EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.24
AGREEMENT dated as of June 1, 2005 between ACCESS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a Delaware Corporation located at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000, (the “Company”), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, an individual residing at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 (the “Executive”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company desires that Executive serve as the Company’s Vice President Chief Financial Officer; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce Executive to agree to serve in such capacity, the Company hereby offers Executive certain compensation and benefits of employment, as described herein.
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to service in this position on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in condition of the premises and of the mutual convenants contained herein, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
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1. Employment
The Company agrees to employ Executive and Executive hereby agrees to be employed upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall serve as the Vice President Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Executive shall be responsible to the President and CEO of the Company, rendering the services and performing the duties prescribed by the President and CEO of the Company.
The Executive agrees, while employed hereunder, to perform his duties faithfully and to the best of his ability. The Executive shall be employed at the Company’s offices in Dallas, Texas, and his principal duties shall be performed primarily in Dallas, Texas except for business trips reasonable in number and duration.
2. Term
The employment of the Executive hereunder shall begin on the date hereof and shall continue in full force and effect for a period of one (1) year, and thereafter shall be automatically renewed for successive one-year periods unless the Company gives the Executive written notice of termination within six (6) months prior to the end of any such period or until the occurrence of a Termination Date, as defined in Section 5 ( the “Term”).
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3. Compensation
3.1 As compensation for the Executive’s services during the Term, the Company shall pay the Executive an annual base salary at the rate of $154,000, payable monthly on the last day of each month during the Term. Prior to the end of each year during the Term, the Compensation Committee of the Company shall undertake an evaluation of the services of the Executive during the year then ended in accordance with the Company’s compensation program at the date hereof (the “Program”). The Company shall consider the performance of the Executive, his contribution to the success of the Company and entities under common control with the Company (collectively, “Affiliates”), and other factors and shall fix an annual base salary to be paid to the Executive during the ensuring year.
3.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may change the Program from time to time or institute a successor to the Program, but the Executive’s annual base salary shall in no event be less than his annual base salary in effect on the date of change, adjusted regularly to reflect increases in the cost of living and comparable compensation for like positions.
3.3 The Executive shall participate in the Company incentive compensation programs in accordance with the following subparagraphs (i) and (ii):
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(i) Incentive Plan – the Executive shall be covered by the cash bonus plan currently maintained by the Company and shall be afforded the opportunity thereunder to receive a target award of 13.5% of annual base salary payable in cash and 13.5% of annual base salary payable in Access Common Stock, to be awarded upon the achievement of reasonable performance goals; provided that the Company may from time to time change the Program or institute a successor to the Program, so long as the Executive continues to be eligible to receive bonus awards of percentages of annual base salary in amounts at least equal to those specified as in effect on the date hereof.
(ii) Stock Option Plan – Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s stock option plan. In accordance with this plan the Board may from time to time, but without any obligation to do so, grant additional stock options to the executive upon such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion. If the Company no longer has a class of stock publicly-traded by reason of a Change of Control of the Company, as defined in Section 5.3, the Company’s obligation under this Section 3.3 will be satisfied through options granted by the issuer with public stock then in control of the Company.
3.4 If the Executive is prevented by disability, for a period of six consecutive months, from continuing fully to perform his obligations hereunder, the Employee shall perform his obligations hereunder to the extent he is able and after six months the Company may reduce his annual base salary to reflect the extent of the disability; provided that in no
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event may such rate, when added to payments received by him under any disability or qualified retirement or pension plan to which the Company or an Affiliate contributes or has contributed, be less than $90,000. If there should be a dispute about the Executive’s disability, disability shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon a report from a physician, reasonably acceptable to the Executive, who shall have examined the Executive. If the Executive claims disability, the Executive agrees to submit to a physical examination at any reasonable time or times by a qualified physician designated by the President and CEO of the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Executive. Notwithstanding any provision in the Section, the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Executive on account of disability after the expiration of this Agreement.
4. Executive Benefits
The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all “employee pension benefit plans”, all “employee welfare benefit plans” (each as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) and all pay practices and other compensation arrangements maintained by the Company, on a basis at least as advantageous to the Executive as the basis on which other executive employees of the Company are eligible to participate. Executive shall, during the term of his employment hereunder, continue to be provided with such benefits at a level at least equivalent to the initial benefits provided or to be provided hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive shall
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be entitled to the following employee benefits (collectively, with the benefits contemplated by this Section 4, the “Benefits”):
4.1 The Executive and the Executive’s dependents shall be covered by medical insurance, with only such contribution by the Executive toward the cost of such insurance as may be required from time to time from other executive officers of the Company.
4.2 Life Insurance Executive shall be entitled to group term life insurance coverage of $154,000, all premiums being paid by the Company.
4.3 Long Term Disability Insurance. The Company shall maintain in effect long-term disability insurance providing Executive in the event of his disability (as defined in Section 3 hereof) with compensation annually equal to at least $90,000.
4.4 The Executive shall be entitled to legal holidays and to annual paid vacation aggregating at least four (4) weeks during any calendar year.
4.5 The Company shall reimburse the Executive from time to time for the reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of his obligations hereunder.
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4.6 During such times as the Company is eligible and financially qualified to obtain the same, the Company shall maintain directors and officers liability insurance applicable to the Executive in amounts established by the Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may from time to time change or substitute a plan or a program under which one or more of the Benefits are provided to the Executive, provided that the Company first obtains the written consent of the Executive, which the Executive agrees not unreasonably to withhold, taking into account his personal situation.
5. Termination Date; Consequences for Compensation and Benefits
5.1 Definition of Termination Date The first to occur of the following events shall be the Termination Date:
5.1.1 The date on which the Executive becomes entitled to receive long-term disability payment by reason of total and permanent disability.
5.1.2 The Executive’s death;
5.1.3 Voluntary resignation after one of the following events shall have occurred, which event shall be specified to the Company by the Executive at the time of resignation: material reduction in the responsibility, authority, power or duty of the executive or a material breach by the Company of any provision of
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this Agreement, which breach continues for 30 days following notice by the Executive to the Company setting forth the nature of the breach (“Resignation with Reason”)
5.1.4 Voluntary resignation not accompanied by a notice of reason described in Section 5.1.3 (“General Resignation”).
5.1.5 Discharge of the Executive by the Company after one of the following events shall have occurred, which event shall be specified in writing to the Executive by the Company at the time of discharge:
(i) a felonious act committed by Executive during his employment hereunder, (ii) any act or omission on the part of the Executive not requested or approved by the Company constituting willful malfeasance or gross negligence in the performance of his duties hereunder, (iii) conviction of the Executive or the entry of a plea of guilt or nolo contendere by the Executive to any crime involving moral turpitude, (iv) any material breach of any term of this Agreement by the Executive which is not cured within 30 days after written notice from the President and CEO of the Company to the Employee setting forth the nature of the breach (“Discharge for Cause”).
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For purposes of this subparagraph (5.1.5), no act or failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done or omitted to be done by Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that Executive’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been discharged for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to Executive a copy of a Notice of Termination (as defined below) from the President and CEO of the Company stating that in his good faith opinion Executive was guilty of conduct set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above of this subparagraph (5.1.5) and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
5.1.6 Discharge of the Executive by the Company not accompanied by a notice of cause described in Section 5.1.5 (“General Discharge”).
For purposed of the Agreement “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated. Each Notice of Termination shall be delivered at least sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of termination.
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5.2 Consequences for Compensation and Benefits
(a) If the Termination Date occurs by reason of disability, death, General Resignation or Discharge for Cause, the Company shall pay compensation to the Executive through the Termination Date and shall pay to the Executive all Benefits accrued through the Termination Date, payable in accordance with the respective terms of the plans, practices and arrangements under which the Benefits were accrued.
(b) If the Termination Date occurs by reason of General Discharge or Resignation with Reason (i) all stock options held by the Executive shall become immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable for one (1) year after the Termination Date, (ii) the Company shall continue the health coverage contemplated by Section 4.1 for a period of 6 months thereafter, and (iii) the Executive shall be entitled to receive, within 60 days after the Termination Date, the amount set forth in Section 5.2.1.
5.2.1 The Executive’s annual base salary at the Termination Date, multiplied by one half (0.5) (i.e., .5 times base salary).
5.3 Change in Control. In the event of the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), the Agreement may be terminated by Executive upon the occurrence thereafter of one or more of the following events;
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1) Termination of Executive of his employment with the Company may be made within (1) year after a Change in Control and upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) A significant adverse change in the nature or scope of the Executive’s authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties as a results of the Change in Control, a reduction in the aggregate of Executive’s existing Base Salary and existing Incentive Compensation received from the Company, or termination of Executive’s rights to any existing Executive Benefit to which he was entitled immediately prior to the Change in Control or a reduction in scope or value thereof without the prior written consent of Executive.
(b) The merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company or transfer of all or a significant portion of its business and/or assets (by liquidation, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) unless the successor or successors to which all or a significant portion of its business and/or assets have been transferred (directly or by operation of law) shall have assumed all duties and obligations of the Company under this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.5 hereof; or:
(c) The Company shall relocate its principal executive offices or require Executive to have as his principal location of work any location
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which is in excess of 50 miles from the location thereof immediately prior to the relocation date or to travel from his office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or duties hereunder more than thirty (30) consecutive calendar days or an aggregate of more than ninety (90) calendar days in any consecutive 365-calendar day period without in either case his prior consent.
2) Subsequent to a change in control of the Company, the failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of the obligation to perform this Agreement by any successor as contemplated in Section 11.5 hereof or otherwise; or
3) Subsequent to a Change in Control of the Company, any purported termination of Executive’s employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirement of Section 5.1.5 hereof:
5.3.1 A Change in Control of the Company shall occur upon the first to occur of the date when (a) a person or group “beneficially owns” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) in the aggregate 50% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of the Directors of the Company or (b) there occurs a sale of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.
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5.3.2 If a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred within six (6) months prior to the Termination Date or the Executive terminates this Agreement under Section 5.3 the Executive will be entitled to receive, within 60 days after the Termination Date, the Executive’s annual base salary at the Termination Date multiplied by one (1) (i.e., one times base salary), all stock options held by the Executive shall become immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable for 30 days after the Termination Date. The Company shall continue the health coverage contemplated by Section 4.1 for a period of one (1) year thereafter.
5.4 Liquidated Damages: No Duty to Mitigate Damages The amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.2 and 5.3 shall be deemed liquidated damages for the early termination of this Agreement and shall be paid to the Executive regardless of any income the Executive may receive from any other employer, and the Executive shall have no duty of any kind to seek employment from any other employer during the balance of the Term.
6. Indemnification
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify the Executive and hold him harmless from and against all loss, cost, liability and expense (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising from the Executive’s service to the Company or any Affiliates, whether as officer, director, employee fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or otherwise.
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7. Agreement Not to Compete
The Executive agrees that, while serving as an Executive of the Company he will not, without the written consent of the President and CEO of the Company, serve as an employee or director of any business entity other than the company and its Affiliates, but may serve as a director of a reasonable number of not-for-profit corporations and may devote a reasonable amount of time to charitable and community service.
8. Agreement Not to Solicit
For one year following any Terminate Date, regardless of the reason, the Executive shall not solicit any employee of the Company or an Affiliate to leave such employment and to provide service to the Executive or any business entity by which the Executive is employed or in which the Executive has a material financial interest. Soliciting a former employee of the Company and its Affiliates to provide such services shall not be a violation of this Agreement.
9. Confidential Information
Unless the Executive shall first secure the consent of the Company, the Executive shall not disclose or use, either during or after the Term for a period of five (5) years, any secret or confidential information of the Company or any Affiliate, whether or not developed by the Executive, except as required by his duties to the Company or the Affiliate.
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Executive will sign a Confidential Disclosure and Limited Use Agreement, which shall control over this Agreement if any conflict exists between it and this Agreement.
10. Arbitration
Any dispute or differences concerning any provision of this Agreement which cannot be settled by mutual accord between the parties shall be settled by arbitration in Dallas, Texas in accordance with the rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association, except as otherwise provided herein. The dispute or difference shall be referred to a single arbitrator, if the parties agree upon one, or otherwise to three arbitrators, one to be appointed by each party and a third arbitrator to be appointed by the first named arbitrators; and if either party shall refuse or neglect to appoint an arbitrator within 30 days after the other party shall have appointed an arbitrator and shall have served written notice upon the first mentioned party requiring such party to make such appointment, then the arbitrator first appointed shall, at the request of the party appointing him, proceed to her and determine the matters in difference as if he were a single arbitrator appointed by both parties for the purpose, and the award or determination which shall be made by the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties hereto. The arbitrator or arbitrators shall each have not less than five (5) year’s experience in dealing with the subject matter of the dispute or differences to be arbitrated. Any award maybe enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. The expenses of any such arbitration shall be paid by the non-prevailing party, as determined by the final order of the arbitrators.
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11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Notes
All notices in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by postage prepaid first class mail, courier, or telefax, and if relating to default or termination, by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to each party at the address indicated below:
If to the Company:
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Copy to:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx III, Esq.,
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxx LLP
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
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If to the Executive:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Or to such other address as the addressee shall last have designated by notice to the communicating party. The date of giving of any notice shall be the date of actual receipt.
11.2 Governing Law
This Agreement shall be deemed a contract made and performed in the State of Texas, and shall be governed by the internal and substantive laws of the State of Texas.
11.3 Severability
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or in the interpretation in any other jurisdiction; however, such provision shall be deemed amended to conform to applicable laws and to accomplish the intentions of the parties.
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11.4 Entire Agreement, Amendment
The Agreement and the offer letter dated November 8, 1990, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and may be altered or amended or any provision hereof waived only by an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any alteration, amendment, or waiver is sought. No waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement shall be considered as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
11.5 Successors and Assigns
11.5.1 The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) 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. Failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as Executive would be entitled hereunder if Executive terminated his employment for Change of Control. As used in Section 11.5.1., “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers the Agreement provided for in this Section 11.5.1 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
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11.5.2 This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors and assigns, except that Executive may not assign any of his rights or delegate any of his duties without the prior written consent of the Company.
11.6 Assignability
Neither this Agreement nor any benefits payable to the Executive hereunder shall be assigned, pledged, anticipated, or otherwise alienated by the Executive, or subject to attachment or other legal process by any creditor of the Executive, and notwithstanding any attempted assignment, pledge, anticipation, alienation, attachment, or other legal process, any benefit payable to the Executive hereunder shall be paid only to the Executive or his estate.
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IN WITNESSES WHEREOF, the Company and its officers hereunto duly authorized, and the Employee have signed and sealed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS |
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BY: |
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
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BY: |
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/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
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Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
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TITLE: |
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Executive |
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TITLE: |
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Acting Chief Executive Officer |
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DATE: |
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June 24, 2005 |
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DATE: |
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June 24, 2005 |
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