EXHIBIT 10.14
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MACROCHEM CORPORATION
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This is an AGREEMENT entered into between MACROCHEM CORPORATION (the
"Company," which term shall include any successor by merger, consolidation, sale
of substantially all of the Company's assets or otherwise) and XXXXX X. XXXXXX
("Executive") effective as of the 25th day of October, 2002 ("Effective Date").
1. Definitions.
"Cause" means (a) willful malfeasance or gross negligence in the
performance by Executive of his or her duties, resulting in harm to the Company,
(b) fraud or dishonesty by Executive with respect to the Company, or (c)
Executive's conviction of any felony. The Company may treat a termination of
Executive's employment as termination for Cause only after (i) giving Executive
written notice of the intention to terminate for Cause and of his or her right
to a hearing and (ii) at least 15 days after giving the notice, conducting a
hearing at which Executive may be represented by counsel. Executive may be
suspended with pay during the notice period.
"Change of Control" is defined in Exhibit A.
"Good Reason" means, following a Change of Control, (i) failure by the
Company to maintain Executive in at least the positions he occupies on the date
of this Agreement or assignment to Executive of duties materially inconsistent
with such positions, (ii) failure by the Company to provide Executive with the
compensation and benefits he is receiving on the date of this Agreement, or as
they may hereafter be increased, other than in connection with a Company-wide
reduction of compensation and benefits, (iii) breach by the Company of any
material provision of this Agreement, (iv) relocation of Executive's principal
place of work to a location more than 50 miles from its location immediately
prior to the Change of Control or (v) any material reduction in Executive's
duties, responsibilities or authority or any other action that has the effect of
a demotion of the Executive. To the extent the Change of Control results in the
Company (or a successor to the Company by merger, consolidation or the like),
continuing in existence as a direct or indirect subsidiary of an acquirer, the
Executive shall be considered to have been demoted unless given the same
position, duties and authority in the ultimate parent of the acquirer. By way of
example, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and/or Chief Legal
Officer of a public company would be considered to have reduced duties,
responsibility and authority, and hence to have been demoted if, as a result of
the Change of Control, such Executive did not have the same role in the ultimate
parent of the acquirer.
1.2 Severance Benefits.
(a) Entitlement to Severance Benefits. In the event that the Company
terminates Executive's employment other than for Cause, the Company will,
subject to Section 2 below, provide severance benefits to Executive as set forth
below in this Section 1.2.
(b) Severance Benefits. The Company will provide severance benefits as
follows:
(i) The Company will pay to Executive within 30 days of the
termination a lump-sum cash amount equal to 75% of Executive's then current
annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the termination (or, if his
base salary has been reduced within 60 days of the termination or at any time
after a Change of Control, his base salary in effect prior to the reduction)
provided that Executive may in his sole discretion elect to have such payment
made in monthly installments over a period not to exceed 9 months. The foregoing
payments are in addition to and not in lieu of salary and bonus for the current
year that has been earned but not yet paid. If current year target bonus is
tied, in whole or in part, to annualized performance benchmarks, it will be
equitably prorated.
(ii) The Company will continue to provide Executive, for a period
of 9 months from the date of termination or until commencement of new employment
providing substantially similar benefits, whichever is earlier, with any
medical, dental, disability, life insurance and automobile reimbursement
benefits and other perquisites in effect at the time of his termination (or, if
his level of benefits has been reduced within 60 days of the termination, his
level of benefits in effect prior to the reduction), provided the Company is
able to provide such benefits to Executive under its existing plans and
arrangements.
(iii) The Company will make outplacement services available to
Executive for a period of 4.5 months from the date of termination.
(iv) To the extent not otherwise provided for under the Company's
stock plans, all options to purchase Company stock held by Executive will become
exercisable and remain exercisable for the period of time set forth in the
instruments governing such options, and all restricted stock held by Executive
under restricted stock plans and arrangements of the Company will become vested.
1.3 Severance Benefits Upon Change of Control.
(a) Entitlement to Severance Benefits. In the event that, following or
in connection with a Change of Control, the Company terminates Executive's
employment without Cause, or if Executive terminates his employment for Good
Reason, the Company will, subject to Section 2 below, provide severance benefits
to Executive as set forth below in this Section 1.3.
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(b) Severance Benefits. The Company will provide severance benefits as
follows:
(i) The Company will pay to Executive within 30 days of the
termination a lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (a) 75% of Executive's
then current annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the termination
(or, if his base salary has been reduced within 60 days of the termination or at
any time after a Change of Control, his base salary in effect prior to the
reduction), plus (b) 75% of the Executive's target bonus for the current year or
for the year immediately prior to the Change of Control, whichever is higher;
provided that Executive may in his sole discretion elect to have such payment
made in monthly installments over a period not to exceed 9 months. The foregoing
payments are in addition to and not in lieu of salary and bonus for the current
year that has been earned but not yet paid. If current year target bonus is
tied, in whole or in part, to annualized performance benchmarks, it will be
equitably prorated.
(ii) The Company will continue to provide Executive, for a period
of 9 months from the date of termination or until commencement of new employment
providing substantially similar benefits, whichever is earlier, with any
medical, dental, disability, life insurance and automobile reimbursement
benefits and other perquisites in effect at the time of his termination (or, if
his level of benefits has been reduced within 60 days of the termination, his
level of benefits in effect prior to the reduction), provided the Company is
able to provide such benefits to Executive under its existing plans and
arrangements.
(iii) The Company will make outplacement services available to
Executive for a period of 4.5 months from the date of termination.
(iv) To the extent not otherwise provided for under the Company's
stock plans, all options to purchase Company stock held by Executive will become
exercisable and remain exercisable for the period of time set forth in the
instruments governing such options, and all restricted stock held by Executive
under restricted stock plans and arrangements of the Company will become vested.
2. Additional Severance Benefits.
In the event that it is determined that any payment or benefit provided by
the Company to or for the benefit of Executive, either under this Agreement or
otherwise, will be subject to the excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code or any successor provision ("section 4999"), the Company
will, prior to the date on which any amount of the excise tax must be paid or
withheld, make an additional lump-sum payment (the "gross-up payment") to
Executive. The gross-up payment will be sufficient, after giving effect to all
federal, state and other taxes and charges with respect to the gross-up payment,
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to make Executive whole for all taxes (including withholding taxes) imposed
under section 4999.
Determinations under this Section 2 will be made by the Company's then
current firm of independent auditors (the "Firm"). The determinations of the
Firm will be binding upon the Company and Executive except as the determinations
are established in resolution (including by settlement) of a controversy with
the Internal Revenue Service to have been incorrect. All fees and expenses of
the Firm will be paid by the Company.
If the Internal Revenue Service asserts a claim that, if successful, would
require the Company to make a gross-up payment or an additional gross-up
payment, the Company and Executive will cooperate fully in resolving the
controversy with the Internal Revenue Service. The Company will make or advance
such gross-up payments as are necessary to prevent Executive from having to bear
the cost of payments made to the Internal Revenue Service in the course of, or
as a result of, the controversy. The Firm will determine the amount of such
gross-up payments or advances and will determine after resolution of the
controversy whether any advances must be returned by Executive to the Company.
The Company will bear all expenses of the controversy and will gross Executive
up for any additional taxes that may be imposed upon Executive as a result of
its payment of such expenses.
3. Withholding. All payments required to be made by the Company to
Executive under this Agreement will be subject to the withholding of such
amounts, if any, relating to tax and other payroll deductions as may be required
by law.
4. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy between the parties involving
the construction or application of any terms, covenants or conditions of this
Agreement, or any claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any
claim arising out of or relating to Executive's employment by the Company that
is not resolved within ten days by the parties will be settled by arbitration in
Boston, Massachusetts, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in effect, and judgement upon the award rendered by the
arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The
Company and Executive agree that the arbitrator(s) will have no authority to
award punitive or exemplary damages or so-called consequential or remote damages
such as damages for emotional distress. Any decision of the arbitrator(s) will
be final and binding upon the parties. Either party may request that the
arbitrator(s) submit written findings of fact and conclusions of law. The
parties agree and understand that they hereby waive their rights to a jury trial
of any dispute or controversy relating to the matters specified above in this
Section 4. The Company will pay the cost of any such arbitration.
5. No Duty to Mitigate. Benefits payable under this Agreement as a result
of termination of Executive's employment will be considered severance pay in
consideration of his past service and his continued service from the effective
date of the Change of Control, and his entitlement thereto will neither be
governed by any duty to mitigate his damages by seeking further employment nor
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offset by any compensation that he may receive from other employment (except as
specifically provided in Section 1.2(b)(ii), above with respect to cessation of
health insurance and similar benefits upon commencement of new employment).
6. Rights of Survivors. If Executive dies after becoming entitled to
benefits under Section 2 following termination of employment but before all such
benefits have been provided, (a) all unpaid cash amounts will be paid to the
beneficiary that has been designated by Executive in writing (the
"beneficiary"), or if none, to Executive's estate, (b) all applicable insurance
coverage will be provided to Executive's family as though Executive had
continued to live, and (c) any stock options that become exercisable will be
exercisable by the beneficiary, or if none, the estate.
7. Successors. This Agreement will inure to and be binding upon the
Company's successors. The Company will require any successor to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company by sale, merger
or consolidation (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), lease or
otherwise, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Executive, to
assume this Agreement expressly. This Agreement is not otherwise assignable by
the Company or by the Executive.
8. Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Agreement, employment by a
corporation or other entity that is controlled directly or indirectly by the
Company will be deemed to be employment by the Company. Thus, references in the
Agreement to "Company" include such corporations or other entities where
appropriate in the context.
9. Amendment or Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended
unless agreed to in writing by Executive and the Company. No waiver by either
party of any breach of this Agreement will be deemed a waiver of a subsequent
breach.
10. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain
in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.
11. Controlling Law. This Agreement will be controlled and interpreted
pursuant to Massachusetts law.
12. Notices. Any notices required or permitted to be sent under this
Agreement are to be delivered by hand or mailed by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, and addressed as follows:
If to the Company:
MACROCHEM CORPORATION
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to Executive:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Either party may change its address for receiving notices by giving notice to
the other party.
13. Conflict. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and the
provisions of any other compensation or benefit arrangement between the Company
and Executive, this Agreement shall prevail.
In witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first set forth above.
MACROCHEM CORPORATION
By:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Exhibit A
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"Change of Control" means the occurrence of either of the following events:
(1) any Person becomes the owner of 50% or more of the Company's
Common Stock; or
(2) individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Continuing Directors") cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of such Board; provided, however, that any
individual becoming a director after the Effective Date whose election or
nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the Continuing Directors will be considered as though
such individual were a Continuing Director, but excluding for this purpose any
such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either
an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11
of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act")) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board.
(3) a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction
that will result in the transfer of ownership of more than 50% of the Company's
outstanding Common Stock or that will result in the issuance of new shares of
Company common stock in an amount equal to more than 50% of the amount of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance; or
(4) liquidation or dissolution of the Company or sale of substantially
all of the Company's assets.
In addition, for purposes of this definition the following terms have the
meanings set forth below:
"Common Stock" means the then outstanding Common Stock of the Company plus,
for purposes of determining the stock ownership of any Person, the number of
shares of Common Stock which such Person has the right to acquire (whether such
right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options or
otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Common Stock does not include
shares of preferred stock or convertible debt or options or warrants to acquire
shares of Common Stock (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable
upon the conversion or exercise thereof) to the extent that the Board expressly
so determines in any future transaction or transactions.
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A Person will be deemed to be the "owner" of any Common Stock of which such
Person would be the "beneficial owner," as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act.
"Person" has the meaning used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, except
that "Person" does not include (i) the Executive, an Executive Related Party, or
any group of which the Executive or Executive Related Party is a member, or (ii)
the Company or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company or an employee benefit
plan (or related trust) of the Company or of a wholly owned subsidiary.
An "Executive Related Party" means any affiliate or associate of the
Executive other than the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. The terms
"affiliate" and "associate" have the meanings given in Rule 12b-2 under the
Exchange Act; the term "registrant" in the definition of "associate" means, in
this case, the Company.
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