EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated September 13, 2024, is made and entered into by and between CENTURY THERAPEUTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Xxxx Xxxxx (“Executive”), and will become effective as of October, 1 2024 (the “Effective Date”).
Introduction
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Executive desires to be employed by the Company on such terms and conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:
2. | Term. Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement will commence on the |
Effective Date and will continue until terminated in accordance with Section 8 hereof.
reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board” and such committee, the “Committee”) and may be adjusted from time to time by the Committee, subject to Executive’s rights pursuant to Section 9(a) below.
7. | Benefits; Business Expenses. |
1 Note to Draft: Number of shares subject to the time-based awards will be equal to approximately 0.7% of the
Company’s outstanding stock (split 75% options/25% RSUs).
the Company in accordance with the expense reimbursement policies of the Company, as may be amended from time to time.
8. | Termination. |
(iii) on the date of Executive’s death, or (iv) on the date set forth in a written notice to Executive from the Board that Executive’s employment is terminated on account of Executive’s Disability, as determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Executive gives notice of termination to the Company, the Company may unilaterally accelerate the date of termination and such acceleration shall not constitute a termination by the Company for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) | Upon any cessation of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will |
be entitled only to such compensation and benefits as described in Section 9 below.
9. | Rights Upon Termination. |
(i) | the Company shall pay to Executive all accrued and unpaid Base Salary |
through the date of such cessation of employment at the time such Base Salary would otherwise
be paid according to the Company’s usual payroll practices;
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9(a), all compensation and benefits will cease at the time of Executive’s cessation of employment and the Company will have no further liability or obligation by reason of such cessation of employment. The payments and benefits described in this Section 9(a) are in lieu of, and not in addition to, any other severance arrangement maintained by the Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the payments and benefits described in Section 9(a)(ii) - 9(a)(v) are conditioned on Executive’s execution and delivery to the Company and the expiration of all applicable statutory revocation periods, by the 60th day following the effective date of Executive’s cessation of employment, of a general release of claims against the Company and its affiliates (which shall have customary exclusions relating to Executive’s equity in the Company, any claims that Executive may have relating to accrued vested benefits under the Company’s benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, and any claims for indemnification in Executive’s role as an officer and director of the Company) in a form and manner satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”) and on Executive’s continued compliance with the provisions of the Restrictive Covenant Agreement (defined below).
Subject to Section 10 below (to the extent applicable) and provided the Release requirement described above has been timely satisfied: (x) the payment described in Section 9(a)(ii) will be paid on the later of the sixty-fifth (65th) day following Executive’s cessation of employment (the
“Settlement Date”) and the date such annual bonus would have otherwise been paid, absent Executive’s cessation of employment; (y) the payments described in Section 9(a)(iii) and 9(a)(iv) will commence to be paid on the Settlement Date, provided that the initial payment will include any payments that, but for the above-described timing rule, would have otherwise been paid since the date of Executive’s cessation of employment; and (z) the payment of an amount equal to the Target Bonus described in Section 9(a)(v) will be paid on the later of the Settlement Date or the tenth (10th) day following the Change in Control.
10. | Section 409A. |
Code: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided to Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided to Executive in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which Executive is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred, and (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.
12. | Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement: |
taken in accordance with a physician’s prescription) that would reasonably be expected to result
in material injury or reputational harm to the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates; or
(vii) failure to cooperate with a bona fide internal investigation or an investigation by regulatory or law enforcement authorities, after being instructed by the Company to cooperate, or the willful destruction or failure to preserve documents or other materials known to be relevant to such investigation or the inducement of others to fail to cooperate or to produce documents or other materials in connection with such investigation. For avoidance of doubt, a termination of Executive’s employment due to his Disability will not constitute a termination without Cause.
(b) | “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of a “change in control event” |
with respect to the Company, within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i).
(c) | “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
14. | |
Indemnification. In addition to any rights to indemnification to which Executive shall be eligible and may be entitled under the Company’s governing documents, the Company shall obtain and
maintain an appropriate level of Directors and Officers Liability insurance coverage for Executive’s benefit on the same terms, to the same extent and in the same manner as applicable to other directors and C-level executives of the Company.
18. | Entire Agreement; Assignment; Amendment. |
Employment Disputes then in effect of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), by one arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties (or, if no agreement can be reached within 30 days after names of potential arbitrators have been proposed by the AAA, then by one arbitrator having relevant experience who is chosen by the AAA). Any award or finding will be confidential. The arbitrator may not award attorneys’ fees to either party unless a statute or contract at issue specifically authorizes such an award. Any award entered by the arbitrators will be final, binding and non-appealable and judgment may be entered thereon by either party in accordance with applicable law in any court of competent jurisdiction. This arbitration provision will be specifically enforceable. Each party will be responsible for its own expenses relating to the conduct of the arbitration (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and will share equally the fees of the arbitrator.
[Signature Page Follows]
This Agreement has been executed and delivered on the date first above written.
CENTURY THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Title: Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
Xxxx Xxxxx
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxx Xxxxx
[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]