistered LIFD Common Stock; and
(c)If, according to Mr. Warrender’s Determination, the Incremental Pre-Tax Profits of Lifted being generated by the business is $2,000,000, then the second installment of the Merger Consideration would be the maximum of $6,000,000, of which ($6,000,000 X .2) = $1,200,000 would be in the form of cash, and the remaining $4,800,000 would be paid in the form of ($4,800,000/$5) = 960,000 newly issued shares of unregistered LIFD Common Stock.
The foregoing description of the terms of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.74.
C.Employment Agreements
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, upon the closing of the Merger, all of the Management Corp.’s rights and obligations under the Employment Agreements have been assumed by Lifted Made. Chase and Hagan Sanchez are now the Vice President of Flower and General Manager of Flower of Lifted Made, respectively, and will continue to manage the hemp flower products business in Aztec, NM, which will operate as a hemp flower products division within Lifted Made, reporting to Nick Warrender, Lifted Made’s CEO. Pursuant to Chase Sanchez’s employment agreement, his salary is $150,000 per year. Hagan Sanchez’s salary is $100,000 per year. Both agreements are subject to termination with or without cause, non-solicitation, non-competition and non-disclosure clauses.
The foregoing description of the terms of the Sanchez Employment Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Sanchez Employment Agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.75 and 10.76.
In addition to Chase and Hagan Sanchez, a total of 20 other people who previously worked at Oculus have now transitioned to become full-time employees of Lifted Made. Lifted Made has agreed to pay employment bonuses to certain of these new people, in an aggregate amount totaling $50,000, pursuant to written instructions to Lifted Made from Chase and Hagan Sanchez.
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D.Lease Agreement – Aztec New Mexico
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, upon the closing of the Merger, Lifted Made has assumed Oculus’ lease of office and operational space in Aztec, New Mexico. The leased premises includes a shop building of approximately 4,800 square feet and adjacent fenced parking area located at 16178 US Hwy 550, Aztec, San Juan County, New Mexico. The term of this lease (the “term”) shall be for a period of one (1) year, commencing on the 1st day of December 2022, and continuing in force until the 30th day of November, 2023, unless terminated earlier as provided in this lease. The lease payments are $3,850 per month. All monthly payments are due and payable in advance on the first day of each month. The lessee is also required to pay taxes, insurance and certain maintenance costs of the leased premises.
The foregoing description of the terms of the Assignment and Assumption of Lease and Landlord Consent and Lease Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Assignment and Assumption of Lease and Landlord Consent and Lease Agreement, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.77.
Section 2 - Financial Information
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The discussion contained in “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” “D.Lease Agreement – Aztec New Mexico” of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.
Section 3 - Securities and Trading Markets
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities.
This information in Item 1.01 above is incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference. The Company relied on the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the issuance of the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit 10.74 | |
Exhibit 10.75 | |
Exhibit 10.76 | |
Exhibit 10.77 | Assignment and Assumption of Lease and Landlord Consent and Lease Agreement – Aztec New Mexico |
Exhibit 99.1 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| LFTD PARTNERS INC.. |
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| /s/ Gerard M. Jacobs |
| Gerard M. Jacobs |
| Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: May 1, 2023
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EXECUTION VERSION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
By and Among
LFTD PARTNERS INC.
LIFTED LIQUIDS, INC. d/b/a LIFTED MADE
and
OCULUS CHS MANAGEMENT CORP.
and
CHASE SANCHEZ
HAGAN SANCHEZ
Dated as of April 28, 2023
EXECUTION VERSION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “Agreement”), is entered into as of April 28, 2023, by and among LFTD Partners Inc., a Nevada corporation (“LIFD”), Lifted Liquids, Inc. d/b/a “Lifted Made,” an Illinois corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of LIFD (“Lifted”), Oculus CHS Management Corp., an Illinois corporation (the “Company”), and each of Chase Sanchez (“CS”) and Hagan Sanchez (“HS” and, together with CS, each a “Company Owner” and collectively the “Company Owners”). Capitalized terms used herein (including in the immediately preceding sentence) and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 9.1.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company provides management services to Oculus CRS, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, which is in the business of manufacturing and selling raw hemp flower products as well as blunts and joints (collectively, the “Business”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the provision of such management services to the Business, the Company has entered into those certain employment agreements with each of the Company Owners (the “Sanchez Employment Agreements”);
WHEREAS, the parties intend for LIFD to acquire the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, simultaneously with the purchase by Lifted of certain assets of Oculus CRS, LLC pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement by and among Lifted, Oculus CRS, LLC, the Company Owners, and the Company (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”);
WHEREAS, in furtherance of such acquisition of the Company by LIFD, and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Illinois Business Corporation Act (the “IL BCA”), the Company shall be merged with and into Lifted (the “Merger”), with Lifted as the surviving entity (the “Surviving Entity”), and each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Company Common Stock”) shall be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has: (a) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement with LIFD and Lifted; and (b) approved the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of LIFD (the “LIFD Board”) has: (a) determined that it is in the best interests of LIFD and its stockholders, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement; and (b) approved the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Lifted and LIFD, in its capacity as the sole shareholder of Lifted has: (a) determined that it is in the best interests of Lifted and its shareholder, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement; and (b) approved the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the Merger and the issuances of shares of LIFD’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “LIFD Common Stock”) in connection with the Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (the “LIFD Stock Issuances”);
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the parties intend that the Merger qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and that this Agreement be, and is hereby, adopted as a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and also to prescribe certain terms and conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.1The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the IL BCA, at the Effective Time: (a) the Company shall merge with and into Lifted; (b) the separate corporate existence of the Company shall cease; and (c) Lifted shall continue its corporate existence under the IL BCA as the surviving corporation in the Merger.
Section 1.2Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at 12:01 p.m., Chicago time, on a date that is as soon as practicable (and, in any event, within three Business Days) after the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing), unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to its terms or unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto. The Closing shall be held electronically via .pdf delivery of the original execution documents and the actual date of the Closing is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Section 1.3Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Company and Lifted shall cause articles of merger (the “IL Articles of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged, and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois in accordance with the relevant provisions of the IL BCA and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the IL BCA. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the IL Articles of Merger have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois or at such later date or time as may be agreed by the Company and LIFD in writing and specified in the IL Articles of Merger in accordance with the IL BCA (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).
Section 1.4Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set in this Agreement and in the applicable provisions of the IL BCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto from and after the Effective Time, the effects of the Merger shall be that all assets, property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses, and authority of the Company and Lifted shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, and duties of the Company and Lifted shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, and duties of the Surviving Entity.
Section 1.5Organizational Documents. At the Effective Time: (a) the articles of incorporation of Lifted shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Entity; and (b) the by-laws of Lifted shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Entity.
ARTICLE II
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
Section 2.1Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of LIFD or the Company or the holder of any capital stock of LIFD or shares of Company Common Stock:
(a)Conversion of Common Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive such number of shares of LIFD Common Stock equal to the product of (1) the Interest Ratio, multiplied by (2) the Stock Consideration.
(b)Cancellation of Common Stock. At the Effective Time, all shares of Company Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a share of Company Common Stock shall, subject to applicable Law, cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.2.
(c)Fractional Shares. Any fractional shares of LIFD Common Stock to be issued upon the conversion of the shares of Company Common Stock shall be rounded up to one full share.
(d)Equity of Lifted. All equity of Lifted issued and outstanding at and as of the Effective Time will remain issued and outstanding.
Section 2.2Payment of Initial Portion of the Merger Consideration at Closing. For purposes of payment of the Merger Consideration (and the payment in lieu of fractions shares pursuant to Section 2.1(c)), LIFD shall be entitled to rely on the information set forth in Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter with respect to all of the shares of Company Common Stock being held by the Company Owners and the wire instructions identified for payment to the Company Owners. At or promptly following the Effective Time, LIFD shall deliver to its transfer agent irrevocable instructions to issue to each Company Owner a number of whole shares of LIFD Common Stock equal to the Stock Consideration issuable to such Company Owner upon the conversion of the Company Common Stock held by such Company Owner.
Section 2.3Payment of Remaining Portion of the Merger Consideration Post-Closing.
(a)As soon as practicable following the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Closing Date, Nicholas S. Warrender, the Vice Chairman of the LIFD Board and Chief Operating Officer of LIFD (“NW”), in consultation with William C. Jacobs, the President and Chief Financial Officer of LIFD (“WJ”), and with Barry Hollingsworth, the Chief Financial Officer of Lifted, will analyze the post-Closing performance of the Business, and NW will make a good faith written estimate (the “Written Estimate”) of the additional annualized pre-tax profits of Lifted being generated by the Business following the Closing, taking into account all relevant costs, expenses and other factors including but not limited to: the purchase price of certain assets paid by Lifted to Oculus CRS, LLC pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement; all costs and expenses associated with the purchase, financing, transportation and installation of machines and equipment associated with the Business; all other capital expenditures associated with the Business; all other direct expenses associated with the Business; all indirect expenses associated with the Business including but not limited to an administrative overhead allocation to cover Lifted’s costs and expenses associated with front office and back office functions provided to the Business, internal and third party accounting and auditing provided to the Business, and human resources services provided to the Business; and all such other costs, expenses and other factors as NW deems appropriate and reasonable in NW’s sole discretion (collectively, the “Estimated Incremental Annual Pre-Tax Profit of Lifted Being Generated by the Business), it being expressly agreed upon and acknowledged by the Company and the Company Owners that NW’s Written Estimate shall be final, non-appealable and legally binding upon the Company, the Company Owners, LIFD and Lifted. NW shall deliver such Written Estimate to the Company Owners, LIFD and Lifted.
(b)Within five (5) days following receipt by the Company Owners, LIFD and Lifted of the Written Estimate, LIFD shall pay additional so-called “earnout” Merger Consideration to the Company Owners, in accordance their respective Interest Ratios, with a stated value equal to five (5) times the Estimated Incremental Annual Pre-Tax Profit of Lifted Being Generated by the Business (the “Earnout Consideration”), provided that (1) the Earnout Consideration in no event will have a stated value of less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and in no event will have a stated value of more than Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000); (2) Twenty Percent (20%) of the Earnout Consideration will be in the form of cash, and Eighty Percent (80%) of the Earnout Consideration will be in the form of newly issued shares of unregistered LIFD Common Stock with a stated value of Five Dollars ($5.00) per share regardless of what a share of LIFD Common Stock is then trading for and regardless of what the Company Owners, LIFD or Lifted believe is then the fair market value of one share of newly issued, unregistered LIFD Common Stock.
(c)As examples, for illustrative purposes only:
(1)If, according to NW’s Written Estimate, the Estimated Incremental Annual Pre-Tax Profit of Lifted Being Generated by the Business is $500,000, then the Earnout Consideration would be calculated as $500,000 X 5 = $2,500,000, of which ($2,500,000 X .2) = $500,000 would be in the form of cash, and the remaining $2,000,000 would be paid in the form of ($2,000,000/$5) = 400,000 newly issued shares of unregistered LIFD Common Stock;
(2)If, according to NW’s Written Estimate, the Estimated Incremental Annual Pre-Tax Profit of Lifted Being Generated by the Business is $25,000, then the Earnout Consideration would be the minimum of $1,000,000, of which ($1,000,000 X .2) = $200,000 would be in the form of cash, and the remaining $800,000 would be paid in the form of ($800,000/$5) = 160,000 newly issued shares of unregistered LIFD Common Stock; and
(3)If, according to NW’s Written Estimate, the Estimated Incremental Annual Pre-Tax Profit of Lifted Being Generated by the Business is $2,000,000, then the Earnout Consideration would be the maximum of $6,000,000, of which ($6,000,000 X .2) = $1,200,000 would be in the form of cash, and the remaining $4,800,000 would be paid in the form of ($4,800,000/$5) = 960,000 newly issued shares of unregistered LIFD Common Stock.
Section 2.4Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the date of payment of the Earnout Consideration, any change in the outstanding shares of LIFD Common Stock shall occur by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split), or combination, exchange, readjustment of shares, or similar transaction, or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock, then the LIFD Common Stock portion of the Merger Consideration shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.
Section 2.5Withholding Rights. LIFD shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any Tax Laws.
Section 2.6Tax Treatment. The Merger is intended to constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE COMPANY OWNERS
Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Company Disclosure Letter that relates to such Section or in another Section of the Company Disclosure Letter to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such Section, the Company Owners (jointly and severally) hereby represent and warrant to LIFD as follows:
Section 3.1Organization; Standing and Power; Charter Documents; Subsidiaries.
(a)Organization; Standing and Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Illinois and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease, and operate its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. The Company is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the character of the assets and properties owned, leased, or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or license necessary.
(b)Charter Documents. The Company Owners have delivered or made available to LIFD a true and correct copy of the Charter Documents of the Company. The Company is not in material violation of any of the provisions of its Charter Documents.
Section 3.2Capital Structure; Capital Stock. Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter accurately sets forth the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as of the date hereof. The shares of Company Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, and all of the shares of Company Common Stock are owned by the Company Owners, free and clear of all Liens. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character obligating the Company to issue or sell any equity securities of, or any other interest in, the Company, its business or its assets. The Company does not have any outstanding capital stock other than the shares of Company Common Stock set forth in Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company does not have any legal obligation to effect any merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company, nor to enter into any agreement with respect thereto, nor to redeem or repurchase any shares of capital stock, nor to issue any dividends or to make any divestitures.
Section 3.3Authority; Non-Contravention; Governmental Consents.
(a)Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company Owners have voted, in their respective capacities as shareholders of the Company, to approve the Merger in accordance with the requirements of the IL BCA. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company
and no other actions on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due execution and delivery by LIFD and Lifted, constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, and other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by principles of equity.
(b)Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, do not: (1) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, the Charter Documents of the Company; (2) assuming that all Consents contemplated by Section 3.3(c) have been obtained or made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company or any of its properties or assets; (3) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the Company’s loss of any benefit or the imposition of any additional payment or other liability under, or give to any third party any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation, or require any Consent under, any Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound as of the date hereof; or (4) result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the properties or assets of the Company.
(c)Governmental Consents. To the Knowledge of the Company, no consent, approval, order, or authorization of, or registration, declaration, or filing with, or notice to (any of the foregoing being a “Consent”), any national, state, municipal, local, or foreign government, any instrumentality, subdivision, court, administrative agency or commission, or other governmental authority, or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority (a “Governmental Entity”) is required to be obtained or made by the Company in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, except for: (1) the filing of the IL Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois; and (2) such Consents as may be required under applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the securities Laws of any foreign country or the rules and regulations of the OTC.
Section 3.4Taxes.
(a)Tax Returns and Payment of Taxes. The Company has duly and timely filed or caused to be filed (taking into account any valid extensions) all Tax Returns required to be filed by it. Such Tax Returns are true, complete, and correct in all material respects. The Company is not currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return other than extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. All Taxes due and owing by the Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid.
(b)Availability of Tax Returns. The Company Owners have made available to LIFD complete and accurate copies of all material federal, state, local, and foreign income, franchise, and other material Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of the Company for any Tax period ending since the formation of the Company.
(c)Withholding. The Company has withheld and timely paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any Company Employee and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.
(d)Liens. There are no Liens for Taxes upon the assets of the Company other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings as set forth in Section 3.4(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(e)Tax Deficiencies and Audits. No deficiency for any amount of Taxes which has been proposed, asserted, or assessed in writing by any taxing authority against the Company remains unpaid. There are no waivers or extensions of any statute of limitations currently in effect with respect to Taxes of the Company. There are no audits, suits, proceedings, investigations, claims, examinations, or other administrative or judicial proceedings ongoing or, to the Knowledge of the Company, pending with respect to any Taxes of the Company.
(f)Tax Jurisdictions. No claim has ever been made in writing by any taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax Returns that the Company may be subject to Tax in that jurisdiction.
(g)Intended Tax Treatment. The Company has not taken nor has it agreed to take any action, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there exist no facts or circumstances that are likely to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 3.5Litigation; Other Activities. Other than as set forth in Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no Legal Action pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its properties or assets or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any officer or director of any member of the Company other than any such Legal Action that: (a) does not involve an amount in controversy in excess of $1; and (b) does not seek material injunctive or other material non-monetary relief. Neither the Company nor any of its properties or assets is subject to any order, writ, assessment, decision, injunction, decree, ruling, or judgment (“Order”) of a Governmental Entity or arbitrator, whether temporary, preliminary, or permanent.
Section 3.6Brokers’ and Finders’ Fees. The Company has not incurred, nor shall it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for investment banker, brokerage, or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.7Employee Matters.
(a)Schedule. Except for the Sanchez Employment Agreements, there are no other employment agreements, bonus agreements, pension plans, employee benefits plans or programs, collective bargaining agreements, or other arrangements providing for employee compensation, severance, deferred compensation, performance awards, stock or stock-based awards, fringe, retirement, death, disability, medical, or wellness benefits, or other employee benefits or remuneration of any kind, which are sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by the Company, for the benefit of any current or former employee, independent contractor, consultant, officer or director of the Company (each, a “Company Employee”), or with respect to which the Company has or may have any Liability, including any employment, termination, severance, retention, change in control, or consulting or independent contractor plan, program, arrangement, or agreement, in each case whether written or unwritten or otherwise, funded or unfunded, insured or self-insured, including each “employee benefit plan,” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA (collectively, “Company Employee Plans”). The Company has no employees, consultants or contractors of any kind or nature whatsoever other than the Company Owners.
(b)Documents. The Company Owners have made available to LIFD correct and complete copies of the Sanchez Employment Agreements. There are no other Company Employee Plans.
(c)Plan Liabilities. The Company has no liability under ERISA or any similar state law for any Company Employee Plan.
(d)No Post-Employment Obligations. The Company does not provide post-termination or retiree health benefits to any person for any reason, except as may be required by COBRA or other applicable Law, and the Company has no Liability to provide post-termination or retiree health benefits to any person nor has it ever represented, promised, or contracted to any employee of the Company (either individually or as a group) or any other person that such employee(s) or other person would be provided with post-termination or retiree health benefits, except to the extent required by COBRA or other applicable Law.
(e)Effect of Transaction. Neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the Merger, nor any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall (either alone or in combination with any other event), except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the Asset Purchase Agreement: (1) entitle any current or former owner, shareholder, director, officer, manager, employee, contractor, consultant or Affiliate of the Company or of any of the Company Owners to severance pay or any other payment of any kind or nature whatsoever; or (2) accelerate the timing of payment, funding, or vesting, or increase the amount, of compensation due to any such person or entity. No amount that could be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of any property) as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by any current or former owner, shareholder, director, officer, manager, employee, contractor, consultant or Affiliate of the Company or of any of the Company
Owners would not be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code nor would be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code.
Section 3.8Real Property and Personal Property Matters. The Company does not own or lease any Real Estate, nor is the Company party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property or interest in real property.
Section 3.9Material Contracts; Indebtedness. The Company has not entered into any Contracts except for the Sanchez Employment Agreements. The Company has no Indebtedness. The Sanchez Employment Agreements are legal, valid, and binding on the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, and are in full force and effect in all material respects, and neither the Company nor any Company Owner is in material breach or default under the Sanchez Employment Agreements.
Section 3.10Information Supplied. None of the information regarding the Company, the Company Owners, Oculus CRS, LLC, or the Asset Purchase Agreement that has been supplied or that is to be supplied by the Company Owners, orally or in writing, contains or shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Section 3.11Outside Cannabis Industry Business. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.11, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, no Company Owner has any interest in any brand, product, Person or business engaged in the growing, extraction, testing, manufacturing, sale, distribution or transport of marijuana products, hemp products, hemp-derived products, other cannabis industry products, or psychoactive or psychedelic products, other than through the Company or through Oculus CRS, LLC (with any interests such businesses being referred to herein as an “Outside Cannabis Industry Business Interests”). For the avoidance of doubt, Outside Cannabis Industry Business Interests shall not include a Company Owner owning, solely as an investment, securities of any Person traded over the counter or on any national securities exchange if the Company Owner is not a controlling Person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person and does not, directly or indirectly, own 3% or more of any class of securities of such Person.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LIFD AND LIFTED
Except: (a) as disclosed in the LIFD SEC Documents and that is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure to be applicable to the representation and warranty set forth herein (other than any disclosures contained or referenced therein under the captions “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” and any other disclosures contained or referenced therein of information, factors, or risks that are predictive, cautionary, or forward-looking in nature); or (b) as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the LIFD Disclosure Letter that relates to such Section or in another Section of the LIFD Disclosure Letter to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face of such
disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such Section; LIFD hereby represents and warrants to each Company Owner as follows:
Section 4.1Organization; Standing and Power; Charter Documents; Subsidiaries.
(a)Organization; Standing and Power. Each of LIFD and its Subsidiaries is a corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing (to the extent that the concept of “good standing” is applicable in the case of any jurisdiction outside the United States) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and has the requisite corporate, limited liability company, or other organizational, as applicable, power and authority to own, lease, and operate its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each of LIFD and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity and is in good standing (to the extent that the concept of “good standing” is applicable in the case of any jurisdiction outside the United States) in each jurisdiction where the character of the assets and properties owned, leased, or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or license necessary.
(b)Charter Documents. Neither LIFD nor Lifted is in violation of any of the provisions of its Charter Documents.
(c)Subsidiaries. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each Subsidiary of LIFD, including Lifted, have been validly issued and are owned by LIFD, directly or indirectly, free of pre-emptive rights, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of all Liens, including any restriction on the right to vote, sell, or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other equity or voting interests, except for any Liens: (1) imposed by applicable securities Laws; or (2) arising pursuant to the Charter Documents of any non-wholly-owned Subsidiary of LIFD. Except as disclosed in the LIFD SEC Documents, LIFD does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, any Person.
Section 4.2Capital Structure.
(a)Capital Stock. The LIFD SEC Documents accurately describe the capital structure of LIFD as of the respective dates of those filings including LIFD Common Stock, LIFD Preferred Stock, and certain outstanding options and warrants (collectively “LIFD Securities”). Except as described in the LIFD SEC Documents, there are no outstanding stock appreciation rights, performance shares, profit participation rights, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock, or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any shares of capital stock of LIFD, in each case that have been issued by LIFD or its Subsidiaries. All outstanding LIFD Securities, and LIFD’s ownership interests in any Subsidiary of LIFD, have been issued or granted, as applicable, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable securities Laws. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding Contracts requiring LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any LIFD Securities or LIFD Subsidiary Securities. Neither LIFD nor any of its Subsidiaries is
a party to any voting agreement with respect to any LIFD Securities or LIFD Subsidiary Securities.
(b)Voting Debt. Except as described in the LIFD SEC Documents as of the date hereof, no bonds, debentures, notes, or other indebtedness issued by LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries (1) having the right to vote on any matters on which stockholders of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries may vote (or which is convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having such right), or (2) the value of which is directly based upon or derived from the capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries, are issued or outstanding (collectively, “LIFD Voting Debt”).
Section 4.3Authority; Non-Contravention; Governmental Consents; Board Approval.
(a)Authority. Each of LIFD and Lifted has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No other corporate proceedings on the part of LIFD or Lifted are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger, the LIFD Stock Issuances, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by LIFD and Lifted and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Company and the Company Owners, constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of LIFD and Lifted, enforceable against LIFD and Lifted in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, and other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.
(b)Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by LIFD and Lifted and the consummation by LIFD and Lifted of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, do not and shall not: (1) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, LIFD’s Charter Documents or Lifted’s Charter Documents; (2) assuming that all of the Consents contemplated by Section 4.3(c) have been obtained or made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to either of LIFD or Lifted or any of their properties or assets; (3) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in LIFD’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ loss of any benefit or the imposition of any additional payment or other liability under, or alter the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give to any third party any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation, or require any Consent under, any Contract to which LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or otherwise bound; or (4) result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the properties or assets of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c)Governmental Consents. No Consent of any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by LIFD or Lifted in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance by LIFD or Lifted of this Agreement or the consummation by LIFD or Lifted of the Merger, the LIFD Stock Issuances, and the other transactions contemplated hereby, except for: (1) the filing of the IL Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois; (2) such Consents as may be required under applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the securities Laws of any foreign
country or the rules and regulations of the OTC; and (3) the filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Merger, the LIFD Stock Issuances, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d)Board Approval.
(1)The LIFD Board by resolutions duly adopted by a majority vote at a meeting of the directors of LIFD duly called and held and, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and the LIFD Stock Issuances, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, and in the best interests of, LIFD and the LIFD’s stockholders, and (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement, including the execution, delivery, and performance thereof, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger and the LIFD Stock Issuances, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
(2)By resolutions duly adopted by LIFD in its capacity as the sole shareholder of Lifted and not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, LIFD has (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Lifted and LIFD, as the sole shareholder of Lifted, and (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement, including the execution, delivery, and performance thereof, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and (iii) resolved to recommend that LIFD as the sole shareholder of Lifted, approve the adoption of this Agreement in accordance with the IL BCA.
Section 4.4SEC Filings; Financial Statements.
(a)SEC Filings. LIFD has filed with or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC all registration statements, prospectuses, reports, schedules, forms, statements, and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated by reference) required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC since January 1, 2021 (the “LIFD SEC Documents”). True, correct, and complete copies of all the LIFD SEC Documents are publicly available in the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval database of the SEC. As of their respective filing dates or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of the last such amendment or superseding filing (and, in the case of registration statements and proxy statements, on the dates of effectiveness and the dates of the relevant meetings, respectively), each of the LIFD SEC Documents conform in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder
applicable to such LIFD SEC Documents. None of the LIFD SEC Documents, including any financial statements, schedules, or exhibits included or incorporated by reference therein at the time they were filed (or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of the last such amendment or superseding filing), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that LIFD makes no representation as to the accuracy and completeness of its risk factors and other disclosures regarding the growing, extraction, testing, manufacturing, sale, distribution or transport of marijuana products, hemp products, hemp-derived products, other cannabis industry products, or psychoactive or psychedelic products. To the Knowledge of LIFD, none of the LIFD SEC Documents is the subject of ongoing SEC review or outstanding SEC investigation. None of LIFD’s Subsidiaries is required to file or furnish any forms, reports, or other documents with the SEC.
(b)Financial Statements. Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any notes and schedules thereto) contained in or incorporated by reference into the LIFD SEC Documents: (1) complied in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as of their respective dates; (2) was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, as may be permitted by the SEC for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q); and (3) fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of LIFD and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements, subject, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, to normal and year-end audit adjustments as permitted by GAAP and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (but only if the effect of such adjustments would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material).
Section 4.5Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since January 1, 2021, except as disclosed in the LIFD SEC Documents, and except in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, to the Knowledge of LIFD there has not been or occurred any LIFD Material Adverse Effect or any event, condition, change, or effect that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an LIFD Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.6Compliance; Permits.
(a)LIFD and each of its Subsidiaries are and, since January 1, 2021, have been in material compliance with, all Laws or Orders applicable to LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries or by which LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses or properties is bound. Since January 1, 2021, no Governmental Entity has issued any notice or notification stating that LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries is not in material compliance with any Law.
(b)Permits. LIFD and its Subsidiaries hold all licenses and permits necessary to operate their respective businesses as such businesses are being operated as of the date hereof. LIFD and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all such licenses and permits, and no suspension, cancellation, non-renewal, or adverse modifications of any license or permit of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of LIFD, threatened.
Section 4.7Litigation. Except as set forth in the LIFD SEC Documents, there is no Legal Action pending, or to the Knowledge of LIFD, threatened against LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or, to the Knowledge of LIFD, any officer or director of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries in their capacities as such other than any such Legal Action that: (a) does not involve an amount that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an LIFD Material Adverse Effect; and (b) does not seek material injunctive or other material non-monetary relief. None of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any Order of a Governmental Entity or arbitrator, whether temporary, preliminary, or permanent, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an LIFD Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of LIFD, there are no SEC inquiries or investigations, other governmental inquiries or investigations, or internal investigations pending or threatened, in each case regarding any accounting practices of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries or any malfeasance by any officer or director of LIFD.
Section 4.8Brokers. Neither LIFD nor any of its Affiliates has incurred, nor shall it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for investment banker, brokerage, or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.
Section 4.9Tax Matters.
(a)Each of LIFD and its Subsidiaries has filed all federal income Tax Returns and all other material Tax Returns that it was required to file. All such Tax Returns were true, correct, and complete in all material respects. All material Taxes due and owing by LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. No written claim has been made within the past three years by an authority in a jurisdiction where LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of the assets of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries. Each of LIFD and its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third party, and all Forms W-2 and 1099 required with respect thereto have been properly completed and timely filed.
(b)There is no material dispute or claim concerning any Tax liability of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries either (1) claimed or raised by any authority in writing or (2) as to which LIFD or its Subsidiaries has Knowledge based upon personal contact with any agent of such authority.
(c)None of LIFD’s or its Subsidiaries Tax Returns have been audited or are currently the subject of audit. Neither LIFD nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(d)Neither LIFD nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has been a party to any ‘‘listed transaction,’’ as defined in Code §6707A(c)(2) and Reg. §1.6011-4(b)(2).
Section 4.10Ownership of Company Common Stock. Neither LIFD nor any of its Affiliates owns any shares of Company Common Stock.
Section 4.11Intended Tax Treatment. Neither LIFD nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action that is reasonably likely to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.1Conduct of Business. During the period from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or termination of this Agreement, the Company Owners shall cause the Company and Oculus CRS, LLC, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Asset Purchase Agreement: (a) to conduct the Business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (b) not to take any extraordinary actions, including without limitation amending any Charter Document, issuing any additional equity, or amending the Sanchez Employment Agreements; (c) to preserve substantially intact the Business organization, to keep available the services of their current officers and employees; and (d) to preserve their present relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and other Persons having business relationships with them.
Section 5.2Access to Information. From the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth in Article VIII, the Company Owners shall afford to LIFD and LIFD’s representatives reasonable access, at reasonable times and in a manner as shall not unreasonably interfere with the Business, to the officers, employees, accountants, agents, properties, offices, and other facilities and to all books, records, contracts, and other assets of the Company and Oculus CRS, LLC, excepting only as might contravene any Law (it being agreed that the parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause such information to be provided in a manner that would not result in such contravention), provided that such access shall not affect the representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements of the Company and the Company Owners contained herein, nor limit or otherwise affect the remedies available to LIFD and Lifted pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 5.3Other Actions. LIFD shall take any action (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified) required to be taken under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any applicable foreign or state securities or “blue sky” Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with the issuance of LIFD Common Stock in the Merger, and the Company Owners shall furnish to LIFD all information concerning the
Company, the Company Owners, Oculus CRS, LLC and the Business as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such actions.
Section 5.4Notices of Certain Events; Stockholder Litigation; No Effect on Disclosure Letter.
(a)The Company Owners shall notify LIFD, and LIFD shall notify the Company Owners, promptly of: (1) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (2) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (3) any event, change, or effect between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time which causes or is reasonably likely to cause the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Article VI of this Agreement to be satisfied.
(b)The Company Owners shall promptly advise LIFD in writing after becoming aware of any Legal Action commenced, or to the Company’s Knowledge threatened, after the date hereof against the Company or any of the Company Owners relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger or the Asset Purchase Agreement) and shall keep LIFD reasonably informed regarding any such Legal Action. The Company Owners shall give LIFD the opportunity to consult with the Company Owners regarding the defense or settlement of any such litigation and shall consider LIFD’s views with respect to such litigation and shall not settle any such litigation without the prior written consent of LIFD (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned). LIFD shall promptly advise the Company Owners in writing after becoming aware of any Legal Action commenced, or to LIFD’s Knowledge threatened, after the date hereof against LIFD or any of its directors or officers relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger or the Asset Purchase Agreement) and shall keep the Company Owners reasonably informed regarding any such Legal Action. LIFD shall give the Company Owners the opportunity to consult with LIFD regarding the defense or settlement of any such litigation and shall consider the views of the Company Owners with respect to such litigation and shall not settle any such litigation without the prior written consent of the Company Owners (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned).
(c)In no event shall the delivery of any notice by a party pursuant to this Section 5.4 limit or otherwise affect the respective rights, obligations, representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.
Section 5.5Commercially Reasonable Efforts.
(a)Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (including those contained in this Section 5.5), each of the parties hereto shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper, or advisable to consummate and make
effective, and to satisfy all conditions to, in the most commercially reasonable manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b)In the event that any administrative or judicial action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Entity or private party challenging the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, or any other agreement contemplated hereby, the Company Owners and LIFD shall cooperate in all reasonable respects with the other and shall use its reasonable best efforts to contest and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed, or overturned any Order, whether temporary, preliminary, or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents, or restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, none of LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to, and the Company Owners may not, without the prior written consent of LIFD, become subject to, consent to, or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement, or order to: (1) sell, license, assign, transfer, divest, hold separate, or otherwise dispose of any assets, business, or portion of business of the Company, LIFD, or any of their respective Subsidiaries; (2) conduct, restrict, operate, invest, or otherwise change the assets, business, or portion of business of the Company, LIFD, or any of their respective Subsidiaries in any manner; or (3) impose any restriction, requirement, or limitation on the operation of the business or portion of the business of the Company, LIFD, or any of their respective Subsidiaries.
Section 5.6Public Announcements. Each of the Company Owners agrees that LIFD and Lifted shall be permitted to issue press releases and to make SEC filings announcing the documents and the transactions contemplated hereby including the Asset Purchase Agreement and the Merger.
Section 5.7Certain Tax Matters.
(a)None of the Company Owners, the Company, LIFD nor Lifted shall take or fail to take any action which action (or failure to act) would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(b)Notwithstanding Section 5.7(a), the Company Owners and the Company agree and acknowledge that: (1) neither LIFD or Lifted, nor their directors, officers, employees, attorneys or accountants have made any oral or written guarantees, representations, warranties or covenants of any nature whatsoever to the Company Owners or the Company regarding any tax aspects of the Merger, including but not limited to whether or not the Merger would qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; and (2) in entering into the Merger and other documents and transactions contemplated herein, the Company Owners and the Company have relied solely upon the advice of their own tax, legal and accounting professional advisors who have been selected by the Company Owners and the Company independently of LIFD and Lifted.
(c)Without limiting the generality of Section 5.7(b), the parties shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by another party, in connection with the filing of any Tax Returns and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes.
Section 5.8Proxies. Each of the Company Owners hereby grants to Gerard M. Jacobs, the CEO of LIFD (“GJ”), NW and WJ, acting jointly and unanimously in writing, an irrevocable proxy coupled with an interest to vote, on any and all matters whatsoever, all shares of LIFD Common Stock now or in the future owned by such Company Owner including but not limited all LIFD Common Stock that is part of the Merger Consideration, provided, that such proxies shall be effective from the Closing Date until the fifteenth (15th) anniversary of the Closing Date.
Section 5.9Estoppel Letters. Prior to the Closing Date, each Company Owner and each employee of Oculus CRS, LLC shall sign and deliver to LIFD an estoppel letter in form and substance satisfactory to LIFD in its discretion, evidencing that following the Merger, such Company Owner or such employee of Oculus CRS, LLC will have no right, title or interest in the stock or assets of the Company or of Oculus CRS, LLC (other than such Company Owner’s right to receive a portion of the Merger Consideration), and that such Company Owner or such employee of Oculus CRS, LLC is not owed anything whatsoever by the Company, by any Company Owner, or by Oculus CRS, LLC, other than wages owed by Oculus CRS, LLC for the period from Oculus CRS, LLC’s last payroll date through the Closing Date (collectively the “Estoppel Letters”).
Section 5.10Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Entity shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Company, any other actions and things to vest, perfect, or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Entity any and all right, title, and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties, or assets of the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Entity as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS
Section 6.1Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible pursuant to applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:
(a)No Injunctions, Restraints, or Illegality. No Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any party hereto shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered any Laws or Orders, whether temporary, preliminary, or permanent, that make illegal, enjoin, or otherwise prohibit consummation of the Merger, the LIFD Stock Issuances, or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b)Governmental Consents. All consents, approvals and other authorizations of any Governmental Entity required to consummate the Merger, the LIFD Stock Issuances, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than the filing of the IL Articles of Merger) shall have been obtained, free of any condition that would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or LIFD Material Adverse Effect. All SEC filings required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and all approvals from the SEC or FINRA necessary to consummate the Merger shall have been made or obtained.
Section 6.2Conditions to Obligations of LIFD. The obligations of LIFD to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible pursuant to applicable Law) by LIFD on or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a)Representations and Warranties. (1) The representations and warranties of the Company and the Company Owners set forth in Article III of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects when made and on and as of the Closing Date, as if made on and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of that date).
(b)Performance of Covenants. The Company and the Company Owners shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with the agreements and covenants, in this Agreement required to be performed by or complied with by it or them at or prior to the Closing Date.
(c)Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been any Company Material Adverse Effect or any event, change, or effect that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d)Owners Certificate. LIFD shall have received a certificate, signed by the Company Owners, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 6.2(a), Section 6.2(b), and Section 6.2(c).
Section 6.3Conditions to Obligation of the Company and the Company Owners. The obligation of the Company and the Company Owners to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company Owners on or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a)Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of LIFD and Lifted shall be true and correct in all material respects when made and on and as of the Closing Date, as if made on and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of that date).
(b)Performance of Covenants. LIFD and Lifted shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with the agreements and covenants, of this Agreement required to be performed by or complied with by each of them at or prior to the Closing Date.
(c)LIFD Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been any LIFD Material Adverse Effect or any event, change, or effect that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have an LIFD Material Adverse Effect.
(d)Officers Certificate. The Company Owners shall have received a certificate, signed by an officer of LIFD, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 6.3(a), Section 6.3(b), and Section 6.3(c).
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than Fundamental Representations and Warranties) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the date that is twelve (12) months from the Closing Date. Fundamental Representations and Warranties shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect indefinitely, other than the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.4 which shall remain in full force and effect until thirty (30) days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. None of the covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing Date other than those which by their terms contemplate performance after the Closing Date, and each such surviving covenant and agreement shall survive the Closing for the period contemplated by its terms or if no such term of survival is contemplated, shall survive indefinitely until performed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the non-breaching party to the breaching party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of such survival period and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.
Section 7.2Indemnification by Company Owners. Subject to the other conditions set forth in this Article VII, the Company Owners shall jointly and severally indemnify LIFD and Lifted against, and shall hold LIFD and Lifted harmless from and against, any and all Expenses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, LIFD or Lifted based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:
(a)any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of the Company or any Company Owner contained in this Agreement; or
(b)any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Company or by any Company Owner pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 7.3Indemnification by LIFD. Subject to the other conditions set forth in this Article VII, LIFD shall indemnify the Company Owners, and shall hold the Company Owners harmless from and against, any and all Expenses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Company Owners based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:
(a)any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of LIFD or Lifted contained in this Agreement; or
(b)any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by LIFD or Lifted pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 7.4Certain Limitations. The party making a claim under this Article VII is referred to as the “Indemnified Party”, and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this Article VII is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party”. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company Owners shall be treated as a single Indemnified Party or Indemnifying Party, as applicable. The indemnification provided for in Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 shall be subject to the following limitations:
(a)The aggregate amount of all Expenses for which an Indemnifying Party shall be liable pursuant to Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.3(a), as the case may be (other than for breaches of Fundamental Representations and Warranties), shall not exceed an amount (the “Indemnification Cap”) equal to the sum of: (1) the value of the Merger Consideration, plus (2) Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000).
(b)Payments by an Indemnifying Party pursuant to Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 in respect of any Expense shall be limited to the amount of any liability or damage that remains after deducting therefrom any insurance proceeds and any indemnity, contribution or other similar payment received or reasonably expected to be received by the Indemnified Party in respect of any such claim. The Indemnified Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to recover under insurance policies or indemnity, contribution or other similar agreements for any Expenses prior to seeking indemnification under this Agreement.
(c)Payments by an Indemnifying Party pursuant to Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 in respect of any Expense shall be reduced by an amount equal to any Tax benefit realized or reasonably expected to be realized as a result of such Expense by the Indemnified Party.
(d)In no event shall any Indemnifying Party be liable to any Indemnified Party for any punitive, incidental, consequential, special or indirect damages, including loss of future revenue or income, loss of business reputation or opportunity relating to the breach or alleged breach of this Agreement, or diminution of value or any damages based on any type of multiple.
(e)Each Indemnified Party shall take, and cause its Affiliates to take, all reasonable steps to mitigate any Expense upon becoming aware of any event or circumstance that would be reasonably expected to, or does, give rise thereto, including incurring costs only to the minimum extent necessary to remedy the breach that gives rise to such Expense.
(f)Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, neither LIFD or the LIFD Owners, on the one hand, nor the Company or the Company Owners, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in default of, or have any liability under this Agreement (or the transactions contemplated hereby), as a result of the growing, extraction, testing, manufacturing, sale, distribution or transport of marijuana products, hemp products, hemp-derived products, other cannabis industry products, or psychoactive or psychedelic products, by LIFD or any of its Subsidiaries or by the Company or any of its Affiliates or in regard to any representations or warranties of any nature relating directly or indirectly to the legality or illegality of growing, extraction, testing, manufacturing, sale,
distribution or transport of marijuana products, hemp products, hemp-derived products, other cannabis industry products, or psychoactive or psychedelic products.
(g)The foregoing indemnification provisions in this Section 7 are the sole and exclusive remedy LIFD (and its Affiliates) may have with respect to the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company Owners set forth in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 7.5Indemnification Procedures.
(a)Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any action, suit, claim or other legal proceeding made or brought by any Person who is not a party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a party to this Agreement (a “Third-Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party prompt written notice thereof. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third-Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Expense that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of, any Third-Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third-Party Claim, subject to Section 7.5(b), the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third-Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right, at its own cost and expense, to participate in the defense of any Third-Party Claim with counsel selected by the Indemnified Party, subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third-Party Claim or fails to notify promptly the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 7.5(b), pay, compromise and defend such Third-Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Expenses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third-Party Claim. LIFD and the Company Owner shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third-Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third-Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non-defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third-Party Claim.
(b)Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third-Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as provided in this Section 7.5(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third-Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial
or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third-Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within ten (10) days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third-Party Claim and, in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third-Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third-Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third-Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 7.5(a), the Indemnified Party shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(c)Direct Claims. Any claim by an Indemnified Party on account of an Expense which does not result from a Third-Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party prompt written notice thereof. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Expense that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. During such 30-day period, the Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim, and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such 30-day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
(d)Manner of Payment. Any amounts owing from a Company Owner pursuant to this Article VII shall be paid in cash by wire of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by LIFD.
(e)When is Payment Due. Any cash indemnification payment to be made pursuant to this Article VII shall be effected by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the applicable account designated by LIFD or the Company Owners, as applicable. All such indemnification obligations shall be made within five (5) Business Days after the indemnified Expenses have been determined by (1) a final, non-appealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (2) a written, executed agreement between LIFD and the Company Owners.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT, AND WAIVER
Section 8.1Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by the mutual written consent of LIFD and the Company Owners.
Section 8.2Termination by Either LIFD or the Company. This Agreement may be terminated by either LIFD or the Company Owners at any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a)if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or prior to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on the End Date;
(b)if any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered any Law or Order making illegal, permanently enjoining, or otherwise permanently prohibiting the consummation of the Merger, the LIFD Stock Issuances, or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Law or Order shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.2(b) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement set forth in this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the issuance, promulgation, enforcement, or entry of any such Law or Order; or
(c)if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 has not been satisfied or waived on or prior to the Closing Date.
Section 8.3Termination by LIFD. This Agreement may be terminated by LIFD at any time prior to the Effective Time if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 has not been satisfied or waived on or prior to the Closing Date.
Section 8.4Termination by the Company Owners. This Agreement may be terminated by the Company Owners at any time prior to the Effective Time if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.3 has not been satisfied or waived on or prior to the Closing Date.
Section 8.5Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination. The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Article VIII (other than pursuant to Section 8.1) shall deliver written notice of such termination to each other party hereto specifying with particularity the reason for such termination, and any such termination in accordance with this Section 8.5 shall be effective immediately upon delivery of such written notice to the other party, except as otherwise provided herein. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Article VIII, it shall become void and of no further force and effect, with no liability on the part of any party to this Agreement (or any stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent, or Representative of such party) to any other party hereto, except: (a) with respect to this Section 8.5, Section 8.6, and Article IX (and any related definitions contained in any such Sections or Article), which shall remain in full force and effect; and (b) with respect to any liabilities or damages incurred or suffered by a party, to the extent such liabilities or damages were the result of fraud or the breach by another party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants, or other agreements set forth in this Agreement.
Section 8.6Amendment. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects, by written agreement signed by each of the parties hereto.
Section 8.7Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, LIFD, on the one hand, or the Company Owners, on the other hand, may: (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other party(ies); (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other party(ies) contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered under this Agreement; or (c) unless prohibited by applicable Law, waive compliance with any of the covenants, agreements, or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by such party. The failure of any party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract, or otherwise.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Business Day” means any day, other than Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which banking institutions located in Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by Law or other governmental action to close.
“Charter Documents” means: (a) with respect to a corporation, the charter, articles or certificate of incorporation, as applicable, and bylaws thereof; (b) with respect to a limited liability company, the certificate of formation or articles of organization, as applicable, and the operating or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, thereof; (c) with respect to a partnership, the certificate of formation and the partnership agreement; and (d) with respect to any other Person the organizational, constituent or governing documents or instruments of such Person.
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
“COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, and as codified in Section 4980B of the Code and Section 601 et. Seq. of ERISA.
“Code” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Company Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter, dated as of the date of this Agreement and delivered by the Company to LIFD concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change in law or regulation, event, occurrence, fact, condition, or other change that is, or would reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to: (a) the Business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or assets of the Company or of Oculus CRS, LLC; or (b) the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.
“Company Owner” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Company Owner Fundamental Representations and Warranties” means those representations and warranties of the Company Owners set forth in Section 3.1, Section 3.2, Section 3.3, Section 3.4, Section 3.6, and Section 3.7.
“Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).
“Contracts” means any contracts, agreements, licenses, notes, bonds, mortgages, indentures, leases, or other binding instruments or binding commitments, whether written or oral.
“Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5(c).
“Earnout Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
“End Date” means April 30, 2023.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Estoppel Letters” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
“Expenses” means, with respect to any Person, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, financial advisors, and investment bankers of such Person and its Affiliates), incurred by such Person or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution, and performance of this Agreement and any transactions related thereto, or in connection with any litigation with respect thereto, or in connection with regulatory approvals, and all other matters
related to the Merger, the LIFD Stock Issuances, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement including the Asset Purchase Agreement.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“Fundamental Representations and Warranties” means the LIFD Fundamental Representations and Warranties and the Company Owner Fundamental Representations and Warranties.
“GJ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.
“Governmental Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).
“IL Articles of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
“IL BCA” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.
“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.
“Interest Ratio” means a fraction, the numerator of which is one, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, as set forth in Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge” means: (a) with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of any of the Company Owners; and (b) with respect to LIFD and its Subsidiaries, the actual knowledge of any of GJ, NW or WJ; in each case, after due inquiry.
“Laws” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, multi-national or other laws, common law, statutes, constitutions, ordinances, rules, regulations, codes, Orders, or legally enforceable requirements enacted, issued, adopted, promulgated, enforced, ordered, or applied by any Governmental Entity, other than any US federal or state laws, ordinance, constitution, regulation, statute, treaty, rules or codes to the extent the federal or state laws, ordinance, constitution, regulation, statute, treaty, rules or codes would be violated, or protections under the federal or state laws, ordinance, constitution, regulation, statute, treaty, rules or codes would be unavailable to a party as a result of engaging in the growing, extraction, testing, manufacturing, sale, distribution or transport of marijuana products, hemp products, hemp-derived products, other cannabis industry products, or psychoactive or psychedelic products as currently engaged in by the Company, Oculus CRS, LLC, LIFD or Lifted.
“Legal Action” means any legal, administrative, arbitral, mediation, or other proceedings, suits, actions, investigations, examinations, claims, audits, hearings, charges, complaints, indictments, litigations, or examinations.
“Liability” shall mean any liability, indebtedness, or obligation of any kind (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, matured, unmatured, determined, determinable, or otherwise, and whether or not required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP).
“Liens” means, with respect to any property or asset, all pledges, liens, mortgages, charges, encumbrances, hypothecations, options, rights of first refusal, rights of first offer, and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever.
“LIFD” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“LIFD Board” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“LIFD Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“LIFD Fundamental Representations and Warranties” means those representations and warranties of LIFD set forth in Section 4.1, Section 4.2, Section 4.3, Section 4.4, Section 4.8, and Section 4.9.
“LIFD Material Adverse Effect” means any change in law or regulation, event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change that is, or would reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to: (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or assets of LIFD and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (b) the ability of LIFD to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.
“LIFD Preferred Stock” means LIFD’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share and LIFD’s Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.
“LIFD SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
“LIFD Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a)(i).
“LIFD Stock Issuances” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Merger Consideration” means the Stock Consideration payable pursuant to Section 2.2 and the Earnout Consideration payable pursuant to Section 2.3.
“NW” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
“OTC” means the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board.
“Order” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
“Outside Cannabis Industry Business Interests” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11.
“Permitted Liens” means: (a) statutory Liens for current Taxes or other governmental charges not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith (provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof); (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’, and similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not delinquent or which are being contested by appropriate proceedings (provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof); (c) zoning, entitlement, building, and other land use regulations imposed by Governmental Entities having jurisdiction over such Person’s owned or leased real property, which are not violated by the current use and operation of such real property; (d) covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, and other similar non-monetary matters of record affecting title to such Person’s owned or leased real property, which do not materially impair the occupancy or use of such real property for the purposes for which it is currently used in connection with such Person’s businesses; (e) any right of way or easement related to public roads and highways, which do not materially impair the occupancy or use of such real property for the purposes for which it is currently used in connection with such Person’s businesses; and (f) Liens arising under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, retirement, and similar legislation.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, association, joint venture, Governmental Entity, or other entity or group (which term shall include a “group” as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act).
“SEC” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(c).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
“Stock Consideration” means One Hundred (100) shares of newly issued, unregistered LIFD Common Stock.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of voting securities is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.
“Taxes” means all federal, state, county, local, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, tobacco, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.
“Tax Returns” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement, or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
“Third-Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5(a).
“WJ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
“Written Estimate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
Section 9.2Interpretation; Construction.
(a)The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, Exhibit, Article, or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section of, Exhibit to, Article of, or Schedule of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (1) to an agreement, instrument, or other document means such agreement, instrument, or other document as amended, supplemented, and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof; and (2) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Whenever the words “include,” “includes,” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” and the word “or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and does not simply mean “if.” A reference in this Agreement to “$” or dollars is to U.S. dollars. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto,” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. References to “this Agreement” shall include the Company Disclosure Letter.
(b)The parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
Section 9.3Governing Law. This Agreement and all Legal Actions (whether based on contract, tort, or statute) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the actions of any of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance, or enforcement hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of Laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Illinois.
Section 9.4Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any Legal Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively in the State courts located in Cook County, Illinois. Each of the parties hereto agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such Legal Action in the manner provided in Section 9.6 or in such other manner as may be
permitted by applicable Laws, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such Legal Action for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it shall not bring any Legal Action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim, or otherwise, in any Legal Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder: (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 9.4; (b) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise); and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (i) the suit, action, or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action, or proceeding is improper, or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
Section 9.5Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION; (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.5
Section 9.6Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by email of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.6):
If to LIFD or Lifted, to: | LFTD Partners Inc. 14155 Pine Island Drive |
| Jacksonville, FL 32224 |
| Attention: Gerard M. Jacobs |
| Email to all of: gerardmjacobs@lftdpartners.com, ceo@urb.shop, and jakejacobs@lftdpartners.com
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If to Company or any Company Owner, to: | Chase Sanchez |
| 611 Apache Ave. Aztec, NM 87410 Email: chasesanchez09@gmail.com
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or to such other Persons, addresses or facsimile numbers as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled to receive such communication as provided above.
Section 9.7Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Company Disclosure Letter constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and the Company Disclosure Letter (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Company Disclosure Letter), the statements in the body of this Agreement shall control.
Section 9.8No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except for the irrevocable proxy granted by the Company Owners to GJ, NW and WJ in Section 5.8, which irrevocable proxy shall be legally binding upon the Company Owners for the benefit of GJ, NW and WJ acting jointly and unanimously: (a) this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and respective successors; and (b) nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 9.9Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
Section 9.10Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither LIFD on the one hand, nor the Company or the Company Owners, on the other hand, may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. No assignment shall relieve the assigning party of any of its obligations hereunder.
Section 9.11Remedies. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any and all remedies expressly conferred upon a party to this Agreement shall be cumulative with, and not exclusive of, any other remedy contained in this Agreement, at Law, or in equity. The exercise by a party to this Agreement of any one remedy shall not preclude the exercise by it of any other remedy.
Section 9.12Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall be one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when each party to this Agreement shall have received counterparts signed by all of the other parties.
Section 9.13Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
| LFTD PARTNERS INC. | |
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| By: | /s/ William C. Jacobs |
| Name: | William C. Jacobs |
| Title: | President |
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| LIFTED LIQUIDS, INC. d/b/a LIFTED MADE | |
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| By: | /s/ William C. Jacobs |
| Name: | William C. Jacobs |
| Title: | President |
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| OCULUS CHS MANAGEMENT CORP. | |
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| By: | /s/ Chase Sanchez |
| Name: | Chase Sanchez |
| Title: | President |
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| COMPANY OWNERS: | |
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| /s/ Chase Sanchez | |
| CHASE SANCHEZ | |
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| /s/ Hagan Sanchez | |
| HAGAN SANCHEZ | |
EXECUTION VERSION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 28, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Hagan Sanchez (“Employee”), Oculus CHS Management Corp., an Illinois corporation (“Company”), Oculus CRS, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (“Oculus”), and Lifted Liquids, Inc. d/b/a Lifted Made, an Illinois corporation (“Lifted”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Company desires to employ Employee on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, Employee desires to be employed by Company on such terms and conditions;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, promises and obligations set forth herein, the parties agree as follows, intending to be legally bound hereby:
1.Term. Employee’s employment hereunder shall be effective as of the date hereto and shall continue until the third (3rd) anniversary hereof, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement. Reference is hereby made to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among LIFD Partners Inc. (“LIFD”), Lifted, Company, Employee and Chase Sanchez dated as of April 28, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”), which Merger Agreement contemplates, among other things, a merger (“Merger”) of Company with and into Lifted, with Lifted being the surviving corporation in such Merger. Employee and Lifted agree and acknowledge that if and when the Merger is consummated (the “Merger Closing Date”) all of Company’s rights and obligations under this Agreement shall be assumed by Lifted without the need for any further action by either Employee or Lifted. “Employment Term” shall mean the period of time during which Employee is employed under this Agreement, initially by Company and following the Merger Closing Date by Lifted. “Employer” shall initially mean Company, and following the Merger Closing Date shall mean Lifted.
2.Position and Duties. Reference is hereby made to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement between LIFD, Lifted, Oculus, Employee, Chase Sanchez, and Company dated as of April 28, 2023 (“Asset Purchase Agreement”), and to Oculus’ hemp flower products “Business” including blunts and joints referenced therein. During the portion of the Employment Term prior to the Merger Closing Date, the Employee shall be responsible for managing Oculus’ hemp flower products Business. During the portion of the Employment Term following the Merger Closing Date, Employee shall serve as Vice President of Lifted’s hemp flower division, having such duties, authorities and responsibilities as shall be determined from time to time by the CEO of Lifted, provided that Employee’s authority to incur or pay expenses outside of the ordinary course of the Business shall be subject to prior written approval by the CEO of Lifted, and provided further that Employee expressly agrees and acknowledges that Lifted is currently involved in, or plans to eventually be involved in, the cultivation, extraction, testing, purchase, manufacturing, sale, use, marketing, licensing, distribution, storage, or transfer, of any cannabis, marijuana, marijuana seeds, marijuana flower, marijuana-derived extracts, marijuana products, marijuana-derived products, hemp, hemp seeds, hemp flower, hemp-derived extracts, hemp products, hemp-derived
products, hemp-derived cannabinoids, hemp-derived extracts, tobacco, tobacco-derived extracts, tobacco products, tobacco-derived products, blunts, joints, amanita mushroom-derived products, other mushroom-derived products, other psychoactive or psychedelic products, or other natural or synthetic products (collectively, “Lifted Businesses”), and that Employee’s duties, authorities and responsibilities may, at some point in time, extend beyond Lifted’s hemp flower division and into other Lifted Businesses.
3.Full-Time Employment. During the Employment Term, the Employee shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the performance of the Employee’s duties hereunder and shall not engage in any other business, profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would conflict or interfere with the performance of such services either directly or indirectly without the Employer’s prior written consent, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged by Employee that Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, own any interest in, or assist, advise, participate or otherwise be engaged in any product, brand, company or business, excepting only the Business and other Lifted Businesses, that involves, directly or indirectly, any right, title or interest in or to any business that is competitive with the Business or with any other of the Lifted Businesses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to act or serve as a director, trustee, committee member or principal of any civic or charitable organization, and to purchase or own less than 5% of the publicly traded securities of any corporation; provided, however, that, such ownership represents a passive investment and that the Employee is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls, such corporation; and provided further that such activities do not interfere with the performance of the Employee’s duties and responsibilities to Employer.
4. Place of Performance. The principal place of Employee’s employment shall be in or near Aztec, New Mexico, or Durango, Colorado, as Employer may from time to time specify in writing.
5. Compensation.
5.1 Base Salary. Employer shall pay Employee an annual rate of base salary of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in periodic installments in accordance with the Employer’s customary payroll practices and applicable wage payment laws, but no less frequently than monthly (the “Base Salary”).
5.2Medical Insurance. During the Employment Term, Employee shall be provided medical insurance coverage by Employer the terms of which shall be generally consistent with the medical insurance coverage provided by Employer to similarly situated employees of Employer.
5.3Paid Time-Off. During the Employment Term, Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid time off per each calendar year, which paid time off must be used by Employee during such calendar or, if not used, shall be forfeited (“Paid Time Off”).
5.4Business Expenses. Employee shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder in accordance with Employer’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures, which
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includes the requirement that expense reimbursement reports, accompanied by receipts and other documentation, must be submitted within ten (10) days following the end of the calendar quarter during which expenses were incurred.
5.5Bonus Pool. Following the Merger Closing Date, Employee shall be eligible to participate in Employer’s annual company-wide management bonus pool, which annual company-wide bonus pool is allocated and distributed in accordance with the unanimous written direction of Gerard M. Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LFTD Partners Inc. (“LIFD”), Nicholas S. Warrender, Vice Chairman and Chief Operations Officer of LIFD, and William C. Jacobs, President and Chief Financial Officer of LIFD.
6. Termination of Employment. The Employment Term and Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either Company or Employee at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that, unless otherwise provided herein, either party shall be required to give the other party at least ten (10) days advance written notice of any termination of Employee’s employment. Upon termination of Employee’s employment during the Employment Term, Employee shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits described in this Section and shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits from the Company.
6.1Expiration of the Employment Term. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party upon expiration of the Employment Term. In the event of such termination, Employee shall be entitled to receive: (a) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and accrued but unused Paid Time Off during such calendar year, which shall be paid on the Termination Date (as defined below); and (b) reimbursement for unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred and documented by Employee, which shall be subject to and paid in accordance with Employer’s expense reimbursement policy (collectively the “Accrued Amounts”).
6.2Termination of Employment Term by Employer for “Cause”. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by Employer for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, for “Cause” shall mean that Employer concludes, in good faith, after reasonable investigation that: (a) Employee has been convicted by a court of proper jurisdiction of (or his written, voluntary and freely given confession to) a crime which constitutes a felony and results in material injury to Employer’s property, operation or reputation; or (b) Employee has violated any direct instruction to Employee from the CEO of Employee, or Employee has breached any material provision of this Agreement or any material written policy of Employer that is applicable to Employee and that has been previously provided to Employee, provided that Employer has delivered written notice to Employee specifying in detail the violation (“Employer Notice”), and Employee fails or refuses to cure such violation within ten (10) days after receipt of such Employer Notice. In the event of such termination for Cause, Employee shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts.
6.3Termination of Employment Term by Employer Without Cause, or by Employee for “Good Reason”. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by Employer without Cause, or by Employee for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, for “Good Reason” shall mean that Employee concludes, in good faith, after reasonable investigation that, Employer has breached any material provision of this Agreement, provided that Employee has delivered written notice to Employer specifying in detail the violation (“Employee Notice”),
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and Employer fails or refuses to cure such violation within ten (10) days after receipt of such Employee Notice. In the event of termination of Employee’s employment hereunder by Employer without Cause, or by Employee for Good Reason as aforesaid, then: (a) Employee shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts, plus a lump sum payment equal to the aggregate Base Salary that otherwise would have been paid by Employer to Employee during the period of time from the Termination Date through the last day of the Employment Term; and (b) If Employee timely and properly elects health continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), then Employer shall reimburse Employee for the difference between the monthly COBRA premium paid by Employee for himself and his dependents and the monthly premium amount paid by similarly situated active employees of Employer. Such reimbursement shall be paid to Employee on the tenth (10th) of the month immediately following the month in which Employee timely remits the premium payment. Employee shall be eligible to receive such reimbursement until the earliest of: (1) the eighteen-month anniversary of the Termination Date; (2) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive COBRA continuation coverage; and (3) the date on which Employee receives substantially similar coverage from another employer or other source.
6.4Termination of Employment Term by Employee’s Death or Disability. Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate automatically upon Employee’s death during the Employment Term, and Employer may terminate Employee’s employment hereunder on account of the Employee’s Disability. If Employee’s employment is terminated during the Employment Term on account of Employee’s death or Disability, Employee (or the Employee’s estate or beneficiaries, as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all payments made in connection with Employee’s Disability shall be provided in a manner that is consistent with federal and state law. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean Employee’s inability, due to physical or mental incapacity, to perform the essential functions of his job, with or without reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 365-day period or 120 consecutive days.
6.5Notice of Termination. Any termination of Employee’s employment hereunder by Employer or by Employee during the Employment Term (other than termination pursuant to Section 6.3 on account of Employee’s death) shall be communicated by written notice of termination (“Notice of Termination”) to the other party. The Notice of Termination shall specify: (a) the termination provision of this Agreement relied upon; (b) to the extent applicable, the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated; and (c) the applicable Termination Date.
6.6Termination Date. The Employee’s “Termination Date” shall be: (a) if Employee’s employment hereunder terminates on account of Employee’s death, the date of Employee’s death; (b) if Employee’s employment hereunder is terminated on account of Employee’s Disability, the date that it is determined that Employee has a Disability; (c) if Employer terminates Employee’s employment hereunder for Cause, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to Employee, subject to the applicable cure period; (d) if Employer terminates Employee’s employment hereunder without Cause, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to Employee; (e) if Employee terminates his employment hereunder with Good Reason, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to Employer, subject to the applicable cure
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period; or (f) if Employee terminates his employment hereunder without Good Reason, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to Employer.
7.1Acknowledgement. Employee understands that the nature of Employee’s position gives him access to and knowledge of Confidential Information and places him in a position of trust and confidence with Employer. Employee also understands that this Agreement is being signed in anticipation of a Merger of Company with and into Lifted, and that Lifted has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Oculus, a company that is partly owned by Employee. Employee agrees, understands and acknowledges that Lifted would not have entered into the Merger Agreement or the Asset Purchase Agreement but for Employee agreeing to this Section 7. Employee understands and acknowledges that the services he provides to Employer pursuant to this Agreement are unique, special or extraordinary. Employee further understands and acknowledges that Employer’s ability to reserve and to rely upon Employee’s services for the exclusive knowledge and use of Employer is of great competitive importance and commercial value to Employer, and that improper use or disclosure by Employee is likely to result in unfair or unlawful competitive activity. The benefits to Employee under the Asset Purchase Agreement and the Merger Agreement constitute, in part, consideration for Employee agreeing to be bound by the covenants set forth in this Section 7.
7.2 Non-Competition. Because of the legitimate business interest of Employer as described herein and the good and valuable consideration offered to Employee, during the Employment Term and for the next twelve (12) months, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of Employee’s employment with Employer, for any reason or no reason (except for termination by Employer without Cause in which case the restrictive covenants shall be deemed to be waived by Employer) and whether employment is terminated at the option of Employee or Employer, Employee agrees and covenants not to engage in Prohibited Activity within the United States. For purposes of this Section 7, “Prohibited Activity” is activity in which Employee contributes his knowledge, time, or other resources, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, as an employee, employer, owner, operator, manager, advisor, consultant, agent, employee, partner, director, stockholder, officer, volunteer, intern or any other similar capacity to an entity engaged in the same or similar business as the Business or other Lifted Businesses. Prohibited Activity also includes activity that may require or inevitably requires disclosure of trade secrets, proprietary information or confidential information of Employer. Nothing herein shall prohibit Employee from purchasing or owning less than 5% of the publicly traded securities of any corporation, provided that such ownership represents a passive investment and that Employee is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls, such corporation. This Section 7 does not, in any way, restrict or impede Employee from exercising protected rights to the extent that such rights cannot be waived by agreement, or from complying with any applicable law or regulation or a valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that such compliance does not exceed that required by the law, regulation or order. Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to Employer.
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7.3Non-Solicitation of Employees or Independent Contractors. Employee agrees and covenants not to directly or indirectly solicit, hire, recruit, attempt to hire or recruit, or induce the termination of employment of any employee or independent contractor of Employer during 12 months, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of Employee’s employment with Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be a breach of this provision to hire an employee or independent contractor who responds to a general advertisement that is not targeted to a specific individual.
7.4Non-Solicitation of Suppliers and Customers. Employee understands and acknowledges that because of Employee’s experience with and relationship to Employer, he shall have access to and learn about much or all of Employer’s supplier and customer information, which collectively includes, but is not limited to, names, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, order history, order preferences, chain of command, pricing information and other information identifying facts and circumstances specific to the supplier or customer and relevant to purchases, sales or services. Employee understands and acknowledges that loss of this supplier or customer relationship or goodwill will cause significant and irreparable harm to Employer. Employee agrees and covenants, during twelve (12) months, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of Employee’s employment with Employer, not to directly solicit, contact (including but not limited to email, regular mail, express mail, telephone, fax and instant message), attempt to contact, or meet with any supplier or customer of Employer for purposes of offering to purchase, purchasing, offering to sell, or selling any supplies, goods or services similar to or competitive with those purchased or sold by Employer.
7.5Acknowledgement. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the services to be rendered by him to Employer are of a special and unique character; that Employee will obtain knowledge and skill relevant to methods of doing business and marketing strategies by virtue of Employee’s employment by Employer; and that the restrictive covenants and other terms and conditions of this Agreement are reasonable and reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate business interest of Employer.
7.6Remedies. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of Section 7 of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that Employer shall be entitled to seek, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief.
8.Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or related to this Agreement or any breach of this Agreement shall be submitted to and decided by a single arbitrator under binding arbitration in the City of Chicago, Illinois. Arbitration shall be administered exclusively by the American Arbitration Association and shall be conducted consistent with the rules, regulations and requirements thereof as well as any requirements imposed by Illinois state law. Any arbitral award determination shall be final and binding upon the parties.
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9.Proprietary Rights.
9.1Work Product. Employee acknowledges and agrees that all right, title and interest in and to all writings, works of authorship, technology, inventions, discoveries, processes, techniques, methods, ideas, concepts, research, proposals, materials and all other work product of any nature whatsoever, that are created, prepared, produced, authored, edited, amended, conceived or reduced to practice by Employee individually or jointly with others during the period of his employment by Employer and relate in any way to the Business or other Lifted Businesses, products, activities, research or development of Employer or result from any work performed by Employee for Employer (in each case, regardless of when or where prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same), all rights and claims related to the foregoing, and all printed, physical and electronic copies and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to US and foreign (a) patents, patent disclosures and inventions (whether patentable or not), (b) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, logos, corporate names and domain names, and other similar designations of source or origin, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, (c) copyrights and copyrightable works (including computer programs), including rights in data and databases, (d) trade secrets, know-how and other confidential information, and (e) all other intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all registrations and applications for, and renewals and extensions of, such rights, all improvements thereto and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection in any part of the world (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall be the sole and exclusive property of Employer. For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Employer information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, contracts, terms of agreements, negotiations, know-how, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, results, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, audiovisual programs, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, experimental results, specifications, supplier lists, supplier information, customer information, client information, customer lists, client lists, manufacturing information, marketing information, pricing information, advertising information and sales information.
9.2Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being employed by Employer at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in 17 U.S.C. Section 101 and such copyrights are therefore owned by Employer. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to Employer, for no additional consideration, Employee’s entire right, title, and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim, and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit Employer’s rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that Employer would have had in the absence of this Agreement.
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9.3Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after his employment, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with Employer to (a) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to Employer the Work Product as well as any and all Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (b) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including giving testimony and executing and delivering to Employer any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by Employer. Employee hereby irrevocably grants to Employer a power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employee’s behalf in his name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to Employer and to further the transfer, prosecution, issuance and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with Employer’s request (without limiting the rights Employer shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employee’s subsequent incapacity.
9.4No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to him by Employer.
10.1Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (a) to comply with all of Employer’s security policies and procedures, as in force from time to time (“Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (b) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Employer; and (c) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employee’s employment by Employer, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify Employer promptly in the event he learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Employer property or materials by others.
10.2Exit Obligations. Upon (a) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employee’s employment or (b) Employer’s request at any time during Employee’s employment, Employee shall (1) provide or return to Employer any and all of Employer’s property, including keys, key cards, ADP badges, access cards, identification cards, security devices, employer credit cards, network access devices, computers, laptops, cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, pagers, fax machines, equipment, speakers, webcams, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, email messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives, negatives and data, and all documents and materials belonging to Employer and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by Employer or by any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with his employment by Employer; and (2) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials not returned to Employee that remain in the Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Employer devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employee’s possession or control.
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11.Governing Law: Jurisdiction and Venue. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Illinois without regard to conflicts of law principles. Pursuant to Section 8, any disputes under this Agreement shall be subject to binding arbitration, provided that if any court action or proceeding is initiated by any party to enforce this Agreement, under any facts or circumstances that such party claims is not subject to arbitration pursuant to Section 8 for some claimed reason, then all parties agree and covenant that such court action or proceeding shall be brought only in a state or federal court located in the state of Illinois, County of Cook, and the parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue.
12. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. If any action at law or in equity, including any action for declaratory relief, is brought by a party to this Agreement, including arbitration under Section 8, to enforce or interpret the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall recover from the non-prevailing party any actual damages and reasonable costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with such dispute and arbitration or litigation.
13.Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all of the understandings and representations between Employee and Employer pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. The parties mutually agree that this Agreement can be specifically enforced in court and can be cited as evidence in legal proceedings alleging breach of this Agreement.
14.Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and executed by both Employee and Employer.
15.Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement, or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.
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16.Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.
17.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
18.Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is personal to Employee and shall not be assigned by Employee. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of the purported assignment. Employer may assign this Agreement to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of Employer, including pursuant to the Merger Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Employer and permitted successors and assigns.
19.Notice. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight carrier to the parties at the addresses set forth below (or such other addresses as specified by the parties by like notice):
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20.Survival. Upon the expiration or other termination of this Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Agreement.
21.Acknowledgement of Full Understanding. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT HE HAS FULLY READ, UNDERSTANDS AND VOLUNTARILY ENTERS INTO THIS AGREEMENT. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT HE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF HIS CHOICE BEFORE SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
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By: | /s/ Chase Sanchez |
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Name: | Chase Sanchez |
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Title: | President |
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“Oculus” | ||
Oculus CRS, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company | ||
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By: | /s/ Chase Sanchez |
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Name: | Chase Sanchez |
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Title: | Authorized Member |
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“Lifted” | ||
Lifted Liquids, Inc. d/b/a Lifted Made, an Illinois corporation | ||
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By: | /s/ William C. Jacobs |
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Name: | William C. Jacobs |
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Title: | President |
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“Employee” |
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| /s/ Hagan Sanchez |
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| Hagan Sanchez |
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[Signature Page to Executive Employment Agreement of Hagan Sanchez Agreement]
EXECUTION VERSION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 28, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Chase Sanchez (“Employee”), Oculus CHS Management Corp., an Illinois corporation (“Company”), Oculus CRS, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (“Oculus”), and Lifted Liquids, Inc. d/b/a Lifted Made, an Illinois corporation (“Lifted”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Company desires to employ Employee on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, Employee desires to be employed by Company on such terms and conditions;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, promises and obligations set forth herein, the parties agree as follows, intending to be legally bound hereby:
1.Term. Employee’s employment hereunder shall be effective as of the date hereto and shall continue until the third (3rd) anniversary hereof, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement. Reference is hereby made to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among LIFD Partners Inc. (“LIFD”), Lifted, Company, Employee and Hagan Sanchez dated as of April 28, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”), which Merger Agreement contemplates, among other things, a merger (“Merger”) of Company with and into Lifted, with Lifted being the surviving corporation in such Merger. Employee and Lifted agree and acknowledge that if and when the Merger is consummated (the “Merger Closing Date”) all of Company’s rights and obligations under this Agreement shall be assumed by Lifted without the need for any further action by either Employee or Lifted. “Employment Term” shall mean the period of time during which Employee is employed under this Agreement, initially by Company and following the Merger Closing Date by Lifted. “Employer” shall initially mean Company, and following the Merger Closing Date shall mean Lifted.
2.Position and Duties. Reference is hereby made to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement between LIFD, Lifted, Oculus, Employee, Hagan Sanchez, and Company dated as of April 28, 2023 (“Asset Purchase Agreement”), and to Oculus’ hemp flower products “Business” including blunts and joints referenced therein. During the portion of the Employment Term prior to the Merger Closing Date, the Employee shall be responsible for managing Oculus’ hemp flower products Business. During the portion of the Employment Term following the Merger Closing Date, Employee shall serve as Vice President of Lifted’s hemp flower division, having such duties, authorities and responsibilities as shall be determined from time to time by the CEO of Lifted, provided that Employee’s authority to incur or pay expenses outside of the ordinary course of the Business shall be subject to prior written approval by the CEO of Lifted, and provided further that Employee expressly agrees and acknowledges that Lifted is currently involved in, or plans to eventually be involved in, the cultivation, extraction, testing, purchase, manufacturing, sale, use, marketing, licensing, distribution, storage, or transfer, of any cannabis, marijuana, marijuana seeds, marijuana flower, marijuana-derived extracts, marijuana products, marijuana-derived products, hemp, hemp seeds, hemp flower, hemp-derived extracts, hemp products, hemp-derived
products, hemp-derived cannabinoids, hemp-derived extracts, tobacco, tobacco-derived extracts, tobacco products, tobacco-derived products, blunts, joints, amanita mushroom-derived products, other mushroom-derived products, other psychoactive or psychedelic products, or other natural or synthetic products (collectively, “Lifted Businesses”), and that Employee’s duties, authorities and responsibilities may, at some point in time, extend beyond Lifted’s hemp flower division and into other Lifted Businesses.
3.Full-Time Employment. During the Employment Term, the Employee shall devote substantially all of his business time and attention to the performance of the Employee’s duties hereunder and shall not engage in any other business, profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would conflict or interfere with the performance of such services either directly or indirectly without the Employer’s prior written consent, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged by Employee that Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, own any interest in, or assist, advise, participate or otherwise be engaged in any product, brand, company or business, excepting only the Business and other Lifted Businesses, that involves, directly or indirectly, any right, title or interest in or to any business that is competitive with the Business or with any other of the Lifted Businesses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to act or serve as a director, trustee, committee member or principal of any civic or charitable organization, and to purchase or own less than 5% of the publicly traded securities of any corporation; provided, however, that, such ownership represents a passive investment and that the Employee is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls, such corporation; and provided further that such activities do not interfere with the performance of the Employee’s duties and responsibilities to Employer.
4. Place of Performance. The principal place of Employee’s employment shall be in or near Aztec, New Mexico, or Durango, Colorado, as Employer may from time to time specify in writing.
5. Compensation.
5.1 Base Salary. Employer shall pay Employee an annual rate of base salary of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) in periodic installments in accordance with the Employer’s customary payroll practices and applicable wage payment laws, but no less frequently than monthly (the “Base Salary”).
5.2Medical Insurance. During the Employment Term, Employee shall be provided medical insurance coverage by Employer the terms of which shall be generally consistent with the medical insurance coverage provided by Employer to similarly situated employees of Employer.
5.3Paid Time-Off. During the Employment Term, Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid time off per each calendar year, which paid time off must be used by Employee during such calendar or, if not used, shall be forfeited (“Paid Time Off”).
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5.4Business Expenses. Employee shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder in accordance with Employer’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures, which includes the requirement that expense reimbursement reports, accompanied by receipts and other documentation, must be submitted within ten (10) days following the end of the calendar quarter during which expenses were incurred.
5.5Bonus Pool. Following the Merger Closing Date, Employee shall be eligible to participate in Employer’s annual company-wide management bonus pool, which annual company-wide bonus pool is allocated and distributed in accordance with the unanimous written direction of Gerard M. Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LFTD Partners Inc. (“LIFD”), Nicholas S. Warrender, Vice Chairman and Chief Operations Officer of LIFD, and William C. Jacobs, President and Chief Financial Officer of LIFD.
6. Termination of Employment. The Employment Term and Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either Company or Employee at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that, unless otherwise provided herein, either party shall be required to give the other party at least ten (10) days advance written notice of any termination of Employee’s employment. Upon termination of Employee’s employment during the Employment Term, Employee shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits described in this Section and shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits from the Company.
6.1Expiration of the Employment Term. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party upon expiration of the Employment Term. In the event of such termination, Employee shall be entitled to receive: (a) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and accrued but unused Paid Time Off during such calendar year, which shall be paid on the Termination Date (as defined below); and (b) reimbursement for unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred and documented by Employee, which shall be subject to and paid in accordance with Employer’s expense reimbursement policy (collectively the “Accrued Amounts”).
6.2Termination of Employment Term by Employer for “Cause”. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by Employer for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, for “Cause” shall mean that Employer concludes, in good faith, after reasonable investigation that: (a) Employee has been convicted by a court of proper jurisdiction of (or his written, voluntary and freely given confession to) a crime which constitutes a felony and results in material injury to Employer’s property, operation or reputation; or (b) Employee has violated any direct instruction to Employee from the CEO of Employee, or Employee has breached any material provision of this Agreement or any material written policy of Employer that is applicable to Employee and that has been previously provided to Employee, provided that Employer has delivered written notice to Employee specifying in detail the violation (“Employer Notice”), and Employee fails or refuses to cure such violation within ten (10) days after receipt of such Employer Notice. In the event of such termination for Cause, Employee shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts.
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6.3Termination of Employment Term by Employer Without Cause, or by Employee for “Good Reason”. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by Employer without Cause, or by Employee for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, for “Good Reason” shall mean that Employee concludes, in good faith, after reasonable investigation that, Employer has breached any material provision of this Agreement, provided that Employee has delivered written notice to Employer specifying in detail the violation (“Employee Notice”), and Employer fails or refuses to cure such violation within ten (10) days after receipt of such Employee Notice. In the event of termination of Employee’s employment hereunder by Employer without Cause, or by Employee for Good Reason as aforesaid, then: (a) Employee shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts, plus a lump sum payment equal to the aggregate Base Salary that otherwise would have been paid by Employer to Employee during the period of time from the Termination Date through the last day of the Employment Term; and (b) If Employee timely and properly elects health continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), then Employer shall reimburse Employee for the difference between the monthly COBRA premium paid by Employee for himself and his dependents and the monthly premium amount paid by similarly situated active employees of Employer. Such reimbursement shall be paid to Employee on the tenth (10th) of the month immediately following the month in which Employee timely remits the premium payment. Employee shall be eligible to receive such reimbursement until the earliest of: (1) the eighteen-month anniversary of the Termination Date; (2) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive COBRA continuation coverage; and (3) the date on which Employee receives substantially similar coverage from another employer or other source.
6.4Termination of Employment Term by Employee’s Death or Disability. Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate automatically upon Employee’s death during the Employment Term, and Employer may terminate Employee’s employment hereunder on account of the Employee’s Disability. If Employee’s employment is terminated during the Employment Term on account of Employee’s death or Disability, Employee (or the Employee’s estate or beneficiaries, as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all payments made in connection with Employee’s Disability shall be provided in a manner that is consistent with federal and state law. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean Employee’s inability, due to physical or mental incapacity, to perform the essential functions of his job, with or without reasonable accommodation, for 180 days out of any 365-day period or 120 consecutive days.
6.5Notice of Termination. Any termination of Employee’s employment hereunder by Employer or by Employee during the Employment Term (other than termination pursuant to Section 6.3 on account of Employee’s death) shall be communicated by written notice of termination (“Notice of Termination”) to the other party. The Notice of Termination shall specify: (a) the termination provision of this Agreement relied upon; (b) to the extent applicable, the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated; and (c) the applicable Termination Date.
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6.6Termination Date. The Employee’s “Termination Date” shall be: (a) if Employee’s employment hereunder terminates on account of Employee’s death, the date of Employee’s death; (b) if Employee’s employment hereunder is terminated on account of Employee’s Disability, the date that it is determined that Employee has a Disability; (c) if Employer terminates Employee’s employment hereunder for Cause, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to Employee, subject to the applicable cure period; (d) if Employer terminates Employee’s employment hereunder without Cause, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to Employee; (e) if Employee terminates his employment hereunder with Good Reason, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to Employer, subject to the applicable cure period; or (f) if Employee terminates his employment hereunder without Good Reason, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to Employer.
7.1Acknowledgement. Employee understands that the nature of Employee’s position gives him access to and knowledge of Confidential Information and places him in a position of trust and confidence with Employer. Employee also understands that this Agreement is being signed in anticipation of a Merger of Company with and into Lifted, and that Lifted has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Oculus, a company that is partly owned by Employee. Employee agrees, understands and acknowledges that Lifted would not have entered into the Merger Agreement or the Asset Purchase Agreement but for Employee agreeing to this Section 7. Employee understands and acknowledges that the services he provides to Employer pursuant to this Agreement are unique, special or extraordinary. Employee further understands and acknowledges that Employer’s ability to reserve and to rely upon Employee’s services for the exclusive knowledge and use of Employer is of great competitive importance and commercial value to Employer, and that improper use or disclosure by Employee is likely to result in unfair or unlawful competitive activity. The benefits to Employee under the Asset Purchase Agreement and the Merger Agreement constitute, in part, consideration for Employee agreeing to be bound by the covenants set forth in this Section 7.
7.2 Non-Competition. Because of the legitimate business interest of Employer as described herein and the good and valuable consideration offered to Employee, during the Employment Term and for the next twelve (12) months, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of Employee’s employment with Employer, for any reason or no reason (except for termination by Employer without Cause in which case the restrictive covenants shall be deemed to be waived by Employer) and whether employment is terminated at the option of Employee or Employer, Employee agrees and covenants not to engage in Prohibited Activity within the United States. For purposes of this Section 7, “Prohibited Activity” is activity in which Employee contributes his knowledge, time, or other resources, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, as an employee, employer, owner, operator, manager, advisor, consultant, agent, employee, partner, director, stockholder, officer, volunteer, intern or any other similar capacity to an entity engaged in the same or similar business as the Business or other Lifted Businesses. Prohibited Activity also includes activity that may require or inevitably requires disclosure of trade secrets, proprietary information or confidential information of Employer. Nothing herein shall prohibit Employee from purchasing or owning less than 5% of the publicly traded securities of any corporation, provided that such ownership represents a passive investment and that Employee is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls, such corporation. This Section 7 does not, in any way,
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restrict or impede Employee from exercising protected rights to the extent that such rights cannot be waived by agreement, or from complying with any applicable law or regulation or a valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that such compliance does not exceed that required by the law, regulation or order. Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to Employer.
7.3Non-Solicitation of Employees or Independent Contractors. Employee agrees and covenants not to directly or indirectly solicit, hire, recruit, attempt to hire or recruit, or induce the termination of employment of any employee or independent contractor of Employer during 12 months, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of Employee’s employment with Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be a breach of this provision to hire an employee or independent contractor who responds to a general advertisement that is not targeted to a specific individual.
7.4Non-Solicitation of Suppliers and Customers. Employee understands and acknowledges that because of Employee’s experience with and relationship to Employer, he shall have access to and learn about much or all of Employer’s supplier and customer information, which collectively includes, but is not limited to, names, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, order history, order preferences, chain of command, pricing information and other information identifying facts and circumstances specific to the supplier or customer and relevant to purchases, sales or services. Employee understands and acknowledges that loss of this supplier or customer relationship or goodwill will cause significant and irreparable harm to Employer. Employee agrees and covenants, during twelve (12) months, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of Employee’s employment with Employer, not to directly solicit, contact (including but not limited to email, regular mail, express mail, telephone, fax and instant message), attempt to contact, or meet with any supplier or customer of Employer for purposes of offering to purchase, purchasing, offering to sell, or selling any supplies, goods or services similar to or competitive with those purchased or sold by Employer.
7.5Acknowledgement. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the services to be rendered by him to Employer are of a special and unique character; that Employee will obtain knowledge and skill relevant to methods of doing business and marketing strategies by virtue of Employee’s employment by Employer; and that the restrictive covenants and other terms and conditions of this Agreement are reasonable and reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate business interest of Employer.
7.6Remedies. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of Section 7 of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that Employer shall be entitled to seek, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief.
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8.Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or related to this Agreement or any breach of this Agreement shall be submitted to and decided by a single arbitrator under binding arbitration in the City of Chicago, Illinois. Arbitration shall be administered exclusively by the American Arbitration Association and shall be conducted consistent with the rules, regulations and requirements thereof as well as any requirements imposed by Illinois state law. Any arbitral award determination shall be final and binding upon the parties.
9.1Work Product. Employee acknowledges and agrees that all right, title and interest in and to all writings, works of authorship, technology, inventions, discoveries, processes, techniques, methods, ideas, concepts, research, proposals, materials and all other work product of any nature whatsoever, that are created, prepared, produced, authored, edited, amended, conceived or reduced to practice by Employee individually or jointly with others during the period of his employment by Employer and relate in any way to the Business or other Lifted Businesses, products, activities, research or development of Employer or result from any work performed by Employee for Employer (in each case, regardless of when or where prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same), all rights and claims related to the foregoing, and all printed, physical and electronic copies and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to US and foreign (a) patents, patent disclosures and inventions (whether patentable or not), (b) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, logos, corporate names and domain names, and other similar designations of source or origin, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, (c) copyrights and copyrightable works (including computer programs), including rights in data and databases, (d) trade secrets, know-how and other confidential information, and (e) all other intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all registrations and applications for, and renewals and extensions of, such rights, all improvements thereto and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection in any part of the world (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall be the sole and exclusive property of Employer. For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Employer information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, contracts, terms of agreements, negotiations, know-how, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, results, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, audiovisual programs, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, experimental results, specifications, supplier lists, supplier information, customer information, client information, customer lists, client lists, manufacturing information, marketing information, pricing information, advertising information and sales information.
9.2Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being employed by Employer at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in 17 U.S.C. Section 101 and such copyrights are therefore owned by Employer. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to Employer, for no additional consideration, Employee’s entire right, title, and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim, and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto
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throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit Employer’s rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that Employer would have had in the absence of this Agreement.
9.3Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after his employment, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with Employer to (a) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to Employer the Work Product as well as any and all Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (b) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including giving testimony and executing and delivering to Employer any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by Employer. Employee hereby irrevocably grants to Employer a power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employee’s behalf in his name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to Employer and to further the transfer, prosecution, issuance and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with Employer’s request (without limiting the rights Employer shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employee’s subsequent incapacity.
9.4No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to him by Employer.
10.1Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (a) to comply with all of Employer’s security policies and procedures, as in force from time to time (“Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (b) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Employer; and (c) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employee’s employment by Employer, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify Employer promptly in the event he learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Employer property or materials by others.
10.2Exit Obligations. Upon (a) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employee’s employment or (b) Employer’s request at any time during Employee’s employment, Employee shall (1) provide or return to Employer any and all of Employer’s property, including keys, key cards, ADP badges, access cards, identification cards, security devices, employer credit cards, network access devices, computers, laptops, cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, pagers, fax machines, equipment, speakers, webcams, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, email messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives, negatives and data, and all documents and materials belonging to Employer and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by Employer or by any of its business associates or
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created by Employee in connection with his employment by Employer; and (2) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials not returned to Employee that remain in the Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Employer devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employee’s possession or control.
11.Governing Law: Jurisdiction and Venue. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Illinois without regard to conflicts of law principles. Pursuant to Section 8, any disputes under this Agreement shall be subject to binding arbitration, provided that if any court action or proceeding is initiated by any party to enforce this Agreement, under any facts or circumstances that such party claims is not subject to arbitration pursuant to Section 8 for some claimed reason, then all parties agree and covenant that such court action or proceeding shall be brought only in a state or federal court located in the state of Illinois, County of Cook, and the parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue.
12. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. If any action at law or in equity, including any action for declaratory relief, is brought by a party to this Agreement, including arbitration under Section 8, to enforce or interpret the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall recover from the non-prevailing party any actual damages and reasonable costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with such dispute and arbitration or litigation.
13.Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all of the understandings and representations between Employee and Employer pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. The parties mutually agree that this Agreement can be specifically enforced in court and can be cited as evidence in legal proceedings alleging breach of this Agreement.
14.Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and executed by both Employee and Employer.
15.Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement, or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be
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invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.
16.Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.
17.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
18.Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is personal to Employee and shall not be assigned by Employee. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of the purported assignment. Employer may assign this Agreement to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of Employer, including pursuant to the Merger Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Employer and permitted successors and assigns.
19.Notice. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight carrier to the parties at the addresses set forth below (or such other addresses as specified by the parties by like notice):
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20.Survival. Upon the expiration or other termination of this Agreement, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall survive such expiration or other termination to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Agreement.
21.Acknowledgement of Full Understanding. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT HE HAS FULLY READ, UNDERSTANDS AND VOLUNTARILY ENTERS INTO THIS AGREEMENT. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT HE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF HIS CHOICE BEFORE SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
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By: | /s/ Chase Sanchez |
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Name: | Chase Sanchez |
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Title: | President |
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“Oculus” | ||
Oculus CRS, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company | ||
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By: | /s/ Chase Sanchez |
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Name: | Chase Sanchez |
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Title: | Authorized Member |
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“Lifted” | ||
Lifted Liquids, Inc. d/b/a Lifted Made, an Illinois corporation | ||
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By: | /s/ William C. Jacobs |
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Name: | William C. Jacobs |
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Title: | President |
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“Employee” |
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| /s/ Chase Sanchez |
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| Chase Sanchez |
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[Signature Page to Executive Employment Agreement of Chase Sanchez Agreement]
EXECUTION VERSION
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF LEASE
AND LANDLORD CONSENT
This ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF LEASE AND LANDLORD CONSENT (“Agreement”), made as of this 28th day of April, 2023, by and among Oculus CRS, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (“Assignor”), Lifted Liquids, Inc. d/b/a Lifted Made, an Illinois corporation (“Assignee”), and Centerpoint Unlimited Limited Liability Company, a New Mexico limited liability company (“Landlord”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, Assignor desires to assign to Assignee all of Assignor’s interest under that certain Lease Agreement, dated November 26th, 2022 (the “Lease”) between Landlord, as landlord, and Assignor, as tenant, for the property located at 16178 US Hwy 550, Aztec, San Juan County, New Mexico, as more particularly described therein (the “Premises”). A true and correct copy of the Lease is annexed hereto as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, in connection with Assignor’s sale of substantially all of its assets to Assignee (the “Transaction”), including its rights to the Premises under the Lease, Assignee agrees to assume all of Assignor’s obligations as tenant under the Lease, subject to the terms set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Landlord hereby consents to the assignment and assumption for all purposes of the Lease, subject to the terms set forth herein (the “Assignment”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1.Assignor does hereby assign to Assignee all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the Lease, effective as of the closing of the Transaction (the “Effective Date”).
2.Assignee hereby accepts such assignment and hereby assumes all of the obligations of and the performance of all of the terms, conditions, covenants and agreements on the part of Assignor to be performed under the Lease, in each case first accruing from and after the Effective Date.
3.Assignor hereby represents and warrants to Assignee that: (a) as of the date of this Agreement, (i) to Assignor’s knowledge, Landlord has fully performed all of its obligations, liabilities and covenants under the Lease, (ii) Assignor knows of no default by Landlord under the Lease or any situations which, with notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a default under the Lease, and (iii) to Assignor’s knowledge, Assignor has no rights of offset or defense against Landlord; and (b) Assignor has not prior to the date of this Agreement assigned, subleased, licensed, mortgaged or otherwise transferred, voluntarily or involuntarily, the Lease or Assignor’s interest therein.
4.Landlord hereby represents and warrants to Assignor and Assignee that: (a) as of the date of this Agreement Assignor has fully paid and performed all of its obligations, liabilities and covenants under the Lease, and Landlord knows of no default by Assignor under the Lease or any situations which, with notice, the passage of time or both, would constitute a default under the Lease; and (b) without limiting the foregoing, all rent and other charges due and owing under the Lease have been paid by Assignor through the date hereof.
5.Landlord hereby unconditionally consents to the Assignment. In connection with the foregoing, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Lease, Landlord hereby acknowledges and agrees that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Landlord shall be the only requirement with respect to obtaining Landlord’s consent to the Assignment. Landlord hereby acknowledges that the Assignment will not trigger any default under the Lease or any recapture or termination rights (if any) in the Lease and will not result in a change in Tenant’s or Landlord’s rights or current obligations under the Lease (e.g., rights personal to Tenant will be unaffected by the ownership change, including, without limitation, the rights of Tenant to exercise the renewal options, extension options, purchase options, or other options (if any) granted to Tenant under the Lease).
6.From and after the Effective Date, all notices, consents and other communications to be delivered to Assignee under the Lease shall be sent to:
Lifted Liquids, Inc. d/b/a Liquid Made
c/o LFTD Partners Inc.
14155 Pine Island Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32224
Email:gerardmjacobs@lftdpartners.com; ceo@urb.shop; jakejacobs@lftdpartners.com
with a copy of all legal notices (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Fox Rothschild LLP
321 N. Clark St.
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60654
Attention:Marc Smith
Email:mcsmith@foxrothschild.com
7.At any time and from time to time after the date hereof, each party shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered to the other parties such other instruments and take such other action as such other party hereto may reasonably request, in order to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
8.Other than as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, including the assignment and assumption contemplated hereby, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees and confirms that the Lease remains in full force and effect in accordance with its terms as of the Effective Date, subject to the terms of this Agreement. To the extent of any inconsistency between the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Lease, the terms and provisions of this Agreement will control.
9.This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile, electronic and/or .pdf signatures on this Agreement shall have the same binding force and effect as original ink signatures.
[Signature page to follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| ASSIGNOR: | |
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| OCULUS CRS, LLC | |
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| By: | Chase Sanchez |
| Name: | /s/ Chase Sanchez |
| Title: | Owner |
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| ASSIGNEE: | |
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| LIFTED LIQUIDS, INC d/b/a LIFTED MADE | |
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| By: | /s/ William Jacobs |
| Name: | William Jacobs |
| Title: | President |
Acknowledged, agreed and consented to:
LANDLORD: |
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CENTERPOINT UNLIMITED LIMITED |
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By: | /s/ Robert Spearman |
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Name: | Robert Spearman |
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Title: | Member |
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EXHIBIT A
LEASE AGREEMENT
This LEASE AGREEMENT is made and entered into effective the 26th day of November, 2022, by and between CENTERPOINT UNLIMITED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, a New Mexico Limited Liability Company, of PO Box 6735, Farmington, NM 87499-6735, [hereinafter referred to as “Lessor”], and OCULUS CRS, LLC, a Colorado Limited Liability Company, c/o CHASE SANCHEZ, of 330 White Tail, Arboles, CO 81121, [hereinafter referred to as “Lessee”].
In consideration of the parties' performance of the provisions of this lease agreement, the parties agree and covenant as follows:
SECTION ONE
LEASED PREMISES
Lessor leases to Lessee, and Lessee leases from lessor the large shop building (approximately 4800 square feet) and adjacent fenced parking area located at 16178 US Hwy 550, Aztec, San Juan County, New Mexico [hereinafter “the Premises"]. The parties acknowledge and agree that the remaining buildings and structures located at 16178 (small cinder block building and semi trailer) and 16176 and 16174 US Hwy 550, Aztec, San Juan County, New Mexico will remain in the possession of Lessor.
The parties acknowledge and agree that Lessor shall access the remaining portion of 16178 and all of 16174 and 16176 US Hwy 550, Aztec, San Juan County, New Mexico through the gates located on the Premises being leased to Lessee. Lessee shall not deny Lessor access through the gates and shall not hinder, delay or block Lessors access in any manner.
SECTION TWO
TERM
The term of this lease (the "term") shall be for a period of one (1) year, commencing on the 1st day of December, 2022, and continuing in force until the 30th day of November, 2023, unless terminated earlier as provided in this lease. Provided that Lessee is not in breach or default hereunder, Lessee shall have the option to renew this lease for an additional one (1) year term under the same terms and conditions and with rent as agreed upon by the parties. Lessee shall give Lessor written notice of the election to renew not less than one hundred ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial term.
The parties agree that Lessee shall take possession of the Premises on November 26, 2022. Rent shall be prorated for the month of November, 2022 and shall be due and payable upon the signing of this Lease Agreement.
SECTION THREE
RENT
Lessee, in consideration of the leasing of the Premises, agrees to pay Lessor, as and for rent hereunder the sum of Three Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty and No/100 Dollars ($3,850.00) per month. All monthly payments are due and payable in advance on the first day of each month.
SECTION FOUR
TAXES AND INSURANCE
Lessor shall pay all real property taxes and assessments which may be separately assessed against the land or the improvements forming the taxable unit within which the Premises are situated for each lease year during the term hereof, within thirty (30) days of receipt of tax notice. Lessor shall, at Lessor’s expense, pay for and maintain a property insurance policy on the Premises, insuring the building and other improvements on the Premises against perils of fire, extended coverage, vandalism, malicious mischief, and special extended coverage (“all risk”). Further, Lessee and Lessor shall be responsible for maintenance and repair of the Premises as set forth in Section Eight below. Lessee shall be responsible for all janitorial services, and for any improvements made to the Premises during the term of this lease.
In the event Lessor’s property insurance premiums are increased due to the nature of Lessee’s business conducted on the Premises or in the event real property taxes are increased due to any improvements or accommodations made by Lessee to conduct its business on the premises, rent, as provided for in Section Two above, shall be increased accordingly.
SECTION FIVE
SECURITY DEPOSIT
Lessor acknowledges receipt of the sum of Three Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty and No/100 Dollars ($3,850.00) that Lessor is to retain as security for the faithful performance of all the terms and conditions of this lease agreement. In no event shall Lessor be obligated to apply the deposit on rents or other charges in arrears or on damages for failure to perform the terms and conditions of this lease agreement by Lessee. Application of the security deposit to the arrears of rental payments or damages shall be at the option of Lessor. The right to possession of the Premises by Lessor for nonpayment of rent or for any other reason shall not be affected by this security deposit.
The security deposit is to be returned to Lessee when this lease agreement is terminated, according to the terms of this lease agreement, if not applied toward the payment of rent in arrears or toward the payment of damages suffered by reason of any breach of the terms and conditions of this lease agreement by Lessee. In no event is the security to be returned until Lessee has vacated the demised Premises and delivered possession to Lessor. The security deposit will draw no interest.
If Lessor repossesses the Premises because of the default of Lessee or because of a failure by Lessee to carry out the terms and conditions of this lease agreement, Lessor may apply the security to all
Lease Agreement (Centerpoint Unlimited LLC to Oculus CRS LLC)
damages suffered to the date of repossession and may retain the balance of the security to apply on damages that may accrue or be suffered subsequently by reason of the default or breach of Lessee. Lessor shall not be obligated to hold the security in a separate fund, but may mix the security with other funds of Lessor.
SECTION SIX
USE OF PREMISES
Lessee covenants and agrees that the Premises will not be used for any unlawful purpose. The Premises are to be used for processing hemp and manufacturing hemp products, and for all other purposes permitted under the present zoning. Lessee shall be solely responsible for obtaining any zoning changes and/or variances which may be required to conduct Lessee’s business on the Premises.
SECTION SEVEN
ALTERATION AND IMPROVEMENTS
Lessee, at Lessee’s expense and with Lessor’s express written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, may make, or cause to be made, any alterations, additions, or improvements to the Premises as needed for the use specified above.
Lessee shall promptly pay for all materials and labor associated with making, or causing to be made, any alterations, additions, or improvements on the Premises and shall not allow any liens or encumbrances to be placed on the Premises. Lessee shall promptly discharge any lien which may be placed on the Premises, and shall in good faith contest the lien, or defend the enforcement of the lien in legal proceedings. Lessee agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Lessor and Lessor’s agents, successors, and assigns from any and all claims, liens, costs, and expenses, including attorney fees, arising from, or in connection with, the construction of any improvements on the Premises.
If this lease terminates, for any reason whatsoever, the improvements built, constructed, or placed on the Premises by Lessee, with the exception of fixtures removable without damage to the Premises and removable personal property, shall, unless otherwise provided by written agreement between Lessor and Lessee, be the property of lessor and remain on the Premises at the expiration or earlier termination of this lease agreement. Notwithstanding, Lessee shall be entitled to remove any unique or specialized equipment installed by Lessee, provided Lessee repairs any damages to the Premises caused by such removal.
SECTION EIGHT
REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
By taking possession of the Premises, Lessee accepts Lessor’s warranty that the Premises are in good and working order, condition and repair. Lessee, at its own cost and expense, shall maintain the interior and exterior of the Premises and appurtenances, including but not limited to the parking area, signs, windows, doors, and trade fixtures in good condition and repair, and shall, when and if needed, arrange for all repairs to the same. Lessee shall, on the expiration or earlier termination of the terms
Lease Agreement (Centerpoint Unlimited LLC to Oculus CRS LLC)
of this lease agreement, surrender the Premises to Lessor in the same condition as when received, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
Lessee shall be responsible for all interior maintenance. Interior maintenance shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, repairs or replacements required for windows, doors, floor covering (excluding floor slab), interior walls, ceilings, painting and decorating, electrical fixtures and equipment. In addition, Lessee shall be responsible for the repair (but not replacement of) and general maintenance of building systems, HVAC systems, plumbing systems, sidewalks, and parking lots and areas. Lessee shall be responsible for any costs and expenses incurred due to installation and removal of trade fixtures and equipment installed by Lessee. Lessee shall be responsible for landscaping, snow removal and waste removal. Lessee, at its sole cost and expense, shall keep the Premises at all times in good condition and in a sanitary and safe condition in accordance with the laws of the State of New Mexico, and in accordance with all directions, rules and regulations of the applicable New Mexico department and authorities, health offices, fire marshals, building inspectors or other proper officers of the governmental agencies having jurisdiction, and, except as set forth in the indemnification provisions below, Lessee shall comply with all environmental and other requirements of law, ordinance or otherwise pertaining to or affecting the Premises. Lessee shall permit no waste or nuisance upon or damage or injury to the Premises or utilities supplied thereto.
Lessor shall be responsible for the cost of replacement of, or major repairs to, the mechanical systems, plumbing, and structural parts of the building, including, but not limited to, the roof, exterior and load-bearing walls, floor slab, foundation, and structural elements of or on the Premises, unless the maintenance and repairs are necessitated by the negligent act or omission of Lessee, its agents, employees, or invitees. All maintenance and repairs necessitated by the negligent act or omission of Lessee shall be the responsibility of Lessee. Unless damage is caused by Lessor’s negligent acts or omissions, Lessor shall not be liable for any failure to make repairs or to perform any maintenance, including any cost incurred by the interruption of Lessee’s operations as a result of any repair or maintenance, unless the failure shall persist for an unreasonable length of time after written notice of the need for such repair or maintenance is given to Lessor by Lessee.
SECTION NINE
GENERAL LIABILITY, INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
Lessee assumes all risks and responsibilities for accidents, injuries, and death to persons or property occurring in, on, or about the Premises. Lessee agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Lessor and Lessor’s agents, successors, and assigns from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses, including attorney fees, arising from, or in connection with, the condition, use, or control of the Premises, including the improvements on the Premises, no matter how caused, and for any act done by Lessee, or any agent, invitee, or licensee of Lessee, or any other party, except in the case of Lessor’s failure to perform, or negligent performance of, a duty imposed by law. Lessee shall, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, maintain general public liability insurance against claims for personal injury, death, or property damage on, in, or about the Premises. The insurance shall afford protection of not less than One Million and No/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00) combined single limit for bodily injury, including death, and property damage. The policy of comprehensive general public liability insurance shall name Lessor as an additional insured party, shall provide that it shall not be cancelled
Lease Agreement (Centerpoint Unlimited LLC to Oculus CRS LLC)
or terminated without at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to Lessor, and shall be issued by an insurer and in a form satisfactory to Lessor. Lessee shall provide Lessor with proof of insurance not less frequently than annually. Lessor further reserves the right to obtain additional insurance coverage, at their own expense, in form and amounts considered prudent by Lessor with respect to similar types of property.
Lessor shall, during the term of this lease agreement, and any extension thereof and any other period of occupancy of the Premises, at Lessor’s sole cost and expense, maintain a standard form property insurance policy insuring the building and other improvements on the Premises against perils of fire, extended coverage, vandalism, malicious mischief, and special extended coverage (“all risk”). The policy shall be for an amount not less than $250,000.00, with companies which are authorized to do business in the State of New Mexico, and shall be written in the names of, and for the benefit of, Lessor and Lessee, as their respective interests may appear. The amount of insurance shall be adjusted as additions or improvements are made to the Premises.
The insurance policies required by this lease agreement shall be procured within thirty (30) days of delivery of possession of the Premises to Lessee and shall be kept and maintained in full force during the entire term of this lease agreement at the expense of Lessee. In the event of failure of Lessee to procure the required insurance and to pay the premiums on the insurance or to properly maintain and keep in force the insurance, Lessor shall have the right to procure the insurance and pay the insurance premiums, which amounts shall be deemed additional rent and shall be due and payable with the next installment of rent due from Lessee.
SECTION TEN
ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING
Lessee shall not assign this lease, nor sublet the leased Premises, without the prior written consent of Lessor which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Lessor may assign any interest in this lease or any sums due under this lease.
SECTION ELEVEN
UTILITIES
Lessee shall maintain all utility services, including water, gas, electricity, telephone, and garbage collection, in Lessee’s name and shall pay promptly all charges due on the services during the term. Lessee shall be responsible for the payment of all utilities.
SECTION TWELVE
DEFAULT
Lessor may, without prior notice or demand, terminate this lease, reenter, and take possession of the Premises, on the happening of any of the following events of default: (a) if Lessee fails to pay rent within fifteen (15) days after notice from Lessor of nonpayment; or (b) if Lessee fails to cure any default in the performance of any covenant of this lease within fifteen (15) days after written notice of the default(s); or (c) if a petition in bankruptcy shall be filed by or against Lessee and the trustee
Lease Agreement (Centerpoint Unlimited LLC to Oculus CRS LLC)
shall fail to assume the lease within 60 days of filing of the petition, thereby being deemed to have rejected this lease or if Lessee shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or receive the benefit of any insolvency or reorganization act; or (d) if an execution or attachment shall be issued under which the Premises shall be taken or occupied or attempted to be taken or occupied by anyone other than Lessee; or (e) if this lease is assigned or the Premises sublet to, or occupied by, any person other than Lessee. On the happening of any event of default, Lessor may immediately terminate this lease, and may retain possession of any personal property belonging to Lessee which shall be found on the Premises pending settlement under this lease, and shall be entitled to all other rights and remedies provided by law.
SECTION THIRTEEN
TERMINATION
After vacating the Premises, Lessee shall pay for all utility services due and have them discontinued, will see that the Premises are cleaned, remove all trash or other refuse from the Premises, and deliver any keys for buildings and/or gates to Lessor or Lessor’s agent. In the event that Lessee remains in possession after the termination of this lease, by expiration or otherwise, no rights shall be created in Lessee and rent shall be due for the period of the holding over at the rate set forth above.
SECTION FOURTEEN
WAIVER
Lessor’s failure to enforce any term of this lease shall not be deemed a waiver of the enforcement of that or any other term, nor shall any acceptance of a partial payment, or late payment of rent be deemed a waiver of Lessor’s right to the full amount of the rent. Lessee shall pay a late payment penalty of five percent (5%) of the monthly rent, if Lessee fails to pay rent on or before the tenth (10th) day of each month.
SECTION FIFTEEN
SUCCESSORS
The terms, covenants, and conditions of this lease shall bind and inure to the benefit of the heirs, personal representatives, and successors and permitted assigns of the parties.
SECTION SIXTEEN
NOTICES
All notices required or permitted under this lease shall be in writing and shall be served on the parties at their respective addresses as stated at the beginning of this lease agreement. Any notice shall be either: (a) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, in which case notice shall be deemed delivered 3 business days after deposit, postage prepaid in the U.S. mail; or (b) sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier, in which case notice shall be deemed delivered 1 business day after deposit with the courier. The addresses of the parties as set forth above in this lease may be changed by written notice to the other party, provided, however, that no notice of a change of address shall be effective until actual receipt of the notice.
Lease Agreement (Centerpoint Unlimited LLC to Oculus CRS LLC)
SECTION SEVENTEEN
TIME OF THE ESSENCE
Time is of the essence of this lease, and all provisions of this lease relating to time shall be strictly construed
SECTION EIGHTEEN
APPLICABLE LAW
This lease shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New Mexico. Any action brought to enforce or construe this lease shall be brought in the Eleventh Judicial District Court, San Juan County, New Mexico, regardless of residence or whereabouts of any party at the time the action is brought.
SECTION NINETEEN
SEVERABILITY
If any term or provision of this lease shall to any extent be held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and provisions of this lease shall not be affected by such an occurrence, and each term and provision of this lease shall be valid and be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
SECTION TWENTY
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This lease constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and may not be modified except in writing, signed by both parties. The parties to this instrument have executed this lease as of the date and year first written above.
Signed in duplicate originals and counterparts effective the date first above written.
| CENTERPOINT UNLIMITED LLC | |
| Lessor | |
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| BY: | /s/ Robert Spearman |
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| ROBERT SPEARMAN, Member |
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| OCULUS CRS, LLC | |
| Lessee | |
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| BY: | /s/ Chase Sanchez |
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| Chase Sanchez, Member |
Lease Agreement (Centerpoint Unlimited LLC to Oculus CRS LLC)
Lifted Made Purchases Assets of Hemp Flower Products Supplier Oculus CRS, LLC, and Acquires Oculus CHS Management Corp. Via Merger
JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2023 / Lifted Made, maker of the award-winning Urb brand of hemp and psychoactive products and a wholly-owned subsidiary of LFTD Partners Inc. (OTCQB:LIFD) (“LIFD”), today announced that on April 28, 2023, Lifted Made purchased nearly all of the assets (the “Purchased Assets”) of its hemp flower products supplier Oculus CRS, LLC, Aztec, New Mexico (“Oculus”). Since 2020, Oculus has been a valuable supplier of high quality, award-winning, packaged flower products, such as joints and blunts, to Lifted Made and other top brands in the country.
The Purchased Assets include, but are not limited to, Oculus’ operational equipment, office equipment, raw materials, inventory, cash on hand, accounts receivable, a lease of office and operations space (the “Lease”), and a contract (the “Machine Purchase Contract”) to purchase, for a total of $309,213 (the “Machine Purchase Price”), a new machine that is ready for delivery, and that when delivered and installed will be used to automate a substantial portion of the manufacturing of the hemp flower products. $99,910 of the Machine Purchase Price had already been paid by Oculus, leaving $209,303 as the remaining portion of the Machine Purchase Price (the “Machine Purchase Final Payment”).
The total purchase price of the Purchased Assets was $368,488 in cash, which was paid by Lifted Made using cash on hand. At the closing, Oculus applied the entire Purchase Price to pay off all of Oculus’ liabilities as of the closing date (the “Oculus Liabilities”), including the Machine Purchase Final Payment. The only asset of Oculus that was not included in the Purchased Assets was Oculus’ rights as the plaintiff in a pending lawsuit filed by Oculus against a particular customer for an alleged breach of contract.
Simultaneously with Lifted Made’s purchase of the Purchased Assets, Lifted Made executed a merger agreement with Oculus CHS Management Corp. (the “Management Corp.”), pursuant to which the Management Corp. was merged with and into Lifted Made, with Lifted Made being the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Merger”). The only assets of the Management Corp. were multi-year employment agreements with the owners/managers of Oculus, Chase and Hagan Sanchez (the “Employment
Agreements”). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, upon the closing of the Merger, all of the Management Corp.’s rights and obligations under the Employment Agreements have been assumed by Lifted Made. Chase and Hagan Sanchez are now the Vice President of Flower and General Manager of Flower of Lifted Made, respectively, and will continue to manage the hemp flower products business in Aztec, NM, which will operate as a hemp flower products division within Lifted Made, reporting to Nick Warrender, Lifted Made’s CEO.
In addition to Chase and Hagan Sanchez, a total of 20 other people who previously worked at Oculus have now transitioned to become full-time employees of Lifted Made. Lifted Made has agreed to pay employment bonuses to certain of these new people, in an aggregate amount totaling $50,000, pursuant to written instructions to Lifted Made from Chase and Hagan Sanchez.
The Merger consideration (the “Merger Consideration”) will be paid by Lifted Made to Chase and Hagan Sanchez in two installments.
The first installment of the Merger Consideration was paid by Lifted Made to Chase and Hagan Sanchez at the closing of the Merger, and consisted of 100 shares of unregistered common stock of LIFD.
The second installment of the Merger Consideration will be paid by Lifted Made to Chase and Hagan Sanchez following the first anniversary of the closing of the Merger which will be April 28, 2024. The second installment of the Merger Agreement will be calculated and paid out as follows:
(1) Lifted Made’s CEO Nick Warrender, in consultation with LIFD’s CFO William “Jake” Jacobs, will analyze and make a written determination (the “Determination”) of the incremental pre-tax cash flow that Nick Warrender estimates is generating for Lifted Made above and beyond the annual profits that are currently being generated for Lifted Made due to Lifted Made’s current business relationship with Oculus (the “Incremental Pre-Tax Profits”), after taking into account all relevant financial factors including but not limited to the purchase price of the Purchased Assets, the merger consideration, and all items of income, expense and investment directly and indirectly associated with Lifted Made’s hemp flower products division, which Determination will be final and legally binding on all of the parties; and
(2) Within five days following delivery of the Determination, Lifted Made will pay Chase and Hagan Sanchez a second installment of Merger consideration equal to five times the Incremental Pre-Tax Profits, provided that (a) 20% of such second installment of Merger consideration shall be paid in the form of cash, (b) 80% of such second installment of Merger consideration shall be paid in the form of unregistered shares of common stock of LIFD, which unregistered shares of common stock of LIFD shall be valued at $5 per share regardless of whether LIFD’s common stock is then trading at a price that is lower or higher than $5 per share, and (c) such second installment of Merger consideration shall be subject to a minimum value of $1 million dollars and a maximum value of $6 million dollars (with the stock portion of the second installment of Merger consideration being valued at $5 per share under all circumstances.)
Lifted Made has assumed Oculus’ lease of office and operational space in Aztec, New Mexico.
Gerard M. Jacobs, CEO of LIFD, said “At a point in time when many transactions in the cannabis industry involve significant dilution and extremely expensive financing terms, we have been able to carefully and creatively structure this transaction at a conservative valuation equal to Oculus’ modest debt plus 5X the incremental pre-tax cash flow of Lifted generated by the deal, with 80% of the merger consideration in the form of unregistered LIFD common stock valued at $5 per share, and with a $6 million cap on total merger consideration even if, as we expect, the new machine we’ve bought dramatically increases the business’ production of hemp flower products and allows Lifted to sell these products to Lifted’s competitors in addition to meeting Lifted’s own hemp flower product needs. I greatly appreciate and acknowledge the goodwill and positivity brought to these negotiations by Chase and Hagan Sanchez, and by my partners Nick Warrender and Jake Jacobs, and the hands-on assistance in timely closing the transaction that was provided by Jake and by several members of Nick’s team at Lifted.”
Nick Warrender, CEO of Lifted, and Vice Chairman and COO of LFTD Partners, said, "Chase and Hagan Sanchez have built a business that we believe makes the highest quality hemp flower products in the country, at probably the lowest cost per unit in the industry. We welcome Chase and Hagan as partners who will help us continue to build Lifted Made’s expertise and product manufacturing capabilities.”
Chase Sanchez, founder, co-owner and CEO of Oculus, said, “We’ve been doing business with Lifted Made for multiple years and have won multiple awards for our flower products. It just makes sense to pair up with one of the best brands in the country to create an unstoppable team in this space. Glad to have Nick, Gerry and Jake Jacobs as partners as well as the rest of the Lifted team.”
Hagan Sanchez, General Manager of Oculus, said, “We’re super excited to be a part of a massive, growing team, continuing to put out the world’s best hemp products.”
About LFTD Partners Inc.
Publicly-traded LFTD Partners Inc., Jacksonville, FL (OTCQB:LIFD) is the parent corporation of Lifted Made, Kenosha, WI (www.urb.shop), which manufactures and sells hemp-derived and psychoactive products under its award-winning Urb and Silly Shruum brands. LFTD Partners Inc. also owns 4.99% of CBD-infused beverage and products maker Ablis (www.AblisBev.com), and of craft distillers Bendistillery Inc. d/b/a Crater Lake Spirits (www.CraterLakeSpirits.com) and Bend Spirits, Inc. (www.Bendistillery.com) all located in Bend, OR. Please read LIFD's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which fully describe our business and the Risk Factors associated therewith. Stay updated with our company news and product launches by subscribing to our newsletters at www.LFTDPartners.com and www.urb.shop.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such information includes the operations, financing, growth, performance, products, plans and expectations of LFTD Partners Inc. and Lifted Made. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause or contribute to these companies' actual operations, financing, growth, performance, products, plans or results of these companies differing materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain other factors,
including the risk factors set forth in LFTD Partners Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell common stock or any other securities of LFTD Partners Inc.
CONTACTS:
Gerard M. “Gerry” Jacobs, CEO of LFTD Partners, Inc.
(847) 915-2446
GerardMJacobs@LFTDPartners.com
Nicholas S. "Nick" Warrender, founder and CEO of Lifted Made, and Vice Chairman and COO of LFTD Partners Inc.
(224) 577-8148
CEO@urb.shop
SOURCE: LFTD Partners Inc.