EX-10.19 11 d317379dex1019.htm EX-10.19 EX-10.19

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 1

Exhibit 10.19

 

LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the Agreement´) dated this 7th day of Sept., 2020

BETWEEN:

Li-Cycle Corp. of 2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10, Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

(the “Employer”)

OF THE FIRST PART

- AND -

Chris Biederman of 79 Sundance Crescent, Hannon, ON L0R 1P0, Canada

(the “Employee”)

OF THE SECOND PART

BACKGROUND:

 

  A.

The Employer is of the opinion that the Employee has the necessary qualifications, experience and abilities to assist and benefit the Employer in its business.

 

  B.

The Employer desires to employ the Employee and the Employee has agreed to accept and enter such employment upon the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

IN CONSIDERATION OF the matters described above and of the mutual benefits and obligations set forth in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which consideration is hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

Commencement Date and Term

 

  1.

The Employee will commence full-time employment with the Employer on September 1, 2020 (the “Commencement Date”) for an indefinite period, subject to termination in accordance with this Agreement.

Probationary Period

 

  2.

The Employee must successfully complete a probationary period of three (3) months (the 3Probationary Period´) beginning on the Commencement Date. At any time during the Probationary Period, as and where permitted by law, the Employer will have the right, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to terminate the Employee’s employment without any notice or payment of salary or benefit plan contributions in lieu of notice to the Employee other than wages owed for hours of work already completed.


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

Job Title and Description

 

  3.

The Employer agrees to employ the Employee as Chief Technology Officer.

 

  4.

The Employee agrees to be employed on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. The Employee agrees to be subject to the general supervision of and act pursuant to the orders, advice and direction of the Employer.

 

  5.

The Employee will perform any and all duties that are reasonable and that are customarily performed by a person holding a similar position in the industry or business of the Employer.

 

  6.

The Employer cannot unilaterally and significantly change the Employee’s job title or duties. The Employee may be employed by the Employer in a position other than as Chief Technology Officer upon the Employer notifying the Employee in writing of such assignment in which event the Employee will, subject to the terms and conditions in this Agreement, continue to be employed by the Employer in the position to which the Employee has been assigned. In the event of any further change in the Employee’s position, the provisions of this Agreement will apply, with the necessary changes being made.

 

  7.

The Employee agrees to abide by the Employer’s rules, regulations, and practices, including those concerning work schedules, vacation and sick leave, as they may from time to time be adopted or modified at the Employer’s sole discretion.

Compliance

 

  8.

The Employee acknowledges that the Employee will be bound by and will faithfully observe and comply with the Company’s rules, guidelines, policies and/or procedures, subject to change from time to time in the sole discretion of the Company. This includes but is not limited to the Company’s Code of Conduct, which includes the following:

 

  a.

the Company will abide by all applicable legislation and will not commit or condone an illegal act or instruct an employee, partner or contractor to commit such;

 

  b.

the Company is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace that complies with applicable health and safety legislation;

 

  c.

when doing business, all employees, directors and contractors must comply and respect the laws, and customs of the countries in which the Company operates or its representatives travel to;

 

  d.

the Company will perform its duties conscientiously and with integrity; and

 

  e.

all Company personnel and representatives are responsible for reporting what he/she believes to be breaches of the Code of Conduct to the Company’s Management.

Employee Compensation

 

  9.

Base Salary. Compensation paid to the Employee for the services rendered by the Employee as required by this Agreement will include an annual salary of CAD $180,000, less any lawful and applicable deductions and remittances, payable every two weeks while this Agreement is in force (the “Base Salary”).

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 2


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

  10.

Bonus. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company’s bonus plan as in effect from time to time and subject to the discretion of the Company with respect to the same, the Employee may be eligible (but not entitled) to receive an annual bonus award (a “Bonus”). The payment of any Bonus shall be at the sole and absolute discretion of the Company. The Employee acknowledges that: (i) terms of the Bonus may change each fiscal year at the discretion of the Company; (ii) the amount of the Bonus, if any, that the Employee may be awarded may change from year to year; and (iii) subject to the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 as amended (“ESA”), the Employee must be actively employed (not including any notice period in respect of termination of employment, whether contractual or at common law, for any reason) on the date any Bonus is paid in order to be eligible to receive such Bonus. The Employee shall have no entitlement to damages or other compensation arising from or related to not receiving any Bonus which would have accrued or been paid to the Employee after the date of cessation of employment or if working notice of termination is given, the Employee hereby waives any right to such damages. However, nothing herein is intended to limit any statutory termination entitlements and such statutory entitlements shall, if required, apply despite this language to the contrary.

 

  11.

Expenses. The Employer will reimburse the Employee for all reasonable expenses properly incurred, in accordance with the Employer’s policy as in effect from time to time, including but not limited to, any travel and entertainment expenses incurred by the Employee in connection with the business of the Employer. Expenses will be paid within a reasonable time after submission of acceptable supporting documentation.

Place of Work

 

  12.

The Employee’s primary place of work will be at the following location:

 

  x

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10, Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada.

 

  13.

The Employee will also be required to work at the following place or places:

 

  x

It may be necessary for the Employee to work in other locations from time to, in which case the terms and conditions will be set in accordance with Company policy.

 

  14.

The Employer will inform the Employee in advance of the Employee being required to work at other locations.

Employee Benefits

 

  15.

The Employee will be entitled to those additional benefits that are currently available as described in the Employer’s employment booklets and manuals.

 

  16.

Employer discretionary benefits are subject to change, without compensation, upon the Employer providing the Employee with 60 days written notice of that change and providing that any change to those benefits is taken generally with respect to other employees and does not single out the Employee.

Vacation

 

  17.

The Employee will be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation each year during the term of this Agreement.

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 3


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

  18.

The times and dates for any vacation will be determined by mutual agreement between the Employer and the Employee having regard to the Employer’s operations and in accordance with the Employer’s vacation policy, subject to change from time to time.

 

  19.

Upon termination of employment, the Employer will pay compensation to the Employee for accrued and unused vacation days as required by the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Ontario) (3ESA´). Any unused vacation that is above the minimum entitlements will not be paid out.

Duty to Devote Full Time

 

  20.

The Employee agrees to devote full-time efforts, as an employee of the Employer, to the employment duties and obligations as described in this Agreement.

Conflict of Interest

 

  21.

During the term of the Employee’s active employment with the Employer, it is understood and agreed that any business opportunity relating to or similar to the Employer’s actual or reasonably anticipated business opportunities (with the exception of personal investments in less than 5% of the equity of a business, investments in established family businesses, real estate, or investments in stocks and bonds traded on public stock exchanges) coming to the attention of the Employee, is an opportunity belonging to the Employer. Therefore, the Employee will advise the Employer in writing of the opportunity and cannot pursue the opportunity, directly or indirectly, without the written consent of the Employer, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

  22.

During the term of the Employee’s active employment with the Employer, the Employee will not, directly or indirectly, engage or participate in any other business activities that the Employer, in its reasonable discretion, determines to be in conflict with the best interests of the Employer without the written consent of the Employer, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

Non-Competition

 

  23.

The Employee agrees that the employee will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, during the Employee’s employment with the Employer and at any time for a period of twelve (12) months following the Termination Date for whatever reason, either individually or in partnership or jointly or in conjunction with any person as principal, employee, owner, sole proprietor, partner, director, officer, member, consultant, agent, founder, co-venturer, shareholder (other than a holding of shares listed on a Canadian or United States stock exchange that does not exceed 5% of the outstanding shares so listed) or in any other manner whatsoever carry on or be engaged in or be concerned with or interested in or advise, lend money to, guarantee the debts or obligations of or permit the Employee’s name or any part of the Employee’s name to be used or employed by any person engaged in or concerned with or interested in within Canada and the United States any business that is the same as, substantially similar to or competitive with the Employer’s business within the lithium-ion recycling industry.

 

  24.

The Employee confirms that all restrictions in the above paragraph are reasonable and valid and that the Employee waives all defences to the strict enforcement of such restrictions by the Employer.

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 4


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

Non-Solicitation

 

  25.

The Employee agrees that the Employee shall not, during the Employee’s employment, and for a period of twelve (12) months following the cessation of the Employee’s employment with the Employer for any reason, either individually, or in partnership, or jointly, or in conjunction with any person as principal, agent, employee or shareholder (other than a holding of shares listed on a Canadian or United States stock exchange that does not exceed 5% of the outstanding shares so listed) or any other manner whatsoever on the Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of anyone competing or endeavouring to compete with the Employer:

 

  a.

induce any employee of the Employer whom the Employee had contact in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Employer during the two (2) year period immediately before the Employee’s employment terminated or on the Termination Date to leave his or her employment;

 

  b.

attempt to employ or assist any person or entity in attempting to employ any employee of the Employer whom the Employee had contact in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Employer during the two (2) year period immediately before the Employee’s employment terminated or on the Termination Date; or

 

  c.

directly or indirectly solicit or endeavour to solicit any person that:

 

  i.

is a customer, client or supplier of the Employer whom the Employee had contact in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Employer during the two (2) year period immediately before the Employee’s employment terminated or on the Termination Date;

 

  ii.

was a customer, client or supplier of the Employer whom the Employee had contact in the course of the Employee’s employment at any time within twelve (12) months prior to the date the Employee’s employment terminated or on the Termination Date; or

 

  iii.

with the Employee’s knowledge, has been pursued as a prospective customer, client or supplier by or on behalf of the Employer at any time within twelve (12) months prior to the date the Employee’s employment terminated or on the Termination Date and in respect of whom the Employer has not determined to cease all such pursuit.

 

  26.

The Employee confirms that all restrictions in the above paragraph are reasonable and valid and that the Employee waives all defences to the strict enforcement of such restrictions by the Employer.

Confidential Information

 

  27.

The Employee acknowledges that, in any position the Employee may hold, in and as a result of the Employee’s employment by the Employer, the Employee will, or may, be making use of, acquiring or adding to information which is confidential to the Employer (the “Confidential Information”) and the Confidential Information is the exclusive property of the Employer. The Confidential Information will include all non-public data and information relating to the business and management of the Employer, including but not limited to, proprietary and trade secret technology, ideas, techniques, know-how, inventions (whether patentable or not), and accounting records to which access is obtained by the Employee, including Work Product, Computer Software, Other Proprietary Data, Business Operations, Marketing and Development Operations, Customer Information, and other information concerning the Employer¶s actual or anticipated business, research or development, or which is received in confidence by or for the Employer from any other person.

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 5


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

  28.

The Confidential Information will also include any information that has been disclosed by a third party to the Employer and is governed by a non-disclosure agreement entered into between that third party and the Employer.

 

  29.

The Confidential Information will not include information that:

 

  a.

Is generally known in the industry of the Employer;

 

  b.

Is now or subsequently becomes generally available to the public through no wrongful act of the Employee;

 

  c.

Was rightfully in the possession of the Employee prior to the disclosure to the Employee by the Employer;

 

  d.

Is independently created by the Employee without direct or indirect use of the Confidential Information; or

 

  e.

Is disclosed, lawfully and not in breach of any contractual or other legal obligation, to the Employee by a third party.

 

  30.

The Confidential Information will also not include anything developed or produced by the Employee during the Employee’s term of employment with the Employer, including but not limited to, any intellectual property, process, design, development, creation, research, invention, know-how, trade name, trade-mark or copyright that:

 

  a.

Was developed without the use of equipment, supplies, facility or Confidential Information of the Employer;

 

  b.

Was developed entirely on the Employee’s own time;

 

  c.

Does not result from any work performed by the Employee for the Employer; and

 

  d.

Does not relate to any actual or reasonably anticipated business opportunity of the Employer.

Duties and Obligations Concerning Confidential Information

 

  31.

The Employee agrees that a material term of the Employee’s contract with the Employer is to keep all Confidential Information absolutely confidential and protect its release from the public. The Employee agrees not to divulge, reveal, report or use, for any purpose, any of the Confidential Information which the Employee has obtained or which was disclosed to the Employee by the Employer as a result of the Employee’s employment by the Employer. The Employee agrees to keep all of the Confidential Information in its possession or control strictly confidential and will take all necessary precautions to safeguard all such Confidential Information in a careful and prudent manner, in any event, no less than reasonable care, to protect it from unauthorized disclosure. The Employee agrees that if there is any question as to such disclosure then the Employee will seek out senior management of the Employer prior to making any disclosure of the Employer’s information that may be covered by this Agreement.

 

  32.

The Employee shall not bring into the workplace or otherwise utilize in whole or in part confidential information and/or trade secrets belonging to any of the Employee’s former employer(s) or of any other third party without the consent of such former employer or third party

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 6


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

  33.

The Employee agrees and acknowledges that the Confidential Information is of a proprietary and confidential nature and that any disclosure of the Confidential Information to a third party in breach of this Agreement cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated for in money damages, would cause irreparable injury to Employer, would gravely affect the effective and successful conduct of the Employer’s business and goodwill, and would be a material breach of this Agreement.

 

  34.

The obligations to ensure and protect the confidentiality of the Confidential Information imposed on the Employee in this Agreement and any obligations to provide notice under this Agreement survives the expiration or termination, as the case may be, of this Agreement and will continue for an indefinite period from the date of such expiration or termination.

 

  35.

The Employee may disclose any of the Confidential Information:

 

  a.

To a third party where Employer has consented in writing to such disclosure; and

 

  b.

To the extent required by law or by the request or requirement of any judicial, legislative, administrative or other governmental body, provided that notice of such request or requirement to disclose is first delivered to the Employer, unless such notice is prohibited by law, in order to enable the Employer to seek an appropriate protective order or other remedy or to waive compliance with the such request or requirement, or both.

 

  36.

If the Employee loses or makes unauthorized disclosure of any of the Confidential Information, the Employee will immediately notify the Employer and take all reasonable steps necessary to retrieve the lost or improperly disclosed Confidential Information.

Ownership and Title to Confidential Information

 

  37.

The Employee acknowledges and agrees that all rights, title and interest in any Confidential Information will remain the exclusive property of the Employer. Accordingly, the Employee specifically agrees and acknowledges that the Employee will have no interest in the Confidential Information, including, without limitation, no interest in know-how, copyright, trade-marks or trade names, notwithstanding the fact that the Employee may have created or contributed to the creation of the Confidential Information.

Return of Confidential Information

 

  38.

The Employee agrees that, upon request of the Employer or upon termination or expiration, as the case may be, of this employment, the Employee will turn over to the Employer all Confidential Information belonging to the Employer, including but not limited to, all documents, plans, specifications, disks or other computer media, as well as any duplicates or backups made of that Confidential Information in whatever form or media, in the possession or control of the Employee that:

 

  a.

May contain or be derived from ideas, concepts, creations, or trade secrets and other proprietary and Confidential Information as defined in this Agreement; or

 

  b.

Is connected with or derived from the Employee’s employment with the Employer.

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 7


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

Intellectual Property

 

  39.

Except for any Excluded Inventions (as defined below), the Employee will promptly disclose in writing to the Employer, or to any persons designated by the Employer, all “Inventions”, which includes all improvements, inventions, processes, works of authorship, mask works, computer programs, formulae, ideas, discoveries, processes, techniques, know-how and data, whether or not patentable, made, created, conceived, reduced to practice, or developed by the Employee, either alone or jointly with others, during the term of employment with the Employer. The Employee will not disclose Inventions (other than any Excluded Inventions) to any person outside the company unless the Employee is requested to do so by management personnel of the Employer. An 3Excluded Invention´ means any Invention that the Employee establishes to: (a) be developed entirely on the Employee’s own time; (b) be developed without the use of any equipment, supplies, facilities, services, or Confidential Information of the Employer; (c) not relate directly to the business or affairs of the Employer during the term of employment with the Employer or to the actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Employer during such time period; and (d) not result from any work the Employee performed for the Employer.

 

  40.

The Employee acknowledges that all Inventions which the Employee makes, creates, conceives, reduces to practice or develops (in whole or in part, either alone or jointly with others) during the employment, other than any Excluded Inventions, shall be the exclusive property of the Employer. The Employer shall be the exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interests in and to the Inventions (except for any Excluded Inventions), including, without limitation, any patents, industrial designs, trademarks, mask works, copyrights and other intellectual property or other rights anywhere in the world in connection therewith. The Employee hereby conveys, transfers, and assigns to the Employer any rights, title, and interests the Employee may have or acquire in such Inventions, effective at the time such Invention is created. The Employee irrevocably waives, in favour of the Employer, all moral rights and any other non-assignable rights the Employee may have in and to such Inventions.

 

  41.

The Employee agrees to perform, during and after employment, all reasonable acts requested by the Employer to permit and assist it in obtaining, maintaining, defending and enforcing the Employer’s rights, title, and interests in and to the Inventions (except for any Excluded Inventions) and any improvements thereof, including, without limitation, any patents, industrial designs, trademarks, mask works, copyrights or other rights anywhere in the world, provided that Employer pays to the Employee all of the Employee’s expenses in doing so and, if such acts are required after the Employee’s employment with the Employer, reasonable compensation. Such acts may include, but are not limited to, execution of documents and assistance or cooperation in legal proceedings.

To the extent that the Employee cannot be reasonably contacted by the Employer for the purposes of obtaining, maintaining, defending and enforcing the Employer’s rights, title, and interests in and to the Inventions, the Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Employer and its duly authorized officers and agents, as the Employee’s agents and attorney-in-fact to act for and on the Employee’s behalf, to execute and file any documents, applications or related filings and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of patents, copyrights or other rights thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Employee.

 

  42.

Prior to the Employee submitting or disclosing for possible external publication or dissemination any material prepared by the Employee that incorporates information that concerns the Employer’s business or anticipated research, the Employee agrees to deliver a copy of such material to an officer of

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 8


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

  the Employer for his or her review. Within 20 days of such submission, the Employer agrees to notify the Employee whether the Employer believes such material contains any Confidential Information, and the Employee shall agree to make such deletions and revisions as are reasonably requested by the Employer to protect the Employer’s Confidential Information. The Employee further agrees to obtain the consent of the Employer prior to any review of such material by any persons outside of the company.

Consent to Collection of Personal Information

 

  43.

The Employee acknowledges that the collection, use and/or disclosure of personal information is required for the management of the Employee’s employment or engagement with the Employer, including, but not limited to, the management of employment benefit plans, employment status, performance evaluation and engagement with joint venture business partners. To facilitate the foregoing, the Employee hereby consents to the collection, use, and/or disclosure of the Employee’s personal information as required in the circumstances. The Employee agrees that, where more specific consent is required, the Employee shall complete such documentation as may be required from time-to-time to confirm the consent provided in this Agreement.

Contract Binding Authority

 

  44.

Notwithstanding any other term or condition expressed or implied in this Agreement to the contrary, the Employee will not have the authority to enter into any contracts or commitments for or on the behalf of the Employer without first obtaining the express written consent of the Employer.

Termination of Employment

 

  45.

Termination by the Employer For Cause. The Employer may immediately terminate the employment of the Employee at any time for cause by written notice to the Employee, subject to any requirements under the ESA. Without limiting the foregoing, any one or more of the following events shall constitute cause:

 

  a.

theft, dishonesty, or other similar behaviour by the Employee;

 

  b.

any material neglect of duty or misconduct of the Employee in discharging any of the Employee’s duties and responsibilities hereunder;

 

  c.

any conduct of the Employee which, in the opinion of the Employer, acting reasonably, is materially detrimental to the Employer;

 

  d.

any material default of the Employee’s obligations under this Agreement;

 

  e.

any material failure of or refusal by the Employee to comply with the lawful policies, rules and regulations of the Employer; or

 

  f.

any act, omission or cause of action recognized as cause under law.

If the Employer terminates the employment of the Employee for cause under this section, the Employer shall not be obligated to make any further payments under this Agreement except any outstanding Base Salary, vacation pay, expense reimbursement, or benefits owing up to the Termination Date. However, nothing herein is intended to limit the Employee’s entitlement to any minimum statutory termination entitlements under the ESA, and such minimum statutory entitlements shall, if required, apply despite this language to the contrary.

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 9


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

  46.

Termination by the Employer Without Cause. The Employer may terminate the employment of the Employee at any time without cause. In such event, subject to the Employer receiving from the Employee an executed full and final release of the Employer and its affiliates, in a form satisfactory to the Employer, in addition to any outstanding Base Salary, vacation pay, expense reimbursements or benefits owing up to the Termination Date, the Employer shall only be required to provide the following to the Employee:

 

  a)

before the Employee’s completion of one (1) year of service under this Agreement, one (1) month’s written notice, or

 

  b)

upon one (1) year of completed service under this Agreement, one (1) month’s written notice plus an additional one (1) month’s written notice for every additional completed year of completed service up to a maximum of twelve (12) months’ written notice (the “Notice Period´).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employer may terminate this Agreement immediately and continue to pay the Employee in accordance with the Employer’s normal payroll practices an amount equal to the Base Salary that the Employee would have otherwise received had the Employee’s employment not been terminated until the earlier of (i) the expiry of the Notice Period, or (ii) the date that the Employee commences alternate employment or consulting work of any kind, whichever occurs first (the “Salary Continuance Period´). If the Employee commences alternate employment or consulting work of any kind prior to the end of the Notice Period, the Employee must inform the Employer immediately. The Salary Continuance Period will cease on the date that the Employee commences alternate employment or consulting work, and the Employer will pay the Employee a lump-sum equal to 50% of the value of the payments remaining between the date that the Employee commences alternate employment or consulting work and the end of the Notice Period less all lawful deductions.

The Employer will continue to make the benefit plan contributions necessary to maintain the Employee’s participation for only the minimum period prescribed under the ESA in all benefit plans provided to the Employee by the Employer immediately prior to the Termination Date. The Employee agrees that the Employer may deduct from such payments of Base Salary during the Notice Period the Employee’s benefit plan contributions that were regularly made by the Employee during the Employee’s employment in accordance with the terms of all benefit plans to be maintained under this provision for the minimum period prescribed by the ESA. Nothing herein is intended to limit the Employee’s entitlement to any minimum statutory termination entitlements under the ESA and such minimum statutory entitlements shall, if required, apply despite any language to the contrary.

 

  47.

Resignation by Employee. The Employee shall give the Employer three (3) weeks’ notice of the resignation of the Employee’s employment hereunder and, subject to the following sentence, the Employee’s employment shall terminate on the date specified in the notice and the Employee agrees to work through such notice period. Upon receipt of the Employee’s notice of resignation, or at any time thereafter, the Employer shall have the right to elect to pay the Base Salary for the remainder of such notice period in lieu of such notice, and if the Employer so elects, the Employee’s employment shall cease immediately upon such payment. The Employee also agrees that such election by the Employer does not constitute a termination of the Employee’s employment by the Employer.

 

  48.

Fair and Reasonable; Full and Final Release. The Employee confirms that the provisions contained in paragraphs 44, 45 and 46 are fair and reasonable and the Employee agrees that upon any termination of the Employee’s employment under this Agreement by the Employer in compliance with paragraphs

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 10


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

  44, 45 or upon any termination of the Employee’s employment under this Agreement by the Employee in accordance with paragraph 46, the Employee will have no action, cause of action, claim or demand against the Employer or any other person as a consequence of such termination.

Prior Service

 

  49.

The Employee agrees that the Employee will be employed by the Employer as a new employee and the Employee’s service with any prior employer will not be included in the assessment of the Employee’s length of employment with the Employee for any purposes, except as may be required by the ESA.

Remedies

 

  50.

In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Employee agrees that the Employer is entitled to a permanent injunction, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights and remedies available to the Employer at law or in equity, in order to prevent or restrain any such breach by the Employee or by the Employee’s partners, agents, representatives, servants, employees, and/or any and all persons directly or indirectly acting for or with the Employee.

Accessibility

 

  51.

The Employer is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities in its workplaces. If the Employee requires accommodation in the course of the Employee’s employment or has any questions with respect to accessibility matters, please contact Human Resources.

Severability

 

  52.

The Employer and the Employee acknowledge that this Agreement is reasonable, valid and enforceable. However, if any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable in whole or in part, it is the parties’ intent that such provision be changed in scope by the court only to the extent deemed necessary by that court to render the provision reasonable and enforceable and the remainder of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated as a result.

Notices

 

  53.

Any notices, deliveries, requests, demands or other communications required here will be deemed to be completed when hand-delivered, delivered by agent, or seven (7) days after being placed in the post, postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses or as the parties may later designate in writing:

 

   

Employer:

Name: Li-Cycle Corp.

Address: 2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10, Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Email: bruce.macinnis@li-cycle.com

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 11


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

   

Employee:

Name: Chris Biederman

Address: 79 Sundance Crescent, Hannon, ON L0R 1P0, Canada

Email: chrisbiederman@biedermanengineering.com

Modification of Agreement

 

  54.

Any amendment or modification of this Agreement or additional obligation assumed by either party in connection with this Agreement will only be binding if evidenced in writing signed by each party or an authorized representative of each party.

Governing Law

 

  55.

This Agreement will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable in Ontario.

Definitions

 

  56.

For the purpose of this Agreement the following definitions will apply:

 

  a.

“Work Product” means work product information, including but not limited to, work product resulting from or related to work or projects performed or to be performed for the Employer or for clients of the Employer, of any type or form in any stage of actual or anticipated research and development.

 

  b.

“Computer Software” means computer software resulting from or related to work or projects performed or to be performed for the Employer or for clients of the Employer, of any type or form in any stage of actual or anticipated research and development, including but not limited to, programs and program modules, routines and subroutines, processes, algorithms, design concepts, design specifications (design notes, annotations, documentation, flowcharts, coding sheets, and the like), source code, object code and load modules, programming, program patches and system designs.

 

  c.

“Other Proprietary Data” means information relating to the Employer’s proprietary rights prior to any public disclosure of such information, including but not limited to, the nature of the proprietary rights, production data, technical and engineering data, test data and test results, designs, configurations, toolings, documentation, recorded data, schematics, circuits, mask works, layouts, the status and details of research and development of products and services, and information regarding acquiring, protecting, enforcing and licensing proprietary rights (including patents, copyrights and trade secrets).

 

  d.

“Business Operations” means operational information, including but not limited to, internal personnel and financial information, vendor names and other vendor information (including vendor characteristics, services and agreements), purchasing and internal cost information, business plans, internal services and operational manuals, and the manner and methods of conducting the Employer’s business.

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 12


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

  e.

“Marketing and Development Operations” means marketing and development information, including but not limited to, marketing and development plans, price and cost data, price and fee amounts, pricing and billing policies, quoting procedures, marketing techniques and methods of obtaining business, forecasts and forecast assumptions and volumes, and future plans and potential strategies of the Employer which have been or are being considered.

 

  f.

“Customer Information” means customer information, including but not limited to, names of customers and their representatives, contracts and their contents and parties, customer services, data provided by customers and the type, quantity and specifications of products and services purchased, leased, licensed or received by customers of the Employer.

 

  g.

“Termination Date” means a date communicated by written notice by either the Employee or the Employer as the last day of employment of the Employee by the Employer under this Agreement. The parties acknowledge that various provisions of this Agreement will survive the Termination Date.

General Provisions

 

  57.

Time is of the essence in this Agreement.

 

  58.

Headings are inserted for the convenience of the parties only and are not to be considered when interpreting this Agreement. Words in the singular mean and include the plural and vice versa. Words in the masculine mean and include the feminine and vice versa.

 

  59.

No failure or delay by either party to this Agreement in exercising any power, right or privilege provided in this Agreement will operate as a waiver, nor will any single or partial exercise of such rights, powers or privileges preclude any further exercise of them or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege provided in this Agreement.

 

  60.

This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, as the case may be, of the Employer and the Employee.

 

  61.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts. Facsimile signatures are binding and are considered to be original signatures.

 

  62.

If, at the time of execution of this Agreement, there is a pre-existing employment agreement still in effect between the parties to this Agreement, then in consideration of and as a condition of the parties entering into this Agreement and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which consideration is acknowledged, this Agreement will supersede any and all pre-existing employment agreements between the Employer and the Employee. Any duties, obligations and liabilities still in effect from any pre-existing employment agreement are void and no longer enforceable after execution of this Agreement.

 

  63.

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and there are no further items or provisions, either oral or written. The parties to this Agreement stipulate that neither of them has made any representations with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement except such representations as are specifically set forth in this Agreement.

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 13


LOGO   

2351 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L5J 4S7, Canada

Tel. 416 583-3509  •  www.li-cycle.com

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly affixed their signatures under hand and seal on this 7th day of September 2020.

 

EMPLOYER:
Li-Cycle Corp.
LOGO
Per: Tim Johnston, Executive Chairman
EMPLOYEE:

LOGO

 

Chris Biederman

 

© Li-Cycle 2020 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents.    Page 14