|
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EXECUTIVE
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), dated as of the 31 st day
of August, 2007, is between and among Gamma Pharmaceuticals Inc., a
Delaware corporation (together with its successors or assigns as
permitted under this Agreement, the “Company”), and
Joseph Cunningham (the “Executive”).
The Company desires to employ the Executive and
enter into an agreement embodying the terms of such employment, and
the Executive desires to enter into this Agreement and to accept
such employment.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and for
other good and valuable consideration, the Company and the
Executive (individually a “Party” and together the
“Parties”) agree as follows:
(a) “Base
Salary” shall mean the salary
provided for in Paragraph 4 below subject to such increases as may
be made from time to time.
|
|
(b)
|
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
|
(c) “Business
Day” shall mean any day other than
a weekend, a federal or state holiday or a vacation day for the
Executive.
the conviction of ( not including any act as a result of
pleading nolo contendere
) or entry of judgment against the Executive by a
civil or criminal court of competent jurisdiction of a felony, or
any other offense or wrongdoing involving embezzlement, fraud,
misappropriation of funds, any act of moral turpitude or
dishonesty;
the indictment of the Executive by a state or
federal grand jury or the filing of a criminal complaint or
information for a felony, or any other offense involving
embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation of funds, any act of moral
turpitude or dishonesty, unless such indictment or filing is
dismissed within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of
such indictment or filing. The Board may elect to suspend and
extend the Term of Employment by such one hundred eighty (180) day
period or the number of days actually taken by the Executive to
dismiss such indictment or filing, whichever is less; provided that
the Executive notifies the Company in writing that the Executive
intends to contest in good faith such indictment or filing and
pursues the dismissal of such indictment or filing with reasonable
diligence. During such period of suspension, the
Executive may be relieved of duties, but shall be
entitled to receive Base Salary;
the written confession by the Executive of
embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation of funds, any act of moral
turpitude or dishonesty or acts constituting a felony;
the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction in
a criminal or civil action or by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission or state blue sky agency in an administrative proceeding
that the Executive has willfully violated any federal or state
securities law;
the engagement by the Executive in willful and
continued misconduct, or the Executive’s willful and
continued failure to substantially perform the Executive’s
obligations as a director of the Company or as an employee of the
Company, if, in the sole discretion of the Company, such failure or
misconduct is materially damaging or materially detrimental to the
business, operations or reputation of the Company;
the use by the Executive of alcohol or any
controlled substance to an extent that it interferes, in the sole
discretion of the Board, on a continuing and material basis with
the performance of the Executive’s duties under this
Agreement;
the willful, unauthorized disclosure by the
Executive of Confidential Information, as defined in
Paragraph 14, concerning the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, unless such disclosure was (A) believed in good
faith by the Executive to be appropriate in the course of properly
carrying out duties under this Agreement, or (B) required by
an order of a court having jurisdiction over the subject matter or
a summons, subpoena or order in the nature thereof of any
legislative body (including any committee thereof) or any
governmental or administrative agency; or
the performance of services by the Executive, other
than in the course of properly carrying out the Executive’s
duties under this Agreement and as otherwise provided herein, for
any other corporation or person that competes with the Company
while the Executive is employed by the Company.
(e) “Change in
Control” shall mean the occurrence
of any one of the following events:
any “person” (as that term is used in
Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), other than an
employee benefit plan of the Company, a trustee or other of their
affiliates, Peter Cunningham, Joseph Cunningham or Hao Zhang
becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the
Executive Employment Agreement — 2
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing 50% or more of
the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding
securities ordinarily having the right to vote at the election of
directors; or
individuals who constitute the Board on the date
hereof (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person
becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election
was approved by at least a majority of the directors comprising the
Incumbent Board, or whose nomination or election was approved by a
majority of the Board of Directors of the Company serving under an
Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (ii),
considered as if he or she were a member of the Incumbent Board;
or
the merger, consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all the assets of the Company occurs; or
a proxy statement is distributed soliciting proxies
from stockholders of the Company, by someone other than the current
management of the Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan
of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one
or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of
the Company’s securities are actually exchanged for or
converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the
Company.
|
|
(f)
|
“Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company.
|
(g) “Consolidated EBITDA” shall mean the Company’s consolidated “Earnings
(Losses) from Operations” plus Interest, Taxes, Depreciation
and Amortization but excluding (i) the sale of any material
asset not in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) any
charge against earnings for stock options pursuant to
Paragraph 6 below. Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined on
the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. Consolidated EBITDA for a calendar
year shall be determined by the Company’s independent
accountants based on audited financial statements. Consolidated
EBITDA for a period of less than one year shall be determined by
the Company’s independent accountants based on a written
report setting forth the basis of the review.
|
|
(h)
|
“Constructive Termination Without
Cause” shall mean that,
|
without the Executive’s prior written consent,
one or more of the following events occurs:
the Executive is removed from the position of Chief
Financial Officer (CFO) for any reason other than the termination
of employment;
Executive Employment Agreement — 3
the Executive suffers a material diminution in the
authorities, duties or responsibilities normally associated with
the foregoing position, including but not limited to an adverse
change to Executive’s then position or title with the
Company, or there are assigned to the Executive duties and
responsibilities materially inconsistent with those normally
associated with such positions;
the Executive’s Base Salary is decreased or
Executive’s right to participate in the Variable Compensation
Pool Plan described in Paragraph 5 is terminated by the affirmative
act of the Company, or benefits under any material employee benefit
plan or program of the Company is or are reduced by the affirmative
act of the Company;
the Company fails to obtain a written agreement from
any successors of the Company to assume and perform this
Agreement;
If the Executive is a member of the Board, or is
elected to the Board during the Term of Employment, a failure to
re-elect to, or removal of the Executive from, the Board of
Directors;
any other material breach by the Company of this
Agreement; and
within 90 days of learning of the occurrence of such
event (but in no event later than 180 days after the occurrence of
such event), the Executive terminates the Executive’s
employment with the Company.
(i) “Disability” shall mean
the Executive’s inability, for a period of twelve consecutive
months, to render substantially the services provided for in
Paragraph 3(a) below by reason of mental or physical
disability, whether resulting from illness, accident or
otherwise.
(j) “Term
of Employment ” shall mean the initial 5 year
period specified in Paragraph 2 below and if, but only if,
automatically renewed as provided in Paragraph 2, shall
include the period of such renewal.
(a) The Company hereby employs the Executive,
and the Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, in
the position and with the duties and responsibilities as set forth
in Paragraph 3 below for the Term of Employment, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b) The Executive’s Term of Employment
under this Agreement shall commence on the date this Agreement is
executed by the Executive in the year 2007 and shall,
Executive Employment Agreement — 4
unless sooner terminated as provided in
Paragraph 11, terminate at 11:59 p.m. (P.D.T.) on the same
date in the year 2012; provided that the Term of Employment shall
automatically renew for successive five-year periods unless
(i) it has sooner terminated as provided in Paragraph 11
or (ii) either Party has notified the other in writing at
least 60 days prior to the otherwise scheduled expiration of the
Term of Employment that such Term of Employment shall not so
renew.
|
|
3.
|
POSITION, DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES
|
(a) During
the Term of Employment, subject to supervision and in accordance
with the policies and directives established by the Board, and
subordinate to and working under the supervision of the Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company, the Company shall employ
Executive as the CFO of the Company, with the duties,
responsibilities and authorities customarily associated with such
positions. The Executive shall be entitled to no additional
remuneration for serving as an officer of the Company.
(b) The
Executive is permitted to engage in charitable, community and
business affairs, managing personal investments and serving as a
member of boards of directors of industry associations or
non-profit or for profit organizations and companies so long as
such activities do not materially interfere, in the opinion and
sole discretion of the CEO of the Company, with the
Executive’s duties and responsibilities under the Agreement.
Thereafter, not less often than on January 1 of each year, the
Executive shall disclose in writing to the CEO of the Company any
changes to the information with respect to involvement in such
entities or organizations.
During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall
be paid by the Company a Base Salary payable no less frequently
than in equal semi-monthly installments at an annualized rate of
$150,000.00; subject to increase as may be determined by the
Company within its sole discretion and as set forth below.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Base Salary shall be increased
each April 1 during the term hereof in an amount at least
equal to the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index - All
Urban Areas (“CPI”) issued by the U.S. Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the preceding calendar
year.
The Company shall pay the Executive variable
compensation for each quarter of each calendar year during the Term
of Employment in amounts determined in accordance with the terms
and provisions of the Variable Compensation Pool Plan.
Executive Employment Agreement — 5
The Executive shall be entitled to participate in
any stock option program of the Company now or hereafter
established for the Company’s senior executives in accordance
with the terms and provisions of such program .
The Executive shall be entitled to participate in
any stock compensation program of the Company now or hereafter
established for the Company’s senior executives in accordance
with the terms and provisions of such program.
|
|
8.
|
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAMS
|
(a) During
the Term of Employment, the Executive and his or her dependents
shall be entitled to participate in, at the Company’s
expense, whatever employee benefit plans the Company opts to
obtain, such as medical, surgical, hospitalization, dental and
visual insurance coverage, in accordance with the terms and
provisions of such plans. The Company will pay all expenses for
these insurance program(s) or plan(s). Following the termination of
this Agreement for any reason, the Company will continue to provide
to the Executive, at the Company’s expense, medical,
surgical, hospitalization, dental and visual insurance coverage
with substantially the same benefit levels, deductibles and out of
pocket maximums as in the insurance program(s) or plan(s) in place
on the date of the termination of this Agreement, for the
Executive’s lifetime, the lifetime of the Executive’s
spouse, or until the Executive’s children (if any) reach the
age of 25 or graduate from a four year college or university,
whichever occurs later.
(b) During
the Term of Employment, the Executive shall also be provided with
long-term disability insurance which shall provide the Executive
with an annual benefit of no less than 66 2/3 percent of Base
Salary continued until age 65 or until the Executive dies or is no
longer disabled, if sooner. To the extent available, the Executive
shall be provided an opportunity to purchase additional long-term
disability insurance, at the Executive’s own expense. To the
extent possible, the amount of long-term disability insurance
described in the first two sentences of this Paragraph 8(b)
shall be provided by an individual policy that gives the Executive
the right to assume the policy in the event of the termination of
this Agreement for any reason, provided that the amount of such
insurance to be so provided shall be offset by any long-term
disability insurance coverage provided to the Executive under the
Company’s employee long-term disability insurance programs
described in Paragraph 8(d) below.
(c) During
the Term of Employment the Company shall provide the Executive with
life insurance coverage in an amount equal to $1,000,000.00. To the
extent available, the Executive shall be provided an opportunity to
purchase additional life insurance, at the Executive’s own
expense. To the extent possible, the amount of life
Executive Employment Agreement — 6
insurance described in the first two sentences of
this Paragraph 8(c) shall be provided by an individual policy
that gives the Executive the right to assume the policy in the
event of termination of employment, provided that the amount of
such insurance to be so provided shall be offset by any life
insurance coverage provided to the Executive under the
Company’s employee group life insurance programs described in
Paragraph 8(d) below.
(d) During
the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all employee incentive and benefit programs of the
Company now or hereafter made available to the Company’s
senior executives or salaried employees generally, as such programs
may be in effect from time-to-time, including, without limitation,
pension and other retirement plans, profit-sharing plans, group
life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance,
hospitalization, surgical, major medical and dental coverage, sick
leave (including salary continuation arrangements), long-term
disability, holidays and up to eight weeks annually of
vacations.
(e) During
the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to four (4)
weeks paid vacation per calendar year. Any unused vacation weeks
attributable to a particular calendar year shall carry over to
subsequent calendar years.
(f) The Company
shall during the Term of Employment keep in force errors and
omissions liability insurance for officers and directors in amounts
determined appropriate by the Board.
|
|
9.
|
RELOCATION EXPENSE, BUSINESS EXPENSE
REIMBURSEMENT, AND PERQUISITES
|
(a) During
the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to receive
reimbursement by the Company of any of the Executive’s
relocation costs incurred by the Executive due to a Company
action.
(b) During
the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to receive
reimbursement by the Company, upon submission of adequate
documentation, for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by the Executive in performing services under this
Agreement.
(c) During
the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to the use
of an automobile and reimbursement for all operating expenses
associated therewith, including, without limitation, collision and
liability insurance. The Executive shall have the right to choose
the automobile; provided, however, the retail value of the first
automobile that the Executive shall be entitled to use excluding
sales taxes and licensing fees, shall not exceed $50,000.00. The
Executive shall be entitled to the use of subsequent automobiles,
and reimbursement for all operating expenses associated therewith,
including, without limitation, collision and liability insurance,
every two years, calculated from the date of the previous
automobile purchase. The retail value of any subsequent automobiles
shall be determined by the Board prior to the time Executive
purchases said subsequent automobiles, but in no event shall the
value be less than the
Executive Employment Agreement — 7
<<br>
|