Termination for Cause by the Company The Company may terminate your employment hereunder for “Cause” at any time after providing a written notice of termination for Cause to you. For purposes of this Agreement, you shall be treated as having been terminated for Cause if and only if you are terminated as a result of the occurrence of one or more of the following events:
(i) any willful and wrongful conduct or omission by you that demonstrably and materially injures the Company or its affiliates;
(ii) any act by you of fraud, dishonesty, gross negligence, or intentional misrepresentation or embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion of assets of the Company or any affiliate;
(iii) you being convicted of, confessing to, pleading nolo contendere to, or becoming the subject of proceedings that provide a reasonable basis for the Company to believe that you have engaged in a felony or any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude;
(iv) your willful and material violation of any written policies or procedures of the Company, including but not limited to the Company’s code of business conduct, code of ethics and xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policy;
(v) your willful and continuous failure to substantially perform your duties or responsibilities hereunder (other than as a result of physical or mental illness), including, but not limited to: (A) significant and/or repeated gross underperformance of the overall area of aggregate responsibilities then under your supervision; or (B) the failure to follow the lawful directions of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, or if you do not report directly to the Chief Executive Officer, of your supervising officer, in a manner consistent with this Agreement; or
(vi) your material, and intentional or willful, violation of any restrictive covenant provided for under this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company to which you are a party. For purposes of this Agreement an act or failure to act shall be considered “willful” only if done or omitted to be done without your good faith reasonable belief that such act or failure to act was in the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall not be treated as having been terminated as a result of an event described in subsection (i), (iv), (v) or (vi) unless the Company notifies you in writing of the event not more than ninety (90) days after the Company knows, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence would have known, of the occurrence of such event, and you fail within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice to cure such event to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company’s failure to notify you of the occurrence of any event constituting Cause, or to terminate you as a result of such event, be construed as a consent to the occurrence of future events, whether or not similar to the initial occurrence, or a waiver of the Company’s right to terminate you for Cause as a result thereof.
Termination by the Company for Good Cause The Company shall have the right to terminate the employment of the Executive for Good Cause (as such term is defined herein) by written notice to the Executive specifying the particulars of the circumstances forming the basis for such Good Cause.
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.
For Cause by the Company The Company may terminate the Employee's employment hereunder for cause immediately and with prompt notice to the Employee, which cause shall be determined in good faith solely by the Board of Directors. "Cause" for termination shall include, but is not limited to, the following conduct of the Employee:
Termination by the Employee for Good Reason The Employee shall have the right to terminate for “Good Reason” upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean (i) the Company’s material breach of its obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, its obligation to pay salary to the Employee, (ii) a material and adverse diminution in the Employee’s job duties, responsibilities or authority, (iii) a change in the location where the Employee is required to perform his duties and responsibilities which exceeds fifty (50) miles from the location specified in Section 5 hereof, or (iv) a material reduction in the Employee’s base salary, it being intended that an individual or aggregate reduction of more than 10% from the Employee’s prior base salary level shall be considered material for purposes of this Agreement. Employee may not resign Employee’s employment for Good Reason unless (A) Employee gives the Company written notice of his objection to any event set forth above within 30 days following such event, (B) such event is not corrected, in all material respects, by the Company within 30 days following its receipt of such notice, and (C) Employee resigns his employment with the Company not more than 30 days following the expiration of the 30-day correction period described in the foregoing subclause (B). In the event of a termination pursuant to this Section, in addition to any other payments or benefits to which the Employee may be entitled under the Company’s benefit plans then in effect, the Company shall pay to the Employee, (i) his base salary through the date of termination, and (ii) provided that the Employee executes within 21 days after termination of employment and does not revoke a general release of claims against the Company and its affiliates, equityholders officers, directors, agents and employees as to employment, benefits and compensation related claims, in a form acceptable to the Company, an amount equal to one times (1.0x) the sum of Employee’s (a) base salary as of the date of termination and (b) Bonus Amount, payable in a single lump sum within 30 days after the date of termination. In the event a severance payment is made under this Section 7.E., the Company will pay to Employee a monthly payment on the first payroll date of each month equal to the COBRA cost of continued health and dental coverage under health and dental plans of the Company pursuant to Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code, less the amount that Employee would be required to contribute for health and dental coverage if Employee were an active employee, for a period of twelve (12) months from the termination date; provided, however, that this obligation shall cease at the end of the Benefits Period. These payments will commence on the Company’s first payroll date after the termination date and will continue until the end of the Benefit Period. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a termination under this Section 7.E., the Employee shall not be entitled to any other payments under this Agreement except for the Accrued Obligations or as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.
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.
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 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 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 for Cause by Company Although the Company anticipates the continuation of a mutually rewarding employment relationship with Executive, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment immediately at any time for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” is defined as: (a) acts or omissions constituting gross negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct on the part of Executive with respect to Executive’s obligations or otherwise relating to the business of the Company; (b) Executive’s material breach of this Agreement, including, without limitation, any breach of Section 8, Section 9 or Section 11; (c) Executive’s breach of the Company’s Employee Nondisclosure and Assignment Agreement (a signed copy of which was delivered to the Company with the Original Agreement) (the “Nondisclosure Agreement”); (d) Executive’s conviction or entry of a plea of nolo contendere for fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement, or any felony or crime of moral turpitude; (e) Executive’s inability to perform the essential functions of Executive’s position, with or without reasonable accommodation, due to a mental or physical disability; (f) Executive’s willful neglect of duties as determined in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Board, provided that Executive has received written notice of the action or omission giving rise to such determination and has failed to remedy such situation to the satisfaction of the Board within thirty (30) days following receipt of such written notice, unless Executive’s action or omission is not subject to cure, in which case no such notice shall be required, or (g) Executive’s death. In the event Executive’s employment is terminated in accordance with this Section 7.1, Executive shall be entitled to receive only Executive’s Base Salary then in effect, prorated to the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (the “Termination Date”), and all amounts and benefits earned or incurred pursuant to Sections 5 and 6 through the Termination Date. All other Company obligations to Executive pursuant to this Agreement will be automatically terminated and completely extinguished as of the Termination Date, but will be subject to the surviving provisions of this Agreement set forth in Section 14.8. Executive will not be entitled to receive the Severance Package described in Section 7.2. Any termination pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall be evidenced by a resolution or written consent of the Board, and the Company shall provide Executive with a copy of such resolution or written consent, certified by the Secretary of the Company, upon Executive’s written request.
