Termination Without Cause The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without 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.
Termination Without Cause; Termination for Good Reason Subject to Section 6(b) below, upon termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company by the Company without Cause (as defined in Section 5(f) below) or by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined in Section 5(f) below), other than as a result of death or Disability, the Company shall pay to or provide the Employee the following: (1) any unpaid base salary the Employee has earned through the date of termination, (2) any unpaid annual bonus that the Employee has earned with respect to a year ending prior to such termination, (3) 12 months of the Employee’s then current base salary paid on the Company’s normal payroll dates, (4) the pro-rated portion (based on the number of days in the year completed through the date of termination) of the Employee’s target bonus for the year of termination (paid on the normal date for the payment of the bonus), such amount to be paid only if the Employee has met his pro-rated objective performance targets through the date of termination, (5) an amount equal to the Employee’s target bonus for the year of termination, (6) the costs of COBRA continuation coverage for the Employee and his dependents from the date the Employee’s employment terminates through the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of such termination and (B) the date on which the Employee becomes entitled to health coverage of a similar type from another employer, plus/less (7) any positive/negative accrued vacation days. In addition to the foregoing, upon a termination of the Employee’s employment described in this Section 5(b), any stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, restricted stock, share rights and all other similar types of equity incentives held by the Employee immediately prior to the termination of the Employee’s employment that, but for the termination of the Employee’s employment, would have become vested and, if applicable, exercisable by the first anniversary of the date of his termination of employment, will become immediately vested and, if applicable, exercisable. No amount shall be payable and no benefits shall be provided pursuant to this Section 5(b) until the Employee has executed a release and waiver agreement (substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule C) releasing and waiving any claims against the Company and in which the Company releases and waives claims against the Employee and if the Employee is serving as a Director of the Company a valid and effective resignation from the Board unless the Employee beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the Company’s Common Stock.
Involuntary Termination Without Cause In the event of the Participant’s involuntary Termination by the Company without Cause, the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof.
Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company (other than for Cause, Disability or death) or the Executive resigns for Good Reason during the Term, then the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits, subject to compliance, where applicable, with the requirements in Section 4.4 below regarding release of claims, the Company shall:
(a) pay to the Executive in a lump sum (i) any unpaid base salary of the Executive, (ii) any accrued but unused and unpaid vacation pay of the Executive, (iii) any earned and unpaid bonuses of the Executive, and (iv) the amount of any unpaid compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) (provided that this clause (iv) shall not cause accelerated payment of amounts subject to Section 409A (as defined below) if not provided for under the terms by which such amounts were or are deferred), in each case of clauses (i) through (iv) through the Date of Termination (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”);
(b) continue to provide to the Executive in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices, the Executive’s base salary for a period of time after the Date of Termination equal to 12 months (the “Severance Period”), with payments beginning as provided in 4.4 below;
(c) if and while the Executive and his or her family qualifies for and elects to participate in continuation health coverage under Section 4980B of the Code (“COBRA”), the Company will continue to pay the share of the premium for such coverage that it pays for active and similarly-situated employees who receive the same type of coverage until the earlier of (i) the end of the Severance Period or (ii) the date the Executive’s COBRA continuation coverage expires, unless the Company’s providing payments for COBRA will violate the nondiscrimination requirements of applicable law, in which case this benefit will not apply; and
(d) to the extent not previously paid or provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive following the Executive’s termination of employment under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract or agreement of the Company (collectively, the “Other Benefits”).
Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason in Connection with a Change of Control If during the period commencing three (3) months before and ending twelve (12) months after a Change of Control, (1) Executive terminates his employment with the Company (or any Affiliate) for Good Reason or (2) the Company (or any Affiliate) terminates Executive’s employment for other than Cause, Executive becoming Disabled or Executive’s death, then, subject to Section 4, Executive will receive the following severance from the Company:
Termination by Employer Without Cause Employer may immediately terminate Employee’s employment without Cause. If, during the Term of this Agreement, Employee’s employment is terminated by Employer without Cause (other than due to death or Disability), including if Employer declines to renew the Term of the Agreement, then Employee shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Compensation. In addition, subject to Employee’s continuing compliance with the covenants contained in Paragraphs 7 and 8 of this Agreement and any other similar applicable restrictive covenants with Employer or an affiliate, and the execution by Employee of a binding general waiver and release of claims in a form acceptable to Employer (the “Release”) within the time period specified by Employer at the time of the Termination Date (which shall be no longer than 50 days after the Termination Date) and the expiration of any applicable revocation period with respect to the Release, if Employee’s employment terminates pursuant to this Paragraph 10.A(ii), then Employee shall be entitled to receive:
a. Payment of the Bonus, if any, that was earned by Employee in any fiscal year ending prior to the Termination Date but remains unpaid as of the Termination Date, payable in a lump sum within seventy (70) days after the Termination Date.
b. A pro-rated Bonus, if any, upon the satisfaction of any pre-established performance objectives at the end of the applicable bonus performance period; such payable pro-rata portion of the Bonus shall be determined by multiplying the Bonus amount by a fraction equal to the number of days of Employee’s employment during such applicable performance period divided by the total number of days in the applicable performance period. Payment of any pro-rated Bonus under this paragraph shall be made in the calendar year following the year in which the services were performed, when bonuses are generally paid to similarly situated employees.
c. An amount equal to (y) thirty (30) months of the Employee’s then-current Annual Salary; plus (z) two and one-half (2.5) times the average of the Bonus payments for the immediately three (3) previous fiscal years from the Termination Date. This amount will be payable in thirty (30) substantially equal monthly installments commencing with the first regular payroll period following the expiration of any applicable revocation period with respect to the Release, and in any event, if at all, within seventy (70) days after the Termination Date.
d. Provided that Employee elects, and to the extent that he is and remains eligible for, continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”) and Employer’s group health plan, payment of that part of the COBRA premiums for such continued coverage of Employee (and, if applicable as of the Termination Date, his dependents) that exceeds the amount that Employee would pay for such coverage if he were an active employee of Employer (“COBRA Subsidies”), starting on the first day following the date on which Employee’s coverage under that plan as an active employee of Employer ends, and ending on the earlier of (A) the date that twelve (12) months of such COBRA Subsidies have been paid, or (B) the date on which Employee’s right to continuation coverage under COBRA ends. Employee agrees and acknowledges that for so long as Employee is covered by COBRA and receiving severance payments under Paragraph 10(A)(ii)(c), the amount that Employee would pay for coverage under Employer’s group health plan if he were an active employee of Employer shall be deducted from such severance payments, and that this coverage under Employer’s group health plan shall run concurrently with such plan’s obligation to provide continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA. Employee further agrees and understands that this paragraph shall not limit such plan’s obligation to provide continuation coverage under COBRA.
Termination by Company Without Cause The Company may terminate Employee’s employment without Cause upon thirty (30) days written notice to Employee. If Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause, and Employee signs and does not revoke a Release, then Employee shall be entitled to the following:
(i) a one-time “lump sum” payment of severance pay (less applicable withholding taxes) in an amount equal to Employee’s annual base salary, as then in effect, to be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies no later than the Company’s first regular payroll date following the Termination Date;
(ii) a one-time “lump sum” payment of severance pay (less applicable withholding taxes) in an amount equal to 100% of Employee’s annual bonus rate, as then in effect, to be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies no later than the Company’s first regular payroll date following the Termination Date; and
(iii) the same level of health (i.e., medical, vision and dental) coverage and benefits as in effect for the Employee on the day immediately preceding the Termination Date; provided, however, that (A) the Employee constitutes a qualified beneficiary, as defined in Section 4980B(g)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and (B) Employee elects continuation coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), within the time period prescribed pursuant to COBRA. The Company shall continue to provide Employee with Company-paid health coverage until the earlier of (y) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA, or (z) twelve (12) months from the Termination Date.
(iv) Fifty percent (50%) of the Employee’s then unvested stock options shall immediately vest and become exercisable and Employee shall have twelve (12) months following the Termination Date to exercise such vested shares; provided, however, that in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of any such stock option agreement and this Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall prevail unless the conflicting provision(s) in any such stock option agreement shall be more favorable to Employee in which case the provision(s) more favorable to Employee shall govern; provided further, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing in no event shall the extended twelve (12) month exercise period specified in this Section 6(b)(iv) modify or extend the Expiration Date of any stock option as set forth in such stock option agreement.
Termination Without Cause or Termination for Good Reason In the event (x) the Executive's employment hereunder is terminated by the Company without Cause, other than due to Disability or death, or (y) the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder at his initiative within 60 days following the occurrence of a Good Reason which has not been cured by the Company within 20 calendar days of receipt of notice thereof from the Executive, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits:
(i) Base Salary through the date of termination;
(ii) a Pro-Rata annual incentive award for the year of termination, based on the target bonus for such year, payable promptly following such termination;
(iii) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to two times the Executive's Base Salary, determined as provided in the last sentence of this Section 14(d), payable promptly following such termination;
(iv) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to two times the Executive's target annual incentive award for the year of termination, payable promptly following such termination;
(v) all outstanding stock options shall become fully vested and exercisable and shall remain exercisable for a period equal to the lesser of five years and the remainder of their originally scheduled terms;
(vi) two additional years of service for the purpose of determining the supplemental pension benefit pursuant to Section 10; provided, however, that the total number of years of service taken into account in determining such benefit shall in no event exceed ten (10); and
(vii) continued participation in all medical, dental, vision and hospitalization insurance coverage and benefits and in all other employee and senior-level executive welfare benefit plans, programs and arrangements in which he was participating on the date of the termination of his employment, on the same terms and conditions as if he had remained employed by the Company, for a period equal to 24 months following the termination of his employment; provided, however, that if the Executive becomes re-employed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer-provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described above shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility, provided that, to the extent that the Company's plans, programs and arrangements do not permit such continuation of the Executive's participation following his termination, the Company shall provide the Executive, no less frequently than quarterly in advance with an amount which, after taxes, is sufficient for him to purchase equivalent benefits. For purposes of Section 14(d)(iv) above, Base Salary shall be determined by the Base Salary at the annualized rate in effect on the date of termination of the Executive's employment, provided however, if, prior to the termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to this Section 14(d), the Base Salary has been reduced without the Executive's consent, the Base Salary in effect on the date of termination of the Executive's employment shall be deemed to be the Base Salary as in effect prior to such reduction.
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.
