EXHIBIT 10.26
[CNS Letterhead]
February 14, 2002
Xxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Dear Xxxx:
This letter describes our agreement regarding your resignation as
Vice-President, US Marketing and officer of CNS, Inc. ("CNS") effective April
15, 2002.
We will provide you with the following benefits in connection with your
departure from CNS:
1. We will pay you Salary Continuation pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 7 of
the Employment Agreement as follows: 24 semi-monthly paychecks of
$7,299.05, subject to applicable withholding, beginning with the later of
(a) our April 30, 2002 payday or (b) our first regular payday following
expiration of the 15-day rescission period described on page 3 of this
agreement and our receipt of Exhibit A, signed and dated by you after
expiration of the rescission period. Exhibit A is your certification that
you took no steps to exercise your right of rescission. In the event of a
Change in Control, as that term is defined in the "Executive Employment
Agreement" dated February 12, 1999, the above- referenced semimonthly
paychecks will be accelerated and payable, in full, on demand by you. We
will also pay you for your accrued unused paid time off ($9,287.78 or
110.28 hours, as of February 15, 2002.)
You will be eligible to receive a bonus consistent with CNS business
performance under the CNS Management Incentive Plan for 2001/2002 based on
your April 15, 2002 Resignation Date, the terms of the Plan and provided
that the Plan objectives have been met. Payment of any available bonus
would occur at the normal payout time for all employees. We estimate the
payout to be made in May 2002.
Xxxx Xxxxxx Separation Letter
Page Two
2 We will continue to pay the employer share, and you will continue to be
responsible for the employee share, as applicable, of your CNS group
health, dental and life insurance premiums through April 30, 2003 or, if
earlier, the date on which you are eligible to participate in other group
plans through your new employer, provided you make the appropriate timely
written elections to continue your CNS group coverage's. Your share of the
premiums will be deducted from the Salary Continuation payments described
in paragraph 1. You agree to notify CNS immediately if your eligibility
under other group plans through your new employer occurs. If you are not
covered under other such group plans as of April 30, 2003, you will have
the right to continue your group coverage's at your own expense for up to
an additional six months, in accordance with applicable state and federal
group insurance continuation laws and the terms of the plans. All rights
which you may have under CNS's group plans, are subject to the terms of the
plans, applicable laws and the continuation of said plans for active CNS
employees. Information and election forms concerning your group coverages
will be mailed to you.
3. We are providing you with the opportunity to voluntarily resign from your
employment. If any prospective employer of yours wishes to contact CNS for
employment information, you agree to direct that employer to make a written
inquiry to Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Director of Human Resources. Xx. Xxxxxxx will
provide the prospective employer, in writing, with your job title, the
scope of your responsibilities, your dates of employment, and the fact that
you voluntarily resigned your employment.
4. We will provide an executive outplacement package that we have selected
with Right Management Consultants at our expense.
5. To the extent required under applicable law, we will indemnify you and hold
you harmless with respect to any action in which you are a named defendant
which arises out of your CNS employment responsibilities.
6. We will remove all restrictive legends on any shares of CNS common stock
held by you. In connection with the removal, you agree that for a period of
90 days from the date you cease to be employed by CNS, any shares that you
sell will be sold in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule
144 under the Securities Act of 1933.
Xxxx Xxxxxx Separation Letter
Page Three
As of April 15, 2002 the remaining 50,400 shares of your stock options will be
exercisable according to the terms of the applicable Stock Option Plan. Your
stock options are set forth on Exhibit B.
In consideration of the benefits to be afforded to you as outlined above, you
agree to do the following things:
1. You hereby release CNS, Inc., its past and present affiliates, and its and
their past and present officers, directors, agents, shareholders,
employees, attorneys, insurers and indemnitors (collectively, the
"Releasees") from any and all claims and causes of action, known or
unknown, which you may have against any and all of them. Through this
release, you extinguish all causes of action against the Releasees
occurring up to the date on which you sign this agreement, including but
not limited to any contract, compensation or benefit claims; intentional
infliction of emotional distress, defamation or any other tort claims; and
all claims arising from any federal, state or municipal law or ordinance,
including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Family and
Medical Leave Act. This release extinguishes any potential claims of
employment discrimination arising from your employment with and resignation
from CNS, including specifically any claims under the Minnesota Human
Rights Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, and the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act. This release does not extinguish any
claims that arise against CNS after you sign this agreement. You certify
that you (a) have not filed any claims, complaints or other actions against
any Releasee and (b) are hereby waiving any right to recover from any
Releasee under any lawsuit or charge filed by you or any federal, state or
local agency on your behalf based upon any event occurring up to the date
on which you sign this agreement. You are advised by CNS to review your
rights and responsibilities under this agreement with your own lawyer.
Xxxx Xxxxxx Separation Letter
Page Four
You have 21 days to review and consider this offer. If you sign this letter
before 21 days have elapsed from the date on which you first receive it,
then you will be voluntarily waiving your right to the full 21-day review
period. You also have the right to rescind this agreement within 15
calendar days of the date upon which you sign it. You understand that if
you desire to rescind this agreement, you must put the rescission in
writing and deliver it to Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, CNS, Inc., 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx,
X.X. Box 39802, Minneapolis, MN 55439-0802 by hand or by mail within 15
calendar days of the date on which you sign this agreement. If you deliver
the rescission by mail, it must be postmarked within 15 calendar days of
the date on which you sign this agreement and sent by certified mail,
return receipt requested. If you rescind this agreement, all of CNS's
obligations to you, other than payment of accrued unused paid time off,
will immediately cease, and CNS will owe you nothing hereunder.
2. At our specific request and at mutually convenient times while you are
receiving payments under this agreement, you agree to consult with me or my
designee with respect to transitional CNS business matters. You also agree
to cooperate with CNS in any current or future claims or lawsuits involving
CNS where you have knowledge of the underlying facts. In addition, you
agree that you will not voluntarily aid, assist, or cooperate with any
claimants or plaintiffs or their attorneys or agents in any claims or
lawsuits commenced in the future against CNS, provided, however, that
nothing in this agreement will be construed to prevent you from testifying
truthfully as required by valid legal or administrative process.
3. You agree that you will continue to speak positively and with respect
towards CNS as you have in the past.
4. All knowledge and information not already available to the public which you
have acquired with respect to product development, improvements,
modifications, discoveries, designs, methods, systems, computer software,
programs, codes and documentation, research, designs, formulas,
instructions, methods, inventions, trade secrets, services or other private
or confidential matters of CNS (such as those concerning sales, costs,
profits, organizations, customer lists, pricing methods, etc.), or of any
third party which CNS is obligated to keep confidential, shall be regarded
by you as strictly confidential and shall not be used by you directly or
indirectly or disclosed to any persons, corporations or firms. All of the
foregoing knowledge and information are collectively referred to as
"Confidential Information". Your obligations under this paragraph will not
apply to any information which (a) is or becomes known to the general
public under
Xxxx Xxxxxx Separation Letter
Page Five
circumstances involving no breach by you of the terms of this paragraph,
(b) is generally disclosed to third parties by CNS as a continuing practice
without restriction on such third parties, (c) is approved for release by
written authorization of CNS' Board, or (d) you are obligated by law to
disclose. Confidential Information also includes the terms of this
agreement. You agree that you will not disclose its terms to anyone other
than your family members, tax and legal advisors and as otherwise required
by law.
5. During the one-year period following your termination date, you shall not
directly or indirectly engage in, enter into or participate in the business
of CNS or in any business or commercial activity which does or is
reasonably likely to compete with or adversely affect the Business or
products of CNS, either as an individual for your own account, as a partner
or a joint venturer, or as an officer, director, consultant or holder of
more than five percent (5%) of the entity interest in, any other person,
firm, partnership or corporation, or an employee, agent or salesman for any
person. In addition, during such period you shall not: avail yourself of
any advantages or acquaintances you have made with any person who has,
within the twelve (12) month period ended on the date of termination of
your employment, been a customer of CNS or its affiliates, and which would,
directly or indirectly, materially divert business from or materially and
adversely affect the Business of CNS; interfere with the contractual
relations between CNS and any of its employees; or employ or cause to be
employed in any capacity or retain or cause to be retained as a consultant
any person who was employed in any capacity by CNS during the twelve (12)
month period ended on the date of termination of your employment.
For purposes of this Agreement, the "Business of CNS" or "Business" means
and includes the business of the manufacture, production, sale, marketing
and distribution of the Breathe Right strip, FiberChoice, Flair strips and
any other products currently offered or currently under development by CNS
or offered or currently under development by CNS during the 12 months prior
to the date of termination of your employment.
Xxxx Xxxxxx Separation Letter
Page Six
6. For one year following your termination date, you agree that you will not,
directly or indirectly, solicit any current or prospective CNS customer,
broker, vendor or distributor who is not, as of your termination date, a
current customer, broker, vendor or distributor of your new employer,
consulting business or any other enterprise in which you become involved
after your resignation from CNS, for the purpose of providing products or
services for or on behalf of said customer, broker, vendor or distributor
which are currently competitive with the products or services being
provided by CNS, which are in the development stages of being competitive
with the products or services being provided by CNS, or which would in any
way cause said customer, broker, vendor or distributor to discontinue or
reduce its business relationship with CNS. Current CNS customers, brokers,
vendors or distributors include those customers, brokers, vendors or
distributors with whom CNS has had a business relationship at any time
within the two years immediately preceding your resignation date.
Prospective CNS customers, brokers, vendors and distributors are those with
whom (a) a CNS representative has been in direct personal contact and (b)
CNS has a reasonable opportunity of entering into a business relationship
within six months following your resignation date. You also agree that
during the same one-year period, you will not directly or indirectly
solicit any CNS employee to terminate his or her employment with CNS. This
employee nonsolicitation obligation shall apply to employees of CNS as of
your resignation date.
If, in your opinion, the restrictions in this paragraph 6 or in paragraph 5
prevent you from obtaining employment, you may make a written request for
modification of the restrictions with respect to a specific position that
you are considering. The president of CNS will review and consider your
request and if she determines, in her sole discretion, that the requested
modification will not be adverse to CNS's business interests, she will
provide you with the modification, which must then be memorialized in
writing and signed by both parties. In addition, if you have any questions
with respect to the scope of your obligations hereunder, you agree to seek
clarification from the president.
This agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission of liability by
CNS or as an admission that CNS has acted wrongfully with respect to you. CNS
specifically denies and disclaims any such liability or wrongful acts. If any
provision of this agreement is found to be illegal or unenforceable, such
provision will be severed or modified to the extent necessary to make it
enforceable, and as so severed or modified, the remainder of this agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.
You understand that if you violate any obligation which you have to CNS under
this agreement, all payments and benefits to you hereunder will immediately
cease. In such event, your release
Xxxx Xxxxxx Separation Letter
Page Seven
of your claims shall remain fully in effect in consideration of the payments and
benefits which you received prior to any such breach.
This agreement sets forth our entire agreement and fully supersedes any prior
agreements, contracts or understandings between you and CNS. CNS asks that our
records reflect that you conclude your employment on terms you understand and
accept. Therefore, we ask you to declare that you have entered into this
agreement voluntarily, without coercion, duress, or reliance on any
representations by any CNS employee, agent or lawyer.
If this letter accurately reflects our understanding and agreement, please sign
both copies and return the original to me. We appreciate all of your efforts and
contributions to CNS over the past 3 1/2 years and wish you success in your
future career.
Sincerely,
CNS, INC.
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
President & CEO
Xxxxxxxxxxxx and agreed to, with declarations confirmed, this 22nd day of
February, 2002.
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
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Xxxx Xxxxxx
EXHIBIT A
TO
RELEASE AGREEMENT
March 11, 2002
Xx. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Director of Human Resources
CNS, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
X. X. Box 39802
Minneapolis, MN 55439-0802
Dear Xxxxxxxx:
This letter, signed and dated more than 15 days after I signed the Agreement
between CNS and me dated February 14, 2002, is to certify that I have taken no
steps to exercise my 15-day right of rescission, as described in the Agreement.
Sincerely,
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
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Xxxx Xxxxxx
EXHIBIT B
STOCK OPTION SCHEDULE
As of 4/15/02
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OPTION PLAN PRICE DATE GRANTED REMAINING VESTED SHARES
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1994 Stock Option Plan 4.125 08/17/98 30,000
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1994 Stock Option Plan 2.8125 04/15/99 15,000
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1990 Stock Option Plan 4.00 05/03/00 2,400
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2000 Stock Option Plan 4.375 03/15/01 3,000
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The stock option exercise period for the grants dated 8/17/98, 4/15/99 and
5/3/00 has been extended from 30 days to 90 days to the extent exercisable at
date of termination for the lesser of 90 days from the date of termination or
the balance of the option's term.
This will constitute the only amendment to these stock option agreements.
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
President and CEO
