Employment and Severance Agreement



 Exhibit 10.2 
 EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 
 Michael Thoben 
 Interlink Electronics, Inc., 
 This Employment and Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is
entered into as of this 28th day of September, 2007, by and between E. Michael Thoben III (“Officer”) and Interlink Electronics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). 
 RECITALS 
 A. Officer is currently a
member of senior management of the Company, serving in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer and President. 
 B. The Company would like to
continue to retain the service of Officer through the Transition Period as such term is defined in that certain Transition Letter Agreement dated September 28, 2007, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as if
set forth in full. 
 B. The Company desires to provide certain protection to Officer in the event of termination of Officer’s
employment, other than for “cause”, as defined herein, in order to induce Executive to remain in the employ of the Company. 
 C.
The Company considers the establishment and maintenance of a sound and vital management to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. In this connection, the Company recognizes that, as is the
case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a change in control may exist and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management
personnel to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued
attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management to their assigned duties without distraction in circumstances arising from the possibility of a change in control of the Company. This Agreement is designed to serve this function,
as well as to provide added protections to Officer in the event of termination under the circumstances described below. 
 D. This Agreement,
the form of which has been approved by the Board, sets forth the severance benefits which the Company agrees will be provided to Officer in the event Officer’s employment with the Company is terminated under the circumstances described below.








 NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereby agree as
follows: 
 AGREEMENT 
 1. Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Agreement: 
 (i)
“Capped Benefits” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6. 
 (ii) “Cause” shall
mean 
 (A) the willful and continued failure by Officer substantially to perform Officer’s reasonably assigned duties
with the Company consistent with those duties assigned to Officer, other than a failure resulting from Officer’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, after a written demand for performance has been delivered to Officer by the Board
which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that Officer has not substantially performed Officer’s duties and which is not or cannot be cured within ninety (90) days after written demand; 
 (B) the conviction of guilty or entering of a nolo contendere plea to a felony, which is materially and demonstrably injurious to
the Company; or 
 (C) the commission of an act by Officer, or the failure by Officer to act, which constitutes gross
negligence or gross misconduct and which is not or cannot be cured within sixty (60) days after written notice from the Board. 
 For
purposes of this Section 1(ii), no act, or failure to act, on Officer’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted, by Officer in bad faith. Any act, or failure to act, expressly authorized by a resolution duly
adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or be an omission, by Officer in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Officer shall not be deemed to have been terminated for
Cause unless the Board shall have delivered to Officer a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board finding, after reasonable notice to Officer and an opportunity for Officer to be heard with respect to such matter, that in the good faith
opinion of the Board, Officer has engaged in the conduct set forth above in (A), (B), or (C) of this Section 1(ii). Any such determination by the Board shall be subject to de novo review in mediation or in arbitration conducted pursuant to
Section 16. The Company shall take all reasonable steps to enable Officer to effect a cure as contemplated by this Section 1(ii), provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent the Company from taking
reasonable steps to preserve evidence and the chain of custody thereof and otherwise to take such actions as the Company reasonably deems to be appropriate to comply with legal obligations applicable to it or with the fiduciary obligations of its
Board of Directors. 







 (iii) “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following events: 
 (A) any consolidation, merger, plan of share exchange, or other reorganization involving the Company (a
“Merger”) as a result of which the holders of outstanding securities of the Company ordinarily having the right to vote for the election of directors (“Voting Securities”) immediately prior to the Merger do not
continue to hold at least 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving or continuing corporation immediately after the Merger, disregarding any Voting Securities issued or retained by such holders in respect
of securities of any other party to the Merger; 
 (B) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a
series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, the assets of the Company; 
 (C) the adoption of any plan or
proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; 
 (D) any Person (as defined below) shall have become the
beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company ordinarily having the right to vote for the election of
directors representing 50% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock or combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting Securities; or 
 (E) The appointment of a State court receiver or a Bankruptcy Trustee, or the functional equivalent thereof 
 Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, unless otherwise determined by the Board, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Agreement if (1) Officer acquires (other than on the same
basis as all other holders of the Company shares) an equity interest in an entity that acquires the Company in a Change in Control otherwise described under Section 1(ii)(A) or (B) above, or (2) Officer is part of group that
constitutes a Person which becomes a beneficial owner of Voting Securities in a transaction that otherwise would have resulted in a Change in Control under Section 1(ii) (D) above. 
 (iv) “Control Period” shall mean the period commencing on the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control and ending on
the earliest of (A) a date which is 270 days from the occurrence of such Potential Change in Control, (B) a termination of Officer’s employment pursuant to which Officer becomes entitled under this Agreement to receive Severance
Benefits, or (C) termination of activities leading to a Change in Control without the occurrence of a Change in Control. 
 (v) “Date of Termination” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5. 







 (vi) “Deemed Performance Amount” shall mean the sum of all cash
compensation paid or payable to Officer based on performance measures with respect to the last complete calendar year. 
 (vii) “Disability” shall mean the absence of Officer from Officer’s duties with the Company on a full time basis for 180 consecutive days as a result of Officer’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness,
unless, within 30 days after a Notice of Termination (as defined below) is given to Officer following such absence, Officer shall have returned to the full performance of Officer’s duties. 
 (viii) “Effective Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3. 
 (ix) “Good Reason” shall mean: 
 (A) a diminution of Officer’s status, title, position(s), or responsibilities from Officer’s status, title, position(s), and
responsibilities as an employee, or the assignment to Officer of any duties or responsibilities which are inconsistent with such status, title, position(s), or responsibilities (in either case other than isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent
actions which are remedied after notice), or any removal of Officer from such position(s), except in connection with the termination of Officer’s employment for Cause, Disability or as a result of Officer’s death or voluntarily by Officer
other than for Good Reason, and provided that, following acquisition of the Company or its business by another entity, Officer’s status, title, position(s) or responsibilities shall not be deemed diminished as a result of the fact that Officer
reports to a more senior officer of the acquiring company as long as Officer’s responsibility involves the management of the Company’s business or former business or a business of equivalent importance; 
 (B) a reduction by the Company in Officer’s rate of base salary, bonus or incentive opportunity or a substantial reduction in
benefits (other than reductions that do not impact optionee’s compensation opportunity, taken as a whole) of more than 10%; 
 (C) the Company’s requiring Officer to be based more than 50 miles from the principal office at in which Officer is based, except for reasonably required travel on the Company’s business; or 
 (D) the Company’s failure to obtain a consent requested by Officer pursuant to Section 8(i) of; or 
 (E) The failure of the Company to obtain an agreement, satisfactory to the Officer, from any successors and assigns to assume and agree to
perform this Agreement. 
 (x) “Notice of Termination” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.








 (xi) “Potential Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following: 
 (A) the Company enters into an agreement or letter of intent, the approval of which by the shareholders
would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company; 
 (B) any Person (including the Company) publicly
announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control of the Company; or 
 (C) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control of the Company has occurred; 
 (xii) “Person” shall mean and include any individual, corporation, partnership, group, association or other
“person”, as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan(s) sponsored by the Company. 
 (xiii) “Plan” shall mean any compensation plan such as an incentive, stock option or restricted stock plan or any
employee benefit plan such as a thrift, pension, profit sharing, medical, disability, accident, life insurance, or relocation plan or policy or any other plan, program or policy of the Company intended to benefit employees. 
 (xiv) “Retirement” shall mean termination on or after
Officer’s 65th birthday. 
 (xv) “Severance Benefits” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6. 
 (xvi)
“Specified Benefits” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6. 
 (xvii) “Successor”
has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8(i). 
 2. Agreement to Provide Services; Right to Terminate; Compensation and
Benefits. 
 (i) In the event of a Potential Change in Control, and thereafter during the Control Period, Officer will not
terminate his employment with the Company (other than as a result of Disability, upon Retirement, for Good Reason and/or the expiration of the Transition Period), and Company agrees not to terminate Officer other than for Cause. During the Control
Period, Officer will render the services contemplated in the recitals to this Agreement. 
 (ii) During the Control Period,
Officer shall continue to receive the same compensation, including any bonus and/or stock options, and other Company benefits under any plan or program as Officer currently is receiving as of the Effective Date of this Agreement, in addition to any
other rights or benefits that he shall receive in accordance with this Agreement. 







 3. Effective Date. The effective date of this Agreement is the date above written (the
“Effective Date”). 
 4. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in
effect until the end of the Transition Period. 
 5. Notice of Termination; Effective Date of Termination. Any purported termination
by the Company or by Officer, other than termination of employment upon the expiration of the Transition Period, shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of
Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
Officer’s employment under the provision so indicated. The “Date of Termination” shall mean (a) if Officer’s employment is to be terminated for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that
Officer shall not have returned to the performance of Officer’s duties on a full-time basis during such 30 day period), (b) if Officer’s employment is to be terminated by the Company for Cause, the date on which a Notice of
Termination is given, (c) if Officer’s employment is terminated upon the expiration of the Transition Period, the actual date of expiration, and (d) if Officer’s employment is to be terminated by Officer or by the Company for any
other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, which shall be a date no earlier than 60 days after the date on which a Notice of Termination is given, unless an earlier date has been agreed to by the party receiving the Notice of
Termination either in advance of, or after, receiving such Notice of Termination. 
 6. Severance Benefits. If Officer’s
employment by the Company is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, if Officer’s employment is terminated upon the expiration of the Transition Period, or if Officer’s employment is terminated by Officer for Good Reason, then
Officer shall be entitled, without regard to any contrary provisions of any Plan, to severance benefits (the “Severance Benefits”) equal to the lesser of the Specified Benefits (as defined in subsection (i) below), or the
Capped Benefits (as defined in subsection (ii) below): 
 (i) The “Specified Benefits” are as follows:

 (A) the Company shall compensate Officer through the Date of Termination, as follows: 
 (1) with respect to all amounts payable without regard to performance measures (including, without limitation, any amount payable to any
entity then owned by Officer as reimbursement for the use of the aircraft owned by such entity), the full amount of such compensation on the Date of Termination; and 
 (2) with respect to all amounts payable based on performance measures, any benefits or awards (including both cash and stock components)
which pursuant to the terms of any plans have been earned or 








 
if partially earned then to the extent of the percentage to which such performance measure is attained , but which have not yet been paid to Officer,
provided that all such amounts shall be paid at the time or times specified in such plans and not at the time for payment under (i)(B); 
 (B) as severance pay and in lieu of any further salary for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay to Officer an amount in cash (subject to applicable taxes and withholdings) determined as
follows: 
 (1) One and one half times Officer’s annualized compensation without regard to performance measures
(including, without limitation, any amount payable to any entity then owned by Officer as reimbursement for the use of the aircraft owned by such entity and any other recurring allowances to which Officer was entitled on the Date of Termination),
payable at the rate in effect just prior to the time of the Notice of Termination paid in a lump sum on the date that is forty days (40) days after the Date of Termination; and 
 (2) an amount equal to One Hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate amount of Officer’s Deemed Performance Amount, which amount
shall be paid in a lump sum on a date that is forty days (40) after Date of Termination. 
 (C) One hundred percent
(100%) of unvested options to purchase the Company’s Common Stock held by Officer on the Date of Termination shall be accelerated so that such options are immediately exercisable; 
 (D) for eighteen months after the Date of Termination, the Company shall arrange to provide Officer and Officer’s dependents with
life, accident, medical and dental insurance benefits substantially similar to those which Officer was receiving immediately prior to the time of the Notice of Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not provide any benefit
otherwise receivable by Officer pursuant to this paragraph (D) to the extent that a similar benefit is actually received by Officer from a subsequent employer during such one year period, and Officer agrees to report to the Company any such
benefit expected to be received and such benefit actually received by Officer; 
 (E) the Company shall pay Officer upon the
Date of Termination for any vacation time earned but not taken at the Date of Termination, at an hourly rate equal to Officer’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the time a Notice of Termination is given divided by 2080.

 (ii) The “Capped Benefits” equals the Specified Benefits, reduced by the minimum amount necessary to
prevent any portion of the Specified Benefits from being a “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G (b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 








 
1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any successor provision. The amount of the Capped Benefits shall therefore equal (i) three times the
“base amount” as defined in Code § 280G (b)(3)(A), reduced by one Dollar ($1.00), and further reduced by (ii) the present value of all other payments and benefits Officer is entitled to receive from the Company that are
contingent upon a change in control of the Company within the meaning of Code § 280G (b)(2)(A)(i), including accelerated vesting of options and other awards under the Company’s stock option plans, and increased by (iii) all Specified
Benefits that are not contingent upon a change in control within the meaning of Code § 280G (b)(2)(A)(i). Specified Benefits under (B)(1) shall be reduced first to achieve the Capped Benefits amount, then amounts under (B)(2) shall be reduced
to the extent necessary to achieve the Capped Benefits amount. The parties recognize that there is some uncertainty regarding the computations under Code § 280G which must be applied to determine the Capped Benefits. Accordingly, the parties
agree that, after the Severance Benefit is paid, the amount of the Capped Benefits may be retroactively adjusted to the extent any subsequent Internal Revenue Service regulations, rulings, audits or other pronouncements establish that the original
calculation of the Capped Benefits was incorrect. In that case, amounts shall be paid or reimbursed between the parties so that Officer will have received the Severance Benefit Officer would have received if the Capped Benefits had originally been
calculated correctly. 
 (iii) If Officer is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code §
409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and any payment required to be made pursuant to this Section 6 is subject to Code § 409A and not exempt from those requirements under any applicable regulations or other guidance of general applicability, then any such
payment otherwise payable on account of Officer’s termination of employment during the period ending on the date that is six months after the Date of Termination shall be paid in a lump sum on the date that is six months after Officer’s
Date of Termination instead of the date on which it would otherwise be paid. 
 (iv) Except as specifically provided above,
the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 6 shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the Company by reason of any compensation earned by Officer as the result of employment by another employer after the Date of
Termination, or otherwise. Officer’s entitlements under this Section 6 are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any rights, benefits or entitlements Officer may have under the terms or provisions of any Plan. 
 7. Release of Claims. The Company shall have the right to require Officer to execute a general release of claims relating to Officer’s
employment at the Company and termination of employment at the Company that could be brought by Officer under this Agreement as a condition to Officer’s receipt of any payments pursuant to Section 6; provided that the Company and each of
its affiliates shall release any and all claims that each of them may have against Officer, as either an employee and/or Board member as a condition of any such release. 







 8. Successors; Binding Agreement. 
 (i) Upon Officer’s written request, the Company will seek to have any Successor (as hereinafter defined), by agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to Officer, assent to the fulfillment by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement. Failure of the Company to obtain such assent prior to or at the time a Person becomes a Successor shall constitute Good Reason for
termination by Officer of Officer’s employment. For purposes of this Agreement, “Successor” shall mean any Person that succeeds to, or has the practical ability to control (either immediately or with the passage of time), the
Company’s business directly, by merger, consolidation or purchase of assets, or indirectly, by purchase of the Company’s Voting Securities or otherwise. 
 (ii) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Officer’s personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If Officer should die while any amount would still be payable to Officer hereunder if Officer had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Officer’s devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to Officer’s estate. 
 9. Fees and Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Officer for legal fees and related expenses incurred by Officer in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement upon presentation of a customary statement
showing work performed and the charge therefore. The Company shall pay all legal fees and related expenses incurred by Officer as a result of (i) Officer’s termination under circumstances described in Section 6(a)-(c) (including
all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination) or (ii) Officer’s seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement. 
 10. Survival. The respective obligations of, and benefits afforded to, the Company and Officer as provided in Sections 6, 7, 9 and 16 of this
Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement. 
 11. Notice. Notices and all other communications provided for in this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when (i) if delivered personally, (ii) if given by email or fax, when transmitted and evidence of confirmed transmission is received, (iii) if given by a
nationally recognized overnight courier, when received or personally delivered, or (iv) mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and, when delivered, and, in all cases, with all charges prepaid and
addressed to the address of the respective party most recently provided by the receiving party to the sending party, provided that all notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the Board, with a copy to the Secretary of the
Company, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt, and all notices to the Officer shall also be directed
to his counsel, Dana Kravetz, Michelman & Robinson, LLP, 15760 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 500, Encino, California 91436. 
 12.
Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Officer from any and all liability arising out of Officer’s employment within the scope of his employment and service of work as an officer and board member of the Company,
in addition to 








 
its statutory obligations, including but not limited to those under the Labor Code and Corporations Code. Further Company agrees to provide Officer with paid
counsel in any action brought against Officer for any reason resulting from an alleged act under the services by Officer as an employee, officer or board member of Company, or in any other capacity in which Officer serves on behalf of Company, and
shall agree to pay any and all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs and damages, if any, associated with any such claim, demand, lawsuit, arbitration or otherwise. 
 13. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in a writing signed by Officer and a member of the Board on
behalf of the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar
or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not
expressly set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement has been reviewed by the parties and their respective legal counsel and the parties have been advised by such counsel as to the effect of the various provisions hereof. Accordingly, this
Agreement shall not be construed against any party based on the that party’s drafting of this Agreement or any portion thereof or that a party lacked the opportunity to negotiate the terms of this Agreement with the advice and assistance of
legal counsel. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. 
 14. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect. 
 15. Related Agreements. Except as the parties shall agree in writing concurrently with or after the date of this Agreement,
to the extent that any provision of any other agreement between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and Officer shall limit, qualify or be inconsistent with any provision of this Agreement, then for purposes of this Agreement, while the same
shall remain in force, the provision of this Agreement shall control and such provision of such other agreement shall be deemed to have been superseded, and to be of no force or effect, as if such other agreement had been formally amended to the
extent necessary to accomplish such purpose. 
 16. Mediation and Arbitration. The Company and Officer agree to mediate any dispute
arising under the applicable provisions of this Agreement. In the event of any such dispute, the parties, within thirty (30) days of a written request for mediation, shall attend, in good faith, a mediation in order to make a good faith
reasonable effort to resolve such dispute arising under this Agreement. The parties shall attempt, in good faith, to agree to a mediator, or if no agreement can be reached then by random selection by JAMS. If this good faith mediation effort fails
to resolve any dispute arising under this Agreement, the Company and Officer agree to arbitrate any dispute arising under this Agreement. This arbitration shall occur only after the mediation process described herein. Any dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Los Angeles, California by three arbitrators in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in 








 
effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators’ award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that Officer shall be
entitled to seek specific performance of Officer’s right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement. The Company shall bear all costs and
expenses arising in connection with any arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Section 16. 
 17. Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. 
 [Signature page follows] 







 If this correctly sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly sign and return to the
Company the enclosed copy of this letter which will then constitute our agreement on this subject. 
  

			
	 INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.,
 a Delaware corporation

		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ JOHN A. BUCKETT, II

	 Name:
	 	 John A. Buckett, II

	 Title:
	 	 Chairman of the Board



  

	
	 Accepted and Acknowledged:

	
	 /s/ E. MICHAEL THOBEN, III

	 E. Michael Thoben, III