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EXHIBIT 10.02
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE ("Agreement") is made
between Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx ("Employee") and Ocular Sciences, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Ocular").
RECITAL
Employee, a member of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Ocular, and Ocular, desire to terminate the employment relationship between
them and related matters on the terms and conditions described in this
Agreement.
N O W, T H E R E F O R E, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Employee and Ocular agree that Employee's employment with Ocular is
hereby terminated effective April 20, 2000 (the "Termination Date") and Employee
hereby resigns from all positions he holds in Ocular, including the positions of
President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of Ocular's Board of
Directors, effective the Termination Date.
2. Ocular will deliver to Employee on the Termination Date, or such
other mutually agreed upon time, a final paycheck for all accrued wages, salary,
bonuses, reimbursable expenses, and accrued but unused vacation pay due and
owing to him from Ocular through the Termination Date, less applicable taxes and
other withholding, in the amount of $20,684.01. Employee acknowledges that the
foregoing amount is accurate except that Employee may submit additional
reimbursable expenses, if any, to Ocular on or before May 1, 2000, not to exceed
$1,000.00, and Ocular will issue a check for such expenses to Employee on or
before May 15, 2000. Employee understands and agrees that effective on the
Termination Date he is no longer authorized to incur any expenses or obligations
or liabilities on behalf of Ocular.
3. Ocular agrees to make a lump sum payment to Employee in the amount of
$100,000 on the Termination Date (the "Severance Payment") less all applicable
taxes and other withholding that Ocular is required to withhold in connection
with the Severance Payment.
4. Ocular will extend, at Employee's expense, for a period not to exceed
18 months, the health insurance coverage it currently provides Employee, or
substantially similar coverage, pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA") if Employee so elects. Employee will have
60 days from the Termination Date to notify Ocular in writing of his election to
continue coverage.
5. Employee currently holds options to purchase an aggregate of up to
407,000 shares of Ocular's Common Stock. Employee's options for stock of Ocular
shall terminate vesting as of the Termination Date. Accordingly, it is
acknowledged and agreed that as of the Termination Date, Employee's options will
be vested as to a total of 125,00 shares of Ocular Common Stock, and that other
than such vested options Employee will not have any other rights
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to acquire, nor does he currently hold, any other stock or other equity interest
of Ocular. The aggregate exercise price for Employee's vested shares as of the
Termination Date is $2,991.250. Employee acknowledges that such options must be
exercised, if at all, on or before July 20, 2000, and that there may be
alternative minimum tax or other tax consequences as a result of such exercise.
Employee will be responsible for any such taxes.
6. Employee understands and agrees that on or about the Termination Date
he will identify to Ocular and turn over to Ocular all files, memoranda, records
(and copies thereof), credit cards, computer discs and other property in
Employee's possession that are the property of Ocular. Employee further
acknowledges that he has previously entered into an Employee Invention and
Confidentiality Agreement dated 10/15/97 (the "Confidentiality Agreement") with
Ocular, that various provisions thereof are intended to survive the termination
of his employment relationship with Ocular, and that Employee will abide by all
such obligations.
7. The parties hereby acknowledge that Employee currently owes Ocular
$450,000 pursuant to a [PROMISSORY NOTE DATED 1/12/98] (the "Note") which note
is secured by a deed of trust dated 1/12/98 on Employee's residence (the "Deed
of Trust"), together with Employee's options in the Company. The parties
acknowledge that effective as of the Termination Date, the Company forgives 50%
of the principal amount of the Note, or $225,000, and that the remaining 50%
principal amount of the Note, or $225,000, shall be due and payable on October
20, 2000. Employee acknowledges that the Deed of Trust and other security
interests remain in full force and effect until the Note is paid in full, and
that he will be responsible for any tax obligations arising from the forgiveness
of principal described above.
8. Except for the agreements set forth herein and the continuing
obligations of Employee under the Confidentiality Agreement, the Note, the Deed
of Trust and other related security agreement and documents, and any obligations
of Employee under that certain Employment Agreement dated 10/15/1997 that by
their terms continue in force past termination of Employee's employment, each
party to this Agreement hereby forever releases and discharges the other, its
successors, subsidiaries, heirs, employees, officers, directors and agents, from
any and all claims, liabilities, expenses, demands and causes of action, known
or unknown, fixed or contingent, which such party has or may hereafter have
arising out of or in any way connected with Employee's employment or other
relationship with Ocular, including the cessation of his employment.
9. Employee understands and agrees that in consideration of the
foregoing, any current or future rights to pursue any and all remedies available
in any country, state, province or other jurisdiction in the world under any
employment-related causes of action, are hereby waived including without
limitation:
(a) claims of wrongful discharge, defamation, emotional distress,
breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and
(b) claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967,
as amended; Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended; the California
Fair Employment
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and Housing Act, as amended, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; California
Labor Code Section 1197.5, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended;
and any other laws and regulations relating to employment discrimination.
Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement to the contrary,
the releases given under this Agreement shall not extend to any rights, claims
or causes of action currently unknown to Employee hereafter arising with respect
to Employee's rights regarding future medical benefits arising under COBRA.
10. Each party to this Agreement expressly acknowledges that the
releases set forth above are intended to apply to both known and unknown claims,
causes of action, etc., and accordingly hereby waives and relinquishes any right
or benefit available to such party in any capacity under the provisions of
section 1542 of the Civil Code of California.
THESE RELEASES EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE PARTIES DO NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT
TO EXIST IN THEIR FAVOR, EVEN IF KNOWN BY THEM WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED
THEIR DECISION TO ENTER INTO ITS RELEASE. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ARE
FAMILIAR WITH SECTION 1542 OF THE CIVIL CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH
PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS, AND WAIVE ANY RIGHTS OR BENEFITS THEREUNDER:
"A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT
KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE
RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS
SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR."
11. Employee hereby acknowledges that he has read and understands the
releases set forth in Sections 8, 9, and 10 above (collectively, the "Release")
and has executed this Agreement voluntarily and without coercion. Employee
further acknowledges that he was given 21 days within which to consider the
Release; that he was advised by Ocular to consult with an attorney of his own
choosing concerning the waivers contained in the Release; that he has done so or
has had the opportunity to do so and that the waivers made herein are knowing,
conscious and with full appreciation that he is forever foreclosed from pursuing
any of the rights so waived.
Employee understands that for a period of seven days after signing
this Agreement (which includes the Release) he has the right to revoke it and
that this Agreement, including but not limited to the Release, shall not become
effective or enforceable until after those seven days.
12. Employee represents and acknowledges that he has carefully read and
fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement which sets forth the
entire agreement between the parties, and that he has had the opportunity to
discuss this Agreement with his counsel. This Agreement supersedes any and all
prior agreements or understandings between the parties, including all corporate
policies, practices or procedures pertaining to the subject matter of this
Agreement, except as expressly set forth herein. Employee represents that he has
full authority to enter into this Agreement and that no other person has any
claim or interest in the
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of this Agreement, except as expressly set forth herein. Employee represents
that he has full authority to enter into this Agreement and that no other person
has any claim or interest in the matters described herein, and that this
Agreement is binding on himself his estate, heirs and assigns.
13. Employee agrees that for a period of one year from the date hereof,
he will not solicit, encourage, induce or assist, directly or indirectly, any
Ocular suppliers, customers, employees or consultants to terminate or
substantially decrease his, her or its relationship with Ocular.
14. This Agreement will be governed and interpreted in accordance with
the internal laws of the State of California, excluding that body of law
governing conflicts of law.
15. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be
unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be enforced to the
maximum extent permitted by law, and the balance of this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect and shall be interpreted so as to effect the intent of
the parties.
16. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any
term of this Agreement may be waived only with the written consent of Ocular and
Employee.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS SEPARATION AND GENERAL RELEASE INCLUDES A
RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.
Executed at Ocular Sciences, Inc. this 20th day of April, 2000.
By /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Executed at Ocular Sciences, Inc. this 20th day of April, 2000.
OCULAR SCIENCES, INC.
By: /s/ XXXX XXXXX
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Its: Chairman of the Board
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