SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENT
Page 2
Exhibit 10.2
This Separation and Release
Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made by
and between Xxxx Xxxxx, an individual (the “Executive”) and
Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. (the “Company”) (individually
each a “Party” and collectively
the “Parties”). The Executive
must sign and return this Agreement within twenty-one (21) days of
the date that this Agreement is provided to him (the
“Transition
Date”) and not timely revoke it pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement and comply with the other terms and conditions of
this Agreement in order to be eligible for the severance benefits
described below.
RECITAL
The
Executive has stepped down from his role as Chief Executive Officer
of the Company effective on August 10, 2020 and agreed to serve as
Principal Accounting Officer for a transition period of sixty (60)
days thereafter (the “Transition Period”). The
employment relationship between the Executive and the Company will
terminate effective on the last day of the Transition Period (the
“Separation
Date”). The Company desires to provide the Executive
with severance benefits pursuant to the terms of his offer letter
from the Company dated December 21, 2016 (the “Offer Letter”) and
additional severance benefits all described below subject to the
conditions set forth herein.
AGREEMENT
Based
upon the information stated in the above Recital and the
statements, promises and agreements contained below, the Parties
hereby agree as follows:
Page 3
1.
During the
Transition Period, the Executive’s base salary will remain at
the same rate as it was on the Transition Date and the Executive
will continue to be eligible for the Company’s standard
employee benefits (other than equity awards), subject to the
applicable terms and conditions applicable to such plans and
programs. The Executive’s outstanding stock options and RSUs
have already vested and remain subject to the existing terms and
conditions set forth in the governing plan documents and award
agreements.
2.
Provided this
Agreement has become effective in accordance with its terms, the
Company will pay the Executive a total gross amount of Two Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($200,000) subject to required tax withholdings on
August 18, 2020.
3.
Provided this
Agreement has become effective in accordance with its terms and the
Executive has signed and delivered the supplemental release
agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Supplemental Release”) on
or within ten (10) days following the Separation Date (and not
before the Separation Date), and the Supplemental Release has
become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms, the
Company will reimburse the Executive for the COBRA continuation
coverage premiums paid by him for himself and his family under the
Company’s group medical plans as in effect at the Transition
Date less the amount of the Executive’s portion of the
premium as if he were an active employee following his separation
from service until the six (6) month anniversary of the Separation
Date.
4.
The Executive will
resign as an employee on the Separation Date
5.
Nothing in this
Agreement alters the Executive’s employment at will status.
Accordingly, during the Transition Period, the Executive is
entitled to resign his employment for any reason at any time, and
the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment with or
without cause or advance notice.
6.
If after the
Effective Date and prior to the Separation Date the Company
terminates the Executive’s employment for any reason other
than for Cause as such term is defined in the Offer Letter
(“Cause”), the Executive
shall receive the severance benefits described in Paragraph 3 and
shall be paid the remainder of the base salary through the end of
the Transition Period in a lump sum subject to required tax
withholdings within ten (10) days after the Supplemental Release
has become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms,
provided that this Agreement has become effective in accordance
with its terms and the Executive has signed and delivered the
Supplemental Release on or within ten (10) days following (and not
before) the effective date of his termination of employment. If
prior to the Separation Date the Executive resigns his employment
for any reason or the Company terminates the Executive’s
employment for Cause, the Executive will forfeit the severance
benefit described in Paragraph 3 and the Company shall cease paying
base salary as of the effective date of his termination of
employment. For the avoidance of doubt, the severance benefit due
the Executive pursuant to Paragraph 2 above ($200,000 lump sum
payment) shall be paid to the Executive if he executes and delivers
this Agreement and does not timely revoke during the Revocation
Period (defined below).
Page 4
7.
Within thirty (30)
days after presentation of an invoice from Executive’s law
firm for reasonable legal fees and costs incurred in connection
with the review, revision and negotiation of this Agreement, the
Company shall remit payment of such invoice directly to such law
firm in an amount not to exceed $5,000.
8.
The Executive
acknowledges and agrees to the following release
terms:
RELEASE TERMS
General Release. I, Xxxx Xxxxx, on behalf of myself, my
heirs, representatives and assigns, I hereby fully and forever
release and discharge the Company as well as its past and present
affiliates, subsidiaries, agents, related entities, officers,
directors, shareholders, employees, attorneys, insurers,
predecessors, successors, representatives, heirs and assigns
(collectively, “Releasees”), from any and
all claims, causes of action, suits, debts, and demands of any and
every kind, nature and character, presently known and unknown,
arising from or relating to any act or omission occurring prior to
the date I sign this Agreement (collectively, “Claims”).
Examples of Claims. The Claims I am releasing and
discharging include, but are not limited to, Claims arising from
and related to my recruitment, hiring, employment and termination
of employment with the Company, including Claims under federal,
state and local employment laws such as Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the
Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Employee Retirement and Income
Security Act of 1974 as amended (“ERISA”), the Americans
with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 as amended
(“ADEA”), the Equal Pay
Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act,
(as amended), the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Worker Adjustment
and Retraining Notification Act, the Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the
Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code, the
California Private Attorney General Act and under any and all other
applicable federal, state and local laws; and Claims arising under
tort, contract, or quasi-contract law, including but not limited to
claims for unpaid wages, breach of express and implied contractual
obligations, misrepresentation, infliction of emotional distress,
violation of public policy, defamation, monetary damages and any
other form of personal relief, attorneys’ fees and
costs.
Known & Unknown Claims. In furtherance of my intent to
fully and forever release and discharge the Releasees from any and
all Claims, “presently known
and unknown,” I am waiving and releasing all rights
and benefits afforded to me, if any, under Section 1542 of the
California Civil Code, or under a comparable state law applicable
to me. I understand that California Civil Code Section 1542
provides as follows (parentheticals added):
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.
Page 5
I
understand that this means that, if I later discover facts
different from or in addition to those that I now know or believe
to be true, that my release and discharge of all Claims under this
Agreement shall be and remain in full force and effect in all
respects notwithstanding such different or additional facts or my
later discovery of such facts.
Exclusions. I understand that my release and discharge of
all Claims under this Agreement excludes any claim(s) I may have
for:
1.
unemployment,
disability and paid family leave insurance benefits, if any such
benefit programs apply to me, pursuant to the terms of applicable
state law;
2.
workers’
compensation insurance benefits pursuant to Division 4 of the
California Labor Code (or comparable law of another state
applicable to me) under any worker’s compensation insurance
policy or fund of the Company;
3.
continued
participation in the Company’s group health benefit plans
through the Separation Date and thereafter pursuant to the terms
and conditions of the federal law known as
“COBRA;”
4.
any benefit
entitlement(s) vested as of the Effective Date, pursuant to written
terms of any applicable employee benefit plan sponsored by the
Company and governed by the federal law known as
“ERISA”;
5.
any stock and
option shares vested as of the Effective Date, pursuant to the
written terms and conditions of any stock and/or option grant by
the Company to me existing before the Effective Date;
6.
violation of any
federal, state or local statutory and/or public policy right or
entitlement that, by applicable law, is not waivable;
and
7.
any wrongful act or
omission by any Releasee occurring after the date I sign this
Agreement.
Continuing Rights and Obligations.
I
acknowledge and affirm that I have ongoing obligations to the
Company after my Separation Date under the Confidential Information and Invention
Assignment Agreement that I
signed in connection with my employment with the Company and a copy
of which is attached hereto as Attachment 1 (“CIIA”).
I
understand that nothing in this Agreement prevents or prohibits me
from (i) filing a claim with a government agency that is
responsible for enforcing a law, (ii) providing information
regarding my former employment relationship with the Company, as
may be required by law or legal process, or (iii) cooperating,
participating or assisting in any government or regulatory entity
investigation or proceeding pertaining to the Company.
However,
I also understand that, because the Claims I am releasing and
discharging under this Agreement include all claims
“for monetary damages and
any other form of personal relief” (see the section
entitled “Examples of Claims” above), I may only seek
and receive non-personal forms of relief through any claim I may
file with a government agency; provided, however, that nothing
herein waives my right to file an application for an award for
original information submitted pursuant to section 21F of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Page 6
I also
understand and agree that, even if required by subpoena to provide
testimony, or otherwise to cooperate, participate or assist in any
legal, government or regulatory proceeding that pertains to my
former employment with the Company, I shall promptly give written
notice to the Company’s Chairman of the Board (with attention
to the Legal Department) that I have been requested or required to
violate my CIIA in connection with or during such testimony, legal,
government or regulatory proceeding, so that the Company may take
legal action to protect its rights under my CIIA.
No Admission of Wrongdoing; No Disparagement. I agree that
neither the fact nor any aspect of this Agreement is intended, or
should be construed at any time, to be an admission of liability or
wrongdoing by either me or by any of the Releasees. I further agree
not to make, or encourage any other person to make, any negative or
disparaging statements, as fact or as opinion, about the Company or
any of its products, services, vendors, customers, or prospective
customers. The Company agrees that it shall not make any negative
or disparaging statement, as fact or as opinion, about you and
shall instruct its executive officers and directors to refrain from
making or encouraging any other person to make any such statements.
The respective commitments of the Parties in this paragraph shall
not be violated by truthful statements made in response to legal
process, required governmental testimony or filings, or
administrative or arbitral proceedings (including depositions in
connection with such proceedings).
Agreement Deadline; Revocation Period; Effective Date. I
understand that:
I have
been advised by the Company to consult with an attorney of my own
choosing before signing this Agreement and returning it to the
Company on or before the Agreement Deadline.
The
last
date I can sign this Agreement is twenty-one (21) days after the
Transition Date (“Agreement Deadline”).
Mutually agreed upon changes to this Agreement, whether material or
immaterial, do not restart the twenty-one (21) day
period.
For
seven (7) days after the date I actually sign this Agreement, I may
revoke it (“Revocation Period”). If I
revoke this Agreement, I must deliver written notice of my
revocation to the Company, no later than the seventh day after the
date I signed this Agreement.
The
“Effective
Date” of this Agreement will be the date I have signed
it, provided that I have returned to the Company my signature to
this Agreement and I have not timely revoked it during the
Revocation Period. I understand that this Agreement, as signed by
me, and any notice of revocation, should be delivered by U.S. mail,
hand or overnight delivery or facsimile to the number
below:
Human
Resources & Legal Departments, Xxxxxxx.xxx
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Confidential
Facsimile No: 000-000-0000
Page 7
Complete Agreement; Changes. In signing this Agreement and
it becoming effective, I represent and warrant that I am not
relying on any statements, representations, negotiations, promises
or agreements that are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. I
also understand and agree that:
●
this Agreement
contains my entire understanding, and the entire agreement by me,
with respect to the matters covered herein; and
●
this Agreement
merges, cancels, supersedes and replaces all prior statements,
representations, negotiations, promises or agreements relating to
the subjects covered by this Agreement that may have been made by
any of the Releasees, including (but not limited to) my Offer
Letter from the Company (for the avoidance of doubt, not including
the agreement to arbitrate contained therein), except (i) my CIIA
which remains in full force and effect in accordance with its
terms, (ii) the benefit plans and agreements referenced in clauses
(3), (4) and (5) in the section entitled “General
Release”, above, and (iii) my Amended and Restated
Indemnification Agreement dated July 1, 2016 which remains in full
force and effect in accordance with its terms; and
●
this Agreement
cannot be changed except by another written agreement signed by me
and approved by the Compensation Committee of the
Board.
I HAVE READ THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT. I UNDERSTAND IT AND KNOW THAT
I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO XXX FOR AGE
DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION UNDER THE ADEA. I AM
AWARE OF MY RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF MY OWN CHOOSING
BEFORE SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO UNDERTAKE
SUCH CONSULTATION. I SIGN THIS AGREEMENT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY,
WITHOUT COERCION OR DURESS. I ACKNOWLEDGE AN AGREE THAT THIS
RELEASE IS IN EXCHANGE FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION IN
ADDITION TO ANYTHING OF VALUE I AM OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO
RECEIVE.
EXECUTION
In
order to bind the Parties to this Agreement, the Parties, or their
duly authorized representatives have signed their names
below.
Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc.
|
|
Xxxx Xxxxx
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By:
______________________________
|
|
______________________________
|
|
Name:
______________________________
|
|
Date:______________________________
|
|
Title:
______________________________
|
|
|
|
Please
return a signed copy to:
Human
Resources & Legal Departments
Xxxxxxx.xxx,
Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Confidential
Facsimile No: 000-000-0000
Page 8
EXHIBIT A
SUPPLEMENTAL RELEASE AGREEMENT
This Supplemental Release Agreement (the “Agreement”)
is delivered pursuant to the Separation and Release Agreement by
and between Xxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. (the
“Separation and
Release Agreement”):
General Release. I, Xxxx Xxxxx, on behalf of myself, my
heirs, representatives and assigns, I hereby fully and forever
release and discharge Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. (the “Company”) as well as its
past and present affiliates, subsidiaries, agents, related
entities, officers, directors, shareholders, employees, attorneys,
insurers, predecessors, successors, representatives, heirs and
assigns (collectively, “Releasees”), from any and
all claims, causes of action, suits, debts, and demands of any and
every kind, nature and character, presently known and unknown,
arising from or relating to any act or omission occurring prior to
the date I sign this Agreement (collectively, “Claims”).
Examples of Claims. The Claims I am releasing and
discharging include, but are not limited to, Claims arising from
and related to my recruitment, hiring, employment and termination
of employment with the Company, including Claims under federal,
state and local employment laws such as Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the
Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Employee Retirement and Income
Security Act of 1974 as amended (“ERISA”), the Americans
with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 as amended
(“ADEA”), the Equal Pay
Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act,
(as amended), the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Worker Adjustment
and Retraining Notification Act, the Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the
Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code, the
California Private Attorney General Act and under any and all other
applicable federal, state and local laws; and Claims arising under
tort, contract, or quasi-contract law, including but not limited to
claims for unpaid wages, breach of express and implied contractual
obligations, misrepresentation, infliction of emotional distress,
violation of public policy, defamation, monetary damages and any
other form of personal relief, attorneys’ fees and
costs.
Known & Unknown Claims. In furtherance of my intent to
fully and forever release and discharge the Releasees from any and
all Claims, “presently known
and unknown,” I am waiving and releasing all rights
and benefits afforded to me, if any, under Section 1542 of the
California Civil Code, or under a comparable state law applicable
to me. I understand that California Civil Code Section 1542
provides as follows (parentheticals added):
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.
Page 9
I
understand that this means that, if I later discover facts
different from or in addition to those that I now know or believe
to be true, that my release and discharge of all Claims under this
Agreement shall be and remain in full force and effect in all
respects notwithstanding such different or additional facts or my
later discovery of such facts.
Exclusions. I understand that my release and discharge of
all Claims under this Agreement excludes any claim(s) I may have
for:
1.
unemployment,
disability and paid family leave insurance benefits, if any such
benefit programs apply to me, pursuant to the terms of applicable
state law;
2.
workers’
compensation insurance benefits pursuant to Division 4 of the
California Labor Code (or comparable law of another state
applicable to me) under any worker’s compensation insurance
policy or fund of the Company;
3.
continued
participation in the Company’s group health benefit plans
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the federal law known as
“COBRA;”
4.
any benefit
entitlement(s) vested as of my Separation Date, pursuant to written
terms of any applicable employee benefit plan sponsored by the
Company and governed by the federal law known as
“ERISA”;
5.
any stock and
option shares vested as of my Separation Date, pursuant to the
written terms and conditions of any stock and/or option grant by
the Company to me existing before my Separation Date;
6.
violation of any
federal, state or local statutory and/or public policy right or
entitlement that, by applicable law, is not waivable;
and
7.
any wrongful act or
omission by any Releasee occurring after the date I sign this
Agreement.
Acknowledgement of wages paid. I acknowledge that I have
received my final paychecks which included payment of all wages due
and all accrued, unused vacation. I represent that I have has been
paid all amounts I was owed as salary, bonuses, commissions or
other wages and I have received reimbursement of all reimbursable
business expenses.
Continuing Rights and Obligations.
I
acknowledge and affirm that I have ongoing obligations to the
Company after my Separation Date under the Confidential Information and Invention
Assignment Agreement that I
signed in connection with my employment with the Company and a copy
of which is attached hereto as Attachment 1 (“CIIA”).
I
understand that nothing in this Agreement prevents or prohibits me
from (i) filing a claim with a government agency that is
responsible for enforcing a law, (ii) providing information
regarding my former employment relationship with the Company, as
may be required by law or legal process, or (iii) cooperating,
participating or assisting in any government or regulatory entity
investigation or proceeding pertaining to the Company.
Page
10
However,
I also understand that, because the Claims I am releasing and
discharging under this Agreement include all claims
“for monetary damages and
any other form of personal relief” (see the section
entitled “Examples of Claims” above), I may only seek
and receive non-personal forms of relief through any claim I may
file with a government agency; provided, however, that nothing
herein waives my right to file an application for an award for
original information submitted pursuant to section 21F of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
I also
understand and agree that, even if required by subpoena to provide
testimony, or otherwise to cooperate, participate or assist in any
legal, government or regulatory proceeding that pertains to my
former employment with the Company, I shall promptly give written
notice to the Company’s Chairman of the Board (with attention
to the Legal Department) that I have been requested or required to
violate my CIIA in connection with or during such testimony, legal,
government or regulatory proceeding, so that the Company may take
legal action to protect its rights under my CIIA.
No Admission of Wrongdoing; No Disparagement. I agree that
neither the fact nor any aspect of this Agreement is intended, or
should be construed at any time, to be an admission of liability or
wrongdoing by either me or by any of the Releasees. I further agree
not to make, or encourage any other person to make, any negative or
disparaging statements, as fact or as opinion, about the Company or
any of its products, services, vendors, customers, or prospective
customers. The Company agrees that it shall not make any negative
or disparaging statement, as fact or as opinion, about you and
shall instruct its executive officers and directors to refrain from
making or encouraging any other person to make any such statements.
The respective commitments of the Parties in this paragraph shall
not be violated by truthful statements made in response to legal
process, required governmental testimony or filings, or
administrative or arbitral proceedings (including depositions in
connection with such proceedings).
Agreement Deadline; Revocation Period; Effective Date. I
understand that:
I have
been advised by the Company to consult with an attorney of my own
choosing before signing this Agreement and returning it to the
Company on or before the Agreement Deadline.
The
last
date I can sign this Agreement is ten (10) days after my
Separation Date, which I acknowledge is more than twenty-one
(21) days after I received this Agreement (“Agreement
Deadline”).
For
seven (7) days after the date I actually sign this Agreement, I may
revoke it (“Revocation Period”). If I
revoke this Agreement, I must deliver written notice of my
revocation to the Company, no later than the seventh day after the
date I signed this Agreement.
The
“Effective
Date” of this Agreement will be the date I have signed
it, provided that I have returned to the Company my signature to
this Agreement and I have not timely revoked it during the
Revocation Period. I understand that this Agreement, as signed by
me, and any notice of revocation, should be delivered by U.S. mail,
hand or overnight delivery or facsimile to the number
below:
Page
11
Human
Resources & Legal Departments, Xxxxxxx.xxx
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Confidential
Facsimile No: 000-000-0000
Complete Agreement; Changes. In signing this Agreement and
it becoming effective, I represent and warrant that I am not
relying on any statements, representations, negotiations, promises
or agreements that are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. I
also understand and agree that:
●
this Agreement
contains my entire understanding, and the entire agreement by me,
with respect to the matters covered herein; and
●
this Agreement
merges, cancels, supersedes and replaces all prior statements,
representations, negotiations, promises or agreements relating to
the subjects covered by this Agreement that may have been made by
any of the Releasees, including (but not limited to) my Offer
Letter from the Company (for the avoidance of doubt, not including
the agreement to arbitrate contained therein), except (i) my CIIA
which remains in full force and effect in accordance with its
terms, (ii) the benefit plans and agreements referenced in clauses
(3), (4) and (5) in the section entitled “General
Release”, above, (iii) my Amended and Restated
Indemnification Agreement dated July 1, 2016 which remains in full
force and effect in accordance with its terms and (iv) the
Separation and Release Agreement; and
●
this Agreement
cannot be changed except by another written agreement signed by me
and approved by the Compensation Committee of the
Board.
I HAVE READ THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT. I UNDERSTAND IT AND KNOW THAT
I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO XXX FOR AGE
DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION UNDER THE ADEA. I AM
AWARE OF MY RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF MY OWN CHOOSING
BEFORE SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO UNDERTAKE
SUCH CONSULTATION. I SIGN THIS AGREEMENT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY,
WITHOUT COERCION OR DURESS. I ACKNOWLEDGE AN AGREE THAT THIS
RELEASE IS IN EXCHANGE FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION IN
ADDITION TO ANYTHING OF VALUE I AM OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO
RECEIVE.
Page
12
EXECUTION
In
order to bind the Parties to this Agreement, the Parties, or their
duly authorized representatives have signed their names
below.
Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc.
|
|
Xxxx Xxxxx
|
|
By:
______________________________
|
|
______________________________
|
|
Name:
______________________________
|
|
Date:______________________________
|
|
Title:
______________________________
|
|
|
|
Please
return a signed copy to:
Human
Resources & Legal Departments
Xxxxxxx.xxx,
Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Confidential
Facsimile No: 000-000-0000