EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 1,
2009, by and between CARDIOGENESIS CORPORATION, a California corporation (the “Company”),
and Xxxx XxXxxxxxx, an individual (the “Executive”).
R E C I T A L
The Company desires to employ Executive in the capacity hereinafter stated, and the Executive
desires to enter into the employ of the Company in that capacity pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
A G R E E M E N T
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements set
forth herein, the Company and the Executive, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSATION.
1.1 EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive as the Executive
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Executive accepts such employment and
agrees to devote approximately seventy-five percent (75%) of all his business time, efforts and
skills on such reasonable duties commensurate with such position. The term of this Agreement shall
commence on July 1, 2009 and expire on July 1, 2010 unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms
and provisions herein stated. This Agreement shall automatically be extended for additional one
(1) year renewal terms (unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms and provisions herein)
unless either party gives written notice to the other to terminate this Agreement at least thirty
(30) days prior to the end of the preceding term.
1.2 COMPENSATION.
(a) Base Salary. For all of the services rendered by Executive hereunder, Executive’s
annual base salary shall be $250,000 (as may be increased by the Board of Directors from time to
time, the “Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll
practices (but in any event no less often than monthly). Such Base Salary shall not be reduced
during the term of this Agreement without the express written consent of Executive. The Company
agrees that Executive’s Base Salary and performance will thereafter be reviewed at least annually
by the Company to determine if an increase in compensation is appropriate, which increase shall be
in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) Benefits. During the term of employment Executive shall be provided such benefits
and be permitted to participate in all equity compensation and fringe benefit plans made available
to employees of the Company generally and to management level employees of the Company which, from
time to time at the Company’s discretion may be provided. Such benefits shall include, at a
minimum, medical insurance (including prescription drug) for Executive and his spouse. Executive
shall be entitled to no less than three (3) weeks paid vacation per year.
(c) Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive on a timely basis for all
ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred in the discharge of his duties and
responsibilities under this Agreement, in line with Company policy and in accordance with the
Company’s expense approval procedures then in effect upon presentation to the Company of an
itemized account and appropriate written proof of such expenses.
2. EQUITY AWARDS. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Company’s option or stock incentive
plan, or of the Executive’s stock option or restricted stock agreements, in the event of a
“Corporate Transaction” or “Change in Control,” as defined below, during the period of the
Executive’s employment with the Company, all of the Executive’s stock options shall vest in full
and all rights of the Company to repurchase restricted stock of the Executive shall terminate in
full.
For purposes hereof, “Change in Control” shall mean a change in ownership or control of the
Company effected through the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or related group of
persons (other than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by,
or is under common control with, the Company), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of securities possessing more than fifty percent
(50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a
tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s stockholders which the Board does not
recommend such stockholders to accept.
For purposes hereof, “Corporate Transaction” shall mean either of the following
stockholder-approved transactions to which the Company is a party:
(a) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of
the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person
or persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to such
transaction; or
(b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets in complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
3. TERMINATION.
3.1 TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY FOR CAUSE. Any of the following acts or omissions
shall constitute grounds for the Company to terminate the Executive’s employment pursuant to this
Agreement for “cause”:
(a) willful misconduct by Executive causing material harm to the Company or repeated failure
by the Executive to follow the reasonable directives of the Board of Directors (or a designated
committee thereof), but only if, in either case, Executive shall not have discontinued such
misconduct or failure within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice from the Company
describing the misconduct or failure and stating that the Company will consider the continuation of
such misconduct or failure as cause for termination of this Agreement,
(b) any material act or omission by the Executive involving gross negligence in the
performance of the Executive’s duties to, or material deviation from any of the policies or
directives of, the Company, other than a deviation taken in good faith by the Executive for the
benefit of the Company,
(c) any illegal act by the Executive which materially and adversely affects the business of
the Company, provided that the Company may suspend the Executive with pay while any allegation of
such illegal act is investigated, or
(d) any felony committed by Executive, as evidenced by conviction thereof, provided that the
Company may suspend the Executive with pay while any allegation of such felonious act is
investigated.
Termination by the Company for cause shall be accomplished by written notice to the Executive
and, in the event of a termination pursuant to Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b), and/or 3.1(c) above, shall
be preceded by a written notice providing a reasonable opportunity for the Executive to correct his
conduct.
3.2 TERMINATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY. In addition to termination for cause
pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof, the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be
immediately terminated without notice by the Company (i) upon the death of the Executive or
(ii) upon the Executive becoming totally disabled. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“totally disabled” means an inability of Executive, due to a physical or mental illness, injury or
impairment, to perform a substantial portion of his duties for a period of one hundred eighty (180)
or more consecutive days, as determined by a competent physician selected by the Company’s Board of
Directors and reasonably agreed to by the Executive, following such one hundred eighty (180) day
period.
3.3 TERMINATION FOR GOOD REASON. Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement
may be terminated by the Executive for “good reason” if the Executive voluntarily terminates his
employment as a result of any of the following; provided, however, that Executive shall be required
to give written notice to the Company of any condition that would constitute the “good reason”
event within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the condition and the Company shall have
thirty (30) days thereafter to cure any such “good reason” condition:
(a) without the Executive’s prior written consent, a reduction in his then current Base
Salary; or
(b) without the Executive’s prior written consent, the assignment to Executive of duties
substantially and materially inconsistent with the position and nature of Executive’s employment as
set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement, or
(c) without Executive’s prior written consent, a relocation of the Executive’s place of
employment outside of Orange County, California.
3.4 TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. The Company may terminate this Agreement, and the
employment of the Executive under this Agreement, without cause, at any time upon at least thirty
(30) days’ prior written notice to the Executive. This Section 3.4 shall not apply to a
termination of the Executive by the Company as a result of a “Corporate Transaction” or “Change in
Control,” but, instead, the provisions of Section 3.5 below shall apply.
3.5 PAYMENTS UPON REMOVAL OR TERMINATION.
(a) If, during the term of this Agreement, the Executive resigns for one of the reasons stated
in Section 3.3, or if the Company terminates Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 3.4 above,
or the Company terminates Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 3.4 above or the Executive
terminates his employment pursuant to Section 3.4 above, the Executive shall be entitled to the
following compensation: (i) the remainder of his then current Base Salary for the remainder of the
term in which Executive resigns or is terminated by the Company, as applicable and (ii) any
payments for unused vacation and reimbursement expenses, which are due, accrued or payable at the
date of Executive’s termination. The payments provided by this Section 3.6(a) shall be Executive’s
complete and exclusive remedy for any such termination.
(b) All payments required to be made by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Section
3 shall be paid on a regular basis in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and
policies. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment pursuant to Sections 3.1 or 3.2, or
if the Executive voluntarily resigns (except as provided in Section 3.3), then the Executive shall
be entitled to the following compensation: (i) the portion of his then current Base Salary which
has accrued through his date of termination and (ii) any payments for unused vacation and
reimbursement expenses, which are due, accrued or payable at the date of Executive’s termination.
(c) To the extent that any or all of the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement
constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code
(the “Code”) and, but for this paragraph, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code, then at the Executive’s election:
(i) The Executive shall receive all such payments and benefits the Executive is entitled to
receive hereunder, and any liability for taxes pursuant to the above shall be the liability solely
of the Executive; or
(ii) The aggregate amount of such payments and benefits shall be reduced such that the present
value thereof (as determined under the Code and applicable regulations) is equal to 2.99 times the
Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code).
The determination of any reduction or increase of any payment or benefits under this paragraph
pursuant to the foregoing provision shall be made by a nationally recognized public accounting firm
chosen by the Company in good faith, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on the
Company and the Executive.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event any payment
required to be made pursuant to this Section 3 (in any case, a “Section 3 Payment”) or any
other benefits under this Agreement are determined, in whole or in part, to constitute
“nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and Executive
is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such amounts will not be
paid before the date which is six (6) months after the termination of Executive’s employment.
Although it is contemplated that the Section 3 Payment and other benefits resulting from an
involuntary termination of employment without Cause will be short-term deferrals that will not
constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, it
is not clear that such treatment will be available in all instances, including, for example, a
voluntary termination by you for good reason. The determination of whether and what amount of the
Section 3 Payment or other benefits constitute deferred compensation and whether Executive is
a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A(2)(B)(i) of the Code shall be determined by
the by the Board of Directors of the Company or its delegate and any such determination shall be
final and binding on the Company and the Executive, unless such decisions are determined to be
arbitrary and capricious by a court having jurisdiction. The Company makes no representation and
the Company shall have no liability to Executive or any other person if any Section 3 Payment or
other benefits provided pursuant to the terms of this agreement are determined to constitute
“nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the payment
terms of such Section 3 Payment or other benefits do not satisfy the additional conditions
applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and this Section
3.6(d).
4. MISCELLANEOUS.
4.1 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by
either party without the written consent of the other party, except that the Company may, without
the consent of the Executive, assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to an
affiliate or to any corporation, firm or other business entity (i) with or into which the Company
may merge or consolidate, or (ii) to which the Company may sell or transfer all or substantially
all of its assets. After any such assignment by the Company, the Company shall be discharged from
all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company for
the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement including this Section 4.1.
4.2 SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive’s personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amounts are still
payable to him hereunder, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee
or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.
4.3 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
4.4 PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties
relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with
respect to such subject matter, including that certain Consulting Agreement, dated January 15,
2009, between Executive and the Company, which agreement shall be hereby terminated, and the
parties hereto have made no agreements, representations or warranties relating to the subject
matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.
4.5 ARBITRATION. In the event of any controversy, claim or dispute between the
parties hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the matter shall be determined by
arbitration, which shall take place in Orange County, California, under the rules of the American
Arbitration Association. The arbitrator shall be a retired Superior Court judge mutually agreeable
to the parties and if the parties cannot agree such person shall be chosen in accordance with the
rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator shall be bound by applicable legal
precedent in reaching his or her decision. Any judgment upon such award may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction thereof. Any decision or award of such arbitrator shall be final and
binding upon the parties and shall not be appealable. The parties hereby consent to the
jurisdiction of such arbitrator
and of any court having jurisdiction to enter judgment upon and enforce any action taken by
such arbitrator. The fees payable to the American Arbitration Association and the arbitrator shall
be paid by the Company.
4.6 WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Company may withhold from any salary and benefits payable
under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes or amounts as shall be required to be
withheld pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
4.7 AMENDMENTS. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be deemed
effective unless made in writing signed by the parties hereto.
4.8 NO WAIVER. No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived nor shall there be any estoppel to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, except by a
statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is
sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated,
shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.
4.9 SEVERABILITY. To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of
this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect.
4.10 COUNTERPART EXECUTION. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile and in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which when taken together shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.
4.11 ATTORNEYS’ FEES. Should any legal action or arbitration be required to resolve
any dispute over the meaning or enforceability of this Agreement or to enforce the terms of this
Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its or his reasonable attorneys fees
and costs incurred in such action, in addition to any other relief to which that party may be
entitled.
4.12 NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in
writing and may be personally served or sent by United States Mail, and shall be deemed to have
been given when personally served or two days after having been deposited in the United States
Mail, registered mail, return receipt requested, with first class postage prepaid and properly
addressed as follows:
| If to Executive: | Xxxx XxXxxxxxx | |||
| 11 Xxxxxx | ||||
| Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||
| If to the Company: | Cardiogenesis Corporation | |||
| 11 Xxxxxx | ||||
| Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||
| Attn: Chief Financial Officer |
4.13 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT. Executive agrees to sign the
Company’s standard form of employee proprietary information and inventions agreement if and when
asked to do so during the term of this Agreement and thereafter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the day and year
set forth above.
| “COMPANY” | ||||
| CARDIOGENESIS CORPORATION | ||||
| By: | ||||
| Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
| Its: | Chief Financial Officer | |||
| “EXECUTIVE” | ||||
| Xxxx XxXxxxxxx | ||||
