2. | Term of this Agreement. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Term of this Agreement shall be for a period commencing on January 1, 2015 and terminating January 1, 2017 (the “Term”), unless terminated earlier pursuant to the termination provisions set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement. At the end of the Term, and at the end of each Term thereafter, the Term of this Agreement shall automatically renew for a like two-year Term, unless either Party to this Agreement provides sixty (60) calendar days advanced written notice to the other Party, prior to the end of any Term, of the Party’s intent not to renew the Agreement for another Term. The Parties also understand and agree that any termination of this Agreement, whether at the end of a Term or as otherwise set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement, shall also terminate the Executive’s employment with the Company, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company. |
A. | Salary. Beginning on the first day of the Term, the Company shall pay the Executive a salary of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) per year (the “Base Salary”), subject to all applicable tax withholdings and deductions and payable in semi-monthly or monthly installments as requested by the Executive. The Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) shall review the Executive's Base Salary on an annual basis and may increase or decrease the Base Salary based on its business judgment. |
B. | Bonus. For each complete calendar year of the Term, the Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an annual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) equal to 35% of Base Salary (the "Target Bonus"), as in effect at the beginning of the applicable calendar year, based on achievement of annual corporate and individual target performance goals established by the Committee. The Committee will, on an annual basis, review the performance of the Company and of the Executive in relation to the target performance goals and will pay such Annual Bonus, as it deems appropriate, in its discretion, to the Executive based upon such review. Any bonus earned in any calendar year will be payable in the first calendar quarter of the following calendar year. In order to be eligible to receive payment of an Annual Bonus, the Executive must be employed by the Company as of the day of the applicable calendar year on which the Company pays the Annual Bonuses. |
C. | Benefits. During the Term of this Agreement, the Executive will receive such employee benefits as are generally available to all employees of the Company. |
D. | Stock Options and Incentives. The Committee may, from time to time, grant to the Executive stock options, restricted stock purchase opportunities and such other forms of equity-based incentive compensation as it deems appropriate, in its discretion, under the Company’s applicable plans which are then in effect. Additionally, in consideration of entering into this Agreement and as an inducement to Executive joining the Company, the Committee will grant Executive the stock options and shares of restricted stock as set forth in Exhibit A hereto and subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s applicable plans. All awards of equity incentives shall be governed by a separate equity incentive award agreement, the equity incentive terms of which shall govern the rights of the Executive and the Company in the event of any conflict between such agreement and this Agreement; otherwise, this Agreement shall control the Executive’s employment with, termination from, and post-termination covenants owed to, the Company. |
E. | Vacation and Sick/Personal Leave. The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation and up to eighty (80) hours of sick/personal leave during each calendar year (prorated for partial years) during the Term of this Agreement, in accordance with the Company's vacation policies, as in effect from time to time. |
F. | Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder, including expenses for travel, entertainment and similar items, promptly after the timely presentation (preferably within no longer than two weeks of incurring the expense) by the Executive of an itemized account of such expenses. |
G. | Clawback Policy. The Company’s obligation to pay any bonus or stock-based incentive compensation under paragraphs B. or D. of this Section 3, and the Executive’s right to receive or retain such compensation, shall be subject to any policy adopted by the Board of Directors or the Committee (or any successor committee of the Board of Directors with authority over executive compensation) pursuant to the “clawback” provisions of Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or regulations promulgated thereunder, or pursuant to any rule of any national securities exchange on which the equity securities of the Company are listed implementing Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or regulations promulgated thereunder. |
4. | Termination. |
A. | For Cause. The Company may terminate the employment of the Executive prior to the end of the Term of this Agreement “for cause.” Termination “for cause” shall be defined as a termination by the Company of the employment of the Executive occasioned by: |
i. | the failure by the Executive to cure a breach of a material duty imposed on the Executive under this Agreement or any other written agreement between Executive and the Company within 15 days after written notice thereof by the Company; |
ii. | the continuation by the Executive after written notice by the Company of a violation of any Company personnel policy, work rule or directive, or continued neglect of a duty imposed on the Executive under this Agreement; |
iii. | acts by Executive of fraud, embezzlement, theft or other material dishonesty directed against Navidea; |
iv. | the Executive is formally charged with a felony (other than a traffic offense), or a crime involving moral turpitude, that in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, may result in material damage to the Company or its reputation, or would materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement; or |
v. | any condition which either results from the Executive’s substantial dependence, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, on alcohol, or on any narcotic drug or other controlled or illegal substance. |
B. | Resignation. If the Executive resigns for any reason (except as otherwise defined in paragraph G of this Section 4), all salary, benefits, and any other payments by the Company shall cease at the time such resignation becomes effective. At the time of any such resignation, the Company shall pay the Executive the value of any accrued but unused vacation time, and the amount of all accrued but previously unpaid base salary through the date of such termination. The Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive for the amount of any expenses incurred prior to such termination by the Executive as required under paragraph F of Section 3 above. |
C. | Disability, Death. The Company may terminate the employment of the Executive prior to the end of the Term of this Agreement if the Executive has been unable to perform his duties hereunder or a similar job for a continuous period of six (6) months due to a physical or mental condition that, in the opinion of a licensed physician, will be of indefinite duration or is without a reasonable probability of recovery for a period of at least six (6) months. The Executive agrees to submit to an examination by a licensed physician of his choice in order to obtain such opinion, at the request of the Company, made after the Executive has been absent from his place of employment for at least six (6) months. The Company shall pay for any requested examination. However, this provision does not abrogate either the Company’s or the Executive’s rights and obligations pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and a termination of employment under this paragraph C shall not be deemed to be a termination “for cause.” |
D. | Termination Without Cause. A termination “without cause” is a termination of the employment of the Executive by the Company that is not “for cause” and not occasioned by the resignation, death or disability of the Executive. If the Company terminates the employment of the Executive without cause before the end of the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall, at the time of such termination, pay to the Executive the severance payment provided in paragraph F of this Section 4 together with the value of any accrued but unused vacation time and the amount of all accrued but previously unpaid base salary through the date of such termination, and shall provide Executive with all benefits to which he is entitled under paragraph C of Section 3 above for the longer of eighteen (18) months or the full unexpired Term of this Agreement. The Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive for the amount of any expenses incurred prior to such termination by the Executive as required under paragraph F of Section 3. |
E. | End of the Term of this Agreement. Upon sixty (60) calendar days advance written notice to Executive of the Company’s intent not to renew the Term of this Agreement, the Company may terminate the Agreement and the employment of the Executive at the end of the Term of this Agreement without any further payment obligation to Executive other than as set forth in this Section 4. E. he shall be an employee at will and his employment may be terminated at any time by either the Company or the Executive without notice and for any reason not prohibited by law or no reason at all. If the Company terminates the employment of the Executive at the end of the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall, at the time of its next regularly scheduled payroll cycle, pay to the Executive the value of any accrued but unused vacation time and the amount of all accrued but previously unpaid base salary through the date of such termination. The Company shall also promptly reimburse the Executive for the amount of any reasonable expenses incurred prior to such termination by the Executive as required under paragraph F of Section 3 above. At the discretion of the Company, the Company may offer to employ Executive as an at-will employee whose employment may be terminated at any time by either the Company or the Executive without notice and for any reason not prohibited by law, including for no reason. If Executive agrees to such at-will employment, the Company will establish the Executive’s duties, compensation, employee benefits, any bonus eligibility, any stock-incentive rights, vacation and sick/personal leave rights, and Sections 1., 2., 3.A. through 3.E., and 4.A. through 4.H. of this Agreement shall no longer apply to the Parties and will be null and void. All other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, including all of Executive’s post-termination obligations and restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement. |
H. | Benefit and Stock Plans. In the event that a benefit plan, Stock Plan or award agreement which covers the Executive has specific provisions concerning termination of employment, or the death or disability of an employee (e.g., life insurance or disability insurance), then such benefit plan, Stock Plan or award agreement shall control the disposition of the benefits or stock options. |
I. | Resignation of All Other Positions. Upon termination of the Executive's employment hereunder for any reason, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all positions that the Executive holds as an officer or member of the board of directors (or a committee thereof) of the Company or any of its related entities or affiliates. |
J. | Cooperation. The parties agree that certain matters in which the Executive will be involved during the Term may necessitate the Executive's cooperation following termination of his employment. Accordingly, following the termination of the Executive's employment for any reason, to the extent reasonably requested by the Board, the Executive shall cooperate with the Company in connection with matters arising out of the Executive's service to the Company; provided that, the Company shall make reasonable efforts to minimize disruption of the Executive's other activities. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for reasonable and pre-approved expenses incurred in connection with such cooperation and, to the extent that the Executive is required to spend substantial time on such matters, the Company shall compensate the Executive at an hourly rate based on the Executive's Base Salary on the date of termination. |
5. | Proprietary Information Agreement. Executive has executed a Proprietary Information Agreement as a condition of employment with the Company. The Proprietary Information Agreement shall not be limited by this Agreement in any manner, and the Executive shall act in accordance with the provisions of the Proprietary Information Agreement at all times during the Term of this Agreement. |
6. | Non-Competition. Executive agrees that for so long as he is employed by the Company under this Agreement and for one (1) year thereafter, the Executive will not: |
A. | enter into the employ of or render any services to any person, firm, or corporation, which is engaged, in any part, in a Competitive Business (as defined below); |
B. | engage in any directly Competitive Business for his own account; |
C. | become associated with or interested in through retention or by employment any Competitive Business as an individual, partner, shareholder, creditor, director, officer, principal, agent, employee, trustee, consultant, advisor, or in any other relationship or capacity; or |
D. | solicit, interfere with, or endeavor to entice away from the Company, any of its customers, strategic partners, or sources of supply. |
a. | which is engaged in the development, commercialization or distribution of drugs and/or systems for use in detection, diagnosis or treatment of cancer, inflammatory or immune-related diseases, including without limitation the development, commercialization or distribution of radiopharmaceuticals for such purposes, or |
b. | which reasonably could be understood to be competitive in the relevant market with products and/or systems described in clause a above, or |
c. | in which the Company engages in during the Term of this Agreement pursuant to a determination of the Board of Directors and from which the Company derives a material amount of revenue or in which the Company has made a material capital investment. |
9. | Governing Law. The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflicts of laws principles. |
10. | Jurisdiction; Service of Process. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7, any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or arising out of or relating to Executive’s employment with or termination from the Company, shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Franklin County, Ohio, and each of the parties irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of each such court in any such action or proceeding, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding shall be heard and determined only in any such court and agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court. The parties agree that either or both of them may file a copy of this Section with any court as written evidence of the knowing, voluntary and bargained agreement between the parties irrevocably to waive any objections to venue or to convenience of forum. Process in any action or proceeding referred to in the first sentence of this section may be served on any party anywhere in the world |
11. | Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OR BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND/OR THE EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THEM. The scope of this waiver is intended to be all encompassing of any and all disputes that may be filed in any court or other tribunal (including, without limitation, contract claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims, and all other common law and statutory claims). THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING, AND THE WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT AND RELATED DOCUMENTS. In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court. |
12. | Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. |
13. | Compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. It is intended that this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”). If, when the Executive's employment with the Company terminates, the Executive is a "specified employee" as defined in Section 409A(a)(1)(B)(i), and if any payments under this Agreement, including payments under Section 4, will result in additional tax or interest to the Executive under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) ("Section 409A Penalties"), then despite any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive will not be entitled to payments until the earliest of (a) the date that is at least six months after termination of the Executive's employment for reasons other than the Executive's death, (b) the date of the Executive's death, or (c) any earlier date that does not result in Section 409A Penalties to the Executive. As soon as practicable after the end of the period during which payments are delayed under this provision, the entire amount of the delayed payments shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum. Additionally, if any provision of this Agreement would subject the Executive to Section 409A Penalties, the Company will apply such provision in a manner consistent with Section 409A during any period in which an arrangement is permitted to comply operationally with Section 409A and before a formal amendment to this Agreement is required. For purposes of this Agreement, any reference to the Executive's termination of employment will mean that the Executive has incurred a "separation from service" under Section 409A. No payments to be made under this Agreement may be accelerated or deferred except as specifically permitted under Section 409A. Any payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception or another exception under Section 409A of the Code shall be paid under the applicable exception. Each payment of compensation under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation for purposes of Section 409A. To the extent that any reimbursements provided under this Agreement constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive promptly, but in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred. The amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit. |
14. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Proprietary Information Agreement referenced above, constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all negotiations, prior discussions, and preliminary agreements to this Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended except in writing executed by the parties hereto. |
15. | Effect on Successors of Interest. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon heirs, administrators, executors, successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the above, the Executive recognizes and agrees that his obligation under this Agreement may not be assigned without the written consent of the Company. The Company, however, may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without any prior notice to the Executive. |