imi-ex104_218.htm



Exhibit 10.4

 

SEPARATION AGREEMENT

This Separation Agreement (the “Agreement”) by and between C. Richard Neely, Jr. (“Executive”) and Intermolecular, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is made effective as of the eighth (8th) day following the date Executive signs this Agreement (the “Effective Date”) with reference to the following facts:

A.Executive’s employment with the Company and status as an officer, director and employee of the Company and each of its affiliates will end effective upon the Termination Date (as defined below).

B.Executive and the Company want to end their relationship amicably and also to establish the obligations of the parties including, without limitation, all amounts due and owing to Executive.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.Termination Date.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that his status as an officer, director and employee of the Company will end effective as of April 3, 2017 (the “Termination Date”).  Executive hereby agrees to execute such further document(s) as shall be determined by the Company as necessary or desirable to give effect to the termination of Executive’s status as an officer and, if applicable, director of the Company and each of its subsidiaries; provided that such documents shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement.

2.Final Paycheck; Payment of Accrued Wages and Expenses.  

(a)Final Paycheck.  As soon as administratively practicable on or after the Termination Date, the Company will pay Executive all accrued but unpaid base salary and all accrued and unused vacation earned through the Termination Date, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings.  Executive is entitled to these payments regardless of whether Executive executes this Agreement.

(b)Business Expenses.  The Company shall reimburse Executive for all outstanding expenses incurred prior to the Termination Date which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documenting such expenses.  Executive is entitled to these reimbursement regardless of whether Executive executes this Agreement.

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3.Separation Payments and Benefits.  Without admission of any liability, fact or claim, the Company hereby agrees, subject to the execution of this Agreement and Executive’s performance of his continuing obligations pursuant to this Agreement and that certain Employee Confidentiality and Inventions Assignment Agreement entered into between Executive and the Company on or about October x, 2013 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), to provide Executive the severance benefits set forth below.  Specifically, the Company and Executive agree as follows: 

(a)Severance.  Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to six (6) months of base salary (the aggregate amount, $150,000), payable in a cash lump sum on the payroll date that immediately follows the Effective Date.

(b)Healthcare Continuation Coverage.  If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premiums for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents during the period commencing on the Termination Date and ending on the earlier to occur of (i) the six-month anniversary of the Termination Date and (ii) the date Executive becomes eligible for comparable coverage under another employer’s plans, provided that Executive submits documentation to the Company substantiating his payments for COBRA coverage.  Any such reimbursement payments, if applicable, shall be made to Executive no later than twenty (20) days after Executive’s submission of documentation to the Company substantiating his payments for COBRA coverage.  After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to the preceding sentence, Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance with the provisions of COBRA.

(c)Taxes.  Executive understands and agrees that all payments under this Agreement will be subject to appropriate tax withholding and other deductions.  To the extent any taxes may be payable by Executive for the benefits provided to him by this Agreement beyond those withheld by the Company, Executive agrees to pay them himself and to indemnify and hold the Company and the other entities released herein harmless for any tax claims or penalties, and associated attorneys’ fees and costs, resulting from any failure by him to make required payments. 

(d)SEC Reporting.  Executive acknowledges that to the extent required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), he will have continuing obligations under Sections 16(a) and 16(b) of the Exchange Act to report his transactions in Company common stock for six (6) months following the Termination Date.  Executive hereby agrees not to undertake, directly or indirectly, any reportable transactions until the end of such six (6) month period.

(e)Sole Separation Benefit.  Executive agrees that the payments provided by this Section 3 are not required under the Company’s normal policies and procedures and are provided as a severance solely in connection with this Agreement.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments referenced in this Section 3 constitute adequate and valuable consideration, in and of themselves, for the promises contained in this Agreement.

4.Full Payment.  Executive acknowledges that the payment and arrangements herein shall constitute full and complete satisfaction of any and all amounts properly due and owing to Executive as a result of his employment with the Company and the termination thereof.  Executive further acknowledges that, other than the Confidentiality Agreement and the 

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Indemnification Agreement by and between the Company and Executive (the “Indemnification Agreement”), this Agreement shall supersede each agreement entered into between Executive and the Company regarding Executive’s employment, including, without limitation, any offer letter, employment agreement, severance and/or change in control agreement, and each such agreement other than the agreements evidencing Executive’s equity awards shall be deemed terminated and of no further effect as of the Termination Date.

5.Executive’s Release of the Company.  Executive understands that by agreeing to the release provided by this Section 5, Executive is agreeing not to sue, or otherwise file any claim against, the Company or any of its employees or other agents for any reason whatsoever based on anything that has occurred as of the date Executive signs this Agreement.

(a)On behalf of Executive and Executive’s heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, trusts, spouse and estate, Executive hereby releases and forever discharges the “Releasees” hereunder, consisting of the Company, and each of its owners, affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, partners, employees, and insurers, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, loss, cost or expense, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent (hereinafter called “Claims”), which Executive now has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date hereof, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims arising out of, based upon, or relating to Executive’s hire, employment, remuneration or resignation by the Releasees, or any of them, Claims arising under federal, state, or local laws relating to employment, Claims of any kind that may be brought in any court or administrative agency, including any Claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §  2000, et seq.; Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.; Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq.; Civil Rights Act of 1866, and Civil Rights Act of 1991; 42 U.S.C. § 1981, et seq.; Equal Pay Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d); regulations of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, 41 C.F.R. Section 60, et seq.; the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C.  § 2101 et seq.; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, as amended, Cal. Lab. Code § 12940 et seq.; the California Equal Pay Law, as amended, Cal. Lab. Code §§ 1197.5(a),199.5; the Moore-Brown-Roberti Family Rights Act of 1991, as amended, Cal. Gov’t Code §§12945.2, 19702.3; California Labor Code §§ 1101, 1102; the California WARN Act, California Labor Code §§ 1400 et. seq; California Labor Code §§ 1102.5(a),(b); claims for wages under the California Labor Code and any other federal, state or local laws of similar effect; the employment and civil rights laws of California; Claims for breach of contract; Claims arising in tort, including, without limitation, Claims of wrongful dismissal or discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, fraud, misrepresentation, defamation, libel, infliction of emotional distress, violation of public policy, and/or breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and Claims for damages or other remedies of any sort, including, without limitation, compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorney’s fees.  

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(b)Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, Executive does not release the following claims:

(i)Claims for unemployment compensation or any state disability insurance benefits pursuant to the terms of applicable state law; 

(ii)Claims for workers’ compensation insurance benefits under the terms of any worker’s compensation insurance policy or fund of the Company;

(iii)Claims to continued participation in certain of the Company’s group benefit plans pursuant to the terms and conditions of COBRA;

(iv)Claims to any benefit entitlements vested as the date of Executive’s employment termination, pursuant to written terms of any Company employee benefit plan;

(v)Claims for indemnification under the Indemnification Agreement, the Company’s Bylaws, California Labor Code Section 2802 or any other applicable law; and

(vi)Executive’s right to bring to the attention of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims of discrimination; provided, however, that Executive does release Executive’s right to secure any damages for alleged discriminatory treatment.

(c)Acknowledgement.  In accordance with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, Executive has been advised of the following:

(i)Executive should consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement;

(ii)Executive has been given at least forty-five (45) days to consider this Agreement (although Executive may choose to voluntarily execute this Agreement earlier); 

(iii)Executive has received with this Agreement a detailed list of the job titles and ages of all employees who were terminated in this group termination and the ages of all employees of the Company in the same job classification or organizational unit who were not terminated, attached hereto as Exhibit A;

(iv)Executive has seven (7) days after signing this Agreement to revoke it.  If Executive wishes to revoke this Agreement, Executive must deliver notice of Executive’s revocation in writing, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 7th day following Executive’s execution of this Agreement to Bill Roeschlein, Chief Financial Officer, at 3011 N. First Street, San Jose, California 95134, fax (408) 582-5401. Executive understands that if he revokes this Agreement, it will be null and void in its entirety, and he will not be entitled to any payments or benefits provided in this Agreement, other than as provided in Section 2.

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(d)EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH 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.”

BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, EXECUTIVE HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS EXECUTIVE MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT.

6.Non-Disparagement, Transition and Transfer of Company Property.  Executive further agrees that:

(a)Non-Disparagement.  Executive agrees not to disparage the Company, any of its products or practices, or any of its directors, officers, agents, representatives, partners, members, equity holders or affiliates, either orally or in writing, at any time, provided, that Executive may confer in confidence with Executive’s legal representatives and make truthful statements as required by law.  The Company agrees that it shall not, and it shall instruct its officers and members of its Board of Directors to not disparage, Executive, either publicly or privately.  For the purposes of this Agreement, “disparage” means to state a negative opinion of another person that could reasonably be expected to harm the personal, business or professional reputation of that person.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6(a) shall prevent Executive or the Company from making any truthful statement to the extent (i) necessary to rebut any untrue public statements made about him or it; (ii) necessary with respect to any litigation, arbitration or mediation involving this Agreement and the enforcement thereof; or (iii) required by law or by any court, arbitrator, mediator or administrative or legislative body (including any committee thereof) with jurisdiction over such person.  In addition, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Executive or the Company from engaging in any lawfully protected activity or conduct, including reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body (including but not limited to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation), filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body, or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation.  Executive or the Company do not need the prior authorization of the other party to engage in any such lawfully protected activity, nor is Executive or the Company required to notify the other party that he or it has done so.

(b)Transition.  Each of the Company and Executive shall use their respective reasonable efforts to cooperate with each other in good faith to facilitate a smooth transition of Executive’s duties to other executive(s) of the Company.

(c)Transfer of Company Property.  On or before the Termination Date, Executive shall turn over to the Company all files, memoranda, records, and other 

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documents, and any other physical or personal property which are the property of the Company and which he had in his possession, custody or control at the time he signed this Agreement.

7.Executive Representations.  Executive warrants and represents that (a) he has not filed or authorized the filing of any complaints, charges or lawsuits against the Company or any affiliate of the Company with any governmental agency or court, and that if, unbeknownst to Executive, such a complaint, charge or lawsuit has been filed on his behalf, he will immediately cause it to be withdrawn and dismissed, (b) he has reported all hours worked as of the date of this Agreement and has been paid all compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, and/or benefits to which he may be entitled and no other compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions and/or benefits are due to him, except as provided in this Agreement, (c) he has no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases and has been provided and/or has not been denied any leave requested under the Family and Medical Leave Act or any similar state law, (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not and will not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which Executive is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which Executive is subject, and (e) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Executive, this Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms.  

8.No Assignment by Executive.  Executive warrants and represents that no portion of any of the matters released herein, and no portion of any recovery or settlement to which Executive might be entitled, has been assigned or transferred to any other person, firm or corporation not a party to this Agreement, in any manner, including by way of subrogation or operation of law or otherwise.  If any claim, action, demand or suit should be made or instituted against the Company or any other Releasee because of any actual assignment, subrogation or transfer by Executive, Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and all other Releasees against such claim, action, suit or demand, including necessary expenses of investigation, attorneys’ fees and costs.  In the event of Executive’s death, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Executive and Executive’s executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees.  None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only upon Executive’s death by will or operation of law.  

9.Non-Solicitation.  Without limiting the Confidentiality Agreement, Executive hereby agrees that Executive shall not, at any time within the one (1) year period immediately following the Termination Date, directly or indirectly, either for himself or on behalf of any other person, recruit or otherwise solicit or induce any employee or consultant of the Company to terminate its employment or arrangement with the Company, or otherwise change its relationship with the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent Executive from directly or indirectly hiring any individual who submits a resume or otherwise applies for a position in response to a publicly posted job announcement or otherwise applies for employment with any person with whom Executive may be associated absent any violation of Executive’s obligations pursuant to the preceding sentence.

10.Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of the State of California or, where applicable, United States federal law, in each case, without regard to any conflicts of laws provisions or those of any state other than California.

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11.Miscellaneous.  This Agreement, collectively with the Confidentiality Agreement, the Indemnification Agreement and the agreements evidencing Executive’s equity awards comprise the entire agreement between the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof and supersedes, in their entirety, any other agreements between Executive and the Company with regard to the subject matter hereof.  Executive acknowledges that there are no other agreements, written, oral or implied, and that he may not rely on any prior negotiations, discussions, representations or agreements.  This Agreement may be modified only in writing, and such writing must be signed by both parties and recited that it is intended to modify this Agreement.  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.  

12.Company Assignment and Successors.  The Company shall assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise).  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives.

13.Maintaining Confidential Information.  Executive reaffirms his obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments provided in Section 3 above shall be subject to Executive’s continued compliance with Executive’s obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement.  

14.Executive’s Cooperation.  After the Termination Date, Executive shall cooperate with the Company and its affiliates, upon the Company’s reasonable request, with respect to any internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding involving matters within the scope of Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or its affiliates during his employment with the Company (including, without limitation, Executive being available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at the Company’s reasonable request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, and turning over to the Company all relevant Company documents which are or may have come into Executive’s possession during his employment); provided, however, that any such request by the Company shall not be unduly burdensome or interfere with Executive’s personal schedule or ability to engage in gainful employment, and Company shall compensate Executive for his time at his standard consulting rate of $300 per hour as well as reimburse him for any expenses reasonably incurred in cooperating with the Company, provided that such expenses shall be subject to the Company’s prior approval.   

15.Section 409A of the Code.  This Agreement is intended, to the greatest extent permitted under law, to comply with the short-term deferral exemption and the separation pay exemption provided in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”) such that no benefits or payments under this Agreement are subject to Section 409A.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the timing of any payments under this Agreement shall be made consistent with such exemption.  Executive’s right to receive a series of installment payments under this Agreement, if any, shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments.  To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Termination Date.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company determines that any amounts payable hereunder may be subject to Section 409A, the Company may, to the extent permitted under Section 409A cooperate in good faith to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid 

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the imposition of taxes under Section 409A; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so.  To the extent that any reimbursements payable pursuant to this Agreement are subject to the provisions of Section 409A, such reimbursements shall be paid to Executive no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, and Executive’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

(Signature page(s) follow)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Separation Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date indicated next to their respective signatures below which dates shall be after the Termination Date, but on or prior to the forty fifth (45th) day following the date Executive receives this Agreement.

 

DATED: March 29, 2017


	
	
/s/ C. Richard Neely Jr.

	
C. Richard Neely, Jr.

	
 

	
INTERMOLECULAR, INC.




 

DATED: April 3, 2017


		
	
By: 
	
/s/ Bill Roeschlein

	
Name: 
	
Bill Roeschlein

	
Title: 
	
Chief Financial Officer




 

 

S-1

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

DISCLOSURE CONCERNING SEVERANCE OFFER

 

CLASS, UNIT OR GROUP COVERED BY SEVERANCE OFFER

 

All employees of Intermolecular, Inc. (the “Company”) who are executive officers are covered by this severance offer.

 

ELIGIBILITY FACTORS FOR THE PROGRAM

 

Employees who are covered by the severance offer are eligible to receive the benefits of the offer if they:

 


	
 
	
•
	
Are provided with a Separation Agreement (the “Agreement”) to which this Disclosure is Exhibit A;




 


	
 
	
•
	
Timely sign and deliver the Agreement to the Company; 




 


	
 
	
•
	
Do not revoke the Agreement, as permitted by the Agreement; and




 


	
 
	
•
	
Comply with the terms and conditions of the Agreement. 




 

TIME LIMITS APPLICABLE TO THE PROGRAM

 

The following time limits apply to the program:

 


	
 
	
•
	
Employees age 40 and over must sign and deliver the Agreement no later than the forty-fifth (45th) day after that employee’s receipt of the Agreement.




 

JOB TITLES AND AGES OF EMPLOYEES SELECTED FOR AND NOT SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM


	
title
	
Age
	
job eliminated?
	
eligible for separation benefits?

	
Chief Financial Officer/Principal Financing and Accounting Officer
	
[__]
	
Yes
	
Yes

	
Executive Chairman
	
[__]
	
Yes
	
Yes

	
President and Chief Executive Officer
	
[__]
	
No
	
No

	
New Chief Financial Officer
	
[__]
	
No
	
No




 

A-1

 

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