Exhibit 10.27
Employment Agreement
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is entered into by and between Cindy Jacobs (the
Executive) and OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Washington corporation (the Employer or the
Company) as of November 3, 2009 (the Effective Date). This Agreement supercedes the
Executives Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with OncoGenex, Inc., dated September 12,
2005, the Employee Retention Agreement with OncoGenex Technologies Inc., a Canadian Corporation,
dated October 23, 2007, and any other prior employment-related agreements (the Prior Agreements).
1. Duties and Scope of Employment.
For the term of this Agreement (Employment), the Employer agrees to employ the Executive in
the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. The Executive shall report
directly to the President of the Company. The Executive shall have such duties, authority and
responsibilities that are commensurate with her being a senior executive officer of the Employer.
During her employment, Executive will perform her duties faithfully and to the best of her ability
and will, except as provided below, devote her full business efforts and time to the Employer. For
the duration of the Executives Employment term, Executive agrees not to actively engage in any
other employment, occupation or consulting activity for any direct or indirect remuneration without
the prior written approval of the President, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. It is
understood and agreed that Executive will not be precluded from serving on boards of directors and
advisory boards, provided that such activities do not materially adversely affect Executives
ability to perform and discharge her duties to the Employer. The Executives primary work place
shall be at the Employers corporate headquarters in Bothell, Washington.
2. Cash and Incentive Compensation.
(a) Salary. The Employer shall pay the Executive as compensation for her services a base
salary at a gross annual rate of not less than $360,000. Such salary shall be payable in
accordance with the Employers standard payroll procedures. The annual compensation specified in
this Section 2(a), together with any increases in such compensation that the Employer may grant
from time to time, is referred to in this Agreement as Base Compensation.
(b) Incentive Bonuses. The Executive shall be eligible to receive a discretionary annual
fiscal year incentive bonus (Bonus) that the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) or
Compensation Committee of the Board (the Committee) shall determine and award in its sole
discretion. Initially, the Executive shall be eligible to receive a Bonus constituting up to 30%
of the Executives Base Compensation. Such percentage may be modified by the Board or the
Committee in its discretion from time to time. The Bonus will be based upon the achievement of
specific milestones that will be determined by the Board and /or the Committee and confirmed to
the Executive no later than ninety (90) days after the start of each fiscal year. Payment for
each years Bonus, if awarded, shall be made to the Executive no later than the fifteenth day of
the third month after the later of the end of the calendar year or
the Employers taxable year in which the Bonus payment is no longer subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended
(Section 409A). The Board or the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine not to award
a Bonus or to award a Bonus at less than maximum eligibility. The Executive acknowledges that a
Bonus is neither required nor guaranteed by this Agreement.
(c) Equity Terms. During the Executives Employment, at the discretion of the Committee, the
Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Companys equity compensation plans, as in
effect from time to time, and the Executive shall be eligible to receive grants of Company equity
(Compensatory Equity), as determined by the Committee, in its discretion from time to time.
(d) Employee Benefits. During the Executives Employment, the Executive will be entitled to
participate in the employee benefit plans of general applicability to other employees of the
Company, as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, the Companys group
medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, director and officer liability insurance and
flexible-spending account plans. The Company reserves the right to cancel or change the benefit
plans and programs it offers to its employees at any time.
(e) Service Definition. For purposes of Section 3(b) of this Agreement, Service shall
mean service by the Executive as an employee and/or consultant of the Employer (or any subsidiary
or parent or affiliated entity of the Employer).
3. Vacation and Indemnification.
(a) Vacation. The Executive will be eligible for paid vacation in accordance with the
Employers vacation policy. Under the Employers current vacation policy, the Executive is
eligible for twenty (20) days per year of paid vacation. Unused vacation may not be carried over
for more then twelve months after the completion of each fiscal year.
(b) Indemnification. The Employer shall indemnify the Executive to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law and the Employers certificate of incorporation and bylaws with
respect to the Executives Service. During the Executives Employment, the Employer shall
maintain officers liability insurance for the Executives benefit on terms and conditions no less
favorable than the terms and conditions generally applicable to the Employers other senior
executive officers. The Employers obligations under this Section 3(b) shall survive termination
of the Executives Service and also termination or expiration of this Agreement.
4. Business Expenses.
During her Employment, the Executive shall be authorized to incur necessary and reasonable
travel, entertainment and other business expenses in connection with her duties hereunder. The
Employer shall promptly reimburse the Executive for such expenses upon presentation of appropriate
supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Employers generally applicable policies.
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5. Term of Employment.
(a) Employment-at-Will. The Employer and the Executive hereby acknowledge that the
Executives Employment is at-will. The Employer may terminate the Executives Employment with or
without Cause, by giving the Executive thirty (30) days advance notice in writing. The Executive
may terminate her Employment by giving the Employer thirty (30) days advance notice in writing.
The Executives Employment shall terminate automatically in the event of her death.
(b) Rights Upon Termination. Upon the termination of the Executives Employment for any
reason (including death or Disability (as defined below)), the Executive shall be entitled to the
compensation, benefits and reimbursements described in this Agreement through the effective date
of the termination (the Termination Date), and the Employer shall make the following payments to
the Executive (or her beneficiary) within 10 business days following the Termination Date: (i)
all unpaid salary and unpaid vacation accrued through the Termination Date, (ii) any accrued,
unpaid bonuses (provided that any such bonus has been awarded by the Board or the Committee, in
accordance with the terms of any applicable plan, has been earned by the Executive and is not
subject to any vesting or other similar requirement) for any fiscal year of the Employer ended
prior to the Termination Date and (iii) any unreimbursed business expenses. The Executive may
also be eligible for other post-Employment payments and benefits as provided in this Agreement or
pursuant to other agreements (other than the Prior Agreements) or plans with the Employer. Upon
the Termination Date, the Executive shall have no further rights to receive compensation or
benefits from the Employer except as set forth in Section 6 and pursuant to the terms of any
benefit plans (including without limitation any equity compensation plans) of the Company in which
the Executive is a participant.
6. Termination Benefits.
(a) Severance Pay. If there is an Involuntary Termination (as defined below) of the
Executives Employment, then, subject to the Executives execution, delivery and non-revocation of
a Release (defined below) within the time period described below, following the Executives
separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A, the Employer shall pay the Executive
a single lump sum of cash in an amount equal to the sum of twelve (12) months (the Severance
Period) of the Executives then annual Base Compensation (not giving effect to any reduction in
Base Compensation made in connection with such Involuntary Termination or giving rise to Good
Reason). The cash lump sum amount payable under this Section 6(a) shall be made to the Executive
on the first payroll date in the month following the month containing the Release Deadline. The
Executive shall also receive the benefits provided in Sections 6(b) and 6(c), and all such
payments and benefits shall not be subject to mitigation or offset (except as specified in
Section 6(b)). In order to be entitled to receive the severance described in this Section 6(a)
(including the benefits provided in Sections 6(b), 6(c) and, if applicable, 6(d)), the Executive
must execute, deliver and not revoke the Release within forty-five (45) calendar days following
the Executives separation from service (the date that is forty-five (45) calendar days following
the Executives separation from service is the Release Deadline). The Employer shall furnish
the Release to the Executive on the date of her Involuntary Termination. The Release shall be a
general release
of all litigation and other claims against the Employer and all affiliates by the Executive
and on Executives behalf in a form satisfactory to the Employer.
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(b) Health Insurance. If the Executive is entitled to receive the severance payment in
Section 6(a), and if the Executive elects to continue her (and her dependents) health insurance
coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), then the
Employer shall pay up to the number of months of the Executives monthly premium under COBRA that
is equal to the number of months in the Severance Period, provided that the Employers obligation
to pay the monthly premium shall cease at such time as the Executive becomes eligible to receive
substantially equivalent health coverage in connection with new employment and Executive agrees to
notify Employer at such time as she becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health coverage.
(c) Equity Vesting. Notwithstanding the terms of any equity compensation plan of the Company
or any agreement in connection with a grant of Compensatory Equity, if the Executive is entitled
to receive the payments in Section 6(a), then the time-based vesting restrictions (if any) shall
immediately lapse on an additional number of shares of Company common stock under all of the
Executives outstanding Compensatory Equity that is equal to the number of shares that would have
time-vested if the Executive had continued in employment for the number of additional months
following the Termination Date that is equal to the number of months in the Severance Period. The
Executive shall be entitled to exercise any of her Compensatory Equity to the extent vested
pursuant to this Section 6(c) or otherwise for such period as set forth in the terms of that
Compensatory Equity.
(d) Effect of Change in Control. If the Company is subject to a Change in Control (as
defined below) and there is an Involuntary Termination of the Executives Employment within the
period beginning three (3) months before and ending twelve (12) months after a Change in Control
(or more than three (3) months prior to a Change in Control but in connection with a Change in
Control), then following the Executives separation from service, the Executive will be entitled
to all benefits described in Sections 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) of this Agreement subject to the same
terms and conditions and payment dates described above, except that (x) the cash payment amount
under Section 6(a) shall be an amount equal to the sum of fifteen (15) months of the Executives
then annual Base Compensation (not giving effect to any reduction in Base Compensation made in
connection with such Involuntary Termination or giving rise to Good Reason), plus an amount equal
to the sum of twelve (12) months of the Executives average monthly Bonus earnings, where such
average is calculated over the twenty-four (24) month period immediately preceding the Executives
separation from service and based on the Executives Bonus paid in such 24 month period, (y) the
Employers payment of monthly COBRA premiums under Section 6(b) shall be for up to fifteen (15)
months and (z) notwithstanding the terms of any equity compensation plan of the Company or any
agreement in connection with a grant of Compensatory Equity, all vesting restrictions (if any)
shall immediately lapse on all of the Executives Compensatory Equity effective as of the
Executives separation from service. For purposes of the preceding sentence, an Involuntary
Termination shall be deemed to be in connection with a Change in Control if such termination (i)
is required by the merger agreement, purchase agreement or other instrument relating to such
Change in Control or (ii) is made at the express request of the other party (or parties) to the
transaction constituting such Change in Control.
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(e) Parachute Payments. In the event that the payments and benefits provided for in this
Agreement and the payments and/or benefits provided to, or for the benefit of, the Executive under
any other Employer plan or agreement (such payments or benefits are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the Benefits) (i) constitute parachute payments within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code and (ii) but for this Section 6(e), would be subject to
the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Excise Tax), then the
Benefits shall either be:
(i) delivered in full, or
(ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such
Benefits being subject to the Excise Tax (such reduced amount is hereinafter referred to as
the Limited Amount),
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 the Executive on an after-tax basis, of
the greatest amount of Benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such Benefits may be
subject to the Excise Tax. If applicable, in order to effectuate the Limited Amount, the Employer
shall first reduce those Benefits which are payable in cash and then reduce non-cash payments, in
each case in reverse order beginning with Benefits which are to be paid the farthest in time from
the date of determination that the Benefits will be limited by (e)(ii) above. Any calculations and
determinations required under this Section 6(e) shall be made in writing by the Companys
independent auditor (the Accountant) whose determination shall be conclusive and binding. The
Executive and the Company shall furnish the Accountant such documentation as the Accountant may
reasonably request in order to make a determination. The Employer shall pay for all costs that the
Accountant may reasonably incur in connection with performing any calculations contemplated by this
Section 6(e).
(f) Change in Control Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall
mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another
entity or any other corporate reorganization, if the Companys stockholders immediately
prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization cease to directly or indirectly own
immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization at least a majority of the
combined voting power of the continuing or surviving entitys securities (or, if the
continuing or surviving entity is a wholly owned subsidiary of another corporation
immediately following such merger or consolidation, the ultimate parent corporation of such
surviving or resulting corporation) outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation
or other reorganization;
(ii) the consummation of the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Companys assets (other than (1) to a corporation or other entity
of which at least a majority of its combined voting power is owned directly or indirectly by
the Company, (2) to a corporation or other entity owned directly or indirectly by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the
common stock of the Company or (3) to a continuing or surviving entity described in
subsection (i) in connection with a merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization
which does not result in a Change in Control under subsection (i));
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(iii) a change in the composition of the Board, as a result of which fewer than
one-half of the incumbent directors are directors who either (1) had been directors of the
Company on the date twenty-four (24) months prior to the date of the event that may
constitute a Change in Control (the original directors) or (2) were elected, or nominated
for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the
aggregate of the original directors who were still in office at the time of the election or
nomination and the directors whose election or nomination was previously so approved;
(iv) the consummation of any transaction as a result of which any person becomes the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act)), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing at least thirty-five percent (35%) of the total voting power represented by the
Companys then outstanding voting securities. For purposes of this subsection, the term
person shall have the same meaning as when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Exchange Act but shall exclude:
(1) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Company or an affiliate of the Company;
(2) a corporation or other entity owned directly or indirectly by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of the common stock of the Company;
(3) the Company; and
(4) a corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of its
combined voting power is owned directly or indirectly by the Company; or
(v) a complete winding up, liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
For purposes of this Section 6(f), a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if
its sole purpose is to change the state of the Companys incorporation or to create a holding
company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the
Companys securities immediately before such transactions.
(g) Cause Definition. For all purposes under this Agreement, Cause shall mean any of the
following committed by the Executive:
(i) Willful failure to follow the reasonable and lawful directions of President of the
Company;
(ii) Conviction of a felony (or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Executive to
a felony) that materially harms the Company;
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(iii) Acts of fraud, dishonesty or misappropriation committed by the Executive;
(iv) Willful misconduct by the Executive in the performance of the Executives material
duties required by this Agreement; or
(v) A material breach of this Agreement.
The foregoing is an exclusive list of the acts or omissions that shall be considered Cause
for the termination of the Executives Employment by the Employer. With respect to the acts or
omissions set forth in clauses (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) above, (x) the President shall provide the
Executive with one (1) month advance written notice detailing the basis for the termination of
Employment for Cause, (y) during the one-month period after the Executive has received such notice,
the Executive shall have an opportunity to cure such alleged Cause events before any termination
for Cause is finalized and (z) the Executive shall continue to receive the compensation and
benefits provided by this Agreement during the one-month cure period. In addition, no act or
failure to act of Executive shall be willful or intentional if performed in good faith with the
reasonable belief that the action or inaction was in the best interest of the Employer.
(h) Involuntary Termination Definition. For all purposes under this Agreement,
Involuntary Termination shall mean any of the following: (i) termination of the Executives
Employment by the Employer without Cause; (ii) the Executives resignation of Employment for Good
Reason; or (iii) termination of the Executives Employment by the Employer for Disability.
(i) Good Reason Definition. For all purposes under this Agreement, Good Reason shall
mean any of the following that occurs without the Executives prior written consent: (i) the
relocation of the Executives primary work location by more than forty (40) miles from the
Employers current location in Bothell, Washington; (ii) a material reduction of the Executives
Base Compensation or Executives employee benefits; (iii) any material reduction or diminution of
the Executives duties, authority or responsibilities; (iv) the Employers material breach of this
Agreement; or (v) the failure of any successor of the Company to expressly in writing assume the
Companys obligations under this Agreement, in each case, provided that the Executive shall have
provided the Employer with thirty (30) days advance written notice and an opportunity to cure such
breach during such 30-day period.
(j) Disability Definition. For all purposes under this Agreement, Disability shall mean
the Executives incapacity due to physical or mental illness to perform her full-time duties with
the Employer for a continuous period of three (3) months or an aggregate of six (6) months in any
eighteen (18) month period.
7. Non-Solicitation, Non-Compete and Non-Disparagement.
(a) Non-Solicitation. During the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and
continuing until the first anniversary of the Termination Date, the Executive shall not directly
or indirectly, personally or through others, solicit, recruit, or attempt to solicit or recruit
any employee, agent, licensor, content provider, supplier, distributor, customer or
partner of the Company to curtail, cancel or terminate such employment, agency or business
relationship that it has with the Company or its affiliates.
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(b) Non-Compete. During the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and continuing
until the first anniversary of the Termination Date, the Executive shall not directly or
indirectly, personally or through others, own, manage, operate, control, participate in, perform
services for, make any investment in, assist, or otherwise carry on, the Company business (such
business, including the business of any subsidiary or parent or affiliated entity of the Company,
is referred to herein as the Company Business) or any business that directly competes with the
Company Business (other than in the course of performing duties to the Company or any of its
affiliates as an employee or other service provider). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
contained in this Section 7(b) shall limit or otherwise affect the ability of Executive to own not
more than 1.0% of the outstanding capital stock of any entity that is engaged in a business
competitive with the Company Business, provided that such investment is a passive investment and
the Executive is not directly or indirectly involved in the management or operation of such
business or otherwise providing consulting services to such business. For purposes of this
Agreement, Company Business shall include, but shall not be limited to the research and
development of the Technology, as defined herein, and such other business plans as approved by
the Board from time to time and which are in effect on the Termination Date. As used herein,
Technology means all ideas, concepts, business and trade names, trademarks, know-how, trade
secrets, inventions, improvements, devices, methods, processes and discoveries, whether patentable
or not, and whether or not reduced to writing or other tangible form or to actual or constructive
practice which either: (i) are part of the technology licensed to OncoGenex Technologies Inc.
under the UBC Licenses, as defined herein, or (ii) are otherwise developed or acquired on behalf
of or by the Company or any affilate of the Company, including but not limited to the technology
licensed to the Company or any affiliate of the Company by clients for work to be performed for
such clients pursuant to research contracts. As used herein, UBC Licenses means the licenses
entered into by the University of British Columbia and OncoGenex Technologies Inc. effective
November 1, 2001, September 1, 2002 and April 5, 2005 which define the terms under which OncoGenex
Technologies Inc. has acquired an exclusive license to certain technology. It is understood that
OncoGenex Technologies Inc. has granted the Company a limited right to use certain technology
licensed under the UBC Licenses solely for the Company to perform work for OncoGenex Technologies
Inc.
(c) Confidential Information. Except as required in the good faith opinion of the Executive
in connection with the performance of the Executives duties hereunder or as specifically set
forth in this Section 7(c), the Executive shall, in perpetuity, maintain in confidence and shall
not directly, indirectly or otherwise, use, disseminate, disclose or publish, or use for her
benefit or the benefit of any person, firm, corporation or other entity any confidential or
proprietary information or trade secrets of or relating to the Company or any of its affiliates,
including, without limitation, information with respect to the Companys operations, processes,
products, inventions, business practices, finances, principals, vendors, suppliers, customers,
potential customers, marketing methods, costs, prices, contractual relationships, regulatory
status, business plans, designs, marketing or other business strategies, compensation paid to
employees or other terms of employment, or deliver to any person, firm,
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corporation or other
entity any document, record, notebook, computer program or similar
repository of or containing any such confidential or proprietary information or trade
secrets. The Company and the Executive stipulate and agree that as between them the foregoing
matters are important, material and confidential proprietary information and trade secrets and
affect the successful conduct of the businesses of the Company (and any successor or assignee of
the Company). Upon termination of the Executives employment with the Company for any reason, the
Executive shall promptly deliver to the Company all correspondence, drawings, manuals, letters,
notes, notebooks, reports, programs, plans, proposals, financial documents, or any other documents
concerning the Companys customers, business plans, designs, marketing or other business
strategies, products or processes, provided that the Executive may retain her rolodex, address
book and similar information, whether or not the Company specifically requests it.
(d) Non-Disparagement. The Executive and the Company mutually agree not to disparage or
defame, in writing or orally, the other party, and as applicable, its or her services, products,
subsidiaries and affiliates, and/or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents,
family members, successors and assigns. This non-disparagement provision shall not apply to
statements made by non-management employees of the Company, so long as such statements did not
originate from and were not induced or encouraged (directly or indirectly) by an officer, director
or management employee of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section 7(d) shall limit the ability of the Company or the Executive, as applicable, to provide
truthful testimony as required by law or any judicial or administrative process.
(e) Remedies. Without limiting the right of the Employer to pursue all other legal and
equitable rights available to the Employer for violation of the provisions of Section 7 of this
Agreement by Executive, it is agreed that (a) other remedies cannot fully compensate the Employer
for such a violation, (b) such a violation will cause the Employer irreparable harm which may not
be adequately compensated by money damages and (c) the Employer shall each be entitled to
temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief, without proving actual
damages or posting a bond therefore, to prevent a violation, continuing violation or threatened
violation of the provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement.
8. Inventions and Patents.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, Inventions includes, without limitation, information,
inventions, contributions, improvements, ideas, or discoveries, whether protectable or not, and
whether or not conceived or made during work hours. Executive agrees that all Inventions
conceived or made by Executive during the period of employment with Employer belong to Employer,
provided they grow out of Executives work with Employer or are related in some manner to the
Company Business, including, without limitation, research and product development, and projected
business of Employer or its affiliated companies. Accordingly, Executive will:
(i) Make adequate written records of such Inventions, which records will be Employers
property;
(ii) Assign to Employer or its designee, at Employers request, any rights Executive
may have to such Inventions for the U.S. and all foreign countries;
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(iii) Waive and agree not to assert any moral rights Executive may have or acquire in
any Inventions and agree to provide written waivers from time to time as requested by
Employer; and
(iv) Assist Employer (at Employers expense) in obtaining and maintaining patents or
copyright registrations with respect to such Inventions.
(b) Executive understands and agrees that Employer or its designee will determine, in its
sole and absolute discretion, whether an application for patent will be filed on any Invention
that is the exclusive property of Employer, as set forth above, and whether such an application
will be abandoned prior to issuance of a patent. Employer will pay to Executive, either during or
after the term of this Agreement, the following amounts if Executive is sole inventor, or
Executives proportionate share if Executive is joint inventor: $750 upon filing of the initial
application for patent on such Invention; and $1,500 upon issuance of a patent resulting from such
initial patent application, provided Executive is named as an inventor in the patent.
(c) Executive further agrees that Executive will promptly disclose in writing to Employer
during the term of Executives employment and for one (1) year thereafter, all Inventions whether
developed during the time of such employment or thereafter (whether or not Employer has rights in
such Inventions) so that Executives rights and Employers rights in such Inventions can be
determined. Except as set forth on the initialed Exhibit A (List of Inventions) to this
Agreement, if any, Executive represents and warrants that Executive has no Inventions, software,
writings or other works of authorship useful to Employer in the normal course of the Company
Business, which were conceived, made or written prior to the date of this Agreement and which are
excluded from the operation of this Agreement.
(d) NOTICE: In accordance with Washington law, this Section 8 does not apply to
Inventions for which no equipment, supplies, facility, or trade secret information of Employer was
used and which was developed entirely on Executives own time, unless: (a) the Invention relates
(i) directly to the business of Employer or (ii) to Employers actual or demonstrably anticipated
research or development, or (b) the Invention results from any work performed by Executive for
Employer.
9. Successors.
(a) Employers Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon any successor (whether
direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Employers business and/or assets. For all purposes
under this Agreement, the term Employer shall include any successor to the Employers business
and/or assets which becomes bound by this Agreement.
(b) Employees Successors. This Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall
inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Executives personal or legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.
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10. Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
In the event that the Employer determines that any of the benefits payable under this
Agreement would violate Section 409A, then the Employer and the Executive shall, in good faith,
agree to implement adjustments needed to comply with Section 409A. Additionally, notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is deemed by the Employer at the
time of Executives separation from service to be a specified employee, each within the meaning
of Section 409A, any compensation or benefits to which Executive becomes entitled under this
Agreement (or any agreement or plan referenced in this Agreement) in connection with such
separation that are subject to Section 409A shall not be made or commence until the date which is
six (6) months after Executives separation from service (or, if earlier, Executives death).
Such deferral shall only be effected to the extent required to avoid adverse tax treatment to
Executive, including (without limitation) the additional twenty percent (20%) tax for which
Executive would otherwise be liable under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) in the absence of such deferral.
Upon the expiration of the applicable deferral period, any compensation or benefits which would
have otherwise been paid during that period (whether in a single lump sum or in installments) in
the absence of this Section 10 shall be paid to Executive or Executives beneficiary in one lump
sum.
11. Repayment Provisions.
If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to its material
noncompliance, as a result of the Executives misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement
under United States securities laws, then, and only if Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, or a successor provision, is then in effect, the Company may require the Executive to
reimburse the Employer for (i) any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation
received by the Executive from the Employer during the 12-month period following the first public
issuance or filing with the Securities Exchange Commission (whichever first occurs) of the
financial documents embodying such financial reporting requirement and (ii) any profits realized
from the sale of securities of Company during such 12-month period.
12. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) Notice. 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 when mailed by
overnight courier, U.S. registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage
prepaid. In the case of the Executive, mailed notices shall be addressed to her at the home
address that she most recently communicated to the Employer in writing. In the case of the
Employer, mailed notices shall be addressed to:
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Attention:
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President |
c/o:
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Suite 400 1001 West Broadway |
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Vancouver, British Columbia |
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CANADA, V6H 4B1 |
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Telephone: 604-736-3678 |
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Facsimile: 604-736-3687 |
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(b) Modifications and Waivers. 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 the
Executive and by an authorized officer of the Employer (other than the 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. Except for those agreements or plans referenced herein (including
without limitation any employee benefit plans of the Company in which the Executive is a
participant in as of the Effective Date), this Agreement contains the entire understanding of the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other agreements,
representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) with
respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict in terms between this
Agreement and any other agreement executed by and between the Executive and the Employer, the
terms of this Agreement shall prevail and govern.
(d) Withholding Taxes. All payments made under this Agreement shall be subject to reduction
to reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld by law.
(e) Reporting Requirements. As the Executive is a Section 16 officer, the Company will
assist the Executive and facilitate the Executives compliance with applicable Section 16
reporting requirements.
(f) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington (except their provisions
governing the choice of law).
(g) Severability; Blue-Penciling. 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. Furthermore, it is the intent,
agreement and understanding of each party hereto that if, in any action before any court or agency
legally empowered to enforce this Agreement, any term, restriction, covenant or promise in this
Agreement is found to be unreasonable and for that or any other reason unenforceable, then such
term, restriction, covenant or promise shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to
make it enforceable by such court or agency; provided further that any such court or agency shall
have the power to modify such provision, to the extent necessary to make it enforceable (for the
maximum duration and geographic scope permissible), and such provision as so modified shall be
enforced,
(h) Assignment. The Employer may assign its rights under this Agreement to any entity that
expressly in writing assumes the Employers obligations hereunder in connection with any sale or
transfer of all or substantially all of the Companys assets to such entity.
(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
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ONCOGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
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CINDY JACOBS |
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By: |
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Signed: |
/s/ CINDY JACOBS
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Name: Pat Brady |
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Its: Director |
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