**Exhibit 10.5**

**AMENDED AND RESTATED**

**EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT**

This **AMENDEDAND RESTATED EXECUTIVESEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT** (the “**Agreement**”) is entered into as of this 14th day of September, 2007 (the “**Effective Date**”), between**BRENT K. BLACKBURN (“Executive**”) and **CV THERAPEUTICS, INC.** (the“**Company**”). This Agreement is intended to provide Executive with the compensation and benefits described herein upon the occurrence of specific events. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Article 6.

The Company and Executive hereby agree as follows: 

**ARTICLE 1**

**SCOPEOFAND CONSIDERATIONFORTHIS AGREEMENT**

**1.1 Current Employee.**Executive is currently employed by theCompany. 

**1.2 Benefits Upon Change In Control.**The Company and Executive wish to set forth the compensation and benefits whichExecutive shall be entitled to receive in the event of a Change in Control or if Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated under the circumstances described herein following a Change in Control. 

**1.3 Consideration.** The duties and obligations of the Company to Executive under this Agreement shall be in consideration for Executive’s pastservices to the Company, Executive’s continued employment with the Company, and Executive’s execution of a release in accordance with Section 4.1. 

**1.4 Prior Agreement.**This Agreement shall supersede any other agreement relating to cash severance benefits and health benefits in the event of Executive’s severance from employment with the Companyfollowing a Change in Control, including that certain Executive Severance Benefits Agreement between the Company and Executive dated as of December 31, 2002 (the “**Prior Agreement**”). By executing this Agreement, Executive herebywaives (within the meaning of Section 6.4 of the Prior Agreement) any rights Executive may currently have or have in the future to any benefits of any sort under the Prior Agreement. 

**ARTICLE 2**

**OPTION ACCELERATIONUPON CHANGEIN CONTROL**

In the event of a Change in Control, all options ofExecutive to purchase the Company’s common stock (or the stock of a successor to the Company by reason of assumption or substitution of options) then outstanding shall, automatically and without further action of the Company, become onehundred percent (100%) vested and exercisable, and any restrictions with respect to restricted shares of the Company’s capital stock (or the stock of a successor to the Company by reason of assumption or substitution of suchshares) that Executive then holds shall, automatically and without further action of the Company, lapse, in the case of all such options and/or restrictions no later than five (5) business days before the effective date of such Change inControl. 

 

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**ARTICLE 3**

**SEVERANCE BENEFITS**

**3.1 Severance Benefits.** If Executive has aseparation from service with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code (a “**Separation from Service**”) due to an Involuntary Termination Without Cause or a Constructive Termination, in any such caseoccurring within thirteen (13) months following the effective date of a Change in Control, such separation from service will be deemed a Covered Termination. A Covered Termination entitles Executive to receive the following benefits set forthin Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4. 

**3.2 Base Salary.** The Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to eighteen(18) months’ Base Salary. Such severance amount shall be paid in cash in a lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Covered Termination or upon Executive’s timely providing an irrevocable release of claims underSection 4.1, if later, and shall be subject to all required tax withholding. 

**3.3 Bonus.** The Company shall pay to Executive anamount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the annual bonus paid to the Executive in the year immediately preceding the effective date of the Change in Control. Such severance amount shall be paid in cash in a lump sum withinthirty (30) days following the Covered Termination or upon Executive’s timely providing an irrevocable release of claims under Section 4.1, if later, and shall be subject to all required tax withholding. 

**3.4 Health Benefits**. Provided that Executive elects continued coverage under federal COBRA law, the Company shall pay the premiums ofExecutive’s group health insurance coverage, including coverage for Executive’s eligible dependents, for a maximum period of eighteen (18) months following a Covered Termination; *provided, however,* that the Company shall paypremiums for Executive’s eligible dependents only for coverage for which those eligible dependents were enrolled immediately prior to the Covered Termination. No premium payments will be made following the effective date of Executive’scoverage by a health insurance plan of a subsequent employer. For the balance of the period that Executive is entitled to coverage under federal COBRA law, if any, Executive shall be entitled to maintain such coverage at Executive’s ownexpense. 

**3.5 Mitigation.** Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages orthe amount of any payment provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment byanother employer or by any retirement benefits received by Executive after the date of the Covered Termination. 

 

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**3.6 Section 409A**. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if theExecutive is deemed by the Company at the time of his separation from service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits towhich Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to theearlier of (a) the expiration of the six (6) month period measured from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or (b) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the expiration of the applicable CodeSection 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be paid in a lump sum to the Executive, and any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein. 

**ARTICLE 4**

**LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS ON BENEFITS**

**4.1 Release Prior To Payment Of Benefits.** Upon the occurrence of a Covered Termination, andprior to the payment of any benefits under this Agreement on account of such Covered Termination, Executive shall execute a release (the “**Release**”) in the form attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A orExhibit B. Such Release shall specifically relate to all of Executive’s rights and claims in existence at the time of such execution and shall confirm Executive’s obligations under the Company’s standard form of proprietaryinformation and inventions agreement. It is understood that, as specified in the applicable Release, Executive has a certain number of calendar days to consider whether to execute such Release, and Executive may revoke such Release within seven(7) calendar days after execution. Notwithstanding anything in the applicable Release, in the event Executive has not provided the Company with a signed irrevocable Release within 2 1/2 months after Executive’s Covered Termination, no benefits shall be payable under this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be null and void. 

**4.2 Termination of Benefits.** Benefits under this Agreement shall terminate immediately if the Executive, at any time, violates anyproprietary information or confidentiality obligation to the Company. 

**4.3 Non-Duplication of Benefits.** Executive is not eligible toreceive benefits under this Agreement more than one time. 

**ARTICLE 5**

**PARACHUTE PAYMENTS**

**5.1 Certain AdditionalPayments by the Company.**Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any Payment would be subject to the Excise Tax, then the Executive shall be entitled toreceive from the Company an additional payment (the “**Gross-Up Payment**”) in an amount such that the net amount of the Payment and the Gross-Up Payment retained by the Executive after 

 

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the payment by the Executive of all Excise Taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes) on the Payment and all federal,state and local income tax, employment tax and Excise Taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes) on the Gross-Up Payment shall be equal to the Payment. 

**5.2 Determinations.**Subject to the provisions of Section 5.3, all determinations required to be made under this Article 5, including whetherand when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by the nationally recognized certified public accounting firm used by the Companyimmediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control or, if such firm declines to serve, such other nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the Executive (the “**Accounting Firm**”).The Accounting Firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as isrequested by the Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. Subject to Section 5.5 below, anyGross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 5.2, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within five (5) days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm’s determination and in any event shall be paid no later than thelast day of Executive’s taxable year following the year within which the taxes related to such Gross-Up Payment are remitted to the appropriate taxing authorities. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Article 5, theAccounting Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good-faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. As a result of the uncertainty inthe application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made(“**Underpayment**”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 5.3 and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of anyExcise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive but in no event later than the last day ofExecutive’s taxable year following the year in which such Underpayment is remitted to the appropriate taxing authorities. 

**5.3Contesting of Gross-Up Payment.**The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall begiven as soon as practicable but no later than ten (10) business days after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid.The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty (30)-day period following the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to suchclaim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall: 

 

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**(a)**give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relatingto such claim, 

**(b)**take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably requestin writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company, 

**(c)**cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim, and 

**(d)**permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; 

*provided*, *however*, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connectionwith such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costsand expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.3, the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals,proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and theExecutive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; *provided*, *however*, that if theCompany directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, fromany Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and *provided further, however,* that any extension ofthe statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company’s control of thecontest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any othertaxing authority. 

 

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**5.4 Refunds.** If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuantto Section 5.3, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company’s complying with the requirements of Section 5.3) promptly pay to the Company the amount ofsuch refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 5.3, a determination is made that the Executiveshall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days after such determination, thensuch advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid. 

**5.5****Withholding**. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5, the Company may withhold and pay over to the Internal RevenueService for the benefit of the Executive all or any portion of the Gross-Up Payment that it determines in good faith that it is or may be in the future required to withhold, and the Executive hereby consents to such withholding. 

**ARTICLE 6**

**DEFINITIONS**

For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows: 

**6.1 “Base Salary”** means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect during the last regularly scheduled payroll period immediatelypreceding the Covered Termination. 

**6.2 “Board”** means the Board of Directors of the Company. 

**6.3 “Cause”** means that, in the reasonable determination of the Company, Executive: 

**(a)**has committed an act that materially injures the business of the Company; 

**(b)**has refused or failed to follow lawful and reasonable directions of the Board or the appropriate individual to whom Executivereports; 

**(c)**has willfully or habitually neglected Executive’s duties for the Company; or 

**(d)**has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude that is likely to inflict or has inflicted material injury on thebusiness of the Company. 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cause shall not exist based on conduct described in clause (b) or clause(c) unless the conduct described in such clause has not been cured within fifteen (15) days following Executive’s receipt of written notice from the Company or the Board, as the case may be, specifying the particulars of the conductconstituting Cause. 

 

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**6.4 “Change in Control”** means 

**(a)**a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company; 

**(b)**a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than a merger or consolidation in whichshareholders immediately before the merger or consolidation have, immediately after the merger or consolidation, equal or greater stock voting power); 

**(c)**a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger intoother property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise (other than a reverse merger in which shareholders immediately before the merger have, immediately after the merger, greater stock voting power); or 

**(d)**any transaction or series of related transactions in which in excess of 50% of the Company’s voting power is transferred.

**6.5**“**Code**” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

**6.6**“**Company**” means CV Therapeutics, Inc. or, following a Change in Control, the surviving entity resulting from suchtransaction. 

**6.7**“**Constructive Termination**” means that Executive voluntarily terminates employment within ninety(90) days after any of the following events occur without Executive’s express written consent and the Company fails to cure such event within the thirty (30) day period immediately following written notice from Executive to theCompany of the occurrence of such event; provided such event occurs within the thirteen (13) month period immediately following the effective date of a Change in Control: 

**(a)**the assignment to Executive of any duties or responsibilities which results in a significant diminution in Executive’sfunction as in effect immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control;*provided, however,* that a mere change in Executive’s title or reporting relationships shall not constitute a Constructive Termination; 

**(b)**a reduction by the Company in Executive’s annual base salary, as in effect on the effective date of the Change in Controlor as increased thereafter; 

**(c)**any failure by the Company to continue in effect any benefit plan or program,including fringe benefits, incentive plans and plans with respect to the receipt of securities of the Company, in which Executive is participating immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control (hereinafter referred to as“**Benefit Plans**”); or the taking of any action by the Company that would adversely affect Executive’s participation in or reduce Executive’s benefits under the Benefit Plans; *provided, however*, that a“Constructive Termination” shall not exist under this paragraph following a Change in Control if the Company offers a range of benefit plans and programs which, taken as a whole, are comparable to the Benefit Plans; 

 

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**(d)**a material relocation of Executive’s business office to a location morethan twenty (20) miles from the location at which Executive performs duties as of the effective date of the Change in Control, except for required travel by Executive on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent withExecutive’s business travel obligations prior to the Change in Control; *provided, however,* that if Executive performs sales functions for the Company, a change of sales territory shall not constitute a basis for Constructive Terminationso long as the Executive’s business office is not relocated as provided above; 

**(e)**a material breach by theCompany of any provision of this Agreement; or 

**(f)** any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of thisAgreement by any successor or assign of the Company. 

The termination of Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or disabilitywill not be deemed to be a Constructive Termination. 

**6.8**“**Covered Termination**” means an Involuntary TerminationWithout Cause or a Constructive Termination, in any such case occurring within thirteen (13) months following the effective date of a Change in Control. 

**6.9**“**Excise Tax**” shall mean the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such excise tax. 

**6.10**“**Involuntary Termination Without Cause**” means Executive’s dismissal or discharge other than for Cause. The terminationof Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or disability will not be deemed to be an Involuntary Termination Without Cause. 

**6.11**A “**Payment**” shall mean any payment or distribution in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) to or for the benefit of the Executive, whetherpaid or payable pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise. 

**ARTICLE 7**

**GENERAL PROVISIONS**

**7.1 Employment Status.**This Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment or impose upon Executive any obligation to remain as an employee, or impose on the Company any obligation (i) to retain Executive as an employee, (ii) to change the status ofExecutive as an at-will employee, or (iii) to change the Company’s policies regarding termination of employment. 

**7.2Notices.** Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing, and such notices or any other written communication shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by facsimile) or the third day aftermailing by first class mail, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed in the Company’s payroll records. Any payments made by the Company to Executive under the terms of this Agreementshall be delivered to Executive either in person or at the address as listed in the Company’s payroll records. 

 

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**7.3 Severability.** Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in suchmanner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality orunenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

**7.4 Waiver.** If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, he or it shall not thereby be deemed tohave waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement. 

**7.5 Arbitration.** Unlessotherwise prohibited by law or specified below, all disputes, claims and causes of action, in law or equity, arising from or relating to this Agreement or its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation shall be resolved solely andexclusively by final and binding arbitration held in San Francisco County, California through Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services/Endispute (“**JAMS**”) under the then existing JAMS arbitration rules. However, nothing inthis Section is intended to prevent either party from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. The Company will pay the direct costs and expenses of any such arbitration,including the fees and costs of the arbitrator. Each party in any such arbitration shall be responsible for its own attorneys’ fees and related costs and necessary disbursements; *provided, however,* that in the event one party refuses toarbitrate and the other party seeks to compel arbitration by court order, if such other party prevails, except as may be prohibited by law, it shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and related costs and necessarydisbursements. Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1717, each party warrants that it was represented by counsel in the negotiation and execution of this Agreement, including the attorneys’ fees provision herein. 

**7.6 Complete Agreement.** This Agreement, including Exhibit A and Exhibit B, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and theCompany and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter, wholly superseding all written and oral agreements with respect to cash severance benefits and health benefits to Executive in theevent of employment termination (including the Prior Agreement) other than any outstanding loans by the Company to Executive. It is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein.

**7.7 Amendment Or Termination Of Agreement.** This Agreement may be changed or terminated only upon the mutual written consent of theCompany and Executive. The written consent of the Company to a change or termination of this Agreement must be signed by an executive officer of the Company after such change or termination has been approved by the Board. 

 

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**7.8 Counterparts.** This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which neednot contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement. 

**7.9Headings.** The headings of the Articles and Sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof. 

**7.10 Successors And Assigns.** This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, and the Company, andany surviving entity resulting from a Change in Control and upon any other person who is a successor by merger, acquisition, consolidation or otherwise to the business formerly carried on by the Company, and their respective successors, assigns,heirs, executors and administrators, without regard to whether or not such person actively assumes any rights or duties hereunder; *provided, however,* that Executive may not assign any duties hereunder and may not assign any rights hereunderwithout the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. 

**7.11 Choice Of Law.** All questionsconcerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of California, without regard to such state’s conflict of laws rules. 

**7.12 Non-Publication.** The parties mutually agree not to disclose publicly the terms of this Agreement except to the extent that disclosure ismandated by applicable law or regulation or to respective advisors (*e.g.*, attorneys, accountants). 

**7.13 Construction OfAgreement.** In the event of a conflict between the text of the Agreement and any summary, description or other information regarding the Agreement, the text of the Agreement shall control. 

 

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**IN WITNESS WHEREOF,** the parties have executed thisAgreement on the Effective Date written above. 

 
**CV THERAPEUTICS, INC.**  **BRENT K. BLACKBURN**By: **/s/ LOUIS G. LANGE, M.D., PH.D.**   **/s/ BRENT K. BLACKBURN**Name: **LOUIS G. LANGE, M.D., PH.D.**   Title: **CEO & CHAIRMAN**   
Exhibit A: Release (Individual Termination) 

Exhibit B: Release (Group Termination) 

 

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**EXHIBIT A**

**RELEASE**

**(INDIVIDUAL TERMINATION)**

Certain capitalized terms used in this Release are defined in the Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement (the“**Agreement**”) which I have executed and of which this Release is a part. 

I hereby confirm my obligations under theCompany’s proprietary information and inventions agreement. 

I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of theCalifornia Civil Code which reads as follows: **“A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materiallyaffected his settlement with the debtor.”** I hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law of any jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to my release of any claims I may have against theCompany. 

Except as otherwise set forth in this Release, I hereby release, acquit and forever discharge the Company, its parents andsubsidiaries, and their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, shareholders, successors, assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnitiesand obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed (other than any claim for indemnification I may have as a result of any third party action against mebased on my employment with the Company), arising out of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to the date I execute this Release, including, but not limited to: all such claims and demands directly orindirectly arising out of or in any way connected with my employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, including but not limited to, claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, any and all tort claimsfor personal injury, claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay, or any other form ofdisputed compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended(“**ADEA**”); the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, as amended; tort law; contract law; statutorylaw; common law; wrongful discharge; discrimination; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; *provided, however,* that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed in any way torelease the Company from its obligation to indemnify me pursuant to the Company’s indemnification obligation pursuant to agreement or applicable law. 

 

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I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights I may have under ADEA.I also acknowledge that the consideration given under the Agreement for the waiver and release in the preceding paragraph hereof is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I further acknowledge that I have been advised bythis writing, as required by the ADEA, that: (A) my waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may arise on or after the date I execute this Release; (B) I have the right to consult with an attorney prior to executingthis Release; (C) I have twenty-one (21) days to consider this Release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute this Release earlier); (D) I have seven (7) days following the execution of this Release by the parties torevoke the Release; and (E) this Release shall not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which shall be the eighth day after this Release is executed by me. 

 
**BRENT K. BLACKBURN** Date:  
 

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**EXHIBIT B**

**RELEASE**

**(GROUP TERMINATION)**

Certain capitalized terms used in this Release are defined in the Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement (the“**Agreement**”) which I have executed and of which this Release is a part. 

I hereby confirm my obligations under theCompany’s proprietary information and inventions agreement. 

I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of theCalifornia Civil Code which reads as follows: **“A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materiallyaffected his settlement with the debtor.”** I hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law of any jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to my release of any claims I may have against theCompany. 

Except as otherwise set forth in this Release, I hereby release, acquit and forever discharge the Company, its parents andsubsidiaries, and their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, shareholders, successors, assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnitiesand obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed (other than any claim for indemnification I may have as a result of any third party action against mebased on my employment with the Company), arising out of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to the date I execute this Release, including, but not limited to: all such claims and demands directly orindirectly arising out of or in any way connected with my employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, including but not limited to, claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, any and all tort claimsfor personal injury, claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay, or any other form ofdisputed compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended(“**ADEA**”); the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, as amended; tort law; contract law; statutorylaw; common law; wrongful discharge; discrimination; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; *provided, however,* that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed in any way torelease the Company from its obligation to indemnify me pursuant to the Company’s indemnification obligation pursuant to agreement or applicable law. 

 

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I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights I may have under ADEA.I also acknowledge that the consideration given under the Agreement for the waiver and release in the preceding paragraph hereof is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I further acknowledge that I have been advised bythis writing, as required by the ADEA, that: (A) my waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may arise on or after the date I execute this Release; (B) I have the right to consult with an attorney prior to executingthis Release; (C) I have forty-five (45) days to consider this Release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute this Release earlier); (D) I have seven (7) days following the execution of this Release by the parties torevoke the Release; (E) this Release shall not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which shall be the eighth day after this Release is executed by me; and (F) I have received with this Release adetailed list of the job titles and ages of all employees who were terminated in this group termination and the ages of all employees of the Company in the same job classification or organizational unit who were not terminated. 

 
**BRENT K. BLACKBURN** Date:  
 

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