EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the day of , 2011 by and between Synergy Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” and the Company and any affiliate to which the Company may assign the Merger Agreement (as defined below), “Parent”) and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (the “Executive”), and will become effective upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of , 2011 (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among, Company, FS Merger Sub, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent (the “Subsidiary”), fusionstorm, a Delaware corporation (“FS”). The date of such closing is herein referred to as the “Effective Date.” Capitalized terms used, and not otherwise defined, herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Merger Agreement.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Subsidiary will merge (the “Merger”) with and into FS and FS will be the surviving corporation of such Merger;
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of Parent and FS to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement that the Executive enter into and be bound by an employment agreement with the Parent under which the Executive will become an employee of the Parent as of the Effective Date;
WHEREAS, Executive desires to have assurances of continued employment after the closing of the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, in consideration of the continued employment of the Executive and the benefits conferred on the Executive hereunder, the Parent wishes to be assured that the Executive will not compete with the Parent and its Affiliates (collectively, the “Parent Group”) during the period described herein;
WHEREAS, the Executive expressly acknowledges and recognizes that only by virtue of his employment with the Parent he will be privy to the Parent Group’s confidential and proprietary business, vendor and customer information, to which the Executive would otherwise not have access, and that such information constitutes a valuable and protectable interest of the Parent Group; and
WHEREAS, the Parent and the Executive acknowledge and agree that, the Parent will only agree to provide employment to the Executive in consideration for the terms and conditions set forth in this Employment Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1) | Duties and Scope of Employment. |
| a) | Position and Duties. Executive will serve as the Parent’s Chief Executive Officer and as the President of FS. Executive will continue to render such business and professional services in the performance of Executive’s duties, consistent with Executive’s position within the Parent and FS, as will reasonably be assigned to him by the Parent’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or the Board of Directors of FS (the “FS Board”). In such capacity, the Executive shall perform such services and duties in connection with the business, affairs and operations of the Parent as may be assigned or delegated to the Executive from time to time by or under the authority of the Board or the FS Board. All duties assigned to Executive shall be generally consistent with those he provided to FS prior to the Merger, commensurate with his status as Chief Executive Officer of the Parent, and not in violation of applicable law or established Parent policies. |
| b) | Extent of Service. During the Executive’s employment under this Agreement, the Executive shall, subject to the direction and supervision of the Board, devote the Executive’s full business time, diligent efforts and business judgment, skill and knowledge to the advancement of the Parent’s interests, FS’s interests and to the discharge of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities |
| under this Agreement. The Executive shall not engage in any other business activity, except as may be approved by the Board; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as preventing the Executive from: |
| i) | investing the Executive’s assets in any company or other entity in a manner not prohibited by Section 9(d) hereof; or |
| ii) | engaging in religious, charitable or other community or non-profit activities that do not impair the Executive’s ability to fulfill the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. |
| c) | Transition Period and Change of Principal Office. During the period from the Effective Date until and including June 30, 2012 (the “Transition Period”), the principal executive office at which the Executive performs services for Parent and FS will be FS’s offices at Two Xxxxxx Street, San Francisco, California; provided that during such Transition Period the Executive shall make himself available to perform such services at Parent’s executive offices in Massachusetts at such times and on such days as may be reasonably requested by the Chairman of the Board. From and after July 1, 2012, the principal executive office at which the Executive performs his services for Parent and FS shall be Parent’s principal executive offices in Massachusetts. |
| 2) | At-Will Employment. The parties agree that Executive’s employment with the Parent will be “at-will” employment and may be terminated by either the Parent or Executive at any time with or without cause or notice. Executive understands and agrees that neither Executive’s job performance nor promotions, commendations, bonuses or the like from the Parent give rise to or in any way serve as the basis for modification, amendment, or extension, by implication or otherwise, of the at- will nature of Executive’s employment with the Parent. However, as described in this Agreement, Executive may be entitled to severance pay and related benefits depending on the circumstances of Executive’s termination of employment with the Parent. |
| 3) | Term of Agreement. This Agreement will have an initial term (the “Initial Term”) beginning on the Effective Date and ending December 31, 2014, unless earlier terminated in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement. On December 31, 2014 and on each December 31 thereafter, this Agreement will automatically renew for additional one (1) year terms unless either party provides the other party with written notice of non-renewal at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of automatic renewal. The Initial Term and any renewal or extension thereof are referred to herein as the “Term.” If Executive becomes entitled to severance benefits pursuant to Section 5 hereof, this Agreement will not terminate until all of the obligations under this Agreement have been satisfied. |
| 4) | Compensation. |
| a) | Base Salary. During the Term, the Parent will pay Executive an annual salary of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($500,000.00) as compensation for Executive’s services (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary will be paid periodically in accordance with Parent’s normal payroll practices for its senior executives. On an annual basis, Executive’s salary will be subject to review and possible increase, which will be determined by the Board following recommendation by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) in connection with the Parent’s normal performance review practices. The increased salary resulting from any increases to the initial Base Salary shall be referred to herein as the “Base Salary.” |
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| b) | Bonuses. The Executive shall be eligible to receive bonuses as set forth in this Section 4(b): |
| i) | With respect to the period from the date of the Merger Agreement to December 31, 2011, in consideration of the Executive’s diligent delivery of business and professional services on behalf of Parent in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the IPO, the Executive will be eligible to receive a bonus in the amount of $250,000. Such bonus shall be deemed to have been earned as of the date of the closing of the IPO, and shall be paid in accordance with Parent’s practices for the payment of bonuses for the year ended December 31, 2011 to other Senior Executives and in any event, not later than March 31, 2012. |
| ii) | With respect to the years ending on December 31, 2012 or on any December 31 occurring thereafter, Parent will maintain a bonus plan providing for potential annual bonuses for Executive up to 100% of Executive’s Base Salary. The parameters for earning such bonus each year shall be agreed upon in advance by Parent and Executive and such bonus plan will specify the portion of such bonus which would be earned for specified performance metrics. Payment of such bonus shall be made in accordance with Parent’s practices for the payment of bonuses to Senior Executives and in any event shall be paid not later than ninety (90) days after the end of the year to which such bonus relates. |
| iii) | Executive will be eligible to participate in any other bonus plans or programs maintained from time to time by the Parent for the Parent Group on such terms and conditions as provided to other Senior Executives of the Parent, as determined by the Board or the Committee. For purposes of this Agreement, “Senior Executive” shall mean the Parent’s officers under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| c) | Equity Awards. On the Effective Date, the Parent shall grant Executive an option to purchase that number shares of Parent stock equal to two and eight-tenths percent (2.8%) of Parent’s issued and outstanding common stock immediately after the closing of the IPO, such options shall have a ten year term, the exercise price per share under such option grant shall be equal to the IPO Price and the right to exercise one-third of such options shall vest on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and the right to exercise the remaining two-thirds of such options shall vest in twenty-four equal monthly installments on the last day of each month thereafter except as provided in Section 5(d) hereof. In addition, Executive will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance units and performance shares or other equity awards (“Equity Awards”) pursuant to any plans or arrangements that Parent may have in effect from time to time. In the absence of specifically identified circumstances, and subject to the determination of the Board or the Committee, the Equity Awards to Executive shall generally be made on substantially the same terms and conditions (as to vesting and exercise price) and at the same time, as the Board or the Committee provides to other Senior Executives of the Parent of similar rank and tenure. |
| d) | General Employee Benefits. Executive will be entitled to participate in the employee benefit plans including, without limitation, medical insurance plans, life insurance plans, disability insurance plans, expense reimbursement plans and other benefits plans as may be currently or hereafter maintained by the Parent of general applicability to other Senior Executives of the Parent. Such participation shall be subject to the terms of the applicable plan documents, generally applicable policies of the Parent, applicable law and the discretion of the Board, the Committee, the CEO or any administrative committee or other committee provided for in or contemplated by any such plan. Parent reserves the right to cancel or change the benefit plans and programs it offers to its employees at any time, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall |
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| be construed to create any obligation on the part of FS or Parent to establish any such plan or to maintain the effectiveness of any such plan which may be in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, at no time shall the benefits provided by Parent to Executive be any less beneficial in any material respect to Executive than the benefits provided to him by FS immediately prior to the Merger (including, without limitation, health, life, and disability insurance coverage). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent will (i) continue to provide housing for the Executive while his primary office is at FS’s San Francisco, California offices, (ii) pay Executive’s relocation expenses in the event Executive is relocated to Parent’s Franklin, Massachusetts headquarters, (iii) continue to provide a car allowance of $1,000 per month and (iv) continue his individual life insurance policy in accordance with FS’s past practices. |
| e) | Vacation. Executive will be entitled to paid vacation of four (4) weeks, in accordance with the Parent’s vacation policy for senior executive officers, with the timing and duration of specific vacations mutually and reasonably agreed to by the parties hereto. All accrued and unused vacation days of Executive immediately prior to the Effective Date will carry over into the Initial Term. During the Term of this Agreement, the Executive may carry over from year to year that number of accrued, unused vacation days equal to the greater of five (5) days or that number of accrued, unused vacation days which may be carried over by senior executives of Parent in accordance with Parent’s policy. Upon Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, Executive will be entitled to receive Executive’s accrued but unpaid vacation through the date of Executive’s termination. |
| f) | Taxation of Payments and Benefits. The Parent shall undertake to make deductions, withholdings and tax reports with respect to payments and benefits under this Agreement to the extent that it reasonably and in good faith believes that it is required to make such deductions, withholdings and tax reports. Payments under this Agreement shall be in amounts net of any such deductions and withholdings. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Parent to make any payments to compensate the Executive for any adverse tax effect associated with any payments or benefits or for any deductions or withholding from any payment or benefit. |
| g) | Exclusivity of Compensation and Benefits. The Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits other than those provided under, or referenced within, this Agreement, except for payment of a bonus under the Contingent Bonus Agreement by and between Executive and FS, which shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms from and after the date of the Merger. |
| h) | Expenses. The Parent will reimburse Executive for reasonable travel, entertainment or other expenses incurred by Executive in the furtherance of or in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Parent’s expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive’s office is located in Boston, MA, the Parent shall pay for, or reimburse Executive for, parking at, or within a reasonable distance of, FS’s office. |
| i) | Indemnification and D&O coverage. Executive will be entitled to the same indemnification rights as the Parent grants to other Senior Executives of the Parent and, in addition, the Parent shall indemnify Executive to the fullest extent permitted under the Parent’s by-laws and/or Delaware law. Furthermore, at all times during Executive’s employment and for a period of at least two years following the termination of Executive’s employment, the Parent will maintain a directors and officers liability policy, under which Executive shall be deemed a covered person. |
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| 5) | Termination and Termination Benefits. The provisions of Sections 2 and 3 above notwithstanding, the Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate under the following circumstances: |
| a) | Termination by the Parent for Cause. The Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated for Cause without further liability of the Parent other than payment of Accrued Obligations effective immediately upon a vote or written consent of the Board and written notice to the Executive, as further described below. For the purposes hereof, the Parent may terminate the Executive’s employment for “Cause” only upon the occurrence of one or more of the following actions by Executive after the Effective Date: |
| i) | commission, admission, confession, indictment, plea bargain or plea of nolo contendere by the Executive with respect to (A) a felony or (B) any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, deceit, dishonesty or fraud (“indictment” for these purposes, meaning an indictment, probable cause hearing or any other procedure pursuant to which an initial determination of probable or reasonable cause with respect to such offense is made); |
| ii) | excessive use of alcohol or the use of illegal drugs interfering with the Executive’s obligations hereunder, in either case continuing after written notice given to the Executive by the Board; |
| iii) | willful failure or refusal (other than by reason of Disability) to perform a significant portion of any material duty or responsibility of the Executive which continues for thirty (30) days after written notice by the Parent setting forth in reasonable detail the scope and nature of the same; |
| iv) | gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Executive which has caused or could reasonably be expected to cause material harm to Parent or the Parent Group; or |
| v) | any breach by the Executive of any of the Executive’s material obligations under this Agreement, any material written policy of the Parent of general applicability to all executive staff (including, without limitation, the Parent’s policies regarding disclosure of confidential information) or any other material written agreement between or among Executive and the Parent which breach has caused material harm to Parent or the Parent Group. |
| b) | Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. The Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason effective immediately upon written notice to the Parent, in which event the Executive shall be entitled to the termination benefits described in Section 5(c) below. For the purposes hereof, only the following shall constitute “Good Reason”: |
| i) | any material breach by the Parent of its obligations under this Agreement, including without limitation, any failure by the Parent to comply with any provision of Section 4 or Section 12 hereof in any material respect, or any other material written agreement between Executive and the Parent; |
| ii) | any unconsented material diminution in the Executive’s title, duties, reporting relationship, authority, or responsibilities (including, without limitation, any removal of the Executive from the Board by the members of the Board without cause); |
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| iii) | any decrease in Base Salary or bonus opportunity (unless such reduction is applied to all other similarly situated executive employees of the Parent Group and is less than twenty percent (20%) of the Base Salary and bonus opportunity described in Section 4); or |
| iv) | subject to the provisions of Section 1(c) above, the relocation before July 1, 2012 of the principal executive office where the Executive regularly performs his services for Parent and FS more than fifty (50) miles from Two Xxxxxx Street, San Francisco, California or the relocation after July 1, 2012 of the principal executive office where the Executive regularly performs his services for Parent and FS more than fifty (50) miles from 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx. |
provided, however, that Executive will not resign for Good Reason without first providing the Parent with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” and a cure period of thirty (30) days following the date of such notice.
| c) | Termination other than for Cause or Death; or Upon Parent’s Election Not To Renew. If the Executive’s employment is terminated (a) by the Parent other than for Cause or death, (b) by reason of Executive’s Disability, (c) by the Executive for Good Reason, or (d) upon the Parent’s election not to renew the Term pursuant to Section 3 then, subject to Section 6 below, Executive will receive payment of the Accrued Obligations and the following severance pay and related benefits from the Parent: |
| i) | Severance Payment. The Parent (A) for a period of twelve (12) months after the effective date (the “Termination Date”) of such termination, will continue to pay the Executive on regular pay days the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to such termination (but, in the case of a termination by Executive for Good Reason, disregarding any reduction in Base Salary that was the basis of such Good Reason) and (B) pay to Executive a pro-rated amount of Executive’s bonus for the bonus year in which the termination occurs (which shall be pro-rated based upon the number of weeks worked by Executive in the year of termination and calculated based upon the bonus paid or payable to Executive for the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated). Such bonuses shall be payable when normally paid by the Parent (or within thirty (30) days after the end of the bonus year, if there is no such normal pay date). In the event of a termination due to Executive’s Disability, the severance payments shall be reduced by any payments received by Executive under any disability insurance plan or program of Parent. |
| ii) | Continued Group Health Benefits. The Parent shall provide the Executive with group health benefits for the Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), in accordance with the Parent’s policies immediately prior to the Termination Date (subject to the requirements of the last sentence of Section 4(d)) until the first to occur of (i) the date which is twelve (12) months after the Termination Date and (ii) the date upon which Executive and/or Executive’s eligible dependents are covered under similar plans. The Parent shall also provide the Executive with information and access to enable the Executive to continue COBRA coverage thereafter for the maximum permitted period at the Executive’s expense; provided that during any period when the Executive receives any such benefits under another employer-provided plan or a government plan, the group health benefits provided by the Parent hereunder may be made secondary to those provided under such other plan if permitted by such other plan. |
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| iii) | Accelerated Vesting. |
| (1) | All unvested shares or options subject to the Initial Equity Award described in the first sentence of Section 4(c) above and any other Equity Award provided to Executive during the Term which, but for the termination of Executive’s employment, would have vested and become exercisable on or prior to the date which is one (1) year after the effective date of such termination shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the effective date of any termination. |
| (2) | If within one (1) year after the consummation of a Change of Control (as defined below), a termination of employment occurs, then all of the Executive’s outstanding Equity Awards will immediately vest and become exercisable in full on the effective date of such termination. |
| (3) | All Equity Awards which have accelerated and become fully vested and exercisable pursuant to this Section 5(d) shall remain exercisable for at least sixty (60) days after such acceleration and vesting, unless the applicable stock option agreements or restricted stock agreements, as applicable, provide for a longer exercise period |
| e) | Termination for Cause or Death; Resignation without Good Reason; Or Upon Executive’s Election Not To Renew. If Executive’s employment with the Parent (or another member of the Parent Group) is terminated voluntarily by Executive (except a resignation for Good Reason), for Cause by the Parent, due to Executive’s death, or upon Executive’s election not to renew the Term, then (i) all continued vesting with respect to Executive’s outstanding equity awards will terminate immediately as of the date of termination (and all shares and options that are fully vested as of the date of termination will remain exercisable as provided under the applicable stock option agreements or restricted stock agreements, as applicable), (ii) all payments of compensation by the Parent to Executive hereunder will terminate immediately except for payment of the Accrued Obligations, and (iii) Executive will only be eligible for severance benefits in accordance with the Parent’s established policies, if any, as then in effect. Bonus payments for the year in which Executive’s’ employment is terminated shall be made to Executive when normally paid by the Parent (or within thirty (30) days after the end of the bonus year, if there is no such normal pay date). For purposes of this Agreement, “Accrued Obligations” shall mean payment of (i) Executive’s then-current Base Salary up to and through the date of termination, (ii) all accrued but unused vacation pay up to and through the date of termination, (iii) any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by Executive up to and through the date of termination, which Executive must submit within thirty (30) calendar days following the date of termination, (iv) any earned but unpaid Bonus for the calendar year immediately preceding the date of termination, which shall be paid within the timeframe as such bonus payments are paid to other Senior Executives of the Parent, and (v) any payment or rights that Executive may be due or owed under any Parent benefit, plan or program, such as (without limitation) the Parent’s 401k plan and any short-term or long-term disability plan. |
| f) | Determination of Disability. With respect to the Executive, the terms “Disabled,” “Disability” or any word or phrase of similar import shall mean the inability of the Executive to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then-existing position hereunder on a full-time basis by reason of physical or mental incapacity, sickness or infirmity that continues for more than 180 days or for periods aggregating 180 days during any period of 365 consecutive days. If any question shall arise as to whether during any period the Executive is Disabled with or without reasonable accommodation, the Executive may, and at the request of the Parent, shall, submit to the Parent a certification in reasonable detail by a physician selected by the Parent to whom the |
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| Executive or the Executive’s guardian has no reasonable objection as to whether the Executive is so Disabled and/or the period of time for which such Disability is expected to continue, and, for the purposes of this Agreement, any such certification shall be conclusive of the issue. The Executive shall cooperate with any reasonable request of the physician in connection with such certification. If such a question shall arise and the Executive shall fail to submit such certification, the Parent’s determination of such issue shall be binding on the Executive. Nothing in this Section 5 shall be construed to waive the Executive’s rights, if any, under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended, and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, or other applicable federal, state, or local law. |
| 6) | Conditions to Receipt of Severance; No Duty to Mitigate. |
| a) | Separation Agreement and Release of Claims. The receipt of any severance pursuant to Section 5 hereof will be subject to Executive signing and not revoking a separation agreement and release of claims (the “Release”) in a reasonable and customary form which shall include only a release of claims and covenant not to xxx by Executive and other standard miscellaneous provisions as are necessary to make such Release effective under applicable law and provided that such Release becomes effective no later than the date (the “Release Deadline”) which is sixty (60) days after the Termination Date. If the Release does not become effective prior to the Release Deadline, Executive will forfeit any right to severance or benefits under this Agreement. In no event will severance payments or benefits be paid or provided until the Release becomes effective and irrevocable. |
| b) | Compliance with This Agreement. The receipt of any severance benefits pursuant to Section 5 will be subject to Executive’s compliance with the provisions of Section 9. In the event Executive breaches any provision of Section 9, all continuing payments and benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled pursuant to Section 5 will immediately cease and Parent will be entitled to any other rights and remedies which and may take any other action legally permissible as a result of breaching the provisions of Section 9. Promptly after taking action under this Section 6(b), Parent shall deliver to Executive written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the scope and nature of such breach. |
| c) | No Duty to Mitigate. Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor will any earnings that Executive may receive from any other source reduce any such payment. |
| 7) | Section 409A. |
| a) | Separation from Service. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no severance pay or benefits to be paid or provided to Executive, if any, pursuant to this Agreement that, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits, are considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, and the final regulations and any guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”) (together, the “Deferred Payments”) will be paid or otherwise provided until Executive has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. Similarly, no severance payable to Executive, if any, pursuant to this Agreement that otherwise would be exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) will be payable until Executive has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. |
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| b) | Delivery of Deferred Payments. Any severance payments or benefits under this Agreement that would be considered Deferred Payments will be paid on, or, in the case of installments, will not commence until, the sixtieth (60th) day following Executive’s separation from service, or, if later, such time as required by Section7(c). Except as required by Section 7(c), any installment payments that would have been made to Executive during the sixty (60) day period immediately following Executive’s separation from service but for the preceding sentence will be paid to Executive on the sixtieth (60th) day following Executive’s separation from service and the remaining payments shall be made as provided in this Agreement. |
| c) | 409A “Specified Employee.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of Executive’s termination (other than due to death), then the Deferred Payments that are payable within the first six (6) months following Executive’s separation from service, will become payable on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Executive’s separation from service. All subsequent Deferred Payments, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive dies following Executive’s separation from service, but prior to the six (6) month anniversary of the separation from service, then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of Executive’s death and all other Deferred Payments will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. |
| d) | Short-Term Deferral. Any amount paid under this Agreement that satisfies the requirements of the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations will not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of clause (a) above. |
| e) | Involuntary Separation. Any amount paid under this Agreement that qualifies as a payment made as a result of an involuntary separation from service pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations that does not exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined below) will not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of clause (a) above. |
| f) | 409A Compliance. The foregoing provisions are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the severance payments and benefits to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply. The Parent and Executive agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to Executive under Section 409A. |
| g) | 409A Limit. For purposes of this Agreement, “Section 409A Limit” will mean two (2) times the lesser of: (i) Executive’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay paid to Executive during the Executive’s taxable year preceding the Executive’s taxable year of his or her separation from service as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and any Internal Revenue Service guidance issued with respect thereto; or (ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code for the year in which Executive’s separation from service occurred. |
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| 8) | Limitation on Parachute Payments. |
| a) | If it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to or for the benefit of Executive (a “Payment”), whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code section 4999 or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax together with any such interest and penalties, shall be referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then a calculation shall first be made under which such payments or benefits provided to Executive are reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof shall be subject to the Excise Tax (the “4999 Limit”). Parent shall then compare (a) Executive’s Net After-Tax Benefit (as defined below) assuming application of the 4999 Limit with (b) Executive’s Net After-Tax Benefit without application of the 4999 Limit. “Net After-Tax Benefit” shall mean the sum of (i) all payments that Executive receives or is entitled to receive that are contingent on a change in the ownership or effective control of Parent or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of Parent within the meaning of Code section 280G(b)(2), less (ii) the amount of federal, state, local, employment, and Excise Tax (if any) imposed with respect to such payments. In the event (a) is greater than (b), Executive shall receive Payments solely up to the 4999 Limit. In the event (b) is greater than (a), then Executive shall be entitled to receive all such Payments, and shall be solely liable for any and all Excise Tax related thereto. If a reduction in the severance and other benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that no portion of such severance benefits is subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, the reduction shall occur in the following order: (1) reduction of the severance payments under Section 5(c)(i); (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards; and (3) reduction of continued employee benefits. In the event that acceleration of vesting of equity award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of Executive’s equity awards. |
| b) | Determination of Value. Unless the Parent and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 8 will be made in writing by an independent valuation firm (the “Firm”) immediately prior to any Change of Control, whose determination will be conclusive and binding upon Executive and the Parent for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 8, the Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Parent and Executive will furnish to the Firm such information and documents as the Firm may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section 8. The Parent will bear all costs the Firm may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 8. |
| c) | Change of Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events |
| i) | the acquisition by any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (for these purposes, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase, exchange, or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Parent), (“Person”) that becomes the owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Parent representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Parent’s then outstanding securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the acquisition of additional securities by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the securities of the Parent shall not be considered a Change of Control; |
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| ii) | a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Parent’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Parent that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Parent immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 8(c)(ii) the following shall not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Parent’s assets: (1) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Parent’s shareholders immediately after the transfer; or (2) a transfer of assets by the Parent to: (A) a shareholder of the Parent (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Parent’s securities; (B) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Parent; (C) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Parent; or (D) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in subsection (C). For purposes of this Section 8(c)(ii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Parent, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets; or |
| iii) | a change in the composition of the Board occurring within a twelve (12) month period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” will mean directors who either (A) are directors of the Parent as of the Effective Date, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Parent’s Board). |
| 9) | Confidentiality, Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Assignment of Inventions. |
| a) | Confidential Information. As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information belonging to the Parent Group which is of value to the Parent Group in the course of conducting its business and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other disadvantage to the Parent or another member of the Parent Group. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, financial information, reports, and forecasts; inventions, improvements and other intellectual property; trade secrets; know-how; designs, processes or formulae; software; market or sales information or plans; customer lists; and business plans, business models, business strategies, prospects and opportunities (such as possible acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or facilities) which have been discussed or considered by the management of the Parent or another member of the Parent Group. Confidential Information includes information relating to the structure of the transactions entered into by and among Parent and each of its affiliates and subsidiaries. Confidential Information includes information developed by the Executive in the course of the Executive’s employment by the Parent that relates to the Parent’s business, as well as other information to which the Executive may have access in connection with the Executive’s employment. Confidential Information also includes the confidential information of others with which the Parent has a business relationship. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information does not include information in the public domain (such as general information about the markets, vendors, customers, and technology with which the Parent Group deals), unless due to breach of the Executive’s duties under Section 9(b). |
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| b) | Confidentiality. The Executive understands and agrees that the Executive’s employment creates a relationship of confidence and trust between the Executive and the Parent and the other members of the Parent Group with respect to all Confidential Information. At all times, both during the Executive’s employment with the Parent and after its termination, the Executive will keep in confidence and trust all such Confidential Information, and will not use or disclose any such Confidential Information without the written consent of the Parent, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing the Executive’s duties to the Parent. |
| c) | Documents, Records, etc. All documents, records, data, apparatus, equipment and other physical property, whether or not pertaining to Confidential Information, which are furnished to the Executive by the Parent and the other members of the Parent Group or are produced by the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment will be and remain the sole property of the Parent or the Parent Group, as applicable. The Executive will return to the Parent all such materials and property as and when requested by the Parent. In any event, the Executive will return all such materials and property immediately upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason. The Executive will not retain with the Executive any such material or property or any copies thereof after such termination. |
| d) | Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation. During Term and for a period of twelve (12) months following the effective date of the termination of Executive’s employment by the Parent or another member of the Parent Group, the Executive (i) will not, directly or indirectly, whether as owner, partner, shareholder, consultant, agent, employee, co-venturer or otherwise, engage, participate, assist or invest in any Competing Business (as hereinafter defined) or otherwise engage in any activity that competes with the business of the Parent or any other member of the Parent Group over which the Executive exercises direct or indirect management control; (ii) will refrain from directly or indirectly employing, attempting to employ, recruiting or otherwise soliciting, inducing or influencing any person, then employed by Parent or any other member of the Parent Group or employed by Parent or any other member of the Parent Group within the twelve (12) months prior to such solicitation or attempt to employ (a “Parent Employee”), to leave employment with the Parent or any other member of the Parent Group; and (iii) will refrain from contacting, soliciting or encouraging any customer or supplier of the Parent Group to terminate or otherwise modify adversely its business relationship with such member of the Parent Group. The Executive understands that the restrictions set forth in this Section 9(d) are intended to protect the interest of the Parent Group in its Confidential Information and established employee, customer and supplier relationships and goodwill, and agrees that such restrictions are reasonable and appropriate for this purpose. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Competing Business” shall mean any business conducted anywhere in the world which is competitive with any business which the Parent or any member of the Parent Group conducts in which Executive exercises direct or indirect management control during the two year period immediately prior to date of Executive’s termination. Any provision hereof to the contrary notwithstanding, (x) during the Term, the provisions of clause (i) of this Section 9(d) shall be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Executive; (y) in the event that Executive’s employment by Parent is terminated prior to the relocation of the principal executive offices at which he performs services for Parent and FS from FS’s offices in San Francisco, California to Parent’s principal executive offices in Massachusetts (the “Relocation”), the provisions of clause (i) of this Section 9(d) shall be of no force or effect from and after the effective date of such termination, and (z) in the event of any termination occurring after the Relocation, the provisions of such clause (i) shall be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Executive for the |
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| twelve (12) month period contemplated hereby. The provisions of this Section 9(d) shall not apply to passive investments in any mutual funds that may have investments in a Competing Business or in any enterprise the shares of which are publicly traded if such investment in such enterprise constitutes less than one percent (1%) of the equity of such enterprise. |
| e) | Third-Party Agreements and Rights. The Executive hereby confirms that the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party which restricts in any way the Executive’s use or disclosure of information or the Executive’s engagement in any business. The Executive represents to the Parent that the Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Parent and the performance of the Executive’s proposed duties for the Parent will not violate any obligations the Executive may have to any such previous employer or other party. In the Executive’s work for the Parent, the Executive will not disclose or make use of any information in violation of any agreements with or rights of any such previous employer or other party, and the Executive will not bring to the premises of the Parent any copies or other tangible embodiments of non-public information belonging to or obtained from any such previous employment or other party. |
| f) | Assignment of Inventions. |
| i) | Inventions and Developments. As used in this Agreement, “Inventions and Developments” means any and all any inventions, modifications, discoveries, designs, developments, improvements, processes, software programs, works of authorship, documentation, formulas, data, techniques, know-how, secret or intellectual property rights whatsoever or any interest therein (whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes or subject to analogous protection). Inventions and Developments include, by way of example and without limitation, discoveries and improvements which consist of or relate to any form of Confidential Information. |
| ii) | Company-Related Inventions and Developments. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company-Related Inventions and Developments” means all Inventions and Developments which either (A) relate at the time of conception or development to the actual or anticipated business of the Parent or any member of the Parent Group or to the actual anticipated research and development of the Parent or any member of the Parent Group; (B) relate to any work performed by the Executive for the Parent or any member of the Parent Group, whether or not during normal business hours; (C) are developed on Parent time; or (D) are developed primarily through or in substantial reliance on the use of the Confidential Information or the equipment and software or other facilities or resources of the Parent or any member of the Parent Group. |
| iii) | Ownership of Inventions and Developments. Executive hereby agrees that all Company-Related Inventions and Developments which Executive conceives or develops, in whole or in part, either alone or jointly with others, during the Term will be the sole property of the Parent or a member of the Parent Group. The Parent or such member of the Parent Group will be the sole owner of all patents, copyrights and other proprietary rights in and with respect to such Company-Related Inventions and Developments. To the fullest extent permitted by law, such Company-Related Inventions and Developments will be deemed works made for hire. Executive hereby transfers and assigns to the Parent any proprietary rights which Executive has, may have or may acquire in any such Company-Related Inventions and Developments without further compensation, and waives any moral rights or other special rights which Executive has, may have or may accrue therein. At the request and |
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| cost of the Parent, Executive agrees to execute any documents and take any actions that may be required to effect and confirm such transfer and assignment and waiver. The provisions of this Section 9(f) will apply to all Company-Related Inventions and Developments which are conceived or developed during the Term whether before or after the date of this Agreement, and whether or not further development or reduction to practice may take place after termination of Executive’s employment by the Parent or another member of the Parent Group, for which purpose it will be presumed that any Company-Related Inventions and Developments conceived by Executive which are reduced to practice within one year after termination of Executive’s employment were conceived during the Term unless Executive is able to establish a later conception date by clear and convincing evidence. |
| iv) | Disclosure of Inventions and Developments. Executive agrees promptly to disclose to the Parent, or any persons designated by it, all Company-Related Inventions and Developments which are or may be subject to the provisions of this Section 9(f). |
| g) | Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall cooperate reasonably and fully with the Parent in the preparation, defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against or on behalf of the Parent or any Parent Group entity which relate to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Parent. The Executive’s full cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall include, but not be limited to, being reasonably available to meet with counsel to prepare for mediation, arbitration, agency proceeding, discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Parent at mutually convenient times and subject to any then-current obligations Executive may have to another employer. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive also shall cooperate reasonably and fully with the Parent in connection with any investigation or review of any federal, state or local regulatory authority as any such investigation or review relates to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Parent. The Parent shall reimburse the Executive for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Executive’s performance of obligations pursuant to this Section 9(g). If Parent seeks Executive’s cooperation, involvement or assistance pursuant to the above at any time after his employment with Parent has terminated, then Executive’s involvement shall be subject to his reasonable availability and the needs of any new employer of Executive, and Parent shall provide reasonable compensation to Executive for his time and reimbursement for any expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive. |
| h) | Injunction. The Executive agrees that it would be difficult to measure any damages caused to the Parent which might result from any breach by the Executive of the promises set forth in this Section 9, and that in any event money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any such breach. Accordingly, subject to Section 10 of this Agreement, the Executive agrees that if the Executive breaches, or proposes to breach, any portion of this Agreement, the Parent shall be entitled, in addition to all other remedies that it may have, to seek an injunction or other appropriate equitable relief to restrain any such breach without showing or proving any actual damage to the Parent. In the event of any breach of any part of Section 9 of this Agreement, the duration of any such provision shall be extended by the period of the Employee’s breach. |
| 10) | Arbitration. |
| a) | Arbitration of Claims. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof or otherwise arising out of the Executive’s employment or the termination of |
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| that employment (including, without limitation, any claims of unlawful employment discrimination whether based on age or otherwise) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be settled by arbitration in any forum and form agreed upon by the parties or, in the absence of such an agreement, under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in Boston, Massachusetts in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution Rules of the AAA, including, but not limited to, the rules and procedures applicable to the selection of arbitrators. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. This Section 10 shall be specifically enforceable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 10 shall not preclude either party from pursuing a court action for the sole purpose of obtaining a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction in circumstances in which such relief is appropriate; provided that any other relief shall be pursued through an arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Section 10. The Parent shall bear the costs and fees of the arbitrator’s services and the AAA. Subject to the discretion of the arbitrator, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover their reasonable attorney’s fees. |
| b) | Waiver of Jury Trial. Executive fully understands that EXECUTIVE IS WAIVING EXECUTIVE’S RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL |
| 11) | Consent to Jurisdiction. To the extent that any court action is permitted consistent with or to enforce Section 10 of this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sitting in Boston, Massachusetts or the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts sitting in Boston, Massachusetts. Accordingly, with respect to any such court action, the Executive (a) submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts, (b) consents to service of process, and (c) waives any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction and service of process. |
| 12) | Assignment. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a) the heirs, executors and legal representatives of Executive upon Executive’s death and (b) any Successor of the Parent. Any such Successor of the Parent will be deemed substituted for the Parent under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. For this purpose, “Successor” means any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Parent. None of the rights of Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any other attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits will be null and void. |
| 13) | Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications called for hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed given (i) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, (ii) one (1) day after being sent by a well established commercial overnight service, or (iii) four (4) days after being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and addressed to the parties or their successors at the following addresses, or at such other addresses as the parties may later designate in writing. |
If to the Parent:
Synergy Acquisition Corp.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
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With a copy to:
Synergy Acquisition Corp.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: General Counsel
If to Executive:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
With a copy to:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxx XxXxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx
Professional Law Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
or at the last residential address of the Executive known by the Parent.
| 14) | Miscellaneous Provisions. |
(a) Amendment. No provision of this Agreement will be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of the Parent (other than Executive) that is expressly designated as an amendment to this Agreement.
(b) Waiver. No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party will be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.
(c) Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.
(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements between them whether written or oral, except for the Contingent Bonus Agreement by and between Executive and FS.
(e) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware (without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles).
(f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which will remain in full force and effect.
(g) Survival. The provisions of Sections 9, 10 and 11 above and this Section 14 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
(h) Acknowledgment. Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to discuss this matter with and obtain advice from his private attorney, has had sufficient time to, and has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this Agreement, and is knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement.
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(i) Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart will have the same force and effect as an original and will constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the undersigned. This Agreement may be executed by the delivery of signatures by facsimile or other electronic means.
[The remainder of this page has been left blank intentionally.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Parent by its duly authorized officer, as of the date first set forth above.
| SYNERGY ACQUISITION CORP. |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| EXECUTIVE |
|
|
| Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
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