Document:

EXHIBIT 10.1 RS

Exhibit 10.1

    
January 2, 2015 (effective as of January 1, 2015)

Dr. Robin L. Smith
930 Fifth Avenue
Suite 8H
New York, New York 10021

Dear Robin:

This letter serves as an amendment (the “Amendment”) to (i) the employment agreement between you and NeoStem, Inc. (the “Company”) dated May 26, 2006 (as amended on each of January 26, 2007, September 27, 2007, January 9, 2008, August 29, 2008, July 29, 2009, April 4, 2011, November 13, 2012, and March 11, 2014) pursuant to which you serve as the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (the “Agreement”), and (ii) your Employee Confidentiality, Invention Assignment and Non-Compete Agreement dated as of August 6, 2006 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”).  Except as set forth herein, the Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement shall remain unchanged.  Initially capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement.
		
	1.
	Employment and Term.  Effective as of the date that the Board appoints a new Chief Executive Officer and such new Chief Executive Officer commences service to the Company, you will no longer be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  For the remainder of the Term (as described below) following the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, you will continue to be employed by the Company under the Agreement (as amended by this Amendment).  Unless terminated earlier by you (which you may do at any time by giving 30 days advance written notice to the Board), the Term shall expire on December 31, 2015, without renewal.  During the balance of the Term you may accept a new CEO position as long as (1) you continue to spend significant time on Company activities as reasonably requested, (2) such services does not interfere with or prevent your services hereunder and your continued service to the Company is consented to in writing by your new employer and (3) your new position is consistent with your obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement, as described below and modified herein.  After the expiration of the Term, you will continue to serve as a member of the Board and Chairman of the Board in a non-executive capacity, and for such service through the annual meeting to be held in 2016 without further compensation as long as you receive severance pay from the Company.

		
	2.
	Base Salary, Bonus and Option Grant.  You will continue to receive your $545,000 annual Base Salary for the remainder of the Term.  You will also receive a $200,000 cash bonus by June 1, 2015 after you hand off your CEO duties to an incoming CEO and will be eligible for an additional annual bonus if the Company achieves its target objectives for the year (as determined by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the year), which additional bonus will be prorated if the Term ends before December 31, 2015.  Upon your execution of this Amendment, you will also be granted a stock option under the Company’s 2009 Amended & Restated Equity Compensation Plan to purchase 300,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Amendment Grant”) at a per-share exercise price equal to the value of the Common Stock on the date of execution of this Amendment, with one-third (1/3) of such option being vested and exercisable immediately upon grant, one-third (1/3) of such option 

being vested and exercisable on June 7, 2015 and the remaining one-third (1/3) of such option being vested on December 7, 2015.

		
	3.
	Perquisites.  The Company will allow you to retain your current office and other perquisites, and the use of your current secretary through the end of the Term and thereafter until you are no longer a member of the Board.

		
	4.
	Severance.  Upon the expiration or termination of the Term, regardless of the reason, you will be entitled to the following:

		
	(a)
	The Company shall continue to pay your Base Salary (at the rate provided in this Amendment) in regular installments for a period of one year following the end of the Term (the “Severance Period”).

		
	(b)
	The Company will pay you an additional cash amount equal to your annual bonus for 2013 ($475,000), as soon as practicable after the expiration or termination of the Term (but no later than 15 days thereafter).

		
	(c)
	If you or your eligible spouse and dependents timely elect COBRA Coverage, the Company shall pay the monthly premiums for such coverage during the Severance Period; provided that, if you and your spouse or domicile partner are entitled to coverage under a subsequent employer’s group health insurance plan during the Severance Period, payment of such premiums shall cease.

		
	(d)
	All of your stock options (including the Amendment Grant), to the extent not vested, shall become fully vested and exercisable, and all of your vested stock options (including the Amendment Grant) shall remain exercisable for the balance of their respective 10-year terms as if your employment had continued.

		
	(e)
	The remaining 31,332 of your 94,000 “Restricted Shares” (as defined in your Restricted Stock Grant Agreement dated as of January 2, 2014), and any other equity awards, shall become vested and non-forfeitable upon achievement of their applicable vesting requirements, as if your employment had continued.

		
	(f)
	To the extent it is transferable, the Company will transfer and assign to you its term life insurance policy that provides a death benefit to your designated beneficiaries in the amount of $5 million, as issued by Ameritas Insurance Corp.

		
	(g)
	You will receive your cash bonus for 2015 (to the extent earned but not already paid, but as if your employment continued), and any other benefits payable under the then-existing terms of any plan, agreement or arrangement of the Company or its affiliates (the “Company Arrangements”).

		
	5.
	Non-Competition.  Section 4 of the Confidentiality Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

“4.  Noncompetition.  During the Term, and for twelve (12) months following the termination of the Term for any reason, whether by voluntary resignation or involuntary termination, or during any period in which I am receiving any financial compensation from the Company, including compensation for serving as a director of the Company, I will not without the prior written approval of (i) the chief executive officer of the Company, in the event that I am not an executive officer of the Company, and (ii) the Board of Directors of the Company, in the event that I am an executive officer of the Company, directly or indirectly become employed by or directly or indirectly participate in or assist any individual or entity that is a competitor of the Company in the stem cell or cell therapy 

sectors, as conducted by the Company in the fourth quarter of 2014 and as described in its quarterly 10Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2014.
		
	6.
	Other Modifications to Restrictions.  Other than as set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement (as amended by this Amendment) to protect all confidential information of the Company or otherwise, or as may be required to avoid a conflict of interest while you are a member of the Board, there shall be no other restrictions on your post-employment activities.  The Company also acknowledges and agrees that your continued association with the Stem for Life Foundation, and your solicitation of your current executive assistant for new employment, will not violate any contractual restrictions to which you are subject.  Your obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement shall also terminate if the Company materially defaults on any of its obligations to you, and such default continues without cure for 30 days after you provide notice of such default to the Company.

		
	7.
	Mutual Releases.  You agree to execute and deliver to the Company a general release of claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Mutual Release”) after the last day of the Term and no later than the twenty-first (21st) day after the last day of the Term, which shall be countersigned by the Company upon execution by you.  If you fail to timely execute and deliver the Mutual Release, or if you timely revoke the Mutual Release, the Company shall not be obligated to provide any of the payments set forth in paragraph 4 of this Amendment.  

		
	8.
	Indemnification.  The Company shall, to the full extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold you harmless from and against any liability, damage, claim or expense incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by you in connection with your employment with, or services for, the Company, such indemnification to include, without limitation, the advance payment of attorneys fees and other expenses reasonably incurred by you in connection with defending, or otherwise resolving, any claim based on any such act or omission.  Such advances shall be made within 30 days after your presentation of an invoice for such expenses.  You shall also be covered under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by or for officers or directors of the Company on no less favorable a basis than that applying to any of the Company’s officers or directors in general.  Your coverage under such policies shall continue during the Term, and for not less than six years thereafter, at the level then in effect for current officers or directors of the Company.

		
	9.
	Miscellaneous.

		
	(a)
	The Company will reimburse you, or pay your attorneys directly, for legal fees and other expenses of counsel incurred by you, in an amount not to exceed $25,000, in connection with your negotiation and implementation of this Amendment, not later than 30 days after presentation of an invoice with appropriate supporting documentation.

		
	(b)
	The Company acknowledges and agrees that its obligations under the Agreement, as amended by this letter, shall remain in full force and effect, including, without limitation, the Company’s obligations to remove legends from stock certificates and furnish information under Sections 9 and 10 in the amendment dated April 4, 2011.

		
	(c)
	In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Amendment and the terms of any Company Arrangement, the terms of this Amendment will control.  In the event of any termination of your employment, you shall be under no obligation to seek other employment and there shall be no offset against amounts, benefits or entitlements due you by the Company pursuant to this Amendment on account of any remuneration or benefits provided by any subsequent employment, except as expressly provided in paragraph 4(c) of this Amendment.

		
	(d)
	The Company represents and warrants that; (i) it is fully authorized by action of  any person whose action is required to enter into this Amendment and to perform the Company’s obligations under it; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment by the Company does not violate any applicable law, regulation, order, judgment or decree or any agreement, arrangement, plan or corporate governance document to which it is a party or by which it is bound; and (iii) upon the execution and delivery of this Amendment by the parties hereto, this Amendment shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

		
	(e)
	In the event of your death or a judicial determination of your incompetence, references in this employment offer to you shall be deemed, where appropriate, to refer to your beneficiary, transferee, estate or other legal representative.

		
	(f)
	All payments and benefits under this Amendment are intended either to be exempt from, or to comply with, the requirements of Section 409A and the regulations thereunder, and this Amendment shall be interpreted in accordance with such intent.  References in this Amendment to the expiration or termination of the Term, a “termination of employment” and similar terms shall mean a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.  Each payment under this Amendment shall constitute a separate payment within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Amendment to the contrary, if you are a “specified employee” (determined in accordance with Section 409A and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409-3(i)(2)) as of the end of the Term, and if any payment, benefit or entitlement provided for in this Amendment or otherwise both (i) constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and (ii) cannot be paid or provided in a manner otherwise provided herein or otherwise without subjecting you to additional tax, interest and/or penalties under Section 409A, then any such payment, benefit or entitlement that is payable during the first 6 months following your separation from service shall be paid or provided to you in a lump sum cash payment on the earlier of (x) your death or (y) 6 months and one day after your separation from service.  

If the terms of this Amendment are acceptable to you please sign where indicated below.  It is understood and acknowledged that a signature delivered by facsimile or “pdf” will be considered to be valid as an original.

Very truly yours,

NEOSTEM, INC.

By:/s/ Richard Berman
Name: Richard Berman
Title: Compensation Comm. Chair

Agreed to and accepted (on January 2, 2015):

/s/ Robin L. Smith
Robin L. Smith, M.D.

Exhibit A 
Mutual Release

1.     Release by the Executive.  In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under paragraphs 4(a) and (h) of the letter (the “Amendment”) dated as of January 1, 2015 between NeoStem, Inc. (the “Company”) and Dr. Robin L. Smith (the “Executive”), with the intention of binding the Executive and the Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns (the “Executive Parties”), the Executive does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge the Company and each of its subsidiaries (the “Company Affiliated Group”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, agents, attorneys, employees and employee benefits plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing, (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected which the Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, against any of the Company Released Parties in any capacity, including, without limitation, any and all claims (i) arising out of or in any way connected with the Executive’s service to any member of the Company Affiliated Group (or the predecessors thereof) in any capacity, or the termination of such service in any such capacity, (ii) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (iii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, and (iv) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices), any and all claims based on the Executive Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), any and all claims arising under the civil rights laws of any federal, state or local jurisdiction, including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the New York State Human Rights Law, the New York City Human Rights Law, the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, the False Claims Act, and any and all claims under any whistleblower laws or whistleblower provisions of other laws; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 1 releases any obligations of the Company Released Parties with respect to the rights of the Executive that are provided under, or preserved by, the Amendment.  
2.     Release by Company.  
(a)    The Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the other member of the Company Affiliated Group, hereby releases the Executive Parties from any and all claims that the Company Released Parties had or may ever have against the Executive Parties from the beginning of time and up to and including the date that Company has executed, and delivered, this Release.
(b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the release granted under Section 2(a) specifically excludes (i) the violation of any federal, state or local statutory and/or public policy right or entitlement that, by applicable law, is not waivable; (ii) any claim based on willful misconduct by the Executive (with willful misconduct defined in this context to mean misconduct that is known by the Executive not to be in the interest of the Company); (iii) any claim for breach of this Mutual Release or the Amendment by the Executive; (iv) the Company’s right to recoup payments to the Executive, to the extent required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Dodd-Frank Act; and (v) any wrongful act or omission occurring after the date that the Company has executed, and delivered, this Mutual Release.
(c)    To the extent that this Section 2 is not enforceable against any Company Released Party, the Company agrees to promptly indemnify and hold the Executive harmless from any liability, costs or 

obligations with respect to any claims (including, without limitation, any attorney fees or other charges incurred in defending any such claims) released by this Release.
3.    No Admissions. The Company and the Executive acknowledge and agree that the releases provided in Section 1 and 2 are not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Company Released Party or by the Executive. 
4.    Representations.  The Executive represents and warrants that she is unaware of any facts that could constitute unlawful conduct by the Company that have not already been presented to the Board.
5.     Specific Waiver. The Executive specifically acknowledges that his or her acceptance of the terms of this Mutual Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of his or her right, claims and causes of action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action which by law the Executive is not permitted to waive. This Mutual Release is not intended to, and shall not, in any way prohibit, limit or otherwise interfere with the Executive’s protected right to communicate or file a charge with, or participate in an investigation or proceeding conducted by, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or similar federal, state or local government body or agency charged with enforcing employment discrimination laws but the Executive hereby waives any and all rights to relief or recovery, under, or by virtue of, any such filing of a charge with, or investigation, hearing or proceeding conducted by, the EEOC or any other similar federal, state or local government agency relating to any claim that has been released in this Mutual Release.
6.     Voluntariness. The Executive agrees that she is relying solely upon her own judgment; that the Executive is over 18 years of age and is legally competent to sign this Mutual Release; that the Executive is knowingly or voluntarily signing this Mutual Release of her own free will; that the Executive has read and understood the Mutual Release before signing it; and that the Executive is signing this Mutual Release in exchange for consideration that she believes is satisfactory and adequate. 
7.     Legal Counsel. The Executive acknowledges that she has been informed of the right to consult with legal counsel of her choice and has done so. 
8.     Complete Agreement/Severability. This Mutual Release together with the Amendment and the Confidentiality Agreement constitutes the complete and final agreement between the parties and supersedes and replaces all prior or contemporaneous agreements, negotiations, or discussions relating to the subject matter of this Mutual Release. All provisions and portions of this Mutual Release are severable.  If any provision or portion of this Mutual Release or the application of any provision or portion of the Mutual Release shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent or for any reason, all other provisions and portions of this Mutual Release shall remain in full force and shall continue to be enforceable to the fullest and greatest extent permitted by law. 
9.     Acceptance. The Executive acknowledges that she has been given a period of twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Mutual Release, unless applicable law requires a longer period, in which case the Executive shall be advised of such longer period and such longer period shall apply.  The Executive represents and warrants that she has had sufficient opportunity to consider this Mutual Release, has carefully read it and understands all of its terms and understands that it is valid, binding and enforceable against the Executive and the Company in accordance with its terms.
The Executive further acknowledges, understands and agrees that that the general release of claims above includes, but is not limited to, a waiver and release of all claims that she may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (the “ADEA”) arising up to and including the 

date that she signs this Mutual Release.  As required by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, the Executive is hereby advised that: 

		
	•
	She is not waiving any rights or claims under the ADEA that may arise after the date she sign this Mutual Release;

		
	•
	She should consult with an attorney of her choice concerning her rights and obligations under this Mutual Release before signing this Mutual Release;

		
	•
	She should fully consider this Mutual Release before signing it;

		
	•
	nothing in this Mutual Release prevents or precludes the Executive from challenging (or seeking a determination of) the validity of the waiver under the ADEA;  

		
	•
	she has 21 days from the date she received this Mutual Release to consider whether or not she wants to sign it.  The Executive also should understand that she may use as much or as little of the 21-day period as she wishes before deciding whether or not to sign this Mutual Release;

		
	•
	if the Executive does not sign and return this Mutual Release within the required time period, then the Company’s offer to provide her with the severance and other payments described herein above, will automatically terminate;

		
	•
	at any time within 7 days after signing this Mutual Release, the Executive may change her mind and revoke her acceptance of this Mutual Release.  To be effective, the Executive’s revocation must be in writing and either hand-delivered or sent electronically to the Company within the 7-day period.

		
	•
	this Mutual Release is not effective or enforceable until (and if) the revocation period has passed without a revocation; 

		
	•
	if the Executive exercises her right to revoke this Mutual Release (including, without limitation, the Company’s offer to provide the Executive with the severance and other payments described herein and the mutual release of claims will not be enforceable; and

		
	•
	if the Executive does not revoke her acceptance of this Mutual Release, the eighth day following that date that the Executive signs this Mutual Release will be the effective date.

10.     Governing Law. Except for issues or matters as to which federal law is applicable, this Mutual Release shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof. The parties consent to the exclusive forum of the state and federal courts located in New York in the Borough of Manhattan with respect to any dispute.
[Signature Page to Follow]

The Company and Executive indicate their acceptance of this Mutual Release by signing and dating it and returning it to the other. This Mutual Release may also be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and said counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  Signatures delivered by facsimile (including, without limitation, by “pdf”) shall be effective for all purposes.

ACCEPTED AND AGREED: 

_____________________________
Dr. Robin L. Smith 
Date:___________________

NeoStem, Inc. 

By:_________________________ 
Name: 
Title:
Date:___________________EXHIBIT 10.2 DM

Exhibit 10.2

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 5, 2015 and effective on January 5, 2015, (the “Effective Date”) is by and between NeoStem, Inc. (the “Company”) and David J. Mazzo, Ph.D. (the “Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as its Chief Executive Officer and the Executive desires to be so employed by the Company; and 
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive each believe it is in their respective best interests to enter into this Agreement setting forth the mutual understandings and agreements reached between the Company and the Executive with respect to the Executive’s employment with the Company and certain restrictions on the Executive’s conduct benefitting the Company during such time and thereafter, all as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
Section 1.Employment.  The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company on a full-time basis, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and, subject to earlier termination pursuant to Section 6 below, continuing until December 31, 2018 (the “Initial Term”).  Effective upon the expiration of the Initial Term and of each Renewal Term, if any, this Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder may be extended by the Company (acting through the Board) for an additional period of one (1) year, subject to earlier termination pursuant to Section 6 below (each, a “Renewal Term”), in each such case, commencing upon the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term, as the case may be, but only if, at least ninety (90) calendar days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term, as the case may be, the Company (acting through the Board) shall have given written notice to the Executive of the Company’s intention to extend the Term (the “Extension Notice”).  In the event that the Company does not provide an Extension Notice in the manner and within the time period set forth in the preceding sentence, the Term automatically shall expire at the end of the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term, as the case may be.  As used in this Agreement, the “Term” shall refer to the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the effective date of the termination of this Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder (the “Termination Date”) in accordance with this Section 1 or Section 6 below.  The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that he has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement, and that its execution and performance by him will not violate the terms of any existing agreement or understanding to which the Executive is a party; and the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Executive that the person executing this Agreement on its behalf has the authority to do so and to bind the Company.

Section 2.Position and Duties.  During the Term, the Executive shall be employed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and shall perform duties consistent with such position, including but not limited to direct responsibility for all day-to-day operations of the Company, and such other related duties 

as the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) shall reasonably request.  The Executive will report to the Executive Chairman of the Board, and be subject to the lawful direction of, the Board.  During the Term, and except for vacation in accordance with Section 5(a) below, the Executive shall devote his full business time, attention, skill and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and other affiliates and shall comply with the Company’s codes of conduct, policies and procedures in place from time to time; provided however; the foregoing shall not prevent the Executive from (a) engaging in not-for-profit activities (e.g., board membership with charitable, educational, or religious organizations), (b) serving on the board of directors of pSivida Corp. and Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or in the event that the Executive ceases to serve on such boards, then, subject to the prior written approval of the Board, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, serving on the board of directors (or similar governing body) of not more than two (2) other for profit corporations (or other business entities) that are not competitors of the Company (as determined in good faith by the Board, it being understood that a failure to approve if service would be inconsistent with ISS standards is reasonable), or (c) managing the Executive’s personal and immediate family member’s passive investments, as long as, in each case, such activities individually or in the aggregate do not materially interfere or conflict with the Executive’s duties hereunder or create a potential business or fiduciary conflict (in each case, as determined in good faith by the Board).  During the Term, the Executive also shall serve as a member of the Board and in such other executive-level positions or capacities as may, from time to time, be reasonably requested by the Executive Chairman and/or the Board, including, without limitation (subject to election, appointment, re-election or re-appointment, as applicable) as (i) a member of the board of directors or similar governing body of any of the Company’s subsidiaries or other affiliates, (ii) an officer of any of the Company’s subsidiaries or other affiliates, and/or (iii) a member of any committee of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates, in each case, for no additional compensation.  The Executive’s position as a member of the Board shall be subject to election and/or re-election by the Company’s shareholders, and the failure of the Company’s shareholders to elect or re-elect the Executive shall not be deemed either (A) a breach by the Company of its obligation to the Executive or (B) a material reduction in the Executive’s position, duties, responsibilities or authority.  The Executive’s initial principal place of employment for the performance of his services hereunder shall be at the Company’s corporate headquarters in New York, NY; provided; however, it is understood that the Executive shall be required to travel (both within the US and abroad) as reasonably necessary to perform his duties hereunder.

Section 3.Compensation.  For all services rendered by the Executive in any capacity required hereunder during the Term, the Executive shall be compensated as follows:

(a)The Company shall pay the Executive a base salary (the “Base Salary”) at the annualized rate of $545,000, which shall be subject to customary withholdings and authorized deductions and be payable in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices in place from time to time.  The Executive’s Base Salary shall be subject to review by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) at least annually and may be increased, but not decreased, from time to time by the Board.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Base Salary” shall refer to base salary as may be adjusted from time to time.

(b)The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all compensation and employee benefit plans or programs and to receive all other benefits and perquisites that are approved by the Board and are generally made available by the Company to other senior executives of the Company and to the extent permissible under the general terms and provisions of such plans or programs and in accordance with the provisions thereof.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall require the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof to establish, maintain or continue any particular plan or program nor preclude the amendment, rescission or termination of any such plan or program that may be established from time to time.

(c)Upon the Effective Date, the Executive shall be granted an option (the “Initial Option”) to purchase 620,000 shares (the “Initial Option Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $.001 par value (the “Common Stock”) under and subject to the Company’s 2009 Equity Compensation Plan, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “2009 Equity Plan”) at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Common Stock on the Effective Date.  The Initial Option shall be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the 2009 Equity Plan and applicable law and shall be subject to a written grant agreement setting forth the terms and conditions to which such Initial Option grant shall be subject (“Initial Grant Agreement”).  The Initial Grant Agreement will provide, among other things, that 100,000 shares of the Initial Option Shares shall be immediately vested, with the balance of the Initial Option Shares vesting in a series of sixteen successive equal quarterly installments (32,500 shares each) such that vesting is complete on the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date (in each case, subject to the Executive’s continued employment with the Company on the applicable vesting date).  The Executive shall be granted, upon the Effective Date, an additional option (the “Additional Option,” and together with the Initial Option, the “Options”) to purchase 200,000 shares (the “Additional Option Shares,” and together with the Initial Option Shares, the “Option Shares”) of the Common Stock under the 2009 Equity Plan at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Common Stock on the Effective Date. The Additional Option also shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the 2009 Equity Plan and applicable law and shall be subject to a written grant agreement setting forth the terms and conditions to which such Additional Option grant shall be subject (the “Additional Grant Agreement”).  The Additional Grant Agreement will provide, among other things, that the Additional Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable based on two (2) individual milestones (100,000 Additional Option Shares each), subject to the Executive’s continued employment by the Company on each of the applicable 1/16 milestone vesting dates.  The milestones shall be mutually established by the Compensation Committee (or the Executive Chairman) and the Executive within three (3) months following the Effective Date.  All Options and Option Share issuances are subject to the Executive’s execution of the Company’s Insider Trading Policy.  In addition, the Executive acknowledges that in his position he will be an “affiliate” of the Company for purposes of U.S. securities laws and the Option Shares and any transfer of the Option Shares will be treated as such.  The Option Shares will be included in the Company’s registration statements on Form S‐8.

(d)The Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus for each calendar year ending during the Term (“Annual Bonus”).  The Executive’s target Annual Bonus will equal 55% of his Base Salary (the “Target Bonus”) and the Executive’s maximum Annual Bonus will equal 100% of his Base Salary.  Annual Bonus will be determined by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee based upon the level of achievement of the Company’s corporate goals and objectives for the calendar year with respect to which the Annual Bonus relates and the Executive’s individual performance (in each case, as reasonably determined by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee).  The Board agrees to take into account the Executive’s input with respect to the establishment of the Executive’s individual goals and objectives.  The Board may, in its discretion, award the Executive an Annual Bonus of less than or greater than the Target Bonus depending on the Executive’s level of achievement of the performance targets.  Each Annual Bonus for a calendar year, to the extent earned, will be paid in a lump sum in the following calendar year, but no later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the applicable calendar year for which the Annual Bonus is being measured.  In order for the Executive to receive an Annual Bonus, the Executive must be actively employed by the Company on December 31 of the calendar year for which the Annual Bonus is being measured.

Section 4.Business Expenses.  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel (it being understood that travel shall be arranged by the Company when practicable) and other reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of his duties and obligations under this Agreement, subject to the Executive’s presentation of appropriate vouchers or receipts 

in accordance with such policies and approval procedures as the Company may from time to time establish for employees (including but not limited to prior approval of extraordinary expenses) and to preserve any deductions for Federal income taxation purposes to which the Company may be entitled.

Section 5.Benefits; Perquisites; Expense Reimbursement.  In addition to those payments and benefits set forth above or elsewhere herein, Executive shall be entitled to the following other benefits and payments:
(a)Vacation.  Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation per calendar year (pro rated in the event of a service year which is shorter than a calendar year), in addition to Company-observed holidays.  Any vacation time not used during a calendar year shall be treated in accordance with the Company’s policies relating to unused vacation (currently forfeiture without compensation).

(b)Supplemental Term Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance.  The Company will pay up to $10,000 annually (in the aggregate) for supplemental term life insurance coverage and supplemental long-term disability coverage.

(c)Non-Accountable Expense Allowance.  The Company will provide the Executive with an annual expense allowance of $12,000 in the aggregate, payable in monthly installments.

(d)D&O Insurance.  The Executive shall be covered by the Directors and Officers Liability Insurance policy that generally covers the directors and officers of the Company, provided by the Company at its expense.

(e)Indemnification.  The Executive shall be entitled to the benefit of the indemnification provisions contained in the Company’s By-Laws or Certificate of Incorporation as they may be amended from time to time, to the extent permitted by applicable law, at the time of the assertion of any liability against the Executive.
(f)Legal Expenses.  The Company shall pay for the reasonable legal fees of counsel incurred by the Executive in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement, up to a maximum amount of $10,000.

Section 6.Termination of Employment.  

(a)Events of Termination.  The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i)Termination for Cause.  The Company (acting through the Board) may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause at any time.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean that, as determined by the Board, the Executive has: (A) committed gross negligence in connection with his duties as set forth herein or otherwise with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (B) committed fraud in connection with his duties as set forth herein or otherwise with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (C) engaged in personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, willful violation of any law, or breach of fiduciary duty, in each instance, with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or its other affiliates; (D) been indicted for, or has been found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have committed or plead guilty to, (1) a felony (or state law equivalent) or (2) any other serious crime involving moral turpitude or that has (or is reasonably likely to have) a material adverse effect either on (x) the Executive’s ability to perform his duties under the Agreement or (y) the reputation and goodwill of the Company, regardless of whether or not such other crime is related or unrelated to the business of the Company, 

its subsidiaries or other affiliates; (E) shown chronic use of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances that materially affects the Executive’s work performance; (F) breached his obligations under (1) this Agreement, (2) the Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Inventions Assignment Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Covenants Agreement”) or (3) any other agreement executed by the Executive for the benefit of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or other affiliates, provided, that, if such breach described in this clause (F) is susceptible to cure (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board), the Executive shall have thirty (30) days after notice from the Board to cure such breach; (G) failed to materially perform the Executive’s duties or to follow the lawful directives of the Board; provided, that, if such failure described in this clause (G) is susceptible to cure (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board), the Executive shall have thirty (30) days after notice from the Board to cure such failure; or (H) materially violated the Company’s written code of conduct or other written or established policies and/or procedures in place from time to time; provided, that, if such violation described in this clause (H) is susceptible to cure (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board), the Executive shall have thirty (30) days after notice from the Board to cure such violation.  Any notice to the Executive under this Section 6(a)(i) shall be in writing and shall specify in reasonable detail the Executive’s acts or omissions that the Company alleges constitute “Cause.”
(ii)Termination without Cause.  The Company (acting through the Board) may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability) at any time upon notice to Executive.

(iii)Resignation for Good Reason.  The Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason (as defined below) upon written notice to the Company in accordance with the definition thereof.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events: (A) material breach by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement; (B) the Executive’s position, duties, responsibilities, or authority have been materially reduced or the Executive has repeatedly been assigned duties that are materially inconsistent with his duties set forth herein, in each case, without the Executive’s consent or (C) the relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment, without the Executive’s consent, in a manner that lengthens his one-way commute distance by one hundred (100) or more miles.  “Good Reason” shall not be deemed to exist, however, unless (1) the Executive shall have given written notice to the Company specifying in reasonable detail the Company’s acts or omissions that the Executive alleges constitute “Good Reason” within sixty (60) days after the first occurrence of such circumstances and the Company shall have failed to cure any such act or omission within sixty (60) days of receipt of such written notice, and (2) the Executive actually terminates employment within one hundred eighty (180) days following the initial occurrence of the of any of the foregoing conditions that he considers to be “Good Reason.”  If the Executive fails to provide this notice and cure period prior to his resignation, or resigns more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the initial existence of the condition, his resignation will not be deemed to be for “Good Reason.”

(iv)Resignation without Good Reason. The Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason at any time, including for any reason that does not constitute Good Reason, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Company, provided, however, the Company reserves the right, upon written notice to the Executive, to accept the Executive’s notice of resignation and to accelerate such notice and make the Executive’s resignation effective immediately, or on such other date prior to the Executive’s intended last day of work as the Company deems appropriate.  It is understood and agreed that the Company’s election to accelerate Executive’s notice of resignation shall not be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause for purposes of Section 6(a)(ii) of this Agreement, Section 7(a) of this Agreement or otherwise, or constitute Good Reason for purposes of Section 6(a)(iii) of this Agreement, Section 7(a) of this Agreement or otherwise.

(v)Disability.  The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon his Disability.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean that the Executive has been unable to perform his duties to the Company on account of physical or mental illness or incapacity for a period of ninety (90) consecutive calendar days or one hundred twenty (120) calendar days (whether or not consecutive) during any 365-day period, as a result of a condition that is treated as a total or permanent disability under the long-term disability insurance policy of the Company that covers the Executive.

(vi)Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall automatically terminate upon his death.

(vii)Expiration of Term.  As set forth in Section 1 above, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the Term.

(b)Resignation from Directorships, Officerships and Committees.  The termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason shall constitute the Executive’s resignation from (i) any director, officer, employee or committee position the Executive has with the Company or any of its affiliates and (ii) all fiduciary positions the Executive holds with respect to any employee benefit plans or trusts established by the Company.  The Executive agrees that this Agreement shall serve as written notice of resignation in this circumstance; provided, however, the Executive agrees to take any additional actions that are deemed reasonably necessary by the Company to effectuate or evidence such resignations.

Section 7.Compensation upon Termination of Employment.  All defined terms used in this Section 7 but not defined in this Section 7 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Covenants Agreement:

(a)Resignation for Good Reason; Termination without Cause.  In the event that, during the Term, the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability) or the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment for Good Reason, the Company shall, in full discharge of all of the Company’s obligations to the Executive hereunder or otherwise, provide the Executive with the following payments and benefits:

(i)Accrued Rights.  The Company shall pay the Executive a lump-sum amount, within thirty (30) days following the Termination Date (or earlier if required by law), equal to the sum of (A) his earned but unpaid Base Salary through the last day of the Executive’s employment (“Termination Date”), (B) any bonus amount earned and vested but not paid for periods ending on or prior to the Termination Date, (C) any accrued and unused vacation time, (D) any unreimbursed business expenses or other amounts due to the Executive from the Company as of the Termination Date, and (E) all other payments and benefits to which the Executive then may be entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or perquisite plan or program or grant or this Agreement, including but not limited to any applicable insurance benefits (the “Accrued Rights”).

(ii)Additional Payments.  Subject to Sections 7(e) and 7(f) below, the Company shall make additional payments to Executive in the form of continuation of the Executive’s then-current Base Salary (the “Additional Payments”) for a period beginning on the Termination Date and ending on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Termination Date (the “Severance Period”), payable in accordance with the Company's regular payroll practices, commencing on the Company’s first regular payroll date that occurs on or immediately after the 60th day following the Termination Date; provided, however, the first installment payment of the Additional Payments shall include the cumulative amount of payments that would have been 

paid to the Executive during the period of time between the Termination Date and the date the Additional Payments commence had such payments commenced immediately following the Termination Date.

(iii)COBRA Assistance. If Executive then participates in the Company’s medical and/or dental plans and Executive timely elects to continue and maintain group health plan coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), then, subject to Sections 7(e) and 7(f) below, the Company will pay monthly, on the Executive’s behalf, a portion of the cost of such coverage for the Severance Period, which payments will be equal to the amount of the monthly premium for such coverage, less the amount that Executive would have been required to pay if Executive had remained an active Executive of the Company (the “COBRA Assistance”); provided, however, that if and to the extent that the Company may not provide such COBRA Assistance without incurring tax penalties or violating any requirement of the law, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to provide substantially similar assistance in an alternative manner provided that the cost of doing so does not exceed the cost that the Company would have incurred had the COBRA Assistance been provided in the manner described above or cause a violation of Section 409A (as defined in Section 19 below).

(iv)Pro-Rata Bonus Payment.  Subject to Sections 7(e) and 7(f) below, the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to the product of: (A) 50% of Executive’s Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the Termination Date) and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that the Executive was employed by the Company during the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs and the denominator of which is 365 (the “Pro-Rata Bonus”), the aggregate amount of which Pro-Rata Bonus shall be payable in equal installments on the Company’s regular payroll dates, commencing on the later of: (1) the Company’s first regular payroll date that occurs on or immediately after the 60th day following the Termination Date; and (2) the date that the Executive’s Annual Bonus for the calendar year in which the Termination Date would have been paid under Section 3(d) above if he had remained employed until the end of such calendar year, and ending on the last payroll date in the Severance Period.

(v)Options.  The Company shall provide that twenty-five percent (25%) of all outstanding unvested equity awards granted to the Executive shall become fully vested and provide that the time period that the Executive may have to exercise such equity awards shall be extended for a period equal to the shorter of (i) one (1) year following the Termination Date, or (ii) the remaining term of the award.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7(a)(v), all stock options shall be treated in accordance with the 2009 Equity Plan.

(b)Expiration of the Term. If the Executive’s employment hereunder terminates upon the expiration of the Term because the Executive elects not to extend the Term, then the Company shall, in full discharge of all of the Company’s obligations to the Executive hereunder or otherwise, pay and/or provide the Executive with any Accrued Rights under Section 7(a)(i) hereof.  If the Executive’s employment hereunder terminates upon expiration of the Term because the Company does not offer to extend the Term in accordance with Section 1, then, in full discharge of all of the Company’s obligations to the Executive hereunder or otherwise, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights under Section 7(a)(i) and the benefits described in Section 7(a)(ii) and 7(a)(iii), subject to Sections 7(e) and 7(f).  In either case, all stock options shall be treated in accordance with the 2009 Equity Plan.

(c)Resignation without Good Reason; Termination for Cause or upon Death or Disability.
(i)In the event that during the Term the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause or the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment other than for Good Reason, the Company shall, in full discharge of all of the Company’s obligations to the Executive hereunder or 

otherwise, pay and/or provide the Executive with any Accrued Rights under Section 7(a)(i) hereof.  All stock options shall be treated in accordance with the 2009 Equity Plan.

(ii)In the event that during the Term the Executive's employment is terminated due to the Executive’s death or Disability, the Company shall, in full discharge of all of the Company’s obligations to the Executive (or his estate, if applicable) hereunder or otherwise, (A) pay and/or provide the Executive (or his estate with) with any Accrued Rights under Section 7(a)(i) hereof and (B) subject to Sections 7(e) and 7(f) below, provide the COBRA Assistance under Section 7(a)(iii).  All stock options shall be treated in accordance with the 2009 Equity Plan.

(d)No Further Rights; Continued Obligations under the Covenants Agreement.  The Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement or otherwise to receive any other compensation or benefits after such termination or resignation of employment under the Company’s severance arrangements or otherwise, except with respect to the payments and benefits specifically provided for under this Section 7.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that, on the expiration of the Term or the earlier termination of his employment for any reason or no reason (whether initiated by the Executive or the Company), the Executive shall continue to be bound by his obligations pursuant to the Covenants Agreement.

(e)Release of Claims.  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company’s provision of the payments and benefits under Sections 7(a)(ii), 7(a)(iii), 7(a)(iv), 7(a)(v) and 7(c)(ii) hereof shall be contingent in all respects on the Executive (or, if applicable, his estate) executing (and not revoking) a general release of claims against the Company, its affiliates and related parties, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”) and the Release becoming effective (and no longer subject to revocation) within sixty (60) days following the Termination Date.

(f)Breach of Release or Covenants Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event of a breach by the Executive of his obligations under the Covenants Agreement or the Release Agreement and in addition to any other remedies under the Covenants Agreement, the Release Agreement or at law or in equity, the Company shall have no further obligations under Sections 7(a)(ii), 7(a)(iii), 7(a)(iv), or 7(c)(ii) (if and as applicable) and the Executive shall be required, upon demand, to return to the Company any payments previously made by the Company pursuant to Section 7(a)(ii), 7(a)(iii), 7(a)(iv), or 7(c)(ii).

(g)Mitigation of Damages.  In no event shall the Executive be obliged to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the severance benefits payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor shall the amount of any severance benefit hereunder be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as a result of employment by another employer, except as set forth in this Agreement.

Section 8.Covenants Agreement; Corporate Policies.  
(a)Covenants Agreement.  The Executive acknowledges that Executive, as a condition to (and a material inducement for) the Company entering into this Agreement, is simultaneously executing the Covenants Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference, and that the terms of the Covenants Agreement will be in full force and effect as of the Effective Date and shall survive the expiration of this Agreement or the earlier termination of Executive’s employment hereunder.

(b)Corporate Policies.   The Executive acknowledges and agrees that during the Term, he will be bound by, and comply with, the Company’s various written corporate policies applicable to other senior executives of the Company, including but not limited to its expense reimbursement policies.

Section 9.Withholding Taxes.  The Company may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all Federal, state, city or other taxes and all other deductions as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling or pursuant to any contributory benefit plan maintained by the Company in which the Executive may participate.

Section 10.Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, by certified or registered mail or by use of an independent third party commercial delivery service for same day or next day delivery and providing a signed receipt as follows:
To the Company:

NeoStem, Inc.
420 Lexington Avenue 
Suite 350
New York, New York  10170
Attention:  General Counsel

and a copy (which shall not constitute notice) shall also be sent to:

Alan Wovsaniker, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
65 Livingston Avenue
Roseland, NJ  07068

To the Executive:

David J. Mazzo, Ph.D.
191 Roundtop Road
Bernardsville, NJ 07924

and a copy (which shall not constitute notice) shall also be sent to:
Michael N. Sheetz, Esq.
Cooley LLP
500 Boylston St.
Boston, MA  02116

or to such other address as either party shall have previously specified in writing to the other.  Notice by mail shall be deemed effective on the second business day after its deposit with the United States Postal Service, notice by same day courier service shall be deemed effective on the day of deposit with the delivery service and notice by next day delivery service shall be deemed effective on the day following the deposit with the delivery service.
Section 11.No Attachment.  Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation or to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall be null, void and of no effect; 

provided, however, that nothing in this Section 11 shall preclude the assumption of such rights by executors, administrators or other legal representatives of the Executive or his estate and their conveying any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

Section 12.Source of Payment.  All payments provided for under this Agreement shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company.  The Company shall not be required to establish a special or separate fund or other segregation of assets to assure such payments, and, if the Company shall make any investments to aid it in meeting its obligations hereunder, the Executive shall have no right, title or interest whatever in or to any such investments except as may otherwise be expressly provided in a separate written instrument relating to such investments.  Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between the Company and the Executive or any other person.  To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right, without prejudice to rights which Executives may have, shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

Section 13.Binding Agreement; No Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Executive and the Company and their respective permitted successors, assigns, heirs, beneficiaries and representatives.  This Agreement is personal to the Executive and may not be assigned by him.  This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company except in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of its assets or a merger or consolidation of the Company, and the acquiring Company or entity expressly assumes this Agreement.  Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 13 shall be null and void.

Section 14.Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.  The validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.  In addition, the Executive and the Company irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States District Court sitting in New York County for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on the Executive or the Company anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement.  The Executive and the Company irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. In any such action or proceeding, the court shall have the authority to award reasonable costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees to the party that substantially prevails.

Section 15.Entire Agreement; Amendments.  This Agreement (including Exhibit A) embodies the entire agreement between Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and may only be amended or otherwise modified by a writing executed by all of the parties hereto.

Section 16.Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

Section 17.Severability; Blue-Penciling.  The provisions, sections and paragraphs, and the specific terms set forth therein, of this Agreement (including Exhibit A) are severable, except as specifically provided to the contrary herein.  If any provision, section or paragraph, or specific term contained therein, of this Agreement or the application thereof is determined by a court to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, that provision, section, paragraph or term shall not be a part of this Agreement, and the legality, validity and enforceability of remaining provisions, sections and paragraphs, and all other terms therein, of this Agreement 

shall not be affected thereby.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that as to himself, the restrictive covenants contained in the Covenants Agreement (the “Restrictive Covenants”) are reasonable and valid in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects.  If any court determines that any of such Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Restrictive Covenants shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portions.  It is the desire and intent of the parties that the Restrictive Covenants will be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.  Accordingly, if any Restrictive Covenant shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such Restrictive Covenant shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary in order that such provision be valid and enforceable, such amendment to apply only with respect to the operation of such Restrictive Covenant in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.

Section 18.Prior Agreements.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (including verbal agreements) between Executive and the Company regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company.

Section 19.409A Compliance.  

(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if necessary to comply with the restriction in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) concerning payments to “specified Executives,” any payment on account of the Executive’s separation from service that would otherwise be due hereunder within six months after such separation shall nonetheless be delayed until the first business day of the seventh month following the Executive’s date of termination and the first such payment shall include the cumulative amount of any payments that would have been paid prior to such date if not for such restriction, together with interest on such cumulative amount during the period of such restriction at a rate, per annum, equal to the applicable federal short-term rate (compounded monthly) in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code on the date of termination.  If the Executive dies during the six-month postponement period prior to the payment, the amount of the payment deferred on account of Section 409A of the Code shall be paid to the personal representative of the Executive’s estate within 30 days after the date of the Executive’s.  For purposes of Section 7 hereof, the Executive shall be a “specified Executive” for the 12-month period beginning on the first day of the fourth month following each “Identification Date” if he is a “key Executive” (as defined in Section 416(i) of the Code without regard to Section 416(i)(5) thereof) of the Company at any time during the 12-month period ending on the “Identification Date.”  For purposes of the foregoing, the Identification Date shall be December 31.

(b)This Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”).  To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that no payments due under this Agreement shall be subject to an "additional tax" as defined in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code.  For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment.  In no event may the Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Executive shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of Section 7 hereof unless he would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii).

(c)All reimbursements provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during the Executive’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time 

specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

(d)In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on Executive by Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Section 409A.

Section 20.Section 280G Limitation.  
If any payment(s) or benefit(s) the Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement and/or pursuant to any other agreement or arrangement would (a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this Section 20, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such payment(s) or benefit(s) (collectively, “Payments”) shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.   The “Reduced Amount” shall be the largest portion of the Payments that can be paid or provided without causing any portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax.  If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payments equal the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the following order: (i) first, Severance Payments under this Agreement, (ii) second, any other cash payments due under any other agreement between the Company and the Executive; (iii) third, cancellation of the acceleration of vesting of any stock options, (iv) fourth, cancellation of the acceleration of vesting of any restricted stock and restricted stock units; and (v) lastly, other non-cash forms of benefits.  Calculations of the foregoing will be performed at the expense of the Company by an accounting firm selected by the Company.  The determinations of such accounting firm shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and the Executive.

[Signatures follow on next page]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers and the Executive has signed this Agreement, all as of the first date above written but effective as of the Effective Date.

NEOSTEM, INC.

By:/s/ Robin L. Smith
Name:  Robin L. Smith
Title:  Executive Chairman of the Board

/s/ David Mazzo
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D.

Exhibit A to Employment Agreement
NEOSTEM, INC.
Employee Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Inventions Assignment Agreement
I (the “Employee”) recognize that NeoStem, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is engaged, directly or through its subsidiaries, in the business of product and process development, consulting, characterization and comparability and contract manufacturing for cell based medicine and regenerative science and storage of cells, collection and therapeutic development, as well as the research and development of proprietary cellular therapies, including a T Regulatory Cell Program in immune modulation, a CD34 Cell Program in Ischemic Repair, a very small embryonic like (VSEL) stem cell program in Tissue Regeneration and Targeted Immunotherapy Program in cancer (the “Business”).  The “Business” also includes any other regenerative medicine, cellular therapies or stem cell initiatives which are or become a part of the Company’s (or its subsidiaries’) business during my employment tenure with the Company.  Any company with which the Company enters into, or seeks or considers entering into, a business relationship in furtherance of the Business is referred to as a “Business Partner.”
I understand that as part of my performance of duties as an employee of the Company (the “Engagement”), I will have access to confidential or proprietary information of the Company and the Business Partners, and I may make new contributions and inventions of value to the Company.  I further understand that my Engagement creates in me a duty of trust and confidentiality to the Company with respect to any information: (1) related, applicable or useful to the business of the Company, including the Company’s anticipated research and development or such activities of its Business Partners; (2) resulting from tasks performed by me for the Company; (3) resulting from the use of equipment, supplies or facilities owned, leased or contracted for by the Company; or (4) related, applicable or useful to the business of any partner, client or customer of the Company, which may be made known to me or learned by me during the period of my Engagement.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions apply:
“Proprietary Information” shall mean information relating to the Business or the business of any Business Partner and generally unavailable to the public that has been created, discovered, developed or otherwise has become known to the Company or in which property rights have been assigned or otherwise conveyed to the Company or a Business Partner, which information has economic value or potential economic value to the business in which the Company is or will be engaged.  Proprietary Information shall include, but not be limited to, trade secrets, processes, formulas, writings, data, know-how, negative know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, inventions, techniques, technical data, patent applications, customer and supplier lists, financial information, business plans or projections and any modifications or enhancements to any of the above.
“Inventions” shall mean all Business-related discoveries, developments, designs, improvements, inventions, formulas, software programs, processes, techniques, know-how, writings, graphics and other data, whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, copyright or similar statutes, that are related to or useful in the business or future business of the Company or its Business Partners or result from use of premises or other property owned, leased or contracted for by the Company.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Inventions shall also include anything related to the Business that derives actual or potential economic value from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use.

As part of the consideration for my Engagement pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement between the Company and me dated as of January 5, 2015 (the “Employment Agreement”), and the base salary, stock options and/or other compensation and benefits to be received by me from the Company pursuant to the Employment Agreement, I hereby agree as follows:
1.Proprietary Information and Inventions.  The Company, its Business Partners or their respective assigns, as the case may be, are and shall be the sole owner of all Proprietary Information and Inventions related to the Business and the sole owner of all patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask rights and other rights (collectively referred to herein as “Rights”) pertaining to any Proprietary Information or Inventions.  I hereby acknowledge that all original works of authorship that are made by me (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of my Engagement and which are protectable by copyright are “works for hire” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act (17 USCA, Section 101).  I further hereby assign to the Company, any Rights I may have or acquire in any Proprietary Information or Inventions which arise in the course of my Engagement.  I further agree to assist the Company or any person designated by it in every proper way (but at the Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce Rights relating to said Proprietary Information or Inventions in any and all countries.  I will execute all documents for use in applying for, obtaining and enforcing such Rights in such Proprietary Information or Inventions as the Company may desire, together with any assignments thereof to the Company or persons designated by it.  My obligation to assist the Company or any person designated by it in obtaining and enforcing Rights relating to Proprietary Information or Inventions shall continue beyond the cessation of my Engagement (“Cessation of my Engagement”).  In the event the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, to secure my signature on any document or documents needed to apply for or enforce any Right relating to Proprietary Information or to an Invention, whether because of my physical or mental incapacity or for any other reason whatsoever, I hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and in my behalf and stead in the execution and filing of any such application and in furthering the application for and enforcement of Rights with the same legal force and effect as if such acts were performed by me.

2.Confidentiality.  At all times, both during my Engagement and after the Cessation of my Engagement, whether the cessation is voluntary or involuntary, for any reason or no reason, or by disability, I will keep in strictest confidence and trust all Proprietary Information, and I will not disclose or use or permit the use or disclosure of any Proprietary Information or Rights pertaining to Proprietary Information, or anything related thereto, without the prior written consent of the Company, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing my duties for the Company or to enforce any of my rights under my Employment Agreement.  I recognize that the Company has received and in the future will receive from third parties (including Business Partners) their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes.  I agree that I owe the Company and such third parties (including Business Partners), during my Engagement and after the Cessation of my Engagement, a duty to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence, and I will not disclose or use or permit the use or disclosure of any such confidential or proprietary information without the prior written consent of the Company, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing my duties for the Company consistent with the Company’s agreement with such third party or to enforce any of my rights under my Employment Agreement or otherwise.

3.Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation.

(a)During my Engagement, and for a period of two (2) years after the Cessation of my Engagement, I will not directly or indirectly, whether alone or in concert with others or as a partner, officer, 

director, consultant, agent, employee or stockholder of any company or commercial enterprise, engage in any activity in the United States, Canada, Asia and Europe that is in Competition with the Company concerning its work or any Business Partner’s work in the Business.  Further during my Engagement and for a period of two (2) years after the Cessation of my Engagement, I agree not to plan or otherwise take any preliminary steps, either alone or in concert with others to set up or reengage in any business enterprise that would be in Competition with the Company in the Business; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not restrict my ability to seek other employment following the Cessation of my Engagement (whether or not I am receiving or have received any Additional Payments) as long as I do not actually commence such employment.  In addition, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude me from providing services to an entity which operates multiple businesses including indirectly, through its affiliates, a business that is in Competition with the Company’s Business, if that competitive affiliate is not a material part of the business of such entity and if I do not provide services, directly or indirectly, with respect to, or have supervisory or executive authority with respect to, any such affiliate which is itself directly engaged in such business that is in Competition with the Company’s work in the Business.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Competition” shall mean any involvement in any project competitive with the Business (as defined above) or the therapies being developed as part of the Business.

(b)During my Engagement and for a period of two (2) years after the Cessation of my Engagement, I will not directly or indirectly, whether alone or in concert with others or as a partner, officer, director, consultant, agent, employee or stockholder of any company or commercial enterprise, either alone or in concert with others, not take any of the following actions:

(i)persuade or attempt to persuade any Business Partner, Customer, Prospective Customer or Supplier to cease doing business with the Company, or to reduce the amount of business it does with the Company;

(ii)persuade or attempt to persuade any Service Provider to cease providing services to the Company or any Business Partner; or

(iii)solicit for hire or hire for myself or for any Person any Service Provider.

(iv)The following definitions are applicable to this Section 3(b):

(A)“Customer” means any Person that purchased goods or services from the Company, or engages in a collaborative arrangement with the Company, at any time within 1 year prior to the date of the solicitation prohibited by Section 3(b)(i) or (ii).

(B)“Prospective Customer” means any Person with whom the Company met or to whom the Company presented for the purpose of soliciting the Person to become a Customer of the Company within 6 months prior to the date of the solicitation prohibited by Section 3(b)(i) or (ii).

(C)“Service Provider” means any Person who is an employee or independent contractor of the Company or the Company or who was within twelve (12) months preceding the solicitation prohibited by Section 3(b)(iii) or (iv) an employee or independent contractor of the Company or the Company.
(D)“Supplier” means any Person that sold goods or services to the Company, or engages in a collaborative arrangement with the Company at any time within twelve (12) months prior to the date of the solicitation prohibited by Section 3(b)(i) or (ii).

(E)“Person” means an individual, a sole proprietorship, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a trust, or other business entity, whether or not incorporated.
(c)The following shall not be deemed to breach the foregoing obligations: my ownership of stock, partnership interests or other securities of any entity not in excess of two percent (2%) of any class of such interests or securities which is publicly traded.
(d)Employee acknowledges that (i) the restrictions contained in this section are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, (ii) that the term of this obligation is reasonable in scope, and (iii) that this obligation is a material term, without which the Company would be unwilling to enter into an employment relationship with the Employee.

4.Delivery of Company Property and Work Product.  In the event of the Cessation of my Engagement, I will deliver to the Company all biological materials, devices, records, sketches, reports, memoranda, notes, proposals, lists, correspondence, equipment, documents, photographs, photostats, negatives, undeveloped film, drawings, specifications, tape recordings or other electronic recordings, programs, data, marketing material and other materials or property of any nature belonging to the Company or  its clients or customers, and I will not take with me, or allow a third party to take, any of the foregoing or any reproduction of any of the foregoing.

5.No Conflict.  I represent, warrant and covenant that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement and the performance of my duties for the Company does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by me in confidence or in trust prior to my Engagement.  I have not entered into, and I agree that I will not enter into, any agreement, either written or oral, in conflict herewith.

6.No Use of Confidential Information.  I represent, warrant and covenant that I have not brought and will not bring with me to the Company or use in my Engagement any materials or documents of a former employer, or any person or entity for which I have acted as an independent contractor or consultant, that are not generally available to the public, unless I have obtained written authorization from any such former employer, person or firm for their possession and use.  I understand and agree that, in my service to the Company, I am not to breach any obligation of confidentiality that I have to former employers or other persons.

7.Enforcement; Equitable Relief.  Employee acknowledges that any breach or threatened breach by Employee of any provision of this Agreement may result in immediate and irreparable injury to the Company, and that such injury may not be readily compensable by monetary damages.  In the event of any such breach or threatened breach, Employee acknowledges that, in addition to all other remedies available at law and equity, the Company shall be entitled to seek equitable relief (including a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction and/or a permanent injunction), and an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits or other benefits arising from such breach and will be entitled to receive such other damages, direct or consequential, as may be appropriate.  In addition, and not instead of, those rights, Employee further acknowledges that Employee shall be responsible for payment of the fees and expenses of the Company’s attorneys and experts, as well as the Company’s court costs, pertaining to any suit, action, or other proceeding, arising directly or indirectly out of Employee’s violation or threatened violation of any of the provisions of this section.  The Company shall not be required to post any bond or other security in connection with any proceeding to enforce this section.

8.Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or otherwise invalid as written, the same shall be enforced and validated to 

the extent permitted by law.  All provisions of this Agreement are severable, and the unenforceability or invalidity of any single provision hereof shall not affect the remaining provisions.

9.Miscellaneous.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of New York applied to contracts made and performed wholly within such state.  No implied waiver of any provision within this Agreement shall arise in the absence of a waiver in writing, and no waiver with respect to a specific circumstance, event or occasion shall be construed as a continuing waiver as to similar circumstances, events or occasions.  This Agreement, together with the employment agreement between the Company and myself, contains the sole and entire agreement and understanding between the Company and myself with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces any prior agreements to the extent any such agreement is inconsistent herewith.  This Agreement can be amended, modified, released or changed in whole or in part only by a written agreement executed by the Company and myself.  This Agreement shall be binding upon me, my heirs, executors, assigns and administrators, and it shall inure to the benefit of the Company and each of its successors or assigns.  This Agreement shall be effective as of the first day of my being retained to render services to the Company, even if such date precedes the date I sign this Agreement.

10.Thorough Understanding of Agreement.  I have read all of this Agreement and understand it completely, and by my signature below I represent that this Agreement is the only statement made by or on behalf of the Company upon which I have relied in signing this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have caused this Employee Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Inventions Assignment Agreement to be signed on the date written below.
DATED:1/5/15
/s/ David Mazzo
David J. Mazzo, Ph.D.

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