Exhibit 10.15

 

PROCYTE CORPORATION
KEY EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

This Key Executive Severance Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated and effective
as of July 1, 2004, is between PROCYTE CORPORATION, a Washington corporation
(the “Company”), and JOHN F. CLIFFORD (the “Executive”).

 

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is in
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to ensure that the
Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the
fact that the Executive does not have any form of traditional employment
contract or other assurance of job security.  The Board believes it is
imperative to diminish any distraction of the Executive arising from the
personal uncertainty and insecurity that arises in the absence of any assurance
of job security by providing the Executive with reasonable compensation and
benefit arrangements in the event of termination of Executive’s employment by
the Company under certain defined circumstances.

 

In order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the Company to
enter into this Agreement.

 

1.                                      TERM

 

The term of this Agreement (“Term”) shall be for a period of two (2) years from
the date of this Agreement as first entered above, at which time this Agreement
shall terminate without further action by either the Company or the Executive.

 

2.                                      EMPLOYMENT

 

The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be
provided under any other written agreement between the Executive and the
Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company or by any affiliated or
successor company is “at will” and may be terminated by either the Executive or
the Company or its affiliated companies at any time with or without cause,
subject to the termination payments prescribed herein.

 

3.                                      ATTENTION AND EFFORT

 

During any period of time that Executive remains in the employ of the Company,
and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is
entitled, the Executive will devote all of his productive time, ability,
attention and effort to the business and affairs of the Company and the
discharge of the responsibilities assigned to him hereunder, and will use his
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities.  It shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the
Executive to (a) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees,
(b) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational
institutions, and (c) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do
not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive’s
responsibilities in accordance with this Agreement.  It is expressly understood
and agreed that to the extent any such activities have been conducted by the
Executive prior to the Term, the continued conduct of such activities (or the
conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) during the Term shall

 

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not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive’s
responsibilities to the Company.

 

4.                                      TERMINATION

 

During the Term, employment of the Executive may be terminated as follows but,
in any case, the nondisclosure provisions set forth in Section 7 hereof shall
survive the termination of this Agreement and the termination of the Executive’s
employment with the Company:

 

4.1                               By the Company or the Executive

 

At any time during the Term, the Company may terminate the employment of the
Executive with or without Cause (as defined below), and the Executive may
terminate his employment for Good Reason (as defined below) or for any reason,
upon giving Notice of Termination (as defined below).

 

4.2                               Automatic Termination

 

This Agreement and the Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon
the death or Total Disability of the Executive.  The term “Total Disability” as
used herein shall mean the Executive’s inability (with such accommodation as may
be required by law and which places no undue burden on the Company), as
determined by a physician selected by the Company and acceptable to the
Executive, to perform the Executive’s essential duties for a period or periods
aggregating 120 calendar days in any 12-month period as a result of physical or
mental illness, loss of legal capacity or any other cause beyond the Executive’s
control, unless the Executive is granted a leave of absence by the Board.

 

4.3                               Notice of Termination

 

Any termination by the Company or by the Executive during the Term shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party given in accordance
with Section 9 hereof.  The term “Notice of Termination” shall mean a written
notice which (a) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon and (b) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail
the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.  The failure by the
Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not
waive any right of the Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude the
Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing
the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

 

4.4                               Date of Termination

 

“Date of Termination” means (a) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by
reason of death, the last day of the calendar month in which the Executive’s
death occurs, (b) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of Total
Disability, immediately upon a determination by the Company of the Executive’s
Total Disability, and (c) in all other cases, five days after the date of
personal delivery or mailing of the Notice of Termination.  The Executive’s
employment and performance of services will continue during such five-day
period; provided, however, that the Company may, upon notice to the Executive
and without reducing the Executive’s compensation during such period, excuse the
Executive from any or all of his duties during such period.

 

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5.                                      TERMINATION PAYMENTS

 

In the event of termination of the Executive’s employment during the Term, all
compensation and benefits shall terminate except as specifically provided in
this Section 5.

 

5.1                               Termination by the Company Other Than for
Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason

 

If during the Term the Company terminates the Executive’s employment other than
for Cause or the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, the
Executive shall be entitled to:

 

(a)                                  receive payment of the following accrued
obligations (the “Accrued Obligations”):

 

(i)                                     the Executive’s then current annual base
salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid; and

 

(ii)                                  any compensation previously deferred by
the Executive (together with accrued interest or earnings thereon, if any) and
any accrued vacation pay which would be payable under the Company’s standard
policy, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid;

 

(b)                                 for one (1) year after the Date of
Termination, the Company shall pay the Executive’s premiums for health insurance
benefit continuation for Executive and his family members, if applicable, which
the Company provides to the Executive under the provisions of the federal
Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, as amended (“COBRA”) to
the extent that the Company would have paid such premiums had the Executive
remained employed by the Company (such continued payment is hereinafter referred
to as “COBRA Continuation”); and

 

(c)                                  an amount as severance pay equal to one (1)
times the Executive’s then current annual base salary for the fiscal year in
which the Date of Termination occurs, subject to payment and potential reduction
as set forth in Section 5.5 hereof.

 

5.2                               Termination for Cause or Other Than for Good
Reason

 

If during the Term the Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company
for Cause or by the Executive for other than Good Reason, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company to the
Executive, other than the Company’s obligation to pay the Executive the Accrued
Obligations to the extent theretofore unpaid.

 

5.3                               Expiration of Term

 

In the case of a termination of the Executive’s employment at the expiration of
the Term, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligation on the part
of the Company to the Executive, other than the Company’s obligation to pay the
Executive the Accrued Obligations.

 

5.4                               Termination Because of Death or Total
Disability

 

If the Executive’s employment is terminated during the Term by reason of the
Executive’s death or Total Disability, this Agreement shall terminate
automatically without further obligation on the part of the Company to the
Executive or his legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the
Company’s obligation to pay the Executive the Accrued Obligations (which shall
be paid to the

 

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Executive’s estate or beneficiary, as applicable in the case of the Executive’s
death), and to provide COBRA Continuation.

 

5.5                               Payment Schedule and Offset for Other Earnings

 

All payments of Accrued Obligations, or any portion thereof payable pursuant to
this Section 5, shall be made to the Executive within ten working days of the
Date of Termination.  Any severance payments payable to the Executive pursuant
to Section 5.1(c) shall be made to the Executive in the form of salary
continuation, payable at normal payroll intervals during the one (1) year period
following the Date of Termination (the “Payment Period”), and subject to offset
for other earnings received by the Executive as follows:

 

(a)                                  The Executive shall have no affirmative
duty to seek other employment or otherwise mitigate lost earnings during the
Payment Period;

 

(b)                                 The Executive shall disclose to the Company
any earnings received (or which the Executive had the right to receive) from
employment, consulting or performance of other personal services during the
Payment Period, and the source(s) of such earnings; and

 

(c)                                  The Company, in each payroll period that a
severance payment is due, shall have the right to offset on a dollar-for-dollar
basis all such earnings which the Executive received or had the right to receive
during that payroll period.

 

5.6                               Cause

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means cause given by the Executive to
the Company and shall include, without limitation, the occurrence of one or more
of the following events:

 

(a)                                  A clear refusal to carry out any material
lawful duties of the Executive or any directions of the Board or senior
management of the Company reasonably consistent with those duties;

 

(b)                                 Persistent failure to carry out any lawful
duties of the Executive or any directions of the Board or senior management
reasonably consistent with those duties, provided Executive has been given
reasonable notice and opportunity to correct any such failure;

 

(c)                                  Violation by the Executive of a state or
federal criminal law involving the commission of a crime against the Company or
any other criminal act involving moral turpitude;

 

(d)                                 Current abuse by the Executive of alcohol or
controlled substances; deception, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty by the
Executive; or any incident materially compromising the Executive’s reputation or
ability to represent the Company with investors, customers or the public; or

 

(e)                                  Any other material violation of any
provision of this Agreement by the Executive, subject to the notice and
opportunity to cure requirements of Section 8.

 

5.7                               Good Reason

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means

 

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(a)                                  Reduction of the Executive’s annual base
salary to a level more than fifteen percent below the level in effect on the
date of this Agreement, regardless of any change in the Executive’s duties or
responsibilities;

 

(b)                                 The Company’s requiring the Executive to be
based at any office or location more than thirty (30) miles from the Company’s
current location in Kirkland, Washington;

 

(c)                                  Any failure by the Company to comply with
and satisfy Section 10 hereof, provided that the Company’s successor has
received at least ten days’ prior written notice from the Company or the
Executive of the requirements of Section 10 hereof; or

 

(d)                                 Any other material violation of any
provision of this Agreement by the Company, subject to the notice and
opportunity to cure requirements of Section 8.

 

5.8                               Excess Parachute Limitation

 

If either the Company or the Executive receives confirmation from the Company’s
independent tax counsel or its certified public accounting firm, or such other
accounting firm retained as independent certified public accountants for the
Company (the “Tax Advisor”), that any payment by the Company to the Executive
under this Agreement or otherwise would be considered to be an “excess parachute
payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, or any successor statute then in effect (the “Code”), then the
aggregate payments by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be reduced to
the highest amount that may be paid to the Executive by the Company under this
Agreement without having any portion of any amount payable to the Executive by
the Company or a related entity under this Agreement or otherwise treated as
such an “excess parachute payment”, and, if permitted by applicable law and
without adverse tax consequence, such reduction shall be made to the last
payment due hereunder.  Any payments made by the Company to the Executive under
this Agreement which are later confirmed by the Tax Advisor to be “excess
parachute payments” shall promptly be repaid by the Executive to the Company.

 

6.                                      REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND OTHER
CONDITIONS

 

In order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Executive
represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

 

6.1                               Health

 

The Executive is in good health and knows of no physical or mental disability
which, with any accommodation which may be required by law and which places no
undue burden on the Company, would prevent him from fulfilling his obligations
hereunder.  The Executive agrees, if the Company requests, to submit to
reasonable periodic medical examinations by a physician or physicians designated
by, paid for and arranged by the Company.  The Executive agrees that the
examination’s medical report shall be provided to the Company.

 

6.2                               No Violation of Other Agreements

 

The Executive represents that neither the execution nor the performance of this
Agreement by the Executive will violate or conflict in any way with any other
agreement by which the Executive may be bound.

 

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7.                                      NONDISCLOSURE; RETURN OF MATERIALS

 

7.1                               Nondisclosure

 

Except as required by his employment with the Company, the Executive will not,
at any time during the term of employment by the Company, or at any time
thereafter, directly, indirectly or otherwise, use, communicate, disclose,
disseminate, lecture upon or publish articles relating to any confidential,
proprietary or trade secret information without the prior written consent of the
Company.  The Executive understands that the Company will be relying on this
covenant in continuing the Executive’s employment, paying him compensation,
granting him any promotions or raises, or entrusting him with any information
which helps the Company compete with others.

 

7.2                               Return of Materials

 

All documents, records, notebooks, notes, memoranda, drawings or other documents
made or compiled by the Executive at any time while employed by the Company, or
in his possession, including any and all copies thereof, shall be the property
of the Company and shall be held by the Executive in trust and solely for the
benefit of the Company, and shall be delivered to the Company by the Executive
upon termination of employment or at any other time upon request by the Company.

 

8.                                      NOTICE AND CURE OF BREACH

 

Whenever a breach of this Agreement by either party is relied upon as
justification for any action taken by the other party pursuant to any provision
of this Agreement, other than clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) of Section 5.6 hereof,
before such action is taken, the party asserting the breach of this Agreement
shall give the other party at least ten days’ prior written notice of the
existence and the nature of such breach before taking further action hereunder
and shall give the party purportedly in breach of this Agreement the opportunity
to correct such breach during the ten-day period.

 

9.                                      FORM OF NOTICE

 

Every notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing
by serving the same upon the party to whom it was addressed personally or by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address set forth
below or at such other address as may hereafter be designated by notice given in
compliance with the terms hereof:

 

If to the Executive:

 

John F. Clifford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If to the Company:

 

ProCyte Corporation

 

 

12040 115th Avenue N.E., Suite 210

 

 

Kirkland, Washington 98034

 

 

Attn:  Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

With a copy to:

 

Perkins Coie LLP

 

 

Attn:  James R. Lisbakken

 

 

1201 Third Avenue, 40th Floor

 

 

Seattle, WA  98101-3099

 

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or such other address as shall be provided in accordance with the terms hereof. 
Except as set forth in Section 4.4 hereof, if notice is mailed, such notice
shall be effective upon mailing.

 

10.                               ASSIGNMENT

 

This Agreement is personal to the Executive and shall not be assignable by the
Executive.

 

The Company shall assign to and require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly
and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken
place.  As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean ProCyte Corporation and
any affiliated company or successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid
which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by contract, operation of
law, or otherwise; and as long as such successor assumes and agrees to perform
this Agreement, the termination of Executive’s employment by one such entity and
the immediate hiring and continuation of the Executive’s employment by the
succeeding entity shall not be deemed to constitute a termination or trigger any
severance obligation under this Agreement.  All the terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

11.                               WAIVERS

 

No delay or failure by any party hereto in exercising, protecting or enforcing
any of its rights, titles, interests or remedies hereunder, and no course of
dealing or performance with respect thereto, shall constitute a waiver thereof. 
The express waiver by a party hereto of any right, title, interest or remedy in
a particular instance or circumstance shall not constitute a waiver thereof in
any other instance or circumstance.  All rights and remedies shall be cumulative
and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies.

 

12.                               AMENDMENTS IN WRITING

 

No amendment, modification, waiver, termination or discharge of any provision of
this Agreement, nor consent to any departure therefrom by either party hereto,
shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing,
specifically identifying this Agreement and the provision intended to be
amended, modified, waived, terminated or discharged and signed by the Company
and the Executive, and each such amendment, modification, waiver, termination or
discharge shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given.  No provision of this Agreement shall be varied,
contradicted or explained by any oral agreement, course of dealing or
performance or any other matter not set forth in an agreement in writing and
signed by the Company and the Executive.

 

13.                               APPLICABLE LAW

 

This Agreement shall in all respects, including all matters of construction,
validity and performance, be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to any
rules governing conflicts of laws.

 

14.                               ARBITRATION; ATTORNEYS’ FEES

 

Except in connection with enforcing Section 7 of this Agreement, for which legal
and equitable remedies may be sought in a court of law, any dispute arising
under this Agreement shall be subject to arbitration.  The arbitration
proceeding shall be conducted in accordance with the Commercial

 

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Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect,
conducted by one arbitrator either mutually agreed upon or selected in
accordance with the AAA Rules.  The arbitration shall be conducted in King
County, Washington under the jurisdiction of the Seattle office of the American
Arbitration Association.  The arbitrator shall have authority only to interpret
and apply the provisions of this Agreement, and shall have no authority to add
to, subtract from, or otherwise modify the terms of this Agreement.  Any demand
for arbitration must be made within sixty (60) days of the event(s) giving rise
to the claim that this Agreement has been breached.  The arbitrator’s decision
shall be final and binding, and each party agrees to be bound to by arbitrator’s
award subject only to an appeal therefrom in accordance with the laws of the
State of Washington.  Either party may obtain judgment upon the arbitrator’s
award in the Superior Court of King, County, Washington.

 

If it becomes necessary to pursue or defend any legal proceeding, whether in
arbitration or court, in order to resolve a dispute arising under this
Agreement, the prevailing party in any such proceeding shall be entitled to
recover its reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees.

 

15.                               SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, for any reason, including, without
limitation, the duration of such provision, its geographical scope or the extent
of the activities prohibited or required by it, then, to the full extent
permitted by law, (a) all other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and
effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in order to carry
out the intent of the parties hereto as nearly as may be possible, (b) such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity,
legality or enforceability of any other provision hereof, and (c) any court or
arbitrator having jurisdiction thereover shall have the power to reform such
provision to the extent necessary for such provision to be enforceable under
applicable law.

 

16.                               COORDINATION WITH CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT

 

The Company and the Executive are contemporaneously entering into a Change of
Control Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Change of Control
Agreement”), which agreement provides for certain forms of severance and benefit
payments in the event of termination of Executive’s employment under certain
defined circumstances.  This Agreement is in addition to the Change of Control
Agreement, providing certain assurances to the Executive in circumstances that
the Change of Control Agreement does not cover, and in no way supersedes or
nullifies the Change of Control Agreement.  Nevertheless, it is possible that a
termination of employment by the Company or by the Executive may fall within the
scope of both agreements.  In such event, payments made to Executive under
Section 5.1 hereof shall be coordinated with payments made to Executive under
Section 8.1 of the Change of Control Agreement as follows:

 

(a)                                  Accrued Obligations under this Agreement
need not be paid if already paid as Accrued Obligations under the Change of
Control Agreement;

 

(b)                                 COBRA Continuation under this Agreement need
not be provided if COBRA Continuation is provided for at least as long a period
of time under the Change of Control Agreement; and

 

(c)                                  The severance payment required under
Section 5.1(c) of this Agreement need not be paid if a severance payment is made
under Section 8.1(c) of the Change of Control Agreement.

 

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17.                               ENTIRE AGREEMENT

 

Except as described in Section 16 hereof, this Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject
matter hereof, and all prior or contemporaneous oral or written communications,
understandings or agreements between the Company and the Executive with respect
to such subject matter, including, but not limited to, that certain Key
Executive Severance Agreement between the Company and the Executive dated as of
February 19, 1997 and all amendments thereto, are hereby superseded and
nullified in their entireties; provided, however, that the Proprietary
Information and Invention Agreement between the Executive and the Company shall
continue in full force and effect to the extent not superseded by Section 10
hereof.

 

18.                               WITHHOLDING

 

The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such
federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to
any applicable law or regulation.

 

19.                               COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which counterpart shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and entered into this Agreement
effective on the date first set forth above.

 

 

PROCYTE CORPORATION

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

By:  /s/  Matt L. Leavitt

 

/s/  John F. Clifford

 

 

 

 

Name:  Matt L. Leavitt

 

 

Chair of Compensation Committee

 

 

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