Molecular Devices (MDCC) 10-K 2005 FY Annual report

Exhibit 10.56

FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE

I.	PARTIES AND DATE.
	This First Amendment to Lease (the “Amendment”) dated January 30, 2006, is by and between THE IRVINE COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, formerly The Irvine Company, a Delaware corporation (“Landlord”), and MOLECULAR DEVICES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Tenant).
II.	RECITALS
	On May 28, 2002, Landlord and Tenant entered into a lease (“Lease”) for space in a building located at 1312 Crossman Avenue, Sunnyvale, California (“Premises”). Landlord and Tenant each desire to modify the Lease to extend the Lease Term, to adjust the Basic Rent, and to make such other modifications as are set forth in “III. MODIFICATIONS” next below.
III.	MODIFICATIONS

A. Basic Lease Provisions. The Basic Lease Provisions are hereby amended as follows:

1.	Item 5 is hereby deleted in its entirety and substituted therefore shall be the following:
	“5. Lease Term: The Term of this Lease shall expire at midnight on February 28, 2013.”
2.	Item 6 is hereby amended by adding the following:
	“Commencing November 1, 2007, the Basic Rent shall be Fifty Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Four Dollars ($59,994.00) per month, based on $1.10 per rentable square foot.
	Commencing November 1. 2008, the Basic Rent shall be Sixty Two Thousand One Hundred Seventy-Six Dollars ($62,176.00) per month, based on $1.14 per rentable square foot.
	Commencing November 1, 2009, the Basic Rent shall be Sixty Four Thousand Nine Hundred Three Dollars ($64,903.00) per month, based on $1.19 per rentable square foot.
	Commencing November 1, 2010, the Basic Rent shall be Sixty Seven Thousand Six Hundred Thirty Dollars ($67,630.00) per month, based on $1.24 per rentable square foot.
	Commencing November 1, 2011, the Basic Rent shall be Seventy Thousand Three Hundred Fifty-Seven Dollars ($70,357.00) per month, based on $1.29 per rentable square foot.
	Commencing November 1, 2012, the Basic Rent shall be Seventy Three Thousand Eighty-Four Dollars ($73,084.00) per month, based on $1.34 per rentable square foot.

3.	Item 12 is hereby amended by deleting Landlord’s address for payments and notices and substituted therefore shall be the following:
	“LANDLORD
	THE IRVINE COMPANY LLC 550 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 Attn: Senior Vice President, Operations Irvine Office Properties
	With a copy of notices to:
	THE IRVINE COMPANY LLC 550 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 Attn: Vice President, Operations Irvine Office Properties, Technology Portfolio”

B.	Right to Extend the Lease. The Provisions of Section 3.2 of the Lease entitled “Right to Extend this Lease” shall remain in full force and effect and exercisable by Tenant during the Term of the Lease as extended by this Amendment, except that the reference in the second (2nd) sentence of the first (1st) paragraph to “not less than six (6) months or more than nine (9) months” is hereby revised to “not less than nine (9) months or more than twelve (12) months”.
C.	Late Payments. The reference to “Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00)” in Section 14.3(a) of the Lease is hereby amended to “One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).”
D.	Maintenance and Repair. Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of the Lease are hereby amended to provide that Landlord’s obligation to provide service, maintenance and repair to air conditioning, heating and ventilating equipment servicing the Premises shall not apply to supplemental HVAC system(s), if any, installed by Tenant and servicing only the Premises, and that Landlord shall maintain in good repair, as a “Project Cost”, all Building exterior glass.
E.	Waiver of Jury Trial. Section 14.7 of the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and substituted therefore shall be the following:
	SECTION 14.7. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL/ JUDICIAL REFERENCE

(a) LANDLORD AND TENANT EACH ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS AWARE OF AND HAS HAD THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE WITH RESPECT TO ITS RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY, AND, TO THE EXTENT ENFORCEABLE UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW, EACH PARTY DOES HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND KNOWINGLY WAIVE AND RELEASE ALL SUCH RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY EITHER PARTY HERETO AGAINST THE OTHER (AND/OR AGAINST ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR SUBSIDIARY OR AFFILIATED ENTITIES) ON ANY MATTERS WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS LEASE, TENANT’S USE OR OCCUPANCY OF THE PREMISES, AND/OR ANY CLAIM OF

INJURY OR DAMAGE. FURTHERMORE, THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE OF ALL RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL IS DEEMED TO BE INDEPENDENT OF EACH AND EVERY OTHER PROVISION, COVENANT, AND/OR CONDITION SET FORTH IN THIS LEASE.

(b) IN THE EVENT THAT THE JURY WAIVER PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 14.7(a) ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW, THEN THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 14.7(b) SHALL APPLY. IT IS THE DESIRE AND INTENTION OF THE PARTIES TO AGREE UPON A MECHANISM AND PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH CONTROVERSIES AND DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF THIS LEASE OR RELATED TO THE PREMISES WILL BE RESOLVED IN A PROMPT AND EXPEDITIOUS MANNER. ACCORDINGLY, EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO ACTIONS FOR UNLAWFUL OR FORCIBLE DETAINER OR WITH RESPECT TO THE PREJUDGMENT REMEDY OF ATTACHMENT, ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY EITHER PARTY HERETO AGAINST THE OTHER (AND/OR AGAINST ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR SUBSIDIARY OR AFFILIATED ENTITIES) ON ANY MATTERS WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS LEASE, TENANT’S USE OR OCCUPANCY OF THE PREMISES AND/OR ANY CLAIM OF INJURY OR DAMAGE, SHALL BE HEARD AND RESOLVED BY A REFEREE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, SECTIONS 638-645.1, INCLUSIVE (AS SAME MAY BE AMENDED, OR ANY SUCCESSOR STATUTE(S) THERETO) (THE “REFEREE SECTIONS”). ANY FEE TO INITIATE THE JUDICIAL REFERENCE PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE PAID BY THE PARTY INITIATING SUCH PROCEDURE; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THE COSTS AND FEES, INCLUDING ANY INITIATION FEE, OF SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL ULTIMATELY BE BORNE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 14.6 ABOVE. THE VENUE OF THE PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PREMISES ARE LOCATED. WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS OF RECEIPT BY ANY PARTY OF A WRITTEN REQUEST TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION 14.7(b), THE PARTIES SHALL AGREE UPON A SINGLE REFEREE WHO SHALL TRY ALL ISSUES, WHETHER OF FACT OR LAW, AND REPORT A FINDING AND JUDGMENT ON SUCH ISSUES AS REQUIRED BY THE REFEREE SECTIONS. IF THE PARTIES ARE UNABLE TO AGREE UPON A REFEREE WITHIN SUCH TEN (10) DAY PERIOD, THEN ANY PARTY MAY THEREAFTER FILE A LAWSUIT IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PREMISES ARE LOCATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPOINTMENT OF A REFEREE UNDER CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTIONS 638 AND 640, AS SAME MAY BE AMENDED OF ANY SUCCESSOR STATUTE(S) THERETO. IF THE REFEREE IS APPOINTED BY THE COURT, THE REFEREE SHALL BE A NEUTRAL AND IMPARTIAL RETIRED JUDGE WITH SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE IN THE RELEVANT MATTERS TO BE

DETERMINED, FROM JAMS/ENDISPUTE, INC., THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION OR SIMILAR MEDIATION/ARBITRATION ENTITY. THE PROPOSED REFEREE MAY BE CHALLENGED BY ANY PARTY FOR ANY OF THE GROUNDS LISTED IN SECTION 641 OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, AS SAME MAY BE AMENDED OR ANY SUCCESSOR STATUTE(S) THERETO. THE REFEREE SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE ALL ISSUES OF FACT AND LAW AND REPORT HIS OR HER DECISION ON SUCH ISSUES, AND TO ISSUE ALL RECOGNIZED REMEDIES AVAILABLE AT LAW OR IN EQUITY FOR ANY CAUSE OF ACTION THAT IS BEFORE THE REFEREE, INCLUDING AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA LAW. THE REFEREE SHALL NOT, HOWEVER, HAVE THE POWER TO AWARD PUNITIVE DAMAGES, NOR ANY OTHER DAMAGES WHICH ARE NOT PERMITTED BY THE EXPRESS PROVISIONS OF THIS LEASE, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO RECOVER ANY SUCH DAMAGES. THE PARTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO CONDUCT ALL DISCOVERY AS PROVIDED IN THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, AND THE REFEREE SHALL OVERSEE DISCOVERY AND MAY ENFORCE ALL DISCOVERY ORDERS IN THE SAME MANNER AS ANY TRIAL COURT JUDGE, WITH RIGHTS TO REGULATE DISCOVERY AND TO ISSUE AND ENFORCE SUBPOENAS, PROTECTIVE ORDERS AND OTHER LIMITATIONS ON DISCOVERY AVAILABLE UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW. THE REFERENCE PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA LAW (INCLUDING THE RULES OF EVIDENCE), AND IN ALL REGARDS, THE REFEREE SHALL FOLLOW CALIFORNIA LAW APPLICABLE AT THE TIME OF THE REFERENCE PROCEEDING. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 644 OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, THE DECISION OF THE REFEREE UPON THE WHOLE ISSUE MUST STAND AS THE DECISION OF THE COURT, AND UPON THE FILING OF THE STATEMENT OF DECISION WITH THE CLERK OF THE COURT, OR WITH THE JUDGE IF THERE IS NO CLERK, JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED THEREON IN THE SAME MANNER AS IF THE ACTION HAD BEEN TRIED BY THE COURT. THE PARTIES SHALL PROMPTLY AND DILIGENTLY COOPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THE REFEREE, AND SHALL PERFORM SUCH ACTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO OBTAIN A PROMPT AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION OF THE DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS SECTION 14.7(b). TO THE EXTENT THAT NO PENDING LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED TO OBTAIN THE APPOINTMENT OF A REFEREE, ANY PARTY, AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF THE DECISION OF THE REFEREE, MAY APPLY TO THE COURT OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PREMISES ARE LOCATED FOR CONFIRMATION BY THE COURT OF THE DECISION OF THE REFEREE IN THE SAME MANNER AS A PETITION FOR CONFIRMATION OF AN ARBITRATION AWARD PURSUANT TO CODE OF CIVIL

PROCEDURE SECTION 1285 ET SEQ. (AS SAME MAY BE AMENDED OR ANY SUCCESSOR STATUTE(S) THERETO).

F. Acceptance of Premises. Tenant acknowledges that the lease of the Premises pursuant to this Amendment shall be on an “as-is” basis without further obligation on Landlord’s part as to improvements whatsoever.

IV. GENERAL

A.	Effect of Amendments. The Lease shall remain in full force and effect except to the extent that it is modified by this Amendment.
B.	Entire Agreement. This Amendment embodies the entire understanding between Landlord and Tenant with respect to the modifications set forth in “III. MODIFICATIONS” above and can be changed only by a writing signed by Landlord and Tenant.
C.	Counterparts. If this Amendment is executed in counterparts, each is hereby declared to be an original; all, however, shall constitute but one and the same amendment. In any action or proceeding, any photographic, photostatic, or other copy of this Amendment may be introduced into evidence without foundation.
D.	Defined Terms. All words commencing with initial capital letters in this Amendment and defined in the Lease shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Lease, unless they are otherwise defined in the Amendment.
E.	Corporate and Partnership Authority. If Tenant is a corporation or partnership, or is comprised of either or both of them, each individual executing this Amendment for the corporation or partnership represents that he or she is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Amendment on behalf of the corporation or partnership and that this Amendment is binding upon the corporation or partnership in accordance with its terms.
F.	Attorneys’ Fees. The provisions of the Lease respecting payment of attorneys’ fees shall also apply to this Amendment.

V. EXECUTION

Landlord and Tenant executed this Amendment on the date as set forth in “I. PARTIES AND DATE.” above.

LANDLORD:		TENANT:
THE IRVINE COMPANY LLC CORPORATION A Delaware limited liability company		MOLECULAR DEVICES CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Steven M Case	By: /s/ Tim Harkness
	Steven M Case	Tim Harkness
	Senior Vice President Leasing,	Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice
	Office Properties	President Finance and Operations
By:	/s/ Christopher J. Pompa
	Christopher J. Pompa
	Vice President Operations,
	Office Properties