AMENDMENT NO.1 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.10(B)
This
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement is made as of
this 26th day of December, 2006
(this “Amendment”), between AVALON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Company”) and J.
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX (“Executive”).
Company and Executive are each sometimes referred to as a “Party,” and are sometimes referred
to together as the “Parties.”
Background:
The Parties entered into a letter of employment on April 20, 2006 (the “Employment
Agreement”).
In consideration of Executive’s continued employment with Company, the Parties want to amend
the Employment Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth in this Amendment.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment without definition, shall have the meanings give
those terms in the Employment Agreement.
2. The first paragraph under the caption “Termination” of the Employment Agreement is amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
“Upon termination for any reason, the Company shall pay you within two weeks of such
termination, your current base salary earned through the termination date, plus
accrued vacation, if any, and other benefits or payments, if any, to which you are
entitled as provided in accordance with the terms and conditions of such benefit
plan. In the event you are terminated by the Company after the 90-day Introductory
Period without “Cause” (as hereinafter defined), or if you terminate your employment
with the Company for “Good Reason” (as hereinafter defined), the Company shall (i)
pay you a lump sum severance payment equal to six months of your base salary as in
effect at the time of termination (nine months in the event such termination is
without Cause or for Good Reason within eighteen months after a Change in Control
(as hereinafter defined)); (ii) provide you with outplacement services; and (iii)
reimburse you for premiums you pay for health care insurance under the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), for the same level of coverage that you
maintain at the time of your termination, for a period up to six months (nine months
in the event such termination is without Cause or for Good Reason within eighteen
months after a Change in Control) following termination, provided you elect COBRA
coverage.
The Company’s reimbursement obligation will end immediately if you become
eligible
to obtain health care insurance from any other employer during the payment period.
You shall not be required to mitigate damages by seeking employment elsewhere. If
you are terminated with cause, the Company shall pay you only your current base
salary earned through the termination date, plus accrued vacation, if any, to which
you are entitled as provided in accordance with the terms and conditions of such
benefit plan.”
3. A new paragraph shall be added under the caption “Termination” of the Employment Agreement
at the end of such section and shall read in its entirety as follows:
“Should the Company be the subject of a Change in Control, the Company shall
immediately vest (i) in the event such Change in Control takes effect prior to the
first year anniversary of your Start Date, one-quarter (1/4) of all shares and
options granted to you that have not vested as of the date the Change in Control
takes effect; and (ii) in the event such Change in Control takes effect on or after
the first year anniversary of your Start Date, one-half (1/2) of all shares and
options granted to you that have not vested as of the date the Change in Control.”
4. Except as set forth in this Amendment, the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment to Amended and Restated
Employment Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
| AVALON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Name: | ||||
| Title: | CEO and President | |||
| EXECUTIVE: |
||||
| /s/ J. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||||
| J. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||||
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