(c) Non-Competition. During your employment by the Company, you will not, without the express written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly serve as an officer, director, stockholder, employee, partner, proprietor, investor, joint venturer, associate, representative or consultant of any person or entity engaged in, or planning or preparing to engage in, business activity competitive with any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company or its affiliates; provided, however, that you may purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) one percent (1%) of any class of securities of any enterprise (without participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or regional securities exchange. In addition, you will be subject to certain restrictions (including restrictions continuing after your employment ends) under the terms of your Confidentiality Agreement.
9. At-Will Employment Relationship. Your employment relationship with the Company is employment at-will. Accordingly, you may terminate your employment with the Company at any time and for any reason whatsoever simply by notifying the Company; and the Company may terminate your employment at any time with or without Cause (as defined below) or prior notice. In addition, the Company retains the discretion to modify your other employment terms from time to time, including but not limited to your position, duties, reporting relationship, work location, compensation (including base salary and incentive compensation terms), and benefits.
10. Severance.
(a) Pre-IPO Severance for Qualifying Termination. If (i) your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Plan, or any successor or replacement plan), other than due to your death or disability, and (ii) you satisfy the Release Requirement (defined below), then you will receive severance pay in the form of continuation of your final monthly base salary for six (6) months, plus six (6) months of benefits coverage under COBRA, less standard payroll deductions and tax withholdings.
(b) Post-IPO Severance upon Termination without Cause or Resignation with Good Reason. If (i) your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Plan), other than due to your death or disability, or you terminate your employment with Good Reason (as defined in the Plan), (ii) you satisfy the Release Requirement (defined below), and (iii) comply with your obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement, then you will receive the following “Severance Benefits”: (A) You will receive severance pay in the form of continuation of your final monthly base salary for a period of nine (9) months following your termination date, less standard payroll deductions and tax withholdings (the “Severance Payments”). Subject to Section 10(e), the Severance Payments will be paid in equal installments on the Company’s regular payroll schedule in effect following your termination date, with such payments to begin on the first regular payroll date following the Release Effective Date (as defined below). If the Severance Payments do not commence with the first regular payroll date following your termination date because the Release Effective Date is later than such first payroll date, the first installment of the Severance Payments you receive will be a “catch up” payment in the total amount of the Severance Payments you would have received through such payroll date if such payments had begun with the first payroll date after your termination date; (B) In addition, if you timely elect continued coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay the COBRA premiums for you and your eligible dependents until the earlier of either: (i) a period ending nine (9) months following your termination date or, (ii) the date on which you are no longer eligible for COBRA coverage (such period, the “COBRA Payment Period”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the Company cannot provide the COBRA premium benefits without potentially incurring financial costs or penalties under applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the
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Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. | 4747 Executive Drive, Suite 1150, San Diego CA | | // 4 |