Document:

ex10_4.htm

EXHIBIT 10.4

 

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, EXECUTIVE VERSION |  April 27, 2012 

 

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into effective as of April 1, 2012 by and between AntriaBio, Inc. a Delaware corporation, having an address of 55 Broad St., 19th Fl, New York, NY (“AntriaBio” or the “Company”), and Sankaram Mantripragada (the “Executive”).

 

In consideration of the mutual promises, terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.           Employment.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby offers and the Executive hereby accepts employment.

 

2.           Term.  The Executive’s employment hereunder shall commence effective as of April 1, 2012 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue until terminated on the terms and conditions set forth herein.  The Term of this Agreement is hereafter referred to as “the term of this Agreement” or “the term hereof.”

 

3.           Capacity and Performance; Location.

 

(a)           During the term hereof, the Executive shall serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer or such other Officer as determined by the Chief Executive.

 

(c)           During the term hereof, the Executive shall devote sufficient time and his best efforts, business judgment, skill and knowledge to the advancement of the business and interests of the Company and to the discharge of his duties and responsibilities hereunder.  The Executive shall comply with all written policies of the Company in effect from time to time and shall observe and implement those resolutions and directives of the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors, as made or issued from time to time.  Without the prior knowledge of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Executive shall not engage in any other business activity or serve in any industry, trade, professional, governmental or academic position during the term of this Agreement

 

(d)           The Company’s principal executive office is currently located in New York, N.Y.  The Executive shall work from his current location in Fort Collins, Colorado.

 

4.           Compensation and Benefits.  As compensation for all services performed by the Executive hereunder during the term hereof, and subject to performance of the Executive’s duties and obligations pursuant to this Agreement:

 

(a)           Base Salary.  From the Effective Date through December 31, 2012, the Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at an initial rate of Two Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($275,000) per annum (the “Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the payroll practices of the Company for its executives, but no less than once per each month.  Such base salary, shall be increased effective January 1, 2013 to a rate of Two Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand Dollars ($295,000) per annum, and is hereafter referred to as the “Base Salary.”

 

  

  

  

 

(b)           One Time Bonus.  The Company will pay the Executive a one-time bonus of $100,000, when animal testing related to AB101, also known as InsuLAR, and also known as a weekly basal insulin product, begins either in the USA or outside the USA.  The Company will pay the Executive a one-time bonus of $175,000 upon initiation of a human clinical trial either in the USA or outside the USA related to AB101.  The one-time bonus paid upon the occurrence of either or both of these two events shall not be considered or offset to any degree by the Company in determining the annual salary, annual bonus, expense reimbursement, benefits, or severance.

 

(c)           Bonus Compensation.  During the term hereof, the Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an annual performance bonus equal to up to 40% of the Executive’s Base Salary based upon performance criteria set by the Board in its sole discretion on an annual basis.  The Board shall conduct a performance review of the Executive at least once a year on or prior to February 1 of each year, commencing in 2013.  The Company may, from time to time, pay such other bonus or bonuses to the Executive as the Board or a compensation committee of the Board, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.  In order to receive the annual performance bonus, the Executive must continue to be employed by the Company through the end of the period with respect to which the annual performance bonus has been earned.  The annual performance bonus will be paid to the Executive at such time as bonuses for the applicable period are regularly paid to senior executives of the Company; provided, however, in no event will the annual performance bonus be paid later than February 28 of the following calendar year.  Except as otherwise provided herein, bonuses shall be paid at such time as bonuses for the applicable period are regularly paid to senior executives of the Company.

 

(d)           Vacations.  During the term hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation per annum, to be taken and approved by the Chief Executive Officer, at such times and intervals as shall be determined by the Executive, subject to the reasonable business needs of the Company.  Vacation time shall not cumulate from year to year.  Accrued and unused vacation time may be carried over to subsequent years, with maximum four weeks of carryover into any year.

 

(e)           Insurance Coverage.  During the term hereof, the Company shall provide Executive with medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance as follows:  the Company shall (i) pay premiums in accordance with the Company’s usual practices, for all medical insurance, including heath, dental and vision coverage for Executive and his immediate family, and life and disability insurance to the Executive.  The Executive’s benefits contemplated by this Section 4(c) shall be subject to the terms and conditions of each applicable policy, as may be in effect from time to time at the discretion of the Board.  Company shall pay all premiums for a Directors and Officers liability insurance policy that covers the Executive.

 

(f)           Other Benefits.  During the term hereof and subject to any contribution therefor generally required of employees of the Company, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in any and all other employee benefit plans from time to time in effect for employees of the Company generally, except to the extent such plans are in a category of benefit (including, without limitation, bonus compensation) otherwise provided to the 

 

 

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Executive.  Should the Company establish a pension and/or profit-sharing plan, your eligibility is as follows:  For every year of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive will earn a retirement benefit equal to one month of the annual salary for that calendar year.  The accrued retirement benefit will be paid to you in a lump-sum when you reach age 65, or when your employment is terminated not for Cause or not for Good Reason, as defined later.  Such participation shall be subject to (i) the terms of the applicable plan documents, (ii) generally applicable Company policies and (iii) the discretion of the Board or any administrative or other committee provided for in or contemplated by such plan.  The Company may alter, modify, add to or delete such “other employee benefit plans” at any time as it, in its sole judgment, determines to be appropriate, without recourse by the Executive.

 

(g)           Business Expenses.  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred or paid by the Executive in the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder, subject to any maximum annual limit and other restrictions on such expenses set by the Board for senior executives of the Company, and to such reasonable substantiation and documentation as may be specified by the Company from time to time.  The Executive shall use reasonable efforts to purchase airline tickets in advance or otherwise take advantage of low-cost fares.

 

5.           Termination of Employment.  Executive’s employment hereunder may terminate as set forth below.

 

(a)           Death.  So long as the Company provides the Executive with life insurance coverage, in the event of the Executive’s death during the term hereof, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall immediately and automatically terminate.  In that event, the Company shall pay to the Executive’s designated beneficiary or, if no beneficiary has been designated by the Executive, to his estate, any earned and unpaid Base Salary and Bonus.  The Company shall have no further obligation or liability to the Executive or his estate.  Upon the Executive’s death all vested stock options will remain property of the estate or designated beneficiary.

 

(b)           Disability.

 

(i)           So long as the Company provides the Executive with disability insurance coverage, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Executive, in the event that the Executive becomes disabled during his employment hereunder through any illness, injury, accident or condition 

 

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of either a physical or psychological nature and, as a result, is unable to perform the essential functions of Ms position hereunder, with or without reasonable accommodation, for eighty (80) days during any period of one-hundred eighty (180) consecutive calendar days.

 

(ii)           The Board may designate another employee to act in the Executive’s place during any period in which the Executive is unable to perform the essential functions of his position as a result of any illness, injury, accident or condition of either a physical or psychological nature, Notwithstanding any such designation, the Executive shall continue to receive the Base Salary in accordance with Section 4(a) and his other benefits pursuant to Sections 4(e), 4(f) and 4(g) hereof, to the extent permitted by the then-current terms of the applicable benefit plans, until the Executive becomes eligible for disability income benefits under any disability income plan provided by the Company or until the termination of his employment, whichever shall first occur.

 

(iii)           If any question shall arise as to whether during any period the Executive is disabled through any illness, injury, accident or condition of either a physical or psychological nature so as to he unable to perform the essential functions of his position hereunder, the Executive may, and at the request of the Company shall, submit to a medical examination by a physician selected by the Company to whom the Executive or his duly appointed guardian, if any, has no reasonable objection, to determine whether the Executive is so disabled, and such determination shall for the purposes of this Agreement be conclusive of the issue.  If such question shall arise and the Executive shall fail to submit to such medical examination, the Company’s determination of the issue shall be binding on the Executive.

 

(c)           By the Company for Cause.  Employment with the Company is not for a specific term and can be terminated by the Executive or by the Company or its successors at any time for any reason, with or without Cause, subject to the following terms.  As used herein, “Cause” shall mean any act that violates this agreement or the employment policies of the Company, or any willful misconduct by you that may result in harm to The Company or its employees, directors or customers.  The term “Good Reason” shall mean a material reduction in your duties, material reduction in compensation, willful breach of this agreement, change of control, or relocation of your office more than thirty miles from your original place of employment.  Upon the giving of notice of termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause, the Company shall not have any further obligation or liability to the Executive, other than for Base Salary earned and unpaid through the date of termination.  Any unvested Stock Options shall be forfeited and vested Stock Options not exercised prior to termination shall expire and no longer be exercisable.

 

(d)           By the Company without Cause.  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause at any time upon fourteen (14) days advance written notice.

 

(e)           By the Executive.  The Executive may terminate his employment, with or without cause, at any time upon at least fourteen (14) days’ advance written notice to the Company.

 

(f)           Severance Benefits.

 

(i)           In the event that the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause (as defined above subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 5(1), (A) the Company will pay severance on a monthly basis to the Executive and will provide the continuation of the benefits set forth in Section 4(e) and 4(f) for a 

 

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period of months (the “Severance Period”) following Executive’s termination equal to twelve (12) months (B) any options that are subject to vesting shall have vesting accelerated with respect to the number of shares that would have vested during the Severance Period if Executive had remained employed by the Company during such period (and any shares of capital stock of the Company that are subject to a right of repurchase shall have such right of repurchase lapse with respect to the number of shares that would have lapsed during the Severance Period if Executive had remained employed by the Company during such period), and (C) unused vacation up to a maximum of eight weeks.

 

(ii)           The severance amount and benefits continuation set forth in Section 5(f)(i) are referred to herein as the “Severance Benefits.  The continuation of any group health plan benefits shall be to the extent authorized by and consistent with 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et seq. (commonly known as “COBRA”), with the cost of the regular employer portion of the premium for such benefits paid by the Company.  The Executive’s right to receive Severance Benefits under Subsection 5(f)(i) is conditioned upon (x) the Executive’s prior execution and delivery to the Company of a reasonably satisfactory general release of any and all claims and causes of action of the Executive against the Company and its officers and directors, excepting only the right to any compensation, benefits and/or reimbursable expenses due and unpaid under Sections 4 and/or 5(f)(i) of this Agreement, and (y) the Executive’s continued performance of those obligations hereunder that continue by their express terms after the termination of his employment, including without limitation those set forth in Sections 8, 9 and 10.  Any Severance Benefits to be paid hereunder shall be payable in accordance with the payroll practices of the Company for its executives generally as in effect from time to time, and subject to all required withholding of taxes.

 

6.           Change in Control.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company, with or without Cause, or by the Executive for Changed Circumstances in connection with or following a Change in Control, the Executive shall receive those Severance Benefits provided in Section 5(1)(0 as if he were terminated more than twelve months after the Effective Date this Employment Agreement, plus Executive’s pro rata Bonus Compensation to the date of termination, which Severance Benefits shall be subject to the terms set forth in Section 5(f)(ii) and shall be in lieu of any benefits to which the Executive is otherwise entitled pursuant to Section 5(f).  “Change in Control” means an event or occurrence set forth in any one or more of subsections (a) through (c) below (including an event or occurrence that constitutes a Change in Control under one of such subsections but is specifically exempted from another such subsection):

 

(a)           the acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (an “Acquiring Person”) of beneficial ownership of any capital stock of the Company if, after such acquisition, such Acquiring Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) 50% or more of either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the 

 

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“Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control:  (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company or (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or

 

(b)           such time as the Continuing Directors (as defined below) do not constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the Board of Directors of a successor corporation to the Company), where the term “Continuing Director” means at any date a member of the Board (i) who was a member of the Board on the date of the execution of this Agreement or (ii) who was nominated or elected subsequent to such date by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election or whose election to the Board was recommended or endorsed by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election; or

 

(c)           the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or statutory share exchange involving the Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), unless, immediately following such Business Combination, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, respectively, of the resulting or acquiring corporation in such Business Combination in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, respectively.

 

7.           Effect of Termination.  Upon termination of this Agreement, all obligations and provisions of this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to any accrued and unpaid monetary obligations and vesting acceleration provisions and except for the provisions of Section 8 through (and inclusive of) 23 hereof.

 

8.           Confidential Information; Assignment of Inventions.

 

(a)           The Executive acknowledges that the Company and its Affiliates will continually develop Confidential Information and Proprietary Information (as defined below), that the Executive may develop Confidential Information and Proprietary Information for the Company or its Affiliates, and that the Executive may learn of Confidential Information and Proprietary Information during the course of his employment with the Company.  The Executive agrees that, except as required for the proper performance of his duties for the Company, he will not, directly or indirectly, use or disclose any Confidential Information or Proprietary Information.  The Executive understands and agrees that this restriction will continue to apply after his employment terminates, regardless of the reason for termination.

 

 

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(b)           The Executive agrees that all Confidential Information and Proprietary Information, including, without limitation all work products, inventions methods, processes, designs, software, apparatuses, compositions of matter, procedures, improvements, property, data documentation, information or materials that the Executive, jointly or separately prepared, conceived, discovered, reduced to practice, developed or created during, in connection with, for the purpose of, related to, or as a result of his employment with the Company, and/or to which he has access as a result of his employment with the Company (collectively, the “Inventions”) is and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.

 

(c)           The Executive by his signature on this Agreement unconditionally and irrevocably transfers and assigns to the Company all rights, title and interest in the Inventions (as defined above, including all patent, copyright, trade secret and any other intellectual property rights therein) and will take any steps and execute any further documentation from time to time reasonably necessary to effect such assignment free of charge to the Company.  The Executive will further execute, upon request, whether during, or after the termination of, his employment with the Company, any and all applications for patents, assignments and other papers, which the Company may deem necessary or appropriate for securing such Inventions for the Company.

 

(d)           Except as required for the proper performance of his duties, the Executive will not copy any and all papers, documents, drawings, systems, data bases, memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports files, data (including original data), disks, electronic media etc. containing Confidential Information or Proprietary Information (“Documents”) or remove any Documents, or copies, from Company premises.  The Executive will return to the Company immediately after his employment terminates, and at such other times as may be specified by the Company, all Documents and copies and all other property of the Company and its Affiliates then in his possession or control.

 

9.           Non-Competition Covenants.  During the term hereof and for a period of one (1) year from the date the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive shall refrain from engaging or becoming interested, directly or indirectly, as an owner, employee, director, partner, consultant, through stock ownership, investment of capital, lending of money or property, rendering of services, or otherwise, either alone or in association with others, in the operation, management or supervision of any type of business or enterprise that during such period manufactures, develops or sells drug delivery technologies that compete with the businesses or enterprises of the Company and its operating subsidiaries (if any) (collectively, the “Company Group”), or any new business or enterprise which the Company Group during such Restricted Period plans in good faith in the near future to commence which is related to the Company Group’s then-existing businesses or enterprises, including, without limitation, the research and development of drug delivery technology for diseases in which the Company has active research and development programs, except through ownership of shares in a publicly-traded corporation or publicly-traded mutual fund or publicly-traded limited partnership in which the Executive does not materially participate and in which the Executive’s ownership interest is one percent (1%) or less.  The Executive acknowledges and aggress that the entire business of the Company is based upon technology and Proprietary Information that has world-wide application.  Therefore, the restrictions contained in this Section 9 cannot be limited 

 

 

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to any particular geographic region and are applicable world-wide.  In the event that the scope of any restriction contained in this Section 9 is determined by a court to be too broad to permit enforcement hereof to its full extent, then such restriction shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, based upon the geographic markets on which the Company Group conducts its business at the time of breach of this Section.

 

10.           Non-Solicitation Covenants.  During the Restricted Period, the Executive shall refrain from, directly or indirectly, whether on behalf of himself or anyone else:  (a) soliciting or accepting orders from any present or past customer of the Company Group for a product or service offered or sold by, or competitive with a product or service offered or sold by, the Company Group; (b) inducing or attempting to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor or other business relation of the Company Group to cease doing business with the Company Group or in any way interfere with the relationship between that customer, supplier, licensee, licensor or other business relation and the Company Group; (c) using for his benefit or disclosing the name and/or requirements of any such customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, or other business relation to any other person; (d) soliciting any of the Company Group’s employees to leave the employ of the Company Group or hiring anyone who is an employee of the Company Group or was such an employee during the twelve (12) months preceding the proposed date of hire; or (e) inducing or attempting to induce any employee of the Company Group to work for, render services or provide advice to or supply Confidential Information or Proprietary Information to any other person.  During the Restricted Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly assist or encourage any other person, in carrying out, directly or indirectly, any activity that would be prohibited by this agreement were they carried out by the Executive himself.

 

11.           Enforcement of Covenants.  The Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read and considered all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed upon him pursuant to Sections 8, 9 and 10 hereof.  The Executive acknowledges that the covenants contained in Sections 8, 9 and 10 are reasonably necessary to protect the goodwill of the Company that is its exclusive property.  The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that, were he to breach any of the covenants contained in Sections 8, 9 or 10 hereof, the damage would be irreparable.  The Executive therefore agrees that the Company, in addition to any other remedies available to it, shall be entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against any breach or threatened breach by the Executive or any of said covenants, without having to post bond.

 

12.           Conflicting Agreements.  The Executive hereby represents and warrants that the execution of this Agreement and the performance of his obligations hereunder will not breach or be in conflict with any other agreement to which the Executive is a party or is bound and that the Executive is not subject to any covenants against competition or similar covenants that would affect the performance of his obligations hereunder.  The Executive will not disclose to or use any confidential or proprietary information of a third party without such party’s consent.

 

13.           Definitions.  Words or phrases which are initially capitalized or are within quotation marks shall have the meanings provided in this Section 13 and as provided elsewhere herein.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions apply:

 

 

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(a)           “Affiliates” means all persons and entities directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, where control may be by either management authority or equity interest.

 

(b)           “Confidential Information” means any and all information, inventions, discoveries, ideas, writings, communications, research, engineering methods, developments in chemistry, manufacturing information, practices, processes, systems, technical and scientific information, formulae, designs, concepts, products, trade secrets, projects, improvements and developments that relate to the business of the Company or any Affiliate and are not generally known by others, including but not limited to (i) products and services, technical data, methods and processes, (ii) marketing activities and strategic plans, (iii) financial information, costs and sources of supply, (iv) the identity and special needs of customers and prospective customers and vendors and prospective vendors, and (v) the people and organizations with whom the Company or any Affiliate has or plans to have business relationships and those relationships.  Confidential Information also includes such information that the Company or any Affiliate may receive or has received belonging to customers or others who do business with the Company or any Affiliate and any publication or literary creation of the Executive, developed in whole or in part while the Executive is employed by the Company, in whatever form published the content of which, in whole or in part, relates to the business of the Company or any Affiliate.  Confidential Information shall not include any information or materials that Executive can prove by written evidence (i) is or becomes publicly known through lawful means and without breach of this Agreement by Executive; (H) was rightfully in Executive’s possession or part of Executive’s general knowledge prior to the Effective Date; or (iii) is disclosed to Executive without confidential or proprietary restrictions by a third party who rightfully possesses the information or materials without confidential or proprietary restrictions.

 

(c)           “Person” means an individual, a corporation, an association, a partnership, an estate, a trust and any other entity or organization.

 

(d)           “Proprietary Information” means any and all intellectual property subject to protection under applicable copyright, trademark, trade secret or patent laws if such property is similar in any material respect with the products and services offered by the Company or any Affiliate.

 

14.           Withholding.  All payments made under this Agreement shall be reduced by any tax or other amounts required to be withheld under applicable law.

 

15.           Assignment.  Neither the Company nor the Executive may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest herein, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and shall assign its obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the Executive in the event that the Company shall hereafter effect a reorganization, or consolidate with or merge into any other Person, or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any other Person.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Executive, and their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns.

 

 

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16.           Severability.  If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

17.           Waiver.  No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party.  The failure of either party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by either party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach.

 

18.           Notices.  Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective when delivered in person or by overnight courier or delivery service, or 3 business days after being deposited in the Danish or United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, and addressed to the Executive at his last known address on the books of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at the Company’s principal place of business, to the attention of the Chairman of the Board, or to such other address as either party may specify by notice to the other actually received.

 

19.           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings, written or oral, with respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment.

 

20.           Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and an expressly authorized representative of the Company.

 

21.           Headings.  The headings and captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and in no way define or describe the scope or content of any provision of this Agreement.

 

22.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one end the same instrument.

 

23.           Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof

 

24.           Tax Matters.

 

(a)           In the event of an event constituting a change in the ownership or effective control of Company or ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of Company described in Code Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i) (a “2800 Transaction”), Company shall cause its independent auditors or another person or entity approved by the Company and Executive promptly to review all payments, accelerations, distributions and benefits that have been made to or provided to, and are to be made, or may be made, to or provided to, 

 

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Executive under this Agreement, the 2012 Plan and any other arrangements providing for payments or benefits contingent on the occurrence of a 280G Transaction (irrespective of whether such payments or benefits are then payable to Executive at that time), and any other agreement or plan under which Executive may individually or collectively benefit (collectively the “Original Payments”), to determine the applicability of Code Section 4999 to Executive in connection with such event.  Company’s independent auditors or such other approved party will perform this analysis in conformity with the foregoing provisions and will provide Executive with a copy of their analysis and determination.  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that the Original Payments would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), the Original Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent necessary so that no Original Payment shall be subject to the Excise Tax, but only if, by reason of such reduction, the net after-tax benefit received by Executive shall exceed the net after-tax benefit received by him if no such reduction was made.  For purposes of this Agreement, “net after-tax benefit” shall mean (a) the Original Payments which Executive receives or is then entitled to receive from Company that would constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, less (b) the amount of all federal, state and local income taxes payable with respect to the foregoing calculated at the maximum marginal income tax rate for each year in which the foregoing shall be paid to Executive (based on the rate in effect for such year as set forth in the Code as in effect at the time of the first payment of the foregoing), less (c) the amount of the Excise Tax imposed with respect to the payments and benefits described in (a) above.  If a reduction is to occur pursuant to this Section 24(a), the payments and benefits shall be reduced in the following order:  any cash severance to which Executive becomes entitled (starting with the last payment due), then other cash amounts that are parachute payments (starting with the last payment due), then any stock option awards that have exercise prices higher than the then-fair market value price of the stock (based on the latest vesting tranches), then restricted stock and restricted stock units based on the latest awards scheduled to be distributed, and then other stock options based on the latest vesting tranches.  The fees and expenses of Company’s auditor or any other party for services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by this provision will be borne by Company.

 

(b)           The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, LID amended (“Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith.  If the Executive notifies the Company (with specificity as to the reason therefor) that he believes that any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of any compensation or benefits) would cause him to incur any additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A and the Company concurs with such belief or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company shall, after consultation with the Executive, to the extent legally permitted and to the extent it is possible to timely reform the provision to avoid taxation under Code Section 409A, reform such provision to attempt to comply with Code Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Code Section 409A.  To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Code Section 

 

 

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409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to both the Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Code Section 409A.

 

For purposes of the application of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4) (or any successor provision), each payment in a series of payments will be deemed a separate payment.

 

If the termination of employment giving rise to the severance benefits described in Sections 5 or 6 is not a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(h)(1), then to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of any accelerated or additional tax under Code Section 409A, such benefits will be deferred without interest until Executive’ experiences a separation from service.

 

If at the time of Executive’s separation from service, (i) he is a specified employee (within the meaning of Code Section 409A and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time), and (ii) the Company makes a good faith determination that an amount payable to Executive constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Code Section 409A in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Code Section 409A (the “Delay Period”), then the Company will not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but will instead pay it in a lump sum on the first business day after such six-month period.  To the extent that any benefits to be provided during the Delay Period is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A provided on account of a “separation from service,” and such benefits are not otherwise exempt from Code Section 409A, Executive shall pay the cost of such benefits during the Delay Period, and the Company shall reimburse Executive, to the extent that such costs would otherwise have been paid by the Company or to the extent that such benefits would otherwise have been provided by the Company at no cost to Executive, the Company’s share of the cost of such benefits upon expiration of the Delay Period, and any remaining benefits shall be reimbursed or provided by the Company in accordance with the procedures specified herein.

 

To the extent an expense or in-kind benefit provided pursuant to this Agreement constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 409A (1) the expenses will be reimbursed to Executive as promptly as practical and in any event not later than the last day of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the expenses are incurred, (2) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided in any other calendar year, (3) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.

 

 

	Execution Version	12 | Page

  

  

  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, tins Agreement has been executed as a sealed instrument by the Executive and the Company, as approved by the Board of Directors by Unanimous Written Consent, by its duly authorized representative, as of the date first above written.

 

	
Executive:

 

 

/s/ Sankaram Mantripragada           

Sankaram Mantripragada

	
AntriaBio, Inc.

 

 

By:   /s/ Steve R. Howe                                                                   

Name:  Steve R. Howe

Title:  CEO

 

 

 

 

	Execution Version	13 | Pageex10_5.htm

EXHIBIT 10.5

ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

This Advisory Agreement (“Agreement”) is effective as of July 2, 2012 by and between AntriaBio, Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of  Delawre (“Client”) and Konus Advisory Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“KAG”), for the purpose of setting forth the terms and conditions by which the Client will acquire KAG’s services.

 

In consideration of the mutual obligations specified in this Agreement, and any compensation paid to the KAG for its services, the parties agree to the following:

 

1.SERVICES AND PAYMENT. Attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A is a description of services performed or to be performed by KAG (the “Services”), the form of remuneration for performance of such Services, the expenses to be paid in connection with such Services and such other terms and conditions as shall be deemed appropriate or necessary for the performance of the Services.  Exhibit A may be amended or modified by a writing executed by the parties at any time during the course of the Agreement.

 

2.NONDISCLOSURE AND TRADE SECRETS.

 

(a)During the term of this Agreement and in the course of KAG’s performance of Services hereunder, KAG will receive or otherwise be exposed to confidential and proprietary knowledge, information and materials relating to the Client, including without limitation, the Client’s business, plans, strategies, and technologies.  Such confidential and proprietary information may include, without limitation, the following:  (i) information relating to research, development and marketing strategies, clinical plans and business plans and opportunities, manufacturing techniques, equipment and instruments, design details and specifications, (ii) financial information, including information related to sales, costs, profits, and pricing methods, procurement requirements, the Client’s internal organization, employee information and customer lists, business and contractual relationships, business forecasts, and vendors and suppliers, and (iii) information relating to the Client’s present and future products and technology, including discoveries, inventions, research and development efforts, processes, designs, trade secrets, formulas, methods, product know-how and show-how, and all derivatives, improvements and enhancements to any of the above and the Client’s intellectual property.

 

(b)KAG agrees that all such information described in the preceding Section 2(a) and the Work Product, as defined in Section 3 below, (collectively, “Confidential Information”), are trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information of the Client, and KAG agrees that the Confidential Information is the sole, exclusive and extremely valuable property of the Client.  Accordingly, KAG agrees to hold all Confidential Information in strict confidence, not to reproduce any of the Confidential Information without the applicable prior written consent of the Client, not to use the Confidential Information except in the performance of Services under this Agreement, and not to disclose, or make accessible, all or any part of the Confidential Information in any form to any other party, either during or after the term of this Agreement (including without limitation for purposes of filing patent applications).  Any copies and all derivations of Confidential Information shall be and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the Client and are subject to the restrictions provided for herein. 

  

  

  

 

(c)For the purposes hereof, Confidential Information will not include that portion of information that is or becomes part of the public domain through no fault of KAG, or that the Client gives to third parties without restriction on use or disclosure.

 

(d)KAG shall not disclose or otherwise make available to the Client any confidential or proprietary information received from third parties.

 

(e)No rights or licenses, including without limitation to trademarks, inventions, copyrights, patents or any other intellectual properties, are implied or granted to KAG, whether by implication, estoppel or otherwise, under this Agreement.  KAG may not use any Confidential Information in applying for patents or securing other intellectual property rights.

 

(f)If the Client provides materials, compounds, formulations or other samples that are proprietary, KAG may not use, copy, distribute, reverse engineer (by way of example but not limitation, by performing tests such as HPLC, gas chromatography or x-ray crystallography), sell, lease, license or otherwise transfer, modify, adapt or create derivatives of such materials.  

 

3.OWNERSHIP OF WORK PRODUCT.

 

(a)All reports, data, drawings, notes, documents, information, findings, studies, analyses, methods, designs, algorithms, mask works, products, services, programs and procedures, papers, records, reports, summaries, notes, files, samples, devices, products, equipment and other materials including copies relating to the Client’s business that KAG possesses or creates as a result of performing the Services under this Agreement, whether or not confidential (collectively, “Materials”) are and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the Client. 

 

(b)KAG agrees that any and all ideas, discoveries, developments, improvements, inventions and works of authorship, and any and all Materials, whether made, conceived, written, created or first reduced to practice in whole or in part by KAG, alone or with others, in the performance of the Services under this Agreement (collectively, “Work Product”), to the extent permitted by law, shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Client.  Accordingly, without additional consideration, KAG hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns to the Client all of KAG’s right, title and interest, including all patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, and other intellectual property rights, in and to all Work Product. 

 

(c)The Client will have sole control over any Work Product including the right to keep Work Product as a trade secret, file and execute patent applications covering Work Product, use and disclose Work Product, file registrations for copyright or trademark on Work Product in its own name, or to follow any other procedures that the Client deems appropriate.  

 

(d)“Moral Rights” means any right to claim authorship of a work, any right to object to any distortion or other modification of a work, and any similar right, existing under the law of any country or under any treaty.  Without additional consideration, KAG hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns to the Client any and all Moral Rights KAG may have in any Work Product.  KAG hereby forever waives and agrees never to assert against the Client or its 

 

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successors, assigns or licensees, any Moral Rights KAG may have in any Work Product. 

 

(e)KAG agrees to execute, verify, and deliver all papers, including patent applications, invention assignments and copyright assignments as the Client may reasonably require in order to perfect in the Client all right, title and interest in Work Product.  KAG hereby waives and quitclaims to the Client any and all claims of any nature whatsoever that KAG now or may hereafter have for infringement of any intellectual property rights assigned to the Client.

 

4.TERM AND TERMINATION.

 

(a)Client or KAG may terminate this Agreement for any reason or no reason, at any time upon written notice.  In such event, KAG shall cease performing the Services immediately upon providing notice to the Client or receiving notice from the Client, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, and shall immediately notify the Client of any expenses to be reimbursed incurred up to the termination date. 

 

(b)Unless earlier terminated as provided for herein, this Agreement will expire four (4) years from the date first written above.

 

(c)Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason, each party will be released from all obligations to the other party arising after the date of expiration or termination, except that expiration or termination will not relieve the parties of their respective obligations under Sections 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 of this Agreement, nor will expiration or termination relieve KAG or Client from any liability arising from any breach of this Agreement.

 

(d)Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason, KAG shall cease using all Materials and Confidential Information, including but not limited to Work Product, and all whole and partial copies and derivatives thereof (including any works-in-progress) in KAG’s possession or under KAG’s direct or indirect custody or control.  In accordance with the Client’s instructions, KAG will promptly deliver to the Client all such Materials and Confidential Information and any copies or embodiments thereof.

 

5.INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.  KAG is an independent contractor, is not an agent or employee of the Client and is not authorized to act on behalf of the Client or bind the Client in any way.  KAG will perform the Services under the general direction of the Client, but KAG will determine, in KAG’s sole discretion, the manner and means by which the Services are performed, subject to the requirements that KAG shall at all times comply with all applicable laws and regulations in performing the Services.  KAG will not be eligible for any employee benefits, and will not be entitled to participate in any plans, arrangements, or distributions by the Client pertaining to any bonus, stock option, profit sharing, insurance or similar benefits for the Client employees.  KAG will be solely responsible for all tax returns and payments required to be filed with or made to any federal, state or local tax authority with respect to KAG’s performance of services and receipt of payment under this Agreement. 

 

6.LEGAL AND EQUITABLE REMEDIES.  KAG hereby acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any breach of this Agreement by KAG, including without limitation, the actual or threatened disclosure of Confidential Information without the prior express written consent of the Client, the Client will suffer an irreparable injury such that no remedy at law 

 

 

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will afford it adequate protection against, or appropriate compensation for, such injury.  Accordingly, KAG hereby agrees that the Client shall be entitled to specific performance of KAG’s obligations under this Agreement, as well as other equitable or further relief as may be granted by a court of competent jurisdiction, without necessity of posting a bond.

 

7.COVENANTS.

 

(a)Other Activities.  The Client acknowledges that KAG may now or in the future provide services to third parties that may or may not have products or business interests that are competitive with the Client’s products and the Client respects the right of KAG to engage in such activities.

 

(b)Pre-existing Obligations.  KAG warrants and represents that KAG is not under any pre-existing obligations inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation, obligations to assign inventions to a third party with respect to the subject matter of the Services.

 

(c)No Conflicts.  KAG represents and warrants that it is not under any contract with a third party, nor will KAG enter into any contract during the term hereof, that would restrict or impair its performance of the Services.

 

8.GENERAL.  The parties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors, heirs, executors, administrators and permitted assigns, except that KAG may not assign this Agreement or delegate or transfer any of its, his or her rights, obligations or duties under this Agreement without the Client’s prior written consent, and any attempted assignment, transfer or delegation without such consent will be void.  This Agreement, including Exhibit A hereto, constitutes the parties’ final, exclusive and complete understanding and agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, written or oral, relating to its subject matter.  This Agreement may not be waived, modified or amended unless mutually agreed upon in writing by both parties.  In the event any provision of this Agreement is found to be legally unenforceable, such unenforceability shall not prevent enforcement of any other provision of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles that would require the application of the laws of a different jurisdiction. Any notices required or permitted hereunder shall be given to the appropriate party at the address specified on the signature page hereto or at such other address as the party shall specify in writing and shall be deemed given: (a) upon personal delivery or (b) if sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, three (3) days after the date of mailing.  Neither party hereto shall be liable for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever in connection with this Agreement (including without limitation, loss of profits or loss of use), whether arising in contract, tort or strict liability.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

 

	ANTRIABIO, INC.    	KONUS ADVISORY GROUP, INC.
	 	 
	By:  /s/ Steve R. Howe         	By:  /s  Hoyoung Huh         
	Name: Steve R. Howe	Name:  Hoyoung Huh
	Title:  Executive Chairman	Title:  Managing Director
	 	 
	Address: 	999 18th Street Suite 3000

Denver,  CO 80202	Address:  	
890 Santa Cruz Avenue

Menlo Park, CA 94025

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

Work to be performed:

 

KAG will provide a range of Services as requested by Client including, without limitation, finance and strategy, clinical design, project management and portfolio assessment

 

Compensation:

 

KAG shall charge Client an hourly rate for the Services in accordance with the following rate schedule:

 

	Manager Level Advisor:    	 $100 per hour
	 	 
	Director Level Advisor:    	$250 per hour
	 	 
	Senior Director Level Advisor:  	$350 per hour
	 	 
	
Vice President Level Advisor: 

	$500 per hour
	 	 
	Managing Director Level Advisor:    	$700 per hour

 

In addition, commencing September 1, 2012, Client shall pay KAG a monthly retainer of $9,000 for general and administrative matters including the use of KAG’s facilities as needed.

 

Timing of payment(s):

 

Within 30 days of the Client’s receipt of an invoice.

Types of additional expenses to be paid by Client:

 

	
  

	
●

	
Reasonable general office expenses related to Client matters as well as transportation including, without limitation, airfare, rental cars, taxis/car services, hotels and meals.

 

 

 

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