exv10w23






Exhibit 10.23




Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.




Amended and Restated Employment Agreement




          This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) was entered into as of February 10, 2005 by and
between Mihael H. Polymeropoulos (the “Employee”) and Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). This Agreement is hereby amended and restated as of
November 4, 2008.




          1. Duties and Scope of Employment.




               (a) Position. For the term of his employment under this Agreement (“Employment”), the Company
agrees to employ the Employee in the position of Chief Executive Officer. The Employee shall be
subject to the supervision of, and shall have such authority as is delegated to him by, the board
of directors of the Company (the “Board”), consistent with his position as Chief Executive Officer.
The Employee hereby accepts such employment and agrees to undertake the duties and
responsibilities normally inherent in such position and such other duties and responsibilities as
the Board shall from time to time reasonably assign to him consistent with his position as Chief
Executive Officer.



               (b) Obligations to the Company. During the term of his Employment, the Employee shall devote
his full business efforts and time to the Company. During the term of his Employment, without the
prior written approval of the Board, the Employee shall not render services in any capacity to any
other person or entity and shall not act as a sole proprietor or partner of any other person or
entity or as a shareholder owning more than five percent of the stock of any other corporation.
The Employee shall comply with the Company’s policies and rules, as they may be in effect from time
to time during the term of his Employment.



               (c) No Conflicting Obligations. The Employee represents and warrants to the Company that he
is under no obligations or commitments, whether contractual or otherwise, that are inconsistent
with his obligations under this Agreement. The Employee represents and warrants that he will not
use or disclose, in connection with his employment by the Company, any trade secrets or other
proprietary information or intellectual property in which the Employee or any other person has any
right, title or interest and that his employment by the Company as contemplated by this Agreement
will not infringe or violate the rights of any other person or entity. The Employee represents and
warrants to the Company that he has returned all property and confidential information belonging to
any prior employers.



          2. Cash and Incentive Compensation.




               (a) Salary. The Company shall pay the Employee as compensation for his services a base salary
at a gross annual rate of not less than $362,250. Such salary shall be payable in accordance with
the Company’s standard payroll procedures. (The annual compensation specified in this
Subsection (a), together with any increases in such compensation



 









 







that the Company may grant from time to time, is referred to in this Agreement as “Base
Compensation.”)



               (b) Incentive Bonuses. The Employee shall be eligible to be considered for an annual
incentive bonus with a target amount equal to 40% of his Base Compensation (the “Annual Target
Bonus”). Such bonus (if any) shall be awarded based on objective or subjective criteria
established in advance by the Board. The determinations of the Board with respect to such bonus
shall be final and binding. Any incentive bonus for a fiscal year shall in no event be paid later
than 21/2 months after the close of such fiscal year.



               (c) Stock Options. Subject to the approval of the Board, the Company shall grant the Employee
an incentive stock option covering 918,400 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Such option shall
be granted as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement. The per-share
exercise price of such option shall be equal to the fair market value of one share of the Company’s
Common Stock on the date of grant. The term of such option shall be 10 years, subject to earlier
expiration in the event of the termination of the Employee’s Employment. The Employee shall vest
in 25% of the option shares after the first 12 months of continuous service and shall vest in the
remaining option shares in equal monthly installments over the next three years of continuous
service. The option shall accelerate and become vested with respect to 100% of the option shares
if, after a Change in Control, (i) the Employee’s Employment is terminated by the Company for
reasons other than Cause or (ii) the Employee’s Employment is terminated by the Employee for Good
Reason.1 The grant of such option shall be subject to the other terms and conditions
set forth in the Company’s stock plan governing the option, and the Company’s standard form of
stock option agreement.



          3. Vacation and Employee Benefits. During the term of his Employment, the Employee shall be
eligible for 25 paid vacation days each year in accordance with the Company’s standard policy for
similarly situated employees, as it may be amended from time to time. During the term of his
Employment, the Employee shall be eligible to participate in any employee benefit plans maintained
by the Company for similarly situated employees, subject in each case to the generally applicable
terms and conditions of the plan in question and to the determinations of any person or committee
administering such plan.




          4. Business Expenses. During the term of his Employment, the Employee shall be authorized to
incur necessary and reasonable travel, entertainment and other business expenses in connection with
his duties hereunder. The Company shall reimburse the Employee for such expenses upon presentation
of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the
Company’s generally applicable policies.




          5. Term of Employment.




               (a) Basic Rule. The Company agrees to continue the Employee’s Employment, and the Employee
agrees to remain in Employment with the Company, from the





 




			
	1	 	Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 9.




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date of this Agreement until the date when the Employee’s Employment terminates pursuant to
Subsection (b) or (c) below. The Employee’s Employment with the Company shall be “at will,”
meaning that either the Employee or the Company may terminate the Employee’s Employment at any
time, with or without cause. Any contrary representations which may have been made to the Employee
shall be superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement shall constitute the full and complete
agreement between the Employee and the Company on the “at will” nature of the Employee’s
Employment, which may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by the Employee and a
duly authorized officer of the Company.




               (b) Termination. The Company may terminate the Employee’s Employment at any time and for any
reason (or no reason), and with or without cause, by giving the Employee notice in writing. The
Employee may terminate his Employment by giving the Company 14 days’ advance notice in writing.
The Employee’s Employment shall terminate automatically in the event of his death.



               (c) Permanent Disability. The Company may terminate the Employee’s Employment due to
Permanent Disability by giving the Employee 30 days’ advance notice in writing. In the event that
the Employee satisfactorily resumes the performance of substantially all of his duties hereunder
before the termination of his Employment under this Subsection (c) becomes effective, the notice of
termination shall automatically be deemed to have been revoked.



               (d) Rights Upon Termination. Except as expressly provided in Section 6, upon the termination
of the Employee’s Employment pursuant to this Section 5, the Employee shall only be entitled to the
compensation, benefits and reimbursements described in Sections 2, 3 and 4 for the period preceding
the effective date of the termination. The payments under this Agreement shall fully discharge all
responsibilities of the Company to the Employee.



               (e) Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate when all obligations of the
parties hereunder have been satisfied. The termination of this Agreement shall not limit or
otherwise affect any of the Employee’s obligations under Section 7.



          6. Termination Benefits.




               (a) General Release. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, Subsections (b)
and (c) below shall not apply unless the Employee (i) has executed a general release (in a form
prescribed by the Company) of all known and unknown claims that he may then have against the
Company or persons affiliated with the Company and (ii) has agreed not to prosecute any legal
action or other proceeding based upon any of such claims. The Company shall deliver the form of
release to the Employee within 30 days after his Separation. The Employee shall execute the
release within the period set forth in the form.



               (b) Severance Pay. If, during the term of this Agreement, a Separation occurs because the
Company terminates the Employee’s Employment for any reason other than Cause or Permanent
Disability, or because the Employee terminates his Employment within six months after a condition
constituting Good Reason arises, then the Company shall pay the Employee:



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               (i) Base Compensation. His Base Compensation for a period of 12 months
following the Separation (the “Continuation Period”). Such Base Compensation shall
be paid at the rate in effect at the time of the Separation and in accordance with
the Company’s standard payroll procedures. The salary continuation payments shall
commence within 30 days after the Employee returns the release described in
Subsection (a) above.




               (ii) Bonus Compensation. A bonus (the “Severance Bonus”) in an amount
determined as follows:




               (A) If the Separation occurs prior to the first anniversary of
the date of this Agreement, the Severance Bonus shall be equal to a
pro-rata portion of the anticipated first-year Annual Target Bonus
as determined by the Board in good faith.




               (B) If the Separation occurs on or following the first
anniversary of the date of this Agreement and prior to the third
anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the Severance Bonus shall
be equal to the greater of (I) the most recent Annual Target Bonus
and (II) the average of Annual Target Bonuses awarded for the prior
years.




               (C) If the Separation occurs on or following the third
anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the Severance Bonus shall
be equal to the greater of (I) the most recent Annual Target Bonus)
and (II) the average of Annual Target Bonuses awarded for the prior
three years.




The Severance Bonus shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard
payroll procedures within 30 days after the Employee returns the release described
in Subsection (a) above.



               (c) Health Insurance. If Subsection (b) above applies, and if the Employee elects to continue
his health insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”)
following the Separation, then the Company shall pay the Employee’s monthly premium under COBRA
until the earliest of (i) the close of the Continuation Period, (ii) the expiration of the
Employee’s continuation coverage under COBRA and (iii) the date when the Employee is offered
substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment or
self-employment.



          7. Non-Solicitation, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition. The Employee has entered into a
Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement with the Company, which agreement is incorporated
herein by reference.




          8. Successors.




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               (a) Company’s Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon any successor (whether direct
or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all
or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets. For all purposes under this
Agreement, the term “Company” shall include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets
which becomes bound by this Agreement.



               (b) Employee’s Successors. This Agreement and all rights of the Employee hereunder shall
inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Employee’s personal or legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.



          
9. Definitions. For all purposes under this Agreement:




               “Change in Control” shall mean (i) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another entity, if persons who were not stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such merger or consolidation own immediately after such merger or
consolidation 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of (A) the
continuing or surviving entity and (B) any direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing
or surviving entity; or (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the Company’s assets. A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose
is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be
owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities
immediately before such transaction.



               “Cause” shall mean (i) an unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential
information or trade secrets, which use or disclosure causes material harm to the Company; (ii) a
material breach of any agreement between Employee and the Company; (iii) a material failure to
comply with the Company’s written policies or rules; (iv) conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no
contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (v) gross
negligence or willful misconduct which causes material harm to the Company; or (vi) a continued
failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of such failure from the
Board.



               “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following events: (i) the Employee’s receipt of notice
that his principal workplace will be relocated more than 30 miles; (ii) a reduction in the
Employee’s base salary by more than 10%, unless pursuant to a Company-wide reduction affecting all
employees proportionately; or (iii) a change in the Employee’s position with the Company that
materially reduces his level of authority or responsibility (including without limitation failure
to nominate him as a director of the Company). A condition shall not be considered “Good Reason”
unless the Employee gives the Company written notice of such condition within 90 days after such
condition comes into existence and the Company fails to remedy such condition within 30 days after
receiving the Employee’s written notice.



               “Permanent Disability” shall mean that the Employee, at the time notice is given, has failed
to perform his duties under this Agreement for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days as the
result of his incapacity due to physical or mental injury, disability or illness.



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               “Separation” shall mean a “separation from service,” as defined in the regulations under
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).



          10. Miscellaneous Provisions.




               (a) Notice. Notices and all other communications contemplated by this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by
overnight courier, U.S. registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid.
In the case of the Employee, mailed notices shall be addressed to him at the home address which he
most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the Company, mailed notices
shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the
attention of its Secretary.



               (b) Modifications and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or
discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the
Employee and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Employee). No waiver by
either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement
by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same
condition or provision at another time.



               (c) Whole Agreement. No other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or
written and whether express or implied) which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have
been made or entered into by either party with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement and the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement contain the entire understanding
of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.



               (d) Tax Matters. All payments made under this Agreement shall be subject to reduction to
reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld by law. For purposes of Section 409A of the
Code, each periodic salary continuation payment under Section 6(b)(i) is hereby designated as a
separate payment. If the Company determines that the Employee is a “specified employee” under
Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and the regulations thereunder at the time of his Separation,
then (i) the payments under Section 6(b), to the extent not exempt from Section 409A of the Code,
shall commence on the earliest practicable date that occurs more than six months after the
Employee’s Separation and (ii) the payments that otherwise would have been made during the first
six months following the Employee’s Separation shall be paid in a lump sum on the first day of the
seventh month after his Separation. The Company shall not have a duty to design its compensation
policies in a manner that minimizes the Employee’s tax liabilities, and the Employee shall not make
any claim against the Company or the Board related to tax liabilities arising from the Employee’s
compensation.



               (e) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland (except their provisions governing
the choice of law).



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               (f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which
shall remain in full force and effect.



               (g) Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
breach thereof, or the Employee’s Employment or the termination thereof, shall be settled in the
State of Maryland, by arbitration in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of
Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. The decision of the arbitrator shall
be final and binding on the parties, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties hereby agree that the arbitrator
shall be empowered to enter an equitable decree mandating specific enforcement of the terms of this
Agreement. The Company and the Employee shall share equally all fees and expenses of the
arbitrator. The Employee hereby consents to personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts
located in the State of Maryland for any action or proceeding arising from or relating to this
Agreement or relating to any arbitration in which the parties are participants.



               (h) No Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations of the Employee hereunder
are personal to the Employee and may not be transferred or assigned by the Employee at any time.
The Company may assign its rights under this Agreement to any entity that assumes the Company’s
obligations hereunder in connection with any sale or transfer of all or a substantial portion of
the Company’s assets to such entity.



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



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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the
Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the date first written above.




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	/s/ Mihael H. Polymeropoulos	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Mihael H. Polymeropoulos	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By
	 	/s/ Steven A. Shallcross
 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Title: Chief Financial Officer	 	 







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