Termination Without Cause by the Company During the term of this Agreement and at times following the Company’s successfully consummating its first equity financing of $10 million or more in gross proceeds following the Effective Date (the “First Financing”), if the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause pursuant to Paragraph 4(d) of this Agreement (a “Termination without Cause”), under circumstances that constitute a Involuntary Separation from Service with the Company (as defined for purposes of §409A of the Internal Revenue Code), the Company shall pay the Executive that ratable amount of Annual Compensation which the Executive would earn in 12 months based on Executive’s then-current salary and target bonus level (the “Severance Period”). Executive shall continue to participate in all other benefit plans during the Severance Period, except to the extent prohibited by law or any applicable employee benefit plan. All Stock Options granted to Executive which have vested prior to the final day of Executive’s employment under this Agreement (the “Termination Date”) shall remain vested and exercisable for the exercise period set forth in Executive’s Option Award Agreement. The Company will continue to vest Stock Options and stock awards during the Severance Period in accordance with the following vesting schedule:
(1) If a Termination without Cause occurs during the first year of the term of this Agreement, all unvested Stock Options that would have vested during the calendar quarter within which the Termination without Cause occurs shall vest and become exercisable on the Termination Date for the exercise period set forth in Executive’s Option Award Agreement and, in addition, all unvested Stock Options that would have vested during the calendar quarter after the occurrence of the Termination without Cause also shall vest and become exercisable for the exercise period set forth in Executive’s Option Award Agreement; and
(2) If a Termination without Cause occurs during the second year of the term of this Agreement, all unvested Stock Options that would have vested during the calendar quarter within which the Termination without Cause occurs shall vest and become exercisable on the Termination Date for the exercise period set forth in Executive’s Option Award Agreement and, in addition, all unvested Stock Options that would have vested during the two (2) calendar quarters after the occurrence of the Termination without Cause also shall vest and become exercisable for the exercise period set forth in Executive’s Option Award Agreement; and
(3) If a Termination without Cause occurs during the third year of the term of this Agreement or thereafter, all unvested Stock Options that would have vested during the calendar quarter within which the Termination without Cause occurs shall vest and become exercisable on the Termination Date for the exercise period set forth in Executive’s Option Award Agreement and, in addition, all unvested Stock Options that would have vested during the three (3) calendar quarters after the occurrence of the Termination without Cause also shall vest and become exercisable for the exercise period set forth in Executive’s Option Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(d), if Executive receives a Termination without Cause prior to the First Financing, Executive shall receive no severance. Payment of the Executive’s separation pay benefit under this Section 5(d), if any, shall be made as follows:
(i) Payment of the separation pay benefit shall commence as of the 30th day after the Executive’s Separation from Service, and shall continue in monthly installments thereafter until all 6 payments are made.
(ii) In the event the value of the separation pay benefit shall exceed two times the lesser of the Executive’s annualized compensation or the maximum amount that may be taken into account for qualified plan purposes (in each case, as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)), the excess shall not be paid as provided in (i), above, but instead shall be paid in 6 equal monthly installments commencing as of the first of the month after the date that is six months after the Executive’s Separation from Service date.
(iii) In no event shall payments be accelerated, nor shall the Executive be eligible to defer payments to a later date.
By the Company Without Cause During the Term, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Cause at any time. If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause following the initial Public Offering then, in addition to paying Executive the Final Compensation and subject to Executive’s compliance with Article 7 in all material respects, the Company shall: (a) continue to pay Executive the Base Salary at the rate in effect on the Termination Date during the Restricted Period, with the first payment being on the Company’s next regular payroll period which is at least eight (8) business days following the effective date of the Release (defined below) (provided that if the 60-day time period for the Release begins in one taxable year and ends in a subsequent taxable year, the first payment shall be paid in the subsequent taxable year (for example, if Executive terminates on December 1, then the first payment shall not be paid until on or after January 1 of the next year, regardless of when the Release is returned)); (b) continue Executive’s health insurance benefits for the Restricted Period (at a cost no less favorable than that paid by Executive immediately prior to the Termination Date) or the economic equivalent thereto if such continuation is not permissible under the terms of the Company’s health insurance plan or would otherwise expose the Company to tax or other penalties; and (c) pay Executive an amount equal to the pro rata amount of the Bonus Executive would have earned for the year in which the termination occurred, based on the Company’s performance for the entire fiscal year in which the termination occurred relative to the performance measurements that were pending at the time of termination and to be used to determine Executive’s bonus for such year. Any such prorated Bonus shall be payable at such time or times as bonuses are payable to the other executives of the Company (the benefits, which the parties acknowledge are not required by law, outlined in Section(s) 5.4(a), (b) and (c) are collectively referenced as the “Severance”). Any obligation of the Company to provide Executive the Severance is conditioned on Executive signing, delivering to the Company and not revoking a release, in a form acceptable to the Company (the “Release”), within sixty (60) days of his Termination Date, which Release in any event will require Executive to reaffirm his obligations and commitments to the Company under Section 7 of this Agreement.
Termination Without Cause The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Cause.
Termination by the Company Without Cause The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time without Cause. Any termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement which does not constitute a termination for Cause under Section 3(c) and does not result from the death or disability of the Executive under Section 3(a) or (b) shall be deemed a termination without Cause.
Termination by the Company Without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason (a) Employee shall not receive any of the benefits pursuant to this Section 5.2 unless he executes a general release in favor of the Company, in a form acceptable to the Company and substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Schedule B (the “Release”) within the consideration period specified therein (the “Release Review Period”) and until the Release becomes effective and can no longer be revoked by Employee under its terms. Employee’s ability to receive benefits pursuant to this Section 5.2 is further conditioned upon his: returning all Company property; complying with his post termination obligations under this Agreement and the Proprietary Information, Inventions and Non-Competition Agreement; and complying with the Release including without limitation any non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions contained therein.
(b) In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4.2 by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive as severance twelve months of his annual Base Salary then in effect, together with an additional amount calculated by dividing by 365 the number of days employed in the year of termination and multiplying that number by the amount of the Executive’s previous year’s bonus (if any), such amount to be paid in one lump sum on the date the Release becomes effective, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings, provided, however, that if the Release Review Period begins in one tax year and ends in a later tax year, the payments under this Section 5.2(b) will be made following the date that the Release is effective that occurs in the later tax year . Additionally, if Executive timely elects and remains eligible for continued coverage under COBRA, the Company, as part of this Agreement, will pay that portion of Executive’s COBRA premiums it was paying prior to the Separation Date for twelve (12) months.
(c) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4.2, and not for Cause, death or Disability, all unvested equity awards shall become fully vested, all unvested stock options shall become fully vested and exercisable and any ISO’s issued to Executive will automatically convert to a non-qualified options on the 91st day following termination, provided it has not been exercised, subject to the terms of the applicable stock plan and option agreement.
Termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment pursuant to the terms of this Agreement at any time for Cause (as defined below) by giving the Executive written notice of termination. Such termination shall become effective upon the giving of such notice. Upon any such termination for Cause, or in the event the Executive terminates his employment with the Company without Good Reason (as defined in Section 6(c)), then the Executive shall have no right to compensation, or reimbursement under Section 4, or to participate in any Executive benefit programs under Section 5, except as may otherwise be provided for by law, for any period subsequent to the effective date of termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean: (i) the Executive is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony related to the business of the Company; (ii) the Executive, in carrying out his duties hereunder, has acted with gross negligence or intentional misconduct resulting, in any case, in material harm to the Company; (iii) the Executive misappropriates Company funds or otherwise defrauds the Company including a material amount of money or property; (iv) the Executive breaches his fiduciary duty to the Company resulting in material profit to him, directly or indirectly; (v) the Executive materially breaches any agreement with the Company and fails to cure such breach within 10 days of receipt of notice, unless the act is incapable of being cured; (vi) the Executive breaches any provision of Section 8 or Section 9; (vii) the Executive becomes subject to a preliminary or permanent injunction issued by a United States District Court enjoining the Executive from violating any securities law administered or regulated by the SEC; (viii) the Executive becomes subject to a cease and desist order or other order issued by the SEC after an opportunity for a hearing; (ix) the Executive refuses to carry out a resolution adopted by the Company’s Board at a meeting in which the Executive was offered a reasonable opportunity to argue that the resolution should not be adopted; or (x) the Executive abuses alcohol or drugs in a manner that interferes with the successful performance of his duties.
Termination by the Company Without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason During the Term, if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d), or the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e), then the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Benefit. In addition, subject to the Executive signing a separation agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Separation Agreement and Release”) and the Separation Agreement and Release becoming fully effective, all within the time frame set forth in the Separation Agreement and Release but in no event more than 60 days after the Date of Termination:
(i) the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to nine months of the Executive’s Base Salary (the “Severance Amount”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive breaches any of the provisions contained in the Restrictive Covenants Agreement, all payments of the Severance Amount shall immediately cease; and
(ii) if the Executive properly elects to receive benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), nine months of COBRA premiums for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents at the Company’s normal rate of contribution for employees for the Executive’s coverage at the level in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination; provided, however, if the Company determines that it cannot pay such amounts without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), provided that the Executive is enrolled in the Company’s health care programs immediately prior to the Date of Termination, the Company will in lieu thereof provide to the Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the portion of the COBRA premiums for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents to continue the Executive’s group health coverage in effect on the Date of Termination at the Company’s normal rate of contribution for employee coverage at the level in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination for a period of nine months. For the avoidance of doubt, the taxable payments described above may be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to, continuation coverage under COBRA; and
(iii) the amounts payable under Section 4(b)(i) and (ii), to the extent taxable, shall be paid out in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice over nine months commencing on the first payroll date following the effective date of the Separation Agreement and Release and, in any case, within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, the Severance Amount to the extent it qualifies as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, shall begin to be paid no earlier than the first Company payroll date in the second calendar year and, in any case, by the last day of such 60-day period; provided, further, that the initial payment shall include a catch-up payment to cover amounts retroactive to the day immediately following the Date of Termination. Each payment pursuant to this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).
Termination Without Just Cause In the case of a termination of Executive’s employment hereunder Without Just Cause in accordance with Section 1.6.6, Executive shall be entitled to the following in lieu of any other compensation or benefits (under Section 1.4 of this Agreement or otherwise) from Employer:
(i) Executive shall receive Termination Compensation each month during the Compensation Continuance Period, subject, however, to Executive’s compliance with Executive’s Section 2 covenants (including, without limitation, compliance with the noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants of Section 2) for a one (1) year period following Executive’s Termination Date.
(ii) Employer shall use their best efforts to accelerate vesting of any unvested benefits of Executive under any employee stock-based or other benefit plan or arrangement to the extent permitted by Code Section 409A or other applicable law and the terms of such plan or arrangement.
(iii) Employer shall make available to Executive, at Employer’s cost, outplacement services by such entity or person as shall be designated by Employer, with the cost to Employer of such outplacement services not to exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).
(iv) During the Compensation Continuance Period, Executive shall either continue to participate (treating Executive as an “active employee” of Employer for this purpose) in the same group hospitalization plan, health care plan, dental care plan, life or other insurance or death benefit plan, and any other present or future similar group employee benefit plan or program for which officers of Employer generally are eligible, on the same terms as were in effect prior to Executive’s Termination Date, or, to the extent such participation is not permitted by any group plan insurer, under comparable individual plans and coverage (to the extent commercially available). The Termination Compensation and other benefits provided for in this Section 1.7.3 shall be paid by Employer in accordance with the standard payroll practices and procedures in effect prior to Executive’s Termination Date. If Executive breaches Executive’s obligations under Section 1.7.3 or Section 2 of this Agreement, Executive shall not be entitled to receive any further Termination Compensation or benefits pursuant to this Section 1.7.3 from and after the date of such breach.
Without Cause by the Company The Employment Term and this Agreement may be terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of Employee’s death or Disability) following the delivery by the Company of a Notice of Termination to Employee at least 30 days prior to such termination. If Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, Employee shall be entitled to receive:
1. the Accrued Obligations; and
2. subject to Employee’s continued compliance with Sections X, XI, XII, XIII and XIV of this Agreement, and execution and delivery within 60 days after termination of Employee’s employment of a release and waiver of all claims Employee may have against the Company, Aveon, their subsidiaries and affiliates, predecessors and successors, and their respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Release”), which release must be effective when delivered after giving effect to any post-execution revocation period described therein, (a) a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the full annual Base Salary then in effect, paid on the date the Release becomes irrevocable and effective in accordance with its terms, (b) the Annual Bonus for the year during which Employee’s employment is terminated paid on the date that Annual Bonuses are paid to the majority of other Company employees entitled to an Annual Bonus, however, if in the year of termination, the Hurdle is not attained, Employee will not be eligible for any future Annual Bonus notwithstanding any contrary provision in Section IV.A of this Agreement and (c) any unpaid Annual Bonus for any previously completed fiscal year, and shall have no claim to any Annual Bonus amount except as described in this Section VIII.C.2. Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or benefits under this Agreement. All other benefits, if any, due Employee following a termination pursuant to this Section VIII.C shall be determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company and any applicable statute or regulation; provided, however, that Employee shall not participate in any severance plan, policy or program of the Company or any affiliate of the Company. The expiration of the Employment Term on the last date of the Initial Employment Term or any Renewal Term thereof following proper advance notice as contemplated by Section I.B shall not be considered a termination without Cause by the Company and Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) the Pro Rata Bonus, if any, with respect to the year the Employment Term expired, (iii) any unpaid Annual Bonus for any previously completed fiscal year, and (iv) all other benefits, if any, as determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company and any applicable statute or regulation; provided, however, that Employee shall not participate in any severance plan, policy or program of the Company or any affiliate of the Company
Termination With or Without Cause Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the Authority shall have the right to terminate this Agreement without cause by providing the Consultant thirty (30) days’ notice by registered mail, return receipt requested, or overnight express mail. Any provisions of this Agreement which expressly or by implication are intended to survive its termination or expiration will survive and continue to bind the Parties. The Authority shall also have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately, without prior notice, if the Consultant incurs in negligence, abandonment of its obligations and/or breach of the terms of the Agreement. The Consultant may terminate this Agreement if it determines any part of the services rendered hereunder would be in conflict with law or professional standards.
