EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.34
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of January
30, 2009 (the "Effective Date"), by and between SCOLR Pharma, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), and Xxxxx X. Xxxxx ("Employee").
The parties agree as
follows:
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1.
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Employment.
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1.1.
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Title
and Duties. Company hereby employs Employee as President and Chief
Executive Officer, and Employee hereby accepts such employment, on the
terms and conditions set forth herein. Employee shall perform such duties
as are customary for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer
and any additional such duties that Company's Board of Directors ("Board")
may assign from time to time.
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1.2.
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Full-time
and Best Efforts. Employee will expend Employee's best efforts on behalf
of Company, and will abide by all policies and decisions made by Company,
as well as all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations or
ordinances. Employee will act in the best interests of Company at all
times and, subject to Section 1.4 below, will devote Employee's full
business time and efforts to the performance of Employee's assigned duties
to Company.
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1.3.
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Term.
The employment relationship formed pursuant to this Agreement shall be
effective for twelve months commencing on the Effective Date (the
"Term"). The Term may be extended by mutual agreement of
Employee and Company.
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1.4.
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Outside
Activities. Employee may serve in various capacities for non-profit,
charitable and educational organizations from time to time. Any such
non-profit work that has the potential to interfere to any degree with
Employee's services to Company must be disclosed to, and approved by, the
Board. Employee agrees that he will not accept any position with, be
employed by, provide any paid services, or serve on any Board of Directors
for a profit organization or entity other than Company without the written
approval of the Board; provided, that Employee may serve as a director of
companies that do not compete with Company, and will not materially
detract from Employee's responsibilities hereunder as determined in the
sole judgment of the Board. Company has agreed that Employee
may continue to serve as a director of Unigene Laboratories, Inc., and
InforMedix Holdings Inc.
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2.
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Compensation.
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2.1.
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Base
Salary. As compensation for Employee's performance of Employee's duties
hereunder, Company shall pay Employee an initial base salary ("Base
Salary") of Three Hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
($367,500) for the 12 month term, payable in accordance with the normal
payroll practices of Company, less any amounts that Company is required by
applicable federal, state or local law to withhold therefrom on account of
employment, income or other taxes. Employee's Base Salary shall be
reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board and may be
increased (but not decreased without the consent of Employee) and such
increased amount shall hereafter be his "Base
Salary".
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2.2.
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Stock
Options Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company shall grant Employee
options to purchase 500,000 shares of Company's Common Stock under
Company's 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan”) at an exercise price equal
to the Closing Price of the Company’s Common Stock on the NYSE Alternext
(“Closing Price”) on January 29, 2009. Options to purchase 250,000 shares
of Company’s common Stock shall be fully vested upon execution of this
Agreement. Options to purchase 125,000 shares of Company’s Common Stock
shall vest on June 18, 2009, provided that Employee continues to serve as
Chief Executive Officer on the vesting date. The remaining options shall
vest on January 18, 2010, provided that Employee continues to serve as the
Chief Executive Officer on the vesting date. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in the Plan, Employee shall have one year from the
date of termination of employment to exercise vested stock options as of
the date of termination. Otherwise the options will be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan and standard form of stock option
agreement, which Employee will be required to sign as a condition of
receiving the options.
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2.3.
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Bonuses.
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a)
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On
January 4, 2010, the Company shall issue Employee 214,285 shares of the
Company’s Common Stock (subject to availability under the Plan); provided,
that in the event there are not sufficient shares available for issuance
under the Plan to grant the full amount of such award, Employee will be
issued such lesser number of shares as is available under the Plan and the
remainder shall be issued when sufficient shares are available for
issuance under the Plan. The Company shall use its best efforts to make
the full amount of shares to be issued to Employee under this subsection
available to Employee on the date
due.
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b)
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Employee
shall be eligible to receive a performance-based cash bonus at the end of
2009 in a targeted amount of up to 50% of Base Salary (as adjusted from
time to time) based on the achievement of certain objectives approved by
the Board of Directors in its sole discretion with the opportunity to
receive a bonus of 100% of Base Salary if target goals are exceeded and
Employee
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remains
employed on the last day of the performance period. If Employee is
terminated earlier by Company without Cause (as defined below), Employee
shall be entitled to a pro-rated bonus to the date of termination (as
calculated in 6.2). The bonus shall be based on the criteria established
by the Board of Directors as described below applied on a basis consistent
with the determination of bonus payments for other executive employees.
The terms and amount of such bonus shall be determined by the Compensation
Committee of the Board in its sole discretion, based on performance
factors and objectives that are established no later than ninety (90) days
after the first day of the fiscal year. Any such bonus that
becomes payable shall be made within 75 days after the end of the calendar
year, with the actual payment timing during such period within Company's
sole discretion.
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3.
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Benefits.
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3.1.
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Health,
Other Welfare and Fringe Benefits. Employee will be eligible for all
customary and usual health, other welfare and fringe benefits generally
available to employees of Company, subject to the terms and conditions of
Company's plan documents. Company reserves the right to change or
eliminate its health, other welfare and fringe benefit programs on a
prospective basis, at any time, effective upon notice to Employee. In
addition, Employee will also receive $500 per month for automobile
allowance. Company’s health, other welfare and fringe benefits,
along with the automobile allowance, shall be collectively referred to as
the “Other Benefits”.
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3.2.
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Vacation
and Personal Days. Employee will be entitled to accrue vacation of four
(4) weeks per year in accordance with Company's vacation policy and one
(1) week per year for personal days, for Employees other business .
Vacation and personal days may be carried over from year to year and any
accrued but unused vacation will be paid to Employee as additional
compensation at the time of Employee's termination of
employment. Employee will be responsible for written reporting
of vacation time on a timely basis.
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3.3.
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Relocation
and Temporary Living Expenses. Company will reimburse Employee up to a
maximum amount of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for actual living
expenses in the Bothell area, reasonable expenses related to moving his
family and possessions to the Bothell area from both Utah and New Jersey,
trips for Employee and his spouse to assist with relocation, and
replacement of furniture and other household items that Employee decides
not to move to the Bothell area. Payment shall be made upon receipt of
documentation for actual expenses.
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3.4.
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Fees.
Company shall pay reasonable professional fees incurred by Employee, and
an appropriate gross up for applicable federal income taxes, to negotiate
and prepare this Agreement in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000).
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4.
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Business
Expenses. Company will reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in the performance of Employee's duties on behalf of
Company in accordance with Company's
policies.
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5.
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Director.
As long as Employee is serving as the Chief Executive Officer and
President of Company, the Board of Directors agrees to nominate Employee
for election by the stockholders to serve as a director of
Company.
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6.
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Termination
of Employee's Employment.
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6.1.
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Termination
for Cause by Company, Disability or Death. Company may terminate
Employee's employment immediately at any time for Cause. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Cause" is defined as (a) Employee's indictment for, or
conviction (or plea of nolo contendere) of fraud, embezzlement,
misappropriation, or any felony or any misdemeanor involving an act of
moral turpitude; (b) acts or omissions constituting gross negligence,
recklessness or willful misconduct on the part of Employee with respect to
Employee's obligations to Company or otherwise relating to the business of
Company; (c) Employee's material breach of this Agreement, Company's Code
of Conduct or Company's Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement,
following written notice and a 30-day opportunity to cure, or (d) any
similar or related act or failure to act which is materially injurious to
Company., following written notice and a 30 day opportunity to cure. In
the event that Employee's employment is terminated in for Cause, or if
Employee's employment is terminated because of Employee's death or
Employee's inability to perform the essential functions of the position,
with or without reasonable accommodation, due to a mental or physical
disability, where such inability continues for a period or periods
aggregating ninety (90) calendar days in any 12-month period, Employee
shall be entitled to receive only the Base Salary then in effect, prorated
to the date of termination and any of the Other Benefits (including
without limitation any applicable disability insurance) and expense
reimbursements to which Employee is entitled under Sections 3 and 4 above
and otherwise by virtue of his prior employment by Company or as required
by law (collectively, the "Standard Entitlements"). All other Company
obligations to Employee pursuant to this Agreement will become
automatically terminated and completely extinguished. Employee will not be
entitled to receive the Severance Package described in Section 6.2 or 6.4
below or any part thereof.
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6.2.
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Termination
Without Cause by Company/Severance. Company may terminate Employee's
employment under this Agreement without Cause at any time upon written
notice to Employee. In the event of such termination, whether during or at
the end of the Term, Employee will receive the Standard Entitlements plus
a prorated portion (based on the percentage of the year actually employed
by the Company) of the bonus for the year of termination; provided that
such bonus will be a minimum of 25% and maximum of 75% of the Base Salary.
The remainder of the bonus, if any, will be paid based on the average
percentage of bonus awards (as a ratio to target) for the Company’s other
executive officers. The
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minimum
25% bonus will be paid to Employee at the same time as the Standard
Entitlements and any additional bonus shall be paid to Employee at the
time bonus payments are made to Company’s other executive employees.
Employee will also receive a "Severance Package" consisting of (a) a lump
sum cash payment equal to twelve (12) months of Employee's Base Salary in
effect and bonus (as calculated above) on the date of termination, and (b)
for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of termination,
continued medical coverage at Company's expense pursuant to COBRA at
existing levels as of the date of termination, and Other Benefits to the
extent the applicable plans provide continuation coverage to
non-employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, in the
event this Agreement is extended beyond the initial Term, the
Severance Package payable to Employee will be increased to sixteen (16)
months of Base Salary and bonus (as calculated above), and continuation of
medical and Other Benefits at Company’s expense for sixteen (16) months.
Company shall provide Employee with at least thirty days notice if it
determines not to extend this Agreement. The payment of the Severance
Package is payable in a lump sum on the 45tth day following Employee's
termination date and is contingent upon Employee's satisfaction of the
Severance Conditions described below. All other Company obligations to
Employee pursuant to this Agreement will be automatically terminated and
completely extinguished.
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6.3.
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Voluntary
Resignation by Employee With Good Reason. Employee will be deemed to have
resigned for “Good Reason” if Employee resigns within ninety (90) days
after any of the following have occurred, without Employee’s written
consent, and after the expiration of the notice and cure periods described
in this paragraph above: (a) Company reduces the level of Employee’s
responsibilities or changes Employee’s duties so that Employee’s duties
are no longer consistent with the position of a Chief Executive Officer;
(b) Company reduces Employee’s Base Salary; (c) Company relocates
Employee’s principal place of work to a location more than fifty (50)
miles from its current location in Bothell, WA; or (d) Company fails to
assign the terms of this Agreement to any successors contemplated in
Section 13.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee’s
resignation as a result of any of the foregoing conditions shall be
considered a Voluntary Resignation by Employee Without Good Reason (as
described in Section 6.4) unless Employee shall have provided written
notification to Company of the condition(s) allegedly constituting Good
Reason and Company shall have failed to correct such condition(s) within
ten (10) days after Company’s receipt of such notice.
In the event that Employee voluntarily resigns with Good
Reason, Employee will receive the Standard Entitlements plus a prorated
portion of the bonus for the year of termination, (as calculated in 6.2,
Termination Without Cause by Company/Severance) and a "Severance Package"
consisting of (a) a lump sum cash payment equal to twelve (12) months of
Employee's Base Salary in effect and bonus (as calculated above) on the
date of termination, and (b) for a period of twelve (12) months following
the date of termination, continued medical coverage at Company's expense
pursuant to COBRA at existing levels as of
the
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date of termination, and Other Benefits to the extent
the applicable plans provide continuation coverage to non-employees.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, in the event Company determines to
extend this Agreement beyond the initial Term, the Severance Package
payable to Employee will be increased to sixteen (16) months of Base
Salary and bonus (as calculated above), and continuation of medical and
Other Benefits at Company’s expense for sixteen (16)
months.
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6.4.
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Voluntary
Resignation by Employee Without Good Reason. Employee may voluntarily
resign Employee's position with Company for any reason or no reason on
sixty (60) days' advance written notice to Company. In the event of
Employee's resignation under such circumstances, Employee will be entitled
to receive the Standard Entitlements, including salary and benefits for
the sixty (60) day notice period, but no other salary or benefits for the
remaining months of the current Term, if any. Company may, in its sole
discretion, elect to waive all or any part of such notice period provided
that Employee will be entitled to receive payment of salary and Standard
Entitlements for the full sixty (60) day period. All other Company
obligations to Employee pursuant to this Agreement will become
automatically terminated and completely extinguished. In addition,
Employee will not be entitled to receive the Severance Package described
in subsection 6.2 or 6.4 herein.
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6.5.
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Voluntary
Resignation by Employee for Good Reason Following a Change of
Control. In the event that in connection with or within three
(3) months prior to a 409A Change of Control (as defined below) or twelve
(12) months following a Change of Control (as defined below) Employee
resigns for Good Reason (as defined above in 6.3), following thirty (30)
days’ advance written notice to Company and Company's failure to cure the
condition(s) giving rise to Good Reason within thirty (30) days following
such notice, provided that Company may, in its sole discretion, elect to
waive all or any part of such notice period, Employee will be entitled to
receive the Standard Entitlements and the Change of Control Severance
Package described below, contingent on the satisfaction of the Severance
Conditions. As long as Employee provides the required notice,
Employee will be paid the Standard Entitlements for the duration of the
required notice period, even if Company elects to relieve Employee of
Employee‘s duties at an earlier time. All other Company
obligations to Employee pursuant to this Agreement other than the Change
of Control Severance Package will become automatically terminated and
completely extinguished.
For purposes of this Agreement, the
“Change of Control Severance Package” shall include the
following:
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a)
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a
payment equal to sixteen (16) months of Employee’s Base Salary and bonus
in effect on the date of termination (bonus calculated as set forth in
Section 6.2,), less required deductions, payable in a lump sum on the 45th
day following Employee's termination
date;
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b)
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payment
of the premiums required to continue Employee’s group health care coverage
pursuant to COBRA for a period of sixteen (16) months following the date
of termination, provided Employee elects to continue and remains eligible
for such benefits and does not become eligible for health coverage through
another employer during this period, and payment for continuation of the
Other Benefits for sixteen (16) months;
and
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c)
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100%
acceleration of vesting, as of the termination date, of all of the
then-unvested equity awards under this agreement and any employee benefit
plan of Company held by Employee at the time of such
termination.
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6.6.
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Change
of Control.
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a)
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280G/Limitation
of Payments and Benefits. If, due to the benefits provided
under this Agreement, Employee is subject to any excise tax due to
characterization of any amounts payable under such sections as excess
parachute payments pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the “Code”), the amounts payable under such sections will
be restructured (to the least extent possible) in order to avoid any
“excess parachute payment” under Section 280G(b)(1) of the
Code.
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b)
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A
“Change in Control” is defined as any one of the following
occurrences:
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i.
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any
“person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)), other than a
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities of Company under an employee
benefit plan of Company, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
the securities of Company representing more than 50% of (A) the
outstanding shares of common stock of Company or (B) the combined voting
power of Company’s then-outstanding
securities;
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ii.
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the
sale or disposition of all or substantially all of Company’s assets (or
any transaction having similar effect is
consummated);
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iii.
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Company
is party to a merger or consolidation that results in the holders of
voting securities of Company outstanding immediately prior thereto failing
to continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of
the combined voting power of the voting securities of Company or such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation; or
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iv.
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the
dissolution or liquidation of
Company.
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c)
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A
“409A Change of Control” is defined as a Change of Control that also
constitutes a “Change of Control event” within the meaning of Section
409A.
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6.7.
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Conditions
to Receive and Payment of Severance Package. A Severance
Package pursuant to Sections 6.2 and 6.4, as applicable, will be paid
provided Employee satisfies all of the following conditions (the
“Severance Conditions”):
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a)
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Employee
executes, at the time of Employee’s termination of employment and within
the same taxable year, or, if later, before the expiration of any
applicable statutory revocation period, a full general release, releasing
all claims, known or unknown, Employee may have against Company, its
employees, officers, directors, agents and other affiliates, arising out
of or any way related to Employee’s employment or termination of
employment with Company.
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b)
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Employee
complies with all surviving provisions of this
Agreement.
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6.8.
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Section
409A Compliance. The parties intend for this Agreement either
to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A or to be exempt from the
application of Section 409A, and this Agreement shall be construed and
interpreted accordingly. If Company or Employee reasonably
determines that any provision of this Agreement either fails to satisfy
the requirements of Section 409A or is not exempt from the application of
Section 409A, then the parties hereby agree to amend or to clarify this
Agreement in a timely manner so that this Agreement either satisfies the
requirements of Section 409A or is exempt from the application of Section
409A.
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a)
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Notwithstanding
any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event Employee is
a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A, any amounts payable
under this Agreement that are subject to the requirements of Section 409A
and to the special rule regarding payments to “specified employees” under
Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code shall not be paid to Employee during
such period, but shall instead be accumulated and paid to Employee (or, in
the event of Employee's death, to Employee's estate) in a lump sum on the
first business day after the earlier of the date that is six months
following Employee's separation from service or Employee's death, with
Company to additionally pay interest at a reasonable rate on such delayed
payments for the period from the payment due date (determined without
regard to this paragraph) until the actual payment date, and any remaining
payments due under this Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided
herein.
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b)
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No
amounts shall be transferred with respect to this Agreement in a manner
that could result in income inclusion pursuant to Section 409A(b)(3) of
the Code.
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c)
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To
the extent that any payments due under this Agreement are conditioned on
Employee’s termination of employment or similar event and also subject
to
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the
requirements of Section 409A, such payments shall be made only if such
termination of employment or similar event constitutes a “separation from
service” within the meaning of Section
409A.
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d)
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To
the extent that any reimbursement of any expense or in-kind benefits
provided under this Agreement are deemed to constitute taxable
compensation to Employee, such amounts shall be reimbursed or provided no
later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense
was incurred. The amount of any such expenses reimbursed or
in-kind benefits provided in one year shall not affect the expenses or
in-kind benefits eligible for reimbursement or payment in any subsequent
year, and Employee’s right to such reimbursement or payment of any such
expenses will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other
benefit.
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e)
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Company
hereby informs Employee that the federal, state, local and/or foreign tax
consequences (including without limitation those tax consequences
implicated by Section 409A) of this Agreement are complex and subject to
change. Employee hereby acknowledges that Company has advised
Employee that Employee should consult with Employee’s own personal tax or
financial advisor in connection with this Agreement and its tax
consequences. Employee understands and agrees that Company has
no obligation and no responsibility to provide Employee with any tax or
other legal advice in connection with this Agreement. Employee
agrees that Employee shall bear sole and exclusive responsibility for any
and all adverse federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences
(including without limitation those tax consequences implicated by Section
409A) of this Agreement, and fully indemnifies and holds Company harmless
therefor, except to the extent any such tax consequences relate to
Company's violation of this Agreement, negligence or willful
misconduct.
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6.9.
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Taxes
and Withholdings. Company may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement, including any benefits or severance pay, such
federal, state, local or international taxes as may be required to be
withheld pursuant to applicable law or
regulations.
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7.
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No
Conflict of Interest. During the term of Employee's employment with
Company, Employee will not either directly or indirectly, whether as a
owner, director, officer, manager, consultant, agent or employee, work for
a competitor, which is defined as any company that is developing
formulations for extended release oral delivery of small molecules via
routes that would directly compete with SCOLR, but excluding, for example,
companies engaged in delivery of peptides or proteins, such as Unigene
Laboratories, Inc. ("Restricted Business"). However Employee may continue
to serve in the positions identified in Section
1.4.
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8.
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Proprietary
Information. Employee agrees to sign, and abide by Company's
Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement, which is provided with this
Agreement and incorporated herein by
reference.
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9.
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Post-Termination
Non-Competition.
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9.1.
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Consideration
For Promise To Refrain From Competing. Employee agrees that Employee's
services are special and unique, that Company's disclosure of
confidential, proprietary information and specialized training and
knowledge to Employee, and that Employee's compensation and benefits and
severance, as applicable, are partly in consideration of and conditioned
upon Employee not competing with Company. Employee acknowledges that such
consideration for Employee's services under this Agreement is adequate
consideration for Employee's promises contained within this Section
9.
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9.2.
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Promise
To Refrain From Competing. In exchange for the consideration described in
subsection 9.1 above, Employee agrees that for the period of six (6)
months following the date Employee ceases to be employed as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, Employee will not either directly or
indirectly, whether as a owner, director, officer, manager, consultant,
agent or employee work for a Restricted Business. For purposes of this
Section 9, the term "Company" shall mean and include Company, any
subsidiary or affiliate of Company, any successor to the business of
Company (by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or stock or otherwise)
and any other corporation or entity of which Employee may serve as a
director, officer or employee at the request of Company or any successor
of Company.
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9.3.
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Reasonableness
of Restrictions. Employee represents and agrees that the restrictions on
competition, as to time, geographic area, and scope of activity, required
by this Section 9 are reasonable, do not impose a greater restraint than
is necessary to protect the goodwill and business interests of Company,
and are not unduly burdensome to Employee. Employee expressly acknowledges
that Company competes on a nationwide basis and that the geographical
scope of these limitations is reasonable and necessary for the protection
of Company's trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary
information.
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9.4.
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Reformation
if Necessary. In the event a court of competent jurisdiction determines
that the geographic area, duration, or scope of activity of any
restriction under this Section 9 and its subsections is unenforceable, the
restrictions under this Section and its subsections shall not be
terminated but shall be reformed and modified to the extent required to
render them valid and enforceable.
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10.
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Non-Solicitation.
Employee agrees that during the term of this Agreement and for a period of
six (6) months after the termination of this Agreement, Employee will not,
either directly or indirectly, separately or in association with others,
interfere with, impair, disrupt or damage Company's business by
soliciting, encouraging or recruiting any of Company's employees or
causing others to solicit or encourage or recruit any of Company's
employees to discontinue their employment with
Company.
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11.
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Right
To Injunction/Costs Of Enforcement. Employee acknowledges that Company
will suffer immediate and irreparable harm that will not be compensable by
damages alone in the event Employee repudiates or breaches Section 7, 8, 9
or 10 or threatens or attempts to do so. In the event of any such breach
or any threatened or attempted breach, Employee agrees that Company, in
addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages
available to it at law or in equity, shall be entitled to obtain
temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent or restrain
any such breach, and Company shall not be required to post a bond as a
condition for the granting of such
relief.
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12.
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Agreement
to Arbitrate. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Employee and Company
agree to arbitrate any controversy, claim or dispute between them arising
out of or in any way related to this Agreement, the employment
relationship between Company and Employee and any disputes upon
termination of employment. Claims for workers' compensation, unemployment
insurance benefits and Company's right to obtain injunctive relief
pursuant to Section 11 above are excluded. The arbitration will be
conducted in Seattle, Washington by a single neutral arbitrator and in
accordance with the then current rules for resolution of employment
disputes of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). The parties are
entitled to representation by an attorney or other representative of their
choosing. The arbitrator shall have the power to enter any award that
could be entered by a judge of the trial court of the State of Washington,
and only such power, and shall follow the law. In the event the arbitrator
does not follow the law, the arbitrator will have exceeded the scope of
his or her authority and the parties may, at their option, file a motion
to vacate the award in court. The parties agree to abide by and perform
any award rendered by the arbitrator. Judgment on the award may be entered
in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party initially shall bear
one half the cost of the arbitration filing and hearing fees, and the cost
of the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall have discretion to award to the
prevailing party its arbitration costs and hearing fees. The parties
acknowledge that standard statute of limitations will apply and
arbitration shall constitute an “action” for purposes of the statutes of
limitation.
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13.
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General
Provisions.
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13.1.
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Assignment.
The rights and obligations of Company under this Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors and assigns of
Company. Employee shall not be entitled to assign any of Employee's rights
or obligations under this
Agreement.
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13.2.
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Waiver.
Either party's failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall
not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision, or prevent
that party thereafter from enforcing each and every other provision of
this Agreement.
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13.3.
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Severability.
In the event any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable
by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall
be deemed modified to the extent necessary to allow enforceability of
the
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provision
as so limited, it being intended that the parties shall receive the
benefit contemplated herein to the fullest extent permitted by law. If a
deemed modification is not satisfactory in the judgment of such arbitrator
or court, the unenforceable provision shall be deemed deleted, and the
validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be
affected thereby.
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13.4.
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Interpretation;
Construction. The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience
only and shall not be used in interpreting this Agreement. Legal counsel
representing Company has drafted this Agreement and Employee has been
represented by independent counsel. Therefore, the normal rule of
construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against
the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this
Agreement.
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13.5.
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Governing
Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the United States and the State of Washington. Each party
consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the state or federal courts in
Seattle, Washington, if applicable, in any action, suit, or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this
Agreement.
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13.6.
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Notices.
Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be delivered as follows with notice deemed given as indicated: (a)
by personal delivery when delivered personally; (b) by overnight courier
upon written verification of receipt; (c) by telecopy or facsimile
transmission upon acknowledgment of receipt of electronic transmission; or
(d) by five (5) days following deposit in the U.S. Mail, certified or
registered mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested. Notice
shall be sent to the addresses set forth below, or such other address as
either party may specify in
writing.
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IF TO
COMPANY,
TO: SCOLR
Pharma, Inc.
00000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
IF TO
EMPLOYEE,
TO: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
00 Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
With copy
via email to xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
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13.7.
|
Survival.
Sections 7 ("No Conflict of Interest"), 8 ("Confidentiality and
Proprietary Information"), 9 ("Post-Termination Non-Competition"), 10
("Nonsolicitation"), 13 ("General Provisions") and 14 ("Entire Agreement")
of this Agreement shall survive Employee's employment by
Company.
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14.
|
Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, including Employee's Confidentiality and
Non-Compete Agreement incorporated herein by reference and the Plan and
related option documents described in Subsection 2.3, constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties relating to this subject matter and
supersedes all prior or
simultaneous
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12
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representations,
discussions, negotiations, and agreements, whether written or oral. This
Agreement may be amended or modified only with the written consent of
Employee and the Board. No oral waiver, amendment or modification will be
effective under any circumstances
whatsoever.
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THE
PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, AND FULLY UNDERSTAND EACH
AND EVERY PROVISION. WHEREFORE, THE PARTIES HAVE EXECUTED AND MADE THIS
AGREEMENT EFFECTIVE AS OF THE DATE SET FORTH ABOVE.
"Company"
SCOLR Pharma, Inc.
By
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
__________________________________________
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, Chairman of the Board
"Employee"
/s/ Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
__________________________________________
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxx
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