exv10w47



 






Exhibit 10.47




November 30, 2005




Leonard E. Post, Ph.D.

2100 Powell Street

Emeryville, CA 94608



Dear Len:



This letter sets forth the substance of the separation agreement (the “Agreement”) that Onyx
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is offering to you to aid in your employment transition.




     1. Separation. Your last day as an employee and officer of the Company will be January 15,
2006 (the “Separation Date”).



     2. Accrued Salary and Vacation. On the Separation Date, the Company will pay you all accrued
salary, and all accrued and unused vacation earned through the Separation Date, subject to standard
payroll deductions and withholdings. You are entitled to these payments whether or not you sign
this Agreement.



     3. Severance Benefits. If you sign this Agreement and allow the release contained herein to
become effective, the Company will provide you with the following severance benefits:



          (a) Severance Payments. The Company will make severance payments to you in the form of
continuation of your base salary in effect on the Separation Date for twelve (12) months following
the Separation Date (the “Severance Payments”). The Severance Payments will be made on the
Company’s ordinary payroll dates, and will be subject to standard payroll deductions and
withholdings.




          (b) Health Insurance. As provided by the federal COBRA law, state insurance laws, and by the
Company’s current group health insurance policies, you will be eligible to continue your current
health insurance benefits at your own expense for a period of time following the Separation Date
and, later, to convert to an individual policy if you wish. You will be provided with a separate
notice of your COBRA rights. If you timely elect continued coverage under COBRA, as part of this
Agreement, the Company will pay the COBRA premiums necessary to continue your current health
insurance coverage for a period of twelve (12) months from the Separation Date. The Company’s
obligation to pay COBRA Premiums will cease immediately if you become eligible for other health
insurance benefits at the expense of a new employer. You agree to notify the Company immediately,
in writing, upon your acceptance of employment with another company that provides you with
eligibility for such health insurance benefits.




 









 





Leonard E. Post, Ph.D.

Page 2




          (c) 2005 Bonus. You will be eligible to receive a bonus for 2005 pursuant to the terms of the
Company’s Bonus Plan. The Company shall have the sole discretion to determine whether you receive
any such bonus and, if so, the amount of any such bonus. If awarded, this bonus will be paid at
the same time as bonuses paid to other Company executives.




          (d) Outplacement Assistance. The Company will reimburse you for reasonable outplacement
assistance expenses incurred by you during the twelve (12) months after the Separation Date up to a
maximum of $20,000.00.




     4. Consulting Agreement. You will serve as a consultant to the Company under the terms
specified below. The consulting relationship commences on the Effective Date as defined in Section
14 below, and continues for twelve months from the Effective Date (“Consulting Period”).



          (a) Consulting Services. You agree to provide consulting services to the Company in any area
of your expertise upon request by the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company. During the
Consulting Period, you will report directly to the CEO, or as otherwise specified by the CEO. You
agree to exercise the highest degree of professionalism and utilize your expertise and creative
talents in performing these services. You agree to make yourself available to perform such
consulting services throughout the Consulting Period, up to a maximum of forty (40) hours per
month.




          (b) Consulting Fees and Benefits.




               (i) Consulting Fees. During the Consulting Period, you will receive as consulting fees
$400.00 per hour for each hour or portion thereof that you actually provide services to the Company
(“Consulting Fees”).



               (ii) Independent Contractor Relationship. During the Consulting Period, your relationship
with the Company will be that of an independent contractor, and nothing in this Agreement is
intended to, or should be construed to, create a partnership, agency, joint venture or employment
relationship. Except as set forth above in Section 3(b) of this Agreement, you will not be
entitled to any of the benefits which the Company may make available to its employees during the
Consulting Period, including, but not limited to, group health or life insurance, profit-sharing or
retirement benefits.



               (iii) Taxes and Withholding. You are solely responsible for, and will file, on a timely
basis, all tax returns and payments required to be filed with, or made to, any federal, state or
local tax authority with respect to the performance of consulting services and receipt of fees
under this Agreement. You are solely responsible for, and must maintain adequate records of,
expenses incurred in the course of performing services under this Agreement. The Company will not
withhold from the Consulting Fees any amount for taxes, social security or other payroll
deductions. The Company will regularly report amounts paid to you by filing Form 1099-MISC with
the Internal Revenue Service as required by law. You



 









 





Leonard E. Post, Ph.D.

Page 3



acknowledge that you will be entirely responsible for payment of any such taxes, and you
hereby indemnify and hold harmless the Company from any liability for any taxes, penalties or
interest that may be assessed by any taxing authority with respect to all Consulting Fees you
receive under this Agreement, with the exception of the employer’s share of social security, if
any.




               (iv) Stock Option. Your outstanding stock options (the “Options”) will continue to vest
through the Consulting Period, provided that you remain in compliance with the terms of this
Agreement. You will have ninety (90) days to exercise any vested shares following the end of the
Consulting Period. The Options that vest during the Consulting Period will cease being incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code due to the extension of your vesting
period beyond your employment termination.



          (c) Limitations on Authority. You will have no responsibilities or authority as a consultant
to the Company other than as provided above. You agree not to represent or purport to represent
the Company in any manner whatsoever to any third party unless authorized by the Company, in
writing, to do so.




          (d) Proprietary Information, Inventions and Nonsolicitation. You agree that the Employee
Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement between you and the Company dated July 28, 2000
(the “Proprietary Information, Inventions and Nonsolicitation Agreement”, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit A) shall govern any Company information to which you have access or
which you develop, or inventions made by you, while performing services during the Consulting
Period.




          (e) Other Work Activities. Throughout the Consulting Period, you retain the right to engage
in employment, consulting, or other work relationships in addition to your work for the Company.
The Company will make reasonable arrangements to enable you to perform your work for the Company at
such times and in such a manner so that it will not interfere with other activities in which you
may engage. In order to protect the trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information of
the Company, you agree that, during the Consulting Period, you will notify the Company, in writing,
before you obtain competitive employment, perform competitive work for any business entity, or
engage in any other work activity that is competitive with the Company, and you will obtain the
Company’s written consent before engaging in any such competitive activity. If you engage in such
competitive activity without the Company’s express written consent, or otherwise materially breach
this Agreement, then, in addition to any other remedies, the Company’s obligation to pay you
Consulting Fees will cease immediately, and you will not receive option vesting after the
Separation Date as provided in paragraph 4(b)(iv).




     5. Other Compensation or Benefits. You acknowledge that, except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, you will not receive from the Company any additional compensation, including but not
limited to salary or bonuses, severance or employee benefits after the Separation Date. You
further acknowledge and agree that you are not currently entitled to receive any Change in Control
severance benefits nor shall you be entitled to receive any



 









 





Leonard E. Post, Ph.D.

Page 4



Change in Control severance benefits in the future (including without limitation any
accelerated vesting of your stock options provided for in your stock option agreements or the
Company’s stock option plan). Any such provisions in your stock option agreements or the stock
option plan providing for accelerated vesting of stock options in the event of a change in control
are hereby superseded and shall have no further force or effect.




     6. Expense Reimbursements. You agree that within ten (10) business days of the Separation
Date, you will submit your final documented expense reimbursement statement reflecting all business
expenses you incurred through the Separation Date, if any, for which you seek reimbursement. The
Company will reimburse you for these expenses pursuant to its regular business practice. Pursuant
to its regular business practice, the Company will reimburse you for documented business expenses
incurred during the Consulting Period.



     7. Return of Company Property. On the Separation Date, you agree to return to the Company all
Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company property that you have had in your
possession at any time, including, but not limited to, Company files, notes, drawings, records,
business plans and forecasts, financial information, specifications, training materials,
computer-recorded information, tangible property including, but not limited to, computers, credit
cards, entry cards, identification badges and keys; and any materials of any kind that contain or
embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company (and all reproductions thereof).
You may retain such documents, property, and materials during the Consulting Period only to the
extent approved in writing by the Company and you shall return them immediately upon written
request from the Company.



     8. Proprietary Information Obligations. You acknowledge your continuing obligations under
your Proprietary Information, Inventions and Nonsolicitation Agreement both during and after the
Consulting Period. You agree not to use or disclose any confidential or proprietary information of
the Company without prior written authorization from a duly authorized representative of the
Company.



     9. Nonsolicitation. You agree that for one year following the Separation Date you will not,
either directly or through others, solicit or attempt to solicit any employee, consultant, or
independent contractor of the Company to terminate his or her relationship with the Company in
order to become an employee, consultant or independent contractor to or for any other person or
entity.



     10. Confidentiality. The provisions of this Agreement will be held in strictest confidence by
you and the Company and will not be publicized or disclosed in any manner whatsoever; provided,
however, that: (a) you may disclose this Agreement to your immediate family; (b) the parties may
disclose this Agreement in confidence to their respective attorneys, accountants, auditors, tax
preparers, and financial advisors; (c) the Company may disclose this Agreement as necessary to
fulfill standard or legally required corporate reporting or disclosure requirements; and (d) the
parties may disclose this Agreement insofar as such disclosure may be necessary to enforce its
terms or as otherwise required by law. In particular, and without



 









 





Leonard E. Post, Ph.D.

Page 5



limitation, you will not disclose the provisions of this Agreement to any current or former
Company employee or any other Company personnel.




     11. Nondisparagement. You agree not to disparage the Company or the Company’s officers,
directors, employees, shareholders, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and agents, in any manner
likely to be harmful to them or their business, business reputation or personal reputation;
provided that you may respond accurately and fully to any question, inquiry or request for
information when required by legal process.



     12. Dispute Resolution. Unless otherwise 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 and exclusively by
final and binding confidential arbitration through the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service
(“JAMS”) to be held in San Francisco, California under the then-existing JAMS arbitration rules for
employment matters. Nothing in this section, however, is intended to prevent either party from
obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such
arbitration.



     13. General Release. In exchange for the consideration provided to you by this Agreement that
you are not otherwise entitled to receive, you hereby generally and completely release the Company
and its current and former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, agents,
attorneys, predecessors, successors, parent and subsidiary entities, insurers, affiliates, and
assigns from any and all claims, liabilities and obligations, both known and unknown, that arise
out of or are in any way related to events, acts, conduct, or omissions occurring prior to your
signing this Agreement. This general release includes, but is not limited to: (a) all claims
arising out of or in any way related to your employment with the Company or the termination of that
employment; (b) all claims related to your compensation or benefits from the Company, including
salary, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, expense reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits,
stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company; (c) all claims for breach of
contract, wrongful termination, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;
(d) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation, emotional distress, and discharge in
violation of public policy; and (e) all federal, state, and local statutory claims, including
claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, attorneys’ fees, or other claims arising under
the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (as amended) (“ADEA”), and the
California Fair Employment and Housing Act (as amended). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in
this Agreement shall prevent you from filing, cooperating with, or participating in any proceeding
before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the California Department of Fair Employment
and Housing, except that you acknowledge and agree that you shall not recover any monetary benefits
in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding with regard to any claim released herein.



 









 





Leonard E. Post, Ph.D.

Page 6




     14. ADEA Waiver. You acknowledge that you are knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing
any rights you may have under the ADEA (“ADEA Waiver”). You also acknowledge that the
consideration given for the ADEA Waiver is in addition to anything of value to which you were
already entitled. You further acknowledge that you have been advised by this writing, as required
by the ADEA, that: (a) your ADEA Waiver does not apply to any rights or claims that arise after
the date you sign this Agreement; (b) you should consult with an attorney prior to signing this
Agreement; (c) you have twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement (although you may choose to
voluntarily sign it sooner); (d) you have seven (7) days following the date you sign this Agreement
to revoke the ADEA Waiver; and (e) the ADEA Waiver will not be effective until the date upon which
the revocation period has expired unexercised, which will be the eighth day after you sign this
Agreement (“Effective Date”). Nevertheless, your general release of claims, except for the ADEA
Waiver, is effective immediately, and not revocable.



     15. Waiver. In giving the release herein, which includes claims which may be unknown to you
at present, you acknowledge that you have read and understand Section 1542 of the California 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
materially affected his settlement with the debtor. (California Civil Code section 1542)


You hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law or
legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the release of unknown and
unsuspected claims granted in this Agreement.




     16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including all exhibits, constitutes the complete, final
and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement between you and the Company with regard to the
subject matter hereof. It supersedes any and all other agreements entered into by and between you
and the Company. It is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or
oral, other than those expressly contained herein. It may not be modified except in a writing
signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Each party has carefully read this
Agreement, has been afforded the opportunity to be advised of its meaning and consequences by his
or its respective attorneys, and signed the same of his or its own free will.



     17. Attorneys’ Fees. If either you or the Company brings any action to enforce rights under
this Agreement, the party successful in enforcing this Agreement shall be entitled to recover
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by that party in connection with such action.



 









 





Leonard E. Post, Ph.D.

Page 7




     18. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will bind the heirs, personal representatives,
successors, assigns, executors and administrators of each party, and will inure to the benefit of
each party, its heirs, successors and assigns.



     19. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be deemed to have been entered into and will be
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California as applied to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within California.



     20. Severability. If a court or an arbitrator of competent jurisdiction determines that any
term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, then the
remaining terms and provisions hereof will be unimpaired. The court or the arbitrator will then
have the authority to modify or replace the invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid
and enforceable term or provision that most accurately represents the parties’ intention with
respect to the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.



     21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which will be
deemed an original, all of which together constitutes one and the same instrument. Facsimile
signatures are as effective as original signatures.


If this Agreement is acceptable to you, please sign below and return the original to me.



I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.



Sincerely,




	 	 	 	 	 
	Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	  /s/ Hollings C. Renton	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 	 	     Hollings C. Renton
	 	 	     Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Exhibit A — Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Understood and Agreed:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	    /s/ Leonard E. Post	 	 
	 	 	 
	Leonard E. Post, Ph.D.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Date: December 5, 2005