Exhibit 10.44
NEXELL OF CALIFORNIA, INC.
0 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
August 20, 1999
Mr. L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
c/o Nexell of California, Inc.
9 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Re: AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Dear Xxxx:
This letter will confirm our amendment to the Employment Agreement between
us dated May 28, 1998 to provide that the reference in paragraph 5(b)(iii) to
"30 months" is hereby changed to "48 months." Furthermore, upon approval of the
"Committee" (as defined in paragraph 3(a) of the 1998 Non-Incentive Stock Option
Plan for Directors, Employees and Consultants of Nexell of California, Inc.
(f/k/a Nexell Therapeutics Inc.)) your non-incentive options to purchase 125,000
shares of Nexell of California, Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $5.00
per share (which have converted to options to purchase 375,000 shares of Nexell
Therapeutics Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $1.6666 per share) and
your non-incentive options to purchase 60,000 shares of Nexell Therapeutics Inc.
common stock at an exercise price of $.001 per share shall be amended or
documented to provide that (i) in the event your employment is terminated for
any reason other than for "cause" (as defined in the Employment Agreement) all
your options thereunder shall immediately vest, and (ii) notwithstanding the
reference in paragraph 9(a) of such plan providing that options must be
exercised within three months following termination of employment, such options
may be exercised until their expiration date.
NEXELL OF CALIFORNIA, INC.
By:_______________________________
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
________________________________________
L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
NEXELL THERAPEUTICS Inc.
0 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
August 20, 1999
Mr. L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
c/o Nexell of California, Inc.
9 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Re: Amendment to May 19, 1997 Non-Incentive Stock Option Agreement for 6,900
Shares (the "Option Agreement") Under 1990 Incentive and Non-Incentive
Stock Option Plan of Nexell Therapeutics Inc. (f/k/a VIMRx Pharmaceuticals
--------------------------------------------------------
Inc.) (the "Plan")
------------------
Dear Xxxx:
Upon approval of the "Committee" (as defined in the Plan), this letter
shall constitute an amendment to the Option Agreement as follows:
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Paragraph 5 of the Option
Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"5. Termination of Employment.
-------------------------
If your employment with the Company (or a subsidiary thereof,
including Nexell of California, Inc. (f/k/a Nexell Therapeutics Inc.)) is
terminated for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in any
applicable employment agreement between you and the Company, or any
subsidiary thereof) the option shall become immediately fully exercisable.
If your employment with the Company or a subsidiary thereof is terminated
for any reason other than by death or disability, you may exercise, until
the Option Expiration Date, that portion of the option which was
exercisable by you at the date of such termination."
The parties acknowledge that, notwithstanding certain references in
the Option Agreement to the option being an incentive stock option, it is a non-
incentive stock option.
Except as expressly set forth herein, the Option Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.
Please sign below in the space provided to signify your consent to the
foregoing amendment.
Very truly yours,
NEXELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
By:_____________________________________
I hereby acknowledge and agree to the foregoing amendment.
________________________________________
L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
NEXELL THERAPEUTICS Inc.
0 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
August 20, 1999
Mr. L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
c/o Nexell of California, Inc.
9 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Re: Amendment to May 19, 1997 Non-Incentive Stock Option Agreement for 203,100
Shares (the "Option Agreement") Under 1997 Incentive and Non-Incentive
Stock Option Plan of Nexell Therapeutics Inc. (f/k/a VIMRx Pharmaceuticals
-----------------------------------------------------
Inc.) (the "Plan")
------------------
Dear Xxxx:
Upon approval of the "Committee" (as defined in the Plan), this letter
shall constitute an amendment to the Option Agreement as follows:
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Paragraph 5 of the Option
Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"5. Termination of Employment.
-------------------------
If your employment with the Company (or a subsidiary thereof,
including Nexell of California, Inc. (f/k/a Nexell Therapeutics Inc.)) is
terminated for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in any
applicable employment agreement between you and the Company, or any
subsidiary thereof) the option shall become immediately fully exercisable.
If your employment with the Company or a subsidiary thereof is terminated
for any reason other than by death or disability, you may exercise, until
the Option Expiration Date, that portion of the option which was
exercisable by you at the date of such termination."
The parties acknowledge that, notwithstanding certain references in
the Option Agreement to the option being an incentive stock option, it is a
non-incentive stock option.
Except as expressly set forth herein, the Option Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.
Please sign below in the space provided to signify your consent to the
foregoing amendment.
Very truly yours,
NEXELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
By:____________________________________
I hereby acknowledge and agree to the foregoing amendment.
________________________________________
L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
NEXELL THERAPEUTICS Inc.
0 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
August 20, 1999
Mr. L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
c/o Nexell of California, Inc.
9 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Re: Amendment to January 15, 1998 Non-Incentive Stock Option Agreement for
90,000 Shares (the "Option Agreement") Under 1997 Incentive and Non-
Incentive Stock Option Plan of Nexell Therapeutics Inc. (f/k/a VIMRx
---------------------------------------------
Pharmaceuticals Inc.) (the "Plan")
----------------------------------
Dear Xxxx:
Upon approval of the "Committee" (as defined in the Plan), this letter
shall constitute an amendment to the Option Agreement as follows:
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Paragraph 5 of the Option
Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"5. Termination of Employment or Engagement.
---------------------------------------
If your employment with the Company (or a subsidiary thereof,
including Nexell of California, Inc. (f/k/a Nexell Therapeutics Inc.)) is
terminated for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in any
applicable employment agreement between you and the Company, or any
subsidiary thereof) the option shall become immediately fully exercisable.
If your employment with the Company or a subsidiary thereof is terminated
for any reason other than by death or disability, or if you are not an
employee of the Company (or a subsidiary) and your engagement by the
Company (or a subsidiary) is terminated for any reason, you may exercise,
until the Option Expiration Date, that portion of the option which was
exercisable by you at the date of such termination."
Except as expressly set forth herein, the Option Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.
Please sign below in the space provided to signify your consent to the
foregoing amendment.
Very truly yours,
NEXELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
By:____________________________________
I hereby acknowledge and agree to the foregoing amendment.
________________________________________
L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx