EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into
as of the 30th day of March, 2005, by and between DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx (Xxx) Xxxxxxx (the
"Executive"). The Company and the Executive are sometimes hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "parties" and individually as a "party,"
provided that as applicable, any reference to the Company shall mean the
Company, its Subsidiaries and and\or their Affiliates, as the case may be.
Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Article VII
hereof.
RECITALS
A. The Executive is currently employed by the Company as the Company's
Vice President, Marketing - BioSciences. The Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors ("Board") of the Company (the "Compensation Committee") recently
reviewed the Executive's job performance in calendar year 2004, and made a
number of favorable determinations regarding Executive's job performance.
B. The Company maintains the "Dyadic International, Inc. 2001 Equity
Compensation Plan" (as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified,
the "Equity Compensation Plan") pursuant to which the Company is authorized to
grant stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company ("Shares")
to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company and
its Subsidiaries.
C. Among the determinations of the Compensation Committee were that,
subject to the satisfaction of the condition set forth in Recital D hereof, it
would be in the best interests of the Company to: (i) promote the Executive to
the position of Senior Vice President, Marketing - Biotechnology Systems,
increase the Executive's annual base compensation and confer upon the Executive
the benefits of certain post-employment severance benefits provided for in this
Agreement; and (ii) incentivize and reward the Executive's efforts, loyalty and
commitment to the Company, by granting to the Executive a certain stock option
to purchase Shares (the "Option") under and pursuant to the terms of the Equity
Compensation Plan and a Stock Option Agreement in the form of Exhibit A attached
hereto and by this reference made a part hereof (the "Stock Option Agreement").
D. As a condition of that promotion, and as partial consideration for that
salary increase and the grant of the Option, the Company requires that this
Agreement be entered into pursuant to which the Executive is hereby knowingly
and intentionally furnishing the Company with, among other things, the suite of
proprietary covenants of the Executive in favor of the Company set forth in
Article IV hereof, including by way of illustration, and not in limitation, the
Executive's covenant not to compete with the businesses of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates.
E. The Executive desires to be promoted to the position of Senior Vice
President, Marketing - Biotechnology Systems, to receive the salary increase and
other financial benefits of this Agreement and the grant of the Option. Further,
the Executive expressly acknowledges that: (i) as a member of the Company's
management, he is one of the persons charged with primary responsibility for the
implementation of the Company's business plans, and that he will have regular
access to various confidential and/or proprietary information relating to the
Company, its Subsidiaries, their Affiliates and their businesses; and (ii) the
suite of proprietary covenants of the Executive in favor of the Company set
forth in Article IV hereof which the Executive is knowingly and intentionally
furnishing to the Company, including by way of illustration, and not in
limitation, the Executive's covenant not to engage in competition with the
Company, its Subsidiaries, their Affiliates and their businesses, are (A) being
made both in consideration of the Company's promotion, increase in the annual
base salary of and the grant of the Option to the Executive and (B) necessary to
protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, its Subsidiaries and
Affiliates and their respective businesses.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, and the mutual
agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby mutually acknowledged, the parties
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP
1.1 Recitals. The Recitals to this Agreement are hereby incorporated
herein and made a part hereof.
1.2 Employment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive to serve as the Company's Senior
Vice President, Marketing - Biotechnology Systems with responsibility for
developing business opportunities for the bioscience markets served by the
Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company (the "BioSciences
Business"), and the Executive hereby accepts such employment, and agrees to
perform all of his assigned duties and responsibilities to the best of his
abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner, and in
compliance with the Dyadic International, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics, a copy of which appears on the Company's website.
1.3 Duties; Reporting Authority. The Executive shall have the normal and
customary duties, responsibilities and authority of a Person holding the title
and job description set forth in Section 1.2 hereof, and, in addition, shall
perform such other duties on behalf of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their
Affiliates as may be assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief
Operating Officer or President of the Company, or by the Board. In connection
with the Executive's performance of his duties he shall report to the Chief
Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer or President of the Company or to
such other Person as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer or
President of the Company or the Board may designate from time to time.
1.4 Exclusive Employment. While he is employed by the Company hereunder,
the Executive covenants to the Company that he will devote his entire business
time, energy, attention and skill to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their
Affiliates (except for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of
illness or other incapacity), and use his good faith best efforts to promote the
interests of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates. The foregoing
shall not be construed as prohibiting the Executive from spending such time as
may be reasonably necessary to attend to his personal affairs and investments so
long as such activities do not conflict or interfere with the Executive's
obligations and\or timely performance of his duties to the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates hereunder.
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1.5 Executive Representations. The Executive hereby represents
and warrants to the Company that:
(a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Executive of this
Agreement and any other agreements contemplated hereby to which the
Executive is a party do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate
or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order,
judgment or decree to which the Executive is a party or by which he is
bound;
(b) the Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment
agreement, non-competition agreement or confidentiality agreement with any
other Person (or if a party to such an agreement, the Executive has
disclosed the material terms thereof to the Compensation Committee prior
to the execution hereof and promptly after the date hereof shall deliver a
copy of such agreement to the Compensation Committee); and
(c) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company, this Agreement shall be the valid and binding obligation of the
Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
The Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that he has consulted with
independent legal counsel regarding his rights and obligations under this
Agreement and that he fully understands the terms and conditions contained
herein.
1.6 Company Representations. The Company hereby represents and
warrants to the Executive that:
(a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement and any other agreements contemplated hereby to which the
Company is a party do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or
cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment
or decree to which the Company is a party or by which he is bound; and
(b) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Executive, this Agreement shall be the valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
1.7 Indemnification.
(a) By the Executive. The Executive shall indemnify and hold the
Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates harmless from and against any
and all claims, demands, losses, judgments, costs, expenses, or
liabilities incurred by the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates arising out of or in connection with the breach of any
representation or warranty of the Executive contained in this Agreement.
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(b) By the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold the
Executive harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, losses,
judgments, costs, expenses, or liabilities incurred by the Executive
arising out of or in connection with the breach of any representation or
warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement. Further, the Company
shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Executive (including without
limitation, the prompt advance payment of all reasonable legal fees and
expenses) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the
by-laws of the Company.
ARTICLE II
PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT
2.1 Employment Period. The Executive is an existing employee of the
Company and shall continue to be an employee of the Company until the date fixed
by the provisions of Section 2.2 hereof, subject to the early termination
provisions of Article V hereof (the "Employment Period"), it being acknowledged
that the Company's fiscal year ends on December 31, and that the Employment
Period shall therefore be denominated in calendar years.
2.2 Initial Term of Employment Period and Extension Terms. The Employment
Period shall initially continue until December 31, 2007 (the "Initial Term").
The Employment Period shall be automatically extended for successive calendar
years of the Company following the expiration of the Initial Term (each such one
year period being hereinafter referred to as an "Extension Term") upon the same
terms and conditions provided for herein unless either party provides the other
party with advance written notice of its or his intention not to extend the
Employment Period; provided, however, that such notice must be delivered by the
non-extending party to the other party not later than ninety (90) days prior to
the expiration of the Initial Term or any Extension Term, as the case may be.
ARTICLE III
COMPENSATION
3.1 Annual Base Compensation. Effective as of April 1, 2005, and during
the balance of the Employment Period the Company shall pay to the Executive an
annual base salary (the "Annual Base Compensation") in the amount of $170,250,
provided that the Annual Base Compensation the Employee had been being paid
prior to the date of this Agreement shall remain in effect until April 1, 2005.
The Annual Base Compensation shall be paid in regular installments in accordance
with the Company's general payroll practices, and shall be subject to all
required federal, state and local withholding taxes. The Executive's Annual Base
Compensation shall be reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer and the
Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee") annually, and
may, in the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation
Committee be increased, provided that there shall be no obligation on the part
of the Company to increase the Executive's Annual Base Compensation.
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3.2 Potential Annual Target Bonuses. In respect of each calendar year
falling within the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to earn an
annual bonus, depending upon the results of operation of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates and the personal performance of the Executive,
of up to forty percent (40%) of the Executive's Annual Base Compensation for
that calendar year (the "Potential Annual Target Bonus") in accordance with the
terms of a bonus plan which shall be adopted and maintained in effect by the
Compensation Committee for that calendar year. The amount of the Potential
Annual Target Bonus, if any, which is earned by the Executive (the "Bonusable
Amount") shall be paid by the Company to the Executive following the close of
the Company's calendar year consistent with the timing of similar bonus payments
being made to other executives of the Company for such year, provided that,
unless expressly provided otherwise herein, it shall be a condition precedent to
the Executive's right to receive any Bonusable Amount that the Executive be
employed by the Company on the last day of that calendar year, regardless of any
subsequent termination of employment. In the absolute discretion of the
Compensation Committee, the Executive may be entitled to receive an additional
bonus, as and if the Compensation Committee shall determine from time to time.
3.3 Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to reimbursement of all travel, entertainment and other business
expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties for the Company,
upon submission of all receipts and accounts with respect thereto, and approval
by the Company thereof, in accordance with the business expense reimbursement
policies adopted by the Company from time to time.
3.4 Vacation. In respect of each calendar year falling within the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of
vacation, or if greater, the number of weeks of vacation proscribed by the
vacation policies of the Company then in effect from time to time, provided that
unused vacation may be used by the Executive in the following calendar year only
in accordance with and as permitted by the Company's then current vacation
policies in effect from time to time.
3.5 Other Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, if, as and when
they are being provided to other employees of the Company holding positions with
the Company comparable to the Executive's position, the Executive shall also be
entitled to receive health insurance benefits, disability benefits and
retirement benefits and other fringe benefits.
3.6 Grant of Stock Option. In part as recompense for his job performance
in 2004 and in part as additional consideration for the Executive's execution
and delivery of this Agreement, conferral upon the Company of the covenants set
forth in Article IV hereof, and the Executive's performance of his duties
hereunder, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
parties are executing and delivering the Option Agreement pursuant to which the
Company has granted to the Executive an Option to purchase fifty thousand
(50,000) Shares for a per Share purchase price of equal to the mean of the final
"asked" and "bid" prices of the Shares on the date hereof, in accordance with
the provisions of the Equity Compensation Plan.
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ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS OF THE EMPLOYEE
4.1 Proprietary Rights. The Executive hereby expressly agrees that all
research, Biological Materials, discoveries, inventions and innovations (whether
or not reduced to practice or documented), improvements, developments, methods,
designs, analyses, drawings, reports and all similar or related information
(whether patentable or unpatentable, and whether or not reduced to writing),
trade secrets (being information about the business of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates which is considered by the Company or any such
Subsidiary or Affiliate to be confidential and is proprietary to the Company or
any such Subsidiary or Affiliate) and confidential information, copyrightable
works, and similar and related information (in whatever form or medium), which
(x) either (i) relate to the Company's, its Subsidiaries' or their Affiliates'
actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future
products or services or (ii) result from any work performed by the Executive for
the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates and (y) are conceived,
developed, made or contributed to in whole or in part by the Executive during
the Employment Period ("Work Product") shall be and remain the sole and
exclusive property of the Company, such Subsidiary or such Affiliate, as the
case may be. The Executive shall communicate promptly and fully all Work Product
to the Company.
(a) Work Made for Hire. The Executive acknowledges that, unless
otherwise agreed in writing by the Company, all Work Product eligible for
any form of copyright protection made or contributed to in whole or in
part by the Executive within the scope of the Executive's employment by
the Company during the Employment Period shall be deemed a "work made for
hire" under the copyright laws and shall be owned by the Company, its
Subsidiaries or their Affiliates, as applicable.
(b) Assignment of Proprietary Rights. The Executive hereby assigns,
transfers and conveys to the Company, and shall assign, transfer and
convey to the Company, all right, title and interest in and to all
inventions, ideas, improvements, designs, processes, trademarks, service
marks, trade names, trade secrets, trade dress, data, discoveries and
other proprietary assets and proprietary rights in and of the Work Product
(the "Proprietary Rights") for the Company's exclusive ownership and use,
together with all rights to xxx and recover for past and future
infringement or misappropriation thereof, provided that if a Subsidiary or
Affiliate of the Company is the owner thereof, such assignment, transfer
and conveyance shall be made to such Subsidiary or Affiliate, , as the
case may be, which shall enjoy exclusive ownership and use, together with
all rights to xxx and recover for past and future infringement or
misappropriation thereof.
(c) Further Instruments. At the request of the Company (its
Subsidiaries or their Affiliates, as the case may be), at all times during
the Employment Period and thereafter, the Executive will promptly and
fully assist the Company (its Subsidiaries or their Affiliates, as the
case may be) in effecting the purpose of the foregoing assignment,
including but not limited to the further acts of executing any and all
documents necessary to secure for the Company (its Subsidiaries or their
Affiliates, as the case may be) such Proprietary Rights and other rights
to all Work Product and all confidential information related thereto,
providing cooperation and giving testimony.
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(d) Inapplicability of Section 4.1 In Certain Circumstances. The
Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that, and the Executive is
hereby advised that, this Section 4.1 does not apply to any invention for
which no equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information of
the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates was used and
which was developed entirely on the Executive's own time, unless (i) the
invention relates to the business of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any
of their Affiliates or to the Company's, its Subsidiaries' or any of their
Affiliates' actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development or
(ii) the invention results from any work performed by the Executive for
the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates.
4.2 Ownership and Covenant to Return Documents, etc. The Executive agrees
that all Work Product and all documents or other tangible materials (whether
originals, copies or abstracts), including without limitation, price lists,
quotation guides, outstanding quotations, books, records, manuals, files, sales
literature, training materials, customer records, correspondence, computer disks
or print-out documents, contracts, orders, messages, phone and address lists,
invoices and receipts, and all objects associated therewith, which in any way
relate to the business or affairs of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their
Affiliates either furnished to the Executive by the Company, its Subsidiaries or
any of their Affiliates or are prepared, compiled or otherwise acquired by the
Executive during the Employment Period, shall be the sole and exclusive property
of the Company, such Subsidiaries or such Affiliates, as the case may be. The
Executive shall not, except for the use of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any
of their Affiliates, use, copy or duplicate any of the aforementioned documents
or objects, nor remove them from the facilities of the Company or such
Subsidiaries or such Affiliates, , as the case may be, nor use any information
concerning them except for the benefit of the Company, its Subsidiaries and
their Affiliates, either during the Employment Period or thereafter. The
Executive agrees that he will deliver all of the aforementioned documents and
objects that may be in his possession to the Company on the termination of his
employment with the Company, or at any other time upon the Company's request,
together with his written certification of compliance with the provisions of
this Section 4.2 in the form of Exhibit B to this Agreement in accordance with
the provisions of Section 5.3 hereof.
4.3 Non-Disclosure Covenant. For a period commencing on the date of this
Agreement and ending on the last to occur of five (5) years following the date
of execution of this Agreement or three (3) years following the date of the
termination of the Employment Period (the "Non-Disclosure Period"), the
Executive shall not, either directly or indirectly, disclose to any
"unauthorized person" or use for the benefit of the Executive or any Person
other than the Company, its Subsidiaries or their Affiliates any Work Product or
any knowledge or information which the Executive may acquire while employed by
the Company (whether before or after the date of this Agreement) relating to (i)
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the financial, marketing, sales and business plans and affairs, financial
statements, analyses, forecasts and projections, books, accounts, records,
operating costs and expenses and other financial information of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, (ii) internal management tools and systems,
costing policies and methods, pricing policies and methods and other methods of
doing business, of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, (iii)
customers, sales, customer requirements and usages, distributor lists, of the
Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, (iv) agreements with customers,
vendors, independent contractors, employees and others, of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, (v) existing and future products or services
and product development plans, designs, analyses and reports, of the Company,
its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, (vi) computer software and data bases
developed for the Company, its Subsidiaries or their Affiliates, trade secrets,
research, records of research, models, designs, drawings, technical data and
reports of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates and (vii)
correspondence or other private or confidential matters, information or data
whether written, oral or electronic, which is proprietary to the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates and not generally known to the public
(individually and collectively "Confidential Information"), without the
Company's prior written permission. For purposes of this Section 4.3, the term
"unauthorized person" shall mean any Person who is not (i) an officer or
director of the Company or an employee of the Company for whom the disclosure of
the knowledge or information referred to herein is necessary for his performance
of his assigned duties, or (ii) an employee, officer or director of a Subsidiary
or Affiliate of the Company for whom the disclosure of the knowledge or
information referred to herein is necessary for his performance of his assigned
duties, or (iii) a Person expressly authorized by the Company to receive
disclosure of such knowledge or information. The Company expressly acknowledges
and agrees that the term "Confidential Information" excludes information which
is (A) in the public domain or otherwise generally known to the trade, or (B)
disclosed to third parties other than by reason of the Executive's breach of his
confidentiality obligation hereunder or (C) learned of by the Executive
subsequent to the termination of his employment hereunder from any other party
not then under an obligation of confidentiality to the Company, its Subsidiaries
and their Affiliates. Further, the Executive covenants to the Company that in
the Executive's performance of his duties hereunder, the Executive will violate
no confidentiality obligations he may have to any third Persons.
4.4 Non-Interference Covenants. The Executive covenants to the Company
that while the Executive is employed by the Company hereunder and for the two
(2) year period thereafter (the "Non-Interference Period"), he will not, for any
reason, directly or indirectly: (a) solicit, hire, or otherwise do any act or
thing which may induce any other employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries or
their Affiliates to leave the employ or otherwise interfere with or adversely
affect the relationship (contractual or otherwise) of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates with any person who is then or thereafter
becomes an employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates; (b)
do any act or thing which may interfere with or adversely affect the
relationship (contractual or otherwise) of the Company, its Subsidiaries and
their Affiliates with any vendor of goods or services to the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates or induce any such vendor to cease doing
business with the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates; or (c) except
for Competitive Activities (as defined in Section 4.5) engaged in by the
Employee after the expiration of the Non-Competition Period, do any act or thing
which may interfere with or adversely affect the relationship (contractual or
otherwise) of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates with any
customer of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates or induce any
such customer to cease doing business with the Company, its Subsidiaries and
their Affiliates.
4.5 Covenant Not To Compete. The Executive expressly acknowledges that (i)
the Executive's performance of his services for the Company hereunder will
afford him or her access to and cause him or her to become highly knowledgeable
about the Company's, its Subsidiaries' and their Affiliates' Confidential
Information; (ii) the agreements and covenants contained in this Section 4.5 are
essential to protect the Confidential Information, business and goodwill of the
Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, and the restraints on the
Executive imposed by the provisions of this Section 4.5 are justified by these
legitimate business interests of the Company; and (iii) his covenants to the
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Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates set forth in this Section 4.5 are
being made both in consideration of the Company's employment of the Executive in
the office to which the Executive has been promoted, the salary increase and
other financial benefits of this Agreement and the grant of the Option.
Accordingly, the Executive hereby agrees that during the Non-Competition Period
he shall not, anywhere in the Applicable Territory, directly or indirectly, own
any interest in, invest in, lend to, borrow from, manage, control, participate
in, consult with, become employed by, render services to, or in any other manner
whatsoever engage in, any business which is (x) competitive with the industrial
or commercial enzymes business actively being engaged in by the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates in the Applicable Territory on the date of the
termination of the Employment Period, (y) competitive with the business of
providing high-throughput screening services to others or (z) competitive with
the business of providing of gene expression services to others (collectively,
"Competitive Activities"). The preceding to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Executive shall be free to make investments in the publicly traded securities of
any corporation, provided that such investments do not amount to more than 1% of
the outstanding securities of any class of such corporation.
4.6 Remedies For Breach. If the Executive commits a breach, or threatens
to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Article IV, the Company and
its Subsidiaries shall have the right and remedy, in addition to any other
remedy that may be available at law or in equity, to have the provisions of this
Article IV specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, by the
entry of temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctions and orders of specific
performance, together with an accounting therefor, it being expressly
acknowledged and agreed by the Executive that any such breach or threatened
breach will cause irreparable injury to the Company and its Subsidiaries and
that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy to the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Any such injunction shall be available without the posting of any
bond or other security, and the Executive hereby consents to the issuance of
such injunction. The Executive further agrees that any such injunctive relief
obtained by the Company or its Subsidiaries shall be in addition to, and not in
lieu of, monetary damages and any other remedies to which the Company or its
Subsidiaries may be entitled. Further, in the event of an alleged breach or
violation by the Executive of any of the provisions of Sections 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5
hereof, the Non-Disclosure Period, the Non-Interference Period and\or the
Non-Competition Period, as the case may be, shall be tolled until such breach or
violation has been cured. The parties agree that in the event of the institution
of any action at law or in equity by either party to enforce the provisions of
this Article IV, the losing party shall pay all of the costs and expenses of the
prevailing party, including reasonable legal fees, incurred in connection
therewith. If any covenant contained in this Article IV or any part thereof is
hereafter construed to be invalid or unenforceable, the same shall not affect
the remainder of such covenant or any other covenants, which shall be given full
effect, without regard to the invalid portions, and any court having
jurisdiction shall have the power to modify such covenant to the least extent
necessary to render it enforceable and, in its modified form, said covenant
shall then be enforceable.
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ARTICLE V
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
5.1 Termination and Triggering Events. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary elsewhere contained in this Agreement, the Employment Period shall
terminate at the expiration of the Initial Term or any Extension Term, or prior
to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Extension Term upon the occurrence
of any of the following events (hereinafter referred to as "Triggering Events"):
(a) the Executive's death; (b) the Executive's Total Disability; (c) the
Executive's Resignation; (d) a Termination by the Company for Cause; or (f) a
Termination by the Company Without Cause.
5.2 Rights Upon Occurrence of a Triggering Event. Subject to the
provisions of Section 5.3 hereof, the rights of the parties upon the occurrence
of a Triggering Event prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any
Extension Term shall be as follows:
(a) Resignation and Termination by the Company for Cause: If the
Triggering Event was the Executive's Resignation or a Termination by the
Company for Cause, the Executive shall be entitled to receive his Annual
Base Compensation and accrued but unpaid vacation through the date thereof
in accordance with the policy of the Company, and to continue to
participate in the Company's health, insurance and disability plans and
programs through that date and thereafter, only to the extent permitted
under the terms of such plans and programs.
(b) Death or Total Disability: If the Triggering Event was the
Executive's death or Total Disability, the Executive (or the Executive's
designated beneficiary) shall be entitled to receive the Executive's
Annual Base Compensation and accrued but unpaid vacation through the date
thereof plus a pro rata portion of the Executive's Potential Annual Target
Bonus for the calendar year in which such death or Total Disability
occurred (based on the number of days the Executive was employed during
the applicable calendar year), in accordance with the policy of the
Company, and to continue to participate in the Company's health, insurance
and disability plans and programs through the date of termination and
thereafter only to the extent permitted under the terms of such plans and
programs.
(c) Termination by Company Without Cause: If the Triggering Event
was a Termination by the Company Without Cause, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive his Annual Base Compensation and accrued but unpaid
vacation through the date thereof plus, in the reasonable discretion of
the Chief Executive Officer based upon whether it then appears the
Potential Annual Target Bonus for the year would have been earned by the
Executive had he remained employed by the Company, a pro rata portion of
the Executive's Potential Annual Target Bonus for the calendar year in
which such Triggering Event occurred (based on the number of days the
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Executive was employed during the applicable calendar year), payable in
accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices, provided that in
addition, for each month of the Severance Period hereinafter referred to,
the Executive shall also be paid an amount per month equal to one-twelfth
(1/12th) of his then current Annual Base Compensation in weekly,
bi-monthly or monthly installments, as the case may be, consistent with
the Company's normal payroll practices, commencing with the first regular
payroll payment date following the termination of the Employment Period
(collectively, the "Additional Severance Benefits"); further provided that
the Executive shall be entitled to receive such Additional Severance
Benefits during the Severance Period if and only if the Executive has
executed and delivered to the Company the General Release substantially in
form and substance as set forth in Exhibit C to this Agreement and only so
long as the Executive has not breached any of his covenants to the Company
set forth in Article IV of this Agreement.
(d) Cessation of Entitlements and Company Right of Offset. Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all of the Executive's rights to
salary, employee benefits, fringe benefits and bonuses hereunder (if any)
which would otherwise accrue after the termination of the Employment
Period shall cease upon the date of such termination. The Company may
offset any loans, cash advances or fixed amounts which the Executive owes
the Company or its Affiliate against any amounts it owes the Executive
under this Agreement.
5.3 Survival of Certain Obligations and Termination Certificate. The
provisions of Articles IV, V, VI and VIII shall survive any termination of the
Employment Period, whether by reason of the occurrence of a Triggering Event or
the expiration of the Initial Term or any Extension Term. Immediately following
the termination of the Employment Period, the Executive shall promptly return to
the Company all property required to be returned to the Company pursuant to the
provisions of Section 4.2 hereof and execute and deliver to the Company the
Termination Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit B and by this reference made
a part hereof.
ARTICLE VI
ASSIGNMENT
6.1 Prohibition of Assignment by Executive. The Executive expressly agrees
for himself and on behalf of his executors, administrators and heirs, that this
Agreement and his obligations, rights, interests and benefits hereunder shall
not be assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated in any way by the
Executive, his executors, administrators or heirs, and shall not be subject to
execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempt to assign, transfer,
pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this Agreement or any such rights,
interests and benefits thereunder contrary to the foregoing provisions, or the
levy of any attachment or similar process thereupon shall be null and void and
without effect and shall relieve the Company of any and all liability hereunder.
6.2 Right of Company to Assign. Except as provided in the next sentence,
the rights, but not the obligations of the Company shall be assignable and
transferable to any successor-in-interest without the consent of the Executive.
In the instance of a sale of the Company or the sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company or the BioSciences Business, this Agreement and the
rights and obligations of the Company hereunder may be assigned to the acquiring
party without the Executive's consent, and for purposes of this Agreement, such
acquirer shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company.
11
ARTICLE VII
DEFINITIONS
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with that
Person, provided that, for purposes of this definition, the terms "controls,"
"controlled by," or "under common control with" shall mean that Person's
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power or right, alone or together
with one or more partners or co-joint venturers, to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such other Person through
representation on its controlling management and policy-making body or
otherwise, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
"Applicable Territory" means the United States of America and each other
country in which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates
is actively engaged in the conduct of one or more lines of business.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Biological Materials" means (i) classical or genetically modified
strains, micro or other organisms, genes, proteins, peptides, sugars,
metabolites, small molecules, enzymes or DNA, vectors, plasmids, promoters,
expression cassettes or other genomic tools and assay materials which are being
worked with or on by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates or
which are being worked with or on the Company's, its Subsidiaries' or any of
their Affiliates' behalf by the Company's, its Subsidiaries' or any of their
Affiliates' advisors, research and business collaborators, and (ii) "Biological
Materials" and fermentation or other manufacturing processes being utilized by
the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates, the Company's, its
Subsidiaries' or any of their Affiliates' research or business collaborators or
the Company's, its Subsidiaries' or any of their Affiliates' third party
manufactures for research, pilot scale and/or commercial manufacture of
biotechnology and other products.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or
a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company;
(ii) there shall be consummated any consolidation or merger of the
Company with any other Person other than a merger or consolidation of the
Company in which the holders of Company's outstanding voting securities
ordinarily having the right to vote for the election of directors
immediately prior to such merger or consolidation directly or indirectly
possess, immediately following such merger or consolidation, not less than
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving
corporation ordinarily having the right to vote for the election of
directors;
(iii) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Section
13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act")) not today a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act) of voting securities of the Company ordinarily having the
12
right to vote for the election of directors, becomes the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more
than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
voting securities having that right to vote for the election of directors,
provided that no Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred as a
result of any acquisition of voting securities directly from the Company
(or as the result of the exercise, conversion or exchange of any
securities acquired directly from the Company) if the transaction pursuant
to which such voting securities or exercisable, convertible or
exchangeable securities are issued is approved by the vote of at least a
majority of the directors who were members of the Board one calendar month
prior to the date of the Board's approval of such transaction;
(iv) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction
or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the
assets used in the conduct of the BioSciences Business to any Person
which, following the consummation of that transaction, is not an Affiliate
of the Company, provided that the sale or license of the Company's C1 Host
Technology incident to which the Company, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate
of the Company, retains a right to use the C1 Host Technology and/or any
application or derivation thereof for use in the conduct of the
BioSciences Business shall not constitute a sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer of the assets used in the BioSciences Business to which this
clause (iv) shall apply, unless the retained licenses are a small portion
of the then addressable markets for the C1 Host Technology for the
BioSciences Business; or
(v) there shall be consummated any consolidation or merger of any
Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company that owns substantially all of the
assets used in the conduct of the BioSciences Business with any Person, if
the entity surviving that consolidation or merger is not an Affiliate of
the Company, provided that the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary
or Affiliate that holds legal title to the Company's C1 Host Technology
incident to which the Company, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the
Company, retains a right to use the C1 Host Technology and/or any
application or derivation thereof for use in the conduct of the
BioSciences Business shall not constitute a consolidation or merger of any
Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company that owns substantially all of the
assets used in the conduct of the BioSciences Business to which this
clause (v) shall apply, unless the retained licenses are a small portion
of the then addressable markets for the C1 Host Technology for the
BioSciences Business.
"Chief Executive Officer" means the chief executive officer of the
Company.
"Compensation Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
"Constructive Termination Without Cause" means a voluntary termination of
Executive's employment by the Executive within twelve (12) months following the
occurrence of a Change of Control and within 60 days following the occurrence of
any of the following events: (i) the Company's assignment to the Executive of
any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the Executive's position
(including status, offices and titles), authority, duties or responsibilities as
13
contemplated by Section 1.3 hereof which results in a diminution of the
Executive's position, excluding for this purpose and isolated, insubstantial or
inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company
promptly after the receipt of written notice thereof by the Executive; (ii) the
Executive's Annual Base Compensation and\or Potential Annual Target Bonus is\are
reduced below the amount of his then Annual Base Compensation and\or Potential
Annual Target Bonus fixed by the applicable provisions of Sections 3.1 and 3.2
hereof; (iii) the Executive is required by the Company to relocate his personal
residence outside of a 50 mile radius of the Company's current principal place
of business; or (iv) the failure of the Company or its legal
successor-in-interest to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement,
other than an isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent action not taken in bad
faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after the receipt of written
notice thereof by the Executive.
"Non-Competition Period" means the Employment Period and the eighteen (18)
month period thereafter.
"Person" means an individual, partnership, limited liability company,
trust, estate, association, corporation, governmental body or other juridical
being.
"Resignation" means the voluntary termination of employment hereunder by
the Executive (except if made in contemplation of a Termination by the Company
for Cause), provided that if such action is taken by the Executive without the
giving of at least ninety (90) days prior written notice, such termination of
employment shall not be a "Resignation," but instead shall constitute a
Termination for Cause, further provided that the termination of the Employment
Period on account of the failure of the Executive to extend the Employment
Period in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2 hereof shall constitute
a Resignation.
"Severance Period" means: (i) the six (6) month period immediately
following the date of the termination of the Employment Period; provided that
(ii) if (A) the Executive has been an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary
or Affiliate for at least five consecutive years and (B) the Executive's
employment was terminated either (x) by the Company as a Termination by the
Company Without Cause or (y) by the Executive on account of the occurrence of a
Constructive Termination Without Cause at anytime within twelve (12) months
following the occurrence of a Change of Control, the term "Severance Period"
means the eighteen (18) month period immediately following the termination of
the Employment Period.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person of which (i) if a
corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of
directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries
of such Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership
or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
14
directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person
or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be
deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons
shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership,
association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control any
managing director or general partner of such limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity.
"Termination by the Company for Cause" means termination by the Company of
the Executive's employment on or before the expiration of the Initial Term or
any Extension Term, as the case may be, on account of a finding by the
Compensation Committee that the Executive has: (i) breached this Agreement or
any other agreement between the Executive and the Company, any Subsidiary or any
of their Affiliates; (ii) engaged in disloyalty to the Company, including
without limitation, the diversion of corporate opportunity, fraud, embezzlement,
theft, commission of a felony or proven dishonesty, in the course of his
performance of his services hereunder; (iii) disclosed trade secrets or other
Confidential Information of the Company to Persons not entitled to receive such
information; or (iv) engaged in such other behavior detrimental to the interests
of the Company as the Compensation Committee determines; provided that the
termination of the Executive's employment hereunder by the Company shall not be
deemed a Termination by the Company for Cause unless and until there shall have
been delivered to the Executive a written notice from the Chief Executive
Officer (after reasonable notice (in light of the circumstances surrounding the
termination) to and an opportunity for the Executive, alone and in person, to
have a face-to-face meeting with the Compensation Committee) stating that in the
good faith opinion of the Compensation Committee, the Executive was guilty of
the conduct set forth in one or more of the foregoing clauses.
"Termination by the Company Without Cause" means a termination of the
Executive's employment by the Company on or before the expiration of the Initial
Term or any Extension Term, as the case may be, which is not a Termination by
the Company for Cause, provided that the termination of the Employment Period on
account of the failure of the Company to extend the Employment Period in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2 hereof shall constitute a
Termination by the Company Without Cause.
"Total Disability" means the Executive's inability, because of illness,
injury or other physical or mental incapacity, to perform his duties hereunder
(as determined by the Compensation Committee in good faith) for a continuous
period of ninety (90) consecutive days, or for a total of ninety (90) days
within any three hundred sixty (360) consecutive day period, in which case such
Total Disability shall be deemed to have occurred on the last day of such ninety
(90) day or three hundred sixty (360) day period, as applicable.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL
8.1 Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed properly sent, (i) when delivered, if by personal service or
reputable overnight courier service, or (ii) when received, if sent (x) by
certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (y)
via facsimile transmission (provided that a hard copy of such notice is sent to
the addressee via one of the methods of delivery or mailing set forth above on
the same day the facsimile transmission is sent); to (A) the Executive at the
address of his principal place of residence on file with the Company from time
to time and (B) to the Company, as follows:
15
Dyadic International, Inc.
c/o Chief Executive Officer
000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile (000) 000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Jenkens & Xxxxxxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile (000) 000-0000
8.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the
laws of the State of Florida without regard to any choice of law or conflicts of
law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Florida or any other
jurisdiction), irrespective of the fact that the Executive may become a resident
of a different state.
8.3 Binding Effect. The Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Executive and his
executors, administrators, personal representatives and heirs.
8.4 Complete Understanding. This Agreement constitutes the complete
understanding among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof,
and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings relating to the
terms of Executive's employment by the Company, provided that that certain
Confidential Information, Inventions Assignment and Non-Compete Agreement
between the Company's Subsidiary and the Executive dated May 1, 2001 and that
certain Employment Agreement between the Company's Subsidiary and the Executive
dated May 26, 2000, each of which was assigned by that Subsidiary to the Company
on October 29, 2004 (collectively, the "Prior Employment and Proprietary Rights
Agreements"), shall, to the extent not inconsistent with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement, remain in full force and effect as to any rights
and obligations of the parties thereunder in existence prior to the date of this
Agreement, further provided that in the event of any inconsistency between the
provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of either or both of the Prior
Employment and Proprietary Rights Agreements, or in the event of any
inconsistency between the rights and obligations of the parties under this
Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties under either or both of
the Prior Employment and Proprietary Rights Agreements, in either instance, the
provisions of this Agreement shall control.
8.5 Amendments. No change, modification or amendment of any provision of
this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by all of the
parties hereto.
8.6 Waiver. The waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement by the Executive shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach by the Executive. The waiver by the Executive of a breach of
any provision of this Agreement by the Company shall not operate as a waiver of
any subsequent breach by the Company.
16
8.7 Venue, Jurisdiction, Etc. The Executive hereby agrees that any suit,
action or proceeding relating in any way to this Agreement may be brought and
enforced in the Circuit Court of Palm Beach County of the State of Florida or in
the District Court of the United States of America for the Southern District of
Florida, and in either case the Executive hereby submits to the jurisdiction of
each such court. The Executive hereby waives and agrees not to assert, by way of
motion or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that the
Executive is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named
courts, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum
or that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper. The Executive
consents and agrees to service of process or other legal summons for purpose of
any such suit, action or proceeding by registered mail addressed to the
Executive at his or her address listed in the business records of the Company.
Nothing contained herein shall affect the rights of the Company to bring suit,
action or proceeding in any other appropriate jurisdiction. The Executive and
the Company do each hereby waive any right to trial by jury, he or it may have
concerning any matter relating to this Agreement.
8.8 Severability. If any portion of this Agreement shall be for any
reason, invalid or unenforceable, the remaining portion or portions shall
nevertheless be valid, enforceable and carried into effect.
8.9 Headings. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
only and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.
8.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above-written.
COMPANY: EXECUTIVE:
DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
Delaware Corporation
------------------------------
Xxxxxxx (Ray) Chandra
By:____________________________
Chief Executive Officer
17
EXHIBIT A
to
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
between
DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
and
XXXXXXX (XXX) XXXXXXX
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
18
DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
2001 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT
This STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of March
30, 2005 (the "Date of Grant"), is delivered by Dyadic International, Inc. (the
"Company") to Xxxxxxx (Xxx) Xxxxxxx (the "Grantee").
RECITALS
A. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Grantee has entered into an employment agreement with the Company dated of even
date herewith (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified, the
"Employment Agreement"), pursuant to which the Grantee will serve as the
Company's Senior Vice President, Marketing - Biotechnology Systems.
B. The Dyadic International, Inc. 2001 Equity Compensation Plan (as may be
amended, restated or otherwise modified, the "Plan") provides for the grant of
options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company. A copy of the Plan
has heretofore been furnished to the Grantee, receipt of which is hereby
expressly acknowledged. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings given such terms in the Plan.
C. As contemplated in Section 1(a) of the Plan, the Board of Directors of
the Company has appointed a committee (the "Committee") to administer the Plan.
D. To induce the Grantee to enter into the Employment Agreement and
continue to perform the obligations specified therein and promote the best
interests of the Company, the Committee has decided to Grant an Option to the
Grantee under the Plan to purchase shares of Company Stock ("Shares").
AGREEMENT:
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Agreement, intending to be legally
bound hereby, agree as follows:
1. Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement and in the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee an Option to
purchase 50,000 Shares at an exercise price of $3.025 per Share (which is the
Fair Market Value on the date of Grant, being equal to the mean of the final
"asked" and "bid" prices of the Shares on the date hereof, as fixed by the terms
of the Plan). The Option shall become exercisable in accordance with the terms
of Paragraph 2 below. In accordance with Section 5(g) of the Plan, the Option
shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option
2
except to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares as of
the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Option is for the
first time exercisable by the Grantee during any calendar year under the Plan
exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to such excess, shall be treated as a
Nonqualified Stock Option.
2. Exercisability of Option. The number of Shares in respect of which the
Grantee shall be permitted to exercise the Option shall be determined by
reference to the dates (each a "Vesting Date") fixed in the table set forth
below, provided that: (a) exercisability of Shares is cumulative; and (b) there
must not have occurred a termination of the Grantee's employment with the
Company (the "Employment Relationship") for any reason whatsoever (the date of
such termination being hereinafter referred to as the "Termination Date") prior
to a Vesting Date in order for the Option to be exercisable in respect of the
Shares indicated opposite that Vesting Date:
Vesting Date Additional Shares for Which the
Option is Exercisable
1st Anniversary of Date of Grant 1/4th of Option Shares
2nd Anniversary of Date of Grant 1/4th of Option Shares
3rd Anniversary of Date of Grant 1/4th of Option Shares
4th Anniversary of Date of Grant 1/4th of Option Shares
3. Term of Option.
(a) The Option shall be exercisable for a term commencing with the Date of
Grant and ending on the earlier of (i) the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Date
of Grant or (ii) the termination of the Plan, unless the Option is terminated at
an earlier date in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the Plan.
(b) Any portion of the Option that is not exercisable on the Termination
Date shall terminate on that date.
(c) The Option, to the extent exercisable, shall automatically terminate
upon the earlier of (x) the expiration of the period fixed in Paragraph 3(a),
above, or (y) the first to occur of any of the following events:
(i) Subject to clause (v) below, the expiration of the 90 day period
following the Termination Date, if the termination is for any reason other
than the Disability of the Grantee, his death or for Cause.
(ii) Subject to clause (v) below, the expiration of the one (1) year
period after the Termination Date, to the extent the Option is then
unvested, if the termination of the Employment Relationship was on account
of the Grantee's Disability.
(iii) The expiration of the one (1) year period after the
Termination Date, if the reason for the termination of the Employment
Relationship was on account of the Grantee's death.
3
(iv) The Termination Date, if the termination of the Employment
Relationship was for Cause.
(v) The provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) above to the contrary
notwithstanding, if the Grantee engages in conduct that constitutes Cause
after the Termination Date, the Option shall immediately terminate to the
extent then unexercised (regardless of vesting).
(d) In accordance with Section 5(e)(ii) of the Plan, if the provisions of
either clause (iv) or clause (v) of Paragraph 3(c) applied to the termination of
the Option, the Grantee shall automatically forfeit all Shares underlying any
exercised portion of the Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the
share certificates, upon refund by the Company of the exercise price paid by the
Grantee for such Shares.
4. Exercise Procedures.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 2 and 3 above, the Grantee may
exercise part or all of the exercisable portion of the Option by giving the
Committee written notice of intent to exercise in the manner provided in this
Agreement, specifying the number of Shares as to which the Option is to be
exercised. On the delivery date, the Grantee shall pay the exercise price (i) in
cash, (ii) with the approval of the Committee, by delivering Shares of the
Company which shall be valued at their fair market value on the date of delivery
(such valuation to be determined in the manner fixed in the Plan), (iii) payment
through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the
Federal Reserve Board or (iv) by such other method as the Committee may approve,
provided that the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, impose from time to
time such limitations as it deems appropriate on the use of Shares of the
Company to exercise the Option.
(b) The obligation of the Company to deliver Shares upon exercise of the
Option shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and such
approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed appropriate by the
Committee, including such actions as Company counsel shall deem necessary or
appropriate to comply with relevant securities laws and regulations. The Company
may require that the Grantee (or other person exercising the Option after the
Grantee's death) represent that the Grantee is purchasing Shares for the
Grantee's own account and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any
distribution of the Shares, or such other representation as the Committee deems
appropriate. All obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall be
subject to the rights of the Company as set forth in the Plan to withhold
amounts required to be withheld for any taxes, if applicable. Subject to
Committee approval, in its absolute discretion, the Grantee may elect to satisfy
any income tax withholding obligation of the Company with respect to the Option
by having Shares withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the minimum
applicable withholding tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and local
tax liabilities.
4
5. Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. In addition to the restrictions imposed
by the Plan on the transferability of the Shares acquired by an the Grantee's
exercise of the Option granted hereby, without the prior consent of the Company,
for so long as the Company is not a "Reporting Company" within the meaning of
the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Grantee shall make no transfer of the
Shares (a) for a period of five (5) years following the date of this Agreement
and (b) thereafter, to any competitor of the Company.
6. Change of Control. The provisions of the Plan applicable to a Change of
Control shall apply to the Option, and, in the event of a Change of Control, the
Committee may take such actions as it deems appropriate pursuant to the Plan.
7. Restrictions on Exercise. Only the Grantee may exercise the Option during the
Grantee's lifetime and, after the Grantee's death, the Option shall be
exercisable (subject to the limitations specified in the Plan) solely by the
legal representatives of the Grantee, or by the person who acquires the right to
exercise the Option by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, to the
extent that the Option is exercisable pursuant to this Agreement.
8. Grant Subject to Plan Provisions. This grant is made pursuant to the Plan,
the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference, and in all respects
shall be interpreted in accordance with the Plan. The grant and exercise of the
Option are subject to the provisions of the Plan and to interpretations,
regulations and determinations concerning the Plan established from time to time
by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, including, but
not limited to, provisions pertaining to (i) rights and obligations with respect
to withholding taxes, (ii) the registration, qualification or listing of the
Shares, (iii) changes in capitalization of the Company and (iv) other
requirements of applicable law. The Committee shall have the authority to
interpret and construe the Option pursuant to the terms of the Plan, and its
decisions shall be conclusive as to any questions arising hereunder.
9. No Employment or Other Rights. The grant of the Option shall not confer upon
the Grantee any right to be retained by or in the employ or service of the
Company and shall not interfere in any way with the right of the Company to
terminate the Grantee's employment or service at any time. The right of the
Company to terminate at will the Grantee's employment or service at any time for
any reason is specifically reserved.
10. No Shareholder Rights. Neither the Grantee, nor any person entitled to
exercise the Grantee's rights in the event of the Grantee's death, shall have
any of the rights and privileges of a shareholder with respect to the Shares
subject to the Option, until certificates for Shares have been issued upon the
exercise of the Option.
5
11. Assignment and Transfers. The rights and interests of the Grantee under this
Agreement may not be sold, assigned, encumbered or otherwise transferred except,
in the event of the death of the Grantee, by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. In the event of any attempt by the Grantee to alienate, assign,
pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of the Option or any right hereunder,
except as provided for in this Agreement, or in the event of the levy or any
attachment, execution or similar process upon the rights or interests hereby
conferred, the Company may terminate the Option by notice to the Grantee, and
the Option and all rights hereunder shall thereupon become null and void. The
rights and protections of the Company hereunder shall extend to any successors
or assigns of the Company and to the Company's parents, subsidiaries, and
affiliates. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company without the Grantee's
consent.
12. Applicable Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of
this instrument shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Florida, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws
provisions thereof.
13. Notice. Any notice to the Company provided for in this instrument shall be
addressed to the Company in care of the Chief Executive Officer at the Company's
principal executive offices, and any notice to the Grantee shall be addressed to
such Grantee at the current address shown on the payroll of the Company, or to
such other address as the Grantee may designate to the Company in writing. Any
notice shall be delivered by hand, sent by telecopy or enclosed in a properly
sealed envelope addressed as stated above, registered and deposited, postage
prepaid, in a post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal
Service.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts and
by facsimile signature, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all
of which taken together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
15. Complete Understanding. This Agreement, together with the Plan,
contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understanding with respect to
such subject matter, 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, provided that the Parties are parties to the
Employment Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to
limit or affect in any manner or to any extent the restrictions or prohibitions
that are applicable to the Grantee under the Employment Agreement or the
duration thereof. Similarly, except as expressly provided otherwise in this
Agreement, nothing contained in the Employment Agreement shall be construed to
limit or affect in any manner or to any extent the restrictions or prohibitions
that are applicable to the Grantee under this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused a duly authorized officer to
execute this Agreement, and the Grantee has executed this Agreement, effective
as of the Date of Grant.
THE COMPANY: GRANTEE:
DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: _____________ Accepted: _____________________
President Xxxxxxx (Xxx) Xxxxxxx
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EXHIBIT B
to
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
between
DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
and
XXXXXXX (RAY) CHANDRA
TERMINATION CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that, except as permitted by the Employment Agreement
(as defined below) I do not have in my possession, nor have I failed to return,
any software, inventions, designs, works of authorship, copyrightable works,
formulas, data, marketing plans, forecasts, product concepts, marketing plans,
strategies, forecasts, devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals,
customer lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches,
materials, patent applications, continuation applications, continuation-in-part
applications, divisional applications, other documents or property, or
reproductions of any aforementioned items belonging to DYADIC INTERNATIONAL,
INC. (the "Company"), its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates, successors or
assigns.
I further certify that I have complied with all the terms of the
Employment Agreement dated as of March 30, 2005 between the Company and me (as
the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified, the "Employment
Agreement"), relating to the reporting of any Work Product conceived or made by
me (solely or jointly with others) covered by the Employment Agreement.
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
given such terms in the Employment Agreement.
I acknowledge that the provisions of the Employment Agreement relating to
Confidential Information continue in effect beyond the termination of the
Employment Agreement, as set forth therein.
Finally, I further acknowledge that the provisions of the Employment
Agreement relating to my (i) anti-pirating, (ii) non-interference and (iii)
non-competition covenants to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates,
also remain in effect following the date of my termination of employment with
the Company.
Date:____________ ______________________________
Executive
8
EXHIBIT C
to
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
between
DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
and
XXXXXXX (XXX) XXXXXXX
GENERAL RELEASE
I, Xxxxxxx (Ray) Chandra, in consideration of and subject to the
performance by DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), of its material obligations under the Employment Agreement, dated as
of March 30, 2005 (as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified,
the "Agreement"), do hereby release and forever discharge as of the date hereof
the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates (as those terms are defined
in the Agreement) and all present and former directors, officers, agents,
representatives, employees, successors and assigns of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their Affiliates and their direct or indirect owners
(collectively, the "Released Parties") to the extent provided below.
1. I understand that any payments or benefits paid or granted to me under
Section 5.2(c) of the Agreement represent, in part, consideration for
signing this General Release and are not salary, wages or benefits to
which I was already entitled. I understand and agree that I will not
receive the payments and benefits specified in Section 5.2(c) of the
Agreement unless I execute this General Release and do not revoke this
General Release within the time period permitted hereafter or breach
this General Release.
2. Except as provided in paragraph 4 of this General Release, I knowingly
and voluntarily release and forever discharge the Company and the other
Released Parties from any and all claims, controversies, actions,
causes of action, cross-claims, counterclaims, demands, debts,
compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary
damages, other damages, claims for costs and attorneys' fees, or
liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past
and present (through the date of this General Release) and whether
known or unknown, suspected, or claimed against the Company or any of
the Released Parties which I, my spouse, or any of my heirs, executors,
administrators or assigns, may have, which arise out of or are
connected with my employment with, or my separation from, the Company
(including, but not limited to, any allegation, claim or violation,
arising under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended;
the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection
Act); the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the
Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Worker Adjustment Retraining
and Notification Act; the Executive Retirement Income Security Act of
1974; any applicable Executive Order Programs; the Fair Labor Standards
Act; or their state or local counterparts; or under any other federal,
state or local civil or human rights law, or under any other local,
state, or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or under any public
policy, contract or tort, or under common law; or arising under any
policies, practices or procedures of the Company; or any claim for
wrongful discharge, breach of contract, negligent or intentional
infliction of emotional distress, defamation; or any claim for costs,
fees, or other expenses, including attorneys' fees incurred in these
matters) (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the
"Claims").
3. I represent that I have made no assignment or transfer of any right,
claim, demand, cause of action, or other matter covered by paragraph 2 of
this General Release.
4. I and the Company mutually agree that this General Release does not
waive or release any rights or claims that I may have under: (a) the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 which arise after the date
I execute this General Release; and (b) any agreements to which I and
the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates are parties
pertaining to any shares or options to purchase shares of capital stock
of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates owned by
me. I acknowledge and agree that my separation from employment with the
Company in compliance with the terms of the Agreement shall not serve
as the basis for any claim or action (including, without limitation,
any claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967).
5. In signing this General Release, I acknowledge and intend that it shall
be effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims hereinabove
mentioned or implied. I expressly consent that this General Release
shall be given full force and effect according to each and all of its
express terms and provisions, including those relating to unknown and
unsuspected Claims (notwithstanding any state statute that expressly
limits the effectiveness of a general release of unknown, unsuspected
and unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those relating to any
other Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I acknowledge and agree
that this waiver is an essential and material term of this General
Release and that without such waiver the Company would not have agreed
to the terms of the Agreement. I further agree that in the event I
should bring a Claim seeking damages against any Released Party, or in
the event I should seek to recover against any Released Party in any
Claim brought by a governmental agency on my behalf, this General
Release shall serve as a complete defense to such Claims. I further
agree that I am not aware of any pending charge or complaint of the
type described in paragraph 2 as of the execution of this General
Release.
6. I agree that neither this General Release, nor the furnishing of the
consideration for this General Release, shall be deemed or construed at
any time to be an admission by the Company, any Released Party or myself
of any improper or unlawful conduct.
7. I agree that if I challenge the validity of this General Release, I
will forfeit all unpaid amounts otherwise payable by the Company
pursuant to Section 5.2(c) of the Agreement other than the very first
payment due me thereunder, provided that nothing herein contained in
this Agreement shall prohibit or bar me from filing a charge, including
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a challenge to the validity of the Agreement, with the United States
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), or any state or local
fair employment practices agency, or from participating in any
investigation, hearing or proceeding conducted by the EEOC, or any
state or local fair employment practices agency. I also agree that if I
violate this General Release by suing the Company or the other Released
Parties, I will pay all costs and expenses of defending against the
suit incurred by the Released Parties, including reasonable attorneys'
fees, and return all payments received by me pursuant to the Agreement.
8. I agree that this General Release is confidential and agree not to
disclose any information regarding the terms of this General Release,
except to my immediate family and any tax, legal or other counsel I have
consulted regarding the meaning or effect hereof or as required by law,
and I will instruct each of the foregoing not to disclose the same to
anyone.
9. Any non-disclosure provision in this General Release does not prohibit or
restrict me (or my attorney) from responding to any inquiry about this
General Release or its underlying facts and circumstances by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the EEOC (or a state or local
fair employment practices agency), the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (NASD), any other self-regulatory organization or
governmental entity.
10. I agree to reasonably cooperate with the Company in any internal
investigation or administrative, regulatory, or judicial proceeding. I
understand and agree that my cooperation may include, but not be
limited to, making myself available to the Company upon reasonable
notice for interviews and factual investigations; appearing at the
Company's request to give testimony without requiring service of a
subpoena or other legal process; volunteering to the Company pertinent
information; and turning over to the Company all relevant documents
which are or may come into my possession all at times and on schedules
that are reasonably consistent with my other permitted activities and
commitments, provided that I shall have no obligation to expend more
than one week of my time in connection with the performance of these
activities which out reasonable recompense, as mutually and reasonably
agreed upon by me and the Company. I understand that in the event the
Company asks for my cooperation in accordance with this provision, the
Company will reimburse me solely for reasonable travel expenses,
including lodging and meals, upon my submission of receipts.
11. Notwithstanding anything in this General Release to the contrary, this
General Release shall not relinquish, diminish, or in any way affect any
rights or claims arising out of any breach by the Company or by any
Released Party of the Agreement.
12. Whenever possible, each provision of this General Release shall be
interpreted in, such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this General Release is held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any
applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality
or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other
jurisdiction, but this General Release shall be reformed, construed and
enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
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BY SIGNING THIS GENERAL RELEASE, I REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:
(a) I HAVE READ IT CAREFULLY;
(b) I UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT
RIGHTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION
IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AS AMENDED, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963, THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT
OF 1974, AS AMENDED;
(c) I VOLUNTARILY CONSENT TO EVERYTHING IN IT;
(d) I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND I
HAVE DONE SO OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND CONSIDERATION I HAVE CHOSEN NOT
TO DO SO OF MY OWN VOLITION;
(e) I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 21 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MY RECEIPT OF THIS RELEASE
SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS FINAL FORM ON _______________ ____, ____ TO CONSIDER
IT AND THE CHANGES MADE SINCE THE ______________ _____, _____VERSION OF
THIS RELEASE ARE NOT MATERIAL AND WILL NOT RESTART THE REQUIRED 21-DAY
PERIOD;
(f) THE CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT SINCE ____________ ___, _____ EITHER ARE NOT
MATERIAL OR WERE MADE AT MY REQUEST.
(g) I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS RELEASE TO
REVOKE IT AND THAT THIS RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE
UNTIL THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED;
(h) I HAVE SIGNED THIS GENERAL RELEASE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE
ADVICE OF ANY COUNSEL RETAINED TO ADVISE ME WITH RESPECT TO IT; AND
4
(i) I AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE MAY NOT BE AMENDED,
WAIVED, CHANGED OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY
AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY AND BY ME.
DATE: _____________________
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