Document:

ex10-2.htm

Exhibit 10.2

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 24, 2015, by and among Kips Bay Medical, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Kips Bay Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LLC”), Manny Villafaña (“Villafaña”) and each of the other parties signatory hereto (each such party, an “Investor” and, collectively, with LLC and Villafaña, the “Investors”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors are simultaneously entering into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of, and in partial consideration for the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the Investors with certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as hereinafter defined) as set forth herein; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, the Company and each Investor hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Definitions.

 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).

 

“Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

“Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Filing Date” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the 30th calendar day following the date that the Company received written notice from LLC requesting that the Company initiate its Initial Registration Statement, but in no case earlier than 60 days following the initial sale of Shares under the Securities Purchase Agreement and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(b), the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable Securities.

 

“Holder” or “Holders” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

 

 

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“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

 

“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

 

“Initial Registration Statement” means the initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Initial Shares” means a number of Registrable Securities equal to either (a) the total number of Registrable Securities or (b) in the event SEC Guidance limits the number of Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement, an amount equal to at least one-third of the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock that are held by non-affiliates of the Company on the day immediately prior to the filing date of the Initial Registration Statement.

 

“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

“Person” shall mean an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

“Registrable Securities” means (a) all shares of Common Stock purchased by the Investors in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement; (b) all Warrant Shares; and (c) any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness, or file another Registration Statement hereunder with respect to any Registrable Securities that are not subject to the current public information requirement under Rule 144 and that are eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC.

 

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder pursuant to Section 2(a) and any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 3(c), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to any such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in any such registration statement.

 

“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

 

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“SEC Guidance” means any publicly-available guidance, comments, or requirements of the SEC staff that limits the ability of the Company to include all of the Registrable Securities for which it has received requests for registration in a Registration Statement for a continuous offering pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Selling Stockholder Questionnaire” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.

 

“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NASDAQ Capital Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, NYSE MKT, the New York Stock Exchange, the OTCQX, the OTCQB, the OTC Pink or the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

“Transfer Agent” means Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 161 North Concord Exchange, South St. Paul, MN 55075, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

 

2.     Registration.

 

(a)     On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities that are not then registered on an effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Each Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be on Form S-1 (except if the Company is then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, such registration shall be on such appropriate form in accordance herewith). In the event the amount of Registrable Securities which may be included in the Registration Statement is limited due to SEC Guidance (provided that, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to advocate with the SEC Staff for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance) the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to register such maximum portion of the Registrable Securities as permitted by SEC Guidance. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause a Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event within 90 days of such filing, and shall use reasonable best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold, or may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144, as determined by the counsel to the Company, and (ii) the third anniversary of the Tranche D Closing (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Company shall notify the Holders via facsimile or by e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the second Trading Day after the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the SEC, which shall be the date requested for effectiveness of such Registration Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. New York City time on the second Trading Day after the effective date of such Registration Statement, file a final Prospectus with the SEC as required by Rule 424. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the SEC Guidance limits the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement (and notwithstanding that the Company used reasonable best efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all or a greater portion of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will first be reduced by Registrable Securities represented by Warrant Shares and then by Registrable Securities represented by the shares of Common Stock purchased by the Investors pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (applied, in the case that some such shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered shares held by such Holders). In making such reductions, the Holders acknowledge that the Company has other registration rights outstanding as described in the Offering Materials and therefore may have an obligation to include additional shares of Common Stock in the Registration Statement. In the event of a cutback hereunder, the Company shall give the Holder at least five (5) Trading Days prior written notice along with the calculations as to such Holder’s allotment.

 

 

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(b)     If there is no Registration Statement effective at the time a Holder elects to exercise such Holder’s Warrant, such Holder shall be entitled to exercise its Warrant utilizing the “cashless exercise” feature set forth Section 2.2 of the Warrant issued to the Holder pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(c)     It shall be a condition precedent to the Company’s obligations to take any action pursuant to this Section 2 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder, the Registrable Securities held by such Holder and the intended method of disposition of such securities in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex A, or as otherwise reasonably required by the Company, to effect the registration of such Holder’s Registrable Securities. 

 

3.     Registration Procedures.

 

In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:

 

(a)     (i) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the SEC such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities, (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the SEC with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as promptly as reasonably possible to the Holders, upon written request, true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the SEC relating to a Registration Statement (provided that, the Company may excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information as to any Holder which has not executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company), and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

 

 

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(b)     Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed, (B) when the SEC notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the SEC comments in writing on such Registration Statement, and (C) with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any actions, claims, suits, investigations or proceedings (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened (“Proceedings”) for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vi) of the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Company that the chief executive officer of the Company certifies (A) has not been publicly disclosed, (B) the Company reasonably believes is material and (C) the disclosure of which the Company reasonably concludes would materially interfere with an acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other similar transaction involving the Company or require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, provided that, any and all of such information shall remain confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further, that notwithstanding each Holder’s agreement to keep such information confidential, each such Holder makes no acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public information.

 

(c)     Use its reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order stopping or suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.

 

(d)     Furnish to a Holder, upon written request and without charge, at least one conformed copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such Person, and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the SEC; provided, that any such item which is available on the EDGAR system need not be furnished in physical form.

 

(e)     Consent, subject to the terms of this Agreement, to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after the giving of any notice pursuant to Section 3(b).

 

(f)     Cooperate with any broker-dealer through which a Holder proposes to resell its Registrable Securities in effecting a filing with the FINRA Corporate Financing Department pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, as requested by any such Holder, and the Company shall pay the filing fee required by such filing within two (2) Business Days of request therefor.

 

 

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(g)     Use its commercially reasonable efforts, prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that, the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(h)     Cooperate, if requested by a Holder, with such Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates or book-entry notations representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, which certificates or book-entry notations shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Securities Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holder may request.

 

(i)     The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(j) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12-month period.

 

(j)     Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

4.     Selling Stockholder Obligations.

 

(a)     Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex A (a “Selling Stockholder Questionnaire”) on a date that is not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth (4th) Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in accordance with Section 3.

 

(b)     The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the SEC, the natural persons thereof that have voting and dispositive control over the shares. 

 

(c)     If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall be obligated to use its reasonable best efforts to effect such requisite changes as promptly as practicable and, in the case of Section 3(b)(vi), shall make such changes or disclosure required to cause the Prospectus to not be suspended for any period of more than 60 days, or for more than two such periods in any year.

 

 

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5.     Registration Expenses. 

 

All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (a) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent registered public accountants) (i) with respect to filings made with the SEC, (ii) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, (iii) with respect to applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws reasonably requested by a Holder (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities) and (iv) if not previously paid by the Company in connection with an Issuer Filing, with respect to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through which a Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, so long as the broker is receiving no more than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such sale, (b) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (c) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (d) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (e) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, (f) fees and expenses of all other persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (g) the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holders up to a maximum of $7,500. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties). In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions of any Holder, transfer taxes or any other legal fees or costs of the Holders.

 

6.     Indemnification.

 

(a)     Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, members, partners, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, members, stockholders, partners, agents and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, and will pay to each such Person, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Losses may result, as such expenses are incurred, arising out of or relating to (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or (ii) any statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or (iii) any violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent that (A) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(a)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(c). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.

 

 

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(b)     Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent arising out of or based solely upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (A) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(b)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 7(c). In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)     Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that, the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

 

 

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An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (i) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (iii) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and counsel to the Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe that a material conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within 10 Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided, that, the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is judicially determined not to be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

(d)     Contribution. If the indemnification under Section 6(a) or 6(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys’ or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

 

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), (x) no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, and (y) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6 are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

 

 

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7.     Miscellaneous.

 

(a)     Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their respective obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall not assert or shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b)     Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

(c)     Discontinued Disposition. By its acquisition of Registrable Securities, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(b)(iii) through (vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. 

 

(d)     Piggy-Back Registrations. If, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement relating primarily to an offering for the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with the Company’s stock incentive or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall deliver to each Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within 15 days after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(d) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective Registration Statement.

 

(e)     Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement and the provisions herein, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be terminated, amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders of a majority or more of the then outstanding Registrable Securities (including, for this purpose any Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of any Security). If a Registration Statement does not register all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a waiver or amendment done in compliance with the previous sentence, then the number of Registrable Securities to be registered for each Holder shall be reduced pro rata among all Holders and each Holder shall have the right to designate which of its Registrable Securities shall be omitted from such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of a Holder or some Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by such Holder or Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 7(e).

 

 

10

 

 

(f)     Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via electronic mail or facsimile at the address or facsimile number set forth below prior to 5:30 p.m. (Minneapolis time) on any Business Day, (b) the second Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via electronic mail or facsimile at the address or facsimile number set forth below on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (Minneapolis time) on any Business Day, (c) the fifth (5th) calendar day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) one (1) Business Day after the Business Day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next-day delivery, with written verification of receipt. The addresses and fax numbers for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

if to the Company, to it at:

 

Kips Bay Medical, Inc.

3405 Annapolis Lane North, Suite 200

Minneapolis, MN 55447

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

scott.kellen@kipsbaymedical.com

Fax: (763) 235-3545

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP

Campbell Mithun Tower, Suite 2000

222 South Ninth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

aculbert@oppenheimer.com

Fax: (612) 607-7100

Attn: Amy E. Culbert, Esq.

 

if to the Investor, to the Investor’s address indicated on the signature page of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(g)     Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign (except by merger or disposition of substantially all of its assets) its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(h)     No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. 

 

 

11

 

 

(i)     Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

(j)     Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. 

 

(k)     Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.

 

(l)     Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

(m)     Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of the Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

(n)     Independent Nature of Holders’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

 

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

 

 

12

 

 

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

 

	
KIPS BAY MEDICAL, INC.

	 
	
 

	
By: /s/ Scott Kellen                                                                         

	  
	
Name: Scott Kellen                                                                         

	  
	
Title: Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer       

	  

 

 

 

 

[Signature pages of Holders follows]

 

 

13

 

 

	
KIPS BAY INVESTMENTS, LLC.

 

 

By:____/s/ Rhonda Donahoe________________________

Name:__Rhonda Donahoe__________________________

Title:___Manager_________________________________
	
Address for Notice:

 

c/o NJK Holding Corporation

8500 Normandale Lake Boulevard

Suite 600

Minneapolis, MN 55437

Attn: Chief Financial Officer
rhonda@njkholding.com

	
 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 
	
Fax: (952) 952) 831-9072

	
Dorsey & Whitney

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-1498

Facsimile: (612) 340-2868

Attention: Thomas Martin, Esq.
	  

 

 

 

 

[Signature page of LLC]

 

 

14

 

 

	
/s/ Manny Villafaña

	
Manny Villafaña

 

 

 

[Signature page of Villafaña]

 

 

15

 

 

	
Name of Holder:

 

	  
	
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Holder:

 

	  
	
Name of Authorized Signatory:

 

	  
	
Title of Authorized Signatory:

 

 

 

 

[Signature page of Holders]

 

 

16

 

 

Annex A

 

KIPS BAY MEDICAL, INC.

 

Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire

 

The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock (the “Registrable Securities”) of Kips Bay Medical, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange SEC (the “SEC”) a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) to which this document is annexed. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 

NOTICE

 

The undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling Stockholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned by it in the Registration Statement.

 

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate:

 

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

1.             Name. 

 

(a)     Full Legal Name of Selling Stockholder:                              

 

(b)     Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities are held:                                              

 

(c)     Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose of the Registrable Securities):                                                             

 

2.             Address for Notices to Selling Stockholder. 

 

 

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
Telephone:                                                
	
 

	
Fax :                                                 
	
 

	
Contact Person:                                              
	
 

	
Email Address:                                           
	
 

 

 

17

 

 

3.     Broker-Dealer Status. 

 

(a)     Are you a broker-dealer? 

 

Yes _____     No _____

 

(b)     If “yes” to Question 3(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as compensation for investment banking services to the Company? 

 

Yes _____     No _____

 

Note:     If “no” to Question 3(b), the SEC’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement. 

 

(c)     Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer? 

 

Yes _____     No _____

 

(d)     If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you purchased the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities? 

 

Yes _____     No _____

 

Note:     If “no” to Question 3(d), the SEC’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement. 

 

4.     Beneficial Ownership of Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Stockholder. 

 

Except as set forth below in this Question 4, the undersigned is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the securities issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(a)     Type and Amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholder: 

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

5.     Relationships with the Company. 

 

 

Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

 

State any exceptions here:

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.

 

By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Questions 1 through 5 and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 

 

 

	
 Date:
	
 
	 	
 Beneficial Owner:
	
 

	
 By:
	
 
	 	
 
	
 

	
 Name:
	
 
	 	
 
	
 

	
 Title:
	
 
	 	
 
	
 

 

 

 

PLEASE FAX OR PDF A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:

 

Kips Bay Medical, Inc.

3405 Annapolis Lane North, Suite 200

Minneapolis, MN 55447

Fax: (763) 235-3545

E-mail: Scott.Kellen@KipsBayMedical.com

Attention: Scott Kellen, Chief Financial Officerex10-3.htm

Exhibit 10.3

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made effective as of the 1st day of July, 2015 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Kips Bay Medical, Inc. (the “Company”) and Manuel A. Villafaña (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company currently employs Executive pursuant an Employment Agreement dated July 25, 2012 (the “2012 Agreement”), which expires by its terms on July 1, 2015; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive wish to continue Executive’s employment starting on July 1, 2015 upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive wish to provide for Executive’s potential transition from the positions of Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President to the position of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

	
1.
	
Positions and Duties – Chief Executive Officer and President.

 

(a)     Positions – Chief Executive Officer and President. The Executive will continue in his present full time positions of Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President during the term of his employment as described in Section 3 below, unless and until such time as the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) notifies Executive of Executive’s transition to the position of Executive Chairman of the Board (“Executive Chairman”) pursuant to Section 2 below. As Chief Executive Officer and President the Executive shall report to the Board.

 

(b)     Duties – Chief Executive Officer and President.

 

                          (i)     The Executive’s principal duty shall be to assist the Board in developing and implementing the Company’s ongoing business strategy and objectives.

 

                          (ii)     The Executive shall have such other duties as are commensurate with his being the Company’s most senior executive officer, including, but not limited to, being responsible for the general management and operation of the Company.

 

                          (iii)     The Executive shall serve the Company faithfully and to the best of his ability and shall devote his full business and professional time, energy and diligence to the performance of the duties of such offices.

 

                          (iv)     The Executive agrees to be subject to the Company’s control, rules, regulations, policies and programs. The Executive further agrees that he shall carry on all correspondence, publicity and advertising in the Company’s name and he shall not enter into any contract on behalf of the Company except as necessary or appropriate to execute the business plan approved by the Board.

 

 

1

 

 

	
2.
	
Positions and Duties – Executive Chairman.

 

(a)     Position – Executive Chairman. At any time following the Effective Date, the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, may appoint a new Chief Executive Officer and President and elect to transition Executive from the full time positions of Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President to the full time position of Executive Chairman. At such time, Executive shall no longer hold the positions of Chief Executive Officer and President, but shall continue to serve as a member of the Board (assuming he continues to be re-elected by the Company’s shareholders as a director), and the Executive shall continue to be employed by the Company as Executive Chairman during the term of his employment as described in Section 3 below. As Executive Chairman, the Executive shall report to the Board.

 

(b)      Duties – Executive Chairman.

 

(i)     The Executive shall have such duties, roles and responsibilities consistent with such position as are described on Schedule A hereto or as otherwise agreed upon from time to time by the Executive and the Board and shall perform all acts associated with such role as necessary and desirable to advance the best interests of the Company.

 

(ii)     The Executive shall serve the Company faithfully and to the best of his ability and shall devote his full business and professional time, energy and diligence to the performance of the duties of such offices.

 

(iii)     The Executive shall coordinate his duties and responsibilities with the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and will not enter into any agreement or contract on behalf of the Company without prior approval from the Board or the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

(iv)     The Executive agrees to be subject to the Company’s control, rules, regulations, policies and programs. The Executive further agrees that he shall carry on all correspondence, publicity and advertising in the Company’s name and he shall not enter into any contract on behalf of the Company, except as necessary or appropriate to execute the business plan approved by the Board.

 

	
3.
	
Term

 

Unless a Board Determination to Cease Business (as defined below) occurs prior to the Effective Date or Executive’s continued employment with the Company as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President under the 2012 Agreement has terminated prior to the Effective Date, the Executive’s employment by the Company hereunder will commence on the Effective Date of this Agreement and continue until terminated in accordance with Section 6 below. The period of the Executive’s employment hereunder is referred to herein as the “Term.” The date on which the Executive ceases to be employed, regardless of the reason, is the “Date of Termination.” In the event a Board Determination to Cease Business (as defined below) occurs prior to the Effective Date or the Executive is not employed by the Company as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President under the 2012 Agreement through the Effective Date, this Agreement shall immediately terminate without effect and without either party having any rights or obligations hereunder.

 

	
4.
	
Compensation

 

(a)     Base Salary. Commencing on the Effective Date, the Company will pay the Executive a base salary of US $215,000 per annum; provided, however, that in the event the Executive on the Effective Date or thereafter becomes the Executive Chairman, the Company will pay the Executive (i) a base salary of US $150,500 per annum for the first 12 months that the Executive serves as Executive Chairman, and (ii) a base salary of US $107,500 per annum thereafter until the earlier of: June 30, 2017 or the Date of Termination, in either event prorated to the amount of time in each period actually spent employed as Executive Chairman (the “Base Salary”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board will review the Base Salary periodically and may adjust the Base Salary from time to time in light of the Company’s performance and cash position, prevailing market conditions and the Executive’s contributions to the Company recognizing that the Executive’s base salary prior to January 2015 salary reductions was $363,875 per year.

 

 

2

 

 

(b)     Annual Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to earn an annual performance-based bonus in accordance with the Company’s bonus policies, subject to the terms and condition of such policies as established by the Company from time to time.

 

	
5.
	
Expenses; Fringe Benefits

 

(a)     Expenses. The Company will pay or reimburse the Executive for reasonable, ordinary, necessary and documented business or entertainment expenses incurred during his employment in the performance of his services hereunder in accordance with the directions of the Board and when the Executive is serving as Executive Chairman, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and reimbursement policies of the Company as from time to time in effect. The Executive, as a condition precedent to obtaining such payment or reimbursement, must comply with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time and provide all statements, bills or receipts evidencing the expenses, plus any other information or materials that the Company may require, within sixty (60) days of incurring such expense.

 

(b)     Benefit Plans. The Executive and, to the extent eligible, his dependents, shall be eligible to participate in and receive benefits under welfare benefit plans, retirement plans and programs, and other programs provided by the Company to its executive employees generally, subject, however, to the applicable eligibility and other provisions of the plans and programs in effect from time to time.

 

	
6.
	
Termination

 

(a)     Termination by the Company for Cause. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause (as defined below) at any time effective upon the giving of written notice to the Executive setting forth a Date of Termination. The term “Cause” shall include, but not be limited to, the following grounds:

 

(i)     the Executive’s breach of any provision of this Agreement which is not cured within thirty (30) days following Executive’s receipt of written notice thereof from the Board;

 

(ii)     the Executive’s refusal to comply with the written, lawful instructions of the Board;

 

(iii)     the Executive’s misappropriation of the funds or physical or intellectual property of the Company, or any of its customers, clients, agents or employees;

 

(iv)     the Executive’s use of illegal drugs, or conducting Company business under the influence of illegal drugs, drugs illegally obtained, or alcohol;

 

(v)     the Executive’s commission of any act that constitutes a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, dishonesty or theft;

 

 

3

 

 

(vi)     the Executive’s failure to comply with the Company’s business practices and policies, including without limitation, policies against protected class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment; or

 

(vii)     the Executive’s commission of any act or omission that materially injures, or could reasonably be expected to materially injure, the reputation, business, or business relationships of the Company.

 

(b)     Termination by the Company Without Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment without Cause at any time by giving the Executive sixty (60) days advance written notice of termination.

 

(c)     Termination by the Company Upon Board Determination to Cease Business. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment in the event the Board determines to cease the business of the Company for any reason, which shall include, without limitation, a Board decision to cease efforts to commercialize the Company’s eSVS MESH or commence a proceeding for bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of the Company (referred to herein as a “Board Determination to Cease Business”).

 

(d)     Termination Upon Death or Disability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,

 

(i)     in the event of the Executive’s death, the Executive’s employment shall end and the Date of Termination shall be the date of the Executive’s death (“Death”).

 

(ii)     in the event the Executive shall be unable to perform the essential functions of his position, with or without reasonable accommodation, on account of a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more of life’s major activities for periods aggregating ninety (90) calendar days (whether or not continuous) or more in any period of 365 calendar days (“Disability”), or such other period as required by law (including to the extent that the Company can reasonably accommodate the Disability for more than this 90-day period), the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment by giving written notice to the Executive setting forth a Date of Termination. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall continue to pay Executive’s Base Salary during periods of physical or mental impairment before such time periods have been satisfied and such notice of termination has been given.

 

(e)     Termination by the Executive without Good Reason. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Executive may terminate his employment without Good Reason by giving the Company sixty (60) days advance written notice of resignation. The Company may, at any time during the notice period, relieve the Executive of his duties and place him on a paid leave of absence for the remainder of the notice period.

 

(f)     Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason (as defined below) at any time effective upon the giving of written notice to the Company and the Date of Termination shall be the date of Company’s receipt of such notice. The term “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following events occurring without Executive’s consent, which is not cured by the Company within sixty (60) days of Company’s receipt of a written notice from Executive. Such notice shall identify the applicable event, request that the Company cure the event and be delivered to the Company not more than thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the event. If the Company does not cure the event within the 60-day period, Executive may give Good Reason notice of termination to the Company within ten (10) days following expiration of the cure period. The Good Reason events shall consist of:

 

 

4

 

 

(i)     a reduction of Executive’s annual Base Salary by more than 10% unless such reduction is part of a general cost reduction program resulting from the Company’s financial constraints or is due to Executive’s transition to Executive Chairman;

 

(ii)     a material reduction in Executive’s authority or scope of responsibility with respect to the Company’s operations unless such reduction is due to Executive’s transition to Executive Chairman;

 

(iii)     the relocation of Executive’s primary place of employment by more than forty (40) miles from Executive’s then-current primary place of employment;

 

(iv)     failure to nominate the Executive as a member of the Board, removal of the Executive from the position of Chairman of the Board or Executive Chairman, or the appointment of an individual other than the Executive to serve as Chairman of the Board or Executive Chairman; or

 

(v)     the Company’s material breach of this Agreement.

 

Upon Executive’s request, the Board may in its sole discretion agree to designate other circumstances as constituting Good Reason.

 

(g)     Termination on June 30, 2017. If not terminated earlier, Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate on June 30, 2017.

 

	
7.
	
Effect of Termination of Employment

 

(a)     Termination by the Company for Cause, by the Company upon a Board Determination to Cease Business, by the Executive without Good Reason, upon Executive’s Disability, or on June 30, 2017. In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause, by the Company upon a Board Determination to Cease Business, by the Executive without Good Reason, upon the Executive’s Disability, or pursuant to Section 6(g) above on June 30, 2017, the Executive shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits, subject to any appropriate offsets, as required or permitted by applicable law, for debts or money due to the Company or an affiliate thereof (collectively, “Offsets”):

 

(i)     unpaid Base Salary through, and any unpaid reimbursable expenses outstanding as of, the Date of Termination; and

 

(ii)     any benefits accrued to the Executive through the Date of Termination under the plans and programs described in Section 5.

 

(b)     Termination by the Company Without Cause, upon Executive’s Death or by the Executive for Good Reason. In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause, upon Executive’s Death or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits, subject to any Offsets:

 

(i)     unpaid Base Salary through, and any unpaid reimbursable expenses outstanding as of, the Date of Termination;

 

(ii)     any benefits accrued to the Executive through the Date of Termination under the plans and programs described in Section 5;

 

 

5

 

 

(iii)     as severance pay, his ending Base Salary to be paid, subject to any delays required by Section 7(d) below, according to the Company’s normal payroll schedule for continuing employees through the period ending on June 30, 2017 (the “Severance Period”); and

 

(iv)     the annual incentive bonus for that fiscal year at target performance (or if the target goals have not been set at the time of the Executive’s employment termination, then the target goals in effect for the prior fiscal year), waiving any condition for continued employment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days worked by the Executive in the bonus period prior to the termination of employment, and the denominator of which is the number of days in the bonus period, less any amount of any such incentive bonus that has been paid; provided, however, that the prorated incentive bonus will be payable and paid only if senior management of the Company are paid a bonus based on achievement of goals at or above target for the year in which the termination occurs and, subject to any delays required by Section 7(d) below, will be paid to the Executive at the same time and manner as the bonus is paid to other senior management of the Company.

 

(c)     Ending Base Salary. If Executive’s termination for Good Reason is based upon the Company’s reduction of Executive’s annual Base Salary as described in Section 6(f)(i) above, then the “ending Base Salary” referred to in Section 7(b)(iii) above shall be Executive’s annual Base Salary immediately prior to such reduction.

 

(d)     Conditions and Timing of Payments. The severance payments and annual incentive bonus under Sections 7(b)(iii) and (iv) are conditioned on the Executive signing, or if payments are triggered by the Executive’s Death, a representative of the Executive’s estate, returning, not rescinding and complying with a separation agreement that includes (i) a full and final release of claims in favor of the Company, in a form to be provided by the Company (the “Separation Agreement”) and (ii) Executive’s agreement to provide consulting and advisory services to the Company without additional pay from time to time during the Severance Period as needed by the Company, except following the Executive’s Death. The Company shall provide Executive, or the representative of his estate, a form of Separation Agreement within ten (10) days following the Executive’s termination of employment or Death and the Separation Agreement must be signed and returned to the Company within sixty (60) days of receipt. The severance payments and annual incentive bonus under Sections 7(b)(iii) and (iv) will be payable or commenced on the first day of the seventh month following the Executive’s termination of employment or, if payment is due on account of Death, within ninety (90) days after the Executive’s date of Death. Any payments accruing for payroll periods prior to the first payment date will be paid on the first payment date, with the remaining severance payments made on the regular payroll periods continuing through the end of the Severance Period. The Company and Executive intend that Executive’s termination of employment under either Section 7(a) or Section 7(b) above shall constitute a “separation from service” as that phrase is defined under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the notices, regulations and other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder (“Code Section 409A”), and they agree (i) that the level of consulting and advisory services provided by Executive following the termination of employment shall not exceed the level permitted by Code Section 409A following a separation from service and (ii) that they shall disregard any continuing services that Executive may provide solely as a member of the Board as provided under Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.409A-1(h)(5).

 

(e)     Termination and Clawback of Severance or Bonus upon Breach. If the Executive breaches any material provision of the Separation Agreement or Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, the Company may cease making any severance payments or annual bonus payments under Sections 7(b)(iii) or 7(b)(iv) without affecting its rights under this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, and may seek to recoup from the Executive any payments already made to the Executive under Sections 7(b)(iii) or 7(b)(iv).

 

 

6

 

 

(f)     Termination of Severance or Bonus upon Ceasing Business. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event of a Board Determination to Cease Business following termination of the Executive’s employment, the Company shall cease making and shall have no further obligation to make any severance payments or annual bonus payments to Executive under Section 7(b)(iii) or 7(b)(iv) or otherwise without affecting its rights under this Agreement or the Separation Agreement.

 

(g)     Other Positions. Upon any termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, voluntary or involuntary, the Executive shall also automatically resign, and will automatically be deemed to have resigned, from all other positions with the Company and its affiliates, including from the Board, unless Executive and the Company agree otherwise in writing.

 

	
8.
	
Restrictive Covenants

 

(a)     Non-Solicitation/Non-Servicing. The Executive acknowledges that: (i) the business in which the Company competes is highly competitive; (ii) as a key executive, he has participated and will continue to participate in servicing current customers and vendors and/or soliciting prospective customers and vendors, and that Executive has obtained and will continue to obtain knowledge of the “know-how” and business practices of the Company, in which matters the Company has a substantial proprietary interest; (iii) his employment requires the performance of services that are special, unique, and extraordinary, and his position with the Company places him in a position of confidence and trust with the Company’s customers, vendors and employees; and (iv) his rendering of services to the Company’s customers and vendors necessarily will require the continuing disclosure to the Executive of confidential information (as defined in Section 8(b) hereof) of the Company. In the course of his employment, the Executive has developed personal relationships with the Company’s customers and vendors and knowledge of those customers’ and vendors’ affairs and requirements, and the Company’s relationship with its customers and vendors dependent upon the Executive’s actions. Thus, the Executive agrees that it is a legitimate interest of the Company, and reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Company’s confidential information, goodwill and business, that the Executive make the covenants contained herein and that the Company would not have entered into this Agreement unless it contained the covenants in this Section 8. The Executive therefore agrees that he will not, as an employee, consultant, contractor, partner, shareholder, or in association with, any other person, business or enterprise, except on behalf of the Company, directly or indirectly, and regardless of the reason for his ceasing to be employed by the Company:

 

(i)     during the period that he is employed by the Company and for a period of two (2) years after the Date of Termination, render any services to, engage in, guaranty any obligations of, or have any ownership interests or other affiliation in, any aspect of any business that provides products or services that are the same as, or similar to, or compete with the Company’s then-current products, products in development and services, in any country where the Company offers to sell or sells its products or services;

 

(ii)     during the period that he is employed by the Company and for a period of two (2) years after the Date of Termination, attempt in any manner to solicit, persuade, induce, or encourage any customer, vendor, supplier, consultant or other person or entity that has (or had within twelve months before the Date of Termination) a contractual or other business relationship with the Company to cease to do business or to reduce the amount of business that any such person or entity has customarily done or is reasonably expected to do with the Company; or 

 

 

7

 

 

(iii)     during the period that he is employed by the Company and for a period of two (2) years after the Date of Termination, employ as an employee or retain as a consultant any person who is then (or during the twelve months before the Date of Termination was) an employee or consultant of the Company or persuade or attempt to persuade any such employee or consultant to leave the employ of the Company or to become employed as an employee or retained as a consultant by anyone other than the Company.

 

(b)     Confidential Information. During the Executive’s employment with the Company, he has acquired and had access to confidential or proprietary information about the prototypes, product development plans and designs, clinical testing data and results, patents, trademarks, access to computer files, marketing strategies, marketing campaigns, financial information and records, computer software programs, agreements and/or contracts between the Company and customers, customer contacts, creative policies and ideas, and information about or received from customers and other companies with which the Company does business. The foregoing shall be collectively referred to as “Confidential Information.” The Executive is aware that the Confidential Information is not readily available to the public; accordingly, he also agrees that he will not at any time (whether during or after the Term), disclose to anyone (other than his counsel in the course of a dispute arising from the alleged disclosure of Confidential Information or as required by law) any Confidential Information, or utilize such Confidential Information for the benefit of himself or any third party. The Executive agrees that these restrictions shall apply whether or not any such information is marked “confidential” and regardless of the form of the information. If the Executive becomes legally required to disclose any Confidential Information, he will provide the Company with prompt notice thereof so the Company may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with the provisions of this Section 8(b) to permit a particular disclosure. If such protective order or other remedy is not obtained or if the Company waives compliance with the provisions of this Section 8(b) to permit a particular disclosure, the Executive will furnish only that portion of the confidential Information that he is legally required to disclose and, at the Company’s expense, will cooperate with the Company to obtain a protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded the confidential Information. The Executive further agrees that all memoranda, disks, files, notes, records or other documents, whether in electronic form or hard copy (collectively, the “Material”) compiled by him or made available to him during his employment with the Company and/or its predecessor (whether or not the Material constitutes or contains confidential Information), and in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder, shall be the property of the Company and shall be delivered to the Company on the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company or at any other time upon request. Except in connection with the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees that he will not make or retain copies or excerpts of the Material.

 

(c)     Remedies. If the Executive commits a breach, or is about to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of Sections 8(a) or (b), the Company shall have the right to have the provisions of this Agreement specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction without being required to post bond or other security and without having to prove the inadequacy of the available remedies at law, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to the Company and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy to the Company. In addition, the Company may take all such other actions and seek all remedies available to it under law or in equity and shall be entitled to such damages as it can show it has sustained by reason of such breach. If the Company prevails against the Executive in a legal action for violation of any portion of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to collect from the Executive all attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the Company in bringing any action to enforce the terms of this Agreement, as well as any attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the Company for the collection of any judgments in the Company’s favor arising out of the Executive’s violations. 

 

 

8

 

 

(d)     Understandings. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that (a) the Company informed him as part of the offer of employment under the terms of this Agreement that the restrictive covenants set forth above would be required as part of the terms and conditions of such employment; (b) he has carefully considered the restrictions contained in this Agreement and determined that they are reasonable, and has sought the advice of legal counsel if so inclined; (c) the restrictions in this Agreement will not unduly restrict the Executive in securing other suitable employment in the event of termination from the Company; and (d) he signed this Agreement before or upon commencement of, and as a condition to, his employment with the Company under this Agreement.

 

(e)     Notification of Restrictive Covenants. Before accepting employment or consulting work with any person, corporation or other entity during the Term or any period thereafter that the Executive is subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 8, the Executive shall notify the prospective employer or principal in writing of his obligations under such provisions and shall simultaneously provide a copy of such written notice to the Company. In addition, by signing below, the Executive authorizes the Company to notify third parties (including, but not limited, the Company’s customers and competitors) of the terms of Sections 8 and 9 of this Agreement and the Executive’s responsibilities hereunder.

 

(f)     Tolling. The duration of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement shall not expire, and shall be tolled, during any period in which the Executive is in violation of any of those covenants, and all restrictions shall automatically be extended by the period of the Executive’s violation of any such covenants.

 

(g)     Survival. The parties agree that this Section 8 shall survive termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company and termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

(h)     Scope. As used in this Section 8, the term “Company” shall include the Company and all parents, subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company and the Company.

 

	
9.
	
Assignment of Inventions and Copyrights

 

(a)     Executive will and hereby does irrevocably assign to the Company and its successors, assigns, and legal representatives:

 

(i)     Except as provided by any statutory notice provided herewith, the entire right, title and interest to all Inventions;

 

“Inventions”, as used herein, means all inventions conceived or made or reduced to practice in whole or in part by Executive after being employed by the Company, including discoveries, improvements, designs, processes, techniques, equipment, trademarks, and ideas (whether patentable or not and including, without limitation, those that might be copyrightable).

 

(ii)     The entire right, title and interest to any United States or foreign Letters Patents which may issue or that has issued with respect to Inventions;

 

(iii)     The entire right, title and interest to any renewals, reissues, extensions, substitutions, continuations, continuations-in-part, or divisions that may be filed with respect to the Inventions, applications, and patents;

 

 

9

 

 

(iv)     The right to apply for Letters Patents in foreign countries in its own name and to claim any priority rights to which such foreign applications are entitled under international conventions, treaties or otherwise; and

 

(v)     The right to sue for past, present, and future infringement of such Inventions and Letters Patent.

 

(b)     Executive further agrees to provide written disclosure of all Inventions to the Company, even if any Invention is not assigned according to terms of any statutory notice provided herewith.

 

(c)     Executive hereby authorizes and requests the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to issue to the Company any Letters Patents which may be granted in accordance with this Assignment.

 

(d)     Copyrights.

 

(i)     Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent any work performed by Executive for the Company gives rise to the creation of any copyrightable material (“Work”), all such Work, including all text, software, source code, scripts, designs, diagrams, documentation, writings, visual works, or other materials shall be deemed to be a work made for hire for the Company.

 

(ii)     To the extent that title to any Work may not, by operation of law, vest in the Company or such Work may not be considered work made for hire for the Company, all rights, title and interest therein were assigned and are hereby irrevocably assigned to the Company, including but not limited to the right to sue for past, present, and future infringement of any Work. All such Work shall belong exclusively to the Company, with the Company having the right to obtain and to hold in its own name, copyrights, registrations or such other protection as may be appropriate to the subject matter, and any extensions and renewals thereof.

 

(iii)     To the extent that title to any Work may not be assigned to the Company, Executive hereby grants the Company a worldwide, nonexclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, unlimited, transferable, sublicensable license, without right of accounting, in such Work.

 

(e)     Executive agrees to execute and deliver without further consideration such documents and to perform such other lawful acts as the Company, its successors and assigns may deem necessary to fully secure the Company’s rights, title or interest in all Works and Inventions as set forth in this Agreement.

 

(f)     Notice to Executive. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 181.78, this Agreement does not apply to an invention for which no equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of the Company was used and which was developed entirely on Executive’s own time, and (1) which does not relate (a) directly to the business of the Company or (b) to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (2) which does not result from any work performed by Executive for the Company.

 

(g)     Survival. The parties agree that this Section 9 shall survive termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company and termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

 

10

 

 

	
10.
	
Enforceability

 

It is intended that the obligations of the Executive to perform pursuant to the terms of this Agreement are unconditional and do not depend on the performance or nonperformance of any agreements, duties or obligations between the Company and the Executive not specifically contained in this Agreement.

 

The Company’s action in not enforcing a breach of any part of this Agreement shall not prevent the Company from enforcing it as to the same or any other breach of this Agreement.

 

	
11.
	
Assignment

 

The Company shall have the right to assign this Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and may be enforced by, any and all successors and assigns of the Company, including, without limitation, by asset assignment, stock sale, merger, consolidation or other reorganization. The Executive’s rights and obligations under this Agreement are personal to the Executive; he may not assign or otherwise transfer his rights or obligations under this Agreement, and any purported assignment or transfer shall be void and ineffective.

 

	
12.
	
Modification

 

This Agreement may not be orally cancelled, changed, modified or amended; and no cancellation, change, modification or amendment shall be effective or binding, unless in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement.

 

	
13.
	
409A Compliance

 

It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement shall be exempt from or comply with the applicable requirements, if any, of Code Section 409A, and the parties will interpret this Agreement in a manner that will preclude the imposition of additional taxes and interest imposed under Code Section 409A. The parties agree that this Agreement may be amended by the Company (as determined by the Company) to the extent necessary to comply with Code Section 409A. The Company and Executive acknowledge that the payments described in this Agreement to be paid following the termination of Executive’s employment are subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A and that whether or not Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Code Section 409A at the time of his “separation from service,” payments will not be paid or commence earlier than the first day of the seventh month following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, except in the event of Death, in which case payments will commence within 30 days following Death. In all cases, for purposes of compliance with Code Section 409A, “termination of employment” shall have the same meaning as “separation from service” as defined in Code Section 409A.

 

	
14.
	
Severability and Survival

 

If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless be binding upon the parties with the same effect as though the invalid or unenforceable part had been severed or reformed to be enforceable. The parties’ respective rights and obligations hereunder shall survive the termination of the Executive’s employment to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.

 

 

11

 

 

	
15.
	
Applicable Law and Legal Proceedings

 

(a)     The Company’s principal offices are located in Plymouth, Minnesota. Therefore, all questions concerning the construction, interpretation and validity of this Agreement, and all matters relating hereto, shall be governed by and construed and enforced under the laws of Minnesota, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provision or rule (whether in Minnesota or elsewhere) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Minnesota.

 

(b)     Except for an action seeking injunctive relief, the Company and the Executive agree that any dispute arising either under this Agreement or otherwise from the employment relationship shall be resolved by arbitration. Each party expressly waives any right, whether pursuant to any applicable federal, state, or local statute, to a jury trial and/or to have a court of law determine rights and award damages with respect to any such dispute. The party invoking arbitration shall notify the other party in writing (the “Written Notice”). The parties shall exercise their best efforts, in good faith, to agree upon selection of a single arbitrator. If the parties are unable to agree upon selection of a single arbitrator, they shall so notify the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or another agreed upon arbitration administrator and request that the arbitration provider work with the parties to select a single arbitrator. The arbitration shall be (i) conducted in accordance with the American Arbitration Association’s National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes, (ii) held in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and (iii) completed within six months (or within such other time as the parties may mutually agree) of the receipt of Written Notice by the party being notified. The arbitrator shall have no authority to assess punitive or exemplary damages as to any dispute arising out of or concerning the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise arising out of the employment relationship, except as and unless such damages are expressly authorized by otherwise applicable and controlling statutes. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding and enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party shall bear its own costs, including attorneys’ fees, and share all costs of the arbitration equally. Nothing provided herein shall interfere with either party’s right to seek or receive damages or costs as may be allowed by applicable statutory law.

 

(c)      In the case of actions seeking injunctive relief only, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any Minnesota state court or federal court sitting in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and any appellate court therefrom.

 

	
16.
	
Representations by Executive

 

The Executive represents that he is not subject to any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree, or any other agreement, that would prevent or limit him from entering into this Agreement or that would be breached upon performance of his duties under this Agreement, including but not limited to any duties owed to any former employers not to compete. Executive will defend and indemnify the Company if this representation is not true.

 

If the Executive possesses any information that he knows or should know is considered by any third party, such as a former employer of the Executive’s, to be confidential, trade secret, or otherwise proprietary, the Executive shall not disclose such information to the Company or use such information to benefit the Company in any way.

 

	
17.
	
Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Executive with respect to the employment of the Executive by the Company, and all prior discussions, negotiations, agreements, plans and arrangements relating to the employment of the Executive by the Company and all parents, subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company, including the Company, are nullified and superseded hereby.

 

 

12

 

 

	
18.
	
Headings

 

The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

	
19.
	
Withholdings

 

The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state or local taxes as may be required under any applicable law or regulation.

 

	
20.
	
Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed by facsimile transmission and in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one instrument.

 

	
21.
	
No Strict Construction

 

The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be chosen by the Company and the Executive to express their mutual intent. No rule of law or contract interpretation that provides that in the case of ambiguity or uncertainty a provision should be construed against the draftsman will be applied against any party hereto.

 

 

 

Signatures on Following Page 

 

 

13

 

 

 

	 	  	 	
Kips Bay Medical, Inc.

	 	  	 	  
	 	  	 	  
	Date: 	
March 24, 2015
	By:	
/s/ Scott Kellen

	 	  	 	
Scott Kellen

	 	  	Its:	
Chief Operating Officer and

	 	  	 	
Chief Financial Officer

	 	  	 	  
	 	  	 	  
	 	  	 	
Manuel A. Villafaña

	 	  	 	  
	 	  	 	  
	Date: 	
March 24, 2015
	By:	
/s/ Manuel A. Villafaña

 

 

14

 

 

Schedule A

 

Specified duties of Executive Chairman consist of:

 

	 	
●
	
Transition responsibilities to and provide orientation to the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”);

	 	
●
	
Provide counsel to CEO on organization structure, financial structure, regulatory strategy and related topics;

	 	
●
	
Develop and execute company strategy with CEO;

	 	
●
	
Provide overall leadership and strategic direction of the Company, together with the Board and CEO;

	 	
●
	
Provide guidance to the CEO and other senior management of the Company;

	 	
●
	
Coordinate activities of the Board;

	 	
●
	
Play integral part of strengthening relationships with physicians, customers, shareholders, regulatory bodies and other important constituencies; and

	 	
●
	
Assist CEO with strategic business development activities.

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