Exhibit 10.2


 











May 23, 2017







Mr. Steve Cartt


c/o Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.


6300 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, CA 94555








	Re:	
Separation Agreement and Release of All Claims












Dear Steve:








	1.	
This letter will confirm our agreement (“Agreement”) concerning your separation from employment with Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (“Asterias” or “Company”).













	2.	
You have notified Asterias that you will resign from the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Asterias as of 11:59 pm Pacific Time on June 25, 2017 (“Separation Time”).  Your Employment Agreement, dated February 28, 2016 (the "Employment Agreement") will terminate as of the Separation Time, and you agree and acknowledge your resignation was not for "Good Reason" or as a result of a "Change of Control" as defined in the Employment Agreement.













	3.	
At your Separation Time you will be paid all accrued but unpaid wages and accrued but unused vacation, all less withholding, irrespective of whether you sign the Agreement.













	4.	
The Company is waiving the obligation that you resign as a director of the Asterias’ Board of Directors following your resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer of Asterias.  After the Separation Time, you will be entitled to compensation as a non-executive member of Asterias' Board of Directors in accordance to Asterias' Director Compensation Policy, including an initial director grant of 20,000 options with an exercise price equal to the closing share price of Asterias common stock on your first day as a non-executive director.













	5.	
On or before the Separation Time, you will deliver to Asterias’ Chief Financial Officer an expense report for reasonable and necessary business expenses you have incurred since you submitted your last expense report.  The expense report shall have attached supporting documentation.  Such reasonable and necessary business expenses shall be paid to you within ten (10) business days of your delivery of the expense report to the Chief Financial Officer.













	6.	
Common stock purchase options to purchase 62,500 shares of common stock, initially granted to you on February 28, 2016, having an exercise price of $3.64 per share, that have not vested as of the date hereof, shall be eligible for continued monthly vesting, and be exercisable, subject to your continued service of the Company's Board of Directors.  All other unvested equity as of the Separation Time previously granted to you shall be forfeited.







 



6300 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, CA 94555


Tel: (510) 456-3800














	7.	
You will be entitled to exercise vested stock options (including the stock options that vest on your Separation Date pursuant to paragraph 6 above) as long as you continue to meet the definition of "Continued Service" under Asterias' equity plan, unless otherwise restricted in accordance to the terms of the stock options and federal securities law.













	8.	
On or before the Separation Time, you will return all equipment and other property belonging to Asterias and its related companies, and all originals and copies of confidential information (in any and all media and formats, and including any document or other item containing confidential information) in your possession or control; provided, however, you may continue to keep and use information in your possession or control if intended to be used solely in your role as a non-executive director of Asterias’ Board of Directors..













	9.	
In consideration for the payment in paragraph 4 and 6 above, you fully release Asterias and its related and/or affiliated companies, their past and present agents, employees, officers, directors and representatives (“Releasees”) from all rights, claims and actions of any kind which you have or may have against Releasees arising out of your employment with or separation from Asterias, through action of law, statute, constitution or contract, including, but not limited to, claims for wrongful discharge and claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Fair Employment and Housing Act, and the California Labor Code.  The foregoing statutory and common-law theories are recited only as examples.  This release extends to all claims, which may be lawfully released by you, whether included in the list or not.













	10.	
You agree not to file any suit or complaint against Releasees relating to your employment with Asterias, the severance of that relationship, or any cause of action or event that arose prior to the date of this Agreement or that is contemplated by this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent you from filing charges with administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), or the Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or from participating in any investigation by such an agency.  You agree, however, that this Agreement precludes any subsequent individual non-governmental legal action by you or on your behalf against Releasees and that the payments received pursuant to this Agreement constitute a full accord and satisfaction of any individual claims against Releasees.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent you from bringing claims that may not be individually released by you.













	11.	
The parties agree that they will not unlawfully interfere with existing or prospective business relationships of the other.  Nothing in the Agreement shall be construed to limit the parties’ ability to engage in competitive business.







 












	12.	
You expressly waive all rights under section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which reads as follows:












A general release does not extend to claims which a creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favour at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.








	13.	
Notwithstanding your separation from the Company, the Company shall indemnify you and hold you harmless for any expenses, liability or losses incurred by you in the course and scope of or arising out of the course and scope of your employment with Asterias.  By entering into this Agreement you do not waive any coverage provided by the Company’s Directors and Officers insurance, and you are not waiving any indemnification Obligations due to you resulting from your past, present and continuing service on the Company's Board of Directors.













	14.	
You affirm that you have no pending legal actions against Asterias or Releasees and that you have not sustained any workplace injuries or illnesses that are not the subject of a previously filed workers' compensation claim.













	15.	
You acknowledge and agree that during your employment, and with the payments provided in paragraphs 4 and 6 above, you have received all of the pay and benefits to which you were entitled under Asterias policy and by law, that you have been reimbursed for all business expenses you incurred during your employment with Asterias, and that you are not entitled to any other compensation, benefits or payments  (other than consideration you will be entitled to receive as a non-executive member of Asterias' Board of Directors pursuant to paragraph 4).













	16.	
Nothing in this Agreement shall be considered as an admission of fault by any party or construed as an admission of liability on the part of any of the parties to this Agreement.













	17.	
You agree to waive any and all rights to reinstatement of employment with Asterias and its related or affiliated companies and agree that Asterias and its related or affiliated companies may reject without cause any application for employment made by you.













	18.	
You fully understand that if any facts with respect to this Agreement, or your prior treatment by, relationship with or employment with Asterias, be found in the future to be other than or different from the facts now assumed by you to be true, you expressly accept and assume the risk of such possible difference of facts and agree that this Agreement shall remain effective notwithstanding such difference in facts or belief.













	19.	
You acknowledge access to and receipt of confidential business and proprietary information regarding Asterias and its clients while working for the Company.  This information may be in a variety of paper and electronic forms.  You agree not to make any such information known to any member of the public and to comply with all applicable ethical responsibilities.







 












	20.	
You agree to cooperate with Releasees regarding any pending or subsequently filed litigation claims or other disputes involving Releasees that relate to matters within your knowledge or responsibility and in which you are not a party.  Without limiting the foregoing, you agree (i) to meet with Releasees’ representatives, their counsel or other designees at mutually convenient times and places with respect to any items within the scope of this provision; (ii) to provide truthful testimony regarding same to any court, agency, or other adjudicatory body; and (iii) to provide Asterias with notice of contact by any adverse party or such adverse party’s representative, except as may be required by law.  Asterias will reimburse you for reasonable expenses in connection with the cooperation described in this paragraph.













	21.	
By signing this Agreement you acknowledge that:













		(a)	
You understand that you have twenty-one (21) days from the date you received this Agreement to consider whether to enter into this Agreement.  You may enter into this Agreement before the 21-day consideration period expires, but by doing so you acknowledge that Asterias has in no way pressured or encouraged you to do so.













		(b)	
Any changes, whether material or immaterial, to this Agreement do not restart the twenty-one (21) day period.













		(c)	
You have been advised in writing to have counsel of your choice review this Agreement, and you have had counsel review the Agreement.













		(d)	
You intend to release all potential claims of discrimination, including age discrimination.













		(e)	
You intend that this Agreement is a binding waiver of claims against Releasees.













	22.	
You have seven (7) calendar days following the execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement.  This Agreement will not become effective or enforceable until the revocation period has expired.  The eighth (8th) calendar day following your execution of this Agreement and your delivery of the Agreement to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer will be the Effective Date of this Agreement.  If you seek to revoke within seven (7) calendar days following your execution of this Agreement, such revocation must be in writing and delivered to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, by the seventh (7th) calendar day following your execution of this Agreement.













	23.	
This Agreement constitutes the complete and total agreement between you and Asterias regarding your employment or separation from employment and supersedes any other agreements between the Parties.  If any provision or term of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions or terms shall not be affected.







 



	24.	
You understand that the release of claims described in this Agreement extends to matters which have occurred up until you sign this Agreement and to matters which are contemplated by this Agreement, including your separation from employment.







 












	25.	
Provided you fully understand and agree to the terms of this Agreement, please sign this letter in the space provided below and return it to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer at 6300 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, CA  94555.







 


	
/s/ Don Bailey

	 
	
Don Bailey

	 
	
Chairman of the Board of Directors

	 
	
Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.

	 



 


	
I have read and understand the foregoing, and agree to its terms.

	 
		 
	
Dated:  May 23, 2017

	 
	 	 
	
/s/ Steve Cartt

	 
	
Steve Cartt