Document:

Exhibit 10.11

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), effective as of January 21, 2015, is between N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and R. Michael Carruthers (“Employee”).

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                 Employment.  The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby agrees to be employed by the Company for the period and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

2.                                 Capacity and Duties.  Employee shall be employed by the Company as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. During his employment, Employee shall perform the duties and bear the responsibilities commensurate with his position and shall serve the Company faithfully and to the best of his ability, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer.  Employee shall devote his entire working time, attention and energies to the business of the Company.  His actions shall at all times be such that they do not discredit the Company or its products and services.  Employee shall not engage in any other business activity or activities that, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, may conflict with the proper performance of Employee’s duties hereunder, including constituting a conflict of interest between such activity and Company’s business.

 

3.                                 Compensation and Benefits.

 

(a)                       For all services rendered by Employee the Company shall pay Employee during the term of this Agreement an annual salary (“Base Salary”) as set forth herein, payable semi-monthly in arrears.  Employee’s initial Base Salary shall be $350,000.00.  During the term of this Agreement, the amount of Employee’s Base Salary shall be subject to periodic reviews and adjustments as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

 

(b)                       The Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual performance-based cash bonus in respect of each calendar year, beginning with the 2015 calendar year, to the extent earned based on the achievement of personal and financial performance objectives established by the Company’s Board of Directors no later than 45 days after the commencement of the relevant bonus period. The target annual bonus that the Employee may earn is equal to 30 percent (30%) of the Employee’s Base Salary at the rate in effect at the end of the relevant calendar year, pro-rated to properly reflect any partial year of employment.  If applicable performance goals are not attained at least at the minimum level, no annual performance bonus is payable.  The amount of such annual bonus awarded for a calendar year shall be determined by the Board or a committee thereof after the end of the calendar year to which such bonus relates, and shall be paid to the Employee when annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company

 

 

generally, but in no event later than April 30 of the calendar year following the year for which the bonus is earned.  To be eligible for any such annual bonus under this Section 3(b), the Employee must be actively employed by the Company at the time the Company pays bonuses for the relevant year.

 

(c)                        The Company shall pay to the Employee a lump sum sign-on bonus in the amount of $70,000, less all applicable withholdings, no later than 15 days after the Employee’s employment commencement date.

 

(d)                       The Company shall provide Employee, during the term of this Agreement, with the benefits of such insurance plans, hospitalization plans and other employee fringe benefit plans as shall be generally provided to employees of the Company and for which Employee may be eligible under the terms and conditions thereof.  Nothing herein contained shall require the Company to adopt or maintain any such employee benefit plans.

 

(e)                        During the term of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 5(b), Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and annual vacation consistent with the Company’s customary paid time off policies.

 

(f)                         During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in connection with the business of the Company and in the performance of his duties under this Agreement to the extent consistent with applicable Company policy in effect from time to time and upon presentation to the Company of an itemized accounting of such expenses with reasonable supporting data.

 

(g)                        In consideration of the Employee’s entering into this Agreement and as an inducement to join the Company, the Employee shall be granted under the Company’s option incentive plan as in effect from time to time (the “Option Plan”), a stock option to purchase 600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Option”), subject to approval of the Board of Directors. The exercise price per share of the Option shall be the fair market value of the Company’s common stock (as determined by the Board of Directors) on the Option grant date.  Subject to terms of the Option Plan and the Option award agreement, twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares subject to the Option shall vest on the first anniversary of Employee’s employment start date which is anticipated to be February 4, 2015, and 1/48th of the shares subject to the Option shall vest monthly thereafter so that one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to the Option are vested on the fourth anniversary of the employment start date, so long as the Employee remains employed at each such vesting date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing vesting schedule, upon the effective date of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 5(g)), fifty percent (50%) of the shares subject to the Option which are not then vested will automatically become vested so long as the Employee remains employed on the effective date of such Change in Control.  In the event of any conflict or ambiguity between this Agreement and the Option Plan or the Option award agreement, the Option Plan and the Option award agreement shall govern.

 

 

4.                                 Term of Employment.  Unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 5, the initial term of this Agreement shall be one (1) year from the effective date of this Agreement, and thereafter shall continue for one year terms from year to year unless and until either party shall give notice to the other at least 30 days prior to the end of the original or then current renewal term of his or its intention to terminate at the end of such term.

 

5.                                 Termination/Severance.

 

(a)                       If Employee dies during the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay his estate the compensation that would otherwise be payable to him for the month in which his death occurs, this Agreement shall be considered terminated on the last day of such month and the Company shall cause any issued but unvested stock options granted to Employee to immediately vest.

 

(b)                       If during the term of this Agreement, Employee is prevented from performing his duties by reason of illness or incapacity for a continuous period of 120 days, the Company may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days’ prior notice thereof to Employee or his duly appointed legal representative. For the purposes of this Section 5(b), a period of illness or incapacity shall be deemed “continuous” notwithstanding Employee’s performance of his duties during such period for continuous periods of less than 15 days in duration.

 

(c)                        The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Employee’s (1) gross negligence; (2) a material breach of any obligation created by this Agreement; (3) a violation of any policy, procedure or guideline of the Company, or any material injury to the economic or ethical welfare of the Company caused by Employee’s malfeasance, misfeasance, misconduct or inattention to Employee’s duties and responsibilities, or any other material failure to comply with the Company’s reasonable performance expectations, upon notice of the same from the Company and failure to cure such violation, injury or failure within 30 days; or (4) misconduct, including but not limited to, commission of any felony, or of any misdemeanor involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or violation of any state or federal law in the course of his employment, theft or misuse of the Company’s property or time.

 

(d)                       The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for any or no reason upon 15 days’ notice to Employee.

 

(e)                       If this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the end of the term pursuant to any provision other than Sections 4, 5(a) or 5(c) (the “Termination Date”), then, provided Employee executes the release described in Section 5(f) below and complies with his obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement and Noncompete Agreement incorporated by reference in Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement:

 

(i) the Company shall pay to Employee as severance an amount equal to

 

 

twelve (12) month’s Base Salary, in equal installments, subject to all applicable deductions and withholdings;

 

(ii) if the Employee timely and properly elects to continue his Company-sponsored group health coverage following the Termination Date pursuant to COBRA, the Company will reimburse Employee each month for his cost to purchase such coverage until the earlier of (A) the date that is twelve months following the Termination Date or (B) the date the Employee ceases to be eligible for such COBRA coverage; and

 

(iii)  the Company shall cause any issued but unvested options scheduled to vest in the 12 months following the date that Employee’s Termination Date occurs to immediately vest; provided, however, that this sentence shall not diminish the 100% vesting contemplated by 5(g) below in connection with a Change of Control.

 

The payments and benefits set forth in Sections 5(e)(i), (ii), and (iii) are collectively referred to as the “Severance Benefits.”

 

(f)                       As a condition of receiving the Severance Benefits, the Employee agrees to execute, deliver and not revoke, within sixty (60) days following the Termination Date, a general release in such form as is requested by the Company, such release to be delivered, and to have become fully irrevocable, on or before the end of such sixty (60)-day period.  If such a general release has not been executed and delivered and become irrevocable on or before the end of such sixty (60)-day period, no amounts or benefits under Section 5(e) shall be or become payable. The Company shall pay Employee the Severance Benefits commencing with the first regular payroll period after the release becomes irrevocable; provided, however, that in no event shall the timing of Employee’s execution of the release, directly or indirectly, result in the Employee designating the calendar year of payment, and if a payment that is subject to execution of the release could be made in more than one taxable year, such payment shall be made in the later taxable year.

 

(g)                        If, within twelve (12) months following the date a Change of Control occurs, the Company terminates this Agreement other than pursuant to Sections 4, 5(a) or 5(c) above, all outstanding options granted to Employee as of such event shall immediately vest (to the extent they are not already vested).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean the sale of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of capital stock, assets or business of the Company, by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise (other than a transaction in which all or substantially all of the persons who were beneficial owners of the capital stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities (on an as-converted to Common Stock basis) of the (i) resulting, surviving or acquiring entity in such transaction in the case of a merger, consolidation or sale of outstanding shares, or (ii) acquiring entity in the case of a sale of assets).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, sale of Company stock pursuant

 

 

to an initial public offering or follow-on public offering shall not constitute a Change in Control.

 

(h)                       The payment to the Employee of the amounts payable under this Section 5 shall constitute the sole remedy of the Employee in the event of a termination of the Employee’s employment by the Company that results in payment of benefits under this Section 5.

 

6.                                 Confidential Information.  This Agreement incorporates by reference all the terms of that certain Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement dated as of January 27, 2015 between Employee and the Company, as if fully set forth herein.

 

7.                                 Covenants Not to Compete or Interfere.  This Agreement incorporates all the terms of that certain Noncompete Agreement dated as of January 27, 2015 between Employee and the Company, as if fully set forth herein.  The parties hereby acknowledge that any Severance Benefits paid made under Section 5 of this Agreement shall be consideration for Employee’s covenant not to compete with the Company.

 

8.                                 Waiver of Breach.  A waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by Employee shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by Employee.

 

9.                                 Severability.  It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision or portion of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to delete therefrom the portion thus adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of this Section in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.

 

10.                          Notices.  All communications, requests, consents and other notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: (i) If to the Company: to its principal office at 3122 Sterling Circle, Suite 200, Boulder, Colorado 80301; (ii) If to Employee: to the Employee’s home address listed in the Company’s personnel records, or such other address as either party may hereafter designate by notice as herein provided. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, so long as Employee is employed by the Company, any such communication, request, consent or other notice shall be deemed given if delivered as follows: if to the Company, by hand delivery to any executive officer of the Company (other than Employee), and if to Employee, by hand delivery to him.

 

11.                          Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to choice of law provisions thereof, and the parties each agree to exclusive jurisdiction in the state and federal courts in Colorado.

 

 

12.                          Waiver of Jury Trial.  EMPLOYEE AND THE COMPANY HEREBY AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.  THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS.  EMPLOYEE AND THE COMPANY WARRANT AND REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.  IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

 

13.                          Assignment.  The Company may assign, without the consent of Employee, its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any affiliate of the Company or to any acquirer of substantially all of the business of the Company, and all covenants and agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by or against any such assignee. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or duties hereunder may be assigned or delegated by Employee.

 

14.                          Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, whether written or oral, which relate in any way to the subject matter hereof.

 

15.                          Amendments.  No provision of this Agreement shall be altered, amended, revoked or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the party sought to be charged with such amendment, revocation or waiver.

 

16.                          Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns.

 

17.                          Section 409A.  Payments pursuant to this Agreement are intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code or 1986 (the “Code”) and accompanying regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”), and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly.  Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment.  Any payments to be made under this Agreement upon a termination of employment shall only be made

 

 

upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A.  To the extent that any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, (i) such reimbursement or benefit will be provided no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred; (ii) the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year will not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year; and (iii) the right to reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A and in no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the Employee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.

 

Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then with regard to any Severance Benefit or other payment or benefit under this Agreement that is “deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A) and which is paid as a result of the Employee’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A), such payment or benefit shall be made or provided at the date which is the earlier of (A) six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Employee’s separation from service, and (B) the Employee’s death (the “Delay Period”).  Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to the preceding sentence (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to the Employee in a lump sum without interest, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

 

18.                          Certain Additional Payments by the Company; Code Section 280G.

 

(a)                            Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if any payment or benefit Employee would receive pursuant to this Agreement (“Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.  The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount, after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in Employee’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax.  If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the following order: (A) payments which do not constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A; (B) cash payments shall be reduced first and in reverse chronological order such that the cash payment owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the

 

 

event triggering such Excise Tax will be the first cash payment to be reduced; and (C) employee benefits shall be reduced last (but only to the extent such benefits may be reduced under applicable law, including, but not limited to the Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) and in reverse chronological order such that the benefit owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering such Excise Tax will be the first benefit to be reduced.  Any reduction shall be made in accordance with Section 409A.

 

(b)                            The determinations and calculations required hereunder shall be made by nationally recognized accounting firm that is (i) not be serving as accountant or auditor for the person who acquires ownership or effective control or ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) or any affiliate of such person, and (ii) agreed upon by the Company and Employee (the “Accounting Firm”).  The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by the Accounting Firm required to be made hereunder.

 

(c)                             The Accounting Firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and Employee within fifteen (15) business days after the date on which right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Employee) or such other time as requested by the Company or Employee. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Employee.

 

19.                          Clawback.  Any incentive based compensation, or any other compensation, paid or payable to Employee pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with the Company, which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation, order or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback (recovery) as may be required to be made pursuant to law, government regulation, order, stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy of the Company adopted pursuant to any such law, government regulation, order or stock exchange listing requirement). Employee specifically authorizes the Company to withhold from future wages any amounts that may become due under this provision; provided, however, nothing in this provision is intended to permit a change in the terms of payment of any deferred compensation subject to Section 409A in any manner that would violate or create a plan failure under Section 409A. This Section 19 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have caused this Agreement to be effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
N30 PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Jon   Congleton
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Jon Congleton
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
CEO
    
	
 
    	
Date:
    	
1/22/15
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EMPLOYEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ R. Michael   Carruthers
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
R. Michael Carruthers
    
	
 
    	
Date:
    	
1/21/15
    

 

[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]

 

 

N30 PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT

 

As a condition of my employment with N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (together, the “Company”), and in consideration of my employment with the Company and my receipt of the compensation now and hereafter paid to me by the Company, I agree to the following terms under this Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement (this “Agreement”):

 

1.                                      Employment

 

(a)                                 I understand and acknowledge that my employment with the Company is for an unspecified duration and constitutes “at-will” employment.  I acknowledge that this employment relationship may be terminated at any time, with or without good cause or for any or no cause, at the option either of the Company or myself, with or without notice.  I further acknowledge that the Company may modify job titles, salaries, and benefits from time to time as it deems necessary.

 

(b)                                 I agree that, during the term of my employment with the Company, I will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity related to the business in which the Company is now involved or becomes involved during the term of my employment, nor will I engage in any other activities that conflict with my obligations to the Company.

 

2.                                      Confidential Information

 

(a)                                 Definition of Confidential Information.  I understand that “Company Confidential Information” means information that the Company has or will develop, acquire, create, compile, discover or own, that has value in or to the Company’s business which is not generally known and which the Company wishes to maintain as confidential.  Company Confidential Information includes both information disclosed by the Company to me, and information developed or learned by me during the course of my employment with the Company.  Company Confidential Information also includes all information of which the unauthorized disclosure could be detrimental to the interests of Company, whether or not such information is identified as Company Confidential Information.  By example, and without limitation, Company Confidential Information includes any and all non-public information that relates to the actual or anticipated business and/or products, research or development of the Company, or to the Company’s technical data, trade secrets or know-how, including, but not limited to, research, business plans, product plans, products or services, and markets therefor, customer lists and customers (including, but not limited to, customers of the Company on whom I called or with whom I may become acquainted during the term of my employment with the Company), market research, works of original authorship, intellectual property (including, but not limited to, unpublished works and undisclosed patents), photographs, negatives, digital images, software, computer programs, ideas, developments, inventions (whether or not patentable), processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings and engineering, hardware configuration information, forecasts, strategies, marketing, finances or other business information disclosed to me by the Company either directly or indirectly in writing, orally or by drawings or observation or inspection of parts or equipment.  I further understand that Confidential Information does not include any of the foregoing items that (i) have become publicly known or made generally available prior to the time of disclosure by the Company to me; or (ii) becomes publicly known or made generally available through no wrongful act of mine or of others who were under confidentiality obligations as to the item or items involved.

 

 

(b)                                 Nonuse and Nondisclosure of Confidential Information.  I agree that during and after my employment with the Company, I will hold in strictest confidence, and take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of Company Confidential Information, and I will not (i) use the Company Confidential Information for any purpose whatsoever other than for the benefit of the Company in the course of my employment, or (ii) disclose the Company Confidential Information to any third party without the prior written authorization of the President, CEO, or the Board of Directors of the Company.  Prior to disclosure when compelled by applicable law, I shall provide prior written notice to the President, CEO and General Counsel of the Company (as applicable).  I agree that I obtain no title to any Company Confidential Information, and that as between Company and myself, the Company retains all Confidential Information as its sole property.  I understand that my unauthorized use or disclosure of Company Confidential Information during my employment may lead to disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination and legal action by the Company.  I understand that my obligations under this Section 2(b) shall continue after termination of my employment.

 

(c)                                  Other Employer Information.  I agree that I will not, during my employment with the Company, improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former employer or other person or entity with whom I have an obligation to keep in confidence.  I further agree that I will not bring onto the Company’s premises or transfer onto the Company’s technology systems any unpublished document, proprietary information or trade secrets belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer, person or entity.

 

(d)                                 Third Party Information.  I recognize that the Company has received and in the future will receive from third parties associated with the Company, e.g., the Company’s customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, partners, or collaborators, their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes.  I agree to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary in carrying out my work for the Company consistent with the Company’s agreement with such third party.  I further agree to comply with any and all Company policies and guidelines that may be adopted from time to time regarding third party confidential information.

 

3.                                      Intellectual Property

 

(a)                                 Assignment of Inventions.  I agree that all right, title, and interest in and to any and all copyrightable material, notes, records, drawings, designs, inventions, improvements, developments, discoveries and trade secrets conceived, discovered, authored, invented, developed or reduced to practice by me, solely or in collaboration with others, during the period of time I am in the employ of the Company (including during my off-duty hours), or with the use of Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or Company Confidential Information, and any copyrights, patents, trade secrets, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating to the foregoing (collectively, “Inventions”), are the sole property of the Company.  I also agree that I will promptly make full written disclosure to Company of any Inventions, and to deliver and assign and hereby irrevocably assign to the Company all of my right, title and interest in and to Inventions.  I agree that this assignment includes a present conveyance to the Company of ownership of Inventions that are not yet in existence.  I further acknowledge that all original works of authorship that are made by me (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of and during the period of my employment with the Company and that are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act.  To the extent any Intellectual Property is not deemed to be work made for hire, then I will and hereby do assign all my right, title and interest in such Intellectual Property to the Company, except as provided on Exhibit A.

 

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(b)                                 Intellectual Property Retained and Licensed.  I have attached hereto as Exhibit A  a list of all original works of authorship, inventions, developments, improvements, trademarks, designs, domain names, processes, methods and trade secrets that were made by me prior to my employment with the Company (collectively referred to as “Prior Intellectual Property”), that belong to me, that relate to the Company hereunder’s proposed business, products or research and development, and that are not assigned to the Company hereunder; or, if no such list is attached, I represent that there is no such Prior Intellectual Property.  If in the course of my Relationship with the Company, I incorporate into Company property any Prior Intellectual Property owned by me or in which I have an interest, the Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Intellectual Property as part of or in connection with such Company property.

 

(c)                                  Patent and Copyright Registrations.  I agree to assist the Company, or its designee, at the Company’s expense, in every proper way to secure the Company’s rights in the Intellectual Property and any copyrights, patents, trademarks, domain names or other intellectual property rights relating thereto in any and all countries, including the disclosure to the Company of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto and the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and other instruments that the Company shall deem necessary in order to apply for, register and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Company and its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property and any copyrights, patents, trademarks, domain names or other intellectual property rights relating thereto.  I further agree that my obligation to execute or cause to be executed, when it is in my power to do so, any such instrument or papers shall continue after the termination of this Agreement.  If the Company is unable because of my mental or physical incapacity or for any other reason to secure my assistance in perfecting the rights transferred in this  Agreement, then I hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in my behalf and stead to execute and file any such applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of letters patent and copyright, trademark or domain name registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me.  The designation and appointment of the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agent and attorney in fact shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest and therefore irrevocable.

 

(d)                                 Maintenance of Records.  I agree to keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all Intellectual Property made by me (solely or jointly with others) during the term of my employment with the Company.  The records will be in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, works of original authorship, photographs, negatives or digital images or in any other format that may be specified by the Company.  The records will be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.

 

(e)                                  Exception to Assignments.  I understand that the provisions of this Agreement requiring assignment of Intellectual Property to the Company do not apply to any intellectual property that (i) I develop entirely on my own time; and (ii) I develop without using Company equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information; and (iii) does not result from any work performed by me for the Company; and (iv) does not relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice to the Company’s current or anticipated business, or to its actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development.  Any such intellectual property will be owned entirely by me, even if developed by me during the time period in which I am employed by the Company.  I will advise the Company promptly in writing of any intellectual property that I believe meets the criteria for exclusion set forth herein and is not otherwise disclosed on Exhibit A.

 

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(f)                                   Return of Company Documents.  I agree that, at the time of leaving the employ of the Company, I will deliver to the Company (and will not keep in my possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any and all works of original authorship, domain names, original registration certificates, photographs, negatives, digital images, devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment or other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items, developed by me pursuant to my employment with the Company or otherwise belonging to the Company or its successors or assigns.  In the event of the termination of my Relationship with the Company, I agree to sign and deliver the “Termination Certificate” attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

4.                                      Notification of New Employer

 

In the event that I leave the employ of the Company, I hereby grant consent to notification by the Company to my new employer or consulting client of my rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

5.                                      No Solicitation of Employees

 

To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, I agree that during my employment and for a period of twelve (12) months immediately following the termination of my employment with the Company for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, with or without cause, I will not directly or indirectly solicit the employment of, or recruit or otherwise seek to hire, any person who is then employed by the Company or who was employed by the Company within the prior twelve (12)-month period, on behalf of myself or any other person, firm, corporation, association or other entity, directly or indirectly.

 

6.                                      Representations

 

I represent that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by me in confidence or in trust prior to my employment with the Company.  I have not entered into, and I agree I will not enter into, any oral or written agreement in conflict herewith.  I agree to execute any proper oath or verify any proper document required to carry out the terms of this Agreement.

 

7.                                      Equitable Relief

 

The Company and I each agree that disputes relating to or arising out of a breach of the covenants contained in this Agreement may cause the Company or me, as applicable, to suffer irreparable harm and to have no adequate remedy at law.  In the event of any such breach or default by a party, or any threat of such breach or default, the other party will be entitled to injunctive relief, specific performance and other equitable relief.  The parties further agree that no bond or other security shall be required in obtaining such equitable relief and hereby consents to the issuance of such injunction and to the ordering of specific performance.

 

8.                                      General Provisions

 

(a)                                 Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction.  This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado as they apply to contracts entered into and wholly to be performed within such state.

 

(b)                                 Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the Exhibits herein and any executed written offer letter between me and the Company, to the extent such materials are not in conflict with this Agreement, sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and me relating to the subject matter herein and merges all prior discussions between us.  No modification of or amendment 

 

4

 

to this Agreement, or any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, will be effective unless in writing signed by the party to be charged.  Any subsequent change or changes in my duties, salary or compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  Severability.  If a court or other body of competent jurisdiction finds, or the parties mutually believe, any provision of this Agreement, or portion thereof, to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the parties, and the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

 

(d)                                 Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement will be binding upon my heirs, executors, assigns, administrators, and other legal representatives, and will be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns.  There are no intended third-party beneficiaries to this Agreement, except as may be expressly otherwise stated.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the Company’s relevant assets, whether by merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, sale of assets or stock, or otherwise.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

5

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement as of January 21, 2015.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
EMPLOYEE:  
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ R. Michael Carruthers
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: 
    	
R. Michael Carruthers 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Address:
    8181 N. 41st Street
   Longmont, CO 80503
    

 

	
N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By: 
    	
/s/   Jon Congleton 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name: 
    	
Jon Congleton 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title: 
    	
President and CEO
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FORM OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT]

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS

AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

 

	
Title
    	
 
    	
Date
    	
 
    	
Identifying Number
   or Brief Description
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

x No inventions or improvements

 

o Additional sheets attached

 

 

	
Date:   
    	
1-21-15
    	
 
    	
/s/   R. Michael Carruthers
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Signature
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
R.   Michael Carruthers
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name   of Employee (typed or printed)
    

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

TERMINATION CERTIFICATE

 

This is to certify that I do not have in my possession, nor have I failed to return, any and all works of original authorship, domain names, original registration certificates, photographs, negatives, digital images, devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, or other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items, belonging to N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (collectively, the “Company”).

 

I further certify that I have complied with all the terms of the Company’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement signed by me (the “Agreement”), including the reporting of any Intellectual Property (as defined therein) conceived or made by me (solely or jointly with others) covered by the Agreement.

 

I further agree that, in compliance with the Intellectual Property Agreement, I will preserve as confidential all trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or other proprietary information relating to products, processes, methods, know-how, designs, formulas, developmental or experimental work, computer programs, databases, other original works of authorship, customer lists, business plans, financial information or other subject matter pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its employees, clients, consultants or licensees.

 

I further agree that for twelve (12) months from this date, I shall not solicit the employment of any person who shall then be employed by the Company (as an employee or consultant) or who shall have been employed by the Company (as an employee or consultant) within the prior twelve (12) month period, on behalf of myself or any other person, firm, corporation, association or other entity, directly or indirectly, all as provided more fully in the Agreement.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
EMPLOYEE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
					

 

 

NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT

 

This NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),”), effective as of January 21, 2015, is between N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and R. Michael Carruthers (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.            Employee is or may be employed in an executive, management or professional capacity for the Company.

 

B.            The Employee desires to enter into or continue in the employment (as the case may be) of the Company.

 

C.            In order to protect the trade secrets and confidential information of the Company and as a condition to employment or the continued employment (as the case may be) of Employee, the Company requires that Employee enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of Employee’s employment with the Company and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.             Covenants Not to Compete or Interfere.

 

(a)           During the term of Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months thereafter, and regardless of the reason for Employee’s termination, Employee shall not, within the United States or within a 50 mile radius of any area where the Company is doing business (including any point of sale of the Company’s products or services) at the time of such termination, directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, control, be employed by or otherwise participate in any commercial pharmaceutical or biotech business that has an active research or development program directed to small molecule, targeted products and services for use in the treatment of cystic fibrosis that are competitive with those of the Company, or is commercializing such services or products (a “Competing Business”).

 

(b)           During the term of Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months thereafter, and regardless of the reason for Employee’s termination, Employee shall not (i) cause or attempt to cause any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, (ii) actively recruit any employee of the Company to work for any organization of, or in which Employee is an officer, director, employee, consultant, independent contractor or owner of an equity interest; or (iii) on behalf of a Competing Business, solicit, divert or take away, or attempt to take away, the business or patronage of any client, customer or account, or prospective client, customer or account, of the Company which were contacted, solicited or served by Employee while employed by the Company.

 

 

(c)           Employee acknowledges that through his employment with the Company he will acquire access to information suited to immediate application by a business in competition with the Company.  Accordingly, Employee considers the foregoing restrictions on his future employment or business activities in all respects reasonable.  Employee specifically acknowledges that the Company and its licensees, as well as the Company’s competitors, provide their services throughout the geographic area specified in Section 1(a) above.  Employee therefore specifically consents to the foregoing geographic restriction on competition and believes that such a restriction is reasonable, given the scope of the Company’s business and the nature of Employee’s position with the Company.

 

(d)           Employee acknowledges the following provisions of Colorado law, set forth in Colorado Revised Statutes § 8-2-113(2):

 

Any covenant not to compete which restricts the right of any person to receive compensation for performance of skilled or unskilled labor for any employer shall be void, but this subsection (2) shall not apply to:

 

(a)                                 Any contract for the purchase and sale of a business or the assets of a business;

 

(b)                                 Any contract for the protection of trade secrets;

 

(c)                                  Any contract provision providing for the recovery of the expense of educating and training an employee who has served an employer for a period of less than two years;

 

(d)                                 Executive and management personnel and officers and employees who constitute professional staff to executive and management personnel.

 

Employee acknowledges that this Agreement is a contract for the protection of trade secrets under § 8-2-113(2)(b), and is intended to protect the confidential information and trade secrets of the Company, and that Employee is an executive and management employee or professional staff to executive or management personnel, within the meaning of § 8-2-113(2)(d).

 

2.             No Employment Contract; Termination.  This Agreement is not an employment contract and by execution hereof the parties do not intend to create an employment contract.  If, through no fault of Employee, the Company liquidates substantially all of its assets, or permanently terminates its operations, Employee’s obligations under Paragraphs 1(a) and 1(b) shall also terminate.

 

3.             Injunctive Relief; Damages.  Upon a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining Employee from such breach without posting a bond.  Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies for such breach or threatened breach, including recovery of damages from Employee.

 

 

4.             Attorney’s Fees.  In any action to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation and litigation.

 

5.             Severability.  It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the law.  Accordingly, if any provision of this Agreement shall prove to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and in lieu of each provision of this Agreement that is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.  In the event that a court finds any portion of Section 1 to be overly broad, and therefore unenforceable, the parties intend that the court shall modify such portion of paragraph 1 to reflect the maximum restraint allowable, and shall enforce this Agreement and the covenants herein as so modified.

 

6.             Entire Agreement; Governing Law.  This Agreement embodies the entire Agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and replaces and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous negotiations, oral representations, agreements or understandings among or attributable to the parties hereto.  The provisions of this Agreement shall not limit or otherwise affect Employee’s obligations under the provisions of any agreement with the Company with respect to the nondisclosure of the Company’s confidential information.  This Agreement and all performances hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.

 

7.             Consent to Jurisdiction.  All judicial proceedings brought against Employee arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in this State of Colorado, and by execution and delivery of this Agreement, Employee accepts the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and waives any defense of forum non convenient and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement.

 

8.             Waiver of Jury Trial.  Employee and the Company hereby agree to waive their respective rights to a jury trial of any claim or cause of action based upon or arising out of this Agreement.  The scope of this waiver is intended to be all encompassing of any and all disputes that may be filed in any court and that relate to the subject matter of this Agreement, including without limitation, contract claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims, and all other common law and statutory claims.  Employee and the Company warrant and represent that each has reviewed this waiver with its legal counsel and that each knowingly and voluntarily waives its jury trial rights following consultation with legal counsel.  In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court.

 

9.             Amendments; Waiver.  This Agreement may not be altered or amended, and no right hereunder may be waived, except by an instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any term, provision, or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, provision or condition or as a waiver of any other term, provision or condition of this Agreement.

 

 

10.          Assignment.  The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or to any acquirer of substantially all of the business of the Company, and all covenants and Agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by or against any such assignee.  Neither this Agreement nor any rights or duties hereunder may be assigned or delegated by Employee.

 

11.          Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns.

 

 

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

 

 

	
COMPANY:
    	
 
    	
N30   PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
a   Delaware corporation
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/   Jon Congleton
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Jon Congleton
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
EMPLOYEE:
    	
 
    	
/s/   R. Michael Carruthers
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   R. Michael CarruthersExhibit 10.12

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), effective as of November 1, 2012, is between N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Sherif E. Gabriel (“Employee”).

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                 Employment.  The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby agrees to be employed by the Company for the period and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

2.                                 Capacity and Duties.  Employee shall be employed by the Company as the Company’s Vice President of Research. During his employment, Employee shall perform the duties and bear the responsibilities commensurate with his position and shall serve the Company faithfully and to the best of his ability, under the direction of the Board of Directors.  Employee shall devote his entire working time, attention and energies to the business of the Company.  His actions shall at all times be such that they do not discredit the Company or its products and services.  Employee shall not engage in any other business activity or activities that, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, may conflict with the proper performance of Employee’s duties hereunder, including constituting a conflict of interest between such activity and Company’s business.

 

3.                                 Compensation and Benefits.

 

(a)                       For all services rendered by Employee the Company shall pay Employee during the term of this Agreement an annual salary as set forth herein, payable semimonthly in arrears.  Employee’s initial annual salary shall be $285,000.00.  During the term of this Agreement, the amount of Employee’s salary shall be subject to periodic reviews and adjustments as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion.  In addition, Employee shall be eligible for performance bonuses in cash and/or equity on an annual or more frequent basis, as determined by, and at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

(b)                       In addition to salary payments as provided in Section 3(a), the Company shall provide Employee, during the term of this Agreement, with the benefits of such insurance plans, hospitalization plans and other employee fringe benefit plans as shall be generally provided to employees of the Company and for which Employee may be eligible under the terms and conditions thereof.  Nothing herein contained shall require the Company to adopt or maintain any such employee benefit plans.

 

(c)                        During the term of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 5(b), Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and annual vacation consistent with the Company’s customary paid time off policies.

 

 

(d)                       During the term of this Agreement the Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in connection with the business of the Company and in the performance of his duties under this Agreement upon presentation to the Company of an itemized accounting of such expenses with reasonable supporting data.

 

4.                                 Term of Employment.  Unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 5, the initial term of this Agreement shall be two (2) years from the effective date of this Agreement, and thereafter shall continue for one year terms from year to year unless and until either party shall give notice to the other at least 30 days prior to the end of the original or then current renewal term of his or its intention to terminate at the end of such term.  The provisions of Sections 6, 7, and 9 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.

 

5.                                 Termination/Severance.

 

(a)                       If Employee dies during the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay his estate the compensation that would otherwise be payable to him for the month in which his death occurs, this Agreement shall be considered terminated on the last day of such month and the Company shall cause any issued but unvested stock options granted to Employee to immediately vest.

 

(b)                       If during the term of this Agreement Employee is prevented from performing his duties by reason of illness or incapacity for a continuous period of 120 days, the Company may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days’ prior notice thereof to Employee or his duly appointed legal representative. For the purposes of this Section 5(b), a period of illness or incapacity shall be deemed “continuous” notwithstanding Employee’s performance of his duties during such period for continuous periods of less than 15 days in duration.

 

(c)                        The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Employee’s (1) gross negligence; (2) a material breach of any obligation created by this Agreement; (3) a violation of any policy, procedure or guideline of the Company, or any material injury to the economic or ethical welfare of the Company caused by Employee’s malfeasance, misfeasance, misconduct or inattention to Employee’s duties and responsibilities, or any other material failure to comply with the Company’s reasonable performance expectations, upon notice of the same from the Company and failure to cure such violation, injury or failure within 30 days; or (4) misconduct, including but not limited to, commission of any felony, or of any misdemeanor involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or violation of any state or federal law in the course of his employment; theft or misuse of the Company’s property or time.

 

(d)                       The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for any or no reason upon 30 days’ notice to Employee.

 

 

(e)                        If this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the end of the term pursuant to any provision other than 5(a) or 5(c), then (i) the Company shall pay to Employee twelve (12) month’s salary, or the amount due Employee through the remainder of the term, whichever is greater, in equal monthly installments, subject to all applicable deductions and withholdings; (ii) the Company shall provide Employee with paid COBRA benefits during the twelve-month period following the Termination Date;  and (iii) ) the Company shall cause any issued but unvested options scheduled to vest in the year of termination to immediately vest; provided, however, that this sentence shall not diminish the 100% vesting contemplated by 3(f) below in connection with a Change of Control.

 

(f)                              If a Change of Control occurs, all outstanding options granted to Employee as of such event shall immediately vest (to the extent they are not already vested).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean consolidation or merger involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving entity or any transaction in which more than 50% of the Company’s voting power is transferred or more than 50% of the Company’s assets are sold.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, sale of Company stock pursuant to an initial public offering or follow-on public offering shall not constitute a Change in Control.

 

(g)                        As a condition to receiving any severance payments under this Agreement, Employee shall execute a release reasonably acceptable to the Company and Employee, and shall comply with his obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement and Noncompete Agreement incorporated by reference in Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement.

 

(h)                       The payment to the Employee of the amounts payable under this Section 5 shall constitute the sole remedy of the Employee in the event of a termination of the Employee’s employment by the Company that results in payment of benefits under this Section 5.

 

6.                                 Confidential Information.  This Agreement incorporates by reference all the terms of that certain Confidential Information Agreement dated as of September 5, 2012 between Employee and the Company, as if fully set forth herein.

 

7.                                 Covenants Not to Compete or Interfere.  This Agreement incorporates all the terms of that certain Noncompete Agreement between Employee and the Company, as if fully set forth herein.  The parties hereby acknowledge that any severance payments made under Section 5 of this Agreement shall be consideration for Employee’s covenant not to compete with the Company.

 

8.                                 Waiver of Breach.  A waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by Employee shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by Employee.

 

 

9.                                 Severability.  It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision or portion of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to delete therefrom the portion thus adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of this Section in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.

 

10.                          Notices.  All communications, requests, consents and other notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: (i) If to the Company: to its principal office at 3122 Sterling Circle, Suite 200, Boulder, Colorado 80301; (ii) If to Employee: at the Company’s principal office; or such other address as either party may hereafter designate by notice as herein provided. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, so long as Employee is employed by the Company, any such communication, request, consent or other notice shall be deemed given if delivered as follows: if to the Company, by hand delivery to any executive officer of the Company (other than Employee), and if to Employee, by hand delivery to him.

 

11.                          Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to choice of law provisions thereof, and the parties each agree to exclusive jurisdiction in the state and federal courts in Colorado.

 

12.                          Indemnification.  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless Employee from any claim, costs, and expenses arising out of services rendered by Employee to the Company to the extent that Employee acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by Employee to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, other than claims arising out of Employee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

13.                          Assignment.  The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any affiliate of the Company or to any acquirer of substantially all of the business of the Company, and all covenants and agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by or against any such assignee. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or duties hereunder may be assigned or delegated by Employee.

 

14.                          Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, whether written or oral, which relate in any way to the subject matter hereof.

 

15.                          Amendments.  No provision of this Agreement shall be altered, amended, revoked or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the party sought to be charged with such amendment, revocation or waiver.

 

 

16.                          Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have caused this Agreement to be effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
 
    	
N30   PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Charles   Scoggin
    
	
 
    	
Name: Charles Scoggin
    
	
 
    	
Title: Chief   Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EMPLOYEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Sherif E. Gabriel
    
	
 
    	
Name: Sherif E. Gabriel
    

 

[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]

 

 

NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT

 

This NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),”), effective as of November 1, 2012, is between N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Sherif E. Gabriel (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                       Employee is or may be employed in an executive, management or professional capacity for the Company.

 

B.                       The Employee desires to enter into or continue in the employment (as the case may be) of the Company.

 

C.                       In order to protect the trade secrets and confidential information of the Company and as a condition to employment or the continued employment (as the case may be) of Employee, the Company requires that Employee enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of Employee’s employment with the Company and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                         Covenants Not to Compete or Interfere.

 

(a)                                 During the term of Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months thereafter, and regardless of the reason for Employee’s termination, Employee shall not, within the United States or within a 50 mile radius of any area where the Company is doing business (including any point of sale of the Company’s products or services) at the time of such termination, directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, control, be employed by or otherwise participate in any commercial pharmaceutical or biotech business that has an active research or development program directed to small molecule, targeted products and services for use in the treatment of cystic fibrosis that are competitive with those of the Company, or is commercializing such services or products.

 

(b)                     During the term of Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of 12 months thereafter, and regardless of the reason for Employee’s termination, Employee shall not (i) cause or attempt to cause any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, (ii) actively recruit any employee of the Company to work for any organization of, or in which Employee is an officer, director, employee, consultant, independent contractor or owner of an equity interest; or (iii) solicit, divert or take away, or attempt to take away, the business or patronage of any client, customer or account, or prospective client, customer or account, of the Company

 

 

which were contacted, solicited or served by Employee while employed by the Company.

 

(c)                      Employee acknowledges that through his employment with the Company he will acquire access to information suited to immediate application by a business in competition with the Company.  Accordingly, Employee considers the foregoing restrictions on his future employment or business activities in all respects reasonable.  Employee specifically acknowledges that the Company and its licensees, as well as the Company’s competitors, provide their services throughout the geographic area specified in Section 1(a) above.  Employee therefore specifically consents to the foregoing geographic restriction on competition and believes that such a restriction is reasonable, given the scope of the Company’s business and the nature of Employee’s position with the Company.

 

(d)                     Employee acknowledges the following provisions of Colorado law, set forth in Colorado Revised Statutes § 8-2-113(2):

 

Any covenant not to compete which restricts the right of any person to receive compensation for performance of skilled or unskilled labor for any employer shall be void, but this subsection (2) shall not apply to:

 

(a)                     Any contract for the purchase and sale of a business or the assets of a business;

 

(b)                     Any contract for the protection of trade secrets;

 

(c)                      Any contract provision providing for the recovery of the expense of educating and training an employee who has served an employer for a period of less than two years;

 

(d)                     Executive and management personnel and officers and employees who constitute professional staff to executive and management personnel.

 

Employee acknowledges that this Agreement is a contract for the protection of trade secrets under § 8-2-113(2)(b), and is intended to protect the confidential information and trade secrets of the Company, and that Employee is an executive and management employee or professional staff to executive or management personnel, within the meaning of § 8-2-113(2)(d).

 

2.                         No Employment Contract; Termination.  This Agreement is not an employment contract and by execution hereof the parties do not intend to create an employment contract.  If, through no fault of Employee, the Company liquidates substantially all of its assets, or permanently terminates its operations, Employee’s obligations under Paragraphs 1(a) and 1(b) shall also terminate.

 

 

3.                         Injunctive Relief; Damages.  Upon a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining Employee from such breach without posting a bond.  Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies for such breach or threatened breach, including recovery of damages from Employee.

 

4.                         Attorney’s Fees.  In any action to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation and litigation.

 

5.                         Severability.  It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the law.  Accordingly, if any provision of this Agreement shall prove to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and in lieu of each provision of this Agreement that is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.  In the event that a court finds any portion of Section 1 to be overly broad, and therefore unenforceable, the parties intend that the court shall modify such portion of paragraph 1 to reflect the maximum restraint allowable, and shall enforce this Agreement and the covenants herein as so modified.

 

6.                         Entire Agreement; Governing Law.  This Agreement embodies the entire Agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and replaces and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous negotiations, oral representations, agreements or understandings among or attributable to the parties hereto.  The provisions of this Agreement shall not limit or otherwise affect Employee’s obligations under the provisions of any agreement with the Company with respect to the nondisclosure of the Company’s confidential information.  This Agreement and all performances hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.

 

7.                         Consent to Jurisdiction.  All judicial proceedings brought against Employee arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in this State of Colorado, and by execution and delivery of this Agreement, Employee accepts the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and waives any defense of forum non convenient and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement.

 

8.                         Waiver of Jury Trial.  Employee and the Company hereby agree to waive their respective rights to a jury trial of any claim or cause of action based upon or arising out of this Agreement.  The scope of this waiver is intended to be all encompassing of any and all disputes that may be filed in any court and that relate to the subject matter of this Agreement, including without limitation, contract claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims, and all other common law and statutory claims.  Employee and the Company warrant and represent that each has reviewed this waiver with its legal counsel and that

 

 

each knowingly and voluntarily waives its jury trial rights following consultation with legal counsel.  In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court.

 

9.                         Amendments; Waiver.  This Agreement may not be altered or amended, and no right hereunder may be waived, except by an instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any term, provision, or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, provision or condition or as a waiver of any other term, provision or condition of this Agreement.

 

10.                  Assignment.  The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or to any acquirer of substantially all of the business of the Company, and all covenants and Agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by or against any such assignee.  Neither this Agreement nor any rights or duties hereunder may be assigned or delegated by Employee.

 

11.                  Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns.

 

 

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

 

	
COMPANY:
    	
N30   PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
a   Delaware corporation
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Charles Scoggin
    
	
 
    	
Charles   Scoggin
    
	
 
    	
Chief   Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
EMPLOYEE:
    	
/s/   Sherif E. Gabriel
    
	
 
    	
Sherif   E. Gabriel
    
	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is made and entered into by and between N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation having a principal place of business at 3122 E. Sterling Circle, Suite 200, Boulder, CO  80301 (the “Company”), and Sherif Gabriel (“Employee”).  All references to “I”, “me,” “mine” and the like refer to the Employee.

 

WHEREAS,I wish to be employed by, or continue in the employment of, the Company, and the Company wishes to employ me, or continue to employ me, provided that, in doing so, the Company can protect its trade secrets, inventions, ideas, proprietary information, business, good will and other intellectual property.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of this purpose and for good and valuable consideration acknowledged by the parties, I agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Confidential Information

 

I will hold in confidence during the entire term of my employment with the Company, and for ten (10) years after the termination of my employment, all Confidential Information of the Company and the confidential information of third parties provided to the Company under an obligation of non-disclosure. I will use the Confidential Information only within the scope of my employment and will not use the Confidential Information for any other purpose without first obtaining Company’s prior written consent.

 

As used herein, the term “Confidential Information” shall mean any valuable technical, business and economic information, data, materials, compounds, formulations, apparatus, operations, methodology, processes, samples, research and development plans and strategies, trade secrets, business plans, clinical studies, marketing and sales plans and information, customer lists, vendor lists, operational methods, software programs, passwords, patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property and know-how related to Company that is observed by me or disclosed orally, electronically or in writing by Company to me.

 

Confidential Information and the restrictions on disclosure will not apply to:  (i) any information that is or becomes publicly known through no fault of mine; (ii) any information that I previously knew prior to my employment with the Company, or if applicable, prior to providing consulting services to Company, that I can establish with competent evidence; (iii) any information I received from a third party without an obligation to the Company to maintain the secrecy of such information; or (iv) any information disclosed with the prior written consent of the Company.

 

If I am required by law, court order or government agency to disclose Confidential Information, I shall provide Company with prompt written notice of any

 

 

such request or requirement so that Company may seek, at its expense, a protective order or other appropriate remedy.

 

2.                                      Disclosure and Assignment of Inventions

 

I agree to promptly disclose and assign to the Company my entire right, title and interest in all Inventions.  As used herein, the term “Inventions” shall mean all intellectual property rights, including all trade secrets, copyrightable material or works, patents, patentable inventions, ideas, discoveries and improvements, and business innovations in any technical and non-technical data, formula, process, methodology, operating procedure, compilation, diagrams, photographs, research data, notebooks, techniques, drawings, financial plans and data, pre-clinical, clinical and marketing plans and data, actual or potential customer and vendor lists, trademarks, technical or business innovations and work product, whether or not patentable, copyrightable or subject to trademark protection, made by me during the term of my employment or made by me after the termination of my employment with the Company based upon the Company’s Confidential Information.

 

I will keep adequate written records of all Inventions made by me, such as notebooks, sketches, software programs and the like, which are the property of the Company.  I will take all other steps necessary to assist the Company in securing any patents, copyrights or other protection for Inventions that I am required to assign to the Company and for perfecting Company’s ownership thereof.  If I am unable or unwilling, whether during my employment or after termination, to sign any documents needed to apply for, pursue or maintain any patent or copyright registrations for Inventions, or to evidence ownership to such Inventions, I hereby appoint the Company as my attorney-in-fact and grant the Company a limited power-of-attorney for such purpose, with the ability to sign such documents as my attorney-in-fact and take any other actions necessary to pursue the registrations and or evidence the Company’s ownership.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I am required to disclose to the Company any other invention:  (i) for which no equipment, supplies, facilities or Confidential Information of the Company were used and which was developed entirely on my own time; (ii) which at the time of conception or reduction to practice did not relate directly to the business of the Company or the Company’s actual or anticipated research or development; and (iii) which did not result from any work I performed for the Company.  The disclosure of such inventions must be made to the Company so the Company and I can make a determination whether such inventions do in fact qualify for exclusion from assignment to the Company.  The Company agrees to keep confidential any such invention I disclose unless a determination is made that such invention falls within Company Inventions.

 

3.                                      Tangible Materials.  At any time upon the written request of Company and no later than the termination of my employment with the Company, I agree to promptly return to Company the Confidential Information, including all copies thereof, all materials, including files, generated by me containing Confidential

 

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Information, and all equipment, computers, security cards and supplies of the Company.  I agree not to destroy any information contained on Company-owned computers and agree to delete all Company Confidential Information contained on my personal computer(s).

 

4.                                      Duties to Third Parties.  I represent that, to the best of my knowledge, compliance with the terms of this Agreement will not violate any duty that I may have to anyone other than the Company (such as a former employer) to keep such third party’s proprietary/confidential information in confidence or to refrain from using such third party’s intellectual property.  If at any time during my employment with the Company, I am asked by the Company to perform work that I believe may cause me to violate a duty to a third party, I will immediately inform my supervisor or officer of the Company so that an assessment of the situation may be made.  I also agree that I will not, during my employment with the Company, bring on the Company’s premises, use or disclose to the Company any confidential information or intellectual property of any former employer or other third party without such party’s prior written consent.

 

5.                                      Equitable Relief.  The Company and I agree that money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of this Agreement and that Company shall be entitled to equitable relief, including an injunction and specific performance, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedies available to Company at law or in equity.    It is further understood and agreed that no failure or delay in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise thereof shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder.

 

6.                                      Miscellaneous.

 

This is the only agreement or understanding between the Company and myself about Confidential Information and the ownership of Inventions pertaining to the term of my employment and after the termination thereof, even if I sign this Agreement after the date of my employment.  If applicable, the terms relating to Confidential Information and Inventions contained in a consulting agreement or the like between myself and the Company shall control the period prior to my employment.  Any modification of the terms in this Agreement shall require my signature and that of an officer of the Company.

 

This Agreement, other than the provisions that are expressly applicable only during my employment with the Company, will survive termination of my employment for any reason, and will continue for the benefit of and will be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs and legal representatives of the Company and myself.

 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Colorado, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws applicable in such jurisdiction.  Any dispute under this Agreement shall be decided in the courts having jurisdiction within the State of Colorado.

 

3

 

The waiver by the Company of any breach or right under this Agreement will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach by or right of the Company.  In the event any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will nevertheless continue in full force and effect without being impaired or invalidated in any way.

 

	
N30   PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    	
 
    	
EMPLOYEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Charles Scoggin
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Sherif Gabriel
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Charles   Scoggin
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Sherif   Gabriel
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Chief   Executive Officer
    	
 
    	
Date:
    	
9/5/2012
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date:
    	
Sept.   4, 2012
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

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