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EXHIBIT 10.14
[LIPID SCIENCES LOGO]
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), which is effective as of
April 2, 2001, is between Lipid Sciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx ("Executive"), who agree as follows. The Company
and Executive are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties," and may
individually be referred to as a "Party."
RECITALS
A. The Company desires assurance of the association and services
of Executive in order to retain Executive's experience, skills, abilities,
background and knowledge, and is willing to engage Executive's services on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
B. Executive desires to be in the employ of the Company and is
willing to accept this employment on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
AGREEMENT
1. EMPLOYMENT.
1.1 The Company will employ Executive, and Executive
hereby accepts employment by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above
("Effective Date"), for the term of one year from the Effective Date. This
agreement will automatically be renewed for the term of one year unless either
party gives notice to the other at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the
then current term of employment of such party's intention not to renew.
1.2 Executive will be the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Executive will report to the President/CEO.
1.3 Executive will do and perform all services, acts or
things necessary or advisable to manage and conduct the world-wide financial
affairs of the Company, including financial strategy, budgeting, planning,
reporting and auditing. Executive will also be a corporate officer.
1.4 Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, prior
to Executive's termination in accordance with this Agreement, Executive will
perform the services he is required to perform in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, reporting to the Company's offices and the President/CEO.
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2. LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION.
2.1 During his employment by the Company, Executive will
devote his full business employment, interest, abilities and productive time to
the proper and efficient performance of his duties under this Agreement.
Executive may not be employed by another company or receive compensation for
employment from any other sources. During his employment by the Company,
Executive may not engage in competition with the Company, either directly or
indirectly, in any manner or capacity, as adviser, principal, agent, partner,
officer, director, employee, member of any association or otherwise, in any
phase of the business of developing, manufacturing and marketing of products
that are in the same field of use or which otherwise directly compete with the
products or proposed products of the Company.
3. COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.
3.1 The Company will pay Executive a salary of Two
hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000) per year ("Base Salary"),
payable in regular periodic payments in accordance with Company policy. Such
salary will be prorated for any partial year of employment on the basis of a
365-day fiscal year. Executive's compensation may be changed from time to time
by mutual agreement of Executive, the CEO and Board of Directors, but under no
circumstance will the annual Base Salary be less than $225,000.
3.2 Executive's compensation may be changed from time to
time by mutual agreement of Executive the CEO and Board of Directors.
3.3 All of Executive's compensation is subject to
customary withholding taxes and any other employment taxes as are commonly
required to be collected or withheld by the Company.
3.4 Executive will, in the discretion of the Board and in
accordance with Company policy, be entitled to participate in benefits under any
employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Company now or in the
future to its executives and key management employees.
3.5 Executive's performance will be reviewed by the CEO
on a periodic basis (not less than once each fiscal year). The CEO with approval
of the Board may, in their sole discretion, award bonuses to Executive as will
be appropriate or desirable based on Executive's performance. Executive will be
reviewed within twelve months of commencing employment hereunder.
3.6 Executive will be granted options to purchase the
Company's common stock. The number of options to be granted has been determined
by the parties and will be set forth in a separate stock option agreement,
attached as EXHIBIT A. As of the Effective Date of this Agreement, the Company
will grant Executive an option to purchase up to two hundred thousand (200,000)
shares of the Company's common stock. The exercise price per share of these
options (the "Options") will be equal to $7.00 per share. Options will vest as
to twenty-five thousand (25,000) shares following the first six (6) continuous
months of service with the Company and the remainder over three and one half
years at the rate of 1/42nd per month of the total 200,000 shares.
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3.7 Executive is entitled to receive prompt reimbursement
of all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in performing Company services,
including expenses related to travel, entertainment, parking, and business
meetings. These expenses will be accounted for in accordance with the policies
and procedures established by the Company.
4. TERMINATION: Either party may terminate this Agreement and
Executive's employment without cause, upon thirty (30) days written notice. Upon
termination, the Company will be released from any and all obligations under
this Agreement, except in the event the Executive's employment is involuntarily
terminated by the Company for other than "good cause," then Executive will
resign from all positions with the Company, and enter into a consulting
arrangement for four (4) months commencing immediately after the termination
date. In consideration for such consulting arrangement, Executive will continue
to be paid salary and benefits for four (4) months. However, if Executive
obtains new full time employment during such four (4) month period, any salary
paid pursuant to such arrangement will be offset from amounts due under this
Letter Agreement. Executive's obligations under Paragraph 5 of this Agreement
will continue beyond his termination of employment.
5. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NONSOLICITATION.
5.1 Executive recognizes that his employment with the
Company will involve contact with information of substantial value to the
Company, which is not old and generally known in the trade, and which gives the
Company an advantage over its competitors who do not know or use it, including
but not limited to, techniques, designs, drawings, processes, inventions,
developments, equipment, prototypes, sales and customer information, and
business and financial information relating to the business, products, practices
and techniques of the Company (hereinafter referred to as "Confidential
Information"). Executive will at all times regard and preserve as confidential
such Confidential Information obtained by Executive from whatever source and
will not, either during his employment with the Company or thereafter, publish
or disclose any part of such Confidential Information in any manner at any time,
or use the same except on behalf of the Company, without the prior written
consent of the Company; provided, however, that Executive may disclose
Confidential Information in the best interest of the Company with properly
executed Company confidentiality or secrecy agreements with the third party. As
a condition of this Agreement, the Executive will sign and return a copy of the
Company's Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, attached as EXHIBIT
B.
5.2 While employed by the Company and for one (1) year
thereafter, in order to protect the Company's confidential and proprietary
information from unauthorized use, Executive may not, either directly or through
others, (i) solicit or attempt to solicit any employee, consultant or
independent contractor of the Company to terminate his or her relationship with
the Company in order to become an employee, consultant or independent contractor
to or for any other person or business entity; or (ii) solicit or attempt to
solicit the business of any customer, vendor or distributor of the Company
which, at the time of termination or one (1) year immediately prior thereto, was
listed on the Company's customer, vendor or distributor list.
6. SUCCESSORS. The Company will require any successor (whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, or consolidation) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
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Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such succession had taken place.
7. ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement is binding on
and inures to the benefit of Executive and Executive's heirs, executors,
personal representatives, assigns, administrators and legal representatives.
Because of the unique and personal nature of Executive's duties under this
Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations under this
Agreement are assignable by Executive. This Agreement is binding on and inures
to the benefit of the Company and its successors, assigns and legal
representatives.
8. NOTICES. All notices or demands of any kind required or
permitted to be given by the Company or Executive under this Agreement will be
given in writing and will be personally delivered (and receipted for) or mailed
by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid.
9. CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement will be construed and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without
regard to the conflict of laws provision thereof.
10. INTEGRATION. This Agreement contains the complete, final and
exclusive agreement of the Parties relating to the subject matter of this
Agreement, and supersedes all prior oral and written employment agreements or
arrangements between the Parties.
11. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended or modified
except by a written agreement signed by Executive and the Company.
12. WAIVER. No term, covenant or condition of this Agreement or
any breach thereof will be deemed waived, except with the written consent of the
Party against whom the wavier in claimed, and any waiver or any such term,
covenant, condition or breach will not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding
or succeeding breach of the same or any other term, covenant, condition or
breach.
13. SEVERABILITY. The finding by a court of competent jurisdiction
of the unenforceability, invalidity or illegality of any provision of this
Agreement will not render any other provision of this Agreement unenforceable,
invalid or illegal. Such court will have the authority to modify or replace the
invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or
provision which most accurately represents the parties' intention with respect
to the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.
14. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION. The headings set forth in this
Agreement are for convenience of reference only and will not be used in
interpreting this Agreement. Executive has been encouraged, and has consulted
with, his own independent counsel and tax advisors with respect to the terms of
this Agreement. The Parties acknowledge that each Party and its counsel has
reviewed and revised, or had an opportunity to review and revise, this
Agreement, and the normal rule of construction to the effect that any
ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party will not be employed
in the interpretation of this Agreement.
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15. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Executive represents and
warrants that, to the best of Executive's knowledge, he is not restricted or
prohibited, contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing each
of the terms and covenants contained in this Agreement, and that his execution
and performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any other
agreements between Executive and any other person or entity.
16. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two
counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, all of which together
will contribute one and the same instrument.
17. ARBITRATION. If any dispute arises regarding the application,
interpretation, or enforcement of this Agreement, including fraud in the
inducement, the dispute will be resolved by final and binding arbitration before
one arbitrator at the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service in Los Angeles,
California. The decision of the arbitrator will be final and may not be appealed
by either of the Parties.
18. ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS. The prevailing party in any dispute
arising out of this Agreement, will be entitled to reimbursement by the losing
party of all of its or his attorneys' fees and costs including, but not limited
to, arbitrator's fees and expert's fees.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
THE COMPANY: LIPID SCIENCES, INC.
By:
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Xxxx Xxxxxxx
President/CEO
EXECUTIVE:
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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