Document:

Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement

 Exhibit 10.21 
 THE SECURITY REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE OR DISPOSITION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. 
  
  
 HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. 
 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT 

Homeowners Choice, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants to the individual named below an option (the
“Option Agreement”) to purchase certain shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Homeowners Choice, Inc. 2007 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, in the manner and subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to them in the Plan. 
  

	1.	Definitions: 

  

	 	(a)	“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. (All references to Sections of the Code are to such Sections as they may from time to time be
amended or renumbered.) 

  

	 	(b)	“Company” shall mean Homeowners Choice, Inc., a Florida corporation, and any successor corporation thereto. 

  

	 	(c)	“Date of Option Grant” shall mean
                                     ,
200        . 

  

	 	(d)	“Disability” shall mean disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion under procedures
established by the Board of Directors of the Company. 

  

	 	(e)	“Exercise Price” shall mean
                            
($                ) per share, as adjusted from time to time pursuant to the Plan. 

  

	 	(f)	“Number of Option Shares” shall mean
                            
(                ) shares of Common Stock of the Company as adjusted from time to time pursuant to the Plan. 

  

	 	(g)	“Option Term Date” shall mean
                                . 

  

	 	(h)	“Optionee” shall mean
                                . 

  

	 	(i)	“Participating Company” shall mean (i) the Company and (ii) any present or future parent and/or subsidiary corporation of the Company while such

	 	 
corporation is a parent or subsidiary of the Company. For purposes of this Option Agreement, a parent corporation and a subsidiary corporation shall be as
defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code. 

  

	 	(j)	“Participating Company Group” shall mean at any point in time all corporations collectively which are then a Participating Company. 

  

	 	(k)	“Plan” shall mean the Homeowners Choice, Inc. 2007 Stock Option and Incentive Option Plan, as amended from time to time. 

  

	2.	Nonqualified Stock Option. This Option is intended to be a nonqualified stock option. The Optionee should consult with the Optionee’s own tax advisors regarding the tax
effects of this Option. 

  

	3.	Administration. All questions of interpretation concerning this Option Agreement shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”)
and/or by a duly appointed committee of the Board having such powers as shall be specified by the Board. Any subsequent references herein to the Board shall also mean the committee if such committee has been appointed and, unless the powers of the
committee have been specifically limited, the committee shall have all of the powers of the Board granted in the Plan, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by law. All determinations by the Board shall be final and
binding upon all persons having an interest in the Option. Any officer of a Participating Company shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation or election which is the responsibility of or
which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation or election. 

  

	4.	Exercise and Vesting of the Option. 

  

	(a)	Right to Exercise. The Option shall vest and become exercisable from time to time, subject to the schedule set forth below, in whole or in part, and subject to the
termination provisions of Paragraph 6 hereof and the Optionee’s agreement that any shares purchased upon exercise are subject to the Company’s repurchase rights set forth in Paragraph 9 hereof: 

  

	 	(i)	On or after
                            , the Option shall be vested and may be exercised to purchase up to
            % of the Number of Option Shares. 

  

	 	(ii)	Thereafter, on each [month/year] beginning on
                            , the Option shall vest with respect to
            % of the Number of Option Shares. This provision shall be interpreted such that on or after
                            , the Option shall be vested and may be exercised with respect to 100% of
the Number of Option Shares (assuming that none of the Options have been previously exercised). 

  

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 The schedule set forth above is cumulative, so that shares as to which the Option has become exercisable
on and after a date indicated by the schedule may be purchased pursuant to exercise of the Option at any subsequent date prior to termination of the Option. The Option may be exercised at any time and from time to time to purchase up to the number
of shares as to which it is then exercisable. 
  

	(b)	Method of Exercise. The Option shall be exercised by written notice to the Company in the form of Exhibit A hereto stating the election to exercise the Option, the
Number of Option Shares for which the Option is being exercised and such other representations and agreements as to the Optionee’s investment intent with respect to such shares as may be required by the Company. The written notice must be
signed by the Optionee and must be delivered in person or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, or other authorized representative of the Participating Company Group, prior to the
termination of the Option as set forth in Paragraph 6 below, accompanied by (i) full payment of the exercise price for the number of shares being purchased and (ii) an executed copy, if required herein, of the then current form of joint
escrow instructions referenced below. 

  

	 	(c)	Form of Payment of Option Price. Such payment shall be made in cash, check or cash equivalent, by delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee valued at fair
market value (as determined by the Board), or in any other form as may be permitted by the Board in its sole discretion. 

  

	 	(d)	Withholding. At the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, the Optionee hereby authorizes payroll
withholding and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for foreign, federal and state tax withholding obligations of the Company, if any, which arise in connection with the Option, including, without limitation, obligations arising upon
(i) the exercise, in whole or in part, of the Option, (ii) the transfer, in whole or in part, of any shares acquired on exercise of the Option, (iii) the operation of any law or regulation providing for the imputation of interest, or
(iv) the lapsing of any restriction with respect to any shares acquired on exercise of the Option. 

  

	 	(e)	Certificate Registration. The certificate or certificates for the shares as to which the Option shall be exercised shall be registered in the name of the Optionee, or, if
applicable, the heirs of the Optionee. 

  

	 	(f)	 Restrictions on Grant of the Option and Issuance of Shares. The grant of the Option and the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the Option shall be
subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal or state law with respect to such securities. The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or
state securities laws or other law or regulations. In addition, no Option may be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), shall at the time of exercise
of the Option be in effect with respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (ii) in the 

  

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opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. 

 THE OPTIONEE IS CAUTIONED THAT
THE OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISABLE UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE OPTIONEE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION WHEN DESIRED EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS VESTED. 
 As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to
evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company. 
  

	 	(g)	Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise of the Option. 

  

	5.	Non-Transferability of the Option. The Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee and may not be assigned or transferred in any manner
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. 

  

	6.	Duration of the Option. The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised on the Option Term Date as defined above. 

  

	7.	Rights as a Stockholder or Employee. The Optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the Option until the date of the issuance of a
certificate or certificates for the shares for which the Option has been exercised. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such certificate or certificates are
issued, except as provided in the Plan. Nothing in the Option shall confer upon the Optionee any right to be employed by, or to continue in the employment of, a Participating Company or interfere in any way with any right of the Participating
Company Group to terminate the Optionee’s employment at any time. 

  

	8.	Legends. The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal or state securities law restriction on all certificates representing shares of stock
subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement. The Optionee shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of stock acquired pursuant to the Option in the possession of the
Optionee in order to effectuate the provisions of this Paragraph. Unless otherwise specified by the Company, legends placed on such certificates may include, but shall not be limited to, the following: 

  

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 THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT COVERING SUCH SHARES, THE SALE IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 OR RULE 701 UNDER
THE ACT, OR THE CORPORATION RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SHARES REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION, STATING THAT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS
DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT. 
  

	9.	Initial Public Offering. The Optionee hereby agrees that in the event of an Initial Public Offering of stock made by the Company under the Securities Act, the Optionee shall
not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant any option to purchase or make any short sale of, or otherwise dispose of any shares of stock of the Company or any rights to acquire stock of the Company for such period of time as may
be established by the underwriter for such initial public offering; provided, however, that such period of time shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date of the registration statement to be filed in connection with
such initial public offering. The foregoing limitation shall not apply to shares registered under the Securities Act. 

  

	10.	Binding Effect. This Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors
and assigns. 

  

	11.	Termination or Amendment. The Board may terminate or amend this Option Agreement at any time; provided, however, that no such termination or amendment may adversely affect
the Option or any unexercised portion hereof without the consent of the Optionee, unless such amendment is required to comply with any change in law or tax and accounting rules, including the provisions of Code Section 409A.

  

	12.	Integrated Agreement. This Option Agreement and the Plan constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the Optionee and the Participating Company Group with respect
to the subject matter contained herein, and there are no other agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or warranties among the Optionee and the Company with respect to the subject matter contained herein other than those as set
forth or provided for herein. To the extent contemplated herein, the provisions of this Option Agreement shall survive any exercise of the Option and shall remain in full force and effect. 

  

	13.	 Terms and Conditions of Plan. The terms and conditions included in the Plan are incorporated by reference herein, and to the extent that any conflict may
exist between 

  

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any term or provision of this Option Agreement and any term or provision of the Plan, the term or provision of the Plan shall control.

  

	14.	Applicable Law. This Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida as such laws are applied to agreements entered into and performed entirely within
the State of Florida and without regard to the rules of such State regarding choice of laws. 

  

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 SEPARATE SIGNATURE PAGE TO HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC. 
 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT 
  

			
	HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC.
		
	By:	 	 
		 	 Paresh Patel
 Chairman of the
Board

 The Optionee represents that the Optionee is familiar with the terms and provisions of this Option Agreement and hereby
accepts the Option Agreement subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. The Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board of Directors of the Company made in good faith upon
any questions arising under this Option Agreement. 
 The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan. 
  

							
				
	Date: 	 	 	 		 	 
		 		 		 	[Name of Optionee]

 EXHIBIT A 
 [Date] 
  

			
	Homeowners Choice, Inc.
		
		 	 
		
		 	 
		 	Attn: President

  

	 	Re:	Exercise of Non-Qualified Stock Option 

 Dear Sirs: 
 Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of
                                     ,
200        , (the “Agreement”), between
                             (“Optionee”) and Homeowners Choice, Inc. (the
“Company”), the Optionee hereby agrees to purchase                  shares (the “Shares”) of the
                             Stock of the Company and tender payment in full for such shares in
accordance with the terms of the Agreement. 
 The Shares are being issued to Optionee in a transaction not involving a public offering and
pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). In connection with such purchase, Optionee represents, warrants and agrees as follows: 
  

	 	1.	The Shares are being purchased for the Optionee’s own account, and not for the account of any other person, with the intent of holding the Shares for investment and not with
the intent of participating, directly or indirectly, in a distribution or resale of the Shares or any portion thereof. 

  

	 	2.	The Optionee is not acquiring the Shares based upon any representation, oral or written, by any person with respect to the future value of, or income from, the Shares, but rather
upon independent examination and judgment as to the prospects of the Company. 

  

	 	3.	The Optionee has had complete access to and the opportunity to review all material documents related to the business of the Company, has examined all such documents as the Optionee
desired, is familiar with the business and affairs of the Company and realizes that any purchase of the Shares is a speculative investment and that any possible profit therefrom is uncertain. 

  

	 	4.	 The Optionee has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company and its executive officers and to obtain all information necessary for
the 

	 	 
Optionee to make an informed decision with respect to the investment in the Company represented by the Shares. 

  

	 	5.	The Optionee is able to bear the economic risk of any investment in the Shares, including the risk of a complete loss of the investment, and the Optionee acknowledges that he or she
may need to continue to bear the economic risk of the investment in the Shares for an indefinite period. 

  

	 	6.	The Optionee understands and agrees that the Shares are being issued and sold to the Optionee without registration under any state or federal laws relating to the registration of
securities, in reliance upon exemptions from registration under appropriate state and federal laws based in part upon the representations of the Optionee made herein. 

  

	 	7.	The Company is under no obligation to register the Shares or to comply with any exemption available for sale of the Shares by the Optionee without registration, and the Company is
under no obligation to act in any manner so as to make Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act available with respect to any sale of the Shares by the Optionee. 

  

	 	8.	The Optionee has not relied upon the Company or an employee or agent of the Company with respect to any tax consequences related to exercise of this Option or the disposition of the
Shares. The Optionee assumes full responsibility for all such tax consequences and the filing of all tax returns and elections the Optionee may be required to or find desirable to file in connection therewith. 

  

			
	Very truly yours,
		
		 	 
		 	[Name of Optionee]

			
		
		 	 
		
		 	 
		
		 	 
		 	(Address)

  

 2Employment Agreement Extension

 Exhibit 10.1 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT EXTENSION 
 THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT EXTENSION (“Agreement”) is
entered into by and between Transgenomic, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Craig Tuttle (“Employee”) effective as of July 12, 2008. 
 The Company and Employee desire to enter into an employment agreement. Accordingly, the Company and Employee agree as follows: 
 Section 1. Effective Date; Position; Term. This Agreement shall become effective on July 12, 2008 (the “Effective
Date”). The Company shall employ Employee as its President and Chief Executive Officer. The term of the Agreement will be one (1) year from the Effective Date, but shall be automatically extended for additional terms of one (1) year
unless either the Company or the Employee provides written notice to the other that it does not intend to extend this Agreement not later than 60 days prior to the end of the then current term. 
 Section 2. Position and Duties. During the term of this Agreement: 
 (a) Employee shall have the normal responsibilities, duties and authorities of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
described in its bylaws and such other reasonable duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) from time to time. 
 (b) Employee shall report to the Board, Employee shall perform faithfully the executive duties assigned to him to the best of his ability
in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner and will devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates; provided, however, that Employee may serve as a
director of or a consultant to nonprofit corporations, civic organizations, professional groups and similar entities. 
 Section 3. Basic Compensation. As compensation for his services hereunder, the Company shall pay to Employee a Base Salary of $325,000 per year for the one year term of this Agreement. Employee’s
Base Salary may be increased with respect to subsequent terms of this Agreement as determined by the compensation committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”).  
 Base Salary shall be payable in equal installments in arrears on a biweekly basis or as otherwise may be mutually agreed upon. 
 Section 4. Bonus. In addition to the Base Salary, Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 30% of Base Salary
due following the completion of the then current fiscal year (2008). The bonus payout will be based on Employee’s performance in conjunction with specific mutually agreed goals and objectives and formulas determined by the Compensation
Committee in its sole discretion. 
 Section 5. Participation in Employee Benefit Plans. Employee will be entitled to
participate in all Company salaried employee benefit plans and programs, subject to the terms and conditions of each such employee benefit plan or program and to the extent commensurate with his position as President and Chief Executive Officer.

  

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 Section 6. Other Benefits. 
  

	 	(a)	Vacation. Employee shall participate in the vacation benefit provided to all employees. 

  

	 	(b)	Insurance. The Company shall make available to Employee health insurance (including dependent coverage), and other employee benefit plans provided to employees.

  

	 	(c)	Leased Vehicle. The Company shall provide Employee a mutually agreeable vehicle in Omaha, Nebraska. The Company shall reimburse Employee for the income tax liability arising
as a result of having been provided with such leased vehicle along with vehicle registration and any taxes due on this vehicle. 

 Section 7. Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable expenses incurred by him in the course of performing his duties under this Agreement which are consistent with the
Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.  
 Section 8. Termination of Employment. 
 (a) Events of Termination and Severance Payment. In the event that, during the term of this Agreement, Employee is involuntarily discharged for any reason other than for Just Cause (as defined below), Employee
shall be entitled to receive a severance payment (the “Severance Payment”) equal to the amount of the Employee’s then current annual Base Salary. The Severance Payment will be paid to Employee over a period of twelve months in the
manner described in Section 3 and will be subject to applicable income tax withholding consistent with the Company’s normal payroll practices. Additionally, upon the Company being acquired or merged into another entity, Transgenomic, Inc.
will honor the Severance Payment in the event that the Employee’s position was eliminated as a result of the merger or acquisition. 
 (b) “Just Cause” being defined as any criminal act (felony) being committed by employee, if employee commits fraud or dishonesty toward the Company, other significant activities materially harmful to the
reputation of the Company as reasonably defined by the Company, willful refusal to perform or substantial disregard of the duties properly assigned, significant violation of any statutory or common law or a material violation of Sections 12 or
13 below, not reasonably performing assigned tasks to meet minimum expectations of the position, or intentionally takes any other action materially detrimental to the best interests of the Company 
  

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 (c) Effect of Breach of Noncompetition Provisions. In the event Employee breaches
or otherwise fails to comply with the provisions of Section 12 or 13 below, then, in addition to any other remedies provided herein or at law or in equity, the Company shall have the right to require return of any severance payment made to the
Employee. Return of such Severance Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not relieve Employee’s obligations pursuant to Sections 12 and 13 below. 
 Section 9. Assignment and Succession. 
 (a) The rights and obligations of
the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon its respective successors and assigns, and Employee’s rights and obligations hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon his successors and
permitted assigns, whether so expressed or not. 
 (b) Employee acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him hereunder
are unique and personal. Accordingly, Employee may not pledge or assign any of his rights or delegate any of his duties or obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the Board. 
 (c) The Company may not assign its interest in or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Employee.

 Section 10. Confidential Information. 
 (a) Company Information. Employee agrees at all times during the term of his relationship with the Company and thereafter, to hold
in strictest confidence, and not to use, except for the benefit of the Company, or to disclose to any person, firm, corporation or other entity without written authorization of the Board of Directors of the Company, any Confidential Information of
the Company which Employee obtains or creates, by whatever means. Employee further agrees not to make copies of such Confidential Information except as authorized by the Company. Employee understands that “Confidential Information”
means any Company proprietary information, technical data, trade secrets or know-how, including, but not limited to, research, product plans, products, services, suppliers, customer lists and customers (including, but not limited to, customers of
the Company on whom Employee called or with whom Employee became acquainted during the relationship), prices and costs, markets, software, developments, inventions, laboratory notebooks, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings,
engineering, hardware configuration information, marketing, licenses, finances, budgets or other business information disclosed to Employee by the Company either directly or indirectly in writing, orally or by drawings or observation of parts or
equipment or created by Employee during the period of the relationship, whether or not during working hours. Employee understands that “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, information pertaining to any aspects
of the Company’s business which is either information not known by actual or potential competitors of the Company or is proprietary information of the Company or its customers or suppliers, whether of a technical nature or otherwise. Employee
further understands that “Confidential  

  

 3 

 
Information” does not include any of the foregoing items which have become publicly and widely known and made generally available through no
wrongful act of Employee’s or of others who were under confidentiality obligations as to the item or items involved. 
 (b) Former Employer Information. Employee represents that as an employee of the Company, he has not breached and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by Employee in
confidence or trust prior or subsequent to the commencement of Employee’s relationship with the Company, and Employee will not disclose to the Company, or induce the Company to use, any inventions, confidential or proprietary information or
material belonging to any previous employer or any other party. 
 (c) Third Party Information. Employee recognizes
that the Company has received and in the future will receive confidential or proprietary information from third parties subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain
limited purposes. Employee agrees to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary in carrying out Employee’s work
for the Company consistent with the Company’s agreement with such third party. 
 Section 11. Return of Company
Documents. Employee agrees that, at the time of termination of his relationship with the Company, he will deliver to the Company (and will not keep in his possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any and all devices, records, data,
notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, laboratory notebooks, materials, flow charts; equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items developed by
Employee pursuant to the relationship or otherwise belonging to the Company, its successors or assigns. Employee further agrees that any property situated on the Company’s premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage
media, filing cabinets or other work areas, is subject to inspection by Company personnel at any time with or without notice. 
 Section 12. Noncompetition. Independent of any obligation under any other contract or agreement between Employee and the Company, for a period of one (1) year following the termination of Employee’s
employment relationship with the Company, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, whether as an individual for his own account, or for or with any other person, firm, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, or other entity
whatsoever, which is or intends to be engaged in biotechnology business and, more particularly, that provides technologies for DNA/RNA analysis and purification utilizing DHPLC technologies (provided, however, that the restrictions set forth in this
clause shall not apply to involvement that consists solely of “beneficially owning,” as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act 2% or less of the outstanding securities of any class of securities issued by a
publicly-traded entity): 
 (a) Solicit, interfere with, or endeavor to entice away from the Company, any person, firm,
corporation, partnership, or entity of any kind whatsoever, which was or is a 

  

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client or licensor of the Company, for which the Company performed services, with respect to any business, product or service that is competitive to the
products or services offered by the Company, or under development by the Company, as of the date of the termination of Employee’s relationship with the Company. This restriction shall apply only to such clients or licensors of the Company as
were serviced or solicited by Employee at any time during the one (1) year prior to the separation of Employee’s relationship with the Company, either as an independent contractor or as an employee of the Company; 
 (b) Solicit or endeavor to induce any of the Company’s employees or consultants to terminate their relationship with the Company, or
take away such employees or consultants, or attempt to solicit, induce, recruit, encourage or take away employees or consultants of the Company, either for Employee or for any other person or entity; 
 (c ) Induce or attempt to induce any supplier, licensee or other business relation of the Company to cease doing business with the
Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such supplier, licensee or business relation and the Company. 
 Section 13. Business Opportunity. Employee represents and acknowledges that the foregoing restrictions will not prevent him from obtaining gainful employment in his field of expertise or cause him
undue hardship; and that there are numerous other employment opportunities available to him that are not affected by the foregoing restrictions. Employee further acknowledges that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable and necessary, in order to
protect the Company’s legitimate interests, and that any violation thereof would result in irreparable injury to the Company. 
 Section 14. Conflicts of Interest Policies. Employee shall diligently adhere to the Company’s Conflict of Interest Policy as adopted by the Board and in effect from time to time. 
 Section 15. Arbitration and Equitable Remedies.  
 (a) Except as provide in Section 15(b) hereof, the parties agree that any dispute or controversy arising out of, relating to, or
concerning the interpretation, construction, performance or breach of this Agreement, shall be settled by arbitration to be held in Nebraska, in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution rules of the American Arbitration Association then in
effect. The arbitrator may grant injunctions or other relief in such dispute or controversy and the decision of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s
decision in any court having jurisdiction. The Company and Employee shall each pay one-half of the costs and expenses of such arbitration, and each shall separately pay the fees and expenses of their respective legal counsel. 
 THIS ARBITRATION CLAUSE CONSTITUTES A WAIVER OF EMPLOYEE’S RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND RELATES TO THE RESOLUTION OF ALL DISPUTES
RELATING TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP. 
  

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 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section 15, the parties agree that,
in the event of the breach or threatened breach of Sections 10, 12 or 13 of this Agreement by Employee, monetary damages alone would not be an adequate remedy to the Company and its Subsidiaries for the injury that would result from such
breach, and that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive relief (without posting bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent any
violation of such provisions of this Agreement. Employee further agrees that any such injunctive relief obtained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be in addition to monetary damages. 
 Section 16. Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Employee to the degree, and subject to the
conditions, set forth in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware law. 
 Section 17. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matters covered hereby and shall supersede any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties,
written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way and shall not be amended or waived except in a writing signed by the parties hereto. 
 Section 18. Notices. Any notice or request required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and will be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally, sent by telecopy
(with hard copy to follow) or overnight express courier or (ii) five days following mailing by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested, to the addresses below unless another address is specified by such party
in writing: 
  

			
	To the Company:	 	Transgenomic, Inc.
		 	12325 Emmet Street
		 	Omaha, NE 68164
		 	Attention: Chairman
		 	Telephone: (402) 452-5400
		 	Telecopy: (402) 452-5447
		
	To the Employee:	 	Craig Tuttle
		 	14922 Hanover Street
		 	Bennington, NE 68007
		 	Telephone: (402) 504-9737

 Section 19. Headings. The article and section headings herein are for
convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit the provisions hereof. 
 Section 20. Applicable Law. The
corporate law of the State of Delaware will govern all questions concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All other questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by
the internal laws of the State of Nebraska. 
  

 6 

 Section 21. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held prohibited by, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under applicable law, such provision will be ineffective only to the
extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. 
 Section 22. Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and Employee. 
 Section 23. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto
to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party hereto. 
 Section 24.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement. 
 Section 25. Employee Representations. Employee hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by Employee does not and will not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Employee is a party or by which he is bound,
(ii) Employee is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, non-compete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (iii) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this
Agreement shall be the valid and binding obligation of Employee, enforceable in accordance with its terms. 
 Section 26.
Survival. Sections 10, 11, 12, 15 and 16 shall survive and continue in full force in accordance with their terms notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement. 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed by its duly authorized officer and Employee has signed this Agreement. 

 

			
	TRANSGENOMIC, INC.
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Rodney Markin

	Name:	 	Rodney Markin M.D., PhD.
	Title:	 	Chairman of the Board
	
	EMPLOYEE
	
	 /s/ Craig Tuttle

	Name:	 	Craig Tuttle
	Title:	 	President and Chief Executive Officer

  

 7

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