SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
Exhibit 10.1
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
This Separation Agreement and General Release (this "Agreement") is hereby entered into by and between Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Ph.D., an individual (the "Employee"), and Galena Biopharma, Inc., on behalf of itself and all of its affiliated entities, specifically including Apthera, Inc. and Xxxxx Pharmaceuticals, LLC (collectively, the "Company").
1.Effective Date. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be effective on the eighth calendar day after it has been executed by both of the parties (the "Effective Date"), unless the Specified Sections (as defined in Section 12(c), below) have been timely and properly revoked as provided in Section 12(c) before the Effective Date.
2.Resignation of Employment; Termination of Employment Agreement. The Employee has been employed by the Company as its President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to a written employment agreement by and between the Company and the Employee
effective as of August 21, 2014, and subsequently amended (the "Employment Agreement"), and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Employee resigned his employment with the Company and as a member of the Board of Directors as of the close of business on January 31, 2017 (the "Resignation Date"). The Employee acknowledges that that his employment with the Company has irrevocably and forever ended and will not be resumed at
any time. The Employee and the Company agree that the Employment Agreement shall be terminated as of the Resignation Date.
3.Continuation of Benefits After the Resignation Date. The Employee's coverage under the Company's health care benefits plans will end on January 31, 2017, but the Employee shall have the right to continue his group health benefits coverage at his own expense in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 ("COBRA"); provided, however, that the Separation Payment shall include an amount equal to the premiums for six (6) months of continued health benefits coverage. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or in the plan documents governing the Company's employee benefit plans, after the Resignation Date, the Employee will no longer be eligible for, receive, accrue, or participate in any benefits or benefit plans provided by the Company, including, without limitation, the Company's 401(k) retirement plan; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall waive the Employee's right to any vested amounts in the
Company's 401(k) retirement plan, which amounts shall be handled as provided in the applicable plan documents.
4.Final Wages. Within three (3) business days after the Resignation Date, the Company will pay the Employee the unpaid portion of his annual salary earned through the Resignation Date, which the Employee agrees is a total of $23,718.75 less required tax withholdings and authorized deductions, and for all accrued, unused vacation time, which the Employee agrees is a total of $50,466.2 lless required tax withholdings and authorized deductions.
5.Separation Payment. In return for the Employee's promises in this Agreement, the Company will provide the Employee with a separation payment in the gross amount of $ 302,068.86, less required tax withholdings and authorized deductions (the
"Separation Payment"), which is equal to six (6) months of the Employee's final base salary and six (6) months of the cost for continued health benefits coverage under COBRA. The Separation Payment will be mailed or wired to the Employee on the Company's first regular payday after the Effective Date.
6.No Accelerated Vesting of Stock Options. The Employee and the Company hereby agree that no options or shares subject to options granted to the Employee
under the Company's Amended and Restated 2007 Incentive Plan or the 2016 Incentive Plan (the "Plans") and/or
under any stock option agreement between the Employee and the Company that were not vested as of the Resignation Date shall vest or become exercisable at any time after the Resignation Date.
7.Acknowledgement of Total Compensation and Indebtedness. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the cash payments in Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement extinguish any and all obligations for monies, or other compensation or benefits that the Employee claims or could claim to have earned or claims or could claim is owed to him as a result of his employment by the Company through the Resignation Date, including any bonus compensation.
8.Tax Conseq uences. The Employee acknowledges that (a) the Company has not made any representations to him about, and that he has not relied upon any statement in this Agreement with respect to, any individual tax consequences that may arise by virtue of any payment provided under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the applicability of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, and (b) he has or will consult with his own tax advisors as to any such tax consequences.
9. | Release by Employee. |
(a)Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Employee, for himself and his heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, affiliates, successors and agents (collectively, the "Employee's Affiliates") hereby fully and without limitation releases and forever discharges the Company, its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors and each of their respective agents, representatives, shareholders, owners, officers, directors, employees, consultants, attorneys, auditors, accountants, investigators, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Releasees"), both individually and collectively, from any and all rights,
claims, demands, liabilities, actions, causes of action, damages, losses, costs, expenses and compensation, of whatever nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, which the Employee or any of the Employee's Affiliates has or may have or may claim to have against the Company Releasees by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever, from the beginning oftime to the Effective Date ("Claims"), including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims arising out of, based upon, or relating to the recruitment, hiring, employment, remuneration, or termination of the Employee by any of the Releasees, the Employee's tenure as an employee of the Company, any agreement or compensation arrangement between the Employee and the Company to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Employee specifically and expressly releases any Claims arising out of or based on: the Xxxx-Xxxxx Act; the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, as amended; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Americans With
Disabilities Act; ERISA; any provision of the California Labor Code; the California common law on fraud, misrepresentation, negligence, defamation, infliction of emotional distress or other tort, breach of contract or covenant, violation of public policy or wrongful termination; state or federal wage and hour laws; or any other state or federal law, rule or regulation dealing with the employment relationship.
(b)Governmental Agencies. Notwithstanding the release of claims language set forth in Paragraph 9, nothing in this Agreement prohibits or prevents Employee from filing a charge with or participating, testifying, or assisting in any investigation, hearing, whistleblower proceeding or other proceeding before any federal, state, or local government agency, nor does anything in this Agreement preclude, prohibit, or otherwise limit, in any way, Employee's rights and abilities to contact, communicate with, report matters to, or otherwise participate in any whistleblower program administered by any such agencies.
(c)Nothing contained in this Section 9 or any other provision of this Agreement shall release or waive any right that the Employee has to indemnification, advancement and/or reimbursement of expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) by the Company with respect to which the Employee may be eligible as provided in California Labor Code section 2802, the Company's Articles oflncorporation, Bylaws and/or Delaware law, and any applicable directors and officers, errors & omissions, umbrella or general liability insurance policies, any indemnification agreements, including the Employment Agreement, or any other applicable source. The Company acknowledges that it has been advancing expenses attorneys' fees to the
Employee up to the Effective Date.
10. | Waiver of Civil Code Section 1542. |
(a)The Employee understands and agrees that the release provided herein extends to all Claims released above whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected. The Employee expressly waives and relinquishes any and all rights he may have under California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides as follows:
"A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR."
(b)It is the intention of the Employee through this Agreement to fully, finally and forever settle and release the Claims as set forth above. In furtherance of such intention, the release herein given shall be and remain in effect as a full and complete release of such matters notwithstanding the discovery of any additional Claims or facts relating thereto.
11.Release of Federal Age Discrimination Claims by the Employee. The Employee hereby knowingly and voluntarily waives and releases all rights and claims, known or unknown, arising under the Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967, as amended, which
he might otherwise have had against the Company or any of the other Releasees regarding any actions which occurred prior to the Effective Date.
12.Rights Under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act. In accordance with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, the Employee hereby is advised of and acknowledges the following:
(a)The Employee has the right to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement and is encouraged by the Company to do so;
(b)The Employee has been given twenty-one (21) calendar days after being presented with this Agreement to decide whether or not to sign this Agreement. Ifthe Employee signs this Agreement before the expiration of such period, the Employee does so voluntarily and after having had the opportunity to consult with an attorney; and
(c)The Employee has seven (7) calendar days after signing this Agreement to revoke Sections 7, 9, 10 and 11 of this Agreement (collectively, the "Specified Sections"), which must be revoked in their entirety and as a group, and the Specified Sections of this Agreement (as a group) will not be effective until that revocation period has expired without exercise. The Employee agrees that in order to exercise his right to revoke the Specified Sections of this Agreement within such seven (7) day period, he must do so in a signed writing
delivered to the Company's General Counsel before the close of business on the seventh calendar day after he signs this Agreement. Ifthe Employee timely revokes the Specified Sections of this Agreement, he will not receive the Separation Payment but his employment will not be resumed.
13.Confidentiality of Agreement. After the execution of this Agreement by the Employee, neither the Employee, his attorney, nor any person acting by, through, under or in concert with them, shall disclose any of the terms of or amount paid under this Agreement or the negotiation thereof to any individual or entity (other than to state that the Company has filed this Agreement and/or agreements related thereto as public documents); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent such disclosures by the Employee to his attorney, tax advisors and/or immediate family members, or as may be required by law.
14.No Filings. The Employee warrants that as of the date of execution of this Agreement, he has not commenced, filed, participated in, offered testimony, or assisted any investigation, hearing, or whistleblower proceeding before any federal, state, or local
government agency relating to the Company. In addition, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Employee agrees that if any lawsuits or claims, charges or complaints are made against the Company or the other Releasees with any local, state or federal agency or court, Employee shall not be entitled to recover any individual monetary relief or other individual remedies, and that, if any such agency or court ever assumes jurisdiction over any such lawsuit, claim, charge or complaint and/or any agency purports to bring any legal proceeding, in whole or in part, on behalf of the Employee based upon events occurring prior to the execution of this Agreement,
the Employee will request such agency or court to withdraw from and/or to dismiss the lawsuit, claim, charge or complaint with prejudice. Employee further warrants that he has disclosed, or will disclose prior to the execution of this Agreement, any and all known or suspected violations of law. Such disclosure must include how he has firsthand knowledge of the known or suspected
violation. If Employee previously reported such known or suspected violation, such disclosure must also include who the violation was previously reported to and how such violation has not been cured. The Employee also agrees that to the maximum extent allowed by law he will not induce, encourage, solicit or assist any other person or entity to file or pursue any proceeding of any kind against the Company or the other Releasees or voluntarily appear or invite a subpoena to testify in any such legal proceeding. This Section 14 shall not prohibit the Employee from challenging the validity of the ADEA release in Section 11 of this Agreement.
15. | Confidential Information. |
(a)The Employee acknowledges that during the course of or related to his employment with the Company he was provided access to certain confidential and/or proprietary information regarding the Company and its business that is not generally known outside of the Company and that would not otherwise have been provided to him (collectively, "Confidential Information"). Confidential Information includes, without limitation, the
following materials and information (whether or not reduced to writing and whether or not patentable or protected by copyright): trade secrets; inventions; processes; formulae; programs; technical data; financial information; research and product development; marketing and · advertising plans and strategies; customer identities, lists, and confidential information about customers and their buying habits; confidential information about prospects, suppliers, vendors, and key employees; personal information relating to the Company's employees; mailing and email lists; and any other confidential or proprietary information relating to the Company's business. The Employee agrees that the Confidential Information is the sole property of the Company. The Employee further agrees that he will not disclose to any person or use any such Confidential Information without the written consent of the Company's Board of Directors. If the Employee is served with a deposition subpoena or other legal process calling for the disclosure of Confidential Information, or if he is contacted by any third person requesting such information, he will notify the Company's General Counsel as soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving notice and will cooperate with the Company in preventing or minimizing the disclosure thereof. Any other agreement between the Employee and the Company for the protection of confidential and proprietary information remains in effect, and in the event that any provision of this Section 15(a) conflicts with any provision in such other agreement, the terms and provisions of the agreement providing the greatest protection to the Company shall control.
(b)The Employee represents and warrants that he has returned all files, customer lists, financial information and other property of the Company that were in his possession or control without retaining either electronically stored or physical copies thereof.
(c)Notwithstanding the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Section 15 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Employee understands that, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 ("DTSA"), the Employee will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government
official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose ofreporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. The Employee further understands that if a court of law or arbitrator determines that he misappropriated Company trade secrets willfully or
maliciously, including by making permitted disclosures without following the requirements of the DTSA as detailed in this Section 15(c), then the Company may be entitled to an award of exemplary damages and attorneys' fees against him.
16.Remedies. The Employee acknowledges that any misappropriation or misuse of trade secrets or Confidential Information belonging to the Company, and any violation of Sections 13 and 15 of this Agreement, will result in irreparable harm to the Company, and therefore, the Company shall, in addition to any other remedies, be entitled to immediate injunctive relief. In the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Employee, including Sections 13 and 15, the Company shall, without excluding other remedies available to them, be entitled to an award in an amount equal to the Separation Payment.
17.Cooperation Clause. The Employee agrees to cooperate with the Company's and its counsel's reasonable requests for information or assistance, including related to the Company's defense of, or other participation in, any administrative, judicial, or other proceeding arising from any charge, complaint or other action which has been or may be filed relating to the period during which the Employee was engaged in employment with the Company. The Company agrees to reimburse Employee for any reasonable expenses incurred by Employee in connection with such cooperation as long as the parties have discussed and agreed upon the expense before it is incurred. Except as required by law, and as may be needed to provide cooperation in connection with the subpoenas issued by the United States Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey on December 15, 2015, and United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of Alabama, November 19, 2015, or authorized in advance by the Company's General Counsel, the Employee will not communicate, directly or indirectly, with any third
party, including any person or representative of any group of people or entity who is suing or has indicated that a legal action against the Company or any of its directors or officers is being contemplated, concerning the operations of the Company or the legal positions taken by the Company. Ifasked about any such individuals or matters, the Employee shall say: "I have no comment," and shall direct the inquirer to the Company's General Counsel. The Employee acknowledges that any violation of this Section 17 will result in irreparable harm to the
Company and will, in addition to other available remedies, shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief.
18.Non-disparagement. The Employee agrees not to disparage or otherwise publish or communicate derogatory statements about the Company and any director, officer or employee and/or the products and services of the Company to any third party. The Company agrees that its current directors and officers shall not disparage or otherwise publish or communicate derogatory statements about the Employee to any third party.
19.Clawback. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any discretionary or other incentive-based compensation paid to Employee pursuant to the Employment Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with the Company which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement). In addition, if the Employee is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to any
federal or state crime in connection with actions or activities in which he engaged related to the Company 's business or products, he shall repay the Company the net amount of the Separation Payment he received, i.e, the amount of the check after the tax withholdings shown on the accompanying wage statement, within thirty (30) days after the entry of the conviction or plea or no contest.
20.Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.
21.Arbitration. The parties hereto agree that any future dispute of any nature whatsoever between them, including, but not limited to, any claims of statutory violations, contract or tort claims, or claims regarding any aspect of this Agreement, its formation, validity, interpretation, effect, performance or breach, or any act which allegedly has or would violate any provision of this Agreement ("Arbitrable Dispute") will be submitted to arbitration in San Ramon, California, unless the parties agree to another location, before an experienced employment arbitrator licensed to practice law in California and selected in accordance with the employment arbitration rules of Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. ("JAMS"), unless the parties agree to a different arbitrator, as the exclusive remedy for any such Arbitrable Dispute. Should any party to this Agreement hereafter institute any legal action or administrative proceeding against the other with respect to any claim waived by this Agreement or pursue any Arbitrable Dispute by any method other than said arbitration, the responding party shall be entitled to recover from the initiating party all damages, costs, expenses and attorneys' fees incurred as a result of such action. This Section 20 shall not restrict actions for equitable relief by the Company for violation of Sections 13, 15 and 17 of this Agreement.
22.Attorneys' Fees. Except as otherwise provided herein, in any arbitration or other proceeding between the parties arising out of or in relation to this Agreement, including any purported breach of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of its costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees.
23.Non-Admission of Liability. The parties understand and agree that neither the payment of any sum of money nor the execution of this Agreement by the parties will constitute or be construed as an admission of any wrongdoing or liability whatsoever by any party.
24.Severability. Ifany one or more of the provisions contained herein (or parts thereof), or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unen forceable in any respect for any reason, the validity and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof will not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
25.Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the sole and entire agreement among the parties, and, except as expressly stated herein, supersedes all prior agreements, negotiations and discussions among the parties with respect to the subject matters contained herein, including the Employment Agreement.
26.Waiver. No waiver by any party hereto at any time of any breach of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by any other party hereto may be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or at any prior or subsequent time.
27.Amendment. This Agreement may be modified or amended only if such modification or amendment is agreed to in writing and signed by duly authorized representatives of the parties hereto, which writing expressly states the intent of the parties to modify this Agreement.
28.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counter- parts, each of which will be deemed to be an original as against any party that has signed it, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
29.Assignment. This Agreement inures to the benefit of and is binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, but the Employee's rights under this Agreement are not assignable, except to his estate.
30.Notice. All notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) if personally delivered; (b) if sent by email; or (c) if mailed by overnight or by first class, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and properly addressed as follows:
If to the Employee: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Ph.D.
[address]
If to the Company: Galena Biopharma, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: General Counsel
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Such addresses may be changed, from time to time, by means of a notice given in the manner provided above. Notice will conclusively be deemed to have been given when personally delivered (including, but not limited to, by messenger or courier); or if given by mail, on the third day after being sent by first class, certified or registered mail; or if given by Federal Express or other similar overnight service, on the date of delivery; or if given by email during normal business hours on a business day, when confirmation of transmission is indicated by the sender's machine; or if given by email at any time other than during normal business hours on a business day, the first business day following when confirmation of transmission is indicated by the sender's machine. Notices, requests, demands and other communications delivered to legal counsel of any party hereto, whether or not such counsel shall consist of in-house or outside counsel, shall not constitute duly given notice to any party hereto.
EACH OF THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/IT HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTANDS IT AND IS VOLUNTARILY ENTERING INTO IT, AND THAT IT INCLUDES A WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY, AND, WITH RESPECT TO THE EMPLOYEE, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the dates indicated below.
"Employee" /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, PH.D.
Dated January 31, 2017
"Company" GALENA BIOPHARMA, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Chairman of the Board
Dated: January 31, 2017
