The 2017 Employment Agreements included customary restrictive covenants, including confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-competition (36 months post-employment), and employee non-solicitation and noninterference covenants (each 36 months post-employment). The term of the noncompetition covenant would have been reduced from 36 months to zero months post-employment if the executive’s employment would have been terminated without cause (as defined in the applicable agreement).
Under the terms of the 2017 Employment Agreements, if the employment of Sherif Abdou, M.D. or Amir Bacchus, M.D. was terminated by us without cause, then, in addition to the accrued benefits through the date of termination, the executive would have been entitled to receive continued base salary payments for a period of 12 months (to be paid according to the Company’s normal payroll cycle). In the event Drs. Abdou or Bacchus terminate his own employment with “cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreements), then, in addition to the accrued benefits through the date of termination of employment, the executive would have been entitled to receive continued base salary payments for a period of 18 months.
Sherif Abdou, M.D. and Amir Bacchus, M.D. 2022 Employment Agreements
We entered into new employment agreements with each of Sherif Abdou, M.D. and Amir Bacchus, M.D. in May 2022, which superseded the 2017 Employment Agreements (collectively, the “2022 Employment Agreements”). The initial term of the 2022 Employment Agreements will end on January 1, 2025, and the term automatically will renew for successive one-year terms unless advance written notice of non-renewal is given by either party (such term, the “employment term”). In addition, during the employment term, for so long as Sherif Abdou, M.D. or Amir Bacchus, M.D. serve as Chief Executive Office or Chief Medical Officer, respectively, the Company will nominate the executive for re-election as a member of the board of directors. The 2022 Employment Agreements provide for a base salary ($800,000 in the case of Sherif Abdou, M.D. and $600,000 in the case of Amir Bacchus, M.D.) and eligibility to earn an annual bonus (100% of base salary in the case of each of Sherif Abdou, M.D. and Amir Bacchus, M.D.). Each of Sherif Abdou, M.D. and Amir Bacchus, M.D. are entitled to participate in any employee benefit plan that the Company and its affiliates adopts, and the Company has agreed to maintain short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage for Sherif Abdou, M.D. and Amir Bacchus, M.D. during the term of their respective employment.
The 2022 Employment Agreements include customary confidentiality and mutual non-disparagement provisions, as well as a standard non-compete restriction effective during employment and for 18 months thereafter and service provider/customer non-solicitation restrictions effective during employment and for 24 months thereafter.
Under the terms of the 2022 Employment Agreements, if the employment of Sherif Abdou, M.D. or Amir Bacchus, M.D. is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by the executive for “cause” (each, as defined in the 2022 Employment Agreements), then, in addition to any accrued benefits through the date of termination, the executive will be entitled to receive the following severance payments and benefits, subject to the executive’s and the Company’s timely execution (and non-revocation) of a mutual release of claims: (i) cash severance in an aggregate amount equal to one-and-one-half times the sum of the executive’s (a) annual base salary then in effect and (b) target annual bonus amount, payable in equal monthly installments over an 18-month period following the date of termination; and (ii) Company-subsidized COBRA premiums for up to 18 months. If the executive’s employment is terminated without “cause” by the executive, then, in addition to any accrued benefits through the date of termination, the executive will be entitled to receive cash severance in an aggregate amount equal to one-and-one-half times the sum of the executive’s (i) annual base salary then in effect and (ii) target annual bonus amount, payable in equal monthly installments over an 18-month period following the date of termination. In addition, if the executive’s employment is terminated due to his death, then, in addition to any accrued benefits through the date of termination, the executive will be entitled to receive a pro-rated portion of his target bonus for the year of termination.
Sherif Abdou, M.D. and Amir Bacchus, M.D. Transaction Bonus Agreements
In connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, the Board of the Company approved Transaction Bonus Agreements with each of Sherif Abdou, M.D. and Amir Bacchus, M.D. in May 2022. The Transaction Bonus Agreements provide for the payment of bonuses in an aggregate amount equal to $6,300,000 (for Sherif Abdou, M.D.) and $3,700,000 (for Amir Bacchus, M.D.)(each, a “Transaction Bonus”).
Pursuant to the Transaction Bonus Agreements, the first installment of the Transaction Bonus ($3,300,000 for Sherif Abdou, M.D. and $1,700,000 for Amir Bacchus, M.D.) was paid within five days