Effective Term 1. The term of this Agreement shall be coterminous with the research period of the Collaborative Research.
2. The provisions of Article 21, Article 22, Article 28, and Article 29 shall survive the expiration of this Agreement.
Notice and Date of Termination (a) Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by the Executive shall be communicated by a written notice of termination to the other party (the “Notice of Termination”). Where applicable, the Notice of Termination shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated. Unless the Board or a committee thereof, in writing, provides a longer notice period, a Notice of Termination by the Executive alleging a termination for Good Reason must be made within one hundred eighty (180) days of the act or failure to act that the Executive alleges to constitute Good Reason.
(b) The date of the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (the “Date of Termination”) shall be determined as follows:
(i) if the Executive’s Separation from Service is at the volition of the Company, then the Date of Termination shall be the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination by the Company other than for Cause, shall not be less than two (2) weeks from the date such Notice of Termination is given unless the Company elects to pay the Executive, in addition to any other amounts payable hereunder, an amount (the “Payment in Lieu of Notice”) equal to two (2) weeks of the Executive’s Annual Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination), and (ii) if the Executive’s Separation from Service is by the Executive for Good Reason, the Date of Termination shall be determined by the Executive and specified in the Notice of Termination, but in no event be less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the date such Notice of Termination is given. The Payment in Lieu of Notice shall be paid on such date as is required by law, but no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service.
Employment; Effective Date Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to be employed by Company, beginning as of the Effective Date and continuing for the period of time set forth in Article III of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Good Reason Defined For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall exist if, without the Executive’s express written consent, the Company: (i) materially reduces or decreases the Executive’s Base Salary or Incentive Compensation opportunity level from the level in effect on the Effective Date (or some subsequent higher level put into effect by the Board subsequent to the Effective Date), unless such reduction or decrease is in connection with an across-the-board reduction or decrease in the Base Salaries or Incentive Compensation opportunity levels of all the Company’s other senior level executives, (ii) willfully fails to include the Executive in any incentive compensation plans, bonus plans, or other plans and benefits provided by the Company to other executive level executives, (iii) materially reduces, decreases or diminishes the nature, status or duties and responsibilities of the Position from those in effect on the Effective Date, and such reduction, decrease or diminution is not reasonably related to or the result of an adverse change in the Executive’s performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, or (iv) requires the Executive to (A) regularly perform the duties and responsibilities of the Position at, or (B) relocate the Executive’s principal place of employment to, a location which is more than fifty (50) miles from the location of the Executive’s principal place of employment as of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the above, Good Reason shall not include the death, Disability or voluntary retirement of the Executive or any other voluntary action taken by or agreed to by the Executive related to the Position or his employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries. Further, Good Reason shall not include any of the events or conditions described in items (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above unless the Executive provides notice to the Company of the existence of the event or condition within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the event or condition, the Company fails to cure such event or condition within thirty (30) days of receiving the Employee’s initial notice, and the Executive terminates employment with a subsequent written notice to the Company after such thirty (30) day cure period but within ninety (90) days after the Executive provides the initial written notice to the Company of the existence of such event or condition. If requested by the Company, the Executive shall continue to work exclusively for the Company during such thirty (30) day cure period; provided, however, the Company shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate this Agreement at any time during such thirty (30) day cure period upon written notice to the Executive.
Constructive Termination The Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder during the Change of Control Severance Period upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events (regardless of whether any other reason, other than Cause, for such termination exists or has occurred, including without limitation other employment), in which case the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided under Section 4(a) hereof:
(i) failure to elect or reelect or otherwise to maintain the Executive in the office or the position, or a substantially equivalent office or position, which the Executive held immediately prior to the Change of Control;
(ii) (A) a material adverse change in the nature or scope of the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties attached to the position that the Executive held immediately prior to the Change of Control; (B) a reduction in the Executive’s base salary from the rates in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or a material modification in the scope of the Executive’s right to participate in any bonus program offered to similarly-situated employees; or (C) the termination or denial of the Executive’s rights to Benefits at least as great in the aggregate as are payable thereunder immediately prior to the Change of Control or a reduction in the scope or value thereof other than a general reduction applicable to all similarly-situated employees;
(iii) a change in circumstances following the Change of Control, including, without limitation, a change in the scope of the business or other activities for which the Executive was responsible immediately prior to the Change of Control, which has rendered the Executive unable to carry out any material portion of the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties attached to the position held by the Executive immediately prior to the Change of Control, which situation is not remedied within 30 calendar days after written notice of such change given by the Executive;
(iv) the liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or reorganization of FTD or transfer of all or substantially all of its business and/or assets, unless the successor or successors (by liquidation, merger, consolidation, reorganization, transfer or otherwise) to which all or substantially all of its business and/or assets have been transferred (directly or by operation of law) shall have assumed all duties and obligations of FTD under this Agreement; or
(v) the Executive is required to have his principal location of work changed to any location that is in excess of 50 miles from the Executive’s principal location of work immediately prior to the Change of Control. For purposes of this Agreement:
OBLIGATIONS SURVIVE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT Executive agrees that any and all of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to Exhibits B and C, shall survive the termination of employment and the termination of this Agreement.
Termination of Employment Following a Change in Control Subject to Section 11(a) hereunder, the Executive shall be entitled to the Change in Control Severance Benefits (as defined in Section 4(c) below) set forth in this Section 4, in lieu of the severance benefits the Executive is entitled to under Section 3 of this Agreement, if there has been a Change in Control and the Executive has incurred a Termination of Employment. The severance benefit provided under this Section 4 is in lieu of cash severance payments offered under the Company's documented severance policy, if any.
(a) For purposes of Section 4 of the Agreement, "Termination of Employment" shall be defined as:
(i) The Executive's involuntary termination by the Company for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause; or
(ii) The Executive's termination for "Good Reason," defined as the occurrence of any of the following events without the Executive's written consent, if the Executive terminates employment within one (1) year following the occurrence of such event:
(A) Any reassignment of the Executive to substantial duties materially inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control or a substantial diminution in the Executive's position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company from his position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided that the fact that the Company is no longer a publicly traded company or the Executive no longer has duties and responsibilities associated exclusively with a publicly traded company, such as Securities and Exchange Commission or stock exchange reporting responsibilities or investor or analyst relations responsibilities, shall not be deemed to be a reassignment of the Executive to substantial duties materially inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control or a substantial diminution in the Executive's position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company from his position, duties, responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control;
(B) Any reduction in the Executive's base salary or targeted incentive bonus or commissions in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, or failure by the Company to continue any bonus, stock or other incentive plans in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control (without the implementation of comparable successor plans that provide comparable award opportunities/benefits), or any removal of the Executive from participation in such aforementioned plans;
(C) The discontinuance or reduction in benefits to the Executive under any qualified or nonqualified retirement or welfare plan maintained by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control (without the implementation of comparable successor plans that provide comparable benefits), or the discontinuance of any fringe benefits or other perquisites that the Executive received immediately prior to the Change in Control (without the implementation of comparable successor plans that provide comparable benefits);
(D) Required relocation of the Executive's principal place of employment more than 50 miles from the Executive's place of employment prior to the Change in Control; or
(E) The Company's breach of any provision in this Agreement, provided that the Company has not cured such breach within 10 days following written notice by the Executive to the Company of such breach.
(b) The Executive who believes the Executive is entitled to a Termination of Employment for Good Reason, as defined in Section 4 above, may apply in writing to the Company for confirmation of such entitlement prior to the Executive's actual separation from employment, by following the claims procedure set forth in Section 15 hereof. The submission of such a request by the Executive shall not constitute "Cause" for the Company to terminate the Executive as defined under Section 2(a) hereof. If the Executive's request for a Good Reason Termination of Employment is denied under both the request and appeal procedures set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 15 hereof, then the parties shall use their best efforts to resolve the claim within 90 days after the claim is submitted to arbitration pursuant to Section 15(d).
(c) Upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Sections 4 or 11(a) hereof and with respect to any one or more Changes in Control that may occur during the term of this Agreement, upon the Executive's execution of a release (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A), the Executive shall be entitled to (the "Change in Control Severance Benefits"):
(i) A cash severance benefit equal to one times the Executive's current annual base salary, as in effect at the time of the Change in Control;
(ii) A prorated portion of the Executive's target bonus for the year of termination, based on the number of days worked in the year of termination;
(iii) Subject to Section 6, continuation of Company-provided health (including vision and dental, if provided by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control) and welfare benefits (including executive life insurance coverage, if provided by the Company to the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control) for one year, on the terms (or comparable terms) provided by the Company to the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control. Health benefits shall be provided through continued coverage under the Company's group health plan, if allowed under the terms of such plan, or by the reimbursement of COBRA continuation coverage premiums paid by the Executive, as determined by the Company; provided, however, if the health plan is self-insured by the Company, then the determination shall be made by the Executive. Any continuation of group health plan coverage under this paragraph shall run concurrently with the period of required COBRA continuation coverage under the Code. If COBRA continuation coverage is not available, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for premiums for comparable coverage, provided, however, that the reimbursement shall not exceed the greater of (i) two times the annual premium paid by the Company for such coverage at the date of termination or (ii) two times the amount of the COBRA premium under the Company's group health plan for coverage comparable to that elected by the Executive, (A) at the time of the Change of Control or (B) at the time of the required payment, whichever is greater. Welfare benefits (other than health benefits) shall be continued only to the extent permitted under the terms of such plans;
(iv) Continuation of the Executive's then current car benefit for one year in accordance with the Company car policy in effect at the time of termination.
(v) Continued coverage, during the six (6) years following the Executive's termination for his actions or omissions as an officer and, if applicable, director of the Company prior to the date of termination of his employment, under any directors and officers liability insurance policy maintained by the Company (or, if the Company does not maintain such a policy, by its affiliates) for its former directors and officers or, at the Company's election, for the current directors and officers. If the Company or its affiliates does not otherwise maintain such a policy, then the Company shall be required to provide the Executive with such a policy, to the extent available. The policy dollar coverage limits of any such policy shall be not less than the policy limit under any Company policy in place within the one (1) year prior to the Executive's termination of employment (the "Existing Policy") or, if less, the policy dollar coverage limit that can be purchased by the Company for all of its current and former directors and officers at an annual premium equal to two times the Company's annual premium for the Existing Policy.
(d) Subject to Section 11(a) hereof, the Executive's cash severance benefit under Section 4(c)(i) and (ii) shall be paid in a lump sum cash payment within ten (10) days following the Executive's Termination of Employment, as defined in Section 4. Any payment made later than 10 days following the Executive's Termination of Employment (or applicable due date under Section 11(a) hereof) for whatever reason, shall include interest at the prime rate plus two percent, which shall begin accruing on the 10th day following the Executive's Termination of Employment (or applicable due date under Section 11(a) hereof). For purposes of this Section 4, "prime rate" shall be determined by reference to the prime rate established by Comerica Bank (or its successor), in effect from time to time commencing on the 10th day following the Executive's Termination of Employment (or applicable due date under Section 11(a) hereof).
(e) Section 4 of this Agreement shall terminate upon the first of the following events to occur:
(i) Three years from the date hereof if a Change in Control has not occurred within such three-year period;
(ii) Termination of the Executive's employment with the Company prior to a Change in Control, provided, however, if there is a Change in Control within six months after the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, other than a termination due to the Executive's death or Disability, an involuntary termination by the Company for Cause or a termination of employment by the Executive, then the Agreement shall not be deemed to have terminated and the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Change in Control Severance Benefits provided in Section 4, less any Regular Severance Benefits the Executive has been paid under Section 3, in lieu of the severance benefits the Executive is entitled to under Section 3;
(iii) The expiration of two years following a Change in Control;
(iv) Termination of the Executive's employment with the Company following a Change in Control due to the Executive's death or Disability;
(v) Termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause following a Change in Control; or
(vi) Termination of employment by the Executive for other than Good Reason following the date of a Change in Control. Unless Section 4 of this Agreement has first terminated under clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof, commencing on the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement, and on each one-year anniversary thereafter, Section 4 of this Agreement shall be extended for one additional year, unless at least 180 days prior to any such anniversary, the Company notifies the Executive in writing that it shall not extend the term of Section 4 of this Agreement.
Good Reason Termination Good Reason Termination means a Termination of Employment initiated by Participant that is related to one or more conditions described in subsection (a), and that is subject to the timing, notice and remedy provisions of subsection (b):
Notice of Change in Control The Company will, within five Business Days after any Responsible Officer has knowledge of the occurrence of any Change in Control, give written notice of such Change in Control to each holder of Notes. Such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay Notes as described in subparagraph (b) of this Section 8.8 and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in subparagraph (e) of this Section 8.8.
Change in Control Period “Change in Control Period” means the period of time beginning three (3) months prior to and ending twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.
