Exhibit 10.4


 


EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE 


 


&


 


CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT


 


THIS EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE
AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made by and between Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the
“Company”), and Michael D. Step (“Executive”) as of December 2, 2014.


 


In consideration of the
mutual promises, covenants and obligations contained herein, the Company and Executive agree as follows:


 


1.     At-Will
Employment. The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive’s employment is and
shall continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law. If Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive
shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or compensation other than as provided by this Agreement, or as
may otherwise be available in accordance with the Company’s established employee plans and practices in accordance with other
agreements between the Company and Executive.


 


2.      Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:


 


(a)    “Accrued
Obligations” means (i) Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary through the Termination Date; (ii) payment of
any annual, long-term, or other incentive award which relates to a completed fiscal year or performance period, as applicable,
and is payable (but not yet paid) on or before the Termination Date; (iii) a lump-sum payment in respect of accrued but unused
vacation days at Executive’s per-business-day Base Salary rate in effect as of the Termination Date; and (iv) any unpaid
expense or other reimbursements due pursuant to Company expense reimbursement policy.


 


(b)     
“Affiliate(s)” means, with respect to any specified Person (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls,
is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.


 


(c)     
“Annual Bonus” means Executive’s target annual bonus for the year in which the Change in Control occurs.


 


(d)     
“Base Salary” means Executive’s base rate of pay as of a specified date.


 


(e)     
“Cause” means a finding by the Company that Executive has (i) been convicted of a felony or crime involving
moral turpitude; (ii) disclosed trade secrets or confidential information of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to persons
not entitled to receive such information; (iii) engaged in conduct in connection with Executive’s employment or service to
the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary), that has, or could reasonably be expected to result in, material injury to the business
or reputation of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary), including, without limitation, act(s) of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation
and


 




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breach of fiduciary duty;
(iv) violated the operating and ethics policies of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in any material way, including, but
not limited to those relating to sexual harassment and the disclosure or misuse of confidential information; (v) engaged in willful
and continued negligence in the performance of the duties assigned to Executive by the Company, after Executive has received notice
of and failed to cure such negligence; or (vi) breached any material provision of any agreement between Executive and the Company
(or any Parent or Subsidiary), including, without limitation, any confidentiality agreement.


 


(f)     
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:


 


		(i)	Any “person” (as such term is used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act)
becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing more than 50% of the voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; provided that
a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of a change of ownership resulting from the death of a shareholder,
and a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of a transaction in which the Company becomes a subsidiary of
another corporation and in which the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the transaction, will beneficially own,
immediately after the transaction, shares entitling such shareholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all shareholders of
the parent corporation would be entitled in the election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any class of stock
to elect directors by a separate class vote)



 


		(ii)	A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members
of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by
a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election; or



 


		(iii)	The consummation of (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation where
the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the merger or consolidation, will not beneficially own, immediately after
the merger or consolidation, shares entitling such shareholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all shareholders of the
surviving corporation would be entitled in the election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any class of stock
to elect directors by a separate class vote); (B) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company; or (C) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.



 


(g)     
“Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or in the Company’s
long-term disability plan. A termination of Executive’s


 




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employment due to a Disability
shall be effective only if the party terminating Executive’s employment first gives at least 15 days’ written notice
of such termination to the other party.


 


(h)     
“Good Reason” means, without Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of
the following: (i) a substantial and material diminution in Executive’s duties or responsibilities; (ii) a material reduction
in Executive’s Base Salary; or (iii) the relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more
than 50 miles from Executive’s principal work location to a location that is more than 50 miles from the prior location.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location closer to Executive’s
principal residence in San Diego, California shall not constitute “Good Reason.” A termination of employment by Executive
for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice (“Notice of Termination for Good Reason”),
not later than 90 days following the occurrence of the circumstance that constitutes Good Reason, setting forth in reasonable detail
the specific conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason and the specific provision(s) of this Agreement on which Executive
relied. The Company shall be entitled, during the 30-day period following receipt of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason, to
cure the circumstances that gave rise to Good Reason, provided that the Company shall be entitled to waive its right to cure or
reduce the cure period by delivery of written notice to that effect to Executive (such 30-day or shorter period, the “Cure
Period”). If, during the Cure Period, such circumstance is remedied, Executive will not be permitted to terminate employment
for Good Reason as a result of such circumstance. If, at the end of the Cure Period, the circumstance that constitutes Good Reason
has not been remedied, Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason on the date of expiration of the Cure Period.


 


(i)     
“Termination Date” means the date on which Executive’s employment hereunder terminates.


 


3.      Termination
Without Cause or by Executive With Good Reason. Subject to Section 6 below, if the Company
terminates Executive’s employment without Cause, or the Executive terminates for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled
to: (a) the Accrued Obligations; (b) an amount equal to twelve (12) months of the Base Salary as in effect immediately prior to
the Termination Date, paid in a lump sum on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Termination Date; (c) medical, dental
benefits provided by the Company to Executive and Executive’s spouse and dependents (in each case, as provided in any applicable
plan) at least equal to the levels of benefits provided to other similarly situated active employees of the Company and its subsidiaries
until the earlier of (i) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Termination Date or (ii) the date that Executive becomes covered
under a subsequent employer’s medical and dental plans; and (d) acceleration of vesting of all equity and equity-based awards.


 


4.      Change
in Control Termination. Subject to Section 6 below, in
the event that within the one (1) month prior to or the twelve (12) months following a Change in Control the Company terminates
Executive’s employment without Cause, or the Executive terminates for Good Reason, then, in lieu of the payments and benefits
otherwise due to Executive under Section 3 above, Executive shall be entitled to: (a) the Accrued Obligations; (b) an amount equal
to the sum of (twelve (12) months of the Base Salary as in effect on the Termination Date or the date of the Change in Control,
whichever is greater; (c) medical, dental benefits provided by the 


 




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Company
to Executive and Executive’s spouse and dependents (in each case, as provided in any applicable plan) at least equal to the
levels of benefits provided to other similarly situated active employees of the Company and its subsidiaries until the earlier
of (i) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Termination Date or (ii) the date that Executive becomes covered under a subsequent
employer’s medical and dental plans; and (d) acceleration of vesting of all equity and equity-based awards.


 


5.      Other
Terminations. If Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated (a) by Executive without
Good Reason; (b) by the Company for Cause; or (c) due to Executive’s death or Executive’s Disability, Executive and/or
Executive’s estate or beneficiaries shall be entitled to the Accrued Obligations. 


 


6.      Release.
Executive’s entitlement to the payments (other than the Accrued Obligations) and benefits described in Sections 3 and 4 above
is expressly contingent upon Executive providing the Company with a signed release satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”).
To be effective, such Release must be delivered by Executive to the Company no later than 45 days following the Termination Date
and must not be revoked during the seven (7) days following such delivery. If such Release is not executed in a timely manner or
is revoked, all such payments and benefits shall immediately cease and the Executive shall be required to repay to the Company
any such payments that have already been paid to the Executive.


 


7.      Withholding.
The Company shall withhold all applicable federal, state and local taxes, social security and workers’ compensation contributions
and other amounts as may be required by law with respect to compensation payable to Executive. 


 


8.      Modification
of Payments. In the event it shall be determined that any payment, right or distribution
by the Company or any other person or entity to or for the benefit of Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise,
in connection with, or arising out of, his employment with the Company or a change in ownership or effective control of the Company
or a substantial portion of its assets (a “Payment”) is a “parachute payment” within the meaning
of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) on account of the aggregate
value of the Payments due to Executive being equal to or greater than three times the “base amount,” as defined in
Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code, (the “Parachute Threshold”) so that Executive would be subject to the excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”) and the net after-tax benefit that Executive
would receive by reducing the Payments to the Parachute Threshold is greater than the net after-tax benefit Executive would receive
if the full amount of the Payments were paid to Executive, then the Payments payable to Executive shall be reduced (but not below
zero) so that the Payments due to Executive do not exceed the amount of the Parachute Threshold, reducing first any Payments under
Section 4(d) above. 


 


9.      Section
409A. (a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement is intended to
be interpreted and applied so that the payment of the benefits set forth herein either shall either be exempt from the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”) or shall comply with the requirements of such provision. 


 




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(b)     Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section
409A, any payments or arrangements due upon a termination of Executive’s employment under any arrangement that constitutes
a “nonqualified deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and which do not otherwise qualify under
the exemptions under Treas. Regs. Section 1.409A-1 (including without limitation, the short-term deferral exemption or the permitted
payments under Treas. Regs. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)), shall be delayed and paid or provided, without interest, on the earlier
of (i) the date which is six months after Executive’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Section
409A and the regulations and other published guidance thereunder) for any reason other than death, and (ii) the date of Executive’s
death.


 


(c)     After
any Termination Date, Executive shall have no duties or responsibilities that are inconsistent with having a “separation
from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the contrary, distributions
upon termination of employment of nonqualified deferred compensation may only be made upon a “separation from service”
as determined under Section 409A and such date shall be the Termination Date for purposes of this Agreement. Each payment under
this Agreement or otherwise shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. In no event may Executive, directly
or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement which constitutes a “nonqualified
deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and to the extent an amount is payable within a time period,
the time during which such amount is paid shall be in the discretion of the Company.


 


10.      Merger
Clause.  Effective as of the Effective Date, this Agreement contains the complete,
full, and exclusive understanding of Executive and the Company as to its subject matter and shall, on such date, and supersede
any prior agreement between Executive and the Company regarding severance benefits. Any
amendments to this Agreement shall be effective and binding on Executive and the Company only if any such amendments are in writing
and signed by both Parties. 


 


11.      Assignment.
(a) This Agreement is personal to Executive and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assigned by Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and any assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be void.


 


(b)     This
Agreement and all rights of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Executive’s personal
or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If Executive should
die while any amounts would still be payable to him or her hereunder if he or she had continued to live, all such amounts, unless
otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Executive’s devisee, legatee or
other designee or, should there be no such designee, to Executive’s estate.


 


(c)     The
Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially
all of the business or assets of the Company (a “Successor”) to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in
the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no


 




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such succession had taken
place. As used in this Agreement, (i) the term “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and
any Successor and any permitted assignee to which this Agreement is assigned and (ii) the term “Board” shall
mean the Board as hereinbefore defined and the board of directors or equivalent governing body of any Successor and any permitted
assignee to which this Agreement is assigned.


 


12.      Dispute
Resolution. The parties agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement
or the formation, breach, termination or validity thereof, will be settled by binding arbitration by a panel of three arbitrators
in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration proceedings will be
located in Los Angeles County, California. The arbitrators are not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages
and each party irrevocably waives any damages in excess of compensatory damages. Judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered
into any court having jurisdiction thereof and the parties consent to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction located
in the State of California.


 


13.      GOVERNING
LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND THE VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION AND
PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT IN ALL RESPECT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.


 


14.      Amendment;
No Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified, waived or discharged
except by a written document signed by Executive and duly authorized officer of the Company. The failure of a party to insist upon
strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered as a waiver of such party’s rights
or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.
No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right or power hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single
or partial exercise of any other right or power. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with
respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by any party, which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.


 


15.      Severability.
If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any applicable law or public policy,
all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic
and legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any
party. Upon any such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties
hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated
to the fullest extent possible.


 


16.      Survival.
The rights and obligations of the parties under the provisions of this Agreement that relate to post-termination obligations shall
survive and remain binding and enforceable, notwithstanding the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the termination of Executive’s
employment with the Company for any reason or any settlement of the financial 


 




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rights
and obligations arising from Executive’s employment hereunder, to the extent necessary to preserve the intended benefits
of such provisions.


 


17.      Notices.
All notices and other communications required or permitted by this Agreement will be made in writing and all such notices and communications
will be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or (unless otherwise specified) mailed by United States certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the Company at its headquarters, and addressed to Executive at his
last address on file with the Company, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.


 


18.      Headings
and References. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and neither
constitute a part of this Agreement nor affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. When a reference in
this Agreement is made to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.


 


19.      Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including via facsimile), each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has
been executed by the parties as of the date first written above.


 


	 	RITTER PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Andrew J. Ritter
	 	Name:	Andrew Ritter
	 	Title:	President
	 	 	 
	 	Executive
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Michael D. Step
	 	Name:	Michael D. Step
	 	Title:	Chief Executive Officer


 




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