CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS
AND
GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS
1. Xx. Xxx
Xxxxxxxx (“Employee”)
was employed by SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) as of June 1,
2005 (the “Employment Date”) pursuant to the terms of an employment agreement of
the same date (the “Employment Agreement”). Employee has decided to voluntarily
terminate the employment relationship and the Company has accepted Employee’s
decision to do so. It is the Company’s desire to provide Employee with certain
benefits that he would
not
otherwise be entitled to receive upon his termination
of employment and to resolve any claims that Employee has or may have against
the Company. Accordingly, Employee and the Company agree as set forth
below.
This Agreement will become effective on the eighth day after it is signed by
Employee (the “Effective Date”), provided that Employee has not revoked this
Agreement (by written notice to Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, DLA Piper) prior to that date.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined by this Agreement shall have the meaning
assigned to such terms by the Employment Agreement.
2. Employee’s
employment relationship with the Company is hereby terminated effective as
of
June 2,
2006
(the “Termination Date”). Employee will continue in his role as the Company’s
president and chief executive officer until June 2, 2006.
3. In
exchange for the promises contained herein, the Company shall provide Employee
with the following benefits after this Agreement becomes effective:
(a) One-half
of that portion of the Target Bonus (as initially described in the Employment
Agreement) established by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of
Directors (the “Board”) for Employee’s services in 2006 that would otherwise be
earned by employee on the basis of the extent to which the performance goals
established by the compensation Committee for 2006 have been satisfied. Such
amount will be payable at the same time as other management annual bonuses
for
2006 are paid;
(b) Notwithstanding
the provisions in the Employment Agreement that Employee will repay the New
Hire
Bonus in its entirety if he resigns from employment prior to the second
anniversary of his Employment Date, Company will not require repayment of the
New Hire Bonus so long as Employee remains available and willing to provide
consulting services to the Company in compliance with the terms regarding
consulting as provided in a consulting agreement to be entered into for the
period beginning on June 2, 2006 and ending on May 31, 2007 (the
“Consulting Period”). In the event Employee advises the Company that he will not
be available to consult with the Company throughout the entire Consulting
Period, or due to a conflict of interest or Employee’s failure to adequately
perform such services as determined by the Company in its commercially
reasonable discretion, Employee will be required to repay a pro rata portion
of
the New Hire Bonus. The pro rata repayment of the New Hire Bonus will be based
upon the term of Employee’s active employment with the Company (12 months) plus
the period of time Employee actually was available to provide
consulting services. By way of example only, if Employee ceased being
available to provide consulting services as of February 1, 2007, Employee
would be required to repay four twenty-fourths (4/24) of the $100,000 New Hire
Bonus. Such repayment must be paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days of
the
last day that Employee was available for the provision of consulting
services;
(c) If
Employee is covered under the Company’s group health plan as of the Termination
Date and he timely elects to continue his group coverage pursuant to
federal/state law (COBRA), the Company will pay the applicable COBRA premiums
as
COBRA is provided in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans and
the
law until the earlier of (i) the second anniversary of the Termination
Date, or (ii) the date Employee is eligible to obtain group health coverage
under another employer’s group health plan. In addition, during the specified
period, Company will continue to pay the premiums for dental, life and such
similar benefit policies as Xx. Xxxxxxxx was eligible for as an employee.
Thereafter, Employee will be solely responsible for the timely payment of the
COBRA premiums;
(d) Employee
will, on June 2, 2006, vest in 100,000 option shares subject to the First
Option. Employee has also vested in 100,000 option shares subject to the Second
Option. Further vesting under the First Option and the Second Option, as well
as
any and all other options granted to Employee in his capacity as an Employee,
shall cease as of the Termination Date. In addition, Employee will be entitled
to exercise his vested options, as described herein, for as long as Employee
continues to be available to provide consulting services to the Company, or
services as a member of the Board and for three (3) months after Employee ceases
to be available to provide such services;
(e) Employee
will be nominated to continue to serve as a member of the Board for an
additional term (that is, for a term extending through the date of the Company’s
Annual Stockholder Meeting in calendar year 2007); such nomination will be
included in the current proxy statement,
and Company management shall, insofar as the same is consistent with the
exercise of its fiduciary duties, support the re-election of the Employee to
its
Board of Directors. In his capacity as a director, Employee will receive
compensation on the same terms and conditions as other non-employee members
of
the Board. Provided that Employee is elected to serve for such additional term,
Employee will be entitled to receive an “Annual Option” for 30,000 option shares
on the date of the 2006 Annual Meeting in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Company’s 2004 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan (“2004
Outside Directors Plan”). However, Employee shall not be entitled to receive an
“Initial Option” within the meaning of the 2004 Outside Directors Plan as a
result of his continuing to serve as a non-employee member of the Board
following the Termination Date;
(f) The
Company will promptly reimburse
Employee for relocation expenses incurred by Employee for his move from the
San
Francisco Bay Area to Chicago. Such reimbursement is not expected to exceed
Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00). All expenses incurred to the maximum
amount noted herein must be submitted (along with appropriate documentation)
and
reimbursed not later than December 31, 2006;
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(g) If
the
Company can cause its 2006 matching contribution to Employee’s account in the
Company’s 401k Plan to vest without requiring an amendment to the 401k Plan or
incurring unreasonable expense or penalties and without jeopardizing the 401k
Plan’s qualified status, then the Company shall cause such vesting to
occur;
(h) As
part
of the Employment Agreement, the Company provided Employee with its standard
form of indemnification agreement (the “Indemnification Agreement”). The
Indemnification Agreement
applicable to the Employee will remain in effect, without any amendment thereto,
until the Termination Date. The Company agrees that it will obtain tail coverage
under its Directors and Officers liability policy substantially identical in
term and scope to the current coverage, relative to Employee, and shall continue
to provide all the Delaware corporate law exculpations it has historically
provided, each of which shall remain in effect, without amendment, for the
three
year period following the Termination Date; and
(i) Employee
and Company agree that Employee shall be available to provide consulting
services to the Company during the Consulting Period
(as
defined in paragraph 3(b) herein) in accordance with the following terms as
well
as those set forth in the Consulting Agreement which the parties will enter
into
on or prior to June 2, 2006 and which shall provide that unless approved in
writing by the Compensation Committee of the Board, compensation for consulting
services shall not exceed $59,999 in any calendar year.
Employee
acknowledges that as of the Termination Date, the Company shall pay him all
wages and accrued, unused vacation that Employee earned during his employment
with the Company through the Termination Date. Employee understands and
acknowledges that he shall
not
be entitled to any payments or benefits from the Company other than those
expressly set forth in this paragraph 3.
4. Employee
and his successors and assigns release the Company and its related entities,
past and present affiliates, shareholders, investors, directors, officers,
employees, agents, attorneys, insurers, legal successors and assigns (the
“Released Parties”) of and from any and all claims, actions and causes of
action, whether now known or unknown, which Employee now has, or at any other
time had, or shall or may have against those Released Parties based upon or
arising out of any matter, cause, fact, thing, act or omission whatsoever
occurring or existing at any time up to and including the Termination Date,
including, but not limited to, any claims of breach of contract, wrongful
termination, retaliation, fraud, defamation, infliction of emotional distress
or
national origin, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability or other
discrimination or harassment under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age
Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection
Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Employment and Housing Act
or
any other applicable law.
5. Employee
acknowledges that he has read section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of
California, which states in full:
A
general
release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect
to
exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by
him
must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.
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Employee
waives any right which he has or may have under section 1542 to the full extent
that he may lawfully waive such rights pertaining to this general release of
claims.
As
additional consideration for the compensation and benefits described in this
Agreement, Employee agrees that he will affirm and extend this Release of Claims
for the period beginning on the date this Agreement is initially signed and
ending on the Termination Date by re-signing this Agreement in the space at
the
end of the Agreement on or shortly following the Termination Date.
6. This
Agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of the Older Workers’ Benefit
Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. sec. 626(f). Employee, by this Agreement, is advised
to consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement.
Employee
acknowledges and agrees that (a) Employee has read and understands the
terms of this Agreement; (b) Employee has been advised in writing to
consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement; (c) that Employee
has obtained and considered such legal counsel as Employee deems necessary;
(d) that Employee has been given up to twenty-one (21) days to consider
whether or not to enter into this Agreement (although Employee may elect not
to
use the full 21-day period at Employee’s option); and (e) that by signing
this Agreement, Employee acknowledges that Employee does so freely, knowingly,
and voluntarily.
This
Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the eighth day after
Employee signs this Agreement. In other words, Employee may revoke Employee’s
acceptance of this Agreement within seven (7) days after the date Employee
signs
it. Employee’s revocation must be in writing and received by Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, DLA
Piper, by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the seventh day in order to be effective.
If
Employee does not revoke acceptance within the seven (7) day period, Employee’s
acceptance of this Agreement shall become binding and enforceable on the eighth
day (“Effective Date”). The benefits described above shall become due and
payable in
accordance with paragraph 3,
provided this Agreement has not been revoked.
This
Agreement does not waive or release any rights or claims that Employee may
have
under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act that arise after the execution
of
this Agreement. In addition, this Agreement does not prohibit Employee from
challenging the validity of this Agreement’s waiver and release of claims under
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended.
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7. Employee
acknowledges and agrees that he shall
continue to be bound by and comply with the terms of any proprietary rights,
assignment of inventions and/or confidentiality agreements between the Company
and Employee. On or before the Termination Date, Employee will return to the
Company, in good working condition, all Company property and equipment that
is
in Employee’s possession or control, including, but not limited to, any files,
records, computers, computer equipment, cell phones, credit cards, keys,
programs, manuals, business plans, financial records, and all documents (and
any
copies thereof) that Employee prepared or received in the course of his
employment with the Company.
8. Except
to
the extent that some or all of this Agreement is, or may be, required to be
disclosed in the Company’s SEC filings, Employee agrees that he shall
not
directly or indirectly disclose any of the previously undisclosed terms of
this
Agreement to anyone other than his immediate family or counsel, except as such
disclosure may be required for accounting or tax reporting purposes or as
otherwise may be required by law. Employee further agrees that he will not,
at
any time in the future, make any untrue, critical or disparaging statements
about the Company, its products, services or its employees, unless such
statements are made truthfully in response to any governmental investigation,
whether formal or informal, or any subpoena or other legal process. The Company
also agrees that it will not, at any time in the future, make any untrue,
critical or disparaging statements about the Employee, unless such statements
are made truthfully in response to any governmental investigation, whether
formal or informal, or any subpoena or other legal process.
9. Employee
agrees that for a period of one (1) year following the Termination Date, he
will
not, on behalf of himself or any other person or entity, directly or indirectly
solicit any employee of the Company to terminate his employment
with the Company.
10.
The
Employee shall not interfere with the Company’s relationships with current or
prospective employees, suppliers, customers, investors or business partners
known or disclosed to the Employee during the course of Employee’s employment
with the Company. Specifically, the Employee agrees Employee will not act in
any
manner that Employee knows or reasonably
should know will result in damage to the business or reputation of the Company,
except to the extent that such action is required or permitted by the terms
of
paragraph 8.
11.
In
the
event of any legal action relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the
prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the losing party its
attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in that action.
12.
Employee
and the Company understand and acknowledge that this Agreement constitutes
a
compromise and settlement of disputed claims. No action taken by the parties
hereto, or either of them, either previously or in connection with this
Agreement, shall be deemed or construed to be (a) an admission of truth or
falsity of any claims heretofore made or (b) an acknowledgement or
admission by either Party of any fault or liability whatsoever to the other
party or to any third party.
13.
Each
party represents that it has been advised of its right to consult with an
attorney and to seek legal representation of its choosing in the execution
of
this Agreement, and has carefully read and understands the scope and effect
of
the provisions of this Agreement. Neither party has relied upon any
representations or statements made by the other party hereto which are not
specifically set forth in this Agreement.
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14.
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect
to
the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements,
whether written or oral, with the exception of any stock option agreements
between the parties, the Indemnification Agreement and any agreements described
in paragraph 7. This Agreement may be modified or amended only with the
written consent of Employee and an authorized officer of the Company, provided,
however, that the Company may amend or modify this Agreement in order to comply
with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, to the
extent applicable. No oral waiver, amendment or modification will be effective
under any circumstances whatsoever.
EMPLOYEE
UNDERSTANDS THAT HE SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS
AGREEMENT AND THAT HE IS GIVING UP ANY LEGAL CLAIMS HE HAS AGAINST THE PARTIES
RELEASED ABOVE BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE IS
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT KNOWINGLY, WILLINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY IN EXCHANGE FOR
THE
BENEFITS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 3.
Dated: April
23, 2006
|
/s/ Xx. Xxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Xx. Xxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | ||
Dated:
April 23, 2006
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
||
Its:
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
|
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By
re-signing this Agreement on or shortly before the Termination Date, Employee
hereby agrees to extend the Release of Claims set forth in the above to include
any claims arising through and including the Termination Date.
Date:
|
|||
Name
|
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