SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
Exhibit 10.77
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
This Separation Agreement and Release of Claims (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (“Employee”) and Theravance Biopharma US, Inc. (“Theravance” or “Company”). Employee and Theravance shall be referred to herein as the “Parties.”
Employee’s employment with Theravance terminated on December 31, 2022 (the “Termination Date”). When this Agreement becomes effective as set forth in paragraph L it will constitute the agreement to provide severance benefits to Employee in exchange for Employee entering this Agreement which among other things includes a release of claims. A version of this Agreement was originally provided to Employee on December 9, 2022 and he was not eligible to accept it before December 31, 2022. Pursuant to Paragraph I Employee had until January 23,2023 to consider whether to enter the Agreement. Following provision of the Agreement to Employee on December 9, 2022 the Parties had discussions that resulted in modifications to the Agreement. The Parties agree that the modifications to the Agreement shall not have the effect of extending the consideration period or the January 23, 2023 date by which Employee must determine whether he will enter this Agreement.
Employee acknowledges that he has been paid all earned wages including accrued PTO/vacation through December 31, 2022, whether or not he accepts Agreement.
Employee and Xxxxxxxxxx agree as follows:
X. | Xxxxxxxxx Benefits |
After this Agreement becomes effective pursuant to paragraph L Theravance shall provide Employee with the following severance benefits:
1. | Severance Payment: Following the Termination Date, Theravance will pay Employee: 1) a lump sum equivalent of twenty-four (24) weeks of Employee’s base salary as of December 30, 2022, which equals the gross amount of $264,003 and which will be subject to all applicable taxes, deductions, and other withholdings; and 2) a lump sum equivalent to 100% of Employee’s target cash bonus, which equals the gross amount of $286,003 and which will be subject to all applicable taxes, deductions, and other withholdings. The severance payments provided for in this paragraph will be paid within ten (10) business days of this Agreement becoming effective pursuant to paragraph L. |
2. | Health Insurance Continuation: Provided Employee completes the required documentation to continue Employee’s health insurance coverage under COBRA Theravance will pay the cost of continuing Employee’s health insurance coverage under COBRA for up to 9 months at the level of coverage applicable to the employee on the Termination Date. COBRA coverage payment by Theravance will cease if Employee obtains other health insurance coverage during the period Employee is eligible for Theravance paid coverage under the terms of this Agreement. Employee agrees to notify Theravance in the event Employee obtains |
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other health insurance coverage. Employee will be responsible for making payments to continue health insurance under COBRA after the period for which Theravance is paying the cost under the terms of this Agreement. If Employee does not accept this Agreement, he still will be eligible to continue his health insurance under COBRA, but he will be responsible for paying for the coverage himself.
3. | Acceleration of Vesting: The treatment of Employee’s outstanding equity awards to acquire ordinary shares of Theravance Biopharma, Inc. shall be governed by the applicable award agreement and plan rules, including but not limited to the Theravance Biopharma, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan or other applicable equity incentive plan. To the extent permissible under the rules of any applicable plans, and subject to strict compliance by Employee with Employee’s obligations hereunder, the Company will vest 20,000 of Employee’s outstanding unvested restricted share units (“RSUs”) as of the effective date of this Agreement (the “Vesting Acceleration”). The Vesting Acceleration will apply to the 20,000 unvested RSUs subject to Employee’s 2019 performance RSU award for which the performance conditions have been achieved and which remain subject to service- based vesting. To the extent any RSUs vest pursuant to this paragraph A.3, the RSUs will be settled within ten (10) business days after the effective date of this Agreement, with the exact date or dates to be selected by the Company in its sole discretion. Upon settlement of any RSUs that vest pursuant to this paragraph A.3, the Employee’s tax withholding obligations will be satisfied by having the Company withhold a number of ordinary shares that would otherwise be issued to Employee when the RSUs are settled with a fair market value equal to such tax withholding obligations. For this purpose only, the Employee’s tax withholding obligations will be calculated using the federal income tax rate of 37% previously elected by Employee or if applicable using the federal supplemental rate. Employee acknowledges and agrees that except as set forth in this paragraph, vesting of Employee’s outstanding equity awards will cease on the Termination Date and that no further vesting will occur other than pursuant to the Theravance Biopharma, Inc. Change in Control Severance Plan (“Severance Plan”) and the applicable award agreement. |
4. | Change in Control Severance Benefits: To the extent Theravance Biopharma, Inc. is subject to a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Severance Plan) within three months after the Termination Date, Employee will be eligible for the severance benefits described in the Severance Plan on the terms and conditions set forth therein (in the case of performance RSUs, as superseded by the applicable award agreement); provided, however, that such severance benefits shall be reduced by any amounts paid to or on account of Employee pursuant to paragraphs |
A.1. | and A.2. hereof. |
5. | Internal Revenue Code 409A. |
The parties agree that this Agreement shall be interpreted to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations and authoritative guidance promulgated thereunder to
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the extent applicable (collectively, “Section 409A”), and all provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A. In no event whatsoever will the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, agents, attorneys, employees, executives, shareholders, investors, members, managers, trustees, fiduciaries, representatives, principals, accountants, insurers, successors or assigns be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on employee under Section 409A or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A.
B. | Release of Claims by Employee |
1. | General Release by Employee: |
Except as set forth below, in consideration of the severance benefits provided herein, Employee on Employee’s behalf, and on behalf of Employee’s agents, heirs, beneficiaries and assigns, hereby fully and forever releases, waives, discharges and promises not to sue or otherwise maintain, institute or cause to be instituted any legal proceedings against Theravance, or its related entities and subsidiaries, or any of its or its related entities’ and subsidiaries’ current or former officers, directors, shareholders, predecessors, successors, agents, employees, contractors, insurers, representatives, joint employers, or any person or entity to which Theravance has provided services (collectively, “Releasees”), with respect to any and all liabilities, claims, demands, contracts, debts, monetary damages or other form of personal relief, of any nature, kind and description, whether at law, in equity or otherwise, whether or not now known or ascertained, which currently do or may exist, including without limitation any matter, cause or claim arising out of or related to any and all acts, events or omissions, occurring prior to the date this Agreement is executed (collectively “Released Claims”).
2. | Claims Covered by General Release: |
Except as set forth herein, the Released Claims include, but are not limited to, those that have been or could be asserted against any Releasee arising out of, in connection with, or in any way related to (a) Employee’s employment with, or separation from, Theravance; (b) any term or condition of Employee’s employment with Theravance, including but not limited to any and all disputed wages, compensation, salaries, commissions, pay, allowances, monies, expenses/reimbursements, employee benefits, sick/vacation pay, paid leave benefits, any other disputed wage and hour related claims, and any other benefits, penalties, interest, damages, and promises related to the same; and (c) any claims to any equity interest in Theravance, including without limitation stock options, shadow stock, restricted stock, membership units, distribution rights, partnership, stock, and all other forms of equity, except as addressed in paragraph A.3.
Without limiting the foregoing, by way of example only and except as set forth herein, the Released Claims also include any and all claims for severance benefits, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief, breach of contract, promissory estoppel, quantum meruit, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of public policy, intentional or negligent
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infliction of emotional distress, intentional or negligent misrepresentation, fraud, defamation, negligent hiring/supervision, assault/battery, constructive discharge, wrongful discharge, retaliation, claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (“PAGA”), the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Xxxxx Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code, California Wage Orders, the California Business and Professions Code, the California Family Rights Act, the Pregnancy Disability Leave law, the California Constitution, and any other statutory, regulatory or common law claims relating to employment.
Except as set forth herein, all Released Claims are forever waived and barred by this Agreement regardless of the forum in which they may be brought. The Parties intend for this release to be as broad as legally permissible.
X. | Xxxxxx of Unknown Claims – Civil Code Section 1542 |
In furtherance of the intent to waive, release and discharge Theravance from any and all Released Claims, whether known or unknown, Employee understands and agrees that except as set forth herein the Release stated in paragraph B applies to claims known and presently unknown by Employee; and that this means that if, hereafter, Employee discovers facts different from or in addition to those which Employee now knows or believes to be true, that the release and waiver in paragraph B shall be and remain effective in all respects notwithstanding such different or additional facts or the discovery of such facts.
Accordingly, Employee hereby expressly and knowingly waives, fully and forever, any and all rights and benefits conferred upon Employee by the provisions of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California and any statutes or legal principles of like effect of any other jurisdiction. Civil Code Section 1542 states:
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.
D. | Matters Excluded From Released Claims |
Notwithstanding the terms of paragraphs B and C, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a release or waiver by Employee of any claim which cannot be waived or released by private agreement. In addition, the Released Claims in Paragraph B hereof shall not include: (a) any benefit entitlements vested as of the date Employee’s employment ended, including pursuant to written terms of any applicable employee benefit plan governed by the Employment Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”); (b) rights under Workers’ Compensation or Unemployment Insurance law; (c) rights under the
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Theravance Biopharma, Inc. Change in Control Severance Plan except as limited in paragraph A.4; (d) rights he may have to indemnification under California Labor Code Section 2802 or other provisions of law; (e) coverage as provided by Directors and Officers Liability Insurance, other insurance policies and under its corporate governing documents, as applicable, for corporate officers and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”); or (f) rights arising under this Agreement. This Agreement shall not prohibit Employee from filing a claim with a government agency that is responsible for enforcing a law such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”), the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”). However, unless subject to legal requirements to the contrary, if any, Employee understands that by entering this Agreement, Employee will not be entitled to recover any monetary damages or any other form of personal relief in connection with such a claim, investigation or proceeding.
This Agreement shall not be construed to prohibit Employee from providing information regarding Employee’s former employment relationship with Theravance as may be required by law or legal process, or from cooperating, participating or assisting in any government or regulatory entity investigation or proceeding.
E. | Proprietary Information |
Employee acknowledges that Employee signed the Theravance Biopharma US, Inc. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement (“PIIA”) in connection with Employee’s employment with Theravance. Employee represents that Employee has not breached the PIIA, including but not limited to by retaining possession or control of any Proprietary Information, Company Documents and/or other Theravance materials, or causing another person or persons to retain possession or control of Proprietary Information, Company documents and/or other Theravance materials, in violation of the PIIA. Employee understands that the terms of the PIIA survive the termination of Employee’s employment and shall remain binding and enforceable against Employee. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, an individual shall 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 of reporting 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. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Nothing herein is intended, or should be construed, to affect the immunities created by the Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 or any similar state law.
If Employee does not possess a copy of the PIIA that Employee signed, a copy may be obtained by contacting Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx, (650) 465-
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4546.
F. | Non-disparagement |
Subject to paragraphs D and E hereof, Employee agrees that he will not disparage Releasees or any of them, or the work of Theravance, its products, programs or business activities. The Company will not, and will instruct its officers, directors and its investor relations personnel not to make any disparaging statements concerning you or your performance as an executive officer of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement prevents Employee from discussing or disclosing information about unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination or any other conduct that he has reason to believe is unlawful.
G. | Governing Law |
The Parties hereby agree that California law shall govern the construction, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement.
H. | Severability |
The Parties agree that if any provision, or portion thereof, of this Agreement shall for any reason be determined to be invalid, unenforceable or contrary to public policy or any law, it shall if possible be interpreted, modified or reformed as necessary to be enforceable. If it cannot be interpreted, modified or reformed to be enforceable, such provision or portion thereof that is determined to be invalid, unenforceable, contrary to public policy or law shall be severed and deemed null and void, leaving the remainder of this Agreement in force and effect as a separation agreement and release of claims.
I. | Knowing and Voluntary Waiver of Rights Under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act |
Employee understands and acknowledges that he is waiving and releasing rights he may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”) and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”), and that this waiver and release is knowing and voluntary. Employee understands and agrees that this waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise under the ADEA and the OWBPA after the Effective Date of this Agreement but does release such rights that may have existed before the Effective Date. Employee understands and acknowledges the at the consideration given for this waiver and release is in addition to anything of value to which Employee was already entitled. Employee further understands and acknowledges that he has been advised by this writing that: (1) he should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement but is not required to do so; (2) he has until January 23, 2023, to consider this Agreement and to decide whether to enter it; (3) he has seven (7) days following execution of the Agreement to revoke the Agreement. To revoke, Employee must deliver a written statement of revocation to Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx by e-mail or mail or delivery of a physical document addressed to Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, no later than midnight on the seventh (7th)
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day after Employee signed this Agreement. If Employee revokes within seven (7) days, Employee will receive no benefits under this Agreement.
The offer of this Agreement may be withdrawn by Company before it becomes effective if Employee violates any Company policy while he is still employed, breaches any contractual or legal obligation in effect following his termination, engages in any act or omission reasonably determined by Theravance to be unprofessional or detrimental to Theravance, or disparages any Releasee where such activity is not legally permitted as stated in paragraphs D and E hereof.
J. | Signing Agreement |
If Employee decides to enter this Agreement, it must be signed electronically by completing the DocuSign process linked on the signature line on page 7. Agreements signed and accepted by the DocuSign process will be automatically forwarded to Theravance.
K. | Revocation by Employee |
Employee will have seven (7) days following Employee’s signing of this Agreement to revoke Employee’s acceptance of it. To revoke, Employee must deliver a written statement of revocation to Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx by e-mail or mail or delivery of a physical document addressed to Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, no later than midnight on the seventh (7th) day after Employee signed this Agreement. If Employee revokes within seven (7) days, Employee will receive no benefits under this Agreement.
L. | Effective Date |
If Employee signs, does not exercise Employee’s right to revoke this Agreement and Theravance does not withdraw it before it becomes effective, it shall become effective on the eighth day after Employee signs it which will be the Effective Date of this Agreement. The severance payments will be made as set forth in Paragraph A.1. COBRA payment and coverage will become effective retroactive to January 1, 2023, if Employee completes the required COBRA documentation. Settlement of RSUs and Vesting Acceleration will take place as set forth in Paragraph A.3. Receipt of severance benefits is expressly conditioned on Employee’s compliance with the terms of this Agreement, and return of all Theravance property, except for Theravance property Employee receives written permission to retain.
M. | Effect of Agreement |
This Agreement, once it has been executed by Employee and has become effective and fully enforceable, will be a full and complete defense to any action or proceeding initiated or prosecuted by Employee concerning rights released and waived herein. If Employee does not sign this Agreement or revokes Employee’s acceptance after signing Employee will not receive the severance benefits set forth in paragraph A.
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N. | Entire Agreement and Miscellaneous Terms |
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties regarding the matters set forth herein, and no amendment or modification will be effective unless in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. This Agreement supersedes and replaces all agreements currently in effect between Employee and Theravance regarding the subjects addressed herein, except for those agreements expressly identified herein as continuing in effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon, enforceable by, and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
O. | Authority |
The person signing this Agreement on behalf of the Employer has the authority to enter into this Agreement and bind the Employer to all of its terms and conditions.
I knowingly and voluntarily agree to the terms of this Agreement.
Dated: January 10, 2023 | By: /s/ Xxxxxx XXX Xxxxxxx |
| Signature |
| |
| Xxxxxx XXX Xxxxxxx |
| Print Name |
| |
Dated: January 10, 2023 | Theravance Biopharma US, Inc. |
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
| Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
| Vice President, Human Resources |
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