AMENDED AND RESTATED RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Restrictive Covenant and Severance Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of November 2, 2023 (the “A&R Effective Date”), by and between Neuronetics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”) and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx (“Executive”).
Recitals
WHEREAS, Company and Executive previously entered into an Employment Agreement dated July 14, 2020, which set forth the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with Company (as amended, the “Employment Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, Company and Executive previously executed a Restrictive Covenant and Severance Agreement effective as of July 1, 2021 (the “Original Effective Date”), which superseded certain terms of the Employment Agreement (such agreement, the “Original RCS Agreement”);
WHEREAS, since the Original Effective Date, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved certain modifications to Executive’s employment arrangements, and the Company has determined that such modifications should be reflected in the documents that memorialize Executive’s employment relationship with the Company; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the parties wish to amend and restate the Original RCS Agreement as set forth in this Agreement.
Agreement
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, and obligations set forth below, the adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
Amended and Restated Restrictive Covenant and Severance Agreement – Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
In the event Company elects to terminate Executive’s employment in accordance with this Section, such termination shall be without prejudice to any other remedy to which Company may be entitled under law, equity, or this Agreement. Furthermore, the termination will be effective as of the date of the original written notice of termination and neither party shall have any further obligation to the other (including the payment of any severance benefits by Company to Executive) except for Executive’s obligations set forth in the Restrictive Covenant Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. Specifically, should Company terminate this Agreement for Cause, Executive shall not be entitled to any further compensation other than Executive’s earned but unpaid base salary (at the annual rate then in effect), any expense reimbursements to be paid in accordance with Company policy, and payments for any accrued but unused vacation or paid time off in accordance with Company’s policies and applicable law (the “Accrued Amounts”) up to the effective date of termination of employment with Company (the “Termination Date”).
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(a)Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time by Company, without any requirement of Cause, upon delivery to Executive of thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of its intention to terminate Executive’s employment (the “Termination Period”). Company, in its sole discretion, may elect to have Executive immediately cease providing services to Company during the Termination Period; provided, however, Company shall pay the Accrued Amounts through the end of the Termination Period, whether or not Company elects to continue Executive’s services during all or a portion of the Termination Period.
(b)Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event of (A) Executive’s termination of employment by Company without Cause, or (B) Executive’s resignation for Good Reason, Executive’s obligations pursuant to the Restrictive Covenant Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Executive and Company also agree that in the event Executive’s termination or resignation in accordance with this Section constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), Company, in addition to the Accrued Amounts for the Termination Period, will provide Executive:
(1) severance at a rate equal to Executive’s monthly base salary in effect at the time of such termination or resignation for a period of twelve (12) months (the “Severance Period”);
(2)any unpaid annual incentive bonus, if any, determined in Company’s sole discretion in accordance with the incentive bonus program established by Company for senior executives of Company (the “Incentive Bonus”), payable to Executive for the fiscal year that ended immediately preceding Executive’s termination of employment, regardless of any requirement that Executive be employed on the date of payment;
(3)if Executive (and Executive’s spouse or dependents, as applicable) timely elects to continue health, dental, and/or vision coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), Company will pay the full premium cost associated with such COBRA continuation coverage consistent with such coverages as are offered to then active employees until the earliest to occur of (i) the expiration of the Severance Period; (ii) the date Executive first becomes eligible for health, dental, or vision coverage with a subsequent employer; (iii) the date Executive is no longer eligible for continuation coverage under COBRA; or (iv) the date Executive violates the provisions of the Restrictive Covenant Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Company determines that it cannot provide the benefit required by this Paragraph (4) without potentially violating applicable law (including Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act) or incurring an excise tax, Company shall in lieu thereof provide to Executive a
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taxable monthly payment for the period described herein in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to continue Executive’s and Executive’s dependents’ COBRA continuation coverage based on the premium for the first month of COBRA continuation coverage; and
(4)an amount equal to Executive’s Incentive Bonus for the fiscal year of Executive’s termination of employment, assuming attainment of performance goals at target, multiplied by a fraction (not to exceed one), (i) the numerator of which equals the number of days during the current fiscal year that Executive was employed by Company through the Termination Date, and (ii) the denominator of which is 365.
(c)“Good Reason” means Executive’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) following the initial existence of one or more of the following conditions arising without Executive’s consent:
(1)a material adverse change of Executive’s position with Company that reduces Executive’s title, level of authority, duties, and/or responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the reduction;
(2)a reduction in base salary or target incentive compensation opportunity;
(3)any failure to provide that Executive is eligible to participate in Company benefit plans on a basis that is generally comparable to similarly-situated senior corporate officers of Company;
(4)a relocation of Executive’s principal worksite of more than 35 miles one way unless such relocation reduces Executive’s commute to such worksite; or
(5)any action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by Company of any employment agreement between Executive and Company, if applicable, or a material breach of this Agreement (including a failure to assume this Agreement by any successor to Company).
Within 30 days following the initial existence of a condition described above, Executive must provide written notice to Company of the existence of the condition, and Company must fail to remedy the condition within 120 days of receipt of such notice. If Company fails to remedy the condition, Executive must separate from service with Company within 30 days of the end of the 120-day cure period. If Executive does not separate from service with Company within such 30-day period, Executive will not have incurred a separation from service for Good Reason.
(a)For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall have the meaning set forth in the Neuronetics, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be
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Amended and Restated Restrictive Covenant and Severance Agreement – Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
amended from time to time (the “Equity Plan”); provided, however, that if any amounts under this Agreement are determined to be subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), then a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A.
(b)Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, if, during the three (3) month period immediately preceding, through the twelve (12) month period immediately following, the occurrence of a Change in Control, (A) Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause, or (B) Executive resigns for Good Reason, Company will provide Executive:
(1)the amounts described in Subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3) of Section 3.3(b) of this Agreement; provided, however, that the Severance Period shall be extended to twenty-four (24) months;
(2) an amount equal to Executive’s target Incentive Bonus for the fiscal year of Executive’s termination of employment, multiplied by 1.5; and
(3) immediate and full vesting (and the ability to exercise, if applicable) of all outstanding unvested restricted stock, stock options, and other equity incentives awarded to Executive by Company.
In the event Executive is entitled to payments pursuant to this Section 3.4, then this Section shall supersede Section 3.3 of this Agreement.
(a)Company shall not be obligated to make any severance payment to Executive under Section 3.3 or 3.4 of this Agreement until Executive has timely delivered to Company a separation agreement, which will include a release of all claims against Company and a non-disparagement clause in favor of Company, in form and substance satisfactory to Company (“Release”), no later than forty-five (45) days following the Termination Date.
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Amended and Restated Restrictive Covenant and Severance Agreement – Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
(b)The base salary and COBRA continuation severance payable pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 above shall be paid in substantially equal installments in accordance with Company’s payroll practices over the Severance Period; the Incentive Bonus severance described in Section 3.3(b)(2) above shall be paid in a single lump sum on the date Incentive Bonus payments are paid to employees generally; the Incentive Bonus severance described in Section 3.3(b)(4) and Section 3.4(b)(2) above shall be payable in a single lump sum commencing within the sixty (60) days immediately following the Termination Date; and any equity awards will be payable in accordance with the Equity Plan, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts will be paid pursuant to this Agreement unless and until the Release has become effective and irrevocable under all applicable law; provided, that if the period from the Termination Date until the date of payment can encompass two consecutive calendar years, payment will not be made until the later calendar year. The first payment after the Release has become effective shall include all amounts that would have been paid following the Termination Date had the Release been effective as of the Termination Date but which were not yet paid.
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Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Company commence payment or distribution to Executive of any amount that constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, earlier than the earliest permissible date under Code Section 409A that such amount could be paid or distributed without the imposition of additional taxes, interest, or penalties under Code Section 409A. If any payments or distributions are delayed pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, Company will accrue such amounts without interest during such period as the payment or distribution may be required to be deferred under Code Section 409A, and will become payable and be paid by Company in a lump-sum payment on the first business day that such amount could be paid or distributed without additional taxes, interest, or penalties being imposed under Code Section 409A.
9.2For purposes of determining whether any of the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (a) all of the Total Payments shall be
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Amended and Restated Restrictive Covenant and Severance Agreement – Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2), unless in the opinion of tax counsel (the “Tax Counsel”) reasonably acceptable to the Executive and selected by the accounting firm (the “Auditor”) which was, immediately prior to the Change in Control, the Company’s independent auditor, such other payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, including by reason of Code Section 280G(b)(4)(A), (b) all “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax unless, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(4)(B), in excess of the base amount allocable to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, and (c) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles set forth in Code Section 280G(d)(3) and (d)(4). Prior to the payment date set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement, Company shall provide the Executive with its calculation of the amounts referred to in this Section 9.2 and such supporting materials as are reasonably necessary for the Executive to evaluate Company’s calculations. If the Executive disputes Company’s calculations (in whole or in part), the reasonable opinion of Tax Counsel with respect to the matter in dispute shall prevail.
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Amended and Restated Restrictive Covenant and Severance Agreement – Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereto set their hand to this Agreement as set out below.
NEURONETICS, INC.
By:
Name: W. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title:Executive Vice President, General Counsel,
and Chief Compliance Officer
XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
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Amended and Restated Restrictive Covenant and Severance Agreement – Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
ATTEST:
By: Date:
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