SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
Exhibit 10.103
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx (as used herein, “Executive” includes Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx and his legal representatives, spouse, agents, heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns), and Lannett Company, Inc., its divisions, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or related companies, its and their past, present and future officers, directors, shareholders, trustees, insurers, attorneys, legal representatives, employees and agents and all of its and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns and benefit plans (hereinafter, “Company”), for the following purpose and with reference to the following facts:
WHEREAS, Executive is employed by Company as its Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”);
1 Initialized capital terms shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Employment Agreement.
2
(a) Company shall pay Executive a gross payment of Six Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Five Dollars and no Cents ($696,795.00) (the “Severance Payment”), which is equivalent to eighteen (18) months of his final annual base salary (i.e. $464,530), net of applicable payroll deductions. Pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“Section 409A”), the Severance Payment shall be paid in equal monthly installments over a twelve (12) month period commencing at least six months and one day from the Effective Date, on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll date following November 17, 2023, and with the remaining eleven (11) installments due and payable on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll dates following December 17, 2023, January 17, 2024, February 17, 2024, March 17, 2024, April 17, 2024, May 17, 2024, June 17, 2024, July 17, 2024, August 17, 2024, September 17, 2024 and October 17, 2024, respectively (a schedule of monthly payments due hereunder is attached as Exhibit “A”). Executive understands that Form(s) W-2 will be issued to him for the Severance Payment received under this Paragraph 3(a);
(b) Should Executive elect continuation coverage for medical, dental and/or vision coverage, as applicable, pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), Company shall fund any premiums for COBRA coverage for an eighteen (18) month period following the Termination Date;
(c) In the event the Company meets any of the goals set forth in the short term incentive (STI) plan in effect for fiscal year 2023, and determines in its discretion to pay cash bonuses to its employees, Executive shall be entitled to receive a pro rata portion (i.e., 10.5/12) of the cash bonus he would have received if he was still employed with the Company at the time of the payment of the cash bonuses (the “Bonus Payment”). Pursuant to Section 409A, the Bonus Payment, if paid, shall be paid on the next regularly scheduled Company payroll date following November 17, 2023;
3
(d) Company agrees to pay Executive for his accrued, but unused, paid time off as of the Termination Date within thirty days of the Effective Date;
(e) Company shall cause all of Company contributions to Executive’s 401K account to vest in full as of the Termination Date.
(f) Company agrees Executive not not required to repay any portion of the Retention Bonus.
(g) Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Separation Benefits above constitute consideration for the Releases set forth in Paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Agreement and a separate release to be signed on or after May 16, 2023, which collectively release (inter alia) any entitlement he may otherwise have had to receive: his base salary at the final annualized rate of $446,530.00 for a period of (12) months following the Termination Date; any bonus monies for which Executive may have been eligible pursuant to Company’s Executive Compensation Program, or any other discretionary or other bonus plans, had he remained employed with Company following the Termination Date; all outstanding stock options, restricted shares, and other similar awards issued to Executive pursuant to any Company Long-Term Incentive Plans or any other option, equity or incentive plan, whether vested or unvested (collectively, “Equity Awards”); premiums for continuation of health, dental and/or vision insurance benefits for Executive for a twelve (12) month period; and all unused, but accrued, paid time off. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Company shall have no further obligation to pay him any monies in connection with his employment with Company except as set forth in Paragraphs 3(a) through (f) above. In addition, Executive acknowledges and agrees that all outstanding Company stock options and/or restricted stock units (except as previously vested and/or vested and exercised pursuant to Paragraph 3(c) above) issued to Executive pursuant to any Equity Awards will be cancelled.
4
5
(a) he is receiving consideration which is in addition to anything of value to which he otherwise would have been entitled in the absence of executing and not revoking this Agreement;
(b) he fully understands the terms of this Agreement, and is entering into it knowingly, freely and voluntarily without any coercion on the part of any person or entity;
(c) he was given adequate time to consider this Agreement and all implications thereof and to freely and fully consult with and seek the advice of whomever he deemed appropriate and has done so;
(d) he was advised in writing to consult an attorney before signing this Agreement;
(e) he has been given twenty-one (21) calendar days within which to consider this Agreement before signing it; and
(f) changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, will not restart the twenty-one (21) day consideration period;
(g) he has seven (7) calendar days after executing this Agreement within which to revoke this Agreement. If the seventh day is a weekend or national holiday, Executive has until the next business day to revoke. If Executive elects to revoke this Agreement, Executive agrees to notify Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esquire, VP, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, at Lannett Company, Inc., 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, xx xxxxxxx, sent by Certified Mail or electronic mail, of his revocation. Any determination of whether Executive’s revocation was timely shall be determined by the date of actual receipt by Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esquire.
6
(a) “Confidential Information.
a) | During Executive’s employment with Company and at all times after the termination of such employment, regardless of the reason for such termination, Executive shall hold all Confidential Information relating to Company in strict confidence and in trust for Company and shall not disclose or otherwise communicate, provide or reveal in any manner whatsoever any of the Confidential Information to anyone other than Company without the prior written consent of Company. “Confidential Information” includes, without limitation, financial information, related trade secrets (including, without limitation, Company’s business plan, methods and/or practices) and other proprietary business information of Company which may include, without limitation, its research and development pipeline, market studies, customer and client lists, referral lists and other items relative to the business of Company. “Confidential Information” shall not include information which is or becomes in the public domain through no action by Executive or information which is generally disclosed by Company to third parties without restrictions on such third parties. |
7
b) | Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that he has been notified that, notwithstanding any obligations in this Agreement, pursuant to Section 7 of the Defend Trade Secrets Act, Company shall not hold Executive criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of Confidential Information that is made: (i) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. Company shall also not hold Executive so liable for such disclosures made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Executive also acknowledges and agrees that she has been notified that individuals who file a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.” |
(b) “Solicitation of Customers.
During his employment with Company and for a period of twelve (12) months after the termination of Executive’s employment, regardless of the reason for the termination (the “Non-Competition Period”), Executive shall not, whether directly or indirectly, for her own benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity, or as a partner, stockholder, member, manager, officer, director, proprietor, employee, consultant, representative, agent of any entity other than Company, solicit, directly or indirectly, any customer of Company, or induce any customer of Company to terminate any association with Company, in connection with those certain products being offered for sale by Company, or in its research and development pipeline or that of a joint venture to the extent that Company is funding in whole or in part that research and/or development, on the date of termination of Executive's employment (the “Restricted Products”) or otherwise attempt to provide services to any customer of Company in connection with the Restricted Products. Executive shall prevent such solicitation to the extent she has authority to prevent same and otherwise shall not interfere with the relationship between Company and its customers. Subject to paragraph 13 below, this provision shall not be interpreted to prohibit, prevent or otherwise impair Executive’s ability and right to seek and obtain employment from a competitor of Company, even if said competitor is currently selling products to Company's customers that are the same as Company products. While Executive shall be unrestricted in seeking to sell products to Company’s customers that are different than Company’s products, it is the intent of this Section to preclude Executive from having said competitor replace Company as a supplier of a product or otherwise take existing sales from Company for the period in question.”
8
(c) “During his employment with Company and during the Non-Competition Period, Executive shall not, whether directly or indirectly, for his own benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity, or as a partner, stockholder, member, manager, officer, director, proprietor, employee, consultant, representative, agent of any entity other than Company, solicit, for purposes of employment or association, any Executive or agent of Company (“Solicited Person”), or induce any Solicited Person to terminate such employment or association for purposes of becoming employed or associated elsewhere, or hire or otherwise engage any Solicited Person as an Executive or agent of an entity with whom Executive may be affiliated or permit such, or otherwise interfere with the relationship between Company and its employees and agents. For purposes of this Agreement, an employee or agent of Company shall mean an individual employed or retained by Company during the Term and/or who terminates such association with Company within a period of six (6) months after the termination of Executive's employment with Company.”
Without the written consent of the CEO, during her employment with Company and during the Non-Competition Period, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, as an officer, director, shareholder, member, partner, joint venture, executive, independent contractor, consultant, or in any other capacity:
a) | Engage, own or have any interest in; |
b) | Manage, operate, join, participate in, accept employment with, render advice to, or become interested in or be connected with; |
c) | Furnish consultation or advice to; or |
d) | Permit his name to be used in connection with; |
Any person or entity engaged in a business in the United States or Canada which is engaged in the manufacture, distribution or sale of the Restricted Products or which otherwise competes with the business of Company as it exists from time to time and, in the case of termination of this Agreement, as it exists on the termination date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, holding one percent (1%) or less of an interest in the equity, stock options or debt of any publicly traded company shall not be considered a violation of this Section 13.”
9
(e) “Disclosure and Ownership of Work Product and Information.
(1) Executive agrees to disclose promptly to Company all ideas, inventions (whether patentable or not), improvements, copyrightable works of original authorship (including but not limited to computer programs, compilations of information, generation of data, graphic works, audio-visual materials, technical reports and the like), trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, processes and other intellectual property, developed or discovered by Executive in the course of his employment by Company relating to the business of Company, or to the prospective business of Company, or which utilizes Company’s information or staff services (collectively, “Work Product”).
(2) Work Product created by Executive within the scope of Executive’s employment, on Company time, or using Company resources (including but not limited to facilities, staff, information, time and funding), belongs to Company and is not owned by Executive individually. Executive agrees that all works of original authorship created during his employment are ‘works made for hire’ as that term is used in connection with the U.S. Copyright Act. To the extent that, by operation of law, Executive retains any intellectual property rights in any Work Product, Executive hereby assigns to Company all right, title and interest in all such Work Product, including copyrights, patents, trade secrets, trademarks and know-how.
(3) Executive agrees to cooperate with Company, at Company’s expense, in the protection of Company’s information and the securing of Company’s proprietary rights, including signing any documents necessary to secure such rights, whether during or after [Executive’s] employment with Company, and regardless of the fact of any employment with a new company.”
(f) | “Enforcement of Agreement; Injunctive Relief; Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses. |
Executive acknowledges that violation of this Agreement will cause immediate and irreparable damage to Company, entitling it to injunctive relief. Executive specifically consents to the issuance of temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the terms of this Agreement. In addition to injunctive relief, Company is entitled to all money damages available under the law. If Executive violates this Agreement, in addition to all other remedies available to Company at law, in equity, and under contract, Executive agrees that Executive is obligated to pay all Company’s costs of enforcement of this Agreement, including attorneys’ fees and expenses.”
10
(g) “Indemnification.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to applicable limitations, including those imposed by the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, Company shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Executive from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, liabilities, losses, judgments, fines, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and settlement expenses) arising from or relating to his service or status as an officer, director, employee, agent or representative of Company or any affiliate of Company or in any other capacity in which Executive serves or has served at the request of, or for the benefit of, Company or its affiliates. Company’s obligations under this Section shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any rights Executive may have against Company to indemnification or advancement of expenses, whether by statute, contract, [by-laws] or otherwise.”
In addition to the other remedies available to the Company, should Executive breach of the foregoing Continuing Obligations, Executive shall forfeit his right to the Separation Benefits and the Company shall have the right to recoup any an all such payments.
11
12
17. Controlling Law: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT HE FULLY KNOWS, UNDERSTANDS AND APPRECIATES THE CONTENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT HE EXECUTES THE SAME VOLUNTARILY AND OF HIS FREE WILL.
13
Witness: | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Date | Date | ||
LANNETT COMPANY, INC. | |||
By: | |||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Chief Executive Officers | |||
Date |
14
EXHIBIT A
Schedule of Monthly Payments Due Under Paragraph 3(a)
November 24, 2023 - $58,066.25
December 22, 2023 - $58,066.25
January 19, 2024 - $58,066.25
March 1, 2024 - $58,066.25
March 29, 2024 - $58,066.25
April 26, 2024 - $58,066.25
May 24, 2024 - $58,066.25
June 21, 2024 - $58,066.25
July 19, 2024 - $58,066.25
August 30, 2024 - $58,066.25
September 27, 2024 - $58,066.25
October 25, 2024 - $58,066.25
Total - $696,795.00
15