TERMINATION PROTECTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.21
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TERMINATION PROTECTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT effective December 20, 2002, between Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) and [NAME] (“Executive”).
WHEREAS, Executive has important management responsibilities and talents which benefit the Company and its affiliates; and
WHEREAS, the Company believes that its best interests are served if Executive is encouraged to remain with the Company and the Company has determined that Executive’s ability to perform Executive’s responsibilities and utilize Executive’s talents for the benefit of the Company, and the Company’s ability to retain Executive as an employee, will be significantly enhanced if Executive is provided with fair and reasonable protection from the risks associated with a change in ownership or control of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board has approved and authorized this Agreement at its meeting on November 14, 2002,
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms.
Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used in this Agreement which are defined in Schedule A shall have the meanings set forth in Schedule A.
2. Effective Date; Term.
This Agreement shall commence on December 20, 2002 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue in effect through December 31, 2005; provided, however, the term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for one additional year beyond December 31, 2005 and for successive one year periods thereafter, unless, not later than January 30 of each calendar year, commencing in 2003 for the 2006 calendar year (e.g., 2004 for the 2007 calendar year, 2005 for the 2008 calendar year, etc.), the Company shall have given written notice that it does not wish to extend this Agreement for an additional year, in which event this Agreement shall continue to be effective until December 31 of the applicable calendar year; provided, further, that, notwithstanding any such notice by the Company not to extend, if a Change in Control shall have occurred during the original or any extended term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two (2) years after such Change in Control.
3. Change in Control Benefits.
If Executive’s employment with the Company or its affiliates is terminated at any time within two (2) years following a Change in Control by the Company or its affiliates without Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason (the effective date of either such termination hereafter
referred to as the “Termination Date”), Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided hereafter in this Section 3 and as otherwise set forth in this Agreement. If Executive’s employment is terminated within one (1) year prior to a Change in Control, and Executive reasonably demonstrates after such Change in Control that such termination was at the request or suggestion of any individual or entity who or which ultimately effects a Change in Control (an “Anticipatory Termination”), this Agreement shall become effective upon such Change in Control involving such individual or entity, and Executive’s Termination Date shall be deemed to have occurred immediately following the Change in Control, and therefore Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided hereafter in this Section 3 and as otherwise set forth in this Agreement. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of death or Disability, Executive shall not be entitled to the benefits provided in this Section 3.
(a) Severance Benefits. Within five business days after the Termination Date, the Company shall pay Executive a lump sum amount, in cash, equal to Executive’s Annual Compensation.
(b) Continued Health Insurance Coverage. Until the second anniversary of the Termination Date, the Company shall, at its expense, provide Executive with medical and dental insurance at the highest level provided to Executive during the period beginning immediately prior to the Change in Control and ending on the Termination Date; provided, however, that if Executive becomes employed by a new employer, the coverages provided by the Company pursuant to this sentence shall become secondary to those coverages provided by the new employer. In addition, Executive will be entitled to full COBRA continuation coverage commencing on the second anniversary of the Termination Date.
(c) Full Vesting of All Stock Options and Restricted Shares. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Amended and Restated Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2000 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Option Plan”) or any award agreement under the Option Plan, (i) any outstanding, unexercisable stock options or unvested restricted shares shall become fully exercisable and vested as of the Termination Date and (ii) any stock options shall remain exercisable until the first anniversary of the Termination Date; provided, however, that (x) in no event shall any stock option continue to be exercisable after the expiration of the 10th anniversary of the grant date of any such option and (y) this section shall not restrict the Company’s ability to adjust stock options pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Option Plan (or any successor provision under the Option Plan or any similar provision in any other Company option plan) or to require that optionees surrender their stock option pursuant to Section 10(b) of the Option Plan (or any successor provision under the Option Plan or any similar provision in any other Company option plan), so long as, in any such adjustment or surrender, Executive is treated no less favorably than any other employee of the Company.
(d) Other Payments And Benefits. Executive shall also be entitled to receive any other payments or benefits Executive is entitled to pursuant to the terms of any Company plans, programs or arrangements (other than severance benefits).
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4. Mitigation.
Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, and compensation earned from such employment or otherwise shall not reduce the amounts otherwise payable under this Agreement. No amounts payable under this Agreement shall be subject to reduction or offset in respect of any claims which the Company (or any other person or entity) may have against Executive.
5. Severance Benefit Cap.
In the event that any payment or benefit (the “Payments”) received or to be received by Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or in connection with Executive’s termination of employment or contingent upon a change in control of the Company pursuant to any plan or arrangement or other agreement with the Company (or any affiliate) would be subject to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then Executive will receive whichever of the following provides a greater after-tax benefit to Executive: (i) the Payments, reduced by the minimum amount necessary so as not to be subject to the Excise Tax, or (ii) the full amount of the Payments, with Executive liable for any Excise Tax.
6. Employment Status; No Effect Prior to Change in Control; Termination for Cause.
Executive and the Company acknowledge and agree that prior to a Change in Control, Executive’s employment is “at will” and may be terminated at any time, by the Company or by Executive, with or without Cause, subject to applicable law. In the event Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason prior to a Change in Control, other than in the case of an Anticipatory Termination, Executive shall have no rights to any payments or benefits under this Agreement and after any such termination, this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect.
Following a Change in Control, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent the Company from terminating Executive’s employment for Cause. In the event Executive is terminated for Cause following a Change in Control, Executive shall have no rights to any payments or benefits under this Agreement and after such termination, this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect.
7. Indemnification; Director’s and Officer’s Liability Insurance.
Until the sixth anniversary of the Termination Date and for so long thereafter as any claim for indemnification asserted on or prior to such date has not been fully adjudicated (the “Indemnification Period”), the Company shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Executive against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) or liabilities (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of actions or omissions or alleged actions or omissions which have occurred on or prior to the Termination Date to the same extent and on the same
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terms and conditions (including with respect to advancement of expenses) as permitted under applicable law and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control. In addition, the Company shall maintain Director’s and Officer’s liability insurance on behalf of Executive, at the level in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, for the Indemnification Period.
8. Confidential Information.
Executive acknowledges that the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement previously entered into by Executive and the Company remains in full force and effect and survives the termination of his or her employment with the Company; provided that nothing contained in such agreement or this Section 8 shall prevent Executive from being employed by a competitor of any of the Company or utilizing Executive’s general skills, experience, and knowledge, including those developed while employed by any of the Company or its affiliates.
9. Disputes.
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in San Diego, California or, at the option of Executive, in the county where Executive then resides, in accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect, except that Executive may, at Executive’s option, bring that action in a court of competent jurisdiction, even if the Company has earlier instituted an action hereunder. Judgment may be entered on an arbitrator’s award relating to this Agreement in any court having jurisdiction.
10. Costs of Proceedings.
The Company shall pay for all costs and expenses of Executive, at least monthly, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, in connection with any legal proceeding (including arbitration), whether instituted by the Company or by Executive, relating to the interpretation or enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, except that if Executive instituted the proceeding and the judge, arbitrator or other individual presiding over the proceeding affirmatively finds that Executive instituted the proceeding in bad faith, then Executive shall be required to pay all costs and expenses of Executive, including attorney’s fees and disbursements, and shall not be entitled to reimbursement. The Company shall pay prejudgment interest on any money judgment obtained by Executive as a result of such a proceeding, calculated at the prime rate of interest as reported in the Wall Street Journal, as in effect from time to time, from the date that payment should have been made to Executive under this Agreement.
11. Successors And Assigns.
Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and Executive and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. If the Company shall be merged into or
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consolidated with another entity, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the entity surviving such merger or resulting from such consolidation. The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. The provisions of this Section 11 shall continue to apply to each subsequent employer of Executive in the event of any subsequent merger, consolidation or transfer of assets of such subsequent employer.
12. Withholding.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 hereof, the Company may, to the extent required by law, withhold applicable federal, state and local income and other taxes from any payments due to Executive hereunder.
13. Applicable Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein.
14. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be changed only by a written agreement executed by the Company and Executive.
15. Notice. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, delivered by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses last given by each party to the other, provided that all notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the Board with a copy to the Secretary of the Company. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received on the date of delivery thereof or on the third business day after the mailing thereof, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
16. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the dates set forth below.
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ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
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By: |
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Dated: December 20, 2002 |
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Dated: , 200 |
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Executive |
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Schedule A
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, and unless the context requires a different meaning, the following terms, when capitalized, have the meaning indicated:
“Annual Compensation” means the sum of (i) Executive’s annual rate of base salary in effect on the date of the Change in Control or the Termination Date, whichever is higher, and (ii) any bonus paid or payable to Executive for the year preceding the Change in Control or the year preceding the Termination Date, whichever is higher.
“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.
“Cause” shall mean Executive’s termination of employment due to:
(i) the willful and continued failure of Executive to substantially perform Executive’s duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Executive by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that Executive has not substantially performed Executive’s duties; or
(ii) (A) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or (B) the willful engaging by Executive in gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.
In each of (i) and (ii) above, for a termination of employment to be for Cause: (a) Executive must receive a written notice which indicates in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for the termination of Executive’s employment for Cause; (b) Executive must be provided with an opportunity to be heard no earlier than 30 days following the receipt of such notice (during which notice period Executive has the opportunity to cure and has failed to cure or resolve the behavior in question); and (c) there must be a good faith determination of Cause by at least three-quarters of the non-employee outside director members of the Board.
“Change in Control” shall mean any of the following events:
(i) any person or group of persons acting in concert (excluding Company benefit plans) becoming the beneficial owner of securities of the Company having at least 30% of the voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (unless the event causing the 30% threshold to be crossed is an acquisition of voting common securities directly from the Company); or
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(ii) any merger or other business combination of the Company, any sale or lease of the Company’s assets or any combination of the foregoing transactions (the “Transactions”) other than a Transaction immediately following which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the Transaction own at least 60% of the voting power, directly or indirectly, of (A) the surviving corporation in any such merger or other business combination; (B) the purchaser or lessee of the Company’s assets; or (C) both the surviving corporation and the purchaser or lessee in the event of any combination of Transactions; or
(iii) within any 24 month period, the persons who were directors immediately before the beginning of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors of a successor to the Company. For this purpose, any director who was not a director at the beginning of such period shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if such director was elected to the Board by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least three-quarters of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors (so long as such director was not nominated by a person who has expressed an intent to effect a Change in Control or engage in a proxy or other control contest).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” means Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its successors and assigns.
“Disability” means an illness or injury which prevents Executive from performing his or her duties, as they existed immediately prior to the illness or injury, on a full time basis for 180 consecutive business days.
“Good Reason” means any of the following actions, without Executive’s express prior written approval, other than due to Executive’s permanent disability or death:
(i) any reduction in Executive’s annual base salary;
(ii) any material reduction in Executive’s target bonus level or bonus opportunities;
(iii) Executive’s duties, titles or responsibilities are materially diminished in comparison to the duties, titles and responsibilities enjoyed by Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control;
(iv) the assignment to Executive of any duties materially inconsistent with his position;
(v) in the event Executive is a member of the Board, any failure to elect Executive to or Executive’s removal from the Board or, if the Company is not publicly-held
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following a Change in Control, to the board of directors of the Company’s ultimate publicly-held parent;
(vi) any significant reduction, in the aggregate, in the employee benefit programs made available to Executive other than a reduction in such employee benefit programs affecting all employees of the Company substantially equally;
(vii) the relocation of Executive’s principal place of business to a location outside the San Diego, California metropolitan area; or
(viii) the failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform the Agreement, as contemplated in Section 11 of the Agreement.
Executive’s continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstances constituting Good Reason hereunder.
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Schedule 1
Participating Officers:
1. Xxxx Xxxx
2. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
3. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
4. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
5. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
6. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
7. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
8. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
