BAKBONE SOFTWARE INC
OFFER LETTER FABRICE HELLIKER
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.9
<SEQUENCE>10
<FILENAME>dex109.htm
<DESCRIPTION>OFFER LETTER FABRICE HELLIKER
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Offer Letter Fabrice Helliker</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Exhibit 10.9 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="48%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="47%"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top">

<IMG SRC="g75748g48n60.jpg" ALT="LOGO"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">10145 Pacific Heights Blvd.</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Suite 900</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">San Diego, CA 92121</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Phone: (858) 450-9009</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Fax: (858) 450-9929</FONT></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="8%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Memo&nbsp;to:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Fabrice Helliker</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">From:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Keith Rickard</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">December 18, 2003</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Subject:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Relocation to San Diego</B></FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Fabrice, </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Following our discussions I am documenting the details of the package that we have agreed to
regarding your relocation to San Diego as Vice President of Engineering for BakBone Software. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The details are as follows: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Duration of stay </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The
assumed duration of your stay in San Diego will be a minimum of 36 months. After the 36 month period BakBone agrees to pay reasonable costs (based upon receipts) of moving you and your family back to the United Kingdom (if desired). </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Start date </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">You will be relocating to the United States in January 2004, assuming that
the necessary work visa can be completed in time. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2"><B>Compensation </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Your compensation
effective when you relocate to San Diego will be as follows: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="75%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="82%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%"></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Base salary:</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>$</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>200,000</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Bonus compensation at 100%:</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>50,000</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Total Compensation:</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>$</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>250,000&nbsp;USD</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE ALIGN="right" COLOR="#000000"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The details of the
Bonus portion of your compensation will need to be confirmed, but it is assumed that they will be substantially similar to your current compensation package. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Your compensation package will next be reviewed on April 1, 2005. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Relocation </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">You will receive a cash allowance of $80,000 for all costs associated with your relocation. No additional expenses will be covered except as outlined
in this letter. No receipts will be required to cover this one time allowance. This cash allowance will be paid to you in 3 equal payments, the first of which will be paid at the time of your relocation to San Diego. The other two installments will
be paid 12 and 24 months respectively after your relocation to San Diego. </FONT></P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Visits to the UK </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">During the 3 year period you and your direct family will be entitled to one trip back to the UK each year. BakBone will pay
all air and ground transportation for you and your immediate family. You will be responsible for accommodation costs, meals, etc. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Accountancy assistance </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">BakBone will pay for the reasonable cost of accountancy services (in the UK and the US) to assist you with tax planning, preparation, etc. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Termination without cause </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">If your employment is terminated by BakBone without cause at any time during
the 3 year period, BakBone will pay the reasonable cost of moving you and your family back to the UK (if desired by you), based upon appropriate receipts. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Furthermore, should your employment be terminated without cause, BakBone Software will provide you with 3 (three) months salary as severance payment.
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Temporary living </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">You and your family will be entitled to use the BakBone corporate apartment,
at no cost to yourself, for a period not to exceed 3 months. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">You will be provided with a car rental for a period of one month while you and your family relocate to San Diego. If you are unable to purchase a car during this period due to insurance etc. considerations, then the period of car rental
will be extended as required. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">BakBone will cover living and
meal expenses for a period of one month for you and your family while you relocate to San Diego. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Benefits </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">You will participate in the standard US benefits package. Please see the attached Summary Plan Document (SPD) for information on medical co-pays,
deductibles, insurance choices and all other additional benefits. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">Your vacation accruals will be based upon the current BakBone US employee policy, and will take into account your total years of service (including Willow and NetVault (UK) Ltd.) Your current accrued vacation hours will be transferred to
Human Resources and Payroll in the US office to ensure proper accruals. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Green Card </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">BakBone
Software will pay the costs associated with applying for all necessary work permits on your behalf. BakBone will also sponsor you for a Green Card and pay the necessary fees associated with obtaining a Green Card for you. These processes will be
managed through a joint effort with Human Resources and BakBone&#146;s current Immigration attorneys, Larrabee and Zimmerman. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>BakBone Stock Options </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In addition to any stock options previously provided to you, you will receive an additional <U>200,000</U> (two hundred thousand) options of BakBone
Software shares. These share options will be vested over 4 years, with 25% vesting on each anniversary of the grant date. </FONT></P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Fab, I look forward to your moving to San Diego, and to working with you to build BakBone into a world
class software company! </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Regards, </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="23%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="73%"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Keith Rickard</FONT></P><HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Keith Rickard</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Chief Executive Officer and President</FONT></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="84%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="38%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="38%"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Accepted&nbsp;By:</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Fabrice Helliker</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">January 7, 2004</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(Fabrice Helliker)</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</BODY></HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
