Document:

mack-ex106_806.htm

Exhibit 10.6

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 17, 2017, is entered into by and between Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation with a place of business at One Kendall Square, Suite B7201, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (the “Company”), and Richard Peters (the “Employee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Employee on the terms and conditions, and for the consideration, hereinafter set forth, and the Employee desires to be employed by the Company on such terms and conditions and for such consideration.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.Term of Employment.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Company hereby employs the Employee, and the Employee hereby enters into the employment of the Company, for an employment term commencing on February 6, 2017 (the “Effective Date”) and, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 7, continuing until December 31, 2017.  This Agreement shall renew automatically for successive one (1) year terms, unless either party shall give the other notice of non-renewal in accordance with Section 7.  The initial term of this Agreement, together with any annual renewal terms of this Agreement, shall be referred to as the “Term of Employment.”  The Employee’s Base Salary (as defined below) for any renewal term shall be as agreed by the parties, provided that (i) the Base Salary shall in no event be less than the Base Salary the Employee received in the immediately preceding term, and (ii) in the absence of an agreement otherwise, the Employee’s Base Salary shall be the same as the Base Salary he received in the immediately preceding term.

2.Position.  During the Term of Employment, the Employee shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and in such additional position(s) as he and the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) shall agree.  As soon as practicable after the Effective Date, the Board shall elect the Employee to be a member of the Board.

3.Scope of Employment.  During the Term of Employment, the Employee shall be responsible for the performance of all financial, managerial and administrative duties customarily performed by a President and Chief Executive Officer, together with such other duties as the Board and the Employee shall agree, and shall perform similar duties as requested or appropriate for affiliates (including any subsidiaries) of the Company (“Affiliates”).  The Employee shall be accountable to the Board and shall perform and discharge, faithfully, diligently and to the best of his ability, his duties and responsibilities hereunder.  The Employee shall devote his full working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its Affiliates; provided, however, that the Employee may continue to serve on the Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards of the companies on which he serves as of the date of this Agreement, so long as such service does not interfere with the performance of his duties for the Company.

 

 

4.Compensation.  As full compensation for all services to be rendered by the Employee during the Term of Employment, the Company will provide to the Employee, and the Employee will accept, the following:

(a)Base Salary.  During the Term of Employment, the Employee shall receive a base salary at the rate of $26,923.08 per bi-weekly pay period (which is an annualized rate of $700,000), less all applicable taxes and withholdings (the “Base Salary”), paid in installments in accordance with the Company’s regularly established payroll procedure.  The Employee’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Board and may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with normal business practices and taking into account then-current market factors, but in no event shall the Employee’s Base Salary be less than the Base Salary the Employee received from the Company in the immediately preceding year.

(b)Signing Bonus.  Contingent upon the commencement of the Employee’s employment and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to pay the Employee a one-time signing bonus of $900,000 (the “Signing Bonus”), less all applicable taxes and withholdings, which will be paid no later than the second pay period following the commencement of the Employee’s employment.  If prior to the one-year anniversary of the Effective Date the Employee voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company without Good Reason or the Company terminates the Employee’s employment for Cause (as defined below), the Employee will be obligated to repay to the Company within sixty (60) days following his last day of employment with the Company the entire net amount of the Signing Bonus received by him.

(c)Annual Discretionary Bonus.  During the Term of Employment, the Employee shall be eligible to receive a discretionary annual performance and retention bonus of up to 65% of his then-current Base Salary, at a time and under circumstances determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.  In order to receive this bonus, the Employee must be an active employee of the Company on the date any bonus is determined and no discretionary annual bonus shall be considered earned before such date.  Such discretionary bonus, if any, shall be paid no later than sixty (60) days following the date on which the Board approves such bonus.  The Employee’s bonus for 2017 shall be prorated based on the Effective Date.

(d)Stock Options; Equity Grants.  Subject to approval by the Board, the Company will grant the Employee an option to purchase a number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the lesser of (i) such number of shares that has a target grant date fair value of $3,500,000 and (ii) 2,000,000 shares, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value per share on the date of the grant of the stock option.  The stock option will vest over four years at the rate of 25% on the one-year anniversary of the Effective Date, subject to the Employee’s continued employment with the Company as of that date.  The remaining shares shall vest quarterly over the following three (3) years, subject to the Employee’s continued employment with the Company on the applicable vesting date.  This stock option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2011 Stock Incentive Plan and the applicable Stock Option Agreement.  The Employee shall be eligible to receive additional option grants or other equity grants at times and under circumstances determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.

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(e)Paid Time Off.  The Employee shall be eligible for paid time off in accordance with the Company’s Paid Time Off Policy contained within the Company’s Employee Handbook, as amended and/or superseded from time to time.

(f)Insurance.  The Employee shall be entitled to participate in, and receive benefits under, all Company sponsored insurance and benefit programs (i.e., health, dental, life, and disability) available to senior management employees of the Company, subject to and on a basis consistent with the eligibility requirements, terms, conditions and overall administration of such programs.

(g)Other Benefits.  The Employee shall be entitled to participate in, and receive benefits under, all Company employee benefit plans and arrangements (including but not limited to 401(k) and similar programs), available to senior management employees of the Company, subject to and on a basis consistent with the eligibility requirements, terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans, policies and arrangements.

5.Expenses.  The Employee shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Company for all reasonable expenses actually incurred by him on the Company’s behalf in the performance of his duties during the course of his employment by the Company, upon the prompt presentation by the Employee, from time to time and in accordance with the Company’s then-current reimbursement policies, of an itemized account of such expenditures together with all supporting vouchers and receipts.  All expense reimbursements shall be subject to the terms set forth in Section 5 of Exhibit C.

6.Restrictive Covenants/Other Conditions to Employment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Employee’s employment hereunder is subject to and conditioned on the Employee’s (i) completion of a background check and drug screen analysis satisfactory to the Company, (ii) execution and delivery to the Company of the Non-Disclosure, Developments, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement (the “Restrictive Covenants Agreement”) attached hereto as Exhibit A, and (iii) timely providing proof of his right to work in the United States.  The Employee further agrees that he shall sign all consents necessary to the accomplishment of any of the foregoing, and that, should he not satisfy the conditions set forth in this Section 6, he shall not commence employment and this Agreement shall be null and void, with no obligations owed to the Employee.

7.Early Termination.

(a)Death and Disability.  In the event of the Employee’s death during the Term of Employment, this Agreement shall terminate immediately.  If, during the Term of Employment, the Employee shall be unable for a period of more than any three (3) consecutive months or for periods aggregating more than twenty-six (26) weeks in a twelve (12) month period to perform the services provided for herein as a result of any illness or disability, the Company may terminate the Employee’s employment hereunder.  The Employee shall be considered unable to perform the services provided for herein if and whenever the Company reasonably determines, based upon the results of a medical examination performed by a mutually agreed-upon professional, that he is mentally or physically incapable of performing his duties hereunder with or without reasonable accommodation.

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(b)Termination for Cause.  The Employee may be terminated by the Company without notice for “Cause.”  The following, as determined by the Board in its reasonable judgment, shall constitute “Cause” for termination:

(i)Failure to Perform Duties.  The Employee’s material failure to perform (other than by reason of illness or disability) his duties to the Company, or his material negligence in the performance of his duties and/or responsibilities to the Company, provided that the Employee shall have had prior written notice and a reasonable opportunity of not less than thirty (30) days to correct any deficiency in such performance;

(ii)Breach of Employment Agreement or Restrictive Covenants Agreement.  The Employee’s material breach of this Agreement or the Restrictive Covenants Agreement;

(iii)Misconduct.  The Employee’s conviction for or plea of nolo contendere or guilty to any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or moral turpitude or any felony; or

(iv)Harmful Conduct.  Any conduct of the Employee that is materially harmful to the business, interests or reputation of the Company, provided that the Employee shall have had prior written notice and a reasonable opportunity of not less than ten (10) days to correct any such conduct.

(c)Termination By Company Without Cause.  The Employee may be terminated by the Company without “Cause” upon delivery of written notice to the Employee.  In the event the Employee is terminated without “Cause,” the Employee shall be entitled to receive the severance benefits set forth in Section 7(f) or 7(g), as applicable.  The Company’s decision not to renew the Term of Employment shall constitute a termination without “Cause.”

(d)Termination by the Employee for Good Reason.  This Agreement may be terminated by the Employee for “Good Reason” (as defined below), upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Company specifying any and all circumstances the Employee believes to constitute the basis for Good Reason, provided that the Company shall have the opportunity to cure the asserted Good Reason within the thirty (30) day period.  The Employee shall have “Good Reason” to terminate this Agreement in the event that the Company, without the express written consent of the Employee: (i) causes a material diminution of the Employee’s authority, duties or responsibilities; (ii) materially breaches this Agreement, including, without limitation, by materially reducing the Employee’s Base Salary; or (iii) relocates the Employee’s place of business by more than thirty (30) miles from the Company’s current Cambridge, Massachusetts office.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee must give notice of his intention to resign within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of the grounds for termination for Good Reason, and resign within thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Company’s 30-day cure period referenced above, or grounds for termination for Good Reason due to the circumstances specified in the notice are irrevocably waived.  In the event the Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason, the Employee shall be entitled to the severance benefits set forth in Section 7(f) or 7(g), as applicable.

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(e)Effect of Early Termination.  Except for a termination by the Company without “Cause” or by the Employee for “Good Reason,” in the event of any early termination of the Term of Employment, the Company’s obligations under this Agreement shall immediately cease and the Employee shall be entitled to only the Employee’s Base Salary and employment benefits which have accrued and to which the Employee is entitled through the date of such termination, including any bonus that may have been awarded but not yet paid.  These accrued salary and benefits shall be paid on or about the date of termination.  The Employee shall not be entitled to any other compensation or consideration, including any bonus not yet awarded that the Employee may have been eligible for had his Term of Employment not ceased, except as otherwise set forth in this Section 7(e).  In the event of an early termination of the Term of Employment due to the Employee’s death or disability, as set forth in Section 7(a), the Employee (or his estate, in the event of his death) will be eligible to receive a pro rata bonus determined in the manner set forth in the penultimate sentence of Section 7(f), which bonus shall be paid within thirty (30) days following the date of the Employee’s termination.

(f)Severance Benefits Prior to a Change in Control.  If the Term of Employment is terminated by the Company without “Cause” (as that term is defined in Section 7(b)) or by the Employee for “Good Reason” (as that term is defined in Section 7(d)), in each case prior to a Change in Control (as that term is defined in Exhibit B), the Employee shall be entitled to receive his Base Salary and all other employment benefits accrued through the effective date of such termination, which shall be paid on or about the date of termination.  In addition, provided the Employee executes and allows to become binding a severance agreement and release of claims drafted by and satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”) on or before the sixtieth (60th) day after the date of termination, then beginning on the first regularly scheduled payroll date that is sixty (60) days following the date of termination (such date, the “Payment Commencement Date”), for a period of twelve (12) months (the “Severance Period”), the Company shall: (i) pay to the Employee as severance pay his Base Salary in accordance with the Company’s regularly established payroll procedure and (ii) pay for coverage under any medical benefit plans provided pursuant to Section 4(f), provided the Employee is eligible for and elects to continue receiving such benefits pursuant to the federal “COBRA” law, 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et. seq., and provided further that the Employee continues to pay the applicable share of the premium for such coverage that is paid by active and similarly situated employees who receive the same type of coverage.  In addition, the Company shall pay to the Employee, on the Payment Commencement Date, a pro-rata bonus equal to (A) the average of the Employee’s annual bonus payments over each of the three (3) years prior to the year of termination (or, if the Employee is an executive officer, such lesser period during which the Employee served as an executive officer of the Company), or, if such termination occurs prior to the award of the Employee’s first annual bonus for 2017, the Employee’s target annual bonus for 2017, multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during the year during which the Employee remained employed by the Company and the denominator of which is 365.  The distribution of all severance benefits under this Section 7(f) shall be subject to the provisions of Exhibit C.

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(g)Severance Benefits After a Change in Control.  If the Term of Employment is terminated by the Company without “Cause” (as that term is defined in Section 7(b)) or by the Employee for “Good Reason” (as that term is defined in Section 7(d)), in each case within the eighteen (18) month period following a Change in Control (as that term is defined in Exhibit B), the Employee shall be entitled to receive his Base Salary and all other employment benefits accrued through the effective date of such termination, which shall be paid on or about the date of termination.  In addition, provided the Employee executes and allows to become binding the Release on or before the Payment Commencement Date, the Company shall: (i) pay to the Employee as severance pay on the Payment Commencement Date a lump sum amount equal to thirty-six (36) months of his Base Salary; (ii) pay to the Employee on the Payment Commencement Date a bonus equal to (A) three (3) multiplied by (B) the average of the Employee’s annual bonus payments over each of the three (3) years prior to the year of termination (or, if the Employee is an executive officer, such lesser period during which the Employee served as an executive officer of the Company), or, if such termination occurs prior to the award of the Employee’s first annual bonus for 2017, the Employee’s target annual bonus for 2017; (iii) accelerate the vesting of all outstanding Company stock options, restricted stock or other equity awards granted to the Employee; and (iv) pay for coverage under any medical benefit plans provided pursuant to Section 4(f) for a period of eighteen (18) months following the Employee’s date of termination, provided the Employee is eligible for and elects to continue receiving such benefits pursuant to the federal “COBRA” law, 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et. seq., and provided further that the Employee continues to pay the applicable share of the premium for such coverage that is paid by active and similarly situated employees who receive the same type of coverage.  The distribution of all severance benefits under this Section 7(g) shall be subject to the provisions of Exhibit C.

8.Cutback.

(a)Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any payment, benefit, vesting or distribution to or for the benefit of the Employee (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) (a “Payment”) would but for this Section 8 be subject to the excise tax imposed by §4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any comparable successor provisions (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments shall either be (i) provided to the Employee in full, or (ii) provided to the Employee as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payments being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, when taking into account applicable income and employment taxes, the Excise Tax, and any other applicable taxes, results in the receipt by the Employee on an after-tax basis of the greatest amount of Payments, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax.  Any determination required under this Section 8 shall be made in writing in good faith by the Company’s independent certified public accountants, appointed prior to any change in ownership (as defined under §280G (b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code), and/or tax counsel selected by such accountants (the “Accounting Firm”) in accordance with the principles of §280G of the Internal Revenue Code.  In the event of a reduction of Payments hereunder, the Payments shall be reduced as follows: (i) first from cash payments which are included in full as parachute payments, (ii) second from equity awards which are included in full as parachute payments, (iii) third from cash payments which are partially included as parachute payments, and (iv) from equity awards that are partially included 

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as parachute payments, in each instance provided that §409A is complied with and the Payments to be made later in time are to be reduced before Payments to be made sooner in time.  For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 8, the Accounting Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the Internal Revenue Code, and other applicable legal authority.  The Company and the Employee shall furnish to the Accounting Firm such information and documents as the Accounting Firm may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section 8.  All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.

(b)If, notwithstanding any reduction described in this Section 8, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) determines that the Employee is liable for the Excise Tax as a result of the receipt of the Payments as described above, then the Employee shall be obligated to pay back to the Company, within thirty (30) days after a final IRS determination or in the event that the Employee challenges the final IRS determination, a final judicial determination, a portion of the Payments equal to the “Repayment Amount.”  The Repayment Amount with respect to the Payments shall be the smallest such amount, if any, as shall be required to be paid to the Company so that the Employee’s net after-tax proceeds with respect to the Payments (after taking into account the payment of the Excise Tax and all other applicable taxes imposed on such payment) shall be maximized.  The Repayment Amount with respect to the Payments shall be zero if a Repayment Amount of more than zero would not result in the Employee’s net after-tax proceeds with respect to the Payments being maximized.  If the Excise Tax is not eliminated pursuant to this paragraph, the Employee shall pay the Excise Tax.

(c)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8, if (i) there is a reduction in the Payments as described in this Section 8, (ii) the IRS later determines that the Employee is liable for the Excise Tax, the payment of which would result in the maximization of the Employee’s net after-tax proceeds (calculated as if the Employee’s Payments had not previously been reduced), and (iii) the Employee pays the Excise Tax, then the Company shall pay to the Employee those Payments which were reduced pursuant to this subsection as soon as administratively possible after the Employee pays the Excise Tax so that the Employee’s net after-tax proceeds with respect to the Payments are maximized.

9.Absence of Restrictions.  The Employee represents and warrants that he is not a party to any commitment or undertaking by which he is subject to any restriction or limitation upon his entering into this Agreement or performing the services required of him hereunder.

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

11.Applicable Law/Jury Trial Waiver.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (without reference to the conflict of laws provisions thereof).  Any action, suit or other legal proceeding arising under or relating to any provision of this Agreement shall be commenced only in a court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (or, if appropriate, a federal court located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts), and the Company and the Employee each consents to the jurisdiction of such a court.  The Company and the Employee each hereby irrevocably waives any right to a trial by jury in any action, suit or other legal proceeding arising under or relating to any provision of this Agreement.

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12.Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the Restrictive Covenants Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A and executed as a condition of the Employee’s employment, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of these agreements.

13.Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of both parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any corporation with which or into which the Company may be merged or which may succeed to all or substantially all of its assets or business; provided, however, that the obligations of the Employee are personal and shall not be assigned by him.

14.Acknowledgment.  The Employee states and represents that he has had an opportunity to fully discuss and review the terms of this Agreement with an attorney.  The Employee further states and represents that he has carefully read this Agreement, understands the contents herein, freely and voluntarily assents to all of the terms and conditions hereof, and signs his name of his own free act.

15.Miscellaneous.

(a)No delay or omission by either party in exercising any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right.  A waiver or consent given by either party on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on any other occasion.

(b)The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.

(c)In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

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

 

	
COMPANY:
	
MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Gary L. Crocker

	
 
	
 
	
Gary L. Crocker

	
 
	
 
	
Chairman, Board of Directors

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
EMPLOYEE:
	
 
	
/s/ Richard Peters

	
 
	
 
	
Richard Peters

 

 

 

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Exhibit A

Non-Disclosure, Developments, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement

 

 

 

NON-DISCLOSURE, DEVELOPMENTS, NON-COMPETITION

AND NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT

This Non-Disclosure, Developments, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of February 6, 2017, is entered into by and between Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Richard Peters (the “Employee”).

In consideration of the Employee’s employment with the Company and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the Employee, the Employee hereby agrees as follows:

1.Condition of Employment.

The Employee acknowledges that his employment and the continuance of that employment with the Company is contingent upon his agreement to sign and adhere to the provisions of this Agreement.  The Employee further acknowledges that the nature of the Company’s business is such that protection of its proprietary and confidential information and goodwill with its customers and partners is critical to its survival and success.

2.Confidential Information.

(a)The Employee agrees that all information and know-how, whether or not in writing, of a private, secret or confidential nature concerning the Company and its operations and business or financial affairs (collectively, “Confidential Information”) is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company.  By way of illustration, but not limitation, Confidential Information may include models, systems, software and codes, or systems, software and codes in the course of development, or planned or proposed systems, software or codes, customer, prospect and supplier lists, contacts at or knowledge of customers or prospective customers, customer accounts and other customer financial information, strategic partners and/or collaborators, price lists and all other pricing, marketing and sales information, projections, results relating to the Company or any customer or supplier of the Company, databases, modules, products, programs, product improvements, product enhancements and/or developments, designs, specifications, processes, methods, techniques, operations, projects, plans, chemical compounds, chemical or biological materials, engineering data, clinical or technological data, research data, financial data, personnel information obtained pursuant to the performance of the Employee’s duties for the Company, and other confidential agreements or documents (including, without limitation, clinical trial protocols and unpublished patent applications).  Except as otherwise permitted by Section 5, the Employee will not disclose any Confidential Information to others outside the Company or use the same for any purpose other than the performance of his duties as an employee of the Company, either during or at any time after his employment with the Company, unless and until such Confidential Information has become public knowledge without fault by the Employee.  While employed by the Company, the Employee will use the Employee’s best efforts to prevent unauthorized publication or disclosure of any Confidential Information.

 

(b)The Employee agrees that all Company Property (as defined below), whether created by the Employee or others, that shall come into the Employee’s custody or possession shall be and is the sole and exclusive property of the Company to be used only in the performance of the Employee’s duties for the Company.  “Company Property” means any and all written, photographic or any other record containing Confidential Information and shall include, but not be limited to, all agreements, notes, disks, files, letters, memoranda, reports, records, lists, data, drawings, sketches, notebooks, program listings, specifications, software programs, software code, computers and other electronic equipment, documentation, or other equipment or materials of any nature and in any form, containing Confidential Information.  Upon the earliest of the Employee’s termination or a request from the Company, the Employee will return to the Company any and all Company Property in the Employee’s custody or possession without retaining any copies thereof (including, without limitation, any electronic copy) and without using or allowing others to improperly use such Company Property.

(c)The Employee acknowledges that the Employee’s obligations with regard to Confidential Information that are set out in Sections 2(a) and (b) extend to all information, know-how, records and tangible property of customers of the Company or suppliers to the Company or of any third party who may have disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company or to the Employee in the course of the Company’s business.

3.Developments.

(a)The Employee will make full and prompt disclosure to the Company of all inventions, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, methods, techniques, tools, formula, developments, enhancements, modifications, databases, processes, software and works of authorship, whether patentable or not, that are created, made, conceived or reduced to practice by the Employee or under the Employee’s direction or jointly with others during the Employee’s employment with the Company, whether or not during normal working hours or on the premises of the Company (all of which are collectively referred to in this Agreement as “Developments”).

(b)The Employee agrees to assign and does hereby assign to the Company (or any person or entity designated by the Company) all of the Employee’s right, title and interest in and to all Developments and all related intellectual property rights.  Except as, and solely to the extent that, it may be necessary for the Employee to perform the Employee’s duties and fulfill the Employee’s obligations in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Company, the Company does not grant the Employee, and the Employee agrees that he/she will not receive, any license or right to use any Development or related intellectual property right.  The Employee hereby also waives all claims to moral rights in any Developments.  However, this Section 3(b) shall not apply to Developments that do not relate to the present or planned business or research and development of the Company and that are made and conceived by the Employee not during normal working hours, not on the Company’s premises and not using the Company’s tools, devices, equipment or Confidential Information.  This Section 3(b) also shall not apply to any Developments that the Employee conceived of prior to the Employee’s employment with the Company, which invention(s) the Employee shall disclose on Exhibit A attached hereto.  IF THERE ARE ANY SUCH DEVELOPMENTS TO BE EXCLUDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE EMPLOYEE SHALL INITIAL HERE; OTHERWISE IT WILL BE DEEMED THAT THERE ARE NO SUCH EXCLUSIONS. ____  The Employee understands 

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that, to the extent this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of any state that precludes the requirement in an employee agreement to assign certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 3(b) shall be interpreted not to apply to any invention that a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.  To the extent allowed by law, the Employee hereby grants to the Company an exclusive (even unto the Employee), irrevocable, fully paid up, worldwide license to make, use and sell any and all inventions for which assignment cannot be effected.

(c)The Employee agrees to cooperate fully with the Company, both during and after the Employee’s employment with the Company, with respect to the procurement, maintenance and enforcement of all copyrights, trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights (both in the United States and foreign countries) relating to any Development.  The Employee shall sign all papers, including, without limitation, copyright applications, patent applications, declarations, oaths, formal assignments, assignment of priority rights and powers of attorney, that the Company may deem necessary or desirable in order to protect and enforce its rights and interests in any Development.  The Employee further agrees that if the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, to secure the signature of the Employee on any such papers, any executive officer of the Company shall be entitled to execute any such papers as the agent and the attorney-in-fact of the Employee, and the Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints each executive officer of the Company as the Employee’s agent and attorney-in-fact for all countries worldwide to execute any such papers on the Employee’s behalf, and to take any and all actions as the Company may deem necessary or desirable in order to protect its rights and interests in any Development, under the conditions described in this sentence.  Should the Company engage in litigation to enforce any such intellectual property rights, the Employee agrees to appear and testify at no charge, but at the Company’s expense.

4.Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.

(a)While the Employee is employed by the Company and for a period of twelve (12) months following the Employee’s termination or cessation of employment for any reason (voluntarily or involuntarily), the Employee will not, directly or indirectly:

(i)engage in any business or enterprise (whether as an owner, partner, officer, employee, director, investor, lender, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise, except as the holder of not more than 2% of the combined voting power of the outstanding stock of a publicly held company) that is competitive with the Company’s business, including, without limitation, any business or enterprise that develops, designs, produces, markets or sells any product or service competitive with any product or service developed, designed, produced, marketed or sold or planned to be developed, designed, produced, marketed or sold by the Company while the Employee was employed by the Company; provided, however, that this Section 4(a)(i) shall not prohibit the Employee from serving on the Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards of, or owning a beneficial interest in, the companies on which he serves as of the date of this Agreement (which the Employee represents are not currently competitive with the Company’s business), so long as such service and/or beneficial ownership does not interfere with the performance of his duties to the Company and such companies continue to not be competitive with the Company’s business.

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(ii)either alone or in association with others, recruit, solicit, hire or engage as an independent contractor, or attempt to recruit, solicit, hire or engage as an independent contractor, any person who was employed by the Company or engaged as an independent contractor for the Company at any time during the period of the Employee’s employment with the Company, except for an individual whose employment with or service for the Company has been terminated for a period of six (6) months or longer; and/or

(iii)either alone or in association with others, service, solicit, divert or take away, or attempt to service, solicit, divert or take away, the business or patronage of any of the clients, customers or accounts, or prospective clients, customers or accounts, of the Company that were contacted, solicited or served by the Employee while the Employee was employed by the Company or about which the Employee had access to Confidential Information in the course of his employment with the Company.

(b)The geographic scope of this Section 4 shall extend to anywhere the Company or any of its subsidiaries is doing business, has done business or has plans to do business during the Employee’s employment with the Company.

(c)If any restriction set forth in this Section 4 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, the parties expressly agree that such court shall reform the restriction and enforce it to extend over the maximum period of time, range of activities or geographic area deemed reasonable by such court.

(d)The Employee agrees that during the non-competition and non-solicitation period, the Employee will give notice to the Company of each new job, contract assignment or other work (either as an employee, contractor or otherwise) the Employee plans to undertake at least ten (10) business days prior to beginning any such activity.  The notice shall state the name and address of the individual, corporation, association or other entity or organization (the “Entity”) for whom such activity is undertaken and the Employee’s proposed business relationship or position with the Entity.  The Employee further agrees to provide the Company with other pertinent information concerning such business activity as the Company may reasonably request in order to determine the Employee’s continued compliance with his obligations under this Agreement.  During the non-competition and non-solicitation period, the Employee agrees to provide a copy of this Agreement to all person and Entities with whom the Employee seeks to be hired or do business before accepting employment or engagement with any of them.

(e)If the Employee violates any of the provisions of this Section 4, the Employee shall continue to be held by the restrictions set forth in this Section 4 until a period equal to the period of restriction has expired without any violation.

5.Scope of Disclosure Restrictions.

Nothing in this Agreement prohibits the Employee from communicating with government agencies about possible violations of federal, state or local laws or otherwise providing information to government agencies or participating in government agency investigations or proceedings.  The Employee is not required to notify the Company of any such communications; 

4

provided, however, that nothing herein authorizes the disclosure of information the Employee obtained through a communication that was subject to the attorney-client privilege.  Further, notwithstanding the Employee’s confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations, the Employee is hereby advised as follows pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.”

6.Other Agreements.

The Employee hereby represents that, except as the Employee has disclosed in writing to the Company, the Employee is not bound by the terms of any restrictive covenant agreement with any previous employer or other party relating to the non-disclosure of trade secret or confidential or proprietary information, non-competition and/or non-solicitation of customers, clients, employees or others.  The Employee further represents that the Employee’s performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of the Company does not and will not breach any such restrictive covenant agreement, and the Employee will not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous employer or others.

7.Employment At Will.

The Employee acknowledges that this Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment for any period of time and does not modify the at-will nature of the Employee’s employment with the Company, pursuant to which both the Company and the Employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any or no reason, with or without notice.

8.General Provisions.

(a)Equitable Relief.  The Employee acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Agreement 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 or threatened breach of this Agreement will cause the Company substantial and irrevocable damage that 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 that may be available, shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive relief without posting a bond, as well as its reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred as a result of any such breach or threatened breach.  The Employee hereby waives the adequacy of a remedy at law as a defense to such relief.

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(b)Change in Terms/Conditions of Employment.  The Employee agrees that his  obligations under this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in the event that the Employee’s job title, responsibilities, reporting structure, work location, compensation or other conditions of his employment with the Company change subsequent to the execution of this Agreement, without the need to execute a new agreement.

(c)No Conflict.  The Employee represents that the execution and performance by the Employee of this Agreement does not and will not conflict with or breach the terms of any other agreement by which the Employee is bound.

(d)Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect or impair the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(e)Waiver.  No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of that or any other right.  A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion is effective only in that instance and will not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on any other occasion.  Any waiver of any provision hereof shall be in writing and signed by the Company.

(f)Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of both parties and their respective successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any corporation or entity with which or into which the Company may be merged or which may succeed to all or substantially all of its assets or business; provided, however, that the obligations of the Employee are personal and shall not be assigned by the Employee.

(g)Governing Law, Forum and Jurisdiction/Jury Trial Waiver.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed as a sealed instrument under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to conflict of laws provisions.  Any action, suit or other legal proceeding that is commenced to resolve any matter arising under or relating to any provision of this Agreement shall be commenced only in a court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (or, if appropriate, a federal court located within Massachusetts), and the Company and the Employee each consents to exclusive personal jurisdiction in such a court.  The Employee and the Company hereby expressly waive the right to a jury trial for any claim relating to his/its rights or obligations under this Agreement, or otherwise relating to the Employee’s employment or separation from employment with the Company.

(h)Captions.  The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.

(i)Entire Agreement.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, between the Employee and the Company relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.  This Agreement may not be amended, modified, changed or discharged in whole or in part (other than pursuant to Section 4(e)), except by an agreement in writing signed by the Employee and the Company.

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THE EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/SHE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

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

 

	
COMPANY:
	
MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Jeffrey A. Munsie

	
 
	
 
	
Jeffrey A. Munsie

	
 
	
 
	
General Counsel

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
EMPLOYEE:
	
 
	
/s/ Richard Peters

	
 
	
 
	
Richard Peters

 

8

Exhibit A

List of Prior Inventions and Original Works of Authorship

	
Title
	
Date
	
Identifying Number or Brief Description

	
 
	
 
	
 

 

 

	
 
	
 
	
 

 

 

	
 
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

		
	
 
	
Additional Sheets Attached

	
 
	
 

	
Signature of Employee:
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
Printed Name of Employee:
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
Date:
	
 

 

 

9

 

Exhibit B

Definition of Change in Control 

A “Change in Control” shall occur upon any of the following events, provided, in each case, that such event constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i):

(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”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership of any capital stock of the Company if, after such acquisition, such Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) 50% or more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company 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 shall not constitute a Change in Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company or (2) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a Business Combination (as defined below) which complies with clauses (x) and (y) of subsection (C) of this definition;

(B)a change in the composition of the Board that results in the Continuing Directors (as defined below) no longer constituting 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 (x) who was a member of the Board on the date of this Agreement or (y) 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 (y) 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; or

(C)the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or 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, each of the following two conditions is satisfied: (x) 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 (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) (such resulting or acquiring corporation is referred to herein as the “Acquiring Corporation”) in substantially the same 

 

 

proportions as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, respectively, immediately prior to such Business Combination and (y) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by the Acquiring Corporation) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Acquiring Corporation, or of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination).

 

 

Exhibit C

Payments Subject to Section 409A

Subject to this Exhibit C, severance payments or benefits under this Agreement shall begin only on or after the date of the Employee’s “separation from service” (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:

1.It is intended that each installment of the payments provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue 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.

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

3.If, as of the date of the Employee’s “separation from service” from the Company, the Employee is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then:

(a)Each installment of the severance 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 Employee’s separation from service occurs, be paid within the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined under Section 409A) shall be treated as a short-term deferral within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A- l(b)(4) to the maximum extent permissible under Section 409A and shall be paid at the time set forth in this Agreement; and

(b)Each installment of the severance payments and benefits due under this Agreement that is not described in this Exhibit C, Section 3(a) and that would, absent this subsection, be paid within the six (6) month period following the Employee’s “separation from service” from the Company shall not be paid until the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day after such separation from service (or, if earlier, the Employee’s death), with any such installments that are required to be delayed being accumulated during the six (6) month period and paid in a lump sum on the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day following the Employee’s separation from service, and any subsequent installments being paid in accordance with the dates and terms set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, that the preceding provisions of this sentence shall not apply to any installment of severance payments and benefits if and to the maximum extent 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-l(b)(9)(iii) (relating to separation pay upon an involuntary separation from service).  Any installments that qualify for the exception under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-l(b)(9)(iii) must be paid no later than the last day of the Employee’s second taxable year following the taxable year in which the separation from service occurs.

 

 

4.The determination of whether and when the Employee’s separation from service from the Company has occurred shall be made in a manner consistent with, and based on the presumptions set forth in, Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-l(h).  Solely for purposes of this Exhibit C, Section 4, “Company” shall include all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Section 414(b) and 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

5.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 requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during the Employee’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.

6.The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to the Employee or to any other person if any of the provisions of this Agreement (including this Exhibit C) are determined to provide for non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A but that do not satisfy an exemption from, or the conditions of, that section.

7.The Company may withhold (or cause to be withheld) from any payments made under this Agreement, all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.mack-ex107_805.htm

Exhibit 10.7

SEPARATION AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS AGREEMENT

This Separation and Release of Claims Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of the Effective Date (as defined below) between Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) and Robert J. Mulroy (“Executive”) (together, the “Parties”).  

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive are parties to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of August 16, 2011 (the “Employment Agreement”), under which Executive currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; 

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to establish terms for Executive’s orderly transition and separation from the Company effective on the Separation Date (as defined below); and

WHEREAS, the Parties agree that the payments, benefits and rights set forth in this Agreement shall be the exclusive payments, benefits and rights due Executive; 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:  

	
1.
	
Separation Date; Post-Employment Consulting Arrangement – 

(a) Executive’s effective date of separation from employment with the Company will be October 3, 2016 (the “Separation Date”).  Executive hereby resigns, as of the Separation Date, from his employment with the Company and from his positions as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors and as an officer of the Company.  Executive agrees to execute and deliver any documents reasonably necessary to effectuate such resignations, provided that nothing in any such document is inconsistent with any terms set forth in this Agreement.  As of the Separation Date, all salary payments from the Company will cease and any benefits Executive had as of the Separation Date under Company-provided benefit plans, programs, or practices will terminate, except as required by federal or state law or as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement.  

(b) Upon the Separation Date, the Company and Executive shall enter into a consulting agreement in the form attached to this Agreement as Attachment A and incorporated into this Agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which Executive shall provide assistance in connection with the Company’s transition to new leadership.  During the Consultation Period (as such term is defined in the Consulting Agreement), any unvested equity awards previously granted to Executive by the Company will continue to vest and be exercisable in accordance with the applicable equity plans and award agreements.  It is anticipated that Executive’s performance of services under the Consulting Agreement will be limited to less than one (1) day per week.  

1

	
2.
	
Severance Benefits – In return for Executive’s timely signing and not revoking this Agreement, and subject to Executive’s compliance with all terms hereof, the Company will provide Executive with the following severance benefits in full satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the Employment Agreement (the “Severance Benefits”):

(a) Salary Continuation  – Commencing on the first regularly scheduled payroll date that follows the sixtieth (60th) day after the Separation Date (the “Payment Commencement Date”), the Company will, for a twelve (12) month period (the “Severance Period”), provide Executive with severance pay in the form of salary continuation payments at Executive’s current annual base salary rate of $598,689.00, less all applicable taxes and withholdings and in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices.  

(b) Group Health Insurance – Should Executive be eligible for and timely elect to continue receiving group health and/or dental insurance coverage under the law known as COBRA, the Company shall, until earlier of (x) the last day of the Severance Period, and (y) the date that Executive is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation coverage (the “COBRA Contribution Period”), pay on Executive’s behalf the share of the premium for such coverage that it currently pays on behalf of active and similarly situated employees who receive the same type of coverage.  The remaining balance of any premium costs, and all premium costs after the COBRA Contribution Period, shall be paid by Executive on a monthly basis during the elected period of health insurance coverage under COBRA for as long as, and to the extent that, he remains eligible for COBRA continuation.  

(c) Pro-Rata Bonus – On the Payment Commencement Date, the Company shall provide Executive with a pro-rata bonus payment of $154,271, which is equivalent to (i) the average of Executive’s annual bonus payments over each of the three (3) years prior to the Separation Date, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during calendar year 2016 during which Executive remained employed by the Company and the denominator of which is 365.  

(d)  Other Benefits Continuation – During the Severance Period, the Company shall, to the extent allowed by applicable law and the applicable plan documents, continue to provide Executive with such other benefits as are described in Section 4(f) of the Employment Agreement, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans. 

Other than the Severance Benefits, Executive will not be eligible for, nor shall he have a right to receive, any payments or benefits from the Company following the Separation Date, other than reimbursement for any outstanding business expenses in accordance with Company policy.  

	
3.
	
Release of Claims – In exchange for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, which Executive acknowledges he would not otherwise be entitled to receive, Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, predecessors, and successors, and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, stockholders, partners, members, employees, agents, representatives, plan administrators, attorneys, insurers and 

2

		
fiduciaries (each in their individual and corporate capacities) (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs), of every kind and nature that Executive ever had or now has against any or all of the Released Parties up to the date on which he signs this Agreement, whether known or unknown, including, but not limited to, any and all claims arising out of or relating to Executive’s employment with and/or separation from the Company, including, but not limited to, all claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Executive Order 11246, Executive Order 11141, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, all as amended; all claims arising out of the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151B, § 1 et seq., the Massachusetts Wage Act, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 148 et seq. (Massachusetts law regarding payment of wages and overtime), the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 12, §§ 11H and 11I, the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act, Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 93, § 102 and Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 214, § 1C, the Massachusetts Labor and Industries Act, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 1 et seq., Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 214, § 1B (Massachusetts right of privacy law), the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 105D, and the Massachusetts Small Necessities Leave Act, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 52D, all as amended; all common law claims including, but not limited to, actions in defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, misrepresentation, fraud, wrongful discharge, and breach of contract (including, without limitation, all claims arising out of or related to the Employment Agreement); all state and federal whistleblower claims to the maximum extent permitted by law; and any claim or damage arising out of Executive’s employment with and/or separation from the Company (including a claim for retaliation) under any common law theory or any federal, state or local statute or ordinance not expressly referenced above; provided, however, that nothing in this release of claims prevents Executive from filing a charge with, cooperating with, or participating in any investigation or proceeding before, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a state fair employment practices agency (except that Executive acknowledges that he may not recover any monetary benefits in connection with any such charge, investigation, or proceeding, and Executive further waives any rights or claims to any payment, benefit, attorneys’ fees or other remedial relief in connection with any such charge, investigation or proceeding).  This release also does not prevent Executive from reporting possible violations of federal securities laws to government enforcement agencies without notice to the Company, or from receiving any applicable award for information provided to such government enforcement agencies.  Further, nothing herein shall prevent Executive from bringing claims to enforce this Agreement and/or the Consulting Agreement, or release (i) any rights Executive may have under the Company’s certificate of incorporation, by-laws, insurance and/or any indemnification agreement between him and the Company (and/or otherwise under law) for indemnification and/or defense as an employee, officer or director of the Company for his service to the Company (recognizing that such 

3

		
indemnification and/or defense is not guaranteed by this Agreement and shall be governed by the instrument or law, if any, providing for such indemnification and/or defense), (ii) any rights Executive may have to vested equity ownership in the Company under the applicable equity plans and agreements, (iii) any rights Executive may have to vested pension or 401(K) benefits or interests under any ERISA-Covered benefit plan (excluding severance) provided by the Company, (iv) any rights to COBRA or Workers’ Compensation Benefits, or (v) any rights or claims that cannot be waived by law, including claims for unemployment benefits, which the Company agrees that it will not contest, provided that the Company will not make any false statement to any government agency.

	
4.
	
Continuing Obligations – Executive acknowledges and reaffirms his obligation, to the extent permitted by law and except as otherwise permitted by Section 8 below, to keep confidential and not to use or disclose any and all non-public information concerning the Company that he acquired during the course of his employment with the Company, or may acquire during his service under the Consulting Agreement, including, but not limited to, any non-public information concerning the Company’s business affairs, business prospects, and financial condition.  Executive further acknowledges his continuing obligations with respect to confidential information, non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and developments as set forth in Sections 6-8 of the Employment Agreement and in the Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation, Non-Disclosure and Developments Agreement dated as of August 16, 2011 (the “Restrictive Covenant Agreement”) (except to the extent modified by Section 14 of the Employment Agreement), which survive his separation from employment with the Company, provided, however, the Company agrees to waive Section 4(f) of the Restrictive Covenant Agreement.  

	
5.
	
Non-Disparagement – Executive understands and agrees that, to the extent permitted by law and except as otherwise permitted by Section 8 below, he will not, in public or private, make any false, disparaging, derogatory or defamatory statements, online (including, without limitation, on any social media, networking, or employer review site) or otherwise, to any person or entity, including, but not limited to, any media outlet, industry group, financial institution or current or former employee, board member, consultant, client or customer of the Company, regarding the Company or any of the other Released Parties, or regarding the Company’s business affairs, business prospects, or financial condition.  The Company will instruct its board members and executive officers, to the extent permitted by law and except as otherwise permitted by Section 8 below, not to make any false, disparaging, derogatory or defamatory statements to third parties about Executive.

	
6.
	
Return of Company Property – Executive confirms that he will, upon the earlier of the Company’s request or the termination of his services under the Consulting Agreement, return to the Company all keys, files, records (and copies thereof), equipment (including, but not limited to, computer hardware, software and printers, wireless handheld devices, cellular phones, tablets, etc.), Company identification and any other Company-owned property in his possession or control and that he will leave intact all electronic Company documents, including but not limited to those that he developed or helped to develop 

4

		
during his employment or while performing services under the Consulting Agreement. Executive further agrees that he will, upon the earlier of the Company’s request or the termination of his services under the Consulting Agreement, cancel all accounts for his benefit, if any, in the Company’s name, including but not limited to, credit cards, telephone charge cards, cellular phone and/or wireless data accounts and computer accounts.

	
7.
	
Confidentiality – Executive understands and agree that, to the extent permitted by law and except as otherwise permitted by Section 8 below, the terms and contents of this Agreement, and the contents of the negotiations and discussions resulting in this Agreement, shall be maintained as confidential by Executive and his agents and representatives and shall not be disclosed except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company, except as required by law, and except to his immediate family, legal, financial and tax advisors, on the condition that any individuals informed must hold the above information in strict confidence.  The Company agrees that, to the extent permitted by law and except as otherwise permitted by Section 8 below, it shall keep the contents of the negotiations and discussions resulting in this Agreement confidential except as it believes in good faith to be reasonably necessary for a legitimate business purpose.  

	
8.
	
Scope of Disclosure Restrictions – Nothing in this Agreement prohibits Executive or any other person from communicating with government agencies about possible violations of federal, state, or local laws or otherwise providing information to government agencies or participating in government agency investigations or proceedings.  Executive is not required to notify the Company of any such communications; provided, however, that nothing herein authorizes the disclosure of information Executive obtained through a communication that was subject to the attorney-client privilege.  Further, notwithstanding Executive’s confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations, Executive is hereby advised as follows pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.”

	
9.
	
Cooperation – Executive agrees that, to the extent permitted by law, he shall, for one (1) year following the Separation Date, reasonably cooperate with the Company in the investigation, defense or prosecution of any claims or actions which already have been brought, are currently pending, or which may be brought in the future against the Company by a third party or by or on behalf of the Company against any third party, whether before a state or federal court, any state or federal government agency, or a mediator or arbitrator. Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with the 

5

		
Company’s counsel, at reasonable times and locations designated by the Company, to investigate or prepare the Company’s claims or defenses, to prepare for trial or discovery or an administrative hearing, mediation, arbitration or other proceeding and to act as a witness when requested by the Company. The Company will reimburse Executive for all reasonable and documented out of pocket costs that he incurs to comply with this paragraph. Executive further agrees that, to the extent permitted by law, he will notify the Company promptly in the event that he is served with a subpoena (other than a subpoena issued by a government agency), or in the event that he is asked to provide a third party (other than a government agency) with information concerning any actual or potential complaint or claim against the Company.

	
10.
	
Final Compensation – Executive acknowledges that he has received all compensation due to him from the Company, including, but not limited to, all wages, bonuses and accrued, unused vacation time, and that, other than pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, he is not eligible or entitled to receive any additional payments or consideration from the Company beyond that provided for in Section 2 of this Agreement.

	
11.
	
Amendment and Waiver – This Agreement shall be binding upon the Parties and may not be modified in any manner, except by an instrument in writing of concurrent or subsequent date signed by duly authorized representatives of the Parties.  This Agreement is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective agents, assigns, heirs, executors/administrators/personal representatives, and successors.  No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right.  A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on any other occasion.

	
12.
	
Validity – Should any provision of this Agreement be declared or be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms or provisions shall not be affected thereby and said illegal or invalid part, term or provision shall be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement.

	
13.
	
Nature of Agreement – Both Parties understand and agree that this Agreement is a separation agreement and does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of the Company or Executive.  

	
14.
	
Time for Consideration and Revocation – Executive acknowledges that he was initially presented with this Agreement on September 27, 2016.  Executive understands that this Agreement shall be of no force or effect, and that he shall not be eligible for the consideration described herein, unless he signs and returns this Agreement on or before October 19, 2016, and does not revoke his acceptance in the subsequent seven (7) day period (the day immediately following expiration of such revocation period, the “Effective Date”).  

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15.
	
Acknowledgments – Executive acknowledges that he has been given at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement, and that the Company is hereby advising him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Agreement.  Executive further acknowledges and agrees that any changes made to this Agreement following his initial receipt of this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, did not re-start or affect in any manner the original twenty-one (21) day consideration period. Executive understands that he may revoke this Agreement for a period of seven (7) days after he signs it by notifying the Company in writing, and this Agreement shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period.  Executive understands and agrees that by entering into this Agreement he will be waiving any and all rights or claims he might have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, and that he has received consideration beyond that to which he was previously entitled.  

	
16.
	
Voluntary Assent – Executive affirms that no other promises or agreements of any kind have been made to or with Executive by any person or entity whatsoever to cause him to sign this Agreement, and that he fully understands the meaning and intent of this Agreement.  Executive further states and represents that he has carefully read this Agreement, understands the contents herein, freely and voluntarily assents to all of the terms and conditions hereof, and signs his name of his own free act.

	
17.
	
Applicable Law – This Agreement shall be interpreted and construed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflict of laws provisions.  Executive 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 the Commonwealth of 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.

	
18.
	
Entire Agreement – This Agreement contains and constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties hereto with respect to Executive’s separation from the Company, severance benefits and the settlement of claims against the Company, and cancels all previous oral and written negotiations, agreements, commitments and writings in connection therewith; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall modify, cancel or supersede Executive’s obligations set forth in Section 4 above. 

	
19.
	
Tax Acknowledgement – In connection with the Severance Benefits provided to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall withhold and remit to the tax authorities the amounts required under applicable law, and Executive shall be responsible for all applicable taxes owed by him with respect to such Severance Benefits under applicable law.  Executive acknowledges that he is not relying upon the advice or representation of the Company with respect to the tax treatment of any of the Severance Benefits set forth in this Agreement.

7

	
20.
	
Section 409A - This Agreement, and all payments hereunder, are intended to be exempt from, or if not so exempt, to comply with the requirements of, Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”), and this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered accordingly.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment, he is a “specified employee” as defined under Section 409A, any and all amounts payable hereunder on account of such termination of employment that would (but for this provision) be payable within six (6) months following the date of termination, shall instead be paid on the next business day following the expiration of such six (6) month period or, if earlier, upon Executive’s death; except to the extent of amounts that do not constitute a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Treasury regulation Section 1.409A – 1(b) or other amounts or benefits that are exempt from or otherwise not subject to the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, whether or not a termination of employment has occurred shall be determined consistently with Section 409A.  In addition, each payment made pursuant to the Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment and the right to a series of installment payments hereunder is to be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

	
21.
	
Counterparts – This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.  Facsimile and PDF signatures shall be deemed to be of equal force and effect as originals.

8

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have set their hands and seals to this Agreement as of the date(s) written below.

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

	
/s/ Jeffrey A. Munsie
	
 
	
Date: 10/2/16

	
By:
	
Jeffrey A. Munsie
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
General Counsel
	
 
	
 

 

I hereby agree to the terms and conditions set forth above.  I have been given at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement and I have chosen to execute this on the date below.  I intend that this Agreement will become a binding agreement if I do not revoke my acceptance within seven (7) days.

 

	
Robert J. Mulroy

 
	
 
	
 

	
/s/ Robert J. Mulroy
	
 
	
Date: 10/2/16

 

9

ATTACHMENT A

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

 

10

 

MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONSULTING AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

This Consulting and Confidentiality Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of October 3, 2016 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Robert J. Mulroy (the “Consultant”).

WHEREAS, the Consultant has certain knowledge and expertise regarding the Company as a result of having served as its President and Chief Executive Officer; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to have the benefit of the Consultant’s knowledge and experience, and the Consultant desires to provide consulting services to the Company, all as hereinafter provided in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Consultant hereby agree as follows:

Section 1.  Services.

(a)Services; Performance.  The Consultant shall render to the Company the consulting services described in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement and any additional consulting services as mutually agreed to by the Consultant and the Company from time to time in writing (collectively, the “Services”).  The Consultant shall perform such Services in a professional manner and consistent with the highest industry standards at such reasonable times as the Company may from time to time request.  The Consultant shall comply with all rules, procedures and standards promulgated from time to time by the Company with respect to the Consultant’s access to and use of the Company’s property, information, equipment and facilities in the course of the Consultant’s provision of Services hereunder.

(b)Non-Exclusive.  The parties agree that the Consultant shall provide the Company with the Services on a non-exclusive basis, and that, at all times during the term of this Agreement, the Consultant shall be free to provide, and the Company shall be free to obtain, consulting and advisory services to/from any third party, so long as the provision of such services does not conflict with or breach the Consultant’s obligations described in Sections 5 through 8.

Section 2.  Compensation and Reimbursement.

(a)Compensation.  As consideration for the performance of Services by the Consultant hereunder, the Company shall compensate the Consultant at a rate of $300 per hour. 

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(b)Expense Reimbursement.  The Company shall reimburse the Consultant for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Consultant in connection with the performance of the Services under this Agreement, so long as they are approved in writing in advance by the Company and provided such expenses are consistent with the Company’s Travel and Expense Guidelines.  Such expenses include, by way of example, coach-class travel, lodging, transportation and long distance telephone charges.  The Company shall also reimburse the Consultant for any unusual expenses incurred at the request, and with the prior approval, of the Company.  

(c)Itemized Statements.  At the end of any month that the Consultant performs Services or incurs expenses, the Consultant shall submit to the Company an itemized statement of the Services performed, including the number of hours worked and the project to which the Services relate, and the expenses incurred, including appropriate and reasonable documentation.  The Company shall pay the Consultant the amount set forth on such itemized statement within forty-five (45) days after receipt, provided that if there is any disagreement with respect to the itemized statement, the Company and the Consultant shall work together in good faith to resolve such disagreement.  The Consultant shall keep full, true and accurate books of account and other records containing all particulars that may be necessary to ascertain properly and verify the fees and expenses paid pursuant to this Agreement.  During the term of this Agreement, and for one (1) year thereafter, the Company or its representatives shall have the right to inspect, during regular business hours, said books of account and other records for purposes of verifying such fees and expenses.

(d)No Employee Benefits.  The Consultant’s relationship with the Company will be that of an independent contractor, and the Consultant shall not, in connection with this relationship, be entitled to any benefits, coverages or privileges, including without limitation social security, unemployment, medical or pension payments, made available to employees of the Company.

Section 3.  Term and Termination.

(a)Consultation Period.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the term of this Agreement shall expire upon termination or expiration of the term of the Consultant’s consulting arrangement with the Company hereunder (the “Consultation Period”), which Consultation Period shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until October 2, 2019 unless earlier terminated; provided, however, that the Consultation Period may be extended for an additional period(s) upon the mutual written agreement of both parties, and provided further that the Consultation Period shall automatically terminate upon the death, physical incapacitation or mental incompetence of the Consultant.  The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall continue to govern any Services that continue past expiration or termination of this Agreement. 

(b)Termination by the Company.  The Company may terminate the Consultation Period for any reason, with or without Cause (as defined below), immediately upon written notice to the Consultant.  The Company shall have the right to terminate the Consultation Period as set forth in this Section 3(b) without prejudice to any right or remedy it may have due to any failure of the Consultant to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

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(c)Termination by the Consultant.  The Consultant may terminate the Consultation Period for any reason, with or without cause, immediately upon written notice to the Company.  The Consultant shall have such right to terminate the Consultation Period as set forth in this Section 3(c) without prejudice to any right or remedy it may have due to any failure of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(d)Effects of Termination.  In the event of any termination under this Section 3, the Consultant shall be entitled to payment for Services performed and expenses incurred in accordance with Section 2(b) prior to the effective date of such termination.  In addition, but only in the event the Company terminates the Consultation Period without Cause, all unvested equity granted to the Consultant shall immediately vest and remain exercisable in accordance with the applicable equity plans and award agreements.  Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein, the provisions of this Section 3(d) and Sections 6 through 10 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason.  For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean (i) a failure by the Consultant to perform  the Services that results in material harm to the Company, (ii) the Consultant’s material breach of this Agreement or any other written agreement with the Company, including, without limitation, the Separation and Release of Claims Agreement to which this Agreement is Attachment A, (iii) the Consultant’s fraud, embezzlement or willful misconduct related to the Company, or (iv) the Consultant’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a misdemeanor relating to the Company, any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or any felony.

Section 4.  Independent Contractor.  The Consultant is not as of the Effective Date, nor shall the Consultant be deemed to be at any time during the term of this Agreement, an employee of the Company.  The Consultant’s status and relationship with the Company shall be that of an independent contractor and consultant.  The Consultant is not authorized to assume or create any obligation or responsibility, express or implied, on behalf of, or in the name of, the Company or to bind the Company in any manner.  Nothing herein shall create, expressly or by implication, a partnership, joint venture or other association between the parties.  The Consultant shall be solely responsible for payment of all charges and taxes arising from its relationship to the Company as a consultant.

Section 5.  Certain Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Consultant.  The Consultant represents, warrants and covenants to the Company that:

(a)No trade secrets or other confidential or proprietary information of any third party shall be disclosed to the Company or used by the Consultant in the performance of the Services hereunder, and, with respect to any information, know-how, knowledge or data disclosed to the Company or used by the Consultant in the performance of the Services, the Consultant has the full and unrestricted right to disclose or use the same.

(b)The Consultant is not a party to, or otherwise bound by, any employment, consulting or similar agreement, arrangement or understanding with any for-profit enterprise that is or may be a direct competitor of the Company (a “Competitor”).

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(c)If the Consultant is a faculty member of, or otherwise affiliated with, an academic institution or other not-for-profit research institution (an “Academic Institution”), (i) the Consultant has disclosed such fact to the Company and has provided the Company with all patent, consulting or other applicable policies and procedures of such Academic Institution, and (ii) the Consultant has obtained any and all necessary consents and satisfied any other conditions or requirements imposed by such Academic Institution to enter into this Agreement and perform Services for the Company as contemplated hereunder.

(d)Except as set forth in such policies and procedures of an Academic Institution previously provided to the Company, there are no agreements, arrangements or understandings to which the Consultant is a party, or by which the Consultant is bound, with any current or previous employer or any other party forbidding or restricting the Consultant from entering into this Agreement or performing the Services for the Company hereunder, or which otherwise conflicts with the Consultant’s obligations under this Agreement, nor shall the Consultant enter into any such third party agreements, including without limitation any employment, consulting or advisory agreements, arrangements or understandings with a Competitor.

(e)The Consultant’s performance of the Services or any other obligations under this Agreement does not and will not conflict with or breach any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any current or previous employer or any other party to which the Consultant is a party or by which the Consultant is bound (including without limitation any non-disclosure or non-competition agreement).

(f)The Consultant has not been debarred and, to the best of the Consultant’s knowledge, is not under consideration to be debarred, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from working in or providing consulting or advisory services to any pharmaceutical or biotechnology company.

Section 6.  Confidentiality.

(a)Obligations of Confidentiality.  The Consultant acknowledges and agrees that the relationship between the Company and the Consultant is one of high trust and confidence, and that, during the course of providing the Services, the Company may disclose to the Consultant certain confidential or proprietary information regarding the Company’s products, technology, business and operations, including without limitation possible product development and marketing plans and strategies, non-public clinical and research and development information, non-public financial information (including projections), trade secrets, inventions, scientific or technical data, copies of non-publicly available agreements or documents (including patent applications), customer and supplier lists, information of third parties that the Company has an obligation to keep confidential and other confidential information as the Company may disclose to the Consultant (collectively, the “Confidential Information”).  For the avoidance of doubt, Works (as defined in Section 7(a)) and the existence of a consulting relationship between the Company and the Consultant (including the terms and conditions of this Agreement) shall be deemed Confidential Information.  The Consultant shall use its best efforts to maintain and protect any and all Confidential Information delivered to it and not to directly or indirectly publish, disseminate or otherwise disclose this Confidential Information to any third party.  The Consultant further agrees to use the Confidential Information solely for the purposes of conducting the Services hereunder and not for the Consultant’s own benefit or for the benefit of any third party.  The Consultant shall not remove any Confidential Information or copies thereof from the Company’s premises, except to the extent necessary to fulfill the Services.

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(b)Employees and Agents.  The Consultant shall only disclose Confidential Information to those of its employees and agents who require knowledge or access to the Confidential Information in the course of providing the Services and who are contractually bound to protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information.  The Consultant shall inform those employees and agents who have access to the Confidential Information that such information is strictly confidential.  The Consultant shall use best efforts to ensure compliance by its employees and agents having access to the Confidential Information and shall be responsible for any breach of this Agreement by such employees and agents.  The Consultant shall not provide Confidential Information to any of its employees or agents who do not have a need to know such Confidential Information.

(c)Exceptions.  The Consultant’s obligations as to the Confidential Information shall not apply to any portion of the Confidential Information:

(i)which is already in the Consultant’s possession at the time of disclosure by the Company, other than by previous disclosure by the Company, as demonstrated by prior written records;

(ii)which is or becomes publicly available or a matter of public knowledge generally, through no act or omission by the Consultant;

(iii)which is lawfully received by the Consultant from a third party who is or was not bound in any confidential relationship to the Company at the time of such disclosure to the Consultant;

(iv)which is independently developed by the Consultant without reference to or reliance upon the Confidential Information (and such independent development can be properly demonstrated by the Consultant by documentary evidence); or

(v)which is required to be disclosed by the Consultant to comply with applicable laws or governmental regulations.

Further, notwithstanding the Consultant’s confidentiality obligations hereunder, the Consultant is hereby advised as follows pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.”

(d)Return of Confidential Information.  Any Confidential Information, including data and materials, furnished by the Company for use by the Consultant in connection with the Services shall remain the sole property of the Company.  The Consultant shall promptly return all such Confidential Information to the Company upon request by the Company or upon termination or expiration of this Agreement.

(e)Injunctive Relief.  The restrictions contained in this Agreement are necessary for the protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and are considered by the Consultant to be reasonable for such purpose.  The Consultant agrees that any breach of Section 6 or 7 is likely to cause the Company substantial and irrevocable damage which is difficult to measure.  

5

Therefore, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Consultant agrees that the Company, in addition to such other remedies as may be available, shall have the right to obtain an injunction from a court restraining such a breach or threatened breach without having to prove actual damages, and the right to specific performance of the provisions of this Agreement, and the Consultant hereby waives the adequacy of a remedy at law as a defense to such relief.

Section 7.  Ownership of Work Product.

(a)Works.  The Consultant shall promptly and fully disclose in writing to the Company all concepts, discoveries, improvements, inventions, formulae, molecules, organisms, chemical or biological materials, ideas, designs, processes, methods, products, computer programs, databases, trade secrets, know-how, technical or business innovations, writings or other works of authorship and patents or patent rights created, reduced to practice or conceived by the Consultant during the term of this Agreement and for six (6) months thereafter (whether or not patentable or copyrightable and whether made solely by the Consultant or jointly with others) which result from the Services or any information derived from the use of any facilities, equipment, supplies or Confidential Information of the Company (collectively, “Works”).  The Consultant shall maintain adequate and current written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and as may be specified by the Company) to document the conception and/or first actual reduction to practice of any Works.  Such written records shall be available to and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company at all times.

(b)Ownership of Works.  The Works shall be and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company or its nominees, whether or not patented or copyrighted and without regard to any termination of this Agreement.  The Works are being created at the insistence of the Company and shall be deemed to be “works made for hire,” except to the extent not permitted under the U.S. copyright laws.  The Consultant hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest in and to all Works and any and all related patent rights, copyrights, trademarks, trade names and other industrial and intellectual property rights and applications, in the United States and throughout the world, and appoints any officer of the Company as its duly authorized attorney to execute, file, prosecute and protect the same before any government agency, court or authority.  Upon the request of the Company and at the Company’s expense, the Consultant shall execute such further assignments, documents and other instruments as may be necessary or desirable to fully and completely assign all right, title and interest in and to all Works to the Company and to assist the Company in applying for, obtaining and enforcing patents or copyrights or other rights in the United States and in any foreign country with respect to any such Works.

(c)Work at Third Party Facilities.  The Consultant agrees not to make any use of any funds, space, personnel, facilities, equipment or other resources of a third party in performing the Services hereunder, nor take any other action, that would result in a third party owning or having rights to any Works, unless agreed upon in writing in advance by the Company.  The Company and the Consultant acknowledge and agree that the Consultant’s use of a third party’s telephones, fax machines or computers for communication purposes does not constitute an unauthorized use of such third party’s facilities under this Section 7(c).

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(d)Agreement with Academic Institution.  This Agreement is made with the understanding that the Consultant, if affiliated with an Academic Institution, may have signed an agreement concerning inventions with such Academic Institution under which the Consultant may be obligated to assign to such Academic Institution certain inventions which arise out of or otherwise relate to the Consultant’s work at or for such Academic Institution or from the Consultant’s use of certain of its facilities or intellectual property.  In performing the Services hereunder, the Consultant agrees not to utilize Academic Institution facilities or intellectual property if the result of such use is that any Works would not be assignable solely to the Company as set forth in this Section 7.

Section 8.  Restriction on Solicitation.  During any period in which the Consultant renders Services to the Company and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, the Consultant shall not recruit or otherwise solicit, entice or induce any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate his or her employment, or otherwise cease his or her relationship, with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Section 9.  Notice.  Any notice required or desired to be given shall be governed solely by this paragraph.  Notice shall be deemed given only upon (a) mailing of any letter or instrument by overnight delivery with a reputable carrier or by registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid by the sender, or (b) personal delivery.

 

	
If to the Consultant:

Robert J. Mulroy

173 Lewis Road

Belmont, MA 02478
	
If to the Company:

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

One Kendall Square, Suite B7201

Cambridge, MA 02139

Attn: Legal Department

From time to time, either party may, by written notice to the other in accordance with this Section 9, designate another address that shall thereupon become the effective address of such party for the purpose of this Section 9.

Section 10.  Miscellaneous.  This Agreement, together with all exhibits hereto, constitutes the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the matters contained herein and supersedes all proposals and agreements, written or oral, and all other communications between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  The headings contained in this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties and are not to be construed as a substantive provision hereof.  This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed or executed by the Consultant and the Company.  In the event any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable or invalid, such unenforceability or invalidity shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement and such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Agreement is held to be excessively broad, it shall be reformed and construed by limiting and reducing it so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, both parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, including any corporation with or into which the Company may be merged or which may succeed to its assets or business; provided, however, that the 

7

responsibility for actual performance of the Services is personal to the Consultant and may not be assigned or delegated by the Consultant to any other person or entity.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and by facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

8

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

	
CONSULTANT
	
 
	
COMPANY

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
/s/ Robert J. Mulroy
	
 
	
/s/ Jeffrey A. Munsie

	
Signature
	
 
	
Signature

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Robert J. Mulroy
	
 
	
Jeffrey A. Munsie

	
Printed Name
	
 
	
Printed Name

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
General Counsel

	
 
	
 
	
Title

 

9

Exhibit A

Description of Services

The Consultant shall use his knowledge and expertise regarding the Company to assist Gary Crocker, the Company’s Chairman of the Board and interim Chief Executive Officer, with the leadership transition of the Company.  The Consultant shall only provide such assistance as is directed by Mr. Crocker.  The Consultant shall not undertake any actions for or on behalf of the Company without written pre-approval from Mr. Crocker, including initiating communications with any partner, stockholder or other business contact of the Company.  In addition, if any partner, stockholder or other business contact of the Company initiates communications with the Consultant, the Consultant shall not substantively respond to or engage with such partner, stockholder or business contact, but rather shall promptly refer such communication to Mr. Crocker to determine the appropriate response.

10

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