SEVERANCEAGREEMENT, RESIGNATION & MUTUAL RELEASE

 

This SEVERANCE AGREEMENT, RESIGNATION AND MUTUAL RELEASE (this “Agreement”) is made by and among (i) R. David Russell (the “Officer”), and (ii) Apollo Gold Corporation (the “Parent”) and Apollo Gold, Inc. (together with the Parent, the “Company”).  The Company and the Officer are referred to herein collectively as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party.”

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the arrangement agreement dated March 31, 2010 between the Parent, 1526735 Alberta ULC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and Linear Gold Corp. (the “Arrangement Agreement”), it is a condition to Linear Gold Corp.’s. obligation to complete the Arrangement (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) that the Officer resign and be paid all termination and other amounts owed under his employment agreement dated May 23, 2003, as amended on January 23, 2006, March 18, 2009 and June 18, 2010 (the “Employment Agreement”), as if the Officer had been terminated without cause thereunder, which amounts may not exceed approximately $1.7 million (the “Severance Amount”);

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement sets forth below, among other things, the terms and conditions of (i) the resignation of the Officer, (ii) an amicable settlement and a full accord and satisfaction of all existing and all potential claims and disputes between the Officer and the Company and (iii) the payment of the Severance Amount; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to accomplish the foregoing, the Parties are willing to enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings contained herein, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged by the Parties, the Parties to this Agreement, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

 

1.	RESIGNATION

 

The Officer hereby resigns as a director, officer, executive and/or employee, as the case may be, of the Company and each of its subsidiaries effective on the Effective Date (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement).

 

2.	SEVERANCE PAYMENT

 

(a)           At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company hereby agrees to pay the Officer severance payments in an amount equal to $1,710,000, which amount, subject to Section 2(b) and subject to payment of COBRA continued health care coverage for a period of 36 months, represents all amounts owing to the Officer under the Employment Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 6(e) and 6(f) thereof), less applicable withholdings and deductions (the “Severance Payment”) and Officer agrees that no further amounts are owing to him by the Company or any Affiliate (as defined below) thereof under the Employment Agreement or otherwise.  The Severance Payment shall be in check form and delivered to the Officer or direct deposited to an account designated by the Officer at or prior to the Effective Time.

 

(b)           Any stock options granted to the Officer and outstanding as of March 31, 2010 shall remain exercisable until the earlier to occur of (i) its normally scheduled expiration date or (ii) the first anniversary following the Effective Date (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) (notwithstanding the terms of any option plan or agreement pursuant to which such options were granted).

 

 

3.	OFFICER RELEASE

 

(a)           In consideration of the Severance Payment by the Company to the Officer pursuant to Section 2 above and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Officer, individually and on behalf of the Officer’s successors, heirs, subrogees, assigns, principals, agents, partners, associates, attorneys, and representatives, voluntarily, knowingly, and intentionally releases, remises, waives, acquits, and discharges the Company and its predecessors, successors, parents, subsidiaries, Affiliates (as defined below), and assigns and each of their respective officers, directors, principals, shareholders, agents, attorneys, insurers, representatives, and employees, from any and all actions, causes of action, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, expenses, judgments, liens, indebtedness, liabilities, and attorneys’ fees (including, but not limited to any claims of entitlement for attorneys’ fees under any contract, statute, or rule of law allowing a prevailing party or plaintiff to recover attorneys’ fees), of every kind and description from the beginning of time through the date hereof (the “Released Claims”).  The term “Affiliate” in this Agreement shall mean, with respect to any Person (as defined in Section 3(d) of this Agreement), a Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person or is an officer, director, holder of 10% or more of the outstanding equity securities of such Person, or the parent, spouse or lineal descendant of any of the foregoing.

 

(b)           The Released Claims include, but are not limited to, those which arise out of, relate to, or are based upon: (i) the Officer’s employment with the Company or any Affiliate thereof or the termination thereof; (ii) statements, acts, or omissions by the Parties, whether in their individual or representative capacities; (iii) express or implied agreements between the Parties and claims under any severance plan (except as provided herein); (iv) any stock or stock option grant agreement, or plan (except as provided herein); all federal, state, and municipal statutes, ordinances, and regulations, including, but not limited to, claims of discrimination based on race, age, sex, disability, whistleblower status, public policy, or any other characteristic of Officer under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Americans and Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security of 1974, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Employment Relations Act of 1999, or any other federal, state, or municipal law prohibiting discrimination or termination for any reason; (v) state and federal common law; (vi) his position as a director of the Company or any Affiliate thereof and (vii) any claim which was or could have been raised by the Officer, including any claim that this Agreement was fraudulently induced.

 

(c)           This Agreement and the Released Claims include claims of every nature and every kind, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, past or present.  The Officer hereby acknowledges that he may hereafter discover facts different from, or in addition to, those which the Officer now knows or believes to be true with respect to this Agreement, and the Officer agrees that this Agreement and the release contained herein shall be and shall remain effective in all respects, notwithstanding such different or additional facts or the discovery thereof.

 

(d)           The Officer hereby covenants and warrants that the Officer has not assigned or transferred to any Person any portion of any claims which are released, remised, waived, acquitted, and discharged in this Section 3.  The term “Person” in this Agreement shall mean any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability limited partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, cooperative, foundation, society, political party, union, company (including any limited liability company or joint stock company), firm or other enterprise, association, organization or other entity, and any United States federal, state or local, or any supra-national or non-U.S., government, political subdivision, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, instrumentality, agency body or commission, self-regulatory organization, court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything contained herein, this Agreement shall not extend to or affect, or constitute a release of, the Officer’s right to sue, claim against or recover from the Company and shall not constitute an agreement to refrain from bringing, taking or maintaining any action against the Company in respect of:

 

i.

any corporate indemnity existing by statute, the Arrangement Agreement, contract or pursuant to any of the constating documents of the Company and its subsidiaries provided in the Officer’s favor in respect of his having acted at any time as a director, officer executive, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates; or

 

 

ii.

the Officer’s entitlement to coverage or benefits under any insurance maintained for the benefit or protection of the directors and/or officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, including without limitation, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance obtained in accordance with Section 4.6 of the Arrangement Agreement.

 

4.	COMPANY RELEASE

 

In consideration of the execution by the Officer (the “Releasee”) of this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby voluntarily, knowingly, and intentionally releases, remises, waives, acquits, and discharges the Releasee and his successors, Affiliates, and assigns and each of their respective officers, directors, principals, shareholders, agents, attorneys, insurers, representatives, and employees, from any and all actions, causes of action, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, expenses, judgments, liens, indebtedness, liabilities, and attorneys’ fees (including, but not limited to any claims of entitlement for attorneys’ fees under any contract, statute, or rule of law allowing a prevailing party or plaintiff to recover attorneys’ fees), of every kind and description from the beginning of time through the date hereof.  Without in any way restricting the generality of the foregoing, this Section 4 shall apply to all manner of actions, causes of action, claims or demands directly or indirectly related to or arising out of or in connection with the Company’s relationship with the Releasee as a director, officer, executive, employee, or consultant, as the case may be, of the Company and its subsidiaries or the cessation of such relationship or relationships immediately following the Effective Time. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, this Agreement shall not extend to or affect, or constitute a release of, the Company’s right to sue, claim against or recover from the Releasee and shall not constitute an agreement to refrain from bringing, taking or maintaining any action against the Releasee in respect of any grossly negligent conduct or fraudulent or criminal behaviour on the part of the Releasee or from any claims which the Company is not permitted by applicable law to release the Releasee.

 

5.	NO ADMISSION OF LIABILITY; ENFORCEMENT

 

The Parties agree that nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Party hereto with regard to this Agreement, shall be construed as an admission by any Party of liability or of any fact that might give rise to liability for any purpose whatsoever.  The releases contained herein do not release any claims for enforcement of the terms, conditions, or warranties contained in this Agreement.  The Parties shall be free to pursue any remedies available to them to enforce this Agreement.

 

6.	OFFICER’S WARRANTIES

 

The Officer warrants and represents as follows:

 

(a)           The Officer has read this Agreement and agrees to the conditions and obligations set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b)           The Officer voluntarily executes this Agreement after having been advised by the Company to consult with independent legal counsel and after having had opportunity to consult with independent legal counsel and without being pressured or influenced by any statement or representation or omission of any Person acting on behalf of the Company, including, without limitation, the officers, directors, committee members, employees, agents, and attorneys for the Company.

 

(c)           The Officer has no knowledge of the existence of any lawsuit, charge, or proceeding against the Company or any of its officers, directors, committee members, employees, or agents arising out of or otherwise connected with any of the matters herein released.

 

(d)           The Officer has full and complete legal capacity to enter into this Agreement.

 

 

(e)           In connection with the Officer’s release of claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Officer has had at least twenty-one (21) days in which to consider the terms of this Agreement.  In the event that the Officer executes this Agreement in less time, it is with the full understanding that the Officer was not pressured by the Company or any of its representatives or agents to take less time to consider the Agreement.  In such event, the Officer expressly intends such execution to be a waiver of any right the Officer had to review this Agreement for a full twenty-one (21) days.

 

(f)           The Officer understands that this Agreement waives any claim the Officer may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.  The Officer may revoke this waiver for up to seven (7) days following the Officer’s execution of this Agreement.  If the Officer chooses to revoke such waiver, the Officer must provide written notice to the Senior Vice President - Finance and Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer of the Company by hand delivery and by facsimile within seven (7) calendar days of the Officer’s execution of this Agreement.  If Officer does not revoke within the seven (7) day period, the right to revoke is lost.

 

(g)           The Officer admits, acknowledges, and agrees that he has been fully and finally paid or provided all wages, compensation, bonuses, stock, stock options, or other benefits from the Company, its Affiliates and predecessors which are or could be due to him under the terms of his Employment Agreement, the Arrangement Agreement or otherwise.

 

7.	CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

The Officer shall not use, nor disclose to any third party, any of the Company’s or its Affiliates’ or predecessors’ business, personnel, or financial information that the Officer learned during employment with the Company (the “Confidential Information”).  The Company’s “Confidential Information” shall include, without limitation, the whole or any portion or phase of any confidential, proprietary, trade secret, scientific, technical, business, or financial information, whether pertaining to the Company or its Affiliates or predecessors, or their clients and customers.  Confidential Information also shall include but shall not be limited to the following: designs, methods, strategies, techniques, systems, and processes; software programs; marketing and business development plans, concepts, or ideas; know-how; present and prospective customer lists and strategies; supplier lists and strategies; projects, plans and proposals; technical strategies, concepts, ideas, or plans; research data, reports, or records; general financial information about or proprietary to the Company or its Affiliates or predecessors, including costs, fees, and pricing; personnel or human resources information; and any and all other trade secrets or proprietary information, and all concepts or ideas in or reasonably related to the Company’s or its Affiliates’ or predecessors’ businesses, various products and/or services.  Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, any improvements, modifications, or enhancements thereto, whether or not in tangible or intangible form, and whether or not subject to copyright or patent protection.  All such Confidential Information is extremely valuable and is intended to be kept secret to the Company, its Affiliates and predecessors, and their customers, is the sole and exclusive property of the Company, its Affiliates and predecessors, or their customers, and is subject to the restrictive covenants set forth herein.  Confidential Information is not limited to information designated or marked as such through use of such words as “classified,” “confidential” or “restricted.”  The Officer agrees not to provide or disclose to any Person, firm, or corporation any of the Company’s Confidential Information.  The Officer hereby expressly acknowledges that any breach of this Section 7 shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement entitling the Company to immediate injunctive relief, damages, attorneys’ fees and all other remedies available hereunder and under the law.

 

8.	NON-COMPETITION; NON-SOLICITATION

 

(a)           The Officer agrees that, beginning on the Effective Date (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, the Officer shall not engage in the following conduct, either directly or indirectly, on the Officer’s own behalf or on behalf of, or in conjunction with, any Person, unless otherwise agreed to in advance and in writing by the Company:

 

i.

own, manage, operate, control, be employed by, participate in, engage in, enter into a joint venture or other contractual relationship with, render any services for, assist, have any financial interest in or equity ownership of (other than any such financial interest or equity ownership existing as of the date hereof), permit the Officer’s name to be used in connection with, or be connected in any manner with the ownership, management (including by being a member of a board of directors or similar governing body), operation, or control of Calais Resources Inc., Calais Resources Colorado, Inc., or any of their respective Affiliates, successors or assigns (collectively, “Calais”); provided, however, that the restrictions set forth in this Section 8(a)(i) shall terminate upon payment in full to Apollo (including all principal and accrued interest and other fees) of the Original Caribou Notes, the Additional Unsecured Note and the Congo Note (each as defined in the Purchase Agreement, dated February 1, 2010, among Apollo Gold, Inc., Elkhorn Goldfields LLC, Calais Resources, Inc. and Calais Resources Colorado, Inc.) and the Promissory Note (as defined in the Purchase Agreement, dated March 12, 2010, among Apollo, Calais Resources, Inc. and Calais Resources Colorado, Inc. and Duane A. Duffy, Glenn E. Duffy, Luke Garvey and James Ober) (the Promissory Note, the Original Caribou Notes, the Additional Unsecured Note and the Congo Note are collectively referred to herein as the “Notes”);

 

ii.

own, manage, operate, control, enter into a lease, option, joint venture or any other contractual relationship with respect to, assist or have any royalty or other financial or equity interest in, any property or mineral interests located within 10 miles (the “Area of Interest”) of the exterior boundaries of any property or mineral interests currently owned, leased, optioned, held under any other contractual arrangement or otherwise being explored, developed or mined by the Company (or any of its Affiliates, successors or assigns, including, without limitation, Linear Gold Corp.) (the “Apollo Subject Property”) or Calais (the “Calais Subject Property” and, together with the Apollo Subject Property, the “Subject Property”), or be employed by, render any services for, participate in, engage in, enter into a joint venture with, permit the Officer’s name to be used in connection with, or be connected in any manner with the ownership, management (including by being a member of a board of directors or similar governing body), operation, or control of any Person owning, managing, operating, controlling the Subject Property or any property within the Area of Interest; provided, however, that the restrictions set forth in this Section 8(a)(ii) with respect to Calais Subject Property shall terminate upon payment in full to Apollo (including all principal and accrued interest and other fees) of the Notes.

 

iii.

hire, solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any of the Company’s or any of its Affiliate’s employees, consultants or business relations to leave their employment or terminate their relationship with the Company or any of its Affiliates; or

 

iii.

enter into an agreement to do any of the foregoing.

 

(b)           The Officer acknowledges that the covenants contained in this Section 8, including those related to duration, geographic scope, and the scope of prohibited conduct, are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Company.  The Officer further acknowledges that he is an executive and management level employee as referenced in C.R.S. 8-2-113(2)(d) and that the covenants contained in this Section 8 are necessary to protect, and reasonably related to the protection of, the Company’s Confidential Information and trade secrets, to which the Officer has been exposed.

 

(c)           The Officer hereby expressly acknowledges that any breach of this Section 8 shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement entitling the Company to immediate injunctive relief, damages, attorneys’ fees and all other remedies available hereunder and under the law.

 

9.	NON-DISPARAGEMENT

 

The Officer agrees not to make to any Person any statement that disparages or reflects negatively on the Company, their predecessors, successors, parents, subsidiaries, Affiliates, or assigns or any of their respective officers, directors, principals, shareholders, agents, attorneys, board members, or employees, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s financial condition, employment practices, or business practices.  The Officer hereby expressly acknowledges that a breach of this Section 9 shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement entitling the Company to immediate injunctive relief, damages, attorneys’ fees and all other remedies available hereunder and under the law.

 

 

10.	RETURN OF PROPERTY AND INFORMATION

 

The Officer represents and warrants that, upon his execution of this Agreement, he will return to the Company any and all property, documents, software, and files, including any documents (in any recorded media, such as papers, computer disks, copies, photographs, maps, transparencies, and microfiche) that relate in any way to the Company or the Company’s business.  The Officer agrees that, to the extent that he possesses any files, data, or information relating in any way to the Company or the Company’s business on any personal computer, he will either delete those files, data, or information (and will retain no copies in any form) or allow a representative of the Company to remove such files, data, or information from his personal computer.  The Officer also will return any tools, equipment, calling cards, credit cards, access cards or keys, any keys to any filing cabinets, vehicles, vehicle keys, and all other property in any form upon execution this Agreement.

 

11.	SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision of this Agreement is held illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, such holding shall not affect any other provisions hereof.  In the event any provision is held illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, such provision shall be limited so as to effect the intent of the Parties to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.  Any claim by the Officer against the Company shall not constitute a defense to enforcement by the Company.

 

12.	ENTIRE AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement, and the relevant portions of the Arrangement Agreement referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein.  This Agreement supersedes any and all prior oral or written promises or agreements between the Parties, except as otherwise provided herein.  To the extent of any conflict between the provisions of the Employment Agreement and this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern. The Officer acknowledges that the Officer has not relied on any promise, representation, or statement other than those set forth in this Agreement.  This Agreement cannot be modified except in writing signed by all Parties.

 

13.	VENUE AND APPLICABLE LAW

 

This Agreement shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.  Venue and jurisdiction shall be in the federal or state courts in Denver, Colorado.  If a Party is required to initiate an action in court to enforce this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to its costs and attorneys' fees from the other Party, to the extent such costs and fees are related to the enforcement of this Agreement.

 

14.	COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, which, when considered together, shall constitute the entire agreement among the Parties.

 

15.	MEXICAN SUBSIDIARIES

 

On or after the date hereof, the Officer shall take all actions requested by the Company to transfer and convey any and all shares of capital stock in Minera Sol de Oro S.A. de C.V. and Minera Sol de Argonautas, S. De R.L. de C.V. held by the Officer to such Persons as the Company shall direct.

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereby executed this Agreement effective as of the 24th day of June, 2010.

 

/s/ R. D. Russell

R. David Russell

STATE OF COLORADO	)
	) ss.
COUNTY OF DENVER	)

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 24th day of June, 2010, by R. David Russell.

Witness my hand and official seal.

My commission expires 6/26/2014.

 

[SEAL]	/s/ Susan L. Beeck
	Notary Public

 

 

APOLLO GOLD CORPORATION

 

/s/ Melvyn Williams
By:	Melvyn Williams
Title:	Chief Financial Officer

 

STATE OF COLORADO	)
	) ss.
COUNTY OF DENVER	)

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 24th day of June, 2010, by Melvyn Williams, as Chief Financial Officer for Apollo Gold Corporation.

Witness my hand and official seal.

My commission expires 6/26/2014.

 

[SEAL]	/s/ Susan L. Beeck
	Notary Public

 

 

APOLLO GOLD, INC.

 

/s/ Melvyn Williams
By:	Melvyn Williams
Title:	Chief Financial Officer

 

STATE OF COLORADO	)
	) ss.
COUNTY OF DENVER	)

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 24th day of June, 2010, by Melvyn Williams, as Chief Financial Officer for Apollo Gold, Inc.

Witness my hand and official seal.

My commission expires 6/26/2014.

 

[SEAL]	/s/ Susan L. Beeck
	Notary Public