Exhibit
10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, is made as of
the Start Date (as defined below), by and between BIONIK LABORATORIES CORP., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as
the “Company”), and Richard Russo (hereinafter referred to as the “Employee”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, directly or through
its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of medical device research, development and production; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee have
agreed to enter into an employment relationship upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual covenants and promises herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1- EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES
1.1 Appointment. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to employ the employee, and the Employee hereby accepts employment, in
the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company and as the Company’s principal financial and accounting officer (the
“Position”), effective on the first day of employment with the Company, expected to be November 30th,
2020 unless otherwise mutually agreed between the Company and the Employee (the “Start Date”); provided that this Agreement
shall not be binding on the Company until the Employee gives official notice of resignation to his previous employer and informs
the Company of such resignation and the proposed Start Date.
1.2 Term. The Employee shall be employed
until terminated pursuant to the termination provisions set out in Article 4 and Article 5 of this Agreement and to any amendments
as may from time to time be agreed to in writing by the Employee and the Company (the “Term”).
1.3 Reporting and Duties. The Employee
shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).
The Employee shall be responsible for (a) the preparation and implementation of the finance strategy and budget reviews for the
Company, (b) preparation and delivery of all SEC and financial markets regulatory agencies reporting requirements, (c) operational
management of cash flow, receivables, payables, expenses and payroll, (d) support the CEO in Investor Relation activities including
fund raising, Board meetings and monitoring of shares, (e) perform all of the normal and customary duties, responsibilities and
authorities customarily accorded to, and expected and required of the Position, including those duties, responsibilities and authorities
as may be reasonably designated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Board from time to time, (f) providing to
the Company such personal information as is necessary and appropriate for the Company to satisfy its reporting obligations under
applicable United States securities laws and stock exchange rules and requirements and (g) certifying the Annual Reports on Form
10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company, and all other required filings, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a),
and Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b), in each case promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively,
the “Duties”).
Services performed pursuant to this Agreement
shall be performed at the Company’s U.S. headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, or such place(s) as shall be mutually agreeable
to the Company and Employee. The Employee understands and agrees that the Position requires travel to the Company’s executive
offices in Toronto, Canada from time to time, at least monthly and more during the initial three months of the Term, as well as
other destinations, to fulfill the Duties. The Employee agrees to comply with all applicable policies and rules of Company. During
the Term, the Employee shall faithfully and honestly serve the Company and devote no less than full-time service to the business
and affairs of the Company or, where applicable, any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company (individually a “Subsidiary”
and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), including the Employee’s role in the Position and the Duties. The Employee
shall use his best efforts to promote the interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything
else to the contrary herein, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Employee from: (a) engaging in charitable, education,
communal or recreational activities; or (b) engaging in another business enterprise as a passive investor; provided that in no
event shall the Employee own more than 4.9% of any other business enterprise and further provided that no such business enterprise
shall be a competitor of the Company or its Subsidiaries. However, the engagements described in 1.3(a) – (b) above shall
only be permissible so long as they do not result in a contravention of Article 3 hereof, or impair the ability of the Employee
to discharge his duties to the Company hereunder. In addition, the Employee shall truly and faithfully account for and deliver
to the Company and its Subsidiaries, all money, securities and things of value belonging to the Company or the Subsidiaries which
the Employee may from time to time receive for, from or on account of the Company or the Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE 2 - COMPENSATION
2.1 Base Salary. The Employee will receive
an annual base salary of Two Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Dollars ($265,000), payable in accordance with the Company’s standard
payroll practices in effect from time to time, and subject to applicable statutory deductions and withholding required by law (“Base
Salary”). The Employee’s Base Salary will be reviewed on an annual basis to determine potential increases, if any,
based on the Employee’s performance and that of the Company.
2.2 Incentive Compensation. The Employee
will be entitled to participate in the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan or other incentive plan or arrangement (the “Plan”)
based on the terms of the Plan. Subject to the immediately following sentence, the Employee shall be granted options to purchase
an aggregate of 76,902 shares of the Company’s common stock, , at an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value
of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, and which shall vest on the one (1) year anniversary of the Start Date.
The granting of any options or other equity compensation is conditional on the written approval of the Board (or applicable committee
thereof), and subject to any applicable stockholder approval, and the Company reserves the right to alter, amend, replace or discontinue
the Plan or any other plan at any time, with or without notice to the Employee.
2.3 Bonus. The Employee may be
entitled to earn an annual bonus of up to 30% of Base Salary, payable based on performance in the previous fiscal year
(“Bonus”). The Bonus will be determined based on the achievement of the Employee’s objectives that will be
agreed to with the CEO for each particular fiscal year (the “Achievements”), and paid to Employee within the
earlier of 90 days after the close of each fiscal year and the completion of the company audit. The Achievements for the
partial fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 shall be determined in good faith and agreed to in writing by the Employee and the
Company within 14 days after the date of this Agreement, and shall be pro rata based on the Start Date.
2.4 Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled
to participate in all of the Company’s (or applicable Subsidiary’s) benefit plans generally available to its employees
from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. The Employee’s participation in such plans shall become fully effective
as of the commencement of his employment hereunder pursuant to the terms of such plans. The Company reserves the right to alter,
amend, replace or discontinue the benefit plans it makes available to its employees at any time, with or without notice.
2.5 Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled
to four (4) weeks of paid vacation per calendar year. This amount is pro rata in the first year of employment. Such vacation shall
be taken at a time or times acceptable to the Company. The Employee shall be allowed to carry forward a maximum of five (5) days
unused vacation into the next calendar year.
2.6 Expense Reimbursement. The Employee
shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses actually and properly incurred by him in connection with the performance of his
duties hereunder. The Employee shall submit to the Company written, itemized expense accounts, together with supporting invoices,
acceptable to the Company and such other additional substantiation and justification as the Company may reasonably request within
sixty (60) days after the expenses have been incurred.
ARTICLE 3- COVENANTS
3.1 No Restrictions on Employee’s
Employment. The Employee acknowledges and affirms that he is not a party to any agreement or understanding that would conflict
or interfere with, or prevent or limit him from being employed by or perform services for the Company.
3.2 Confidential Information. The
Employee hereby acknowledges that, by reason of his employment with the Company, he has and will acquire information about
matters and things which are confidential to the Company and/or the Subsidiaries (the “Confidential
Information”), and which Confidential Information is the exclusive property of the Company and/or the Subsidiaries,
respectively. The Confidential Information includes, without limitation, information concerning the Company’s and the
Subsidiaries’ strategic plans, product research and development plans, details and results, trade secrets, supplier
lists, data, work product developed by or for the Company or the Subsidiaries, and all other data and information concerning
the business and affairs of the Company and the Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for
the purposes hereof, Confidential Information shall not include: (a) information that is generally available to and known by
the public at the time of disclosure to the Employee, provided that such disclosure is through no direct or indirect fault of
the Employee or person(s) acting on the Employee's behalf; or (b) information which the Employee is required to disclose
pursuant to applicable law, policies or due processes of applicable regulatory bodies or legal or regulatory proceedings;
provided that the Employee provides the Company with prompt notice of same and assists the Company in seeking to prevent or
limit such requirement. The Employee agrees that during the Term and at all times thereafter, he shall not for any reason
(except in the performance of his responsibilities for the Company) directly or indirectly, (i) use for his own benefit or
for the benefit of others, (ii) disseminate, publish or disclose, or (iii) authorize or permit the use, dissemination or
disclosure by any person, firm or entity, any Confidential Information without the express written consent of the Board. Upon
termination of the Employee’s employment or this Agreement, or at any time at the request of the Company for any
reason, the Employee agrees to return to the Company (or, in the case of electronic items, permanently delete) all documents,
records, storage, data, samples, and other property of the Company and its Subsidiaries, together with all copies thereof
which contain or incorporate any Confidential Information. Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, the Employee
acknowledges that the Employee shall not have criminal or civil liability under any federal or state trade secret law for the
disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either
directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation
of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under
seal. In addition, if Employee files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law,
Employee may disclose the trade secret to Employee’s attorney and may use the trade secret information in the court
proceeding, if Employee (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade
secret, except pursuant to court order.
3.3 Intellectual Property, Inventions
and Patents. As part of the consideration for this Agreement and for his employment by the Company, subject to the provisions
of this Agreement, the Employee hereby assigns to the Company, as and when same arise, his entire right, title and interest,
including all intellectual property rights and trade secret rights, in and to any and all work product that is conceived,
created, developed or otherwise generated by the Employee from time to time that relates to the business of the Company or
the Subsidiaries, including but not limited to all inventions, research, designs, trade secrets, improvements, plans,
specifications and documentation (collectively, “Work Product”), all of which shall be deemed a work for hire for
the Company under the U.S. Copyright Act to the fullest extent permitted under the law. The Employee further agrees that he
will promptly, fully disclose to the Company all such Work Product and will, at any time from the date hereof, including
during and after his employment with the Company, at the Company’s expense, render to the Company or the Subsidiaries
such cooperation and assistance as the Company or the Subsidiaries may deem advisable in order to obtain copyright, patent,
trademark or industrial design registrations as the case may be on, or otherwise vest, perfect or defend the Company’s
or the Subsidiaries’ rights with respect to, any or all Work Product. Such cooperation and assistance shall include,
but is not limited to, the execution of any and all applications for copyright, patent, trademark or industrial design
registrations, assignments of copyrights and other instruments in writing which the Company and the Subsidiaries may deem
necessary or desirable. The Employee hereby irrevocably waives all of his moral rights in the Work Product in favor of the
Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective successors, assignees and licensees. The Employee shall take all
precautions to maintain and protect the legal rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the Work Product, and to maintain
the confidentiality of trade secrets included in the Work Product in accordance with Section 3.1 hereof. For certainty, no
license to the Work Product is granted to the Employee, except to the extent required for the performance of his
responsibilities under this Agreement. The Employee irrevocably appoints any other officer of the Company or the Subsidiaries
from time to time to be his attorney, with full power of substitution, to do on the behalf of the Employee anything that the
Employee can lawfully do by an attorney to do all acts and things in relation to ownership of the Work Product which the
Company or the Subsidiaries shall deem desirable, and to do, sign and execute all documents, conveyances, deeds, assignments,
transfers, assurances and other instruments which may reasonably be necessary or desirable for the purpose of registering,
vesting, perfecting; defending, assigning or otherwise dealing with the Work Product. Such power of attorney is given for
valuable consideration acknowledged by the Employee to be coupled with an interest, shall not be revoked by the bankruptcy or
insolvency of the Company or the Subsidiaries, and may be exercised by the officers of any successor or assign of the Company
or the Subsidiaries. The Employee hereby covenants that the Work Product will not violate or infringe any intellectual
property rights of any third party or constitute an unauthorized use of confidential or proprietary information of any third
party. All of the aforesaid covenants in this Section shall be binding on the assigns, executors, administrators and other
legal representatives of the Employee.
3.4 Non-Solicitation of Employees. The
Employee shall not, during the period from the date hereof to that date which is one (1) year following the later of termination
of this Agreement or the termination of the Employee’s employment, for any reason, directly or indirectly, hire any employees
or consultants of the Company and/or Subsidiaries (or any individual who was an employee or consultant of the Company at any time
during the 12-month period preceding any such inducement, hire or solicitation) , or induce or attempt to induce, or solicit or
attempt to solicit, any of the employees or consultants of the Company and/or Subsidiaries to leave their employment or engagement
with the Company.
3.5 Non-Solicitation of Customers and Suppliers.
The Employee shall not, during the period from the date hereof to that date which is one (1) year following the later of termination
of this Agreement or the termination of the Employee’s employment, for any reason, directly or indirectly, without the prior
written consent of the Company, solicit or attempt to solicit any customers of the Company or the Subsidiaries with whom the Employee
had contact or material knowledge of, for the purpose of selling to those customers any products or services which are the same
as or substantially similar to or in any way competitive with the products or services sold by the Company or the Subsidiaries
at the time of termination of this Agreement. The Employee shall not, during the period from the date hereof to that date which
is one (1) year following the termination of this Agreement or the termination of the Employee’s employment, for any reason,
directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, solicit or attempt to solicit any suppliers of the Company
or the Subsidiaries with whom the Employee had contact with or material knowledge of, for the purpose of diverting or attempting
to divert business away from the Company or the Subsidiaries.
3.6 Non-Competition. The Employee
shall not, at any time during the period from the date hereof to that date which is one (1) year following the later of
termination of this Agreement or the termination of the Employee’s employment, engage in the commercialization of
medical devices similar to those, or devices that are in any way competitive with the products or services, developed, being
developed, commercialized and/or sold by the Company or the Subsidiaries during the term of this Agreement and at the time of
the termination of this Agreement (“Competitive Activity”). The Employee may not engage in such Competitive
Activity either individually or in partnership or jointly or in conjunction with any person as principal, agent, employee,
consultant, shareholder (other than a holding of shares listed on a United States stock exchange that does not exceed five
percent (5%) of the outstanding shares so listed) or in any other manner whatsoever, nor shall the Employee lend money to,
guarantee the debts or obligations of or permit his name or any part thereof to be used or employed by any person engaged in
a similar business to the Company or the Subsidiaries. The Company shall have the option to elect whether to enforce this
Section 3.6. If the Company elects to enforce this Section 3.6, it shall continue to pay the Employee’s base salary (at
the rate at which it was paying the Employee’s base salary on the date of termination) for as long as it wishes to
enforce this Section 3.6, up to one (1) year following termination of employment. The Company’s payment obligation
pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall apply regardless of the circumstances or reasons leading to the termination of the
Employee’s employment. If the Company fails to continue the Employee’s base salary pursuant to the terms of this
Section 3.6, the Employee’s restrictions set forth in this Section 3.6 shall be void thereafter.
3.7 Disparaging Comments. The Employee
agrees not to make critical, negative or disparaging remarks about the Company or its management, business or employment practices;
provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to prevent the Employee from responding fully and accurately to any question,
inquiry or request for information when required by applicable law or legal process, or to enforce this Agreement. The Company
agrees to direct its officers and directors not to make critical, negative or disparaging remarks about the Employee; provided
that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to prevent the Company or its officers or directors from responding fully and accurately
to any question, inquiry or request for information when required by applicable law or legal process, or to enforce this Agreement.
3.8 Acknowledgement, Waiver and Enforcement.
The Employee confirms that the restrictions contained in this Article 3 are reasonable and valid to protect the legitimate business
interests of the Company and the Subsidiaries, including its business plans and marketing and commercialization strategies. The
Employee hereby agrees and acknowledges that it would be extremely difficult to measure the damages that might result from any
breach of any of the covenants of the Employee contained herein and that any breach of any of the covenants of the Employee might
result in irreparable injury to the business for which monetary damages could not adequately compensate. If a breach of any of
the covenants of the Employee occurs, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other rights or remedies the Company may
have at law or in equity, to have an injunction issued by any competent court (without the need to post a bond) enjoining and restricting
the Employee and all other parties involved therein from continuing such breach.
3.9 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, if any applicable law, court or governmental entity shall reduce the time period or scope during which the Employee shall
be prohibited from engaging in any competitive or soliciting activity described in this Article 3, the period of time or scope,
as the case may be, for which the Employee shall be prohibited shall be reduced to the maximum time or scope permitted by law.
3.10 Survival and Enforceability. It is
expressly agreed by the parties hereto that the provisions of this Article 3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and
the Employee’s employment.
ARTICLE 4 – DEATH; DISABILITY
4.1 Death. If the Employee dies while employed
under this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate immediately and the Company shall pay to the Employee’s estate, any
earned Base Salary and accrued vacation, if any, that is unpaid up to the date of his death.
4.2 Termination by Disability. The Company
may terminate this Agreement as a result of any mental or physical disability or illness which results in (a) the Employee being
unable to substantially perform his duties for a continuous period of 150 days or for periods aggregating 180 days within any period
of 365 days or (b) the Employee being subject to a permanent or indefinite inability to perform essential functions based on the
opinion of a qualified medical provider chosen by the Company. Termination will be effective on the date designated by the Company,
and the Employee will be paid his annual Base Salary, accrued vacation, if any, and benefits as set out in Section 2.4 through
the date of termination.
ARTICLE 5 - TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
5.1 Termination by Company for Cause. The
Company may terminate this Agreement for cause at any time without any prior notice. The Employee will be provided with any unpaid,
earned Base Salary incurred up to the date of termination. For the purposes of this Agreement, “cause” shall mean any
of: (a) a material breach by the Employee of the terms of this Agreement; (b) a conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere
to any felony or any other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; (c) the commission of any act of fraud or dishonesty,
or theft of or intentional damage to the property of the Company; (d) willful or intentional breach of the Employee’s fiduciary
duties to the Company; (e) the violation of a material policy of the Company as in effect from time to time; or (f) any act or
conduct that would constitute cause at common law.
5.2 Termination by Company for Other than
Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement and the Employee’s employment, for any reason without cause and provided
that the Employee executes a general release to be provided to the Company in form and substance acceptable to the Company, the
Company shall pay to the Employee an amount equal to six (6) months’ Base Salary as provided in Section 2.1 (the “Severance”)
plus accrued unused vacation, if any; provided that the Company shall not be required to pay the Severance in the event the Company
elects to enforce Section 3.6, and continues paying Employee’s salary pursuant to Section 3.6 in an amount no less than the
Severance amount.
5.3 Termination by Employee. The
Employee may terminate this Agreement and his employment at any time, for any reason, provided that the Employee provides the
Company with thirty (30) days’ prior written notice. The Employee agrees to use his best effort to assist the Company
to complete an effective reallocation of his responsibilities upon the giving of such notice. In case of Good Reason (as
defined below), the Company shall pay to the Employee: (i) the Severance; and (ii) accrued vacation time if any; provided
that the Company shall not be required to pay the Severance in the event the Company elects to enforce Section 3.6, and
continues paying Employee’s salary pursuant to Section 3.6 in an amount no less than the Severance amount. For purposes
of this Employment Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of: (1) A material diminution in the Employee's base
compensation; (2) A material diminution in the Employee's authority, duties, or responsibilities; or (3) Any other action or
inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of this Employment Agreement. For Good Reason to exist, the
Employee must provide notice to the Company of the existence of any of the foregoing conditions within ninety (90) days of
the initial existence of the condition, and the Company shall upon such notice have a period of forty-five (45) days during
which it may remedy the condition (and upon such remedy Good Reason shall be deemed not to have existed).
5.4 Limitation of Liability. The Employee
acknowledges, understands and agrees that the payments and other benefits provided for in this Article 5 represent the Company’s
maximum termination and severance obligations to the Employee. No other notice or severance or other payments or entitlements shall
apply except as specifically set forth herein. This provision shall remain in full force and effect unamended, notwithstanding
any other alterations to the terms and conditions of the Employee’s employment, unless agreed to by the Company in writing.
The Employee also acknowledges, understands and agrees that any such payment by the Company to the Employee on termination of the
Employee’s employment shall not prevent the Company from alleging cause for the termination.
5.5 Effect of Termination. Upon any termination
of this Agreement, the Employee shall immediately deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company all Confidential Information
and Company property which are in the possession, charge, control or custody of the Employee.
ARTICLE 6 - GENERAL
6.1 Release. Upon compliance with the applicable
termination provisions of this Agreement by the Company, the Employee agrees to deliver to the Company a full and final written
general release in form and substance acceptable to the Company.
6.2 Recitals. The parties agree that the
Recitals set out herein are true and accurate and shall form part of this Agreement.
6.3 Headings. The division of this Agreement
into articles and sections and the insertion of headings are for the convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction
or interpretation of this Agreement.
6.4 Assignment. This Agreement shall be
personal as to the Employee and shall not be assignable by the Employee subject to the terms herein. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and legal personal representatives of the Employee and
the successors and assigns of the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement, in its sole discretion, to any corporate affiliate
or Subsidiary of the Company.
6.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes
the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and cancels and supersedes any prior understandings
and agreements between the parties hereto with respect thereto, whether verbal or in writing. There are no other written or verbal
representations, warranties, terms, conditions, undertakings or collateral agreements, express, implied or statutory between the
parties.
6.6 Amendments. No amendment to this
Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by both of the parties hereto. The waiver
by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach by any party.
6.7 Severability. In the event any portion
of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the invalid or unenforceable portion or provision shall not affect any
other provision hereof and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the invalid provision had not been included. The
parties further agree that a court is expressly authorized to modify any unenforceable provision of this Agreement by making such
modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the parties hereto, which is to enforce the Agreement
and each of the provisions contained herein to the maximum extent permitted by law.
6.8 Further Acts. The parties shall do
all such further acts and things and provide all such assurances and deliver all such documents in writing as may be required,
from time to time in order to fully carry out the terms, provisions and intent of this Agreement.
6.9 Notice. Any demand, notice or other
communication to be given in connection with this Agreement shall be given in writing by personal delivery, electronic delivery
or by registered mail addressed to the recipient as follows:
Bionik Laboratories Corp.
483 Bay Street, N105
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C9
Telephone: (416) 640-7887
Email: ed@bioniklabs.com
Richard Russo
At the most recent address on file with
the Company
Email: rich_russojr@yahoo.com
or such other address or number as may
be designated by either party to the other in accordance herewith. Any notice given by personal delivery will be conclusively deemed
to have been given on the day of actual delivery of the notice and, if given by registered mail, on the third day, other than a
Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday in Ontario, Canada or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, following the deposit of the notice
in the mail. If the party giving any notice knows or ought reasonably to know of any difficulties with the postal system that might
affect the delivery of mail, any such notice may not be mailed but must be given by personal delivery. In the case of electronic
delivery, on the same day that it was sent if sent on a business day and the acknowledgement of receipt is received by the sender
before 5:00 p.m. (in the place of receipt) on such day, and otherwise on the first business day thereafter.
6.10 Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that any action or proceeding related to this Agreement must be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, and for that purpose hereby submits to the jurisdiction of such Massachusetts court.
6.11 Section 409A. This Agreement is
intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and will be interpreted, administered and operated in a
manner consistent with that intent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at the time of the Employee’s
separation from service with the Company he is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code (and
the regulations thereunder) and any payments or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such separation from
service are subject to Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will defer the commencement of the payment of any such
payments or benefits hereunder (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to the
Employee) until the date that is six months following the Employee’s separation from service with the Company (or the
earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A of the Code), and the Company will pay any such delayed amounts in a lump
sum at such time. If any other payments of money or other benefits due to the Employee hereunder could cause the application
of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payments or other benefits shall be deferred if
deferral will make such payment or other benefits compliant under Section 409A of the Code, or otherwise such payment or
other benefits shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Company, that does not cause
such an accelerated or additional tax. To the extent any reimbursements or in-kind benefits due to the Employee under this
Agreement constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code, any such reimbursements or in-kind
benefits shall be paid to the Employee in a manner consistent with Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv). Each payment made
under this Agreement shall be designated as a “separate payment” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
References to “termination of employment” and similar terms used in this Agreement are intended to refer to
“separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code to the extent necessary to comply with
Section 409A of the Code. Whenever a payment under this Agreement may be paid within a specified period, the actual date of
payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company. In no event may the Employee,
directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement. Any provision in this
Agreement providing for any right of offset or set-off by the Company shall not permit any offset or set-off against payments
of “non-qualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code or other amounts or payments to
the extent that such offset or set-off would result in any violation of Section 409A or adverse tax consequences to the
Employee under Section 409A.
6.12 Independent Legal Advice. The Employee
acknowledges that he has been advised to seek independent legal counsel in respect of the Agreement and the matters contemplated
herein. To the extent that he declines to receive independent legal counsel in respect of the Agreement, he waives the right, should
a dispute later develop, to rely on his lack of independent legal counsel to avoid his obligations, to seek indulgences from the
Company or to otherwise attack the integrity of the Agreement and the provisions thereof, in whole or in part.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been
executed by the parties hereto as of the date first written above.
| |
BIONIK LABORATORIES CORP. |
| |
| Monday, Oct 26, 2020 |
|
| |
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By: |
/s/ Eric Dusseux |
| |
Name: |
Eric Dusseux |
| |
Title: |
CEO |
| |
| |
/s/ Richard Russo |
| |
NAME: |
Richard Russo |
