EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.7
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into effective February 19, 2018 (“Effective Date”), by and between Xxxx Xxxxxx (“Executive”) and Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. (“Company”).
The Company desires to employ Executive and, in connection with such employment, to compensate Executive for Executive’s personal services to the Company; and
Executive desires to provide personal services to the Company in return for certain compensation.
Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the parties agree to the following:
1. EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY.
1.1 At-Will Employment. Executive shall be employed by the Company on an “at will” basis, meaning either the Company or Executive may terminate Executive’s employment at any time, with or without cause or advanced notice. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive shall be superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement shall constitute the full and complete agreement between Executive and the Company on the “at will” nature of Executive’s employment with the Company, which may be changed only in an express written agreement signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Executive’s rights to any compensation following a termination shall be only as set forth in Section 6.
1.2 Position. Subject to the terms set forth herein, the Company agrees to employ Executive in the position of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, and Executive hereby accepts such employment.
1.3 Duties. As CFO and CBO, Executive will report to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and/or such executive designated by the CEO, performing such duties as are normally associated with his position and such duties as are assigned to him from time to time, subject to the oversight and direction of the CEO or his designee, including work for or on behalf of affiliates of the Company such as its parent, subsidiaries or other group affiliates (together, the “Affiliates”). During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will work on a full-time basis for the Company and will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention to the business of the Company. Executive shall perform Executive’s duties under this Agreement principally out of the Company’s corporate headquarters in San Diego, California. In addition, Executive shall make such business trips to such places as may be necessary or advisable for the efficient operations of the Company.
1.4 Company Policies and Benefits. The employment relationship between the parties shall also be subject to the Company’s personnel policies and procedures as they may be interpreted, adopted, revised or deleted from time to time in the Company’s sole discretion. Executive will be eligible to participate on the same basis as similarly situated employees in the Company’s benefit
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plans in effect from time to time during his employment. All matters of eligibility for coverage or benefits under any benefit plan shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of such plan. The Company reserves the right to change, alter, or terminate any benefit plan in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.
2. COMPENSATION.
2.1 Salary. Executive shall receive for Executive’s services to be rendered under this Agreement an initial base salary of $390,000 on an annualized basis, subject to review and adjustment by the Company in its sole discretion, payable subject to standard federal and state payroll withholding requirements in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices (“Base Salary”).
2.2 Annual Incentive Compensation. During the period Executive employed with the Company, Executive shall be eligible to earn for Executive’s services to be rendered under this Agreement a discretionary annual incentive compensation in the form of a cash bonus of up to forty percent (40%) of earned Base Salary (“Target Amount”), based on achievement of individual and corporate performance targets, metrics and/or management-by-objectives (“MBOs”) to be determined and approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or the Compensation Committee thereof. Annual incentive compensation is paid on an annual basis, after the close of the fiscal year and after determination by the Board (or the Compensation Committee thereof) of (i) the level of achievement of the applicable individual and corporate performance targets, metrics and/or MBOs, and (ii) the amount of the annual incentive compensation earned by Executive (if any). No annual incentive compensation is guaranteed and, in addition to the other conditions for earning such compensation, Executive must remain an employee in good standing of the Company (or one of its Affiliates) on the scheduled annual incentive compensation payment date in order to be eligible for any annual incentive compensation. This annual incentive compensation program will be the only incentive compensation, commissions, or other bonus program that will apply to Executive. The annual period over which performance is measured for purposes of this bonus is January 1 through December 31. Any bonus for the first year of employment will be pro-rated based on the number of days employed during the year in which Executive commences employment.
2.3 Stock Option. Subject to approval of the Board, Executive will be granted an option to purchase 375,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant and subject to the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan”) and the Company’s standard form of stock option agreement (“Option”). The Option shall be an incentive stock option to the extent permissible under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) and will have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of a share of common stock of the Company as of the date of grant. The Option shall vest according to the following schedule: one-eighth will vest as of the six month anniversary of the date of grant, and the remaining shares will then vest in equal installments on the final day of each month thereafter over the next 42 months, subject to continuous employment with the Company on such dates.
2.4 Expense Reimbursement. The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable business expenses in accordance with the Company’s standard expense reimbursement policy, as the same may be modified by the Company from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that any reimbursements payable to Executive are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of
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the Code: (a) any such reimbursements will be paid no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, (b) the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year will not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, and (c) the right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
3. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, INVENTIONS, AND NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS. As a condition of employment, Executive agrees to execute and abide by an Employee Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement attached as Exhibit A (“Proprietary Information Agreement”), which may be amended by the parties from time to time without regard to this Agreement. The Proprietary Information Agreement contains provisions that are intended by the parties to survive and do survive termination of this Agreement. During Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive will not, without the express written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly serve as an officer, director, stockholder, employee, partner, proprietor, investor, joint venture, associate, representative or consultant of any person or entity engaged in, or planning or preparing to engage in, business activity competitive with any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company or its Affiliates; provided, however, that Executive may purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) one percent (1%) of any class of securities of any enterprise (without participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or regional securities exchange. In addition, Executive will be subject to certain restrictions (including restrictions continuing after Executive’s employment ends) under the terms of Executive’s Proprietary Information Agreement.
4. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES DURING EMPLOYMENT. Throughout Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or present a conflict of interest with the Company or its Affiliates. Subject to the restrictions set forth herein, and only with prior written disclosure to and consent of the Board, Executive may engage in other types of business or public activities. The Board may withdraw such consent, if the Board determines, in its sole discretion, that such activities compromise or threaten to compromise the Company’s or its Affiliates’ business interests or conflict with Executive’s duties to the Company or its Affiliates. This restriction shall not, however, preclude Executive (i) from owning less than one percent (1%) of the total outstanding shares of a publicly traded company, or (ii) from employment or service in any capacity with Affiliates of the Company.
5. NO CONFLICT WITH EXISTING OBLIGATIONS. Executive represents that Executive’s performance of all the terms of this Agreement does not and will not breach any agreement or obligation of any kind made prior to Executive’s employment by the Company, including agreements or obligations Executive may have with prior employers or entities for which Executive has provided services. Executive has not entered into, and Executive agrees that Executive will not enter into, any agreement or obligation, either written or oral, in conflict herewith. In Executive’s work for the Company and its Affiliates, Executive will be expected not to make any unauthorized use or disclosure of any confidential information or materials, including trade secrets, or any former employer or other third party; and not to violate any lawful agreement that Executive may have with any third party. By signing this Agreement, Executive represents that Executive is able to perform Executive’s job duties within these guidelines, and Executive is not in unauthorized possession or control of any confidential documents, information, or other property of any former employer or third party. In addition, Executive represents that Executive has disclosed to the Company in writing any agreement Executive may have with any third party (e.g., a former employer) which may limit Executive’s ability to perform
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Executive’s duties to the Company or its Affiliates or which could present a conflict of interest with the Company or its Affiliates, including but not limed to disclosure (and a copy) or any contractual restrictions on solicitations or competitive activities.
6. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The parties acknowledge that Executive’s employment relationship with the Company is at-will. The provisions in this Section govern the amount of compensation, if any, to be provided to Executive upon termination of employment and do not alter this at-will status.
6.1 Termination by the Company Without Cause.
(a) The Company shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company pursuant to this Section 6.1 at any time without “Cause” (as defined in Section 6.2(b) below). A termination pursuant to Sections 6.5 and/or 6.6 below is not a termination without “Cause” for purposes of receiving the benefits described in this Section 6.1.
(b) If the Company terminates Executive’s employment at any time without Cause and provided that such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), without regard to any alternative definition thereunder, a “Separation from Service”), then Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations (defined below) and, subject to Executive’s compliance with the obligations in Section 6.1(c) below, Executive shall be eligible to receive an amount equal to Executive’s then current Base Salary for six (6) months, less all applicable withholdings and deductions (“Severance”), paid in equal installments beginning on the Company’s first regularly scheduled payroll date following the Release Effective Date (as defined in Section 6.1(c) below), with the remaining installments occurring on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll dates thereafter. All vested options and restricted stock shall be treated in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the applicable stock option agreement or restricted stock agreement. The Company shall pay the premiums for Executive and his dependents of Executive’s group health insurance COBRA continuation coverage for six (6) months following the date of Executive’s termination of employment, or, if earlier, until the date on which Executive becomes eligible to receive comparable benefits from another employer.
(c) Executive will be paid all of the Accrued Obligations on the Company’s first payroll date after Executive’s date of termination from employment or earlier if required by law. Executive shall receive the Severance pursuant to Section 6.1(b) of this Agreement if: (i) by the 60th day following the date of Executive’s Separation from Service, he has signed and delivered to the Company an effective, general release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates and representatives, in a form acceptable to the Company (the “Release”), which cannot be revoked in whole or part by such date (the date that the Release can no longer be revoked is referred to as the “Release Effective Date”); and (ii) if he holds any other positions with the Company, he resigns such position(s) to be effective no later than the date of Executive’s termination date (or such other date as requested by the Board); (iii) he returns all Company property; (iv) he complies with his post-termination obligations under this Agreement and the Proprietary Information Agreement; and (v) he complies with the terms of the Release, including without limitation any non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions contained in the Release. To the extent that any severance payments are deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, and are not otherwise exempt from the application of Section 409A, then, if the period during which Executive may consider and sign the Release spans two calendar years, the payment of
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Severance will not be made or begin until the later calendar year.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “Accrued Obligations” are (i) Executive’s accrued but unpaid salary through the date of termination, (ii) any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by Executive payable in accordance with the Company’s standard expense reimbursement policies, and (iii) benefits owed to Executive under any qualified retirement plan or health and welfare benefit plan in which Executive was a participant in accordance with applicable law and the provisions of such plan.
(e) The severance benefits provided to Executive pursuant to this Section 6.1 are in lieu of, and not in addition to, any benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled under any Company severance plan, policy or program.
(f) Any damages caused by the termination of Executive’s employment without Cause would be difficult to ascertain; therefore, the severance benefits which Executive is eligible pursuant to Section 6.1(b) above in exchange for the Release is agreed to by the parties as liquidated damages, to serve as full compensation, and not a penalty.
6.2 Termination by the Company for Cause.
(a) Subject to Section 6.2(c) below, the Company shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time for Cause by giving notice thereof.
(b) “Cause” for termination shall mean that the Company has determined in its sole discretion that the Executive has engaged in any of the following: (i) a material breach of any covenant or condition under this Agreement or any other agreement between the parties; (ii) any act constituting dishonesty, insubordination, fraud, immoral or disreputable conduct; (iii) any conduct which constitutes a felony under applicable law; (iv) violation of any written Company policy or any act of misconduct; (v) negligence or incompetence in the performance of Executive’s duties or failure to perform such duties in a manner satisfactory to the Company after the expiration of ten (10) days without cure after written notice of such failure; or (vii) breach of fiduciary duty or the duty of loyalty.
(c) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated at any time for Cause, Executive will not receive Severance or any other severance compensation or benefits, except that, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, the Company shall pay to Executive the Accrued Obligations.
6.3 Resignation by Executive.
(a) Executive may resign from Executive’s employment with the Company at any time by giving notice.
(b) In the event Executive resigns from Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason (other than a resignation for Good Reason as described in Section 6.4 below), Executive will not receive Severance or any other severance compensation or benefits, except that, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, the Company shall pay to Executive the Accrued Obligations as required by law.
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6.4 Resignation by Executive for Good Reason.
(a) Provided Executive has not previously been notified of the Company’s intention to terminate Executive’s employment, Executive may resign from employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined in Section 6.4(b) below.
(b) “Good Reason” for resignation shall mean the occurrence of any of the following without Executive’s prior written consent: (i) a material reduction in Executive’s Base Salary of at least 10% of Executive’s Base Salary (unless pursuant to a salary reduction program applicable generally to the Company’s similarly situated employees); (ii) relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a place that is more than fifty (50) miles from his then-current principal place of employment immediately prior to such relocation; or (iii) the assignment to Executive of any duties or responsibilities which result in the material diminution of Executive’s then current position; provided, however, that the acquisition of the Company and subsequent conversion of the Company to a division or unit of the acquiring company will not by itself result in a diminution of Executive’s position. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to resign for Good Reason, Executive must (1) provide written notice to the Company within 30 days after the first occurrence of the event giving rise to Good Reason setting forth the basis for Executive’s resignation, (2) allow the Company at least 30 days from receipt of such written notice to cure such event, and (3) if such event is not reasonably cured within such period, Executive’s resignation from all positions Executive then holds with the Company is effective not later than 30 days after the expiration of the cure period. Any actions taken by the Company to accommodate a disability of Executive or pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act shall not be a Good Reason for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) In the event Executive resigns from Executive’s employment for Good Reason, and provided that such termination constitutes a Separation from Service, then subject to Executive’s compliance with the obligations in Section 6.4(d) below, Executive shall be eligible to receive the same payments and benefits as described in Section 6.1 and on the same conditions as if Executive had been terminated by the Company without Cause.
(d) Executive shall not receive any of the Severance pursuant to Section 6.4(c) unless (i) he delivers to the Company an effective, general release of claims in favor of the Company in a form acceptable to the Company within sixty (60) days following the date of Executive’s Separation from Service; and (ii) if he is a member of the Board, he resigns from the Board to be effective no later than the date of Executive’s termination date (or such other date as requested by the Board). Executive’s ability to receive benefits pursuant to Section 6.4(c) is further conditioned upon his: returning all Company property; complying with his post-termination obligations under this Agreement and the Proprietary Information Agreement; and complying with the general release of claims including without limitation any non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions contained therein.
(e) The benefits provided to Executive pursuant to this Section 6.4 are in lieu of, and not in addition to, any benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled under any Company severance plan, policy or program.
6.5 Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause or Executive resigns for Good Reason within one (1) month prior to or one (1) year following a Change in Control, in lieu of any payments that
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Executive would have been entitled to receive pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.4 herein, Executive shall be entitled to receive:
(i) the Accrued Obligations, which shall be paid within thirty (30) days after the date of Executive’s termination of employment;
(ii) a lump-sum cash payment in an amount equal to Executive’s then current Base Salary for nine (9) months;
(iii) immediate vesting of all outstanding stock options; and
(iv) the Company shall pay the premiums for Executive and his dependents of Executive’s group health insurance COBRA continuation coverage for nine (9) months following the date of Executive’s termination of employment, or, if earlier, until the date on which Executive become eligible to receive comparable benefits from another employer.
“Change in Control” means
(i) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than the transfer of the Company’s assets to a majority-owned subsidiary corporation);
(ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (unless the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting stock immediately prior to such transaction own, immediately after such transaction, securities representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the corporation or other entity surviving such transaction);
(iii) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise (unless the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting stock immediately prior to such transaction own, immediately after such transaction, securities representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company);
(iv) any transaction or series of related transactions in which in excess of 50% of the Company’s voting power is transferred; or
(v) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a “Person”), including any “person” within the meaning of Section 13(d) (3) or 14(d) (2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of beneficial ownership within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, of 50% or more of either (1) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Voting Securities”); excluding, however, the following: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding any acquisition resulting from the exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless the security being so exercised, converted or exchanged was acquired directly from the Company), (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (D) any acquisition by any corporation if the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting
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stock immediately prior to such transaction own, immediately after such transaction, securities representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the corporation or other entity surviving such transaction; provided further that, for purposes of clause (B), if any Person (other than the Company or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company) shall become the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the Outstanding Common Stock or 50% or more of the Outstanding Voting Securities by reason of an acquisition by the Company and such Person shall, after such acquisition by the Company, become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of the Outstanding Common Stock or any additional Outstanding Voting Securities and such beneficial ownership is publicly announced, such additional beneficial ownership shall constitute a Change in Control.
Following such termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or by executive for Good Reason within one (1) month prior to or one year following a Change in Control, except as set forth in this Section, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.
6.6 Termination by Virtue of Death or Disability of Executive.
(a) In the event of Executive’s death while employed pursuant to this Agreement, all obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate immediately, and the Company shall, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, pay to Executive’s legal representatives all Accrued Obligations.
(b) Subject to applicable state and federal law, the Company shall at all times have the right, upon written notice to Executive, to terminate this Agreement based on Executive’s Disability. Termination by the Company of Executive’s employment based on “Disability” shall mean termination because Executive is unable due to a physical or mental condition to perform the essential functions of his position with or without reasonable accommodation for 180 days in the aggregate during any twelve (12) month period or based on the written certification by two licensed physicians of the likely continuation of such condition for such period. This definition shall be interpreted and applied consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and other applicable law. In the event Executive’s employment is terminated based on Executive’s Disability, Executive will not receive Severance or any other severance compensation or benefit, except that, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, the Company shall pay to Executive the Accrued Obligations.
6.7 Termination Due to Discontinuance of Business. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event the Company’s business is discontinued because rendered impracticable by substantial financial losses, lack of funding, legal decisions, administrative rulings, declaration of war, dissolution, national or local economic depression or crisis or any reasons beyond the control of the Company, then this Agreement shall terminate as of the day the Company determines to cease operation, and Executive will not receive severance payments, or any other severance compensation or benefit, except that, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, the Company shall pay to Executive the Accrued Obligations.
6.8 Cooperation With Company After Termination of Employment. Following termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive agrees to cooperate fully with the
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Company in connection with its actual or contemplated defense, prosecution, or investigation of any claims or demands by or against third parties, or other matters arising from events, acts, or failures to act that occurred during the period of Executive’s employment by the Company. Such cooperation includes, without limitation, making Executive available to the Company upon reasonable notice, without subpoena, to provide complete, truthful and accurate information in witness interviews, depositions and trial testimony. In addition, for six months after Executive’s employment with the Company ends for any reason, Executive agrees to cooperate fully with the Company in all matters relating to the transition of Executive’s work and responsibilities on behalf of the Company, including, but not limited to, any present, prior or subsequent relationships and the orderly transfer of any such work and institutional knowledge to such other persons as may be designated by the Company. The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses Executive incurs in connection with any such cooperation (excluding forgone wages, salary, or other compensation) and will make reasonable efforts to accommodate Executive’s scheduling needs.
6.9 Application of Section 409A. It is intended that all of the severance payments payable under this Agreement satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively, “Section 409A”) provided under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4) and 1.409A-1(b)(9), and this Agreement will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A. If not so exempt, this Agreement (and any definitions hereunder) will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A, and incorporates by reference all required definitions and payment terms. No severance payments will be made under this Agreement unless Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)). For purposes of Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive’s right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement (whether severance payments or otherwise) shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment. If the Company determines that the severance benefits provided under this Agreement constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and if Executive is a “specified employee” of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code at the time of Executive’s Separation from Service, then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the Severance will be delayed as follows: on the earlier to occur of (a) the date that is six months and one day after Executive’s Separation from Service, and (b) the date of Executive’s death (such earlier date, the “Delayed Initial Payment Date”), the Company will (i) pay to Executive a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the severance benefits that Executive would otherwise have received through the Delayed Initial Payment Date if the commencement of the payment of the severance benefits had not been delayed pursuant to this Section 6.8 and (ii) commence paying the balance of the severance benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedule set forth in Section 6.1. No interest shall be due on any amounts deferred pursuant to this Section 6.8.
7. PARACHUTE PAYMENTS. Except as otherwise provided in an agreement between Executive and the Company, if any payment or benefit Executive would receive from the Company or otherwise in connection with a Change in Control (“Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall be equal to the Reduced Amount (as defined herein). The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest
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portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount, after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the manner that results in the greatest economic benefit to Executive.
The independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the event described in Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Code shall perform the foregoing calculations. If the independent registered public accounting firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting such event, the Company shall appoint a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such independent registered public accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The independent registered public accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and Executive within thirty (30) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as reasonably requested by the Company or Executive. Any good faith determinations of the independent registered public accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive.
8. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
8.1 Notices. Any notices required hereunder to be in writing shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by electronic mail or confirmed facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not, then on the next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed on the Company payroll, or at such other address as the Company or Executive may designate by ten (10) days advance written notice to the other.
8.2 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.
8.3 Survival. Provisions of this Agreement which by their terms must survive the termination of this Agreement in order to effectuate the intent of the parties will survive any such termination, whether by expiration of the term, termination of Executive’s employment, or otherwise, for such period as may be appropriate under the circumstances.
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8.4 Dispute Resolution. To ensure the rapid and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in connection with Executive’s employment with and services for the Company and its Affiliates, Executive and the Company both agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action, in law or equity, including but limited to statutory claims, arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach performance, or interpretation of this Agreement, Executive’s employment with and services for the Company and its Affiliates, will be resolved pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §1-16, and to the fullest extent permitted by (JAMS”) or its successors by a single arbitrator. Both Executive and the Company acknowledge that by agreeing to this arbitration procedure, each waives the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative proceeding.
Any such arbitration proceeding will be governed by JAMS’ then applicable rules and procedures for employment disputes, which can be found at xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xxxxx-xxxxxxx/ and which will be provided to Executive upon request. In any such proceeding, the arbitrator shall: (a) have the authority to compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision including the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. Executive and the Company each shall be entitled to all rights and remedies that either would be entitled to pursue in a court of law. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either the Company or Executive from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration pursuant to applicable law. The Company shall pay all filing fees in excess of those which would be required if the dispute were decided in a court of law, and shall pay the arbitrator’s fees any other fees or costs unique to arbitration. Any award or orders in such arbitrations may be entered and enforced as judgments in the federal and state courts of any competent jurisdiction.
8.5 Waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, it shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.
8.6 Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company with regard to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter and supersedes any prior oral discussions or written communications and agreements. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein, and it cannot be modified or amended except in writing signed by Executive and an authorized officer of the Company. The parties have entered into a separate Proprietary Information Agreement and have or may enter into separate agreements related to equity. These separate agreements govern other aspects of the relationship between the parties, have or may have provisions that survive termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, may be amended or superseded by the parties without regard to this Agreement and are enforceable according to their terms without regard to the enforcement provision of this Agreement.
8.7 Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except in a written instrument signed by both Executive and the CEO, with the exception of those changes expressly reserved to the Company’s discretion.
8.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will
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constitute one and the same Agreement. The parties agree that facsimile and scanned image copies of signatures will suffice as original signatures.
8.9 Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.
8.10 Successors and Assigns. The Company shall assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder in whole, but not in part, to any Company or other entity with or into which the Company may hereafter merge or consolidate or to which the Company may transfer all or substantially all of its assets, if in any such case said Company or other entity shall by operation of law or expressly in writing assume all obligations of the Company hereunder as fully as if it had been originally made a party hereto, but may not otherwise assign this Agreement or its rights and obligations hereunder. The Executive may not assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder, other than to his estate upon his death.
8.11 Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California.
8.12 Interpretation. Any ambiguity in this Agreement shall not be construed against either party as the drafter.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Executive Employment Agreement on the day and year first written above.
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Title: CEO | ||
| Executive: | ||
| /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
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Exhibit A
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
