Document:

Document

Exhibit 10.1

June 11, 2020
Laurent Fischer, MD

Re: Employment Terms 
Dear Laurent:
This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) memorializes the employment terms for your anticipated hire by Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “Company”) in the position of Chief Executive Officer. These terms will become effective on June 15, 2020 or at a later date determined by mutual agreement (as applicable, the “Hire Date”).
1.Role
You will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, reporting to the Board of Directors (the “Board”). During the period in which you are employed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, you will serve as a member of the Board, subject to any required Board and/or stockholder approval. You hereby agree that, unless the Board provides otherwise, upon your termination of service as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer for any reason, you will automatically and without further action immediately be deemed to have resigned from the Board. 

2.Compensation and Benefits.
Your base salary will be $600,000 annually, paid in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings.
In addition, for each calendar year starting with 2020, you will be eligible to earn an annual performance bonus with a target bonus amount equal to 60% of your base salary during the bonus year, subject to the applicable Company annual bonus plan. Your annual bonus for the 2020 calendar year will be prorated based on the Hire Date. Annual bonuses are earned when paid, and thus you must be actively employed through and including the date the bonus is paid in order to earn the bonus. Your annual bonus will be calculated based on attainment of individual goals (including corporate and personal objectives) to be determined in the sole discretion of the Board each year. Bonus payments will be in the form of cash, and will be subject to applicable payroll deductions and all required withholdings.
For each calendar year starting with 2021, in addition to a cash bonus, you may be eligible for an annual equity grant, provided that you are actively employed with the Company through and including the date of such annual equity grant. 
800 Saginaw Drive, Redwood City, CA 94063
Tel +1-650-656-9323

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You will be eligible to participate in the Company’s general employee benefits in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations of any such benefit plans, as in effect from time to time. 
3.At Will Employment; Change in Control and Severance Agreement.
You will be eligible for severance benefits under the terms of the Change in Control and Severance Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “CIC Agreement”). Capitalized terms in Section 4 not defined in this letter have the meanings given to such terms in the CIC Agreement.
Your employment relationship with the Company will be an “at-will” arrangement. This means that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause, and with or without advance notice. This “at-will” employment relationship cannot be changed except in a written agreement approved by the Company and signed by you and by a duly authorized member of the Board.
4.New Hire Stock Option Grant.
In addition to the compensation and benefits described above, and as an inducement to you to become an employee of the Company, the Company will grant you an option to purchase 1,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The foregoing stock option award will be subject to all applicable Company policies and the Company’s 2017 Inducement Plan and will be subject to the Company’s standard form of stock option agreement for option awards under that plan. Of the shares of common stock subject to the stock option, 25% will vest on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and 1/36 of the remainder of the award will vest monthly thereafter such that the entire award is vested and exercisable on the fourth anniversary of the vesting commencement date. If you experience a Covered Termination prior to the first anniversary of the Hire Date, other than during a Change in Control Period, and if you deliver to the Company a general release of all claims (containing a carve out-out for indemnification and mutual non-disparagement) against the Company and its affiliates that becomes effective and irrevocable within 60 days, or such shorter period of time specified by the Company, following such Covered Termination, then, in addition to any benefits provided under the CIC Agreement, the Company will (i) accelerate the vesting of the shares subject to all outstanding equity awards, including, without limitation, each stock option, then held by you such that you will be deemed vested in all of the shares that would have vested had you remained in service with the Company for an additional 24 months from such Covered Termination and (ii) extend the exercise period of all such options to the second anniversary of the date of the Covered Termination.
5.Confidentiality and Proprietary Information Obligations.
(a.)Proprietary Information Agreement. You will be required to sign the Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”).
(b.)Adverse or Outside Business Activities. Throughout your employment with the Company, you may engage in civic activities, academic teaching and lectures and not-for-profit 

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activities so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of your duties hereunder or present a conflict of interest with the Company. You may not engage in other employment or undertake any other commercial business activities unless you obtain the prior written consent of the Board. The Company understands that your current employer has asked you to provide assistance during a transition period following the Hire Date. Subject to the Company’s review of the applicable agreements and such limitations as may be mutually agreed to between you and the Company, you may continue to serve as an advisor to AbbVie and senior advisor to Frazier Healthcare Ventures and affiliates. You have advised the Company that you are currently a member of the boards of directors of two publicly traded companies (CTI BioPharma Corp. and Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) and two privately held companies (Senti Biosciences and Lycia Therapeutics, Inc.). You have agreed that you will resign from at least one of the private company boards concurrently with the Hire Date and that by December 31, 2021 you will reduce your board of directors memberships to no more than three, including the Company. The Company may rescind its consent to your service as a director of all other corporations or participation in other business or public activities if the Company, in its reasonable discretion, determines that such activities compromise or threaten to compromise the Company’s reputational or business interests or conflict with your duties to the Company. In addition, throughout the term of your employment with the Company, you agree not to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, own, manage, operate, join, control, finance or participate in the ownership, management, operation, control or financing of, or be connected as an officer, director, executive, partner, employee, principal, agent, representative, consultant, licensor, licensee or otherwise with, any business or enterprise engaged in any business which is competitive with or which is reasonably anticipated to be competitive with the Company's business; provided, however, that you may purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) 1% of any class of securities of any enterprise (but without participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or regional securities exchange. You hereby represent and warrant that you have disclosed previously to the Board all other employment or other commercial business activities that you already undertake, or intend to undertake (to the extent currently known by you), during your period of employment with the Company.
6.Indemnification/Insurance. 
(a.)Insurance. During your employment, you shall be designated as a “covered person” under the Company’s applicable Directors’ and Officers’ insurance coverage. Such obligations shall be binding upon the Company’s successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of your heirs and personal representatives. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain and maintain directors and officers liability insurance for its directors and officers. 
(b.)Indemnification. The Company shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law and the Company’s organizational documents, including its bylaws and certificate of incorporation, and in accordance with the indemnification agreement between the Company and Indemnitee, an executed copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Indemnification Agreement”), indemnify you if you are made a party or threatened to be made a party to any 

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action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that you are or were a director or executive of the Company or are or were serving at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, member, employee or agent of the Company. In connection with any such required indemnification, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the Company’s organizational documents, including its bylaws and certificate of incorporation, and the Indemnification Agreement, promptly advance to you any all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding, provided that you have provided the Company with a written undertaking, executed personally or on your behalf, to repay any advances if it is ultimately determined that you are not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. 
7.No Conflicts.
By signing this Agreement you hereby represent to the Company that, except as previously disclosed to the Company: (a) your employment with the Company is not prohibited under any employment agreement or other contractual arrangement; and (b) you do not know of any conflicts that would restrict your employment with the Company. You hereby represent that you have disclosed to the Company any contract you have signed that may restrict your activities on behalf of the Company, and that you are presently in compliance with such contracts, if any. 
8.Miscellaneous.
8.1 Business/Legal Expenses. The Company will reimburse you for your necessary and reasonable business and travel expenses incurred in connection with your duties hereunder upon presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Company’s generally applicable policies. Such reimbursement shall be made no later than March 15th of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, provided that you have submitted the requisite account and documentation at least 30 days before such date. The Company shall reimburse you for legal fees actually incurred by you in the review and negotiation of this Agreement and related agreements in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00, subject to submission of an invoice.
8.2 Conditions of employment. As required by law, your employment is contingent upon satisfactory proof of your identity and legal authorization to work in the United States. Additionally, this offer is contingent upon your completion of the employment application, verification of your references, satisfactory completion of a pre-employment background check and execution of the Proprietary Information Agreement and the Acknowledgment of Business Ethics and Conduct Guide and Company Policies by or on your first day of employment.
8.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the CIC Agreement (Exhibit A), the Proprietary Information Agreement (Exhibit B) and the Indemnification Agreement (Exhibit C), forms the complete and exclusive statement of your employment agreement with the Company. The employment terms in this Agreement, the CIC Agreement, the Proprietary Information Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement supersede any other agreements or promises made to you by anyone, whether oral or written, concerning your employment terms.

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8.4 Succession and Assignment. This Agreement is personal to you and shall not be assigned by you. Any purported assignment by you shall be null and void from the initial date of the purported assignment. The Company may assign this Agreement to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.
8.5 Enforceability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this determination shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement and the provision in question shall be modified so as to be rendered enforceable in a manner consistent with the intent of the parties insofar as possible under applicable law.
8.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to conflicts of law principles. 
8.7 Dispute Resolution. To ensure the rapid and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in connection with your employment with the Company, you and the Company agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action, in law or equity, including but not limited to statutory claims, arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach, performance, or interpretation of this Agreement, your employment with the Company, or the termination of your employment, shall be resolved pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1-16, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by final, binding and confidential arbitration conducted by JAMS or its successor, under JAMS’ then applicable rules and procedures for employment disputes before a single arbitrator (available upon request and also currently available at http://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment-arbitration/). You acknowledge that by agreeing to this arbitration procedure, both you and the Company waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative proceeding. In addition, all claims, disputes, or causes of action under this section, whether by you or the Company, must be brought in an individual capacity, and shall not be brought as a plaintiff (or claimant) or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding, nor joined or consolidated with the claims of any other person or entity. The arbitrator may not consolidate the claims of more than one person or entity, and may not preside over any form of representative or class proceeding. To the extent that the preceding sentences regarding class claims or proceedings are found to violate applicable law or are otherwise found unenforceable, any claim(s) alleged or brought on behalf of a class shall proceed in a court of law rather than by arbitration. This paragraph shall not apply to any action or claim that cannot be subject to mandatory arbitration as a matter of law, including, without limitation, claims brought pursuant to the California Private Attorneys General Act of 2004, as amended, to the extent such claims are not permitted by applicable law to be submitted to mandatory arbitration (collectively, the “Excluded Claims”). In the event you intend to bring multiple claims, including one of the Excluded Claims listed above, the Excluded Claims may be publicly filed with a court, while any other claims will remain subject to mandatory arbitration. You will have the right to be represented by legal counsel at any arbitration proceeding. Questions of whether a claim is subject to arbitration under this agreement shall be decided by the arbitrator. Likewise, procedural questions which grow out of the dispute and bear on the final disposition are also matters for the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall: (a) have the authority to 

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compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; and (b) issue a written statement signed by the arbitrator regarding the disposition of each claim and the relief, if any, awarded as to each claim, the reasons for the award, and the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based. The arbitrator shall be authorized to award all relief that you or the Company would be entitled to seek in a court of law. The Company shall pay all JAMS arbitration fees in excess of the administrative fees that you would be required to pay if the dispute were decided in a court of law. Nothing in this letter agreement is intended to prevent either you or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Any awards or orders in such arbitrations may be entered and enforced as judgments in the federal and state courts of any competent jurisdiction.
8.8 Headings and Captions. The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.
8.9 No Construction against Drafter. Any ambiguity in this Agreement shall not be construed against either party as the drafter.
8.10 Waiver. Any waiver of a breach of this Agreement, or rights hereunder, shall be in writing and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any successive breach or rights hereunder.
8.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which shall be deemed to be part of one original, and facsimile signatures shall be equivalent to original signatures.
9.Acknowledgment of Full Understanding. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU HAVE FULLY READ, UNDERSTAND AND VOLUNTARILY ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF YOUR CHOICE BEFORE SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.
Please sign and date this letter and return it to me by the close of business on June 12, 2020 in order to confirm your anticipated employment terms as set forth above.

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We look forward to a productive and enjoyable work relationship with you.
Sincerely,
Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.

  /s/ Patrick Machado 
Patrick Machado, Chair of the Board of Directors

Understood and Accepted:

 /s/ Laurent Fischer 
Laurent Fischer, MD

Date:   June 12, 2020 

EXHIBIT A TO LETTER AGREEMENT

Change in Control and Severance Agreement

EXHIBIT B TO LETTER AGREEMENT

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT C TO LETTER AGREEMENT

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

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Exhibit 10.2
ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CHANGE IN CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Change in Control and Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Laurent Fischer, MD (“Executive”) and Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “Company”), effective as of the latest date set forth by the signatures of the parties hereto below (the “Effective Date”).
RECITALS
A.Executive and the Company are entering into an offer letter agreement (the “Offer Letter”) concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.
B.It is expected that the Company from time to time will consider the possibility of an acquisition by another company or other change in control. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) recognizes that such consideration as well as the possibility of an involuntary termination or reduction in responsibility can be a distraction to Executive and can cause Executive to consider alternative employment opportunities. The Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication and objectivity of Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of such an event.
C.The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to provide Executive with an incentive to continue Executive’s employment and to motivate Executive to maximize the value of the Company upon a Change in Control (as defined below) for the benefit of its stockholders.
D.The Board believes that it is imperative to provide Executive with severance benefits upon certain terminations of Executive’s service to the Company that enhance Executive’s financial security and provide incentive and encouragement to Executive to remain with the Company notwithstanding the possibility of such an event.
E.Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 7 below.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
1.Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Date and terminate upon the date that all obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.
2.At-Will Employment. The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive’s employment is and shall continue to be “at-will,” as defined under applicable law. If Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or compensation other than as provided by this Agreement.
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3.Covered Termination Other Than During a Change in Control Period. If Executive experiences a Covered Termination other than during a Change in Control Period, and if Executive delivers to the Company a general release of all claims (with carve out for indemnification and mutual non-disparagement) against the Company and its affiliates that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days, or such shorter period of time specified by the Company, following such Covered Termination (a “Release of Claims”), then in addition to any accrued but unpaid salary, bonus, vacation and expense reimbursement payable in accordance with applicable law, the Company shall provide Executive with the following:
(a)Severance. Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to twelve (12) months of Executive’s Base Salary, payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies, less applicable withholdings; provided, however, that no payments under this Section 3(a) shall be made prior to the first payroll date occurring on or after the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of the Covered Termination (such payroll date, the “First Payroll Date”), and any amounts otherwise payable prior to the First Payroll Date shall be paid on the First Payroll Date without interest thereon.
(b)Continued Healthcare. If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 3(b), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.
4.Covered Termination During a Change in Control Period. If Executive experiences a Covered Termination during a Change in Control Period, and if Executive delivers to the Company a Release of Claims that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days, or such shorter period of time specified by the Company, following such Covered Termination, then in addition to any accrued but unpaid salary, bonus, vacation and expense reimbursement payable in accordance with applicable law, the Company shall provide Executive with the following:
(a)Severance. Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum of: (i) twenty-four (24) months of Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately before the date of the Covered Termination and (ii) two times the Executive’s target annual bonus for the year in which Executive’s termination occurs. Such amount shall be payable in a cash 
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lump sum, less applicable withholdings, on the sixtieth (60th) day after the date of the Covered Termination.
(b)Equity Awards. Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to one-hundred percent (100%) of the unvested shares of Company common stock subject to such equity award.
(c)Continued Healthcare. If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) twenty-four (24) months following the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4(c), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.
5.Other Terminations. If Executive’s service with the Company is terminated by the Company or by Executive for any or no reason other than as a Covered Termination, then Executive shall not be entitled to any benefits hereunder other than accrued but unpaid salary, bonus, vacation and expense reimbursement in accordance with applicable law and to elect any continued healthcare coverage as may be required under COBRA or similar state law.
6.Limitation on Payments. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or distribution Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“Payment”) would (a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the largest payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion the Payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. An independent accounting firm other than the accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The 
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accounting firm shall provide its calculations to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits pursuant to this Section 6 will occur in the following order:  (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits payable to Executive.
7.Definition of Terms. The following terms referred to in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:
(a)Base Salary. “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination (disregarding any reduction in base salary that would give rise to Executive’s right to a Constructive Termination).
(b)Cause. “Cause” will be determined in the sole discretion of the Board and will mean misconduct, including: (i) Executive’s commission or conviction of any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude that results in (or might have reasonably resulted in) material harm to the business of the Company; (ii) intentional and material damage to the Company’s property and/or misappropriation of Company funds; (iii) conduct that constitutes gross insubordination, incompetence or habitual neglect of duties that results in (or might have reasonably resulted in) material harm to the business of the Company that has not been cured within 30 days after written notice from Executive’s immediate supervisor or in the case of the chief executive officer, from the Board; or (iv) material breach of the Proprietary Information Agreement (as defined below). 
(c)Change in Control. “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i)A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or
(ii)During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 7(c)(i) or 7(c)(ii)) whose election by the Board or 
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nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office/who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(iii)The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:  (A) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and (B) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this clause (B) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or 
(iv)The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a transaction constitute a Change in Control unless such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d)Change in Control Period. “Change in Control Period” means the period of time beginning three (3) months prior to and ending twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.
(e)Constructive Termination. “Constructive Termination” means any of the following actions taken without Cause by the Company or a successor corporation or entity without Executive’s consent:  (i) substantial reduction of Executive’s rate of compensation; (ii) material reduction in Executive’s duties including, without limitation,  failure to report to the Board; (iii) failure or refusal of a successor to the Company to assume the Company’s obligations under this Agreement in the event of a Change in Control; (iv) relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment or service to a place greater than 35 miles from Executive’s then current principal place of employment or service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a resignation shall not constitute a “Constructive Termination” unless the event or condition giving rise to such resignation continues more than thirty (30) days following Executive’s written notice of such condition provided to the Company within ninety (90) days of the first occurrence of such event 
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or condition and such resignation is effective within thirty (30) days following the end of such notice period.
(f)Covered Termination. “Covered Termination” shall mean Executive’s Constructive Termination or the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company other than for Cause.
8.Successors.
(a)Company’s Successors. Any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets shall assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company” shall include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets which executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this Section 8(a) or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b)Executive’s Successors. The terms of this Agreement and all rights of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.
9.Notices. Notices and all other communications contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or one day following mailing via Federal Express or similar overnight courier service. In the case of Executive, mailed notices shall be addressed to Executive at Executive’s home address that the Company has on file for Executive. In the case of the Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the attention of its Legal Department. 
10.Confidentiality; Non-Solicitation.
(a)Confidentiality. Nothing herein modifies, supersedes, voids or otherwise alters Executive’s pre-existing contractual obligations set forth in the Employee Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (“Proprietary Information Agreement”) entered into between Executive and the Company.
(b)Interference with Business. Consistent with Executive’s obligations under the Proprietary Information Agreement, Executive shall not for a period of one (1) year following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any officer, director, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Company who was employed by or affiliated with the Company at the time of termination to leave the Company or terminate his or her employment or relationship with the Company. Executive agrees not to make, publish or communicate at any time to any person or entity or in 
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any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments or statements concerning the Company or its businesses, or any of its employees, officers, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties. Executive agrees not to use the Company’s Proprietary Information (as defined in Executive’s Proprietary Information Agreement) to directly or indirectly interrupt, disturb or interfere with the Company’s relationships with any customer, vendor, supplier, licensor, investor, consultant, independent contractor or other business partner, or to compete unfairly with the Company. 
(c)Survival of Provisions. The provisions of this Section 10 shall survive the termination or expiration of the applicable Executive’s employment with the Company and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Section 10 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.
11.Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a)Section 409A. 
(i)General. The payments and benefits under this Agreement are intended to qualify for exemptions from the application of Section 409A of the Code, and this Agreement will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with those provisions, and to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement (and any definitions hereunder) will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code to the extent necessary to avoid adverse taxation under Section 409A of the Code.
(ii)Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no amount deemed deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be payable pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 unless Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder (“Separation from Service”) and, except as provided under Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement, any such amount shall not be paid, or in the case of installments, commence payment, until the sixtieth (60th) day following Executive’s Separation from Service. Any installment payments that would have been made to Executive during the sixty (60) day period immediately following Executive’s Separation from Service but for the preceding sentence shall be paid to Executive on the sixtieth (60th) day following Executive’s Separation from Service and the remaining payments shall be made as provided in this Agreement.
(iii)Specified Employee. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed at the time of his or her separation from service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (a) 
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the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service or (b) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the first business day following the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.
(iv)Installment Payments. Each installment payment payable under this Agreement will be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.
(v)Expense Reimbursements. To the extent that any reimbursements payable pursuant to this Agreement are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, any such reimbursements payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid to Executive no later than March 15th of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred (provided that Executive has submitted the requisite documentation at least 30 days before such date), the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, and Executive’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(b)Waiver. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.
(c)Whole Agreement. This Agreement, the Offer Letter, Executive’s Proprietary Information Agreement and Executive’s Indemnification Agreement represent the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior arrangements and understandings regarding same.
(d)Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California.
(e)Dispute Resolution. To ensure the rapid and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in connection with Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive and the Company agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action, in law or equity, including but not limited to statutory claims, arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach, performance, or interpretation of this Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company, or the termination of Executive’s employment, shall be resolved pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1-16, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by final, binding and confidential arbitration conducted by JAMS or its successor, under JAMS’ then applicable rules and procedures for employment disputes before a single arbitrator (available upon request and also currently available at http://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment-arbitration/). Executive acknowledges that by agreeing to this arbitration procedure, both Executive and the Company waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative proceeding. In addition, all claims, disputes, or causes of action under this 
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section, whether by Executive or the Company, must be brought in an individual capacity, and shall not be brought as a plaintiff (or claimant) or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding, nor joined or consolidated with the claims of any other person or entity. The arbitrator may not consolidate the claims of more than one person or entity, and may not preside over any form of representative or class proceeding. To the extent that the preceding sentences regarding class claims or proceedings are found to violate applicable law or are otherwise found unenforceable, any claim(s) alleged or brought on behalf of a class shall proceed in a court of law rather than by arbitration. This paragraph shall not apply to any action or claim that cannot be subject to mandatory arbitration as a matter of law, including, without limitation, claims brought pursuant to the California Private Attorneys General Act of 2004, as amended, to the extent such claims are not permitted by applicable law to be submitted to mandatory arbitration (collectively, the “Excluded Claims”). In the event Executive intends to bring multiple claims, including one of the Excluded Claims listed above, the Excluded Claims may be publicly filed with a court, while any other claims will remain subject to mandatory arbitration. Executive will have the right to be represented by legal counsel at any arbitration proceeding. Questions of whether a claim is subject to arbitration under this agreement shall be decided by the arbitrator. Likewise, procedural questions which grow out of the dispute and bear on the final disposition are also matters for the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall: (a) have the authority to compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; and (b) issue a written statement signed by the arbitrator regarding the disposition of each claim and the relief, if any, awarded as to each claim, the reasons for the award, and the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based. The arbitrator shall be authorized to award all relief that Executive or the Company would be entitled to seek in a court of law. The Company shall pay all JAMS arbitration fees in excess of the administrative fees that Executive would be required to pay if the dispute were decided in a court of law. Nothing in this letter agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Any awards or orders in such arbitrations may be entered and enforced as judgments in the federal and state courts of any competent jurisdiction.
(f)Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(g)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year set forth below.
ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:  /s/ Patrick Machado 
Patrick Machado, Chair of the Board of Directors
Date:   June 11, 2020 
EXECUTIVE
 /s/ Laurent Fischer 
Laurent Fischer, MD
Date:  June 11, 2020 
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