Document:

Employment Agreement - Dr. Manish Singh

 EXHIBIT 10.17 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 18th
day of February, 2009, by and between ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and Dr. Manish Singh (hereinafter called “Executive”). 
 W I T N E S S E T H: 
 WHEREAS, the
Corporation previously employed Executive as its President and Chief Executive Officer under an Employment Agreement dated as of February 18, 2008 (he “Prior Agreement”); 
 WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to continue to employ Executive as its President and Chief Executive Officer under a new employment pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, and Executive is willing to accept such employment on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
 1.
Employment by Corporation. The Corporation hereby agrees to employ Executive to continue to perform the duties on behalf of the Corporation as the Corporation’s full-time President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. As
President and Chief Executive Officer, Executive will report to the Corporation’s Chairman of the Board, and shall have such duties consistent with that of a President and Chief Executive Officer that may from time to time be designated or
assigned to Executive pursuant to the directives of the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), including without limitation the overseeing and implementation of the Corporation’s business plan as adopted by the Board.
Executive will perform his duties under this Agreement at the Corporation’s corporate headquarters in the metropolitan Los Angeles area, with such office currently contemplated to be in the Woodland Hills, California area, or at such other
location as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Corporation and Executive; and he will do such traveling as may be required of him in the performance of his duties as the President and Chief Executive Officer. The Corporation will use its
commercially reasonable efforts to have Executive serve as a member of the Board during the term of this Agreement. 
 2. Executive’s
Acceptance of Employment. Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees that throughout the period of his employment hereunder: he will devote his full time, attention, knowledge and skills, faithfully, diligently and to the best of his
ability, in furtherance of the business of the Corporation, and he will perform the duties assigned to him pursuant to Section 1 hereof, subject, at all times, to the direction and control of the Board. 
 Executive shall at all times be subject to, observe and carry out such reasonable rules, regulations, policies, directions and restrictions as the
Corporation shall from time to time establish. During the period of his employment by the Corporation, Executive agrees to be bound by the Corporation’s Code of Ethics and any amendments adopted thereto, copies of which Executive hereby 

 
acknowledges he has received and read, and Executive agrees that he shall not, without the prior written approval of the Chairman of the Board, directly or
indirectly, accept employment or compensation from or perform services of any nature for, any business enterprise other than the Corporation, other than as explicitly set forth herein. 
 3. Term. Executive shall be employed for a term of one year commencing on February 18, 2009 (the “Commencement Date”), and ending
on February 17, 2010 unless his employment is terminated prior thereto pursuant to the provisions hereof. The term of this Agreement may be extended for an additional year, if both the Corporation and the Executive deliver a written extension
notice to each other no later than the 60th calendar day prior to the expiration of the term of this Agreement. This Agreement shall automatically expire on February 17, 2010 and shall not be extended or renewed except in a writing signed by an
authorized officer of the Corporation following approval by the Board. Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except in the case of the Corporation and Executive agreeing in writing to extend the term of the Agreement beyond the expiration
date of this Agreement, his employment by the Corporation, if any, beyond the expiration date of this Agreement shall be terminable by either party at will and shall not, under any circumstances, be deemed to expressly or impliedly renew the terms
of this Agreement. 
 4. Compensation/Benefits. 
 4.1 The Corporation will pay to Executive as compensation for his services hereunder an initial base salary of $250,000 per annum, payable in equal biweekly installments. In addition, the Board of Directors of the
Corporation shall annually review Executive’s performance and base salary to determine whether an increase in the amount thereof is warranted. Executive acknowledges that he has been paid by the Corporation all amounts owing under the Prior
Agreement through the date hereof. 
 4.2 The Corporation also shall pay Executive lump sum cash milestone bonuses of (i) $50,000 if
during the term of this Agreement the Corporation completes a financing, a strategic alliance or a merger or acquisition (each of these a “Liquidity Event”) that generates at least $2,500,000 of net proceeds (after commissions) for the
Corporation (the merger or acquisition proceeds for purposes of this Section 4.2 to be calculated based on the value of the net proceeds (after commissions) received or paid by the Corporation), (ii) $100,000 if during the term of this
Agreement a Liquidity Event that generates at least $5,000,000 of net proceeds (after commissions) for the Corporation and (iii) $200,000 if during the term of this Agreement a Liquidity Event that generates at least $10,000,000 of net proceeds
(after commissions) for the Corporation. Only one of the foregoing milestone bonuses shall be paid for each Liquidity Event (i.e., a Liquidity Event valued at $8,000,000 results in a $100,000 bonus rather than a $150,000 bonus), and the total
bonuses payable under this Section 4.2 shall not exceed $200,000. Any Liquidity Event shall be undertaken and the terms of such Liquidity Event shall be at the discretion of the Board. The bonuses, if any, shall be paid to Executive immediately
following the Corporation’s or its securityholders’ receipt of the Liquidity Event proceeds or payment of the merger consideration by the Corporation where it is the survivor in the Liquidity Event. 
  

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 4.3 The Corporation shall grant the Executive on February 18, 2009 under the Corporation’s 2006
Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) a nonqualified stock option (the “Option”) to purchase 700,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock (“Common Stock”) having an exercise price per share equal to the closing
market price on the date of grant and having a term of seven years from the date of grant. The option shall vest (i) as to 300,000 shares in twelve equal monthly installments of 25,000 shares each over the twelve month period from and
immediately following the grant date, (ii) as to 200,000 shares if the Corporation achieves during term of this Agreement either (a) a volume weighted average trading price for the Common Stock of greater than $1.00 for any 30-day
period during the term of this Agreement on average daily trading volume of at least 10,000 shares, or (b) working capital at end of the term of this Agreement of at least $5,000,000; and (iii) as to 200,000 shares if the Corporation
achieves during term of this Agreement either (a) a volume weighted average trading price for the Common Stock of greater than $1.50 for any 30-day period during the term of this Agreement on average daily trading volume of at least 10,000
shares or (b) working capital at end of the term of this Agreement of at least $8,000,000. 
 The Option will be exercisable within the
seven year term of the option during the period that Executive provides services to the Corporation and for 24 months after termination for any reason except termination for cause by the Corporation, provided that such exercise is effected within
the seven-year term of the option. In the event of a Corporate Transaction (as such term is defined in the Plan), vesting of the Option (and any other options granted to Executive) shall be governed by the provisions contained in the
Corporation’s standard stock option agreement under the Plan for the Corporation’s officers and directors, except that the portion of the Option that is to vest in monthly installments will fully vest if the Corporation is not the
surviving entity in the Corporate Transaction. The Option will have such other terms and conditions as are included in the Corporation’s standard stock option agreement under the Plan. If the term of this Agreement is extended beyond
February 17, 2010, or if Executive’s employment hereunder continues at-will beyond February 17, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall review the aggregate number of stock options granted to the Executive promptly
following such date (and thereafter not less frequently than annually) in order to determine whether an increase in the number thereof is warranted. Any such option shall have substantially the same terms and conditions as the Option contemplated
hereunder. Within thirty (30) days following the grant of the Option to Executive, the Corporation shall file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-8 covering the shares of the Corporation’s
common stock issuable pursuant to any options issued to Executive and then-outstanding, to the extent the shares so issuable are not covered by an existing Form S-8 registration statement. 
 5. Business Expenses. The Corporation will promptly reimburse Executive for all business expenses incurred by Executive in connection with the
business of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s policy regarding the nature and amount of expenses and the maintenance and submission of receipts and records necessary for the Corporation to document them as proper business
expenses. 
  

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 6. Vacation. In addition to holidays observed by the Corporation, Executive shall be entitled to
paid vacation of three (3) weeks per year or such greater amount of vacation as is approved by the Chairman of the Board. Any such vacations are to be taken at times mutually agreeable to Executive and the Chairman of the Board. Executive shall
not be entitled to accrue more than six (6) weeks of accrued vacation time at any given time. In the event that Executive has accrued the maximum of six (6) weeks accrued and unused vacation time, Executive shall cease accruing further
vacation time until such time as Executive’s accrued and unused vacation time is less than such maximum amount. 
 7. Benefits.
Executive shall be entitled to all rights and benefits for which he shall be eligible under any benefit or other plans (including, without limitation, dental, medical, medical reimbursement and hospital plans, pension plans, employee stock purchase
plans, profit sharing plans, bonus plans and other so-called “fringe” benefits) as the Corporation shall make available to its executive officers from time to time. 
 Executive will be offered participation in a 401K plan and the Corporation will make a minimum match of base salary to meet the safe harbor provisions of
the Internal Revenue Service (but not to exceed 3-4% of base salary). 
 8. Termination. 
 8.1 In addition to all other rights and remedies which the parties may have under applicable law, the Corporation may terminate this Agreement and the
services of Executive, effective upon the occurrence of any of the following events, any of which shall constitute a termination for “cause” under this Agreement: (i) a failure by Executive to perform any of his material obligations
under this Agreement; (ii) the death of Executive or his disability resulting in his inability to perform his reasonable duties assigned hereunder for a period of three consecutive months; (iii) Executive’s theft, dishonesty, or
falsification of any Corporation documents or records; (iv) Executive’s improper use or disclosure of the Corporation’s confidential or proprietary information; or (v) Executive’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or
nolo contendere) of any criminal act which impairs Executive’s ability to perform his or her duties hereunder or which in the Board’s judgment may materially damage the business or reputation of the Corporation; provided, however, that
prior to termination for cause arising under clause (i), Executive shall have a period of ten (10) days after written notice from Corporation to cure the event or grounds constituting such cause. Any notice of termination provided by
Corporation to Executive under this Section 8 shall identify the events or conduct constituting the grounds for termination with sufficient specificity so as to enable Executive to take steps to cure the same if such default is a failure by
Executive to perform any of his material obligations under this Agreement. In the event Corporation terminates Executive for cause, (i) Executive shall be entitled as of the termination date to no further base salary other than such portion of
Executive’s base salary as shall have accrued but remain unpaid as of the termination date, which shall be due immediately upon termination, (ii) Executive shall be entitled to receive payment of any earned but unpaid bonus, as well as any
expense reimbursement amounts owed by the Corporation to the Executive through the date of termination and (iii) any then unexercised but outstanding stock options granted to Executive shall be cancelled. The Corporation shall have no further
obligations to Executive under this Agreement. 
  

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 8.2 The Corporation may terminate Executive without cause upon sixty (60) days written notice
delivered to Executive. In the event the Corporation terminates Executive’s employment without cause (including a failure by the Corporation upon the expiration of the original term of this Agreement to extend the term of Executive’s
employment for an additional one year beginning February 18, 2010) all of the following will apply: (i) immediately upon termination, the Corporation will pay to Executive any base salary as shall have accrued but remain unpaid as of the
termination date, any earned but unpaid bonus and any expense reimbursement amounts owed by the Corporation to the Executive through the date of termination; (ii) immediately upon termination, the Corporation will pay to Executive severance
compensation in a lump sum cash payment equal to Executive’s then effective base salary for a period of six (6) months; (iii) any stock options granted to Executive, to the extent vested, will be retained by the Executive and will be
exercisable as detailed in Section 4.3 above, the Plan and related stock option agreement (which shall reflect the terms set forth in Section 4.3 above); and (iv) the vesting of an additional number of shares subject to all options
granted to Executive equal to fifty percent (50%) of all such shares subject to such options that have not already vested shall immediately accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable by Executive and will continue to be exercisable as
provided in Section 4.3, the Plan and related stock option agreement (which shall reflect the terms set forth in Section 4.3 above). 
 8.3 Executive may terminate Executive’s employment at will (without “Good Reason” as defined below) by giving sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to Corporation. Executive shall be entitled to (i) all base
salary up to and through the 60-day period after Executive’s notice of termination is given to Corporation, any earned but unpaid bonus and any expense reimbursement amounts owed by the Corporation to the Executive through the date of
termination and (ii) any stock options, to the extent vested, may be retained by Executive and will be exercisable as detailed in Section 4.3 above, the Plan and applicable stock option agreement (which shall reflect the terms set forth in
Section 4.3 above). Executive has the right to terminate Executive’s employment for “Good Reason” due to, and within a reasonable period of time following, the occurrence of any of the following: (i) Corporation’s
requirement that Executive’s principal place of work relocate more than fifty (50) miles from its location as of the Effective Date without the written consent of Executive to such relocation, (ii) a material adverse change in
Executive’s duties and responsibilities; (iii) any failure by Corporation to pay, or any material reduction by Corporation of, the base salary or any failure by Corporation to pay any incentive compensation to which Executive may be
entitled pursuant to Section 4; or (iv) Corporation creates a work environment designed to constructively terminate Executive or to unlawfully harass or retaliate against Executive In the event that Executive terminates his employment for
Good Reason all of the following will apply: (A) within five days after the termination date, Corporation will pay to Executive any base salary as shall have accrued but remain unpaid as of the termination date, any earned but unpaid bonus and
any expense reimbursement amounts owed by the Corporation to the Executive through the date of termination; (B) within 5 days after the termination date, Corporation will pay to Executive severance compensation in a lump sum cash payment equal
to Executive’s base salary then in effect equal to six (6) months; (C) any stock options granted to Executive, to the extent vested, will be retained by the Executive and will be exercisable as detailed in Section 4.3 above, the
Plan and related stock option agreement (which shall reflect the terms set forth in Section 4.3 above); and (D) the vesting of an additional number of shares subject to all options granted to Executive equal to fifty percent (50%) of
all such shares (or one hundred percent (100%) of all such shares if 

  

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the Corporation is not the surviving entity in a Corporate Transaction) subject to such options that vest monthly but have not already vested shall
immediately accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable by Executive and will continue to be exercisable as provided in Section 4.3, the Plan and related stock option agreement (which shall reflect the terms set forth in Section 4.3
above). 
 8.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 8.2 or 8.3, in the event the Corporation completes a merger in which
Executive is offered an executive position with the Corporation or surviving corporation for at least a one-year term, with an annual base salary of $250,000 and a cash bonus and option compensation package having an aggregate value of at least
$75,000 (as determined in good faith by the Corporation or surviving corporation), Executive shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement for Good Reason based on a change in duties and responsibilities or a location change. 
 9. Indemnity. Executive warrants and represents that he has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and that his
performance of this Agreement will not violate the provisions of any other agreement to which he is a party. The Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold Executive harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, losses,
damages, liability, costs and expenses, including attorneys fees arising out of his services hereunder, other than those arising from or attributable to or resulting from his gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Corporation will name
Executive as an officer on any policy of directors and officers liability insurance it secures throughout the term of this Agreement. 
 10.
Non-Competition. In consideration of the Corporation’s entering into this Agreement: 
 10.1 Executive agrees that during the
term of this Agreement he will not directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, join, control, participate in, perform any services for, invest in, or otherwise be connected with, in any manner, whether as an officer, director, employee, consultant,
partner, investor or otherwise, any business entity which is engaged in any business in which the Corporation is currently engaged or is engaged at the termination of this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit
(i) Executive from maintaining any investments in, and the holding of any securities of, any company to the extent such investments were made or such securities held by Executive prior to the Commencement Date or (ii) investing his funds
in securities of a company if the securities of such company are listed for trading on a national securities exchange or traded in the over the counter market and Executive’s holdings therein represent less than five percent (5%) of the
total number of shares or principal amount of other securities of such company outstanding. 
 10.2 Executive agrees that Executive will not,
during the term hereof or prior to the expiration of one year following the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, without the written consent of the Corporation, directly or indirectly, by action alone or in concert with
others, solicit for employment or engagement, or advise or recommend to any other person or entity that such person or entity solicit for employment or engagement, any person or entity employed or engaged by the Corporation. 
  

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 11. Confidentiality Agreement. 
 11.1 As used herein, the term “Confidential Information” shall mean the any and all information of the Corporation, including, but not limited
to, all data, compilations, programs, devices, strategies, or methods concerning or related to (i) the Corporation’s finances, financial condition, results of operations, employee relations, amounts of compensation paid to officers and
employees and any other data or information relating to the internal affairs of the Corporation and its operations; (ii) the terms and conditions (including prices) of sales and offers of sales of the Corporation’s products and services;
(iii) the terms, conditions and current status of the Corporation’s agreements and relationship with any customer or supplier; (iv) the customer and supplier lists and the identities and business preferences of the Corporation’s
actual and prospective customers and suppliers or any employee or agent thereof with whom the Corporation communicates; (v) the trade secrets, manufacturing and operating techniques, price data, costs, methods, systems, plans, procedures,
formulas, processes, hardware, software, machines, inventions, designs, drawings, artwork, blueprints, specifications, tools, skills, ideas, and strategic plans possessed, developed, accumulated or acquired by the Corporation; (vi) any
communications between the Corporation, its officers, directors, shareholders, or employees, and any attorney retained by the Corporation for any purpose, or any person retained or employed by such attorney for the purpose of assisting such attorney
in his or her representation of the Corporation; (vii) any other non-public information and knowledge with respect to the Corporation’s products, whether developed or in any stage of development by the Corporation; (viii) the
abilities and specialized training or experience of others who as employees or consultants of the Corporation during the Executive’s employment have engaged in the design or development of any such products; and (ix) any other matter or
thing, whether or not recorded on any medium, (a) by which the Corporation derives actual or potential economic value from such matter or thing being not generally known to other persons or entities who might obtain economic value from its
disclosure or use, or (b) which gives the Corporation an opportunity to obtain an advantage over its competitors who do not know or use the same. 
 11.2 Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Corporation is engaged in a highly competitive business and has expended, or will expend, significant sums of money and has invested, or will invest, a substantial
amount of time to develop and maintain the secrecy of the Confidential Information. The Corporation has thus obtained, or will obtain, a valuable economic asset which has enabled, or will enable, it to develop an extensive reputation and to
establish long-term business relationships with its suppliers and customers. If such Confidential Information were disclosed to another person or entity or used for the benefit of anyone other than the Corporation, the Corporation would suffer
irreparable harm, loss and damage. Accordingly, Executive acknowledges and agrees that, unless the Confidential Information was (a) in the public domain or becomes publicly known through legitimate origins not involving an act or omission by
Executive, (b) was in Executive’s possession free of any obligation of confidence at or subsequent to the time such Confidential Information was communicated to Executive; (c) was developed by Executive prior to the date of this
Agreement or after the expiration of the term of this Agreement independently of and without reference to any Confidential Information; (c) was known to Executive at the time of disclosure; or (v) was approved for release by written
authorization of the Corporation, then: 
 (i) the Confidential Information is, and at all times hereafter shall remain, the sole property
of the Corporation; 
  

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 (ii) Executive shall use his best efforts and the utmost diligence to guard and protect the Confidential
Information from disclosure to any competitor, customer or supplier of the Corporation or any other person, firm, corporation or other entity; and 
 (iii) unless the Corporation gives Executive prior express written permission, during his employment and thereafter, Executive shall not use for his own benefit, or divulge to any competitor or customer or any other person, firm,
corporation, or other entity, any of the Confidential Information which Executive may obtain, learn about, develop or be entrusted with as a result of Executive’s employment by the Corporation. 
 11.3 Executive also acknowledges and agrees that all documentary and tangible Confidential Information including, without limitation, such Confidential
Information as Executive has committed to memory, is supplied or made available by the Corporation to the Executive solely to assist him in performing his services under this Agreement. Executive further agrees that after his employment with the
Corporation is terminated for any reason: 
 (i) Executive shall not remove from the property of the Corporation and shall immediately
return to the Corporation, all documentary or tangible Confidential Information in his possession, custody, or control and not make or keep any copies, notes, abstracts, summaries or other record of any type of Confidential Information; and

 (ii) Executive shall immediately return to the Corporation any and all other property of the Corporation in his possession, custody or
control, including, without limitation, any and all keys, security cards, passes, credit cards and marketing literature. 
 12. Invention
Disclosure. Executive agrees to disclose to the Corporation promptly and fully all ideas, inventions, discoveries, developments or improvements (“Inventions”) that may be made, conceived, created or developed by him (whether such
Inventions are developed solely by him or jointly with others) during his employment by the Corporation which either (i) in any way is connected with or related to the actual or contemplated business, work, research or undertakings of the
Corporation or (ii) results from or is suggested by any task, project or work that he may do for, in connection with, or on behalf of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 11 shall not apply to any Inventions that
meet all of the following requirements: (a) do not relate, at the time of conception, reduction to practice, creation, derivation, development or making of such Invention to the Corporation’s business or actual or demonstrably anticipated
research, development or business; and (b) were developed entirely on Executive’s own time; and (c) were developed without use of any of the Corporation’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information; and
(d) did 

  

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not result from any work Executive performed for the Corporation. Executive agrees that such Inventions shall become the sole and exclusive property of the
Corporation and Executive hereby assigns to the Corporation all of his rights to any such Inventions. With respect to Inventions, Executive shall during the period of his employment hereunder and at any time and from time to time hereafter
(a) execute all documents requested by the Corporation for vesting in the Corporation the entire right, title and interest in and to the same, (b) execute all documents requested by the Corporation for filing and prosecuting such
applications for patents, trademarks and/or copyrights as the Corporation, in its sole discretion, may desire to prosecute, and (c) give the Corporation all assistance it reasonably requires, including the giving of testimony in any suit,
action or proceeding, in order to obtain, maintain and protect the Corporation’s right therein and thereto. If any such assistance is required following the termination of Executive’s employment with the Corporation, the Corporation shall
reimburse Executive for his lost wages or salary and the reasonable expenses incurred by him in rendering such assistance. 
 13.
Remedies. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the business of the Corporation is highly competitive and that the provisions of Sections 10, 11 and 12 are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Corporation and that any violation
of such covenants would cause immediate, immeasurable and irreparable harm, loss and damage to the Corporation not adequately compensable by a monetary award. Accordingly, the Executive agrees, without limiting any of the other remedies available to
the Corporation, that any violation of said covenants, or any one of them, may be enjoined or restrained by any court of competent jurisdiction, and that any temporary restraining order or emergency, preliminary or final injunctions may be issued by
any court of competent jurisdiction, without notice and without bond. 
 14. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. In any action between the
parties based on this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recovery of reasonable attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket costs incurred by it/him in the action. 
 15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and no
amendment or modification hereof shall be valid or binding unless made in writing and signed by both parties hereto. 
 16. Notices.
Any notice, required, permitted or desired to be given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or served for all purposes if delivered in person or sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage and fees prepaid as follows: 
 if to the Corporation at: 
 ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. 
 21900 Burbank Boulevard, 3rd Floor 
 Woodland Hills, CA 91367 
  

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 with a copy to: 
 TroyGould PC 
 1801 Century Park East, Suite 1600 
 Los Angeles, California 90067 
 Attention: Sanford J. Hillsberg 
 and, if to Executive: 
 Dr. Manish Singh 
 23526 Dolorosa Street 
 Woodland Hills, California 91367 
 Either of the parties hereto may at any time and from time to time change the address to which
notice shall be sent hereunder by notice to the other party given as provided herein. The date of the giving of any notice hereunder shall be the date delivered or if sent by mail, shall be the date of the posting of the mail. 
 17. Non Assignability. Neither this Agreement nor the right to receive any payments hereunder may be assigned by Executive. This Agreement shall
be binding upon Executive and inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators and be binding upon the Corporation and inure to the benefit of its successors and assigns. 
 18. Choice of Law And Forum. This Agreement shall be governed, interpreted and construed under the laws of the State of California without regard
to its conflict of law principles. In the event of any dispute under this Agreement, such dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration with JAMS/ENDISPUTE in Los Angeles, California. The arbitrator shall be a retired judge with at least five
years of experience on the bench. This provision shall not be interpreted so as to require arbitration of claims that the state and/or Federal courts of California have ruled may not be the subjects of compelled arbitration in employment matters,
nor shall it be interpreted so as to restrict any remedy, right of appeal or discovery device available to either party in a manner that violates the rulings of the state and/or Federal courts of California with respect to employment-related
arbitration. This provision shall not be interpreted so as to preclude the making of reports to governmental offices, or to preclude either party from seeking injunctive or provisional relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction under such
circumstances as may merit such relief. 
 19. Waiver. No course of dealing nor any delay on the part of any party in exercising any
rights hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any such rights. No waiver of any default or breach of this Agreement shall be deemed a continuing waiver or a waiver of any other breach or default. 
 20. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement, including any paragraph, sentence, clause or part thereof, shall be deemed contrary to law
or invalid or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of such paragraph, sentence, clause or part thereof shall not be affected, but shall, subject to the discretion of such court, remain in full
force and effect and any invalid and unenforceable provisions shall be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties hereto, modified, amended and limited to the extent necessary to render the same valid and enforceable. 
  

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 21. Section 409A. If Executive becomes eligible for payments under this Agreement on account
of his “separation from service,” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) and Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of
the Code, as determined by Corporation, any portion of the payments that either do not qualify under the “short-term deferral rule” or exceed two times the lesser of (A) Executive’s “annualized compensation” for the
calendar year preceding Executive’s separation from service (in each case, as those terms are defined under Section 409A of the Code), or (B) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under Section 401(a)(17) of the Code
for the year in which Executive’s separation from service occurs, and which are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code, shall be accrued, without interest, and its payment delayed until the first day of the seventh month
following Executive’s separation from service, or if earlier, Executive’s death, at which point the accrued amount will be paid in a single, lump sum cash payment. Furthermore, Corporation shall not be required to make, and Executive shall
not be required to receive, any severance or other payment or benefit under this Agreement at such time as the making of such payment or the provision of such benefit or the receipt thereof shall result in a tax to Executive arising under
Section 409A of the Code. The preceding provisions, however, shall not be construed as a guarantee by the Corporation of any particular tax effect to Executive under this Agreement. The parties agree that for purposes of Section 409A of
the Code, the severance amounts payable under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. This Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement shall be
administered, interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code. The Corporation and Executive agree that they will execute any and all amendments to this Agreement as they mutually agree in good faith may be
necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code. 
 22. Survival at Termination. The termination
of Executive’s employment hereunder by expiration of the term of this Agreement or otherwise shall not affect his obligations to the Corporation hereunder which by the nature thereof are intended to survive any such termination including,
without limitation, Executive’s obligations under Sections 10, 11, 12, 13 and 21. 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above set forth. 
  

									
	IMMUNOCELLULAR THERAPEUTICS, LTD.	 		 	EXECUTIVE:
				
	By:	 	/s/ C. Kirk Peacock	 		 	/s/ Manish Singh
		 	C. Kirk Peacock	 		 	Dr. Manish Singh
	Its:	 	Chief Financial Officer	 		 		 	

  

 11Employment Agreement - C. Kirk Peacock

 EXHIBIT 10.19 
 

 
 October 30, 2008 
 Mr. C. Kirk Peacock 
 20 Salida del Sol 
 Santa Barbara, CA 93109 
 Dear Kirk: 
 This letter outlines the basis upon which ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. (the “Company”) will continue to engage you as its Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and Treasurer. 
 1. Engagement. You will be engaged as CFO and Treasurer of the Company for the term and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, and
you accept such offer of engagement. As the Company’s CFO, your duties shall consist primarily of (i) the timely filing of all SEC filings, including preparing drafts of financial statements and the MD&A portions of the Company’s
Form 10-KSB and drafts of the Company’s Form 10-QSB and review of the Company’s registration statement disclosures; (ii) maintenance of the Company’s Sarbanes-Oxley compliance procedures and confirming accounting
compliance under Sarbanes-Oxley on a quarterly basis; (iii) preparation of annual two-year budgets (segmented quarterly) for the Company; (iv) closing of the Company’s financial books on a quarterly basis; (v) coordinating
reviews and audits of the Company’s financial statements by the Company’s independent public accounting firm; and (vi) quarterly presentations to the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company’s
financial information, including quarterly budgets to actual; and (vii) oversee the Company’s accounts payable function. As the Company’s Treasurer, your duties shall consist primarily of (i) safeguarding of the Company’s
cash and investments; (ii) ensure compliance with the Company’s investment policy; and (iii) maintenance of the Company’s investment account. You will report to the President of the Company as well as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee of the Company. 
 2. Term. The term of your engagement will be through October 29, 2009, commencing
October 30, 2008; unless sooner terminated by you or the Company as set forth below in Section 7. 
 3. Commitment/Part-time
Status. For the compensation provided in Section 4, you will set aside and commit a minimum (on average) of one to two business days per week toward attending to the affairs of the Company as the CFO and Treasurer. The Company
recognizes and agrees that, due to your part-time status, you may accept other employment or consulting assignments concurrent with your engagement by the Company, which may include employment as an officer of publicly-traded companies and/or
employment by other companies engaged in biotech or pharmaceutical research and development, provided that you disclose such employment by any other company to the Company and that such companies are not engaged in any research or development
activities in the field of immunocellular therapies. 
 4. Compensation. As payment in full for your services during the term
of this Agreement, the Company shall grant to you options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “New Options”), which shall vest monthly pro rata over the one-year term of this Agreement and shall pay you $8,000
per month. The cash compensation shall be paid monthly on the first 

 Mr. Kirk Peacock 
 October
30, 2008 
 Page 2 
 business day of each month. The New Options
will have a seven-year term commencing on the date of grant (which shall be the date of approval of the grant by the Board); will have an exercise price of the last reported trading price of the Company’s common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board
on the date of grant; will be exercisable within the term of those options during the period of your services to the Company and for 24 months after termination for any reason except termination for cause by the Company; and will have such other
terms and conditions as are included in the Company’s standard nonqualified stock option agreement under its 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). All of your outstanding options granted under the Plan will be included in the
Company’s Form S-8 registration statements. 
 5. Expenses. The Company will promptly reimburse you for all reasonable
business expenses incurred by you in connection with the business of the Company in accordance with regular Company policy regarding the nature and amount of expenses and the maintenance and submission of receipts and records necessary for the
Company to document them as proper business expenses. These expenses shall include, without limitation, out-of-pocket telephone, facsimile, office supplies and authorized travel expenses but shall not include rent, utilities or similar overhead
expenses incurred by you to maintain your office space. 
 6. Indemnity. To the extent permitted by California law, you
agree to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, arising from or attributable to or resulting from your gross negligence or willful
misconduct in rendering the services. You warrant and represent that you have full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and that your performance of this Agreement will not violate the provisions of any other agreement to
which you are a party. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold you harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, losses, damages, liability, costs and expenses, including attorneys fees arising out of your services
hereunder, other than those arising from or attributable to or resulting from your gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company will name you as an officer on any policy of directors and officers liability insurance it secures throughout the
term of your engagement. 
 7. Termination. This Agreement and your rights and obligations hereunder shall, under any of
the following circumstances, terminate in advance of the time specified in Section 2 above, and you shall have the right to receive only your compensation that shall be accrued hereunder through the effective date of such termination and shall
have no right to receive any further compensation hereunder from and after the time of such termination: 
 7.1 Death.
This Agreement and your duties hereunder shall terminate immediately upon your death. 
 7.2 Termination by the Company.
The Company may, at its option, terminate this Agreement and your duties hereunder by written notice to you at any time without cause upon 30 days written notice to you. If you are terminated without cause, in addition to all accrued compensation,
the Company shall grant you 50% of any unvested options as of the date of termination. The Company may terminate this Agreement for Cause (as hereinafter defined) at any time upon written notice to you. “Cause” as used in this 

 

 

 

 Mr. Kirk Peacock 
 October
30, 2008 
 Page 3 
 Agreement means that you, (i) after
reasonable notice and warning, have failed to perform your assigned duties as defined in this Agreement, with such failure to be determined by the Board of Directors, (ii) have materially breached any of the terms or conditions of this
Agreement and have failed to correct such breach within 15 days following written notice from the Company of such breach, or (iii) have been charged with a felony or any intentionally fraudulent act that materially damages, or may materially
damage, the business or reputation of the Company. 
 7.3 Termination by the You. You may terminate this Agreement at
any time without cause upon 30 days written notice to the Company or upon written notice to the Company if the Company shall have materially breached any of the provisions of this Agreement and has failed to correct such breach within 15 days
following written notice from you of such breach. 
 8. Arbitration. In the event of any dispute under this Agreement, such
dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration with JAMS/ENDISPUTE in Los Angeles, California. The arbitrator shall be a retired judge with at least five years of experience on the bench. This provision shall not be interpreted so as to require
arbitration of claims that the state and/or Federal Courts of California have ruled may not be the subjects of compelled arbitration in employment matters, nor shall it be interpreted so as to restrict any remedy, right of appeal or discovery device
available to either party in a manner that violates the rulings of the state and/or Federal Courts of California with respect to employment-related arbitration. This provision shall not be interpreted so as to preclude the making of reports to
governmental offices, or to preclude either party from seeking injunctive or provisional relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction under such circumstances as may merit such relief. This arbitration provision is inapplicable to claims of less
than $25,000. 
 9. Confidentiality. While this Agreement is in effect and for a period of five years thereafter, you shall
hold and keep secret and confidential all “trade secrets” (within the meaning of California law) and shall use such information only in the course of performing your duties hereunder; provided, however, that with respect to trade secrets,
you shall hold and keep secret and confidential such trade secrets for so long as they remain trade secrets under California law. You shall maintain in trust all such trade secrets as the Company’s property, including, but not limited to, all
documents concerning the Company’s business, including your work papers, telephone directories, customer information and notes, and any and all copies thereof in your possession or under your control. Upon the expiration or earlier termination
of your employment with the Company, or upon request by the Company, you shall deliver to the Company all such documents belonging to the Company, including any and all copies in your possession or under your control. 
  

 

 

 Mr. Kirk Peacock 
 October
30, 2008 
 Page 4 
 10. Applicable
Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California. 
 We are delighted that
you have agreed to continue to serve as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and look forward to working with you to make the Company a great success. 
  

			
	Very truly yours,
	
	IMMUNOCELLULAR THERAPEUTICS, LTD.
		
	By:	 	/s/ Manish Singh
		 	Manish Singh, Ph.D.
		 	President and Chief Executive Officer

  

	
	Agreed to and Accepted as of this 30th day
of October 2008.
	
	/s/ C. Kirk Peacock
	C. Kirk Peacock

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