Document:

Exhibit
10.3

 

AMENDMENT NO. 6

 

Amendment No. 6 (this “Amendment”), dated as of July 14,
2008, among FH Partners LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “Borrower”),
the financial institutions (each a “Lender” and collectively, the “Lenders”)
party to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 26,
2005 (as heretofore amended or otherwise modified, the “Loan Agreement”), among
the Borrower, the Lenders and Bank of Scotland plc, as Agent for the Lenders
(the “Agent”).

 

W  I  T  N  E  S
S  E  T  H :

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has
requested that the Lenders amend the Loan Agreement to add new Section 8A
(a)(v) and (vi) thereto; and

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to consent to the
foregoing on and subject to the terms hereof.

 

NOW THEREFORE, it is agreed:

 

1.             Definitions. All the capitalized terms used herein
which are defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meanings when used
herein unless otherwise defined in the recitals to this Amendment.

 

2.             Effect of Amendment.  As used in
the Loan Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto), the Notes and the other
Loan Documents and all other instruments and documents executed in connection
with any of the foregoing, on and subsequent to the Amendment Closing Date, any
reference to the Loan Agreement shall mean the Loan Agreement as amended
hereby.

 

3.             Representations and Agreements. To induce the Lenders to enter into
this Amendment and to grant the consent contained herein, the Borrower hereby
represents and warrants to the Lenders (which representations and warranties
are made as of the date hereof and as of the Amendment Closing Date) and agrees
for the benefit of the Lenders (which representations, warranties and
agreements shall survive the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this
Amendment), as follows:

 

(a)           No
Default or Event of Default exists.

 

(b)           Each
representation and warranty made by the Borrower in the Loan Documents is true
and correct.

 

(c)           The
execution and delivery of this Amendment by the Borrower and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated herein have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action.

 

(d)           This
Amendment is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower,
enforceable in accordance with its terms subject, as to enforceability, to
applicable 

 

 

bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).

 

(e)           No
Material Adverse Change has occurred since August 26, 2005.

 

4.             Requests.  Borrower
hereby requests that the Lenders agree to an amendment of the Loan Agreement to
add new Section 8A(a)(iv) and (v) thereto.

 

5.             Amendment.  In reliance
upon the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein, as of the
date hereof, the Loan Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(a)           Annex
I.  Annex I to the Agreement is
amended by inserting the following new definitions in appropriate alphabetical
order therein:

 

“Average Net Present
Value” shall mean, for any period, the sum of the Net Present Value of all
of the Borrower’s Asset Pools reported on the twelve most recent monthly
Borrowing Base Certificates (irrespective of any Borrowing Base Certificate
delivered in connection with a Notice of Borrowing) delivered by the Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement, divided by twelve.

 

“Cash Conversion Rate”
shall mean, for any period, the ratio obtained by dividing Net Collections by
Average Net Present Value for such period.

 

 “Total Interest and Fee Expense” shall
mean, for any period, total interest and fees payable during such period by the
Borrower under this Agreement.

 

(b)           Section 8A.  Section 8A(a) of the Agreement is
amended by adding thereto new subsections (v) and (vi) to read in
their entirety as follows:

 

(v)  maintain a ratio of Net Collections to Total Interest and Fee
Expense of not less than 7.00 to 1.00 for the four fiscal quarters then ended;

 

(vi)  maintain a Cash Conversion Rate of not less than 35% for the
four fiscal quarters then ended;

 

6.             Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective
as of the date hereof when each of the following conditions (the first date on
which all such conditions have been so satisfied (or so waived) is herein
referred to as the “Amendment Closing Date”) has been fulfilled to the
satisfaction of the Agent (or waived by the Agent in its sole discretion):

 

(a)           the
Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent shall have executed a copy hereof, and
delivered the foregoing to the Agent at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
New York 10036 (Attention: Loan Documentation);

 

(b)           on
the Amendment Closing Date, both before and after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated by this Amendment to be effective on the Amendment
Closing Date, no Material Adverse Change shall have occurred since August 26,
2005;

 

(c)           no
Default or Event of Default shall exist;

 

2

 

(d)           each
representation and warranty made by the Borrower in the Loan Agreement and the
other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects as of
the Amendment Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of
such date (except for those that specifically speak as of a prior date); and

 

(e)           each
of the Guarantors shall have executed a confirming consent, substantially in
the form attached hereto as Annex A or otherwise satisfactory to the Agent, and
delivered the same to the Agent at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New
York 10036 (Attention: Loans Administration) or such other place directed by
the Agent.

 

7.             Ratification and Release. The Borrower does hereby remise,
release and forever discharge the Agent and the Lenders and each of their
respective affiliates, successors, officers, directors, employees, counsel and
agents, past and present, and each of them, of and from any and all manner of
actions, and causes of action, suits, debts, dues, accounts, bonds, covenants,
contracts, agreements, judgments, claims and demands whatsoever in law or in equity,
which against the Agent, the Lenders or any of their respective affiliates,
successors, officers, directors, employees, counsel or agents, or any one or
more of them, the Borrower ever had, now has, or hereafter can, shall or may
have for or by reason of any cause, matter or thing that occurred or did not
occur on or prior to the Amendment Closing Date with respect to the Loan
Agreement, this Amendment or any Security Document or other Loan Document, any
previous version hereof or thereof or any proposed amendment or waiver hereof
or thereof. ‘

 

8.             Limited Nature of Amendments and Waivers. The amendments and waivers set forth
herein are limited precisely as written and shall not be deemed to prejudice
any right or rights which the Agent or the Lenders may now have or may have in
the future under or in connection with the Loan Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents. Except as expressly consented to herein, the terms and
provisions of the Loan Agreement and all other Loan Documents remain in full force
and effect.

 

9.             THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO CHOICE OF LAW DOCTRINE THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE
LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

10.           THIS AMENDMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT
TO THE MATTERS COVERED HEREBY AND THEREBY AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.

 

THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE
PARTIES.

 

11.           Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts by the different parties hereto on separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an
original, but all the counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument. Telecopied signatures hereto shall be of the same force and effect
as an original of a manually signed copy.

 

3

 

12.           Headings. The descriptive headings of the various
provisions of this Amendment are for convenience of reference only and shall
not be deemed to affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered by their respective duly
authorized officers as of the date first shown.

 

	
   

  	
  BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,
  as Agent and as a 

  
	
   

  	
  Lender

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  FH PARTNERS LLC

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:  James C. Holmes

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:  Executive Vice President

  
				

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 6]

 

4

 

Annex A

 

CONFIRMING CONSENT

 

Reference is hereby made to the foregoing Amendment No. 6
(the “Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of July 14,
2008 among the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent (said agreement, as from
time to time amended or otherwise modified, the “Agreement”).

 

Each Guarantor hereby consents to the terms and
provisions of the Amendment and confirms and acknowledges that:

 

(a)           its
obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party remain in full
force and effect; and

 

(b)           its
consent and acknowledgement hereunder is not required under the terms of such
Loan Documents and any failure to obtain its consent or acknowledgment in
connection herewith or with any subsequent consent, waiver or amendment to the
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents will not affect the validity of
its obligations under the aforesaid Loan Documents or any other Loan Document,
and this consent and acknowledgement is being delivered for purposes of form
only.

 

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined have the same meanings as in the Agreement. This Consent is dated as of
the Amendment Closing Date (as defined in the Amendment).

 

 

	
  FIRSTCITY
  FINANCIAL CORPORATION

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Name:
  James C. Holmes

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Title:
  Senior Vice President

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  FIRSTCITY
  COMMERCIAL CORPORATION

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Name:
  James C. Holmes

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Title:
  Executive Vice President

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  FIRSTCITY EUROPE
  CORPORATION

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Name: James C.
  Holmes

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Title:
  Executive Vice President

  	
   

  
					

 

 

	
  FIRSTCITY HOLDINGS
  CORPORATION

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Name: James C.
  Holmes

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Title:
  Executive Vice President

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  FIRSTCITY INTERNATIONAL
  CORPORATION

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Name: James C.
  Holmes

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Title:
  Executive Vice President

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  FIRSTCITY MEXICO, INC.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Name: James C.
  Holmes

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Title:
  Executive Vice President

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  FIRSTCITY SERVICING
  CORPORATION

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Name: James C.
  Holmes

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
    Title:
  Executive Vice President

  	
   

  
					

 

[Signature Page to Confirming Consent to Amendment No. 6]Exhibit 10.1

 

 

SEPARATION AND GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT

 

This
Separation and General Release Agreement (“Agreement”), dated July 16,
2008, is entered into by and between Una S. Ryan, Ph.D. (the “Employee”)
and AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Employer”),
its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, a complete and exhaustive list of
which is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement, and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, investors, members,
managers, partners, plans, plan administrators and fiduciaries,
representatives, attorneys, advisors and agents (each in their official
capacities with the Employer), as well as any predecessors, future successors
or assigns or estates of any of the foregoing (collectively, including without
limitation the Employer, the “Company”).

 

WHEREAS,
Employee served as Employer’s President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to
an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of August 20, 1998
and as amended by a First Amendment dated as of December 23, 2002, a
Second Amendment dated as of September 18, 2003, and a Third Amendment
dated as of October 19, 2007 (collectively, the “Employment Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS,
Employee and Employer mutually agree that Employee should no longer serve as
Employer’s President and Chief Executive Officer and that Employee’s employment
with Employer should cease; and

 

WHEREAS,
each of the parties hereto believes it to be in their respective best interests
to enter into an agreement to set forth the terms of their respective rights
and obligations relating to the cessation of Employee’s employment with
Employer.

 

NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Separation of Employment.  Employee acknowledges and understands that
Employee’s last day of work with Employer was May 7, 2008 (the “Separation
Date”), but that Employee has continued to be paid and provided with
benefits through June 7, 2008, and that Employee has received all
compensation and benefits to which Employee is entitled as a result of Employee’s
employment, except for the compensation provided for in this Agreement.  Employee understands that, except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, Employee is entitled to nothing further
from the Employer, including reinstatement by the Employer or any future or
deferred compensation.

 

 

 

 

2.             Employee Release of Company.

 

(A)          In consideration of
the release, payments and other benefits set forth in Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7
below, Employee hereby unconditionally and irrevocably releases, waives,
discharges and gives up, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all
Claims (as defined below) that Employee may have against the Company arising on
or prior to the date of Employee’s execution and delivery of this Agreement to
Employer.  “Claims” means any and
all actions, charges, complaints, controversies, demands, causes of action,
suits, rights, and/or claims whatsoever, arising out of Employee’s employment
with or position as an officer, director or employee of the Company and her
termination from her employment with or position as an officer, director or
employee of the Company, including without limitation, for debts, sums of
money, wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, stock options, severance pay,
vacation pay, sick pay, fees and costs, attorneys’ fees, losses, penalties,
damages, including damages for pain and suffering and emotional harm arising,
directly or indirectly, out of any promise, agreement, offer letter, contract,
understanding, common law, tort, the laws, statutes, and/or regulations of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and any other federal, state or local civil
rights law, regulation or ordinance, including, but not limited to, and to the
extent applicable, federal and state wage and hour laws, federal and state
whistleblower laws, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights
Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family
and Medical Leave Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (excluding
COBRA), the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act, the Fair Credit
Reporting Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the
Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act,
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices
Act (M.G.L. § 151B, et. seq.) as
each may be amended from time to time, whether arising directly or indirectly
from any act or omission, whether intentional or unintentional.  This Section 2(A) releases all
Claims including those of which Employee is not aware and those not mentioned
in this Agreement up to the date of Employee’s execution and delivery of this
Agreement to Employer.  Employee
expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by entering into this Agreement,
Employee is releasing and waiving the Claims, including, without limitation,
Claims that Employee may have arising under ADEA, which have arisen on or
before the date of Employee’s execution and delivery of this Agreement to
Employer.

 

(B)           The foregoing
Release does not include, and does not release, the Employee’s right to seek to
enforce the terms of this Agreement, including without limitation the right of
Employee to obtain the payments and benefits under Sections 6 and 7 below.

 

(C)           The foregoing
Release does not include, and does not release or in any way diminish or
reduce, any and all rights (including but not limited to rights to
indemnification) that Employee may currently have or may have ever had under
any of Employer’s insurance policies, including but not limited to D&O
insurance policies, under Employer’s Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation or
other corporate documents with 

 

 

2

 

 

respect
to any such rights, or under Massachusetts, Delaware or any other applicable
statute, law, ordinance, or regulation. 
Employee’s rights under such documents shall survive the execution of
this Agreement, subject to the terms of such documents and applicable law.  Furthermore, nothing in this General Release
or anywhere else in this Agreement is intended to nor shall it limit in any way
Employee’s right and ability to bring Claims solely against any insurance
company for denial of coverage under any such policy that may provide such
coverage to Employee.  To the extent
Employee has a dispute with any insurance company concerning coverage under any
of the Employer’s insurance policies, Employer shall provide Employee with all
reasonable requested information relevant to the dispute (e.g.,
provide copies of applicable policies, answer reasonable questions concerning
communications with the insurer), and shall not do anything to unnecessarily or
unreasonably undercut Employee’s effort to obtain coverage.

 

(D)          The foregoing Release
does not include, and does not release or in any way diminish or reduce, the
rights reserved to Employee under Sections 20(A)-(D), inclusive, below.

 

3.             Employee Representations;
Covenant Not to Sue.  Employee hereby
represents and warrants to Employer that Employee has not: (i) filed,
caused or permitted to be filed any pending proceeding (nor has Employee lodged
a complaint with any governmental or quasi-governmental authority) against
Company, nor has Employee agreed to do any of the foregoing; (ii) assigned,
transferred, sold, encumbered, pledged, hypothecated, mortgaged, distributed,
or otherwise disposed of or conveyed to any third party any right or Claim
against Company that has been released in this Agreement; or (iii) directly
or indirectly assisted any third party in filing, causing or assisting to be filed,
any Claim against Company.  In addition,
Employee represents and warrants that Employee shall not encourage or solicit
or voluntarily assist or participate in any way in the filing, reporting or
prosecution by herself or any third party of a proceeding or Claim against
Company, except as permitted under Sections 2 and 20 of this Agreement.

 

4.             Company Release of Employee.  As additional consideration for Employee’s
execution, delivery and non-revocation of this Agreement, the Company hereby
unconditionally and irrevocably releases, waives, discharges and gives up any
and all Company Claims (as defined below) that the Company may have against
Employee arising on or prior to the date of the Company’s execution and
delivery of this Separation Agreement to Employee.  “Company Claims” means any and all
actions, charges, controversies, demands, causes of action, suits, rights,
and/or claims whatsoever  that the Company may have against Employee
arising out of: (i) Employee’s employment with, or position as an officer,
director or employee of the Company or the termination of Employee’s employment
with, or position as an officer, director or employee of the Company; or (ii) by
reason of any other matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the date of
Employee’s employment with Company to the date this Agreement is executed by
Company and delivered to Employee, whether any or all of the foregoing
Company Claims arise directly or indirectly from any act or omission, whether
intentional or unintentional.  This Section 4
releases all Company Claims including those of which Company is not aware and
those not mentioned in this Agreement up to the date of Company’s execution and
delivery of this Agreement to 

 

 

3

 

 

Employee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section 4 shall be deemed to release Employee from (i) Employee’s
obligations under the sections of the Employment Agreement incorporated into
this Agreement as set forth in Section 11 below, (ii) actions
and claims by the Company against Employee for contribution and/or
indemnification of any action or claim brought by any third party person
arising out of Employee’s willful misconduct or gross negligence while employed
by, or serving as an officer or director of, the Company, or (iii) actions
or claims by the Company to enforce the terms of this Agreement.

 

5.             Company Representations; Covenant
Not to Sue.  Company hereby represents
and warrants to Employee that Company has not: (i) filed, caused or
permitted to be filed any pending proceeding (nor has Company lodged a
complaint with any governmental or quasi-governmental authority) against
Employee, nor has Company agreed to do any of the foregoing; (ii) assigned,
transferred, sold, encumbered, pledged, hypothecated, mortgaged, distributed,
or otherwise disposed of or conveyed to any third party any right or Company
Claim against Employee that has been released in this Agreement; or (iii) directly
or indirectly assisted any third party in filing, causing or assisting to be
filed, any Company Claim against Employee. 
In addition, Company represents and warrants that Company shall not
encourage or solicit or voluntarily assist or participate in any way in the
filing, reporting or prosecution by itself or any third party of a proceeding
or Company Claim against Employee, except as permitted under Section 4 of
this Agreement.

 

6.             Severance Payments and Benefits.  As good consideration for Employee’s
execution, delivery, and non-revocation of this Agreement, Employer shall:

 

(A)          Pay to Employee a
lump sum cash payment in the amount of $1,323,203, plus interest in the amount
of $10,784.10 and any Gross-Up Payment to which Employee may be entitled
pursuant to Section 6.f.(ii) and (iii) of the Employment
Agreement (the “Severance Payment”), which Severance Payment is earned
and payable as of the date hereof.  The
Severance Payment shall be made on November 8, 2008, which is the day that
is six (6) months and one day following the Separation Date (the “Severance
Payment Date”).  To the extent required
by law, the Gross-Up Payment shall be paid by the Employer as withholding tax
to the taxing authorities on the Severance Payment Date.  The parties hereby expressly acknowledge and
agree that Subsections 6.f. (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) and 6(i) of
the Employment Agreement shall apply to the Severance Payment.  In the event Employee dies prior to the
Severance Payment Date, the Severance Payment shall be paid in accordance with
this Section 6(A) to Employee’s estate on the Severance Payment Date;
provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, the
Gross-Up Payment shall be paid by the Employer as withholding tax to the taxing
authorities on the Severance Payment Date; and

 

(B)           Pay the premiums for
Employee to maintain her healthcare coverages (dental, vision and medical) for
her and her eligible dependents for 18 months pursuant to COBRA provided,
however, that Employer is not obligated to provide such coverage to
Employee in the event that (i) Employee becomes employed by an employer
providing healthcare coverages comparable to those provided by Employer or (ii) Employer
ceases in the normal course of business to provide such coverages to its other
employees, which coverages Employer may cease in its sole discretion.  For an additional period of six (6)

 

 

4

 

 

months
after the 18-month COBRA period, and contingent on Employee not being employed
by an employer providing healthcare coverages comparable to those provided by Employer
as set forth above, Employer shall pay on behalf of Employee the premiums
required to be paid by Employee to be enrolled in a healthcare plan providing
supplemental coverage to Medicare such that Employee and her eligible
dependents may maintain healthcare coverages comparable to those provided by
Employer as set forth above.  During the
24-month period provided for under this Section 6(B), Employee shall be
obligated to provide notice to Employer (attn.: Director of Human Resources) of
any new employment and healthcare coverages.

 

Employee
acknowledges that the payments and benefits set forth in this Section 6
are in excess of the amount Employee is entitled to pursuant to any employment
arrangement with Employer.  Employee
acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to be an admission
of liability on the part of Company. 
Employee agrees that Employee will not seek anything further from
Company, except as provided for in this Agreement.

 

7.             Stock Options.  The Company and the Employee hereby
acknowledge that on March 7, 2008, the Company granted to the Employee
options to purchase 612,500 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to
the “AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. 2008 Stock Option and Incentive Plan”,
having an exercise price of $8.16 per share (the “Options”), none of
which Options are vested as of the date hereof. 
As additional consideration for this Agreement, Employer and Employee
hereby agree that, (i) as of the date hereof, 153,125 of the Options shall
be deemed vested and exercisable (the “Vested Options” and the shares of
common stock issued upon exercise of the Vested Options, the “Option Shares”);
(ii) the Vested Options and the Option Shares are and shall remain subject
to the terms of the lock-up letter executed and delivered by Employee on October 15
2007; (iii) the Vested Options shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. Eastern
time on March 7, 2011, unless exercised by Employee prior to that time;
and (iv) Employee shall give at least ten (10) days’ prior written
notice to Employer of Employee’s intention to sell or otherwise transfer Option
Shares, and, unless Employer waives this clause (iv) in writing, Employee
shall sell no more than 15,000 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock
combinations, and the like) Option Shares during any sixty (60) day
period.  As of the date hereof, all
Options (other than the Vested Options) are hereby terminated and shall
hereafter be of no further force or effect. 
The Option Grant Agreement entered into as of March 7, 2008, by
Employer and Employee is hereby amended as set forth in this Section 7.

 

8.             Resignation from Official Roles.  Effective as of the Separation Date, Employee
has resigned from all positions that she then held as an officer or director of
Employer or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.  For avoidance of doubt, Employee hereby
resigns as a director of Employer and each of Employer’s subsidiaries,
effective as of July 16, 2008. 
Employee acknowledges that she is resigning as a director of the
Employer in connection with her negotiated separation and release
agreement  Upon the request of Employer,
Employee shall execute and deliver a written resignation from all such officer
or director positions directed to the appropriate party, as may be required by
the bylaws of Employer or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.  Employee also agrees to provide her full
cooperation in taking all necessary steps in effecting such resignations.

 

 

5

 

 

9.             Expenses. 
Employer shall reimburse Employee
for all outstanding reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee but
not yet paid by Employer in connection with the performance of Employee’s
duties at Employer’s request through the Separation Date in accordance with
Employer’s expense reimbursement policy. 
In addition, to the extent Employer has not already advanced or paid
such expenses, Employer shall reimburse Employee for the reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in attending the Phacillitate
Vaccine Conference in Geneva, Switzerland; provided Employee submits supporting
documentation for such expenses in accordance with Employer’s expense
reimbursement policy.  All supporting
documentation for expense reimbursement under this Section 9 must be
submitted to Employer no later than July 31, 2008.

 

10.           Attorneys’
Fees and Costs.  Employer shall
reimburse Employee attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with her
separation from the Employer, in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00.

 

11.           Survival of Certain Sections of
the Employment Agreement.  Employee
and Employer hereby acknowledge and agree that, except as otherwise provided by
this Agreement, the Employment Agreement is hereby terminated and of no further
force or effect, and Employee shall have no rights thereunder whatsoever; provided,
however, that the following Sections of the Employment Agreement shall
survive and are incorporated herein by reference:  Section 6.f. (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), and
(vi) and 6(i) (as applied to the Severance Payment as provided in Section 6
above); Section 7, including all subparts (Confidential Information,
Noncompetition, and Assignment); Section 9 (Litigation and Regulatory
Cooperation); Section 10 (Injunction); Section 11 (Arbitration of
Disputes); Section 12 (Consent to Jurisdiction); Section 18
(Notices); and Section 20 (Governing Law).

 

12.           Nondisparagement.  Employee agrees not to make any defamatory or
derogatory statements concerning the Company. 
The Company agrees not to make any defamatory or derogatory statements
concerning Employee; provided, however, that no truthful, factual
statement or disclosure concerning Employee that is made or set forth in any
S.E.C. filing of Employer shall be deemed to be defamatory or derogatory.  Employer shall instruct the members of the
Employer’s Board of Directors, the Employer’s officers and executives, and all
of the Employer’s Human Resources employees in writing to refer all requests
for inquiries regarding Employee to the Chairman of Employer’s Board of
Directors, which inquiries the Chairman shall respond to by disclosing to
prospective employers information limited to Employee’s dates of employment and
last position held by Employee and refer such prospective employers to the
joint press release issued by the parties with respect Employee’s
departure.  Nothing in this provision is
intended to or does bar Employee from seeking personal references from persons
known to her through the Company.

 

13.           Surrender and Return of Property.

 

(A)          Employee represents
and warrants that (i) all documents, records, directories, memoranda,
notebooks, plans, models, components, devices or computer software or codes,
including, without limitation, all copies or reproductions of such documents or
materials, tapes, computer disks, backup copies, and other forms of 

 

 

6

 

 

electronic
storage media, all property belonging to or purchased with the funds of Company
and any equipment, employee or security identification or access cards, or any
other material containing or relating to the Confidential Information (as
defined in Section 7.a. of the Employment Agreement) (collectively, the “Proprietary
Items”) have been returned to an authorized officer of Employer (ii) she
has not retained and has returned to Employer all notes, analyses, studies,
forecasts, compilations, summaries, interpretations and other documents or
reports prepared by her that contain, reflect or are based upon, in whole or in
part, Confidential Information or any other Proprietary Item (including,
without limitation, all copies or reproductions of such documents or materials,
tapes, computer disks, backup copies, and other forms of electronic storage
media) and (iii) all Confidential Information and any other Proprietary
Items in electronic form have been deleted from her personal computer systems
and from all back-up and archive tapes, if such exist, so that nothing remains
on her personal computer systems in electronic form that constitutes or
contains information based on Confidential Information or any other Proprietary
Item.

 

(B)           Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Employer agrees that Employee may retain the laptop computer and
Blackberry provided to her while employed. 
Employee represents and warrants that all Confidential Information and
any other Proprietary Items have been deleted from the laptop computer and
Blackberry.

 

(C)           Employer shall
arrange to send to Employee, or cooperate in allowing Employee to retrieve, her
personal belongings and papers located in Employer’s offices.  Employer agrees to follow Employee’s
reasonable direction with regard to the manner in which she wishes her personal
belongings sent or retrieved, including storing such items for up to six (6) months
following June 7, 2008.

 

14.           Severability. 
If it is ever held that any provision hereunder is too broad to permit
enforcement thereof to its fullest extent, such provision shall be enforced to
the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. 
In the event that one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement shall for any reason be held unenforceable in any respect under the
law of any state of the United States or the United States, the parties shall
use best efforts to negotiate a substitute provision or, if unable to do so,
shall arbitrate their dispute utilizing the arbitration procedure under the
Employment Agreement preserved in Section 11 above.

 

15.           Who is Bound.  Employer, Company with respect to all
provisions referencing Company, and Employee are bound by this Agreement.  Anyone who succeeds to Employee’s rights and
responsibilities (such as Employee’s heirs and the executors and administrators
of Employee’s estate) is bound, anyone who succeeds to Employer’s rights and
responsibilities, (such as its successors and assigns) is bound, and anyone who
succeeds to Company’s rights and responsibilities (such as its successors and
assigns) is also bound.

 

16.           Governing Law; Venue.  This Agreement shall be governed by and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
without regard to its conflicts of law principles. The parties hereto (i) agree
that any lawsuit, proceeding or action with respect to this Agreement may be
brought in the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or of the 

 

 

7

 

 

United
States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, (ii) accept the
jurisdiction of such courts, and (iii) irrevocably waive any objection,
including, without limitation, any objection to the laying of venue or based on
the grounds of forum  non  conveniens, which they may now or
hereafter have to the bringing of any lawsuit, proceeding or action in those
jurisdictions.

 

                17.           Headings. 
The headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference
only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

                18.           Counterparts. 
This Agreement may be executed and delivered with facsimile signature
and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but
all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

19.           No Other Assurances; Entire
Agreement; Modification.  Employee
acknowledges that in deciding to sign this Agreement she has not relied on any
promises or commitments, whether spoken or in writing, made to Employee by any
person, except for what is expressly stated in this Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire
understanding and agreement between Employee and the Company, and replaces and
cancels all previous agreements and commitments, whether spoken or written, in
connection with the matters described herein, except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement.   This Agreement may be changed only by a
written instrument signed by Employee and an authorized officer of Employer.

 

20.           Acknowledgments.  Employer and Employee
acknowledge and agree that:

 

                                                                (A)  By entering into this
Agreement, Employee does not waive any rights or Claims that may arise after
the time and date that Employee executes and delivers this Agreement to
Employer;

 

                                                                (B)  This Agreement shall
not affect the rights and responsibilities of the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (the “EEOC”) to enforce the ADEA and other laws, and further
acknowledge and agree that this Agreement shall not be used to justify
interfering with Employee’s protected right to file a charge or participate in
an investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC.  Accordingly, nothing in this Agreement
shall preclude Employee from filing a charge with, or participating in any
manner in an investigation, hearing or proceeding conducted by, the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, but Employee hereby waives any and all
rights to recover under, or by virtue of, any such investigation, hearing or
proceeding;

 

                                                                (C)  Notwithstanding
anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this
Agreement shall affect or be used to interfere with Employee’s protected right
to test in any court, under the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act, or like
statute or regulation, the validity of the waiver of rights under ADEA set
forth in this Agreement; and

 

                                                                (D)  Nothing in this
Agreement shall preclude Employee from exercising Employee’s rights, if any (i) under
Section 601-608 of the Employee Retirement Income 

 

 

8

 

 

Security
Act of 1974, as amended, popularly known as COBRA, or (ii) Employer’s 401(k) plan
or other plan of Employer that is qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Code.

 

21.           Opportunity For Review.

 

                                                                (A)          Employee represents and warrants that Employee (i) has
had sufficient opportunity to consider this Agreement, (ii) has read this
Agreement, (iii) understands all the terms and conditions hereof, (iv) is
not incompetent or had a guardian, conservator or trustee appointed for
Employee, (v) has entered into this Agreement of Employee’s own free will
and volition, (vi) has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, (vii) understands
that Employee is responsible for Employee’s own attorneys’ fees and costs, (viii) has
had the opportunity to review this Agreement with counsel of her choice, (ix) understands
that Employee has been given twenty-one (21) days to review this Agreement
before signing this Agreement and understands that she is free to use as much
or as little of the 21-day period as she wishes or considers necessary before deciding
to sign this Agreement, (x) understands that if Employee does not sign and
return this Agreement to Employer’s counsel (Attn.: David M. Wissert,
Lowenstein Sandler PC, 65 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey 07068) on or
before July 16, 2008, Employer shall have no obligation to enter into this
Agreement, Employee shall not be entitled to receive the payments and benefits
provided for under Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement, and the Separation Date
shall be unaltered; and (xi) understands that this Agreement is valid, binding,
and enforceable against the parties hereto in accordance with its terms.

 

                                                                (B)           This Agreement shall be effective and enforceable on the
eighth (8th)
day after execution and delivery to Employer’s counsel by Employee (the “Effective
Date”).  The parties hereto
understand and agree that Employee may revoke this Agreement in writing after
having executed and delivered it to Employer’s counsel, provided such writing
is received by Employer’s counsel (Attn.: David M. Wissert, Lowenstein Sandler,
PC, 65 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey 07068; fax 973.597.2561; e-mail
dwissert@lowenstein.com) no later than 11:59 p.m. on the seventh (7th) day after
Employee’s execution and delivery of this Agreement to Employer’s counsel.  If Employee revokes this Agreement, it shall
not be effective or enforceable and Employee shall not be entitled to receive
the payments and benefits provided for under Sections 6 and 7 of this
Agreement, and the Separation Date shall be unaltered.

 

Agreed
to and accepted by, on this 14th day of July, 2008

 

	
   

  	
  Witness

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  EMPLOYEE:

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  /s/ Una S. Ryan

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Una
  S. Ryan

  

 

 

9

 

 

Agreed
to and accepted by, on this 14th day of July, 2008

 

	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  EMPLOYER:

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  AVANT
  Immunotherapeutics, Inc.,

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  on
  behalf of itself and the COMPANY

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ Anthony Marucci

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Duly
  Authorized

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:
  Anthony Marucci

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:
  Interim Chief Executive

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Officer

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

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