AMENDED AND RESTATED OFFICER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Officer Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) between Owen Hughes (“Employee”) and XOMA Corporation (“XOMA” or “the Company”) (collectively, the “Parties”) is effective as of January 8, 2024 (the “Agreement Effective Date”).
WHEREAS, Employee is currently employed by the Company as its Interim Chief Executive Officer, and the Company desires to change Employee’s title to Chief Executive Officer commencing on the Agreement Effective Date, and Employee desires to serve in such capacity, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
(i) a merger, amalgamation or acquisition in which XOMA is not the surviving or continuing entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the jurisdiction of XOMA’s organization;
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of XOMA;
(iii) any other reorganization or business combination in which fifty percent (50%) or more of XOMA’s outstanding voting securities are transferred to different holders in a single or series of related transactions;
(iv) approval by the shareholders of XOMA of a plan of complete liquidation of XOMA;
(v) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of XOMA representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by XOMA’s then outstanding voting securities; or
(vi) a change in the composition of the Board, as a result of which fewer than a majority of directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” shall mean directors who (A) are directors of XOMA as of the date hereof, (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of the directors of XOMA as of the date hereof, or (C) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of those directors whose election or nomination was not in connection with any transaction described in subsections (i) through (v) or in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of XOMA.
(f)For purposes of this Agreement, the “Change of Control Protection Period” means the period commencing two (2) months prior to the execution of the definitive agreement for a Change of Control and terminating twelve (12) months following the closing of a Change of Control.
(g)Excise Tax.
(i)In the event that the benefits provided for in this Section 9 would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (“Excise Tax”) (a “280G Payment”), then any such 280G Payment (the “Payment”) shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount (i.e., the amount determined by clause (x) or by clause (y)), after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in Employee’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in a Payment is required pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, the reduction shall occur in the manner (the “Reduction Method”) that results in the greatest economic benefit for Employee. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the “Pro Rata Reduction Method”).
(ii)Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A as follows: (A) as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for Employee as determined on an after-tax basis; (B) as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without Cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not contingent on future events; and (C) as a third priority, Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be
reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
(iii)Unless Employee and XOMA agree on an alternative accounting firm, XOMA’s accountants shall perform the foregoing calculations. If the accountants are serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change of Control transaction, XOMA shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required by this Section. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section, the accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations and may rely on interpretations concerning the application of the Code for which there is a “substantial authority” tax reporting position. The Parties shall furnish such information and documents as the accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section. XOMA shall bear all reasonable costs the accountants incur in connection with calculations contemplated by this Section. XOMA shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the accountants to make the determinations hereunder to provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to Employee and XOMA within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Employee’s right to a 280G Payment becomes reasonably likely to occur (if requested at that time by Employee or XOMA) or such other time as requested by Employee or XOMA.
(iv)If Employee receives a Payment for which the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (x) of Section 9(g)(i) and the Internal Revenue Service determines thereafter that some portion of the Payment is subject to the Excise Tax, Employee agrees to promptly return to XOMA a sufficient amount of the Payment (after reduction pursuant to clause (x) of Section 9(g)(i)) so that no portion of the remaining Payment is subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (y), Employee shall have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence.
[signature page to follow]
COMPANY: | XOMA CORPORATION By:/s/ Jack L. Wyszomierski Jack L. Wyszomierski |
EMPLOYEE: | By: /s/ Owen Hughes Owen Hughes |
EXHIBIT A
FORM RELEASE OF CLAIMS AGREEMENT
This Release of Claims Agreement (“Release Agreement”) is entered into between XOMA Corporation (“XOMA”) and Owen Hughes (“Employee”). XOMA and Employee (collectively, the “Parties”) are parties to an Officer Employment Agreement (“Employment Agreement”) and agree as follows:
The Released Claims include but are not limited to:
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.
Employee hereby expressly waives and relinquishes all rights and benefits under that section and any law or legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction with respect to Employee’s release of claims herein, including but not limited to the release of unknown and unsuspected claims.
COMPANY: | XOMA CORPORATION By: |
EMPLOYEE: | Owen Hughes |