Document:

EXHIBIT 4.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

OF

SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

OF

VIZCONNECT, INC.

 

Pursuant to Section 78.1955 of the Nevada Revised Statutes

 

VizConnect, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Corporation”), certifies that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation (as further amended from time to time, the “Articles of Incorporation”), and in accordance with the provisions of Section 78.1955 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, as amended (the “NRS”), the Board of Directors, on February 10, 2015, adopted the following resolution creating a series of its preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share:

 

RESOLVED, that (1) pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby designates three (3) shares of the preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation as “Series A Preferred Stock”, and the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other rights of the Series A Preferred Stock and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, be, and they hereby are, as set forth in this certificate of designation (this “Certificate of Designation”), and (2) in connection therewith, the officers of the Corporation be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed on behalf of the Corporation and in its name to execute and to file this Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada:

 

TERMS OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

 

Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

“Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and its staff.

 

	 
	
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“Common Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and stock of any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Holder” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.

 

“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

“Securities” means the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Series A Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for business.

 

“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

Section 2. Designation, Amount and Par Value. The series of preferred stock created hereunder shall be designated as its Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares so designated shall be three (3) which shall not be subject to increase without the unanimous written consent of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”). Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.001 per share.

 

Section 3. Dividends. The Holders shall not be entitled to receive, and the Corporation shall not pay to the Holders, any dividend or distribution.

 

	 
	
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Section 4. Conversion. The Holders shall not be entitled to convert the Series A Preferred Stock into Common Stock.

 

Section 5. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law or expressly provided herein, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote in conjunction with the Common Stock on all matters submitted or required to be submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation (the “Voting Event”). Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to such number of votes that equal the total number of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote on such Voting Event (the “Vote Multiplier”) as of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote on such matters or, if no such record date is established, at the date such vote is taken or any written consent of stockholders is solicited. In each such case, except as otherwise required by law or expressly provided herein, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock shall vote together and not as separate classes.

 

Section 6. Liquidation. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “Liquidation”), for each share of Series A Preferred Stock, the Holders shall not be entitled to receive any amount out of the assets, whether capital or surplus, of the Corporation.

 

Section 7. Redemption. The Series A Preferred Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the Corporation without the written consent of the Holders.

 

Section 8. Miscellaneous.

 

a) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Conversion, shall be in writing and delivered personally, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Corporation, at the address set forth below:

 

VizConnect, Inc.

136 Dwight Road

Longmeadow, Massachusetts 01106

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

 

Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the facsimile number or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Corporation.

 

Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.

 

	 
	
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b) Lost or Mutilated Series A Preferred Stock Certificate. If a Holder’s Series A Preferred Stock certificate shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Corporation shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated certificate, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, a new certificate for the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such certificate, and of the ownership thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation.

 

c) Waiver. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder of a breach of any provision of this Certificate of Designation shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Certificate of Designation or a waiver by any other Holders. The failure of the Corporation or a Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Certificate of Designation on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party (or any other Holder) of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Certificate of Designation on any other occasion. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder must be in writing.

 

d) Severability. If any provision of this Certificate of Designation is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Certificate of Designation shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any Person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other Persons and circumstances. If it shall be found that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder violates the applicable law governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum rate of interest permitted under applicable law.

 

e) Headings. The headings contained herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Certificate of Designation and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

f) Status of Converted Series A Preferred Stock. If any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be reacquired by the Corporation, such shares shall resume the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and shall no longer be designated as Series A Preferred Stock.

 

RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Chairman, the president or any vice-president, and the secretary or any assistant secretary, of the Corporation be and they hereby are authorized and directed to prepare and file this Certificate of Designation in accordance with the foregoing resolution and the provisions of Delaware General Corporation law.

 

	 
	
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate this 10th day of February, 2015.

 

 

	
 

	

	
 

	
 

	
Edward Carroll

	
 

	
 

	
 

	
 

	
 

	

	
 

	
 

	
Brian Dee

	
 

	
 

	
 

	
 

	
 

	

	
 

	
 

	
Paul Cooleen

	
 

 

 

5EX-10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 
  

 
 January 28, 2015 
 Bob
Tavares 
 16541 Redmond Way NE #453 
 Redmond, WA 98052 

Dear Bob: 
 I am pleased to offer you a position with API
Technologies Corp. (the “Company”) as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter, the effective date of your employment shall be the date that is four (4) calendar weeks
from the date of your execution of this letter or such sooner date as agreed upon by the undersigned parties to this letter (the “Effective Date”). This letter sets forth the terms and conditions of the Company’s offer of employment
to you. 
 1. Position. During the term of your employment, you shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. You shall also be appointed to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) on the Effective Date. Thereafter, at each annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders during the term of
your employment, the Board of Directors will nominate you to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. Your service as a member of the Board of Directors will be subject to any required stockholder approval. Upon the termination of your
employment for any reason, you will be deemed to have resigned from the Board of Directors voluntarily, without any further action required by you, as of the end of your employment, and you will, at the Board of Directors’ request, execute any
documents necessary to reflect such resignation. Your principal place of employment shall be located at 4705 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida or at such other location as agreed upon by the undersigned parties to this letter.

 2. Base Salary. You will be paid an initial annual base salary of $520,000 (“Base Salary”), which will be paid on a
semi-monthly basis in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) shall review your Base Salary at least annually, and you shall be entitled to such
increases in Base Salary, if any, as may be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. Your Base Salary will be subject to reduction only in conjunction with, and in proportion to, reductions in the base salaries of other senior executives
of the Company. 
 3. Incentive Compensation. 

(a) Cash Incentive. You will be eligible to receive an annual cash incentive (“Cash Incentive”) payable for the achievement
of performance goals established by the 

  
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Committee with your consultation. Your target Cash Incentive will be 70% of your Base Salary and your maximum Cash Incentive will be 100% of your Base Salary, both based on specified levels of
performance goals being achieved. The actual earned Cash Incentive, if any, payable to you for any performance period will depend upon the extent to which the applicable performance goals specified by the Committee are achieved and will be decreased
or increased for under- or over-performance. Receipt of the Cash Incentive is contingent on your continued employment with the Company through the date of payment. Payment of the Cash Incentive for any fiscal year of the Company will be made within
two and one-half months after the end of such fiscal year. The performance period for any Cash Incentive award shall be the Company’s fiscal year. You will be entitled to a minimum Cash Incentive award for the Company’s fiscal year ending
November 30, 2015, of at least $100,000. 
 (b) Equity Incentive. You will be eligible to receive an annual equity incentive
(“Equity Incentive”) granted for the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee with your consultation. Any such Equity Incentive (and the terms thereof, including any accelerated vesting based upon the performance of
the Company’s common stock) shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that your target Equity Incentive will be 75% of your Base Salary, based on specified levels of performance goals being achieved. The
actual earned Equity Incentive, if any, payable to you for any performance period will depend upon the extent to which the applicable performance goals specified by the Committee are achieved and will be decreased or increased for under- or
over-performance. Receipt of the Equity Incentive is contingent on your continued employment with the Company through the date of payment. 

4. Signing Bonus. 
 (a)
Cash Bonus. On the Effective Date the Company shall pay you, in cash, a signing bonus of $360,000 (the “Signing Bonus”); provided, however, that if your employment with the Company is terminated for Cause (as defined below)
(i) prior to the date that is ten (10) months after the Effective Date, you shall repay to the Company, within thirty (30) days of such termination, the full amount of the Signing Bonus; and (ii) on or following the date that is
ten (10) months after the Effective Date, but prior to the date that is twenty (20) months after the Effective Date, you shall repay to the Company an amount equal to (A) $10,000 multiplied by (B) the remainder of (1) twenty
(20) subtracted by (2) the number of whole months after the Effective Date that have elapsed before the date of such termination. No repayment of the Signing Bonus shall be required in the event of a termination of your employment with the
Company on or following the date that is twenty (20) months following the Effective Date. 
 (b) Initial Grants. On the
Effective Date, the Committee shall grant to you, pursuant to the Amended and Restated API Technologies Corp. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the following (the “Initial Grant”): 

(i) Restricted Stock Unit Grant. Restricted Stock Units (as that term is defined in the Plan) covering 227,000 shares of Common Stock
(as defined in the Plan) (the “RSU Grant”), which shall fully vest and be paid on the earliest of (A) one year from the Effective Date, (B) the date on which the Company terminates your employment for any reason other than for
Cause, or (C) the date on which you resign for Good Reason (as defined below); and 

  
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 (ii) Option Grant. Options (as that term is defined in the Plan) covering 567,500 shares
of Common Stock, which shall (A) have an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of the Common Stock on the Effective Date, (B) have a term of ten (10) years from the Effective Date, (C) be
Incentive Stock Options (as defined in the Plan) to the maximum extent allowed by the limit specified in Section 9.1(b) of the Plan and Non-statutory Stock Options (as defined in the Plan) to the extent such Options exceed such limit, and
(D) fully vest and become exercisable on the earliest of (1) one year from the Effective Date, (2) the date on which the Company terminates your employment for any reason other than for Cause, or (3) the date on which you resign
for Good Reason. 
 All shares of Common Stock subject to the RSU Grant and the Options shall be registered by the Company on Form S-8 prior to the vesting
thereof. A copy of the Company’s forms of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, Incentive Stock Option Agreement and Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement are attached to this letter. 

5. Relocation & Moving Expenses. The Company shall reimburse you for reasonable moving expenses incurred by you and your
family with respect to their relocation to your place of principal employment with the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not reimburse you for any payment obligations owing as of the Effective Date with respect to your primary
residence. In addition, for a maximum of six (6) months commencing on the Effective Date, the Company shall reimburse you for reasonable costs incurred by you for temporary housing in the area of your place of principal employment with the
Company. 
 6. Life & AD&D Insurance. The Company will provide basic life insurance and accidental death and
dismemberment insurance coverage for you that is equal to two (2) times your Base Salary. The Company will pay 100% of the premiums to maintain this coverage throughout your employment. 

7. Medical & Dental Insurance. The Company will provide medical and dental insurance to you and your covered dependents. The
Company will pay 100% of the premiums to maintain this coverage throughout your employment. 
 8. Other Employee Benefits. As a
full-time employee of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in other employee benefit plans, including vacation and other benefits that are generally made available to other employees of the Company, subject to the terms, conditions and
eligibility requirements of such plans and the Company’s policies; provided, however, that you will be credited four (4) weeks of vacation time on the Effective Date and will accrue four (4) weeks of vacation time per year, with no
cap on accrual thereof. It is understood that no perquisites, including, but not limited to, an auto allowance, will be provided to you by the Company. 

9. At-Will Employment. The Company is excited about your joining and looks forward to a beneficial and productive relationship.
Nevertheless, you should be aware that your employment with the Company is for no specified period and constitutes at-will employment. As 

  
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a result, you are free to resign at any time, for any reason or for no reason. Similarly, the Company is free to conclude its employment relationship with you at any time, with or without cause,
and with or without notice. We request that, in the event of resignation, you give the Company at least two (2) weeks’ notice. Also, you should note that the Company may modify job titles, salaries and benefits from time to time as it
deems necessary; provided, however, that the foregoing will not impair any of your rights under this letter. 
 10. Severance. 

(a) Our at-will relationship notwithstanding, if the Company terminates your employment with the Company for any reason other than for Cause
or you resign for Good Reason (as defined below), in each case in anticipation of or within twenty-four (24) months after a Change in Control (as defined below) (an “Involuntary Termination”), and you sign and deliver to the Company
within fifty-two (52) days after such Involuntary Termination (or termination contemplated by Section 10(c)), and do not revoke within any applicable seven- (7-) day revocation period (or other revocation period set forth by the
Company ending prior to the sixtieth (60th) day after such Involuntary Termination (or termination contemplated by Section 10(c)) (such time period being the “Release Deadline Period”), a general release of claims in the
Company’s favor in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company (a “Release”), then you shall be entitled to receive as severance pay continuation of your Base Salary, payable in accordance with the Company’s
standard payroll policies as in effect on the date of such Involuntary Termination (and in no event less frequently than monthly), including compliance with applicable withholding, for a period of twelve (12) months (such period is hereinafter
referred to as the “Severance Period”). Payment of this severance pay shall begin on the first regularly scheduled pay day occurring after your Release becomes effective (i.e., after your Release has been signed and the applicable
revocation period has elapsed without revocation) (the “Payment Commencement Date”), but in any event no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which your Involuntarily Termination occurs; provided,
however, that the first such payment shall include any installments of severance pay that you would have received prior to such Payment Commencement Date had your Release been effective on the date of your Involuntary Termination. However, if the
Release Deadline Period spans two (2) calendar years, then the Payment Commencement Date will in any event be in the second (2nd) calendar year. In addition, any outstanding equity grants or awards held by you immediately prior to the
effectiveness of such Involuntary Termination will immediately vest and settle in full and such equity grants shall be exercisable for one (1) year following such Involuntary Termination. 

(b) In the event of an Involuntary Termination, subject to the same conditions applicable to the receipt of any severance payments otherwise
payable during any Severance Period as set forth in Section 10(a), the Company will pay you the amount, if any, that would have been paid to you under Section 3 and/or the Company’s then active bonus plan had you
remained employed by the Company for the full bonus plan performance period, based on the actual performance of you and/or the Company, as applicable, against the performance metrics applicable thereto, provided, however, that any such amount
otherwise earned shall be prorated based on the ratio of the number of days you were actually employed by the Company during the performance period to the total number of days comprising the performance period as a whole. Such prorated bonus, if
any, will be paid at its regularly scheduled time. 

  
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 (c) If the Company terminates your employment with the Company for any reason other than for
Cause or your employment terminates as a result of your resignation for Good Reason, in either case other than in anticipation of or within twenty-four (24) months after a Change in Control, and you sign, deliver to the Company and do not
revoke a Release within the Release Deadline Period, then you shall be entitled to receive as severance pay continuation of your Base Salary, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies as in effect on the date of such
termination (and in no event less frequently than monthly), including compliance with applicable withholding, for a period of twelve (12) months, which shall be the Severance Period for all purposes under this letter. Payment of this severance
pay shall begin on the Payment Commencement Date but in any event no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which your employment terminates; provided, however, that the first such payment shall include any
installments of severance pay that you would have received prior to such Payment Commencement Date had your Release been effective on the date of such termination. However, if the Release Deadline Period spans two (2) calendar years, then the
Payment Commencement Date will in any event be in the second (2nd) calendar year. 
 (d) You hereby agree that the severance benefits
provided for in this Section 10 are the only severance benefits to which you may be entitled in the event of the termination of your employment with the Company, and that such benefits will be reduced dollar for dollar by any
severance-related amount the Company is required to pay you by law, corporate policy or other source that would otherwise duplicate any portion of the severance benefits provided herein. 

(e) The following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this letter: 

(i) “Affiliate” shall mean any person or entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company, by
reason of equity security ownership, contract or otherwise, as of the date of this letter, or any entity controlled by any such person or entity, by reason of equity security ownership, contract or otherwise, whether such control exists as of the
date of this letter or is established at any point in the future. 
 (ii) “Cause” shall mean (A) a material act of
dishonesty committed by you in connection with your responsibilities as an employee of the Company; (B) your conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, (1) a misdemeanor involving an act of moral turpitude or (2) a felony;
(C) any gross or willful misconduct (including action or failures to act) by you that causes material harm to the business or reputation of the Company; (D) loss of any security or other clearance required to be maintained due to the
Company’s contracting with government agencies; or (E) your (1) material failure to discharge your employment duties or (2) material breach of this letter or the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined below), in each case of
clauses (1) and (2) after you have received a written demand for performance from the Board of Directors (or notice of non-performance, where applicable) specifying the breach of employment duties, and your failure to cure such breach
(where such breach is curable) within thirty (30) days of the date of such notice from the Board of Directors. 

  
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 (iii) “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following with
respect to the Company following the Effective Date: 
 (A) Any “person”, as the term is used in Section 3 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than a Company employee benefit plan), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” as defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act, directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote in the election of directors; 

(B) Individuals who constitute the Board of Directors (the “Incumbent Board”) on the Effective Date, cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof; provided, however, that (1) any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election proxies shall have been solicited by the Board of Directors or who shall have been
recommended for election by the Board of Directors or (2) any individual elected or appointed by the Board of Directors to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors caused by death or resignation (but not by removal) or to fill newly created
directorships shall be for purposes of this Section 10(e)(iii)(B) considered as though he or she were a member of the Incumbent Board; 

(C) The consummation of a plan of reorganization, merger, or consolidation, in which the stockholders of the Company own less than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity; or 
 (D) A sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, a
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a similar transaction. 
 (f) “Good Reason” shall mean your resignation within thirty
(30) days following the expiration of any Company cure period (discussed below) following the occurrence of one or more of the following, without your consent: (i) the assignment to you of any duties, or the reduction of your duties,
either of which results in a material diminution of your authority, duties, or responsibilities with the Company in effect immediately prior to such assignment, or the removal of you from such position and responsibilities; (ii) a material
change in the geographic location at which you must perform services (in other words, the relocation of you to a facility that is more than fifty (50) miles from your current work location); (iii) the failure of the Company to obtain
assumption of this letter by any successor or assign; (iv) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this letter; (v) a material reduction in the amount of your then current Base Salary or other compensation, other than any
reduction that is also applicable in a substantially similar manner and proportion to the other senior executives of the Company and/or (vi) the failure of the Company to nominate you to the Board of Directors in accordance with
Section 1. You agree you will not resign for Good Reason without first providing the Company with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within thirty (30) days of the initial
existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and a reasonable cure period of not less than thirty (30) days following the date of such notice. 

(g) To the extent that any payment or distribution to or for your benefit pursuant to the terms of this letter or any other plan, arrangement
or agreement with the Company, any of its affiliated companies, any person whose actions result in a change of ownership or effective control covered by Section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”),
or any person affiliated with the Company or such person, 

  
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whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this letter or otherwise (the “Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax (the “Excise
Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Company shall reduce the Payments to the amount that is (after taking into account federal, state, local and social security taxes at the maximum marginal rates, including any excise
taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Code) one dollar less than the amount of the Payments that would subject you to the Excise Tax (the “Safe Harbor Cap”) if, and only if, such reduction would result in you receiving a higher net
after-tax amount. Unless you shall have given prior written notice specifying a different order to the Company to effectuate the Safe Harbor Cap, the Payments to be reduced hereunder will be determined in a manner which has the least economic cost
to you and, to the extent the economic cost is equivalent, will be reduced in the inverse order of when the Payments would have been made to you until the reduction specified herein is achieved. Your right to specify the order of reduction of the
Payments shall apply only to the extent that it does not directly or indirectly alter the time or method of payment of any amount that is deferred compensation subject to (and not exempt from) Section 409A of the Code. 

11. Retirement. You shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) deferred compensation arrangement, subject to the
terms thereof as in effect from time to time. 
 12. Section 409A. The parties intend that this letter and the payments and
benefits provided hereunder be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the maximum extent possible, whether pursuant to the short-term deferral exception described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), the involuntary
separation pay plan exception described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or otherwise. To the extent Code Section 409A is applicable to this letter, the parties intend that this letter and any payments and benefits thereunder
comply with the deferral, payout and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this letter shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with
such intentions; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or its agents, parents, subsidiaries, Affiliates or successors be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on you pursuant to Code Section 409A
or for any damages incurred by you as a result of this letter (or the payments or benefits hereunder) failing to comply with, or be exempt from, Code Section 409A. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and notwithstanding any other
provision of this letter to the contrary: 
 (a) To the extent Code Section 409A is applicable to this letter, a termination of
employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this letter providing for the payment of amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from
service,” as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h), after giving effect to the presumptions contained therein (and without regard to the optional alternative definitions available therein), and, for purposes of any such provision of
this letter, references to “terminate,” “termination,” “termination of employment” and like terms shall mean separation from service; 

(b) If at the time your employment hereunder terminates, you are a “specified employee,” as defined in Treas. Reg.
Section 1.409A-1(i) and determined using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time, or if none, the default methodology, 

  
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then, to the extent necessary to avoid subjecting you to an additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A, any and all amounts payable under this letter on account of such termination
of employment that would (but for this provision) be payable within six (6) months following the date of termination, shall instead be paid in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh (7th) month following the date on which your
employment terminates or, if earlier, upon your death, except (i) to the extent of amounts that do not constitute a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b) (including without limitation by reason of
the safe harbor set forth in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), as determined by the Company in its reasonable good faith discretion), (ii) benefits which qualify as excepted welfare benefits pursuant to Treas. Reg.
Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), and (iii) other amounts or benefits that are not subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A; and 

(c) Each payment made under this letter shall be treated as a separate payment and the right to a series of installment payments under this
letter shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. 
 13. Disclosure Requirement. You have disclosed to the Company
any and all agreements relating to your prior employment that may affect your eligibility to be employed by the Company or limit the manner in which you may be employed. The Company understands that such agreements will not prevent you from
accepting your position and/or performing the duties of your position, and you represent that such is the case. 
 14. Rules of Workplace
Conduct. As a Company employee, you will be expected to abide by the Company’s rules and standards. Specifically, you will be required to sign an acknowledgment that you have read and that you understand the Company’s rules of conduct.
Moreover, you agree that, during the term of your employment with the Company, you will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which the Company is now involved or
becomes involved during the term of your employment, nor will you engage in any other activities that conflict with your obligations to the Company. Similarly, you agree not to bring any third party confidential information to the Company, including
that of your former employer, and that in performing your duties for the Company you will not in any way utilize any such information. 

15. Execution of Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of your employment, you are also required to sign and comply with a
Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which is incorporated by reference herein and which requires, among other provisions, the assignment of patent rights to any invention made during your
employment at the Company, and non-disclosure of Company proprietary information. Please note that we must receive your signed Confidentiality Agreement before your first day of employment. 

16. Clawback. Any bonuses, incentive or equity based compensation awards granted to you hereunder will be subject to any executive
compensation recovery policy adopted by the Company pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or the NASDAQ Listing Rules to the extent such requirements become applicable to the Company. 

  
 4705 S. Apopka Vineland
Road, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida 32819 

 17. Miscellaneous. 

(a) Governing Law. This letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard
to conflicts of laws principles thereof that would direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. 
 (b) Entire
Agreement/Amendments. This letter, along with the Confidentiality Agreement and any agreements relating to the Initial Grant, set forth the terms of your employment with the Company and supersede any prior or contemporaneous representations or
agreements including, but not limited to, any representations made during your recruitment, interviews or pre-employment negotiations, whether written or oral. This letter, including, but not limited to, its at-will employment provision, may not be
modified or amended except by a written agreement signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors and you. 
 (c) Assignment. This
letter, and all of your rights and duties hereunder, shall not be assignable or delegable by you. Any purported assignment or delegation by you in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect. This
letter may be assigned by the Company to a person or entity which is an Affiliate or a successor in interest to substantially all of the business operations of the Company. Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder
shall become the rights and obligations of such Affiliate or successor person. 
 (d) Successors and Assigns. This letter shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, legatees and permitted assigns. 

(e) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this letter on any occasion shall not be
considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this letter. 

(f) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this letter shall be or become invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this letter shall not be affected thereby. 

(g) Withholding. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this letter such federal, state and local taxes as may be
required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. 
 (h) Counterparts. This letter may be signed in counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. 
 (i)
Legal Fees. The Company shall reimburse you for the legal fees incurred by you in connection with the negotiation and execution of this letter, up to a maximum of $10,000. 

  
 4705 S. Apopka Vineland
Road, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida 32819 

 (j) Submission to Jurisdiction. THE PARTIES HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS LOCATED IN ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA IN CONNECTION WITH ALL DISPUTED MATTERS BASED UPON, RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS LETTER OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. 

(k) Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES AND
COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE), ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE, CLAIM OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS LETTER OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW
EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE. 
 This offer of employment will terminate if it is not accepted, signed and
returned within seven (7) days of the date of this letter. To accept the Company’s offer, please sign and date this letter in the space provided below. A duplicate original is enclosed for your records. 

We look forward to your favorable reply and to working with you at API Technologies Corp. 

 

	
	Sincerely,
	
	 /s/ Brian Kahn

	Brian Kahn
	Chairman of the Board of Directors

  

					
	Agreed to and accepted:
		
	By:		 /s/ Robert Tavares

			Name:		Bob Tavares
			Date:		29/Jan/2015

 Enclosures 
 Duplicate Original
Letter 
 Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement 
 Form
of Incentive Stock Option Agreement 
 Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement 

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Agreement 

  
 4705 S. Apopka Vineland
Road, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida 32819

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