Exhibit 10.1
Employment Agreement
This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made by and between CG Oncology, Inc. (the “Company”), and Jim DeTore (“Executive”) (collectively referred to herein as the “Parties” or individually referred to as a “Party”), effective as of April 13, 2026 (the “Effective Date”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company seeks to employ Executive as its Chief Financial Officer; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to enter into an agreement setting forth the terms of such employment as of the Effective Date, which supersedes any and all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, including any prior employment offer letters, between Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements set forth below, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
(d) Principal Location. During the Term, Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement remotely from his residence in the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan area, provided, however, that the Parties acknowledge and agree that Executive may be required to travel to other locations as may be necessary to fulfill Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.
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Executive’s employment hereunder and the Term may be terminated by the Company or Executive, as applicable, without any breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances and the Term will end on the Date of Termination:
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(e) Exclusive Remedy. In the event of a termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive’s sole remedy shall be to receive the payments and benefits described in this Section 4. In addition, Executive acknowledges and agrees that he is not entitled to any reimbursement by the Company for any taxes payable by Executive as a result of the payments and benefits received by Executive pursuant to this Section 4, including, without limitation, any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code. Any payments made to Executive under this Section 4 shall be inclusive of any amounts or benefits to which Executive may be entitled pursuant to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. Sections 2101 et seq., and the Department of Labor regulations thereunder, or any similar state statute.
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The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise). This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled, to the extent permitted under applicable law and applicable Company Arrangements, to select and change a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive compensation hereunder following Executive’s death by giving written notice thereof to the Company.
(i) the continued failure by Executive to substantially perform Executive’s duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Executive by the Company or an affiliate that specifically identifies the alleged manner in which Executive has not substantially performed Executive’s duties and after Executive has been provided with a thirty (30) day cure period, or Executive’s deliberate violation of a Company policy;
(ii) the engaging by Executive in illegal conduct or misconduct (including fraud, embezzlement, theft or dishonesty or material violation of any Company policy), or gross negligence, in any case that has caused or is reasonably expected to result in injury to the Company or any affiliate;
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(iii) Executive’s commission of, or plea of no contest to, a felony or any misdemeanor crime involving fraud, moral turpitude or dishonesty;
(iv) Executive’s material breach of any written agreement or restrictive covenants with the Company; or
(v) Executive’s violation of any law, rule or regulation relating in any way to the business or activities of the Company or any affiliate, or other law, rule or regulation that is violated, during the course of Executive’s performance of services hereunder that results in Executive’s regulatory suspension or disqualification, including, without limitation, the Generic Drug Enforcement Act of 1992, 21 U.S.C. § 335(a), or any similar legislation applicable in the United States or in any other country where the Company or any affiliate intends to develop its activities.
No action or inaction based upon direction of the Board or advice of counsel to the Company shall constitute Cause. Poor performance shall not, in and of itself, constitute Cause. No termination of Executive’s employment for Cause shall occur absent a resolution of the Board and the reasonable opportunity for Executive (with Executive’s counsel) to be heard before the Board.
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(a) Best Pay Provision. In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive pursuant to the terms of any plan, arrangement or agreement (including any payment or benefit received in connection with a change in ownership or control or the termination of Executive’s employment) (all such payments and benefits being hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”) would be subject (in whole or part) to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under Section 4999 of the Code, then the Total Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (after subtracting the amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments); provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply if, immediately before the change in ownership or control on which such Total Payments are contingent or otherwise relate, no stock in the Company is readily tradeable on an established securities market or otherwise (as determined in accordance with Treasury Reg. Section 1.280G-1 Q&A 6). Except to the extent that an alternative reduction order would result in a greater economic benefit to Executive on an after-tax basis, the Parties intend that the Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (w) reduction of any cash severance payments otherwise payable to Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, (x) reduction of any other cash payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payment attributable to the acceleration of vesting or payment with respect to any equity award that is exempt from Section 409A of the Code, (y) reduction of any other payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payment attributable to the acceleration of vesting and payment with respect to any equity award that is exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and (z) reduction of any payments attributable to the acceleration of vesting or payment with respect to any equity award that is exempt from Section 409A of the Code; provided, in case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), that reduction of any payments or benefits attributable to the acceleration of vesting of Company equity awards shall be first applied to equity awards with later vesting dates; provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such reduction shall be undertaken in a manner that complies with and does not result in the imposition of additional taxes on Executive under Section 409A of the Code. The foregoing reductions shall be made in a manner that results in the maximum economic benefit to Executive on an after-tax basis and, to the extent economically equivalent payments or benefits are subject to reduction, in a pro rata manner.
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(b) Determinations. All determinations regarding the application of this Section 8 shall be made by an independent accounting firm or consulting group with nationally recognized standing and substantial expertise and experience in performing calculations regarding the applicability of Section 280G of the Code and the Excise Tax retained by the Company prior to the date of the applicable change in ownership or control (the “280G Firm”). For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which (x) does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, or (y) constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the 280G Firm in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. All determinations related to the calculations to be performed pursuant to this “Section 280G Treatment” section shall be done by the 280G Firm. The 280G Firm will be directed to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both Executive and the Company within fifteen (15) days after notification from either the Company or Executive that Executive may receive payments which may be “parachute payments.” Executive and the Company will each provide the 280G Firm access to and copies of any books, records, and documents as may be reasonably requested by the 280G Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the 280G Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determinations and calculations contemplated by this Agreement. The fees and expenses of the 280G Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by this Agreement will be borne solely by the Company.
(c) Exception. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any portion of the Total Payments would not be subject to the Excise Tax if the stockholder approval requirements of Section 280G(b)(5) of the Code are satisfied, subject to Executive’s waiver of the rights to such portion of the Total Payments above the safe harbor threshold in accordance with and to the extent required by Section 280G of the Code with respect to any portion of the Total Payments that would otherwise be subject to excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (before giving effect to any reduction in the Total Payments contemplated above), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such payments to be submitted for such approval prior to the event giving rise to such payments. To the extent the Company submits any payment or benefit payable to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise to the Company’s stockholders for approval in accordance with Treasury Reg. Section 1.280G-1 Q&A 7, the foregoing provisions under this Section 8 shall not apply following such submission and such payments and benefits will be treated in accordance with the results of such vote, except that any reduction in, or waiver above the safe harbor threshold of, such payments or benefits required by such vote will be applied without any application of discretion by Executive and in the order prescribed in Section 8(a).
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Executive acknowledges that Executive has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, has not acted in reliance upon any representations or promises made by the Company other than those contained in writing herein, and has entered into this Agreement freely based on Executive’s own judgment.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
CG ONCOLOGY, INC.
By: /s/ Arthur Kuan
Name: Arthur Kuan
Title: Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Jim DeTore
Print Name: Jim DeTore
[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Separation Agreement and Release
This Separation Agreement and Release (“Agreement”) is made by and between Jim DeTore (“Executive”) and CG Oncology, Inc. (the “Company”) (collectively referred to as the “Parties” or individually referred to as a “Party”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Parties have previously entered into that certain Employment Agreement, effective as of April 13, 2026 (the “Employment Agreement”) and that certain Restrictive Covenant Agreement (as defined in the Employment Agreement); and
WHEREAS, in connection with Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company effective [________], 20[__], the Parties wish to resolve any and all disputes, claims, complaints, grievances, charges, actions, petitions, and demands that Executive may have against the Company and any of the Releases as defined below, including, but not limited to, any and all claims arising out of or in any way related to Executive’s employment with or separation from the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates but, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein will be deemed to release any rights or remedies in connection with Executive’s ownership of vested equity securities of the Company, vested benefits or Executive’s right to indemnification or liability insurance by the Company or any of its affiliates pursuant to contract or applicable law (collectively, the “Retained Claims”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the severance payments and benefits described in Section 4 of the Employment Agreement, which, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, are conditioned on Executive’s execution and non-revocation of this Agreement, and in consideration of the mutual promises made herein, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
1. Severance Payments and Benefits; Salary and Benefits. The Company agrees to provide Executive with the severance payments and benefits described in Section 4 of the Employment Agreement, payable at the times set forth in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Employment Agreement. In addition, to the extent not already paid, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement, the Company shall pay or provide to Executive the Accrued Obligations described in Section 3(c) of the Employment Agreement, subject to and in accordance with the terms thereof.
2. Release of Claims. Executive agrees that, other than with respect to the Retained Claims, the foregoing consideration represents settlement in full of all outstanding obligations owed to Executive by the Company, any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, and any of its or their current and former officers, directors, equity holders, managers, employees, agents, investors, attorneys, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, benefit plans, plan administrators, insurers, trustees, divisions, and subsidiaries and predecessor and successor corporations and assigns (collectively, the “Releasees”) related to Executive’s employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or termination therefrom. Executive, on Executive’s own behalf and on behalf of any of Executive’s affiliated companies or entities and any of their respective heirs, family members, executors, agents, and assigns, other than with respect to the Retained Claims, hereby and forever releases the Releasees from, and agrees not to sue concerning, or in any manner to institute, prosecute, or pursue, any claim, complaint, charge, duty, obligation, or cause of action relating to any matters of any kind, whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that Executive may possess against any of the Releasees arising from any omissions, acts, facts, or damages that have occurred up until and including the date Executive signs this Agreement relating to Executive’s employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or termination therefrom, including, without limitation:
(a) any and all claims relating to or arising from Executive’s employment or service relationship with the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries and the termination of that relationship;
(b) any and all claims relating to, or arising from, Executive’s right to purchase, or actual purchase of any shares of stock or other equity interests of the Company or any of its affiliates, including, without limitation, any claims for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty under applicable state law, and securities fraud under any state or federal law;
(c) any and all claims for wrongful discharge of employment; termination in violation of public policy; discrimination; harassment; retaliation; breach of contract, both express and implied; breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, both express and implied; promissory estoppel; negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress; fraud; negligent or intentional misrepresentation; negligent or intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage; unfair business practices; defamation; libel; slander; negligence; personal injury; assault; battery; invasion of privacy; false imprisonment; conversion; and disability benefits;
(d) any and all claims for violation of any federal, state, or municipal statute, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Equal Pay Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act; and the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law, each as amended, or any other federal, state or local statute or ordinance;
(e) any and all claims for violation of the federal or any state constitution;
(f) any and all claims arising out of any other laws and regulations relating to employment or employment discrimination;
(g) any claim for any loss, cost, damage, or expense arising out of any dispute over the non-withholding or other tax treatment of any of the proceeds received by Executive as a result of this Agreement;
(h) any and all claims arising out of the wage and hour and wage payments laws and regulations of the state or states in which Executive has provided service to the Company or any of its affiliates; and
(i) any and all claims for attorneys’ fees and costs.
EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:
“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.”
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EXECUTIVE, BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS EXECUTIVE MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT.
Executive agrees that the release set forth in this section shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete general release as to the matters released. This release does not release claims that cannot be released as a matter of law, including, but not limited to, Executive’s right to report possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation and any right to receive an award for information provided thereunder, Executive’s right to file a charge with or participate in a charge by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or any other local, state, or federal administrative body or government agency that is authorized to enforce or administer laws related to employment, against the Company for discrimination (with the understanding that Executive’s release of claims herein bars Executive from recovering such monetary relief from the Company or any Releasee for any alleged discriminatory treatment), claims for unemployment compensation or any state disability insurance benefits pursuant to the terms of applicable state law, claims to continued participation in certain of the Company’s group benefit plans pursuant to the terms and conditions of COBRA, claims for indemnity under the bylaws of the Company, as provided for by Pennsylvania or Delaware law or under any applicable insurance policy with respect to Executive’s liability as an employee, director or officer of the Company, claims to any benefit entitlements vested as the date of separation of Executive’s employment, pursuant to written terms of any employee benefit plan of the Company or its affiliates and Executive’s right under applicable law and any Retained Claims. This release further does not release claims for breach of Section 1(c) or Section 4 of the Employment Agreement. This release does not prevent Executive from cooperating with an investigation conducted by any such governmental agencies, including without limitation the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB”). Nothing herein will prevent Executive from participating in an activity permitted by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act or from filing an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB.
3. Acknowledgment of Waiver of Claims under ADEA. Executive understands and acknowledges that Executive is waiving and releasing any rights Executive may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”), and that this waiver and release is knowing and voluntary. Executive understands and agrees that this waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise under the ADEA after the date Executive signs this Agreement. Executive understands and acknowledges that the consideration given for this waiver and release is in addition to anything of value to which Executive was already entitled. Executive further understands and acknowledges that Executive has been advised by this writing that: (a) Executive has the right to and should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (b) Executive has [twenty-one (21)] days within which to consider this Agreement, and the Parties agree that such time period to review this Agreement shall not be extended upon any material or immaterial changes to this Agreement; (c) Executive has seven (7) business days following Executive’s execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement pursuant to written notice to the General Counsel of the Company; (d) this Agreement shall not be effective until after the revocation period has expired without revocation; and (e) nothing in this Agreement prevents or precludes Executive from challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this waiver under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition precedent, penalties, or costs for doing so, unless specifically authorized by federal law. In the event Executive signs this Agreement and returns it to the Company in less than the [twenty-one (21)] day period identified above, Executive hereby acknowledges that Executive has freely and voluntarily chosen to waive the time period allotted for considering this Agreement. To revoke this Agreement, Executive must notify the Company in writing sent to the Chief Executive Officer of the
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Company, and such revocation must be received no later than the seventh (7th) business day after Executive signs this Agreement.
4. Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges his ongoing obligations under Section 5 of the Employment Agreement. Sections 5(e) and 5(f) of the Employment Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference and will apply to this Agreement as if set forth herein.
5. Severability. In the event that any provision or any portion of any provision hereof or any surviving agreement made a part hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be illegal, unenforceable, or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision or portion of provision.
6. No Oral Modification. This Agreement may only be amended in a writing signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company.
7. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 1(a), 1(c), and (h) of the Employment Agreement.
8. Effective Date. Executive has seven (7) business days after Executive signs this Agreement to revoke it and this Agreement will become effective on the day immediately following the seventh business day after Executive signed this Agreement (the “Effective Date”).
9. Voluntary Execution of Agreement. Executive understands and agrees that Executive executed this Agreement voluntarily, without any duress or undue influence on the part or behalf of the Company or any third party, with the full intent of releasing all of Executive’s claims against the Company and any of the other Releasees. Executive acknowledges that: (a) Executive has read this Agreement; (b) Executive has not relied upon any representations or statements made by the Company that are not specifically set forth in this Agreement; (c) Executive has been represented in the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of Executive’s own choice or has elected not to retain legal counsel; (d) Executive understands the terms and consequences of this Agreement and of the releases it contains; and (e) Executive is fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this Agreement.
10. Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, the Employment Agreement and the Restrictive Covenant Agreement are intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, including any prior employment offer letter or employment agreement, between Executive and the Company. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, the Employment Agreement and the Restrictive Covenant Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of such agreements.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the respective dates set forth below.
| EXECUTIVE |
Dated: |
Print Name: Jim DeTore |
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| CG ONCOLOGY, INC. |
Dated: |
By: Name: _________________________ Title: __________________________ |
EXHIBIT B
Restrictive covenant Agreement
[Attached]