Document:

aveo-ex1017_389.htm

 

EXHIBIT 10.17

 SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT 

THIS SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made this 6th day of January 2020 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 1 Broadway 14th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142 (the “Company”), and Erick Lucera (the “Employee”). 

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the employment and dedication of the Employee and the Employee’s efforts to maximize the Company’s value. 

NOW, THEREFORE, as an inducement for and in consideration of the Employee’s continued employment with the Company and as consideration for the Employee’s agreement to enter into and be bound by the provisions of Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees that the Employee shall receive the severance benefits set forth in this Agreement in the event the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated under the circumstances described below. 

1. Key Definitions. 

As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings: 

1.1 “Cause” means conduct involving one or more of the following: (i) the conviction of the Employee of, or, plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime involving dishonesty or any felony; (ii) the willful misconduct by the Employee resulting in material harm to the Company; (iii) fraud, embezzlement, theft or dishonesty by the Employee against the Company resulting in material harm to the Company; (iv) the repeated and continuing failure of the Employee to follow the proper and lawful directions of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or the Board after a written demand is delivered to the Employee that specifically identifies the manner in which the Chief Executive Officer or the Board believes that the Employee has failed to follow such instructions; (v) the Employee’s current alcohol or prescription drug abuse affecting work performance, or current illegal use of drugs regardless of the effect on work performance; (vi) material violation of the Company’s code of conduct by the Employee that causes harm to the Company; or (vii) the Employee’s material breach of any term of the Agreement, or any other applicable confidentiality and/or non-competition agreements with the Company. 

1.2 “Good Reason” means the occurrence, without the Employee’s written consent, of any of the following events: (A)  any material diminution in the Employee’s duties, responsibilities or authority, or (B) a material reduction in the Employee’s base salary (unless such reduction is effected in connection with a general and proportionate reduction of compensation for all employees of his or her level), provided, however, that Good Reason can only occur if (i) the Employee has given the Company a written notice of termination indicating the existence of a condition giving rise to Good Reason and the Company has not cured the condition giving rise to Good Reason within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice of termination, and (ii) such notice of termination is given within ninety (90) days after the initial occurrence of the condition giving rise to Good Reason and further provided that a termination for Good Reason shall occur no more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the initial occurrence of the condition giving rise to Good Reason. 

1.3 “Disability” means (i) the Employee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months or (ii) the Employee is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve 

 

 

(12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company; provided that in each case, the Employee’s physical or mental impairment shall be determined by an independent qualified physician mutually acceptable to the Company and the Employee (or his personal representative) or, if the Company and the Employee (or such representative) are unable to agree on an independent qualified physician, as determined by a panel of three physicians, one designated by the Company, one designated by the Employee (or his personal representative) and one designated by the two physicians so designated. 

2. Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason. 

2.1 Other than as set forth in Section 3 below, if the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or due to the Employee’s Disability, or by the Employee for Good Reason, then the Company shall: 

(a) continue to pay the Employee his base salary in effect on the date of termination, to be paid in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices as are established or modified from time to time for the period of time (the “Severance Period”) until the earlier of (x) the date twelve (12) months following the date of termination, or (y) the date on which the Employee commences employment or a consulting relationship with substantially equivalent compensation; 

 (b) pay to the Employee (i) on the date of termination, any base salary earned but not paid and any vacation accrued but not used through the date of termination, and (ii) within thirty (30) days after the date of termination, any reimbursable business expenses incurred by the Employee through the date of termination pursuant to any expense reimbursement policies of the Company then in effect; and 

 

(c) to the extent the Employee and any qualified beneficiary with respect to such Employee elects continuation of health benefit coverage under Section 4980B (“COBRA”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and continues to be eligible for such benefits, the Company shall provide payments to the Employee for such benefits equal to the amount contributed for active employees with similar benefits and similar participating beneficiaries until the earlier of (x) the Severance Period, or (y) the date the Employee becomes eligible for group health coverage through another employer. 

 

2.2 Except for the payments under Section 2(b) (which are not contingent upon the Employee’s execution of a release of claims), the payments and benefits to the Employee under this Section 2 shall (i) be contingent upon the execution and non-revocation by the Employee of a general release of claims in favor of the Company, in the form provided by the Company at the time of the Employee’s termination (the “Release”) within sixty (60) days following the date of termination (the “Release Period”); provided that if the Release does not become effective during the Release Period, the payments and benefits described in Sections 2.1(a) and 2.1(c) of this Agreement that commenced following the date of termination shall cease following the Release Period and (ii) constitute the sole remedy of the Employee in the event of a termination of the Employee’s employment in the circumstances set forth in this Section 2. 

2.3 Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all benefits under this Section 2 shall terminate immediately if the Employee, at any time, violates any proprietary information, assignment of inventions agreement, confidentiality, non-competition or non-solicitation obligation to the Company, or any other continuing obligation to the Company. 

3. Termination upon a Change in Control. 

 

 

If the Employee is an “Eligible Employee” as defined in the Key Employee Change in Control Benefits Plan adopted by the Company in December 2007, as amended and as may be amended in the future (the current terms of which are attached hereto as Exhibit A) (the “Change in Control Plan”) at the time of a Change in Control, as defined in said Change in Control Plan, then any termination of the Employee’s employment following such Change in Control shall be governed by the terms of the Change in Control Plan and no benefits shall be provided under the terms of this Agreement.

 

4. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. 

4.1 Restricted Activities. While the Employee is employed by the Company and for a period of one (1) year after the termination or cessation of such employment for any reason, the Employee will not: 

(a) directly engage in the development or commercialization of a Competitive Product for another business or enterprise. For purposes of this provision, a “Competitive Product” means any therapeutic or diagnostic product that competes with any product that the Company (i) has, as of the date of cessation of the Employee’s employment with the Company, developed to the stage of readiness for a phase 2 clinical trial or later; or (ii) has sold at any time during the Employee’s employment with the Company or plans to commence selling during the one year period after the cessation of the Employee’s employment;

(b) directly or indirectly either alone or in association with others (i) solicit, or permit any organization directly or indirectly controlled by the Employee to solicit, any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, or (ii) solicit for employment, hire as an employee or engage as an independent contractor, or permit any organization directly or indirectly controlled by the Employee to solicit for employment, hire as an employee or engage as an independent contractor, any person who was employed or engaged by the Company at the time of the termination or cessation of the Employee’s employment with the Company or within six months preceding such termination or cessation; provided, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the solicitation, hiring or engagement of any individual whose employment with the Company has been terminated for a period of six months or longer; or 

(c) directly or indirectly make any statements that are professionally or personally disparaging about, or adverse to, the interests of the Company (including its officers, directors, employees and consultants) including, but not limited to, any statements that disparage any person, product, service, finances, financial condition, capability or any other aspect of the Company’s business, or engage in any conduct which could reasonably be expected to harm professionally or personally the Company’s business or reputation (including its officers, directors, employees and consultants); provided that these obligations in Section 4.1(c) will not prevent the Employee from engaging in ordinary business competition with the Company after the provisions of Section 4.1(a) have expired, providing truthful information to any regulatory agency or providing truthful testimony in any litigation involving the Company or its officers, directors, employees and consultants. 

 

If the Employee violates or breaches any of the provisions of this Section 4.1, then the provisions of this Section 4 shall be applicable to the Employee until a period of one year has expired without any violation or breach of such provisions. 

4.2 Interpretation. If any restriction set forth in Section 4.1 is found by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it extends for too long a period of time or over too great a range of activities or in too broad a geographic area, it shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time, range of activities or geographic area as to which it may be enforceable. 

4.3 Equitable Remedies. The restrictions contained in this Section 4 are necessary for the protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and are considered by the Employee to be reasonable for 

 

 

such purpose. The Employee agrees that any breach of this Section 4 is likely to cause the Company substantial and irrevocable damage which is difficult to measure. Therefore, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Employee agrees that the Company, in addition to such other remedies which may be available, shall have the right to obtain an injunction from a court restraining such a breach or threatened breach and the right to specific performance of the provisions of this Section 4 and the Employee hereby waives the adequacy of a remedy at law as a defense to such relief. 

5. Taxes. 

5.1 The payments set forth in Sections 2 and 3 above shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts, if any, relating to tax and other payroll deductions as the Company determines are reasonably required pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. Neither the Employee nor the Company shall have the right to accelerate or to defer the delivery of the payments to be made under Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement. 

 

5.2 Subject to this Section 5.2, payments or benefits under this Agreement shall begin only upon the date of a “separation from service” of the Employee (determined as set forth below) which occurs on or after the termination of the Employee’s employment. The following rules shall apply with respect to distribution of the payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to the Employee under this Agreement: 

(a) It is intended that each installment of the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and the guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”). Neither the Company nor the Employee shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A; 

(b) If, as of the date of the “separation from service” of the Employee from the Company, the Employee is not a “specified employee” (each within the meaning of Section 409A), then each installment of the payments and benefits shall be made on the dates and terms set forth in this Agreement; 

(c) If, as of the date of the “separation from service” of the Employee from the Company, the Employee is a “specified employee” (each, for purposes of this Agreement, within the meaning of Section 409A), then: 

(x) Each installment of the payments and benefits due under this Agreement that, in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein, will in all circumstances, regardless of when the separation from service occurs, be paid within the short-term deferral period (as defined in Section 409A) shall be treated as a short-term deferral within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) to the maximum extent permissible under Section 409A; and 

(y) Each installment of the payments and benefits due under this Agreement that is not described in Section 5(c)(x) and that would, absent this subsection, be paid within the six-month period following the “separation from service” of the Employee of the Company shall not be paid until the date that is six months and one day after such separation from service (or, if earlier, the death of the Employee), with any such installments that are required to be delayed being accumulated during the six-month period and paid in a lump sum on the date that is six months and one day following the Employee’s separation from service and any subsequent installments, if any, being paid in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein; provided, however, that the preceding provisions of this sentence shall not apply to any installment of payments and benefits if and to the maximum extent that that such installment is deemed to be paid under a separation pay plan that does not provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of the application of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) (relating to separation pay upon an involuntary separation from service). Such payments shall bear 

 

 

interest at an annual rate equal to the prime rate as set forth in the Eastern edition of the Wall Street Journal on the Date of Termination, from the Date of Termination to the date of payment. Any installments that qualify for the exception under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) must be paid no later than the last day of the second taxable year of the Employee following the taxable year of the Employee in which the separation from service occurs. 

(d) The determination of whether and when a separation from service of the Employee from the Company has occurred shall be made and in a manner consistent with, and based on the presumptions set forth in, Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). Solely for purposes of this Section 5(d), “Company” shall include all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single employer as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(3). 

(e) All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent that such reimbursements or in-kind benefits are subject to Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirements that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during the Executive’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to set off or liquidation or exchange for any other benefit. 

(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall have no liability to the Employee or to any other person if the payments and benefits provided in this Agreement that are intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A are not so exempt or compliant. 

6. Other Employment Termination. If the Employee’s employment terminates for any reason other than as described in Sections 2 and 3, the Employee shall only receive any compensation owed to such Employee as of the termination date and any other post-termination benefits which the Employee is eligible to receive under any plan or program of the Company. 

7. Successors. 

7.1 Successor to Company. The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. All covenants and agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by such successors or assigns without the necessity that this Agreement be re-signed at the time of such assignment. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as defined above and any successor to its business or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise. 

 

7.2 Successor to Employee. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Employee should die while any amount would still be payable to the Employee or the Employee’s family hereunder if the Employee had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of the Employee’s estate. 

8. Notices. All notices, instructions and other communications given hereunder or in connection herewith shall be in writing. Any such notice, instruction or communication shall be sent either (i) by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (ii) prepaid via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service, in each case addressed to the Company, at 1 Broadway 14th Floor, 

 

 

Cambridge, MA 02142, ATTN: Michael Bailey, Chief Executive Officer, and to the Employee at the Employee’s address indicated in the introduction to this Agreement (or to such other address as either the Company or the Employee may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith). Any such notice, instruction or communication shall be deemed to have been delivered five business days after it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or one business day after it is sent via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service. Either party may give any notice, instruction or other communication hereunder using any other means, but no such notice, instruction or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly delivered unless and until it actually is received by the party for whom it is intended. 

9. Miscellaneous. 

9.1 Employment by Subsidiary. For purposes of this Agreement, the Employee’s employment with the Company shall not be deemed to have terminated solely as a result of the Employee continuing to be employed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. 

9.2 Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. 

9.3 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflicts of law principles. The Employee hereby irrevocably submits to and acknowledges and recognizes the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or if appropriate, a federal court located in Massachusetts (which courts, for purposes of this Agreement, are the only courts of competent jurisdiction), over any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or the subject matter hereof. 

 

9.4 Waiver of Right to Jury Trial. Both the Company and the Employee expressly waive any right that any party either has or may have to a jury trial of any dispute arising out of or in any way related to the matters covered by this Agreement. 

9.5 Waivers. No waiver by the Employee at any time of any breach of, or compliance with, any provision of this Agreement to be performed by the Company shall be deemed a waiver of that or any other provision at any subsequent time. 

9.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 

9.7 Entire Agreement. Except to the extent provided herein, this Agreement, together with the Offer Letter dated May 5, 2017 (except for Exhibit A to the Offer Letter, entitled “Key Employee Change in Control Severance Benefits Plan,” which is superseded by this Agreement) and the Invention and Non-Disclosure Agreement, sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. 

9.8 Not an Employment Contract. The Employee acknowledges that this Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment or impose on the Company any obligation to retain the Employee as an employee and that this Agreement does not prevent the Employee from terminating employment at any time. 

 

 

9.9 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by both the Company and the Employee, and, notwithstanding the provisions of the Change in Control Plan, the language of such Change in Control Plan may not be amended as it applies to the Employee except to the extent subject to a written instrument executed by both parties. 

9.10 Employee’s Acknowledgements. The Employee acknowledges that he: (a) has read this Agreement; (b) has been represented in the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of the Employee’s own choice or has voluntarily declined to seek such counsel; and (c) understands the terms and consequences of this Agreement. 

9.11 Representations Regarding Prior Work.  You represent that you have no agreement or other legal obligation with any prior employer or any other person or entity that restricts your ability to engage in employment discussion with, employment with or to perform function for, the Company.  You represent that you have been advised by the Company that at no time should you divulge to or use for the benefit of the Company, any trade secret or proprietary information of any previous employer. You acknowledge that you have not divulged or used any such information for the benefit of the Company.  You acknowledge that the Company is basing important business decision on these representations, affirm that all of the statements included herein are true and that any breach of this Section 9.11 would be considered a material breach of this Agreement. 

 

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank] 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year set forth above. 

 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Erick Lucera

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 /s/ 
	
 Michael Bailey
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
/s/ Erick Lucera

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Title:
	
 
	
President & CEO
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A 

AVEO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 

KEY EMPLOYEE CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS PLAN 

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION 

The Key Employee Change in Control Benefits Plan (the “Plan”) is designed to provide separation pay and benefits to certain eligible employees of AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“the “Company”) whose employment is involuntarily terminated without cause or voluntarily terminated for good reason as set forth in this Plan. 

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS 

For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: 

(a) “BASE SALARY” means the annual base salary for an Eligible Employee as in effect on the Change in Control Date, or as increased thereafter. 

(b) “BOARD” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 

(c) “CAUSE” means conduct involving one or more of the following: (i) the conviction of the Eligible Employee of, or, plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime involving dishonesty or any felony; (ii) the willful misconduct by the Eligible Employee resulting in material harm to the Company; (iii) fraud, embezzlement, theft or dishonesty by the Eligible Employee against the Company resulting in material harm to the Company; (iv) the repeated and continuing failure of the Eligible Employee to follow the proper and lawful directions of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or the Board after a written demand is delivered to the Eligible Employee that specifically identifies the manner in which the Chief Executive Officer or the Board believes that the Employee has failed to follow such instructions; (v) the Eligible Employee’s current alcohol or prescription drug abuse affecting work performance, or current illegal use of drugs regardless of the effect on work performance; (vi) material violation of the Company’s code of conduct by the Eligible Employee that causes harm to the Company; or (vii) the Eligible Employee’s material breach of any term of the Plan or any applicable written proprietary information, confidentiality, non-competition and/or non-solicitation agreements with the Company. 

(d) “CHANGE IN CONTROL” means the occurrence of any of the events set forth in subsections (A) or (B) below, provided that such event(s) constitute (i) a change in the ownership of the Company (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)), (ii) a change in effective control of the Company (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi)), or (iii) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii)): 

(A) when a person, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a amended) acquires beneficial ownership of the Company’s capital stock equal to 50% or more of either: (X) the then-outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (Y) the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”) provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (A), the following acquisitions of securities shall not constitute a Change in Control: (1) any acquisition of securities directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition of securities pursuant to the exercise, conversion or exchange of any security exercisable for, convertible into or 

 

 

exchangeable for common stock or voting securities of the Company, unless the Person exercising, converting or exchanging such security acquired such security directly from the Company or an underwriter or agent of the Company) or (2) any acquisition of securities by the Company; or 

 

(B) upon the consummation by the Company of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in one or a series of transactions (a “Business Combination”), provided that, in each case, the persons who were the Company’s beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not 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 (which shall include, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) 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; or 

(C) 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 effective date of this Plan, 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; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from this clause (ii) any individual whose initial assumption of office occurred as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents, by or on behalf of a person other than the Board. 

(e) “CHANGE IN CONTROL DATE” means the first date on which a Change in Control occurs. 

(f) “DISABILITY” means (i) the Eligible Employee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months or (ii) the Eligible Employee is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company; provided that in each case, the Eligible Employee’s physical or mental impairment shall be determined by an independent qualified physician mutually acceptable to the Company and the Eligible Employee (or his personal representative) or, if the Company and the Eligible Employee (or such representative) are unable to agree on an independent qualified physician, as determined by a panel of three physicians, one designated by the Company, one designated by the Eligible Employee (or his personal representative) and one designated by the two physicians so designated. 

(g) “INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE” means an Eligible Employee’s dismissal or discharge by the Company (or, if applicable, by any successor entity) for a reason other than Cause. The termination of employment will not be deemed to be an “Involuntary Termination Without Cause” if such termination occurs as a result of the Eligible Employee’s voluntary resignation without Good Reason, death or Disability. 

 

 

(i) “MANAGEMENT TEAM” shall include any executive officer, senior vice-president and vice-president of the Company and other employees of the Company nominated by the Chief Executive Officer and ratified by the Compensation Committee. 

(j) “QUALIFYING TERMINATION” means that an Eligible Employee’s employment terminates due to an Involuntary Termination Without Cause or a Voluntary Termination for Good Reason, in either case, within eighteen (18) months following a Change in Control Date. 

 

(k) “SECTION 16 OFFICER” means an executive officer of the Company, other than the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Business Officer and Chief Medical Officer, who is considered to be an “officer” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and “executive Officer” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

(l) “VOLUNTARY TERMINATION FOR GOOD REASON” means any action by the Company without the Eligible Employee’s prior consent which results in he or she voluntarily terminating his or her employment with the Company (or, if applicable, with any successor entity) after any of the following are undertaken by the Company (or, if applicable, by any successor entity) without such Eligible Employee’s express consent, provided, however, that a termination for Good Reason can only occur if (i) the Eligible Employee has given the Company a written notice of termination indicating the existence of a condition giving rise to Good Reason and the Company has not cured the condition giving rise to Good Reason within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice of termination, and (ii) such notice of termination is given within ninety (90) days after the initial occurrence of the condition giving rise to Good Reason and further provided that a termination for Good Reason shall occur no more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the initial occurrence of the condition giving rise to Good Reason: (A) any requirement by the Company that the Eligible Employee perform his or her principal duties outside a radius of 50 miles from the Company’s Cambridge, Massachusetts location, (B) any material diminution in the Eligible duties, responsibilities or authority; or (C) a material reduction in the Eligible Employee’s base salary (unless such reduction is effected in connection with a general and proportionate reduction of compensation for all employees of his or her level). 

SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION 

An individual is deemed an “Eligible Employee” and, therefore, eligible to participate in the Plan if he or she is a member of the Company’s Management Team at the time of such individual’s termination of employment with the Company, and such employment terminates due to an event which constitutes a Qualifying Termination. 

SECTION 4. BENEFITS 

Eligible Employees are eligible to receive the following benefits on the following conditions: 

(a) SALARY AND BONUS PAYOUT. Commencing in the first month following the month of a Qualifying Termination and the Release set forth in Section (f) below becoming binding on the Eligible Employee, Eligible Employee will be paid in periodic installments consistent with the Company’s payroll procedures as then in effect and continuing for a number of months equal to the product of the Eligible Employee’s “Severance Multiple” (as set forth below) times twelve (12), a total sum equal to: (i) Severance Multiple times the Eligible Employee’s Base Salary; (ii) the Eligible Employee’s Severance Multiple times his/her target bonus on the date of the Qualifying Termination; and (iii) the Eligible Employee’s target bonus on the date of termination multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall equal the number of days the Eligible Employee was employed by the Company during the Company fiscal year in which the termination occurs and the denominator of which shall equal 365. 

 

 

Severance Multiple shall be based on the following: 

 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Chief Executive Officer
	
  
	
—  
	
  
	
1.5

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Business Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Section 16 Officer, and any other Eligible Employee nominated by the CEO and ratified by the Compensation Committee
	
  
	
—  
	
  
	
1.0

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents and other Eligible Employees nominated by CEO and ratified by Compensation Committee, other than those considered Section 16 Officers 
	
  
	
—  
	
  
	
0.5

 

 

(b) HEALTH BENEFITS. Provided the Eligible Employee timely elects continued coverage under federal COBRA law, the Company shall pay, on the Eligible Employee’s behalf, the portion of premiums for the type of group health insurance coverage, including coverage for his or her eligible dependents, that the Company paid prior to his or her termination of employment for a period following his or her Qualifying Termination based on the Eligible Employee’s level as follows: 

 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Chief Executive Officer
	
  
	
—  
	
  
	
18 months

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Business Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Section 16 Officer, and any other Eligible Employee nominated by the CEO and ratified by the Compensation Committee
	
  
	
—  
	
  
	
12 months

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents and other Eligible Employees nominated by CEO and ratified by Compensation Committee, other than those considered Section 16 Officers 
	
  
	
—  
	
  
	
6 months

provided, however, that the Company will pay such premiums for the Eligible Employee and his/her eligible dependents only for coverage for which such individual and those dependents were enrolled immediately prior to the Qualifying Termination. The Eligible Employee shall continue to be required to pay that portion of the premium of such group health insurance coverage, including coverage for his/her eligible dependents that he/she had been required to pay as an active employee immediately prior to the Qualifying Termination of employment (subject to change). For the balance of the period that an Eligible Employee is eligible to receive coverage under federal COBRA law, the Eligible Employee shall be eligible to maintain coverage for himself/herself and his/her eligible dependents at the Eligible Employee’s own expense in accordance with applicable law. 

(c) EQUITY ACCELERATION. In addition to any other rights that Eligible Employees may have with respect to the acceleration of the vesting of any stock options or restricted stock awards (“Awards”) granted to such Eligible Employees pursuant to the Company’s 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2002 Stock Incentive Plan”), or any successor plan, including without limitation those certain change in control related acceleration rights (upon a termination without cause) approved by the Board on December 11, 2007, and notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, the instrument evidencing any Award or any other agreement between an Eligible Employee and the Company, each such Award shall be immediately exercisable in full and/or free of all restrictions on repurchase, as the case may be, if the Eligible Employee’s employment with the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated as a result of a Qualifying Termination. 

 

 

(d) EARNED BUT UNPAID BENEFITS. As of the Qualifying Termination date an Eligible Employee will also be eligible to receive any earned but unpaid benefits including salary earned but unpaid, the annual bonus for the most recently completed financial year and payment for unused accrued vacation. 

(e) RELEASE. To receive benefits under this Plan, an Eligible Employee must execute a general release of claims in favor of the Company within thirty (30) days following the Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination, in a form provided by the Company at the time of the Employee’s Qualifying Termination, and such release must become effective in accordance with its terms (the “Release”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 30th day following the Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination occurs in the calendar year following the Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination, then the payments and benefits will commence no earlier than January 1 of such subsequent calendar year. 

 

(f) TERMINATION OF BENEFITS. Benefits under this Plan shall terminate immediately if an Eligible Employee, at any time, violates any proprietary information, confidentiality, non-competition or non-solicitation obligation to the Company, or any other continuing obligation to the Company. 

(g) NON-DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS. Eligible Employees are not eligible to receive benefits under this Plan more than one time and are not eligible to receive benefits under any other Company change in control severance plan, arrangement or agreement. 

(h) TAX WITHHOLDING. Any payments that an Eligible Employee receives under this Plan shall be subject to all required tax withholding. 

(i) DISTRIBUTIONS. The following rules shall apply with respect to distribution of the payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to the Eligible Employee under this Section 4: 

(A) It is intended that each installment of the payments and benefits provided under Section 4 shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”). Neither the Company nor the Eligible Employee shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A; 

(B) If, as of the date of the “separation from service” of the Eligible Employee from the Company, the Eligible Employee is not a “specified employee” (each within the meaning of Section 409A), then each installment of the payments and benefits shall be made on the dates and terms set forth in Section 4; and 

(C) If, as of the date of the “separation from service” of the Eligible Employee from the Company, the Eligible Employee is a “specified employee” (each, for purposes of this Agreement, within the meaning of Section 409A), then: 

(x) Each installment of the payments and benefits due under Section 4 that, in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein, will in all circumstances, regardless of when the separation from service occurs, be paid within the Short-Term Deferral Period (as hereinafter defined) shall be treated as a short-term deferral within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) to the maximum extent permissible under Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Short-Term Deferral Period” means the period ending on the later of the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Eligible Employee’s tax year in which the Eligible Employee’s separation from service occurs and the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s tax year in which the Eligible Employee’s separation from service occurs; and 

(y) Each installment of the payments and benefits due under Section 4 that is not paid within the Short-Term Deferral Period and that would, absent this subsection, be paid within 

 

 

the six-month period following the “separation from service” of the Eligible Employee of the Company shall not be paid until the date that is six months and one day after such separation from service (or, if earlier, the death of the Eligible Employee), with any such installments that are required to be delayed being accumulated during the six-month period and paid in a lump sum on the date that is six months and one day following the Eligible Employee’s separation from service and any subsequent installments, if any, being paid in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein; provided, however, that the preceding provisions of this sentence shall not apply to any installment of payments and benefits if and to the maximum extent that that such installment is deemed to be paid under a separation pay plan that does not provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of the application of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) (relating to separation pay upon an involuntary separation from service) or Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) (relating to reimbursements and certain other separation payments). Such payments shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to the prime rate as set forth in the Eastern edition of the Wall Street Journal on the Date of Termination, from the Date of Termination to the date of payment. Any installments that qualify for the exception under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) must be paid no later than the last day of the second taxable year of the Eligible Employee following the taxable year of the Eligible Employee in which the separation from service occurs. 

SECTION 5. OTHER TERMINATIONS 

An otherwise Eligible Employee shall NOT be eligible to receive benefits under this Plan if (i) the Eligible Employee’s employment terminates due to death, Disability or any other reason other than a Qualifying Termination; or (ii) an Eligible Employee’s employment is terminated within thirty (30) days of his or her refusal to accept an offer of comparable employment by any successor to the Company (provided that “comparable employment” shall mean employment at a business office the location of which is not violative of Section 2(g)(i), with duties and responsibilities not violative of Section 2(g)(ii) and with a reduction in such Eligible Employee’s base salary not violative of 2(g)(iii)). 

SECTION 6. CLAIMS PROCEDURE 

Ordinarily, severance benefits will be paid to an Eligible Employee without to having to file a claim or take any action other than signing the Release as provided in Section 4(f) of this Plan and, where applicable, not revoking the Release during the applicable revocation period. If an Eligible Employee believes that he or she is entitled to severance benefits under the Plan that are not being paid, he or she may submit a written claim for payment to the Company. Any claim for benefits shall be in writing, addressed to the Company and must be sufficient to notify the Company of the benefit claimed. If such claim is denied, the Company shall within a reasonable period of time provide a written notice of denial. The notice will include the specific reasons for denial, the provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based, and the procedure for a review of the denied claim. Where appropriate, it will also include a description of any additional material or information necessary to complete or perfect the claim and an explanation of why that material or information is necessary. Eligible Employees may request in writing a review of a claim denied by the Company and may review pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing to the Company. The Company shall provide a written decision upon such request for review of a denied claim. The decision of the Company upon such review shall be final. 

SECTION 7. MISCELLANEOUS 

The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate this Plan at any time; provided however, that this Plan may not be amended or terminated following the Change in Control Date; and further provided that Section 4(c) of this Plan shall not be amended without the Eligible Employee’s consent unless the Board determines that the amendment, taking into account any other related action, would not materially 

 

 

adversely affect the Eligible Employee. This Plan shall be binding upon any surviving entity resulting from a Change in Control and upon any other person who is a successor by merger, acquisition, consolidation or otherwise to the business formerly carried on by the Company without regard to whether or not such person actively adopts or formally continues the Plan. The Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Eligible Employee hereby irrevocably submits to and acknowledges and recognizes the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or if appropriate, a federal court located in Massachusetts (which courts, for purposes of the Plan, are the only courts of competent jurisdiction), over any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of, under or in connection with the Plan or the subject matter hereof.ulh-ex42_221.htm

Exhibit 4.2

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following is a summary of the material terms of the capital stock of Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) and the provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (“Articles”), and Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”). It also summarizes relevant provisions of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, which we refer to as Michigan law, or the “MBCA.” Since the terms of our Articles, Bylaws and Michigan law are more detailed than the general information provided below, we urge you to read the actual provisions of those documents and Michigan law. The following summary of our capital stock is subject in all respects to Michigan law, our Articles and our Bylaws. If you would like to read our Articles or Bylaws, these documents are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

General

 

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value. As of December 31, 2019, there were 30,970,452 shares of our common stock issued and 27,282,230 shares of our common stock outstanding and no shares of our preferred stock were issued and outstanding. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

Common Stock

 

All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Voting Rights. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to cast one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. Holders of our common stock have no cumulative voting rights.

Dividends. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends or other distributions declared by the board of directors. The right of the board of directors to declare dividends is subject to the right of any holders of our preferred stock and the availability under Michigan law of sufficient funds to pay dividends.

Liquidation Rights. If the Company is dissolved, our common shareholders will share ratably in the distribution of all assets that remain after we pay all of our liabilities and satisfy our obligations to the holders of any of our preferred stock.

Preemptive and Other Rights. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any stock or other securities of the Company, and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to our common stock.

Transfer Agent. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

Preferred Stock

 

The board of directors is authorized to issue shares of our preferred stock at any time, without shareholder approval. It has the authority to determine all aspects of those shares, including the following:

 

	
 
	
•
	
 
	
the designation and number of shares;

 

	
 
	
•
	
 
	
the dividend rate and preferences, if any, which dividends on that series of preferred stock will have compared to any other class or series of our capital stock;

 

	
 
	
•
	
 
	
the voting rights, if any;

 

	
 
	
•
	
 
	
the conversion or exchange privileges, if any, applicable to that series;

 

	
 
	
•
	
 
	
the redemption price or prices and the other terms of redemption, if any, applicable to that series; and

 

	
 
	
•
	
 
	
any purchase, retirement or sinking fund provisions applicable to that series.

 

 

Any of these terms could have an adverse effect on the availability of earnings for distribution to the holders of our common stock or for other corporate purposes. We have no agreements or understandings for the issuance of any shares of preferred stock.

 

Provisions That May Discourage Takeovers

 

Michigan law and our Bylaws contain provisions that may have the effect of discouraging transactions involving an actual or threatened change of control. These provisions could protect the continuity of our directors and management and possibly deprive shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than the prevailing market prices. The following description is subject in its entirety to applicable Michigan law and our Articles and Bylaws.

Ownership of Controlling Shares by the Moroun Family. As of March 9, 2020, our Chairman, Matthew T. Moroun, and his father, Manuel J. Moroun, beneficially own in the aggregate 19,458,772 shares, or 71.44%, of our outstanding common stock. Beneficial ownership of and voting control over this block of shares by the Moroun family could render it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise and possibly deprive other shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at prices higher than the prevailing market prices.

 

Availability of Authorized but Unissued Shares. All of our preferred stock and a substantial amount of our common stock are authorized but unissued and not reserved for any particular purpose. Our board of directors may issue shares of authorized common or preferred stock without shareholder approval. If our board of directors decides to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, this could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. Authorized but unissued shares also could be used to dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of the Company, including dilution through a shareholder rights plan of the type commonly known as a “poison pill,” which the board of directors could adopt without a shareholder vote.

Issuance of Preferred Stock. In addition, our board of directors could issue preferred shares having voting rights that adversely affect the voting power of our common shareholders, which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or impeding a change in control of the Company.

No Cumulative Voting. Under Michigan law, shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights for the election of directors unless the Articles so provide. Our Articles do not provide for cumulative voting.

Limitations on Nomination of Directors. Under our Bylaws, in order for a shareholder to nominate a candidate for director, notice of the nomination must be given to us not less than 90 days before the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. The shareholder submitting the notice of nomination must describe various matters as specified in our Bylaws, including the name, age and address of each proposed nominee, his or her occupation, the number of shares held by the nominee and any other information that would be required under SEC rules in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of the nominee.

Limitation on Calling Special Meetings of Shareholders. Michigan law allows the board of directors or officers, directors or shareholders authorized in our corporation’s Bylaws to call special meetings of shareholders. Our Bylaws provide that a special meeting may be called by our board of directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary at the request of shareholders holding a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote at the proposed special meeting. Business to be transacted at a special meeting is limited by our Bylaws to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

Business Combinations

 

We are subject to Chapter 7A of the MBCA, which provides that a business combination subject to Chapter 7A between a covered Michigan corporation or any of its subsidiaries and a beneficial owner of shares entitled to 10% or more of the voting power of such corporation generally require the affirmative vote of 90% of the votes of each class of stock entitled to vote, and not less than 2/3 of each class of stock entitled to vote (excluding voting shares owned by such 10% owner), voting as a separate class. Such requirements do not apply if (1) the corporation’s board of directors approves the transaction prior to the time the 10% owner becomes such or (2) the transaction satisfies certain fairness standards, certain other conditions are met and the 10% owner has been such for at least five years. Chapter 7A business combinations include, among other transactions, mergers, significant asset transfers, certain disproportionate issuances of shares to an interested shareholder, certain reclassifications and recapitalizations disproportionately favorable to such shareholder, and the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution in 

 

 

which such a shareholder would receive anything other than cash. Chapter 7A does not cover business combinations effected by purchase of shares from other shareholders in the open market or acquired through a tender offer.

Choice of Forum

 

Our Bylaws, to the fullest extent permitted by law, provide that the Circuit Court of the County of Macomb in the State of Michigan or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, are the sole and exclusive forums for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or the Company’s shareholders by any of the Company’s directors, officers, employees or agents, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Company arising under the MBCA, our Articles or our Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. We may consent in writing to alternative forums.

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