EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of January 20, 2026, by and between Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (“Executive”). This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements or exchanges between the parties and sets forth the terms of Executive’s employment as of January 21, 2026 (the “Commencement Date”). In consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the Company and Executive agree as follows:
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(b)Executive’s employment hereunder shall automatically be terminated upon the first to occur of the following:
The period of Executive’s employment by the Company under this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Term.”
(c)Definition of “Cause”. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean: (i) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony; or (ii) a good faith finding by the Company that any of the following have occurred: (A) the willful and continued failure by Executive to perform Executive’s material duties or
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responsibilities (other than such a failure as a result of Disability); (B) any action or omission by Executive involving willful misconduct, gross negligence, or dishonesty with regard to the Company; (C) Executive’s material breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company; (D) Executive’s commission of an act that materially injures or would reasonably be expected to materially injure the reputation, business or business relationships of the Company; (E) Executive’s failure or refusal to comply in any material respect with the Company’s material policies or procedures; or (F) the material breach by Executive of a material provision of this Agreement or any other agreement between Executive and the Company, provided that any breach of Executive’s obligations under the Restrictive Covenants Agreement (as defined below) or any other restrictive covenant agreement shall be deemed a material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that is not amenable to cure. In respect of the events described in clauses (A), (E) and (F) above, the Company shall give Executive written notice of the failure of performance or breach, reasonable as to time, place and manner in the circumstances, and a 30-day opportunity to cure, provided that such failure of performance or breach is reasonably amenable to cure as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion. If cured, such conduct shall no longer be deemed a basis for a termination of Executive for “Cause” unless Executive subsequently engages in such conduct.
(d)Definition of “Good Reason”. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following, unless (i) the basis for such Good Reason is cured within sixty (60) days after the Company receives written notice (which must be received from Executive within thirty (30) days following the initial existence of the condition giving rise to such Good Reason) specifying the basis for such Good Reason or (ii) Executive has consented to the condition that would otherwise be a basis for Good Reason. Further, Executive needs to resign within 30 days after the Company has failed to cure the Good Reason(s):
(e)Definition of “Corporate Change”. For purposes of this Agreement, “Corporate Change” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
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(i)the acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership of any capital stock of the Company if, after such acquisition, such Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) 50% or more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 2(e) the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Corporate Change: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company or (B) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a Business Combination (as defined below) which complies with clauses (x) and (y) of Section 2(e)(iii) of this definition;
(ii)a change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) that results in the Continuing Directors (as defined below) no longer constituting a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the Board of Directors of a successor corporation to the Company), where the term “Continuing Director” means at any date a member of the Board (x) who was a member of the Board on the date of hereof or (y) who was nominated or elected subsequent to such date by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election or whose election to the Board was recommended or endorsed by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from this clause (y) any individual whose initial assumption of office occurred as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents, by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or
(iii)the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or share exchange involving the Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), unless, immediately following such Business Combination, each of the following two conditions is satisfied: (x) the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination represent more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock or other common equity and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body, respectively, of the resulting or acquiring entity in such Business Combination (which shall include, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (such resulting or acquiring entity is referred to herein as the “Acquiring Entity”) and (y) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by the Acquiring Entity) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Acquiring Entity, or of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body
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(except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Corporate Change” shall not occur as a result of a Business Combination after which a majority of the Board of the Acquiring Entity consists of persons who were directors of the Company immediately prior to the Business Combination. For purposes of the payment of any payments or benefits hereunder (including pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof) or pursuant to any other agreement between the Company and Executive that are subject to Section 409A, a Corporate Change shall not be deemed to have occurred unless such corporate change constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i).
(f)Resignation from Other Positions. If, as of the date that Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive is a member of the Board (or the board of directors of any entity affiliated with the Company), or holds any other offices or positions with the Company (or any entity affiliated with the Company), Executive shall, unless otherwise requested by the Company, immediately relinquish and/or resign from any such board memberships, offices and positions as of the date Executive’s employment terminates. Executive agrees to execute such documents and take such other actions as the Company may request to reflect such relinquishments and/or resignation(s).
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If to the Company: | Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. |
With an email copy to:
Chief Human Resources Officer: ▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
VP, Law Department: ▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
If to Executive: | ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
[**]
[**]
(or last known address on file with the Company)
or to such other address as a party may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (i) delivered by hand, (ii) sent by overnight courier, or (iii) sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been given either (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is delivered to the courier service, or (iii) if sent by registered or certified mail, on the fifth (5th) business day following the day such mailing is made.
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IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Name:▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, MD
Title:Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Agreed and Accepted
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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EXHIBIT A TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT1
VIA [HAND DELIVERY/ELECTRONIC MAIL]
[Insert Date]
[Insert Employee Name]
[Insert Employee Address]
Dear [Insert Employee Name]:
As we discussed, your employment with Ocular Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) [is ending][has ended] effective [insert separation date] (the “Separation Date”). As we also discussed, you will be eligible to receive the severance benefits described in Section 4(b) of the Employment Agreement dated [insert date] between you and the Company to which this letter agreement is attached as Exhibit A (the “Employment Agreement”), and referenced in paragraph 1 below, if you sign and return this letter agreement to me on or before [Insert Return Date2][, but no earlier than the Separation Date,] and do not revoke your agreement (as described below). By signing and returning this letter agreement and not revoking your acceptance, you will be entering into a binding agreement with the Company and will be agreeing to the terms and conditions set forth in the numbered paragraphs below, including the release of claims set forth in paragraph 2. Therefore, you are advised to consult with an attorney before signing this letter agreement [and you have been given at least [twenty-one (21)][forty-five (45) 3] days to do so]. If you sign this letter agreement, you may change your mind and revoke your agreement during the seven (7) business day period after you have signed it (the “Revocation Period”) by notifying [me] in writing. If you do not so revoke, this letter agreement will become a binding agreement between you and the Company upon the expiration of the Revocation Period.
Although your receipt of the severance benefits is expressly conditioned on your entering into this letter agreement, the following will apply regardless of whether or not you do so:
| ● | As of the Separation Date, all salary payments from the Company will cease and any benefits you had as of the Separation Date under Company-provided benefit plans, programs, or practices will terminate, except as required by federal or state law. |
| ● | You will receive payment for your final wages and any unused vacation time accrued through the Separation Date. |
1 Note: You agree that the Company may revise this release in its sole discretion to reflect changes in law, additional statutes or claims, benefits, or your circumstances, so that the Company receives the benefit of the most complete release of claims that is legally permissible (without releasing your right to receive the severance benefits set forth in the Employment Agreement), and that the Company may also change the timing, if required, to obtain such release. This footnote and the other footnotes herein are part of the form of release and are to be removed only when the Company finalizes the letter agreement for execution.
2 Note: The Company may designate a period of up to 60 days in its sole discretion.
3 Note: The timing depends on your age at separation from employment, and whether the termination involves a group of employees. The period may be reduced if you are under age 40 at the time of termination, and the revocation language would be deleted.
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| ● | You may, if eligible and at your own cost, elect to continue receiving group medical insurance pursuant to the “COBRA” law. Please consult the COBRA materials to be provided under separate cover for details regarding these benefits. |
| ● | You are obligated to keep confidential and not to use or disclose any and all non-public information concerning the Company that you acquired during the course of your employment with the Company, including any non-public information concerning the Company’s business affairs, business prospects, and financial condition, except as otherwise permitted by paragraph 4(c) below. Further, you remain subject to your continuing obligations to the Company as set forth in the Proprietary Rights, Inventions, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement attached to the Employment Agreement as Exhibit B (the “Restrictive Covenants Agreement”), which remains in full force and effect. |
| ● | You must return to the Company no later than the Separation Date all Company property. |
If you elect to timely sign and return this letter agreement and do not revoke your acceptance within the Revocation Period, the following terms and conditions will also apply:
4 Note: Inclusion of Age Discrimination in Employment Act depends on age at time of termination.
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a. Non-Disparagement – Except for Permitted Disclosures, you agree not to, in public or private, make any false, disparaging, derogatory or defamatory statements, online (including, without limitation, on any social media, networking, or employer review site) or otherwise, to any person or entity, including, but not limited to, any media outlet, industry group, financial institution or current or former employee, board member, consultant, client, or customer of the Company, regarding the Company or any of the other Released Parties, or regarding the business affairs, business prospects, or financial condition of the Company or any of the other Released Parties. The Company agrees not to make any official statements which are disparaging, derogatory or defamatory about you and shall instruct its senior executives and board of directors not to make any disparaging, derogatory or defamatory statements about you.
b. Confidentiality – Except for Permitted Disclosures, you agree to maintain as confidential and not to disclose the terms and contents of this letter agreement, and the contents of the negotiations and discussions resulting in this letter agreement.
c. Permitted Disclosures – Nothing in this letter agreement, including paragraphs 3, 4(a), and 4(b) above, in any confidentiality requirements in the Restrictive Covenants Agreement, or elsewhere prohibits or restricts you from (i) communicating with, or voluntarily providing information you believe indicates possible or actual violations of the law to, local, state or federal government agencies, any legislative body, law enforcement, or self-regulatory organizations (including but not limited to the Securities and Exchange Commission), and/or (ii) making disclosures or communications to engage in protected, concerted activity or to otherwise exercise rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. You are not required to notify the Company of any such communications. Further, notwithstanding your confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations, you are hereby advised as follows pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant
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to court order.” All disclosures permitted by this paragraph 4(c) are collectively referred to in this letter agreement as “Permitted Disclosures.”
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5 Note: Bracketed text depends on age at time of termination.
6 Note: Inclusion of paragraph and referenced attachment depends on age at time of termination and whether termination involves a group of employees.
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If you have any questions about the matters covered in this letter agreement, please call me at [insert phone number].
Very truly yours,
By: __________________________________
[Insert Name]
[Insert Title]
I hereby agree to the terms and conditions set forth above. I have been given [a reasonable amount of time][at least twenty-one (21)/forty-five (45) days]7 to consider this letter agreement, and I have chosen to execute this on the date below. I intend that this letter agreement will become a binding agreement between me and the Company if I do not revoke my acceptance in seven (7) business days.
_____________________________ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | _________________________ Date |
To be returned in a timely manner as set forth on the first page of this letter agreement, but not to be signed before the close of business on your last day of employment.
7 Note: The timing depends on your age at separation from employment, and whether the termination involves a group of employees.
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Exhibit B
FORM OF AGREEMENT – Execution version to be provided on commencement date
proprietary rights, INVENTIONS, Non-Competition,
and Non-Solicitation Agreement
This Proprietary Rights, Inventions, Non-Competition, and Non-Solicitation Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made by and between Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (the “Company”) and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the “Executive”).
For good consideration, including, without limitation, the Company’s agreement to provide the Employee with Proprietary Information (as defined below) and other confidential information of the Company, the continued employment of the Executive by the Company, and, with respect to the non-competition restrictions, the additional consideration set forth in Section 3(c) below, the Executive and the Company agree as follows:
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(i)initiate contact with (including without limitation phone calls), or in any manner solicit, directly or indirectly, any customers, business development partners, licensors, licensees, or creditors (including institutional lenders, bonding companies and trade creditors) of the Company in an attempt to induce or motivate them either to discontinue or modify their then prevailing or future relationship with the Company or to transfer any of their business with the Company to any person or entity other than the Company; or
(ii)initiate contact with, or in any manner solicit, directly or indirectly, any supplier of goods, services or materials to the Company in an attempt to induce or motivate them either to discontinue or modify their then prevailing or future relationship with the Company or to supply the same or similar inventory, goods, services or materials (except generally available inventory, goods, services or materials) to any person or entity other than the Company; or
(iii)directly or indirectly recruit, solicit or otherwise induce or influence any employee or independent contractor of the Company to discontinue or modify his or her employment or engagement with the Company, or employ or contract with any such employee or contractor for the provision of services.
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The Executive agrees that during any period of time when the Executive is subject to restrictions pursuant to either Section 3 or Section 4 above, the Executive will notify any prospective employer or business associate of the terms and existence of this Agreement and the Executive’s continuing obligations to the Company hereunder. The Executive further agrees, during such period, to give notice to the Company of each new business activity the Executive plans to undertake, at least five (5) business days prior to beginning any such activity. The notice shall state the name and address of the individual, corporation, association or other entity or organization (“Entity”) for whom such activity is undertaken and the name or title of the Executive’s business relationship or position with the Entity. The Executive also agrees to provide the Company with other pertinent information concerning such business activity as the Company may reasonably request in order to determine the Executive’s continued compliance with the Executive’s obligations under this Agreement. The Executive hereby authorizes the Company to notify others, including but not limited to customers of the Company and any of the Executive’s future employers or prospective business associates, of the terms and existence of this Agreement and the Executive’s continuing obligations to the Company hereunder.
The Executive hereby represents that, except as the Executive has disclosed in writing to the Company on Attachment 1, the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from using or disclosing any trade secret or confidential or proprietary information in the course of the Executive’s employment with the Company, to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or any other party, or to refrain from soliciting the employees or contractors, or actual or prospective customers, clients or suppliers, of such previous employer or any other party. The Executive further represents that the Executive’s performance of all the terms of this Agreement and the performance of the Executive’s duties as an employee of the Company does not and will not conflict with or breach any agreement with any previous employer or any other party (including, without limitation, any non-competition agreement or agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by the Executive in confidence or in trust prior to the Executive’s employment with the Company), and that the Executive will not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous employer or others.
Nothing in this Agreement or elsewhere prohibits the Executive from (i) filing a complaint with, communicating with, or otherwise voluntarily providing information the Executive believes indicates possible or actual violations of the law to, local, state or federal government agencies, any legislative body, law enforcement, or any self-regulatory organization (including but not limited to the Securities and Exchange Commission), or from making any other disclosures that
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are statutorily protected by the law of the state in which the Executive resides, and/or (ii) making disclosures or communications to engage in protected, concerted activity or to otherwise exercise rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. The Executive is not required to notify the Company of any such communications. Further, notwithstanding the Executive’s confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations, the Executive is hereby advised as follows pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.”
The Executive acknowledges that the Company from time to time may have agreements with other persons or with the United States Government, or agencies thereof, which impose obligations or restrictions on the Company regarding inventions made during the course of work under such agreements or regarding the confidential nature of such work. The Executive agrees to be bound by all such obligations and restrictions which are made known to the Executive and to take all action necessary to discharge the obligations of the Company under such agreements.
The Executive acknowledges that this Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment, does not imply that the Company will continue the Executive’s employment for any period of time, and does not change the at-will nature of the Executive’s employment.
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THE EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ALL OF ITS PROVISIONS.
| ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
Date:_______________________ | _______________________________ |
| |
Date: ______________________ | By:____________________________ Pravin ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, MD Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
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Attachment 1
List of Prior Developments and Original Works of Authorship Excluded
Under Section 2(a) or Conflicting Agreements Disclosed under Section 6
Title Date Identifying Number or Brief Description
Except as indicated above on this Attachment 1, I have no Prior Developments to disclose pursuant to Section 2(a) of this Agreement and no agreements to disclose pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement.
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