UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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): March 11,
2019
EXACTUS, INC.
(Exact
name of the registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
|
000-55828
|
(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
|
(Commission
File
Number)
|
80 NE 4th Avenue, Suite 28, Delray Beach, FL 33483
(Address
of principle executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code:
(804) 205-5036
___________________________________
(Former
name or address if changed since last report)
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).
[ ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12).
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company
as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933
(§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this
chapter).
[ ]
Emerging growth company
If an
emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
[
]
SECTION 1 – REGISTRANT’S BUSINESS AND
OPERATIONS
Item
1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Exactus One World, LLC.
On March 11, 2019 the Company’s board of directors approved
the acquisition of a 50.1% limited liability membership interest in
Exactus One World, LLC (“EOW”), an Oregon limited
liability company pursuant to a subscription agreement (the
“One World Subscription Agreement”) and a Membership
Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase
Agreement”).
Exactus One World will farm and process industrial hemp into
cannabidiol (CBD) and related products. EOW is a newly-formed
limited liability company that will be responsible for the
Company’s initial efforts to pursue agricultural development,
including farm soil preparation, planting, harvesting,
transportation and drying. EOW has leased approximately 200
acres of land in Southwest Oregon adjacent to the Illinois River
where the Company expects to establish a farming operation for the
2019 grow season. EOW has also placed an order for seeds
(genetics) from Jack Hempicine, LLC (“JH”). JH, founded
by Seth and Eric Crawford, is believed to have developed superior
strains of hemp seeds and is believed by the Company to be one of
the world’s leading breeding, research and production
facilities for CBD seed. Crawford Brothers facilities are located
in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. EOW will be farming in the area
of Cave Junction, Oregon. The Company will be responsible for
funding and the minority owners will be responsible for management,
servicing and operating the farm properties.
Pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement for EOW the
Company will make payments of $2.7 million through October 1, 2019
to support costs for farming for the 2019 harvest. The leases
are subject to annual renewal at the option of Exactus One
World. The Company may become obligated for additional
expenses, including capital calls required by the manager, if
necessary, to complete the 2019 harvest depending upon, among other
things, greater than expected yields or unexpected costs of
operations. The 2019 cost estimate and subscription payment
amount was based upon an assumed yield of 2,200 pounds per acre,
and is subject to assumptions and estimates, as well as risks,
associated with any farming operation, and farming of hemp in
particular.
Under the terms of the Subscription Agreement the Company acquired
a 30% interest in Exactus One World and an additional 20.1% was
acquired from existing members pursuant to the terms of a Purchase
Agreement. The sellers agreed to a purchase price for 20.1% of EOW
for payment of $1.5 million in cash plus $1.5 million in the
Company’s restricted common stock, par value $0.0001 per
share (the “Common Stock”). Upon execution of the
Purchase Agreement the Company is required to pay $300,000 cash and
7.5 million shares of Common Stock to the sellers, and on each of
April 20, 2019 and September 1, 2019 the Company is required to
make additional payments of $700,000 and $500,000, respectively, in
cash to the sellers. In addition, on June 10, 2019, the
Company is required to issue the sellers an additional
$450,000 of restricted Common Stock of the Company based upon
the 20 day volume weighted average price per share on the date of
issue.
Under the terms of the EOW Operating Agreement (the
“Operating Agreement”), the sellers will appoint a sole
manager and shall be responsible for all decisions other than
specified decisions requiring a super majority (66.67%) vote of the
members. The duration of the limited liability company is
perpetual. Under certain circumstances, the manager may make
capital calls at which time 30% of such capital call will
required to be paid by the Company. If not paid, such capital
call failure can result in reduction of the Company’s
ownership interest in the limited liability company. The
Operating Agreement provides the members and managers with certain
rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, in certain
circumstances. All members constitute a single class and vote
in accordance with their percentage interest, however the manager
shall conduct the day to day affairs of the limited liability
company. Distributions from the limited liability company
will be determined by the manager, subject to mandatory annual
distribution in the estimated amount of taxes required to be paid
by the members.
Lease Agreement for Delray Beach, Florida Premises
On March 11, 2019, our board of directors approved a Lease for
approximately 445 square feet of office space located at 80 NE
Avenue, Suite 28 in Delray Beach Florida (the “Lease”).
The Lease covers an initial term of six (6) months and features a
total rent of $5,080.08 for the initial term. Under the Lease, we
must also pay a pro rata share of the landlord’s taxes and
net expenses incurred for the premises. If we continue in the
premises beyond the initial term, the rent will increase by 2%, 3%,
and 4% in the second, third, and fourth years, respectively. The
Company expects to utilize the location for corporate offices,
selling, and administration.
Shared Lease Agreement for Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Premises
On March 11, 2019, our board also approved a shared lease agreement
for additional new premises located at 888 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33301. The lease features a rent of $2,500 per
month. A written agreement for this lease is currently
pending.
SECTION 5 – CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Item
5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of
Certain Officers
Appointment of Andrew Johnson as Chief Strategy
Officer
On
March 11, 2019, our board of directors appointed Andrew Johnson to
serve as our new Chief Strategy Officer.
Andrew L. Johnson
, 33, is our
newly-appointed Chief Strategy Officer and has been working with
the company since January 2019 in an investor relations role. From
November 2014 to November 2018, he served as Director of Investor
Relations at ChromaDex Corp. (NASDAQ:CDXC), an integrated, global
nutraceutical company devoted to improving the way people age.
While at the company Mr. Johnson was instrumental in establishing
an investor relations platform including, but not limited, to
composing and disseminating corporate messaging, press releases,
quarterly earnings, conference call transcripts, shareholder update
letters, and marketing materials. Prior to joining ChromaDex, he
held the role of Director of Outreach at Alliance Advisors, a
third-party investor relations consulting firm from April 2014 to
July 2014, where Mr. Johnson worked with various C-level management
teams of small and micro-cap companies to increase investor
awareness through the facilitation and attendance of non-deal
roadshows, investment conferences, group meetings, and one-on-one
meetings with institutional investors. From September 2011 to
January 2013 he worked at Sidoti & Company, an institutional
equity research firm, where sat on the sales desk. During his time
the firm, he built relationships, presented investment ideas, and
provided equity research, including corporate access to over 750
small and mid-cap companies. Mr. Johnson has over 10 years of
experience communicating with investors and has held the Series 3,
7, and 63 licenses in the past. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Social Sciences from Washington State University.
Mr.
Johnson will serve under an Employment Agreement for an initial
term of two (2) year under an Employment Agreement. The Employment
Agreement specifies a base salary of $110,000 per year, with
discretionary annual bonuses and equity awards to be determined by
the Compensation Committee. Mr. Johnson’s Employment
Agreement is filed herewith and should be reviewed in its entirety
for additional information.
Appointment of Emiliano Aloi as President
On
March 11, 2019, our board of directors appointed Emiliano Aloi to
serve as our new President. Our former President, Philip Young,
will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer.
Emiliano Aloi
is our newly appointed
President and has served as a member of our Advisory Board since
January 9, 2019. Prior to joining Exactus Inc., Mr. Aloi co-founded
Ceed2Med, LLC (“C2M”) in 2014 a global sourcing and
distribution platform for industrial hemp and industrial
hemp-derived products. From January, 2017 to November, 2017, Mr.
Aloi served as Vice President and Director of Strategic Development
for GenCanna Global, Inc., where he initiated a go-to-strategy,
recruited the commercial leadership team, developed compliance,
executed product launches, and advanced manufacturing in European
markets. In 2016 Mr. Aloi achieved the first country-wide
agricultural permit for flower cultivation in Uruguay. In addition,
Mr. Aloi co-sponsored research programs for Stevia and Aloe Vera
extraction methods from 2013 to 2012 and participated in the
insertion of Chia as a novel crop in Paraguay in 2011 in a program
later merged into Cargill. Mr. Aloi also co-developed the
agricultural solid biofuels program for Camargo Correas Cement
company, a Loma Negra subsidiary from 2011 to 2009.
C2M is
our largest shareholder. For a discussion of our transaction with
C2M, please refer to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January
14, 2019. We have not yet entered into an employment agreement with
Mr. Aloi, and compensation arrangements are pending.
Amendment of Philip Young and Kelley Wendt Employment
Agreements
On
March 11, 2019, we entered into Amendments to our Employment
Agreements with our CEO, Philip Young, and our CFO, Kelley Wendt.
Under the Amendments, we: (i) reduced the available severance
compensation for these executives to the lesser of 50% of their
base salaries or the amount of salary unpaid for the remaining term
then in effect; (ii) reduced allowable vacation time to two (2)
weeks; and (iii) made certain adjustments to the clawback
reimbursement policy.
Timothy Ryan Resignation and Consulting Agreement
Effective March 11,
2019, Executive Vice President and Director, Timothy Ryan, resigned
from all positions with the Company and as a director. Under the
terms of a Separation Agreement, Mr. Ryan and the Company exchanged
mutual releases. Mr. Ryan also agreed to abide by the terms of a
market stand-off agreement in the event of any registered offering
of the Company’s securities. In addition, Mr. Ryan has agreed
to assist the Company for a one year period as a consultant under a
Consulting Agreement pursuant to which Mr. Ryan shall be $5,000 per
month. Mr. Ryan had no disagreement with the company on any matter
relating to our operations, policies or practices. The Company has
no immediate plans to fill the vacancies created following Mr.
Ryan’s resignation.
Appointment of Troy Rhonemus to Advisory Board
On
March 11, 2019, we appointed Troy Rhonemus to serve on our advisory
board.
Troy Rhonemus
, 45, currently serves as
Sr. Director of Operations at Bolt Threads, Inc., where he started
in December, 2018. At Bolt Threads, Mr. Rhonemus provides strategic
vision and leadership of Operations, Quality, Regulatory &
Development, and Analytical R&D for the company. Prior to Bolt
Threads, Mr. Rhonemus served as ChromaDex Corp.'s Executive
Vice President since January 2018, Chief Operating Officer from
March 2014 to January 2018, and Director of New Technology and
Supply Chain from January 2013 to February 2014. Mr. Rhonemus has
served on the board of directors of Mazza Innovation Ltd., a
Canadian company specializing in the extraction of plant-based
ingredients, since 2016. Mr. Rhonemus is responsible for overseeing
all of the Company’s operations including all aspects of
sales, marketing, supply chain management, distribution, and new
technology development. Mr. Rhonemus also consults with customers
to improve the supply chain management of raw materials to meet
government regulations, which includes developing supply chain
strategies, auditing manufacturers and developing an understanding
of how to manage supplies from countries outside the Unites States.
Mr. Rhonemus has extensive experience in managing operations and
supply chain, business strategies, and the roll-out of new
processes, technologies and products. From 2006 to 2012, Mr.
Rhonemus held several positions at Cargill, Inc. As Truvia®
Business Process Manager, he served as the product line lead for
managing the operations and supply chain of the Truvia®
enterprise from leaf to consumer products. As Technology Manger,
Mr. Rhonemus served as technical lead for process and product
development for Truvia® consumer products and ingredient
business. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Rhonemus served as Principal
Research Scientist at E&J Gallo Winery, where he developed
experimental designs to ensure that all project work was
statistically valid in the lab, pilot and production wineries. From
1998 to 2004, Mr. Rhonemus served as Senior Research Scientist and
as Process Technology Manager at Cargill, Inc. In these positions,
Mr. Rhonemus solved technical problems and implemented new
technologies into production. He identified potential tolling
facilities, coordinated tolling efforts, directly supervised and
developed new processes and solved technical issues in existing
business units in Cargill. Mr. Rhonemus earned a M.A. in Chemistry
and a B.S. in Chemistry from Ball State University.
SECTION 7 - REGULATION FD
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
On
March 11, 2019, we released the press release furnished herewith as
Exhibit 99.1
Section 8 – OTHER EVENTS
Item
8.01
Other Events
On
March 11, 2019, our Board of Directors adopted charters for our
recently-formed Compensation, Nominating and Governance, and Audit
Committees. These charters are furnished herewith as
Exhibits.
Section 9 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
Item
9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
10.1
|
Subscription
Agreement with
Exactus One World, LLC
*
|
10.2
|
Membership
Purchase Agreement *
|
10.3
|
Operating
Agreement for Exactus One World, LLC *
|
|
Lease
for Premises in Delray Beach, Florida
|
|
Employment
Agreement with Andrew Johnson
|
|
First
Amendment to Employment Agreement with Philip Young
|
|
First
Amendment to Employment Agreement with Kelley Wendt
|
|
Separation
Agreement and Consulting Agreement with Timothy Ryan
|
|
Press
Release
|
|
Compensation
Committee Charter
|
|
Nominating
and Governance Committee Charter
|
|
Audit
Committee Charter
|
*
To be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2019.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on behalf of the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: March
11, 2019
|
EXACTUS, INC.
By:
/s/ Philip J.
Young
Philip J. Young
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Exhibit
10.5
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“
Agreement
”) is made and
entered into effective as of the 1
st
day of March, 2019,
by and between Exactus, Inc. a Nevada corporation headquartered at
4870 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060
(“
Company
”) and Andrew
Johnson, an individual (“
Executive
”). As used
herein, the “
Effective Date
” of this
Agreement shall mean March 1, 2019.
W I T N
E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the
Company desires to retain the services of the Executive as Chief
Strategy Officer of the Company on the terms set forth
herein,
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and their respective
covenants and agreements contained in this document, the Company
and the Executive hereby agree as follows:
1.
Employment and Duties
. The
Company agrees to employ and the Executive agrees to serve as the
Company’s Chief Strategy Officer. The duties and
responsibilities of the Executive shall include the duties and
responsibilities as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer
(the “CEO”) may from time to time assign to the
Executive.
The
Executive shall devote his full time efforts and services to the
business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries. Nothing
in this Section 1 shall prohibit the Executive from: (A) serving as
a director or member of any other board, committee thereof of any
other entity or organization; (B) delivering lectures, fulfilling
speaking engagements, and any writing or publication relating to
his area of expertise; (C) serving as a director or trustee of any
governmental, charitable or educational organization; (D) engaging
in additional activities in connection with personal investments
and community affairs, including, without limitation, professional
or charitable or similar organization committees, boards,
memberships or similar associations or affiliations or (E)
performing advisory activities, provided, however, such activities
are not in competition with the business and affairs of the Company
or would tend to cast executive of Company in a negative light in
the reasonable judgment of the CEO.
2.
Term
. The term of this
Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue
for a period of two (2) years following the Effective Date (such
initial two (2) year term, the “
Initial Term
”) and shall
be automatically renewed for successive one (1) year periods
thereafter unless either party provides the other party with
written notice of his or its intention not to renew this Agreement
at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the initial
term or any renewal term of this Agreement. “
Employment Period
” shall
mean the initial two (2) year term plus renewals, if
any.
3.
Place of Employment
. The
Executive’s services shall be performed at the address for
the Company set forth above and at such location or locations as
the CEO shall determine, in his sole discretion. In addition, the
Executive shall be present not less than one (1) week per month in
the Company’s headquarters in Florida. Should the Company
require services at a location greater than 25 miles from the
Executive’s current residence the Company will provide for
and pay the usual and customary fees associated with moving the
Executive and his household to the required location.
4.
Base Salary
. The Company agrees
to pay the Executive an initial base salary (“
Base Salary
”) of $110,000
per annum ($9,167 per month). Annual adjustments after the first
year of the Employment Period shall be determined by the
Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). The
Base Salary shall be paid in periodic installments in accordance
with the Company’s regular payroll practices.
5.
Bonuses
.
(a) Annual
Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus
the (“
Annual
Bonus
”) as determined by the Compensation Committee or
the Board of Directors of the Company (the “
Compensation Committee
”).
The Annual Bonus shall be paid by the Company to the Executive
promptly after determination that the relevant targets, if any,
have been met, it being understood that the attainment of any
financial targets associated with any bonus shall not be determined
until following the completion of the Company’s annual audit
and public announcement of such results and shall be paid promptly
following the Company’s announcement of earnings. In the
event that the Compensation Committee is unable to act or if there
shall be no such Compensation Committee, then all references herein
to the Compensation Committee (except in the proviso to this
sentence) shall be deemed to be references to the Board. Upon his
termination from employment, the Executive shall be entitled to
receive a pro-rata portion of the Annual Bonus calculated based
upon his final day of employment, regardless of whether he is
employed by the Company through the conclusion of the fiscal
quarter or year, as the case may be, on which the Annual Bonus is
based.
(b)
Equity Awards
. The
Executive shall be eligible for such grants of awards under a
Company incentive plan (or any successor or replacement plan
adopted by the Board and approved by the stockholders of the
Company) (the “
Plan
”) or as the
Compensation Committee or Board may from time to time determine
(the “
Share
Awards
”). Share Awards shall be subject to
the applicable Plan terms and conditions, provided, however, that
Share Awards shall be subject to any additional terms and
conditions as are provided herein or in any award certificate(s),
which shall supersede any conflicting provisions governing Share
Awards provided under the Plan.
6.
Severance
Compensation
. Upon termination of
employment for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to: (A)
all Base Salary earned through the date of termination to be paid
according to Section 4; (B) any and all reasonable expenses paid or
incurred by the Executive in connection with and related to the
performance of his duties and responsibilities for the Company
during the period ending on the termination date to be paid
according to Section 8; (C) any accrued but unused vacation time
through the termination date in accordance with Company policy; and
(D) any Annual Bonuses earned through the date of termination to be
paid according to Section 5(a); and (E) all Share Awards earned and
vested prior to termination.
Additionally, if
the Executive’s employment is terminated prior to expiration
of the Employment Period (including due to his death or Disability,
as defined in Section 12(b)) unless the Executive’s
employment is terminated for Cause (as defined in Section 12(c)) or
the Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason (as
defined in Section 12(d) and other than for a Change in Control as
provided in Section 12(d) and Section 12(f)), the Executive shall
be entitled to receive a cash amount equal to the
lesser
of: (i) such amount as
the Executive would have been entitled to receive as an aggregate
Base Salary for the balance of the Initial Term;
or
(ii) 50% of the amount of
one year’s Base Salary as then in effect (the
“Separation Payment”); provided, that the Executive
executes an agreement releasing Company and its affiliates from any
liability associated with this Agreement and such release is
irrevocable at the time the Separation Payment is first payable
under this Section 6 and the Executive complies with his other
obligations under Section 13 of this Agreement. Subject to the
terms hereof, one-half (1/2) of the Separation Payment shall be
paid within thirty (30) days of the Executive’s termination
of employment (“
Initial Payment
”),
provided that the Executive has executed a release; and the balance
of the Separation Payment shall be paid in substantially equal
installments on the Company’s regular payroll dates beginning
with the first payroll date coincident with or immediately
following the Initial Payment and ending with the last payroll date
that occurs in the third calendar year beginning after the
Executive’s termination of employment.
The
Executive may continue coverage with respect to the Company’s
group health plans as permitted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”) for himself and
each of his “
Qualified Beneficiaries
”
as defined by COBRA (“
COBRA Coverage
”). The
Company shall reimburse the amount of any COBRA premium paid for
COBRA Coverage timely elected by and for the Executive and any
Qualified Beneficiary of the Executive, and not otherwise
reimbursed, during the period that ends on the earliest of (x) the
date the Executive or the Qualified Beneficiary, as the case may
be, ceases to be eligible for COBRA Coverage, (y) the last day of
the consecutive eighteen (18) month period following the date of
the Executive’s termination of employment and (z) the date
the Executive or the Qualified Beneficiary, as the case may be, is
covered by another group health plan. To reimburse any COBRA
premium payment under this paragraph, the Company must receive
documentation of the COBRA premium payment within ninety (90) days
of its payment.
7.
Clawback Rights
. The Annual
Bonus, and any and all stock based compensation (such as options
and equity awards) (collectively, the “
Clawback Benefits
”) shall
be subject to “
Clawback Rights
” as
follows: during the period that the Executive is employed by the
Company and upon the termination of the Executive’s
employment and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, if there
is a restatement of any financial results directly attributable to
the Executive from which any Clawback Benefits to the Executive
shall have been determined, the Executive agrees to repay any
amounts which were determined by reference to any Company financial
results which were later restated (as defined below), to the extent
the Clawback Benefits amounts paid exceed the Clawback Benefits
amounts that would have been paid, based on the restatement of the
Company’s financial information. All Clawback Benefits
amounts resulting from such restated financial results shall be
retroactively adjusted by the Compensation Committee to take into
account the restated results, and any excess portion of the
Clawback Benefits resulting from such restated results shall be
immediately surrendered to the Company and if not so surrendered
within ninety (90) days of the revised calculation being provided
to the Executive by the Compensation Committee following a publicly
announced restatement, the Company shall have the right to take any
and all action to effectuate such adjustment. The calculation of
the revised Clawback Benefits amount shall be determined by the
Compensation Committee in good faith and in accordance with
applicable law, rules and regulations. All determinations by the
Compensation Committee with respect to the Clawback Rights shall be
final and binding on the Company and the Executive. The Clawback
Rights shall terminate following a Change of Control as defined in
Section 12(f), subject to applicable law, rules and regulations.
For purposes of this Section 7, a restatement of financial results
that requires a repayment of a portion of the Clawback Benefits
amounts shall mean a restatement resulting from material
non-compliance of the Company with any financial reporting
requirement under the federal securities laws and shall not include
a restatement of financial results resulting from subsequent
changes in accounting pronouncements or requirements which were not
in effect on the date the financial statements were originally
prepared (“
Restatements
”). The
parties acknowledge it is their intention that the foregoing
Clawback Rights as relates to Restatements conform in all respects
to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act of 2010 (“
Dodd-Frank Act
”) and
require recovery of all “incentive-based” compensation,
pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and any and all
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in
effect. Accordingly, the terms and provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed automatically amended from time to time to assure
compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act and such rules and regulations
as hereafter may be adopted and in effect.
8.
Expenses
. The Executive shall
be entitled to prompt reimbursement by the Company for all
reasonable ordinary and necessary travel, entertainment, and other
expenses incurred by the Executive while employed (in accordance
with the policies and procedures established by the Company for its
senior executive officers) in the performance of his duties and
responsibilities under this Agreement; provided, that the Executive
shall properly account for such expenses in accordance with Company
policies and procedures.
9.
Other Benefits
. During the term
of this Agreement, the Executive shall be eligible to participate
in incentive, stock purchase, savings, retirement (401(k)), and
welfare benefit plans, including, without limitation, health,
medical, dental, vision, life (including accidental death and
dismemberment) and disability insurance plans (collectively,
“
Benefit
Plans
”), in substantially the same manner and at
substantially the same levels as the Company makes such
opportunities available to the Company’s managerial or
salaried executive employees and/or its senior executive
officers.
10.
Vacation
. During the term of
this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to accrue, on a pro
rata basis, two (2) weeks paid vacation per year. Vacation shall be
taken at such times as are mutually convenient to the Executive and
the Company and no more than seven (7) consecutive days shall be
taken at any one time without Company approval in
advance.
11.
Intentionally
Omitted
.
12.
Termination of
Employment
.
(a)
Death
.
If the Executive dies during the Employment Period, this Agreement
and the Executive’s employment with the Company shall
automatically terminate and the Company’s obligations to the
Executive’s estate and to the Executive’s Qualified
Beneficiaries shall be those set forth in Section 6 regarding
severance compensation.
(b)
Disability
.
In the event that, during the term of this Agreement the Executive
shall be prevented from performing his essential functions
hereunder to the full extent required by the Company by reason of
Disability (as defined below), this Agreement and the
Executive’s employment with the Company shall automatically
terminate. The Company’s obligation to the Executive under
such circumstances shall be those set forth in Section 6 regarding
severance compensation. For purposes of this Agreement,
“
Disability
” shall mean a
physical or mental disability that prevents the performance by the
Executive, with or without reasonable accommodation, of his
essential functions hereunder for an aggregate of ninety (90) days
or longer during any twelve (12) consecutive months. The
determination of the Executive’s Disability shall be made by
an independent physician who is reasonably acceptable to the
Company and the Executive (or his representative), be final and
binding on the parties hereto and be made taking into account such
competent medical evidence as shall be presented to such
independent physician by the Executive and/or the Company or by any
physician or group of physicians or other competent medical experts
employed by the Executive and/or the Company to advise such
independent physician.
(c)
Cause
.
(1) At
any time during the Employment Period, the Company may terminate
this Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder for
Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “
Cause
” shall mean: (a)
the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform
substantially his duties and responsibilities for the Company
(other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s
death or Disability) after a written demand by the Board for
substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the
Company, which specifically identifies the manner in which the
Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed
his duties and responsibilities, which willful and continued
failure is not cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days
following his receipt of such written demand; (b) the conviction
of, or plea of guilty or
nolo
contendere
to, a felony, or (c) fraud, dishonesty or gross
misconduct which is materially and demonstratively injurious to the
Company. Termination under clauses (b) or (c) of this Section
12(c)(1) shall not be subject to cure.
(2)
For purposes of this Section 12(c), no act, or failure to act, on
the part of the Executive shall be considered “willful”
unless done, or omitted to be done, by him in bad faith and without
reasonable belief that his action or omission was in, or not
opposed to, the best interest of the Company. Between the time the
Executive receives written demand regarding substantial
performance, as set forth in subparagraph (1) above, and prior to
an actual termination for Cause, the Executive will be entitled to
appear (with counsel) before the full Board to present information
regarding his views on the Cause event. After such hearing,
termination for Cause must be approved by a majority vote of the
full Board (other than the Executive). After providing the written
demand regarding substantial performance, the Board may suspend the
Executive with full pay and benefits until a final determination by
the full Board has been made.
(3) Upon
termination of this Agreement for Cause, the Company shall have no
further obligations or liability to the Executive or his heirs,
administrators or executors with respect to compensation and
benefits thereafter, except for the obligation to pay the Executive
any Base Salary earned through the date of termination to be paid
according to Section 4; any unpaid Annual Bonus to be paid
according to Section 5; reimbursement of any and all reasonable
expenses paid or incurred by the Executive in connection with and
related to the performance of his duties and responsibilities for
the Company during the period ending on the termination date to be
paid according to Section 8; and any accrued but unused vacation
time through the termination date in accordance with Company
policy. The Company shall deduct, from all payments made hereunder,
all applicable taxes, including income tax, FICA and FUTA, and
other appropriate deductions.
(d)
For
Good Reason or a Change of Control or Without
Cause
.
(1) At
any time during the term of this Agreement and subject to the
conditions set forth in Section 12(d)(2) below the Executive may
terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment with
the Company for “Good Reason” or for a “Change of
Control” (as defined in Section 12(f)). For purposes of this
Agreement, “
Good
Reason
” shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following events without Executive’s consent: (A) the
assignment to the Executive of duties that are significantly
different from, and/or that result in a substantial diminution of,
the duties that he assumed on the Effective Date (including
reporting to anyone other than solely and directly to the CEO, or
the Board); (B) the assignment to the Executive of a title that is
different from and subordinate to the title Chief Strategy Officer
of the Company, provided, however, for the absence of doubt
following a Change of Control, should the Executive be required to
serve in a diminished capacity in a division or unit of another
entity (including the acquiring entity), such event shall
constitute Good Reason regardless of the title of the Executive in
such acquiring company, division or unit; or (C) material breach by
the Company of this Agreement.
(2) The
Executive shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement for
Good Reason unless and until he shall have delivered written notice
to the Company within ninety (90) days of the date upon which the
facts giving rise to Good Reason occurred of his intention to
terminate this Agreement and his employment with the Company for
Good Reason, which notice specifies in reasonable detail the
circumstances claimed to provide the basis for such termination for
Good Reason, and the Company shall not have eliminated the
circumstances constituting Good Reason within thirty (30) days of
its receipt from the Executive of such written notice. In the event
the Executive elects to terminate this Agreement for Good Reason in
accordance with Section 12(d)(1), such election must be made within
the one-twenty (120) days following the initial existence of one or
more of the conditions constituting Good Reason as provided in
Section 12(d)(1). In the event the Executive elects to terminate
this Agreement for a Change in Control in accordance with Section
12(d)(1), such election must be made within one hundred eighty
(180) days of the occurrence of the Change of Control.
(3) In
the event that the Executive terminates this Agreement and his
employment with the Company for Good Reason or for a Change of
Control or the Company terminates this Agreement and the
Executive’s employment with the Company without Cause, the
Company shall pay or provide to the Executive (or, following his
death, to the Executive’s heirs, administrators or executors)
the severance compensation set forth in Section 6 above. The
Company shall deduct, from all payments made hereunder, all
applicable taxes, including income tax, FICA and FUTA, and other
appropriate deductions.
(4) The
Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any
payment provided for in this Section 12(d) by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment
provided for in this Section 12(d) be reduced by any compensation
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another
employer or business or by profits earned by the Executive from any
other source at any time before and after the termination date. The
Company’s obligation to make any payment pursuant to, and
otherwise to perform its obligations under, this Agreement shall
not be affected by any offset, counterclaim or other right that the
Company may have against the Executive for any reason.
(e)
Without
“Good Reason” by the Executive
. At any time
during the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled
to terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment
with the Company without Good Reason and other than for a Change of
Control by providing prior written notice of at least thirty (30)
days to the Company. Upon termination by the Executive of this
Agreement or the Executive’s employment with the Company
without Good Reason and other than for a Change of Control, the
Company shall have no further obligations or liability to the
Executive or his heirs, administrators or executors with respect to
compensation and benefits thereafter, except for the obligation to
pay the Executive any Base Salary earned through the date of
termination to be paid according to Section 4; any unpaid Annual
Bonus to be paid according to Section 5; reimbursement of any and
all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Executive in
connection with and related to the performance of his duties and
responsibilities for the Company during the period ending on the
termination date to be paid according to Section 8; and any accrued
but unused vacation time through the termination date in accordance
with Company policy. The Company shall deduct, from all payments
made hereunder, all applicable taxes, including income tax, FICA
and FUTA, and other appropriate deductions.
(f)
Change
of Control
. For purposes of this Agreement,
“
Change of
Control
” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more
of the following: (i) the accumulation (if over time, in any
consecutive twelve (12) month period), whether directly,
indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any individual, entity or
group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of more than fifty
percent (50%) or more of the shares of the outstanding Common Stock
of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale or other
transfer of shares of Common Stock (other than a merger or
consolidation where the stockholders of the Company prior to the
merger or consolidation are the holders of a majority of the voting
securities of the entity that survives such merger or
consolidation), (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or (iii) during any period of twelve (12)
consecutive months, the individuals who, at the beginning of such
period, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election
by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of
the directors then still in office who either were directors at the
beginning of the twelve (12) month period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided
that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of
Control for the purposes of this Agreement: any acquisition of
Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored by or maintained
by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control
shall exclude the initial event that causes the Company to become a
public reporting company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and any event within twelve (12) months following the
Effective Date.
(g) Any
termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or
by the Executive (other than termination by reason of the
Executive’s death) shall be communicated by written Notice of
Termination to the other party of this Agreement. For purposes of
this Agreement, a “
Notice of Termination
”
shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to
provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment
under the provision so indicated, provided, however, failure to
provide timely notification shall not affect the employment status
of the Executive.
13.
Confidential
Information
.
(a)
Disclosure
of Confidential Information.
The Executive recognizes,
acknowledges and agrees that he has had and will continue to have
access to secret and confidential information regarding the
Company, its subsidiaries and their respective businesses
(“
Confidential
Information
”), including but not limited to, its
products, methods, formulas, software code, patents, sources of
supply, customer dealings, data, know-how, trade secrets and
business plans, provided such information is not in or does not
hereafter become part of the public domain, or become known to
others through no fault of the Executive. The Executive
acknowledges that such information is of great value to the
Company, is the sole property of the Company, and has been and will
be acquired by him in confidence. In consideration of the
obligations undertaken by the Company herein, the Executive will
not, at any time, during or after his employment hereunder, reveal,
divulge or make known to any person, any information acquired by
the Executive during the course of his employment, which is treated
as confidential by the Company, and not otherwise in the public
domain. The provisions of this Section 13 shall survive the
termination of the Executive’s employment
hereunder.
(b) The
Executive affirms that he does not possess and will not rely upon
the protected trade secrets or confidential or proprietary
information of any prior employer(s) in providing services to the
Company or its subsidiaries.
(c) In
the event that the Executive’s employment with the Company
terminates for any reason, the Executive shall deliver forthwith to
the Company any and all originals and copies, including those in
electronic or digital formats, of Confidential Information;
provided, however, the Executive shall be entitled to retain (i)
papers and other materials of a personal nature, including, but not
limited to, photographs, correspondence, personal diaries,
calendars and rolodexes, personal files and phone books, (ii)
information showing his compensation or relating to reimbursement
of expenses, (iii) information that he reasonably believes may be
needed for tax purposes and (iv) copies of plans, programs and
agreements relating to his employment, or termination thereof, with
the Company.
14.
Non-Competition
and Non-Solicitation.
(a)
The Executive agrees and
acknowledges that the Confidential Information that the Executive
has already received and will receive is valuable to the Company
and that its protection and maintenance constitutes a legitimate
business interest of the Company, to be protected by the
non-competition restrictions set forth herein. The Executive agrees
and acknowledges that the non-competition restrictions set forth
herein are reasonable and necessary and do not impose undue
hardship or burdens on the Executive. The Executive also
acknowledges that the Company’s Business (as defined in
Section 14(b)(1) below) is conducted worldwide (the
“
Territory
”), and that the
Territory, scope of prohibited competition, and time duration set
forth in the non-competition restrictions set forth below are
reasonable and necessary to maintain the value of the Confidential
Information of, and to protect the goodwill and other legitimate
business interests of, the Company, its affiliates and/or its
clients or customers. The provisions of this Section 14 shall
survive the termination of the Executive’s employment
hereunder for the time periods specified below.
(b) The
Executive hereby agrees and covenants that he shall not without the
prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, in
any capacity whatsoever, including, without limitation, as an
employee, employer, consultant, principal, partner, shareholder,
officer, director or any other individual or representative
capacity (other than (i) as a holder of less than two (2%) percent
of the outstanding securities of a company whose shares are traded
on any national securities exchange or (ii) as a limited partner,
passive minority interest holder in a venture capital fund, private
equity fund or similar investment entity which holds or may hold an
equity or debt position in portfolio companies that are competitive
with the Company; provided however, that the Executive shall be
precluded from serving as an operating partner, general partner,
manager or governing board designee with respect to such portfolio
companies), or whether on the Executive's own behalf or on behalf
of any other person or entity or otherwise howsoever, during the
Term and thereafter to the extent described below, within the
Territory:
(1) Engage,
own, manage, operate, control, be employed by, consult for,
participate in, or be connected in any manner with the ownership,
management, operation or control of any business in competition
with the Business of the Company, as defined in the next sentence.
For purposes hereof, the Company’s Business shall mean the
electronics distribution business as well as any future related or
unrelated industries or segments in which the Company may engage or
operate in the future.
(2) Recruit,
solicit or hire, or attempt to recruit, solicit or hire, any
employee, or independent contractor of the Company to leave the
employment (or independent contractor relationship) thereof,
whether or not any such employee or independent contractor is party
to an employment agreement, for the purpose of competing with the
Business of the Company;
(3) Attempt
in any manner to solicit or accept from any customer of the
Company, with whom Executive had significant contact during
Executive’s employment by the Company (whether under this
Agreement or otherwise), business of the kind or competitive with
the business done by the Company with such customer or to persuade
or attempt to persuade any such customer to cease to do business or
to reduce the amount of business which such customer has
customarily done or might do with the Company, or if any such
customer elects to move its business to a person other than the
Company, provide any services of the kind or competitive with the
business of the Company for such customer, or have any discussions
regarding any such service with such customer, on behalf of such
other person for the purpose of competing with the Business of the
Company; or
(4) Interfere
with any relationship, contractual or otherwise, between the
Company and any other party, including, without limitation, any
supplier, distributor, co-venturer or joint venturer of the
Company, for the purpose of soliciting such other party to
discontinue or reduce its business with the Company for the purpose
of competing with the Business of the Company.
With
respect to the activities described in Paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and
(4) above, the restrictions of this Section 14(b) shall continue
during the Term and for a period of one (1) year
thereafter.
15.
Section 409A
.
The
provisions of this Agreement are intended to comply with or are
exempt from Section 409A of the Code (“
Section 409A
”) and the
related Treasury Regulations and shall be construed in a manner
consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties
under Section 409A. The Company and the Executive agree to work
together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and
to take such reasonable actions necessary, appropriate or desirable
to avoid imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A or
income recognition prior to actual payment to the Executive under
this Agreement.
It is
intended that any expense reimbursement made under this Agreement
shall be exempt from Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if any expense reimbursement made under this Agreement shall be
determined to be “deferred compensation” subject to
Section 409A (“
Deferred Compensation
”),
then (a) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not
subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (b) the
amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits,
provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses
eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in
any other taxable year (provided that this clause (b) shall not be
violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement
covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses
are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in
effect) and (c) such payments shall be made on or before the last
day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which the
expense was incurred.
With
respect to the time of payments of any amount under this Agreement
that is Deferred Compensation, references in the Agreement to
“termination of employment” and substantially similar
phrases, including a termination of employment due to the
Executive’s Disability, shall mean “
Separation from Service
”
from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A (determined
after applying the presumptions set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)). Each installment payable hereunder shall
constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.409A-2(b), including Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Each payment that is made within the terms of
the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) is intended to meet the
“short-term deferral” rule. Each other payment is
intended to be a payment upon an involuntary termination from
service and payable pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), et. seq., to the maximum extent permitted by
that regulation, with any amount that is not exempt from Code
Section 409A being subject to Code Section 409A.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Executive is a
“specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A
at the time of the Executive’s termination, then only that
portion of the severance and benefits payable to the Executive
pursuant to this Agreement, if any, and any other severance
payments or separation benefits which may be considered Deferred
Compensation (together, the “
Deferred Separation
Benefits
”), which (when considered together) do not
exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined herein) may be made
within the first six (6) months following the Executive’s
termination of employment in accordance with the payment schedule
applicable to each payment or benefit. Any portion of the Deferred
Separation Benefits in excess of the Section 409A Limit otherwise
due to the Executive on or within the six (6) month period
following the Executive’s termination will accrue during such
six (6) month period and will become payable in one lump sum cash
payment on the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the
date of the Executive’s termination of employment. All
subsequent Deferred Separation Benefits, if any, will be payable in
accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or
benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the
Executive dies following termination but prior to the six (6) month
anniversary of the Executive’s termination date, then any
payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable
in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the
date of the Executive’s death and all other Deferred
Separation Benefits will be payable in accordance with the payment
schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.
For
purposes of this Agreement, “
Section 409A Limit
” shall
mean a sum equal to (x) the amounts payable within the terms of the
“short-term deferral” rule under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) plus (y) the amount payable as
“separation pay due to involuntary separation from
service” under Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) equal to the lesser of two (2) times: (i) the
Executive’s annualized compensation from the Company based
upon his annual rate of pay during the Executive’s taxable
year preceding his taxable year when his employment terminated, as
determined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1); and
(ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a
qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the
year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated.
16.
Miscellaneous.
(a) Neither
the Executive nor the Company may assign or delegate any of their
rights or duties under this Agreement without the express written
consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company shall
have the right to delegate its obligation of payment of all sums
due to the Executive hereunder, provided that such delegation shall
not relieve the Company of any of its obligations
hereunder.
(b) During
the term of this Agreement, the Company (i) shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Executive and his heirs and representatives to
the maximum extent provided by the laws of the State of Nevada and
by Company’s bylaws and (ii) shall cover the Executive under
the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance on the same basis as it covers other senior executive
officers and directors of the Company.
(c) This
Agreement constitutes and embodies the full and complete
understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the
Executive’s employment by the Company, supersedes all prior
understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between the
Executive and the Company, and shall not be amended, modified or
changed except by an instrument in writing executed by the party to
be charged. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application
thereof, shall for any reason and to any extent be invalid or
unenforceable, then the remainder of this Agreement and the
application of such provision to other persons or circumstances
shall be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the
parties hereto. The parties further agree to replace such
void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and
enforceable provision that shall achieve, to the extent possible,
the economic, business and other purposes of the void or
unenforceable provision. No waiver by either party of any provision
or condition to be performed shall be deemed a waiver of similar or
dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior
or subsequent time. The Predecessor Employment Agreement is
terminated in all respects effective as of the Effective Date. All
rights and benefits of Executive under the Predecessor Employment
Agreement are hereby released and of no further force and effect
other than the Retained Benefits.
Executive hereby
knowingly and voluntarily releases and forever discharges the
Company, any related companies, and the former and current
employees, officers, agents, directors, shareholders, investors,
attorneys, affiliates, successors and assigns of any of them (the
“
Released
Parties
”) from all
liabilities, claims, demands, rights of action or causes of action
Executive had, has or may have against any of the Released Parties
through the Effective Date of this Agreement, including but not
limited to any claims or demands based upon or relating to
Executive’s employment with the Company or the cessation of
that employment. This includes, but is not limited to, a
release of any rights or claims Employee may have under Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Equal Pay Act; the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act, except as provided herein; the
Americans with Disabilities Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act
of 1993; or any other federal, state or local laws or regulations
applicable to the employment relationship. This also
includes, but is not limited to, a release by Executive of any
claims for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, or any other
statutory, common law, tort, contract, or negligence claim that
Executive had, has or may have against any of the Released Parties
through the date of this Agreement. This release covers
both claims that Executive knows about and those claims Executive
may not know about.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the release shall not discharge any obligation of the
Company for indemnification of Executive under the Predecessor
Agreement, this Agreement, the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws, or pursuant to applicable law, other than
such indemnification as may be contrary to public policy as
determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(d) This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon and
enforceable against, the parties hereto and their respective
successors, heirs, beneficiaries and permitted
assigns.
(e) The
headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) All
notices, requests, demands and other communications required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, sent by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, or by reputable national overnight delivery service (e.g.,
Federal Express) for overnight delivery to the party at the address
set forth in the preamble to this Agreement, or to such other
address as either party may hereafter give the other party notice
of in accordance with the provisions hereof. Notices shall be
deemed given on the sooner of the date actually received or the
third business day after deposited in the mail or one business day
after deposited with an overnight delivery service for overnight
delivery.
(g) This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of New York, and each of the parties
hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the
federal and state courts located in the State of New York, County
of New York, for any disputes arising out of this Agreement, or the
Executive’s employment with the Company. The prevailing party
in any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall be entitled to
his or its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
(h) This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one of the same instrument. The
parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date set
forth above.
(i) The
Executive represents and warrants to the Company, that he has the
full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
perform his obligations hereunder and that the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the performance of his obligations
hereunder will not conflict with any agreement to which the
Executive is a party.
(j) The
Company represents and warrants to the Executive that it has the
full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
perform its obligations hereunder and that the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations
hereunder will not conflict with any agreement to which the Company
is a party.
[Signature page follows immediately]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have caused this
Executive Employment Agreement to be executed as of the date first
above written.
|
EXACTUS, INC.
By:
/s/ Philip
Young
Name:
Philip Young
Title: _____________________________
Date
Signed: ________________________
|
|
ANDREW JOHNSON
Executive
/s/ Andrew
Johnson
Date
Signed: _________________________
|
Exhibit 10.6
FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(“
Amendment
”) is made and entered into effective as of March 4, 2019 by
and between Exactus, Inc. a Nevada corporation headquartered at
4870 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060
(“
Company
”) and Philip J.
Young, an individual (“
Executive
”).
W I T N
E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on January
11, 2019, the Executive and the Company entered into an Employment
Agreement for the Executive’s service as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company (the “Original Agreement);
and
WHEREAS, the
Executive and the Company desire to amend certain provisions of the
Original Agreement,
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and their respective
covenants and agreements contained in this document, the Company
and the Executive hereby agree amend the Original Agreement as
follows:
1.
Severance Compensation
. Section
6 of the Original Agreement, “Severance Compensation,”
is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Upon
termination of employment for any reason, the Executive shall be
entitled to: (A) all Base Salary earned through the date of
termination to be paid according to Section 4; (B) any and all
reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Executive in connection
with and related to the performance of his duties and
responsibilities for the Company during the period ending on the
termination date to be paid according to Section 8; (C) any accrued
but unused vacation time through the termination date in accordance
with Company policy; and (D) any Annual Bonuses earned through the
date of termination to be paid according to Section 5(a); and (E)
all Share Awards earned and vested prior to
termination.
Additionally, if
the Executive’s employment is terminated prior to expiration
of the Employment Period (including due to his death or Disability,
as defined in Section 12(b)) unless the Executive’s
employment is terminated for Cause (as defined in Section 12(c)) or
the Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason (as
defined in Section 12(d) and other than for a Change in Control as
provided in Section 12(d) and Section 12(f)), the Executive shall
be entitled to receive a cash amount equal to the
lesser
of: (i) such amount as
the Executive would have been entitled to receive as an aggregate
Base Salary for the balance of the Initial Term;
or
(ii) 50% of the amount of
one year’s Base Salary as then in effect (the
“Separation Payment”); provided, that the Executive
executes an agreement releasing Company and its affiliates from any
liability associated with this Agreement and such release is
irrevocable at the time the Separation Payment is first payable
under this Section 6 and the Executive complies with his other
obligations under Section 13 of this Agreement. Subject to the
terms hereof, one-half (1/2) of the Separation Payment shall be
paid within thirty (30) days of the Executive’s termination
of employment (“
Initial Payment
”),
provided that the Executive has executed a release; and the balance
of the Separation Payment shall be paid in substantially equal
installments on the Company’s regular payroll dates beginning
with the first payroll date coincident with or immediately
following the Initial Payment and ending with the last payroll date
that occurs in the third calendar year beginning after the
Executive’s termination of employment.
The
Executive may continue coverage with respect to the Company’s
group health plans as permitted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”) for himself and
each of his “
Qualified Beneficiaries
”
as defined by COBRA (“
COBRA Coverage
”). The
Company shall reimburse the amount of any COBRA premium paid for
COBRA Coverage timely elected by and for the Executive and any
Qualified Beneficiary of the Executive, and not otherwise
reimbursed, during the period that ends on the earliest of (x) the
date the Executive or the Qualified Beneficiary, as the case may
be, ceases to be eligible for COBRA Coverage, (y) the last day of
the consecutive eighteen (18) month period following the date of
the Executive’s termination of employment and (z) the date
the Executive or the Qualified Beneficiary, as the case may be, is
covered by another group health plan. To reimburse any COBRA
premium payment under this paragraph, the Company must receive
documentation of the COBRA premium payment within ninety (90) days
of its payment. “
2.
Clawback Rights
. Section 7 of
the Original Agreement, “Clawback Rights,” is hereby
amended to read as follows:
“The Annual
Bonus, and any and all stock based compensation (such as options
and equity awards) (collectively, the “
Clawback Benefits
”) shall
be subject to “
Clawback Rights
” as
follows: during the period that the Executive is employed by the
Company and upon the termination of the Executive’s
employment and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, if there
is a restatement of any financial results directly attributable to
the Executive from which any Clawback Benefits to the Executive
shall have been determined, the Executive agrees to repay any
amounts which were determined by reference to any Company financial
results which were later restated (as defined below), to the extent
the Clawback Benefits amounts paid exceed the Clawback Benefits
amounts that would have been paid, based on the restatement of the
Company’s financial information. All Clawback Benefits
amounts resulting from such restated financial results shall be
retroactively adjusted by the Compensation Committee to take into
account the restated results, and any excess portion of the
Clawback Benefits resulting from such restated results shall be
immediately surrendered to the Company and if not so surrendered
within ninety (90) days of the revised calculation being provided
to the Executive by the Compensation Committee following a publicly
announced restatement, the Company shall have the right to take any
and all action to effectuate such adjustment. The calculation of
the revised Clawback Benefits amount shall be determined by the
Compensation Committee in good faith and in accordance with
applicable law, rules and regulations. All determinations by the
Compensation Committee with respect to the Clawback Rights shall be
final and binding on the Company and the Executive. The Clawback
Rights shall terminate following a Change of Control as defined in
Section 12(f), subject to applicable law, rules and regulations.
For purposes of this Section 7, a restatement of financial results
that requires a repayment of a portion of the Clawback Benefits
amounts shall mean a restatement resulting from material
non-compliance of the Company with any financial reporting
requirement under the federal securities laws and shall not include
a restatement of financial results resulting from subsequent
changes in accounting pronouncements or requirements which were not
in effect on the date the financial statements were originally
prepared (“
Restatements
”). The
parties acknowledge it is their intention that the foregoing
Clawback Rights as relates to Restatements conform in all respects
to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act of 2010 (“
Dodd-Frank Act
”) and
require recovery of all “incentive-based” compensation,
pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and any and all
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in
effect. Accordingly, the terms and provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed automatically amended from time to time to assure
compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act and such rules and regulations
as hereafter may be adopted and in effect.”
3.
Vacation
. Section 10,
“Vacation,” of the Original Agreement is hereby amended
to read as follows:
“During the
term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to accrue,
on a pro rata basis, two (2) weeks paid vacation per year. Vacation
shall be taken at such times as are mutually convenient to the
Executive and the Company and no more than seven (7) consecutive
days shall be taken at any one time without Company approval in
advance.”
4.
Other Terms Unchanged
. All
other terms and conditions of the Original Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect as set forth therein.
[Signature page follows immediately]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have caused this
First Amendment To Executive Employment Agreement to be executed as
of the date first above written.
|
EXACTUS, INC.
By:
/s/ Philip
Young
Name:
Philip Young
Title: _____________________________
Date
Signed: ________________________
|
|
PHILIP Y. YOUNG
Executive
Date
Signed: _________________________
|
Exhibit 10.7
FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(“
Amendment
”) is made and entered into effective as of March 4, 2019 by
and between Exactus, Inc. a Nevada corporation headquartered at
4870 Sadler Road, Suite 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060
(“
Company
”) and Kelley
Wendt, an individual (“
Executive
”).
W I T N
E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on January
11, 2019, the Executive and the Company entered into an Employment
Agreement for the Executive’s service as Chief Financial
Officer of the Company (the “Original Agreement);
and
WHEREAS, the
Executive and the Company desire to amend certain provisions of the
Original Agreement,
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and their respective
covenants and agreements contained in this document, the Company
and the Executive hereby agree amend the Original Agreement as
follows:
1.
Severance
Compensation
. Section 6 of the Original Agreement,
“Severance Compensation,” is hereby amended to read as
follows:
“Upon
termination of employment for any reason, the Executive shall be
entitled to: (A) all Base Salary earned through the date of
termination to be paid according to Section 4; (B) any and all
reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Executive in connection
with and related to the performance of his duties and
responsibilities for the Company during the period ending on the
termination date to be paid according to Section 8; (C) any accrued
but unused vacation time through the termination date in accordance
with Company policy; and (D) any Annual Bonuses earned through the
date of termination to be paid according to Section 5(a); and (E)
all Share Awards earned and vested prior to
termination.
Additionally, if
the Executive’s employment is terminated prior to expiration
of the Employment Period (including due to his death or Disability,
as defined in Section 12(b)) unless the Executive’s
employment is terminated for Cause (as defined in Section 12(c)) or
the Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason (as
defined in Section 12(d) and other than for a Change in Control as
provided in Section 12(d) and Section 12(f)), the Executive shall
be entitled to receive a cash amount equal to the
lesser
of: (i) such amount as
the Executive would have been entitled to receive as an aggregate
Base Salary for the balance of the Initial Term;
or
(ii) 50% of the amount of
one year’s Base Salary as then in effect (the
“Separation Payment”); provided, that the Executive
executes an agreement releasing Company and its affiliates from any
liability associated with this Agreement and such release is
irrevocable at the time the Separation Payment is first payable
under this Section 6 and the Executive complies with his other
obligations under Section 13 of this Agreement. Subject to the
terms hereof, one-half (1/2) of the Separation Payment shall be
paid within thirty (30) days of the Executive’s termination
of employment (“
Initial Payment
”),
provided that the Executive has executed a release; and the balance
of the Separation Payment shall be paid in substantially equal
installments on the Company’s regular payroll dates beginning
with the first payroll date coincident with or immediately
following the Initial Payment and ending with the last payroll date
that occurs in the third calendar year beginning after the
Executive’s termination of employment.
The
Executive may continue coverage with respect to the Company’s
group health plans as permitted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”) for himself and
each of his “
Qualified Beneficiaries
”
as defined by COBRA (“
COBRA Coverage
”). The
Company shall reimburse the amount of any COBRA premium paid for
COBRA Coverage timely elected by and for the Executive and any
Qualified Beneficiary of the Executive, and not otherwise
reimbursed, during the period that ends on the earliest of (x) the
date the Executive or the Qualified Beneficiary, as the case may
be, ceases to be eligible for COBRA Coverage, (y) the last day of
the consecutive eighteen (18) month period following the date of
the Executive’s termination of employment and (z) the date
the Executive or the Qualified Beneficiary, as the case may be, is
covered by another group health plan. To reimburse any COBRA
premium payment under this paragraph, the Company must receive
documentation of the COBRA premium payment within ninety (90) days
of its payment. “
2.
Clawback Rights
. Section 7 of
the Original Agreement, “Clawback Rights,” is hereby
amended to read as follows:
“The Annual
Bonus, and any and all stock based compensation (such as options
and equity awards) (collectively, the “
Clawback Benefits
”) shall
be subject to “
Clawback Rights
” as
follows: during the period that the Executive is employed by the
Company and upon the termination of the Executive’s
employment and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, if there
is a restatement of any financial results directly attributable to
the Executive from which any Clawback Benefits to the Executive
shall have been determined, the Executive agrees to repay any
amounts which were determined by reference to any Company financial
results which were later restated (as defined below), to the extent
the Clawback Benefits amounts paid exceed the Clawback Benefits
amounts that would have been paid, based on the restatement of the
Company’s financial information. All Clawback Benefits
amounts resulting from such restated financial results shall be
retroactively adjusted by the Compensation Committee to take into
account the restated results, and any excess portion of the
Clawback Benefits resulting from such restated results shall be
immediately surrendered to the Company and if not so surrendered
within ninety (90) days of the revised calculation being provided
to the Executive by the Compensation Committee following a publicly
announced restatement, the Company shall have the right to take any
and all action to effectuate such adjustment. The calculation of
the revised Clawback Benefits amount shall be determined by the
Compensation Committee in good faith and in accordance with
applicable law, rules and regulations. All determinations by the
Compensation Committee with respect to the Clawback Rights shall be
final and binding on the Company and the Executive. The Clawback
Rights shall terminate following a Change of Control as defined in
Section 12(f), subject to applicable law, rules and regulations.
For purposes of this Section 7, a restatement of financial results
that requires a repayment of a portion of the Clawback Benefits
amounts shall mean a restatement resulting from material
non-compliance of the Company with any financial reporting
requirement under the federal securities laws and shall not include
a restatement of financial results resulting from subsequent
changes in accounting pronouncements or requirements which were not
in effect on the date the financial statements were originally
prepared (“
Restatements
”). The
parties acknowledge it is their intention that the foregoing
Clawback Rights as relates to Restatements conform in all respects
to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act of 2010 (“
Dodd-Frank Act
”) and
require recovery of all “incentive-based” compensation,
pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and any and all
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in
effect. Accordingly, the terms and provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed automatically amended from time to time to assure
compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act and such rules and regulations
as hereafter may be adopted and in effect.”
3.
Vacation
. Section 10,
“Vacation,” of the Original Agreement is hereby amended
to read as follows:
“During the
term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to accrue,
on a pro rata basis, two (2) weeks paid vacation per year. Vacation
shall be taken at such times as are mutually convenient to the
Executive and the Company and no more than seven (7) consecutive
days shall be taken at any one time without Company approval in
advance.”
4.
Other Terms Unchanged
. All
other terms and conditions of the Original Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect as set forth therein.
[Signature page follows immediately]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have caused this
First Amendment To Executive Employment Agreement to be executed as
of the date first above written.
|
EXACTUS, INC.
By:
/s/ Philip
Young
Name:
Philip Young
Title: _____________________________
Date
Signed: ________________________
|
|
KELLEY WENDT
Executive
/s/ Kelley
Wendt
Date
Signed: _________________________
|
Exhibit
10.8
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
THIS
SEPARATION AGREEMENT (the “
Agreement
”) is entered into as of
the 11
th
day of March, 2019 (the “
Effective Date
”) by and between
Timothy Ryan (“
Employee
”) and Exactus, Inc., a
Nevada corporation, and subsidiaries (the “
Company
”, and together with the
Employee, the “
Parties
”).
WHEREAS,
Employee has been a Director of
the Company since February 29, 2016;
WHEREAS,
Employee has been employed as
the Executive Vice President of the Company since March 24, 2016;
and
WHEREAS,
the Parties desire to enter
into this Agreement providing for Employee’s termination as
Executive Vice President of the Company and as a director of the
Company following the Effective Date of this Agreement, for
Employee’s amicable resignation from the Company’s
employment and to settle any and all payments that may now be or
may in the future become due to Employee.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the
mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the
Parties hereby agree as follows:
1.
Termination Date
.
Employee hereby
resigns as a member of the Board of Directors and as Executive Vice
President of the Company and the Company hereby accepts such
resignation. Employee acknowledges that his last day of employment
as an employee, officer and director of the Company shall be March
11, 2019 (the “
Termination
Date
”). Employee’s resignation will be effective
as of the Termination Date and shall not be as a result of any
change in control or change of control of the Company. Employee
further understands and agrees that, as of the Termination Date, he
will no longer be authorized to conduct any business on behalf of
the Company or to hold himself out as an officer or employee of the
Company. Any and all positions and/or titles held by
Employee with the Company will be deemed to have been resigned as
of the Termination Date. Beginning on the Effective Date, Employee
shall receive from the Company Payment and Benefits as provided in
Paragraph 2.
2.
Payment and
Benefits
. The Company shall pay or provide
Employee the following payment and benefits:
All
Base Salary earned from December 1, 2018 through the date of
termination and any and all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by
the Executive in connection with and related to the performance of
his duties and responsibilities for the Company during the period
ending on the termination date and
$5,000
per month for 12 months, to be paid under the Consulting Agreement
attached hereto as
Exhibit
A
.
(a)
Equity Awards
. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that, as of the Effective Date, all
of Employee’s rights and interests in all unvested options
and unvested restricted stock units held by Employee are hereby
vested.
(b)
Health Benefits
.
Employee shall be entitled to continue to receive his existing
medical and other insurance benefits, if any, and may, if eligible,
elect to continue healthcare coverage at Employee’s expense
in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or
COBRA.
Employee shall be
responsible for the payment of all employee obligations for payroll
taxes, Medicare and other taxes, and shall indemnify the Company
with respect to the payment of all such amounts with respect to the
benefits in subparagraph 2(a) and (b).
(c)
Waiver of Right to Bonus
Compensation
. Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees to
the cancellation of the any bonus compensation he may have been
entitled to receive and that, in consideration for the promises
contained herein and for the payments more particularly described
in Paragraph 2, he hereby waives and surrenders any and all rights
to receive payment of the any bonus compensation or any other
bonus, retention payment, separation payment or other payment, not
expressly provided for herein.
(d)
Waiver of Right to Other
Compensation
. Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees
that the Company has disputed the satisfaction of conditions
precedent to payment of any other compensation and, in
consideration for the promises contained herein and for the
payments contemplated herein, including, without limitation,
Paragraph 2 hereof, Employee waives and surrenders any and all
rights to receive payment of the any other compensation, including
any other compensation not expressly provided for herein. Any and
all payments that are made or required to be made under any law,
rule or regulation (including vacation pay) shall be credited
against any payments required to be made hereunder.
(e)
Tax Matters
.
Employee shall be responsible for the payment of all Employee
payroll taxes, Medicare and other taxes. Except as otherwise set
forth herein, Employee will not be entitled to payment of any carry
forward bonus, vacation or other incentive compensation, other than
in accordance with Company policy with respect to payment of unused
vacation pay (up to a maximum of 4 weeks). Any employee tax,
penalties or interest as a result thereof shall be the sole
responsibility of Employee who agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company with respect thereto.
(f)
Termination of
Employment
. Employee and the Company hereby acknowledge and
agree that the Employee shall not be entitled to any payment in the
nature of severance or termination pay from the Company, and that
the terms set forth herein is in full satisfaction of all
obligations owed to Employee.
(g)
Full Satisfaction
.
The Parties acknowledge and agree that the consideration set forth
in this Paragraph 2 is in full, final and complete settlement of
any and all claims which Employee could make in any complaint,
charge, or civil action, whether for actual, nominal, compensatory,
or punitive damages (including attorneys’ fees). Employee
acknowledges that such consideration is being made as consideration
for the waivers and releases set forth in this subparagraph 2(h)
and Paragraph 3. Employee further acknowledges that the
consideration set forth in this Paragraph 2 are separate and
distinct of and from each other, and that either payment is
independent valuable consideration for the waiver and releases set
forth in this subparagraph 2(c), subparagraph 2(d) and Paragraph
3.
3.
Release
.
(a)
Employee’s Release
of the Company
. In consideration for the payments and
benefits described above and for other good and valuable
consideration, Employee hereby releases and forever discharges the
Company, as well as its affiliates and all of their respective
directors, officers, employees, members, agents, and attorneys (the
“
Company
Released Parties
”), of and from
any and all manner of actions and causes of action, suits, debts,
claims, and demands whatsoever, in law or equity, known or unknown,
asserted or unasserted, which he ever had, now has, or hereafter
may have on account of his employment with the Company, the
termination of his employment with the Company, and/or any other
fact, matter, incident, claim, injury, event, circumstance,
happening, occurrence, and/or thing of any kind or nature which
arose or occurred prior to the date when he executes this
Agreement, including, but not limited to, any and all claims for
wrongful termination; breach of any implied or express employment
contract; unpaid compensation of any kind; breach of any
fiduciary duty and/or duty of loyalty; breach of any implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing; negligent or intentional
infliction of emotional distress; defamation; fraud; unlawful
discrimination, harassment; or retaliation based upon age, race,
sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, national
origin, medical condition, disability, handicap, or otherwise; any
and all claims arising under arising under
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964
, as amended (“Title VII”); the
Equal Pay Act of 1963
, as
amended (“EPA”); the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967
, as amended (“ADEA”); the
Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990
, as amended (“ADA”); the
Family and Medical Leave Act
,
as amended (“FMLA”); the
Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974
, as amended ("ERISA"); the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
, as
amended (“SOX”); the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act of 1988
, as amended (“WARN”);
the New York State Human Rights Law and the New York City Human
Rights Law; and/or any other federal, state, or local law(s) or
regulation(s); any and all claims for damages of any nature,
including compensatory, general, special, or punitive; and any and
all claims for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys'
fees, incurred in any of these matters. The Company
acknowledges, however, that Employee does not release or waive any
rights to contribution or indemnity under this Agreement to which
he may otherwise be entitled. The Company also
acknowledges that Employee does not release or waive any claims,
and that he retains any rights he may have, to any vested 401(k)
monies (if any) or benefits (if any), or any other benefit
entitlement that is vested as of the Effective Date pursuant to the
terms of any Company-sponsored benefit plan governed by
ERISA. Nothing contained herein shall release the
Company from its obligations set forth in this
Agreement.
(b)
The Company’s
Release of Employee
. In consideration for mutual covenants
and agreements of the Parties set forth in this Agreement and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which the Parties acknowledge, the Company, for itself and for
and on behalf of its affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers
and agents, hereby releases and forever discharges Employee, and
each of the Executive’s heirs, beneficiaries, successors,
assigns, agents, employees, executors, administrators, attorneys
and representatives (the “
Employee
Released Parties
”), of and from
any and all manner of actions and causes of action, suits, debts,
claims, and demands whatsoever, in law or equity, known or unknown,
asserted or unasserted, which it ever had, now has, or hereafter
may have arising out of or relating to Employee’s employment
with the Company, the termination of his employment with the
Company, and/or any other fact, matter, incident, claim, injury,
event, circumstance, happening, occurrence, and/or thing of any
kind or nature which arose or occurred, in whole or in part, prior
to the date when the Company executes this Agreement and/or any
other federal, state, or local law(s) or regulation(s); any and all
claims for damages of any nature, including compensatory, general,
special, or punitive; and any and all claims for costs, fees, or
other expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in any of
these matters; provided however, that Employee shall not be
released from any claims asserted by or related to any claims that
can be asserted by shareholders of the Company or any regulatory
body or authority, including any claim that could be considered
within the scope of any release provided herein, including any of
the Company’s shareholders in any shareholder derivative
action, class claims or similar action brought by any shareholder
or on behalf of the Company.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, however, in the event that Employee is named as a
defendant in any shareholder derivative action or is threatened to
be made a party to any such action, Employee shall be entitled to
be indemnified by the Company to the full extent permitted by law
and shall be provided with coverage to the extent coverage is
available under the Company’s directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policies. Moreover, Employee
acknowledges that the Company does not release or waive any rights
to contribution or indemnity under this Agreement to which he may
otherwise be entitled. Nothing contained herein shall
release Employee from his obligations set forth in this
Agreement.
4.
Mutual
Consent
. The Parties hereto, and each of them, do hereby:
(i) acknowledge that they have reviewed or cause to be reviewed
this Agreement; (ii) unconditionally consent to the termination of
the employment by the Company; and (iii) unconditionally consent to
the release of any and all claims as described in Paragraph 3 as
applicable.
5.
Non-Disparagement
.
Each of Employee and the Company hereby agrees, for himself and
itself and any other of their respective representatives while they
are acting on his or its behalf, that he and it have not and will
not, directly or indirectly, disparage, make negative statements
about or act in any manner which is intended to or does damage to
the goodwill or business or personal reputations of the other party
or their respective affiliates.
6.
Confidential Information;
Proprietary Matters
.
(a)
Confidential
Information
. Employee understands and acknowledges that
during the course of his employment by the Company through the
Termination Date, he had access to Confidential Information (as
defined below) of the Company. Employee represents, warrants and
agrees that, at no time from and after the Termination Date, will
Employee (a) use Confidential Information for any purpose other
than in connection with services provided under this Agreement or
(b) disclose Confidential Information to any person or entity other
than to the Company or persons or entities to whom disclosure has
been authorized by the Company. As used herein, “Confidential
Information” includes all data or material (regardless of
form) with respect to the Company or any of its assets, prospects,
business activities, officers, directors, employees, borrowers, or
clients which is: (a) a trade secret, as defined by the Uniform
Trade Secrets Act: (b) provided, disclosed, or delivered to
Employee by the Company, any officer, director, employee, agent,
attorney, accountant, consultant, or other person or entity
employed by the Company in capacity, any client, borrower, advisor,
or business associate of the Company, or any public authority
having jurisdiction over the Company or any business activity
conducted by the Company; or (c) produced, developed, obtained or
prepared by or on behalf of Employee or the Company (whether or not
such information was developed in the performance of the
Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term
“Confidential Information” shall not include any
information, data, or material which, at the time of disclosure or
use, was generally available to the public other than by a breach
of this Agreement, was available to the party to whom disclosed on
a non-confidential basis by disclosure or access provided by the
Company or a third party without breaching any obligations of the
Company or such third party, or was otherwise developed or obtained
legally and independently by the person to whom disclosed without a
breach of this Agreement. This subparagraph 6(a) shall not preclude
Employee from disclosing Confidential Information if compelled to
do so by law or valid legal process, provided that if Employee
believes Employee is so compelled by law or valid legal process,
Employee will notify the Company in writing sufficiently in advance
of any such disclosure to allow the Company the opportunity to
defend, limit, or otherwise protect its interests against such
disclosure unless such notice is prohibited by law. The rights and
obligations of the Parties under this subparagraph 6(a) shall
survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any
reason.
(b)
Proprietary
Matters
. Employee expressly agrees that any and all
improvements, inventions, discoveries, processes, or know-how that
were generated or conceived by Employee during the term of his
employment through the Termination Date, whether conceived during
Employee’s regular working hours or otherwise, will be the
sole and exclusive property of the Company. Whenever requested by
the Company (either as of the Termination Date or thereafter),
Employee will assign or execute any and all applications,
assignments and/or other documents, and do all things which the
Company reasonably deems necessary or appropriate, in order to
permit the Company to: (a) assign and convey, or otherwise make
available to the Company, the sole and exclusive right, title, and
interest in and to said improvements, inventions, discoveries,
processes or know-how; or (b) apply for, obtain, maintain, enforce
and defend patents, copyrights, trade names, or trademarks of the
United States or of foreign countries for said improvements,
inventions, discoveries, processes, or know-how. However, the
improvements, inventions, discoveries, processes, or know-how
generated or conceived by Employee and referred to in this
subparagraph 6(b) (except those which may be included in the
patents, copyrights, or registered trade names or trademarks of the
Company) will not be exclusive property of the Company at any time
after having been disclosed or revealed or have otherwise become
available to the public or to a third party on a non-confidential
basis other than by a breach of the Agreement or after they have
been independently developed or discussed without a breach of this
Agreement by a third party who has no obligation to the Company.
The rights and obligations of the Parties under this subparagraph
6(b) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement
for any reason.
(c)
Injunctive Relief
.
Employee acknowledges and agrees that any violation of
subparagraphs 6(a) through 6(c) of this Agreement would result in
irreparable harm to the Company and, therefore, agrees that, in the
event of an actual, suspected, or threatened breach of
subparagraphs 6(a) through 6(c) of this Agreement, the Company
shall be entitled to an injunction restraining Employee from
committing or continuing such actual, suspected or threatened
breach. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the right to such
injunctive relief shall be cumulative and shall not be in lieu of,
or be construed as a waiver of the Company’s right to pursue,
any other remedies to which it may be entitled in law or in equity.
The Parties agree that for purposes of subparagraphs 6(a) through
6(c) of the Agreement, the term “Company” shall include
the Company and its affiliates.
7.
Return of Property
.
Immediately upon the Termination Date, Employee shall return to the
Company all of Company’s property, including, without
limitation, Confidential and Proprietary Information (as that term
is defined above), office keys, Company identification cards,
access passes, and all documents, files, equipment, computers,
laptops, printers, telephones, cell phones, beepers, pagers, palm
pilots, BlackBerry or similar devices, fax machines, credit cards,
computer software, diskettes and access materials and other
property prepared by, for or belonging to Company (all of such
Company Property being referred to herein as “Company
Property”). Following the Termination Date, Employee shall
not (i) utilize Company Property or make or retain any copies,
duplicates, reproductions or excerpts of Company Property; and (ii)
access, utilize or affect in any manner, any of Company Property,
including, without limitation, its electronic communications
systems or any information contained therein.
8.
Future
Cooperation
. Employee agrees to reasonably
cooperate with the Company, its financial and legal advisors in any
claims, investigations, administrative proceedings or lawsuits
which relate to the Company and for which Employee may possess
relevant knowledge or information. Any travel and
accommodation expenses incurred by the Employee as a result of such
cooperation will be reimbursed in accordance with the
Company’s standard policies. The Parties agree that should
Employee’s assistance be required in connection with any such
matters that the Parties will agree to reasonable compensation for
such services.
9.
Market Stand-Off
Agreement
. Employee hereby agrees that he shall not, to the
extent requested by an underwriter of securities of the Company,
sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of stock of the
Company then owned by the Employee for up to 90 days following the
closing date of an underwritten public offering by the Company;
provided, however, that such agreement shall be applicable only to
the registration statements of the Company that cover securities to
be sold to the public in an underwritten offering but not to shares
held by Employee sold pursuant to such registration statement, if
any. In addition, the Employee agrees to execute an agreement, in
the lead underwriter’s standard form, reflecting the
foregoing at the time of the underwritten offering.
10.
Applicable Law and Dispute
Resolution
. Except as to matters preempted by ERISA or other
laws of the United States of America, this Agreement shall be
interpreted solely pursuant to the laws of the State of Nevada,
exclusive of its conflicts of laws principles. Each of
the Parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of Washoe County, State of Nevada, for the purposes of
any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement
or any transaction contemplated hereby.
11.
Entire Agreement
. This
Agreement may not be changed or altered, except by a writing signed
by both Parties. Until such time as this Agreement has been
executed and subscribed by both Parties hereto: its terms and
conditions and any discussions relating thereto, without any
exception whatsoever, shall not be binding nor enforceable for any
purpose upon any party. This Agreement constitutes an
integrated, written contract, expressing the entire agreement and
understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements and
understandings, oral or written, between the Parties.
12.
Assignment
. Neither
Party has assigned or transferred any claim such Party is
releasing, nor has such Party purported to do so. If any
provision in this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, all other
provisions will remain fully enforceable. This Agreement binds the
Parties and their heirs, administrators, representatives,
executors, successors, and assigns, and will insure to the benefit
of all of the Company Released Parties and Employee Released
Parties and their respective heirs, administrators,
representatives, executors, successors, and assigns.
13.
Binding Effect
. This
Agreement will be deemed binding and effective immediately upon its
execution by the Employee; provided, however, that in accordance
with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
(“ADEA”) (29 U.S.C. § 626, as amended),
Employee’s waiver of ADEA claims under this Agreement is
subject to the following: Employee may consider the terms of his
waiver of claims under the ADEA for twenty-one (21) days before
signing it and may consult legal counsel if Employee so desires.
Employee may revoke his waiver of claims under the ADEA within
seven (7) days of the day he executes this Agreement.
Employee’s waiver of claims under the ADEA will not become
effective until the eighth (8th) day following Employee’s
signing of this Agreement. Employee may revoke his
waiver of ADEA claims under this Agreement by delivering written
notice of his revocation, via facsimile and overnight mail, before
the end of the seventh (7th) day following Employee’s signing
of this Agreement to: Joe Laxague, Esq., Laxague Law, Inc., 1 East
Liberty, Suite 600, Reno, NV 89501, Fax:
775-996-3283. In the event that Employee revokes his
waiver of ADEA claims under this Agreement prior to the eighth
(8th) day after signing it, the remaining portions of this
Agreement shall remain in full force in effect, except that the
obligation of the Company to provide the payments and benefits set
forth in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement shall be null and void.
Employee further understands that if Employee does not revoke the
ADEA waiver in this Agreement within seven (7) days after signing
this Agreement, his waiver of ADEA claims will be final, binding,
enforceable, and irrevocable.
EMPLOYEE
UNDERSTANDS THAT FOR ALL PURPOSES OTHER THAN HIS WAIVER OF CLAIMS
UNDER THE ADEA, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE FINAL, EFFECTIVE, BINDING,
AND IRREVOCABLE IMMEDIATELY UPON ITS EXECUTION.
14.
Acknowledgements
. The Parties
agree that:
(a)
Each has consulted with and has been represented by counsel in
connection with the negotiation and execution of this
Agreement;
(b)
Employee has been advised that Laxague Law, Inc. has acted as
counsel to the Company and not to Employee, and Employee has been
advised to consult and has been provided with an opportunity to
consult with legal counsel of his choosing in connection with this
Agreement;
(c)
Each fully understands the significance of all of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and has discussed them with each of
their respective independent legal counsel or has been provided
with a reasonable opportunity to do so;
(d)
Each has had answered to his satisfaction any questions asked with
regard to the meaning and significance of any of the provisions of
this Agreement;
(e)
Employee is signing this Agreement knowingly, voluntarily and in
full settlement of all claims which existed in the past or which
currently exist that arise out of his employment with the Company
or the termination of his employment prior to the Termination Date;
and
(f)
Each agrees to abide by all the terms and conditions contained
herein.
15.
Notices
. For the
purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be delivered (i) personally or (ii) by first class mail,
certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) by
overnight courier, with acknowledged receipt, in the manner
provided for in this Paragraph 15, and properly addressed as
follows:
If to
the Company:
Exactus,
Inc.
80 NE
4
th
Avenue, Suite 28
Delray
Beach, FL
33483
With a
copy to:
Laxague
Law, Inc.
1 East
Liberty, Suite 600
Reno,
NV 89501
If to
Employee:
Timothy
Ryan
c/o The
Shoreham Group
80
Eighth Avenue
Suite
1107
New
York, NY 10011
16.
Counterparts
. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which
shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become
effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by
each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties. In the
event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or
by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file
of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a
valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose
behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect
as if such signature page were an original thereof.
17.
Attorneys’
Fees
. If any Party shall commence any action or proceeding
against another Party in order to enforce the provisions hereof, or
to recover damages as the result of the alleged breach of any of
the provisions hereof, the prevailing Party therein shall be
entitled to seek to recover all reasonable costs incurred in
connection therewith, including, but not limited to, reasonable
attorneys’ fees.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS HEREOF
, the Parties hereby
enter into this Agreement and affix their signatures as of the date
first above written.
Exactus,
Inc.
By:
/s/ Philip
Young
Name:
Philip Young
Title:
President
/s/ Timothy
Ryan
Timothy
Ryan
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS
CONSULTING AGREEMENT is made between Timothy Ryan having an address
at c/o The Shoreham Group, 80 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1107, New York,
NY 10011 (“Consultant”), and Exactus Inc, a Nevada
corporation having offices at 80 NE 4th Avenue, Suite 28, Delray
Beach, FL 33483 (“Exactus”).
THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS
:
1.
Effective
Date
. This Agreement shall be effective on March 12,
2019.
2.
Term
. The
initial term of this Agreement shall be from March 12, 2019 through
March 11, 2020 and shall continue thereafter until terminated.
Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time after twelve
(12) months, or sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) has been paid, by
either party on thirty (30) days’ notice, or by mutual
agreement by the parties at any time.
3.
General
Purpose
. The general purpose of this Agreement is to engage
Consultant to provide consulting services related to investor
relations and general financial advisory services. Such services
shall exclude any assistance rendered in connection with any
capital raising transaction by Exactus. Such services shall be
performed in conformance with professional standards for performing
services of a similar kind, and under the direction of the Board of
Directors or otherwise as it shall direct.
4.
Compensation;
Reimbursement
. During the term of this Agreement, Exactus
shall pay Consultant a stipend of five thousand dollars ($5,000)
per month.
5.
Independent
Contractor
. The parties understand and hereby acknowledge
that nothing in this Agreement for consulting services shall be
construed to create any relationship other than that of an
independent contractor relationship. Exactus will not pay or
withhold federal, state or local income tax or other payroll tax of
any kind on behalf of Consultant. Consultant is not eligible for,
not entitled to, and shall not participate in, any of
Exactus’s health or other benefit plans.
6.
Confidentiality
.
All data, materials and information submitted or made available to
Consultant by Exactus or by any other person or entity at the
direction of Exactus, or discovered in the course of the
consultancy services hereunder, unless otherwise publicly
available, and all data, materials and information, and other work
developed by Consultant under this Agreement, shall be utilized by
Consultant in connection with this Agreement only, shall be
maintained in confidence and shall not be made available by
Consultant to any other person or entity. Consultant will ensure
Consultant’s agents are bound to confidentiality of Exactus
data, materials and information to the same extent that Consultant
is bound under this Agreement.
7.
Ownership
.
Exactus shall exclusively own all data, information, and other work
developed or obtained by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement.
Immediately upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, all
such data, information, and other work, in whatever form, shall be
turned over to Exactus.
8.
Insider
Trading
. Consultant acknowledges and understands that the
purchase and sale of securities on the basis of material nonpublic
information, commonly referred to as “inside
information”, or the selective disclosure of inside
information to others who may trade, is prohibited by federal and
state laws. Consultant agrees to comply with all securities laws
and regulations, and Consultant will not use any inside information
gained through Consultant’s relationship with Exactus to
trade in the securities of Exactus or any other company to which
the inside information may apply.
9.
Compliance with
Applicable Laws
. Consultant warrants and represents that
Consultant will comply with all federal, state, and local laws
applicable to performance of the work under this
Agreement.
10.
Authority and
Adherence
. Consultant warrants that Consultant has the
authority to enter into this Agreement and that entering into this
Agreement is not restricted or prohibited by any existing agreement
to which Consultant is a party.
11.
Assignment and
Subcontract
. This Agreement may not be assigned or
subcontracted by Consultant without the express written consent of
Exactus.
12.
Advertisement
.
Consultant may not use the name Exactus Biosciences Corporation or
BioControl Ltd. or any variation thereof for advertising or
publicity purposes without first obtaining the written consent of
Exactus.
13.
Governing Law;
Jurisdiction
. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the
State of Nevada, without regard to any conflicts-of-law principle
that directs the application of another jurisdiction’s laws.
Venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement shall lie exclusively in the state or federal courts
located in Washoe County, Nevada, and each party hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such
courts.
14.
No Presumption
Against Drafter
. For purposes of this Agreement, the parties
hereby waive any rule of construction that requires that
ambiguities in this Agreement be construed against the
drafter.
15.
Notices
.
Each notice required or permitted to be given pursuant to this
Agreement shall be in writing and can be delivered in person, via
email with confirmation of receipt, by fax or by an express
delivery service provided by a commercial carrier or the US Postal
Service, properly addressed to the other party at the address
designated in the first paragraph of this Agreement, or to such
other address as may be designated in writing.
16.
Waiver
. A
delay or failure by either party to exercise any right under this
Agreement will not constitute a waiver of that or any similar or
future right.
17.
Severability
.
If any provision of this Agreement is declared invalid by any
Court, then such provision shall be deemed automatically modified
to conform to the requirements for validity as declared at such
time, and as so modified, shall be deemed a provision of this
Agreement as though originally included herein. In the event that
the provision invalidated is of such a nature that it cannot be
modified, the provision shall be deemed deleted from this Agreement
as though the provision had never been included herein. In either
case, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in
effect.
18.
Survival of
Obligations
. The provisions of paragraphs 7, 8, 9, 14, and
17 shall survive termination or expiration of this
Agreement.
19.
Entire
Agreement
. This Agreement represents the entire
understanding of the parties and may not be modified except by
written agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior written
and/or oral agreements.
Consultant
Exactus Inc.
By:
_____________________________
By:
/s/ Philip
Young
Name (printed):
___________________
Name (printed): Philip Young
Title:
____________________________
Exhibit 99.1
CORRECTION - Exactus Announces Agricultural Diversification with
Entry Into 200 Acre Farming Project for 2019 Grow Season –
Promotion of Emiliano Aloi as President
“Exactus One World” Heralds Fully Diversified Strategy
and Propels Exactus to Forefront of Rapidly Evolving CBD
Industry
GLEN ALLEN, VA / GLOBE NEWSWIRE / March 11, 2019 / Exactus Inc.
(OTCQB:EXDID)
,
a healthcare company pursuing
opportunities in Hemp derived, Cannabidiol (CBD) products,
announced it has acquired a majority interest in a 200 acre
industrial hemp farm located in Cave Junction,
Oregon.
Philip J. Young, CEO of Exactus, stated: “We have developed a
fully-integrated plan to own our own source of supply organized
around our newly-formed majority owned subsidiary
Exactus One World
LLC
. Exactus One World captures
the essence of our spirit – to create a fully-integrated
international leadership position promoting hemp based
products.” Mr. Young continued, “Cave Junction, Oregon,
is located in the Illinois Valley, well known for its superior hemp
growing topography. With the assistance of our experienced farming
partners, Exactus One World has also been assured supply of
superior seed genetics and has placed a large order for seed
provided by Jack Hempicine, LLC. the highly-regarded Crawford
Brothers hemp seed genetic stock
company.”
To complete the transition to a fully-integrated company, Exactus
also announced the appointment of Emiliano Aloi to the position of
President. Mr. Aloi previously served as an advisor through
Exactus’ largest shareholder, Ceed2Med. Mr. Aloi is a
highly-regarded farming, production, and manufacturing expert who
previously was the VP of Strategic Development at GenCanna Global
where he initiated a go-to-strategy, recruited the commercial
leadership team, developed compliance, executed product launches,
and advanced manufacturing in European markets. Mr. Aloi’s
extensive industrial farming career experie
nce also includes solid biofuel projects for Loma
Negra alongside Nuseed and was instrumental in successfully
achieving Uruguay’s first hemp license in March
2016.
Said Bobby Yampolsky, co-founder of Ceed2Med, “Since
partnering with Exactus we have felt that our support for their
platform would lead to ever closer relations. To date, we have
supported their growth through access to our people, experience,
resources, contacts, and opportunities. We are thrilled to see this
effort come to fruition around Exactus One World following
introduction to our farming partners. We participated in
negotiating this unique opportunity and are excited to support
Exactus in acquiring one of our opportunities to farm in Oregon. We
will continue to stay involved assisting Exactus to manage these
and other opportunities. We also congratulate our co-founder
Emiliano Aloi with his expected appointment as President of Exactus
and will continue to support Mr. Aloi as the business of Exactus
continues to evolve.”
Shea
Mcinvale, Manager of Exactus One World also added, “We are
pleased to partner with Exactus and are confident that together we
will become a leader in the industry. Our previous success in
producing these crops and our farming expertise makes us highly
confident that we can provide Exactus One World with the highest
quality product and superior yields. Using farming techniques we
have developed over many years and our unique patent pending drying
technology, we have embraced scientific principles we believe are
able to maximize CBD concentration and biomass quality for
successful production of crude. We look forward to maximizing the
tremendous opportunity we have together.”
In the three months since entering the hemp derived CBD
marketplace, Exactus has succeeded in partnering with experienced
producers, executed a supply and development agreement with
Ceed2Med, acquired a majority stake in a highly desirable farm
property, completed a first commercial sale of 750mg full spectrum
advanced absorption tincture, and recapitalized with a greatly
simplified capital structure.
For information about Exactus’ products and availability,
please call 804-205-5036 or email,
ir@exactusinc.com
.
About Exactus:
Exactus, Inc.
, is
a
healthcare
company
pursuing
opportunities in two distinct business segments, Hemp
derived,
Cannabidiol
,
which is more commonly referred to as CBD. Industrial hemp is a
type of cannabis, defined by the federal government as having THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol) content of 0.3 percent or less. That amount
has not been shown to make a person feel "high."
THC is the psychoactive compound found
in cannabis.
The company is
also developing point of care diagnostics. For more information
about Exactus:
www.exactusinc.com
.
Investor Notice
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before
making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the
risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described under
"Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our most recent Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 2, 2018 and under the
heading “Risk Factors” in our Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the SEC on January 14, 2019, and in other periodic
and current reports we file with the SEC. If any of these
risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results
of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our
securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your
investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the
only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or
that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business
operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be
a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends
should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See "Safe
Harbor" below.
Safe Harbor - Forward Looking Statements
The information provided in this press release may include
forward-looking statements relating to future events or the future
financial performance of the Company. Because such statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "expects,"
"intends," "will," "potential," "hope" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations of
the Company and involve assumptions that may never materialize or
may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and
uncertainties. Detailed information regarding factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially from the results
expressed or implied by statements in this press release relating
to the Company may be found in the Company's periodic and current
filings with the SEC, including the factors described in the
sections entitled "Risk Factors", copies of which may be obtained
from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company does not
undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements
contained in this press release.
For more information:
Company Contact:
Andrew
Johnson
509.999.9696
ir@exactusinc.com
Exhibit 99.2
Effective March 11, 2019
CHARTER
OF THE COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
EXACTUS,
INC.
The
Compensation Committee (the “
Committee
”) of the Board of
Directors (the “
Board
”) of Exactus, Inc. (the
“
Company
”) is
responsible for the overall design, approval and implementation of
the executive compensation plans, policies and programs for
officers and other key executives of the Company. This Charter
outlines the purpose, composition and responsibilities of the
Committee.
The
Committee has been established to: (a) assist the Board in seeing
that a proper system of long-term and short-term compensation is in
place to provide performance oriented incentives to attract and
retain management, and that compensation plans are appropriate and
competitive and properly reflect the objectives and performance of
management and the Company; (b) assist the Board in discharging its
responsibilities relating to compensation of the Company’s
executive officers; (c) evaluate the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer and set his or her remuneration package; (d) make
recommendations to the Board with respect to incentive-
compensation plans and equity-based plans; and (e) perform such
other functions as the Board may from time to time assign to the
Committee.
The
Committee shall be composed of at least three, but not more than
five, members (including a Chairperson), all of whom shall be
“independent,” as such term is defined for directors
and compensation committee members in the listing standards of the
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”), as determined by
the Board. Additionally, members of the Committee shall qualify as
“non-employee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as “outside
directors” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code (“Section 162(m)”). The members of the
Committee and the Chairperson shall be selected annually by the
Board and serve at the pleasure of the Board. A Committee member
(including the Chairperson) may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board. The Committee shall have authority to
delegate responsibilities listed herein to subcommittees of the
Committee if the Committee determines such delegation would be in
the best interest of the Company.
III.
MEETING
REQUIREMENTS
The
Committee shall meet as necessary to enable it to fulfill its
responsibilities, but at least twice each year. The Committee shall
meet at the call of the Chairperson. The Committee may meet by
telephone conference call or by any other means permitted by law or
the Company’s Bylaws. A majority of the members, but not less
than two members, shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall
act on the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at
a meeting at which a quorum is present. Without a meeting, the
Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all
members.
The
Committee may ask members of management or others whose advice and
counsel are relevant to the issues then being considered by the
Committee to attend any meetings and to provide such pertinent
information as the Committee may request.
The
Chairperson of the Committee shall be responsible for leadership of
the Committee, including preparing the agenda, presiding over
Committee meetings, making Committee assignments, reporting on the
Committee’s activities to the Board and being the lead
liaison between the Committee and the Company’s management
and compensation consultants.
IV.
COMMITTEE
RESPONSIBILITIES
In
carrying out its oversight responsibilities, the Committee’s
policies and procedures should remain flexible to enable the
Committee to react to changes in circumstances. In addition to such
other duties as the Board may from time to time assign, the
Committee shall have the following responsibilities:
1.
To review and make
periodic recommendations to the Board as to the general
compensation and benefits policies and practices of the
Company;
2.
To oversee the
assessment of the incentives and risks arising from or related to
the Company’s compensation policies and practices, including
but not limited to those applicable to executive officers, and to
evaluate whether the incentives and risks are
appropriate;
3.
To establish an
overall compensation policy applicable to executive officers and
periodically review that policy; and
4.
To assess the
results of the Company’s most recent advisory vote on
executive compensation.
B.
Chief Executive Officer Evaluation and Compensation
1.
To (a) review and
approve goals and objectives relevant to the Chief Executive
Officer’s compensation package, (b) establish a procedure for
evaluating the Chief Executive Officer’s performance, (c)
annually evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer in
conjunction with the Nominating and Governance Committee in light
of the goals and objectives established, and (d) review with the
Chief Executive Officer the results of the Committee’s
performance evaluation. The Chief Executive Officer may not be
present during voting or deliberations on his or her compensation;
and
2.
To review, at least
annually, and set the base salary and annual and long-term
incentive compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, after taking
into account the annual evaluation of the Chief Executive
Officer.
C.
Other Executive Officers’ Compensation and
Evaluations
1.
To (a) review and
approve goals and objectives relevant to the other executive
officers’ compensation packages, (b) establish a procedure
for evaluating such executive officers’ performance, (c)
annually evaluate such performance in light of the goals and
objectives established, and (d) if requested by the Chief Executive
Officer, have the Committee Chairperson review, after completion of
the annual evaluation, with each executive officer the results of
the Committee’s evaluation of such executive officer’s
performance; and
2.
To review, at least
annually, and set the base salary and annual and long-term
incentive compensation of the other executive officers, after
taking into account the annual evaluation of each such executive
officer referred to in the preceding paragraph and the input of the
Chief Executive Officer.
D.
Incentive-Compensation and Equity-Based Plans
1.
To review and to
make periodic recommendations to the Board as to the
Company’s incentive-compensation plans and equity-based
plans;
2.
To administer the
Company’s equity incentive plan, share tracking awards plans,
employee stock purchase plan, supplemental executive retirement
plan, change of control severance plan and any similar plans in
accordance with their respective plan documents;
3.
To review and
approve or recommend to the Board, as applicable, (and for
stockholder approval where required by applicable law, the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other policies)
compensation and benefits policies, plans and programs and
amendments thereto, and to determine eligible employees and the
type, amount and timing of such compensation and benefits;
and
4.
To oversee the
administration of such policies, plans and programs and, on an
ongoing basis, to monitor them to assess whether they remain
competitive and within the Board’s compensation objectives
for executive officers and other members of senior
management.
1.
To review and
discuss with management the Company’s
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
section (“
CD&A
”) and related disclosures
that Securities and Exchange Commission (“
SEC
”) rules require be included in
the Company’s annual report and proxy statement, recommend to
the Board based on the review and discussions whether the CD&A
should be included in the annual report and proxy statement, and
oversee the preparation of the compensation committee report
required by SEC rules for inclusion in the Company’s annual
report and proxy statement;
2.
To review and
recommend employment agreements and severance arrangements for
executive officers, including change-in-control provisions, plans
or agreements;
3.
To review and
consider recommendations from the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee with respect to the compensation and benefits
of non- employee directors and to recommend any changes to the
Board that the Committee deems appropriate;
4.
To review the
impact of executive compensation that is not deductible under
Section 162(m) and to determine the Company’s policy with
respect to the application of Section 162(m); and
5.
To assess, at least
annually, whether the work of compensation consultants involved in
determining or recommending executive or director compensation has
raised any conflict of interest that is required to be disclosed in
the Company’s annual report and proxy statement.
6.
To annually
evaluate and the adequacy of the Committee’s
charter.
V.
ADVISORS
TO THE COMMITTEE
The
Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to
retain or obtain the advice of such outside counsel, experts, and
other advisors, as it deems necessary to carry out its duties,
including any compensation consultant used to assist the Committee
in the evaluation of director, Chief Executive Officer or executive
compensation. The Committee shall be directly responsible for the
appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any outside
counsel, experts, and other advisors retained by the Committee, and
will receive appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee,
from the Company to pay for such advisor’s services. The
Committee shall assess the independence of outside counsel,
experts, and other advisors (whether retained by the Committee or
management) that provide advice to the Committee, in accordance
with NASDAQ listing standards. The Committee shall comply with the
Company’s then-current level review of contracts and budget
procedures.
Exhibit 99.3
Effective March 11, 2019
CHARTER
OF THE NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
EXACTUS,
INC.
This
Charter outlines the purpose, composition and responsibilities of
the Nominating and Governance Committee (the “
Committee
”) of the Board of
Directors (the “
Board
”) of Exactus, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the “
Company
”).
The
Committee is responsible for: (a) assisting the Board in
determining the desired experience, mix of skills and other
qualities to provide for appropriate Board composition, taking into
account the current Board members and the specific needs of the
Company and the Board; (b) identifying qualified individuals
meeting those criteria to serve on the Board; (c) proposing to the
Board the Company’s slate of director nominees for election
by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and
nominees to fill vacancies and newly created directorships; (d)
reviewing candidates recommended by stockholders for election to
the Board and stockholder proposals submitted for inclusion in the
Company’s proxy materials; (e) advise the Board regarding the
size and composition of the Board and its committees; (f) proposing
to the Board directors to serve as chairpersons and members on
committees of the Board; (g) coordinating matters among committees
of the Board; (h) proposing to the Board the slate of corporate
officers of the Company and reviewing the succession plans for the
executive officers; (i) recommending to the Board and monitoring
matters with respect to governance of the Company; (j) overseeing
the Company’s compliance program; and (k) such other
functions as the Board may from time to time assign to the
Committee.
The
Committee shall be composed of at least three, but not more than
five, members (including a Chairperson), all of whom shall be
“independent” as such term is defined for directors in
the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
(“
NASDAQ
”), as
determined by the Board. The members of the Committee and the
Chairperson shall be selected annually by the Board and shall serve
at the pleasure of the Board. A Committee member (including the
Chairperson) may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by
the Board. The Committee shall have authority to delegate
responsibilities listed herein to subcommittees of the Committee if
the Committee determines such delegation would be in the best
interest of the Company.
III.
MEETING
REQUIREMENTS
The
Committee shall meet as necessary to enable it to fulfill its
responsibilities, but at least once each year. The Committee shall
meet at the call of the Chairperson. The Committee may meet by
telephone conference call or by any other means permitted by law or
the Company’s Bylaws. A majority of the members, but not less
than two members, shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall
act on the affirmative vote of a majority of the members
present
at a meeting at
which a quorum is present. Without a meeting, the Committee may act
by unanimous written consent of all members.
The
Committee may ask members of management, or others whose advice and
counsel are relevant to the issues then being considered by the
Committee, to attend any meetings and to provide such pertinent
information as the Committee may request.
The
Chairperson of the Committee shall be responsible for leadership of
the Committee, including preparing the agenda, presiding over
Committee meetings, making Committee assignments, reporting on the
Committee’s activities to the Board and being the lead
liaison between the Committee and the Company’s management.
In addition, the Chairperson of the Committee shall convene regular
meetings of the independent directors of the Company, no less than
three per year, usually in conjunction with the regular Board
meetings.
IV.
COMMITTEE
RESPONSIBILITIES
In
carrying out its oversight responsibilities, the Committee’s
policies and procedures should remain flexible to enable the
Committee to react to changes in circumstances. In addition to such
other duties as the Board may from time to time assign, the
Committee shall have the following responsibilities:
A.
Board Candidates and Nominees
1.
To identify,
evaluate, and recommend to the Board for nomination the
Company’s candidates for election or reelection as directors
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or by appointment by the
Board in the event of a vacancy or newly- created directorship,
including consideration of prospective candidates proposed for the
Committee’s consideration by any stockholder;
2.
To review the
desired experience, mix of skills and other qualities to provide
for appropriate Board composition, taking into account the current
Board members, the specific needs of the Company and the Board, the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) and NASDAQ listing standards;
3.
To conduct
candidate searches, interview prospective candidates and conduct
programs to introduce candidates to the Company, its management and
operations, and confirm the appropriate level of interest of such
candidates;
4.
To conduct
appropriate inquiries into the background and qualifications of
potential nominees; and
5.
To recommend to the
Board qualified candidates for the Board who bring the background,
knowledge, experience, skill sets and expertise that would
strengthen and increase the diversity of the Board.
1.
To assess and make
recommendations to the Board regarding the size and composition of
the Board in light of the operating and regulatory requirements of
the Company and a consideration of appropriate areas of expertise
to be represented on the Board;
2.
To recommend to the
Board policies pertaining to the roles, responsibilities,
retirement age, tenure and removal of directors;
3.
To review the
Directors and Officers questionnaires prepared annually by the
Company’s directors;
4.
To assist the Board
in assessing whether directors and prospective directors are
“independent” within the meaning of the rules and
regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ listing standards;
5.
To review the
suitability for continued service as a director of each Board
member when he or she has a significant change in status, such as
an employment change, and to recommend whether or not such director
should be re-nominated; and
6.
In conjunction with
the Compensation Committee, to consider the appropriateness of the
non-employee director compensation program, and make
recommendations to the Board regarding director
compensation.
C.
Committees of the Board
1.
To assess and make
recommendations to the Board regarding the size, composition, scope
of authority, responsibilities, and reporting obligations of each
committee of the Board;
2.
To annually propose
to the Board directors to serve as chairpersons and members of each
committee of the Board, and to review and recommend additional
committee members as needed;
3.
To coordinate
matters between the committees of the Board and review and
coordinate proposed revisions to committee charters;
and
4.
To recommend that
the Board establish such special committees as may be necessary or
appropriate to address ethical, legal or other matters that may
arise.
D.
Evaluations and Management Development
1.
To oversee the
performance of the Board and its Committees;
2.
To work with the
Company’s senior management to consider, adopt and oversee
director orientation and continuing education
programs;
3.
To recommend to the
Board candidates for election as corporate officers of the Company
as the Committee may from time to time deem
appropriate;
4.
In conjunction with
the Compensation Committee, to conduct an annual review of the
performance of the Chief Executive Officer;
5.
To periodically
review executive officer succession plans, including receiving and
considering recommendations from the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer regarding succession at the Chief Executive
Officer and other executive officer levels; and
6.
To review the
Directors and Officers questionnaires prepared annually by the
Company’s executive officers.
1.
To develop,
evaluate and oversee issues and developments with respect to
governance of the Company;
2.
To oversee the
Company’s compliance program, including the Company’s
codes of conduct and the Company’s policies and procedures
for monitoring compliance; and at least annually, meet to review
the implementation and effectiveness of the Company’s
compliance program with the chief compliance officer, who shall
have the authority to communicate directly to the Committee,
promptly, about actual and alleged violations of law or the
Company’s codes of conduct, including any matters involving
criminal or potential criminal conduct.
3.
To periodically
review the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and
recommend changes to the Board as appropriate;
4.
To periodically
review and recommend changes to Company policies approved by the
Board from time to time;
5.
To periodically
review and recommend changes to the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws; and
6.
To periodically
review and make recommendations to the Board regarding the
appropriateness of the Company’s Stockholder Rights Plan as a
whole and its specific terms, and other modifications to the
Company’s takeover and structural defenses.
1.
To evaluate
stockholder proposals submitted for inclusion in the
Company’s proxy materials and recommend to the Board whether
the Company shall support or oppose the proposal;
2.
To recommend ways
to enhance services to and improve communications and relations
with the Company’s stockholders; and
3.
To annually
evaluate the adequacy of the Committee’s
charter.
V.
ADVISORS
TO THE COMMITTEE
The
Committee may retain, at the Company’s expense, legal,
accounting or other advisors as it deems necessary to carry out its
duties, and shall receive appropriate funding, as determined by the
Committee, from the Company for payment of compensation to any such
advisors. The Committee shall have sole authority to retain and
terminate any such advisors, including the sole authority to
negotiate and approve reasonable fees and retention terms of such
advisors. The Committee shall comply with the Company’s
then-current level review of contracts and budget
procedures.
Exhibit 99.4
Effective March 11, 2019
CHARTER
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
EXACTUS,
INC.
This
Charter outlines the purpose, composition and responsibilities of
the Audit Committee (the “
Committee
”) of the Board of
Directors (the “
Board
”) of Exactus, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the “
Company
”).
The
Committee has been established to: (a) represent and assist the
Board in its oversight responsibilities regarding the
Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, the
audits of the Company’s financial statements, including the
integrity of the financial statements, and the independent
auditors’ qualifications and independence; (b) oversee the
preparation of the report required by Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) rules for inclusion in the
Company’s annual proxy statement; (c) retain and terminate
the Company’s independent auditors; (d) approve in advance
all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by the
independent auditors; (e) approve related person transactions; and
(f) perform such other functions as the Board may from time to time
assign to the Committee.
The
Committee shall be composed of at least three members (including a
Chairperson), all of whom shall be “independent,” as
such term is defined for directors and audit committee members in
the rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of
the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, as determined by the Board. The
members of the Committee and the Chairperson shall be selected
annually by the Board and serve at the pleasure of the Board. A
Committee member (including the Chairperson) may be removed at any
time, with or without cause, by the Board. All members of the
Committee shall be able to read and understand financial statements
at the time of their appointment, and at least one member of the
Committee shall qualify as an “audit committee financial
expert” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations
of the SEC, as determined by the Board. In addition, no Committee
member may have participated in the preparation of the financial
statements of the Company or any of the Company’s current
subsidiaries at any time during the past three years. The
Chairperson shall maintain regular communication with the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer
and the lead partner of the independent auditors. The Committee
shall have authority to delegate responsibilities listed herein to
subcommittees of the Committee if the Committee determines such
delegation would be in the best interest of the
Company.
III.
MEETING
REQUIREMENTS
The
Committee shall meet as necessary to enable it to fulfill its
responsibilities but at least quarterly. A majority of the members,
but not less than two members, shall constitute a quorum. The
Committee shall act on the affirmative vote of a majority of the
members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Without
a meeting, the Committee may act by unanimous written consent of
all members.
The
Committee may ask members of management, employees, outside
counsel, the independent auditors, or others whose advice and
counsel are relevant to the issues then being considered by the
Committee, to attend any meetings and to provide such pertinent
information as the Committee may request.
The
Chairperson of the Committee shall be responsible for leadership of
the Committee, including preparing the agenda, presiding over
Committee meetings, making Committee assignments, reporting on the
Committee’s activities to the Board and being the lead
liaison between the Committee and the Company’s management
and independent auditors.
As part
of its responsibility to foster free and open communication, the
Committee shall meet periodically in separate executive sessions
with the independent auditors, and may also meet in separate
executive sessions with such other individuals as the Committee
chooses, including the principal internal auditor and/or a senior
attorney within the office of the General Counsel.
IV.
COMMITTEE
RESPONSIBILITIES
In
carrying out its oversight responsibilities, the Committee’s
policies and procedures should remain flexible to enable the
Committee to react to changes in circumstances. In addition to such
other duties as the Board may from time to time assign, the
Committee shall have the following responsibilities:
A.
Oversight of the Financial Reporting Processes
1.
Review and discuss
with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed
by the independent auditors under Auditing Standard No. 16, as
adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(“PCAOB”) and amended from time to time, or any
successor standard, rule or regulation.
2.
Discuss with
management and legal counsel the status of pending litigation,
taxation matters, compliance policies and other areas that may
materially impact the Company’s financial statements or
accounting policies.
3.
Review with
management and the independent auditors the effect of regulatory
and accounting initiatives, as well as any off-balance sheet
structures, on the Company’s financial
statements.
B.
Review of Documents and Reports
1.
Review and discuss
with management and the independent auditors the Company’s
annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial
statements (including disclosures under the section entitled
Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
and any report by the independent auditors related to the financial
statements. Based on the review, the Committee shall make its
recommendation to the Board as to the inclusion of the
Company’s audited consolidated financial statements in the
Company’s annual report on Form 10-K.
2.
Review and discuss
earnings press releases with management and the independent
auditors.
3.
Oversee the
preparation of the report required by the rules of the SEC to be
included in the Company’s annual proxy
statement.
C.
Independent Auditors Matters
1.
Be directly
responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and
oversight of the work of the independent auditors. In this regard,
the Committee shall appoint and retain, and submit for ratification
by the Company’s stockholders, compensate, and evaluate the
independent auditors and terminate the independent auditors when
circumstances warrant. The independent auditors shall report
directly to the Committee.
2.
Evaluate, on an
annual basis, the independent auditors’ qualifications,
performance and independence, including the experience and
qualifications of the senior members of the audit team. In doing
its evaluation, the Committee shall consider all professional
services rendered by the independent auditors and its affiliates.
Consistent with the rules of the PCAOB, the Committee shall obtain
and review a report by the independent auditors describing any
relationships between the independent auditors, and the Company or
individuals in financial reporting oversight roles at the Company,
that may reasonably be thought to bear on the independent
auditors’ independence and discuss with the independent
auditors the potential effects of any such relationships on
independence.
3.
Approve, in
advance, all audit and permissible non-audit services to be
provided by the independent auditors, and establish policies and
procedures for the preapproval of audit and permissible non-audit
services to be provided by the independent auditors.
4.
The Committee shall
oversee the regular rotation of the lead audit partner and audit
review partner as required by law and consider whether there should
be a periodic rotation of the Company’s independent
auditors.
5.
As appropriate,
review and approve the hiring of employees or former employees of
the independent auditors.
D.
Internal Controls and Disclosure Controls
1.
Review and discuss
the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal
controls, including periodically receiving reports from the
Company’s independent auditors and Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer regarding the Company’s system of
internal controls.
2.
Review and discuss
the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures, including periodically receiving reports
from management regarding the Company’s disclosure controls
and procedures.
3.
Establish and
oversee procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of
complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal
accounting controls or auditing matters, and confidential,
anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding
questionable accounting or auditing matters.
1.
Review and discuss
with the principal internal auditor of the Company the results of
the internal audit.
2.
Annually review and
discuss with the principal internal auditor of the Company the
annual internal audit plan and the adequacy of internal audit
resources, and the performance and effectiveness of the internal
audit function.
3.
Review and concur
in the appointment, and dismissal when appropriate, of the
principal internal auditor, and the compensation of the principal
internal auditor.
F.
Other Responsibilities
1.
Review and approve
“related person transactions” as such term is defined
in the rules and regulations of the SEC.
2.
Review and discuss
the Company’s practices with respect to risk assessment and
risk management.
3.
Annually evaluate
the adequacy of the Committee’s charter.
4.
To the extent the
Company plans to rely on “end-user exception”
regulations established by the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, at least annually, review and approve on behalf of the
Company and any applicable subsidiaries, the Company’s
decision to enter into swaps that are exempt from exchange-
execution and clearing under the end-user exception, and review and
discuss with management applicable Company policies governing the
Company’s use of swaps subject to the end-user
exception.
V.
ADVISORS
TO THE COMMITTEE
The
Committee may retain, at the Company’s expense, legal,
accounting or other advisors, as it deems necessary to carry out
its duties, and shall receive appropriate funding, as determined by
the Committee, from the Company for payment of compensation to any
such advisors and for the payment of ordinary administrative
expenses that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out the
Committee’s duties. The Committee shall have sole authority
to retain and terminate any such advisors, including the sole
authority to negotiate and approve reasonable fees and retention
terms of such advisors. The Committee shall comply with the
Company’s then-current level review of contracts and budget
procedures.