The Employment Agreement provides for standard benefits, such as
paid time off, reimbursement of business expenses, and
participation in the Company’s employee benefit plans and programs.
In the event that Mr. Gowler’s employment terminates due to
death or a disability, he will be entitled to accrued obligations
and payment of any unpaid annual bonus earned based on achievement
of the applicable performance goals and objectives so long as his
employment terminates after the completion of the calendar year but
prior to the date of payment of the bonus (the “Earned Bonus”). In
the event that Mr. Gowler’s employment is terminated, other
than during the period commencing on the earlier of (x) the
signing of a definitive agreement that, if closed, would result in
a “change in control” (as defined in the Plan) and (y) the
date that is three (3) months prior to the closing of a change
in control and ending on the date that is twelve (12) months
following a change in control (the “Change in Control Period”), by
the Company without “cause” or by him for “good reason” (each as
defined in the Employment Agreement), and subject to the delivery
to the Company of a separation agreement that includes a general
release of claims and such separation agreement becoming fully
effective, Mr. Gowler will receive cash severance equal to 9
months of his base salary, as well as the Earned Bonus, if
applicable, and 9 months continuation of benefits. In addition, the
unvested portion of any outstanding time-based equity awards held
by Mr. Gowler as of the date of termination would remain
outstanding for 3 months following such date of termination.
In the event that Mr. Gowler’s employment is terminated by the
Company without cause or by him for good reason, in either case,
during the Change in Control Period, and subject to his delivery to
the Company of a separation agreement that includes a general
release of claims and subject to such separation agreement becoming
fully effective, Mr. Gowler will receive cash severance equal
to the sum of 12 months of his base salary and his target bonus for
the year of termination, payable in a lump sum, as well as the
Earned Bonus, if applicable, and 12 months continuation of
benefits. In such case, Mr. Gowler will also be entitled to
immediate acceleration and full vesting of any time-based equity
awards, as if his employment continued until the later of the date
of termination (or, if later, the change in control) or the
effective date of the separation agreement.
In connection with his appointment. Mr. Gowler also entered
into (i) an indemnification agreement in the form previously
approved by the Board, which form is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2021 (the
“Indemnification Agreement”), and (ii) the Company’s standard
form of Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment
Agreement (the “PIAA”), which, among other things, prohibits him
from competing with the Company, soliciting the Company’s employees
and customers and disclosing confidential information during the
term of his engagement and for a specified time thereafter.
Other than with respect to the Employment Agreement, the Award
Agreement, the Indemnification Agreement and the PIAA, there are no
arrangements or understandings between Mr. Gowler and any
other persons pursuant to which Mr. Gowler was appointed as
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer of the
Company. There are also no family relationships between
Mr. Gowler and any director or executive officer of the
Company and Mr. Gowler has no direct or indirect interest in
any transaction or proposed transaction required to be disclosed
pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
The description of the Employment Agreement does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
complete text of the Employment Agreement, which is filed herewith
as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated by reference in this Item
5.02.
On December 6, 2022, the Company issued a press release
announcing Mr. Gowler’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer
and Chief Commercial Officer, as well as other organizational
changes. A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit
99.1 and is incorporated by reference in this Item 8.01.