4.1.1.Good Reason. Upon the occurrence of any of the following events this Agreement may be terminated by the Executive by written notice to Employer for “Good Reason” in the event of any of the following events:
(a) the sale by the Employer of seventy-five percent (75%) or more of its assets;
(b) a decision by the Employer to terminate its business and liquidate its assets;
(c) the Employer makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, files a voluntary bankruptcy petition, files a petition or answer seeking a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any law, there shall have been filed any petition or application for the involuntary bankruptcy of the Employer, or other similar proceeding, in which an order for relief is entered or which remains undismissed for a period of thirty days or more, or the Employer seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of the Employer or any material party of its assets;
(d) there are material reductions in the Executive’s duties and responsibilities without his written consent or a demotion from the position of CEO;
(e) termination by the Employer of the Executive’s employment with the Employer for any reason other than Cause (as defined in Section 4.1.4 below) or disability pursuant to Section 4.1.3;
(f) a five percent (5%) reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary (not including bonus or incentive compensation), other than any such reduction which is part of, and generally consistent with, a general reduction of officers’ salaries;
(g) a material reduction by the Employer in the kind or level of employee benefits (other than salary and incentive compensation/bonus) to which the Executive is entitled immediately prior to such reduction with the result that the Executive’s overall benefits package (other than salary and incentive compensation/bonus) is substantially reduced (other than any such reduction applicable to officers of the Employer generally); failure by the Employer to honor any of its material obligations under this Agreement; or
(h) there is a Change of Control of the Employer. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” means when: (x) there is any transaction or series of related transactions (including but not limited to a merger or reorganization) pursuant to which a person, other than the Employer, acquires directly or indirectly, the beneficial ownership of securities issued by the Employer having greater than fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of all of the voting securities issued by the Employer; or (ii) the Employer consolidates with or merges with or into any person or sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any person; or (iii) individuals who o n the Effective Date constituted the Board of Directors of the Company cease for any reason to constitute a majority of such Board of Directors.
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4.1.2. | Death. This Agreement shall terminate upon the death of the Executive. |
4.1.3. Disability. The Employer may terminate this Agreement upon thepermanent or temporary disability of the Executive. The Executive shall be considered disabled (whether permanent or temporary) if: (1) he is disabled as defined in a disability insurance policy purchased by or for the benefit of the Executive; or (2) if no such policy is in effect, he is incapacitated to such an extent that he is unable to perform substantially all of his duties for sixty (60) consecutive days for the Employer that he performed prior to such incapacitation.
4.1.4.Cause. The Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean the Executive’s(A) act or acts of willful misconduct injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise, (B) willful and continued failure to perform substantially his duties with the Company (otherthan any such failure resulting from incapacity due to a disability (as set forth in Section 4.1.3. ) after a demand in writing for substantial performance is delivered by the Board of Directors, which demand specificall y identifies the manner in which the Board of Directors believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties, (C) conviction of, or no contest or guilty plea to, a felony crime or (D) willful failure to follow the written directives of the Board of Directors in connection with his employment hereunder. The Executive’s employment shall in no event be considered to have been terminated by the Employer for Cause if such termination took place merely as the result of (i) bad judgment or negligence, (ii) any act or omission without intent of gaining therefrom directly or indirectly a profit to which the Executive was not legally entitled, (iii) any act or omission believed in good faith to have been in or not opposed to the interest of the Employer or (iv) any act or omission in respect of which a determination is made that the Executive met the applicable standard of conduct prescribed for indemnification or reimbursement or payment of expenses under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company or the laws of the State of Colorado, in each case as in effect at the time of such act or omission. The Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors that states that the Executive’s conduct reflected any of the criteria set forth above in clauses (A), (B), (C) and/or (D) of this Section 4.1.4 and specifying the particulars thereof in detail and the Executive has failed to cure such conduct within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such conduct.
4.1.5.Termination for Convenience. The Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time by providing thirty (30) days written notice to the Executive.
4.1.6.Resignation. The Executive may terminate his employment hereunder at any time by providing thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Employer.
4.2.Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Employer or by the Executive (other than termination pursuant to Section 4.1.2 above) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of employment under the provision so indicated.
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4.3. Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death; and (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is received by the Employer or the Executive.
4.4. | Payments Following Termination. |
4.4.1. In the event of (a) the death of the Executive, (b) the temporary or permanent disability of the Executive as described in Section 4.1.3 hereof, or (c) the voluntary termination of employment by the Executive as described in Section 4.1.6, the Executive shall be entitled to receive all compensation and benefits payable up to the Date of Termination notwithstanding his temporary or permanent disability during the sixty (60) day period preceding the Date of Termination.
4.4.2. Following the termination of this Agreement by the Employer for Cause as provided in Section 4.1.4 hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to Base Salary through the Date of Termination and reimbursement for any and all expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with this Agreement. In addition, provided that the Executive was employed by the Company on the last day of each applicable fiscal year, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive a lump sum cash amount equal to any accrued but unpaid incentive compensation for the previous fiscal year, payable as set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.
4.4.3. Following the termination of this Agreement by the Executive for Good Reason or the termination of this Agreement by the Employer for any reason other than Cause or the temporary or permanent disability of the Executive, the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Executive’s Base Salary and benefits at the rate in effect at the Date of Termination for twenty-four (24) months following the Date of Termination. Subject to Section 4.5 hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to receive a single lump-sum cash amount equal to any accrued but unpaid incentive compensation pro-rated through the Date of Termination for the previous fiscal year payable as set forth in Section 3.2 hereof. See alsoAttachment 4.4.3hereto . In addition, all unvested options shall immediately become vested as of the Date of Termination.
4.5.Timing of Payments. Notwithstanding any other provision with respect to the timing of payments under Section 4.4, if, at the time of the Executive’s termination, the Executive is deemed to be a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto) of the Company, then only to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, any payments to which the Executive may become entitled under Section 4.4 which are subject to Section 409A of the Code (and not otherwise exempt from its application) will be withheld until the first (1st) business day of the seventh (7th) month following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, at which time the Executive shall be paid an aggregate amount equal to six (6) months of payments otherwise due to the Executive under the terms of the applicable Section 4.4. After the first business day of the seventh (7th) month following the termination of the Executive’s employment and continuing each month thereafter, the Executive shall be paid the regular payments otherwise due to the Executive in accordance with the terms of the applicable provision of Section 4.4.
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4.6. Remedies. Any termination of this Agreement shall not prejudice any other remedy to which the Employer or the Executive may be entitled, either at law, equity or under this Agreement.
ARTICLE V. INDEMNIFICATION |
5.1. Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Employer agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Executive harmless from any and all claims, actions, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, hereafter or heretofore arising out of or in connection with activities of the Employer or its employees, including the Executive, or other agents in connection with and within the scope of this Agreement or by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Employer or any affiliate of the Employer. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Employer shall advance to the Executive expenses of defending any such action, claim or proceeding. However, the Employer shall not indemnify the Executive or defend the Executive against, or hold him harmless from any claims, damages, expenses or liabilities, including attorneys’ fees, resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Executive to include punitive damage claims against the Executive. The duty to indemnify shall survive the expiration or early termination of this Agreement as to any claims based on facts or conditions which occurred or are alleged to have occurred prior to expiration or termination.
ARTICLE VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
6.1. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.
6.2. Arbitration. Except for the Company’s right to seek injunctive relief under
Section 2.5 hereof, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof shall be settled by arbitration in the City and County of Denver, Colorado in accordance with the rules then existing of the American Arbitration Association and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
6.3.Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any and all other agreements, whether oral or in writing, between the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by the Employer.
6.4.Successors and Assigns. This Agreement, all terms and conditions hereunder, and all remedies arising herefrom, shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Employer, any successor in interest to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Employer, and the heirs, administrators, executors and guardians of the Executive. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto may not be assigned or transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other party.
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6.5. Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all othercommunications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressedas follows:
| If to Executive: | | Michael I. Ruxin, M.D. |
| | | 12600 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite C-420 Lakewood, Colorado 80215 |
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| If to Employer: | | Global Med Technologies, Inc. |
| | | 12600 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite C-420 Lakewood, Colorado 80215 Attn.: Corporate Secretary |
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| With a copy to: | | Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP |
| | | 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 3900 Miami, Florida 33131 Attn.: Clayton E. Parker, Esq. |
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
6.6. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by or is unlawful or unenforceable under any applicable law of any jurisdiction as to such jurisdiction, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.
6.7. Section Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any terms of this Agreement.
6.8. Survival of Obligations. Termination of this Agreement for any reason shall not relieve the Employer or the Executive of any obligation accruing or arising prior to such termination.
6.9. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement of both the Employer and Executive.
6.10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one orhis Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
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6.11.Fees and Costs. If any action at law or in equity (in civil court or in arbitration) is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which that party may be entitled.
THE EMPLOYER:
GLOBAL MED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:/s/ Thomas F. Marcinek
Name:Thomas F. Marcinek
Title:President and COO
THE EXECUTIVE:
/s/Michael I. Ruxin
Michael I. Ruxin, M.D.
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SCHEDULE 2.1 DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE |
The Executive shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Global Med Technologies, Inc. The Executive will report to the Board of Directors of Global Med Technologies, Inc.
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All of the stock options that are fully vested at the time the Executive or the Employer terminates the Employment Agreement without Cause, or the non-renewal of the Employment Agreement, or the Executive terminates the Employment Agreement for Good Reason or upon the termination of the Employment Agreement upon the death or disability (as set forth in Section 4.1.3) of the Executive, shall be able to be exercised by the Executive, or by the Executive’s estate or guardian, within the six (6) month period following such termination. If the Executive decides that he does not want to exercise his fully vested options during such six (6) month period, then those fully vested options will be rescinded and regranted as nonqualified options under Global Med Technologies, Inc. Nonqualified Stock Option Plan. In the event the Executive’s Employment Agreement is terminated by the Employer for “Cause” or by the Executive without Good Reason, all unvested options shall be forfeited and all vested options may be exercised in the ninety (90) day period following such termination.
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