CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
EXHIBIT 10.2
CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT
AND GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
This Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release of All Claims (“Agreement”) is made by and between Northstar Neuroscience, Inc. (“Northstar”) and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (“Employee”) with respect to the following facts:
A. Employee is currently employed by Northstar pursuant to an Executive Employment Agreement dated May 10, 2006, as amended by the First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated July 31, 2008 (as amended, “Employment Agreement”).
B. Employee resigned from the offices of Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company effective December 31, 2008.
C. Employee’s service as an employee will cease effective January 31, 2009 (the “Separation Date”). Northstar wishes to reach an amicable separation with Employee and assist Employee’s transition to other employment.
D. It is contemplated that Employee will enter into a Consultant Agreement with Northstar to provide certain transition assistance services following the Separation Date (the “Consultant Agreement”), provided, however, that such Consultant Agreement is not part of the consideration provided in connection with this Agreement.
E. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, the parties are entering into this Agreement.
F. The parties desire to settle all claims and issues that have, or could have, been raised, by Employee in relation to Employee’s employment with Northstar and arising out of or in any way related to the acts, transactions or occurrences between Employee and Northstar to date, including, but not limited to, Employee’s employment with Northstar or the termination of that employment, on the terms set forth below.
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, it is agreed by and between the undersigned as follows:
1. Agreement.
1.1 Termination of Employment. Employee’s employment with Northstar is terminated by Northstar, pursuant to Section 7.3 of the Employment Agreement, effective on the Separation Date.
1.2 Severance Package. Northstar agrees to provide Employee with the severance benefits described in the Employment Agreement and in this Section 1.2 (the “Severance Package”). As a point of clarification with respect to the prorated bonus that is included in the Severance Package described in the Employment Agreement, any prorated bonus owed to Employee will be paid by February 28, 2009 after Northstar is able to determine whether a bonus is payable and, if so, the amount of such prorated bonus. As an additional inducement to entering into the Consultant Agreement, Employee also will receive an extension of the termination date for certain stock options granted to Employee to December 31, 2009, as set forth in the Amendment to Stock Option Agreements in substantially the forms of attached Exhibit A and Exhibit B (the “Amendments to Stock Option Agreements”). Employee acknowledges and agrees that this Severance Package constitutes adequate legal consideration for the promises and representations made by Employee in this Agreement.
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1.3 No Bonus for 2009 Service. Employee acknowledges that he will not be entitled to a bonus for any services rendered in 2009.
1.4 No Additional Vesting. Employee and Northstar hereby agree that any services provided by Employee pursuant to the Consultant Agreement shall not constitute “Services” as such term is defined in both of Northstar’s 1999 Stock Option Plan and 2006 Performance Incentive Plan, each as amended to date, or the related stock option agreements, notices of stock option grant or similar agreement, and accordingly, except as otherwise provided herein, Employee shall not be entitled to any additional vesting with respect to any stock options or other equity awards held by Employee except as provided herein.
2. General Release.
2.1 Employee unconditionally, irrevocably and absolutely releases and discharges Northstar, and any parent and subsidiary corporations, divisions and affiliated corporations, partnerships or other affiliated entities of Northstar, past and present, as well as Northstar’s employees, officers, directors, agents, shareholders, successors and assigns (collectively, “Released Parties”), from all claims related in any way to the transactions or occurrences between them, directly or indirectly, to date, to the fullest extent permitted by law, including, but not limited to, Employee’s employment with Northstar, the termination of Employee’s employment, Employee’s ownership of Northstar stock, and all other losses, liabilities, claims, charges, demands and causes of action, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising directly or indirectly out of or in any way connected with Employee’s employment with Northstar or Employee’s status as a Northstar stockholder. This release is intended to have the broadest possible application and includes, but is not limited to, any securities-related claims and any claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination, defamation, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and any other tort, contract, common law, constitutional or other statutory claims, arising under state, federal or local law, including, but not limited to alleged violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, and all claims for attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses. However, this general release is not intended to bar any claims that, by statute, may not be waived, such as any challenge to the validity of Employee’s release of claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, as set forth in this Agreement.
2.2 Employee acknowledges that Employee may discover facts or law different from, or in addition to, the facts or law that Employee knows or believes to be true with respect to the claims released in this Agreement and agrees, nonetheless, that this Agreement and the release contained in it shall be and remain effective in all respects notwithstanding such different or additional facts or the discovery of them.
2.3 Employee declares and represents that Employee intends this Agreement to be complete and not subject to any claim of mistake, that the release herein expresses a full and complete release of all claims known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected and that, regardless of the adequacy or inadequacy of the consideration, Employee intends the release herein to be final and complete. Employee executes this release with the full knowledge that this release covers all possible claims against the Released Parties, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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2.4 Employee expressly waives Employee’s right to recovery of any type, including damages or reinstatement, in any administrative or court action, whether state or federal, and whether brought by Employee or on Employee’s behalf, related in any way to the matters released herein.
3. Representation Concerning Filing of Legal Actions. Employee represents that, as of the date of this Agreement, Employee has not filed any lawsuits, charges, complaints, petitions, claims or other accusatory pleadings against Northstar or any of the other Released Parties in any court or with any governmental agency.
4. Mutual Nondisparagement. Employee agrees that Employee will not make any voluntary statements, written or oral, or cause or encourage others to make any such statements that defame, disparage or in any way criticize the personal and/or business reputations, practices or conduct of Northstar or any of the other Released Parties. Accordingly, Northstar agrees that its officers and directors will not make any voluntary statements, written or oral, or cause or encourage others to make any such statements that defame, disparage or in any way criticize the personal and/or business reputations, practices or conduct of Employee.
5. Confidentiality and Return of Northstar Property.
5.1 Confidential Separation Information. Employee agrees that the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as well as the discussions that led to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (collectively referred to as the “Confidential Separation Information”) are intended to remain confidential between Employee and Northstar. Employee further agrees that Employee will not disclose the Confidential Separation Information to any other persons, except that Employee may disclose such information to Employee’s immediate family members and to Employee attorney(s) and accountant(s), if any, to the extent needed for legal advice or income tax reporting purposes. When releasing this information to any such person, Employee shall advise the person receiving the information of its confidential nature. Neither Employee nor anyone to whom the Confidential Separation Information has been disclosed will respond to, or in any way participate in or contribute to, any public discussion, notice or other publicity concerning the Confidential Separation Information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Employee specifically agrees that neither Employee, Employee’s immediate family, Employee’s attorney nor Employee’s accountant, if any, shall disclose the Confidential Separation Information to any current, former or prospective employee of Northstar. Nothing in this section will preclude Employee from disclosing information required in response to a subpoena duly issued by a court of law or a government agency having jurisdiction or power to compel such disclosure, or from giving full, truthful and cooperative answers in response to a duly issued subpoena.
5.2 Confidential or Proprietary Information. Employee also agrees that Employee will not use, remove from Northstar’s premises, make unauthorized copies of or disclose any confidential or proprietary information of Northstar or any affiliated or related entities, including but not limited to, their trade secrets, copyrighted information, customer lists, any information encompassed in any research and development, reports, work in progress, drawings, software, computer files or models, designs, plans, proposals, marketing and sales programs, financial projections, and all concepts or ideas, materials or information related to the business or sales of Northstar and any affiliated or related entities that has not previously been released to the public by an authorized representative of those companies.
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5.3 Continuing Obligations. Employee understands and agrees that certain terms and conditions of the Confidentiality, Inventions and Non-Competition Agreement (“Confidentiality Agreement”) that Employee signed while employed by Northstar survive the termination of Employee’s employment. Employee agrees to abide by such surviving provisions of the Employment Agreement and Confidentiality Agreement, including but not limited to nonsolicitation, noncompetition and nondisclosure of Northstar’s confidential and proprietary information.
5.4 Return of Northstar Property. By signing this Agreement, Employee represents and warrants that Employee will have returned to Northstar on or before the Separation Date, all Northstar property, including all confidential and proprietary information, as described in or required by paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 above, and all materials and documents containing trade secrets, including lab notebooks, and copyrighted materials, including all copies and excerpts of the same.
6. Enforcement. If Employee breaches any of the terms in paragraphs 4 or 5 above or their subparts, Northstar will immediately cease providing the severance payments and benefits described in Section 1.2 above, to the extent those payments and benefits have not yet been provided.
7. No Other Severance Benefits. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Severance Package provided pursuant to this Agreement is in lieu of any other severance benefits to which Employee may be eligible under the Employment Agreement, any other agreement and/or severance plan or practice, including the Northstar Neuroscience, Inc. Severance Plan, July 2008. By signing this Agreement, Employee expressly waives any right Employee may have to receive severance under the Employment Agreement or Northstar Neuroscience, Inc. Severance Plan, July 2008.
8. No Admissions. By entering into this Agreement, the Released Parties make no admission that they have engaged, or are now engaging, in any unlawful conduct. The parties understand and acknowledge that this Agreement is not an admission of liability and shall not be used or construed as such in any legal or administrative proceeding.
9. Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act. This Agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. sec. 626(f). Employee is advised to consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement.
9.1 Acknowledgments/Time to Consider. 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) Employee has obtained and considered such legal counsel as Employee deems necessary; (d) Employee has been given the opportunity to have at least twenty-one (21) days to consider whether or not to enter into this Agreement (Employee may elect not to use the full consideration period at Employee’s option); and (e) by signing this Agreement, Employee acknowledges that Employee does so freely, knowingly, and voluntarily. If Employee decides to enter into this Agreement, Employee must sign this Agreement and submit it to Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Human Resources Director, no later than twenty-one (21) days from December 3, 2008, or the Separation Date, whichever is later.
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9.2 Revocation/Effective Date. 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, Human Resources Director, 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 Severance Package will become due and payable after the later to occur of the Effective Date or the Separation Date, provided Employee (i) does not revoke acceptance prior to the Effective Date and (ii) executes an additional general release, in a form substantially similar to the general release contained in Section 2 hereof, covering the period of time between Employee’s execution of this Agreement and the Separation Date (the “Second Release”).
9.3 Preserved Rights of Employee. 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 Separation Agreement’s waiver and release of claims under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended.
10. Assistance. Employee agrees that during the two-year period following the Separation Date, he will cooperate with Northstar, its affiliates and their counsel with respect to Northstar’s defense of any litigation, investigations, or governmental proceedings that relates in any way to the Employee’s period of service with Northstar or its affiliates. Northstar will promptly reimburse the Employee for all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses (including coach class travel expenses) incurred in connection with providing his cooperation under this Section 10. Any service rendered pursuant to this Section 10 will not be considered services under the Consulting Agreement, no additional consideration (except as otherwise provided herein) shall be due or payable to Employee therefor, and Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Severance Package constitutes adequate legal consideration for any such service rendered pursuant to this Section 10.
11. Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be found unenforceable by an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to allow enforceability of the provision as so limited, it being intended that Northstar shall receive the benefits contemplated herein to the fullest extent permitted by law. If a deemed modification is not satisfactory in the judgment of such arbitrator or court, the unenforceable provision shall be deemed deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.
12. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted according to the laws of the United States of America and the State of Washington.
13. Binding on Successors. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be binding on, and inure to the benefit of, Northstar and its successors and/or assigns.
14. Full Defense. This Agreement may be pled as a full and complete defense to, and may be used as a basis for an injunction against, any action, suit or other proceeding that may be prosecuted, instituted or attempted by Employee in breach hereof.
15. Good Faith. The parties agree to do all things necessary and to execute all further documents necessary and appropriate to carry out and effectuate the terms and purposes of this Agreement.
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16. Entire Agreement; Modification. This Agreement and the Second Release, including the surviving provisions of the Employment Agreement, Consultant Agreement, Amendments to Stock Option Agreements, Confidentiality Agreement and Indemnification Agreement signed by Employee and the stock option plan and associated stock option agreement and grant documents herein incorporated by reference, is intended to be the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes and cancels any and all other and prior agreements, written or oral, between the parties regarding this subject matter. It is agreed that there are no collateral agreements or representations, written or oral, regarding the terms and conditions of Employee’s separation of employment with Northstar and settlement of all claims between the parties other than those set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HAVE READ THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT AND FULLY UNDERSTAND EACH AND EVERY PROVISION CONTAINED HEREIN. WHEREFORE, THE PARTIES HAVE EXECUTED THIS AGREEMENT ON THE DATES SHOWN BELOW.
| Dated: 12/4/2008 | By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||||
| NORTHSTAR NEUROSCIENCES, INC. | ||||||
| Dated: 12/4/2008 | By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx. | ||||
| Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx. | ||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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Exhibit A
AMENDMENT
TO
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS
This Amendment to Stock Option Agreements, dated effective as of January 31, 2009 (the “Amendment”), amends that certain Stock Option Agreement dated February 8, 2001 (number 00000060) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, that certain Stock Option Agreement dated February 28, 2002 (number 00000109) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, that certain Stock Option Agreement dated February 28, 2002 (number 000000122) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, that certain Stock Option Agreement dated October 16, 2002 (number 000000186) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, that certain Stock Option Agreement dated August 2, 2003 (number 000000296) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, that certain Stock Option Agreement dated January 26, 2004 (number 000000319) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, that certain Stock Option Agreement dated March 4, 2004 (number 000000352) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, that certain Stock Option Agreement dated May 4, 2005 (number 000000417) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, and that certain Stock Option Agreement dated May 4, 2005 (number 00000420) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, each by and between Northstar Neuroscience, Inc. (the “Company”) and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (“Optionee”) (each, the “Original Option Agreement”) and as issued under the Company’s 1999 Stock Option Plan, as amended to date, and is entered into by and between the Company and Optionee. All capitalized terms used in this Amendment, but not defined herein, shall have the meanings given to them in the Original Option Agreement.
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Section 2. Section 2 of the Original Option Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows, and conforming amendments to the related Notice of Stock Option Grant are hereby deemed to have been made:
“2 Term of the Option. The Option will terminate on the earliest to occur of the following: (a) December 31, 2009; and (b) the date of termination of the Holder’s Service for Cause.”
2. Effect of Amendment. Except as amended by this Amendment, the terms of the Original Option Agreement remain in full force and effect.
3. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
The parties have executed this Amendment effective as of the date and year first written above.
| NORTHSTAR NEUROSCIENCE, INC. | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx. | By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||
| Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx. | |||||||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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Exhibit B
AMENDMENT
TO
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS
This Amendment to Stock Option Agreements, dated effective as of January 31, 2009 (the “Amendment”), amends that certain Stock Option Agreement dated April 1, 2008 (number 20060311) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, and that certain Stock Option Agreement dated April 1, 2008 (number 20060312) and the related Notice of Stock Option Grant, each by and between Northstar Neuroscience, Inc. (the “Company”) and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (“Optionee”) (each, the “Original Option Agreement”) and as issued under the Company’s 2006 Performance Incentive Plan, as amended to date, and is entered into by and between the Company and Optionee. All capitalized terms used in this Amendment, but not defined herein, shall have the meanings given to them in the Original Option Agreement.
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Section 7.1(d). Section 7.1(d) of the Original Option Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows, and conforming amendments to the related Notice of Stock Option Grant are hereby deemed to have been made:
“(d) Other Termination of Service. If the Optionee’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent vested and exercisable by the Optionee on the date on which the Optionee’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee at any time prior to December 31, 2009.”
2. Effect of Amendment. Except as amended by this Amendment, the terms of the Original Option Agreement remain in full force and effect.
3. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
The parties have executed this Amendment effective as of the date and year first written above.
| NORTHSTAR NEUROSCIENCE, INC. | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx. | By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||
| Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx. | |||||||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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