EXHIBIT
99.2
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This Separation
Agreement (“Agreement”) is made by and between
Christopher P. Calisi (“Executive”) and Overland
Storage, Inc. (the “Company”) on November 6,
2006.
1.
Termination of Employment and Resignation from Board of
Directors . Executive’s employment with the Company
pursuant to the Employment Agreement dated March 12, 2001, as
amended November 22, 2005 (the “Employment Agreement”)
terminated November 1, 2006 (the “Termination
Date”). Executive resigned from the Board of
Directors of the Company and all of its subsidiary companies on
November 2, 2006 (the “Resignation Date”).
Executive agrees to execute such further documentation as may be
reasonably required by the Company to confirm the effectiveness of
his resignation from the Board of Directors following the
Company’s 2006 annual meeting of shareholders.
2.
Standard Entitlements . Executive acknowledges his
prior receipt in full of the Standard Entitlements (as defined in
the Employment Agreement).
3.
Additional Payment and Benefits . Should Executive
enter into and not revoke the General Release attached hereto as
Exhibit A, Executive will receive the following benefits after the
Effective Date of the aforementioned General Release. All
such Benefits will be subject to payroll withholding taxes to the
extent required under applicable law.
a.
The Company will provide
Executive with a payment of $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
and No Cents) on May 2, 2007.
b.
The Company will enter
into the Consulting Agreement with Executive attached hereto as
Exhibit B (the “Consulting Agreement”).
c.
The Company will reimburse
Executive for up to $10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents) for
up to three months of outplacement services, commencing within
thirty (30) days after the date of this Agreement, by a firm
selected by the Executive from a list compiled by the
Company. Executive shall submit receipts for such services to
the Company on or before May 2, 2007, and shall be reimbursed on
May 2, 2007.
d.
Assuming Executive elects
to continue to participate in the Company’s standard medical
and dental benefits as provided under COBRA and/or Cal-COBRA, then
to the extent that such benefits are provided pursuant to a plan
described in Section 1.409A-1(a)(5) of the Proposed Treasury
Regulations and any successor thereto
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(“Welfare
Benefits”), the Company will pay the cost thereof for up to
one year following the Termination Date if Executive provides
written notice of such election to the Company within the time
prescribed in the “COBRA NOTICE”. The benefit set
forth in this Section 3(d) shall cease upon Executive becoming
eligible for reasonably comparable medical and dental benefits
through a successor employer.
e.
Executive shall be
permitted to retain the computer equipment and cell phone that the
Company provided to him during his employment; provided however,
that Executive must immediately deliver the laptop computer he was
most recently using to the Company’s IT department for
removal of all Company information.
4.
Termination of Equity Awards . Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in the Employment Agreement, in
any stock option or restricted stock award between the Company and
Executive (collectively, “Awards”), or in any equity
plan of the Company, (a) Executive’s service to the Company
and all vesting under all Awards shall be deemed to have ceased
upon the Resignation Date notwithstanding entry into the Consulting
Agreement, (b) no stock option Award shall be exercisable following
the Resignation Date, and (c) all unvested restricted stock Awards
shall be permanently forfeited to the Company on the Resignation
Date.
5.
Trade Secrets and Confidential Information . Executive
acknowledges and affirms existing agreements and provisions that
provide that during Executive’s employment, Executive had
access to trade secrets and confidential information about the
Company, its products and services, its customers, and its methods
of doing business. Executive agrees that Executive shall not
disclose any information relating to the trade secrets or
confidential information of the Company or its customers which has
not already been disclosed to the general public.
6.
Return of Company Property . Except as set forth in
Section 3(e) above, Executive (a) agrees to comply with all
policies and procedures of the Company to which he is subject; (b)
represents that all the Company property, including but not limited
to keys, equipment, and credit cards, has been returned to the
Company; and (c) agrees to cooperate with the Company in arranging
for an orderly transfer of files and projects.
7.
Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the General Release
attached hereto as Exhibit A and the Consulting Agreement attached
hereto as Exhibit B, constitute the entire agreement of the parties
with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersede
all prior and contemporaneous negotiations, agreements and
understandings between the parties, oral or written, including,
without limitation, the Employment Agreement and the Retention
Agreement dated March 12, 2001, except as specifically set forth
herein or in the General Release.
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8.
Modification; Waivers . No modification, termination
or attempted waiver of this Agreement will be valid unless in
writing, signed by the party against whom such modification,
termination or waiver is sought to be enforced.
9.
Amendment . This Agreement may be amended or
supplemented only by a writing signed by Executive and the
Company.
10.
CIRCULAR 230 DISCLAIMER . EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES AND
AGREES THAT (1) NO PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND NO WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION OR DISCLOSURE BETWEEN OR AMONG THE PARTIES OR THEIR
ATTORNEYS AND OTHER ADVISERS, IS OR WAS INTENDED TO BE, NOR SHALL
ANY SUCH COMMUNICATION OR DISCLOSURE CONSTITUTE OR BE CONSTRUED OR
BE RELIED UPON AS, TAX ADVICE WITHIN THE MEANING OF UNITED STATES
TREASURY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 230 (31 CFR PART 10, AS AMENDED); (2)
EXECUTIVE (A) HAS RELIED EXCLUSIVELY UPON HER OR ITS OWN,
INDEPENDENT LEGAL AND TAX ADVISERS FOR ADVICE (INCLUDING TAX
ADVICE) IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, (B) HAS NOT ENTERED INTO
THIS AGREEMENT BASED UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF ANY OTHER PARTY OR
ANY ATTORNEY OR ADVISOR TO ANY OTHER PARTY, AND (C) IS NOT ENTITLED
TO RELY UPON ANY COMMUNICATION OR DISCLOSURE BY ANY ATTORNEY OR
ADVISER TO ANY OTHER PARTY TO AVOID ANY TAX PENALTY THAT MAY BE
IMPOSED ON EXECUTIVE; AND (3) NO ATTORNEY OR ADVISER TO ANY OTHER
PARTY HAS IMPOSED ANY LIMITATION THAT PROTECTS THE CONFIDENTIALITY
OF ANY SUCH ATTORNEY’S OR ADVISER’S TAX STRATEGIES
(REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH LIMITATION IS LEGALLY BINDING) UPON
DISCLOSURE BY EXECUTIVE OF THE TAX TREATMENT OR TAX STRUCTURE OF
ANY TRANSACTION, INCLUDING ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED BY THIS
AGREEMENT.
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EXECUTIVE
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Date: November 6,
2006
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/s/ Christopher P.
Calisi
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Christopher P.
Calisi
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OVERLAND STORAGE,
INC.
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Date: November 6,
2006
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By:
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Vernon A.
LoForti
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Name:
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Vernon A.
LoForti
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Title:
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Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT “A”
GENERAL RELEASE
This GENERAL RELEASE
(“ Release ”) is entered into effective as of
the date set forth below by and between Overland Storage, Inc., a
California corporation, having its principal offices at 4820
Overland Avenue, San Diego, California 92123 (the “
Company ”) and Christopher P. Calisi, an individual
(“ Employee ”), with reference to the following
facts:
RECITALS
A. The
parties entered into an Employment Agreement (the “
Agreement ”) dated as of March 12, 2001, by which
the parties agreed that upon the occurrence of certain conditions,
Employee would become eligible for the Payment as defined in the
attached Separation Agreement in exchange for Employee’s
release of the Company from all claims which Employee may have
against the Company as of the date of the termination of
Employee’s employment.
B.
The parties desire to dispose of, fully and completely, all claims
which Employee may have against the Company in the manner set forth
in this Release.
RELEASES
1.
Release . Employee, for himself and his heirs,
successors and assigns, fully releases and discharges the Company,
its officers, directors, employees, shareholders, attorneys,
accountants, other professionals, insurers and agents
(collectively, “Agents”), and all entities related to
each party, including, but not limited to, heirs, executors,
administrators, personal representatives, assigns, parent,
subsidiary and sister corporations, affiliates, partners and
co-venturers (collectively, “Related Entities”), from
all rights, claims, demands, actions, causes of action, liabilities
and obligations of every kind, nature and description whatsoever,
Employee now has, owns or holds or has at anytime had, owned or
held or may have against the Company, Agents or Related Entities
from any source whatsoever, whether or not arising from or related
to the facts recited in this Release. Employee specifically
releases and waives any and all claims arising under any express or
implied contract, rule, regulation or ordinance, including, without
limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil
Rights Act of 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the
California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor
Code and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended
(“ADEA”). Employee acknowledges that the Company has
paid Employee all wages, bonuses, accrued unused vacation pay,
options, benefits and monies owed by the Company to Employee.
This release does not waive any claims which as a matter of law
cannot be waived.
2. Section 1542
Waiver . This Release is intended as a full and complete
release and discharge of any and all claims that Employee may have
against the Company, Agents or Related Entities. In making
this release, Employee intends to release each of the Company,
Agents and Related Entities from liability of any nature
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whatsoever for any
claim of damages or injury or for equitable or declaratory relief
of any kind, whether the claim, or any facts on which such claim
might be based, is known or unknown to him. Employee
expressly waives all rights under §1542 of the California
Civil Code, which Employee understands provides as
follows:
A GENERAL RELEASE
DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR
SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE
RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED
HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.
Employee
acknowledges that he may discover facts different from or in
addition to those that he now believes to be true with respect to
this Release. Employee agrees that this Release shall remain
effective notwithstanding the discovery of any different or
additional facts.
3. Waiver of Certain
Claims . Employee acknowledges that he has been advised
in writing of his right to consult with an attorney prior to
executing the waivers set out in this Release, and that he has been
given a 21-day period in which to consider entering into the
release of ADEA claims, if any. If Employee does not consider
this Release for the full 21-day period, but instead signs and
returns it earlier, Employee has done so voluntarily with the full
understanding that Employee waived Employee’s right to the
full 21-day period. In addition, Employee is hereby informed
that Employee has seven (7) days following the date of signing of
this Agreement in which to revoke this Release. Employee can
revoke the Release by sending notice of my revocation to the
attention of Scott McClendon at the Company. If Employee does
not send such written notice of revocation via U. S. Mail
postmarked within 7 days, this Release shall become effective and
irrevocable at 12:01 a.m. on the eighth (8 th )
day after Employee signs it (“Effective Date”).
4. No Undue
Influence . This Release is executed voluntarily and
without any duress or undue influence. Employee acknowledges
that he has read this Release and executed it with his full and
free consent. No provision of this Release shall be construed
against any party by virtue of the fact that such party or its
counsel drafted such provision or the entirety of this
Release.
5. Governing Law
. This Release is made and entered into in the State of
California and accordingly the rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder shall in all respects be construed, interpreted,
enforced and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of
California as applied to contracts entered into by and between
residents of California to be wholly performed within
California.
6. Severability
. If any provision of this Release is held to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the balance of the provisions of this
Release shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
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7. Counterparts
. This Release may be executed simultaneously in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
This Release may be executed by facsimile, with originals to follow
by overnight courier.
8. Dispute
Resolution Procedures . Any dispute or claim arising out
of this Release shall be subject to final and binding
arbitration. The arbitration will be conducted by one
arbitrator who is a member of the American Arbitration Association
(“AAA”) or of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation
Services (“JAMS”) and will be governed by the Model
Employment Arbitration rules of AAA. The arbitration shall be
held in San Diego, California. The arbitrator shall have all
authority to determine the arbitrability of any claim and enter a
final and binding judgment at the conclusion of any proceedings in
respect of the arbitration. Any final judgment only may be
appealed on the grounds of improper bias or improper conduct of the
arbitrator. Notwithstanding any rule of AAA to the contrary,
the parties will be entitled to conduct discovery (i.e.
investigation of facts through depositions and other means) which
shall be governed by California Code of Civil Procedure Section
1283.05 (the “CCP”). The arbitrator shall have
all power and authority to enter orders relating to such discovery
as are allowed under the CCP. The arbitrator will apply
California substantive law in all respects. The party
prevailing in the resolution of any such claim will be entitled, in
addition to such other relief as may be granted, to an award of all
actual attorneys fees and costs incurred in pursuit of the claim,
without regard to any statute, schedule, or rule of court purported
to restrict such award.
9. Entire
Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous
negotiations, agreements and understandings between the parties,
oral or written, including, without limitation, the Employment
Agreement, the Retention Agreement dated March 12, 2001, and the
Agreement to Decrease Salary dated November 22, 2005, except as
specifically set forth herein or in the Separation
Agreement.
10.
Modification; Waivers . No modification, termination
or attempted waiver of this Agreement will be valid unless in
writing, signed by the party against whom such modification,
termination or waiver is sought to be enforced.
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11.
Amendment . This Agreement may be amended or
supplemented only by a writing signed by Employee and the
Company.
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Date: November 6, 2006
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/s/ Christopher P.
Calisi
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Christopher P.
Calisi
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OVERLAND STORAGE,
INC.
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Date: November 6,
2006
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By:
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Vernon A.
LoForti
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Name:
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Vernon A.
LoForti
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Title:
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Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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