UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported):
September 10,
2009
NEUROMETRIX,
INC.
(Exact Name of
Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
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001-33351
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04-3308180
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(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation)
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(Commission File
No.)
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
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62 Fourth Avenue
Waltham, Massachusetts 02451
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(781) 890-9989
(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors
or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers;
Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
NeuroMetrix, Inc.
(the Company) appointed Thomas T. Higgins, 58, as Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective as of September 10,
2009.
Prior
to joining NeuroMetrix, Mr. Higgins was Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer at Caliper Life Sciences, Inc., a provider of technology
and services for life sciences research, during the period starting in 2005
which saw strong revenue growth, product line expansion via acquisitions, and
substantial improvement in its financial results. Before Caliper, Mr. Higgins was
Executive Vice President, Operations and Chief Financial Officer at V.I.
Technologies, Inc. (Vitex), a biotechnology company addressing blood
safety. Mr. Higgins directed the
financial side of the business, including fund raising, and was also
responsible for Vitex FDA-regulated plasma manufacturing business until its
divestiture in 2001.
Pursuant
to a letter agreement, Mr. Higgins will be paid a base salary of $275,000
per year with a targeted award bonus for 2009 equal to 40% of the base
salary. In connection with his
appointment, Mr. Higgins was awarded a stock option grant under the
Companys 2009 Non-Qualified Inducement Stock Plan to purchase 100,000 shares
of the Companys common stock with an exercise price equal to the closing price
of the Companys common stock on September 10, 2009. The stock option will vest over a period of
time, with 25% vesting one year after the start date and 1/16 vesting each
quarter thereafter. In addition, Mr. Higgins
will be paid a severance equal to nine months base salary in the event his
employment is terminated under certain circumstances.
Mr. Higgins
also entered into an indemnification agreement (the Indemnification Agreement)
with the Company on September 10, 2009.
Pursuant to the terms of the Indemnification Agreement, the Company agreed
to indemnify Mr. Higgins for expenses (including attorneys fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably
incurred by Mr. Higgins in connection with an action, suit or proceeding
to which he is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of his positions
as principal financial officer and principal accounting officer of the Company,
if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, in any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful,
except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the Company,
no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as
to which he shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and
only to the extent that the adjudicating court determines that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, Mr. Higgins
is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses which
the court shall deem proper.
Joseph
A Calo has been the Acting Chief Financial Officer of the Company since July 22,
2008. In connection with the appointment
of Mr. Higgins, Mr. Calo resigned from such position effective September 10,
2009 but will continue as a consultant to the Company.
The
foregoing descriptions of the letter agreement and the Indemnification
Agreement are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the
letter agreement and the Indemnification Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits
10.1 and 10.2, respectively hereto, and are incorporated herein by reference.
1
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and
Exhibits
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(d) Exhibits
Exhibit Number
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Description
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10.1
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Letter Agreement between NeuroMetrix, Inc. and Thomas T. Higgins,
dated August 31, 2009
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10.2
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Indemnification Agreement, dated September 10, 2009, by and
between NeuroMetrix, Inc. and Thomas T. Higgins
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99.1
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Press Release
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly
caused this report to be filed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly
authorized.
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NEUROMETRIX,
INC .
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Dated: September 15,
2009
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By:
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/s/
Shai N. Gozani, M.D., Ph.D.
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Shai
N. Gozani, M.D., Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit Number
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Description
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10.1
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Letter Agreement between NeuroMetrix, Inc. and Thomas T. Higgins,
dated August 31, 2009
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10.2
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Indemnification Agreement, dated September 10, 2009, by and
between NeuroMetrix, Inc. and Thomas T. Higgins
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99.1
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Press Release
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4
Exhibit 10.1
August 31,
2009
Thomas
T. Higgins
90
Carlton Street
Brookline,
MA 02446
Dear
Tom,
Congratulations! We are excited to have you as part of our Company. On
behalf of NeuroMetrix, Inc. (the Company) and the Board of Directors, I
am pleased to offer you the position of Chief Financial Officer, contingent on
the completion of your references. The
terms of this employment offer are as follows:
·
Start
date
: Monday, September 8, 2009
(the Start Date).
·
Title &
Responsibilities:
Your title will
be Chief Financial Officer. In this
position, you will report to the Companys Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for
overseeing the Companys Finance Department, Investors Relations, Corporate
Legal Department, Human Resources Department, Customer Service Department,
Information Technology Department, and Product Fulfillment Operations. You also will be responsible for performing
any other services and duties in connection with the business, affairs and
operations of NeuroMetrix as may be assigned or delegated to you that are not
inconsistent with your title and responsibilities from time to time by or under
the authority of the Chief Executive Officer or Board of Directors.
·
Base Salary
: The Company will pay you a salary (Base
Salary) at a semi-monthly rate of $11,458.33 ($275,000 annualized), subject to
periodic review and adjustment at the discretion of the Company.
·
Variable Compensation
: You will be eligible to receive an annual
cash performance bonus of up to 40% of your Base Salary. The Company shall consider and make a bonus
determination not later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year during
which you are employed by the Company, starting with fiscal year ending December 31,
2009. The Company will pay such bonus to
you on or before the 15th day of the third month after the end of the following
fiscal year (e.g., a bonus determined within 60 days after the end of the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2009 will be paid sometime between January 1,
2010 and March 15, 2010). Bonus
awards shall be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.
·
Equity
. On the Start Date the Company will issue you
a ten-year non-qualified stock option (the Option) to purchase 100,000 shares
of the Companys Common Stock pursuant to a stock option agreement (the Option
Agreement) under the Companys 2009 Non-Qualified Inducement Stock Plan (the Plan). The exercise price on any shares sold
pursuant to the Option Agreement shall equal the fair market value of the
Companys shares at the close of business on the Start Date, and, subject to
your continued employment with the Company, the Option will become exercisable
with respect to 25,000 shares on the first anniversary of the Start Date and an
additional 6,250 shares each quarter thereafter. The Option Agreement shall be in the standard
form approved for use under the
62 Fourth Avenue Waltham,
MA 02451 tel. 781.890.9989 fax. 781.890.1556
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www.neurometrix.com
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Plan, which is substantially identical to the standard form of stock
option agreement used under the Companys Second Amended and Restated 2004 Stock
Option and Incentive Plan.
Your
participation in the Plan and the grant of the Options is subject to all terms
of the Plan and Option Agreement and is further contingent upon your execution
of the Companys standard stock-related agreements.
·
Benefits
: The Company will provide
medical insurance coverage and other benefits on the same terms and conditions
as provided to the Companys employees or other senior executives from time to
time.
·
Paid Time Off
: You also will be eligible to receive paid
vacation. Currently, you will be
eligible for seventeen (17) paid vacation days per year of employment, which
accrues on a prorated basis and shall be treated in a manner consistent with
the Companys Employee Handbook, as amended from time to time. You also will be eligible for paid holidays
and personal days recognized by the Company as set forth in the Companys
Employee Handbook, as amended from time to time.
·
Representation Regarding Other Obligations
: This offer is
conditioned on your representation that you are not subject to any
confidentiality or non-competition agreement or any other similar type of
restriction that would affect your ability to devote full time and attention to
your work at the Company. As soon as
possible, but in no event later than the tenth business day prior to Start
Date, you agree to provide the Company with a copy of any confidentiality or non-competition
agreement into which you previously have entered and will be subject to at any
time on or after the Start Date.
·
Other
Terms:
Your employment with the
Company shall be on an at-will basis. In
other words, you or the Company may terminate employment for any reason and at
any time, with or without notice. You
will also be required to sign the Companys standard form of Confidentiality
and Non-Compete Agreement. A copy of
that Agreement is enclosed at
Tab A
. In addition, as with all employees, our offer
to you (and our obligations under this Agreement) are contingent on your
submission of satisfactory proof of your identity and your legal authorization
to work in the United States.
·
Severance:
If (i) the Company
terminates your employment for any reason other than Cause or (ii) you
resign for Good Reason, then you will be entitled to receive continuation of
your Base Salary for a period of nine (9) months from the date of
termination (the Severance Period). In
addition, the Company will accelerate your right to exercise shares under any
stock option granted to you by the Company on or after the date of this
Agreement as if you had continued to work for the Company during the Severance
Period. During the Severance Period, the
Company will continue to contribute to your medical insurance coverage, which,
subject to your eligibility, will be extended to you under the law known as
COBRA at the same rate as if you continued to be employed by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, your receipt
of the severance benefits described in this paragraph will be subject, in all
cases, to your execution, on or before the 21st day following its presentation
to you (which shall occur no more than 14 days after the Date of Termination)
of a release of any and all claims that you may then have against the Company
in connection with your employment in a form that is satisfactory to the
Company (the Release) and the effectiveness and irrevocability of the Release
upon its execution or the earliest day after its execution as is permitted by
law. Payments of continuation of Base
Salary owed pursuant to this paragraph will occur on the regular payroll payment
dates for the Company beginning with the first regular payroll payment date
that occurs on
or after the date that is 45 days after your termination or resignation
(with the first payment to include the full amount owed for continuation of
Base Salary for the payroll period to which such payment date relates and any
prior payroll periods for which payment was not yet made).
·
Definitions:
For
purposes of this Agreement, Cause shall mean a vote by the Board resolving
that you shall be dismissed as a result of (i) your material breach of any
agreement between you and the Company; (ii) your conviction of or plea of
nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; or (iii) any
material misconduct or willful and deliberate non-performance (other than by
reason of disability) by you of your duties to the Company.
Resignation
for Good Reason shall mean your resignation following your prior written
notice to the Company that the Company has materially breached this agreement
(with such written notice to describe such material breach in detail), provided
that (i) such written notice is provided within thirty (30) days after the
initial existence of such breach, (ii) such breach has, in fact, occurred
and remains uncured by the Company for thirty (30) days following its receipt of
such written notice (the Cure Period), (iii) you resign upon not less
than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior written notice and (iv) you
provide the Company with the written notice of your resignation on or before
the fifteenth (15th) day after the end of the Cure Period.
·
Section 409A:
Solely
for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code), each periodic severance payment made pursuant to this
agreement shall be considered a separate payment. Anything in this agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, if at the time of your termination or resignation, you are
considered a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of
the Code, and if any payment that you become entitled to under this agreement
would be considered deferred compensation subject to interest and additional
tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A(a) of the Code as a result of
the application of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then no such
payment shall be payable prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six
months and one day after your separation from service, or (ii) your death.
·
Arbitration
of Disputes:
Any dispute
arising hereunder or arising out of your employment, termination thereof, or
any other relations with the Company, whether sounding in tort or contract, by
statute or otherwise, including, but not limited to claims of employment
discrimination, shall be settled by arbitration in Boston, Massachusetts, in
accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment
Disputes of the American Arbitration Association before a single
Arbitrator. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, disputes arising under the Confidentiality and Non-compete Agreement
shall not be subject to arbitration.
·
Taxation:
You understand that payments
made pursuant to this agreement may be subject to applicable federal and state
withholdings.
·
Entire Agreement
: This agreement, the
Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement and the Option Agreement set forth
the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Company regarding
all subjects covered herein, the terms of which may not be changed or modified
except by agreement in writing signed by you and the Company.
·
Severability
: Should any provision of this
agreement, or portion thereof, be found invalid and unenforceable, the
remaining provisions shall continue in force and effect.
·
Governing Law
: This agreement shall be
governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, without regard to principles of conflict of law.
Please
contact me if you have any questions regarding this offer. Should the above meet with your approval,
please acknowledge your acceptance of this offer by signing as indicated below. This offer shall expire if not accepted in
writing within seven days of the date of this letter.
We
are delighted to offer you the opportunity to join NeuroMetrix. We are confident that you will find the work
challenging and rewarding and that you will bring real value to NeuroMetrix.
Sincerely,
NEUROMETRIX,
INC.
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By:
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/s/
Shai N. Gozani,
M.D., Ph.D.
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Shai
Gozani, M.D., Ph.D
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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ACCEPTED:
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/s/
Thomas Higgins
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Date:
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September 2, 2009
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Thomas
Higgins
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Exhibit 10.2
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement made and entered into this 10th day of September, 2009
(the Agreement), by and between NeuroMetrix, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the Company, which term shall include, where appropriate, any
Entity (as hereinafter defined) controlled directly or indirectly by the
Company) and Thomas T. Higgins (the Indemnitee):
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Indemnitee to serve as
employee and officer of the Company in the role of Chief Financial Officer,
principal financial officer and principal accounting officer;
WHEREAS, increased corporate litigation has subjected persons serving
in such roles to litigation risks and expenses, and the limitations on the
availability of directors and officers liability insurance have made it
increasingly difficult for the Company to attract and retain such persons;
WHEREAS, the Companys By-laws
(the By-laws) require it to indemnify certain persons associated with
the Company and permit it to make other indemnification arrangements and
agreements;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide Indemnitee with specific
contractual assurance of Indemnitees rights to full indemnification against
litigation risks and expenses (regardless, among other things, of any amendment
to or revocation of the By-laws
or any change in the ownership of the Company);
WHEREAS, the Company intends that this Agreement provide Indemnitee
with greater protection than that which is provided by the Companys By-laws; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is relying upon the rights afforded under this
Agreement in
becoming
an
employee and officer of the Company in the role of Chief Financial Officer,
principal financial officer and principal accounting officer.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:
1.
Definitions
.
(a)
Corporate Status describes the status
of a person who is serving or has served (i) as employee and officer of
the Company in the role of Chief Financial Officer, principal financial officer
and principal accounting officer,
(ii) in
any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company, or (iii) as
a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of any other Entity
at the request of the Company. For
purposes of subsection (iii) of this Section 1(a), if Indemnitee
is serving or has served as a director,
partner, trustee, officer,
employee or agent of a
Subsidiary, Indemnitee shall be deemed to be serving at the request of the
Company.
(b)
Entity shall mean any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, foundation,
association, organization or other legal entity.
(c)
Expenses shall mean all fees, costs and
expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (as defined
below), including, without limitation, attorneys fees, disbursements and
retainers (including, without limitation, any such fees, disbursements and
retainers incurred by Indemnitee pursuant to Sections 10 and 11(c) of
this Agreement), fees and disbursements of expert witnesses, private
investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation,
accountants and investment bankers), court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts,
travel expenses, duplicating, printing and binding costs, telephone and fax
transmission charges, postage, delivery services, secretarial services, and
other disbursements and expenses.
(d)
Indemnifiable Expenses, Indemnifiable
Liabilities and Indemnifiable Amounts shall have the meanings ascribed to
those terms in Section 3(a) below.
(e)
Liabilities shall mean judgments,
damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid
in settlement.
(f)
Proceeding shall mean any threatened,
pending or completed claim, action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution process, investigation, administrative hearing, appeal, or any other
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or
investigative, whether formal or informal, including a proceeding initiated by
Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement to enforce Indemnitees
rights hereunder.
(g)
Subsidiary shall mean any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other Entity of
which the Company owns (either directly or through or together with another
Subsidiary of the Company) either (i) a general partner, managing member
or other similar interest or (ii) (A) 50% or more of the voting power
of the voting capital equity interests of such corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture or other Entity, or (B) 50% or
more of the outstanding voting capital stock or other voting equity interests
of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or
other Entity.
2.
Services of
Indemnitee
. In
consideration of the Companys covenants and commitments hereunder, Indemnitee
agrees to serve or continue to serve as an employee and officer of the Company
in the role of Chief Financial Officer,
principal financial officer and principal accounting officer.
However, this Agreement shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or
the Company to continue Indemnitees service to the Company beyond any period
otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties,
if any.
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3.
Agreement to
Indemnify
. The
Company agrees to indemnify Indemnitee as follows:
(a)
Proceedings Other Than By or In the Right
of the Company
. Subject to the exceptions contained in Section 4(a) below,
if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
Proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason
of Indemnitees Corporate Status, Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the
Company against all Expenses and Liabilities actually and reasonably incurred
or paid by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding (referred to herein as
Indemnifiable Expenses and Indemnifiable Liabilities, respectively, and
collectively as Indemnifiable Amounts).
(b)
Proceedings By or In the Right of the
Company
. Subject to the exceptions contained in Section 4(b) below,
if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company by reason of Indemnitees
Corporate Status, Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Company against all
Indemnifiable Expenses.
(c)
Conclusive Presumption Regarding Standard
of Care
. In making any determination required to be
made under Delaware law with respect to entitlement to indemnification
hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall
presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if
Indemnitee submitted a request therefor in accordance with Section 5 of
this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that
presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of
any determination contrary to that presumption.
4.
Exceptions to
Indemnification
. Indemnitee
shall be entitled to indemnification under Sections 3(a) and 3(b) above
in all circumstances other than with respect to any specific claim, issue or
matter involved in the Proceeding out of which Indemnitees claim for
indemnification has arisen, as follows:
(a)
Proceedings Other Than By or In the Right
of the Company
. If indemnification is requested under Section 3(a) and
it has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that, in
connection with such specific claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee failed to act (i) in
good faith and (ii) in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect to any
criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitees
conduct was unlawful, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of
Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder.
(b)
Proceedings By or In the Right of the
Company
. If indemnification is requested under Section 3(b) and
(i) it
has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that, in
connection with such specific claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee failed to act (A) in
good faith and (B) in a manner Indemnitee reasonably
3
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests
of the Company, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable
Expenses hereunder; or
(ii) it
has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that
Indemnitee is liable to the Company with respect to such specific claim,
Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Expenses hereunder
with respect to such claim, issue or matter unless the Court of Chancery or
another court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon
application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnification for such Indemnifiable Expenses which such court shall deem
proper; or
(iii) it
has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that
Indemnitee is liable to the Company for an accounting of profits made from the
purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the
provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and amendments thereto or
similar provisions of any federal, state or local statutory law, Indemnitee
shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Expenses hereunder.
(c)
Insurance Proceeds
.
To the extent payment is actually made to the Indemnitee under a valid
and collectible insurance policy in respect of Indemnifiable Amounts in
connection with such specific claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee shall not be
entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder except in respect of any
excess beyond the amount of payment under such insurance.
5.
Procedure for Payment of Indemnifiable
Amounts
. Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a
written request specifying the Indemnifiable Amounts for which Indemnitee seeks
payment under Section 3 of this Agreement and the basis for the
claim. The Company shall pay such
Indemnifiable Amounts to Indemnitee within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt
of the request. At the request of the
Company, Indemnitee shall furnish such documentation and information as are
reasonably available to Indemnitee and necessary to establish that Indemnitee
is entitled to indemnification hereunder.
If Indemnitee is entitled under any provisions of this Agreement to
indemnification by the Company of some or a portion of the Indemnifiable
Amounts but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company will
nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which the
Indemnitee is entitled.
6.
Indemnification for Expenses of a Party
Who is Wholly or Partly Successful
.
Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision, to the
extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status, a party
to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, Indemnitee
shall be indemnified against all Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or
on Indemnitees behalf in connection therewith.
If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is
successful, on the
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merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues
or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against
all Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in
connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Agreement, the
termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal,
with or without prejudice, by reason of settlement, judgment, order or
otherwise, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or
matter.
7.
Effect of Certain Resolutions
.
Neither the settlement or termination of any Proceeding nor the failure
of the Company to award indemnification or to determine that indemnification is
payable shall create a presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder. In addition, the
termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not create a presumption
that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to
believe that Indemnitees action was unlawful.
8.
Agreement to Advance Expenses;
Undertaking
. The Company shall advance all Expenses
incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding,
including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company, in which Indemnitee
is involved by reason of such Indemnitees Corporate Status within ten (10) calendar
days after the receipt by the Company of a written statement from Indemnitee
requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or
after final disposition of such Proceeding.
To the extent required by Delaware law, Indemnitee hereby undertakes to
repay any and all of the amount of Indemnifiable Expenses paid to Indemnitee if
it is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee
is not entitled under this Agreement to indemnification with respect to such
Expenses. This undertaking is an unlimited general
obligation of Indemnitee.
9.
Procedure for Advance Payment of Expenses
.
Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request specifying the
Indemnifiable Expenses for which Indemnitee seeks an advancement under Section 8
of this Agreement, together with documentation evidencing that Indemnitee has
incurred such Indemnifiable Expenses.
Payment of Indemnifiable Expenses under Section 8 shall be made no
later than ten (10) calendar days after the Companys receipt of such
request.
10.
Remedies of Indemnitee
.
(a)
Right to Petition Court
. In the event that Indemnitee makes a request
for payment of Indemnifiable Amounts under Sections 3 and 5 above or a
request for an advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses under Sections 8 and
9 above and the Company fails to make such payment or advancement in a timely
manner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee may petition the
Court of Chancery to enforce the Companys obligations under this Agreement.
(b)
Burden of Proof
. In any judicial proceeding brought under Section 10(a) above,
the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to
payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder.
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(c)
Expenses
. The Company agrees to reimburse Indemnitee in
full for any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with investigating,
preparing for, litigating, defending or settling any action brought by
Indemnitee under Section 10(a) above, or in connection with any claim
or counterclaim brought by the Company in connection therewith, whether or not
Indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in connection with any such
action.
(d)
Failure to Act Not a Defense
. The failure of the Company (including its
Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or
stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of the
payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or the advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses
under this Agreement shall not be a defense in any action brought under Section 10(a) above,
and shall not create a presumption that such payment or advancement is not
permissible.
11.
Defense of the Underlying Proceeding
.
(a)
Notice by Indemnitee
. Indemnitee agrees to notify the Company
promptly upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint,
indictment, information, or other document relating to any Proceeding which may
result in the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or the advancement of
Indemnifiable Expenses hereunder; provided, however, that the failure to give
any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise
affect in any manner any right of Indemnitee, to receive payments of
Indemnifiable Amounts or advancements of Indemnifiable Expenses unless the
Companys ability to defend in such Proceeding is materially and adversely
prejudiced thereby.
(b)
Defense by Company
. Subject to the provisions of the last
sentence of this Section 11(b) and of Section 11(c) below,
the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding which
may give rise to the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder; provided,
however that the Company shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend
within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of notice of any such Proceeding
under Section 11(a) above. The
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, consent to
the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or
compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee or (ii) does
not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee
from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. This Section 11(b) shall not apply
to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 10(a) above or
pursuant to Section 19 below.
(c)
Indemnitees Right to Counsel
. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11(b) above,
if in a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitees
Corporate Status, (i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes that he or she may
have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue
which may not be consistent with the position of other defendants in such
6
Proceeding, (ii) a
conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between
Indemnitee and the Company, or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the
defense of such proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to
be represented by separate legal counsel of Indemnitees choice at the expense
of the Company. In addition, if the
Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in
the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this
Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any action, suit or proceeding
to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to
Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of
Indemnitees choice, at the expense of the Company, to represent Indemnitee in
connection with any such matter.
12.
Representations and Warranties of the
Company
. The Company hereby represents and warrants to
Indemnitee as follows:
(a)
Authority
. The Company has all necessary power and
authority to enter into, and be bound by the terms of, this Agreement, and the
execution, delivery and performance of the undertakings contemplated by this
Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company.
(b)
Enforceability
. This Agreement, when executed and delivered
by the Company in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally.
13.
Insurance
. The Company
shall, from time to time, make the good faith determination whether or not it
is practicable for the Company to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of
insurance with a reputable insurance company providing the Indemnitee with
coverage for losses from wrongful acts.
For so long as Indemnitee shall remain an employee and officer of the
Company in the role of Chief Financial Officer, principal financial officer and
principal accounting officer and with respect to any such prior service, in all
policies of director and officer liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be named
as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and
benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Companys
officers and directors. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain such
insurance if the Company determines in good faith that such insurance is not
reasonably available, if the premium costs for such insurance are
disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, or if the coverage
provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an
insufficient benefit. The Company shall promptly notify Indemnitee of any good
faith determination not to provide such coverage.
14.
Contract Rights Not Exclusive
.
The rights to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts and advancement of
Indemnifiable Expenses provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to, but
not exclusive of, any other rights which Indemnitee may have at any time under
applicable law, the Companys Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, or any
other agreement, vote of stockholders or directors (or a committee of
directors), or otherwise, both as to action in
7
Indemnitees official capacity and as to action in any other capacity
as a result of Indemnitees serving as an employee and officer of the Company
in the role of Chief Fiancial Officer, principal financial officer and
principal accounting officer.
15.
Successors
. This
Agreement shall be (a) binding upon all successors and assigns of the
Company (including any transferee of all or a substantial portion of the
business, stock and/or assets of the Company and any direct or indirect
successor by merger or consolidation or otherwise by operation of law) and (b) binding
on and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, personal representatives,
executors and administrators of Indemnitee.
This Agreement shall continue for the benefit of Indemnitee and such
heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators after Indemnitee
has ceased to have Corporate Status.
16.
Subrogation
.
In the event of any payment of Indemnifiable Amounts under this
Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all
of the rights of contribution or recovery of Indemnitee against other persons,
and Indemnitee shall take, at the request of the Company, all reasonable action
necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as
are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
17.
Change in Law
.
To the extent that a change in Delaware law (whether by statute or
judicial decision) shall permit broader indemnification or advancement of
expenses than is provided under the
terms of the By-laws and this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to such
broader indemnification and advancements, and this Agreement shall be deemed to
be amended to such extent.
18.
Severability
.
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted
in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any
provision of this Agreement, or any clause thereof, shall be determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in
whole or in part, such provision or clause shall be limited or modified in its
application to the minimum extent necessary to make such provision or clause
valid, legal and enforceable, and the remaining provisions and clauses of this
Agreement shall remain fully enforceable and binding on the parties.
19.
Indemnitee as Plaintiff
.
Except as provided in Section 10(c) of this Agreement and in
the next sentence, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable
Amounts or advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses with respect to any Proceeding
brought by Indemnitee against the Company, any Entity which it controls, any
director or officer thereof, or any third party, unless the Board of Directors
of the Company has consented to the initiation of such Proceeding. This Section shall not apply to
counterclaims or affirmative defenses asserted by Indemnitee in an action
brought against Indemnitee.
20.
Modifications and Waiver
.
Except as provided in Section 17 above with respect to changes in
Delaware law which broaden the right of Indemnitee to be indemnified by the
Company, no supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be
binding unless executed in writing by each of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions
of this Agreement (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver.
8
21.
General Notices
.
All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when
delivered by hand, (b) when transmitted by facsimile and receipt is
acknowledged, or (c) if mailed by certified or registered mail with
postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so
mailed:
(i)
If to Indemnitee, to:
Thomas T. Higgins
90 Carlton Street
Brookline, MA 02446
(ii)
If to the Company, to:
NeuroMetrix, Inc.
62 Fourth Avenue
Waltham, MA 02451
Attention: President
or to
such other address as may have been furnished in the same manner by any party
to the others.
22.
Governing
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process
. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard
to its rules of conflict of laws.
Each of the Company and the Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court
of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the courts of the United States of
America located in the State of Delaware (the Delaware Courts) for any
litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto
except in such courts), waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such
litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in any
Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. Each of the parties
hereto agrees, (a) to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to
service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent
in the State of Delaware as such partys agent for acceptance of legal process,
and (b) that service of process may also be made on such party by prepaid
certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the United States
Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service. Service made pursuant to (a) or (b) above
shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party
personally within the State of Delaware.
For purposes of implementing the parties agreement to appoint and
maintain an agent for service of process in the State of Delaware, each such
party does hereby appoint Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road Suite 400,
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808, as such agent and each such
party hereby agrees to complete all actions necessary for such appointment.
[signature page follows]
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
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NEUROMETRIX, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Shai N. Gozani,
M.D., Ph.D.
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Name: Shai N. Gozani, M.D., Ph.D.
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Title: President
and Chief Executive Officer
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INDEMNITEE
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/s/ Thomas T. Higgins
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Thomas T. Higgins
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10
Exhibit 99.1
NeuroMetrix
Names Thomas T. Higgins Chief Financial Officer
Waltham,
Mass., September 10, 2009 NeuroMetrix, Inc. (Nasdaq: Nuro) today
announced the appointment of Thomas T. Higgins as Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer. The appointment is effective immediately.
Mr. Higgins
brings to NeuroMetrix a broad set of financial management and operations skills
gained in over 30 years of experience with publicly traded companies in life
sciences, specialty chemicals and financial services. He has extensive
international experience with a particular emphasis on Japan, Southeast Asia
and the Middle East.
Prior
to joining NeuroMetrix, Mr. Higgins was Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer at Caliper Life Sciences. Inc, a provider of technology and
services for life sciences research, during the period starting in 2005 which
saw strong revenue growth, product line expansion via acquisitions, and
substantial improvement in its financial results. Before Caliper, Mr. Higgins was
Executive Vice President, Operations and Chief Financial Officer at V.I.
Technologies, Inc. (Vitex), a biotechnology company addressing blood
safety. Mr. Higgins directed the financial side of the business, including
fund raising, and was also responsible for Vitex FDA-regulated plasma
manufacturing business until its divestiture in 2001. Prior to joining Vitex in
1998, Mr. Higgins served at Cabot Corporation from 1985 in various senior
finance and operations roles. His last position at Cabot was President of
Distrigas of Massachusetts Corporation, a subsidiary involved in the liquefied
natural gas business, and prior to that he was responsible for Cabots Asia
Pacific carbon black operations. Before joining Cabot, Mr. Higgins was
with PricewaterhouseCoopers where he started his career. Mr. Higgins holds
a BBA with honors from Boston University.
Toms
credentials in finance and accounting plus his operations experience are an
excellent fit with our needs, said Shai N. Gozani, M.D., PhD, NeuroMetrixs
President and CEO. We are very pleased to have him on board and look forward
to his contributions as we continue developing NeuroMetrix into a premier
neurotechnology focused healthcare company.
About
NeuroMetrix
NeuroMetrix
is a science-based health care company transforming patient care through
neurotechnology. We provide innovative products for preservation and
restoration of nerve and spinal cord function, and pain control. To date, our
focus has been primarily on the assessment of neuropathies. Neuropathies affect
the peripheral nerves and parts of the spine and are frequently caused by or
associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes, sciatica, and other clinical
disorders. We market systems for the performance of nerve conduction studies
and needle electromyography procedures. Our product pipeline includes a system
designed to deliver pharmacologic agents such as anesthetics and
corticosteroids in close proximity to nerves for regional anesthesia, pain
control and the
treatment
of focal neuropathies. We are also developing devices and pharmaceutical agents
to treat spinal cord injuries. For more information, visit
http://www.neurometrix.com.
CONTACT:
NeuroMetrix, Inc. Kathleen Cummings, 781-314-2725 Executive Assistant
neurometrix.ir@neurometrix.com
Source:
NeuroMetrix, Inc.