The Retention and Severance Plan dated, March 31, 2022
[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted because it is both (i) not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.
Ex. 10.1
XOMA Corporation
Retention and Severance Plan
This XOMA Corporation Retention and Severance Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby established by the Board of Directors of XOMA Corporation (the “Company”) effective as of January 1, 2022. The purpose of the Plan is to provide for retention bonuses and severance benefits to eligible employees of the Company under certain specified conditions. This Plan document also is the Summary Plan Description for the Plan. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Equity Plan (as defined below).
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms are defined as follows:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order for the employee’s resignation to be deemed to have been for Good Reason, the employee must (a) provide written notice to the Company of such employee’s intent to resign for Good Reason within 90 days after the first occurrence of the event giving rise to Good Reason, which notice shall describe the event(s) the employee believes give rise to Good Reason; (b) allow the Company at least 60 days from receipt of the written notice to
cure the event (such period, the “Cure Period”), and (c) if the event is not reasonably cured within the Cure Period, then the employee must resign from all positions the employee then holds with the Company not later than one hundred eighty (180) days following the first occurrence of the event giving rise to Good Reason.
Eligible Employees will receive a cash retention bonus in the event the Eligible Employee remains employed by the Company through the three (3)-month anniversary of the first day of employment of the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer (the “Initial Period”). The cash bonus will be equal to 25% of the Base Salary paid to the Eligible Employee by the Company during the Initial Period, less any standard and customary payroll deductions and withholdings. This bonus will be paid on the first payroll date following the last day of the Initial Period. In order to earn the bonus, the Eligible Employee must remain employed through the last day of the Initial Period; provided, however, that if the Eligible Employee is terminated by the Company without Cause or resigns for Good Reason, in either case during the Initial Period, then the Eligible Employee will remain eligible for the bonus payment as set forth in the Eligible Employee’s Participation Agreement.
Eligible Employees will receive a second cash retention bonus in the event the Eligible Employee remains employed by the Company through the nine (9)-month period immediately following the Initial Period (the “Extended Period”). The cash bonus will be equal to 25% of the Base Salary paid to the Eligible Employee by the Company during the Extended Period, less payroll deductions and withholdings. This bonus will be paid on the first payroll date following the last day of the Extended Period. In order to earn the bonus, the Eligible Employee must remain actively employed through the last day of the Extended Period; provided, however, that if the Eligible Employee is terminated by the Company without Cause or resigns for Good Reason, in either case during the Extended Period, then the Eligible Employee will remain eligible for the bonus payment as set forth in the Eligible Employee’s Participation Agreement.
Notwithstanding any provisions in this Section above to the contrary, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A as follows: (A) as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for the Eligible Employee as determined on an after-tax basis; (B) as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without Cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not contingent on future events; and (C) as a third priority, Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
The Company shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting or law firm to make the determinations required by this Section. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting or law firm required to be made hereunder. If the Eligible Employee receives a Payment for which the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (x) above and the Internal Revenue Service determines thereafter that some portion of the Payment is subject to the Excise Tax, Eligible Employee agrees to promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the Payment (after reduction pursuant to clause (x) above) so that no portion of the remaining Payment is subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (y) above, the Eligible Employee shall have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence.
An Eligible Employee will not be entitled to any severance benefit under the Plan unless and until the Eligible Employee returns all material Company Property. For this purpose, “Company Property” means all paper and electronic Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company property which the Eligible Employee had in his or her possession or control at any time, including, but not limited to, Company files, notes, drawings, records, plans, forecasts, reports, studies, analyses, proposals, agreements, financial information, research and development information, sales and marketing information, operational and personnel information, specifications, code, software, databases, computer-recorded information, tangible property and equipment (including, but not limited to, computers, mobile telephones), credit cards, entry cards, identification badges and keys; and any materials of any kind which contain or embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company (and all reproductions thereof in whole or in part). As a condition to receiving benefits under the Plan, an Eligible Employee must not make or retain copies, reproductions or summaries of any such Company documents, materials or property. However, an Eligible Employee is not required to return his or her personal copies of documents evidencing the Eligible Employee’s hire, termination, compensation, benefits and stock options and any other documentation received as a stockholder of the Company.
The Company reserves the right in the Participation Agreement to specify whether payments under the Plan will be paid in a single sum, in installments, or in any other form and to determine the timing of such payments. All such payments under the Plan will be subject to applicable withholding for federal, state, foreign, provincial and local taxes. All benefits provided under the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements for an exemption from application of Section 409A to the maximum extent that an exemption is available and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly; provided, however, that to the extent such an exemption is not available, the benefits provided under the Plan are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent necessary to avoid adverse personal tax consequences and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly.
It is intended that (i) each installment of any benefits payable under the Plan to an Eligible Employee be regarded as a separate “payment” for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i), (ii) all payments of any such benefits under the Plan satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), and (iii) any such benefits consisting of COBRA premiums also satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemption from the application of Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v). However, if the Company determines that any severance benefits payable under the Plan constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and the Eligible Employee is a “specified employee” of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the adverse personal tax consequences
under Section 409A, (A) the timing of such severance benefit payments shall be delayed until the earlier of (1) the date that is six months and one day after the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service and (2) the date of the Eligible Employee’s death (such applicable date, the “Delayed Initial Payment Date”), and (B) the Company shall (1) pay the Eligible Employee a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the severance benefit payments that the Eligible Employee would otherwise have received through the Delayed Initial Payment Date if the commencement of the payment of the severance benefits had not been delayed pursuant to this paragraph and (2) commence paying the balance, if any, of the severance benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedule.
In no event shall payment of any severance benefits under the Plan be made prior to an Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service or prior to the effective date of the Release. If the Company determines that any severance payments or benefits provided under the Plan constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, and the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service occurs at a time during the calendar year when the Release could become effective in the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service occurs, then regardless of when the Release is returned to the Company and becomes effective, the Release will not be deemed effective, solely for purposes of the timing of payment of severance benefits under this Plan, any earlier than the latest permitted effective date (the “Release Deadline”). If the Company determines that any severance payments or benefits provided under the Plan constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, then except to the extent that severance payments may be delayed until the Delayed Initial Payment Date pursuant to the preceding paragraph, on the first regular payroll date following the effective date of an Eligible Employee’s Release, the Company shall (1) pay the Eligible Employee a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the severance benefit payments that the Eligible Employee would otherwise have received through such payroll date but for the delay in payment related to the effectiveness of the Release and (2) commence paying the balance, if any, of the severance benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedule.
The rights and obligations of an Eligible Employee under this Plan may not be transferred or assigned without the prior written consent of the Company. This Plan shall be binding upon any entity or person who is a successor by merger, acquisition, consolidation or otherwise to the business carried on by the Company without regard to whether or not such entity or person actively assumes the obligations hereunder as required under the Equity Plan and without regard to whether or not a Change in Control occurs.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan, an Eligible Employee will not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided under the Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will the amount of any payment provided for under the Plan be reduced by any compensation earned by an Eligible Employee as a result of employment by another employer or any retirement benefits received by such Eligible Employee after the date of the Eligible Employee’s termination of employment with the Company.
All payments and severance benefits provided under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. No recovery of compensation under such a
clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for Good Reason, constructive termination, or any similar term under any plan of or agreement with the Company.
The Plan shall not be deemed (i) to give any employee or other person any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or (ii) to interfere with the right of the Company to discharge any employee or other person at any time, with or without cause, which right is hereby reserved. This Plan does not modify the at-will employment status of any Eligible Employee.
This Plan is intended to be governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and, to the extent not preempted by ERISA, the laws of the State of California.
XOMA Corporation
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
Attention to: Corporate Secretary
2200 Powell Street, Suite 310
Emeryville, CA 94608
This notice of denial will be given to the applicant within 90 days after the Plan Administrator receives the application, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, in which case, the Plan Administrator has up to an additional 90 days for processing the application. If an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial 90 day period.
This notice of extension will describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Plan Administrator is to render its decision on the application.
XOMA Corporation
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
Attention to: Corporate Secretary
2200 Powell Street, Suite 310
Emeryville, CA 94608
A request for review must set forth all of the grounds on which it is based, all facts in support of the request and any other matters that the applicant feels are pertinent. The applicant (or his or her representative) shall have the opportunity to submit (or the Plan Administrator may require the applicant to submit) written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to his or her claim. The applicant (or his or her representative) shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to his or her claim. The review shall take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the applicant (or his or her representative) relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.
The Plan shall be unfunded, and all cash payments under the Plan shall be paid only from the general assets of the Company.
XOMA Corporation
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
Attention to: Corporate Secretary
2200 Powell Street, Suite 310
Emeryville, CA 94608
In addition, service of legal process may be made upon the Plan Administrator.
XOMA Corporation
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
Attention to: Corporate Secretary
2200 Powell Street, Suite 310
Emeryville, CA 94608
XOMA Corporation
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
Attention to: Corporate Secretary
2200 Powell Street, Suite 310
Emeryville, CA 94608
The Plan Administrator is the named fiduciary charged with the responsibility for administering the Plan.
Participants in this Plan are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA. If you are an Eligible Employee, you are considered a participant in the Plan and, under ERISA, you are entitled to:
Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request a copy of Plan documents or the latest annual report from the Plan, if applicable, and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a Federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator.
If you have a claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or Federal court.
If you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a Federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees. If you are successful, the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.
Appendix A
Participation Agreement
Name: ___________________
You have been designated as eligible to participate in the XOMA Corporation Retention and Severance Plan (the “Plan”), a copy of which is attached to this Participation Agreement (the “Participation Agreement”). Capitalized terms not explicitly defined in this Participation Agreement but defined in the Plan shall have the same definitions as in the Plan. You will receive the benefits set forth below if you meet all the eligibility requirements set forth in the Plan, including, without limitation, executing the required Release within the applicable time period set forth therein and allowing such Release to become effective in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding the schedule for provision of benefits as set forth below, the schedule and timing of payment of any benefits under this Participant Agreement is subject to any delay in payment that may be required under the Plan.
If you are terminated in a Covered Termination, you will receive the severance benefits set forth in this Section 2. All severance benefits described herein are subject to standard deductions and withholdings.
1 Severance benefits to be omitted from participation agreement for CFO, other than paragraph (c) (Retention Bonus Payment).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot provide the COBRA premium benefits without potentially incurring financial costs or penalties under applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then in lieu of paying COBRA premiums directly to the carrier on your behalf, the Company will instead pay you on the last day of each remaining month of the COBRA Payment Period a fully taxable cash payment equal to the value of your monthly COBRA premium for the first month of COBRA coverage, subject to applicable tax withholding (such amount, the “Special Severance Payment”), such Special Severance Payment to be made without regard to your election of COBRA coverage or payment of COBRA premiums and without regard to your continued eligibility for COBRA coverage during the COBRA Payment Period. Such Special Severance Payment shall end upon expiration of the COBRA Payment Period.
To accept the terms of this Participation Agreement and participate in the Plan, please sign and date this Participation Agreement in the space provided below and return it to _____________________ no later than _________, ____.
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Eligible Employee
[Insert Name]
Date:
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