UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 1, 2022

 

TIVIC HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-41052   81-4016391
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

25821 Industrial Blvd., Suite 100

Hayward, CA 94545

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 276-6888

 

N/A 
(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:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading symbol(s)   Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   TIVC   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company x

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”) regarding the Cai Employment Agreement (as defined in Item 5.02, below) and the Sabia Employment Agreement (as defined in Item 5.02, below) is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in Item 5.02 of this Current Report regarding the Benz Employment Agreement (as defined in Item 5.02, below) is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Resignation of Briana Benz

 

On April 1, 2022, Briana Benz resigned from her role as Chief Financial Officer of Tivic Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to pursue other opportunities. As a result of her resignation, the employment agreement between the Company and Ms. Benz, dated July 29, 2021 (the “Benz Employment Agreement”), terminated, effective April 1, 2022 (the “Separation Date”). In accordance with the Benz Employment Agreement, Ms. Benz will be paid all accrued and unpaid wages, as well as all accrued but unused vacation hours, through the Separation Date.

 

 

 

 

Ms. Benz has advised the Company that her decision to step down from the role of Chief Financial Officer was not based on any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to its operations, policies or practices.

 

In addition, on April 1, 2022, in connection with Ms. Benz’ resignation, the Company repurchased a total of 93,750 restricted shares of Company common stock from Ms. Benz for an aggregate purchase price of $375 ($0.004 per share), which shares were previously purchased by Ms. Benz pursuant to that Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Ms. Benz, dated July 30, 2021, and remained unvested as of the Separation Date.

 

Appointment of Veronica Cai

 

On April 1, 2022, Veronica Cai was appointed as the Company’s new Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Cai, 46 years of age, is a strategic and collaborative executive with two and a half decades of finance and accounting experience, specializing in scaling finance organizations in early development stage to post commercial, large international corporations and IPOs. She has an audit background and has held various senior financial executive roles in both publicly listed companies, private-equity backed technologies and healthcare businesses, assisting with the navigation through transitions between the different phases of business and fund raisings efforts of such businesses. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Cai served as the Vice President of Accounting & Finance at RefleXion Medical, Inc., a private medical device company located in California, from April 2020 to February 2022. Prior to that, from February 2019 to April 2020, Ms. Cai served as the Principal Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller for Catalyst Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBIO), biopharmaceutical company focused on developing protease therapeutics, where she oversaw all accounting functions and assisted their corporate management team with the preparation and filing of all of the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission regulatory filings. From April 2016 to December 2018, Ms. Cai served as a director and the Assistant Controller of Zogenix, Inc. (previously, NASDAQ:ZGNX), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for certain rare diseases. Additionally, from October 1998 to April 2016, Ms. Cai served in a number of financial and accounting roles advancing her accounting and auditing skills serving on behalf of public and privately-held companies throughout California. Ms. Cai also worked as an Inspections Specialist at the Public Company Accounting Board (PCAOB) from September 2012 to February 2015. She received Bachelors of Science Degrees in Business Administration and Accounting and Finance from San Francisco State University.

 

On April, 1, 2022, in connection with her appointment as Chief Financial Officer, the Company and Ms. Cai entered into an executive offer letter agreement (the “Cai Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which Ms. Cai is entitled to receive a base salary of $325,000 per annum (subject to review and adjustment in accordance with the Company’s normal performance review practices), and she will be eligible to receive, at the sole discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”), an annual end-of-year incentive bonus in an amount up to 25% of her base salary. Additionally, in connection with her appointment as Chief Financial Officer, on April 1, 2022 the Company granted Ms. Cai stock options to purchase 117,880 shares of Company common stock under the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, which options (i) have an exercise price of $1.61 per share, (ii) will expire 10 years from the date of grant, and (iii) shall vest as follows: (a) 25% on April 1, 2023, and (b) the balance will vest in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to limited exceptions.

 

Pursuant to the Cai Employment Agreement, Ms. Cai’s employment is “at will,” meaning that either she or the Company are entitled to terminate Ms. Cai’s employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. In the event that her employment with the Company is terminated for any reason before December 31 of any given year, she will not be entitled to receive an annual end-of-year bonus. In the event that (i) Ms. Cai elects to terminate her employment with the Company other than for good reason, (ii) the Company terminates her employment for cause, or (iii) her employment is terminated as a result of her death of complete disability, then Ms. Cai will not be entitled to receive any separation benefits. In the event that Ms. Cai terminates her employment for good reason or the Company terminates her employment without cause, then Ms. Cai shall be entitled to receive 1/12 of her base salary for a period of six months after termination and the Company shall pay her COBRA coverage for a period of six months after termination.

 

There is no arrangement or understanding between Ms. Cai and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Cai was appointed as Chief Financial Officer. There are no family relationships between Ms. Cai and any of the Company’s directors, executive officers or persons nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer. Ms. Cai has not engaged in any related-person transactions required to be disclosed by Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

Ryan Sabia Employment Agreement

 

On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into an executive offer letter agreement with Ryan Sabia (“Sabia Employment Agreement”), the Company’s Chief Operating Officer; pursuant to which Mr. Sabia is entitled to receive a base salary of $250,000 per annum (subject to review and adjustment in accordance with the Company’s normal performance review practices), and he will be eligible to receive, at the sole discretion of the Board, an annual end-of-year incentive bonus in an amount up to 25% of his base salary.

 

Pursuant to the Sabia Employment Agreement, Mr. Sabia’s employment is “at will,” meaning that either he or the Company are entitled to terminate Mr. Sabia’s employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. In the event that his employment with the Company is terminated for any reason before December 31 of any given year, he will not be entitled to receive an annual end-of-year bonus. In the event that (i) Mr. Sabia elects to terminate his employment with the Company other than for good reason, (ii) the Company terminates his employment for cause, or (iii) his employment is terminated as a result of his death of complete disability, then Mr. Sabia will not be entitled to receive any separation benefits. In the event that Mr. Sabia terminates his employment for good reason or the Company terminates his employment without cause, then Mr. Sabia shall be entitled to receive 1/12 of his base salary for a period of six months after termination and the Company shall pay his COBRA coverage for a period of six months after termination.

 

 

 

 

The summary of the terms of the Cai Employment Agreement and Sabia Employment Agreement set forth above in this Item 5.02 does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Cai Employment Agreement and Sabia Employment Agreement, copies of which are attached to this Current Report as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2 respectively, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

 

On April 5, 2022, the Company issued a press announcing the management changes set forth above, amongst other things. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The information set forth under Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (“Current Report”), including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of such section. The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of any incorporation by reference language in any such filing, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. This Current Report will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in this Current Report that is required to be disclosed solely by Regulation FD.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, contains certain forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. When used herein, the terms “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “believes,” “will” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements in this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, or hereafter, including in other publicly available documents filed with the Commission, reports to the stockholders of the Company and other publicly available statements issued or released by us involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements to differ from the future results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such future results are based upon management’s best estimates based upon current conditions and the most recent results of operations. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth herein and in such other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, each of which could adversely affect our business and the accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained herein. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

 

     

Exhibit

No. 

  Description
   
10.1   Executive Offer Letter, between Tivic Health Systems, Inc. and Veronica Cai, dated April 1, 2022.
10.2 Executive Offer Letter, between Tivic Health Systems, Inc. and Ryan Sabia, dated April 1, 2022.
99.1   Press Release, dated April 5, 2022.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: April 5, 2022

 

  TIVIC HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
     
  By:  /s/ Jennifer Ernst
    Name: Jennifer Ernst
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

April 1, 2022

 

Veronica Cai

355 First Street #1501

San Francisco, CA 94105

 

Dear Veronica:

 

This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into between Veronica Cai (“you”) and Tivic Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). This Agreement shall be effective April 1, 2022. This Agreement confirms the current terms and conditions of your employment with the Company. This Agreement supersedes all prior negotiations, representations or agreements between you and the Company, including any prior employment agreement, understanding or offer letter between you and the Company.

 

1.             Duties and Scope of Employment.

 

(a)               Position. For the term of your employment under this Agreement (your “Employment”), the Company agrees to employ you in the exempt position of Chief Financial Officer. You will report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or to such other person as the Company subsequently may determine. You will be working out of the Company’s office in Hayward, California, it also being understood that the Company may require you to perform business travel to other locations from time to time in connection with the Company’s business. You will perform the duties and have the responsibilities and authority customarily performed and held by an employee in your position or as otherwise may be assigned or delegated to you by the Company.

 

(b)               Obligations to the Company. During the term of your Employment, you will devote your full business efforts and time to the Company. During your Employment, you agree that you will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting, advisory or other business activity without the prior written consent of the Company, nor will you engage in any other activities that conflict with your obligations to the Company, it being understood that you will be permitted to devote a reasonable amount of time and effort to providing service to, or serving on governing boards or committees of civic and/or charitable organizations, but only to the extent that such activities, individually or taken as a whole, do not (A) require or involve your active participation in the management of any corporation, partnership or other entity, or interfere with the execution of your duties under this Agreement; (B) otherwise violate any provision of this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement (hereinafter defined), or (C) impair your ability to perform your duties to the Company. You shall comply with the Company’s policies and rules, including those policies located in the Company’s Handbook (and applicable State Supplement), if any, and the Employee Invention Assignment and Confidentiality Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), as they may be in effect from time to time during your Employment.

 

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(c)               Employment at Will. Your Employment will be “at will,” meaning that either you or the Company shall be entitled to terminate your Employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you shall be superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement will constitute the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on the “at-will” nature of your Employment, which may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Except as otherwise herein expressly provided for, upon the termination of your employment, you will only be entitled to the compensation and benefits earned and the reimbursements described in this Agreement for the period preceding the effective date of the termination.

 

(d)               Commencement Date. Assuming your acceptance of this Agreement, as evidenced by your signature below, your full-time Employment will be deemed to have commenced on April 1, 2022.

 

2.              Compensation; Business Expenses.

 

(a)               Base Wage. In this exempt position, the Company will pay you as compensation for your Employment a base salary at a gross annual rate of $325,000 “Base Salary”, pro-rated for any partial year. Your annual base salary will be subject to review and adjustment based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. Your base salary will continue to be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures.

 

(b)               Incentive Compensation. At the discretion of the Board, you will be eligible to earn a discretionary, annual end-of-year incentive bonus in an amount of up to 25% of your Base Salary. The exact amount of the incentive bonus you may receive will be dependent on the achievement of Company milestones and profitability, and such other milestones as the Board deems appropriate. Payment of your incentive bonus, if earned, will be paid to you as soon as practical following the end of the calendar year, contingent upon final financial results from the prior year and Board approval of meeting performance objectives whether plan or individual, and in any event, within 60 days therefrom. You will not earn any incentive bonus (including a prorated bonus) if your employment terminates for any reason before December 31, for the year in question.

 

(c)               Stock Option. In connection with the commencement of your employment, the Company will recommend that the Board grant you a stock option (the “Option”), pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), to purchase up to 117,880 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Option Shares”) with an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of the grant. 25% of the Option Shares will vest and become exercisable (disregarding any fractional share) on April 1, 2023 (assuming that your actual start date is April 1, 2022) and the balance of the Option Shares will be vested in a series of thirty-six (36) successive equal monthly installments (rounded downwards to the nearest whole share) measured from May 1, 2023, such that 100% of the Option Shares will be vested and exercisable on April 1, 2026.  Vesting will, of course, depend on your continued employment with the Company.  The Option will be an incentive stock option to the maximum extent allowed by the tax code and will be subject to the terms of the Plan, a Stock Option Grant Notice and a Stock Option Agreement between you and the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein contained to the contrary, subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Option Grant Notice, Stock Option Agreement and the Plan, if and to the extent that (A) there is a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the Plan), and (B) there is a termination of service in connection with, or within 12 months following, a Change in Control, for reasons other than “cause” (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement), then the vesting of all of the unvested Option Shares shall accelerate and be exercisable as of such termination date, as more fully set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice.

 

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(d)               Business Expenses. The Company will reimburse you for your necessary and reasonable business expenses incurred in connection with your duties hereunder upon presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Company’s generally applicable policies currently in effect or to be adopted after the date hereof, as may be amended from time to time.

 

3.             Employee Benefits. You will be entitled to earn three (3) weeks of Paid Time Off (“PTO”) in accordance with the Company’s PTO policy. You will remain eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans maintained by the Company and generally available to similarly situated employees of the Company, subject in each case to the generally applicable terms and conditions of the plan in question and to the determinations of any person or committee administering such plans. These benefits may change from time to time.

 

4.             Termination of this Agreement; Separation Benefits.

 

(a)               Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement and your employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the following conditions: (i) your death; (ii) your Complete Disability; (iii) upon your receipt of written notice from the Company that your employment is being terminated for Cause; (iv) upon your receipt of written notice from the Company that your employment is being terminated other than for Cause; (v) upon sixty (60) days’ written notice by you that you are resigning from your employment with the Company; (vi) upon sixty (60) days’ written notice by you that you are resigning from your employment with the Company for Good Reason.

 

(b)               Separation Benefits. You will be entitled to receive separation benefits upon termination of employment only as set forth in Section 4(b)(iv) hereof; provided, however, that in the event you are entitled to any severance pay under a Company-sponsored severance pay plan, any such severance pay to which you are entitled under such severance pay plan will reduce the amount of severance pay to which you are entitled pursuant to Section 4(b)(iv) hereof. In all cases, upon termination of employment you will receive in a lump sum payment for all salary, earned bonus (if any), and unused PTO accrued as of the date of your termination of employment.

 

(i)                Voluntary Resignation. If you voluntarily elect to terminate your employment with the Company (other than in the event of a termination by you for Good Reason), you will not be entitled to any separation benefits.

 

(ii)               Termination for Cause. If the Company or any successor in interest terminates your employment for Cause (as defined below), you will not be entitled to receive any separation benefits.

 

(iii)             Termination for Death or Complete Disability. If your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of your death or Complete Disability, you will not be entitled to receive any separation benefits.

 

(iv)              Involuntary Termination. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b)(iv) and Section 5 hereof, if there is an Involuntary Termination you will be entitled to receive the following:

 

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(A)              Severance Payment. The Company will pay you an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12th) of your Base Salary for six (6) months (the “Severance Period”), payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures over the Severance Period.

 

(B)              Health Insurance. Provided that you timely elect such coverage, the Company shall pay your group health continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (“COBRA”) during the Severance Period; provided, however, that in the event that you become eligible for group insurance coverage in connection with new employment, such COBRA premium payments by the Company shall terminate immediately and, in furtherance thereof, you represent, warrant, covenant and agree to promptly, and in any event, within seven (7) days therefrom, notify the Company of your new employment and eligibility for group insurance coverage related thereto.

 

(c)               Definitions.

 

(i)                Cause” means the occurrence of any of the following: (A) your conviction for, or plea of no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (B) your commission of an act of personal dishonesty that is intended to result in your personal enrichment (excluding inadvertent acts that are promptly cured following notice); (C) a continued material failure or failures by you to perform your lawful and reasonable duties of employment (including, but not limited to, compliance with material written policies of the Company and material written agreements with the Company) (but only after the Company has delivered a written demand for performance to you that describes the basis for the Company’s belief that you have committed material violations and you have not cured within a period of 15 days following notice); (D) your willful failure (other than due to physical incapacity) to reasonably cooperate with any audit or investigation by a governmental authority or the Company of the Company’s business or financial conditions or practices that continues after written notice from the Board and at least fifteen (15) days to cure; (E) it is determined that you have conducted yourself in an unprofessional, unethical, illegal or fraudulent manner, or have acted in a manner detrimental to the reputation, character or standing of the Company, or to the financial condition of the Company, including, but not limited to theft or misappropriation of Company’s assets, engaging in unlawful discriminatory or harassing conduct, working while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, or the filing of false expense or related reports; (F) a material breach of any of your fiduciary duties to the Company; (G) any willful, material violation by you of any law or regulation applicable to the business of the Company; or (H) a material breach of any of the covenants, representations and warranties contained herein.

 

(ii)               Change in Control” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Plan.

 

(iii)             Complete Disability” shall mean your inability to perform your duties under this Agreement, whether with or without reasonable accommodation, by reason of any incapacity, physical or mental, which the Company, based upon medical advice or an opinion provided by a licensed physician acceptable to the Company, determines to have incapacitated you from satisfactorily performing all of your usual services for the Company, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a period of at least one hundred eighty (180) days during any twelve (12) month period (whether or not consecutive). Based upon such medical advice or opinion, the determination of the Company shall be final and binding and the date such determination is made shall be the date of such Complete Disability for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(iv)              Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following (through a single action or series of actions) without your written consent: (A) the assignment to you of any authority, duties or responsibilities or the reduction of your authority, duties or responsibilities, either of which results in a material diminution in your authority, duties or responsibilities at the Company, unless you are provided with a comparable position (i.e., a position of equal or greater organizational level, duties, authority and status); (B) a material reduction by the Company in your Base Salary, other than a one-time reduction that is applicable to substantially all other similarly-situated executives; or (C) a non-temporary relocation of your principal work location office to a location that increases your one way commute from your principal residence by more than 50 miles.

 

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An event or action will not constitute Good Reason unless (1) you give the Company written notice within 60 days after you know or should know of the initial existence of such event or action, (2) such event or action is not reversed, remedied or cured, as the case may be, by the Company as soon as possible but in no event later than 30 days of receiving such written notice from you, and (3) you terminate employment within 60 days following the end of the cure period.

 

(v)               Involuntary Termination” means a termination of your employment by the Company without Cause or you terminate your employment with the Company for Good Reason.

 

5.              Conditions to Receipt of Severance or other Benefits Pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(a)               Release of Claims Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, in order for you to receive any severance or other benefits pursuant to Section 4(b) of this Agreement (the “Severance Benefits”), you will be required to sign and not revoke a separation and release of claims agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”). In all cases, the Release must become effective and irrevocable no later than the 60th day following your Involuntary Termination (the “Release Deadline Date”). If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline Date, you will forfeit any right to the Severance Benefits. In no event will the Severance Benefits be paid or provided until the Release becomes effective and irrevocable.

 

(b)               Section 409A.

 

(i)                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Severance Benefits to be paid or provided to you, if any hereunder that, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits, are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the final regulations and any guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”) (together, the “Deferred Payments”) will be paid or provided until you have a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. Similarly, no Severance Benefits payable to you, if any, under this Agreement that otherwise would be exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) will be payable until you have a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

 

(ii)               It is intended that none of the Severance Benefits will constitute Deferred Payments but rather will be exempt from Section 409A as a payment that would fall within the “short-term deferral period” as described in Section 5(b)(iii) below or resulting from an involuntary separation from service as described in Section 5(b)(iv) below. In no event will you have discretion to determine the taxable year of payment of any Deferred Payment.

 

(iii)             Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of your separation from service (other than due to death), then the Deferred Payments, if any, that are payable within the first 6 months following your separation from service, will become payable on the date 6 months and 1 day following the date of your separation from service. All subsequent Deferred Payments, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of your death following your separation from service, but before the 6 month anniversary of the separation from service, then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of your death and all other Deferred Payments will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment under Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

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(iv)             Any amount paid under this Agreement that satisfies the requirements of the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations will not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of this Section 5.

 

(v)              Any amount paid under this Agreement that qualifies as a payment made as a result of an involuntary separation from service pursuant to Section 1.409A- 1(b)(9)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations that does not exceed the Section 409A Limit will not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of this Section 5.

 

(vi)              The foregoing provisions are intended to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the Severance Benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply or be exempt. You and the Company agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to you under Section 409A. In no event will the Company reimburse you for any taxes that may be imposed on you as result of Section 409A.

 

6.             Pre-Employment Conditions.

 

(a)               Confidentiality Agreement. Your acceptance of this offer and commencement of employment with the Company is contingent upon the execution, and delivery to an officer of the Company, of the Confidentiality Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment A for your review and execution on or before April 1, 2022.

 

(b)              Arbitration Agreement. In the interest of speedy resolution of disputes, new employees are required to enter into a mutual agreement to arbitrate claims, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment B (the “Arbitration Agreement”) for your review and execution on or before April 1, 2022. Entering into the Arbitration Agreement is a condition of your employment with the Company. As set forth in more detail in the Arbitration Agreement, you and the company agree to submit to mandatory binding arbitration for any and all claims arising out of or related to your employment with the Company and your termination thereof, including but not limited to, claims for unpaid wages, wrongful termination, torts, stock or stock options or other ownership interest in the Company and/or discrimination (including harassment) based upon any federal, state or local ordinance, statute, regulation or constitutional provision. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN REGARD TO SUCH CLAIMS.

 

(c)               Right to Work. For purposes of federal immigration law, you will be required to provide to the Company documentary evidence of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. Such documentation must be provided to us within three (3) business days of April 1, 2022, or our employment relationship with you may be terminated.

 

(d)               Verification of Information. This offer of employment is also contingent upon the successful verification of the information you provided to the Company during your application process, as well as a general background check performed by the Company to confirm your suitability for employment. By accepting this offer of employment, you warrant that all information provided by you is true and correct to the best of your knowledge, you agree to execute any and all documentation necessary for the Company to conduct a background check and you expressly release the Company from any claim or cause of action arising out of the Company’s verification of such information.

 

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7.             Successors.

 

(a)               Company’s Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon any successor (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company” shall include any successor to the Company’s business or assets that becomes bound by this Agreement.

 

(b)               Your Successors. This Agreement and all of your rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

 

8.             Miscellaneous.

 

(a)               Notice. All notices and other communications contemplated under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made and received (i) when delivered personally; (ii) two (2) days following the day when deposited with a reputable, established overnight courier service for delivery to the intended addressee, the first of which such delivery shall have been with signature required from the recipient; (iii) five (5) days following the day when deposited with the United States Postal Service as first class, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; and (iv) by confirmed electronic (email) transmission or facsimile. In your case, mailed notices shall be addressed to you at the home address that you most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the attention of the Board.

 

(b)               Modifications and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by you and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than you). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

 

(c)               Whole Agreement. No other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by either party with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement, the Inventions Agreement and the Arbitration Agreement contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(d)               Withholding Taxes. All payments made under this Agreement shall be subject to reduction to reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld by law.

 

(e)               Choice of Law and Severability. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California without giving effect to provisions governing the choice of law. If any provision of this Agreement becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any applicable jurisdiction by reason of the scope, extent or duration of its coverage, then such provision shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to conform to applicable law so as to be valid and enforceable or, if such provision cannot be so amended without materially altering the intention of the parties, then such provision shall be stricken and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement is rendered illegal by any present or future statute, law, ordinance or regulation (collectively, the “Law”) then that provision shall be curtailed or limited only to the minimum extent necessary to bring the provision into compliance with the Law. All the other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without impairment or limitation.

 

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(f)                No Assignment. This Agreement and all of your rights and obligations hereunder are personal to you and may not be transferred or assigned by you at any time.

 

(g)               Interpretation; Construction. The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not be used in interpreting this Agreement. This Agreement has been drafted by legal counsel to the Company, but you acknowledge your understanding that you have been advised to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement (and by your execution hereof, you acknowledge that you have so consulted with an attorney of your choice or have knowingly and voluntarily waived such consultation), and the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party will not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(h)               Representations and Warranties. You represent and warrant that you are not restricted or prohibited, contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing each of the terms and covenants contained in this Agreement, and that your execution and performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any other agreements between you and any other person or entity. You further represent and warrant that you will not, during the term hereof, enter into any oral or written agreement in conflict with any of the provisions of this Agreement, the agreements referenced herein and the Company’s policies.

 

(i)                 Return of Company Property. Upon termination of this Agreement or earlier as requested by the Company, you shall deliver to the Company any and all equipment, and, at the election of the Company, either deliver or destroy, and certify thereto, any and all drawings, notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas and documents, together with all copies, extracts and summaries thereof, and any other material containing or disclosing any third-party information or proprietary information.

 

(j)                Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

We are all delighted to be able to extend you this offer and look forward to working with you. To indicate your acceptance of the Company’s offer, please sign and date this letter in the space provided below and return it to me, along with a signed and dated original copy of the Confidentiality Agreement and Arbitration Agreement, on or before April 1, 2022.

 

This Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and Arbitration Agreement shall be executed and returned to the Company on or before 5:00 P.M. PST time on April 1, 2022 and, to the extent that the Company has not received the executed counterpart signature pages thereto on or before such date and time, this offer shall be deemed withdrawn and shall expire.

 

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Very truly yours, 
  
Tivic Health Systems, Inc. 
  
By: /s/ Jennifer Ernst 
Name: Jennifer Ernst, Chief Executive Officer 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:  
   
Veronica Cai  
   
/s/ Veronica Cai  
Signature  
   
Date: April 1, 2022  

 

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ATTACHMENT A

 

EMPLOYEE INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AND
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

 

(Attached)

 

-10-

 

 

ATTACHMENT B

 

ARBITRATION AGREEMENT

 

(Attached)

 

-11-

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

April 1, 2022

 

Ryan Sabia

1821 Holly Ave.

Oxnard, CA 93036

 

Dear Ryan:

 

This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into between Ryan Sabia (“you”) and Tivic Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). This Agreement shall be deemed effective as of the date of your signature as set forth on the signature page hereto. This Agreement confirms the current terms and conditions of your employment with the Company. This Agreement supersedes all prior negotiations, representations or agreements between you and the Company, including any prior employment agreement, understanding or offer letter between you and the Company including, but not limited to, that offer letter, by and between you and the Company, executed by you on March 8, 2021.

 

1.              Duties and Scope of Employment.

 

(a)               Position. For the term of your employment under this Agreement (your “Employment”), the Company agrees to employ you in the new exempt position of Chief Operating Officer. You will report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or to such other person as the Company subsequently may determine. You will continue working out of your home office, and you shall travel to and work from the Company’s office in Hayward, California on a regular basis, it also being understood that the Company may require you to perform business travel to other locations from time to time in connection with the Company’s business. You will perform the duties and have the responsibilities and authority customarily performed and held by an employee in your position or as otherwise may be assigned or delegated to you by the Company.

 

(b)              Obligations to the Company. During the term of your Employment, you will devote your full business efforts and time to the Company. During your Employment, you agree that you will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting, advisory or other business activity without the prior written consent of the Company, nor will you engage in any other activities that conflict with your obligations to the Company. You shall comply with the Company’s policies and rules, including those policies located in the Company’s Handbook (and applicable State Supplement), if any, and the Employee Invention Assignment and Confidentiality Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), as they may be in effect from time to time during your Employment.

 

(c)               Employment at Will. Your Employment will be “at will,” meaning that either you or the Company shall be entitled to terminate your Employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you shall be superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement will constitute the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on the “at-will” nature of your Employment, which may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Except as otherwise herein expressly provided for, upon the termination of your employment, you will only be entitled to the compensation and benefits earned and the reimbursements described in this Agreement for the period preceding the effective date of the termination.

 

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2.             Compensation; Business Expenses.

 

(a)               Base Wage. In this exempt position, the Company will pay you as compensation for your Employment a base salary at a gross annual rate of $250,000, pro-rated for any partial year. Your annual base salary will be subject to review and adjustment based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. Your base salary will continue to be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures. The annual base salary specified in this Section 2(a), together with any modifications, is referred to in this Agreement as “Base Salary.”

 

(b)               Incentive Compensation. At the discretion of the Board, you will be eligible to earn a discretionary, annual end-of-year incentive bonus in an amount of up to 25% of your Base Salary. The exact amount of the incentive bonus you may receive will be dependent on the achievement of Company milestones and profitability, and such other milestones as the Board deems appropriate. Payment of your incentive bonus, if earned, will be paid to you as soon as practical following the end of the calendar year, contingent upon final financial results from the prior year and Board approval of meeting performance objectives whether plan or individual, and in any event, within 60 days therefrom. You will not earn any incentive bonus (including a prorated bonus) if your employment terminates for any reason before December 31, for the year in question.

 

(c)               Business Expenses. The Company will reimburse you for your necessary and reasonable business expenses incurred in connection with your duties hereunder upon presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Company’s generally applicable policies currently in effect or to be adopted after the date hereof, as may be amended from time to time.

 

3.             Employee Benefits. You will be entitled to earn three (3) weeks of Paid Time Off (“PTO”) in accordance with the Company’s PTO policy. You will remain eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans maintained by the Company and generally available to similarly situated employees of the Company, subject in each case to the generally applicable terms and conditions of the plan in question and to the determinations of any person or committee administering such plans. These benefits may change from time to time.

 

4.             Termination of this Agreement; Separation Benefits.

 

(a)               Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement and your employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the following conditions: (i) your death; (ii) your Complete Disability; (iii) upon your receipt of written notice from the Company that your employment is being terminated for Cause; (iv) upon your receipt of written notice from the Company that your employment is being terminated other than for Cause; (v) upon sixty (60) days’ written notice by you that you are resigning from your employment with the Company; (vi) upon sixty (60) days’ written notice by you that you are resigning from your employment with the Company for Good Reason.

 

(b)               Separation Benefits. You will be entitled to receive separation benefits upon termination of employment only as set forth in Section 4(b)(iv) hereof; provided, however, that in the event you are entitled to any severance pay under a Company-sponsored severance pay plan, any such severance pay to which you are entitled under such severance pay plan will reduce the amount of severance pay to which you are entitled pursuant to Section 4(b)(iv) hereof. In all cases, upon termination of employment you will receive in a lump sum payment for all salary, earned bonus (if any), and unused PTO accrued as of the date of your termination of employment.

 

-2-

 

 

(i)                 Voluntary Resignation. If you voluntarily elect to terminate your employment with the Company (other than in the event of a termination by you for Good Reason), you will not be entitled to any separation benefits.

 

(ii)                Termination for Cause. If the Company or any successor in interest terminates your employment for Cause (as defined below), you will not be entitled to receive any separation benefits.

 

(iii)               Termination for Death or Complete Disability. If your employment with the Company is terminated as a result of your death or Complete Disability, you will not be entitled to receive any separation benefits.

 

(iv)               Involuntary Termination. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b)(iv) and Section 5 hereof, if there is an Involuntary Termination you will be entitled to receive the following:

 

(A)              Severance Payment. The Company will pay you an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12th) of your Base Salary for six (6) months (the “Severance Period”), payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures over the Severance Period.

 

(B)              Health Insurance. Provided that you timely elect such coverage, the Company shall pay your group health continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (“COBRA”) during the Severance Period; provided, however, that in the event that you become eligible for group insurance coverage in connection with new employment, such COBRA premium payments by the Company shall terminate immediately and, in furtherance thereof, you represent, warrant, covenant and agree to promptly, and in any event, within seven (7) days therefrom, notify the Company of your new employment and eligibility for group insurance coverage related thereto.

 

(c)               Definitions.

 

(i)                 Cause” means the occurrence of any of the following: (A) your conviction for, or plea of no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (B) your commission of an act of personal dishonesty that is intended to result in your personal enrichment (excluding inadvertent acts that are promptly cured following notice); (C) a continued material failure or failures by you to perform your lawful and reasonable duties of employment (including, but not limited to, compliance with material written policies of the Company and material written agreements with the Company) (but only after the Company has delivered a written demand for performance to you that describes the basis for the Company’s belief that you have committed material violations and you have not cured within a period of 15 days following notice); (D) your willful failure (other than due to physical incapacity) to reasonably cooperate with any audit or investigation by a governmental authority or the Company of the Company’s business or financial conditions or practices that continues after written notice from the Board and at least fifteen (15) days to cure; (E) it is determined that you have conducted yourself in an unprofessional, unethical, illegal or fraudulent manner, or have acted in a manner detrimental to the reputation, character or standing of the Company, or to the financial condition of the Company, including, but not limited to theft or misappropriation of Company’s assets, engaging in unlawful discriminatory or harassing conduct, working while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, or the filing of false expense or related reports; (G) a material breach of any of your fiduciary duties to the Company; (H) any willful, material violation by you of any law or regulation applicable to the business of the Company; or (I) a material breach of any of the covenants, representations and warranties contained herein.

 

-3-

 

 

(ii)                Change in Control” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Plan.

 

(iii)               Complete Disability” shall mean your inability to perform your duties under this Agreement, whether with or without reasonable accommodation, by reason of any incapacity, physical or mental, which the Company, based upon medical advice or an opinion provided by a licensed physician acceptable to the Company, determines to have incapacitated you from satisfactorily performing all of your usual services for the Company, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a period of at least one hundred eighty (180) days during any twelve (12) month period (whether or not consecutive). Based upon such medical advice or opinion, the determination of the Company shall be final and binding and the date such determination is made shall be the date of such Complete Disability for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(iv)              Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following (through a single action or series of actions) without your written consent: (A) the assignment to you of any authority, duties or responsibilities or the reduction of your authority, duties or responsibilities, either of which results in a material diminution in your authority, duties or responsibilities at the Company, unless you are provided with a comparable position (i.e., a position of equal or greater organizational level, duties, authority and status); (B) a material reduction by the Company in your Base Salary, other than a one-time reduction that is applicable to substantially all other similarly-situated executives; or (C) a non-temporary relocation of your principal work location office to a location that increases your one way commute from your principal residence by more than 50 miles.

 

An event or action will not constitute Good Reason unless (1) you give the Company written notice within 60 days after you know or should know of the initial existence of such event or action, (2) such event or action is not reversed, remedied or cured, as the case may be, by the Company as soon as possible but in no event later than 30 days of receiving such written notice from you, and (3) you terminate employment within 60 days following the end of the cure period.

 

(v)                Involuntary Termination” means a termination of your employment by the Company without Cause or you terminate your employment with the Company for Good Reason.

 

5.              Conditions to Receipt of Severance or other Benefits Pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(a)               Release of Claims Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, in order for you to receive any severance or other benefits pursuant to Section 4(b) of this Agreement (the “Severance Benefits”), you will be required to sign and not revoke a separation and release of claims agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”). In all cases, the Release must become effective and irrevocable no later than the 60th day following your Involuntary Termination (the “Release Deadline Date”). If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline Date, you will forfeit any right to the Severance Benefits. In no event will the Severance Benefits be paid or provided until the Release becomes effective and irrevocable.

 

(b)               Section 409A.

 

(i)                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Severance Benefits to be paid or provided to you, if any hereunder that, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits, are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the final regulations and any guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”) (together, the “Deferred Payments”) will be paid or provided until you have a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. Similarly, no Severance Benefits payable to you, if any, under this Agreement that otherwise would be exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) will be payable until you have a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

 

-4-

 

 

(ii)                It is intended that none of the Severance Benefits will constitute Deferred Payments but rather will be exempt from Section 409A as a payment that would fall within the “short-term deferral period” as described in Section 5(b)(iii) below or resulting from an involuntary separation from service as described in Section 5(b)(iv) below. In no event will you have discretion to determine the taxable year of payment of any Deferred Payment.

 

(iii)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of your separation from service (other than due to death), then the Deferred Payments, if any, that are payable within the first 6 months following your separation from service, will become payable on the date 6 months and 1 day following the date of your separation from service. All subsequent Deferred Payments, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of your death following your separation from service, but before the 6 month anniversary of the separation from service, then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of your death and all other Deferred Payments will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment under Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

(iv)              Any amount paid under this Agreement that satisfies the requirements of the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations will not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of this Section 5.

 

(v)                Any amount paid under this Agreement that qualifies as a payment made as a result of an involuntary separation from service pursuant to Section 1.409A- 1(b)(9)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations that does not exceed the Section 409A Limit will not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of this Section 5.

 

(vi)              The foregoing provisions are intended to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the Severance Benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply or be exempt. You and the Company agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to you under Section 409A. In no event will the Company reimburse you for any taxes that may be imposed on you as result of Section 409A.

 

6.              Pre-Employment Conditions.

 

(a)               Confidentiality Agreement. Your acceptance of this offer is contingent upon the execution, and delivery to an officer of the Company, of a new Confidentiality Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment A for your review and execution on or before April 1, 2022.

 

(b)               Arbitration Agreement. In the interest of speedy resolution of disputes, new employees are required to enter into a new mutual agreement to arbitrate claims, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment B (the “Arbitration Agreement”) for your review and execution on or before March 31, 2022. Entering into the Arbitration Agreement is a condition of your employment with the Company. As set forth in more detail in the Arbitration Agreement, you and the company agree to submit to mandatory binding arbitration for any and all claims arising out of or related to your employment with the Company and your termination thereof, including but not limited to, claims for unpaid wages, wrongful termination, torts, stock or stock options or other ownership interest in the Company and/or discrimination (including harassment) based upon any federal, state or local ordinance, statute, regulation or constitutional provision. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN REGARD TO SUCH CLAIMS.

 

-5-

 

 

7.             Successors.

 

(a)               Company’s Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon any successor (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company” shall include any successor to the Company’s business or assets that becomes bound by this Agreement.

 

(b)               Your Successors. This Agreement and all of your rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

 

8.             Miscellaneous.

 

(a)               Notice. All notices and other communications contemplated under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made and received (i) when delivered personally; (ii) two (2) days following the day when deposited with a reputable, established overnight courier service for delivery to the intended addressee, the first of which such delivery shall have been with signature required from the recipient; (iii) five (5) days following the day when deposited with the United States Postal Service as first class, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; and (iv) by confirmed electronic (email) transmission or facsimile. In your case, mailed notices shall be addressed to you at the home address that you most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the attention of the Board.

 

(b)               Modifications and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by you and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than you). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

 

(c)               Whole Agreement. No other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by either party with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement, the Inventions Agreement and the Arbitration Agreement contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(d)               Withholding Taxes. All payments made under this Agreement shall be subject to reduction to reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld by law.

 

-6-

 

 

(e)               Choice of Law and Severability. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California without giving effect to provisions governing the choice of law. If any provision of this Agreement becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any applicable jurisdiction by reason of the scope, extent or duration of its coverage, then such provision shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to conform to applicable law so as to be valid and enforceable or, if such provision cannot be so amended without materially altering the intention of the parties, then such provision shall be stricken and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement is rendered illegal by any present or future statute, law, ordinance or regulation (collectively, the “Law”) then that provision shall be curtailed or limited only to the minimum extent necessary to bring the provision into compliance with the Law. All the other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without impairment or limitation.

 

(f)                No Assignment. This Agreement and all of your rights and obligations hereunder are personal to you and may not be transferred or assigned by you at any time.

 

(g)               Interpretation; Construction. The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not be used in interpreting this Agreement. This Agreement has been drafted by legal counsel to the Company, but you acknowledge your understanding that you have been advised to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement (and by your execution hereof, you acknowledge that you have so consulted with an attorney of your choice or have knowingly and voluntarily waived such consultation), and the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party will not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(h)               Representations and Warranties. You represent and warrant that you are not restricted or prohibited, contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing each of the terms and covenants contained in this Agreement, and that your execution and performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any other agreements between you and any other person or entity. You further represent and warrant that you will not, during the term hereof, enter into any oral or written agreement in conflict with any of the provisions of this Agreement, the agreements referenced herein and the Company’s policies.

 

(i)                 Return of Company Property. Upon termination of this Agreement or earlier as requested by the Company, you shall deliver to the Company any and all equipment, and, at the election of the Company, either deliver or destroy, and certify thereto, any and all drawings, notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas and documents, together with all copies, extracts and summaries thereof, and any other material containing or disclosing any third-party information or proprietary information.

 

(j)                 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

To indicate your acceptance of the Company’s offer, please sign and date this letter in the space provided below and return it to me, along with a signed and dated original copy of the Confidentiality Agreement and Arbitration Agreement, on or before 5:00 P.M. PST time on April 1, 2022. To the extent that the Company has not received the executed counterpart signature pages hereto and thereto on or before such date and time, this offer shall be deemed withdrawn and shall expire.

 

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Very truly yours, 
  
Tivic Health Systems, Inc. 
  
By: /s/ Jennifer Ernst 
Name: Jennifer Ernst, Chief Executive Officer 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:  
   
Ryan Sabia  
   
/s/ Ryan Sabia  
Signature  
   
Date: April 1, 2022  

 

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ATTACHMENT A

 

EMPLOYEE INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AND
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

 

(Attached)

 

-9-

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT B

 

ARBITRATION AGREEMENT

 

(Attached)

 

-10-

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Press Release

 

Tivic Health Announces Key Executive Appointments Strengthening Leadership Team

 

Veronica Cai Appointed to Chief Financial Officer; Ryan Sabia Promoted to Chief Operating Officer

 

and Sanjay Ahuja Joined as Senior Vice President, Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs

 

SAN FRANCISCO, April 5, 2022 Tivic Health® Systems, Inc., (Nasdaq: TIVC) (“Tivic Health” or the “Company”), a commercial-phase health technology company that develops and commercializes bioelectronic medicine, today announced key executive appointments. Veronica Cai has joined the Company as chief financial officer effective April 1, 2022, Ryan Sabia was promoted to chief operating officer in December 2021, and Sanjay Ahuja, Ph.D. has joined as senior vice president, quality assurance & regulatory affairs. Former chief financial officer, Briana Benz, has stepped down to pursue new opportunities.

 

Ms. Cai brings 25 years of finance and accounting experience in the medical technology and life sciences industries. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Cai was vice president of accounting and finance at RefleXion Medical, principal accounting officer and corporate controller at Catalyst Bioscience, Inc., director-assistant controller at Zogenix. and senior manager at Ernst & Young.

 

Mr. Sabia joined the Company last year as vice president of sales and operations, and was promoted to chief operating officer on December 21, 2021. He has almost two decades of experience in scaling global omni-channel logistics and marketplaces, supply chains, systems infrastructures, and sales operations in the medical supply, consumer electronics, health and wellness, and automotive industries. His background includes positions at Fortune 500 companies JP Morgan, BestBuy, and Toyota.

 

Dr. Ahuja brings over 25 years of extensive experience in global regulatory affairs, clinical affairs, quality, and compliance and has supported a diverse set of regulated therapeutic products including evidence-based pharma, devices and biologics. Before joining the Company, Dr. Ahuja served as vice president of product quality at Intuitive Surgical; vice president of global regulatory and compliance at CooperVision; and senior quality and regulatory leader at ThermoFisher Scientific.

 

“I’m thrilled to welcome Veronica and Sanjay to our team, and to congratulate Ryan on his promotion to chief operating officer,” said Jennifer Ernst, chief executive officer of Tivic. “We believe that their expertise and industry experience in the areas of public company finance, global supply chains, and international regulatory affairs will greatly enhance our ability to achieve our strategy as we continue to grow our product pipeline in bioelectronic medicine and expand market access and indications for ClearUP®.”

 

 

 

 

Veronica Cai replaces Briana Benz, who served as chief financial officer through the Company's IPO. "Briana Benz played a critical role in preparing the Company for our initial public offering and in establishing our vision as a public company," said Ms. Ernst. "I am grateful for her contributions and guidance and look forward to her continuing success in her next endeavor."

 

About Tivic Health

 

Tivic Health Systems, Inc. is a commercial-phase health technology company delivering non-invasive bioelectronic treatments that provide consumers choice in the treatment of inflammation and related conditions. For more information visit https://tivichealth.com @TivicHealth

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Tivic Health Systems, Inc.’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Additional information concerning Tivic Health and its business, including a discussion of factors that could materially affect the company operating results, is contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2022, under the heading “Risk Factors,” as well as the Company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Tivic Health Systems, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required by applicable law.

 

 

 

 

Investor Contact:

ir@tivichealth.com

 

Media Contact:

Tivic Health

Cheryl Delgreco

Cheryl.Delgreco@tivichealth.com

617-723-4004

 

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