EXHIBIT 10.27
February 4, 2003
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
00X Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Dear Xxxxxx:
This letter sets forth the substance of the separation agreement (the
"Agreement") that Photon Dynamics, Inc. (the "Company") is offering to you to
aid in your employment transition.
1. SEPARATION. You have resigned, and the Company has accepted
your resignation, from your positions President, Flat Panel Display Division and
Vice President and Officer of the Company, effective as of today, your last day
as an employee of the Company (the "Separation Date").
2. ACCRUED SALARY AND PAID TIME OFF. The Company will pay you
today all accrued salary, and all accrued and unused paid time off, earned
through the Separation Date, subject to standard payroll deductions and
withholdings. You are entitled to these payments regardless of whether or not
you sign this Agreement.
3. SEVERANCE. Although the Company has no policy or procedure for
providing severance benefits, if you enter into and fulfill your obligations
under this Agreement and the this Agreement becomes effective as described in
Paragraph 13, below, the Company will pay you, as severance, an amount
equivalent to six (6) months of your base salary in effect as of the Separation
Date, subject to required payroll deductions and withholdings (the "Severance
Payment"). The Severance Payment will be paid to you in one (1) lump sum within
ten (10) days after the Effective Date of this Agreement, as defined in
Paragraph 13, below.
4. HEALTH INSURANCE. As provided by the federal COBRA law and by
the Company's current group health insurance policies, you will be eligible to
continue your health insurance benefits at your own expense. Later, you may be
able to convert to an individual policy through the provider of the Company's
health insurance, if you wish. You will be provided with a separate notice of
your COBRA rights. If you elect continued coverage under COBRA, as part of this
Agreement, the Company will pay the COBRA premiums necessary to continue your
current coverage for six (6) months after the Separation Date.
5. STOCK OPTIONS. As provided in your stock option agreements,
grant notices and the applicable stock option plan documents (collectively, the
"Option Documents"), your Company stock options ("Options") cease vesting and
all unvested shares terminate as of the Separation Date. You may exercise your
Options pursuant to the terms of the applicable Option Documents.
6. OTHER COMPENSATION OR BENEFITS. You acknowledge that, except
as expressly provided in this Agreement, you will not receive any additional
compensation, severance or benefits after the Separation Date.
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7. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS. You agree that, within ten (10) days
after the Separation Date, you will submit your final documented expense
reimbursement statement reflecting all business expenses you incurred through
the Separation Date, if any, for which you seek reimbursement. The Company will
reimburse you for these expenses pursuant to its regular business practice.
8. RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY. You agree that, within five (5)
days after the Separation Date, you will return to the Company all Company
documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company property in your possession
or control, including, but not limited to, Company files, notes, notebooks,
drawings, records, plans, forecasts, reports, proposals, studies, financial
information, sales and marketing information, research and development
information, personnel information, specifications, computer-recorded
information, tangible property and equipment (including your Company-issued
laptop computer and "blackberry" electronic communication device), credit cards,
entry cards, identification badges and keys; and any materials of any kind which
contain or embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company
(and all reproductions thereof in whole or in part). The timely return of
Company property is a condition precedent to the Company making the Severance
Payment to you described in Paragraph 3, above.
9. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS. Both during and after
your employment, you will refrain from any use or disclosure of the Company's
proprietary or confidential information or materials and you acknowledge your
continuing obligations under your Proprietary Information and Inventions
Agreement not to use or disclose any confidential or proprietary information of
the Company without prior written authorization from a duly authorized
representative of the Company. A copy of your Proprietary Information and
Inventions Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
10. CONFIDENTIALITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
held in strictest confidence by you and the Company and shall not be publicized
or disclosed in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that: (a) you may
disclose this Agreement to your immediate family; (b) the parties may disclose
this Agreement in confidence to their respective attorneys, accountants,
auditors, tax preparers, and financial advisors; (c) the Company may disclose
this Agreement as necessary to fulfill standard or legally required corporate
reporting or disclosure requirements (including, without limitation, filing this
Agreement or disclosing its terms in public filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission); and (d) the parties may disclose this Agreement insofar as
such disclosure may be necessary to enforce its terms or as otherwise required
by law. By way of example and without limitation, you agree not to disclose the
terms of this Agreement to any current or former Company employee.
11. NONDISPARAGEMENT. Both you and the Company's officers and directors
agree not to disparage the other party, and the other party's officers,
directors, employees, shareholders and agents, in any manner likely to be
harmful to them or their business, business reputation or personal reputation;
provided that both you and the Company shall respond truthfully, accurately and
fully to any question, inquiry or request for information when required by legal
process, and the Company shall communicate truthfully, accurately and fully with
any government agency.
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12. RELEASE. In exchange for the Severance Payment, COBRA payments and
other consideration under this Agreement to which you would not otherwise be
entitled, you completely release the Company, and its affiliated, related,
parent and subsidiary corporations, and its and their present and former
directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents from any and all claims of
any kind, known and unknown, which you may now have or have ever had against any
of them, that arise out of or are in any way related to events, acts, conduct,
or omissions occurring prior to your signing this Agreement (the "Released
Claims"). The Released Claims include, but are not limited to: (1) all claims
arising out of or in any way related to your employment with the Company or the
termination of that employment; (2) all claims related to your compensation or
benefits from the Company, including salary, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay,
expense reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits, stock, stock options, or
any other ownership interests in the Company; (3) all claims for breach of
contract, wrongful termination, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing; (4) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation,
emotional distress, and discharge in violation of public policy; and (5) all
federal, state, and local statutory claims, including claims for discrimination,
harassment, retaliation, attorneys' fees, and other claims arising under the
federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as
amended (the "ADEA"), and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (as
amended). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, nothing herein
shall release the parties' rights under this Agreement; your right (if any) to
indemnification granted by any act or agreement of the Company, state or federal
law or policy of insurance; your rights in the Company's 401K Plan; your right
to make a claim under the Workers' Compensation Act; and, if the Company makes
any claim against you, you have the right to assert as a counterclaim,
cross-complaint or cross-action any claim, charge, complaint, lien, demand,
cause of action, obligation, damage or liability otherwise released by you
pursuant to this Paragraph 12.
13. RELEASE OF ADEA CLAIMS. You acknowledge that you are knowingly
and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights you may have under the ADEA and
acknowledge that the consideration given for the waiver and release in the
preceding paragraph hereof is in addition to anything of value to which you were
already entitled. You further acknowledge that you have been advised by this
writing, as required by the ADEA, that: (a) your waiver and release do not apply
to any rights or claims that may arise after the date you sign this Agreement;
(b) you should consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement
(although you may choose not to do so); (c) you have twenty-one (21) days to
consider this Agreement (although you may voluntarily sign this Agreement
earlier); (d) you have seven (7) days following the date you sign this Agreement
to revoke the Agreement; and (e) this Agreement shall not be effective until the
date upon which the revocation period has expired, which shall be the eighth day
after this Agreement is signed by you (the "Effective Date").
14. RELEASE OF UNKNOWN CLAIMS. You acknowledge that you have read and
understand Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which states:
"A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES
NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE
RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY
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HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR."
You hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under
that section and any law in any jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to
your release of any unknown or unsuspected claims you may have against the
Company.
15. MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement, including Exhibit A,
constitutes the complete, final and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement
between you and the Company with regard to this subject matter. It is entered
into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other
than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes any other such
promises, warranties or representations. This Agreement may not be modified or
amended except in a writing signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of
the Company. This Agreement shall bind the heirs, personal representatives,
successors and assigns of both you and the Company, and inure to the benefit of
both you and the Company, and your and its heirs, successors and assigns. If any
provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in
whole or in part, this determination will not affect any other provision of this
Agreement and the provision in question shall be modified by the court so as to
be rendered enforceable in a manner which is consistent with the intent of the
parties insofar as possible. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been entered
into and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of California as applied to contracts made and to be performed entirely
within California.
If this Agreement is acceptable to you, please sign below and return the
original to me.
We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Photon Dynamics, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Exhibit A - Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement
UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED:
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
DATED: 02/10/03
EXHIBIT A
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT
5.
