Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
Agreement, between Xxxxxxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation with principal
executive offices located at 000 Xxxxx 00 Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000 (the “Company”),
and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx (“Employee”), is made and entered into as of this 6th day
of December, 2005 (the “Effective Date”).
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS,
the Company believes that Employee has been an integral part of the Company’s
management team and is and will continue to be integral to the continued implementation
of the Company’s business plan and execution of its growth strategy; and
WHEREAS,
as a result of Employee’s extensive knowledge and acumen regarding the business,
affairs and operations of the Company, the Company desires assurance of the continued
association and services of Employee in order to benefit from Employee’s experience,
skills, abilities, background and knowledge, and the Company is willing to engage Employee’s
services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
Employee desires to continue to render services to the Company and to remain in the
employ of the Company, and is willing to accept continued employment from the Company on
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
the Company and Employee wish to enter into a written Employment Agreement to supersede
all other written and oral understandings and agreements regarding Employee’s
employment with the Company.
NOW,
THEREFORE, based on the foregoing recitals and in consideration of the commitments set
forth below, Employee and the Company agree as follows:
1.
Position, Duties, Responsibilities
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1.1.
Position. Employee is hereby employed by the Company as the Company’s
President and Chief Executive Officer effective at the Effective Date, reporting directly
to the Company’s Board of Directors. Employee shall accept such duties and
responsibilities as may be delegated, from time to time, by the Board of Directors,
including serving as an officer and/ or director of the Company’s subsidiaries or
affiliates; provided that such duties and responsibilities are consistent with the duties
and responsibilities customarily assigned to an officer of similar title of a company
similar to the Company. Employee shall devote his full energies, interest, abilities and
business time to the proper, efficient, diligent and faithful performance of these
duties.
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1.2.
Other Activities. Without the prior written consent of the Company’s
Board of Directors, Employee shall not during the Term (as hereinafter defined) of this
Agreement engage or participate, directly or indirectly, as an employee, director,
consultant, investor or otherwise, in any business, trade or occupation, or company,
other than as an investor in a company whose securities are quoted or traded on a
nationally recognized exchange, provided
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Employee holds not more than five
per cent (5%) in aggregate of any class of shares, debentures or other securities or not
more than five per cent (5%) of the economic value of the company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, nothing herein shall prohibit Employee from engaging, in any
capacity, in the marketing activities of Medimetrik International, Inc. to the extent
such activities do not compete, domestically or internationally, with the Company.
Nothing herein shall require Employee to dispose of any securities currently held.
Employee may serve in any capacity with any civic, educational or charitable
organization, or any governmental entity or trade association, without seeking or
obtaining the Company’s approval, provided such activities and services do not
materially interfere or conflict with the performance of his duties under this Agreement.
Nothing herein shall limit any applicable restrictions under the Company’s Corporate
Governance Guidelines or other codes of conduct from time to time in effect.
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1.3.
Proprietary Information. Employee recognizes that his employment with the
Company will involve contact with proprietary and other information of substantial value
to the Company which is not generally known in the trade or available in the public
domain and which gives the Company an advantage over its competitors who do not know or
use such proprietary or other information (collectively, “the Company Confidential
Information”). As a condition to the employment by the Company of Employee
hereunder, Employee agrees to sign and return a copy of the Company’s
Confidentiality Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A. In addition, to the extent any of
the Company Confidential Information or inventions, innovations, improvements, processes
or other proprietary information is created, authored or conceived by Employee (whether
alone or with others) during the course of his employment with the Company (collectively,
“Works”), (a) Employee will promptly disclose full details of all such Works to
the Company, (b) Employee shall cause all such Works to vest solely legally and
beneficially in the Company immediately without any payment to Employee, (c) Employee
hereby assigns to the Company all of Employee’s right, title and interest in the
Works, (d) Employee hereby irrevocably authorizes the Company to be his attorney-in-fact,
and to make use of his name and to sign and execute, any documents and/ or perform any
act on his behalf, for the purpose of giving the Company full benefit of this Section 1.3
and, where permissible, to obtain patent or other protection in respect of any of the
Works in the name of the Company or the Company’s nominee and (e) Employee, both
during his employment under this Agreement and thereafter, at the request and expense of
the Company, will promptly do all things and execute all documents reasonably necessary
to obtain and/ or maintain patent or other protection in respect of any Works in any part
of the world and to vest such rights in and to any Works in the name of the Company or
the Company’s nominee.
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1.4.
Covenant Not to Compete. Employee agrees that for a period of twelve (12)
months immediately following the Term of this Agreement, Employee shall not directly or
indirectly for his own benefit or the benefit of others:
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(a) |
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render
services as an employee, officer, agent, broker,
consultant, partner or independent contractor for, or
be an owner or stockholder of, a competing
organization in connection with competing products,
including but not limited to organizations
engaged in the provision of dermatology,
podiatry and gastroenterology pharmaceutical
products; provided, however, that Employee
may own five percent (5%) or less of the
equity securities of any publicly-traded
company; |
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(b) |
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hire
or seek to persuade any employee of the Company to
discontinue employment or to become employed in a
competing organization or seek to persuade any
independent contractor or supplier to discontinue or
limit its relationship with the Company; and |
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(c) |
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solicit,
direct, take away or attempt to take away any
business or customers of the Company that existed or
did business with the Company at the time of
termination of Employee’s employment hereunder
or within six (6) months prior thereto; |
provided, however, that such
restrictions shall not apply if Employee’s employment hereunder is terminated
without Cause (as defined below) or Employee terminates his employment hereunder for Good
Reason (as defined below), regardless of whether a Change of Control (as defined below)
has occurred.
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Employee
acknowledges that there are no additional compensation payments due him for the
non-competition restrictions set forth in this Section 1.4.
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2.
Compensation of Employee
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2.1.
Salary. In consideration of the services to be rendered by Employee under the terms of
this Agreement, the Company shall pay Employee an annual salary of $675,000, subject to
standard deductions and withholdings, payable in regular periodic payments in accordance
with the Company’s policies. In addition, Employee shall receive an annual
non-accountable expense allowance of $25,000. The Board of Directors and Compensation
Committee of the Company will review Employee’s salary not less frequently than
annually (with the first review to occur in April 2006) and, in its discretion, may
increase, but not decrease, Employee’s annual salary hereunder.
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2.2.
Stock Options. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors and Compensation Committee
of the Company, Employee shall be entitled to receive, from time to time during the Term,
such options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock and other similar
securities of the Company on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors and
Compensation Committee of the Company may establish.
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2.3.
Benefits and Perquisites. Employee shall be eligible to participate in all of the Company’s
bonus, health, welfare, savings and other benefit and fringe benefit plans, including,
without limitation, the Company’s EVA Bonus Plan, 401(k) Savings Plan, health,
dental and eye insurance plans, life insurance plans and long-term disability plans, in
which senior executives of the Company are generally entitled to participate, subject, at
all times, to the terms and conditions of such plans. In addition, Employee shall receive
such other perquisites and benefits, including a leased automobile, gasoline credit card
and paid vacation days, as the Company generally makes available to its senior executives.
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2.4.
Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall promptly reimburse Employee for all reasonable
and necessary business and entertainment expenses incurred by Employee in connection with
his performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with the
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Company’s usual reimbursement
policies and procedures in effect from time to time. In addition, the Company will pay
all reasonable out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees incurred by Employee in connection with
the negotiation of this Agreement and any matters arising out of or relating to any
dispute hereunder that Employee has brought in good faith, subject to any limitations
imposed under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A of the Code”).
3.
Term
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Employee’s
employment under this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall
continue until the third anniversary thereof (the “Expiration Date”), unless
sooner terminated by the Company or Employee in accordance with this Agreement (the “Term”);
provided, however, that this Agreement shall renew automatically for an additional term
of one (1) year on the Expiration Date and each anniversary of the Expiration Date unless
the Company or Employee gives written notice to the other to the contrary at least 90
days prior thereto. References herein to “Term” shall include any automatic
extensions pursuant to the preceding sentence.
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4.
Termination of Employment
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4.1.
Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate Employee’s
employment hereunder for “Cause” (as defined below), provided that the Company
has complied with the provisions of this Section 4.1. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Cause” shall mean any of the following:
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(a) |
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Employee’s
conviction for any felony; |
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(b) |
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Employee’s
deliberate and continual refusal to perform
satisfactorily employment duties reasonably requested
by the Company as provided herein after thirty (30)
days’ written notice by certified mail
of such failure, specifying that the failure
constitutes Cause and the particulars of the
failure (other than as a result of vacation,
sickness, illness or injury); |
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(c) |
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Employee’s
commission of fraud or embezzlement determined in
accordance with the Company’s normal, internal
investigative procedures consistently
applied in comparable situations; |
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(d) |
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Employee’s
gross misconduct or gross negligence having a
substantial adverse effect on the Company’s
business; or |
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(e) |
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Employee’s
material breach of this Agreement. |
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The
Company shall provide Employee notice of such termination in accordance with
Section 13 hereof.
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Employee
shall be considered to have been terminated for “Cause” if the Company in good
faith determines Employee engaged in an act constituting “Cause,” regardless of
whether Employee voluntarily terminates his employment or is terminated involuntarily.
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Employee
shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause until there shall have been
delivered to Employee a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not
less than a majority of the entire Board of Directors of the Company at a meeting of the
Board called and held for the purpose of making a determination of whether Cause for
termination exists (after a reasonable opportunity for the Employee to be heard before
the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, Cause as set forth above
exists, and accompanied by a specification of the particulars thereof. Any termination of
Employee by the Company prior to the completion of the foregoing procedures shall be
deemed to be a termination without Cause.
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If
the Company terminates Employee’s employment for Cause, Employee shall be entitled
to a lump sum cash payment, payable within ten (10) business days after the date of
termination of Employee’s employment for Cause, equal to the sum of (i) any accrued
but unpaid salary as of the date of such termination, (ii) any accrued but unpaid annual
cash bonus payable under the Company’s EVA Bonus Program for any annual period ended
prior to the date of such termination, and (iii) all expenses incurred for which
documentation has been or will be provided in accordance with the Company’s policies
but not yet reimbursed. In the event of the termination of Employee’s employment for
Cause, Employee’s stock options and any other equity awards based on the Company’s
securities, such as restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights,
performance units, etc. shall, to the extent then vested and exercisable, remain vested
and exercisable in accordance with their terms, and any such unvested awards shall be
immediately forfeited and/or cancelled.
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4.2.
Termination by the Company Without Cause. The Company may terminate Employee’s
employment without Cause, which termination shall be effective upon Employee’s
receipt of written notice of the same in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any
termination of Employee’s employment by the Company without Cause pursuant to this
Section 4.2, Employee shall be entitled to:
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(a) |
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a
lump sum cash payment, payable within ten (10)
business days after the date of termination of
Employee’s employment equal to the sum of: (i)
any accrued but unpaid salary as of the date of such
termination; (ii) any accrued but unpaid
annual cash bonus payable under the
Company’s EVA Bonus Program for any
annual period ended prior to the date of
such termination; and (iii) all expenses
incurred for which documentation has been or
will be provided in accordance with the
Company’s policies but not yet
reimbursed; |
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(b) |
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a
lump sum cash payment, payable within ten (10)
business days of the date that is six (6) months
following the date of termination (or, if Employee is
not considered a “key employee” within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Code at the time of
termination, the date Employee’s
employment terminates), equal to the amount
payable under the Company’s EVA Bonus
Program for the annual period in |
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which
such termination occurs, as if the
Employee’s employment had not been
terminated, prorated through the date of
such termination; |
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(c) |
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continuation
of all perquisites and other Company-related benefits
to which Employee was entitled as of the date of his
termination, including, but not limited to,
those set forth in Section 2.3 above,
through the end of the second calendar year
following the year in which Employee’s
employment terminates, if and to the extent
the provision of such perquisites or
benefits complies with Section 409A of the
Code; |
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(d) |
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immediate
vesting of all of Employee’s stock options,
warrants and any other equity awards based on Employer’s
securities, such as restricted stock, restricted
stock units, stock appreciation rights,
performance units, etc., all of which shall
remain exercisable in accordance with the
original terms on the date of grant, or, if
later, the maximum date stock rights may be
extended under Section 409A of the Code; |
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(e) |
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continued
participation in, and continuation by the Company of
the payment of the relevant premiums applicable to,
the life insurance and health, welfare and medical
insurance plans described in Section 2.3 or
comparable plans at the Company’s
expense (subject to the terms of the
applicable plans) through the end of the
second calendar year following the year in
which Employee’s employment terminates,
if and to the extent the provision of
continued participation and payments of
premiums complies with Section 409A of the
Code; |
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(f) |
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continued
participation, through the end of the second calendar
year following the year in which Employee’s
employment terminates, of Employee and each of his
dependents in all other Company-sponsored
health, welfare and benefit plans or
comparable plans at the Company’s
expense (subject to the terms of the
applicable plans) at the benefit levels in
effect from time to time and with COBRA
benefits commencing thereafter, if and to
the extent the provision of continued
benefits and benefit levels complies with
Section 409A of the Code and any other
applicable laws and regulations. |
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In
addition to the foregoing payments and continuation of benefits, the Company shall pay
Employee a lump sum cash payment, payable within ten (10) business days of the date that
is six (6) months following the date of termination of Employee’s employment (or, if
Employee is not considered a “key employee” within the meaning of Section 409A
of the Code at the time of termination, the date Employee’s employment terminates),
an amount equal to the product of (I) two multiplied by (II) the sum of (1) Employee’s
then current annual salary pursuant to Section 2.1 and (2) the average amount paid to
Employee under the Company’s EVA Bonus
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Program with respect to the most
recent three calendar years (or such shorter period to coincide with Employee’s
years of employment with the Company prior to the end of the preceding calendar year).
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Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if at the time of termination,
Employee is a “specified employee” or “key employee” who has
experienced a “separation from service,” each within the meaning of Section
409A of the Code, no payments or benefits pursuant to this Agreement that are considered
“deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made prior
to the date that is six (6) months after the date of “separation from service” (or,
if earlier, Employee’s date of death), except as otherwise provided in the Code,
Section 409A of the Code or any regulations promulgated thereunder. In such event, the
payments subject to the six (6) month delay will be paid in a lump sum on the earliest
permissible payment date.
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4.3.
Termination by Employee for Good Reason. Employee may terminate his employment hereunder
for “Good Reason.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall
mean, without Employee’s consent, the occurrence of any of the following
circumstances unless such circumstances are fully corrected prior to the expiration of
the thirty (30) day period following receipt by the Company of Employee’s notice of
the existence of circumstances that provide a basis for Employee to terminate his
employment for Good Reason, describing such circumstances in reasonable detail:
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(a) |
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Employee’s
involuntary removal from the Board of Directors of
the Company or failure of Employee to be elected to
the Board of Directors of the Company; |
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(b) |
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a
substantial diminution or unreasonable increase in
Employee’s duties, responsibilities or
authority, taken as a whole (except during periods
when Employee is unable to perform all or
substantially all of Employee’s duties or
responsibilities as a result of
Employee’s physical or mental
incapacity); |
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(c) |
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a
change in Employee’s principal place of
employment to a location more than 50 miles from its
current location; or |
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(d) |
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a
material breach of this Agreement by the Company. |
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If
Employee terminates his employment with the Company for Good Reason, subject to the
Company’s right to cure as set forth above, Employee shall be entitled to the same
payments and benefits, at the same times, set forth in Section 4.2 above for a
termination by the Company without Cause.
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4.4.
Termination by Employee Without Good Reason. Employee shall have the right to terminate
his employment voluntarily hereunder at any time without Good Reason upon 30 days’ written
notice to the Company. Upon any voluntary termination of employment by Employee without
Good Reason pursuant to this Section 4.4, Employee shall be entitled only to
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such payments and benefits as those
described in Section 4.1 for a termination by the Company for Cause.
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4.5
Termination in Connection with a Change in Control. For purposes of this
Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall mean:
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(a) |
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The
acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership of any capital stock
of the Company if, after such acquisition, such
Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) 50% or
more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding
Company Common Stock”) or (y) subject to Section 4.5(d), the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding
securities of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding
Company Voting Securities”); provided,
however, that for purposes of this subsection
(a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of
Control Event: (A) any acquisition directly from
the Company (excluding an acquisition pursuant to
the exercise, conversion or exchange of any security
exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable
for common stock or voting securities of the
Company, unless the Person exercising, converting or
exchanging such security acquired such security
directly from the Company or an underwriter or agent
of the Company), (B) any acquisition by any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company, or (C) any acquisition by any
corporation pursuant to a Business Combination
(as defined below) which complies with clauses
(x) and (y) of subsection (c) of this definition; or |
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(b) |
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Subject
to Section 4.5(d), such time as the Continuing Directors (as defined
below) do not constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company, where the term “Continuing
Director” means at any date a member of the Board
(x) who was a member of the Board on the date
hereof or (y) who was nominated or elected
subsequent to such date by at least a majority of the directors who
were Continuing Directors at the time of such
nomination or election or whose election to the
Board was recommended or endorsed by at least a majority of the
directors who were Continuing Directors at the
time of such nomination or election; provided,
however, that there shall be excluded from this clause (y)
any individual whose initial assumption of office
occurred as a result of an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to the election or removal
of directors |
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or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents,
by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or |
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(c) |
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The
consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization
or share exchange involving the Company or a sale
or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”),
unless, immediately following such Business
Combination, each of the following two conditions is
satisfied: (x) all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding
shares of common stock and the combined voting power of
the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors,
respectively, of the resulting or acquiring corporation in such
Business Combination (which shall include, without
limitation, a corporation which as a result of such
transaction owns the Company or substantially all of
the Company’s assets either directly or through
one or more subsidiaries) (such resulting or
acquiring corporation is referred to herein as the “Acquiring
Corporation”) in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
respectively, immediately prior to such Business
Combination and (y) no Person (excluding the
Acquiring Corporation or any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by
the Acquiring Corporation) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the then-outstanding
shares of common stock of the Acquiring Corporation,
or of the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (except
to the extent that such ownership existed prior
to the Business Combination). |
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(d) |
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During
the period in which Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and his
affiliates own or control a majority of the Company’s
Class B Common Stock entitled to elect the majority
of the Company’s Board of Directors, a
“Change of Control” shall not be
deemed to have occurred if Xx. Xxxxxxxx and
his affiliates caused, either by their
action or inaction, the circumstances
contemplated in either Sections 4.5(a)(y) or
4.5(b) to occur. |
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If
a Change in Control occurs during the Term, and if, during the Term and within twelve
months after the date on which the Change in Control occurs, Employee’s employment
is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Employee for any reason, then Employee
will be entitled to the payments and benefits, at the same times, described in Section
4.2 for a termination
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by the Company without Cause.
Additionally, immediately prior to a Change of Control, all outstanding options to
purchase the Company’s securities shall become fully vested.
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In
addition, to the extent that any payment or distribution of any type to or for Employee
by the Company (which for purposes of this Section 4.5 includes any parent, subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company), whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (including, without limitation, any
accelerated vesting of stock options or other equity awards based on the Company’s
securities granted pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) (collectively, the “Total
Payments”) is or will be subject to the excise tax (“Excise Tax”) imposed
under Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor to such Section), the Company shall pay
to Employee, prior to the time any Excise Tax is payable with respect to any of such
Total Payments (through withholding or otherwise), an additional amount (a “Gross-Up
Payment”) that, after the imposition of all income, employment, excise and other
taxes, penalties and interest thereon, is equal to the sum of (i) the Excise Tax on such
Total Payments plus (ii) any penalty and interest assessments associated with such Excise
Tax. The determination of whether any portion of the Total Payments is subject to an
Excise Tax and, if so, the amount and time of any Gross-Up Payment pursuant to this
Section 4.5, shall be made by an independent auditor (the “Auditor”) jointly
selected by Employee and the Company and paid by the Company. If Employee and the Company
cannot agree on the firm to serve as the Auditor, then they shall each select an
accounting firm and those two firms shall jointly select the accounting firm to serve as
the Auditor. Unless Employee agrees otherwise in writing, the Auditor shall be a
nationally recognized United States public accounting firm that has not during the two
years preceding the date of its selection, acted in any way on behalf of the Company.
Employee and the Company shall cooperate with each other in connection with any
proceeding or claim relating to the existence or amount of any liability for Excise Tax.
All reasonable expenses relating to any such proceeding or claim (including attorneys’ fees
and other expenses incurred by Employee in connection therewith) shall be paid by the
Company promptly upon demand by Employee, and any such payment shall be subject to a
Gross-Up Payment under this Section 4.5 in the event that Employee is subject to Excise
Tax on it.
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4.6
Death or Disability. In the event of Employee’s death or “Disability” (as
defined below) during the Term, Employee’s employment shall automatically cease and
terminate as of the date of Employee’s death or the effective date of the Company’s
written notice to Employee of its decision to terminate his employment by reason of his
Disability, as the case may be. In the case of termination of Employee’s employment
by reason of his death, Employee’s estate, or in the case of termination of Employee’s
employment by reason of his Disability, Employee shall be entitled to the same payments
and benefits, as applicable, at the same times, as described in Section 4.2 for a
termination of employment by the Company without Cause; provided, however, for purposes
of this Section 4.6, the multiple referred to in the second paragraph of Section 4.2
shall be one (1). Any vested stock options and other equity awards held by Employee at
the time of his termination of employment due to death or Disability shall remain
exercisable in accordance with the original terms on the date of grant through the
maximum date stock rights may be extended under Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding
the foregoing or any provision of Section 4.6, the Company’s obligation to pay
Employee the amounts called for in this Section 4.6 following termination of his
employment by reason of his Disability, shall be subject to offset and shall be reduced
by any and all amounts paid to Employee under any disability insurance policy paid or
provided for by the Company. For purposes of this Agreement,
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“Disability” shall mean
the inability of Employee to perform substantially all of his duties hereunder for any
period of at least 180 consecutive days by reason of any physical or mental incapacity,
provided that for purposes of any payments made to Employee pursuant to this Section 4.6,
“Disability” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A of the Code or,
to the extent applicable, any more restrictive definition under the plan or policy
providing for the benefit in question.
5.
No Duty to Mitigate
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Employee
shall have no obligation to seek other employment or to otherwise mitigate the Company’s
obligations to him arising from the termination of his employment, and no amounts paid or
payable to Employee by the Company hereunder shall be subject to offset for any
remuneration to which Employee may become entitled from any other source after his
employment with the Company terminates, whether attributable to subsequent employment,
self-employment or otherwise.
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6.
Termination Obligations
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Employee
hereby acknowledges and agrees that all books, manuals, records, reports, notes,
software, computer code, contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials,
or copies thereof, and equipment (including computers, keys, credit cards, cellular
telephones, etc.) furnished to or prepared by Employee in the course of or incident to
Employee’s employment, belong to the Company and shall be promptly returned to the
Company upon termination of Employee’s employment.
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7.
Indemnification
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The
Company shall indemnify Employee and hold him harmless to the fullest extent permitted by
the Company’s charter and by-laws in respect to any and all actions, suits,
proceedings, claims, demands, judgments, losses, damages and reasonable out-of-pockets
costs and expenses (including reasonable out-of-pocket attorney’s fees and expenses)
resulting from Employee’s good faith performance of his duties and obligations with
the Company or as a fiduciary of any benefit plan of the Company. To the extent permitted
by applicable laws, the Company shall, within 30 days of presentation of invoices,
reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket legal fees and disbursements
reasonably incurred by Employee in connection with such indemnifiable matter. In
addition, Directors’ and Officers’ insurance coverage for the benefit of
Employee shall cover Employee in respect of acts or omissions committed by Employee in
good faith in the performance of his duties and obligations during his employment
hereunder, whether claims are made during or within the period of six years after the
termination of Employee’s employment hereunder.
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8.
Entire Agreement
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The
terms of this Agreement are intended by the parties to be the final and exclusive
expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and may not be
contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous statements or agreements. The
parties further intend that this Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive
statement of its
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terms and that no extrinsic evidence
whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding
involving this Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any and all prior agreements, written
or oral, between Employee and the Company relating to the subject matter hereof, and all
such prior agreements are hereby terminated and of no further effect.
9.
Amendments, Waivers
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This
Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing,
signed by Employee and by a duly authorized representative of the Company other than
Employee. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power
under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, remedy or power under this Agreement preclude any other or further
exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other right, remedy or power provided herein or
by law or in equity.
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10.
Binding Agreement; Assignment
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This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, its
successors and assigns and Employee and his heirs and representatives. Neither party may
assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written
consent of the other party.
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11.
Severability; Enforcement
If
any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person, place, or
circumstance, shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
unenforceable, or void, the remainder of this Agreement and such provisions as applied to
other persons, places, and circumstances shall remain in full force and effect. Such
court shall have the authority to modify or replace the invalid or unenforceable term or
provision with one which most accurately represents the parties’ intention with
respect to the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.
12.
Governing Law and Remedies
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The
validity, interpretation, enforceability, and performance of this Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, without
giving effect to New Jersey’s choice of law rules. Employee hereby irrevocably
submits to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts within New Jersey for the
determination of all disputes, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this
Agreement.
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Employee
acknowledges that a remedy at law for the breach or threatened breach by Employee of the
provisions of Section 1.3 and 1.4 would be inadequate, and that such a breach would cause
irreparable harm to the Company. Employee therefore agrees that the Company shall be
entitled to injunctive relief in case of any such breach or threatened breach.
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13.
Notices
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All
notices or demands of any kind required or permitted to be given by the Company or
Employee to the other under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed to the
Company at the address set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement and to Employee at his
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address as listed on the Company’s
payroll and shall be personally delivered, telecopied or delivered by hand by a
nationally recognized courier service guaranteeing overnight delivery (in each case
receipted for), or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid.
Any such written notice shall be deemed received when personally delivered or three (3)
business days after its deposit in the United States mail as specified above. Either
party may change its address for notices by giving notice to the other party in the
manner specified in this Section.
14.
Representations and Warranties
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Each
of Employee and the Company represents and warrants that he/it is not restricted or
prohibited, contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing his/its terms
and covenants contained herein, and that his/its execution and performance of this
Agreement will not violate or breach any other agreement between Employee and the
Company, as the case may be, and any other person or entity.
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15.
Section 409A of the Code
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Employee
and the Company hereby agree that it is the intention that any payments or benefits
provided under this Agreement comply in all respects with Section 409A of the Code, and
this Agreement shall be interpreted accordingly. Employee and the Company hereby agree
that, upon the Company’s initiative or upon Employee’s reasonable request, the
parties will amend this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 solely to the extent
necessary and appropriate to avoid adverse tax consequences pursuant to Section 409A of
the Code. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company does
not guarantee the tax treatment of any payments or benefits hereunder, including without
limitation pursuant to the Code, federal, state or local laws.
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16.
Section 304 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002
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Employee
acknowledges that Section 304 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as the same may be
amended or modified, may be applicable to him under circumstances.
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17.
Counterparts
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This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and
all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the day and year first above
written.
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XXXXXXX PHARMACEUTICALS,
INC.
By: /s/ R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Name: R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
EMPLOYEE
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
Exhibit A
XXXXXXX
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONFIDENTIALITY
AGREEMENT
This Agreement is executed by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx (“Employee”) and made effective as of this 6th day of December 2005.
P URPOSE
Xxxxxxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a
Delaware corporation with executive offices located at 000 Xxxxx 00 Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX
00000 (“BDY”), possesses certain information that is considered by it as its
confidential information and trade secrets. Employee is employed as BDY’s President
and Chief Executive Officer and, in such capacity, has been privy to, and will continue
to become privy to, confidential information and trade secrets of BDY. Employee hereby
agrees that all such confidential information of BDY shall be maintained by Employee and
protected in accordance with this Agreement.
T ERMS
1. |
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“Confidential
Information” shall mean all information and materials relating to BDY, whether in
written, oral, visual, electronic or other form and which are designated as
confidential or which, under the circumstances taken as a whole, reasonably
would be understood to be confidential, including, but not limited to, the
following: (1) discoveries, inventions, unpublished works, research or
manufacturing methods, formulae and data; (2) the specifications, composition,
requirements, designs, programming and performance characteristics for
instruments, software or other products and services; (3) business,
technical and economic information, product pricing and sales information,
marketing plans and forecasts, the existence or terms of this Agreement
or agreements between the parties and other parties, commercialization
and research and marketing methods or strategies; (4) yet to be filed or pending patent
or trademark applications; (5) other trade secrets and know-how; and (6)
other data and materials relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.
Confidential Information shall also include all notes, reports, analyses,
forecasts, compilations, studies, interpretations or other documents and materials
prepared by Employee to the extent the same contain or reflect BDY Confidential
Information. Information shall not be considered Confidential Information to
the extent that such information is demonstrated by Employee, through clear
and convincing written evidence: |
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(a) |
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To
have been in his possession prior to his employment by BDY; |
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(b) |
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To
have been generally and publicly known at the time of
disclosure or thereafter through no fault of Employee or any
other party under any agreement of confidentiality to BDY; or |
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(c) |
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To
have been furnished to Employee by a third party, provided
such third party had the legal right to disclose such
Confidential Information. |
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Employee
acknowledges and agrees that all Confidential Information is of important
commercial and competitive value to BDY. |
2. |
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Employee
shall protect the Confidential Information from unauthorized use, access,
duplication or further disclosure. In protecting such disclosed Confidential
Information, Employee shall take, for example, but not by way of limitation, the
following measures to: |
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(a) |
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Prevent
the access, transfer or disclosure of the Confidential
Information by or to any other person or entity other than
those employees and agents of BDY who have a “need to know” such
Confidential Information; |
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(b) |
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Other
than in the ordinary course of business, prevent any
reproduction of the Confidential Information in any form,
tangible, electronic or otherwise; and |
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(c) |
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Upon
termination of Employee’s employment with BDY, promptly,
but in any event within five (5) business days, destroy or
return to BDY all Confidential Information and any work
product containing, summarizing or based upon such
Confidential Information and all copies thereof, in
any form, tangible, electronic or otherwise. Employee
shall promptly give BDY written certification of his
destruction or return of all Confidential Information
as contemplated by this paragraph. |
3. |
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Nothing
in this Agreement shall be deemed to grant from BDY to Employee a license,
expressly or by implication, under any patent or patent application, copyright,
trademark, trade secret or other proprietary right owned or controlled by BDY. |
4. |
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All
Confidential Information (including all copies thereof) shall at all times
remain the sole property of BDY. Employee shall have no intellectual property
rights in the Confidential Information and, in furtherance thereof, Employee
hereby assigns to BDY all rights to any intellectual property that he invents as
a result, directly or indirectly, of his employment by BDY or the disclosure to
him of Confidential Information. This Agreement shall remain in effect for
seven (7) years following the date all Confidential Information is
removed (by destruction or return to BDY) from the possession of
Employee. |
5. |
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Employee
shall not remove any proprietary, copyright, trade secret or other legend from
any form of any Confidential Information, and shall promptly comply with any
written request from BDY to add to or modify any such legend as BDY may deem
necessary to protect its intellectual property rights. |
6. |
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Employee
agrees that a breach or threatened breach by him of this Agreement will result
in irreparable and material damages to BDY that cannot be adequately addressed
by monetary or other damages. Accordingly, Employee agrees that in addition to
other remedies available at law or otherwise, BDY may obtain an injunction or
other equitable remedy, without bond or requirement for proof of actual or
likely damages, in any court of competent jurisdiction, in the event of
such breach or threatened breach by Employee to strictly enforce this
Agreement. |
7. |
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This
Agreement may not be amended or altered, nor any breach or obligation waived,
unless such amendment, alteration or waiver is in a writing signed by BDY that
conspicuously notes that it is permitting Employee to amend or alter this
Agreement, or BDY is waiving an obligation or breach by Employee hereunder. No
course of dealings shall affect the interpretation or enforcement of this
Agreement, nor shall any waiver by BDY of any obligation or breach by Employee
be implied to be a waiver by BDY of any other obligation or breach by Employee
not expressly granted. |
8. |
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This
Agreement is binding upon Employee and his successors and permitted assigns. If
any provision of this Agreement is held by any competent authority to be invalid
or unenforceable in whole or in part, the validity of the other provisions of
this Agreement and the remainder of the provision in question shall not be
affected thereby. |
9. |
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This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without giving
effect to the conflicts of law provisions thereof. Any dispute
or controversy arising out of this Agreement shall be
commenced and maintained in a federal or state court of
appropriate jurisdiction in the State of New Jersey and Employee does hereby, for
that sole purpose, consent to the jurisdiction of such federal or state court
in the State of New Jersey. Employee hereby waives all rights to settle any
dispute or controversy hereunder by arbitration and acknowledges that the
rules of evidence then in effect and applicable to the court in which any such
dispute or controversy is maintained shall be the only rules of evidence
applicable to such dispute or controversy. Employee agrees that this
Agreement embodies his complete understanding with respect to the disclosure
and use of Confidential Information between him and BDY and supersedes all
prior oral and written agreements, commitments and understandings with
respect to the subject matter hereof. |
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the day and year first above
written.
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EMPLOYEE
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |