EMPLOYMENTAGREEMENT

 

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of the 29h day of September, 2009 by and between Signature Exploration and Production Corp., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), and Steven Weldon (hereinafter called the "Executive").

 

 

A.    The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") desires to assure the Company of the Executive's continued employment in an executive capacity and to compensate him therefore.

 

B.    The Board has determined that this Agreement will reinforce and encourage the Executive's continued attention and dedication to the Company.

 

C.    The Executive is willing to make his services available to the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.           Employment.

 

1.1           Employment and Term. The Corporation hereby agrees to employ the Executive as its Chief Financial Officer, in such capacity, agrees to provide services to the Corporation for the period beginning on September 29, 2009 and ending September 29, 2012 (the “TERMINATION DATE") (or such later date as may be agreed to by the parties within 120 days prior to the Termination Date) (the “EMPLOYMENT PERIOD").

1.2           Duties of Executive.  The Executive shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and shall have powers and authority superior to any other officer or employee of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company. Subject to the preceding sentence, during the term of Employment, the Executive shall diligently perform all services as may be reasonably assigned to him by the Board, and shall exercise such power and authority as may from time to time be delegated to him by the Board.  The Executive shall be required to report solely to, and shall be subject solely to the supervision and direction of the Board at duly called meetings thereof, and no other person or group shall be given authority to supervise or direct Executive in the performance of his duties.  In addition, the Executive shall regularly consult with the Chairman of the Board with respect to the Company's business and affairs.  The Executive shall devote his working time and attention as he deems appropriate to the business and affairs of the Company (excluding any vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled), render such services to the best of his ability, and use his reasonable best efforts to promote the interests of the Company. It shall not be a violation of this Agreement for Mr. Weldon to engage in other business activities including, but not limited to those activities related to Steven W. Weldon, P.A. and other business ventures that Mr. Weldon may become involved in during the term of this Agreement.  It shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions, and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement.

 

1.3           Place of Performance.  In connection with his employment by the Company, the Executive shall be based at the Company's principal executive offices except for travel reasonably necessary in connection with the Company's business.

 

2.           Compensation.

 

2.1              Base Salary.  Commencing on the effective date of this Agreement, the Executive shall receive a base salary at the annual rate of not less than $30,000 (the "Base Salary") during the term of this Agreement, with such Base Salary payable in installments consistent with the Company's normal payroll schedule, subject to applicable withholding and other taxes. The Executive shall be deemed to have earned an increase of his Base Salary to total $100,000 if the Company’s monthly revenues  exceed $50,000 and an additional $20,000 increase in his Base Salary shall be deemed earned if the Company’s monthly revenues exceed $100,000.

 

2.2           Restricted Stock Grant.

 

(a)           As compensation for entering into this Agreement, the Company hereby grants and issues to the Executive 3,600,000 shares of the common stock of the Company that is currently traded on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol SXLP. The stock is restricted as defined by the Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  The shares are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(b)           Lock-up and Contribution.  The shares issued pursuant to section 2.2(a) (the “Employment Shares”) shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this section 2.2(b).  The Employment Shares shall be represented by 36 certificates (the “Certificates”) of 100,000 shares each.  All Certificates not delivered to the Executive shall be held by the Company.  One Certificate representing 100,000 shares shall be delivered to the Executive on the 30th of each month beginning October 30, 2009.  In the event the Executive’s employment pursuant to this agreement is terminated for any reason, the Employment Shares represented by Certificates still held by the Company are hereby contributed by the Executive back to the Company for cancellation.  This lock-up provision shall not be applicable to any stock held by the Executive prior to entering into this agreement.

 

(c)           Sale Limitations.  The shares issued pursuant to section 2.2(a) (the “Employment Shares”) shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this section 2.2(c).  These shares are subject to the volume limitations set forth by  the Securities Act Rule 144 which states the shares must be held for six months before they can be sold and sales are limited to one percent (1%) of outstanding shares per 90 day period.  In addition, the Executive agrees not to sell more than five (5%) of the daily volume of the stock.

 

3.           Expense Reimbursement and Other Benefits.

 

3.1           Expense Reimbursement.  During the term of Executive's employment hereunder, the Company, upon the submission of reasonable supporting documentation by the Executive, shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses actually paid or incurred by the Executive in the course of and pursuant to the business of the Company, including expenses for travel and entertainment.

 

3.2           Vacation.  During the Initial Term, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its subsidiaries as in effect at any time hereafter with respect to other key executives of the Company and its subsidiaries; provided, however, that in no event shall Executive be entitled to fewer than four weeks paid vacation per year.

 

4.           Termination.

 

4.1           Termination for Cause.  Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company for Cause.  As used in this Agreement, "Cause" shall only mean (i) an act or acts of personal dishonesty taken by the Executive and intended to result in substantial personal enrichment of the Executive at the expense of the Company, (ii) subject to the following sentences, repeated violation by the Executive of the Executive's material obligations under this Agreement which are demonstrably willful and deliberate on the Executive’s part and which are not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from the Company, or (iii) the conviction of the Executive for any criminal act which is a felony.  Upon any determination by the Company's Board of Directors that Cause exists under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall cause a special meeting of the Board to be called and held at a time mutually convenient to the Board and Executive, but in no event later than ten (10) business days after Executive's receipt of the notice contemplated by clause (ii).  Executive shall have the right to appear before such special meeting of the Board with legal counsel of his choosing to refute any determination of Cause specified in such notice, and any termination of Executive's employment by reason of such Cause determination shall not be effective until Executive is afforded such opportunity to appear.  Any termination for Cause pursuant to clause (i) or (iii) of the first sentence of this Section 4.1 shall be made in writing to Executive, which notice shall set forth in detail all acts or omissions upon which the Company is relying for such termination.  Upon any termination pursuant to this Section 4.1, the Executive shall be entitled to be paid his Base Salary to the date of termination and the Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination).

 

4.2           Disability.  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company, by written notice to the Executive, shall at all times have the right to terminate this Agreement, and the Executive's employment hereunder, if the Executive shall, as the result of mental or physical incapacity, illness or disability, fail to perform his duties and responsibilities provided for herein for a period of more than sixty (60) consecutive days in any 12-month period.  Upon any termination pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Executive shall be entitled to be paid his Base Salary to the date of termination and the Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination).

 

4.3           Death.  In the event of the death of the Executive during the term of his employment hereunder, the Company shall pay to the estate of the deceased Executive an amount equal to the sum of (x) any unpaid amounts of his Base Salary to the date of his death, plus (y) six months of Base Salary, and the Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of the Executive's death).

 

4.4                      Termination Without Cause.  At any time the Company shall have the right to terminate Executive's employment hereunder by written notice to Executive; provided, however, that the Company shall (i) pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary accrued through the effective date of termination specified in such notice, and (ii) pay to the Executive in a lump sum, in cash within 30 days after the date of employment termination, an amount equal to the product of (x) the sum of the Executive’s then Base Salary plus the amount of the highest annual bonus or other incentive compensation payment theretofore made by the Company to the Executive, multiplied times (y) one.  The Company shall be deemed to have terminated the Executive's employment pursuant to this Section 4.4 if such employment is terminated (i) by the Company without Cause, or (ii) by the Executive voluntarily for "Good Reason."  For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means

 

(a)           the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 1.2 of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,  insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

 

(b)           any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 2, Section 3, Section 7 or Section 17 of this Agreement,  other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

 

(c)           any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement;

 

(d)           any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 10(c) of this Agreement; or

 

(e)           any termination by the Executive for any reason during the three-month period following the effective date of any "Change in Control".

 

For purposes of this Section 4.4, any good faith determination of "Good Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive.

 

5.           Change in Control.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall mean:

 

(a)           The acquisition (other than by or from the Company), at any time after the date hereof, by any person, entity or "group", within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50%or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock or the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or

 

(b)           All or any of the individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (as of the date hereof the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or  threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors of the Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or

 

(c)           Approval by the stockholders of the Company of (A) a reorganization, merger or consolidation with respect to which persons who were the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated company's then outstanding voting securities, (B) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (C) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, unless the approved reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or sale is subsequently abandoned.

 

(d)           The approval by the Board of the sale, distribution and/or other transfer or action (and/or series of sales, distributions and/or other transfers or actions from time to time or over a period of time), that results in the Company's ownership of less than 50% of the Company's current assets.

 

6.           Restrictive Covenants.

 

6.1           Nondisclosure.  During his employment and for twelve (12) months thereafter, Executive shall not divulge, communicate, use to the detriment of the Company or for the benefit of any other person or persons, or misuse in any way, any Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined) pertaining to the business of the Company.  Any Confidential Information or data now or hereafter acquired by the Executive with respect to the business of the Company shall be deemed a valuable, special and unique asset of the Company that is received by the Executive in confidence and as a fiduciary, and Executive shall remain a fiduciary to the Company with respect to all of such information.  For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means all material information about the Company's business disclosed to the Executive or known by the Executive as a consequence of or through his employment by the Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed by the Executive) after the date hereof, and not generally known.

 

6.2           Nonsolicitation of Employees.  While employed by the Company and for a period of six (6) months thereafter, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, for himself or for any other person, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other entity, attempt to employ or enter into any contractual arrangement with any employee or former employee of the Company, unless such employee or former employee has not been employed by the Company for a period in excess of six months.

 

6.3           Injunction.  It is recognized and hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto that a breach by the Executive of any of the covenants contained in Section 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3 of this Agreement will cause irreparable harm and damage to the Company, the monetary amount of which may be virtually impossible to ascertain.  As a result, the Executive recognizes and hereby acknowledges that the Company shall be entitled to an injunction from any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining and restraining any violation of any or all of the covenants contained in this Section 6 by the Executive or any of his affiliates, associates, partners or agents, either directly or indirectly, and that such right to injunction shall be cumulative and in addition to whatever other remedies the Company may possess.

 

7.           Other Matters.

 

Election of Executive as Director.  Contemporaneously herewith, the Board is appointing Executive to fill the position of  Chairman of  the Board.  For so long as the Executive continues to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, the Company shall cause the nomination of the Executive as Chairman of the Board of the Company at each stockholder meeting at which election of directors is considered and otherwise use its best  efforts to cause the election of the Executive as Chairman of the Board of the Company.

 

8.           Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.

 

9.           Notices:  Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered by hand or when deposited in the United States mail, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

 

If to the Company:	Signature Exploration and Production Corp. 201 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 2500 New Orleans, LA 70170
If to the Executive:	Steven Weldon 6225 River Fruit Court Windermere, Florida 34786
with a copy to:	Gary Henrie, Attorney at Law 3518 N. 1450 W. Pleasant Grove, Utah  84062

or to such other addresses as either party hereto may from time to time give notice of to the other in the aforesaid manner.

 

10.           Successors.

 

(a)           This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives.

 

(b)           This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

 

(c)           The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.

 

11.           Severability.  The invalidity of any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses or sections contained in this Agreement shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining portions of this Agreement or any part thereof, all of which are inserted conditionally on their being valid in law, and, in the event that any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses or sections contained in this Agreement shall be declared invalid, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid word or words, phrase or phrases, sentence or sentences, clause or clauses, or section or sections had not been inserted.  If such invalidity is caused by length of time or size of area, or both, the otherwise invalid provision will be considered to be reduced to a period or area which would cure such invalidity.

 

12.           Waivers.  The waiver by either party hereto of a breach or violation of any term or provision of this Agreement shall not operate nor be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or violation.

 

13.           Damages.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent the Company or the Executive from seeking and recovering from the other damages sustained by either or both of them as a result of its or his breach of any term or provision of this Agreement.

 

14.           No Third Party Beneficiary.  Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon or give any person (other than the parties hereto and, in the case of Executive, his heirs, personal representative(s) and/or legal representative) any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

15.           Full Settlement.  The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others.  In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to Section 16 of this Agreement), plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

 

16.           Certain Reduction of Payments by the Company.

 

(a)           Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (a "Payment"), would be nondeductible by the Company for Federal income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Code, then the aggregate present value of amounts payable or distributable to or for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement (such payments or  distributions pursuant to this Agreement are hereinafter referred to as "Agreement Payments") shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.  The "Reduced Amount" shall be an amount expressed in present value which maximizes the aggregate present value of Agreement Payments without causing any Payment to be nondeductible by the Company because of Section 280G of the Code.  Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Reduced Amount is zero and it is determined further that any Payment which is not an Agreement Payment would nevertheless be nondeductible by the Company for Federal income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Code, then the aggregate present value of Payments which are not Agreement Payments shall also be reduced (but not below zero) to an amount expressed in present value which maximizes the aggregate present value of Payments without causing any Payment to be nondeductible by the Company because of Section 280G of the Code.  For purposes of this Section 16, present value shall be determined in accordance with Section 280G(d)(4) of the Code.  Any amount which is not paid in the taxable year in which it was originally scheduled to be paid as a result of the postponement thereof pursuant hereto shall be payable in the next succeeding taxable year in which such payment will not result in the disallowance of a deduction pursuant to either Section 162(m) or 280G of the Code; provided, however, that all postponed payments shall be placed in a Rabbi trust or similar vehicle for the benefit of the Executive in such a way that the amounts so transferred are not taxable to such person or deductible by the Company until payment from such vehicle to the Executive is made.  In the event a payment has been made to the Executive, but then disallowed as a deduction by the Internal Revenue Service and return of the payment is required into the trust, said payment to the Executive shall be treated as a loan and said payment to the trust shall be treated as repayment of said loan.  The Company shall not pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber any amounts held in the trust or other similar vehicle for the benefit of the Executive hereunder.

 

(b)           All determinations required to be made under this Section 16 shall be made by the Orlando, Florida office of Mark Bailey and Company, LLC or, at the Executive's option, any other nationally or regionally recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the Executive and approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed (the "Accounting Firm"), which shall provide (i) detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within twenty (20) business days of the termination of Executive’s employment or such earlier time as is requested by the Company, and (ii) an opinion to the Executive that he has substantial authority not to report any excise tax on his Federal income tax return with respect to any Payments.  Any such determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive.  The Executive shall determine which and how much of the Payments shall be eliminated or reduced consistent with the requirements of this Section 16, provided that, if the Executive does not make such determination within ten business days of the receipt of the calculations made by the Accounting Firm, the Company shall elect which and how much of the Payments shall be eliminated or reduced consistent with the requirements of this Section 16 and shall notify the Executive promptly of such election.  Within five business days thereafter, the Company shall pay to or distribute to or for the benefit of the Executive such amounts as are then due to the Executive under this Agreement.  All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm incurred in connection with the determinations contemplated by this Section 16 shall be borne by the Company.

 

(c)           As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 280G of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Payments will have been made by the Company which should not have been made ("Overpayment") or that additional Payments which will not have been made by the Company could have been made ("Underpayment"), in each case, consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder.  In the event that the Accounting Firm, based upon the assertion of a deficiency by the Internal Revenue Service against the Executive which the Accounting Firm believes has a high probability of success, determines that an Overpayment has been made, any such Overpayment paid or distributed by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive shall be treated for all purposes as a loan ab initio to the Executive which the Executive shall repay to the Company together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code; provided, however, that no such loan shall be deemed to have been made and no amount shall be payable by the Employee to the Company if and to the extent such deemed loan and payment would not either reduce the amount on which the Executive is subject to tax under Section 1 and Section 4999 of the Code or generate a refund of such taxes.  In the event that the Accounting Firm, based upon controlling precedent or other substantial authority, determines that an Underpayment has occurred, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

 

17.           Conflicts With Certain Existing Arrangements.  The Company agrees that (x) it shall not hereafter acquire a “Conflicting Organization” or otherwise expand its present business activities such that Executive could reasonably be expected to be deemed in breach or violation of such non-competition covenants, and (y) it shall indemnify and hold harmless the Executive from any and all damages that Executive may hereafter suffer or incur by reason of any such Company acquisition or expansion of business after the date hereof.

 

18.           Indemnification.  The Company agrees to promptly execute and deliver to Executive an Indemnification Agreement in substantially the same form as described to the Executive by Gary Henrie, Attorney at Law within 15 days of the date of execution of this Agreement.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	COMPANY:
	Signature Exploration and Production Corp.
	By: /s/ Scott Allen
	EXECUTIVE:
	/s/ Steven Weldon