Akebia Letterhead] May 5, 2022 By Email Dell Faulkingham [Address] Dear Dell:
Exhibit 10.8
[Akebia Letterhead]
May 5, 2022
By Email
Dell ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
[Address]
Dear Dell:
This letter agreement (“Agreement”) confirms the terms of your separation from Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (“Akebia” or the “Company”).1 Unless you rescind your assent as set forth in Section 5(viii) below, this Agreement shall be effective, final and binding upon the expiration of any applicable Revocation Period set forth in Section 5(viii) (the “Effective Date”).
1.Employment Status; Separation Date; Salary Continuation; Final Payments; Benefits Cessation.
(i)Continued At-Will Employment. Contingent upon your execution of this Agreement, you will continue to (a) perform the duties and responsibilities consistent with your role; (b) receive your same level of compensation in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll cycle; and (c) comply with all Company policies and reasonable directives.
(ii)Separation Date. You will remain employed until June 30, 2022 or earlier if the Company terminates your employment for not complying with Section 1(i) above (the “Separation Date”).
(iii) Salary Continuation. Regardless of whether you sign this Agreement, the Company will continue paying your salary (less all applicable income and payroll taxes, deductions and withholdings) in accordance with its regular payroll cycle until July 4, 2022 (the “Salary Continuation Period”).
(iv) Final Pay. On or about the Separation Date, the Company shall provide your final pay in accordance with applicable law (“Final Pay”).
(v) Benefits Cessation. As of the Separation Date, any entitlement you have or might have under a Company-provided benefit plan, program or practice shall terminate, except as required by law or under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”).
(vi) COBRA. Provided you timely complete the required election forms, you are eligible to continue receiving group medical, dental and/or vision insurance pursuant to COBRA. The “qualifying event” shall be deemed to have occurred
1. Except for the obligations set forth in Section 2, which shall be the obligations solely of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc., whenever the terms “Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.,” “Akebia” or the “Company” are used in this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 5), they shall be deemed to include Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. and any and all of its divisions, affiliates and subsidiaries and all related entities, and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns.
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on the Separation Date. Provided you remain eligible, and regardless of whether you sign this Agreement, the Company will pay that part of the COBRA premiums equivalent to the group insurance premiums it would have paid on your behalf had you remained employed by the Company during the Salary Continuation Period.
2. Consideration. In exchange for and in consideration of your executing this Agreement and complying with the terms of this Agreement and any other agreements between you and the Company, and provided you: (a) satisfy the requirements set forth in Section 1(i) above; (b) are not terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined in your Executive Severance Agreement dated May 6, 2019, the “ESA”); (c) do not resign for Good Reason (as defined in the ESA); and (d) execute the affirmation set forth set forth in Section 8 below, the Company will do the following as set forth in your ESA (the “Consideration”):
(i) continue paying your salary (less all applicable income and payroll taxes, deductions and withholdings) in accordance with its regular payroll cycle for the twelve (12) month period immediately following the Salary Continuation Period (the “Severance Period”);
(ii) provided you remain eligible, pay that part of the COBRA premiums equivalent to the group insurance premiums it would have paid on your behalf had you remained employed by the Company during the Severance Period;
(iii) during the Severance Period, allow you to continue to vest in any outstanding unvested options, restricted shares, restricted stock units or other equity-based awards in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity agreement(s) and plan(s);
(iv) forgive any obligation you otherwise would have to repay the Company for previously reimbursed tuition assistance or relocation expenses, and/or for any signing or similar bonus that is subject to repayment; and
(v) if a Change in Control (as defined in the ESA) occurs prior to the Separation Date, allow you to immediately vest in one hundred percent (100%) of any outstanding unvested options, restricted shares, restricted stock units or other equity-based awards in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity agreement(s) and plan(s);
(vi) if a Change in Control (as defined in the ESA) occurs prior to the Separation Date, provide you with a one-time, lump sum payment, within sixty days after the Separation Date, which is equivalent to fifty-percent (50%) of your 2022 annual target bonus; and
(vii) provide you with certain outplacement services, the details of which will be provided in a separate correspondence.
3. Acknowledgments. You acknowledge and agree that:
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(i) this Agreement and the Consideration do not constitute a severance plan and shall confer no benefit on anyone other than Akebia and you; and
(ii) in order to be reimbursed for all outstanding business expenses that you may have incurred on behalf of the Company, all expense reports and supporting documentation must be submitted in accordance with the Company’s Travel & Expense Policy within thirty (30) days after the Separation Date or such longer period as required by law.
4. Return of Company Property; Confidentiality; Trade Secrets; Non-Disparagement. As a condition of your receipt of the Consideration, you agree to:
(i)promptly return all property and documents (whether in hard copy or electronic form) of Akebia in your custody or possession;
(ii)abide by the terms of your Employee Agreement (confidentiality, non-solicitation, non-competition and/or developments agreement) with the Company, except that any non-competition covenant contained therein is hereby waived. You understand that nothing in this Agreement prohibits you from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. You understand that you do not need the prior authorization of the Company to make any such reports or disclosures and that you are not required to notify the Company that you have made such reports or disclosures;
(iii)abide by the Employee Agreement and any applicable common law and/or statutory obligations relating to the protection and non-disclosure of Akebia’s trade secrets and/or confidential and proprietary documents and information, and you specifically agree that you will not disclose any confidential or proprietary information that you acquired as an employee of Akebia to any other person or entity, or use such information in any manner that is detrimental to the interests of Akebia. Further, notwithstanding your confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations, you are hereby advised as follows pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (a) files any document containing the trade
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secret under seal; and (b) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order”;
(iv)keep confidential and not publicize or disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement, other than to (a) an immediate family member, legal counsel, accountant or financial advisor, provided that any such individual to whom disclosure is made aware of these confidentiality obligations; or (b) a state or federal tax authority or government agency to which disclosure is mandated by applicable state or federal law; and
(v)not make any statements (written or oral) that are false or disparaging about or adverse to the business interests of Akebia or that are intended to or do harm the reputation of Akebia, including, but not limited to, any statements that disparage any products, services, finances, employees, officers, directors, capabilities or any other aspect of the business of Akebia.
Your breach of this Section 4 will constitute a material breach of this Agreement and, in addition to any other legal or equitable remedy available to Akebia, will relieve Akebia of the obligation to provide any Consideration not already paid or provided and/or entitle Akebia to recover any Consideration already paid or provided.
5. Release of Claims.
(i) You hereby acknowledge and agree that by signing this Agreement and accepting the Consideration, you are waiving your right to assert any form of legal claim against Akebia (as defined in footnote number 1) of any kind whatsoever from the beginning of time through and including the Effective Date, except for claims related to the Company’s failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Your waiver and release is intended to bar any form of legal claim, charge, complaint or any other form of action (jointly referred to as “Claims”) against Akebia seeking any form of relief including, without limitation, equitable relief (whether declaratory, injunctive or otherwise), the recovery of any damages or any other form of monetary recovery whatsoever (including, without limitation, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and any other costs) against Akebia up to and including the Effective Date. You understand that there could be unknown or unanticipated Claims resulting from your employment with ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the termination thereof and agree that such Claims are intended to be, and are, included in this waiver and release.
(ii) Without limiting the foregoing general waiver and release, you specifically waive and release the Company from any Claims arising from or related to your employment relationship with the Company or the termination thereof, including without limitation:
(a) Claims under any local, state or federal discrimination, harassment, fair employment practices or other employment related statute, regulation or executive order, including, without limitation, the Massachusetts Fair
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Employment Practices Act (also known as Chapter 151B), the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (43 P.S. § 951 et seq.), the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 et seq.), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act (“OWBPA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, each as they may have been amended through the Effective Date;
(b) Claims under any local, state or federal employment related statute, regulation or executive order relating to wages, hours, whistleblowing, leaves of absence or any other terms and conditions of employment, including, without limitation, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Massachusetts Payment of Wages Law (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149, §§ 148, 150), Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149 in its entirety and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151 in its entirety (including, without limitation, the sections concerning payment of wages, minimum wage and overtime), the New Jersey Family Leave Act (N.J.S.A. 34:11B-1 et seq.), the New Jersey Temporary Disability Leave Law (N.J.S.A. 43:21-25 et seq.), the New Jersey Equal Pay Act (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.2 et seq.), the New Jersey Wage Payment Law (N.J.S.A. 34:11-4.1 et seq.), the New Jersey Wage and Hour Law (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a et seq.), each as they may have been amended through the Effective Date. You specifically acknowledge that you are waiving any Claims for unpaid wages under these and other statutes, regulations and executive orders;
(c) Claims under any local, state or federal common law theory; and
(d) any other Claim arising under other local, state or federal law.
(iii) The general release in this Section 5 is not affected or limited by the recitation of the specific releases in this Section 5.
(iv) Consistent with federal and state discrimination laws, nothing in this release shall be deemed to prohibit you from challenging the validity of this release under federal or state discrimination laws or from filing a charge or complaint of age or other employment related discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or similar state agency, or from participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or similar state agency. Further, nothing in this release or Agreement shall be deemed to limit the Company’s right to seek immediate dismissal of such charge or complaint on the basis that your signing of this Agreement constitutes a full release of any individual rights under federal or state discrimination laws, or the Company’s right to seek restitution or other legal remedies to the extent permitted by law of the economic benefits provided to you under this Agreement in the event that you successfully challenge the
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validity of this release and prevail in any claim under federal or state discrimination laws.
(v) The general release in this Section 5 shall not limit any right you may have to receive a whistleblower award or bounty for information provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(vi) FOR CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES ONLY: In addition to the foregoing, you hereby agree that you are waiving all rights under section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California. Section 1542 provides that:
“A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, and that if known by him or her would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.”
Pursuant to section 1542, you acknowledge that you may hereafter discover facts different from or in addition to facts which you now know or believe to be true with regard to the released claims, and further agree that this Agreement shall remain effective in all respects notwithstanding such discovery of new or different facts, including any such facts which may give rise to currently unknown claims, including but not limited to any claims or rights which you may have under section 1542 of the California Civil Code or similar law or doctrine of any other state.
(vii) You have forty-five (45) days to consider and accept the provisions of this Agreement. You agree that any changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, will not restart the running of this 45-day period. Separately, you will be provided with certain information pertaining to the ages and job titles of employees affected and not affected by the reduction in force.
(viii) You may rescind your assent to this Agreement if, within seven (7) days after you sign it (or, if you live in Minnesota, then within fifteen (15) days after you sign it (as applicable, the “Revocation Period”)), you email a notice of rescission to Human Resources.
6. Cooperation.
(i) During the Salary Continuation Period and the Severance Period, you agree to make yourself available to Akebia, upon reasonable notice (either by telephone, videoconference or, if Akebia believes necessary, in person) to assist ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in any matter relating to the services performed by you during your employment with Akebia including, but not limited to, transitioning your duties to others.
(ii) During the Salary Continuation Period, the Severance Period and thereafter, you further agree to cooperate fully with Akebia in the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be
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brought or threatened in the future against or on behalf of Akebia or its successor(s), including any claim or action against its and their directors, officers and employees. Your cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall include, without limitation, your being reasonably available (in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with any employment obligations you may have) to speak or meet with ▇▇▇▇▇▇ to prepare for any proceeding, to provide truthful affidavits, to assist with any audit, inspection, proceeding or other inquiry, and to act as a witness in connection with any litigation or other legal proceeding affecting Akebia.
7. Miscellaneous.
(i)This Agreement supersedes any and all prior oral and/or written agreements, and sets forth the entire agreement between Akebia and you with respect to your separation from Akebia, except for the ESA and the Employee Agreement, as amended by Section 4(ii) above, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(ii)No variations or modifications of this Agreement shall be deemed valid unless in writing and signed by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and you.
(iii)The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if for any reason any part shall be found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall be enforced in full.
(iv)Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the validity, interpretation and performance of this Agreement, and all other matters relating to your employment and separation of employment from Akebia, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to conflict of law principles. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, both parties agree that any action, demand, claim or counterclaim relating to (a) your employment and separation of your employment, and (b) the terms and provisions of this Agreement or its breach, shall be commenced in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(v)Unless otherwise prohibited by law, both parties further agree that any such dispute shall be tried by a judge alone, and both parties hereby waive and forever renounce the right to a trial before a civil jury in any such dispute.
8. Affirmation of Release of Claims. On or after the Separation Date you agree to execute the Affirmation attached as Exhibit A. You acknowledge and agree that the release of claims in Section 5 shall be fully effective in the event that you fail or refuse to execute the Affirmation, but that the Company shall have no obligation to provide you with the Consideration until you execute the Affirmation.
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consult with legal counsel. By executing this Agreement, you are acknowledging that (a) you have been afforded sufficient time to understand this Agreement and consult with legal counsel; (b) your agreements and obligations under this Agreement are made voluntarily, knowingly and without duress; and (c) neither Akebia nor its agents or representatives have made any representations inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our arrangement, please sign, date and return this Agreement to Human Resources within the time frame set forth above Date.
Very truly yours,
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
President and Chief Executive Officer
Accepted and Agreed To Under Seal:
/s/ Dell ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Dell ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Dated: May 5, 2022