EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), entered into as of June 21, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between Aziyo Biologics, Inc. (the “Company”) and C. Xxxxxx Xxxxx (the “Executive”) (collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, the Executive desires to provide services to the Company on the terms herein provided;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
(b) Compensation, Benefits, Etc.
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(A) On the Effective Date, the Executive shall be granted Options (as defined in the Equity Plan) to purchase 273,767 shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Equity Plan) at a price per share equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Equity Plan) of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant (the “Time Vesting Options”) and Options to purchase 182,511 shares of Common Stock at a price per share equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant (the “Performance Vesting Options”).
(B) As soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Date, and in any event no later than March 15, 2023, the Executive shall be granted Restricted Stock Units (as defined in the Equity Plan) covering 134,840 shares of Common Stock (the “Time Vesting RSUs”) and Restricted Stock Units covering 89,894 shares of Common Stock (the “Performance Vesting RSUs”).
(C) Subject to the Executive’s continued employment through each vesting date, (x) the Time Vesting Options and Time Vesting RSUs shall vest with respect to one-third of the shares covered thereby upon the day following the expiration of the Interim Period (provided that, if the Executive is willing to assume the role of non-interim President and CEO but the Company determines that he should not assume that role, such one-third Time Vesting Options and Time Vesting RSUs shall become vested notwithstanding the Executive’s termination of employment on or prior to the vesting date); (y) the remaining two-thirds of the shares covered by the Time Vesting Options shall vest (1) with respect to 25% of the shares covered thereby on the first anniversary of the Effective Date, and (2) with respect to 75% of the shares covered thereby in twelve equal quarterly installments, beginning on the first quarterly anniversary following the first anniversary of the Effective Date; and (z) the remaining two-thirds of the shares covered by the Time Vesting RSUs shall vest in four equal annual installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the Effective Date, such that 100% of the Time Vesting Options and Time Vesting RSUs shall be vested as of the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date. Subject to the Executive’s continued employment through each vesting date, the Performance Vesting Options and the Performance Vesting RSUs shall each vest in four equal installments upon the Company’s achievement of, respectively, a share price of $12.50, $17.00, $25.00 and $37.00, in each case, determined based on twenty consecutive days trading at or above the applicable threshold. In the event that the Company does not have adequate outstanding shares reserved under the Equity Plan to grant the Time Vesting RSUs and Performance Vesting RSUs prior to any applicable vesting date, any Restricted Stock Units that would have otherwise vested on such vesting date shall be vested on the grant date (which grant date, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be no later than March 15, 2023).
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(i) the Executive performing his duties in a grossly negligent or reckless manner or with willful malfeasance;
(ii) the Executive exhibiting habitual drunkenness or engaging in substance abuse;
(iii) the Executive committing any material violation of any state or federal law relating to the workplace environment (including, without limitation, laws relating to sexual harassment or age, sex or other prohibited discrimination); or any material violation of any material Company policy;
(iv) the Executive willfully failing or refusing to perform in the usual manner at the usual time those duties which he regularly and routinely performs in connection with the business of the Company or such other duties reasonably related to the capacity in which he is employed hereunder which may be assigned to him by the Board;
(v) the Executive performing any material action when specifically and reasonably instructed not to do so by the Chairman or the Board;
(vi) the Executive breaching Sections 7, 8 and 9 hereof;
(vii) the Executive committing any fraud or using or appropriating for his or her personal use or benefit any funds, properties or opportunities of the Company not authorized by the Board to be so used or appropriated; or
(viii) the Executive being convicted of any felony or any other crime related to his employment. or involving moral turpitude.
The Company shall not be entitled to terminate Executive for Cause pursuant to clause (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) unless the Company provides written notice stating in reasonable detail the basis for termination and a thirty (30) day opportunity to cure to Executive (unless (1) the Company reasonably determines that providing such opportunity to cure to Executive is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects or assets, (2) the facts and circumstances underlying such termination are not able to be cured or (3) the Company has previously provided Executive a thirty (30) day opportunity to cure the applicable issue; in the case of (1), (2) or (3), the Company may terminate Executive without providing an opportunity to cure).
(i) A material reduction in the Executive’s job responsibilities and duties for the Company;
(ii) A material reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary; or
(iii) a requirement imposed by the Company on the Executive that Executive’s principal place of employment be anywhere other than within a 50 mile radius of the Executive’s Principal Location, except for required travel on Company business to an extent substantially consistent with Executive's business travel obligations, that, in any such case, is not cured by the Company within fifteen (15) days after the Company’s receipt of written notice from the Executive of such event.
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(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be deemed to have resigned for Good Reason unless (1) the Executive provides the Company with written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed by the Executive to constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days after the date of the initial occurrence of any event that the Executive knows or should reasonably have known to constitute Good Reason, (2) the Company fails to cure such acts or omissions within thirty (30) days following its receipt of such notice, and (3) the effective date of the Executive’s termination for Good Reason occurs no later than sixty (60) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period.
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(ii) COBRA. The Company will pay the Executive a lump sum in cash, within 60 days following the Date of Termination, an amount equal to twelve (12) times the Company’s monthly charge in effect on the Date of Termination for continuation of coverage under the Company’s group health plan for the type of coverage in effect for the Executive (e.g., family coverage) on the Date of Termination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be a condition to the Executive’s right to receive the amounts provided for in Sections 4(a)(i), 4(a)(ii) and 4(a)(iii) hereof that the Executive execute and deliver to the Company an effective release of claims in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Release”), which the Company shall provide to the Executive within seven (7) days following the Date of Termination, within twenty-one (21) days (or, to the extent required by law, forty-five (45) days) following the Date of Termination and that the Executive not revoke such Release during any applicable revocation period.
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6. Excess Parachute Payments, Limitation on Payments.
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7. Nondisclosure and Nonuse of Confidential Information.
(a) The Executive’s employment creates a relationship of confidence and trust between the Company and the Executive with respect to any information that is applicable to the business of the Company or the affiliates, any information that is otherwise used, developed or obtained by the Company or any affiliate in connection with its business and any information that is applicable to the business of any client, customer or other commercial partner of the Company or the affiliates, which may be made known to the Executive or learned by the Executive in such context during the period of his employment with the Company. All such information, whether oral or written, has commercial value in the business in which the Company is engaged and is referred to herein as “Confidential Information”.
(b) The Company owns all right, title and interest in and to all Confidential Information. The Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest that he may have acquired or hereafter may acquire in all Confidential Information. The Executive shall, at all times, both during the Employment Period and after the termination of the Employment Period, keep in confidence and trust all Confidential Information and the Executive shall not use or disclose any Confidential Information except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing his duties as an employee of the Company. Upon termination of the Employment Period, or at any time upon the request of the Company before such termination, the Executive shall promptly (but no later than five (5) days after the earlier of such termination or such request) destroy or deliver to the Company, at the Company’s option, all Confidential Information in the Executive’s control or possession and a written certification of the Executive’s compliance with such obligations.
(c) the Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that neither his performance of the terms of this Agreement nor his employment with the Company will breach or conflict with any agreement, understanding, policy or other arrangement that he is a party to or otherwise subject to or bound by (including, without limitation, any such agreement, understanding, policy or arrangement (i) relating to nondisclosure or nonuse of proprietary information, knowledge or data or (ii) that otherwise assigns, licenses or otherwise transfers any interest in or to any Company Innovation (as defined below) to person or entity other than the Company). The Executive shall not disclose to the Company or otherwise use any confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any other person or entity.
(d) Notice of Immunity Under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, as amended by the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“DTSA”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:
(e) the Executive will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made: (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding.
(f) If the Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, the Executive may disclose the Company’s trade secrets to the Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding if the Executive: (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.
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(g) the Executive shall (i) comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including, without limitation, those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, e-mail systems, document storage systems, software licenses, data security, encryption, firewalls and passwords (the “Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (ii) not access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by the Company; and (iii) not access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary.
8. Inventions and Proprietary Rights.
(a) the Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he does not have any right, title or interest in or to any Innovation (as defined below) applicable to the business of the Company or relating in any way to the Company’s business or demonstrably anticipated research and development or business that were conceived, reduced to practice, created, derived, developed or made by the Executive prior to the date hereof.
(b) the Executive hereby agrees promptly to disclose and describe to the Company, and the Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest in and to, each of the Innovations and all associated intellectual property rights that the Executive may solely or jointly conceive, reduce to practice, create, derive, develop or make during the period of his employment with the Company that (i) relate to the Company’s or any affiliate’s business or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, (ii) were developed on any amount of the Company’s or any affiliate’s time or with the use of any of the Company’s or any affiliate’s materials, equipment, supplies, facilities or information or (iii) resulted from any work that the Executive performed for the Company or any affiliate (collectively, the “Company Innovations”). the Executive further acknowledges and agrees that all Company Innovations, including, without limitation, any computer programs, programming documentation, and other works of authorship, are “works made for hire” for purposes of the Company’s rights under copyright laws and the Executive hereby assigns to the Company any and all right, title and interest that the Executive may have acquired or may hereafter acquire in such Company Innovations. Any assignment of copyright hereunder includes all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights” (collectively “Moral Rights”). To the extent that such Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law and to the extent the following is allowed by the laws in the various countries where Moral Rights exist, the Executive hereby waives such Moral Rights and consents to any action of the Company and the affiliates that would violate such Moral Rights in the absence of such consent. The Executive shall confirm any such waivers and consents from time to time as requested by the Company. To the extent that any right, title or interest in or to any Company Innovation cannot be assigned by the Executive to the Company, the Executive hereby grants to the Company an exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, irrevocable, worldwide license (with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees) to practice such non-assignable right, title or interest. To the extent that any right, title or interest in or to any Company Innovation can be neither assigned nor licensed by the Executive to the Company, the Executive hereby irrevocably waives and agrees never to assert such non-assignable and non-licensable right, title or interest against the Company, any affiliate or any of their successors in interest to such non-assignable and non-licensable rights.
(c) the Executive recognizes that Innovations and Confidential Information relating to his activities while working for the Company and conceived, reduced to practice, created, derived, developed or made by the Executive, alone or with others, within six (6) months after termination of his employment with the Company may have been conceived, reduced to practice, created, derived, developed or made, as applicable, in significant part while employed by the Company. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that such Innovations and Confidential Information shall be presumed to have been conceived, reduced to practice, created, derived, developed or made, as applicable, during his employment with the Company and shall be assigned to the Company unless and until the Executive has established the contrary by written evidence satisfying the clear and convincing standard of proof.
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(d) the Executive shall perform, during and after his employment with the Company, all acts deemed necessary or desirable by the Company to permit and assist the Company, at the Company’s expense, in obtaining and enforcing the full benefits, enjoyment, rights and title throughout the world in the Confidential Information and Innovations assigned or licensed to, or whose rights are irrevocably waived and shall not be asserted against, the Company and the affiliates under this Agreement. Such acts may include, but are not limited to, execution of documents and assistance or cooperation (i) in the filing, prosecution, registration, and memorialization of assignment of any applicable patents, copyrights, mask works or other applications, (ii) in the enforcement of any applicable patents, copyrights, mask works, Moral Rights, trade secrets or other rights, and (iii) in other legal proceedings related to the Confidential Information or Innovations.
(e) In the event that the Company is unable for any reason to secure the Executive’s signature to any document required to file, prosecute, register, or memorialize the assignment of any patent, copyright, mask work or other applications or to enforce any patent, copyright, mask work, Moral Right, trade secret or other right under any Confidential Information (including improvements thereof) or any Innovations (including derivative works, improvements, renewals, extensions, continuations, divisionals, continuations in part, continuing patent applications, reissues, and reexaminations thereof), the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and the Company’s duly authorized officers and agents as his agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and on his behalf and instead of the Executive (i) to execute, file, prosecute, register and memorialize the assignment of any such application, (ii) to execute and file any documentation required for such enforcement and (iii) to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the filing, prosecution, registration, memorialization of assignment, issuance, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, mask works, Moral Rights, trade secrets or other rights under the Confidential Information or Innovations, all with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.
(f) The term “Innovations” means all processes, improvements, inventions (whether or not protectable under patent laws), works of authorship, information fixed in any tangible medium of expression (whether or not protectable under copyright laws), moral rights, mask works, trademarks, trade names, trade dress, trade secrets, know-how, ideas (whether or not protectable under trade secret laws) and all other subject matter protectable under patent, copyright, moral right, mask work, trademark, trade secret or other laws and includes, without limitation, all new or useful art, combinations, designs, developments, modifications, derivative works, discoveries, formulae, techniques and all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing.
(g) The Executive hereby irrevocably consents to any and all uses and displays, by the Company and its affiliates, agents, representatives and licensees, of the Executive’s name, voice, likeness, image, appearance, and biographical information in, on or in connection with any pictures, photographs, audio and video recordings, digital images, websites, television programs and advertising, other advertising and publicity, sales and marketing brochures, books, magazines, other publications, CDs, DVDs, tapes, and all other printed and electronic forms and media throughout the world, at any time during but not after the period of his employment by the Company, for all legitimate commercial and business purposes of the Company (“Permitted Uses”) without further consent from or royalty, payment, or other compensation to the Executive. the Executive hereby forever waives and releases the Company and its directors, managing members, officers, employees and agents from any and all claims, actions, damages, losses, costs, expenses, and liability of any kind, arising under any legal or equitable theory whatsoever at any time during or after the period of his employment by the Company, arising directly or indirectly from the Company’s and its affiliates’, agents’, representatives’ and licensees’ exercise of their rights in connection with any Permitted Uses.
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9. Non-Compete; Non-Solicitation.
(a) The Executive acknowledges that, in the course of his employment with the Company and/or the Restricted Affiliates (as defined below), he has become familiar, or will become familiar, with trade secrets and with other confidential information concerning the Company and the Restricted Affiliates and that his services have been and will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and the Restricted Affiliates. the Executive understands that the following restrictions may limit his ability to earn a livelihood in a business similar to the business of the Company or any of the Restricted Affiliates, but he nevertheless believes that he will receive sufficient consideration and other benefits as an equity holder and an employee of the Company and as otherwise provided hereunder to clearly justify such restrictions which, in any event (given his education, skills and ability), the Executive does not believe would prevent him from otherwise earning a living. The Executive further understands that the provisions of Sections 7 through 9, inclusive, are reasonable and necessary to preserve the business of the Company and the Restricted Affiliates. “Restricted Affiliate” means any affiliate for which, during the twenty-four (24) month period preceding the Termination Date, the Executive served as an officer or director or the Executive provided any material services.
(b) In light of Section 9(a), the Executive agrees that while the Executive is employed by the Company, he shall not directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, control, finance or invest in, participate in, consult with, render services for, act as an officer, director, manager, partner, principal, agent, representative, contractor or advisor of or to, or in any manner engage in or be associated with, hold any interest in, be employed by or represent any other business competing with the businesses or the services or products of the Company or the Restricted Affiliates as such businesses and/or services or products exist or are in the process of being formed, developed or acquired as of the Termination Date. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation.
(c) Furthermore, in light of Section 9(a), the Executive agrees that:
(i) while the Executive is employed by the Company and for twelve (12) months thereafter, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another person or entity: (x) induce or attempt to induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company or any Restricted Affiliate to leave the employ of or engagement with the Company or such Restricted Affiliate, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any such Restricted Affiliate, on the one hand, and any employee or independent contractor thereof, on the other hand; or (y) hire or engage any person who was an employee or independent contractor of the Company until twelve months after such individual’s relationship with the Company or any Restricted Affiliate has been terminated; provided, that hiring or engaging an employee or independent contractor who responded to an advertisement of job openings by use of newspapers, magazines, or other media not directed at individual prospective employees or independent contractors covered by this Section 9(c) shall not violate this Section 9(c)(i); provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 9(c)(i) shall not apply with respect to those employees or independent contractors who joined the Company or any Restricted Affiliate as a result of a pre-existing professional relationship with the Executive that was foundational to their current role with the Company or Restricted Affiliate and who are set forth on Exhibit C of this Agreement (which Exhibit C may be updated from time to time with the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld)); and
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(ii) while the Executive is employed by the Company, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another person or entity: (x) induce or attempt to induce any customer (it being understood that the term “customer” as used throughout this Agreement includes any person or entity that is receiving services from the Company or any Restricted Affiliate or that is directly or indirectly providing or referring business for the Company or any Restricted Affiliate), supplier, independent contractor, licensee or other business relation of the Company or any Restricted Affiliate to cease doing business with the Company or any Restricted Affiliate, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, independent contractor, licensee or business relation, on the one hand, and the Company or any Restricted Affiliate, on the other hand; or (y) solicit any customer of the Company or any Restricted Affiliate in order to offer products or services similar to those offered by the Company or any Restricted Affiliate.
(d) The Executive shall inform any prospective or future employer of any and all restrictions contained in Section 9 of this Agreement that have the potential to impact Executive’s ability to perform the duties of the position for which he is being considered or hired and may provide such employer with a copy of such restrictions (but no other terms of this Agreement) prior to the commencement of that employment.
(e) If, at the time of enforcement of Section 9, a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under the circumstances then existing, the Executive and the Company agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or area so as to protect the Company to the greatest extent possible under applicable law from improper competition.
(f) In the event of any breach or violation by the Executive of any of the restrictions contained in Section 9, any time period specified herein shall xxxxx during the time of any such breach or violation thereof and that portion remaining at the time of commencement of any such breach or violation shall not begin to run until such breach or violation has been cured in all respects.
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(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.
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If to the Executive: at the Executive’s most recent address on the records of the Company
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention Xxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
If to the Company:
Aziyo Biologics, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 0-000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Board of Directors
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxxx
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.
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(i) To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder (together, “Section 409A”). This Agreement shall be interpreted and administered to maximize the exemptions from Section 409A and, to the extent this Agreement provides for deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, to comply with Section 409A and to avoid the imposition of tax, interest and/or penalties upon the Executive under Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company determines that any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement may be subject to Section 409A, the Company shall work in good faith with the Executive to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A, including without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A, and/or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however, that this Section 10(d) shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so.
(ii) Any right to a series of installment payments pursuant to this Agreement is to be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. To the extent permitted under Section 409A, any separate payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be deemed “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) or any other applicable exception or provision of Section 409A. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A, in no event may the Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the taxable year of payment. In particular, any payments subject to Section 409A that are subject to execution of a waiver and release which may be executed and/or revoked in a calendar year following the calendar year in which the payment event (such as termination of employment) occurs shall commence payment only in the calendar year in which the consideration period or, if applicable, release revocation period ends, as necessary to comply with Section 409A. All payments of nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement may only be made upon Employee’s “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A, a “Separation from Service”).
(iii) To the extent that any payments or reimbursements provided to the Executive under this Agreement are deemed to constitute compensation to the Executive to which Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) would apply, subject to any shorter period of time provided in any Company expense reimbursement policy or in this Agreement, such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed reasonably promptly, but not later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred. Any such amount eligible for payment or reimbursement in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and the Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement of any such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
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[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
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AZIYO BIOLOGICS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Title: Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||
EXECUTIVE | ||
/s/ C. Xxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx |
X-0
EXHIBIT A
eXpanded eXistence, LLC
EXHIBIT B
For valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned does hereby release and forever discharge the “Releasees” hereunder, consisting of Aziyo Biologics, Inc., and its partners, subsidiaries, associates, affiliates, successors, heirs, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, lawyers, insurers, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, attorneys’ fees or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent (hereinafter called “Claims”), which the undersigned now has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date hereof. The Claims released herein include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims in any way arising out of, based upon, or related to the employment or termination of employment of the undersigned by the Releasees, or any of them; any alleged breach of any express or implied contract of employment; any alleged torts or other alleged legal restrictions on Releasees’ right to terminate the employment of the undersigned; and any alleged violation of any federal, state or local statute or ordinance including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination In Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and [__].1 Notwithstanding the foregoing, this general release (the “Release”) shall not operate to release any rights or claims of the undersigned (i) to payments or benefits under Section 4(a) of that certain Employment Agreement, effective as of June 21, 2022, between Aziyo Biologics, Inc. and the undersigned (the “Employment Agreement”), (ii) to payments or benefits under any equity award agreement between the undersigned and the Company, (iii) with respect to Section 2(b)(iv) of the Employment Agreement, (iv) to accrued or vested benefits the undersigned may have, if any, as of the date hereof under any applicable plan, policy, practice, program, contract or agreement with the Company, (v) to any Claims, including claims for indemnification and/or advancement of expenses arising under any indemnification agreement between the undersigned and the Company or under the bylaws, certificate of incorporation or other similar governing document of the Company, (vi) to any Claims which cannot be waived by an employee under applicable law or (vii) with respect to the undersigned’s right to communicate directly with, cooperate with, or provide information to, any federal, state or local government regulator.
[IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT OF 1990, THE UNDERSIGNED IS HEREBY ADVISED AS FOLLOWS:
(A) THE EXECUTIVE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE;
(B) THE EXECUTIVE HAS TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS RELEASE BEFORE SIGNING IT; AND
(C) THE EXECUTIVE HAS SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER SIGNING THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE THIS RELEASE, AND THIS RELEASE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THAT REVOCATION PERIOD.]
The undersigned represents and warrants that there has been no assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim which the Executive may have against Releasees, or any of them, and the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold Releasees, and each of them, harmless from any liability, Claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees, or any of them, as the result of any such assignment or transfer or any rights or Claims under any such assignment or transfer. It is the intention of the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by the Releasees against the undersigned under this indemnity.
1 Applicable state law references to be included.
Notwithstanding anything herein, the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that, pursuant to 18 USC Section 1833(b), the undersigned will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made: (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.
The undersigned agrees that if the Executive hereafter commences any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any of the Claims released hereunder or in any manner asserts against Releasees, or any of them, any of the Claims released hereunder, then the undersigned agrees to pay to Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other damages caused to Releasees thereby, all attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to said suit or Claim.
The undersigned further understands and agrees that neither the payment of any sum of money nor the execution of this Release shall constitute or be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever by the Releasees, or any of them, who have consistently taken the position that they have no liability whatsoever to the undersigned.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Release this ____ day of ___________, ____.
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