ivty-ex1014_77.htm



 

Exhibit 10.14

INVUITY, INC. 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between Invuity, Inc. (the “Company”), and Philip Sawyer (“Executive”) as of the date set forth on the signature page below (the “Effective Date”).  This Agreement, together with the Executive Severance Agreement and Executive Change of Control Agreement, each dated as of even date herewith, by and between the Company and Executive (respectively, the “Executive Severance Agreement” and “Executive Change of Control Agreement”) replaces and supersedes the Executive Employment Agreement between the Company and Executive that became effective June 15, 2015, which, as of the Effective Date, has no further effect.

1.Duties and Scope of Employment.

(a)Positions and Duties.  As of the Effective Date, Executive will continue to serve as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  Executive will render such business and professional services in the performance of Executive’s duties, consistent with Executive’s position within the Company, as will reasonably be assigned to him by the Company’s Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof (the “Board”). The period of Executive’s employment under this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Employment Term.”

(b)Obligations.  During the Employment Term, Executive will perform his duties faithfully and to the best of his ability and will devote his full business efforts and time to the Company.  For the duration of the Employment Term, Executive agrees not to actively engage in any other employment, occupation or consulting activity for any direct or indirect remuneration without the prior approval of the Board; provided, however, that Executive will be permitted to spend reasonable amounts of time performing duties as a General Partner of Helix Ventures and to manage his personal financial and legal affairs and, with the Company’s consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, to serve on civic, charitable, not-for-profit, industry or corporate boards or advisory committees, provided that such activities, individually and collectively, do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder.  Executive further agrees to comply with all Company policies, including, for the avoidance of any doubt, any insider trading policies and compensation clawback policies currently in existence or that may be adopted by the Company during the Employment Term.

2.At-Will Employment.  The parties agree that Executive’s employment with the Company will be “at-will” employment and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice.  Executive understands and agrees that neither his job performance nor promotions, commendations, bonuses or the like from the Company give rise to or in any way serve as the basis for modification, amendment, or extension, by implication or otherwise, of his employment with the Company. However, Executive may be entitled to severance benefits, depending on the circumstances of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, as set forth in the Executive Severance Agreement and Executive Change of Control Agreement.

 

 

 



 

3.Compensation. 

(a)Base Salary.  During the Employment Term, the Company will pay Executive an annual salary of $475,000 as compensation for his services (as adjusted from time to time, the “Base Salary”).  The Base Salary will be paid periodically in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and be subject to the usual, required withholdings.  

(b)Target Bonus.  The Board, in its sole discretion, will establish a target bonus equal to a specified percentage of Executive’s Base Salary (the “Target Bonus”). Such specified percentage, and the performance objectives which must be achieved to earn the Target Bonus, will be established annually by the Board. The Target Bonus, or any portion thereof, will be paid as soon as practicable after the Board determines that the Target Bonus has been earned, but in no event shall the Target Bonus be paid after the later of (i) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month following the close of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Target Bonus is earned or (ii) March 15 following the calendar year in which the Target Bonus is earned. 

(c)Review and Adjustments. Executive’s Base Salary, Target Bonus, and other compensatory arrangements will be subject to review and adjustment in accordance with the Company’s applicable policies.

4.Employee Benefits. During the Employment Term, Executive will be entitled to participate in the employee benefit plans currently and hereafter maintained by the Company of general applicability to other senior executives of the Company.  The Company reserves the right to cancel or change the benefit plans and programs it offers to its employees at any time.

5.Paid Time Off.  Executive will be entitled to paid time off of thirty (30) business days per year, which will increase to thirty-five (35) business days after ten years of service in accordance with the Company’s paid time off policy, with the timing and duration of specific days off mutually and reasonably agreed to by the parties hereto.

6.Expenses. The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable travel, entertainment or other expenses incurred by Executive in the furtherance of or in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time. 

7.Non-Solicitation.  Executive agrees to continue to follow and comply with the terms and conditions of the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement executed by the Company and Executive on February 19, 2010 (the “Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement”).

8.Confidential Information.  Executive agrees to continue to follow and comply with the terms and conditions of the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. 

9.Assignment.  This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a) the heirs, executors and legal representatives of Executive upon Executive’s death and (b) any successor of the Company.  Any such successor of the Company will be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes.  For this purpose, “successor” means any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company.  None of 

 

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the rights of Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  Any other attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits will be null and void. 

10.Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications called for hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed given (i) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, (ii) one (1) day after being sent by a well-established commercial overnight service, or (iii) four (4) days after being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and addressed to the parties or their successors at the following addresses, or at such other addresses as the parties may later designate in writing:

If to the Company:

Invuity, Inc.

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

444 De Haro Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

If to Executive:

at the last residential address known by the Company.

11.Severability.  In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement will continue in full force and effect without said provision.

12.Arbitration. 

(a)Arbitration.  In consideration of Executive’s employment with the Company, its promise to arbitrate all employment-related disputes, and Executive’s receipt of the compensation, pay raises and other benefits paid to Executive by the Company, at present and in the future, Executive agrees that any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone (including the Company and any employee, officer, director, shareholder or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as such or otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from Executive’s employment with the Company or termination thereof, including any breach of this Agreement, will be subject to binding arbitration under the Arbitration Rules set forth in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1280 through 1294.2, including Section 1281.8 (the “Act”), and pursuant to California law.  The Federal Arbitration Act shall also apply with full force and effect, notwithstanding the application of procedural rules set forth under the Act. 

 

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(b)Dispute Resolution.  Disputes that Executive agrees to arbitrate, and thereby agrees to waive any right to a trial by jury, include any statutory claims under local, state, or federal law, including, but not limited to, claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Sarbanes Oxley Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the California Family Rights Act, the California Labor Code, claims of harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination, and any statutory or common law claims.  Executive further understands that this Agreement to arbitrate also applies to any disputes that the Company may have with Executive. 

(c)Procedure.  Executive agrees that any arbitration will be administered by the Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”), pursuant to its Employment Arbitration Rules & Procedures (the “JAMS Rules”).  The arbitrator shall have the power to decide any motions brought by any party to the arbitration, including motions for summary judgment and/or adjudication, motions to dismiss and demurrers, and motions for class certification, prior to any arbitration hearing.  The arbitrator shall have the power to award any remedies available under applicable law, and the arbitrator shall award attorneys’ fees and costs to the prevailing party, except as prohibited by law.  The Company will pay for any administrative or hearing fees charged by the administrator or JAMS, and all arbitrators’ fees, except that Executive shall pay any filing fees associated with any arbitration that Executive initiates, but only so much of the filing fee as Executive would have instead paid had Executive filed a complaint in a court of law.  Executive agrees that the arbitrator shall administer and conduct any arbitration in accordance with California law, including the California Code of Civil Procedure and the California Evidence Code, and that the arbitrator shall apply substantive and procedural California law to any dispute or claim, without reference to the rules of conflict of law.  To the extent that the JAMS Rules conflict with California law, California law shall take precedence.  The decision of the arbitrator shall be in writing.  Any arbitration under this Agreement shall be conducted in San Francisco County, California.

(d)Remedy. Except as provided by the Act, arbitration shall be the sole, exclusive, and final remedy for any dispute between Executive and the Company.  Accordingly, except as provided by the Act and this Agreement, neither Executive nor the Company will be permitted to pursue court action regarding claims that are subject to arbitration.  Notwithstanding, the arbitrator will not have the authority to disregard or refuse to enforce any lawful Company policy, and the arbitrator will not order or require the Company to adopt a policy not otherwise required by law which the Company has not adopted. 

(e)Administrative Relief. Executive is not prohibited from pursuing an administrative claim with a local, state, or federal administrative body or government agency that is authorized to enforce or administer laws related to employment, including, but not limited to, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, or the Workers’ Compensation Board.  However, Executive may not pursue court action regarding any such claim, except as permitted by law.

 

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(f)Voluntary Nature of Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive is executing this Agreement voluntarily and without any duress or undue influence by the Company or anyone else.  Executive further acknowledges and agrees that Executive has carefully read this Agreement and that Executive has asked any questions needed for Executive to understand the terms, consequences and binding effect of this Agreement and fully understands it, including that EXECUTIVE IS WAIVING EXECUTIVE’S RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL.  Finally, Executive agrees that Executive has been provided an opportunity to seek the advice of an attorney of Executive’s choice before signing this Agreement. 

13.Integration. This Agreement, the Executive Severance Agreement, the Executive Change of Control Agreement and the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement collectively represent the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements whether written or oral.  This Agreement may be modified only by agreement of the parties by a written instrument executed by the parties that is designated as an amendment to this Agreement. 

14.Waiver of Breach. The waiver of a breach of any term or provision of this Agreement, which must be in writing, will not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other previous or subsequent breach of this Agreement.

15.Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.

16.Tax Withholding.  All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to withholding of applicable taxes.

17.Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California (with the exception of its conflict of laws provisions).

18.Acknowledgment. Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to discuss this matter with and obtain advice from his private attorney, has had sufficient time to, and has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this Agreement, and is knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

19.Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart will have the same force and effect as an original and will constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the undersigned.




 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Company by their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year set forth below.

COMPANY:

INVUITY, INC.

 


	
By: 
	
/s/ James Mackaness
	
 
	
Date: 
	
May 10, 2016

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Title: 
	
Chief Financial Officer
	
 
	
 
	
 




EXECUTIVE:

 


	
/s/ Philip Sawyer
	
 
	
Date: 
	
May 10, 2016

	
Philip Sawyer
	
 
	
 
	
 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT]

 

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