Document:

Exhibit 10.10

 

 

June 5, 2020

 

Eric Hedrick, M.D.

 

Dear Eric:

 

On behalf of EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”),
I am pleased to offer you employment with the Company on the following terms and conditions.

 

1. 
Position. Your initial position with the Company will be to lead end-to-end clinical strategy, analysis and planning
across all of EQRx’s programs. We will jointly determine the most appropriate title prior to your start date. This is a full-time
position.

 

2. 
Start Date. Your employment will begin on August 1, 2020 unless the Company and you agree to any other date. The
actual first day of your employment shall be the “Start Date”.

 

3. 
Salary. The Company will pay you a salary at the rate of $390,000.00 per year (“Base Salary”),
payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule and subject to applicable deductions and withholdings. This salary
will be subject to periodic review and adjustments at the Company’s discretion.

 

4. 
Bonuses. During your employment, you will be considered for an annual incentive bonus with respect to each fiscal year of
your employment with the Company, the amount, terms and conditions of such annual incentive bonus (if any) to be determined at the discretion
of the Board of Directors and shall be based upon your performance and the performance of the Company. Your target annual incentive bonus
shall be 35% of your base salary, which target may be increased in a given year by the Board of Directors in its discretion, with
any annual incentive bonus payable in respect of the current fiscal year being prorated from the Start Date. Payment of any annual incentive
bonus shall be contingent upon you being employed by the Company as of the payment date of such annual incentive bonus.

 

5.  Equity.
You will be eligible to participate in the Company’s equity incentive program, subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
We will recommend to the Board of Directors that you be granted an equity award equal to 1,000,000 shares of common stock
(which grant may be in the form of restricted stock, an option to purchase shares or combination of both), with a purchase price or
exercise price per share, as applicable, equal to fair market value of common stock on the date of grant. Such equity grant, if
approved, will be subject to vesting commencing on the Start Date (the “Vesting Start Date”), with twenty-five percent
(25%) vesting on the first anniversary of the Vesting Start Date and the remainder vesting thereafter in thirty-six (36) equal
monthly installments until the fourth anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, subject to your continued employment with the Company
on such vesting date. Such equity grant will be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s 2019 Stock
Option and Grant Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, and the equity award agreement to be entered into between you
and the Company as a condition to the receipt of such equity grant.

 

     

     

    

 

6. 
Benefits. During your employment, you will be eligible to participate in benefits programs currently offered by the Company
or that may be adopted by the Company in the future to the same extent as, and subject to the same terms, conditions and limitations applicable
to, other employees of the Company of similar rank and tenure, which may include health, life, disability and dental insurance as well
as any severance or similar policy in place (collectively, the “Benefits Programs”). Details of the Benefits Programs,
including mandatory employee contributions, will be made available to you.

 

7. 
Paid Time Off. During your employment, you will be entitled to take paid time off in accordance with the Company’s
applicable paid time off and vacation policy for employees as may be in effect from time to time.

 

8. 
Employee Agreement. As a condition of your employment you hereby agree to the terms of the Company’s Employee Confidentiality,
Assignment and Non-Solicitation Agreement, a copy of which is attached below as Exhibit A.

 

9. 
Representation Regarding Other Obligations. This offer is conditioned on your representation that you are not subject to
any confidentiality, non-competition or other agreements that restricts your employment activities or that may affect your ability to
devote full time and attention to your work at the Company. If you have entered into any agreement that may restrict your activities on
behalf of the Company, please provide me with a copy of the agreement as soon as possible. You further represent that you have not used
and will not use or disclose any trade secret or other proprietary right of any previous employer or any other party.

 

10. 
Taxes. All forms of compensation referred to in this Offer Letter are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding
and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law. You hereby acknowledge that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation
policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against the Company or its board of directors
related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.

 

11.  Interpretation,
Amendment and Enforcement. This Offer Letter and the Employee Confidentiality and Assignment Agreement constitute the complete
agreement between you and the Company contain all of the terms of your employment and supersede any prior agreements,
representations or understandings (whether written, oral or implied) between you and the Company. The terms of this Offer Letter and
the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance or validity of this Offer Letter or arising out of, related
to, or in any way connected with, this Offer Letter, your employment with the Company or any other relationship between you and the
Company (the “Disputes”) will be governed by Massachusetts law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of
law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.

 

12. 
Other Terms. Your employment with the Company will be on an “at will” basis. In other words, you or the Company
may terminate your employment for any reason and at any time, with or without cause. Although your job duties, title, compensation and
benefits, as well as the Company’s benefit plans and personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the “at
will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and the Chairman of the Board
of Directors.

 

    2

     

    

 

In addition, this
offer is subject to satisfactory background and reference checks. As with all employees, our offer to you is also contingent on your submission
of satisfactory proof of your identity and your legal authorization to work in the United States.

 

We are excited
about the prospect of having you join the Company. We look forward to receiving a response from you within one week acknowledging, by
signing below, that you have accepted this offer of employment.

 

	 	Very truly yours,
	 	 
	 	EQRx, Inc.
	 	50 HAMPSHIRE STREET

Cambridge, MA 02139
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Melanie Nallicheri
	 	 	Name:	Melanie Nallicheri
	 	 	Title:	President and COO

 

I have read and accept this employment offer:

 

	/s/ Eric Hedrick	 
	Signature	 
	 	 	 
	Dated: 	9 June 2020	 

 

 

3Exhibit 10.12

 

EQRx, Inc.

50 Hampshire St.

Cambridge, MA 02139

 

January 10, 2020

Alexis Borisy

 

	RE:	Amended and Restated Employment Letter Agreement

 

Dear Alexis:

 

This amended and restated
letter agreement (the “letter agreement”) confirms the amended and restated terms and conditions of your employment
with EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) and amends and restates and supersedes in all respects your Employment Letter Agreement
dated November 11, 2019 (the “Former Agreement”), provided that the Company’s Employee Confidentiality, Assignment
and Noncompetition Agreement that you signed with your Former Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit A, remains in full effect. You acknowledge
and agree that nothing in this letter agreement constitutes “Good Reason” under the Former Agreement, or any other agreement
between you and the Company.

 

1. Position.
You will continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). As the Company’s CEO, you
will report directly to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). With the President and Chief Operating
Officer, you shall have supervision and control over and responsibility for the day-to-day business and affairs of the Company and shall
have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board. You shall devote a majority of your working time
and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company while you are serving as CEO. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may serve on other
boards of directors, or engage in religious, charitable, industry or other community activities as long as such services and activities
are disclosed to the Board and do not materially interfere with your performance of your duties to the Company, as provided in this letter.1
You also shall serve as a member of the Board and its Chairman. Upon the Company’s appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer,
you will transition to the role of Executive Chairman and continue to serve as a member of the Board.

 

2. Start
Date. You acknowledge that your employment with the Company began on November 11, 2019 (the “Start Date”).

 

3. Work
Location. You will report to the Company’s headquarters, currently in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will reside within commuting
distance of such headquarters. You agree to travel as reasonably necessary to accomplish your job duties

 

 

1 It is acknowledged
that you currently serve on the following boards as of the date of this letter agreement: Magenta Therapeutics, Tango Therapeutics, Blueprint
Medicines, Celsius Therapeutics, Relay Therapeutics, Revolution Medicines and Thrive Earlier Detection Corp.

 

     

    EQRx, Inc.
 Page 2

    

 

4. Salary.
The Company will pay you a salary at the rate of $575,000 per year (“Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the
Company’s standard payroll schedule and subject to applicable deductions and withholdings, while you serve as CEO. The Board will
review your base salary on an annual basis and will determine, in its sole discretion, whether to increase (but not decrease) such base
salary. If and when you transition to the role of Executive Chairman, the Company will negotiate with you in good faith the terms of your
compensation in such role.

 

5. Bonuses.
During your employment, you will be eligible to participate each fiscal year in the annual bonus plan adopted by the Company applicable
to its senior executives, which plan will take into account such financial, business and other circumstances and factors in setting the
performance goals established in the discretion of the Board and will be administered by the Board. The actual bonus amount is discretionary
and will be subject to the assessment of your performance in addition to that of the Company. Your target annual incentive bonus shall
be 57.5% of your base salary, which target may be increased (but not decreased) in a given year by the Board at its discretion, with any
annual incentive bonus payable in respect of the current fiscal year being prorated from the Start Date. Any bonus payable to you in respect
of the 2019 calendar year will be prorated based on an assumed start date of September 1, 2019. Payment of any annual incentive bonus
shall be contingent upon you being employed by the Company as of the payment date of such annual incentive bonus, which will be on or
before March 15 of the calendar year following the applicable performance year.

 

6. Equity.
You will continue to be eligible to participate in the Company’s equity incentive program, subject to approval by the Board. The
Board previously granted you two grants totaling 30,000,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price per share equal to fair market
value of common stock on the date of grant (the “Equity Grants”). In connection with the execution of this letter agreement,
you and the Company will execute such amended stock restriction or other agreements as necessary to ensure that the Equity Grants will
be subject to vesting as follows and subject to any acceleration provisions set forth in the Severance Policy (as defined below):

 

		A.	4,500,000 shares of common stock shall be fully vested as of the date of grant, in recognition of your
efforts in co-founding the Company.

 

		B.	25,500,000 shares of common stock shall vest commencing as of January 1, 2020 (the “Vesting Start
Date”) in forty-eight (48) equal monthly installments until the fourth anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, subject to your
continued employment or other service relationship with the Company on such vesting date.

 

In addition, and notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in the Severance Policy:

 

(1) in the event that (i) you are terminated
by the Company as CEO for any reason other than Cause and (ii) the Board does not otherwise provide you with the opportunity to provide
continued consulting, advisory or other services to the Company (including service to the Company as an employee or director) for a period
of at least twenty-four (24) months following such termination, then 6,375,000 of your then-unvested shares (or, if a lesser number, all
of your then- unvested shares) shall immediately accelerate and become fully nonforfeitable as of the date of such termination; and

 

     

    EQRx, Inc.
 Page 3

    

 

(2) in the event that you are, in connection
with or within 12 months following a Change in Control, terminated by the Company without Cause or you terminate your employment for Good
Reason, any then-unvested shares shall immediately accelerate and become fully nonforfeitable.

 

For purposes of this letter agreement
and the Severance Policy as it applies to you:

 

		A.	“Cause” shall mean, as determined by the Company in good faith: your dishonest statements
or acts with respect to the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or any current or prospective customers, suppliers vendors or other
third parties with which such entity does business; (ii) your commission of (A) a felony or (B) any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude,
deceit, dishonesty or fraud; (iii) your failure to perform your assigned duties and responsibilities which failure continues for more
than 30 days after written notice given to you by the Company detailing such failure to perform; (iv) your gross negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to the Company or any affiliate of the Company; or (v) your material violation of any provision of any agreement(s)
between you and the Company relating to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisclosure and/or assignment of inventions.

 

		B.	A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any one
of the following events: (a) the sale or exclusive out-license (even as to the Company) of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company on a consolidated basis to one or more unrelated persons or entities, (b) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to
which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding stock immediately prior to such transaction do not own
a majority of the outstanding voting power of the stock or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate
parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (c) the sale of all or substantially all of the stock of the Company
to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, (d) any other transaction or series of transactions in which the (i)
executive management team of the Company departs from the Company in connection with a sale, merger, reorganization or consolidation,
(ii) owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power prior to such transaction or series of transactions do not own at least a
majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than
as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company, or (iii) the business of the Company is acquired by an unrelated
person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, provided that with respect to any
of clauses (a) through (d) any capital raising transaction of the Company (including the Company’s IPO) shall not be treated as
a “Change of Control”. Notwithstanding any other provision of this letter agreement (other than for the foregoing proviso),
“Change in Control” shall be interpreted, administered and applied in a manner consistent and in compliance with a “change
in control event” as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (“Change in Control Event”).

 

     

    EQRx, Inc.
 Page 4

    

 

		C.	“Good Reason” shall mean that you have complied with the “Good Reason Process”
(hereinafter defined) following the occurrence of any of the following events (i) a breach by the Company of the material terms of this
letter agreement or any other written agreement between the Company and the Employee; (ii) a 30 mile or greater change in the geographic
location at which you are required to provide services to the Company, not including business travel and short-term assignments; (iii)
a material diminution of your duties, responsibilities, or authority; or (iv) a requirement that you no longer report to the Board while
you are serving in the role of chief Executive Officer.

 

		D.	“Good Reason Process” shall mean that (i) you reasonably determine in good faith that
a “Good Reason” condition has occurred; (ii) you notify the Company in writing of the first occurrence of the Good Reason
condition within 60 days of the first occurrence of such condition; (iii) you cooperate in good faith with the Company’s efforts,
for a period not less than 30 days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), to remedy the condition; (iv) notwithstanding
such efforts, the Good Reason condition continues to exist; and (v) you terminate your employment within 30 days after the end of the
Cure Period. If the Company cures the Good Reason condition during the Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred.

 

7. Benefits.
During your employment, you will be eligible to participate in benefits programs currently offered by the Company or that may be adopted
by the Company in the future to the same extent as, and subject to the same terms, conditions and limitations applicable to, other employees
of the Company of similar rank and tenure, which may include health, life, disability and dental insurance as well as any severance or
similar policy in place (collectively, the “Benefits Programs”). Details of the Benefits Programs, including mandatory
employee contributions, will be made available to you. Upon any termination of employment, you will receive your earned salary through
your date of termination, any unreimbursed expenses incurred through the date of termination in accordance with, and all accrued and vested
benefits under the employee benefit plans in which you participate in accordance with terms of such plans. In addition, the Company will
recommend to the Board that it establish a Severance and Change of Control Policy (the “Severance Policy”) that will,
among other things, provide for payment of severance and termination benefits to you in the event of a termination without “Cause”
or your resignation for “Good Reason,” both in connection with and not in connection with a change in control of the Company,
subject to your executing a standard form of separation and release agreement in favor of the Company at the time of your separation,
your resignation from any board and officer positions you then hold with the Company, and the other conditions to be set forth in the
Severance Policy. In the event of any conflict between the terms of (i) this letter agreement and the Severance Policy, the terms of this
letter agreement shall apply and (ii) this letter agreement and the Company’s equity incentive plan as then in effect, the terms
of this letter agreement shall apply.

 

8. Severance
Policy. The Severance Policy, once effective, shall provide for the following payments to you in your role as Chief Executive Officer,
subject to your compliance with the terms and conditions thereof and in addition to any additional benefits to which you are entitled
under this letter agreement and any other payments or benefits contemplated by the Severance Policy:

 

		A.	In the event of your termination without Cause or your resignation for Good Reason other than connection
with a Change in Control:

(1) 12 months’ then current Base
Salary + 1.0x your target bonus amount, payable in a lump sum within 60 days of your termination (the “Severance Amount”);
and

(2) 12 months’ benefits continuation.

 

     

    EQRx, Inc.
 Page 5

    

 

		B.	In the event of your termination without Cause or your resignation for Good Reason in connection with,
or within 12 months following, a Change in Control:

(1) the Severance Amount;

(2) 12 months’ benefits continuation;
and

(3) full acceleration of all outstanding
stock options and other equity awards then subject to vesting.

 

In the event you are entitled to any payments
pursuant to your Employee Confidentiality, Assignment and Noncompetition Agreement, any Severance Amount payable to you in any calendar
year will be reduced by the amount you are paid in the same calendar year pursuant to your Employee Confidentiality, Assignment and Noncompetition
Agreement.

 

9. Paid
Time Off. During your employment, you will be entitled to take paid time off in accordance with the Company’s applicable paid
time off and vacation policy for employees as may be in effect from time to time.

 

10. Employee
Agreement. You hereby agree that the terms of the Company’s Employee Confidentiality, Assignment and Noncompetition Agreement,
a copy of which is enclosed as Exhibit A to this letter and which was executed by in connection with the Former Agreement, has remained
and does remain in continued force and effect since its execution.

 

11. Indemnification.
You shall be entitled to indemnification in accordance with the Company’s bylaws, charter, other organizational documents and applicable
law; provided, that, respecting your service as an executive officer, you will be entitled to advances under the bylaws on the same basis
as directors. You will be covered as an insured under any contract of directors and officers liability insurance that covers members of
the Board. This paragraph shall survive any termination of your employment, service as a member of the Board or of this letter agreement
with respect to all of your acts and omissions to act occurring during your employment or service as a member of the Board. The Company
will tender you an indemnification agreement in substantially the same form to other directors and officers.

 

12. Representation
Regarding Other Obligations. This offer is conditioned on your representation that you are not subject to any confidentiality, non-competition
or other agreements that restricts your employment activities or that may affect your ability to devote full time and attention to your
work at the Company. If you have entered into any agreement that may restrict your activities on behalf of the Company, please provide
me with a copy of the agreement as soon as possible. You further represent that you have not used and will not use or disclose any trade
secret or other proprietary right of any previous employer or any other party.

 

13. Taxes.
All forms of compensation referred to in this letter agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll
taxes and other deductions required by law. You hereby acknowledge that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation policies
in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against the Company or its board of directors related
to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.

 

     

    EQRx, Inc.
 Page 6

    

 

14. 280G/Modified
Cutback.

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this
letter agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the amount of any compensation, payment or distribution by the Company
to or for the benefit of you, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this letter agreement or
otherwise, calculated in a manner consistent with Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the applicable
regulations thereunder (the “Aggregate Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Code, then the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) so that the sum of all of the Aggregate Payments shall be $1.00
less than the amount at which you become subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided that such reduction shall
only occur if it would result in you receiving a higher After Tax Amount (as defined below) than you would receive if the Aggregate Payments
were not subject to such reduction. In such event, the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced in the following order, in each case, in reverse
chronological order beginning with the Aggregate Payments that are to be paid the furthest in time from consummation of the transaction
that is subject to Section 280G of the Code: (1) cash payments not subject to Section 409A of the Code; (2) cash payments subject to Section
409A of the Code; (3) equity-based payments and acceleration; and (4) non-cash forms of benefits; provided that in the case of all the
foregoing Aggregate Payments all amounts or payments that are not subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b)
or (c) shall be reduced before any amounts that are subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c).

 

For purposes of this Section 13, the
“After Tax Amount” means the amount of the Aggregate Payments less all federal, state, and local income, excise and
employment taxes imposed on you as a result of your receipt of the Aggregate Payments. For purposes of determining the After Tax Amount,
you shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation applicable to individuals for
the calendar year in which the determination is to be made, and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of individual
taxation in each applicable state and locality, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction
of such state and local taxes.

 

The determination as to whether a reduction
in the Aggregate Payments shall be made pursuant to this Section 13 shall be made by you and the Company in good faith with input from
a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and you within 15 business days of the date triggering such payment, if applicable, or at
such earlier time as is reasonably requested by the Company or you. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be considered by you
and the Company in good faith in determining the amount of any reduction (if any) in Aggregate Payments pursuant to this provision, and
such determination will also take into account any adverse effect on the Company or its successor in interest from a financial, operational,
compliance or regulatory standpoint.

 

     

    EQRx, Inc.
 Page 7

    

 

15. Interpretation,
Amendment and Enforcement. This letter agreement and the Employee Confidentiality and Assignment Agreement constitute the complete
agreement between you and the Company contain all of the terms of your employment and supersede any prior agreements, representations
or understandings (whether written, oral or implied) between you and the Company, including without limitation the Former Agreement. The
terms of this letter agreement and the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance or validity of this letter agreement
or arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with, this letter agreement, your employment with the Company or any other relationship
between you and the Company (the “Disputes”) will be governed by Massachusetts law, excluding laws relating to conflicts
or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.

 

16. Assignment.
Neither you nor the Company may make any assignment of this letter agreement or any interest in it, by operation of law or otherwise,
without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and obligations under this letter
agreement (including the Severance Policy) without your consent to any affiliate or to any person or entity with whom the Company shall
hereafter effect a reorganization, consolidate with, or merge into or to whom it transfers all or substantially all of its properties
or assets. This letter agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon you and the Company, and each of your and its respective
successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns.

 

17. Other
Terms. Your employment with the Company will be on an “at will” basis. In other words, subject to the Severance Plan and
this letter agreement, you or the Company may terminate your employment for any reason and at any time, with or without cause. Although
your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the Company’s benefit plans and personnel policies and procedures,
may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement
signed by you and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Subject to the forgoing, this letter agreement may not be modified or amended,
and no breach shall be deemed to be waived, unless agreed to in writing by you and a Board member of the Company. The headings and captions
in this letter agreement are for convenience only and in no way define or describe the scope or content of any provision of this letter
agreement. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each
case to be followed by the words “without limitation.” This letter agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In addition, this offer is
subject to satisfactory background and reference checks. As with all employees, our offer to you is also contingent on your submission
of satisfactory proof of your identity and your legal authorization to work in the United States.

 

     

    EQRx, Inc.
 Page 8

    

 

We are excited about the prospect
of having you join the Company. We look forward to receiving a response from you within one week acknowledging, by signing below, that
you have accepted this offer of employment.

 

	 	Very truly yours,
	 	 
	 	EQRx, Inc.
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Melanie Nallicheri
	 	 	Name:	Melanie Nallicheri
	 	 	Title:	President

 

I have read and accept this employment offer:

 

	/s/ Alexis Borisy	 
	Signature	 
	 	 
	Dated:	January 10, 2020	 

 

     

     

    

 

Exhibit A

 

EQRx, Inc.

399 Binney St.

Cambridge, MA 02141

 

November 11, 2019

 

Alexis Borisy

 

RE: Employment Letter Agreement

 

Dear Alexis:

 

On behalf of EQRx, Inc. (the
“Company”), I am pleased to offer you the position of the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).
If accepted, this letter agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of your employment.

 

1. Position.
As the Company’s CEO, you will report directly to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). With
the President and Chief Operating Officer, you shall have supervision and control over and responsibility for the day-to-day business
and affairs of the Company and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board. You shall
devote a majority of your working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company while you are serving as CEO. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, you may serve on other boards of directors, or engage in religious, charitable, industry or other community activities
as long as such services and activities are disclosed to the Board and do not materially interfere with your performance of your duties
to the Company, as provided in this letter.1
You also shall serve as a member of the Board and its Chairman. Upon the Company’s appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer,
you will transition to the role of Executive Chairman and continue to serve as a member of the Board.

 

2. Start
Date. Your employment will begin on the date on which you countersign and return this letter agreement unless the Company and you
agree to any other date. The actual first day of your employment shall be the “Start Date”.

 

3. Work
Location. You will report to the Company’s headquarters, currently in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will reside within commuting
distance of such headquarters. You agree to travel as reasonably necessary to accomplish your job duties

 

4. Salary.
The Company will pay you a salary at the rate of $575,000 per year (“Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the
Company’s standard payroll schedule and subject to applicable deductions and withholdings, while you serve as CEO. The Board will
review your base salary on an annual basis and will determine, in its sole discretion, whether to increase (but not decrease) such base
salary. If and when you transition to the role of Executive Chairman, the Company will negotiate with you in good faith the terms of your
compensation in such role.

 

 

1
It is acknowledged that you currently serve on the following boards as of the date of this letter agreement: Magenta Therapeutics,
Tango Therapeutics, Blueprint Medicines, Celsius Therapeutics, Relay Therapeutics, Revolution Medicines and Thrive Earlier Detection
Corp.

 

     

     

    

 

5. Bonuses.
During your employment, you will be eligible to participate each fiscal year in the annual bonus plan adopted by the Company applicable
to its senior executives, which plan will take into account such financial, business and other circumstances and factors in setting the
performance goals established in the discretion of the Board and will be administered by the Board. The actual bonus amount is discretionary
and will be subject to the assessment of your performance in addition to that of the Company. Your target annual incentive bonus shall
be 57.5% of your base salary, which target may be increased (but not decreased) in a given year by the Board at its discretion, with any
annual incentive bonus payable in respect of the current fiscal year being prorated from the Start Date. Any bonus payable to you in respect
of the 2019 calendar year will be prorated based on an assumed start date of September 1, 2019. Payment of any annual incentive bonus
shall be contingent upon you being employed by the Company as of the payment date of such annual incentive bonus, which will be on or
before March 15 of the calendar year following the applicable performance year.

 

6. Equity.
Subject to the approval by the Board, in connection with the commencement of your employment you will be granted 30,000,000 shares of
common stock at a purchase price per share equal to fair market value of common stock on the date of grant. Such equity grant, if approved,
will be subject to vesting as follows and subject to any acceleration provisions set forth in the Severance Policy (as defined below):

 

		A.	15,000,000 shares of common stock shall be fully vested as of the date of grant, in recognition of your
efforts in co-founding the Company.

 

		B.	15,000,000 shares of common stock (the “CEO Grant”) shall vest commencing as of August
1, 2019 (the “Vesting Start Date”), with twenty-five percent (25%) vesting on the first anniversary of the Vesting
Start Date and the remainder vesting thereafter in thirty-six (36) equal monthly installments until the fourth anniversary of the Vesting
Start Date, subject to your continued employment or other service relationship with the Company on such vesting date.

 

Each such restricted shares of common
stock will be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a Restricted Stock Agreement to be entered into between you and the Company
as a condition to the receipt of such restricted shares of common stock. In addition, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
the Severance Policy:

 

(1) in the event that you are terminated
by the Company as CEO without Cause (other than in connection with Company’s appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer and your
continuing to serve on the Board as Executive Chairman) or you terminate your employment as CEO for Good Reason, fifty percent (50%) of
any then-unvested shares granted pursuant to the CEO Grant shall immediately accelerate and become fully nonforfeitable as of the date
of such termination; and

 

(2) in the event of a Change in Control,
any then-unvested shares granted pursuant to the CEO Grant shall immediately accelerate and become fully nonforfeitable as of immediately
prior to, but subject to, the consummation of such Change in Control.

 

     

     

    

 

For purposes of this letter agreement
and the Severance Policy as it applies to you:

 

		A.	“Cause” shall mean, as determined by the Company in good faith: your dishonest statements
or acts with respect to the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or any current or prospective customers, suppliers vendors or other
third parties with which such entity does business; (ii) your commission of (A) a felony or (B) any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude,
deceit, dishonesty or fraud; (iii) your failure to perform your assigned duties and responsibilities to the reasonable satisfaction of
the Board which failure continues for more than 30 days after written notice given to you by the Company detailing such failure to perform;
(iv) your gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any affiliate of the Company; or (v) your material violation
of any provision of any agreement(s) between you and the Company relating to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisclosure and/or assignment
of inventions.

 

		B.	A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any one
of the following events: (a) the sale or exclusive out-license (even as to the Company) of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company on a consolidated basis to one or more unrelated persons or entities, (b) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to
which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding stock immediately prior to such transaction do not own
a majority of the outstanding voting power or fair market value of the stock or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity
(or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (c) the sale of all or substantially all of the
stock of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, (d) any other transaction or series of transactions
in which the (i) executive management team of the Company departs from the Company in connection with a sale, merger, reorganization or
consolidation, (ii) owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power prior to such transaction or series of transactions do not
own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction
other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company, or (iii) the business of the Company is acquired by
an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, provided that with
respect to any of clauses (a) through (d) any capital raising transaction of the Company (including the Company’s IPO) shall not
be treated as a “Change of Control”. Notwithstanding any other provision of this letter agreement (other than for the foregoing
proviso), “Change in Control” shall be interpreted, administered and applied in a manner consistent and in compliance with
a “change in control event” as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (“Change in Control Event”).

 

		C.	“Good Reason” shall mean that you have complied with the “Good Reason Process”
(hereinafter defined) following the occurrence of any of the following events (i) a breach by the Company of the material terms of this
letter agreement or any other written agreement between the Company and the Employee; (ii) a 30 mile or greater change in the geographic
location at which you are required to provide services to the Company, not including business travel and short-term assignments; (iii)
a material diminution of your duties, responsibilities, or authority; or (iv) a requirement that you no longer report to the Board while
you are serving in the role of chief Executive Officer.

 

     

     

    

 

		D.	“Good Reason Process” shall mean that (i) you reasonably determine in good faith that
a “Good Reason” condition has occurred; (ii) you notify the Company in writing of the first occurrence of the Good Reason
condition within 60 days of the first occurrence of such condition; (iii) you cooperate in good faith with the Company’s efforts,
for a period not less than 30 days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), to remedy the condition; (iv) notwithstanding
such efforts, the Good Reason condition continues to exist; and (v) you terminate your employment within 30 days after the end of the
Cure Period. If the Company cures the Good Reason condition during the Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred.

 

7. Benefits.
During your employment, you will be eligible to participate in benefits programs currently offered by the Company or that may be adopted
by the Company in the future to the same extent as, and subject to the same terms, conditions and limitations applicable to, other employees
of the Company of similar rank and tenure, which may include health, life, disability and dental insurance as well as any severance or
similar policy in place (collectively, the “Benefits Programs”). Details of the Benefits Programs, including mandatory
employee contributions, will be made available to you. Upon any termination of employment, you will receive your earned salary through
your date of termination, any unreimbursed expenses incurred through the date of termination in accordance with, and all accrued and vested
benefits under the employee benefit plans in which you participate in accordance with terms of such plans. In addition, the Company will
recommend to the Board that it establish a Severance and Change of Control Policy (the “Severance Policy”) that will,
among other things, provide for payment of severance and termination benefits to you in the event of a termination without “Cause”
or your resignation for “Good Reason,” both in connection with and not in connection with a change in control of the Company,
subject to your executing a standard form of separation and release agreement in favor of the Company at the time of your separation,
your resignation from any board and officer positions you then hold with the Company, and the other conditions to be set forth in the
Severance Policy. In the event of any conflict between the terms of (i) this letter agreement and the Severance Policy, the terms of this
letter agreement shall apply and (ii) this letter agreement and the Company’s equity incentive plan as then in effect, the terms
of this letter agreement shall apply.

 

8. Severance
Policy. The Severance Policy, once effective, shall provide for the following payments to you in your role as Chief Executive Officer,
subject to your compliance with the terms and conditions thereof and in addition to any additional benefits to which you are entitled
under this letter agreement and any other payments or benefits contemplated by the Severance Policy:

 

		A.	In the event of your termination without Cause or your resignation for Good Reason other than connection
with a Change in Control:

(1) 12 months’ then current Base
Salary + 1.0x your target bonus amount, payable in a lump sum within 60 days of your termination (the “Severance Amount”);
and

(2) 12 months’ benefits continuation.

 

     

     

    

 

		B.	In the event of your termination without Cause or your resignation for Good Reason in connection with,
or within 12 months following, a Change in Control:

(1) the Severance Amount;

(2) 12 months’ benefits continuation;
and

(3) full acceleration of all outstanding
stock options and other equity awards then subject to vesting.

 

In the event you are entitled to any payments
pursuant to your Employee Confidentiality, Assignment and Noncompetition Agreement, any Severance Amount payable to you in any calendar
year will be reduced by the amount you are paid in the same calendar year pursuant to your Employee Confidentiality, Assignment and Noncompetition
Agreement.

 

9. Paid
Time Off. During your employment, you will be entitled to take paid time off in accordance with the Company’s applicable paid
time off and vacation policy for employees as may be in effect from time to time.

 

10. Employee
Agreement. As a condition of your employment you hereby agree to the terms of the Company’s Employee Confidentiality, Assignment
and Noncompetition Agreement, a copy of which is enclosed as Exhibit A to this letter and which you confirm was delivered to you by the
earlier of your receipt of a formal offer of employment and ten (10) business days prior to your Start Date.

 

11. Indemnification.
You shall be entitled to indemnification in accordance with the Company’s bylaws, charter, other organizational documents and applicable
law; provided, that, respecting your service as an executive officer, you will be entitled to advances under the bylaws on the same basis
as directors. You will be covered as an insured under any contract of directors and officers liability insurance that covers members of
the Board. This paragraph shall survive any termination of your employment, service as a member of the Board or of this letter agreement
with respect to all of your acts and omissions to act occurring during your employment or service as a member of the Board. The Company
will tender you an indemnification agreement in substantially the same form to other directors and officers.

 

12. Representation
Regarding Other Obligations. This offer is conditioned on your representation that you are not subject to any confidentiality, non-competition
or other agreements that restricts your employment activities or that may affect your ability to devote full time and attention to your
work at the Company. If you have entered into any agreement that may restrict your activities on behalf of the Company, please provide
me with a copy of the agreement as soon as possible. You further represent that you have not used and will not use or disclose any trade
secret or other proprietary right of any previous employer or any other party.

 

13. Taxes.
All forms of compensation referred to in this letter agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll
taxes and other deductions required by law. You hereby acknowledge that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation policies
in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against the Company or its board of directors related
to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.

 

     

     

    

 

14. 280G/Modified
Cutback.

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this
letter agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the amount of any compensation, payment or distribution by the Company
to or for the benefit of you, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this letter agreement or
otherwise, calculated in a manner consistent with Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the applicable
regulations thereunder (the “Aggregate Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Code, then the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) so that the sum of all of the Aggregate Payments shall be $1.00
less than the amount at which you become subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided that such reduction shall
only occur if it would result in you receiving a higher After Tax Amount (as defined below) than you would receive if the Aggregate Payments
were not subject to such reduction. In such event, the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced in the following order, in each case, in reverse
chronological order beginning with the Aggregate Payments that are to be paid the furthest in time from consummation of the transaction
that is subject to Section 280G of the Code: (1) cash payments not subject to Section 409A of the Code; (2) cash payments subject to Section
409A of the Code; (3) equity-based payments and acceleration; and (4) non-cash forms of benefits; provided that in the case of all the
foregoing Aggregate Payments all amounts or payments that are not subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b)
or (c) shall be reduced before any amounts that are subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A- 24(b) or (c).

 

For purposes of this Section 13, the
“After Tax Amount” means the amount of the Aggregate Payments less all federal, state, and local income, excise and
employment taxes imposed on you as a result of your receipt of the Aggregate Payments. For purposes of determining the After Tax Amount,
you shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation applicable to individuals for
the calendar year in which the determination is to be made, and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of individual
taxation in each applicable state and locality, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction
of such state and local taxes.

 

The determination as to whether a reduction
in the Aggregate Payments shall be made pursuant to this Section 13 shall be made by you and the Company in good faith with input from
a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and you within 15 business days of the date triggering such payment, if applicable, or at
such earlier time as is reasonably requested by the Company or you. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be considered by you
and the Company in good faith in determining the amount of any reduction (if any) in Aggregate Payments pursuant to this provision, and
such determination will also take into account any adverse effect on the Company or its successor in interest from a financial, operational,
compliance or regulatory standpoint.

 

     

     

    

 

15. Interpretation,
Amendment and Enforcement. This letter agreement and the Employee Confidentiality and Assignment Agreement constitute the complete
agreement between you and the Company contain all of the terms of your employment and supersede any prior agreements, representations
or understandings (whether written, oral or implied) between you and the Company. The terms of this letter agreement and the resolution
of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance or validity of this letter agreement or arising out of, related to, or in any way
connected with, this letter agreement, your employment with the Company or any other relationship between you and the Company (the “Disputes”)
will be governed by Massachusetts law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive
personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any Dispute or any
claim related to any Dispute.

 

16. Assignment.
Neither you nor the Company may make any assignment of this letter agreement or any interest in it, by operation of law or otherwise,
without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and obligations under this letter
agreement (including the Severance Policy) without your consent to any affiliate or to any person or entity with whom the Company shall
hereafter effect a reorganization, consolidate with, or merge into or to whom it transfers all or substantially all of its properties
or assets. This letter agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon you and the Company, and each of your and its respective
successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns.

 

17. Other
Terms. Your employment with the Company will be on an “at will” basis. In other words, subject to the Severance Plan and
this letter agreement, you or the Company may terminate your employment for any reason and at any time, with or without cause. Although
your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the Company’s benefit plans and personnel policies and procedures,
may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement
signed by you and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Subject to the forgoing, this letter agreement may not be modified or amended,
and no breach shall be deemed to be waived, unless agreed to in writing by you and a Board member of the Company. The headings and captions
in this letter agreement are for convenience only and in no way define or describe the scope or content of any provision of this letter
agreement. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each
case to be followed by the words “without limitation.” This letter agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In addition, this offer is
subject to satisfactory background and reference checks. As with all employees, our offer to you is also contingent on your submission
of satisfactory proof of your identity and your legal authorization to work in the United States.

 

We are excited about the prospect
of having you join the Company. We look forward to receiving a response from you within one week acknowledging, by signing below, that
you have accepted this offer of employment.

 

	 	Very truly yours,
	 	 
	 	EQRx, Inc.
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Melanie Nallicheri
	 	 	Name:  	Melanie Nallicheri
	 	 	Title :	 President and Chief Operating Officer

 

I have read and accept this employment offer:

 

	/s/ Alexis Borisy	 
	Signature	 
	 	 
	Dated: November 11, 2019	 

 

     

     

    

 

June 16, 2021

 

Alexis Borisy

 

	Re:	Employment Agreement Amendment

 

Dear Alexis:

 

Reference is made to the Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) between you (“Employee”) and EQRx, Inc. (the
“Company”) dated as of January 10, 2020. Capitalized terms used in this letter agreement will have the same meanings
as in the Agreement.

 

18. Employee
and Company hereby amend the Agreement as follows:

 

		A.	Section 1 of the Agreement shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

“1. Position. You will
continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). As the Company’s CEO, you will report
directly to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). With the President and Chief Operating Officer, you
shall have supervision and control over and responsibility for the day-to-day business and affairs of the Company and shall have such
other powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board. You shall devote a majority of your working time and efforts
to the business and affairs of the Company while you are serving as CEO. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may serve on other boards
of directors, or engage in religious, charitable, industry or other community activities as long as such services and activities are disclosed
to the Board and do not materially interfere with your performance of your duties to the Company, as provided in this letter. You also
shall serve as a member of the Board and its Chairman.

 

Effective as of the first to occur of
(i) September 1, 2021, or (ii) date of the initial closing of the Company’s next bona fide equity financing transaction (the “Transition
Effective Date”), you will transition to the role of Executive Chairman and continue to serve as a member of the Board.”

 

		B.	Section 4 of the Agreement shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

“4. Salary. The Company
will pay you a salary at the rate of $575,000 per year (“Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the Company’s
standard payroll schedule and subject to applicable deductions and withholdings, while you serve as CEO. The Board will review your base
salary on an annual basis and will determine, in its sole discretion, whether to increase (but not decrease) such base salary. Effective
as of the Transition Effective Date, your Base Salary will change to $360,000 per year, pro-rated for the 2021 calendar year.”

 

		C.	Section 5 of the Agreement shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

“5. Bonuses.

During your employment, you will be
eligible to participate each fiscal year in the annual bonus plan adopted by the Company applicable to its senior executives, which plan
will take into account such financial, business and other circumstances and factors in setting the performance goals established in the
discretion of the Board and will be administered by the Board. The actual bonus amount is discretionary and will be subject to the assessment
of your performance in addition to that of the Company. Your target annual incentive bonus shall be 57.5% of your base salary and shall
be changed to 55% as of the Transition Effective Date, pro-rated for the 2021 calendar year. Such target may be increased (but not decreased)
in a given year by the Board at its discretion. Payment of any annual incentive bonus shall be contingent upon you being employed by the
Company as of the payment date of such annual incentive bonus, which will be on or before March 15 of the calendar year following the
applicable performance year.”

 

19. Except
for the amendments and agreements expressly authorized hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with
its terms.

 

     

     

    

 

Please confirm agreement with the foregoing by signing and returning
one copy of this letter agreement to the undersigned, whereupon this letter agreement shall become a binding agreement between Employee
and Company.

 

Sincerely,

 

	EQRX, INC.	 
	 	 
	By:	/s/ Melanie Nallicheri	 
	 	Name: 	Melanie Nallicheri	 
	 	Title:	President and Chief Operating Officer	 

 

	ACCEPTED AND AGREED	 
	AS OF THE DATE FIRST SET FORTH ABOVE:	 
	 	 
	/s/ Alexis Borisy	 
	Alexis Borisy

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