1 Exhibit 10.29.1 FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT This First Amendment to Employment Agreement (the "Amendment") is made as of December 10, 1999, between Radiance Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Jeffrey Thiel, an individual ("Executive"). RECITALS WHEREAS, the Company currently employs Executive pursuant to that certain Employment Agreement dated February 1, 1999 (the "Employment Agreement"); and WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to amend the Employment Agreement to extend the automatic renewal terms set forth in the Employment Agreement, as provided in greater detail below; NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth and for other valuable consideration, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows: AGREEMENT 1. DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Employment Agreement. 2. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1 OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Section 1 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows: "1. EMPLOYMENT. Effective October 1, 1999, the Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive as the President and Chief Operating Officer, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company, and the Executive accepts such employment and agrees to devote substantially all his business time and effort and skills on such reasonable duties as shall be assigned to him by the Company commensurate with such position." 3. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 2 OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Section 2 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows: "2. TERM. The term of this Agreement will begin on February 1, 1999 (the "Effective Date"), and shall continue thereafter for a two (2) year period, and commencing on the first anniversary of the Effective Date shall be extended on each day for one (1) day so that the remaining term hereof is always one (1) year unless either party elects to terminate this Agreement in accordance with its provisions. Executive's employment is subject to earlier termination as hereafter specified." 2 4. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3.1 OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Section 3.1 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows: "3.1 SERVICE WITH THE COMPANY. Effective October 1, 1999, during the term of this Agreement, the Executive agrees to perform such reasonable duties and on such basis as shall be assigned to him from time to time by the CEO; such duties, however, to be commensurate with the Executive's position as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. In particular, and without limitation, such duties shall include, within the guidelines set by the CEO, setting up long-range strategic plans, guidance of day-to-day operations of the Company, preparing operating budgets for presentation to the CEO, and implementation of operating plans as approved by the CEO." 5. AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 4.1. AND 4.3 OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Sections 4.1 and 4.3 of the Employment Agreement are hereby amended as follows: Effective October 1, 1999, Executive's Base Salary is $180,000 and the bonus percentage is Thirty percent (30%). 6. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 5.5. Section 5.5 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows: "5.5 PAYMENTS UPON REMOVAL OR TERMINATION. If during the term of this Agreement, the Executive resigns for one of the reasons stated in Section 5.3, or the Company terminates the Executive's service, except as provided in Sections 5.1 or 5.2 hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation: (i) the portion of his then current Base Salary which has accrued through his date of termination, (ii) any payments for unused vacation and reimbursement expenses, which are due, accrued or payable at the date of Executive's termination, (iii) severance payment in an amount (the "Severance Amount") equal to Executive's then-current Base Salary, payable for the remainder of the Term; and (iv) to the extent not already vested under Section 4.5 or otherwise all of Executive's options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock and restricted stock shall accelerate and automatically vest by one additional year, and such options shall otherwise be exercisable in accordance with their terms. In addition, in such event, Executive shall be entitled to (a) a prorated payment equal to the target bonus amount for which Executive would be eligible for the year in which such resignation or termination occurred, and (b) continuation of the insurance benefits set forth in Exhibit C and, to the extent permissible, participation in the Company's 401k plan, for the remainder of the Term." 7. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) Continuing Force and Effect. Except as herein expressly amended, all terms, covenants and provisions of the Employment Agreement are and shall remain in full force and effect 2 3 and all references therein to such Employment Agreement shall henceforth refer to the Employment Agreement as amended by this Amendment. This Amendment shall be deemed incorporated into, and a part of, the Employment Agreement. (b) Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have set our hands hereto as of the date first above written. RADIANCE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. /s/ Michael R. Henson - ------------------------------------------ Michael R. Henson, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board EXECUTIVE /s/ Jeffrey Thiel - ------------------------------------------ Jeffrey Thiel 3