|
Exhibit
10.27
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
|
Parties:
|
SurModics, Inc.
|
|
|
("Company")
|
|
|
9924 West 74th Street
|
|
|
Eden Prairie, MN
55344-3523
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul A. Lopez
|
|
|
|
("Executive")
|
|
|
|
|
1125½ W. Balboa
Boulevard
|
|
|
|
Newport Beach, CA 92661
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date:
|
November 15, 2006
|
|
RECITALS:
1. Executive has been employed by the
Company since July 5, 2005, and currently serves as the Vice
President and President, Ophthalmology Division, of the Company,
and Executive has extensive knowledge and experience relating to
the Company’s business.
2.
The parties recognize that a "Change of Control" may materially
change or diminish Executive’s responsibilities and
substantially frustrate Executive’s commitment to the
Company.
3.
The parties further recognize that it is in the best interests of
the Company and its stockholders to provide certain benefits
payable upon a "Change of Control Termination" to encourage
Executive to continue in his position in the event of a Change of
Control, although no such Change of Control is now contemplated or
foreseen.
4.
The parties further desire to provide certain benefits payable upon
a termination of Executive’s employment following a Change of
Control.
AGREEMENTS:
1.
Term of Agreement . Except as otherwise provided herein,
this Agreement shall commence on the date executed by the parties
and shall continue in effect until the third anniversary of the
date set forth above; provided, however, that if a Change of
Control of the Company shall occur during the term of this
Agreement, this Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of
twelve (12) months beyond the date of such Change of Control. If,
prior to the earlier of the third anniversary of this Agreement or
a Change of Control, Executive’s employment with the Company
terminates for any reason or no reason, or if Executive no longer
serves as an executive officer of the Company, this Agreement shall
immediately terminate, and Executive shall not be entitled to any
of the compensation and benefits described in this Agreement. Any
rights and obligations accruing before the termination or
expiration of this Agreement shall survive to the extent necessary
to enforce such rights and obligations.
2.
"Change of Control ." For purposes of this Agreement,
"Change of Control" shall mean any one or more of the following
events occurring after the date of this Agreement:
|
|
(a)
|
|
The purchase or other acquisition by
any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, of stock
of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or
group, constitutes more than 50% of the total combined value or
total combined voting power of all classes of stock issued by the
Company; provided, however, that if any one person or more than one
person acting as a group is considered to own more than 50% of the
total combined value or total combined voting power of such stock,
the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons
shall not be considered a Change of Control;
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
A merger or consolidation to which
the Company is a party if the individuals and entities who were
shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the effective date
of such merger or consolidation have, immediately following the
effective date of such merger or consolidation, beneficial
ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934) of less than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined
voting power of all classes of securities issued by the surviving
entity for the election of directors of the surviving
corporation;
|
| |
|
| |
(c)
|
|
Any one person, or more than one
person acting as a group, acquires or has acquired during the
twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent
acquisition by such person or persons, direct or indirect
beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) of stock of the Company constituting
thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock issued by the Company;
|
| |
|
| |
(d)
|
|
The purchase or other acquisition by
any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, of
substantially all of the total gross value of the assets of the
Company during the twelve-month period ending on the date of the
most recent purchase or other acquisition by such person or
persons. For purposes of this Section 2(d), "gross value" means the
value of the assets of the Company or the value of the assets being
disposed of, as the case may be, determined without regard to any
liabilities associated with such assets;
|
| |
|
| |
(e)
|
|
A change in the composition of the
Board of the Company at any time during any consecutive twelve (12)
month period such that the "Continuity Directors" cease for any
reason to constitute at least a fifty percent (50%) majority of the
Board. For purposes of this event, "Continuity Directors" means
those members of the Board who either:
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
(1)
|
|
were directors at the beginning of such
consecutive twelve (12) month period; or
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
(2)
|
|
were elected by, or on the nomination or
recommendation of, at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the
then-existing Board of Directors.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
In all cases, the determination of
whether a Change of Control has occurred shall be made in
accordance with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), Section 409A and the regulations, notices and other
guidance of general applicability issued thereunder.
|
3. "
Change of Control Termination." For purposes of this
Agreement, "Change of Control Termination" shall mean any of the
following events occurring upon or within twelve (12) months after
a Change of Control:
|
|
(a)
|
|
The termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company for any reason, with or without cause,
except for termination resulting from conduct by Executive
constituting (i) a felony involving moral turpitude under either
federal law or the law of the state of the Company’s
incorporation, or (ii) Executive’s willful failure to fulfill
his employment duties with the Company; provided, however, that for
purposes of this clause (ii), an act or failure to act by Executive
shall not be "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be done, in
bad faith and without any reasonable belief that Executive’s
action or omission was in the best interests of the Company;
or
|
| |
|
| |
(b)
|
|
The termination of employment with
the Company by Executive for "Good Reason." Such termination shall
be accomplished by, and effective upon, Executive giving written
notice to the Company of his decision to terminate. "Good Reason"
shall mean a good faith determination by Executive, in
Executive’s sole and absolute judgment, that any one or more
of the following events has occurred, at any time during the term
of this Agreement or after a Change of Control; provided, however,
that such event shall not constitute Good Reason if Executive has
expressly consented to such event in writing or if Executive fails
to provide written notice of his decision to terminate within
ninety (90) days of the occurrence of such event:
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
(1)
|
|
A change in Executive’s reporting
responsibilities, titles or offices, or any removal of Executive
from or any failure to re-elect Executive to any of such positions,
which has the effect of diminishing Executive’s
responsibility or authority;
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
A reduction by the Company in
Executive’s base salary (as increased from time to
time);
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
(3)
|
|
A requirement imposed by the Company
on Executive that results in Executive being based at a location
that is outside of a twenty-five (25) radius mile of
Executive’s prior job location;
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
(4)
|
|
Without the adoption of a
replacement plan, program or arrangement that provides benefits to
Executive that are equal to or greater than those benefits that are
discontinued or adversely affected:
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(A)
|
|
The failure by the Company to continue in effect,
within its maximum stated term, any pension, bonus, incentive,
stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option, life insurance,
health, accident, disability, or any other employee compensation or
benefit plan, program or arrangement, in which Executive is or has
been participating; or
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(B)
|
|
The taking of any action by the Company that
would adversely affect Executive’s participation or
materially reduce Executive’s benefits under any of such
plans, programs or arrangements;
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
(5)
|
|
Any action by the Company that would materially
adversely affect the physical conditions in or under which
Executive performs his employment duties; or
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
(6)
|
|
Any material breach by the Company of any
employment agreement between Executive and the Company or its
subsidiary.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Termination for "Good Reason" shall
not include Executive’s death or a termination for any reason
other than one of the events specified in clauses (1) through (6)
above.
|
4. Compensatio
|