EXHIBIT 10.08
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is effective as of November
18, 2003 (the "Effective Date"), between CancerVax Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and XXXXXX X. XXXX, an individual ("Executive"),
with reference to the following:
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to employ Executive and Executive has
agreed to accept such employment on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the various covenants and
agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Term of Employment. The Company hereby employs Executive and
Executive accepts such employment commencing on the date hereof and terminating
on the fourth anniversary hereof, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter
provided.
2. Services to be Rendered.
2.1. Duties. Executive shall serve as Vice President,
Manufacturing Operations, of the Company, or in such other capacity with the
Company, any company into which the Company may be merged or any present or
future subsidiary of either of them, as the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company ("CEO") may assign
to Executive in connection with the business of the Company (the "Company
Business"). In the performance of such duties, Executive shall report directly
to the CEO and shall be subject to the direction of the CEO and to such limits
upon Executive's authority as the CEO may from time to time impose. Executive
hereby consents to serve as an officer and/or director of the Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof without any additional salary or compensation,
if so requested by the Board. Executive shall be employed by the Company on a
full time basis. Executive's place of work shall be at the Corporation's
manufacturing facility in Marina del Rey, CA or such other location within Los
Angeles County or San Diego County, as may be designated by the CEO from time to
time. However, Executive shall also render services at such other place or
places within or without the United States as the CEO may direct from time to
time. Executive shall be subject to the policies and procedures generally
applicable to senior executives of the Company to the extent the same are not
inconsistent with any term of this Agreement.
2.2. Exclusive Services. Executive shall at all times
faithfully, industriously and to the best of his ability, experience and talent
perform to the satisfaction of the Board and the CEO all of the duties that may
be assigned to Executive hereunder and, except as set forth in Section 2.1,
shall devote all of his productive time and efforts to the performance of such
duties. Executive may devote time to personal and family investments
to the extent that the time so spent does not conflict with the Company
Business. The existence of such a conflict shall be determined in good faith by
the Board.
3. Compensation and Benefits. The Company shall pay the following
compensation and benefits to Executive during the term hereof, and Executive
shall accept the same as payment in full for all services rendered by Executive
to or for the benefit of the Company:
3.1. Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive an
annualized salary ("Base Salary") of One Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars
($175,000.00). Thereafter, annual salary reviews will occur every February 1.
The Base Salary shall accrue in equal monthly installments in arrears and shall
be payable in accordance with the payroll practices of the Company in effect
from time to time.
3.2. Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to participate in
the CancerVax Corporation Management Incentive Compensation Plan, as approved by
the Company's Board of Directors from time to time, or in such other bonus plan
as the Board of Directors may approve for the Senior Executives of the
Corporation.
3.3. Fringe Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to
participate in benefits under the Company's benefit plans and arrangements,
including, without limitation, any employee benefit plan or arrangement made
available in the future by the Company to its senior executives, subject to and
on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of
such plans and arrangements. The Company shall have the right to amend or delete
any such benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Company to its senior
executives and not otherwise specifically provided for herein.
3.4. Expenses.
(a) The Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Company Business and the
performance of his duties hereunder, subject to (i) such policies as the Company
may from time to time establish, (ii) Executive furnishing the Company with
evidence in the form of receipts satisfactory to the Company substantiating the
claimed expenditures, (iii) Executive receiving advance approval from the CEO in
the case of expenses for travel outside of North America and (iv) Executive
receiving advance approval from the CEO in case of expenses (or a series of
related expenses) in excess of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).
(b) The Company shall provide Executive with a monthly
allowance of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), grossed up for taxes, for
temporary living expenses near the Marina del Rey manufacturing facility. This
allowance shall continue until the Company receives FDA approval for the sale of
Canvaxin(TM) in the United States ("FDA Approval"), or until Executive relocates
his primary residence to the Marina del Rey area, whichever occurs first.
(c) The Company shall pay Executive's relocation costs
from San Diego to the Marina del Rey area at any time prior to FDA Approval.
These costs shall include
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reimbursement of real estate sales commissions on executive's primary residence
of up to six percent (6%) or Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), whichever is
less; closing costs (excluding points) of up to Two Thousand Five Hundred
Dollars ($2,500.00), packing, loading and movement of household goods; and a
lump sum payment of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) to cover
miscellaneous moving expenses. Any such relocation costs that are treated as
taxable income shall be grossed up.
3.5. Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to the number
of paid vacation days, but not less than twenty (20) days, in each calendar year
determined by the Company from time to time for its senior executive officers.
Executive shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given to the Company's
senior executive officers.
3.6. Stock Options. Subject to the approval of the
Company's Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee, Executive shall be
granted an option to purchase Twenty One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Eight
(21,728) shares of the Company's common stock. The exercise per share shall be
equal to the fair market value per share on the Effective Date. The option shall
be subject to the terms and conditions applicable to options granted under the
Company's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), as amended, as described in
such Plan and the applicable stock option agreement. Executive shall vest in
twenty-five percent (25%) of the option shares on November 17, 2004, and the
balance shall vest in monthly installments over the thirty-six (36) months of
service following such date, as described in the applicable stock option
agreement. In addition to any accelerated vesting provisions under the Plan, (a)
upon a Corporate Transaction (as defined in the Plan), 50% of the then unvested
portion of the Option shall accelerate, vest and become exercisable and (b) upon
any termination of this Agreement for Company Convenience as defined in Section
7.3, the number of stock options shall vest upon the effective date of such
termination which would have vested if Executive had remained employed during
the Severance Period described in Section 7.4 (without regard to any other
vesting acceleration triggers). The exercise price of the Option shall be equal
to the fair market value of the Company's common stock as determined by the
Board at the time of grant.
3.7. Withholding and other Deductions. All compensation
payable to Executive hereunder shall be subject to such deductions as the
Company is from time to time required to make pursuant to law, governmental
regulation or order.
4. Representations and Warranties of Executive. Executive
represents and warrants to the Company that (a) Executive is under no
contractual or other restriction or obligation which is inconsistent with the
execution of this Agreement, the performance of his duties hereunder, or the
other rights of the Company hereunder and (b) Executive is under no physical or
mental disability that would hinder the performance of his duties under this
Agreement.
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5. Certain Covenants.
5.1. Non-competition. Except as may otherwise be approved
by the Board, during the term of this Agreement, Executive shall not have any
ownership interest (of record or beneficial) in, or have any interest as an
employee, salesman, consultant, officer or director in, or otherwise aid or
assist in any manner, any firm, corporation, partnership, proprietorship or
other business that engages in any county, city or part thereof in the United
States and/or any foreign country in a business which competes directly or
indirectly (as determined by the Board) with the Company's business in such
county, city or part thereof, so long as the Company, or any successor in
interest of the Company to the business and goodwill of the Company, remains
engaged in such business in such county, city or part thereof or continues to
solicit customers or potential customers therein; provided, however, that
Executive may own, directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, securities
of any entity which are traded on any national securities exchange if Executive
(a) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such
entity; or (b) does not, directly or indirectly, own one percent (1%) or more of
any class of securities of any such entity.
5.2. Trade Secrets. Executive acknowledges that the nature
of Executive's engagement by the Company is such that Executive will have access
to Confidential Information (defined below) which has great value to the Company
and that except for Executive's engagement by the Company, Executive would not
otherwise have access to the Confidential Information. During the term of this
Agreement and at all times thereafter, Executive shall keep all of the
Confidential Information in confidence and shall not disclose any of the same to
any other person, except the Company's personnel entitled thereto and other
persons designated in writing by the Company. Executive shall not cause, suffer
or permit the Confidential Information to be used for the gain or benefit of any
party outside of the Company or for Executive's personal gain or benefit outside
the scope of Executive's engagement by the Company. Executive shall sign the
Company's standard form of invention assignment and confidentiality agreement
upon the Company's request.
5.3. Solicitation of Employees. Executive shall not during
the term hereof and for the one year period following any expiration or
termination hereof (the "Restricted Period"), directly or indirectly, hire,
solicit or encourage to leave the employment of the Company or any of its
affiliates, any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates or hire any
such employee who has left the employment of the Company or any of its
affiliates within one year of the termination of such employee's employment with
the Company or any of its affiliates.
5.4. Solicitation of Consultants. Executive shall not
during the Restricted Period, directly or indirectly, hire, solicit or encourage
to cease work with the Company or any of its affiliates any consultant then
under contract with the Company or any of its affiliates within one year of the
termination of such consultant's engagement by the Company or any of its
affiliates.
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5.5. Rights and Remedies Upon Breach. If Executive
breaches or threatens to commit a breach of any of the provisions of this
Section 5 (the "Restrictive Covenants"), the Company shall have the following
rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of
the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and remedies shall
be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available
to the Company under law or in equity:
(i) Specific Performance. The right and remedy
to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court having
equity jurisdiction, all without the need to post a bond or any other security
or to prove any amount of actual damage or that money damages would not provide
an adequate remedy, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or
threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to the Company and that money
damages will not provide adequate remedy to the Company; and
(ii) Accounting and Indemnification. The right
and remedy to require Executive (i) to account for and pay over to the Company
all compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits
derived or received by Executive or any associated party deriving such benefits
as a result of any such breach of the Restrictive Covenants; and (ii) to
indemnify the Company against any other losses, damages (including special and
consequential damages), costs and expenses, including actual attorneys' fees and
court costs, which may be incurred by them and which result from or arise out of
any such breach or threatened breach of the Restrictive Covenants.
5.6. Severability of Covenants/Blue Pencilling. If any
court determines that any of the Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is
invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Restrictive Covenants shall not
thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the
invalid portions. If any court determines that any of the Restrictive Covenants,
or any part thereof, are unenforceable because of the duration of such provision
or the area covered thereby, such court shall have the power to reduce the
duration or area of such provision and, in its reduced form, such provision
shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced. Executive hereby waives any and
all right to attack the validity of the Restrictive Covenants on the grounds of
the breadth of their geographic scope or the length of their term.
5.7. Enforceability in Jurisdictions. The Company and
Executive intend to and do hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the Restrictive
Covenants upon the courts of any jurisdiction within the geographical scope of
such covenants. If the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the
Restrictive Covenants wholly unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such
scope or otherwise, it is the intention of the Company and Executive that such
determination not bar or in any way affect the right of the Company to the
relief provided above in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the
geographical scope of such covenants, as to breaches of such covenants in such
other respective jurisdictions, such covenants as they relate to each
jurisdiction being, for this purpose, severable into diverse and independent
covenants.
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5.8. Definitions.
(i) The term "Company", as used in Sections 5.1
- 5.7, means not only CancerVax Corporation, but also any company, partnership
or entity which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under
common control with CancerVax Corporation.
(ii) The term "Confidential Information", as
used herein, means all information or material not generally known by
non-Company personnel which (i) gives the Company some competitive business
advantage or the opportunity of obtaining such advantage or the disclosure of
which could be detrimental to the interests of the Company; (ii) which is owned
by the Company or in which the Company has an interest and (iii) which is either
(A) marked "Confidential Information," "Proprietary Information" or other
similar marking, (B) known by Executive to be considered confidential and
proprietary by the Company or (C) from all the relevant circumstances should
reasonably be assumed by Executive to be confidential and proprietary to the
Company. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following
types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not
reduced to writing): trade secrets, inventions, drawings, file data,
documentation, diagrams, specifications, know how, processes, formulas, models,
flow charts, software in various stages of development, source codes, object
codes, research and development procedures, research or development and test
results, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans,
price lists, pricing policies, business plans, information relating to customers
and/or suppliers' identities, characteristics and agreements, financial
information and projections, and Executive files. Confidential Information also
includes any information described above which the Company obtains from another
party and which the Company treats as proprietary or designates as Confidential
Information, whether or not owned or developed by the Company. NOTWITHSTANDING
THE ABOVE, HOWEVER, NO INFORMATION CONSTITUTES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IF IT IS
GENERIC INFORMATION OR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE WHICH COVENANTOR WOULD HAVE LEARNED IN
THE COURSE OF SIMILAR EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE IN THE TRADE OR IF IT IS OTHERWISE
PUBLICLY KNOWN AND IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
6. Insurance. The Company shall have the right to take out life,
health, accident, "key-man" or other insurance covering Executive, in the name
of the Company and at the Company's expense in any amount deemed appropriate by
the Company. Executive shall assist the Company in obtaining such insurance,
including, without limitation, submitting to any required examinations and
providing information and data required by insurance companies.
7. Termination.
7.1. Death or Total Disability of Executive. If Executive
dies or becomes totally disabled during the term of this Agreement, Executive's
employment hereunder shall automatically terminate. For these purposes,
Executive shall be deemed totally disabled if
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Executive shall become physically or mentally incapacitated or disabled or
otherwise unable fully to discharge Executive's duties hereunder for a period of
ninety (90) consecutive calendar days or for 120 calendar days in any 180
calendar-day period.
7.2. Termination for Good Cause. Executive's employment
hereunder may be terminated by the Company for "good cause." The term "good
cause" is defined as any one or more of the following occurrences:
(i) Executive's breach of any of the covenants
contained in Section 5 of this Agreement;
(ii) Executive's conviction by, or entry of a
plea of guilty or nolo contendere in, a court of competent and final
jurisdiction for any crime involving moral turpitude or punishable by
imprisonment in the jurisdiction involved;
(iii) Executive's commission of an act of fraud,
whether prior to or subsequent to the date hereof upon the Company;
(iv) Executive's continuing repeated willful
failure or refusal to perform Executive's duties as required by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, Executive's inability to perform Executive's
duties hereunder as a result of chronic alcoholism or drug addiction and/or as a
result of any failure to comply with any laws, rules or regulations of any
governmental entity with respect to Executive's employment by the Company);
(v) Executive's gross negligence,
insubordination or material violation of any duty of loyalty to the Company or
any other material misconduct on the part of Executive;
(vi) Executive's commission of any act which is
detrimental to the Company's business or goodwill; or (vii) Executive's breach
of any other provision of this Agreement, provided that termination of
Executive's employment pursuant to this subsection
(vii) shall not constitute valid termination for
good cause unless Executive shall have first received written notice from the
Board stating with specificity the nature of such breach and affording Executive
at least fifteen (15) days to correct the breach alleged.
7.3. Company Convenience. The Company may terminate
Executive's employment at any time and without cause and for any reason or for
no reason at the Company's sole discretion ("Company Convenience"), effective
five (5) days after notice to Executive.
7.4. Severance Compensation. Upon the occurrence of any of
the events referred to in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 above, Executive (or Executive's
heirs or representatives) shall be entitled to receive only such portion (if
any) of the Base Salary as may theretofore
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have accrued but be unpaid on the date on which the termination shall take
effect. Upon the termination of Executive's employment for Company Convenience,
the Company shall continue to pay to Executive, as severance pay, Executive's
Base Salary as provided in Section 3.2 above, for a period of 12 months after
the effective date of such termination, less any amounts Executive actually
earns in respect of such period as a result of his employment by any other
employer. In the event of the termination of Executive's employment for Company
Convenience, Executive shall diligently seek new employment at a level
commensurate with his duties hereunder.
7.5. Return of the Company's Property. If this Agreement
is terminated for any of the foregoing reasons, the Company shall have the
right, at its option, to require Executive to vacate his offices prior to the
effective date of termination and to cease all activities on the Company's
behalf. Upon the termination of his employment in any manner, Executive shall
immediately surrender to the Company all lists, books and records of, or in
connection with, the Company's business, and all other property belonging to the
Company, it being distinctly understood that all such lists, books and records,
and other documents, are the property of the Company.
7.6. Waiver of the Company's Liability. Executive
recognizes that this Agreement is subject to termination with or without cause
for any reason and therefore Executive agrees that Executive shall hold the
Company harmless from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages,
costs and expenses, including but not limited to, court costs and reasonable
attorneys' fees, which Executive may incur as a result of the termination of
this Agreement. Executive further agrees that Executive shall bring no claim or
cause of action against the Company for damages or injunctive relieve based on a
wrongful termination of employment. Executive agrees that the sole liability of
the Company to Executive upon termination of this Agreement shall be that
determined by Section 7.4 herein. In the event this covenant is more restrictive
than permitted by laws of the jurisdiction in which the Company seeks
enforcement thereof, this covenant shall be limited to the extent permitted by
law.
8. Arbitration. Except as provided in Section 5.7, any claim or
controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be settled by
arbitration in San Diego, California, in accordance with the Commercial
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment on the
award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction. Each party shall select one arbitrator and the two arbitrators so
chosen will select a third arbitrator who shall act as the sole arbitrator of
any dispute. Each party shall pay the fees of its own attorneys, the expenses of
its witnesses and all other expenses connected with presenting its case. Other
costs of the arbitration, including the cost of any record or transcripts of the
arbitration, administrative fees, the fee of the sole arbitrator, and all other
fees and costs, shall be borne by the Company.
9. General Relationship. Executive shall be considered an
employee of the Company within the meaning of all federal, state and local laws
and regulations including,
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but not limited to, laws and regulations governing unemployment insurance,
workers' compensation, industrial accident, labor and taxes.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1. Modification; Prior Claims. This Agreement sets forth
the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof, supersedes all existing agreements between them concerning such subject
matter including, without limitation the offer letter to Executive from the
Company dated as of February 28, 2003, and may be modified only by a written
instrument duly executed by each party.
10.2. Assignment. The rights of the Company under this
Agreement may, without the consent of Executive, be assigned by the Company, in
its sole and unfettered discretion, to any person, firm, corporation or other
business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise,
directly or indirectly, acquires all or substantially all of the assets or
business of the Company.
10.3. Survival. The covenants, agreements, representations
and warranties contained in or made in Sections 3.7, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6,
5.7, 5.8, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 8 and 10 of this Agreement shall survive any
termination of Executive's employment.
10.4. Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement does not
create, and shall not be construed as creating, any rights enforceable by any
person not a party to this Agreement.
10.5. Waiver. The failure of either party hereto at any
time to enforce performance by the other party of any provision of this
Agreement shall in no way affect such party's rights thereafter to enforce the
same, nor shall the waiver by either party of any breach of any provision hereof
be deemed to be a waiver by such party of any other breach of the same or any
other provision hereof.
10.6. Hiring At Will. Any continuance of Executive's
employment by the Company after the term hereof shall be deemed a hiring at will
(unless such continuance is the subject of a new written agreement) and shall be
subject to termination with or without cause by either party upon delivery of
notice thereof.
10.7. Section Headings. The headings of the several
sections in this Agreement are inserted solely for the convenience of the
parties and are not a part of and are not intended to govern, limit or aid in
the construction of any term or provision hereof.
10.8. Notices. All notices, requests and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by courier
or other means of personal service (including by means of a nationally
recognized courier service or professional messenger service), or sent by telex
or telecopy or mailed first class, postage prepaid, by certified mail, return
receipt requested, in all cases, addressed to:
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Company:
CancerVax Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Executive:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
All notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed given on the date
of actual receipt or delivery as evidenced by written receipt, acknowledgement
or other evidence of actual receipt or delivery to the address. In case of
service by telecopy, a copy of such notice shall be personally delivered or sent
by registered or certified mail, in the manner set forth above, within three
business days thereafter. Any party hereto may from time to time by notice in
writing served as set forth above designate a different address or a different
or additional person to which all such notices or communications thereafter are
to be given.
10.9. Severability. All Sections, clauses and covenants
contained in this Agreement are severable, and in the event any of them shall be
held to be invalid by any court, this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such
invalid Sections, clauses or covenants were not contained herein.
10.10. Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement is to be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California
applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly within such State, and
without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof. Except as provided
in Sections 5.7 and 8, any suit brought hereon shall be brought in the state or
federal courts sitting in Los Angeles, California, the parties hereto hereby
waiving any claim or defense that such forum is not convenient or proper. Each
party hereby agrees that any such court shall have in personam jurisdiction over
it and consents to service of process in any manner authorized by California
law.
10.11. Non-transferability of Interest. None of the rights
of Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this
Agreement shall be assignable or transferable except through a testamentary
disposition or by the laws of descent and distribution upon the death of
Executive. Any attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition
(other than as aforesaid) of any interest in the rights of Executive to receive
any form of compensation to be made by the Company pursuant to this Agreement
shall be void.
10.12. Attorneys' Fees. Subject to the provisions of Section
8 hereof with respect to arbitration, if any legal action, arbitration or other
proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Agreement, or because of any
alleged dispute, breach, default or misrepresentation in connection with this
Agreement, the successful or prevailing party shall
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be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs it incurred in
that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it may be
entitled.
10.13. Gender. Where the context so requires, the use of the
masculine gender shall include the feminine and/or neuter genders and the
singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, and the word "person" shall
include any corporation, firm, partnership or other form of association.
10.14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
10.15. Construction. The language in all parts of this
Agreement shall in all cases be construed simply, according to its fair meaning,
and not strictly for or against any of the parties hereto. Without limitation,
there shall be no presumption against any party on the ground that such party
was responsible for drafting this Agreement or any part thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date hereinabove set forth.
THE COMPANY
CancerVax Corporation,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Its: President and CEO
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
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