Document:

Exhibit 10.9

 

EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT effective as of March 24, 2020 (this “Agreement”) between Annovis Bio, Inc. (the “Company”),
a Delaware corporation, and Jeffrey B. McGroarty (the “Executive”).

 

Background:

 

The parties desire to enter into this Agreement
to provide for the employment of the Executive by the Company and for certain other matters in connection with such employment,
all as set forth more fully in this Agreement. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the respective meanings given
to them in Exhibit A hereto.

 

Terms:

 

NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the premises and covenants set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties to this
Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

1.            Position and Duties. 

 

(a)           Position and Duties. The Company agrees that the Executive shall be employed by the Company to serve as Chief Financial
Officer of the Company. The Executive shall report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Executive
agrees to be so employed by the Company and agrees to devote substantially all of his business time, attention, skill and efforts
to perform services for the Company and to faithfully and diligently discharge and fulfill the Executive’s duties hereunder
to the best of his abilities. In so doing, the Executive shall perform such executive, managerial, administrative and financial
functions as are required to develop the Company’s business and to perform other duties assigned to the Executive by the
Board that are consistent with the Executive’s title as Chief Financial Officer. The Executive shall perform his duties hereunder
primarily at the Company’s principal offices. In the performance of his duties, the Executive shall travel to such other
places at such times as the needs of the Company may from time-to-time dictate or be desirable.

 

(b)           Other Activities. Notwithstanding Section 1(a), the Executive may engage in other business and professional activities
to the extent that they do not interfere with the Executive’s obligations under this Agreement, provided that each of those
activities is first disclosed to and approved by the Board. The parties acknowledge that activities in which the Executive is currently
engaged have been disclosed to and approved by the Board.

 

2.            Term. The Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence on the Commencement Date and shall end when
terminated pursuant to Section 4.

 

     

     

    

 

3.            Compensation.

 

(a)           Base Salary. During the term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement, the Executive shall be paid an
annual salary at the rate of $300,000 (the “Base Salary”), retroactive to January 1, 2020, payable in accordance with
the Company’s payroll practices and policies in effect from time to time and subject to applicable withholding of income
taxes, social security taxes and other such other payroll deductions as are required by law or applicable employee benefit programs.
The Board shall review the Executive’s Base Salary for annual increases, commencing with the Base Salary for the 2021 calendar
year.

 

(b)           Annual Bonus. With respect to each fiscal year of the Company during the continued full-time employment of the Executive
hereunder, commencing with the 2020 fiscal year, the Executive will be eligible to be considered for an annual performance bonus
(the “Annual Bonus”) in an amount of up to 50% of the Executive’s Base Salary. The Annual Bonus, if any, will
be awarded by the Board in its sole discretion based on the achievement of Company and personal performance goals established by
the Board on an annual basis, following consultation with the Executive and shall take into account the stock options and any other
equity incentive awards that vest in the year the bonus is paid. Any Annual Bonus awarded to the Executive hereunder may be paid
in cash or in equity of the Company, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, and will be payable or issuable, less applicable
taxes and withholdings, not later than two and one-half months after the end of the fiscal year to which the Annual Bonus relates
in accordance with the Company’s customary practices for annual bonus payments.

 

(c)           Equity Incentives. Subject to the approval of the Board, the Executive shall be granted equity incentives under the
Equity Incentive Plan and shall be considered for future equity incentive awards as specified on Exhibit B hereto. In addition,
the Executive shall be eligible to participate in future equity incentive programs established by the Company from time to time
in the future in accordance with the terms of those programs.

 

(d)           Vacation and Fringe Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all vacation and other fringe benefit
programs of the Company to the extent and on the same terms and conditions as are accorded to other senior management employees
of the Company.

 

(e)           Reimbursement of Other Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for the reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket
business expenses incurred by the Executive for or on behalf of the Company in furtherance of the performance of the Executive’s
duties hereunder in accordance with the Company’s policies as approved by the Board from time to time, subject in all cases
to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.

 

(f)            Section 409A. If any reimbursement under this Section 3 is not exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) then (i) any reimbursement in one calendar year shall not affect the amount that may
be reimbursed in any other calendar year; (ii) a reimbursement (or right thereto) may not be exchanged or liquidated for another
benefit or payment; and (iii) a reimbursement shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year
in which the Executive incurred the related expense.

 

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4.            Termination.

 

(a)           Death or Disability. The Executive’s employment with the Company shall automatically terminate effective as of
the date of the Executive’s death, and the Company may terminate the employment of the Executive immediately upon written
notice to the Executive in the event of the Disability of the Executive. In the event of termination of the Executive’s employment
due to death or Disability, the Company shall not have any further obligation or liability under this Agreement except that the
Company shall pay to the Executive or the Executive’s estate (as applicable): (i) any portion of the Executive’s Base
Salary for the period up to the date of employment termination that has been earned but remains unpaid; (ii) any expenses properly
incurred but not yet reimbursed, including, without limitation, the reimbursements provided for in Section 3(e); (iii) any benefits
that have accrued to the Executive under the terms of the employee benefit plans of the Company, which benefits shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of those plans (the payments in clauses (i) through (iii) collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”);
and (iv) in the event of a termination of employment due to the Executive’s death, the Annual Bonus awarded pursuant to Section
3(b), if any, with respect to the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year of termination, to the extend unpaid (the “Earned
Bonus”). The Accrued Obligations shall be paid on the first payroll date following the last date of employment to the extent
administratively feasible and, if not, then on the second payroll date following the last date of employment. The Earned Bonus,
if any, will be paid when it would have been paid had Executive remained employed with the Company.

 

(b)           Termination of the Executive’s Employment for Cause. The Company may terminate the employment of the Executive
for Cause immediately upon written notice of such termination to the Executive. If the Executive’s employment with the Company
is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Company shall not have any further obligation or liability under this Agreement except
for the Accrued Obligations. The Accrued Obligations shall be paid on the first payroll date following the last date of employment
to the extent administratively feasible and, if not, then on the second payroll date following the last date of employment.

 

(c)           Involuntary Termination.

 

(i)            The Company may terminate the employment of the Executive for any reason other than one specified in Section 4(a) or Section
4(b) immediately upon written notice of termination to the Executive, and the Executive may terminate his employment with the Company
for Good Reason immediately upon providing written notice of such termination to the Company. Either of such terminations shall
be deemed an “Involuntary Termination” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(ii)           Upon the occurrence of an Involuntary Termination, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, and subject to the execution
by the Executive of a release in the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “Release”) and the compliance by the Executive
with the Release and all terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement (as
defined in Section 5) that survive the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company the Executive shall be entitled
to receive (A) severance payments in an amount equal to the Base Salary in effect on the termination date for a period of 12 months;
plus (B) monthly reimbursement (upon presentation of proof of payment) for the medical insurance premiums at the same level as
was in effect on the termination date until the earlier of (1) the end of such 12-month period or (2) the date the Executive
becomes eligible for medical benefits through another employer; provided, however, that if such Involuntary Termination shall occur
upon the closing of a Change of Control or within 12 months thereafter: (A) the severance shall be payable in a single lump sum
and (B) the Executive shall also be entitled to receive an amount equal to 75% of the projected target amount of the Executive’s
Annual Bonus for the calendar year in which the Executive’s employment termination occurs payable in a single lump sum, such
lump sum payments to be made in each case on the first regularly scheduled payroll date that occurs on or after 60 days after the
effective date of such employment termination. Any payments due pursuant to this Section 4(c), other than the Accrued Obligations,
shall commence as soon as administratively feasible within 60 days after the date of the Executive’s termination of employment
provided the Executive has timely executed and returned the Release and, if a revocation period is applicable, the Executive has
not revoked the Release; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar
year, the severance payments shall begin to be paid in the second calendar year. On the date that payments pursuant to clauses
(A) and (B) commence, the Company will pay the Executive in a single lump sum payment, less applicable taxes and withholding, the
payments that the Executive would have received on or prior to such date but for the delay imposed by the immediately preceding
sentence, with the balance of the payments to be paid as originally scheduled. The Accrued Obligations will be paid on the first
payroll date following last date of employment to the extent administratively feasible and, if not, then on the second payroll
date following the last date of employment.

 

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(iii)          Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, the Executive may not terminate his employment with the Company
for Good Reason pursuant to this Section 4(c), and shall not be considered to have done so for any purpose of this Agreement,
unless (A) the Executive, within 60 days after the initial existence of the act or failure to act by the Company that constitutes
 “Good Reason” within the meaning of this Agreement, provides the Company with written notice that describes, in particular
detail, the act or failure to act that the Executive believes to constitute “Good Reason” and identifies the particular
event specified in the definition of “Good Reason” on Exhibit A that the Executive contends is applicable to
such act or failure to act; (B) the Company, within 30 days after its receipt of such notice, fails or refuses to rescind such
act or remedy such failure to act so as to eliminate “Good Reason” for the termination by the Executive of the Executive’s
employment relationship with the Company; and (C) the Executive actually resigns from the employ of the Company on or before that
date that is 12 months after the initial existence of the act or failure to act by the Company that constitutes “Good Reason.”
If the requirements of the immediately preceding sentence are not fully satisfied on a timely basis, then the resignation by the
Executive from the employ of the Company shall not be deemed to have been for “Good Reason,” the Executive shall not
be entitled to any of the benefits to which the Executive would have been entitled if the Executive had resigned from the employ
of the Company for “Good Reason,” and the Company shall not be required to pay any amount or provide any benefit that
would otherwise have been due to the Executive under this Section 4(c) had the Executive resigned with “Good Reason.”

 

(d)           Other Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment for any reason other
than for Good Reason upon 30 days’ prior written notice of termination to the Company. In the event the Executive shall terminate
the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Section 4(d), the Company shall not have any further obligation or liability
under this Agreement, except for the Accrued Obligations, which shall be paid on the first payroll date following last date of
employment to the extent administratively feasible and if not, then on the second payroll date following the last date of employment.
The Company shall not have the right following Executive’s provision of notice to terminate the Executive’s employment
prior to the end of the notice period unless the Company pays the Executive for the full notice period.

 

(e)           Base Salary Continuation. The Base Salary continuation set forth in Section 4(c) above shall be intended either (i)
to satisfy the safe harbor set forth in the Treas. Regs. 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) be treated as a Short-term Deferral as that
term is defined Treas. Regs. 1.409A-1(b)(4). To the extent such continuation payments exceed the applicable safe harbor amount
or do not constitute a Short-term Deferral, the excess amount shall be treated as deferred compensation under Code section 409A
and as such shall be payable pursuant to the following schedule: such excess amount shall be paid via standard payroll in periodic
installments in accordance with the Company’s usual practice for its senior executives. Solely for purposes of Code section
409A, each installment payment is considered a separate payment. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary,
in the event that the Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Code section 409A, any continuation payment,
continuation benefits or other amounts payable under this Agreement that would be subject to the special rule regarding payments
to “specified employees” under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code shall not be paid before the expiration of a period
of six months following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment or before the date of the Executive’s
death, if earlier.

 

(f)            Parachute Provisions. In the event a Change of Control occurs, the Company will engage an independent accounting firm
(the “Accounting Firm”) at its expense to determine whether the Executive received, is entitled to receive or will
become entitled to receive any benefits or payments in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of
the Code) (the “Total Payments”), and whether the Total Payments will be subject to the tax (the “Excise Tax”)
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code. If the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, the aggregate present value of the
Total Payments shall be reduced (but not below $1) if reducing the Total Payments will provide the Executive with a greater net
after-tax amount than would be the case if no reduction was made. Any reduction shall be effected in accordance with Section 409A
of the Code.

 

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5.             Restrictive Covenants. Concurrently with the execution hereof, and as a condition of employment,
the Executive shall execute and deliver an Employee Confidential Disclosure, Invention Assignment, Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation
and Non-Interference Agreement (the “Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement”).

 

6.             No Conflicts. The Executive represents and warrants that the Executive is not party to any agreement, contract or understanding,
whether of employment, consultancy or otherwise, in conflict with this Agreement or which would in any way restrict or prohibit
the Executive from undertaking or performing services for the Company or otherwise from entering into or performing this Agreement
or the Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement.

 

7.             Full Agreement. This Agreement and the Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto),
constitute the entire agreement of the parties concerning its subject matter and supersedes all other oral or written understandings,
discussions, and agreements, but shall not supersede, or otherwise be deemed to terminate, any confidentiality agreements, non-disclosure
obligations or restrictive covenants in favor of the Company in effect immediately prior to the Commencement Date. This Agreement
may be modified only in a writing signed by both parties. The Executive acknowledges that she has read and fully understand the
contents of this Agreement and the Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement and is executing it after having an opportunity
to consult with legal counsel.

 

8.             Amendments. Any amendment to this Agreement shall be made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

9.             Enforceability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, then such
provision shall be deemed to be modified or restricted to the extent and in the manner necessary to render the same valid and enforceable,
or shall be deemed excised from this Agreement, as the case may require, and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced to
the maximum extent permitted by law as if such provision had been originally incorporated herein as so modified or restricted or
as if such provision had not been originally incorporated herein, as the case may be.

 

10.          Construction. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.

 

11.          Assignment. 

 

(a)           By the Company. The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall
be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the Company. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company without the consent of
the Executive.

 

(b)           By the Executive. This Agreement and the obligations created hereunder may not be assigned by the Executive, but all
rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s heirs, devisees, legatees,
executors, administrators and personal representatives. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 11(b) shall be null
and void.

 

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12.          Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
given when mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered by a national overnight delivery service addressed
to the intended recipient as follows:

 

	 	If to the Company:
	 	 
	 	Annovis Bio, Inc.

1055 Westlakes Drive

Berwyn, PA  19312

Attention:  Chairman of the Board
	 	 
	 	If to the Executive:
	 	 
	 	Jeffrey B. McGroarty

360 Hilltop Road

Paoli, PA  19301

 

Any party may from time to time change its address for the purpose
of notices to that party by a similar notice specifying a new address, but no such change shall be deemed to have been given until
it is actually received by the party sought to be charged with its contents.

 

13.          Waivers. No claim or right arising out of a breach or default under this Agreement shall be discharged in whole or in
part by a waiver of that claim or right unless the waiver is supported by consideration and is in writing and executed by the aggrieved
party hereto or such party’s duly authorized agent. A waiver by any party hereto of a breach or default by the other party
hereto of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of future compliance therewith, and such provisions shall
remain in full force and effect.

 

14.          Survival of Covenants. The provisions of Section 4 through this Section 14 shall survive the termination of the Executive’s
employment shall continue in effect thereafter.

 

(Signature page follows.)

 

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IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the parties as of the date first above written.

 

	 	ANNOVIS BIO, INC.
	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Maria L. Maccecchini	 
	 	Name: Maria L. Maccecchini

                    Title: President and CEO

	 	 
	 	 
	 	/s/ Jeffrey B. McGroarty	 
	 	Jeffrey B. McGroarty

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Certain Definitions

 

The following terms have the meaning set
forth below wherever they are used in this Agreement:

 

“Cause” for the Company (or
a successor, if appropriate) to terminate the Executive’s employment will exist upon the occurrence of any of the following
events: (i) the Executive’s continued failure to substantially perform the Executive’s duties and obligations to the
Company, including but not limited to any material breach of this Agreement or any material violation of the Company’s written
policies or rules, and failure to cure the same within ten business days after being notified by the Board; (ii) the Executive’s
having committed willful fraud or willful misconduct, in any such case which is materially injurious to the Company; (iii) the
Executive’s having been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude that results in material harm to the standing or
reputation of the Company; or (iv) the Executive’s material breach of the terms of the Confidentiality and Invention Assignment
Agreement.

 

“Change of Control” shall have
the meaning set forth in the Equity Incentive Plan.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Commencement Date” means March
24, 2020.

 

“Disability” means an illness,
incapacity or a mental or physical condition that renders the Executive unable or incompetent, with or without a reasonable accommodation,
to carry out the job responsibilities that the Executive held or the tasks that the Executive was assigned at the time the disability
commenced for a period of 90 consecutive days, or 180 non-consecutive days in any rolling 12-month period.

 

“Equity Incentive Plan” shall
mean the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and then in effect.

 

“Fully Diluted Equity” means
the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock, determined on a fully-diluted, as-converted basis as of
the date of grant of the applicable stock options, inclusive of all allocated and unallocated shares authorized to be issued under
the Equity Incentive Plan.

 

“Good Reason” for the Executive
to resign from the employ of the Company will exist upon the occurrence of any of the following events, subject to compliance with
the other provisions of Section 4(c): (a) a material reduction in the Base Salary, as then in effect; (b) a material reduction
of the Executive’s authority, position, responsibilities or duties; (c) the Company’s material breach of this Agreement;
or (d) a relocation at the request of the Board of the Executive’s principal workplace by more than 50 miles from the Company’s
principal offices as of the Commencement Date; provided, however, that (i) clause (a) shall not apply if such reduction is part
of a Company-wide reduction in compensation and/or benefits for all of its senior executives, and (ii) following a Change of Control,
a reduction in authority, position, responsibilities or duties solely by virtue of the Company being acquired and becoming part
of a larger entity or operated as a subsidiary shall not constitute Good Reason.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

Equity Incentive Awards

 

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Equity Incentive Plan and an appropriate grant agreement to be executed by the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall
be granted the following equity incentive awards in such forms as shall be determined by the Board, upon consultation with the
Executive: (a) on or before April 30, 2020, an equity incentive award of 300,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, of
which 250,000 shares shall be vested in full upon grant and the remaining 50,000 shares shall vest on April 30, 2021 (the “2021
Vesting Date”); provided, however, that if a Change of Control shall occur prior to the 2021 Vesting Date, such award shall
vest in full upon the closing of the Change of Control. Such grant shall be made on or before April 30, 2020; and (b) on or after
January 1, 2021 and on or before April 30, 2021, an equity incentive award of 30,396 shares of the Company’s Common
Stock, all of which shall be vested in full upon grant.

 

In the event the Company raises additional
capital prior to the 2021 Vesting Date through the sale of its securities and the Board determines in its sole discretion that
the Executive’s performance warrants the grant of additional equity incentive awards, the Board shall grant to the Executive
an additional equity incentive award of 165,199 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, subject to approval by the stockholders
of the Company of an increase in the shares available under the Equity Incentive Plan. Such additional equity incentive award
shall: (a) be granted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Equity Incentive Plan and an appropriate grant agreement
to be executed by the Executive and the Company, and (b) vest in two equal installments on March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023,
respectively, subject to accelerated vesting of such additional award upon a Change of Control of the Company.

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

Release of Claims

 

1.             Termination of Employment. ________________ (“Executive”) hereby agrees and recognizes that, as of _______,
20__, Executive’s employment relationship with Annovis Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will
be permanently and irrevocably severed.

 

2.             Release of Claims. In consideration of the payments and benefits described in Section 4(d) and Section 4(e) of the
employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), effective _______, 2020, by and between Executive and the Company,
to which Executive agrees Executive is not entitled until and unless Executive executes and does not revoke this Release, Executive,
for and on behalf of himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, hereby waives and releases any and all complaints,
claims, suits, controversies, and actions, whether known or unknown, suspected or claimed, which Executive, or any of the Executive’s
heirs, executors, administrators or assigns ever had, now has or may have against the Company and/or its respective predecessors,
successors, past or present parents or subsidiaries, affiliates, investors, branches or related entities (collectively, including
the Company, the “Entities”) and/or the Entities’ past or present stockholders, insurers, assigns, trustees,
directors, officers, limited and general partners, managers, joint venturers, members, employees or agents in their respective
capacities as such (collectively with the Entities, the “Releasees”) by reason of circumstances, acts or omissions
which have occurred on or prior to the date that this Release becomes effective, including, without limitation, (a) any complaint,
charge or cause of action arising under (i) federal, state or local laws pertaining to employment or termination of employment,
including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (the “ADEA,” a law which prohibits discrimination on the
basis of age), the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990, as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended, the Family
and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, as amended, the Executive Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, any applicable Executive Order Programs, the Fair Labor Standards Act, or their state
or local counterparts (including, but not limited to, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act); (ii) any other federal, state or local
civil or human rights law; (iii) any other local, state, or federal law, regulation or ordinance; (iv) any public policy, contract
and/or quasi-contract or tort (including, but not limited to, claims of breach of the Employment Agreement, an expressed or implied
contract, tortious interference with contract or prospective business advantage, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair
dealing, promissory estoppel, detrimental reliance, invasion of privacy, nonphysical injury, personal injury or sickness or any
other harm, wrongful or retaliatory discharge, fraud, defamation, slander, libel, false imprisonment, negligent or intentional
infliction of emotional distress); (v) common law; or (vi) any policies, practices or procedures of the Company; or (b) any claim
for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters (the “Released Claims”).
By signing this Release, Executive acknowledges that she intends to waive and release any rights known or unknown that she may
have against the Releasees under these and any other laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive does not release, discharge
or waive: any rights to indemnification that she may have under the certificate of incorporation, the by-laws or equivalent governing
documents of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of which any such
subsidiary or affiliate is a domiciliary, the Employment Agreement or any indemnification agreement between Executive and the Company;
any rights to insurance coverage under any directors’ and officers’ personal liability insurance or fiduciary insurance
policy; any rights she may have in his capacity as a stockholder of the Company; any rights she may have to enforce the vested
terms of any equity or other incentive agreement previously provided to her; any rights she may have to severance benefits and
payment of Accrued Obligations under the Employment Agreement (the “Excluded Claims”). The Executive acknowledges that
she has made no assignment or transfer of any right, claim, demand, cause of action, or other matter covered by this Section 1.

 

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3.             Proceedings. Executive acknowledges that she has not filed any complaint, charge, claim or proceeding, if any, or
assigned to any other person the right to bring any such complaint, charge, claim, or proceeding, relating to the Released Claims
against any of the Releasees before any local, state or federal agency, court or other body (each individually a “Proceeding”).
Executive (i) acknowledges that she will not initiate or cause to be initiated on his behalf any Proceeding and will not participate
in any Proceeding, in each case, except as required by law and (ii) waives any right she may have to benefit in any manner from
any relief (whether monetary or otherwise) arising out of any Proceeding, including any Proceeding conducted by the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”). Further, Executive understands that, by executing this Release, she will be limiting
the availability of certain remedies that she may have against the Releasees and limiting also his ability to pursue certain claims
against the Releasees. Notwithstanding the above, nothing in Section 1 of this Release shall prevent Executive from (i) initiating
or causing to be initiated on the Executive’s behalf any complaint, charge, claim or proceeding against any Releasee before
any local, state or federal agency, court or other body challenging the validity of the waiver of the Executive’s claims
under the ADEA contained in Section 1 of this Release (but no other portion of such waiver), (ii) initiating or participating in
an investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or (iii) reporting possible violations of federal, state or local law, ordinance
or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including, but not limited to, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Congress and any agency Inspector General, or otherwise taking action or making
disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any federal, state or local law, ordinance or regulation,
including, but not limited to, Rule 21F-17 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or (iv) receiving
a monetary award for information provided to the SEC pursuant to Rule 21F-17 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Executive’s separation from employment with the Company in compliance
with the terms of the Employment Agreement shall not serve as the basis for any claim or action (including, without limitation,
any claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967).

 

4.             Time to Consider. Executive acknowledges that she has been advised that she has [twenty-one (21)]/[forty-five
(45)]1 days from the date of receipt
of this Release to consider all the provisions of this Release and, further, that if Executive signs this Release prior to the
expiration of such [twenty-one (21)]/[forty-five (45)] day period, she does hereby knowingly and voluntarily waive said given [twenty-one
(21)]/[forty-five (45)] day period. EXECUTIVE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SHE HAS READ THIS RELEASE
CAREFULLY, HAS BEEN ADVISED BY THE COMPANY TO, AND HAS IN FACT, CONSULTED AN ATTORNEY, AND FULLY UNDERSTANDS THAT BY SIGNING BELOW
SHE IS GIVING UP CERTAIN RIGHTS WHICH SHE MAY HAVE TO SUE OR ASSERT A CLAIM AGAINST ANY OF THE RELEASEES, AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION
1 OF THIS RELEASE AND THE OTHER PROVISIONS HEREOF. EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SHE HAS NOT BEEN FORCED OR PRESSURED IN ANY MANNER
WHATSOEVER TO SIGN THIS RELEASE, AND EXECUTIVE AGREES TO ALL OF ITS TERMS VOLUNTARILY. [EXECUTIVE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SHE HAS
RECEIVED ALL INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE DISCLOSED IN CONNECTION WITH AN EXIT INCENTIVE OR OTHER EMPLOYMENT TERMINATION PROGRAM.]

 

5.             Revocation. Executive hereby acknowledges and understands that Executive shall have seven (7) days from the date
of his execution of this Release to revoke this Release (including, without limitation, any and all claims arising under the ADEA)
and that neither the Company nor any other person is obligated to provide any benefits to Executive pursuant to Section 4(d) or
Section 4(e) of the Employment Agreement until eight (8) days have passed since Executive’s signing of this Release without
Executive having revoked this Release, in which event the Company immediately shall arrange and/or pay for any such benefits otherwise
attributable to said eight-(8) day period, consistent with the terms of the Employment Agreement. If Executive revokes this Release,
Executive will be deemed not to have accepted the terms of this Release, no action or forbearance of action will be required of
the Company under any section of this Release, and Executive shall not be entitled to receive any portion of the severance compensation
and benefits which are conditioned on the delivery of this Release.

 

6.             No Admission. This Release does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing of any kind by Executive or
the Company.

 

 

 

1
NTD: To be selected based on whether applicable termination was “in connection with an exit incentive or other
employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967).

    C-2

     

    

 

7.             Confidentiality. Executive agrees that Executive will not communicate or disclose the terms of this Release to any
persons with the exception of members of Executive’s immediate family and Executive’s attorney and financial advisor,
or as permitted by Section 3 above.

 

8.             Return of Company Property. Executive represents that all equipment and other property of the Company, including
any documents and files, whether electronically stored or maintained in hard copy, have been returned to the Company, and that
Executive has not retained any copies of the same.

 

9.             Non-Disparagement. Executive will not disparage any Releasee or otherwise take any action which could reasonably
be expected to adversely affect the personal or professional reputation of any Releasee. The Company’s directors, officers
and senior executives shall not disparage or otherwise take any action which could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the
personal or professional reputation of the Executive.

 

10.           Post-Employment Obligations. Executive reaffirms that she will comply with all
of his post-employment obligations as set forth in Section 5 of the Employment Agreement.

 

11.           Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any and all
prior representations, agreements, written or oral, expressed or implied, except for Section 5 of the Employment Agreement, which
survives the termination of Executive’s employment and is incorporated herein by reference, and except for any agreements
with respect to Executive’s options to acquire Common Stock of the Company. This Agreement may not be modified or amended
other than by an agreement in writing signed by an officer of the Company.

 

12.           Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that, subsequent to the termination of Executive’s employment,
Executive shall not be eligible for any payments from the Company or Company-paid benefits, except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement. Executive also acknowledges and agrees that Executive has been paid for all time worked and has received all other compensation
owed to her.

 

13.           Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and be for the benefit of the parties as well as Executive’s
heirs and the Company’s successors and assigns.

 

14.           General Provisions. A failure of any of the Releasees to insist on strict compliance with any provision of this Release
shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision or any other provision hereof. If any provision of this Release is determined to
be so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable, and in the event
that any provision is determined to be entirely unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed severable, such that all other provisions
of this Release shall remain valid and binding upon Executive and the Releasees.

 

15.           Governing Law. The validity, interpretations, construction and performance of this Release shall be governed by the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without giving effect to conflict of laws principles.

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has hereunto set Executive’s hand as of the day and year set forth opposite his signature
below.

 

 

	 	 	 
	Date	 	Jeffrey B. McGroarty

 

    C-3Exhibit 4.1

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Electro-Sensors, Inc.  (“ELSE,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) has one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: our common stock.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary of the general terms and provisions of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is based upon and qualified by reference to our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are available from the Company and are incorporated by reference herein. We encourage you to read our articles of incorporation, our bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, or MBCA, for additional information.

Authorized Shares of Capital Stock     

The aggregate number of shares of capital stock that the Company has authority to issue is 10,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.10.

Common Stock

Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Except as otherwise provided by law, our articles of incorporation or our bylaws, matters will generally be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy. Our bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors will be fixed by the shareholders at each annual meeting and that either the shareholders or the board of directors may increase or decreases the number of directors.  Our board of directors is not classified.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends.  In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of all of our debts and obligations. 

Holders of common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption provisions applicable to the common stock. 

All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Corporate Trust Services, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219

Our common stock is currently listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the trading symbol “ELSE.”

Preferred Stock

We have no preferred stock authorized or outstanding.

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Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, our Bylaws and Minnesota Law

Specific provisions of Minnesota law, our articles of incorporation and our bylaws may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect. 

Shareholder Meetings

Under our bylaws, annual meetings of our shareholders may be called only by our board of directors, or by written consent of all the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting. 

Under our bylaws, special meetings of our shareholders may be called by the Secretary upon request of the Chairman, the President or the board of directors (acting by majority vote), or by a shareholder or shareholders holding 10% or more of the voting power of the shareholders. 

Unanimous Shareholder Action in Writing

Our bylaws permit shareholders to take any action that might be taken at a meeting of the shareholders by written action, but only if it is signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote on that action. 

Provisions of Minnesota Law

The following provisions of the MBCA may have an effect of delaying, deterring or preventing an unsolicited takeover of the Company or make an unsolicited takeover of the Company more difficult. 

MBCA Section 302A.553 [Power to acquire shares] subd 3, [limitation on share purchases]  prohibits a publicly held corporation such as ELSE from purchasing shares entitled to vote for more than market value from a person that beneficially owns more than 5% of the voting power of the corporation if the shares have been beneficially owned for less than two years unless the purchase or agreement to purchase is approved at a meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote or the corporation makes an offer, of at least equal value per share, to all shareholders for all other shares of that class or series and any other class or series into which they may be converted. 

MBCA Section 302A.671 [Control share acquisitions] provides that shares of an “issuing public corporation,” such as ELSE, acquired by an “acquiring person” in a “control share acquisition” that exceed the threshold of voting power of any of the three ranges identified below will not have voting rights, unless the issuing public company’s shareholders vote to accord these shares the voting rights normally associated with these shares.  A “control share acquisition” is an acquisition, directly or indirectly, by an “acquiring person” (as defined in the MBCA) of beneficial ownership of shares of an issuing public corporation that, but for Section 302A.671, would, when added to all other shares of the issuing public corporation beneficially owned by the acquiring person, entitle the acquiring person, immediately after the acquisition, to exercise or direct the exercise of a new range of voting power of the issuing public corporation with any of the following three ranges: (i) at least 20 percent but less than 33-1/3 percent; (ii) at least 33-1/3 percent but less than or equal to 50 percent; and (iii) over 50 percent. The issuing public company also has an option to call for redemption all, but not less than all, shares acquired in the control share acquisition that exceed the threshold of voting power of any of the specified ranges at a price equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time the call is given if (i) the acquiring person fails to deliver the information statement to the issuing public company by the tenth day after the control share acquisition; or (ii) shareholders have voted not to accord voting rights to the shares acquired in the control share acquisition.

	44

Note: The Company amended its articles in 1991 to provide that MBCA Section 302A.671 does not apply to the Company.

MBCA Section 302A.673 [Business combinations] prohibits a public Minnesota corporation, such as ELSE, from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of four years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless either (i) the business combination or (ii) the acquisition by which the person becomes an interested shareholder is approved in a prescribed manner before the person became an interested shareholder. The term “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder. An “interested shareholder” is a person who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of a corporation’s voting stock, or who is an affiliate or associate of the corporation, and who, at any time within four years before the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock. 

If a takeover offer is made for our stock, MBCA Section 302A.675 [Takeover offer; fair price] precludes the offeror from acquiring additional shares of stock (including in acquisitions pursuant to mergers, consolidations or statutory share exchanges) within two years following the completion of the takeover offer, unless shareholders selling their shares in the later acquisition are given the opportunity to sell their shares on terms that are substantially the same as those contained in the earlier takeover offer. A “takeover offer” is a tender offer that results in an offeror who owned ten percent or less of a class of our shares acquiring more than ten percent of that class, or that results in the offeror increasing its beneficial ownership of a class of our shares by more than ten percent of the class, if the offeror owned ten percent or more of the class before the takeover offer. Section 302A.675 does not apply if a committee of our board of directors formed in accordance with Section 302A.675 approves the proposed acquisition before any shares are acquired pursuant to the earlier tender offer.

	45

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