Exhibit 10.29


 


AMENDED AND RESTATED


SEVERANCE AGREEMENT


 


This
AMENDED AND RESTATED SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)
is made and entered into as of the 18th day of December, 2007 by and between PHARMACOPEIA, INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter, the “Company”),
and Rene
Belder, M.D., an individual (hereinafter, “Employee”).


 


RECITALS


 


WHEREAS, Employee
is presently employed by the Company the capacity of Vice President, Clinical
and Regulatory Affairs of the Company, pursuant to a Letter Agreement between
the Company and Employee, dated November 2, 2006 (the “Letter Agreement”).


 


WHEREAS, the Company and Employee
previously entered into a Severance Agreement, dated November 2, 2006 (as
subsequently amended, the “Existing Severance Agreement”), pursuant to which
Employee is entitled to certain payments and benefits in the event of a covered
termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.


 


WHEREAS, the Company and Employee wish to
amend and restate the Existing Severance Agreement to comply with section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and to make other
appropriate changes.


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises and intending to be legally
bound, the parties agree as follows:


 


1.                                      TERMINATION
AND EFFECT OF TERMINATION.  Employee’s
employment hereunder is AT WILL and may be terminated at any time by the
Company for any reason.  In the event of
termination of Employee’s employment, the Company shall have no liability to
Employee for compensation or benefits except as specified in this Section 1
or as required by the Company’s benefits policy.


 


(a)           Termination
By The Company For Cause.  Employee’s
employment may be terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below) at any
time upon delivery of written notice to Employee.  Upon such a termination, the Company shall
have no obligation to Employee other than the payment of all accrued, but
unpaid, base salary and any unpaid expenses or expense reimbursements prior to
the effective date of such termination. 
For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means the occurrence of
any one or more of the following events or conditions:


 


(i)            any gross failure on the
part of Employee (other than by reason of disability as provided in Section 1(e) below)
to faithfully and professionally carry out Employee’s duties or to comply with
any other material provision of this Agreement, which failure continues for
thirty (30) days after written notice detailing such failure is delivered by
the Company; provided, that the Company shall not be required to provide such
notice in the event that such failure (A) is not susceptible to remedy or (B) relates
to the same type of acts or omissions as to which notice has been given on a
prior occasion;


 


(ii)           Employee’s dishonesty (which
shall include without limitation any misuse or misappropriation of the Company’s
assets), or other willful misconduct (including without limitation, any conduct
on the part of Employee intended to or likely to injure the business of the
Company);


 


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(iii)          Employee’s conviction of
any felony or of any other crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not
relating to Employee’s employment;


 


(iv)          Employee’s insobriety or
use of drugs, chemicals or controlled substances either (A) in the course
of performing Employee’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, or (B) otherwise
affecting the ability of Employee to perform the same;


 


(v)           Employee’s failure to
comply with a lawful written direction of the Company; or


 


(vi)          any wanton or willful
dereliction of duties by Employee.


 


(b)           Involuntary
Termination By The Company Without Cause.  The Company may involuntarily terminate
Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Cause upon
delivery of written notice to Employee. 
Subject to the provisions of Section 1(g) hereof (concerning a
termination in connection with a Change in Control (as defined in  Section 1(g)),
if Employee’s employment is terminated involuntarily by the Company without Cause
pursuant to this Section 1(b), the Company shall:


 


(i)            pay Employee all compensation and
benefits accrued, but unpaid, up to the effective date of termination of
Employee’s employment;


 


(ii)           pay Employee, within thirty (30) days
after the effective date of termination of Employee’s employment, a lump sum
amount equal to six (6) months of Employee’s base salary in effect as of
the effective date of termination of Employee’s employment;


 


(iii)          pay 
Employee, within thirty (30) days after the
effective date of termination of Employee’s employment, a lump sum pro rata
portion of Employee’s target incentive bonus  for
the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated as provided in
this Section 1(b), such portion to be based on the number of full months
for which Employee was employed  during
the year of  termination;


 


(iv)          maintain Employee’s group medical
coverage until the earlier of (A) the end of a  period of six (6) months following the effective date of such
termination, or (B) until such time as comparable medical coverage is obtained
by Employee; and


 


(v)           allow all vested
options or other incentive securities to be exercised pursuant to the terms of
the option agreement or other agreements under which such options or other
incentive securities were granted.


 


(c)           Termination By
Employee For Good Reason.


 


(i)            Benefits.  Employee may terminate Employee’s
employment under this Agreement for Good Reason (as defined below) upon the
provision of advance written notice to the Company specifying in reasonable
detail the events or conditions upon which Employee is basing such
termination.  Employee must give such
notice within ninety (90) days after the event that gives rise to Good Reason.  The Company will be given the opportunity,
but shall have no obligation, to cure such events or conditions within thirty
(30) days after the provision by Employee of such notice.  If the Company elects in a written notice to
Employee not to cure such events or conditions or otherwise fails to so cure
such events or conditions within such thirty (30) day period, Employee may
terminate his employment with the Company for Good Reason pursuant to this Section 1(c) within
thirty (30) days after the expiration of the “cure” period.  In the event of such termination, the Company
shall:


 


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(A)           pay Employee all
compensation and benefits accrued, but unpaid, up to the effective date of
termination of Employee’s employment;


 


(B)           pay Employee, within thirty (30) days after the effective
date of termination of Employee’s employment, a lump sum amount equal to six (6) months
of Employee’s base salary in effect as of the effective date of termination of
Employee’s employment;


 


(C)           pay Employee, within thirty (30) days after the
effective date of termination of Employee’s employment, a lump sum pro rata
portion of Employee’s target incentive bonus for the calendar year in which
Employee’s employment is terminated as provided in this Section 1(c), such
portion to be based on the number of full months for which Employee was
employed during the year of termination;


 


(D)          maintain Employee’s group medical coverage until the
earlier of (A) the end of  a period of six (6) months following the effective date of such
termination, or (B) until such time as comparable medical coverage is
obtained by Employee; and


 


(E)           allow
all vested options or other incentive securities to be exercised pursuant to
the terms of the option agreement or other agreements under which such options
or other incentive securities were granted.


 


(ii)           Definition of “Good
Reason.”  For
purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means any one or more of the following events or
conditions:


 


(A)           any action or inaction that constitutes a
material breach by the Company of the terms of this Agreement or the Letter
Agreement;


 


(B)           any material change in the geographic
location at which Employee must perform services for the Company, which, for
purposes of this Agreement, means a requirement that Employee commute more than
fifty (50) miles from the offices of the Company at which he was principally
employed on the date of this Agreement;


 


(C)           any material diminution of the authority,
duties or responsibilities of Employee, including without limitation a material
diminution in Employee’s position as Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory
Affairs; or


 


(D)           any material reduction in
Employee’s base salary (other than such a reduction applicable generally to
substantially all employees of the Company), which, for purposes of this
Agreement, means a reduction of more than twenty percent (20%) in Employee’s
annual base salary as in effect on the date of this Agreement or as the same
may be increased from time to time after such date.


 


(d)           Termination
By Employee Without Good Reason (Voluntary Resignation).  Employee may voluntarily resign Employee’s
position and terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement without Good
Reason at any time.  Upon such a
termination, the Company shall have no obligation to pay compensation and
provide benefits to Employee other than the payment of all accrued and unpaid
base salary and any other unpaid expenses or expense reimbursements prior to
the effective date of such termination.


 


(e)           Disability.  If Employee becomes disabled for more than
one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company
shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment without further
liability upon written notice to Employee. 
Without limiting the generality of 


 


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the
foregoing, Employee shall be deemed disabled for purposes of this Agreement
either (i) if Employee is deemed disabled for purposes of any long-term
disability insurance policy paid for by the Company and at the time in effect,
or (ii) if in the exercise of the Company’s reasonable judgment, due to
accident, mental or physical illness, or any other reason, Employee cannot
perform Employee’s duties.  In the event
the Company shall terminate Employee due to disability, as described above,
Employee shall be entitled to receive only those benefits provided under the
Company’s Long Term Disability Plan, and Employee’s stock options and other
incentive compensation grants will be treated under the applicable Disability
section of the 2004 Stock Incentive
Plan (as amended, the “2004 Plan”) or any other stock option or
incentive compensation plan of the Company under which they were granted.


 


(f)                                    Death.  In the event of the death of Employee, this
Agreement shall automatically terminate and any obligation to continue to pay
compensation and benefits shall cease as of the date of Employee’s death,
except for the payment of all accrued, but unpaid, base salary and any other
unpaid expenses or expense reimbursements prior to the date of death.  In
the event of Employee’s death, Employee’s stock options and other incentive
compensation grants shall be treated under the applicable Death section of the
2004 Plan or any other stock option or incentive compensation plan of the
Company under which they were granted.


 


(g)                                 Change In
Control Termination.


 


(i)                                     Benefits.  In the event Employee’s employment under this
Agreement is terminated by the Company involuntarily without Cause or Employee
terminates Employee’s employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined in
Section 1(c) above), in either case at any time during the period
commencing two (2) months before and ending twelve (12) months after the
occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company shall:


 


(A)                              pay Employee all
compensation and benefits accrued, but unpaid, up to the effective date of
termination of Employee’s employment;


 


(B)                                pay Employee, within thirty
(30) days after the effective date of termination of Employee’s employment, a lump sum amount equal to nine (9) months
Employee’s base salary in effect as of the effective date of Employee’s
termination of employment;


 


(C)                                pay Employee, within thirty
(30) days after the effective date of termination of Employee’s employment, a
lump sum amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of Employee’s
target incentive bonus;


 


(D)                               maintain Employee’s group
medical coverage until the earlier of (A) the end of a period of nine (9) months
following the effective date of termination, or (B) such
time as comparable medical coverage is obtained by Employee.


 


Anything contained
in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, Employee shall not be
entitled to any of the benefits set forth in this Section 1(g)(i) if
Employee either resigns and terminates such employment voluntarily (other than
for Good Reason, as described above) or is terminated by the Company for Cause.


 


For
purposes of Section 1(g) hereof, the term “Company” shall
include any Acquiring Company (as defined below), and all obligations of the
Company under such Section shall be assumed by any Acquiring Company.


 


(ii)                                  Stock
Options.  In the event
Employee’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company
involuntarily without Cause or Employee terminates his employment with the
Company for Good Reason, in either case at any time during the period 


 


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commencing
two (2) months before and ending twelve (12) months after the occurrence
of a Change in Control:


 


(A)           notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in the 2004 Plan
or any other stock option or incentive
compensation plan of the Company, any unvested stock options or other incentive securities which
were granted to Employee during the term of this Agreement under the 2004 Plan
or any such other stock option or
incentive compensation plan shall immediately vest on the date of such termination of Employee’s employment, the expiration date of
the exercise period for such options or
other securities shall be the earlier of (1) one (1) year
following the date of termination, or (2) the expiration of the term of
the option, and the Company shall take all actions necessary or advisable to
give effect to this Section 1(g)(ii)(A); and


 


(B)           all vested options or other incentive securities held by
Employee which were issued pursuant to the 2004 Plan or any such other plan
shall be exercisable pursuant to the terms of the stock option agreement or other agreement(s) under which
the options or other incentive
securities were granted, and the Company shall take all actions
necessary or advisable to give effect to this Section 1(g)(ii)(B).


 


Anything
contained in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, Employee shall
not be entitled to any of the benefits set forth in this Section 1(g)(ii) if
Employee either resigns and terminates such employment voluntarily (other than
for Good Reason, as described above) or is terminated by the Company for Cause.


 


(iii)                               Definition Of “Change
in Control.”  The
definition of “Change in Control” set forth in the 2004 Plan is
incorporated, and made a part hereof, by reference.


 


(iv)                              Definition
Of “Acquiring Company.”  For purposes of Section 1(g) of this Agreement, an
“Acquiring Company” shall mean the resulting or surviving corporation,
or the company issuing cash or securities (or its ultimate parent company), in
a merger, sale, asset purchase, or
assignment of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets,
consolidation or share exchange involving the Company, or the successor
corporation to the Company (whether in any such transaction or otherwise).


 


2.             GENERAL RELEASE.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, no payments shall be made or benefits provided by the Company under Section 1
unless Employee executes and does not revoke a general release in favor of the
Company and its affiliates, and its and their respective officers, employees
and directors.  A form of general release
is attached hereto as Exhibit A.


 


3.             SECTION 409A.  This Agreement
is intended to meet the requirements of the short-term deferral exemption under
section 409A of the Code.  However, if
required by section 409A and if Employee is a “specified employee” of a
publicly traded corporation under section 409A of the Code, payment of any
amount under this Agreement shall be delayed for a period of six (6) months
after separation from service, as required by section 409A of the Code.  The accumulated postponed amount shall be
paid in a lump sum payment within ten (10) days after the end of the six
(6)-month period.  If Employee dies
during the postponement period prior to payment of the postponed amount, the
amounts withheld on account of section 409A shall be paid to the personal
representative of Employee’s estate within sixty (60) days after the date of
Employee’s death.  The determination of “specified
employees” shall be made by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company in accordance with section 409A of the Code and the
regulations issued thereunder.


 


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4.             NON-COMPETITION;
NON-SOLICITATION.


 


(a)                                  Restrictions. 
Employee
shall not, during the course of Employee’s employment with the Company or for a
period of twelve (12) months thereafter, directly or indirectly:


 


(i)            be employed by, engaged in
or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or act in
any advisory or other capacity (including as an individual, principal, agent
employee, consultant or otherwise) for, any Competing Entity which conducts its
business within the Territory (as the terms Competing Entity and Territory are hereinafter
defined); provided, however, that notwithstanding any of the foregoing,
Employee may make solely passive investments in any Competing Entity the common
stock of which is “publicly -held” and of which Employee shall not own or
control, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate securities which constitute
5% or more of the voting power of such Competing Entity;


 


(ii)           solicit or divert any
business or any customer or known prospective customer from the Company or
assist any person or entity in doing so or attempting to do so;


 


(iii)          cause or seek to cause any
person or entity to refrain from dealing or doing business with the Company or
assist any person or entity in doing so; or


 


(iv)          solicit for employment, or
advise or recommend to any other person or entity that he, she or it employ or
solicit for employment or retention as an employee or consultant, any person
who is an employee of, or exclusive consultant to, the Company.


 


(b)                                  Effect On
The Company’s Obligations.  The Company’s
obligation to make payments and provide the other benefits pursuant to Section 1
above shall terminate in the event that, and at such time as, Employee is in
breach of Employee’s obligations set forth in Section 4(a) above.


 


(c)                                  Definitions.  For purposes of this Section 4:


 


(i)            “Competing Entity”
means any entity which is presently or hereafter principally engaged in any
business of the type or character engaged in or proposed to be engaged in by
the Company from time to time during Employee’s term of employment under this Agreement,
including without limitation, any business engaged in the discovery and
development of human therapeutic products for any of the same targets and for
indications as products the Company had in development or was marketing at any
time during Employee’s term of employment under this Agreement.


 


(ii)           “Territory” means
North America, Europe and Japan.


 


Notwithstanding
anything in the above to the contrary, Employee may engage in the activities
set forth in Section 4(a) hereof with the prior written consent of
the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  Further, in determining whether a specific
activity by Employee for a Competing Entity shall be permitted, the Company
will consider, among other things, the nature and scope of (i) the duties
to be performed by Employee and (ii) the business activities of the Competing
Entity at the time of Employee’s proposed engagement by such entity.


 


(d)                                  Acknowledgement.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that the
covenants set forth in this Section 4 are reasonable and necessary in all
respects for the protection of the Company’s legitimate business interests
(including, without limitation, the Company’s confidential, proprietary
information and trade secrets and client good-will, which represents a
significant portion of the Company’s net worth and in which the Company has a
property interest).  Employee
acknowledges and 


 


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agrees that, in the event that
Employee breaches any of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, the
Company shall be irreparably harmed and shall not have an adequate remedy at
law; and, therefore, in the event of such a breach, the Company shall be
entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to (and not exclusive of) any other remedies
(including monetary damages) to which the Company may be entitled under
law.  If any covenant set forth in this Section 4
is deemed invalid or unenforceable for any reason, it is the parties’ intention
that such covenants be equitably reformed or modified to the extent necessary
(and only to such extent) to render it valid and enforceable in all
respects.  In the event that the time
period and geographic scope referenced above is deemed unreasonable, overbroad,
or otherwise invalid, it is the parties’ intention that the enforcing court
shall reduce or modify the time period and/or geographic scope to the extent
necessary (and only to such extent) to render such covenants reasonable, valid
and enforceable in all respects.


 


5.                                      ARBITRATION.  Any and all disputes between the parties
(except actions to enforce the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement)
arising under or relating to this Agreement or any other dispute arising
between the parties, including claims arising under any employment discrimination
laws, may be adjudicated and resolved exclusively through binding arbitration
before the American Arbitration Association pursuant to the American
Arbitration Association’s then-in-effect National Rules for the Resolution
of Employment Disputes (hereinafter, “Rules”).  The initiation and conduct of any arbitration
hereunder shall be in accordance with the Rules and, unless expressly
required by law, each side shall bear its own costs and counsel fees in such
arbitration.  Any arbitration hereunder
shall be conducted in Princeton, New Jersey or at such other location as
mutually agreed by the parties.  Any
arbitration award shall be final and binding on the parties.  The arbitrator shall have no authority to
depart from, modify, or add to the written terms of this Agreement.  The arbitration provisions of this Section 5
shall be interpreted according to, and governed by, the Federal Arbitration
Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., and any action pursuant to such Act to
enforce any rights hereunder shall be brought exclusively in any United States
District Court in the State of New Jersey. 
The parties consent to the jurisdiction of (and the laying of venue in)
any such court.


 


6.                                      NOTICES.  For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands
and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall 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 as follows:


 


(a)                                  If to the Company, to:


 


Pharmacopeia, Inc.


3000 Eastpark Blvd.


Cranbury, NJ  08512


Attn.:  General Counsel


 


(b)                                  If to Employee, to:


 


Rene Belder, M.D.


 


or to such other address as a party hereto shall designate
to the other party by like notice, provided that notice of a change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt thereof.


 


7.                                      WITHHOLDING
TAXES.  All payments under this Agreement shall be
made subject to applicable tax withholding, and the Company shall withhold from
any payments under this Agreement all federal, state and local taxes as the
Company is required to withhold pursuant to any law or governmental rule or
regulation.  Except as specifically
provided otherwise in this Agreement, Employee 


 


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shall bear
all expense of, and be solely responsible for, all federal, state and local
taxes due with respect to any payment received under this Agreement.


 


8.                                      WAIVER.  The waiver by the Company or Employee of any
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as
a waiver of any subsequent breach by Employee or the Company, as applicable, of any provision of this Agreement.


 


9.                                      SEVERABILITY.  The parties have carefully reviewed the
provisions of this Agreement and agree that they are fair and equitable.  However, in light of the possibility of
differing interpretations of law and changes of circumstances, the parties
agree that in the event that any section, paragraph or term of this Agreement
shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable by any competent authority
or tribunal for any reason, the remainder of this Agreement shall be unaffected
thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.  Moreover, if any of the provisions of this
Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be excessively
broad as to duration, activity, geographic application or subject, it shall be
construed by limiting or reducing it to the extent legally permitted so as to
be enforceable to the extent compatible with then applicable law.


 


10.          SUCCESSORS AND
ASSIGNS.  This Agreement shall
bind and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and
the heirs, executors or personal representatives of Employee.  This Agreement may not be assigned by Employee.  This Agreement may be assigned to any
successor in interest to the Company (including by way of merger, consolidation
or reorganization, or by way of any assignment of all or substantially all of
the Company’s assets, business or properties), and Employee hereby consents to
such assignment.


 


11.          ENTIRE AGREEMENT;
AMENDMENTS.  This Agreement, the Letter Agreement and the applicable
bylaws and policies of the Company, constitute the entire Agreement between the
parties hereto and there are no other understandings, agreements or
representations, expressed or implied. 
This Agreement supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous
agreements, oral or written, concerning Employee’s employment and
compensation.  This Agreement may be
amended only in writing signed by Employee and the Chief Executive Officer or
the General Counsel of the Company.


 


12.          COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.


 


13.          GOVERNING LAW;
FORUM SELECTION.  This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws (other than conflicts of
laws principles) of the State of New Jersey applicable to contracts executed in
and to be performed entirely within such State.  The parties consent to
jurisdiction and laying of venue in the state and federal courts of New Jersey
for purposes of resolving disputes under this Agreement.


 


14.          COMPLIANCE WITH
LAW.  This Agreement is intended to comply with the
requirements of section 409A of the Code, and specifically, with the short term
deferral exemption of section 409A, and shall in all respects be administered
in accordance with section 409A. 
Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the contrary, distributions
may only be made under the Agreement upon an event and in a manner permitted by
section 409A of the Code or an applicable exemption.  All payments to be made upon a termination of
employment under this Agreement may only be made upon a “separation from
service” under section 409A.  In no event
may Employee, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of
payment.  For purposes of section 409A of
the Code, each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate
payment.  All reimbursements and in-kind
benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance
with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, including, where applicable,
the requirement that (a) any reimbursement shall be for 


 


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expenses
incurred during Employee’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time
specified in this Agreement), (b) the amount of expenses eligible for
reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not
affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be
provided, in any other calendar year, (c) the reimbursement of an eligible
expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following
the year in which the expense is incurred, and (d) the right to
reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for
another benefit.


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first set
forth above.


 


	
   

  	
  PHARMACOPEIA, INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By 

  	
  /s/ Leslie J. Browne

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Leslie J. Browne, Ph.D.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  President and Chief Executive Officer

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  EMPLOYEE

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By

  	
  /s/ Rene Belder

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Rene Belder, M.D.

  



 


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EXHIBIT A


 


General Release


 


IN CONSIDERATION OF the terms and
conditions contained in the Amended and Restated Severance Agreement, dated as
of the 18th day of December, 2007, (the “Severance Agreement”) by and
between Rene Belder, M.D. (“Employee”) and Pharmacopeia, Inc. (the “Company”),
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, Employee on behalf of Employee and his or her heirs, executors,
administrators, and assigns, releases and discharges the Company and its
subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and parents, and their respective past,
current and future officers, directors, employees, agents, and/or owners, and
their respective successors, and assigns and any other person or entity claimed
to be jointly or severally liable with the Company or any of the aforementioned
persons or entities (collectively the “Released Parties”) from any and
all manner of actions and causes of action, suits, debts, dues, accounts,
bonds, covenants, contracts, agreements, judgments, charges, claims, and
demands whatsoever (“Claims “) which Employee and his heirs, executors,
administrators, and assigns have, had, or may hereafter have, against the
Released Parties or any of them arising out of or by reason of any cause, matter,
or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the date hereof.  This General Release of Claims includes,
without limitation, any and all matters relating to Employee’s employment by
the Company and the cessation thereof, and any and all matters arising under
any federal, state, or local statute, rule, or regulation, or principle of
contract law or common law, including but not limited to, the Family and
Medical Leave Act of 1993, as  amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et
seq., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as  amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000 et  seq., the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967, as  amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 et  seq.
(the “ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as  amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et  seq., the Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act of 1988, as  amended, 29 U.S.C. §§2101 et  seq.,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as  amended, 29
U.S.C. §§ 1001 et  seq. (“ERISA”), the New Jersey Law
Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A. 10:15-1, et seq., the New Jersey Conscientious
Executive Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 to 19-8, the New Jersey Wage and
Hour Act, N.J.S.A. 34-11-56a, et seq., and any other equivalent or similar
federal, state, or local statute; provided, however, that Employee does not
release or discharge the Released Parties from (i) any of the Company’s
obligations to Employee under the Severance Agreement, and (ii) any vested
benefits to which Employee may be entitled under any employee benefit plan or
program subject to ERISA.  It is
understood that nothing in this General Release is to be construed as an
admission on behalf of the Released Parties of any wrongdoing with respect to
Employee, any such wrongdoing being expressly denied.


 


Employee represents and warrants
that Employee fully understands the terms of this General Release, that
Employee is hereby advised to consult with legal counsel before signing, and
that Employee knowingly and voluntarily, of Employee’s own free will, without
any duress, being fully informed, and after due deliberation, accepts its terms
and signs below as Employee’s own free act. 
Except as otherwise provided herein, Employee understands that as a
result of executing this General Release, Employee will not have the right to
assert that the Company or any other of the Released Parties unlawfully
terminated Employee’s employment or violated any of Employee’s rights in
connection with Employee’s employment or otherwise.


 


Employee further represents and
warrants that Employee has not filed, and will not initiate, or cause to be
initiated on Employee’s behalf any complaint, charge, claim, or proceeding
against any of the Released Parties before any federal, state, or local agency,
court, or other body relating to any claims barred or released in this General Release
thereof, and will not voluntarily participate in such a proceeding.  However, nothing in this General Release
shall preclude or prevent Employee from filing a claim, which challenges the
validity of this General Release solely with respect to Employee’s waiver of
any losses arising under the ADEA. Employee shall not accept any relief
obtained on Employee’s behalf 


 


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by any
government agency, private party, class, or otherwise with respect to any
claims covered by this General Release.


 


Employee may take twenty-one (21)
days to consider whether to execute this General Release.  Upon Employee’s execution of this General
Release, Employee will have seven (7) days after such execution in which Employee
may revoke such execution.  In the event
of revocation, Employee must present written notice of such revocation to the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer.  If
seven (7) days pass without receipt of such notice of revocation, this
General Release shall become binding and effective on the eighth (8th) day
after the execution hereof (the “Effective Date”).


 


INTENDING
TO BE LEGALLY BOUND, Employee hereby sets Employee’s hand below:


 


 


	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Dated:

  	
   

  



 


*              *              *


 


NOTARIZATION


 


State
of                                                                                              )


County of                                                                                          )                             ss.


 


On this
             day of
                            
in the year            before
me, the undersigned, personally appeared
                                                                    ;
personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to
be the individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and
acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his capacity as an individual,
and that by his signature on the instrument he executed such instrument, and
that such individual made such appearance before the undersigned.


 


 




Notary Public





 


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