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EXHIBIT 10.37
AGREEMENT FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT
AND MUTUAL RELEASE
This Agreement for Part-Time Employment and Mutual Release is made and
entered into by and between Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, M.D., Ph.D., an individual ("Xx. Xxxx"), as
of this 25th day of August, 1999.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Xx. Xxxx was the founder of the Company and served as its Chief
Executive Officer since its inception in 1991; and
WHEREAS, Xx. Xxxx is the inventor of certain inventions within the
Company's intellectual property estate; and
WHEREAS, Xx. Xxxx is holder of a substantial amount of the Company's common
stock; and
WHEREAS, Xx. Xxxx and the Company were party to an Employment Agreement
dated February 11, 1999 (the Employment Agreement"), which, except as relates to
its paragraphs 6, 7 and 9 as provided herein, has been terminated and is no
longer in force and effect; and
WHEREAS, Xx. Xxxx and the Company desire to resolve amicably all disputes
and controversies between them and enter a Mutual Release; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires Xx. Xxxx to provide services for it as a
part-time employee; and
WHEREAS, Xx. Xxxx desires to provide services to the Company as a part-time
employee;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements set forth herein, Xx. Xxxx and the Company, intending to be
legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Part-Time Employment. Xx. Xxxx will, as a part-time employee, provide
services to the Company or to others such as Nycomed Imaging A/S as reasonably
directed by the Company consistent with the terms of this Agreement, for a
period of thirty-six (36) months on such projects which are consistent with Xx.
Xxxx'x expertise and which are reasonably requested by the Company from time to
time, pertaining to the following: (A) obtaining issuance of suitable patents on
its currently pending patent applications, as well as subsequent continuation or
continuation-in-part applications of the Company, and any applications that may
be filed by or for the Company on recent discoveries relating to * (herein,
collectively, the "Sonus Patents"), including providing assistance in connection
with proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, (B) asserting rights
* Confidential portions omitted and filed
separately with the Commission.
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against potential infringers of the Sonus Patents, including providing
cooperation and assistance in proceedings and litigation relating thereto, (C)
participating and providing assistance in the design and development of research
projects and associated intellectual property strategies relating to the Sonus
Patents, and (D) participating and providing assistance in strategies relating
to licensing and maximizing the economic value of the Company's intellectual
property estate as it currently exists. Xx. Xxxx'x activities may address other
matters as the parties may mutually agree.
(A) Through December 31, 1999, Xx. Xxxx will be available to
provide these services for up to 144 hours per calendar quarter (or a pro rata
amount for any partial calendar quarter) as requested by the Company consistent
with "C" below. During the remainder of the part-time employment, Xx. Xxxx will
be available for up to 80 hours per calendar quarter (or a pro rata amount for
any partial calendar quarter) as requested by the Company consistent with "C"
below.
(B) In consideration for providing these services, Xx. Xxxx will
receive salary/wages as follows:
(i) Through December 31, 1999, Xx. Xxxx will receive his salary in
effect under the Employment Agreement on and prior to July 7,
1999, payable on the normal Company pay days (and the Company
shall pay Xx. Xxxx on the first pay day after execution of this
Agreement an amount equal to any unpaid salary for any portion of
1999 to the date of this Agreement) so that, by the end of 1999,
or by the first regular Company pay day thereafter, Xx. Xxxx
shall have received an amount of salary paid heretofore to him in
the first portion of 1999 and to be paid to him hereunder for the
second portion of 1999 equal to what his salary would have been
for all of 1999 under the Employment Agreement.
(ii) For the remainder of the part-time employment, Xx. Xxxx shall
receive wages in the amount of $250 per hour for services
requested by the Company, with a minimum service period of one
hour per inquiry (i.e. for each request by the Company and each
additional inquiry by the Company requiring separate devotion of
time by Xx. Xxxx).
(C) The Company and Xx. Xxxx shall work together in scheduling
his services as a part-time employee at times mutually convenient to Xx. Xxxx
and the Company and which will accommodate Xx. Xxxx'x other commitments and
activities. Xx. Xxxx will generally provide these services from his home or
other location of his choice during regular business hours. Subject to such
accommodation, the Company may request, from time to time, that Xx. Xxxx provide
the services at other locations or travel to other locations; for example, in
connection with negotiations or proceedings with third parties. In connection
with the rendering of any services as a part-time employee, travel time shall be
considered employment time and Xx. Xxxx will be reimbursed for all of his
reasonable travel, lodging, meals and other expenses
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upon submission of reasonable documentation thereof and subject to such
reasonable limitations on first class travel or accommodations as the Company
may impose on all of its executive officers and directors and communicate in
writing to Xx. Xxxx.
2. Stock Options. The Company confirms that during Xx. Xxxx'x part-time
employment hereunder those options under Xx. Xxxx'x existing stock option
agreements (which shall remain in full force and effect) will continue to vest
and will remain exercisable for the period of such part time employment and for
the period thereafter provided in such option agreements. Xx. Xxxx shall not be
deemed a full-time employee under the Change in Control Agreement dated February
11, 1999 and, accordingly, that agreement shall be deemed to have terminated as
of July 7, 1999.
3. Benefits. Xx. Xxxx will retain the employee welfare benefits under the
Company's health, dental or other welfare benefit plans (or the equivalent
thereof), through December 31, 1999. Xx. Xxxx will be deemed to satisfy a 24
hour or more per week requirement under such plans. After December 31, 1999, Xx.
Xxxx and his family may continue such coverage at his/their own expense if and
for as long as such coverage may be permitted under COBRA.
4. Xx. Xxxx'x Shares of Common Stock of Sonus.
(A) Xx. Xxxx confirms that for so long as he remains a Director of
the Company, he shall be subject to the Company's uniform blackout policies
regarding sales of shares by insiders to the extent they are applicable to all
Directors. The Company represents: (i) that those policies, as currently in
effect and applicable to all directors, are set forth in Exhibit A hereto; (ii)
that the Company will provide Xx. Xxxx promptly after the date hereof with
revised versions of Exhibit A which shall set forth such policies applicable to
all Directors with any changes and amendments as may be made from time to time
and any exceptions as may be made for any other Directors; (iii) that such
policies shall be enforced uniformly as to all Directors. In addition, to the
extent that Xx. Xxxx is aware of or possesses material inside information as a
result of his directorship or part-time employment with the Company, he shall
comply with all applicable securities laws.
(B) In the event Xx. Xxxx desires to sell any of his shares of common
stock of the Company, including without limitation, shares of common stock
issuable upon exercise of options, the Company and Xx. Xxxx agree to mutually
consult and cooperate in effecting any such resales of shares by Xx. Xxxx with a
view to minimizing any material adverse impact on the market for the shares to
the extent practicable, provided that the Company shall not be entitled to block
or prevent sales Xx. Xxxx intends to make consistent with paragraph (A) above.
In this regard, the Company agrees to use its reasonable efforts to assist Xx.
Xxxx in any such sales, including without limitation, facilitating off-market
block trades with the assistance of the Company's market makers. In addition,
the parties agree to mutually consult on a
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continual basis as to means and methods by which sales of shares of common stock
may be most readily made consistent with obtaining the best price and not
materially adversely impacting the market price and otherwise render reasonable
assistance to Xx. Xxxx in connection therewith.
(C) The Company confirms the existing Fourth Amended and Restated
Registration Rights Agreement dated 1999 ("Registration Rights Agreement") as it
applies to shares of common stock held by Xx. Xxxx. In addition, the Company
confirms the effectiveness of one or more S-8 registration statements relating
to the shares of common stock subject to options held by Xx. Xxxx; it being
understood, however, that such S-8 registration statements may not be available
for resale of shares by "affiliates" as provided under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Act"). The
Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to maintain the
effectiveness of such registration statements. In the event that Xx. Xxxx wishes
to sell shares of the Company in a manner not available to an "Affiliate" as
defined under the Act, he will so inform the Company. In such event, if the
Company, after consultation with counsel, advises Xx. Xxxx in writing that it
believes in good faith that "Affiliate" status under the Act quite possibly
continues to exist as to Xx. Xxxx, Xx. Xxxx may provide to the Company an
opinion of counsel (which may be from Blanc Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Kronstadt, LLP,
or other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company), stating that Xx. Xxxx is
not, at that time, an "Affiliate" under the Act, and the Company will act
accordingly. The Company shall pay fifty percent (50%) of the reasonable costs
actually incurred in obtaining such legal opinion. The Company agrees not to
assert that Xx. Xxxx is an "Affiliate" of the Company under the Act solely
because of his part-time employment with the Company.
(D) In the event that the Company proposes to effect any private
placement of shares in a capital raising transaction, during the term of this
Agreement for Part-Time Employment, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts
to include a portion of the shares of common stock held by Xx. Xxxx to the
extent practical; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation
to include such shares held by Xx. Xxxx to the extent (i) the Company certifies
in writing to Xx. Xxxx that such inclusion would have a materially adverse
impact on the Company's working capital requirements or jeopardize the Company's
satisfaction of listing requirements under the Nasdaq National Market System or
(ii) the placement agent retained by the Company in connection with the private
placement certifies in writing to Xx. Xxxx that such inclusion would otherwise
jeopardize the completion of the private placement.
5. Publicity. The parties hereby agree not to disparage each other. In
addition, neither party shall make any public announcement relating to the
transactions provided for herein or the change of Xx. Xxxx'x relationship with
the Company from full-time to part-time employment without the prior written
consent of the other party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided,
however, that the Company may, after affording Xx. Xxxx 00 hours after his
receipt thereof to review and comment, make such public disclosures concerning
these matters as may be required under the applicable securities laws, including
without limitation, the filing of this Agreement as an exhibit to the Company's
filings under the Act if it first provides Xx. Xxxx with written advice from its
securities counsel that such counsel, after review, believes such
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filing is required.
6. Covenants Against Actions Damaging the Company; Noncompetition. Xx.
Xxxx hereby confirms that the covenants set forth in paragraphs 6, 7 and 9 of
the Employment Agreement remain in full force and effect during the 36 month
term of part-time employment and for the periods thereafter as specifically
provided in such sections, except that Xx. Xxxx shall not be required to
disclose to the Company any inventions which he develops or discovers during the
term of this Agreement for Part-Time Employment or thereafter. In addition, for
the purposes of paragraph 9, the business of the Company shall mean ultrasound
contrast agents and Vitamin E emulsion technology for drug delivery (hereinafter
referred to as the "Business"); and Xx. Xxxx shall not be deemed to be in
violation of the paragraph 9 non-compete merely because of entering into a
business arrangement, including a licensing, partnership, employment,
consulting, agency or similar arrangement, with an established entity whose
business does not primarily consist of but includes activities competitive with
the Business, provided that Xx. Xxxx'x activities with respect to such entity do
not directly or indirectly relate to the Business. Xx. Xxxx confirms that the
provisions of paragraph 9 of the Employment Agreement shall preclude any
activities by Xx. Xxxx that may assist any third party in challenging the
patents or intellectual property estate of the Company, provided however, that
truthful testimony given by Xx. Xxxx pursuant to subpoena, court order or other
compulsory legal process shall not violate the provisions of paragraph 9 of the
Employment Agreement and, provided further, that nothing herein is intended to
prevent Xx. Xxxx from providing truthful testimony pursuant to such process. Xx.
Xxxx further specifically agrees not to assist or otherwise take any actions on
behalf of any third party that are adverse to the Company with respect to the
Sonus Patents or that are adverse, with respect to the Sonus Patents, to the
Company's current or future licensees and/or licensors, in any litigation or
administrative proceeding relating to those Patents. The Company acknowledges
that it has been provided with a copy of U.S. Patent No. 5,798,266, entitled,
"Methods and Kits for Obtaining and Assaying Mammary Fluid Samples from Breast
Diseases, Including Cancer," Xxxxxxxxx: Xxxx, XX, Xxxx XX; issued August 25,
1998 (assigned to K-QUAY Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware LLC formed by Xx. Xxxx)
and has asserted no interest therein.
7. Mutual Releases. Except for the obligations arising under this
Agreement (including the provisions of paragraphs 6, 7 (as amended above) and 9
(as amended above) of the Employment Agreement and the Registration Rights
Agreement and the stock option agreements described in Section 2 above) and the
indemnity agreement between Xx. Xxxx and the Company, (and any indemnity
provisions in the Company's charter documents) Xx. Xxxx, for himself and for his
heirs, executors, legal successors and assigns, hereby releases and absolutely
and forever discharges the Company and its affiliates, and each of their
respective past and present officers, directors, shareholders, employees,
insurers, attorneys and agents, and each of them, and each of their respective
legal predecessors, successors and assigns ("Sonus Releasees") of and from any
and all claims, demands, promises, contracts, damages, debts, liabilities,
accounts, costs, actions and causes of action of every kind and nature, whether
now known or unknown, accrued or unaccrued, suspected or unsuspected, matured or
unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, contingent or noncontingent, which he may
now have, has had, or may hereafter have against Sonus Releasees arising out of
any matter or event occurring prior to the date of this Agreement,
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including but not limited to, claims arising out of or with respect to the
Employment Agreement, his employment by the Company and/or other Sonus
Releasees, and any purported termination of such employment thereafter,
including (a) any discrimination claim, or (b) any claim, known or unknown, for
wrongful termination, or (c) any other claim, whether in tort, contract or
otherwise; and the Company and its affiliates, for themselves and their
respective legal predecessors, successors and assigns, hereby release and
absolutely and forever discharge Xx. Xxxx and his heirs, legal successors,
assigns, of and from any and all claims, demands, damages, promises, contracts,
debts, liabilities, accounts, costs, actions and causes of action of every kind
and nature, whether now known or unknown, accrued or unaccrued, suspected or
unsuspected, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, contingent or
noncontingent, which they may now have, have had, or may hereafter have against
Xx. Xxxx and his heirs, legal successors, assigns, insurers, attorneys, and/or
agents, and each of them and each of their respective legal predecessors,
successors and assigns arising out of any matter or event occurring prior to the
date of this Agreement including but not limited to, all claims whether in tort,
contract or otherwise. The Company represents that as of the date hereof, it
does not have knowledge of any claim or facts giving rise thereto, against Xx.
Xxxx under the Sections 6, 7 or 9 of the Employment Agreement.
Xx. Xxxx and the Company hereby agree that they will not make, assert or
maintain against any entity or person that has been released in this Agreement,
any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding thereof, arising out of or in
connection with the matters herein so released. Furthermore, Xx. Xxxx and the
Company hereby represent and warrant that they have not heretofore assigned or
transferred or purported to assign or transfer to any person, firm, or other
entity, any claim, demand, debt, liability, account, cost, action or cause of
action hereinabove released.
The parties hereto acknowledge that statutory and/or case law in some
states limits the effectiveness of releases of unknown claims. Nevertheless,
they have bargained for such a broad and effective release and hereby waive the
benefits of such statutory and/or case law, intending that the above releases
have broad effect consistent with their wording.
8. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(A) Notices. Any notice given hereunder to the Company or to Xx. Xxxx
shall be deemed sufficiently given if mailed by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or sent by
overnight delivery service, or by facsimile (with machine confirmation
and hard copy following by mail) as follows:
If to the Company:
Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
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Facsimile number: 000 000-0000
If to Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, M.D., Ph.D.:
00000 Xxxxxxx 00, Xxxxx X-000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile number: [603] 816-9696
or to such other address or fax number as shall have been provided by
the party to whom such notice is directed by notice to the other party
hereto in accordance with this section. Except as otherwise provided
herein, such notice shall be deemed effective when delivered in person
(including by express courier), when sent by facsimile (with machine
confirmation and with hard copy following by mail) or three days after
being mailed.
(B) Governing Law. This Agreement is made under and shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Washington, applicable to agreements made between residents of that
state and providing for performance there.
(C) Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any duties or obligations
under this Agreement may be assigned to by either party without the
prior written consent of the other party, provided however, the
Company may assign this Agreement in connection with any sale or
transfer of the business to which it relates, whether by merger, sale
of assets, sale of stock or otherwise.
(D) Attorneys' Fees. If any action is brought to enforce or interpret
the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing party in such action
will be entitled to its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred,
in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
(E) Waiver of Breach. The waiver of either party of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a
waiver of any subsequent breach of this Agreement.
(F) Severability. To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall
be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom
and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be
unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance
and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or the
geographical extent of or business activities covered by any provision
of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable
under applicable law, then such provision shall be construed to cover
only the maximum duration, extent or activities which may validly and
enforceably be covered under applicable law. Xx. Xxxx acknowledges the
uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that
this Agreement shall be given the construction which renders its
provisions valid and enforceable
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to the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under
applicable law.
(G) Authority. Each individual signing for each of the parties herein
warrants and represents that he is an authorized agent of such party,
for whose benefit he is executing this Agreement, and is authorized to
execute the same.
(H) Further Assurances. Each party agrees to execute such other and
further instruments and documents as may be necessary or proper in
order to complete the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(I) Amendments. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall
be deemed effective unless made in writing signed by the parties
hereto.
(J) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by
facsimile, in which case it shall be effective when so executed and
delivered, and the parties agree to exchange hard copy signature pages
as soon thereafter as feasible. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but
all of which together shall constitute one in the same instrument.
(K) Integration. Xx. Xxxx and the Company agree that this Agreement
for Part-Time Employment and Mutual Release is the sole agreement
between them regarding the subject matter herein and embodies all
terms, promises, representations, and understanding regarding the
subject matter herein, and that no representations, inducements, or
promises have been made except as expressly stated herein.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date and year set forth above.
SONUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware
corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President and
Chief Executive Officer
XXXXXX X. XXXX, M.D., Ph.D.
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
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