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: January 31, 2006
(Date of earliest event reported)
NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Delaware | | 333-119366 | | 04-3321804 |
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) | | (Commission
File Number) | | (IRS Employer
Identification Number) |
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One Gateway Center, Suite 504
Newton, MA 02458
(Address of principal executive offices)
(617) 244-1616
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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![[ ]](https://capedge.com/proxy/8-K/0000950136-06-000728/ebox.gif) | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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| | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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| | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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| | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement
On January 31, 2006, we entered into an employment agreement with Harry Palmin effective January 1, 2006, whereby he agreed to serve as our president and chief executive officer for an initial term of two years at an annual salary of $225,000. He is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus at the discretion of the compensation committee and he is entitled to participate in our employee fringe benefit plans or programs generally available to our senior executives. The agreement provides that in the event that we terminate Mr. Palmin without cause or he resigns for good reason (as defined below), we will (i) pay Mr. Palmin his pro rata share of the average of his annual bonus paid during the two fiscal years preceding his termination; (ii) pay Mr. Palmin his base salary for 11 months after the date of termination; (ii) continue to provide him benefits for 11 months after the date of termination; and (iii) fifty percent of his unvested stock options will vest. The agreement also contains a non-compete provision, which prohibits Mr. Palmin from competing with us for one year after termination of his employment with us.
‘‘Cause’’ means (i) gross neglect of duties for which employed; (ii) committing fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement in the performance of duties as our employee; (iii) conviction or guilty or nolo plea of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; or (iv) willfully engaging in conduct materially injurious to us or violating a covenant contained in the employment agreement.
‘‘Good Reason’’ means (i) the failure of our board of directors to elect Mr. Palmin to the offices of president and chief executive officer; (ii) the failure by our stockholders to continue to elect Mr. Palmin to our board of directors; (iii) our failure to pay Mr. Palmin the compensation provided for in the employment agreement, except for across the board cuts applicable to all of our officers on an equal percentage basis; provided that such reduction is approved by our board of directors; (iv) relocation of Mr. Palmin’s principal place of employment to a location beyond 50 miles of Newton, Massachusetts; (v) a reduction of base salary or material reduction in other benefits or any material change by us to Mr. Palmin’s function, duties, authority, or responsibilities, which change would cause Mr. Palmin’s position with us to become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope; and (vi) our material breach of any of the other provisions of the employment agreement.
A description of such compensation is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
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| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
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| 99.1 | Employment Agreement with Harry Palmin dated January 31, 2006 |
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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.
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| Dated: February 6, 2006 | | NOVELOS THE RAPEUTICS, INC. |
| | | By: | | /s/ Harry S. Palmin |
| | | | | Name: Harry S. Palmin |
| | | | | Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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| Number | | Description |
| 99.1 | | Employment Agreement with Harry Palmin dated January 31, 2006 |
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