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): January 9, 2009

VICAL INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Delaware   000-21088   93-0948554

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

10390 Pacific Center Court

San Diego, California

  92121-4340
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 646-1100

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:

 

¨ 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))

 

 

 


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

On January 9, 2009, Vical Incorporated entered into amended and restated employment letters with each of Vijay B. Samant, Jill M. Church and Alain Rolland. Pursuant to the amended and restated employment letters Messrs. Samant and Roland and Ms. Church will receive annual base salaries or $470,075, $306,000 and $284,000, respectively, subject to adjustment in the future. Also pursuant to the amended and restated employment letters, each of Messrs. Samant and Roland and Ms. Church will be entitled to various severance benefits in the event they are terminated without cause or resign for good reason. The amount of severance benefits depends on the circumstances of the termination or resignation, including whether the employee is terminated or resigns within a specified period of time following a change in control of Vical, but benefits generally include continuation of base salary, a payment based on the employee’s last annual bonus, accelerated vesting of equity awards and continuation of health insurance benefits.

The foregoing description of the amended and restated employment letters is only a summary and does not purport to be complete. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the amended and restated employment letters attached as Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

99.1    Amended and Restated Employment Letter, dated January 9, 2009, between Vical Incorporated and Vijay B. Samant.
99.2    Amended and Restated Employment Letter, dated January 9, 2009, between Vical Incorporated and Alain Rolland.
99.3    Amended and Restated Employment Letter, dated January 9, 2009, between Vical Incorporated and Jill M. Church.


SIGNATURES

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.

 

    VICAL INCORPORATED
Date: January 15, 2009     By:   /s/ JILL M. CHURCH
        Jill M. Church
        Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

99.1    Amended and Restated Employment Letter, dated January 9, 2009, between Vical Incorporated and Vijay B. Samant.
99.2    Amended and Restated Employment Letter, dated January 9, 2009, between Vical Incorporated and Alain Rolland.
99.3    Amended and Restated Employment Letter, dated January 9, 2009, between Vical Incorporated and Jill M. Church.

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   10390 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, CA 92121-4340
  858•646•1100, FAX: 858•646•1150
  www.vical.com

January 9, 2009

Mr. Vijay B. Samant

Vical Incorporated

10390 Pacific Center Court

San Diego, CA 92121-4340

Dear Vijay:

As we discussed, this amended and restated letter agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions of your continued employment with Vical (“Vical” or the “Company”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces the letter agreement dated November 28, 2000 (the “Prior Agreement”) and the amendments to the Prior Agreement dated February 5, 2002, March 10, 2003, March 15, 2004 and December 19, 2008, which shall have no further force or effect.

This letter sets forth the basic terms and conditions of your employment with the Company. By signing this letter, you will be agreeing to these terms:

1. D UTIES AND S COPE OF E MPLOYMENT .

(a) Position . The Company agrees to employ you as its President and Chief Executive Officer. You will report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and have the powers and duties commensurate with such position.

(b) Directorship . The Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause you to be nominated for election as a member of the Board throughout the term of your employment. At the pleasure of the Company’s stockholders, you agree to serve as a Director on the Board at no additional compensation.

(c) Obligations . During the term of your employment, you will devote your full business efforts and time to the Company and its subsidiaries (if any). You will not render services to any other person or entity without the express prior approval of the Board. During your employment, you will not engage, directly or indirectly, in any other business activity (whether or not pursued for pecuniary advantage) that is or may be competitive with the Company; provided that you may own less than one percent of the outstanding securities of any publicly traded corporation.

2. C OMPENSATION . During your employment, the Company agrees to pay you as compensation for your services a base salary at the annual rate of $470,075 or at such higher rate as the Company may determine from time to time. Such salary will be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures. (The annual compensation specified in this Section 2, together with any increases in such compensation that the Company may grant from time to time, is referred to in this Agreement as “Base Compensation.”)

 

1.


Mr. Vijay B. Samant

January 9, 2009

Page 2 of 7

 

3. E MPLOYEE B ENEFITS . You are eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans maintained by 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 plan. The benefits may be changed from time to time by the Company. Employee benefits currently include health, dental and life insurance and a 401(k) plan. You will also be entitled to four weeks of paid vacation for each full year of service, which can be taken at any time during the year. Sick leave will be in accordance with the Company’s generally applicable policies. Any vacation or sick leave not used within 90 days following the end of a year of service will not accrue.

4. B USINESS E XPENSES . During your employment, you are authorized to incur necessary and reasonable travel, entertainment and other business expenses in connection with your duties hereunder. The Company will reimburse you for such expenses upon presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Company’s generally applicable policies. To the extent that any taxable reimbursements are provided pursuant to this section, they shall be made or provided in accordance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”), including, but not limited to, the following provisions: (a) the amount of any such expense reimbursement provided during your taxable year shall not affect any expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year, (b) the reimbursement of the eligible expense shall be made no later than the last day of your taxable year that immediately follows the taxable year in which the expense was incurred, (c) the right to any reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit or payment.

5. R ELOCATION . We are prepared to pay a grossed-up payment equal to $50,000 per year for the term of this Letter Agreement to assist you with your expenses for relocating to the San Diego area, and, prior to relocation, for housing and travel to your current residence in Pennsylvania. To the extent that any expenses are not paid directly to the person or entity to whom they are owed and we instead provide to you taxable reimbursement payments, they shall be made or provided in accordance with Section 409A, including, but not limited to, the following provisions: (a) the amount of any such expense reimbursement or in-kind benefit provided during your taxable year shall not affect any expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year, (b) the reimbursement of the eligible expense shall be made no later than the last day of your taxable year that immediately follows the taxable year in which the expense was incurred, (c) the right to any reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit or payment.

6. P ROPRIETARY I NFORMATION AND I NVENTIONS A GREEMENT . You agree to continue to abide by the terms of the Company’s Employee’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, a copy of which you previously executed and is enclosed.

 

2.


Mr. Vijay B. Samant

January 9, 2009

Page 3 of 7

 

7. T ERM AND T ERMINATION OF E MPLOYMENT .

(a) “At Will” Employment . Your employment with the Company is “at will” and not for a specified term and may be terminated by you or the Company at any time for any reason, with or without cause. Except as expressly provided in subsections (c) and (d) below, upon a termination of your employment, you will only be entitled to the compensation, benefits and reimbursements described in Section 2, 3, 4 and 5 for the period preceding the effective date of the termination.

(b) Definitions . For all purposes under this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

(i) “Good Reason” shall mean (A) you have incurred a material reduction in your authority or responsibility, including removal of your direct reporting relationship to the Board of Directors, (B) a material reduction in Base Compensation or (C) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a resignation for Good Reason shall only occur if: (1) you notify the Company in writing, within 60 days after the occurrence of one of the foregoing events, specifying the event(s) constituting “good reason” and that you intend to terminate your employment no earlier than 30 days after providing such notice; (2) the Company does not cure such condition within 30 days following its receipt of such notice or states unequivocally in writing that it does not intend to attempt to cure such condition; and (3) you resign from employment within 30 days following the end of the period within which the Company was entitled to remedy the condition constituting “good reason” but failed to do so.

(ii) “Cause” shall mean (A) a substantial failure to perform your duties hereunder, other than a failure resulting from complete or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness or impairment, (B) gross misconduct or fraud or (C) conviction of, or a plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony.

(iii) “Stock Awards” shall mean all stock options, restricted stock, and other equity awards granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option and equity incentive award plans or agreements and any shares of Company stock issued upon exercise thereof. However, “Stock Awards” does not include stock awards issued under or held in any plan sponsored by the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code ( e.g. , the Company’s 401(k) plan).

(iv) “Change of Control” shall mean (A) a change in the composition of the Board of Directors, as a result of which fewer than 50% of the incumbent directors are directors who either: (1) had been directors of the Company 24 months prior to such change; or (2) were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the Company 24 months prior to such change and who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination; or (B) any person by the acquisition or aggregation of securities of the Company is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s securities eligible to vote for the election of directors; except that any change in the relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any

 

3.


Mr. Vijay B. Samant

January 9, 2009

Page 4 of 7

 

person resulting solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of the Company’s stock, and any decrease thereafter in such person’s ownership of securities, shall be disregarded until such person increases in any manner, directly or indirectly, such person’s beneficial ownership of any securities of the Company.

(v) “Disability” shall mean that you, at the time your employment is terminated, have performed substantially none of your duties under this Agreement for a period of not less than three consecutive months as the result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

(c) Severance Benefits. In the event that the Company terminates your employment without Cause (and other than as a result of your death or Disability) or you resign your employment for Good Reason and such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)), and subject to your delivery to the Company of an executed release and waiver of claims in the form as the Company may require (the “Release”), within the time period set forth therein, but in no event later than forty-five days following your termination, and permitting such Release to become effective in accordance with its terms, then you will receive the following severance benefits, as your sole severance benefits (collectively, the “Severance Benefits”):

(i) 18 months of your Base Compensation in effect as of the termination date (ignoring any reduction in salary that is the basis for a Good Reason Resignation), paid in the form of salary continuation for 18 months less required deductions and withholdings, paid according to the normal payroll practice of the Company and commencing with the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(ii) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount of any annual bonus that you received in the 12-month period preceding the termination of your employment (unless your service terminates between the time a bonus is approved by the Board and paid to you, in which case the payment shall equal the amount of the annual bonus that was approved but not paid), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(iii) provided that you timely and accurately elect to continue your health insurance benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay the COBRA premiums for you and your qualified beneficiaries until the earliest of (A) 18 months following the termination of your employment, (B) the expiration of your continuation coverage under COBRA and any applicable state COBRA-like statute that provides mandated continuation coverage or (C) the date you become eligible for health insurance benefits of a subsequent employer. You agree to immediately notify the Company in writing of any such eligibility. For purposes of this Section references to COBRA premiums shall not include any amounts payable by you under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan; and

 

4.


Mr. Vijay B. Samant

January 9, 2009

Page 5 of 7

 

(iv) you shall receive accelerated vesting of all unvested Stock Awards in accordance with each Stock Award vesting schedule as if you had remained employed by the Company for an additional 18 months from the date of termination.

The payments under this subsection (c)(i) and (iii) will (A) continue only so long as you do not enter into any employment or consulting arrangement or agreement (for a period of 18 months subsequent to such termination) with any company primarily involved in research, development or commercialization of a method of delivery of naked DNA into humans or animals and (B) cease in the event of your death.

(d) Change of Control Severance Benefits . If, on or within the 24 months following a Change of Control, the Company terminates your employment without Cause (and other than as a result of your death or Disability) or you resign your employment for Good Reason and such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)), and subject to your delivery to the Company of an executed Release, within the time period set forth therein, but in no event later than forty-five days following your termination, and permitting such Release to become effective in accordance with its terms, then you will receive the following change of control severance benefits, as your sole severance benefits (collectively, the “Change of Control Severance Benefits”):

(i) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to 24 months of your Base Compensation in effect as of the termination date (ignoring any reduction in salary that is the basis for a Good Reason Resignation), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(ii) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount of any annual bonus that you received in the 12-month period preceding the termination of your employment (unless your service terminates between the time a bonus is approved by the Board and paid to you, in which case the payment shall equal the amount of the annual bonus that was approved but not paid), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(iii) provided that you timely and accurately elect to continue your health insurance benefits under COBRA, the Company shall pay the COBRA premiums for you and your qualified beneficiaries until the earliest of (i) 18 months following the termination of your employment, (ii) the expiration of your continuation coverage under COBRA and any applicable state COBRA-like statute that provides mandated continuation coverage or (iii) the date you become eligible for health insurance benefits of a subsequent employer. You agree to immediately notify the Company in writing of any such eligibility. For purposes of this Section references to COBRA premiums shall not include any amounts payable by you under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan; and

(iv) all Stock Awards shall vest immediately.

 

5.


Mr. Vijay B. Samant

January 9, 2009

Page 6 of 7

 

(e) Parachute Payments . Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if any payment or benefit you would receive from the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion of the Payment, up to and including the total Payment, whichever amount, after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in your receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the following order: reduction of cash payments; cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock awards; reduction of employee benefits. If acceleration of vesting of stock award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the your stock awards.

The Company shall appoint a nationally recognized independent accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder, which accounting firm shall not then be serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group that effected the Change of Control. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder.

The accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and you within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which your right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or you) or such other time as requested by the Company or you. If the accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable with respect to a Payment, either before or after the application of the Reduced Amount, it shall furnish the Company and you with an opinion reasonably acceptable to you that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to such Payment. The Company shall be entitled to rely upon the accounting firm’s determinations, which shall be final and binding on all persons.

(f) Mitigation . The payments under subsection (c) above shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by any other compensation earned by you for personal services performed as an employee or independent contractor during the 18-month period following the termination of your employment, including (without limitation) deferred compensation. You will apply your best efforts to seek and obtain other employment or consulting engagements, whether on a full- or part-time basis, during such 18-month period in order to mitigate the Company’s obligations under subsection (c) above.

(g) Section 409A . It is intended that each installment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits is a separate “payment” for purposes Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i) of the Treasury Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended that payments of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A provided under Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and

 

6.


Mr. Vijay B. Samant

January 9, 2009

Page 7 of 7

 

1.409A-1(b)(9) of the Treasury Regulations. However, if the Company determines that the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and you are, on your separation from service, a “specified employee” of the Company (as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code) then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the payment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits shall be delayed so that on the earlier to occur of: (i) the date that is six months and one day after your separation from service and (ii) the date of your death (such applicable date, the “Specified Employee Initial Payment Date”), the Company shall (A) pay to you a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits that you would otherwise have received through the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date if the commencement of the payment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits had not been so delayed pursuant to this paragraph and (B) commence paying the balance of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedules set forth in this Agreement.

Please note that this Agreement supersedes any prior agreements, representations or promises of any kind, whether written, oral, express or implied between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matters herein, and it, together with your Stock Award agreements and Employee’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, constitutes the full, complete and exclusive agreement between you and the Company with respect to the subject matters herein. This Agreement cannot be changed unless in writing, signed by you and an authorized officer of the Company. If any term of this Agreement is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, and the parties will use their best efforts to find an alternative way to achieve the same result.

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Sincerely,
V ICAL I NCORPORATED
By:   /s/ Jill M. Church
  Jill M. Church
  Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED
this 15 th day of January, 2009:
/s/ Vijay B. Samant
Vijay B. Samant

 

7.

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO   10390 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, CA 92121-4340
  858•646•1100, FAX: 858•646•1150
  www.vical.com

January 9, 2009

Alain Rolland

Vical Incorporated

10390 Pacific Center Court

San Diego, CA 92121-4340

Dear Alain:

As we discussed, this amended and restated letter agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions of your continued employment with Vical (“Vical” or the “Company”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces the letter agreement dated June 17, 2002 (the “Prior Agreement”) and the amendments to the Prior Agreement dated May 19, 2006 and December 19, 2008, which shall have no further force or effect.

This letter sets forth the basic terms and conditions of your employment with the Company. By signing this letter, you will be agreeing to these terms:

1. Duties and Scope of Employment.

(a) Position. The Company agrees to employ you as Executive Vice President of Product Development. This position is an officer level position and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. Your responsibilities include management of the following functions: Project Planning and Management, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Assay Development, Formulation and Pharmacology/ Toxicology. As with all positions, responsibilities may change based on the needs of the company.

(b) Obligations. During the term of your employment, you will devote your full business efforts and time to the Company and its subsidiaries (if any). You will not render services to any other person or entity without the express prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer. During your employment, you will not engage, directly or indirectly, in any other business activity (whether or not pursued for pecuniary advantage) that is or may be competitive with the Company; provided that you may own less than one percent of the outstanding securities of any publicly-traded corporation.

 

1.


2. Compensation.

(a) Salary. During your employment, the Company agrees to pay you as compensation for your services a base salary at the annual rate of $306,000 or at such higher rate as the Company may determine from time to time. Such salary will be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures. (The annual compensation specified in this Section 2(a), together with any increases in such compensation that the Company may grant from time to time, is referred to in this Agreement as “Base Compensation.”)

(b) Bonus. You will be eligible for a performance-based annual cash bonus, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, targeted at 10% to 30% of the base compensation actually paid to you each year. Bonuses are generally proposed in January of each year for the previous year and, if approved by the Board of Directors, are paid out in January. You must remain employed through the date the bonus is paid in order to earn and be eligible to receive a bonus; no pro rata or partial bonuses will be provided.

3. Employee Benefits.

(a) Company Benefits. You are eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans maintained by 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 plan. The benefits may be changed from time to time by the Company. Current employee benefits are described in the enclosed benefit summary.

(b) Vacation. You are entitled to five weeks of vacation for each year of service with the Company. Vacation accrues at the rate of 16.67 hours per month.

4. Business Expenses. You are authorized to incur necessary and reasonable travel, entertainment and other business expenses in connection with your duties hereunder. The Company will reimburse you for such expenses upon presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Company’s generally applicable policies. To the extent that any taxable reimbursements are provided pursuant to this section, they shall be made or provided in accordance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”), including, but not limited to, the following provisions: (a) the amount of any such expense reimbursement provided during your taxable year shall not affect any expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year, (b) the reimbursement of the eligible expense shall be made no later than the last day of your taxable year that immediately follows the taxable year in which the expense was incurred, (c) the right to any reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit or payment.

5. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. You agree to continue to abide by the terms of the Company’s Employee’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, a copy of which you previously executed and is enclosed.

6. Term and Termination of Employment.

(a) “At Will” Employment. Your employment with the Company is “at will” and not for a specified term and may be terminated by you or the Company at any time for any reason, with or without cause. Except as expressly provided in subsections (c) and (d) below, upon a termination of your employment, you will only be entitled to the compensation, benefits and reimbursements described in Section 2, 3 and 4 for the period preceding the effective date of the termination.

 

2.


(b) Definitions. For all purposes under this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply.

(i) “Good Reason” shall mean (A) a significant demotion, or (B) a more than 25 percent reduction in Base Compensation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a resignation for Good Reason shall only occur if: (1) you notify the Company in writing, within 60 days after the occurrence of one of the foregoing events, specifying the event(s) constituting “good reason” and that you intend to terminate your employment no earlier than 30 days after providing such notice; (2) the Company does not cure such condition within 30 days following its receipt of such notice or states unequivocally in writing that it does not intend to attempt to cure such condition; and (3) you resign from employment within 30 days following the end of the period within which the Company was entitled to remedy the condition constituting “good reason” but failed to do so.

(ii) “Cause” shall mean (A) your sustained inadequate performance of your job duties, other than a failure resulting from complete or partial incapacity due to verifiable physical or verifiable mental illness or impairment, (B) gross misconduct or fraud or (C) conviction of, or a plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony.

(iii) “Disability” shall mean that you, at the time your employment is terminated, have performed substantially none of your duties under this Agreement for a period of not less than three consecutive months as the result of your verifiable incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

(iv) “Stock Awards” shall mean all stock options, restricted stock, and other equity awards granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option and equity incentive award plans or agreements and any shares of Company stock issued upon exercise thereof. However, “Stock Awards” does not include stock awards issued under or held in any plan sponsored by the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code ( e.g. , the Company’s 401(k) plan).

(v) “Change of Control” shall mean (A) a change in the composition of the Board of Directors, as a result of which fewer than 50% of the incumbent directors are directors who either: (1) had been directors of the Company 24 months prior to such change; or (2) were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the Company 24 months prior to such change and who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination; or (B) any person by the acquisition or aggregation of securities of the Company is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s securities eligible to vote for the election of directors; except that any change in the relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any person resulting solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of the Company’s stock, and any decrease thereafter in such person’s ownership of securities, shall be disregarded until such person increases in any manner, directly or indirectly, such person’s beneficial ownership of any securities of the Company.

 

3.


(c) Severance Benefits. In the event that the Company terminates your employment without Cause (and other than as a result of your death or Disability) or you resign your employment for Good Reason and such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)), and subject to your delivery to the Company of an executed release and waiver of claims in the form as the Company may require (the “Release”), within the time period set forth therein, but in no event later than forty-five days following your termination, and permitting such Release to become effective in accordance with its terms, then you will receive the following severance benefits, as your sole severance benefits (collectively, the “Severance Benefits”):

(i) 12 months of your Base Compensation in effect as of the termination date (ignoring any reduction in salary that is the basis for a Good Reason Resignation), paid in the form of salary continuation for 12 months less required deductions and withholdings, paid according to the normal payroll practice of the Company and commencing with the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(ii) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the amount of any annual bonus that you received in the 12-month period preceding the termination of your employment (unless your service terminates between the time a bonus is approved by the Board and paid to you, in which case the payment shall equal the amount of the annual bonus that was approved but not paid), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(iii) provided that you timely and accurately elect to continue your health insurance benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay the COBRA premiums for you and your qualified beneficiaries until the earliest of (i) 12 months following the termination of your employment, (ii) the expiration of your continuation coverage under COBRA and any applicable state COBRA-like statute that provides mandated continuation coverage or (iii) the date you become eligible for health insurance benefits of a subsequent employer. You agree to immediately notify the Company in writing of any such eligibility. For purposes of this Section references to COBRA premiums shall not include any amounts payable by you under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan; and

(iv) you shall receive accelerated vesting of all unvested Stock Awards in accordance with each Stock Award vesting schedule as if you had remained employed by the Company for an additional 12 months from the date of termination.

The Severance Benefits will cease in the event of your death and shall expire on the fourth annual anniversary of the commencement of your employment with the Company; provided, however , that such rights shall automatically renew for successive one year periods unless the Company provides written notice to you at least 90 days prior to the next scheduled expiration date that such rights will not be renewed.

(d) Change of Control Severance Benefits. If, on or within the 24 months following a Change of Control, the Company terminates your employment without Cause (and other than as a result of your death or Disability) or you resign your employment for Good Reason and such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury

 

4.


Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)), and subject to your delivery to the Company of an executed Release, within the time period set forth therein, but in no event later than forty-five days following your termination, and permitting such Release to become effective in accordance with its terms, then you will receive the following change of control severance benefits, as your sole severance benefits (collectively, the “Change of Control Severance Benefits”):

(i) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to 18 months of your Base Compensation in effect as of the termination date (ignoring any reduction in salary that is the basis for a Good Reason Resignation), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(ii) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the amount of any annual bonus that you received in the 12-month period preceding the termination of your employment (unless your service terminates between the time a bonus is approved by the Board and paid to you, in which case the payment shall equal the amount of the annual bonus that was approved but not paid), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(iii) provided that you timely and accurately elect to continue your health insurance benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay the COBRA premiums for you and your qualified beneficiaries until the earliest of (i) 12 months following the termination of your employment, (ii) the expiration of your continuation coverage under COBRA and any applicable state COBRA-like statute that provides mandated continuation coverage or (iii) the date you become eligible for health insurance benefits of a subsequent employer. You agree to immediately notify the Company in writing of any such eligibility. For purposes of this Section references to COBRA premiums shall not include any amounts payable by you under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan; and

(iv) all Stock Awards shall vest immediately.

(e) Parachute Payments. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if any payment or benefit you would receive from the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion of the Payment, up to and including the total Payment, whichever amount, after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in your receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the following order: reduction of cash payments; cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock awards; reduction of employee benefits. If acceleration of vesting of stock award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the your stock awards.

 

5.


The Company shall appoint a nationally recognized independent accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder, which accounting firm shall not then be serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group that effected the Change of Control. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder.

The accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and you within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which your right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or you) or such other time as requested by the Company or you. If the accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable with respect to a Payment, either before or after the application of the Reduced Amount, it shall furnish the Company and you with an opinion reasonably acceptable to you that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to such Payment. The Company shall be entitled to rely upon the accounting firm’s determinations, which shall be final and binding on all persons.

(f) Mitigation. The payments under subsection (c) above shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by any other compensation earned by you for personal services performed as an employee or independent contractor during the 12-month period following the termination of your employment, including (without limitation) deferred compensation. You will apply your best efforts to seek and obtain other employment or consulting engagements, whether on a full- or part-time basis, during such 12-month period in order to mitigate the Company’s obligations under subsection (c) above. At reasonable intervals, you will report to the Company with respect to such efforts and any compensation earned during such six-month period.

(g) Section 409A. It is intended that each installment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits is a separate “payment” for purposes Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i) of the Treasury Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended that payments of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A provided under Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9) of the Treasury Regulations. However, if the Company determines that the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and you are, on your separation from service, a “specified employee” of the Company (as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code) then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the payment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits shall be delayed so that on the earlier to occur of: (i) the date that is six months and one day after your separation from service and (ii) the date of your death (such applicable date, the “Specified Employee Initial Payment Date”), the Company shall (A) pay to you a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits that you would otherwise have received through the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date if the commencement of the payment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits had not been so delayed pursuant to this paragraph and (B) commence paying the balance of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedules set forth in this Agreement.

 

6.


7. Dispute Resolution. You and the Company (“the parties”) agree that any dispute arising out of or related to your employment shall be resolved as provided in the Dispute Resolution Procedures attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Please note that this Agreement supersedes any prior agreements, representations or promises of any kind, whether written, oral, express or implied between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matters herein, and it, together with your stock option agreement and Employee’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, constitutes the full, complete and exclusive agreement between you and the Company with respect to the subject matters herein. This Agreement cannot be changed unless in writing, signed by you and an authorized officer of the Company. If any term of this Agreement is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, and the parties will use their best efforts to find an alternative way to achieve the same result.

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement is governed by California law without regard to its choice of law provisions.

 

Sincerely,
VICAL INCORPORATED
By:   /s/ Vijay B. Samant
  Vijay B. Samant
  Chief Executive Officer

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED
This 15 th day of January, 2009:
/s/ Alain P. Rolland
Alain P. Rolland

 

7.


EXHIBIT A

Dispute Resolution Procedure

To ensure the rapid and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in connection with your employment with the Company, you and the Company agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action, in law or equity, arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach, performance, or interpretation of this Agreement, your employment, or the termination of your employment (“Arbitrable Claims”), shall be submitted to confidential mediation in San Diego, California conducted by a mutually agreeable mediator from Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”) or its successor, and the cost of JAMS’ mediation fees shall be paid by the Company. In the event mediation is unsuccessful in resolving the Arbitrable Claims, the Arbitrable Claims shall be resolved, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by final, binding and confidential arbitration in San Diego, California conducted by JAMS or its successor, under the then applicable rules of JAMS.

You acknowledge that by agreeing to this arbitration procedure, both you and the Company waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or by administrative proceeding. The arbitrator shall: (a) have the authority to compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision including the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. The arbitrator shall be authorized to award any or all remedies that you or the Company would be entitled to seek in a court of law. The Company shall pay all JAMS’ arbitration fees in excess of those which would be required if the dispute were decided in a court of law. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either you or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such mediation or arbitration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute involving confidential, proprietary or trade secret information, or intellectual property rights, by Court action instead of arbitration.

 

8.

Exhibit 99.3

 

LOGO   10390 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, CA 92121-4340
  858•646•1100, FAX: 858•646•1150
  www.vical.com

January 9, 2009

Jill Church

Vical Incorporated

10390 Pacific Center Court

San Diego, CA 92121-4340

Dear Jill:

As we discussed, this amended and restated letter agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions of your continued employment with Vical (“Vical” or the “Company”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces the letter agreement dated September 20, 2004 (the “Prior Agreement”) and the amendments to the Prior Agreement dated May 19, 2006 and December 19, 2008, which shall have no further force or effect.

This letter sets forth the basic terms and conditions of your employment with the Company. By signing this letter, you will be agreeing to these terms:

 

Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Reporting To:     Vijay Samant
Salary Rate:   $23,666.67 /month (which is equivalent to an annual salary of $284,000)

You are eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans maintained by 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 plan. The benefits may be changed from time to time by the Company. Current employee benefits are described in the enclosed benefit summary.

You agree to continue to abide by the terms of the Company’s Employee’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, a copy of which you previously executed and is enclosed.

Your employment with Vical is “at-will”. In other words, either you or Vical can terminate your employment at any time for any reason, with or without cause and with or without notice. Except as described in the attachment titled “Severance Benefits,” upon termination of your employment you will only be entitled to the compensation and benefits described previously in this letter for the period preceding the effective date of the termination.

 

1.


Jill Church

Page 2

 

Please note that this offer supersedes any prior agreements, representations or promises of any kind, whether written, oral, express or implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matters herein. It constitutes the full, complete and exclusive agreement between you and Vical with respect to the subject matters herein.

 

Sincerely,
/s/ Vijay Samant
Vijay Samant
Chief Executive Officer

 

This Agreement is accepted and agreed to:      
/s/ Jill M. Church       January 15, 2009  
Jill M. Church     Date  

 

2.


Jill Church

Attachment

 

Severance Benefits

Severance Benefits

Subject to Mitigation, you will receive the following severance benefits, as your sole severance benefits:

In the event that the Company terminates your employment without Cause (and other than as a result of your death or Disability) or you resign your employment for Good Reason and such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)), and subject to your delivery to the Company of an executed release and waiver of claims in the form as the Company may require (the “Release”), within the time period set forth therein, but in no event later than forty-five days following your termination, and permitting such Release to become effective in accordance with its terms, then you will receive the following severance benefits, as your sole severance benefits (collectively, the “Severance Benefits”):

(i) 12 months of your Base Compensation in effect as of the termination date (ignoring any reduction in salary that is the basis for a Good Reason Resignation), paid in the form of salary continuation for 12 months less required deductions and withholdings, paid according to the normal payroll practice of the Company and commencing with the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(ii) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the amount of any annual bonus that you received in the 12-month period preceding the termination of your employment (unless your service terminates between the time a bonus is approved by the Board and paid to you, in which case the payment shall equal the amount of the annual bonus that was approved but not paid), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(iii) provided that you timely and accurately elect to continue your health insurance benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay the COBRA premiums for you and your qualified beneficiaries until the earliest of (i) 12 months following the termination of your employment, (ii) the expiration of your continuation coverage under COBRA and any applicable state COBRA-like statute that provides mandated continuation coverage or (iii) the date you become eligible for health insurance benefits of a subsequent employer. You agree to immediately notify the Company in writing of any such eligibility. For purposes of this Section references to COBRA premiums shall not include any amounts payable by you under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan; and

(iv) you shall receive accelerated vesting of all unvested Stock Awards in accordance with each Stock Award vesting schedule as if you had remained employed by the Company for an additional 12 months from the date of termination.

 

1.


Jill Church

Page 2

 

The Severance Benefits will cease in the event of your death and shall expire on the fourth annual anniversary of the commencement of your employment with the Company; provided, however , that such rights shall automatically renew for successive one year periods unless the Company provides written notice to you at least 30 days prior to the next scheduled expiration date that such rights will not be renewed.

Change of Control Severance Benefits

If, on or within the 24 months following a Change of Control, the Company terminates your employment without Cause (and other than as a result of your death or Disability) or you resign your employment for Good Reason and such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)), and subject to your delivery to the Company of an executed Release, within the time period set forth therein, but in no event later than forty-five days following your termination, and permitting such Release to become effective in accordance with its terms, then you will receive the following change of control severance benefits, as your sole severance benefits (collectively, the “Change of Control Severance Benefits”):

(i) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to 18 months of your Base Compensation in effect as of the termination date (ignoring any reduction in salary that is the basis for a Good Reason Resignation), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(ii) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the amount of any annual bonus that you received in the 12-month period preceding the termination of your employment (unless your service terminates between the time a bonus is approved by the Board and paid to you, in which case the payment shall equal the amount of the annual bonus that was approved but not paid), less required deductions and withholdings, paid on the first regular payroll date following the effectiveness of the Release;

(iii) provided that you timely and accurately elect to continue your health insurance benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay the COBRA premiums for you and your qualified beneficiaries until the earliest of (i) 12 months following the termination of your employment, (ii) the expiration of your continuation coverage under COBRA and any applicable state COBRA-like statute that provides mandated continuation coverage or (iii) the date you become eligible for health insurance benefits of a subsequent employer. You agree to immediately notify the Company in writing of any such eligibility. For purposes of this Section references to COBRA premiums shall not include any amounts payable by you under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan; and

(iv) all Stock Awards shall vest immediately.

 

2.


Jill Church

Page 3

 

Parachute Payments

Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if any payment or benefit you would receive from the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion of the Payment, up to and including the total Payment, whichever amount, after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in your receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the following order: reduction of cash payments; cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock awards; reduction of employee benefits. If acceleration of vesting of stock award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the your stock awards.

The Company shall appoint a nationally recognized independent accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder, which accounting firm shall not then be serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group that effected the Change of Control. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder.

The accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and you within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which your right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or you) or such other time as requested by the Company or you. If the accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable with respect to a Payment, either before or after the application of the Reduced Amount, it shall furnish the Company and you with an opinion reasonably acceptable to you that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to such Payment. The Company shall be entitled to rely upon the accounting firm’s determinations, which shall be final and binding on all persons.

Section 409A

It is intended that each installment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits is a separate “payment” for purposes Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i) of the Treasury Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended that payments of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A provided under Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9) of the Treasury Regulations. However, if the Company determines that the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and you are, on your separation from service, a “specified employee” of the Company (as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code) then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the payment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits shall be delayed so that on the earlier to occur of: (i) the date that is six months and one day after your separation from service and (ii) the date of your death (such applicable date, the “Specified Employee Initial Payment Date”), the Company shall (A) pay to you a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits that you

 

3.


Jill Church

Page 4

 

would otherwise have received through the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date if the commencement of the payment of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits had not been so delayed pursuant to this paragraph and (B) commence paying the balance of the Severance Benefits or Change of Control Severance Benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedules set forth in this Agreement.

Definitions:

 

  1. Mitigation. The payments described in the section above titled “Severance Benefits” shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by any other compensation earned by you for personal services performed as an employee or independent contractor during the 12-month period following the termination of your employment, including (without limitation) deferred compensation. You will apply your best efforts to seek and obtain other employment or consulting engagements, whether on a full- or part-time basis during such 12-month period in order to mitigate the Company’s obligations. At reasonable intervals, you will report to Vical with respect to such efforts and any compensation earned during such 12-month period.

 

  2. Cause shall mean a failure to perform your duties, other than a failure resulting from complete or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness or impairment, gross misconduct or fraud or conviction of, or a plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to a felony.

 

  3. Disability shall mean that you, at the time your employment is terminated, have performed substantially none of your duties under this Agreement for a period of not less than three consecutive months as the result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

 

  4. Good Reason shall mean that you have incurred a material reduction in your authority or responsibility or a reduction in base salary of more than 25%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a resignation for Good Reason shall only occur if: (1) you notify the Company in writing, within 60 days after the occurrence of one of the foregoing events, specifying the event(s) constituting “good reason” and that you intend to terminate your employment no earlier than 30 days after providing such notice; (2) the Company does not cure such condition within 30 days following its receipt of such notice or states unequivocally in writing that it does not intend to attempt to cure such condition; and (3) you resign from employment within 30 days following the end of the period within which the Company was entitled to remedy the condition constituting “good reason” but failed to do so.

 

  5.

Change of Control shall mean (A) a change in the composition of the Board of Directors, as a result of which fewer than 50% of the incumbent directors are directors who either: (1) had been directors of the Company 24 months prior to such change; or (2) were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the Company 24 months prior to such change and who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination; or (B) any person by the acquisition or aggregation of securities of the Company is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s

 

4.


Jill Church

Page 5

 

 

securities eligible to vote for the election of directors; except that any change in the relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any person resulting solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of the Company’s stock, and any decrease thereafter in such person’s ownership of securities, shall be disregarded until such person increases in any manner, directly or indirectly, such person’s beneficial ownership of any securities of the Company.

 

  6. Stock Awards shall mean all stock options, restricted stock, and other equity awards granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option and equity incentive award plans or agreements and any shares of Company stock issued upon exercise thereof. However, “Stock Awards” does not include stock awards issued under or held in any plan sponsored by the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code ( e.g. , the Company’s 401(k) plan).

 

/s/ Jill Church       January 15, 2009  
Jill Church     Date  

 

5.