Separation Agreement by and between the Company and Paul Lammers, dated as of August 20, 2017
Exhibit 10.10
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This Separation Agreement (the Agreement) by and between Paul Lammers (Executive) and Mirna Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), is made effective eight (8) days after Executives signature hereto (the Effective Date), unless Executive revokes his acceptance of this Agreement as provided in Section 5(c) below, with reference to the following facts:
A. Executives employment with the Company and status as an officer and employee of the Company and each of its affiliates will end effective upon the Separation Date (as defined below).
B. Executive and the Company want to end their relationship amicably and also to establish the obligations of the parties including, without limitation, all amounts due and owing to Executive.
C. The payments and benefits being made available to Executive pursuant to this Agreement are intended to satisfy all outstanding obligations under that certain Change in Control Severance Agreement by between Executive and the Company (the Severance Agreement).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. Separation Date. Executive acknowledges and agrees that his status as an officer and employee of the Company will end effective as of August 28, 2017 (the Separation Date). Executive hereby agrees to execute such further document(s) as shall be determined by the Company as necessary or desirable to give effect to the end of Executives status as an officer of the Company and, if applicable, officer and/or director of any of its subsidiaries; provided that such documents shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement.
2. Final Paycheck; Payment of Accrued Wages and Expenses.
(a) Final Paycheck. As soon as administratively practicable on or after the Separation Date, the Company will pay Executive all accrued but unpaid base salary and all accrued and unused vacation earned through the Separation Date, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings. Executive is entitled to these payments regardless of whether Executive executes this Agreement.
(b) Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all outstanding expenses incurred prior to the Separation Date which are consistent with the Companys policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Companys requirements with respect to reporting and documenting such expenses, including, without limitation, expenses incurred pursuant to Executives services as a director of any of the Companys subsidiaries.
3. Separation Payments and Benefits. Without admission of any liability, fact or claim, the Company hereby agrees, subject to this Agreement becoming effective and irrevocable, as well as Executives performance of his continuing obligations pursuant to this Agreement and that certain Confidentiality, Covenant Not To Solicit & Arbitration Agreement by and between the Company and Executive dated November 1, 2009 and as amended on November 15, 2016 (the Confidentiality Agreement) (including, without limitation, the non-competition and non-solicitation restrictive covenants set forth therein for the periods set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement), to
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provide Executive the severance benefits set forth below. Specifically, the Company and Executive agree as follows:
(a) Severance. The Company shall pay to Executive Nine Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy Five dollars ($933,975), which represents the sum of (i) eighteen (18) months of Executives annual base salary and (ii) one and one half (1.5) times Executives target annual bonus assuming achievement of performance goals at target, in each case, at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Separation Date, in a single cash lump sum. Such payment shall be made, less applicable withholdings and deductions, on or as soon as reasonably practicable following the first regularly scheduled payroll date following the date this Agreement becomes effective and irrevocable.
(b) Healthcare Continuation Coverage. If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA), the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, that portion of the premium for Executive and Executives covered dependents necessary such that Executive contributes the same amount to COBRA coverage as Executive contributed to medical, dental and vision coverage prior to the date of this Agreement, such payment or reimbursement to continue until the earlier of (i) the last day of the eighteenth (18th) full calendar month anniversary following the date this Agreement becomes effective and irrevocable or (ii) the date Executive becomes eligible for comparable coverage under another employers plans. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to the preceding sentence, Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executives expense in accordance with the provisions of COBRA. Executive acknowledges that he shall be solely responsible for all matters relating to Executives continuation of coverage pursuant to COBRA, including, without limitation, Executives election of such coverage and his timely payment of premiums.
(c) Equity Awards. Each outstanding and unvested equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option and restricted stock award, held by Executive (collectively, the Equity Awards) shall become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of that number of unvested shares underlying the Equity Awards as of the Separation Date. The Equity Awards shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the applicable award agreements (the Equity Award Agreements).
(d) Taxes. Executive understands and agrees that all payments under this Section 3 will be subject to appropriate tax withholding and other deductions. To the extent any taxes may be payable by Executive for the benefits provided to him by this Section 3 beyond those withheld by the Company, Executive agrees to pay them himself and to indemnify and hold the Company and the other entities released herein harmless for any tax claims or penalties, and associated attorneys fees and costs, resulting from any failure by him to make required payments. To the extent that any reimbursements payable pursuant to this Agreement are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), such reimbursements shall be paid to Executive no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, and Executives right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
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(e) SEC Reporting. Executive acknowledges that to the extent required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), he will have continuing obligations under Section 16(a) and 16(b) of the Exchange Act to report Executives matching transactions in Company common stock for six (6) months following the Separation Date. Executive hereby agrees not to undertake, directly or indirectly, any reportable transactions involving the common stock of the Company until the end of such six (6) month period.
(f) Sole Separation Benefit. Executive agrees that the payments provided by this Section 3 are not required under the Companys normal policies and procedures and are provided as a severance solely in connection with this Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments referenced in this Section 3 constitute adequate and valuable consideration, in and of themselves, for the promises contained in this Agreement.
4. Full Payment. Executive acknowledges that the payment and arrangements herein shall constitute full and complete satisfaction of any and all amounts properly due and owing to Executive as a result of his employment with the Company and the termination thereof. Executive further acknowledges that, other than the Equity Award Agreements, the Confidentiality Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement between Executive and the Company (the Indemnification Agreement), this Agreement shall supersede each agreement entered into between Executive and the Company regarding Executives employment, including, without limitation, any offer letter, the Severance Agreement and that certain employment agreement by and between Executive and the Company dated November 4, 2009 and as amended on January 5, 2011], and each such agreement shall be deemed terminated and of no further effect as of the Separation Date.
5. Executives Release of the Company. Executive understands that by agreeing to the release provided by this Section 5, Executive is agreeing not to sue, or otherwise file any claim against, the Company or any of its employees or other agents for any reason whatsoever based on anything that has occurred as of the date Executive signs this Agreement.
(a) On behalf of Executive and Executives heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, trusts, spouse and estate, Executive hereby releases and forever discharges the Releasees hereunder, consisting of the Company, and each of its owners, affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, partners, employees, and insurers, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, loss, cost or expense, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent (hereinafter called Claims), which Executive now has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date hereof, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims arising out of, based upon, or relating to Executives hire, employment, remuneration or resignation by the Releasees, or any of them, Claims arising under federal, state, or local laws relating to employment, Claims of any kind that may be brought in any court or administrative agency, including any Claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq.; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. § 2000 et seq.; the Equal Pay Act, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d); the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1981; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.; the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq.;
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the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq. the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 215 et seq., the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Texas Labor Code, including the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act; Section 451.001 of the Texas Workers Compensation Act; the Texas Payday Act; and the Texas Labor Code; Claims for breach of contract; Claims arising in tort, including, without limitation, Claims of wrongful dismissal or discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, fraud, misrepresentation, defamation, libel, infliction of emotional distress, violation of public policy, and/or breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and Claims for damages or other remedies of any sort, including, without limitation, compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorneys fees.
(b) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, Executive does not release the following claims:
(i) Claims for unemployment compensation or any state disability insurance benefits pursuant to the terms of applicable state law;
(ii) Claims for workers compensation insurance benefits under the terms of any workers compensation insurance policy or fund of the Company;
(iii) Claims to continued participation in certain of the Companys group benefit plans pursuant to the terms and conditions of COBRA;
(iv) Claims to any benefit entitlements vested as the date of Executives employment termination, pursuant to written terms of any Company employee benefit plan;
(v) Claims for indemnification under the Indemnification Agreement, the Companys Bylaws or any applicable law; and
(vi) Executives right to bring to the attention of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims of discrimination; provided, however, that Executive does release Executives right to secure any damages for alleged discriminatory treatment.
(c) In accordance with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, Executive has been advised of the following: Executive acknowledges that Executive is knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights Executive may have under the ADEA. Executive also acknowledges that the consideration given for the waiver and release herein is in addition to anything of value to which Executive was already entitled. Executive further acknowledges that Executive has been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA, that: (i) Executives waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may arise after the execution date of this Agreement; (ii) Executive has been advised hereby that Executive has the right to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (iii) Executive has forty-five (45) days from the date of this Agreement to execute this Agreement (although Executive may choose to voluntarily execute this Agreement earlier); (iv) Executive has received with this Agreement a detailed list of the job titles and ages of all employees who were terminated in this group termination and the ages of all employees of the Company in the same job classification or organizational unit who were not terminated, attached hereto as Appendix A; (v) Executive has seven (7) days following the execution of
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this Agreement by Executive to revoke the Agreement, and Executive will not receive the severance benefits provided by Section 3 of this Agreement unless and until such seven (7) day period has expired; (vi) this Agreement will not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which will be the eighth (8th) day after this Agreement is executed by Executive, provided that the Company has also executed this Agreement by that date; and (vii) this Agreement does not affect Executives ability to test the knowing and voluntary nature of this Agreement. If Executive wishes to revoke this Agreement, Executive must deliver notice of Executives revocation in writing, no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the 7th day following Executives execution of this Agreement to Alan Fuhrman, P.O Box 163387, Austin, TX 78716, or e-mail: [###].
6. Non-Disparagement, Transition, Transfer of Company Property and Limitations on Service. Both parties further agree that:
(a) Non-Disparagement. Both parties agree that they shall not disparage, criticize or defame the other party and their respective directors, officers, agents, partners, stockholders, employees, products, services, technology or business, either publicly or privately. Nothing in this Section 6(a) shall have application to any evidence or testimony required by any court, arbitrator or government agency.
(b) Transition. Each of the Company and Executive shall use their respective reasonable efforts to cooperate with each other in good faith to facilitate a smooth transition of Executives duties to other executive(s) of the Company.
(c) Transfer of Company Property. On or before the Separation Date, Executive shall turn over to the Company all files, memoranda, records, and other documents, and any other physical or personal property which are the property of the Company and which he had in his possession, custody or control at the time he signed this Agreement.
7. Executive Representations. Executive warrants and represents that (a) he has not filed or authorized the filing of any complaints, charges or lawsuits against the Company or any affiliate of the Company with any governmental agency or court, and that if, unbeknownst to Executive, such a complaint, charge or lawsuit has been filed on his behalf, he will immediately cause it to be withdrawn and dismissed, (b) he has reported all hours worked as of the date of this Agreement and has been paid all compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, and/or benefits to which he may be entitled and no other compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions and/or benefits are due to him, except as provided in this Agreement, (c) he has no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases and has been provided and/or has not been denied any leave requested under the Family and Medical Leave Act or any similar state law, (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not and will not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which Executive is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which Executive is subject, and (e) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Executive, this Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
8. No Assignment by Executive. Executive warrants and represents that no portion of any of the matters released herein, and no portion of any recovery or settlement to which Executive might be entitled, has been assigned or transferred to another person, firm or corporation not a party to this Agreement, in any manner, including by way of subrogation or operation of law or otherwise. If any claim, action, demand or suit should be made or instituted against the Company or
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any other Releasee because of any actual assignment, subrogation or transfer by Executive, Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and all other Releasees against such claim, action, suit or demand, including necessary expenses of investigation, attorneys fees and costs. In the event of Executives death, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Executive and Executives executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. None of Executives rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executives rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only upon Executives death by will or operation of law.
9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of the State of Texas or, where applicable, United States federal law, in each case, without regard to any conflicts of laws provisions or those of any state other than Texas.
10. Miscellaneous. This Agreement, collectively with the Confidentiality Agreement, the Indemnification Agreement and the Equity Award Agreements, comprise the entire agreement between the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof and supersedes, in their entirety, any other agreements between Executive and the Company with regard to the subject matter hereof. The Company and Executive acknowledge that the separation of the Executives employment with the Company is intended to constitute an involuntary separation from service for the purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and the related Department of Treasury regulations. Executive acknowledges that there are no other agreements, written, oral or implied, and that he may not rely on any prior negotiations, discussions, representations or agreements. This Agreement may be modified only in writing, and such writing must be signed by both parties and recited that it is intended to modify this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.
11. Company Assignment and Successors. The Company shall assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise). This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives.
12. Maintaining Confidential Information. Executive reaffirms his obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments provided in Section 3 above shall be subject to Executives continued compliance with Executives obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement.
13. Executives Cooperation. After the Separation Date, Executive shall cooperate with the Company and its affiliates, upon the Companys reasonable request, with respect to any internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding involving matters within the scope of Executives duties and responsibilities to the Company or its affiliates during his employment with the Company (including, without limitation, Executive being available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at the Companys reasonable request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, and turning over to the Company all relevant Company documents which are or may have come into Executives possession during his employment); provided, however, that any such request by the Company shall not be unduly burdensome or interfere with Executives personal schedule or ability to engage in gainful employment.
(Signature page(s) follow)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Separation Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date indicated next to their respective signatures below.
DATED: August 20, 2017
/s/ Paul Lammers | ||||||
Paul Lammers | ||||||
MIRNA THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||||||
DATED: August 20, 2017 | ||||||
By: | /s/ Alan Fuhrman | |||||
Alan Fuhrman | ||||||
CFO |
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APPENDIX A
DEMOGRAPHIC NOTICE
NAME | TITLE | DATE OF BIRTH | JOB ELIMINATED | ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION BENEFITS | ||||
Paul Lammers | Chief Executive Officer | 7/23/1957 | Yes | Yes | ||||
Alan Fuhrman | Chief Financial Officer | 8/20/1956 | Yes | Yes | ||||
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