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BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL INC false 0001048477 0001048477 2023-10-30 2023-10-30

 

 

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): October 30, 2023

 

 

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   000-26727   68-0397820

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

770 Lindaro Street, San Rafael, California     94901
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (415) 506-6700

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

 

Written communication 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 communication pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value   BMRN   The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

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

 

 

 


Item 5.02.

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

Retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer

On November 1, 2023, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (“BioMarin” or the “Company”) announced that Jean-Jacques Bienaimé will retire as the Company’s President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer effective as of close of business on November 30, 2023 (the “Retirement Date”). Mr. Bienaimé will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors (the “Board”) until the expiration of his term as a director at the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, and will not stand for reelection at such meeting. Richard A. Meier, BioMarin’s lead independent director, will assume the role of Chair of the Board, effective December 1, 2023.

In connection with his retirement, the Company and Mr. Bienaimé entered into a separation agreement (the “Separation Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, (i) Mr. Bienaimé will remain eligible to receive the bonus he would have received for 2023 at the time it is determined and approved by the Board or its Compensation Committee to the same extent as if he had remained employed as Chief Executive Officer through such date, provided he remains a member of the Board or a consultant to the Company through such date and (ii) the Company will pay the cost of COBRA premiums to continue Mr. Bienaimé’s health insurance coverage for up to 13 months following the Retirement Date. The Separation Agreement also provides for a customary release of claims by Mr. Bienaimé.

The Company and Mr. Bienaimé also entered into a consulting agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”), to be effective as of December 1, 2023 for an initial term continuing until December 31, 2024, pursuant to which Mr. Bienaimé shall provide services to the Company to facilitate a smooth transition. The services are expected to require an average of 40 hours of effort for the first six months of the initial term and an average of 20 hours per week of effort for the balance of the initial term. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, Mr. Bienaimé will receive $146,000 per month for the first six months of the initial term, and $73,000 per month for the next seven months of the initial term. The Consulting Agreement further provides that Mr. Bienaimé’s equity awards will continue to vest during the term of the Consulting Agreement and, except in the case of a termination of the Consulting Agreement by BioMarin due to Mr. Bienaimé’s material breach thereof, shall continue to vest even after the term of the Consulting Agreement and remain exercisable through the natural life of the award pursuant to the Company’s retirement benefit (as described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2023, but disregarding the requirement that Mr. Bienaimé remain Chief Executive Officer through December 31, 2024), provided Mr. Bienaimé serves as a consultant through December 31, 2024. The Consulting Agreement also confirms that upon a Change in Control (as defined in the Consulting Agreement), Mr. Bienaimé will be entitled to 100% vesting of all his outstanding time-based vesting equity awards and target amounts of outstanding performance-based equity awards.

Copies of the Separation Agreement and Consulting Agreement are attached as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Appointment of Chief Executive Officer and President

On November 1, 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Alexander Hardy, age 55, to serve as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board, effective as of December 1, 2023 (the “Effective Date”).

Mr. Hardy has served as chief executive officer of Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group (“Roche”) since May 2019. At Roche, Mr. Hardy previously served as Head of Global Product Strategy from August 2016 to March 2019, and as Head, Asia Pacific, Roche Pharma, from May 2014 through August 2016. Before that, Mr. Hardy served in various leadership roles at Genentech, Inc. (prior to its acquisition by Roche) and Novartis. Mr. Hardy serves as a member of the Wall Street Journal CEO Council and on the board of directors for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Mr. Hardy received a B.A. from the University of Cambridge and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

In connection with his appointment, the Company and Mr.


Hardy entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), providing for an annual base salary of $1,050,000, a signing bonus of $900,000 (the “Base Salary”), and the right to participate in the Company’s generally applicable employee bonus program starting in 2024 (payable in the first quarter of 2025), with a target payout percentage of one hundred ten percent (110%) of Base Salary during the previous year, provided that Mr. Hardy remains actively employed by the Company through the payment date of the bonus. In addition, the Employment Agreement provides for grants to Mr. Hardy of the following equity awards: (A) restricted stock units (“RSUs”) for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to $5,750,000 divided by the average closing price of the Common Stock over the thirty (30) trading days ending on the day before the date of grant, rounded to the nearest cent (the “Reference Price”), rounded to the nearest whole share, 25% of which shall vest on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the Effective Date, subject to Mr. Hardy’s continuous service as of each such vesting date; (B) RSUs for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to $4,000,000 divided by the Reference Price, rounded to the nearest whole share, which shall vest as to one third (1/3) of the shares on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Effective Date, subject to the Employee’s continuous service as of each such vesting date (the “Three-Year RSU”); and (C) non-statutory stock options to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock equal to $5,750,000 divided by the Reference Price, rounded to the nearest whole share, 25% of which shall vest on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and 1/48th of which shall vest on the same day of each month thereafter, subject to Mr. Hardy’s continuous service as of each such vesting date. Additionally, effective as of a date in March 2024 to be determined by the Board, and provided Mr. Hardy remains in continuous service to the Company, the Company will grant to Mr. Hardy (A) RSUs for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to $2,875,000 divided by the Reference Price, rounded to the nearest whole share, vesting over 4 years; (B) performance RSUs (“PRSUs”) for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to $6,900,000 divided by the Reference Price, rounded to the nearest whole share, vesting over 3 years; and (C) non-statutory stock options to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock equal to $1,725,000 divided by the Reference Price (as defined below), rounded to the nearest whole share, vesting over 4 years.

The Employment Agreement provides for the following severance benefits in the event that Mr. Hardy is terminated without Cause or Mr. Hardy resigns for Good Reason (as both terms are defined in the Employment Agreement). If such termination occurs at any time other than within 12 months after a Change in Control (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Hardy shall be entitled to (i) a lump-sum payment equal to the sum of (A) an amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of Mr. Hardy’s current annual base salary and target bonus for the calendar year in which his employment terminates, (B) the amount of the any unpaid annual bonus for the immediately preceding year, and (C) an amount equal to Mr. Hardy’s target bonus for the year of termination (prorated for that portion of the calendar year that Mr. Hardy was employed by the Company) (collectively, the “Non-CIC Termination Compensation”); (ii) one year of equity acceleration for his outstanding time-based equity awards, other than the Three-Year RSU, which will vest in full, and vesting of target amounts of outstanding performance-based equity awards; (iii) Company payment of COBRA premiums for up to 18 months; and (iv) outplacement services. If such termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason occurs within the 12-month period after a Change in Control, Mr. Hardy shall be entitled to (i) a lump-sum payment equal to the sum of (A) an amount equal to 2 times the sum of Mr. Hardy’s current annual base salary and target bonus for the calendar year in which his employment terminates, (B) the amount of the any unpaid annual bonus for the immediately preceding year, and (C) an amount equal to Mr. Hardy’s target bonus for the year of termination (prorated for that portion of the calendar year that Mr. Hardy was employed by the Company) (collectively, the “CIC Termination Compensation”); (ii) 100% vesting of all his outstanding unvested time-based vesting equity awards and target amounts of outstanding performance-based equity awards; (iii) Company payment of COBRA premiums for up to 24 months; and (iv) outplacement services. The Employment Agreement further provides that in the event of Mr. Hardy’s disability, he will receive an amount equal to the Non-CIC Termination Compensation or the CIC Termination Compensation, whichever is applicable, which amount includes any benefits Mr. Hardy may receive under the Company’s Long-Term Disability Plan.

A copy of the Employment Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. Mr. Hardy will also enter into a customary indemnification agreement with the Company in the form previously approved by the Board and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

   Exhibit Description
10.1    Separation Agreement and General Release by and between BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. and Jean-Jacques Bienaimé, dated October 30, 2023.
10.2    Consulting Agreement by and between BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. and Jean-Jacques Bienaimé, dated October 30, 2023.
10.3    Employment Agreement by and between BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. and Alexander Hardy, dated October 30, 2023.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document)


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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.,

a Delaware corporation

Date: November 3, 2023     By:  

/s/ G. Eric Davis

      G. Eric Davis
      Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
EX-10.1 2 d578678dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This Separation Agreement and General Release (“Agreement”) dated October 30, 2023 is between Jean-Jacques Bienaime and BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., including any past or present parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, entities and divisions (collectively, the “Company”). The parties agree to the following:

 

1.

Separation. Your last day of work with the Company and your employment termination date will be November 30, 2023 (the “Separation Date”). Between the date of this Agreement and the Separation Date (the “Transition Period”), you will continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and perform all associated duties as directed by the Board. The Company reserves the right to advance your Separation Date if your conduct does not comport with this agreement or Company policies, including the Code of Conduct. On the Separation Date, the Company will pay you your earned salary, and all accrued, but unused vacation earned through the Separation Date, subject to required payroll deductions and withholdings. You are entitled to these payments regardless of whether or not you sign this Agreement. Upon receipt, you acknowledge and represent that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, you have received all leave and leave benefits for which you are eligible pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act or otherwise, you have not suffered any on-the-job injury for which you have not already filed a claim, and you have been paid all wages, bonuses, compensation, benefits and other amounts that the Company has ever owed to you, with the exception of any vested right you may have under the terms of a written ERISA-qualified benefit plan. You will continue to serve on the Board of Directors (but not as Chair) until the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, at which point you will retire from the Board of Directors and not stand for reelection. You may voluntarily resign from the Board of Directors prior to such date if you so choose.

 

2.

Severance Pay. You acknowledge an agree that you are voluntarily resigning your role as Chief Executive Officer, and, accordingly, you are not entitled to any payment under your Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective December 13, 2016.

 

3.

COBRA Coverage. To the extent provided by the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) or, if applicable, California’s Continuation Benefits Replacement Act (“Cal-COBRA”), and by the Company’s current group health insurance policies, you may be eligible to continue your group health insurance benefits at your own expense following the Separation Date. You may also be eligible for health insurance through one of the state marketplaces implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. You will receive COBRA election materials and rates from the Company’s administrator after your Company-provided health insurance benefits terminate. These materials will also contain information about your options under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The materials will inform you of the time limits for you to waive or elect coverage under both options. If you (a) timely sign and return this Agreement to the Company and allow the releases contained in it to become effective, (b) on or before the later of (i) seven (7) business days after the Separation Date and (ii) twenty-one (21) days after the date you receive this Agreement, re-execute and reconfirm this Agreement by signing and returning it and allow the releases contained in it to become effective, and (c) properly and timely elect COBRA coverage for your current

 

1


  medical/dental/vision plans at current coverage levels, the Company will pay the cost of the COBRA premiums to continue your health insurance coverage for Thirteen (13) months following the Separation Date or if sooner the date you cease to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason (the “COBRA Premium Period”). Thereafter, you can elect to continue such COBRA coverage for the remainder of the COBRA period at your own expense. In the event you become covered under another employer’s group health plan or otherwise cease to be eligible for COBRA during the COBRA Premium Period, you must immediately notify the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot pay the COBRA Premiums without a substantial risk of violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company instead shall pay you, on the first day of each calendar month, a fully taxable cash payment equal to the applicable COBRA premiums for that month (including premiums for any dependents), subject to applicable tax withholdings (such amount, the “Special Cash Payment”), for the remainder of the COBRA Premium Period. You may, but are not obligated to, use such Special Cash Payments toward the cost of COBRA premiums.

 

4.

2023 Bonus. If you (a) timely sign and return this Agreement to the Company and allow the releases contained in it to become effective, (b) on or before the later of (i) seven (7) business days after the Separation Date and (ii) twenty-one (21) days after the date you receive this Agreement, you re-execute and reconfirm this Agreement by signing and returning it and allowing allow the releases contained in it to become effective, then you will remain eligible to receive the bonus you would have received for 2023 (i.e., the target amount of 120% of your 2023 base salary times the degree of corporate performance achievement determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or its Compensation Committee), at the time it is determined and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or its Compensation Committee to the same extent as if you had remained employed as Chief Executive Officer through such date, provided you remain a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or a consultant to the Company as of such date.

 

5.

Repayment Obligations. Any debts owed by you to the Company with regard to relocation expenses the Company may have incurred on your behalf as well as any sign on bonus are hereby forgiven and your obligations related to repayment of those amounts are forever released.

 

6.

Equity. You were granted restricted stock units and/or options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (collectively, the “Equity Grants”) pursuant to the BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Share Incentive Plan and/or the BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. 1997 Stock Plan (any such plans, the “Plan”). Your Equity Grants will continue to vest due to your Continuous Service, as defined in the Plan, as both a Director and Consultant (as defined in the Plan), and in accordance with the terms of both such relationships and shall continue to vest following your term as a Consultant in accordance with the provisions of any consulting agreement between you and the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company confirms that all vested option awards shall remain exercisable through the natural life of the award pursuant to the applicable retirement benefit, provided you serve as a Consultant through December 31, 2024.

 

2


7.

References. You will refer prospective employers or others seeking verification of your employment to the Company’s Human Resources or Payroll Departments. The HR or Payroll Departments will only verify your dates of employment, job title and most recent salary.

 

8.

Other Compensation or Benefits. You acknowledge that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, you will not receive any additional compensation or benefits after the Separation Date. Thus, for any Company sponsored employee benefits not referenced in this Agreement (including the Company’s 401(k), life insurance, and short/long-term disability insurance plans), you will be treated as a terminated employee as of the Separation Date.

 

9.

Expense Reimbursement. You agree that, by no later than ten (10) days after the Separation Date, you will submit your final documented expense reimbursement statement reflecting all business expenses you incurred through the Separation Date, if any, for which you seek reimbursement. The Company will reimburse you for these expenses pursuant to its regular business practice.

 

10.

Return of Company Property. By no later than the later of (i) your Separation Date or (ii) the date you are no longer a member of the Company‘s Board of Directors, you agree to return to the Company all Company documents (and copies) and other Company property that you have in your possession including, but not limited to, Company files, notes, drawings, records, business plans and forecasts, financial information, specifications, computer-recorded information, tangible property (laptop computer, cell phone, PDA, flash drives, remote access tokens, etc.), credit cards, entry cards, identification badges and keys; and, any materials of any kind that contain or embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company (and all reproductions thereof). You represent that you have made a diligent search to locate any such documents, property and information, and that you have or will return such information to the HR Department or, if electronic, you will permanently delete and expunge such information in your possession and from any personal computer, server or e-mail system. You further represent that you have not provided any Company Property to any third party and will not do so in the future. Your timely compliance with this paragraph is a condition precedent to your receipt of the Severance Pay.

 

11.

Non-disparagement. You agree to refrain from making any false or disparaging remarks, orally or in writing (including by electronic transmission or publication on the Internet) about the Company and its personnel, business, operations, and services to any third party, provided that you may respond accurately and fully to any question, inquiry or request for information when required by legal process or pursuant to a government investigation.

 

12.

Post-Employment Cooperation. Upon reasonable advance notice to you, you agree to make yourself available and to fully cooperate with the Company in defending any threatened or actual litigation that currently exists, or may arise subsequent to the execution of this Agreement. Such cooperation includes, but is not limited to, meeting with Company representatives to discuss and review issues with which you were directly or indirectly involved during your employment, participating in any investigation conducted by the

 

3


  Company, signing declarations or witness statements, preparing for and serving as a witness in any civil or administrative proceeding, reviewing documents, and performing similar activities that the Company deems necessary. You further agree to be available as needed and cooperate in answering questions regarding any previous or current matter on which you worked at the Company to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

 

13.

Re-Employment. You agree that the Company has no obligation, contractual or otherwise to employ or re-employ you, now or in the future, either directly or indirectly, on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or contractor basis.

 

14.

Release of All Claims.

 

  14.1.

Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, and in exchange for the consideration provided to you under this Agreement, you hereby release, acquit and forever discharge the Company all parent corporations, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, successors and assignees, as well as the current and former employees, attorneys, officers, directors, insurers and agents thereof (the “Released Parties”), of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to and including the execution date of this Agreement.

 

  14.2.

In addition, you specifically waive, release, and give up any and all claims arising from or relating to your employment with the Company or the termination of such employment based on any act, event, or omission occurring before the execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to any claim which could be asserted now or in the future, whether for damages, wages, vacation pay, personal days, paid time off, severance pay, front pay, back pay, attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses and/or any other relief or remedy under any contract or federal, state or local law, ordinance or regulation, including, but not limited to, laws or regulations covering workers’ compensation, the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended by the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, the Equal Pay Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended, the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, as amended, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

4


  14.3.

You further waive and release any and all claims or demands arising under the statutes, laws, ordinances, regulations, or common laws of the State of California including, but not limited to, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Family Rights Act, the California Labor Code, and any other federal, state or local laws or regulations as well as any other claims under any other tort, contractual, common law, or statutory theory that you may have had or now has up to the date of this Agreement.

 

  14.4.

This Release shall not apply to supersede or affect any ERISA-qualified benefit plan, disability plan or any other applicable vested retirement or deferred compensation plan as to which you are eligible and entitled pursuant to the terms of the applicable plans. This release does not apply to the following: (a) any rights or claims for indemnification you may have pursuant to any written indemnification agreement with the Company to which you are a party or under applicable law; (b) any rights under any directors & officers liability insurance policy; (c) any rights which are not waivable as a matter of law; and (d) any claims for breach of this Agreement. You understand that nothing in this Agreement limits your ability to file a charge or complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission (“Government Agencies”). You further understand this Agreement does not limit your ability to communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing documents or other information, without notice to the Company. While this Agreement does not limit your right to receive an award for information provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission, you understand and agree that, to maximum extent permitted by law, you are otherwise waiving any and all rights you may have to individual relief based on any claims that you have released and any rights you have waived by signing this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement: (i) prevents you from discussing or disclosing information about unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination or any other conduct that you have reason to believe is unlawful; or (ii) waives any rights you may have under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (subject to the release of claims set forth herein).

 

15.

Age Discrimination In Employment Act Waiver. You acknowledge that you are knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights you may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), as amended. You also acknowledge that the consideration given for the waiver and release herein is in addition to anything of value to which you were already entitled. You further acknowledge that you have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA, that: (a) your waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may arise after the execution date of this Agreement; (b) you have been advised hereby that you have the right to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (c) you have up to Twenty-One (21) days from the date of this Agreement to execute this Agreement (although you may choose to voluntarily execute this Agreement earlier); (d) you have seven (7) days following the execution of this Agreement by the parties to revoke the Agreement; and (e) this Agreement will not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which will be the eighth day after this Agreement is executed by you, provided that the Company has also executed this Agreement by that date (“Effective Date”); and (f) this Agreement does not affect your ability to test the knowing and voluntary nature of this Agreement.

 

5


16.

No Actions or Claims. You represent that you have not filed any charges, complaints, grievances, arbitrations, lawsuits, or claims against the Company, with any local, state or federal agency, union or court from the beginning of time to the date of execution of this Agreement.

 

17.

Waiver of Unknown Claims Under California Civil Code Section 1542. In granting the release herein, you understand that this Agreement includes a release of all claims known or unknown. In giving this release, which includes claims which may be unknown to you at present, you acknowledge that you have read and understand Section 1542 of the California Civil Code which reads as follows: “A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.” You hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law of any jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to the release of any unknown or unsuspected claims you may have against the Company.

 

18.

Miscellaneous. This Agreement, along with the Confidential Information and Inventions Agreement (Exhibit A), constitutes the complete, final and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement between you and the Company with regard to this subject matter. The Company acknowledges that your Consulting Agreement entered into on the date hereof and any arrangement related to your continued service as a Director of the Company are unrelated to this subject matter. You acknowledge, however, that this Agreement does not supersede or replace any prior agreements between you and the Company regarding subjects other than those discussed herein, including (without limitation), the Arbitration Agreement between you and the Company. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes any other such promises, warranties or representations. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in a writing signed by both you and the Executive Vice President of Human Resources. This Agreement will bind the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of both you and the Company, and inure to the benefit of both you and the Company, and your and its heirs, successors and assigns. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this determination will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and the provision in question will be modified by the arbitrator or court so as to be rendered enforceable. This Agreement will be deemed to have been entered into and will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California. You agree that any action to enforce or interpret this Agreement shall be brought only in arbitration pursuant to the terms of the Arbitration Agreement between you and the Company, or a court of competent jurisdiction within the State of California, to the extent such action may be filed in court pursuant to the terms of the Arbitration Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all counterparts so executed shall constitute one agreement binding on all of the parties hereto. The Agreement may be executed by facsimile, pdf file or photocopied signature, and such signature shall be binding and deemed originals for purposes of enforcing this Agreement.

 

6


This Agreement is final and binding upon initial execution by you and the Company, subject to the revocation rights specified in Section 14. Further, as stated above, certain of the Company’s obligations are conditional on you reconfirming this Agreement as of the Separation Date.

 

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
By:  

/s/ Amy Wireman

  Amy Wireman
  Chief People Officer
Date:   October 30, 2023
Agreed:

/s/ Jean-Jacques Bienaime

Jean-Jacques Bienaime
Date:   October 31, 2023
Re-executed and Confirmed as of the Separation Date

 

Jean-Jacques Bienaime

Date:  

 

 

7


EXHIBIT A

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT

[Intentionally Omitted]

EX-10.2 3 d578678dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

This Consulting Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into on October 30, 2023 to be effective December 1, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), and is made by and between BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., (“BioMarin”), a Delaware corporation, located at 105 Digital Drive, Novato, CA 94949, and Jean-Jacques Bienaime (“Provider”). BioMarin and Provider are each individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, BioMarin desires to engage and contract for the services of Provider to perform certain tasks as set forth in detail below; and

WHEREAS, Provider desires to enter into this Agreement and perform as an independent contractor for BioMarin under the terms and conditions set forth below.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and mutual covenants contained herein, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1

DUTIES OF PROVIDER

 

  1.1

Specific Duties. Provider shall provide the consulting services set forth on Exhibit A to BioMarin, with such specific reasonable requirements as the Parties may mutually agree upon from time to time during the Term, as defined in Section 2.1 (Term) below (herein referred to as the “Services”). Should any provision in any exhibits or attachments hereto conflict with any of the provisions in this Agreement, this Agreement shall control unless such conflicting provision specifically states otherwise. The Services are expected to require an average of forty (40) hours of effort for the first six (6) months of the Initial Term and an average of twenty (20) hours per week of effort for the balance of the Initial Term. BioMarin and Provider acknowledge and agree that, subject to Provider’s compliance with the terms of this Agreement, nothing herein shall prohibit Provider from providing services to any other person or entity; provided such services are permitted under BioMarin’s Global Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and Corporate Governance Principles.

 

  1.2

Provider Obligations. Provider shall be diligent in the performance of Services, and be professional in its commitment to meeting its obligations hereunder. The Services shall be performed in a professional, quality manner, consistent with industry standards, and in accordance with (i) applicable laws and regulations and (ii) BioMarin policies, standard operating procedures, work instructions, and guidelines provided to Provider by or on behalf of BioMarin.

 

  1.3

Equipment, Supplies and Other Overhead Items. Provider shall furnish all tools, equipment, supplies or other overhead items necessary to perform the Services required under this Agreement; provided that BioMarin shall make available to Provider office space and secretarial/administrative support as needed to perform the Services required under this Agreement.

 

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2

TERM, TERMINATION AND SURVIVAL

 

  2.1

Term. This Agreement commences as of the Effective Date and shall continue thereafter until December 31, 2024 (the “Initial Term”). Upon the expiration of the Initial Term, the Parties, by mutual agreement, may extend this Agreement for additional terms, provided such agreement is reduced to writing and executed by both of the Parties (each a “Renewal Term”). The Initial Term and any subsequent Renewal Term(s) are collectively referred to herein as the “Term” and are subject to the provisions for early termination set forth in this Agreement.

 

  2.2

Termination of Agreement – Failure to Perform. In the event that the Provider ceases to adequately perform the Services or either Party breaches its obligations as required hereunder for any reason, the other Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the defaulting Party specifying the default; provided, however, if said defaulting Party cures the default within the said thirty (30) day period, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as if no default had occurred.

 

  2.3

Effects of Termination. Immediately upon the later of (a) termination or expiration of this Agreement, or (b) Provider ceasing to serve as a member of the board of directors of BioMarin (the “Board”), Provider will promptly turn over to BioMarin, or destroy, all of BioMarin’s Confidential Information (as defined in Section 5.1), Materials (as defined in Section 7.1) and Work Product (as defined in Section 7.2). In the event that Provider destroys any of the foregoing, within thirty (30) days of the destruction thereof, Provider will issue to BioMarin a certificate of destruction, signed by Provider’s proper and duly authorized officer.

 

  2.3.1

Equity Vesting. BioMarin agrees that the Services constitute “Continuous Service” as defined in the BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan and BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Share Incentive Plan (either of such plans, the “Plan”) and that any outstanding equity award under the Plan will continue to vest during the Term. Except in the case of a termination by BioMarin due to a material breach of this Agreement by Provider, at the termination of the Term for any other reason, any then outstanding equity awards shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms, without regard to whether Provider remains in Continuous Service after such date in accordance with the terms of the retirement benefit approved by the Compensation Committee in May 2020 (but disregarding the requirement that Provider remain the Chief Executive Officer of BioMarin through December 31, 2024). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Provider’s equity awards will continue to vest during any period that Provider serves as a member of the Board. Upon the consummation of a Change in Control (as defined below), the vesting of all then-unvested options or restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted to Provider at any time shall be accelerated such that 100% of such

 

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  options and RSUs shall be deemed immediately vested and exercisable as of the consummation of the Change in Control. In addition, if any RSUs that would be deemed vested pursuant to the foregoing sentence are subject to a performance vesting requirement, then the base number of such shares shall be deemed vested and exercisable as if the applicable performance objectives were achieved at 100% of target levels. In no event shall any strategic multipliers apply to the base number of such shares. “Change in Control” means any one or more of the following events: (i) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, issuance of securities, direct or indirect acquisition of securities, tender offer, exchange offer or other similar transaction as a result of which the persons that beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, the shares of BioMarin’s voting stock immediately prior to such transaction cease to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, shares of voting stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of voting stock of BioMarin or the continuing or surviving corporation if BioMarin is not the continuing or surviving corporation in such transaction, or (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of BioMarin.

 

  2.4

Survival. The provisions of Section 2.4 (Survival), Section 4 (Independent Contractor; Certain Liabilities; Subcontractors), Section 5 (Confidential Information), Section 7 (Ownership of Materials and Work Product), Section 8 (Dispute Resolution), Section 9 (Indemnification), and Section 10 (Miscellaneous Provisions), and any other provisions which by its nature should survive, shall survive expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

3

PAYMENT TERMS

 

  3.1

Fees. As full and complete consideration for the Services to be performed by Provider, and for the rights granted by Provider to BioMarin under this Agreement, BioMarin shall pay Provider for the Services an amount equal to One Hundred Forty Six Thousand Dollars ($146,000) for the first 6 months of the Term and Seventy three Thousand Dollars ($73,000) per month for the next 7 months of the Term (the “Fees”). The Fees shall be payable in arrears within fifteen (15) days after the end of each month.

 

  3.2

Reimbursable Expenses. BioMarin will reimburse Provider for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in providing the Services (the “Expenses”) in accordance with BioMarin’s expense reimbursement policies.

 

4

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR; CERTAIN LIABILITIES; SUB-CONTRACTORS. Provider agrees that it is an independent contractor and not the agent, officer, employee, or franchisee of any other entity. This Agreement does not constitute a hiring by either Party of the other and nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed as creating or establishing the relationship of employer and employee between BioMarin and Provider, or any person providing the Services on behalf of Provider. It is the Parties’ intention that Provider have an independent contractor status and that Provider shall not be considered a BioMarin employee for any purposes, including, but not limited

 

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  to, the application of the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, the Social Security Act, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, any applicable State Revenue and Taxation Code pertaining to income tax withholding at the source of income, and the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Code. This Agreement does not create or evidence any joint venture or partnership of the Parties. BioMarin shall not be liable for any obligations incurred by Provider pursuant to this Agreement unless specifically authorized in writing. Neither Party shall have any authority to incur, create or assume any liability or any other obligation, express or implied, in the name of, or on behalf of, the other Party. Provider may only contract with another business or individual to perform a portion or portions of the Services (hereafter, “Sub-Contractor”) with prior written approval of BioMarin.

 

5

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

  5.1

Definition. As used herein, BioMarin’s “Confidential Information” shall mean any and all technical and non-technical information, whether tangible or intangible, disclosed or provided by or on behalf of BioMarin and/or one or more of its Affiliates to Provider in written, oral or electronic form in connection with this Agreement, any future discussions about potential engagements, and all Work Product as defined in Section 7.2 (Work Product). Confidential Information will be deemed to include, without limitation:

 

  5.1.1

any technology, inventions, patent filings not yet public, products, chemical compounds and compositions, formulations, molecules, precursors, methods, concepts, ideas, plans, processes, specifications, characteristics, techniques, know-how and assays; clinical information such as raw data, scientific preclinical or clinical data, regulatory dossiers, observations, records, databases, dosing regimens, clinical studies or protocols, posters, presentations and abstracts, product pipelines, timelines and schedules; business information such as development, marketing, sales, pricing and commercialization plans, forecasts, proposals, customer or patient lists, suppliers, consulting relationships, operating, performance and cost structures, and any other non-public information, whether scientific, clinical or financial in nature, relating directly or indirectly to the business of BioMarin; and

 

  5.1.2

any material that is or has been prepared by or for the Provider and that contains, reflects, interprets or is based directly or indirectly upon any Confidential Information provided by or on behalf of BioMarin and/or one or more of its Affiliates; and

 

  5.1.3

the existence and terms of this Agreement, and the fact that Confidential Information has been made available to the Provider.

 

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  5.2

Use; Disclosure. Provider shall use the Confidential Information solely in the performance of the Agreement.    Provider shall not use the Confidential Information for any other purpose, including but not limited to using it in connection with the development or commercialization of any process or product on behalf of itself or any entity other than BioMarin, or using it in connection with any submission to any governmental agency, including any patent office or regulatory authority, or the like, without the express written permission of BioMarin. Provider agrees to notify BioMarin in writing as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 48 hours, upon any loss, misuse, misappropriation, or other unauthorized disclosure of the Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, in the event that Provider learns of (i) any loss, misuse, misappropriation, or other unauthorized disclosure of protected data and (ii) a data privacy addendum and/or standard contractual clauses has been executed by and between the Parties, Provider agrees to notify BioMarin in writing in accordance with the shorter time period and specific notification instructions set forth in such Data Privacy Addendum and or Standard Contractual Clauses.

 

  5.3

Degree of Care. Provider shall hold the Confidential Information in strict confidence, and shall take all reasonable precautions to protect the Confidential Information at all times from unauthorized disclosure, publication, or use, including, without limitation, using at least the same degree of care as it employs to protect its own Confidential Information of like nature (but in any event no less than a reasonable degree of care), acting in a manner consistent with its obligations under this Agreement.

 

  5.4

Transmission of Confidential Information. Without limiting any obligations under the Agreement, Provider shall use an industry standard secure method when transmitting Confidential Information and ensure that no Confidential Information is commingled with any other party’s information. Confidential Information shall not be transmitted over a network without such industry standard technical safeguards in place that are designed to provide appropriate protection.

 

  5.5

Exclusions. The confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-use obligations of this Agreement shall not apply to Confidential Information disclosed to Provider that: (i) was in Provider’s possession before receipt of the Confidential Information from BioMarin, as evidenced by written records or other documented evidence; (ii) is independently developed by Provider without the use of the Confidential Information as evidenced by written records or other documented evidence; (iii) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of Provider; or (iv) is rightfully received by Provider on a non-confidential basis from a third party without breach of a duty of confidentiality. As used herein, the term “publicly available” shall mean that such information is readily accessible to the general public in a written publication or other form of recording that may be obtained without assuming obligations of confidentiality and that is not obtained through a third party’s breach of a duty of confidentiality. “Publicly available” shall not mean information the substance of which must be pieced together from a number of different publications or other sources. In addition, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1833(b), Provider will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made: (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

 

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  5.6

Legally Required Disclosures. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Provider from making any disclosure of Confidential Information that is required by applicable law or regulation, or by a valid order of a court or other governmental body having jurisdiction, provided that Provider uses its best efforts to limit the scope of the required disclosure, provides notification to BioMarin as soon as Provider becomes aware of such requirement, and cooperates with BioMarin in seeking an appropriate protective order, confidential treatment, or similar remedy limiting the subsequent use and disclosure of any information required to be disclosed.

 

  5.7

NO TRANSFER OR LICENSE. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to grant or transfer any right to Provider under any patent, copyright or other intellectual property right of BioMarin, nor shall this Agreement grant or transfer to Provider any right in or to the Confidential Information except as expressly set forth herein. None of the Confidential Information which may be disclosed by BioMarin shall constitute any representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or inducement by BioMarin to Provider, including, without limitation, with respect to the non-infringement of intellectual property rights, or other rights of third persons.

 

  5.8

Confidential Information of Provider. Any information disclosed or provided by or on behalf of Provider and/or one of its Affiliates or Sub-Contractors to BioMarin in connection with inspections or audits conducted by or at the direction of BioMarin shall be deemed Provider’s confidential information and BioMarin shall use such Provider confidential information solely in connection with this Agreement; provided; however, that any information that is BioMarin’s Confidential Information shall not also be deemed Provider’s confidential information. Provider agrees that the confidentiality obligations set forth in this subsection are sufficient for BioMarin to conduct audits as it deems appropriate, and BioMarin shall not be required to enter into any additional non-disclosure agreement or agree to any additional confidentiality obligations in order to conduct such audits.

 

6

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

  6.1

Performance of Services. Provider represents and warrants that Provider has expertise in providing services comparable in type, scope, complexity and purpose to the Services and that it has exercised and will continue to exercise in the performance of the Services, that standard of skill, care and diligence reasonably to be expected of a properly qualified contractor in providing services comparable in type, scope, complexity and purpose to the Services provided hereunder. Additionally, Provider represents and warrants that Provider shall obtain and maintain all licenses and training necessary and appropriate to perform the Services.

 

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  6.2

Non-Infringement. Provider represents and warrants that Provider’s performance of the Services under this Agreement, including the delivery of any Work Product, as defined in Section 7.2 (Work Product), prepared or provided by Provider, or the use thereof by BioMarin, shall not knowingly infringe the intellectual property rights of a third party. Further, Provider represents and warrants that in performing the Services, Provider shall not make any unauthorized use of any Confidential Information or proprietary information of any other party, or infringe the intellectual property rights of any other party.

 

  6.3

Compliance with Laws. Provider warrants that at all times during the Term, the performance of the Services and the operation of Provider’s business shall comply with all applicable laws.

 

7

OWNERSHIP OF MATERIALS AND WORK PRODUCT

 

  7.1

Materials. BioMarin may provide materials for performance of the Services (“Materials”). Other than the right to use the Materials in accordance with this Agreement, no rights in the Materials shall be transferred to Provider. All such Materials (i) will be used only in performance of the Services in accordance with this Agreement; (ii) will not be used for the benefit of, or delivered to, any third party without the prior written consent of BioMarin; and (iii) will be used in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

  7.2

Work Product. All data, results, materials, products, know-how, information, inventions, and discoveries, whether tangible or intangible, and whether in interim or final form, that are made, developed, perfected, designed, conceived or first reduced to practice by Provider or Sub-Contractors, either solely or jointly with others, and all intellectual property therein, including, without limitation, all patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights (“Work Product”) shall be the sole and exclusive property of BioMarin. Provider hereby irrevocably assigns all right, title, and interest in such Work Product to BioMarin. Provider shall not, during or after this Agreement, be entitled to or claim any right, title or interest, including any license, in or to such Work Product or any commission, fee, royalty or other direct or indirect benefit from BioMarin or any of its Affiliates with respect to such Work Product.

 

8

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

  8.1

Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement is made under and shall be construed according to the laws of the State of California without regard to any conflict of law principles that would provide for the application of the law of another jurisdiction. Any disputes under this Agreement shall be brought in the state courts and the Federal courts located in the Northern District of California, and the Parties hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction and exclusive venue of these courts. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

 

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  8.2

Resolution of Disputes. The Parties shall first attempt to settle any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with or relating to the execution, interpretation, performance, or nonperformance of this Agreement or any other certificate, agreement, or other instrument between, involving, or affecting the Parties, including, without limitation, the validity, scope, and enforceability of this Agreement (each, a “Dispute”) through good faith negotiation before resorting to litigation.    The Parties shall conduct and complete such good faith negotiation involving substantive participation by senior management for each Party within thirty (30) days of a Dispute notice. Parties, upon written agreement, can adjust time limits specified within this Section 8 (Dispute Resolution).

 

  8.3

Equitable/Injunctive Relief. Nothing in this Section 8 (Dispute Resolution) shall be construed to restrict either Party’s right to seek and obtain injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction located in San Francisco, California, in the event a Party has breached or threatens to breach any of its obligations under Section 5 (Confidential Information), Section 5.7 (No Transfer or License) or Section 7 (Ownership of Materials and Work Product). For purposes of seeking equitable relief, both Parties irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the state and Federal courts located in San Francisco, California.

 

9

INDEMNIFICATION

 

  9.1

Each Party shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other Party, its directors, officers, employees, suppliers, successors, and assigns, from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, expenses, charges and fees (including reasonable attorney’s fees) sustained or incurred by such Party in connection with third-party claims, arising out of, or attributable to: (i) any breach of this Agreement; (ii) any breach of applicable law or regulation; or (iii) any negligence or willful misconduct, in the performance of this Agreement.

 

  9.2

The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnified Party may be entitled to under this Agreement, any other agreement, applicable law, or otherwise.

 

10

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

  10.1

No Implied Licenses. No right or license is granted under this Agreement by either Party to the other, either expressly or by implication, except those specifically set forth herein.

 

  10.2

Headings. The headings and section identifiers contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a substantive part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

  10.3

Waivers. All waivers must be in writing and signed by the Party to be charged. Any waiver or failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement on one occasion will not be deemed a waiver of any other provision or of such provision on any other occasion.

 

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  10.4

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by .pdf), each of which shall constitute an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement.

 

  10.5

Parties In Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the respective permitted successors and assigns of each of the Parties hereto (if any). No person who is not a Party shall have any rights hereunder as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise.

 

  10.6

Assignment. Provider may not assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of BioMarin, which consent may be given or withheld in BioMarin’s sole and absolute discretion. BioMarin may transfer or assign this Agreement, or any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, without Provider’s consent, to any: (i) Affiliate; (ii) wholly-owned subsidiary or successor-in-interest; or (iii) any third party with which it merges, or consolidates, or to which it transfers (by assignment, license, or otherwise) all or substantially all of its assets to which this Agreement relates.

 

  10.7

Severability. If any provision of this Agreement should be held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall be unaffected and shall remain in full force and effect, to the extent consistent with the intent of the Parties as evidenced by this Agreement as a whole.

 

  10.8

Approvals. When approval of either Party is required, such approval may be given or withheld in such Party’s sole and absolute discretion, without regard to the reason or basis for granting or withholding such consent, unless such approval is expressly required not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

  10.9

Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, communications, negotiations or understandings between the Parties with respect to the matters addressed herein. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement will be effective unless in writing and signed by both Parties.

 

  10.10

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action. BioMarin is a federal (sub)contractor subject to all provisions of E.O. 11246, Sec. 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act.

 

  10.11

Force Majeure. If either Party hereto is prevented from carrying out its obligations under this Agreement by events beyond its reasonable control, acts of God or government, natural disasters, including earthquakes or storms, fire, political strife, terrorism, failure or delay of transportation, then such Party’s performance of its obligations hereunder shall be excused during the period of such events and for a reasonable period of recovery thereafter, and the time for performance of such

 

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  obligations shall be automatically extended for a period of time equal to the duration of such events; provided, however, that the Party claiming force majeure shall promptly notify the other Party of the existence of such force majeure, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid or remedy such force majeure and shall continue performance hereunder with the utmost dispatch whenever such force majeure is avoided or remedied. When such circumstances arise, the Parties shall discuss what, if any, modification of the terms of this Agreement may be required in order to arrive at an equitable solution.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers effective as of the Effective Date.

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:    
Jean-Jacques Bienaime     BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL INC.
By:  

/s/ Jean-Jacques Bienaime

    By:  

/s/ G. Eric Davis

Date: October 30, 2023     Name: G. Eric Davis
      Its: EVP, Chief Legal Officer
      Date: October 31, 2023

 

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Exhibit A

[Intentionally Omitted]

EX-10.3 4 d578678dex103.htm EX-10.3 EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of October 30, 2023 by and between BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Alexander Hardy (“Employee”).

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration (the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged and agreed) the parties hereby covenant and agree as follows:

1. Title; Duties. Starting on December 1, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), the Company shall employ the Employee, and Employee shall serve, as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), to perform such duties consistent with his title and position as may be determined and assigned to him by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), to whom the Employee will report. The Employee shall be based in San Rafael or Novato, California, provided that Employee acknowledges that his job duties may require significant travel. The Employee shall also be appointed to the Board, effective as of the Effective Date.

2. Time and Effort. The Employee agrees to devote substantially all of his professional employment time and effort to the performance of his duties as CEO and to perform such other duties consistent with his title and position as are reasonably assigned him from time to time by the Board. With the Board’s approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Employee may serve on non-competitive outside boards as permitted under the Company’s Global Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and Corporate Governance Principles.

3. Term. The Company agrees to employ the Employee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, which terms shall be effective commencing on the Effective Date and continuing thereafter until terminated pursuant to Section 6 hereof (the “Term” of this Agreement). A review of the Employee’s total compensation will be made by the Board at least annually in or around December of each year based on the overall performance of the Company and the Company’s assessment of the Employee’s contributions to the Company’s performance, although the Board shall not be under any obligation to make adjustments other than pursuant to its discretion.

4. Compensation; Benefits.

(a) Base Salary. For all the services to be rendered by the Employee in any capacity hereunder, including services as an executive officer, the Company agrees to pay the Employee a base salary (“Base Salary”) of not less than One Million Fifty Thousand dollars ($1,050,000) per annum, subject to applicable taxes and deductions. Base Salary, less applicable taxes and deductions, shall be payable in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices. The foregoing annual compensation amount may be, from time to time, adjusted above the Base Salary specified above by action of the Board or appropriate Committee of the Board. In the event the Base Salary is adjusted upward by the Board, such adjusted amount will be deemed to be the new Base Salary.

(b) Signing Bonus. The Employee shall receive a signing bonus in the gross amount of Nine Hundred Thousand dollars ($900,000), subject to applicable taxes and deductions, within thirty (30) days following the Effective Date, provided that the Employee remains employed at the time of the payment.

 

1


(c) Annual Bonus. The Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s generally applicable employee bonus program starting in 2024 (payable in the first quarter of 2025), with a target payout percentage of one hundred ten percent (110%) of Base Salary during the previous year, with the amount of such bonus determined by the Board in its discretion based upon its assessment of the Employee’s individual performance and the Company’s performance for such year and such other targets and metrics as may be approved by the Board from time to time. To be eligible to receive any bonus for a given calendar year, the Employee must remain actively employed through the payment date of the bonus, except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.

(d) Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units.

(i) Effective Date Grants. The Company will grant to the Employee, effective as of the Effective Date, the following equity awards.

(A) Four-Year RSUs. Restricted stock units (“RSUs”) for that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) equal to Five Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand dollars ($5,750,000) divided by the Reference Price (as defined below), rounded to the nearest whole share, which shall vest as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the Effective Date, subject to the Employee’s Continuous Service (as defined below) as of each such vesting date.

(B) Three-Year RSUs. RSUs for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to Four Million dollars ($4,000,000) divided by the Reference Price, rounded to the nearest whole share, which shall vest as to one third (1/3) of the shares on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Effective Date, subject to the Employee’s Continuous Service as of each such vesting date.

(C) Options. Options to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock equal to Five Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand dollars ($5,750,000) divided by the Reference Price (as defined below), rounded to the nearest whole share, which shall vest as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and as to one forty-eighth (1/48) of the shares on the same day of each month thereafter, subject to the Employee’s Continuous Service as of each such vesting date.

(ii) March 2024 Grants. The Company will grant to the Employee, effective as of a date in March 2024 to be determined by the Board (at the same time as equity awards are made to the Company’s other executive officers and subject to the approval of the Board), the following equity awards, provided that the Employee remains in Continuous Service through such grant date. Such awards will have the same vesting and other terms and conditions as awards made to other executive officers of the Company at such time (including a four (4) year vesting schedule for RSUs and Options and a three (3) year vesting schedule for PRSUs (as defined below)).

(A) RSUs. RSUs for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to Two Million Eight Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand dollars ($2,875,000) divided by the Reference Price, rounded to the nearest whole share.

(B) PRSUs. Performance RSUs (“PRSUs”) for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to Six Million Nine Hundred Thousand dollars ($6.900,000) divided by the Reference Price, rounded to the nearest whole share.

(C) Options. Options to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock equal to One Million Seven Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand dollars ($1,725,000) divided by the Reference Price (as defined below), rounded to the nearest whole share.

 

2


(iii) Other Terms. “Reference Price” means the average closing price of the Common Stock over the thirty (30) trading days ending on the day before the date of grant, rounded to the nearest cent. “Continuous Service” means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee, director or consultant to the Company. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Board or authorized committee thereof, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; (iv) changes in status from director to advisory director or emeritus status; or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its affiliates or their respective successors. Changes in status between service as an employee, director and consultant will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The per share exercise price of all Options shall be equal to the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant, and the maximum term of all Options will be ten (10) years. All RSUs, PRSUs and Options will be subject to the Employee’s execution of, and governed by the terms of, the equity incentive plan under which the awards were made and the Company’s standard RSU, PRSU and Option agreement used for awards made thereunder.

(e) Benefits Plans. The Employee also shall be eligible to participate fully in all employee benefits programs, including insurance, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, stock and stock option, stock purchase or similar compensation and benefit plans and programs, pursuant to the terms of such plans or programs and to the same extent as other executive officers of the Company.

(f) Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to accrue annual paid vacation time of four (4) weeks, accruing ratably over the course of each year of employment, to be taken at such time or times as the Employee may select, consistent with his obligations hereunder. Vacation accrual and use will be subject to the Company’s vacation policy, and vacation days not taken during an applicable fiscal year may be carried over to the extent permitted under the Company’s vacation policy to the following fiscal year pursuant such policy.

(g) Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Employee for all reasonable and customary travel, business and entertainment expenses incurred in connection with the Employee’s performance of his services hereunder in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company and paid promptly after the Employee makes a request therefore and no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expenses were incurred by the Employee. The Company will reimburse the Employee for the reasonable professional fees incurred by him in connection with the negotiation and documentation of this Agreement and any related agreements, upon satisfactory documentation evidencing such fees, up to a maximum amount of Twenty Thousand dollars ($20,000).

(h) Withholding. The amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to withholding for appropriate taxes, assessments or withholdings as required by applicable law.

5. Other Plans. The Company and the Employee hereby agree that nothing contained herein is intended to or shall be deemed to affect any of the Employee’s rights as a participant under any retirement, stock option, stock purchase, pension, insurance, profit-sharing or similar plans of the Company now or hereafter declared to be in effect. The Company recognizes that the Employee is induced to execute this Agreement and to accept compensation at the rate set forth herein in part because he expects to be a participant under such plans as are, from time to time, in effect for the Company’s executives and/or employees in general.

 

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6. At-Will Employment; Termination of Employment; Severance.

(a) At-Will Employment. Employee’s employment with the Company under this Agreement is employment “at will.” The Employee may terminate Employee’s employment with Company at any time and for any reason whatsoever (or no reason) simply by notifying the Company. Likewise, the Company may terminate Employee’s employment at any time, with or without Cause (as defined herein), and with or without advance notice.

(b) Employment Termination for Cause. In the event of a termination of Employee’s employment at any time by the Company for Cause (as defined herein), the Company shall be obligated only to pay the Employee the compensation due him up to the date of termination, all accrued, vested or earned benefits under any applicable benefit plan, and any other compensation to which the Employee is entitled under Section 4 up to and ending on the date of the Employee’s termination.

(c) Resignation Without Good Reason. If at any time the Employee resigns without Good Reason (as defined herein), the benefits and compensation set forth in Section 4 earned through the date of termination are the only compensation and benefits that the Employee will receive. The Employee agrees to give the Company at least four (4) weeks’ prior notice and in exchange the Company agrees to pay the Employee for all compensation Employee would be entitled to pursuant to Section 4 for such four (4)-week period as if Employee had not resigned without Good Reason. Any resignation of the Employee hereunder, whether for Good Reason or otherwise, shall be deemed to include a resignation from all positions and in all capacities with the Company and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, membership on the boards of directors (and committees thereof) of subsidiaries of the Company, and the Employee shall execute such documentation as requested by the Company with respect thereto.

(d) Employment Termination Without Cause; Resignation For Good Reason. If Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or the Employee resigns for Good Reason (as both terms are defined herein), and if on or within forty-five (45) days after Employee’s last date of employment, Employee signs, dates and returns to the Company a general release of all known and unknown claims in the form prescribed by the Company, without alterations, and allows such release to become fully effective, and complies with Section 6(g) below, then Employee will be eligible to receive the following severance benefits (the “Severance Benefits”):

(i) Termination Not in Connection with a Change in Control. If such termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason occurs at any time other than within twelve (12) months after the consummation of a Change in Control (as defined herein), and if such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), without regard to any alternative definition thereunder), then the Employee will be eligible to receive the following severance benefits:

(A) Severance Payment. Employee shall receive the following amounts as cash severance, subject to required payroll deductions and withholdings: (i) an amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of Employee’s current annual base salary and target bonus for the calendar year in which the Employee’s employment terminates; (ii) the amount of the any unpaid annual bonus for the immediately preceding year; and (iii) an amount equal to Employee’s target bonus for the year of termination (prorated for that portion of the calendar year that Employee was employed by the Company) (collectively, the “Non-CIC Termination Compensation”). The Non-CIC Termination Compensation shall be paid in a lump sum on the sixtieth (60th) day after Employee’s termination date.

 

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(B) Vesting of Equity. The vesting of each equity award shall be deemed accelerated as of the last date of Employee’s employment (the “Separation Date”) as if (i) the Separation Date were one year later (but with full accelerated vesting as of the Separation Date with respect to the Three Year RSU award set forth in Section 4(d)(i)(B) above), and (ii) for any award with performance based vesting, the Company achieved one hundred percent (100%) of target levels for such award. In no event shall any strategic multiplier apply to the base number of such shares.

(C) Health Insurance. As an additional severance benefit, if Employee timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, the Company will also pay COBRA premiums to continue Employee’s coverage (including coverage for eligible dependents, if applicable) (“COBRA Premiums”) through the period (the “COBRA Premium Period”) starting on the Separation Date and ending on the earliest to occur of: (i) eighteen (18) months after the Separation Date; (ii) the date Employee becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage through a new employer; or (iii) the date Employee ceases to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason, including plan termination. In the event Employee becomes covered under another employer’s group health plan or otherwise cease to be eligible for COBRA during the COBRA Premium Period, Employee must immediately notify the Company in writing of such event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot provide the COBRA premium benefits without potentially incurring financial costs or penalties under applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company shall in lieu thereof pay Employee a taxable cash amount (the “Special Cash Payment”), which payment shall be made regardless of whether Employee or Employee’s qualifying family members elect COBRA continuation coverage, paid in monthly installments on the same schedule that the COBRA premiums would otherwise have been paid to the insurer, equal to the amount that the Company otherwise would have paid for COBRA insurance premiums.

(D) Outplacement Services. The Company will provide Employee with certain outplacement services and legal advice consistent with an Executive’s position. Employee will be provided with a separate notice describing available outplacement services.

(ii) Termination in Connection with a Change in Control. If such termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason occurs within the twelve (12) month period after the consummation of a Change in Control (as defined herein), then in lieu of the severance benefits set forth in Sections 6(d)(i)(A)-(D), Employee will be eligible to receive the following severance benefits:

(A) Severance Payment. Employee shall receive the following amounts as cash severance, subject to required payroll deductions and withholdings: (i) an amount equal to two (2.0) times the sum of Employee’s current annual base salary and target bonus for the calendar year in which the Employee’s employment terminates; (ii) the amount of the any unpaid annual bonus for the immediately preceding year; and (iii) an amount equal to Employee’s target bonus for the year of termination (prorated for that portion of the calendar year that Employee was employed by the Company) (collectively, the “CIC Termination Compensation”). The CIC Termination Compensation shall be paid in a lump sum on the sixtieth (60th) day after Employee’s termination date.

(B) Health Insurance. The Company shall pay on behalf of the Employee the COBRA Premiums, or to the employee the Special Cash Payment, as applicable, through the COBRA Premium Period, under the terms and conditions set forth in Paragraph 6(d)(i)(C), provided however, the “COBRA Premium Period” will start on the Separation Date and end on the earliest to occur of: (i) twenty-four (24) months after the Separation Date; (ii) the date Employee becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage through a new employer; or (iii) the date Employee ceases to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason, including plan termination. All other terms and conditions in Paragraph 6(d)(i)(C) shall remain the same.

 

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(C) Vesting of Equity. The vesting of each equity award shall be deemed accelerated in full as of the last date of Employee’s employment (the “Separation Date”) and, with respect to any award with performance based vesting, the Company achieved one hundred percent (100%) of target levels for such award. In no event shall any strategic multiplier apply to the base number of such shares.

(D) Outplacement Services and Legal Advice. The Company shall provide outplacement services and legal advice under the terms and conditions set forth in Paragraph 6(d)(i)(D) above.

(e) Employee’s Disability. The Company shall be entitled, by providing written notice to the Employee, to terminate the Employee’s employment under this Agreement if the Employee shall become disabled (as defined herein). If the Employee is eligible to receive benefits under the Company’s Long-Term Disability Plan, then the Company will pay the Employee additional compensation so that the total received by the Employee (after taking into consideration the amounts payable to the Employee under the Long-Term Disability Plan) equals the Non-CIC Termination Compensation provided under Paragraph 6(d)(i)(A) or the CIC Termination Compensation 6(d)(ii)(A), whichever is applicable. If the Employee is not eligible to receive benefits under such plan, then Employee will upon termination of his employment for disability be entitled to receive the full Severance Benefits under Paragraph 6(d), whichever is applicable. Any delay or forbearance by the Company in exercising any such right to terminate this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Employee’s employment ends due to disability, the Employee will receive the compensation described above in this paragraph 6(e) and will not receive the Non-CIC Termination Compensation or CIC Termination Compensation provided under Paragraphs 6(d)(i)(A) or 6(d)(ii)(A).

(f) Employee’s Death. The Employee’s employment will immediately terminate upon the death of the Employee. The Employee’s surviving designated beneficiary, or, if none, the Employee’s estate, shall be entitled to receive the compensation due the Employee up to the date of the Employee’s death, all accrued, vested or earned benefits under any applicable benefit plan and any other compensation to which the Employee is entitled under this Agreement up to and ending on the date of the Employee’s death. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Employee’s employment ends due to death, the Employee will receive the compensation described above in this paragraph 6(f) and will not receive any Non-CIC Termination Compensation or CIC Termination Compensation provided under Paragraphs 6(d)(i)(A) or 6(d)(ii)(A).

(g) Resignation from the Board. In the event the Employee’s employment as CEO terminates for any reason (other than death), he shall resign from the Board, effective at the same time as such employment terminates.

7. Definitions. The following terms have the meaning set forth below wherever they are used in this letter agreement:

(a) “Cause” means any one or more of the following events: Employee (i) materially violates the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined below) between the Company and Employee, (ii) is convicted of, or pleads nolo contendere to, any crime involving misuse or misappropriation of money or other property of the Company or any felony; (iii) exhibits repeated willful or wanton failure or refusal to perform his duties in furtherance of the Company’s business interest or in accordance with this Agreement, which failure or refusal is not remedied by the Employee within thirty (30) days after notice from the Company; (iv) commits an intentional tort against the Company, which materially adversely affects the business of the Company; (v) commits any flagrant act of dishonesty or disloyalty or any act involving gross moral turpitude, which materially adversely affects the business of the Company; or (vi) exhibits immoderate use of alcohol or drugs which, in the opinion of an independent physician selected by the Company, impairs the Employee’s ability to perform his duties hereunder, provided that unsatisfactory business performance of the Company, or mere inefficiency, or good faith errors in judgment or discretion by the Employee shall not constitute grounds for termination for Cause hereunder.

 

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(b) “Change in Control” means any one or more of the following events: (i) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, issuance of securities, direct or indirect acquisition of securities, tender offer, exchange offer or other similar transaction as a result of which the persons that beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, the shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to such transaction cease to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, shares of voting stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of voting stock of the Company or the continuing or surviving corporation if the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation in such transaction, or (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

(c) “Disability” means such that Employee is unable to carry out his duties hereunder for four (4) consecutive calendar months or for a period aggregating one hundred twenty (120) days in any period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months because of a physical or mental impairment.

(d) “Good Reason” means any one or more of the following events, absent the written consent of Employee or his approval of such event in his capacity as CEO: (i) a substantial reduction in the Employee’s duties, status, or reporting structure, in either case by reference to the position held by the Employee on the Effective Date; (ii) a relocation of the Employee’s assigned office more than fifty (50) miles from its then-current location; (iii) any material decrease in the Employee’s Base Salary, other than as part of a reduction (not exceeding twenty-five percent) that equitably applies to all of the Company’s executive officers; (iv) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company; provided, however, that an event that is or would constitute grounds for a resignation for Good Reason shall not constitute such grounds for a resignation for Good Reason unless (i) Employee first notifies the Company’s Board of Directors in writing of the event(s) within ninety (90) days after the initial occurrence of the event, (ii) the Company does not cure such event(s) within thirty (30) days after its receipt of the Employee’s written notice, and (iii) the Employee does not terminate his employment within thirty (30) days after the expiration of the cure period.

8. Section 280G: If any payment or benefit (including payments and benefits pursuant to this Agreement) that Employee would receive in connection with a Change in Control from the Company or otherwise (“Transaction Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Company shall cause to be determined, before any amounts of the Transaction Payment are paid to Employee, which of the following two alternative forms of payment would result in his receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Transaction Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Transaction Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax: (1) payment in full of the entire amount of the Transaction Payment (a “Full Payment”), or (2) payment of only a part of the Transaction Payment so that Employee receives the largest payment possible without the imposition of the Excise Tax (a “Reduced Payment”). For purposes of determining whether to make a Full Payment or a Reduced Payment, the Company shall cause to be taken into account all applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from a deduction of such state and local taxes). If a Reduced Payment is made, (x) Employee shall have no rights to any additional payments and/or benefits constituting the Transaction Payment, and (y) reduction in payments and/or benefits shall occur in the manner that results in the greatest economic benefit to Employee as determined in this paragraph. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the portions of the Transaction Payment shall be reduced pro rata.

 

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Unless Employee and the Company otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this paragraph shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent public accountants (the “Accountants”), whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Employee and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by this paragraph, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. Employee and the Company shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this paragraph. The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this paragraph as well as any costs incurred by Employee with the Accountants for tax planning under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code.

9. Compliance with Code Section 409A. If any amounts or benefits payable under this Agreement on account of Employee’s termination of employment constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, no payments or benefits shall be paid or provided until Employee incurs a separation from service within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h) from the Company and any entity that would be considered a single employer with the Company under Code Sections 414(b) or 414(c) (“Separation from Service”). If, at the time of Employee’s Separation from Service, the Employee is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A and Treas. Reg. §1.409A-3(i)(2)), the Company will not pay or provide any “Specified Benefits” (as defined herein) during the six-month period (the “409A Suspension Period”) beginning immediately after the Employee’s Separation from Service. For purposes of this Agreement, “Specified Benefits” are any amounts or benefits that would be subject to Code Section 409A penalties if the Company were to pay them, pursuant to this Agreement, on account of the Employee’s Separation from Service. The Employee’s right to receive any installment payments will be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.

This Agreement is intended to comply with (or be exempt from) Code Section 409A, and the Company shall have complete discretion to interpret and construe this Agreement and any associated documents in any manner that establishes an exemption from (or otherwise conforms them to) the requirements of Code Section 409A. If, for any reason including imprecision in drafting, the Agreement does not accurately reflect its intended establishment of an exemption from (or compliance with) Code Section 409A, as demonstrated by consistent interpretations or other evidence of intent, the provision shall be considered ambiguous and shall be interpreted by the Company in a fashion consistent herewith, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company. The Company reserves the right to unilaterally amend this Agreement without the consent of the Employee in order to accurately reflect its correct interpretation and operation, as well as to maintain an exemption from or compliance with Code Section 409A. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its employees, directors, or their agents shall have any obligation to mitigate, nor to hold the Employee harmless from, any or all taxes (including any imposed under Code Section 409A) arising under this Agreement.

10. Choice of Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be construed and performed in accordance with the laws of the State of California (without regard to its conflict of laws rules). Venue of any proceeding (other than as specified in Section 11 below) shall be exclusively in the County of Marin in the foregoing state, and both parties consent and agree to such exclusive venue.

 

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11. Arbitration. To aid the rapid and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in connection with the Employee’s employment with the Company, and in exchange for the mutual promises contained in this offer letter, the Employee and the Company agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action, in law or equity, including but not limited to statutory claims, arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach, performance, or interpretation of this letter agreement, the Employee’s employment with the Company, or the termination of such employment, shall be resolved, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by final, binding and confidential arbitration conducted by JAMS, Inc. (“JAMS”) or its successor, under JAMS’ then applicable rules and procedures appropriate to the relief being sought (available upon request and also currently available at the following web address: (i) https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment-arbitration/) and (ii) https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-comprehensive-arbitration/) at a location closest to where the Employee last worked for the Company or another mutually agreeable location. The Employee acknowledges that by agreeing to this arbitration procedure, both the Employee and the Company waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge. The Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, govern the interpretation and enforcement of this arbitration agreement and any arbitration proceedings. This provision shall not be mandatory for any claim or cause of action to the extent applicable law prohibits subjecting such claim or cause of action to mandatory arbitration and such applicable law is not preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act or otherwise invalid (collectively, the “Excluded Claims”), such as non-individual claims that cannot be waived under applicable law, claims or causes of action alleging sexual harassment or a nonconsensual sexual act or sexual contact, or unemployment or workers’ compensation claims brought before the applicable state governmental agency. In the event the Employee or the Company intends to bring multiple claims, including one of the Excluded Claims listed above, the Excluded Claims may be filed with a court, while any other claims will remain subject to mandatory arbitration. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that proceedings of any non-individual claim(s) under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) that may be brought in court shall be stayed for the duration and pending a final resolution of the arbitration of any individual or individual PAGA claim. Nothing herein prevents the Employee from filing and pursuing proceedings before a federal or state governmental agency, although if the Employee chooses to pursue a claim following the exhaustion of any applicable administrative remedies, that claim would be subject to this provision. In addition, with the exception of Excluded Claims arising out of 9 U.S.C. § 401 et seq., all claims, disputes, or causes of action under this section, whether by the Employee or the Company, must be brought in an individual capacity, and shall not be brought as a plaintiff (or claimant) or class member in any purported class, representative, or collective proceeding, nor joined or consolidated with the claims of any other person or entity. The Employee acknowledges that by agreeing to this arbitration procedure, both the Employee and the Company waive all rights to have any dispute be brought, heard, administered, resolved, or arbitrated on a class, representative, or collective action basis. The arbitrator may not consolidate the claims of more than one person or entity, and may not preside over any form of representative or class proceeding. If a court finds, by means of a final decision, not subject to any further appeal or recourse, that the preceding sentences regarding class, representative, or collective claims or proceedings violate applicable law or are otherwise found unenforceable as to a particular claim or request for relief, the parties agree that any such claim(s) or request(s) for relief be severed from the arbitration and may proceed in a court of law rather than by arbitration. All other claims or requests for relief shall be arbitrated. The Employee will have the right to be represented by legal counsel at any arbitration proceeding. Questions of whether a claim is subject to arbitration and procedural questions which grow out of the dispute and bear on the final disposition are matters for the arbitrator to decide, provided however, that if required by applicable law, a court and not the arbitrator may determine the enforceability of this paragraph with respect to Excluded Claims. 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 statement signed by the arbitrator regarding the disposition of each claim and the relief, if any, awarded as to each claim, the reasons for the award, and the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based. The arbitrator shall be authorized to award all relief that the Employee or the Company would be entitled to seek in a court of law. The Company shall pay all arbitration administrative fees in excess of the administrative fees that the Employee would be required to pay if the dispute were decided in a court of law. Each party is responsible for its own attorneys’ fees, except as may be expressly set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement or as otherwise provided under applicable law.

 

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Nothing in this letter agreement is intended to prevent either the Employee or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Any awards or orders in such arbitrations may be entered and enforced as judgments in the federal and state courts of any competent jurisdiction.

12. Indemnification; D&O Coverage. Employee will be entitled to become a party to the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement for executive officers.

13. Clawback and Recovery. All compensation provided to the Employee will be subject to recoupment in accordance with the Company’s clawback policies, to the extent provided therein.

14. Notices. All notices provided for or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement must be in writing. All notices shall be given to the other party by personal delivery, overnight courier (with receipt signature), or facsimile transmission (with “answerback” confirmation of transmission), to the Company or the Employee at the Company’s principal executive offices if to the Company or to the residential address of the Employee as contained in Employee’s personnel file if to Employee. Each such notice shall be deemed effective upon the date of actual receipt in the case of personal delivery, receipt signature in the case of overnight courier, or confirmation of transmission in the case of facsimile.

15. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement contains the sole and entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Employee and the Company (including without limitation any offer letter provided to the Employee by the Company) and cannot be modified or changed by any oral or verbal promise or statement by whomsoever made; nor shall any written modification of it be binding upon the Company until such written modification shall have been approved in writing by the Board.

16. Waiver; Consent. In the event any term or condition contained in this Agreement should be breached by any party and thereafter waived or consented to by the other party, which waiver or consent must be effectuated by a written instrument signed by the party against whom any waiver or consent is sought (and, in the case of the Company, approved by the Board), such waiver or consent shall be limited to the particular breach so waived or consented to and shall not be deemed to waive or consent to any other breach occurring prior or subsequent to the breach so waived or consented to.

17. Severability. If any provisions of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the extent permitted by law.

18. Survival. The provisions hereof which are to be performed or observed after the termination of this Agreement, and the representations, covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein with respect thereto shall survive the termination of this Agreement and be effective according to their terms.

19. Successors. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by and against the parties to this Agreement and the respective heirs, executors, and successors in interest; provided, however, that the duties of the Employee hereunder are personal in nature and may not be delegated without a written consent of the Company.

20. Assignment. This Agreement and the rights and benefits contained herein may not be assigned by either party hereto, except by the Company in connection with a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or other reorganization of the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s business or assets.

 

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21. Certain Conditions, Representations, Covenants and Acknowledgements.

(a) The Employee’s employment (and this Agreement) is contingent upon satisfactory proof of the Employee’s right to work in the United States. The Employee agrees to assist as needed and to complete any documentation at the Company’s request to meet this condition.

(b) As a condition of employment, the Employee agrees to sign and comply with the Company’s Confidential Information and Inventions Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), attached hereto as Exhibit A.

(c) The Employee represents that he is not subject to any employment, confidentiality, or other agreement or restriction that would prevent him from fully satisfying his duties under this Agreement or that would be violated if he did so.

(d) Without the Company’s prior written approval, the Employee agrees not to: (i) disclose proprietary information belonging to a former employer or other entity without its written permission; (ii) contact any former employer’s customers or employees to solicit their business or employment on behalf of the Company; or (iii) distribute announcements about or otherwise publicize his employment with the Company.

(e) The Employee acknowledges that he is free to seek advice from independent counsel with respect to this Agreement and the Employee has obtained such advice. The Employee is not relying on any representation or advice from the Company or any of its officers, directors, attorneys or other representatives regarding this Agreement, its content or effect.

22. Drafting. The parties represent and acknowledge that they both have participated in the preparation and drafting of this Agreement and have each given their approval to all of the language contained in this Agreement, and it is expressly agreed and acknowledged that if either party later claims that there is an ambiguity in the language of this Agreement, there shall be no presumption that such ambiguity be construed for or against either party hereto.

23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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The parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement as of the date indicated above.

 

BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL INC.
By:  

/s/ Richard A. Meier

  Richard A. Meier
  Lead Independent Director
  Duly Authorized by the Board
EMPLOYEE
By:  

/s/ Alexander Hardy

  Alexander Hardy

 

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Exhibit A

Confidentiality Agreement

[Intentionally Omitted]