Procera Networks, Inc. EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT for JAMES F. BREAR
Exhibit
10.2
Procera
Networks, Inc.
for
XXXXX
X. XXXXX
This
Executive Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) by and between
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx (“Executive”) and Procera
Networks, Inc. (the “Company”) (collectively, the
“Parties”) is entered
into on February 11, 2008 (the “Effective Date”).
Whereas,
the Company desires to employ Executive to provide personal services to the
Company, and wishes to provide Executive with certain compensation and benefits
in return for his services;
Whereas,
Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and to provide personal services
to the Company in return for certain compensation and benefits;
Now,
Therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as
follows:
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1.
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Employment
by the Company.
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1.1 Position. Subject
to terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to employ Executive
in the position of Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, and to
appoint Executive as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”),
and Executive hereby accepts such employment and appointment. During
the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote
Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and
attention to the business of the Company, except for vacation periods as set
forth herein and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted
by the Company’s general employment policies. Executive’s first date
of employment is February 6, 2008 (the “Commencement
Date”).
1.2 Duties and
Location. Executive shall serve in an executive capacity and
shall perform such duties as are customarily associated with Executive’s then
current title, consistent with the bylaws of the Company and as required by the
Board. Executive shall report to the Board. Executive’s
primary office location shall be a location mutually acceptable to both the
Executive and the Company. The Company reserves the right to
reasonably require Executive to perform Executive’s duties at places other than
Executive’s primary office location from time to time as agreed to by Executive,
and to require reasonable business travel.
1.3 Policies and
Procedures. The employment relationship between the parties
shall be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the
Company, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in
conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this
Agreement shall control.
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2.
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Compensation.
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2.1 Salary. For
services to be rendered hereunder, Executive shall receive an annual salary at
the rate of $240,000.00 (the “Base Salary”), subject to
payroll withholding and deductions and payable in accordance with the Company’s
regular payroll schedule. Executive’s Base Salary shall be reviewed
annually and may be increased as approved by the Board in its sole
discretion.
2.2 Initial Performance
Bonus. Executive shall earn a bonus of fifty percent (50%) of
his Base Salary (the “Initial
Bonus”) after his first six months of employment, provided Executive
remains an active employee through such time. Except as otherwise
provided in Section 5, Executive will not earn any Initial Bonus if
Executive’s employment terminates for any reason before the Initial Bonus is
earned by him. The Initial Bonus, if earned, shall be paid within one
month after the end of the six month anniversary of the Commencement
Date.
2.3 Annual
Bonus. Executive will be eligible to earn an annual
discretionary bonus with a target amount equal to eighty percent (80%) of his
Base Salary; provided that for calendar year 2008, this potential bonus shall be
prorated over the time between the end of the first six (6) months of employment
(as contemplated in Section 2.2 above) and the end of calendar year
2008. The annual bonus shall be based on a set of objectives mutually
agreed to by Executive and the Board (or an executive or compensation committee
thereof) within the first thirty days of each calendar year; provided however
that with respect to calendar 2008, such objectives may be set within the first
90 days of employment. The amount of the annual bonus actually earned shall be
determined by the Board based upon a good faith, objective determination of
Executive’s achievement of the previously agreed to objectives (the “Annual
Bonus”). Since the Annual Bonus is intended both to reward
past Company and Executive performance and to provide an incentive for Executive
to remain with the Company, Executive must remain an active employee through the
date that any such Annual Bonus is paid to him in order to earn any such
bonus. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5, Executive will
not earn any Annual Bonus (including a prorated bonus) if Executive’s employment
terminates for any reason before the Annual Bonus is paid to him. Any
earned Annual Bonus shall be paid not later than March 15th of the
year following the calendar as to which performance was measured.
2.4 Equity
Compensation. Executive shall be granted an option to purchase
2,250,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Option”), having an exercise
price equal to the closing price of the Common Stock as quoted on the American
Stock Exchange on date of grant. The Option will be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Except as
otherwise provided herein, the Option will vest and become exercisable over four
(4) years, with twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares covered by the Option
vesting and becoming exercisable on the one year anniversary of the Commencement
Date, and the remaining shares covered by the Option vesting and becoming
exercisable in thirty-six (36) equal monthly installments thereafter, as long as
the Executive remains in continuous service with the Company (as defined in the
Plan). The Option shall be governed by the terms and conditions set
forth in the Plan, and in the applicable stock option agreement and grant
document.
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2.5 Standard Company
Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
employee benefit programs for which Executive is eligible under the terms and
conditions of the benefit plans which may be in effect from time to time and
provided by the Company to its employees generally.
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3.
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Confidential
Information Obligations.
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3.1 Confidential Information
Agreement. As a condition of employment, Executive agrees to
execute and abide by the Employee Confidential Information and
Inventions Assignment Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.
3.2 Third Party Agreements and
Information. Executive represents and warrants that
Executive’s employment by the Company will not conflict with any prior
employment or consulting agreement or other agreement with any third party, and
that Executive will perform Executive’s duties to the Company without violating
any such agreement. Executive represents and warrants that Executive
does not possess confidential information arising out of prior employment,
consulting, or other third party relationships, which would be used in
connection with Executive’s employment by the Company, except as expressly
authorized by that third party. During Executive’s employment by the
Company, Executive will use in the performance of Executive’s duties only
information which is generally known and used by persons with training and
experience comparable to Executive’s own, common knowledge in the industry,
otherwise legally in the public domain, or obtained or developed by the Company
or by Executive in the course of Executive’s work for the Company.
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4.
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Outside
Activities During Employment.
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4.1 Non-Company
Business. Except with the prior written consent of the Board,
Executive will not during the term of Executive’s employment with the Company
undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise,
other than ones in which Executive is a passive investor. Executive
may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do
not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties
hereunder.
4.2 No Adverse
Interests. Executive agrees not to acquire, assume or participate
in, directly or indirectly, any position, investment or interest known by him to
be adverse or antagonistic to the Company, its business or prospects, financial
or otherwise, except as a passive investor in mutual or exchange traded
funds.
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5.
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Termination
Of Employment.
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5.1 At-Will
Relationship. Executive’s employment relationship is
at-will. Either Executive or the Company may terminate the employment
relationship at any time, with or without Cause or advance notice.
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5.2 Termination without Cause;
Resignation for Good Reason. If, at any time, the Company
terminates Executive’s employment without Cause (as defined herein), or
Executive resigns with Good Reason (as defined herein), and Executive executes
and delivers the Separation Date Release of all claims set forth as Exhibit B
hereto within the timeframe set forth therein and allows such release to become
effective, then the Company will provide Executive with the following severance
benefits:
(a)
Cash
Severance. The Company shall pay Executive severance in the
form of continuation of Executive’s Base Salary in effect on Executive’s last
day of employment (the “Separation Date”) for a period
of six (6) months after Executive’s termination. This severance shall
be paid in substantially equal installments on the Company’s regular payroll
schedule (subject to standard deductions and withholdings) over the six (6)
month period following the Separation Date: provided, however, that no payments
will be made prior to the effective date of the release of claims. On
the first payroll date following the effective date of the release, the Company
will pay Executive the payments that Executive would have received on or prior
to such date in a lump sum under the original schedule but for the delay in
effectiveness of the release, with the balance of the cash severance being paid
as originally scheduled.
(b)
Bonus. The Company
shall pay Executive the full amount of his Initial Bonus, if it has not
previously been paid. The Company shall also pay Executive the full
amount of any Annual Bonus awarded for the completed calendar year preceding the
employment termination, if it has not already been paid. Finally, the
Company shall pay Executive a payment equal to the product of (i) his
Annual Bonus for the calendar year in which his employment terminates, with the
amount of the Annual Bonus determined in good faith based on year to date
performance and expected Company performance in the balance of the
year, and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of
his employment in such calendar year prior to the Separation Date and the
denominator of which is 365. All amounts payable under this
Subsection (b) shall be paid in a lump sum on the first regularly scheduled
payroll pay date following the effective date of his release.
(c)
Continued Health Insurance
Coverage. To the extent provided by the federal continuation
of coverage law or, if applicable, state laws of similar effect (collectively,
“COBRA”), and by the
Company’s then-current group health insurance policies, Executive may be
eligible to continue Executive’s then-current group health insurance benefits
after the termination of his employment. If Executive timely elects
such COBRA coverage for himself and/or his eligible dependents, and provided
Executive continues to pay the portion of the premiums then-paid by active
employees for similar coverage, then the Company shall pay the remaining portion
of the COBRA premiums for the first six (6) months of such coverage, or until
such earlier date on which Executive and/or his eligible dependents cease to be
eligible for COBRA coverage. Executive shall notify the Company
immediately if he and/or his eligible dependents become covered by a medical,
dental or vision insurance plan of a subsequent employer or otherwise cease to
be eligible for COBRA coverage.
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(d)
Accelerated
Vesting. In the event the Company terminates Executive’s
employment without Cause, or Executive resigns with Good Reason, in either case
within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control (as defined below), then the
Company will accelerate the vesting of any outstanding equity awards then-held
by Executive such that one hundred percent (100%) of the then-unvested shares
subject to each such award shall become fully vested and exercisable as of
Executive’s Separation Date.
5.3 Termination for Cause; Resignation
Without Good Reason. If the Company terminates Executive’s
employment with the Company for Cause, or Executive resigns without Good Reason,
then Executive will not be entitled to any further compensation from the Company
(other than accrued salary, and accrued and unused vacation, through Executive’s
last day of employment), including severance pay, pay in lieu of notice or any
other such compensation.
5.4 Termination Due to Death or
Disability.
(a)
Death. This
Agreement and Executive’s employment shall terminate immediately upon
Executive’s death and Executive’s estate shall not be entitled to any further
compensation from the Company (other than accrued salary, and accrued and unused
vacation, through Executive’s last day of employment), including severance pay,
pay in lieu of notice or any other such compensation.
(b)
Disability. If
Executive is incapacitated by accident, sickness or otherwise such that
Executive is incapable of performing the services set forth in Section 1.1
herein for at least sixty (60) consecutive days or at least ninety (90)
days within a period of one hundred and eighty (180) consecutive
days, and such incapacity is certified by a qualified medical doctor, then this
Agreement and Executive’s employment shall terminate. In such an
event, Executive and/or Executive’s legal representatives shall not be entitled
to any further compensation from the Company (other than accrued salary, and
accrued and unused vacation, through Executive’s last day of employment),
including severance pay, pay in lieu of notice or any other such
compensation.
5.5 Section 409A
Compliance. The parties intend that the severance benefits
provided under Section 5.2 above (the “Severance”) satisfy, to the
greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A of
the Internal Revenue Code (together with any state laws of similar effect,
“Section 409A”) provided under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(b)(4),
1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
the Company (or, if applicable, the successor entity thereto) determines that
the Severance constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, and if
Executive is a “specified employee” of the Company or any successor entity
thereto, as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) (a “Specified Employee”), then,
solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal
tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the Severance shall be
delayed as follows: on the earlier to occur of (i) the date that is
six months and one day after the date of separation of service or (ii) the date
of Executive’s death (such earlier date, the “Delayed Initial Payment
Date”), the Company (or the successor entity thereto, as applicable)
shall (A) pay to Executive a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the Severance
that Executive would otherwise have received through the Delayed Initial Payment
Date if the commencement of the payment of the Severance had not been delayed
pursuant to this paragraph and (B) commence paying the balance of the Severance
in accordance with the payment schedule set forth above. It is
intended that each payment made pursuant to Section 5.2 is a separate payment
(as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)) from any other
payments made pursuant to this Agreement for purposes of the “short term
deferral rule” under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4).
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5.6 Limitation on
Payments. In the event that the payments or other benefits
provided for in this Agreement or otherwise payable to Executive (i) constitute
“parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii)
would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the
“Excise Tax”), then
Executive’s benefits under this Agreement shall be either (a) delivered in full,
or (b) delivered to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such
benefits being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts,
taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the
Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the
greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such
benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. If a
reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary
pursuant to the foregoing provision, reduction shall occur in the following
order: reduction of cash payments; cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock
awards; reduction of employee benefits. If acceleration of vesting of
stock award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be
cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s stock
awards.
Unless
the Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required
under this Section 5.6 shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent
public accountants (the “Accountants”), whose
determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Executive and the Company for
all purposes and may be relied upon by the Company. For purposes of
making the calculations required by this Section 5.6, the Accountants may make
reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may
rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of
Section 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and Executive shall
further to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may
reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section
5.6. The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably
incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section
5.6.
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5.7
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Definitions.
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(a)
For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean any one or
more of the following:
(i) Executive’s
indictment or conviction of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, any felony or
any crime involving dishonesty;
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(ii) Executive’s
participation in any fraud or other act of willful misconduct against the
Company (including any material breach of Company policy that causes or
reasonably could cause harm to the Company);
(iii) Executive’s
refusal to comply with any lawful directive of the Company or the
Board;
(iv) Executive’s
material breach of Executive’s fiduciary, statutory, contractual, or common law
duties to the Company (including any material breach of this Agreement or the
Confidential Information and Inventions Agreement); or
(v) Conduct
by Executive which in the good faith and reasonable determination of the Board
demonstrates gross unfitness to serve.
Provided, however, that in the
event that any of the foregoing events is reasonably capable of being cured, the
Company shall, within twenty (20) days after the discovery of such event,
provide written notice to the Executive describing the nature of such event and
Executive shall thereafter have ten (10) business days to cure such
event.
(b) For
purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall have “Good Reason” for Executive’s
resignation if: (w) any of the events listed below occurs without Executive’s
consent; (x) Executive notifies the Company in writing,
within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such event
that Executive intends to terminate his employment for Good Reason and specifies
the basis therefore; (y) the Company does not cure such condition within
thirty (30) days following its receipt of such notice or states
unequivocally in writing that it does not intend to attempt to cure such
condition, and (z) the Executive’s resignation from employment is effective
within ten (10) days following the end of the period within which the
Company was entitled to remedy the condition constituting Good Reason but failed
to do so:
(i) the
assignment to Executive of any duties or responsibilities which result in the
material diminution of Executive’s authority, duties or responsibility; provided
however, that the acquisition of the Company and subsequent conversion of the
Company to a division or unit of the acquiring corporation will not by itself
result in a material diminution of Executive’s authority, duties or
responsibility.
(ii) a
material reduction by the Company in Executive’s annual base salary, except to
the extent the base salaries of all other executive officers of the Company are
accordingly reduced;
(iii)
a relocation of Executive’s place of work, or the Company’s principal executive
offices if Executive’s principal office is at such offices, to a location that
increases Executive’s daily one-way commute by more than thirty-five (35) miles;
or
(iv) any
material breach by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement,
including but not limited to Section 7.7.
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(c)
For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall be
deemed to have occurred if, in a single transaction or series of related
transactions: (i) any person (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)), or persons acting as a
group, other than a trustee or fiduciary holding securities under an employment
benefit program, is or becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13-3
under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly of securities of the Company
representing 51% or more of the combined voting power of the Company, (ii) there
is a merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction of the
Company with or into another corporation, entity or person, other than a
transaction in which the holders of at least a majority of the shares of voting
capital stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction
continue to hold (either by such shares remaining outstanding or by their being
converted into shares of voting capital stock of the surviving entity) a
majority of the total voting power represented by the shares of voting capital
stock of the Company (or the surviving entity) outstanding immediately after
such transaction, or (iii) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets are
sold.
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6.
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Arbitration.
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To ensure
the timely and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in connection
with Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive and the Company agree
that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action arising from or relating
to the enforcement, breach, performance, negotiation, execution, or
interpretation of this Agreement, Executive’s employment, or the termination of
Executive’s employment, shall be resolved to the fullest extent permitted by law
by final, binding and confidential arbitration, by a single arbitrator, in San
Jose, California, conducted by JAMS under the then applicable JAMS rules. By agreeing to this arbitration
procedure, both Executive and the Company waive the right to resolve any such
dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative
proceeding. The arbitrator shall: (a) have the
authority to compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to
award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; and (b) issue a
written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and
conclusions and a statement of the award. The arbitrator shall be
authorized to award any or all remedies that Executive or the Company would be
entitled to seek in a court of law. The Company shall pay all JAMS’
arbitration fees in excess of the amount of court fees that would be required if
the dispute were decided in a court of law. Nothing in this Agreement
is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive
relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such
arbitration.
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7.
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General
Provisions.
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7.1 Notices. Any
notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon
the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by fax) or the
next day after sending by overnight carrier, to the Company at its primary
office location and to Executive at his address as listed on the Company
payroll.
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7.2 Severability. Whenever
possible, each provision of this Agreement will 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 will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction,
but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction
to the extent possible in keeping with the intent of the parties.
7.3 Waiver. Any waiver
of any breach of any provisions of this Agreement must be in writing to be
effective, and it shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or
succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this
Agreement.
7.4 Complete
Agreement. This Agreement, including Exhibit A, constitutes
the entire agreement between Executive and the Company and it is the complete,
final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject
matter. It is entered into without reliance on any promise or
representation other than those expressly contained herein, and it cannot be
modified or amended except in a writing signed by the Executive and a duly
authorized officer of the Company.
7.5 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not
contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will
constitute one and the same Agreement.
7.6 Headings. The
headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not
be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning
thereof.
7.7 Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective
successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive
may not assign any of his duties hereunder and he may not assign any of his
rights hereunder without the written consent of the Company, which shall not be
withheld unreasonably. The Company shall obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company.
7.8 Choice of Law. All
questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this
Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of California.
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In Witness
Whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement.
Procera
Networks, Inc.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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iCEO
and CFO
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February 11, 2008 | ||
Date:
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Understood
and Agreed:
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Executive
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By:
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/s /Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Date:
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February 11, 2008
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Agreed-to
Commencement Date:
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February 6, 2008
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JB:
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TW:
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10
Exhibit
B
Separation
Date Release
(To
be signed on or within 21 days after the employment termination
date.)
In
exchange for the severance benefits to be provided to me by Procera Networks,
Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to the terms of my Executive Employment Agreement
(the “Agreement”), I hereby provide the following General Release of Claims (the
“Release”). I understand that, on the last date of my employment with
the Company, the Company will pay me any accrued salary to which I am entitled
by law, regardless of whether I sign this Release, but I am not entitled to any
severance benefits unless I sign and return this Release to the Company and I
allow it to become effective.
I hereby
generally and completely release the Company and its directors, officers,
employees, shareholders, partners, agents, attorneys, predecessors, successors,
parent and subsidiary entities, insurers, affiliates, and assigns (collectively
the “Released Parties”) of and from any and all claims, liabilities and
obligations, both known and unknown, arising out of or in any way related to
events, acts, conduct, or omissions occurring at any time prior to or at the
time that I sign this Release.
This
general release includes, but is not limited to: (1) all claims arising out of
or in any way related to my employment with the Company or the termination of
that employment; (2) all claims related to my compensation or benefits from the
Company, including salary, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, expense
reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits, stock, stock options, or any
other ownership or equity interests in the Company; (3) all claims for
breach of contract, wrongful termination, and breach of the implied covenant of
good faith and fair dealing (including claims based on or arising under the
Agreement); (4) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation,
emotional distress, and discharge in violation of public policy; and (5) all
federal, state, and local statutory claims, including claims for discrimination,
harassment, retaliation, attorneys’ fees, or other claims arising under the
federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (as
amended) (“ADEA”), the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, the California
Labor Code (as amended), the California Family Rights Act, and the California
Fair Employment and Housing Act (as amended).
I
understand that notwithstanding the foregoing, the following are not included in
the Released Claims (the “Excluded Claims”): (i) any rights or claims for
indemnification I may have pursuant to any written indemnification agreement to
which I am a party, the charter, bylaws, or operating agreements of any of the
Released Parties, or under applicable law; or (ii) any rights which are not
waivable as a matter of law. In addition, I understand that nothing
in this release prevents me from filing, cooperating with, or participating in
any proceeding before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the
Department of Labor, or the California Department of Fair Employment and
Housing, except that I acknowledge and agree that I shall not recover any
monetary benefits in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding with
regard to any claim released herein. I hereby represent and warrant
that, other than the Excluded Claims, I am not aware of any claims I have or
might have against any of the Released Parties that are not included in the
Released Claims.
I
acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights
I may have under the ADEA, and that the consideration given for the waiver and
release in the preceding paragraph is in addition to anything of value to which
I am already entitled. I further acknowledge that I have been advised
by this writing that: (1) my waiver and release do not apply to any
rights or claims that may arise after the date I sign this Release; (2) I should
consult with an attorney prior to signing this Release (although I may choose
voluntarily not to do so); (3) I have twenty-one (21) days to consider this
Release (although I may choose voluntarily to sign it earlier); (4) I have seven
(7) days following the date I sign this Release to revoke it by providing
written notice of revocation to the Company’s Board of Directors; and
(5) this Release will not be effective until the date upon which the
revocation period has expired, which will be the eighth calendar day after the
date I sign it provided that I do not revoke it (the “Effective
Date”).
I
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN
CLAIMS. I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of
the California Civil Code which reads as follows: “A general release does not extend to
claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor
at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have
materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.” I hereby
expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and
any law or legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction with respect to
my release of claims herein, including but not limited to the release of unknown
and unsuspected claims.
I hereby
represent that I have been paid all compensation owed and for all hours worked,
I have received all the leave and leave benefits and protections for which I am
eligible, pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act, the California Family
Rights Act, or otherwise, and I have not suffered any on-the-job injury for
which I have not already filed a workers’ compensation claim.
I further
agree: (1) not to disparage the Company, its parent, or its or their officers,
directors, employees, shareholders, affiliates and agents, in any manner likely
to be harmful to its or their business, business reputation, or
personal reputation (although I may respond accurately and fully to any
question, inquiry or request for information as required by legal process); (2)
not to voluntarily (except in response to legal compulsion) assist any third
party in bringing or pursuing any proposed or pending litigation, arbitration,
administrative claim or other formal proceeding against the Company, its parent
or subsidiary entities, affiliates, officers, directors, employees or agents;
and (3) to reasonably cooperate with the Company, by voluntarily (without legal
compulsion) providing accurate and complete information, in connection with the
Company’s actual or contemplated defense, prosecution, or investigation of any
claims or demands by or against third parties, or other matters, arising from
events, acts, or failures to act that occurred during the period of my
employment by the Company.
By:
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Date
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