Employment Offer Letter Agreement between Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Steve Basta dated March 31, 2025
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. offers Steve Basta the position of President and CEO, starting April 1, 2025. He will report to the Board of Directors and work on-site for at least part of each month during the first year, with more remote flexibility after. Compensation includes a $700,000 annual salary, eligibility for a performance bonus, stock options, and performance stock units. Steve will also be appointed to the Board. The agreement outlines benefits, expense reimbursement, and states that employment is at-will, meaning either party can end it at any time.
Exhibit 10.1
March 31, 2025
Steve Basta
Re: Employment Offer Letter
Dear Steve:
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is pleased to offer you a position on the terms set forth in this letter (this “Agreement”).
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Your outstanding Stock Awards (as defined below) granted under the Company’s Equity Plans that are subject in whole or in part to performance-based vesting conditions will be governed by the terms of the applicable Stock Award agreement and the Equity Plan under which such Stock Awards were granted. The foregoing provisions are hereby deemed to be a part of your Initial Stock Options and to supersede any less favorable provision in any Stock Award agreement or Equity Plan regarding such Initial Stock Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Stock Award agreement or the Equity Plan pursuant to which your Initial Stock Options were granted provides for more favorable treatment of such Initial Stock Options upon a Qualifying Termination, nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit your right to such more favorable treatment as provided in such Stock Award agreement or Equity Plan.
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Your outstanding Stock Awards granted under the Company’s Equity Plans that are subject in whole or in part to performance-based vesting conditions will be governed by the terms of the applicable Stock Award agreement and the Equity Plan under which such Stock Awards were granted. The foregoing provisions are hereby deemed to be a part of each Stock Award and to supersede any less favorable provision in any Stock Award agreement or Equity Plan regarding such Stock Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Stock Award agreement or the Equity Plan pursuant to which your Stock Awards were granted provides for more favorable treatment of Stock Awards upon a Change in Control or a Qualifying Termination, nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit your right to such more favorable treatment as provided in such Stock Award agreement or Equity Plan.
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To the extent that the payments or benefits under this Agreement are “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, if the period during which you may deliver the Release required hereunder spans two calendar years, the payment of your post-termination benefits shall occur (or
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commence) on the later of (a) January 1 of the second calendar year, or (b) the first regularly-scheduled payroll date following the date your Release becomes effective.
Any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits payable under this Agreement shall be made in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) and shall be paid on or before the last day of your taxable year following the taxable year in which you incurred the expenses. The amount of expenses reimbursed or in-kind benefits payable in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits payable in any other taxable year of yours, and your right to reimbursement for such amounts shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
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If you choose to accept this Agreement under the terms described above, please acknowledge your acceptance of our offer by returning a signed copy of this Agreement and the Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement to our attention.
Sincerely,
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
/s/ Michael F. Cola
Name: Michael F. Cola
Title: Chairman of the Board
Agreed and Accepted:
I have read and understood this Agreement and hereby acknowledge, accept and agree to the terms as set forth above and further acknowledge and agree that no other commitments were made to me as part of my employment offer except as specifically set forth herein.
/s/ Steven Basta Date:
Steven Basta
Exhibit A: Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement
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EXHIBIT A
Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement
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