Employment Agreement - CombiMatrix Corp. and Jeff Oster
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into by and
between CombiMatrix Corporation (the "Company") and Jeff Oster ("Employee"), as
of the 29th day of September 2000.
I. EMPLOYMENT.
The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby accepts such
employment, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, commencing
October 1, 2000.
II. DUTIES.
A. Employee shall serve during the course of his employment as Senior
Vice President, Intellectual Property and Associate General Counsel. Employee's
duties and responsibilities shall include management of intellectual property
related matters and general legal matters and such other duties and
responsibilities as the Company shall reasonably determine from time to time
consistent with Employee's initial duties and responsibilities.
B. Employee agrees to devote substantially all of his time, energy and
ability to the business of the Company. Nothing herein shall prevent Employee,
upon approval of the Board of Directors of the Company, from serving as (a) a
director or trustee of other corporations or businesses, (b) an advisor for up
to two days, mutually convenient to the Company and Employee, per month, to the
Picower Institute, (c) a member of advisory boards or industry associations, in
each case, which are not in competition with the business of the Company or
Acacia Research Corporation ("Acacia") or any of its and their present or future
affiliates or (d) in other capacities as mutually agreed between the Employee
and Company; provided that such activities do not interfere with his
responsibilities to Company or the performance of his duties for Company.
Nothing herein shall prevent Employee from investing in real estate for his own
account, maintaining current equity positions in the entities listed on Exhibit
A, or from becoming a partner or a stockholder in any corporation, partnership
or other venture not in competition with the business of Acacia or the Company
or any of its and their current or future affiliates.
C. Employee shall report to the Executive Vice President and General
Counsel of the Company.
III. COMPENSATION.
A. Base Salary. The Company will pay to Employee a base salary at the
rate of One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000) per year. Such salary
shall be earned monthly and shall be payable in periodic installments no less
frequently than monthly in accordance with the Company's customary practices.
Amounts payable shall be reduced by standard withholding and other authorized
deductions. The Company may in its discretion increase Employee's salary but it
may not reduce it during the time he serves as an Officer of the Company.
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B. Bonus, Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. Employee shall be
eligible to be considered for a discretionary bonus by Company's Board of
Directors to the extent applicable generally to other peer executives of the
Company. In addition, Employee shall be eligible to participate in all
incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs
applicable generally to other senior executives of the Company.
C. Welfare Benefit Plans. Employee and/or his family, as the case may
be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under
welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company
including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary
continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident
insurance plans and programs (hereinafter referred to collectively as the
"Welfare Benefit Plans") to the extent applicable generally to other peer
executives of the Company.
D. Expenses. Employee shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement
for all reasonable employment expenses incurred by him in accordance with the
policies, practices and procedures as in effect generally with respect to other
senior executives of the Company.
E. Fringe Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to fringe benefits in
accordance with the plans, practices, programs and policies as in effect
generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company.
F. Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to at least four weeks per year
paid vacation. In 2000, Employee shall be entitled to two non contiguous weeks
of vacation to be scheduled at mutually convenient times.
IV. TERMINATION.
A. Death or Disability. Employee's employment shall terminate
automatically upon Employee's death. If the Company determines in good faith
that the Disability of Employee has occurred (pursuant to the definition of
Disability set forth below), it may give to Employee written notice in
accordance with Section XIX of its intention to terminate Employee's employment.
In such event, Employee's employment with the Company shall terminate effective
on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by Employee, provided that, within
the 30 days after such receipt, Employee shall not have returned to full-time
performance of his duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall
mean a physical or mental impairment which renders Employee unable to perform
the essential functions of his position, even with reasonable accommodation
which does not impose an undue hardship on the Company. The Company reserves the
right, in good faith, to make the determination of disability under this
Agreement based upon information supplied by Employee and/or his medical
personnel, as well as information from medical personnel (or others) selected by
the Company or its insurers.
B. Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment for Cause. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean that the Company, acting in good
faith based upon the information then known to the Company, determines that
Employee has engaged in or committed: a criminal felony; fraud; refusal or
unwillingness to perform his duties, provided such refusal or unwillingness is
not based primarily on Employee's good faith compliance with applicable legal or
ethical standards; sexual harassment; violation of
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any fiduciary duty to the Company; violation of any duty of loyalty to the
Company; or any material uncured (after reasonable written notice and reasonable
time to cure) breach of any term of this Agreement, including Employee's
obligation to perform duties to the satisfaction of the Executive Vice President
and General Counsel and/or Chief Executive Officer consistent with Employee's
responsibilities as set forth above.
C. Other than Cause or Death or Disability. The Company may terminate
Employee's employment at any time, with or without Cause, upon written notice to
Employee.
D. Resignation. Employee may voluntarily terminate his employment with
the Company with 30 days' prior written notice to the Company.
E. Obligations of the Company Upon Termination.
1. Death or Disability or Resignation. If Employee's employment is
terminated by reason of Employee's Death or Disability or voluntarily by
Employee, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Employee
or his legal representatives under this Agreement, other than for (a) payment of
the sum of (i) Employee's annual base salary through the date of termination to
the extent not theretofore paid and (ii) any compensation previously deferred by
Employee (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any
accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum
of the amounts described in clauses (i) and (ii) shall be hereinafter referred
to as the "Accrued Obligations"), which shall be paid to Employee or his estate
or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash upon termination; and (b)
payment to Employee or his estate or beneficiary, as applicable, any amounts due
pursuant to the terms of any applicable Welfare Benefit Plans.
2. Cause. If Employee's employment is terminated by the Company for
Cause, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Employee
other than for the timely payment of Accrued Obligations. If it is subsequently
determined that the Company did not have Cause for termination under this
Section IV-E-2, then the Company's decision to terminate shall be deemed to have
been made under Section IV-E-3 and the amounts payable thereunder shall be the
only amounts Employee may receive under this Agreement for his termination.
3. Other than Cause or Death or Disability. If the Company terminates
Employee's employment for other than Cause or Death or Disability, this
Agreement shall terminate without further obligations under this Agreement to
Employee other than (i) the prompt payment to Employee of a lump sum equal to
the aggregate of (a) Accrued Obligations and (b) twelve months of Employee's
base salary and target bonus, if any, and (ii) provision of twelve months of
benefits under the Welfare Benefit Plans (before the commencement of COBRA
rights) for Employee and/or his family, as the case may be, less standard
withholdings and other authorized deductions. Further, if the Company terminates
Employee's employment for other than Cause, Death or Disability within one year
following a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company, then the
Company will (i) promptly pay to Employee a lump sum equal to the aggregate of
(a) Accrued Obligations and (b) the aggregate of twelve months of Employee's
base salary and target bonus and (ii) provide twelve months of benefits under
the Welfare Benefit Plans (before the commencement of COBRA rights) for Employee
and/or his family, as the case may be, less
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standard withholdings and other authorized deductions. For the purposes of this
Agreement, "Change in Control" shall mean (i) any person or entity (or group of
affiliated persons or entities) other than Acacia acquires, in one or more
transactions, ownership of 50.0% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock of the Company or (ii) any sale, transfer or other conveyance of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets in one transaction or a series of
related transactions.
V. ARBITRATION.
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement,
its enforcement or interpretation, or because of an alleged breach, default, or
misrepresentation in connection with any of its provisions, shall be submitted
to arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, to be
held in Seattle. In the event either party institutes arbitration under this
Agreement, the party prevailing in any such litigation shall be entitled, in
addition to all other relief, to reasonable attorneys' fees relating to such
arbitration. The nonprevailing party shall be responsible for all costs of the
arbitration, including but not limited to, the arbitration fees, court reporter
fees, etc.
VI. ANTISOLICITATION.
Employee promises and agrees that during the term of this Agreement and
for a period of 12 months after the termination of his employment, he will not
personally influence or attempt to influence customers of the Company or any of
its present or future subsidiaries or affiliates, either directly or indirectly,
to divert their business away from the Company to any individual, partnership,
firm, corporation or other entity then in competition with the business of the
Company, or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.
VII. SOLICITING EMPLOYEES.
Employee promises and agrees that he will not, for a period of one year
following termination of his employment or the expiration of this Agreement or
renewal in accordance with Section VI above, directly or indirectly solicit any
of the Company employees who earned annually $25,000 or more as a Company
employee during the last six months of his or his own employment to work for any
other business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or other entity.
VIII. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
A. Employee, in the performance of Employee's duties on behalf of the
Company, shall have access to, receive and be entrusted with confidential
information, including, but in no way limited, to business plans and strategies,
development, marketing, organizational, financial, management, administrative,
production, distribution and sales information, data, specifications and
processes presently owned or at any time in the future developed, by the Company
or its agents or consultants, or used presently or at any time in the future in
the course of its business that is not otherwise part of the public domain
(collectively, the "Confidential Material"). All such Confidential Material is
considered
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secret and will be available to Employee in confidence. Except in the
performance of duties on behalf of the Company, Employee shall not, directly or
indirectly for any reason whatsoever, disclose or use any such Confidential
Material, unless (i) such Confidential Material ceases (through no fault of
Employee's) to be confidential because it has become part of the public domain
or (ii) such disclosure is compelled by legal process or court order (in which
case Employee shall immediately notify the Company and cooperate with the
Company in any motion made by the Company to oppose such disclosure). All
records, files, drawings, documents, equipment and other tangible items,
wherever located, relating in any way to the Confidential Material or otherwise
to the Company's business, which Employee prepares, uses or encounters, shall be
and remain the Company's sole and exclusive property and shall be included in
the Confidential Material. Upon termination of this Agreement by any means, or
whenever requested by the Company, Employee shall promptly deliver to the
Company any and all of the Confidential Material, not previously delivered to
the Company, that may be or at any previous time has been in Employee's
possession or under Employee's control. Confidential Material shall not include
any information or material that (a) is or becomes within the public domain
through no act of Employee in breach of this Agreement, (b) was in the
possession of Employee prior to its disclosure hereunder, (c) is independently
developed by Employee without reference to the Confidential Material, (d) is
received from another source without any restriction on use or disclosure, or
(e) is required by law to be disclosed.
B. Employee hereby acknowledges that the sale or unauthorized use or
disclosure of any of the Company's Confidential Material by any means whatsoever
and any time before, during or after Employee's employment with the Company
shall constitute Unfair Competition. Employee agrees that Employee shall not
engage in Unfair Competition either during the time employed by the Company or
any time thereafter.
IX. SUCCESSORS.
A. This Agreement is personal to Employee and shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company, be assignable by Employee.
B. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns and any such successor or assignee shall
be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all
purposes.
X. WAIVER.
No waiver of any breach of any term or provision of this Agreement shall
be construed to be, nor shall be, a waiver of any other breach of this
Agreement. No waiver shall be binding unless in writing and signed by the party
waiving the breach.
XI. EQUITY.
A. STOCK OPTIONS. (I) Employee shall be granted non qualified stock
options for 160,000 shares of Company common stock, and his stock option
agreement shall reflect the following terms and conditions:
- Exercise price per share: $9
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- Vesting: The options shall vest and may be exercised by Employee
as follows: vesting shall commence on November 1, 2000 over a
four year period in monthly increments, provided, however, that
the first vesting date will be six months after the date of such
grant and be equivalent to six months vesting; any and all
vested options may be exercised by Employee; and all options
shall be vested and may be exercised by Employee on a Change of
Control (as defined in Section 3) of the Company.
- The options shall have a ten year term.
- The options shall have the same antidilution, registration,
preemptive and other rights, if any, associated with the options
and underlying shares as to the extent applicable generally to
other peer executives of the Company.
(II) Any vested stock options granted to Employee will not be subject
to termination or forfeiture as a result of any termination of
employment other than for Cause under Section 3.
XIII. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall defend and provide indemnification to
Employee (including advancement of expenses) against any completed, threatened
or pending action, suit or proceeding against or involving Employee or by or in
the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor , by reason of the
fact that Employee is or was an officer, employee, director or agent of the
Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an officer,
employee, director or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by Employee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, to the
fullest extent permitted under the laws of the state of Company's incorporation.
The Company shall pay, advance and reimburse any defense costs and expenses
(including attorneys' fees) of Employee in connection with any such action, suit
or proceeding to the fullest extent permitted under the laws of the state of
Company's incorporation. Employee shall stand in the same position under this
Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving entity if the Company
merges with or consolidates with another entity.
XIV. MODIFICATION.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written
agreement executed by Employee and an officer of the Company duly authorized by
the Company's Board of Directors.
XV. SAVINGS CLAUSE.
If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof is held
invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the
Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or
applications and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be
severable.
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XVI. COMPLETE AGREEMENT.
This Agreement constitutes and contains the entire agreement and final
understanding concerning Employee's employment with the Company and the other
subject matters addressed herein between the parties. It is intended by the
parties as a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of their agreement.
It supersedes and replaces all prior negotiations and all agreements proposed or
otherwise, whether written or oral, concerning the subject matter hereof. Any
representation, promise or agreement not specifically included in this Agreement
shall not be binding upon or enforceable against either party. This is a fully
integrated agreement.
XVII. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed and delivered
within the State of Washington, and the rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed by,
by the laws of the State of Washington without regard to principles of conflict
of laws.
XVIII. CONSTRUCTION.
Each party has cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this
agreement. Hence, in any construction to be made of this agreement, the same
shall not be construed against any party on the basis that the party was the
drafter. The captions of this agreement are not part of the provisions hereof
and shall have no force or effect.
XIX. COMMUNICATIONS.
All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered or if
mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to Jeff Oster
8339 SE 57th Street Mercer Island, WA 98040 or addressed to the Company at 34935
SE Douglas Street, Suite 110, Snoqualmie, WA 98065. Either party may change the
address at which notice shall be given by written notice given in the above
manner.
XX. EXECUTION.
This Agreement is being executed 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. Photographic copies of such signed counterparts may
be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
XXI. LEGAL COUNSEL.
In entering this Agreement, the parties represent that they have relied
upon the advice of their attorneys, who are attorneys of their own choice, and
that the terms of this Agreement have been completely read and explained to them
by their attorneys, and that those terms are fully understood and voluntarily
accepted by them. Additionally, the
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Company represents that its Board of Directors has authorized and approved the
terms of this Agreement.
In witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.
COMBIMATRIX CORPORATION
BY: PATRICK D. DE MAYNADIER
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ITS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT JEFF OSTER
AND GENERAL COUNSEL
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