Document:

Employment Agreement between Reliant Pharmaceuticals and Ernest Mario, PhD

 Exhibit 10.6 
  
 EXECUTION COPY 
  
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
  
 THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 29, 2003, is made between RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the “Company”), and ERNEST MARIO (the “Executive”). 
  
 WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive, and the Executive desires to be employed by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein. 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
premises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
  
 1. Employment. The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive agrees to accept such employment, upon the terms and
conditions herein set forth. 
  
 2. Employment Period. The term of
employment hereunder shall commence on the date hereof and continue for a period ending on April 30, 2006, subject to earlier termination as provided herein (as extended pursuant to the terms hereof, the “Employment Period”). In the
event that the Executive continues to be employed by the Company following the termination of the Agreement, such employment shall be governed by this Agreement, except that it will be “at-will,” without a fixed term, and may be terminated
by the Company or the Executive at any time, with or without notice, for any reason or no reason (and no reason need be given), and without any further obligations of the Company beyond that owed for periods that the Executive was actually employed
by the Company. 
  
 3. Position and Duties. The Executive hereby agrees to
serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and shall have those duties, responsibilities and authority customarily accorded a person holding such a position in a company such as the Company. In such capacity the Executive
shall report to the Board of Managers of the Company (the “Board”). The Executive shall devote his best efforts and attention to the performance of services to the Company in accordance with the terms hereof and as may reasonably be
requested by the Company. The Company acknowledges that the Executive shall continue to pursue his several external obligations during the term of this Agreement. 
  
 4. Compensation and Other Terms of Employment. In consideration of the performance of his duties for the Company, the Executive shall
be entitled to receive the following: 
  
 (a) Base Salary.
During the Employment Period (and thereafter to the extent that the Executive continues to be employed by the Company), the Executive shall be entitled to receive an annual salary equal to the greater of (i) $12,000 and (ii) an amount per annum
equal to the applicable minimum statutory wage rate in effect in New Jersey (or such other state in which the Executive is resident for employment purposes) (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with
the Company’s regular payroll practices (e.g., timing of payments and standard employee deductions such as income and employment withholding taxes). 

 (b) Restricted Units. As soon as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, Executive
shall purchase and the Company shall issue to the Executive under the Reliant Pharmaceuticals, LLC Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), 274,968 Class One Common Units of the Company (the “Restricted Units”), at a
purchase price per unit established by an appraisal conducted by Duff & Phelps (a copy of which will be provided to the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, upon request) (the “Initial Restricted Unit Price”). The
Company represents that, as of the date of this Agreement, the Restricted Units equal 1.0% of the Fully Diluted (as defined below) membership interests of the Company. The Restricted Units shall be issued pursuant and subject to the terms of a
restricted unit agreement between the Company and the Executive substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Restricted Unit Agreement”), which agreement shall provide, among other things, that the Executive
shall be immediately vested in one-third of the Restricted Units and the remaining two-thirds of the Restricted Units will be subject to vesting in two equal installments on the first and second anniversary dates of this Agreement. 
  
 (c) Anti-Dilution Protection. During the Employment Period and at all
times thereafter that the Executive remains employed by the Company as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the Executive shall be entitled to receive additional grants of equity compensation such that the Executive and/or his permitted
transferees (as provided in Section 6(a) of the Restricted Unit Agreement) shall, at all relevant times, hold Class One Common Units of the Company equal to 1.0% of the Fully Diluted membership interests of the Company (the “Additional
Grants of Restricted Units”). In calculating such 1.0% of the Fully Diluted membership interests of the Company, the Initial Options (as defined below), the Series C Units (as defined below), any restricted units granted in connection with
the Consulting Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2003 between the Executive and the Company and any equity interests granted to or acquired by the Executive following the date hereof, other than Restricted Units acquired pursuant to Sections 4(b)
and 4(c) of this Agreement (and any securities acquired in respect thereof), shall be ignored for the purpose of calculating the Executive’s percentage ownership in the Company under this Section 4(c). All Additional Grants of
Restricted Units shall be made pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall be subject to the following terms: 
  
 (i) Each Additional Grant of Restricted Units shall be subject to the vesting schedule described in Section 4(b) such that the Executive shall be
fully vested in any and all Additional Grants of Restricted Units not later than the second anniversary of this Agreement. 
  
 (ii) In the event of an Additional Grant of Restricted Units, Executive shall purchase such restricted Common Units at a purchase price equal to the
Initial Restricted Unit Price. Additional Grants of Restricted Units shall be made as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year to reflect the issuance by the Company of additional equity during such fiscal year; provided, however, that
if the Fully Diluted membership interests of the Company is adjusted by reason of an extraordinary transaction (such as issuance of additional securities in 
  

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 connection with financing transactions), the Additional Grants of Restricted Units to be made in connection therewith
will be made within thirty (30) business days of the last day of the calendar quarter in which such extraordinary transaction was consummated. 
  
 For purposes of this Agreement, “Fully Diluted” means the total number of Common Units assuming full conversion or exercise of all
securities (or equity interests) convertible into Common Units and utilizing the treasury method to determine the number of Common Units able to be repurchased with the proceeds of option exercise. An example of the calculation of the Fully Diluted
membership interests of the Company is attached hereto as Exhibit B. 
  
 (d) Options. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company shall grant to the Executive options to purchase 549,936 Common Units, at an exercise price of $20.00 per unit (the “Initial
Options”). The Initial Options shall be evidence by and subject to the terms of an option agreement between the Company and the Executive substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto (the “Option
Agreement”). 
  
 (e) Liquidity Event Bonus. In the
event of a transaction during the Employment Period resulting in a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company (a “Liquidity Event”), the Executive shall be entitled to a bonus equal to 1.0% of the Net Proceeds (as defined
below) actually received by the members of the Company in connection with such Liquidity Event with respect to their membership interests in the Company (the “Liquidity Event Bonus”). The Liquidity Event Bonus will be paid in the
same consideration as, and to the extent (if the transaction is a mix of cash and other consideration) received by the holders of Common Units. The Liquidity Event Bonus shall be in addition to any rights that Employee shall have by reason of the
Liquidity Event with respect to any equity ownership or other rights to equity ownership he may hold in the Company. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Net Proceeds” means the total value of all consideration actually received by
the members of the Company with respect to a Liquidity Event, less investment banking fees and other transaction costs incurred by the Company in connection with the Liquidity Event. In the event that any of the consideration received by the members
of Reliant is paid into escrow or is a contingent payment, the Executive shall be paid his Liquidity Event Bonus in respect of such escrowed or contingent payments at the time that such payments are received by the other members (or former members)
of the Company. 
  
 (f) For the purposes of Section 4(e),
“Change of Control” means (i) the sale, lease exchange license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in one transaction or a series of related transactions, (ii) a merger or consolidation as a
result of which the holders of Company’s issued and outstanding voting securities immediately before such transaction own or control less than a majority of the voting securities of the continuing or surviving entity immediately after such
transaction and/or (iii) the acquisition (in one or more transactions) by any person or persons acting together or constituting a “group” under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), together with any affiliates thereof (other than members of the Company as of the date hereof and their 
  

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 respective affiliates) of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under such Exchange Act) or control, directly or
indirectly, of at least eighty percent (80%) of the total voting power of all classes of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of the Company’s board of managers or similar governing body; provided that for the purposes of the
immediately preceding clause (iii) neither a public offering of Company’s securities nor any financing transaction or series of financing transactions shall constitute a Change of Control. 
  
 (g) Aircraft. As soon as practicable following the date hereof, the
Company will purchase from Middlemarch, LLC (an entity controlled by the Executive, “Middlemarch”) Middlemarch’s 3/16ths NetJets fractional ownership interest in a Citation Excel aircraft, tail number N668QS (such interest, the
“Aircraft”) for a purchase price equal to One Million Eight Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($1,860,000). Upon consummation of the purchase of the Aircraft, the Company shall assume responsibility for all payments and obligations
with respect to the Aircraft from and after the date that title to the Aircraft passes to the Company. The Executive shall retain responsibility for all scheduling and similar issues related to the use of the Aircraft. The Aircraft shall be
available to the Executive for business and personal use; provided, however, that the Executive shall reimburse the Company for any personal usage of the Aircraft pursuant to applicable IRS table. 
  
 (h) Subscription. Concurrently with the closing of the purchase of the
Aircraft pursuant to Section 4(g) above, the Executive (or the Executive’s designee, but only as approved by the Company) shall subscribe for and purchase 93,000 of the Company’s Series C Preferred Units (the “Series C
Units”) pursuant to the terms of a subscription agreement between the Executive and the Company substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D. 
  
 (i) Housing. The Company will provide, at the Company’s cost, an apartment for the Executive’s use
reasonably close to the Company’s corporate headquarters in Liberty Corner, New Jersey. All taxes, utilities and maintenance/repair obligations related to the apartment shall be borne by the Company. 
  
 (j) Transportation/Automobile. The Company shall provide the
Executive, at the Company’s expense, with the use of a car service for business-related transportation. A vehicle from the Company’s fleet of PSR vehicles will be available for Executive’s use. 
  
 (k) Business Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to receive
reimbursement in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Company maintained from time to time for all reasonable documented business expenses incurred in the performance of his duties for the Company. In addition, the Executive shall be
entitled to a one time reimbursement of reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel incurred by the Executive in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement. 
  
 (l) Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to vacation during each year of the Employment Period in accordance
with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time applicable to other members of the Company’ senior management. 
  

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 (m) Benefits. Except as specifically provided herein, the Executive shall not participate in the
Company’s employment benefit plans, including but not limited to the Section 401(k) retirement plan, health, dental, life insurance, and long term disability plans or any bonus or other incentive plans. 
  
 (n) No Additional Compensation. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in this Section 4 or as determined in the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board, the Executive shall not be entitled to any other compensation, salary or bonuses for services as an employee of the Company. 

 
 5. Termination and Consequences. 
  
 (a) The Executive’s Rights to Terminate. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive may terminate this Agreement at any time, on at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company for any reason. 
  
 (b) The Company’s Right to Terminate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
Company may terminate this Agreement at any time during the term hereof with or without Cause (as defined below); provided that the Company shall give Executive at least 30 days’ prior written notice prior to termination without Cause.

  
 (c) Consequences of Termination without Cause or for Good
Reason. If the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause or if the Executive terminates this Agreement with Good Reason (as defined below), the Executive and the Company shall have the following rights and obligations: 
  
 (i) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in the applicable option or
restricted unit agreements to the contrary, the Executive shall become fully vested in all of the Initial Options, Restricted Units and any Additional Grants of Restricted Units; 
  
 (ii) if such termination occurs prior to a Liquidity Event, the Company shall pay the Executive the Liquidity Event Bonus;
provided, that the Executive would have otherwise been entitled to such Liquidity Event Bonus pursuant to Section 4(e) but for the termination of his employment as described in this Section 5(c); and 
  
 (iii) the Executive shall be entitled to any Base Salary accrued but unpaid
through the date of termination. 
  
 Upon termination of
employment Executive shall have no further rights to receive Additional Grants of Restricted Units or additional grants of options or any other benefits or compensation set forth in Section 4. Following such termination of Executive’s
employment the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under the terms of this Agreement. 
  

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 (d) Consequences of Termination With Cause or Without Good Reason. If the Company terminates this
Agreement with Cause or the Executive terminates this Agreement without Good Reason: 
  
 (i) the Executive shall forfeit all rights to the Initial Options and any Additional Grants of Restricted Units, to the extent not vested; 
  
 (ii) all Restricted Units and Additional Grants of Restricted Units, in each case to the extent unvested, shall be subject
to repurchase in accordance with the Plan; 
  
 (iii) the Executive
shall be entitled to any Base Salary accrued but unpaid through the date of termination; 
  
 (iv) the Executive shall have no further rights to any other benefits or compensation set forth in Section 4; and 
  
 (v) the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement. 
  
 (e) Definition of Good Reason. “Good Reason” means (i) a material reduction of Executive’s
duties and responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the reduction or (ii) material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement after receipt of written notice thereof from the Executive and failure by the Company to
cure the breach within thirty (30) days thereafter. 
  
 (f)
Definition of Cause. “Cause” means the Executive’s (i) conviction of or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude which in the judgment of the Board causes or will likely
cause substantial economic damage to the Company or substantial injury to the business reputation of the Company, (ii) commission of acts of fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement, theft, dishonesty or breach of the duty of loyalty in performance of
the Executive’s duties on behalf of the Company and (iii) failure lasting at least 30 consecutive calendar days to discharge his duties under this Agreement due to gross negligence. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company shall provide the
Executive prior written notice of its intent to terminate the Executive for Cause pursuant to Section 5(f)(iii) if the Executive fails to commence to cure such alleged failure to discharge his duties within thirty (30) days of such written
notice. 
  
 6. Records and Confidential
Data. 
  
 (a) Acknowledgement. The Executive
acknowledges that in connection with the performance of his duties during the term of his employment the Company will make available to the Executive, or the Executive will have access to, certain Confidential Information (as defined below) of the
Company and its affiliates. 
  

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 (b) Confidentiality Obligations. During the term of his employment and thereafter Executive shall
keep all Confidential Information confidential and will not use such Confidential Information other than in connection with the Executive’s discharge of his duties hereunder, and will be safeguarded by the Executive from unauthorized
disclosure. This covenant is not intended to, and does not limit in any way Executive’s duties and obligations to the Company under statutory and common law not to disclose or make personal use of the Confidential Information or trade secrets.

  
 (c) Return of Confidential Information. Following the
Executive’s termination of employment, as soon as possible after the Company’s written request, the Executive will return to the Company all written Confidential Information which has been provided to the Executive and the Executive will
destroy all copies of any analyses, compilations, studies or other documents prepared by the Executive or for the Executive’s use containing or reflecting any Confidential Information. Within ten (10) business days of the receipt of such
request by the Executive, the Executive shall, upon written request of the Company, deliver to the Company a notarized document certifying that such written Confidential Information has been returned or destroyed in accordance with this Section
6(c). 
  
 (d) Definition. For the purposes of this
Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all confidential and proprietary information of the Company, and its affiliates, including, without limitation, the Company’s marketing strategies, pricing policies or
characteristics, customers and customer information, product or product specifications, designs, software systems, leasing costs, cost of equipment, customer lists, business or business prospects, plans, proposals, codes, marketing studies,
research, reports, investigations, or other information of similar character. For purposes of this Agreement, the Confidential Information shall not include and the Executive’s obligations under this Section 6 shall not extend to (i)
information which is generally available to the public, (ii) information obtained by the Executive from third persons other than Executives of the Company, its subsidiaries, the Company and the Company’s affiliates not under agreement to
maintain the confidentiality of the same and (iii) information which is required to be disclosed by law or legal process. 
  
 (e) Construction. Any reference to the Company in this Section 6 shall include the Company and/or its subsidiaries. 
  
 7. Additional Covenants. 
  
 (a) Non-Competition. Except for such matters and activities approved
by the Board in writing, the Executive covenants and agrees that (i) during his employment and (ii) for a period of six (6) months following the termination of his employment by the Company, the Executive shall not serve as a President, Chief
Executive Officer and/or Executive Chairman in any corporation, partnership, proprietorship, firm, association, person, or other entity that engages in any business, activity or service whose principle business is the discovery, development,
manufacture and sales of prescription pharmaceuticals (a “Company Activity”). This Covenant (as defined below) applies to Company Activities in any territory or jurisdiction in which the 
  

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 Company is doing business or is making an active effort to do business during the term of the Executive’s employment
and with respect to the Executive’s Covenant regarding the six (6) month period after the termination of the Employment Period. This Covenant does not prohibit the mere passive ownership of less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock
of any public corporation as long as the Executive is not otherwise in violation of this Covenant. 
  
 (b) No Diversion. During the Employment Period, the Executive covenants and agrees that the Executive shall not divert or attempt to divert or take
advantage of or attempt to take advantage of any actual or potential business opportunities of the Company (e.g., joint ventures, other business combinations, investment opportunities, potential investors in the Company, and other similar
opportunities) which the Executive became aware of as the result of his employment with the Company. 
  
 (c) Non-Recruitment. The Executive agrees that the Company has invested substantial time and effort in assembling its present workforce.
Accordingly, the Executive covenants and agrees that during his employment and for a period of six (6) months following the termination of the Employment Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly entice or solicit or seek to induce or
influence any of the Company’s executives to leave their employment. 
  
 (d) Remedies. The Executive acknowledges that should he violate any of the covenants contained in Sections 6, and 7(a), (b), and (c) above (collectively
“Covenants”), it will be difficult to determine the resulting damages to the Company and, in addition to any other remedies it may have, the Company shall be entitled to temporary injunctive relief without being required to post a
bond and permanent injunctive relief without the necessity of proving actual damage. The Company may elect to seek one or more of these remedies at its sole discretion on a case by case basis. Failure to seek any or all remedies in one case does not
restrict the Company from seeking any remedies in another situation. Such action by the Company shall not constitute a waiver of any of its rights. 
  
 (e) Severability and Modification of Any Unenforceable Covenant. It is the parties’ intent that each of the Covenants be read and interpreted
with every reasonable inference given to its enforceability. However, it is also the parties’ intent that if any term, provision or condition of the Covenants is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the provisions thereof
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. Finally, it is also the parties’ intent that if it is determined that any of the Covenants are unenforceable because of overbreadth, then the
Covenants shall be modified so as to make it reasonable and enforceable under the prevailing circumstances. 
  
 (f) Litigation. The Executive agrees to render assistance and cooperation to the Company at its request regarding any matter, dispute or
controversy with which the Company may become involved and of which the Executive has or may have reason to have knowledge, information or expertise. Such services will be without additional compensation if the Executive is then employed by the
Company and for reasonable compensation and subject to his reasonable availability if he is not. 
  

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 (g) Construction. Any reference to the Company in this Section 7 shall include the Company
and/or its subsidiaries. 
  
 8. No Assignment. This Agreement shall not be
assigned, delegated, transferred, pledged or sold by either the Executive or the Company without the prior written consent of the other party. 
  
 9. Miscellaneous Provisions. 
  
 (a) Payment of Taxes. Any payments otherwise due under this Agreement to the Executive shall either be (i) reduced by the minimum required
withholdings for federal, state, local and/or employment taxes, or (ii) the Executive shall deliver to the Company in cash the amount necessary for the Company to satisfy its required tax withholding obligations. 
  
 (b) Notices. All notices, offers or other communications required or
permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be considered as properly given or made (i) if delivered personally or (ii) after the expiration of five days from the date upon which such notice was mailed from within
the United States by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) upon receipt by prepaid telegram or facsimile transmission (with written confirmation of receipt) or (iv) after the expiration of the second business day following
deposit with documented overnight delivery service. All notices given or made pursuant hereto shall be so given or made to the following addresses: 
  

			
	if to the Executive:	  	Ernest Mario
	 	  	  

	 	  	  

	 	  	  

		
	with copy to:	  	Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass
	 	  	222 Kearny Street, 7th Floor
	 	  	San Francisco, CA 94108
	 	  	Facsimile: (415) 989-1663
		
	if to the Company:	  	Reliant Pharmaceuticals, LLC
	 	  	110 Allen Road
	 	  	Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938
	 	  	Attention: President
	 	  	Facsimile: (908) 542-9406

  

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	with copy to:	  	Latham & Watkins Illinois LLC
	 	  	5800 Sears Tower
	 	  	Chicago, Illinois 60606
	 	  	Attention: Michael A. Pucker
	 	  	Facsimile: (312) 993-9767

  
 (c)
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed and enforced to the extent possible or modified in such a way as to make it
enforceable, and the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability thereof shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement. 
  
 (d) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
Jersey applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that state. The parties irrevocably agree that all actions to enforce an arbitrator’s decision pursuant to Section 9(k) of this Agreement shall be instituted
and litigated only in federal, state or local courts sitting in Newark, New Jersey and each of such parties hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such court and waives any objection based on forum non conveniens. 
  
 (e) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE, RELEASE AND
RELINQUISH ANY AND ALL RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTIONS TO ENFORCE AN ARBITRATOR’S DECISION PURSUANT TO SECTION 9(k) OF THIS AGREEMENT. 
  
 (f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of
which shall constitute one and the same instrument. 
  
 (g)
Entire Understanding. This Agreement including the Plan, all Exhibits and Recitals hereto which are incorporated herein by this reference, together with the other agreements and documents being executed and delivered concurrently herewith by
the Executive, the Company and certain of its affiliates, constitute the entire understanding among all of the parties hereto and supersedes any prior understandings and agreements, written or oral, among them respecting the subject matter within.

  
 (h) Pronouns and Headings. As used herein, all pronouns
shall include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural thereof wherever the context and facts require such construction. The headings, titles and subtitles herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are to be ignored in
any construction of the provisions hereof. 
  
 (i)
Amendments. Except as set forth in Sections 7(e) and/or 9(c) above, this Agreement shall not be changed or amended unless in writing and signed by both the Executive and the Company. 
  

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 (j) The Executive’s Acknowledgement. The Executive acknowledges (i) that he has consulted
with or has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement and has been advised to do so by the Company, and (ii) that he has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal
effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment. 
  
 (k) Arbitration. Except as provided in Section 9(e) hereof, in the event that there shall be a dispute among the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, the parties agree that such dispute
shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration in Newark, New Jersey, administered by the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”), in accordance with AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rules, to which shall be added the
provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure relating to the Production of Evidence, and the parties agree that the arbitrators may impose sanctions in their discretion to enforce compliance with discovery and other obligations. Such
arbitration shall be presided over by a single arbitrator. If the Executive, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, do not agree on the arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after a party requests arbitration, the arbitrator shall be
selected by the Executive and the Company from a list of five (5) potential arbitrators provided by AAA. Such list shall be provided within ten (10) days of the request of any party for arbitration. The party requesting arbitration shall delete one
name from the list. The other party shall delete one name from the list. This process shall then be repeated in the same order, and the last remaining person on the list shall be the arbitrator. This selection process shall take place within the two
(2) business days following both parties’ receipt of the list of five (5) potential arbitrators. Hearings in the arbitration proceedings shall commence within twenty (20) days of the selection of the arbitrator or as soon thereafter as the
arbitrator is available. The arbitrator shall deliver his or her opinion within twenty (20) days after the completion of the arbitration hearings. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding upon the parties, and may be entered and
enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction by either of the parties. The arbitrator shall have the power to grant temporary, preliminary and permanent relief, including without limitation, injunctive relief and specific performance. Unless
otherwise ordered by the arbitrator pursuant to this Agreement, the arbitrator’s fees and expenses shall be shared equally by the parties. 
  
 (l) Attorney’s Fees. If any arbitration is brought under Section 9(k), the arbitrator may award the successful or prevailing party
reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled. If any other proceeding is brought by one party against the other in connection with or relating in
any manner to this Agreement, or to enforce an arbitration award, the successful or prevailing party (as determined by an independent third-party, e.g. a judge) shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs
incurred in that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled. 
  
 (m) Survival. Sections 6, 7, and 9 (as well as any provisions of this Agreement necessary to give effect thereto) shall
survive the termination of this Agreement. 
  
 [Signature
page follows] 
  

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

  

			
	THE COMPANY:
	
	RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Fred Craves

	Name:	 	Fred Craves
	Title:	 	Senior Vice President
	
	THE EXECUTIVE:
	
	 /s/ Ernest Mario

	Ernest Mario

  
 [SIGNATURE
PAGE TO ERNEST MARIO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT] 
  

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 EXHIBIT A 
  

RESTRICTED UNIT AGREEMENT 
  

 13 

 EXHIBIT B 
  

 14 

 EXHIBIT C 
  

OPTION AGREEMENT 
  

 15 

 EXHIBIT D 
  

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT 
  

 16Letter, dated January 17,2005 from Reliant Pharmaceuticals to Joseph Zakrzewski

 Exhibit 10.7 
  
 January 17, 2005 
  
 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL 
  
 Joseph S. Zakrzewski 
 __________________ 
 __________________ 
  
 Dear Joe: 
  
 Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Reliant” or the “Company”), with its headquarter offices at 110 Allen Road in
Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938, is pleased to extend this “Offer of Employment” to you. 
  
 The following is an outline of the terms of your employment offer: 
  

			
	Initial Start Date:	 	February 1, 2004
		
	Job Title:	 	Chief Operating Officer
		
	Reporting:	 	You will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In the event that there is no CEO, you will report to the Board of Directors of the Company.
		
	Commitment:	 	Full time.
		
	Base Salary:	 	Your semi-monthly base salary is $18,750 payable the 15th and
last day of each month (or on such other dates as determined by the Company for payment of base salary to senior executives, but not less frequently than once per month), and is annualized to $450,000, minus the appropriate taxes and
withholdings.
		
	Incentive Bonus Eligibility:	 	As an employee of Reliant, you will be eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan with a potential range of up to seventy-five percent (75%) of base salary, which, if earned and
awarded will be paid annually no later than the end of the first quarter of the following year. You must be employed by Reliant at the end of a given calendar year in order to be eligible, and you must also meet specific objectives that are intended
to be established by Reliant in consultation with you. However in the case of your death while you are employed by Reliant or in the event Reliant terminates your employment without “Cause” (as defined below) or you terminate your
employment with “Good Reason” (as defined below), any amounts earned and awarded pursuant to the incentive compensation plan will be pro-rated based on your final employment date and will be payable no later than the end of the first
quarter of the following year.

			
	Special Bonus:	  	Upon commencement of employment with Reliant, you will be entitled to a special one time bonus in the amount $200,000, which amount will be reduced on a dollar for dollar basis by the amount of
any cash bonus payment (specifically excluding stock grant/restricted stock) that you receive from Eli Lilly and Company in respect of fiscal year 2004 (“2004 Lilly Bonus”) (regardless of when paid). The special bonus will be paid
on the last business day of Q1’05. In the event that you receive some or all of your 2004 Lilly Bonus after such time as Reliant has paid you the special bonus described in this paragraph, the Company will offset any such 2004 Lilly Bonus
amounts against future payments that Reliant owes to you (if any) in a manner agreeable to you and Reliant; provided that if you and Reliant are unable to agree, then in such manner as shall be reasonably determined by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors of Reliant (the “Compensation Committee”). Should there be no amounts against which to offset such 2004 Lilly Bonus amounts, you will reimburse the Company for any such amounts on a reasonable time table
mutually agreed between you and the Company, but in any event prior to the beginning of Q2’06. In the event that you are terminated by Reliant with “Cause” or you terminate your employment with Reliant voluntarily without “Good
Reason”, in each case, prior to the first anniversary of your employment with Reliant, you will reimburse Reliant for the full amount of any special bonus paid to you under this paragraph within 30 days of your separation from
Reliant.
		
	Relocation Allowance:	  	Reliant will reimburse you for reasonable and documented relocation expenses in connection with your move from              to New
Jersey including but not limited to a reasonable number of house hunting trips to New Jersey for you and your family. You will also be reimbursed for up to $50,000 of documented miscellaneous expenses that you incur in connection with the sale of
your existing home and the purchase and financing of a new home, including, closing costs and commissions on your home in             , closing costs on your new home in the New Jersey
area, and mortgage rate differential adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, Reliant will not reimburse you for the purchase price of your new home in New Jersey or for any personal property associated therewith.
		
	Equity Participation:	  	Upon commencement of employment with the Company you will be granted options to acquire 300,000 shares of Reliant Common Stock, with a strike price of $20.00/share. Such options will vest
annually over a period of four (4) years at a rate of 25% per year, and the vesting

  

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	 	 	commencement date for such options will be your first day as a full-time employee of Reliant. In addition to the initial option grant, you will be eligible to participate in the
Company’s Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to which you may be granted options to purchase Common Stock of the Company. Any grant of such options (beyond the initial 300,000) is solely in the discretion of the Company and subject to approval of
the Compensation Committee. Any such options will be granted at no less than fair market value (as determined by the Compensation Committee) as of the date of the grant, will vest annually over a four (4) year period at a rate of 25% per year and be
subject to the other terms and conditions of the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan (as will the initial 300,000 options). Subject to the foregoing, your annual option grant target range (beyond the initial 300,000 shares) is between 50,000 and
75,000 options.
		
	Make Whole:	 	If prior to the first anniversary of your employment with the Company a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs at a price per share of Common Stock calculated on a fully diluted basis
(the “CoC Share Price”) of less than $26.67, provided you are employed by the Company on the date of the Change of Control, the Company will pay you an incremental amount not to exceed $2,000,000, equal to the product of (i) 300,000
and (ii) the difference between $26.67 and the CoC Share Price.
		
	 	 	If after the first anniversary but prior to the second anniversary of your employment with the Company a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs at a CoC Share Price of less than $23.33,
provided you are employed by the Company on the date of the Change of Control, the Company will pay you an incremental amount not to exceed $1,000,000, equal to the product of (i) 300,000 and (ii) the difference between $23.33 and the CoC Share
Price.
		
	 	 	To the extent that any of the foregoing payments will subject you to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code as an excess parachute payment, then you may elect to have
the amount of such payments reduced to the extent necessary to avoid application of such excise tax, but only if such reduction would result in your receiving a greater amount than if you received the full amount and paid the excise
tax.
		
	 	 	For the purposes of this letter agreement, “Change of Control” shall mean (i) the sale, lease, exchange, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of
Company’s assets in one transaction or series of related transactions; (ii) a merger or consolidation as a result of which the holders of Company’s issued and outstanding voting securities immediately before such transaction own or control
less than a majority of the voting securities of the continuing or surviving entity

  

 3 

			
	 	 	immediately after such transaction and/or (iii) the acquisition (in one or more transactions) by any person or persons acting together or constituting a “group” under Section 13(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with any affiliates thereof of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under such Exchange Act) or control, directly or indirectly, of at least eighty percent (80%) of the total
voting power of all classes of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of the Company’s board of directors or similar governing body (other than any person or group owning at least such voting power on the date hereof); provided
that for the purposes of the immediately preceding clause (iii) neither a public offering of Company’s securities nor any debt or equity financing transaction or series of financing transactions shall constitute a Change of
Control.
		
	Benefits:	 	During your employment with Reliant, you will be eligible for Reliant’s then current employee benefits program applicable to your position, subject to all plan terms and eligibility
requirements. The benefits for which you may be eligible are more fully described in the applicable plan summaries and related documents. The benefits currently offered to full-time employees include group medical, dental, vision and prescription
coverage, group life and AD&D insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, 401(k) plan, flexible spending account, and select holidays. You will be eligible in accordance with Reliant’s policy for Combined-Time Off of eighteen
(18) days plus two floating holidays.
		
	Termination:	 	If your employment with the Company is terminated by Reliant without “Cause” or by you with “Good Reason” and you execute a general release of claims in a form reasonably
satisfactory to Reliant (provided that such form shall not contain a non-compete provision), you will be entitled to your salary and other benefits accrued through the date of termination, as well as one year base salary compensation and any amounts
due to you under the incentive compensation plan (but only to the extent earned and awarded), paid in accordance with the usual and customary payroll practices established by the Company, and you shall also be entitled to receive medical benefits
upon the same terms as active employees of the Company during such one year period. Following such one year period you will be entitled to enroll in ‘COBRA’ in accordance with applicable law. For purposes of this letter agreement,
“Cause” shall mean (i) any act or omission of fraud or dishonesty by you, (ii) your conviction, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to charges of, any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, (iii) any act
or omission by you that is materially injurious to the Company, provided that you shall have 30 days after written notice from the Company to cure or correct such act or omission (but only if such act or omission can be fully cured or corrected
within such 30 days

  

 4 

			
	 	 	period), (iv) your continuing failure to perform the material duties of your position after you have been given written notice from the Company and 30 days to cure such failure. “Good
Reason” shall mean (i) the material reduction of your duties and responsibilities; (ii) Reliant’s continuing failure to perform any of its material obligations under this letter agreement; or (iii) the relocation of your principal place of
business to a location that is more than 50 miles from its location as of the commencement of your employment; provided that, the Company shall have 30 days following written notice from you to cure or correct the condition or event that would
otherwise constitute Good Reason.
		
	Non-Solicitation:	 	You agree that Reliant has invested substantial time and effort in assembling its present workforce. Accordingly, you covenant and agree that during the term of your employment and for a
period of twelve (12) months following the termination, for any reason, of your employment with the Company, you will not, directly or indirectly, entice or solicit or seek to induce or influence any of the Company’s executives or other key
employees to leave their employment with the Company.
		
	Payments:	 	Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments described in this letter agreement shall be made in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll or reimbursement practices
and shall be subject to withholding to the extent required by applicable law.
	
	Although we hope that your employment with us is mutually satisfactory, please note that your employment at Reliant is “at will.” This means that you may resign from
Reliant at any time with or without cause, and Reliant has the right to terminate your employment relationship with or without cause at any time. Neither this letter agreement nor any other communication, either written or oral, should be construed
as a contract of employment for any particular duration.
	
	Our offer is contingent on being able to deliver satisfactory evidence of identity and employment eligibility as required by Federal law on your start date. Your employment is also
contingent upon your execution of an employee confidentiality and assignment of invention agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Reliant.

  
 [Signature Page
Follows] 
  

 5 

 Please sign and date this letter agreement in the space indicated and return it to my attention to
evidence your understanding and acceptance of the terms set forth herein. 
  

			
	 Sincerely,

	
	 RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ Ernest Mario

	 	 	Ernest Mario, Chief Executive Officer

  

	
	 Agreed to and Accepted:

	
	 /s/ Joseph S. Zakrzewski

	 Joseph S. Zakrzewski

	
	 Date: January 17, 2005

  

 6

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