As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2018

Registration No. 333-                  

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Canada
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

Aeterna Zentaris Inc.
315 Sigma Drive, Suite 302D

Summerville, SC 29483

(843) 900-3223

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

Michael V. Ward

President and Chief Executive Officer

Aeterna Zentaris Inc.
315 Sigma Drive, Suite 302D

Summerville, SC 29483

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(843) 900-3223

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer x
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  o

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of securities
to be registered

 

Amount to be
Registered(1)

 

Proposed maximum
offering price
per share (2)

 

Proposed maximum
aggregate offering
price (2)

 

Amount of
registration fee

 

Common Shares, without par or nominal value

 

999,050 shares

 

$

1.89

 

$

1,888,205

 

$

235.09

 

(1)                    Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminable number of additional common shares that may become issuable pursuant to terms designed to prevent dilution resulting from share splits, share dividends or similar events. In addition, all common shares of the Registrant carry rights to purchase additional common shares pursuant to the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement between the Registrant and Computershare Trust Company of Canada. Such purchase rights are attached to and trade with the common shares. Value attributable to such rights, if any, is reflected in the market price of the common shares.

(2)                    Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to the provisions of Rule 457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average high and low prices of the Registrant’s common shares reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market on May 7, 2018.

 

 

 



 

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered in accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”).  Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Commission.  These document(s) constitute (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement), a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the 1933 Act.

 

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents previously filed by the Registrant with the Commission are incorporated by reference into this registration statement:

 

(a)                        the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December 31, 2017 (filed in Canada with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities in lieu of an annual information form)filed with the Commission on March 28, 2018;

 

(b)                        the Registrant’s management information circular dated April 2, 2018 in connection with our annual meeting of shareholders held on May 8, 2018, included as Exhibit 99.1 to our Report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on April 9, 2018;

 

(c)                         the Registrant’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as at March 31, 2018 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 and Management’s Discussion and Analysis thereon, included as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, respectively, to our Report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on May 7, 2018;

 

(d)                        the description of the Registrant’s Common Shares contained in Item 10 of the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the Commission on March 28, 2018, including any amendment or report filed for the purposes of updating such description; and

 

(e)                         to the extent permitted by applicable securities law, any other documents which we elect to incorporate by reference into this registration statement.

 

All subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F filed by us and all subsequent reports on Form 6-K filed by us that are identified by us as being incorporated by reference shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement and shall be deemed to be a part hereof after the date of this registration statement but before the termination of the offering hereunder.

 

In addition, all documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement that indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or that deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents, provided, that any report on Form 6-K of the Registrant hereafter furnished to the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act shall be incorporated by reference into this registration statement only if and to the extent provided in such document.

 

Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes thereof to the extent that a statement contained therein or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superceded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

 

2



 

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

The registrant was incorporated under the laws of Canada and is subject to the Canada Business Corporations Act. Under Section 124 of the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Registrant may indemnify a present or former director or officer of the Registrant or another individual who acts or acted at the Registrant’s request as a director or officer, or an individual acting in a similar capacity, of another entity, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by the individual in respect of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding in which the individual is involved because of that association with the Registrant or other entity. The Registrant may not indemnify an individual unless the individual (i) acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Registrant or, as the case may be, to the best interests of the other entity for which the individual acted as director or officer or in a similar capacity at the Registrant’s request, and (ii) in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, had reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was lawful. Such indemnification may be made in connection with an action by or on behalf of the Registrant or other entity to procure a judgment in its favor only with court approval. A director or officer is entitled to indemnification from the Registrant as a matter of right if he or she was not judged by the Court or other competent authority to have committed any fault or omitted to do anything that he or she ought to have done and fulfilled the conditions set forth above. The Registrant may advance moneys to a director, officer or other individual for the costs, charges and expenses of a proceeding referred to above. The individual shall repay the moneys if he or she does not fulfill the conditions set forth above to qualify for indemnification.

 

In accordance with provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act described above, the by-laws of the Registrant provide that the Registrant shall indemnify a director or officer of the Registrant, a former director or officer of the Registrant or a person who acts or acted at the Registrant’s request as a director or officer of a body corporate of which the Registrant is or was a shareholder or creditor, and his or her heirs and legal representatives, against all costs, losses, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by such person in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which such person is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the Registrant or such body corporate, if: (a) the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Registrant and (b) in the case of criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, the person had reasonable grounds for believing that their conduct was lawful. The Registrant may indemnify from time to time any director or other person who has assumed or is about to assume in the normal course of business any liability for the Registrant or for any corporation controlled by the Registrant, and to secure such director or other person against any loss by the pledge of all or part of the movable or immovable property of the Registrant through the creation of a hypothec or any other real right in all or part of such property or in any other manner.

 

The by-laws of the Registrant also provide that the Registrant may, to the extent permitted by the Canada Business Corporations Act, purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person referred to above against any such liability as the board of directors may from time to time determine.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

3



 

Item 8.  Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

4.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on May 25, 2011).

 

 

 

4.2

 

Certificate of Amendment and Articles of Amendment of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on October 3, 2012).

 

 

 

4.3

 

Certificate of Amendment and Articles of Amendment of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on November 17, 2015).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Amended and Restated By-Law One adopted by the Registrant’s Board of Directors on March 21, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on March 22, 2013).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Second Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan of the Registrant adopted by the Registrant’s Board of Directors on March 20, 2014 and ratified by the Registrant’s shareholders on May 9, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on March 21, 2014).

 

 

 

4.6

 

Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement between the Registrant and Computershare Trust Company of Canada dated as at March 29, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on March 30, 2016).

 

 

 

4.7*

 

2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan of the Registrant.

 

 

 

5.1*

 

Opinion of Stikeman Elliott LLP.

 

 

 

23.1*

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

 

 

23.2*

 

Consent of Stikeman Elliott LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

24.1*

 

Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

 


* Filed herewith.

 

Item 9.  Undertakings.

 

(a)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)           To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement:

 

(i)            To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act;

 

(ii)           To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the

 

4



 

maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)          To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

 

(2)           That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)           To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)           Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

5



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

4.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on May 25, 2011).

 

 

 

4.2

 

Certificate of Amendment and Articles of Amendment of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on October 3, 2012).

 

 

 

4.3

 

Certificate of Amendment and Articles of Amendment of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on November 17, 2015).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Amended and Restated By-Law One adopted by the Registrant’s Board of Directors on March 21, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on March 22, 2013).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Second Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan of the Registrant adopted by the Registrant’s Board of Directors on March 20, 2014 and ratified by the Registrant’s shareholders on May 9, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on March 21, 2014).

 

 

 

4.6

 

Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement between the Registrant and Computershare Trust Company of Canada dated as at March 29, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on March 30, 2016).

 

 

 

4.7*

 

2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan of the Registrant.

 

 

 

5.1*

 

Opinion of Stikeman Elliott LLP.

 

 

 

23.1*

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

 

 

23.2*

 

Consent of Stikeman Elliott LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

24.1*

 

Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

 


* Filed herewith.

 

6



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Montreal, Province of Québec, Canada on May 8, 2018.

 

 

AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Michael V. Ward

 

 

Michael V. Ward

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael V. Ward and James Clavijo, either of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, in any and all such capacities, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and all instruments necessary or advisable in connection therewith, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned each and every act and thing whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

This Power of Attorney may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which taken together shall constitute one instrument.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 8, 2018.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

 

 

/s/Michael V. Ward

 

President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

Michael V. Ward

 

 

 

 

 

/s/James Clavijo

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

James Clavijo

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Carolyn Egbert

 

Chair of the Board of Directors

Carolyn Egbert

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Michael Cardiff

 

Director

Michael Cardiff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director

Juergen Ernst

 

 

 

7



 

/s/ Gérard Limoges

 

Director

Gérard Limoges

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Brent Norton

 

Director

Brent Norton

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Jonathan Pollack

 

Director

Jonathan Pollack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director

Robin Smith Hoke

 

 

 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act, the undersigned has signed this Registration Statement on Form S-8, solely in the capacity of the duly authorized representative of Aeterna Zentaris Inc. in the United States, on May 8, 2018.

 

 

AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Michael V. Ward

 

 

Michael V. Ward

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

8


Exhibit 4.7

 

AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.

 

2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.

Effective Date

1

 

 

 

2.

Purposes of the Plan

1

 

 

 

3.

Terminology

1

 

 

 

4.

Administration

1

 

(a)

Administration of the Plan

1

 

(b)

Powers of the Administrator

1

 

(c)

Delegation of Administrative Authority

3

 

(d)

Non-Uniform Determinations

3

 

(e)

Limited Liability; Advisors

3

 

(f)

Indemnification

3

 

(g)

Effect of Administrator’s Decision

3

 

 

 

5.

Shares Issuable Pursuant to Awards

3

 

(a)

Share Pool

4

 

(b)

Source of Shares

4

 

(c)

Independent Directors

4

 

(d)

Exchange Limits

4

 

 

 

6.

Participation

4

 

 

 

7.

Awards

4

 

(a)

Awards, In General

4

 

(b)

Minimum Vesting/Restriction Period

5

 

(c)

Stock Options

5

 

(d)

Limitation on Reload Options

6

 

(e)

Stock Appreciation Rights

7

 

(f)

Repricing

7

 

(g)

Stock Awards

8

 

(h)

Stock Units

9

 

(i)

Performance Shares and Performance Units

10

 

(j)

Other Stock-Based Awards

10

 

(k)

Awards to Participants Outside the United States

11

 

(l)

Limitation on Dividend Reinvestment and Dividend Equivalents

11

 

 

 

8.

Withholding of Taxes

11

 

 

 

9.

Transferability of Awards

11

 

(a)

General Nontransferability Absent Administrator Permission

11

 

(b)

Administrator Discretion to Permit Transfers Other Than For Value

12

 

 

 

10.

Adjustments for Corporate Transactions and Other Events

12

 

(a)

Mandatory Adjustments

12

 

(b)

Discretionary Adjustments

13

 

(c)

Adjustments to Performance Goals

13

 

(d)

Statutory Requirements Affecting Adjustments

13

 

(e)

Dissolution or Liquidation

13

 

 

 

11.

Change in Control Provisions

14

 

(a)

Termination of Awards

14

 

(b)

Continuation, Assumption or Substitution of Awards

14

 

(c)

Other Permitted Actions

15

 

(d)

Application of Section 409A

15

 

 

 

12.

Substitution of Awards in Mergers and Acquisitions

15

 

 

 

13.

Compliance with Securities Laws; Listing and Registration

15

 

i



 

14.

Section 409A Compliance

16

 

 

 

15.

Plan Duration; Amendment and Discontinuance

17

 

(a)

Plan Duration

17

 

(b)

Amendment and Discontinuance of the Plan

17

 

(c)

Amendment of Awards

17

 

 

 

16.

General Provisions

17

 

(a)

Non-Guarantee of Employment or Service

17

 

(b)

No Trust or Fund Created

18

 

(c)

Status of Awards

18

 

(d)

Subsidiary Employees

18

 

(e)

Governing Law and Interpretation

18

 

(f)

Use of English Language

18

 

(g)

Recovery of Amounts Paid

18

 

 

 

17.

Glossary

19

 

ii



 

1.                                       Effective Date.

 

AETERNA ZENTARIS INC., a company formed under the Canada Business Corporations Act (“ Aeterna ”), has established the AETERNA ZENTARIS INC. 2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN, as set forth herein, and as the same may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”). The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of Aeterna (the “ Board ”) on March 27, 2018 (the “ Effective Date ”).

 

2.                                       Purposes of the Plan.

 

The Plan is designed to:

 

(a)          promote the long-term financial interests and growth of Aeterna and its Subsidiaries (together, the “ Company ”) by attracting and retaining management and other personnel and key service providers with the training, experience and ability to enable them to make a substantial contribution to the success of the Company’s business;

 

(b)          motivate management personnel by means of growth-related incentives to achieve long-range goals; and

 

(c)           further the alignment of interests of Participants with those of the shareholders of Aeterna through opportunities for increased stock or stock-based ownership in Aeterna.

 

Toward these objectives, the Administrator may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, stock units, performance shares, performance units, and other stock-based awards to eligible individuals on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan.

 

3.                                       Terminology.

 

Except as otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, capitalized words and phrases used in the Plan or an Award Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the glossary at Section 17 of the Plan or as defined the first place such word or phrase appears in the Plan.

 

4.                                       Administration.

 

(a)            Administration of the Plan.   The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.

 

(b)                                  Powers of the Administrator.   The Administrator shall, except as otherwise provided under the Plan, have plenary authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to grant Awards pursuant to the terms of the Plan to Eligible Individuals and to take all other actions necessary or desirable to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan. Among other things, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and in accordance with the provisions of the Award Agreement to:

 

(i)         determine the Eligible Individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted;

 

(ii)        determine the types of Awards to be granted any Eligible Individual;

 

(iii)       determine the number of Common Shares to be covered by or used for reference  purposes for each Award or the value to be transferred pursuant to any Award;

 

(iv)                     determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (A) the purchase price of any Common Shares, (B) the method of

 



 

payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (C) the method for satisfying any Tax Withholding Obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of Common Shares, (D) subject to Section 7(b), the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability, vesting or payout of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (E) the Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (F) the time of the expiration of any Award, (G) the effect of the Participant’s Termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (H) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto as the Administrator shall consider to be appropriate and not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;

 

(v)                        modify, amend or adjust the terms and conditions of any Award;

 

(vi)                     subject to Section 7(b), accelerate or otherwise change the time at or during which an Award may be exercised or becomes payable and waive or accelerate the lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction, condition or risk of forfeiture with respect to such Award; provided, however, that, except in connection with death, Disability or a Change in Control, no such change, waiver or acceleration shall be made to any Award that is considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code if the effect of such action is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code;

 

(vii)                  for any purpose, including but not limited to, qualifying for preferred or beneficial tax treatment, accommodating the customs or administrative challenges or otherwise complying with the tax, accounting or regulatory requirements of one or more jurisdictions, adopt, amend, modify, administer or terminate sub-plans, appendices, special provisions or supplements applicable to Awards regulated by the laws of a particular jurisdiction, which sub-plans, appendices, supplements and special provisions may take precedence over other provisions of the Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to such sub-plans, supplements and special provisions;

 

(viii)               subject to 7(c)(iii), establish any “blackout” period, during which transactions affecting Awards may not be effectuated, that the Administrator in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable;

 

(ix)                     determine the Fair Market Value of Common Shares or other property for any purpose under the Plan or any Award;

 

(x)                        administer, construe and interpret the Plan, Award Agreements and all other documents relevant to the Plan and Awards issued thereunder, and decide all other matters to be determined in connection with an Award;

 

(xi)                     establish, amend, rescind and interpret such administrative rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines, instruments and practices for the administration of the Plan and for the conduct of its business as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable;

 

(xii)                  correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent the Administrator shall consider it desirable to carry it into effect; and

 

(xiii)               specify that vesting conditions in respect of Awards shall not extend beyond applicable limitations such that the Award complies at all times with the exception

 

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in paragraph (k) of the definition of “salary deferral arrangement” in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) or comparable legislation of any jurisdiction; and

 

(xiv)    otherwise administer the Plan and all Awards granted under the Plan.

 

(c)                                   Delegation of Administrative Authority . The Administrator may designate officers or employees of the Company to assist the Administrator in the administration of the Plan and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and Exchange rules, the Administrator may delegate to officers or other employees of the Company the Administrator’s duties and powers under the Plan, subject to such conditions and limitations as the Administrator shall prescribe, including without limitation the authority to execute agreements or other documents on behalf of the Administrator; provided, however, that such delegation of authority shall not extend to the granting of, or exercise of discretion with respect to, Awards to Eligible Individuals who are officers under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(d)                                  Non-Uniform Determinations. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan (including without limitation, determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, amount and timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards and the Award Agreements evidencing such Awards, and the ramifications of a Change in Control upon outstanding Awards) need not be uniform and may be made by the Administrator selectively among Awards or persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.

 

(e)                                   Limited Liability; Advisors.   To the maximum extent permitted by law, no member of the Administrator shall be liable for any action taken or decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder. The Administrator may employ counsel, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Administrator, Aeterna, and the officers and directors of Aeterna shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons.

 

(f)                                     Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by law, by Aeterna’s Articles and By-Laws, and by any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time, the members of the Administrator and any agent or delegate of the Administrator who is a director, officer or employee of Aeterna or an Affiliate shall be indemnified by Aeterna against any and all liabilities and expenses to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or failure to act with respect to their duties on behalf of the Plan.

 

(g)                                  Effect of Administrator’s Decision. All actions taken and determinations made by the Administrator on all matters relating to the Plan or any Award pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Administrator’s sole and absolute discretion, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan, including, without limitation, any determination involving the appropriateness or equitableness of any action. All determinations made by the Administrator shall be conclusive, final and binding on all parties concerned, including Aeterna, its shareholders, any Participants and any other employee, consultant, or director of Aeterna and its Affiliates, and their respective successors in interest. No member of the Administrator, nor any director, officer, employee or representative of Aeterna shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or Awards.

 

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5.                                       Shares Issuable Pursuant to Awards.

 

(a)                                  Share Pool . The number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to Awards that may be granted under this Plan (the “ Share Pool ”) shall not exceed eleven point four percent (11.4%) of the total number of issued and outstanding Common Shares at any given time less the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to stock options granted at such time under the 2016 Stock Option Plan.  Subject to Section 5(c), no one Eligible Individual shall hold options (whether under this Plan or under any other Security-Based Compensation Arrangement) to purchase more than five percent (5%) of the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding from time to time.

 

(b)                                  Source of Shares. The Common Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan shall be shares authorized for issuance under Aeterna’s Articles and By-laws but unissued, or issued and reacquired, including without limitation shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions.

 

(c)                                   Independent Directors . The aggregate fair value of options granted under all Security-Based Compensation Arrangements to any one non-employee, independent director of Aeterna entitled to receive a benefit under the Plan, within any one-year period, cannot exceed US$100,000 valued on a Black-Scholes basis and as determined by the Administrator; and the aggregate number of securities issuable to all non-employee, independent directors of Aeterna entitled to receive a benefit under the Plan, within any one-year period, under all Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, cannot exceed one percent (1%) of its issued and outstanding securities.

 

(d)            Exchange Limits.

 

(i)              No one Participant shall be granted Awards which exceed, in aggregate, the maximum number permitted by any Exchange.

 

(ii)           The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Awards under the Plan and all other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements are subject to the following additional limitations:

 

(A)                                in the aggregate, no more than 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (on a non-diluted basis) may be reserved at any time for insiders (as defined in the Securities Act (Ontario)) and includes an associate and Affiliate, as defined in the Securities Act (Ontario) (“ Insider(s) ”) under the Plan, together with all other security based compensation arrangements of the Company; and

 

(B)                                the number of securities of the Company issued to Insiders, within any one year period, under all security based compensation arrangements, cannot exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

 

6.                                       Participation.

 

Participation in the Plan shall be open to all Eligible Individuals, as may be selected by the Administrator from time to time. The Administrator may also grant Awards to Eligible Individuals in connection with hiring, recruiting or otherwise, prior to the date the individual first performs services for Aeterna or a Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Awards shall not become vested or exercisable, and no shares shall be issued to such individual, prior to the date the individual first commences performance of such services.

 

7.                                       Awards.

 

(a)                                  Awards, In General. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall establish the terms of all Awards granted under the Plan consistent with the terms of the Plan. Awards may be granted individually

 

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or in tandem with other types of Awards, concurrently with or with respect to outstanding Awards. All Awards are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and as provided in the Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant receiving such Award upon, or as promptly as is reasonably practicable following, the grant of such Award. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, or otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, an Award shall not be effective unless the Award Agreement is signed or otherwise accepted by Aeterna and the Participant receiving the Award (including by electronic delivery and/or electronic signature). Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, any failure by the Participant to sign and return the Award Agreement within such period of time following the granting of the Award as the Administrator shall prescribe shall cause such Award to the Participant to be null and void. The Administrator may direct that any stock certificate evidencing shares issued pursuant to the Plan shall bear a legend setting forth such restrictions on transferability as may apply to such shares pursuant to the Plan.

 

(b)                                  Minimum Vesting/Restriction Period . Except as provided below or within any Award Agreement and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary (but subject to Section 11 of the Plan), each Award granted under the Plan (other than a Performance Unit that cannot be paid in Common Shares) will be subject to a minimum vesting period or minimum Restriction Period as follows: (i) beginning on the Effective Date, each stock option and stock appreciation right granted under the Plan shall be subject to a minimum vesting period of 12 months from the date of grant, (ii) each Full Value Award granted under the Plan to a non-employee director shall be subject to a minimum Restriction Period of 12 months from the date of grant, and (iii) each Full Value Award granted under the Plan to an Eligible Individual who is not a non-employee director shall be subject to (A) a minimum Restriction Period of 12 months from the date of grant if vesting of or lapse of restrictions on such Award is based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals and (B) a minimum Restriction Period of 36 months from the date of grant, applied in either pro rata installments or a single installment, if vesting of or lapse of restrictions on such Award is based solely on the Participant’s satisfaction of specified service requirements with the Company (provided that no portion of the Full Value Award shall vest or have its restrictions lapse during the first 12 months following the date of grant). If the grant of a Performance Award is conditioned on satisfaction of Performance Goals, the Performance Period shall not be less than 12 months’ duration, but no additional minimum Restriction Period need apply to such Award. The minimum vesting period or minimum Restriction Period shall not apply in the case of death or Disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Awards that result in the issuance of an aggregate of up to 5% of the Share Pool as set forth in Section 5(a) may be granted without regard to such minimum vesting period or minimum Restriction Period.

 

(c)                                   Stock Options.

 

(i)                            Grants.   A stock option means a right to purchase a specified number of Common Shares from Aeterna at a specified price during a specified period of time. The Administrator may from time to time grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Options; provided, however, that Awards of Incentive Stock Options shall be limited to employees of Aeterna or of any current or hereafter existing “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation,” as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code, respectively, of Aeterna, and any other Eligible Individuals who are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. No stock option shall be an Incentive Stock Option unless so designated by the Administrator at the time of grant or in the applicable Award Agreement.  No Incentive Stock Option will be exercised or otherwise paid hereunder until this Plan has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Common Shares represented in person or by proxy at a meeting at which approval of this Plan is considered; and provided further, no Incentive Stock Option may be granted under this Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.  With respect to Incentive Stock Options, all such interpretations, rules, determinations, terms, and conditions shall

 

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be made and prescribed in the context of preserving the tax status of the Incentive Stock Options as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. The Award Agreement for an Incentive Stock Option shall contain such limitations and restrictions upon the exercise of the Stock Option as shall be necessary in order that such Stock Option constitutes an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.  Further, the Award Agreements authorized under the Plan shall be subject to such other terms and conditions including, without limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of the Stock Option, as the Administrator shall deem advisable and which, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, are not inconsistent with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(ii)                         Exercise.   Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), stock options shall be exercisable, by cash purchase or any other method approved by the Administrator, at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that Awards of stock options may not have a term in excess of ten years’ duration unless required otherwise by applicable law. The exercise price per share subject to a stock option granted under the Plan shall not be less than the Fair Market Value (or 110% of Fair Market Value if applicable in the case of certain Incentive Stock Options) of one Common Share on the date of grant of the stock option. Should the expiry date of a stock option fall within a period during which the relevant Participant is prohibited from exercising a Nonqualified Option due to trading restrictions imposed by the Company pursuant to any policy of the Company respecting restrictions on trading that is in effect at that time (a “ blackout period ”) or within nine Business Days following the expiration of a blackout period, such expiry date of the Nonqualified Option shall be automatically extended without any further act or formality to that date which is the tenth Business Day after the end of the blackout period, such tenth Business Day to be considered the expiry date for such Nonqualified Option for all purposes under the Plan. The ten Business Day period referred to in this paragraph may not be extended by the Board. The Fair Market Value of the Common Shares (determined at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted) as to which Incentive Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any single calendar year (under the Plan and under any other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements) shall not exceed $100,000.

 

(iii)                      Termination of Service.   Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Administrator, to the extent stock options are not vested and exercisable, a Participant’s stock options shall be forfeited upon his or her Termination of Service provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), the Administrator may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that vesting or forfeiture conditions relating to stock options will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Administrator may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of stock options.

 

(iv)                     Additional Terms and Conditions.   The Administrator may, by way of the Award Agreement or otherwise, determine such other terms, conditions, restrictions, and/or limitations, if any, of any Award of stock options, provided they are not inconsistent with Section 7(b) or any other section of the Plan.

 

(d)                                  Limitation on Reload Options.   The Administrator shall not grant stock options under the Plan that contain a reload or replenishment feature pursuant to which a new stock option would be granted automatically upon receipt of delivery of Common Shares to Aeterna in payment of the exercise price or any Tax Withholding Obligation under any other stock option.

 

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(e)                                   Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(i)                          Grants.   The Administrator may from time to time grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of stock appreciation rights. A stock appreciation right entitles the Participant to receive, subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Award Agreement, a payment having an aggregate value equal to the product of (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one Common Share over (B) the base price per share specified in the Award Agreement, times (ii) the number of shares specified by the stock appreciation right, or portion thereof, which is exercised. The base price per share specified in the Award Agreement shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

 

(ii)                       Exercise.   Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), stock appreciation rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that stock appreciation rights granted under the Plan may not have a term in excess of ten years’ duration unless required otherwise by applicable law. The applicable Award Agreement shall specify whether payment by Aeterna of the amount receivable upon any exercise of a stock appreciation right is to be made in cash or Common Shares or a combination of both, or shall reserve to the Administrator or the Participant the right to make that determination prior to or upon the exercise of the stock appreciation right. If upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right a Participant is to receive a portion of such payment in Common Shares, the number of shares shall be determined by dividing such portion by the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the exercise date. No fractional shares shall be used for such payment and the Administrator shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated.

 

(iii)                    Termination of Service.   Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Administrator, to the extent stock appreciation rights are not vested and exercisable, a Participant’s stock appreciation rights shall be forfeited upon his or her Termination of Service; provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), the Administrator may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that vesting or forfeiture conditions relating to stock appreciation rights will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Administrator may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of stock appreciation rights.

 

(iv)                   Additional Terms and Conditions.   The Administrator may, by way of the Award Agreement or otherwise, determine such other terms, conditions, restrictions, and/or limitations, if any, of any Award of stock appreciation rights, provided they are not inconsistent with Section 7(b) or any other section of the Plan.

 

(f)                                     Repricing .   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except in connection with a corporate transaction involving Aeterna (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of options and stock appreciation rights granted under the Plan may not be amended, after the date of grant, to reduce the exercise price of such options or stock appreciation rights, nor may outstanding options or stock appreciation rights be canceled in exchange for (i) cash, (ii) options or stock appreciation rights with an exercise price or base price that is less than the exercise price or base price of the original outstanding options or stock appreciation rights, or (iii) other Awards, unless such action is approved by Aeterna’s shareholders.

 

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(g)                                  Stock Awards.

 

(i)                          Grants. The Administrator may from time to time grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of unrestricted Common Shares or Restricted Stock (collectively, “ Stock Awards ”) on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by law, as the Administrator shall determine, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b). Stock Awards shall be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator may deem appropriate, including via book-entry registration.

 

(ii)                       Vesting.   Restricted Stock shall be subject to such vesting, restrictions on transferability and other restrictions, if any, and/or risk of forfeiture as the Administrator may impose at the date of grant or thereafter. The Restriction Period to which such vesting, restrictions and/or risk of forfeiture apply may lapse under such circumstances, including without limitation upon the attainment of Performance Goals, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Administrator may determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period, the Participant shall not be permitted to vote, sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber shares of Restricted Stock.

 

(iii)                    Rights of a Shareholder; Dividends.   Except to the extent restricted under the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder of Common Shares including, without limitation, the right to vote Restricted Stock upon the expiry of the Restriction Period. Subject to shareholder approval, cash dividends declared payable on Common Shares shall be paid, with respect to outstanding Restricted Stock, either as soon as practicable following the dividend payment date or deferred for payment to such later date as determined by the Administrator, and shall be paid in cash or as unrestricted Common Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends or may be reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock as determined by the Administrator. Stock distributed in connection with a stock split or stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Common Shares or other property has been distributed. As soon as is practicable following the date on which restrictions on any shares of Restricted Stock lapse, Aeterna shall deliver to the Participant the certificates for such shares or shall cause the shares to be registered in the Participant’s name in book-entry form, in either case with the restrictions removed, provided that the Participant shall have complied with all conditions for delivery of such shares contained in the Award Agreement or otherwise reasonably required by Aeterna.

 

(iv)                   Termination of Service.   Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon Termination of Service during the applicable Restriction Period, Restricted Stock and any accrued but unpaid dividends that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), the Administrator may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Administrator may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.

 

(v)                      Additional Terms and Conditions.   The Administrator may, by way of the Award Agreement or otherwise, determine such other terms, conditions, restrictions,

 

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and/or limitations, if any, of any Award of Restricted Stock, provided they are not inconsistent with Section 7(b) or any other section of the Plan.

 

(h)                                  Stock Units.

 

(i)                          Grants.   The Administrator may from time to time grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of unrestricted stock Units or Restricted Stock Units on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by law, as the Administrator shall determine, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b). Restricted Stock Units represent a contractual obligation by Aeterna to deliver a number of Common Shares, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares subject to the Award, or a combination of Common Shares and cash, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement.

 

(ii)                       Vesting and Payment.   Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such vesting, risk of forfeiture and/or payment provisions as the Administrator may impose at the date of grant. The Restriction Period to which such vesting and/or risk of forfeiture apply may lapse under such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Administrator may determine. Common Shares, cash or a combination of Common Shares and cash, as applicable, payable in settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall be delivered to the Participant as soon as administratively practicable, but no later than 30 days, after the date on which payment is due under the terms of the Award Agreement provided that the Participant shall have complied with all conditions for delivery of such shares or payment contained in the Award Agreement or otherwise reasonably required by Aeterna, or in accordance with an election of the Participant, if the Administrator so permits, that meets the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(iii)                    No Rights of a Shareholder; Dividend Equivalents.   Until Common Shares are issued to the Participant in settlement of stock Units, the Participant shall not have any rights of a shareholder of Aeterna with respect to the stock Units or the shares issuable thereunder. The Administrator may grant to the Participant the right to receive Dividend Equivalents on stock Units, on a current, reinvested and/or restricted basis, subject to such terms as the Administrator may determine provided, however, that Dividend Equivalents payable on stock Units that are granted as a Performance Award shall, rather than be paid on a current basis, be accrued and made subject to forfeiture at least until achievement of the applicable Performance Goal related to such stock Units.

 

(iv)                   Termination of Service.   Upon Termination of Service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply, or upon failure to satisfy any other conditions precedent to the delivery of Common Shares or cash to which such Restricted Stock Units relate, all Restricted Stock Units and any accrued but unpaid Dividend Equivalents with respect to such Restricted Stock Units that are then subject to deferral or restriction shall be forfeited; provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), the Administrator may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock Units will be waived in whole or in part in the event of termination resulting from specified causes, and the Administrator may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock Units.

 

(v)                      Additional Terms and Conditions.   The Administrator may, by way of the Award Agreement or otherwise, determine such other terms, conditions, restrictions,

 

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and/or limitations, if any, of any Award of stock Units, provided they are not inconsistent with Section 7(b) or any other section of the Plan.

 

(i)                                     Performance Shares and Performance Units.

 

(i)                          Grants.   The Administrator may from time to time grant to Eligible Individuals Awards in the form of Performance Shares and Performance Units. Performance Shares, shall refer to Common Shares or Units that are expressed in terms of Common Shares. Performance Units, shall refer to dollar-denominated Units valued by reference to designated criteria established by the Administrator, other than Common Shares. The applicable Award Agreement shall specify whether Performance Shares and Performance Units will be settled or paid in cash or Common Shares or a combination of both, or shall reserve to the Administrator or the Participant the right to make that determination prior to or at the payment or settlement date.

 

(ii)                       Performance Criteria.   The Administrator shall, prior to or at the time of grant, condition the grant, vesting or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units upon (A) the attainment of Performance Goals during a Performance Period or (B) the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the Participant. The length of the Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained shall be conclusively determined by the Administrator in the exercise of its absolute discretion. Performance Goals may include minimum, maximum and target levels of performance, with the size of the Award or payout of Performance Shares or Performance Units or the vesting or lapse of restrictions with respect thereto based on the level attained. An Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units shall be settled as and when the Award vests or at a later time specified in the Award Agreement or in accordance with an election of the Participant, if the Administrator so permits, that meets the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(iii)                    Termination of Service.   Upon Termination of Service during the applicable period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply, or upon failure to satisfy any other conditions precedent to the delivery of Common Shares or cash to which such Performance Shares or Performance Units relate, all Performance Shares or Performance Units that are then subject to restriction shall be forfeited; provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(b), the Administrator may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Performance Shares or Performance Units will be waived in whole or in part in the event of termination resulting from specified causes, and the Administrator may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

 

(iv)                   Additional Terms and Conditions.   The Administrator may, by way of the Award Agreement or otherwise, determine such other terms, conditions, restrictions, and/or limitations, if any, of any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units, provided they are not inconsistent with the Plan.

 

(j)                                     Other Stock-Based Awards.   The Administrator may from time to time grant to Eligible Individuals Awards in the form of Other Stock-Based Awards. Other Stock-Based Awards in the form of Dividend Equivalents may be (A) awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award other than a stock option or stock appreciation right, (B) paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, including the reinvestment

 

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of such credited amounts in Common Shares equivalents, to be paid on a deferred basis, and (C) settled in cash or Common Shares as determined by the Administrator; provided , however , that Dividend Equivalents payable on Other Stock-Based Awards that are granted as a Performance Award shall, rather than be paid on a current basis, be accrued and made subject to forfeiture at least until achievement of the applicable Performance Goal related to such Other Stock-Based Awards. Any such settlements, and any such crediting of Dividend Equivalents, may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Administrator shall establish.

 

(k)                                   Awards to Participants Outside the United States.  The Administrator may grant Awards to Eligible Individuals who are foreign nationals, who are located outside the United States or who are not compensated from a payroll maintained in the United States, or who are otherwise subject to (or could cause Aeterna or a Subsidiary to be subject to) tax, legal or regulatory provisions of countries or jurisdictions outside the United States, on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable in order that any such Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the country or jurisdiction in which the Participant is then resident or primarily employed or to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan.

 

(l)                                     Limitation on Dividend Reinvestment and Dividend Equivalents.   Reinvestment of dividends in additional Restricted Stock at the time of any dividend payment, and the payment of Common Shares with respect to dividends to Participants holding Awards of stock Units, shall only be permissible if sufficient shares are available under the Share Pool for such reinvestment or payment (taking into account then outstanding Awards). In the event that sufficient shares are not available under the Share Pool for such reinvestment or payment, such reinvestment or payment shall be made in the form of a grant of stock Units equal in number to the Common Shares that would have been obtained by such payment or reinvestment, the terms of which stock Units shall provide for settlement in cash and for Dividend Equivalent reinvestment in further stock Units on the terms contemplated by this Section 7(l).

 

8.                                       Withholding of Taxes.

 

Participants and holders of Awards shall pay to Aeterna or its Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any Tax Withholding Obligation in respect of Awards granted under the Plan no later than the date of the event creating the tax or social insurance contribution liability. The obligations of Aeterna under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, and subject always to applicable law, Tax Withholding Obligations may be settled in whole or in part with Common Shares, including unrestricted outstanding shares surrendered to Aeterna and unrestricted shares that are part of the Award that gives rise to the Tax Withholding Obligation, having a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or withholding equal to the statutory minimum amount (and not any greater amount) required to be withheld for tax or social insurance contribution purposes, all in accordance with such procedures as the Administrator establishes. Aeterna or its Affiliate may deduct, to the extent permitted by law, any such Tax Withholding Obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant or holder of an Award.

 

9.                                       Transferability of Awards.

 

(a)                                  General Nontransferability Absent Administrator Permission.   Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, and in any event in the case of an Incentive Stock Option or a tandem stock appreciation right granted with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, no Award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or in accordance with the applicable laws of estates and succession. The Administrator shall not permit any transfer of an Award for value. An Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant or, during the

 

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period the Participant is under a legal disability, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. Awards granted under the Plan shall not be subject in any manner to alienation, anticipation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, or encumbrance, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that the restrictions in this sentence shall not apply to the Common Shares received in connection with an Award after the date that the restrictions on transferability of such shares set forth in the applicable Award Agreement have lapsed. Nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted or construed as overriding the terms of any Aeterna stock ownership or retention policy, now or hereafter existing, that may apply to the Participant or Common Shares received under an Award.

 

(b)                                        Administrator Discretion to Permit Transfers Other Than For Value.   Except as otherwise restricted by applicable law, the Administrator may, but need not, permit an Award, other than an Incentive Stock Option or a tandem stock appreciation right granted with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, to be transferred to a Participant’s Family Member (as defined below) as a gift or pursuant to a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights. The Administrator shall not permit any transfer of an Award for value. For purposes of this Section 9, “ Family Member ” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests. The following transactions are not prohibited transfers for value: (i) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; and (ii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Participant) in exchange for an interest in that entity.

 

10.                                Adjustments for Corporate Transactions and Other Events.

 

(a)                                  Mandatory Adjustments.   In the event of a merger, consolidation, stock rights offering, statutory share exchange or similar event affecting Aeterna (each, a “ Corporate Event ”) or a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, separation, spinoff, reorganization, extraordinary dividend of cash or other property, share combination or subdivision, or recapitalization or similar event affecting the capital structure of Aeterna (each, a “ Share Change ”) that occurs at any time after adoption of the Plan by the Board (including any such Corporate Event or Share Change that occurs after such adoption and coincident with or prior to the Effective Date), the Administrator shall, with the approval of any Exchange (if required), make equitable and appropriate substitutions or proportionate adjustments to (i) the aggregate number and kind of Common Shares or other securities on which Awards under the Plan may be granted to Eligible Individuals, (ii) the maximum number of Common Shares or other securities with respect to which Awards may be granted during any one calendar year to any individual, (iii) the maximum number of Common Shares or other securities that may be issued with respect to Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan, (iv) the number of Common Shares or other securities covered by each outstanding Award and the exercise price, base price or other price per share, if any, and other relevant terms of each outstanding Award, and (v) all other numerical limitations relating to Awards, whether contained in the Plan or in Award Agreements; provided , however , that any fractional shares resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated; and, provided further, that in no event shall the exercise price per Common Share of a stock option or stock appreciation right, or subscription price per Common Share or any other Award, be reduced to an amount that is lower than the par value of a Common Share.

 

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(b)                                  Discretionary Adjustments.   In the case of Corporate Events, the Administrator may, with the approval of any Exchange (if required), make such other adjustments to outstanding Awards as it determines to be appropriate and desirable, which adjustments may include, without limitation, (i) the cancellation of outstanding Awards in exchange for payments of cash, securities or other property or a combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the value of such Awards, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion (it being understood that in the case of a Corporate Event with respect to which shareholders of Aeterna receive consideration other than publicly traded equity securities of the ultimate surviving entity, any such determination by the Administrator that the value of a stock option or stock appreciation right shall for this purpose be deemed to equal the excess, if any, of the value of the consideration being paid for each Common Share pursuant to such Corporate Event over the exercise price or base price of such stock option or stock appreciation right shall conclusively be deemed valid and that any stock option or stock appreciation right may be cancelled for no consideration upon a Corporate Event if its exercise price or base price equals or exceeds the value of the consideration being paid for each Common Share pursuant to such Corporate Event), (ii) the substitution of securities or other property (including, without limitation, cash or other securities of Aeterna and securities of entities other than Aeterna) for the Common Shares subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the substitution of equivalent awards, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator, of the surviving or successor entity or a parent thereof (“ Substitute Awards ”).

 

(c)                                   Adjustments to Performance Goals.  The Administrator may, in its discretion, adjust the Performance Goals applicable to any Awards to reflect any unusual or non-recurring events and other extraordinary items, impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations and the cumulative effects of accounting or tax changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles or as identified in Aeterna’s consolidated financial statements, notes to the consolidated financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or other Aeterna filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  If the Administrator determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of Aeterna or the applicable subsidiary, business segment or other operational unit of Aeterna or any such entity or segment, or the manner in which any of the foregoing conducts its business, or other events or circumstances, render the Performance Goals to be unsuitable, the Administrator may modify such Performance Goals or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Administrator deems appropriate and equitable.

 

(d)                                  Statutory Requirements Affecting Adjustments.  Notwithstanding the foregoing: (A) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 10 to Awards that are considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; (B) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 10 to Awards that are not considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that after such adjustment, the Awards either (1) continue not to be subject to Section 409A of the Code or (2) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; (C) in any event, the Administrator shall not have the authority to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 10 to the extent the existence of such authority would cause an Award that is not intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code at the date of grant to be subject thereto; and (D) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 10 to Awards that are Incentive Stock Options shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code.

 

(e)                                   Dissolution or Liquidation.   Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, all Awards outstanding under the Plan shall terminate upon the dissolution or liquidation of Aeterna.

 

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11.                                Change in Control Provisions.

 

(a)                                  Termination of Awards .   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11(b), in the event that any transaction resulting in a Change in Control occurs, outstanding Awards will terminate upon the effective time of such Change in Control unless provision is made in connection with the transaction for the continuation or assumption of such Awards by, or for the issuance therefor of Substitute Awards of, the surviving or successor entity or a parent thereof. Solely with respect to Awards that will terminate as a result of the immediately preceding sentence and except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement:

 

(i)                          the outstanding Awards of stock options and stock appreciation rights that will terminate upon the effective time of the Change in Control shall, immediately before the effective time of the Change in Control, become fully exercisable and the holders of such Awards will be permitted, immediately before the Change in Control, to exercise the Awards;

 

(ii)                       the outstanding shares of Restricted Stock the vesting or restrictions on which are then solely time-based and not subject to achievement of Performance Goals shall, immediately before the effective time of the Change in Control, become fully vested, free of all transfer and lapse restrictions and free of all risks of forfeiture;

 

(iii)                    the outstanding shares of Restricted Stock the vesting or restrictions on which are then subject to and pending achievement of Performance Goals shall, immediately before the effective time of the Change in Control and unless the Award Agreement provides for vesting or lapsing of restrictions in a greater amount upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, become vested, free of transfer and lapse restrictions and risks of forfeiture in such amounts as if the applicable Performance Goals for the unexpired Performance Period had been achieved at the target level set forth in the applicable Award Agreement;

 

(iv)                   the outstanding Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units the vesting, earning or settlement of which is then solely time-based and not subject to or pending achievement of Performance Goals shall, immediately before the effective time of the Change in Control, become fully earned and vested and shall be settled in cash or Common Shares (consistent with the terms of the Award Agreement after taking into account the effect of the Change in Control transaction on the shares) as promptly as is practicable, subject to any applicable limitations imposed thereon by Section 409A of the Code; and

 

(v)                      the outstanding Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units the vesting, earning or settlement of which is then subject to and pending achievement of Performance Goals shall, immediately before the effective time of the Change in Control and unless the Award Agreement provides for vesting, earning or settlement in a greater amount upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, become vested and earned in such amounts as if the applicable Performance Goals for the unexpired Performance Period had been achieved at the target level set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and shall be settled in cash or Common Shares (consistent with the terms of the Award Agreement after taking into account the effect of the Change in Control transaction on the shares) as promptly as is practicable, subject to any applicable limitations imposed thereon by Section 409A of the Code.

 

Implementation of the provisions of this Section 11(a) shall be conditioned upon consummation of the Change in Control.

 

(b)                                        Continuation, Assumption or Substitution of Awards.   The administrator may specify, on or after the date of grant, in an award agreement or amendment thereto, the

 

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consequences of a Participant’s Termination of Service that occurs coincident with or following the occurrence of a Change in Control, if a Change in Control occurs under which provision is made in connection with the transaction for the continuation or assumption of outstanding Awards by, or for the issuance therefor of Substitute Awards of, the surviving or successor entity or a parent thereof.

 

(c)                                   Other Permitted Actions.   In the event that any transaction resulting in a Change in Control occurs, the Administrator may take any of the actions set forth in Section 10 with respect to any or all Awards granted under the Plan.

 

(d)                                  Application of Section 409A .   Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Award constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, this Section 11 shall apply to such Award only to the extent that its application would not result in the imposition of any tax or interest or the inclusion of any amount in income under Section 409A of the Code.

 

12.                                Substitution of Awards in Mergers and Acquisitions.

 

Awards may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for assumed awards held by employees, officers, consultants or directors of entities who become employees, officers, consultants or directors of Aeterna or a Subsidiary as the result of a merger or consolidation of the entity for which they perform services with Aeterna or a Subsidiary, or the acquisition by Aeterna of the assets or stock of the such entity. The terms and conditions of any Awards so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth herein to the extent that the Administrator deems appropriate at the time of grant to conform the Awards to the provisions of the assumed awards for which they are substituted and to preserve their intrinsic value as of the date of the merger, consolidation or acquisition transaction. To the extent permitted by applicable law and marketplace or listing rules of the primary securities market or exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted for trading, any available shares under a shareholder-approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards granted pursuant to this Section 12 and, upon such grant, shall not reduce the Share Pool.

 

13.                                Compliance with Securities Laws; Listing and Registration.

 

(a)          The obligation of Aeterna to sell or deliver Common Shares with respect to any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal, state or foreign (non-United States) securities laws, or foreign (non-United States) securities laws and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Common Shares under the Plan is or may be unlawful under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, or federal, state or foreign (non-United States) securities laws, the right to exercise an Award or receive Common Shares pursuant to an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful. If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Common Shares under the Plan would or may violate the rules of any Exchange, the right to exercise an Award or receive Common Shares pursuant to an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery would not violate such rules. If the Administrator determines that the exercise or nonforfeitability of, or delivery of benefits pursuant to, any Award would violate any applicable provision of securities laws or the listing requirements of any Exchange, then the Administrator may postpone any such exercise, nonforfeitability or delivery, as applicable, but Aeterna shall use all reasonable efforts to cause such exercise, nonforfeitability or delivery to comply with all such provisions at the earliest practicable date.

 

(b)          Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Administrator determines, in its absolute discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Common Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state, federal or foreign

 

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(non-United States) law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Common Shares, no such Award shall be granted or payment made or Common Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Administrator.

 

(c)           In the event that the disposition of Common Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Common Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act or regulations thereunder, and the Administrator may require a person receiving Common Shares pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Common Shares, to represent to Aeterna in writing that the Common Shares acquired by such person is acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution and that such person will not dispose of the Common Shares so acquired in violation of federal, state or foreign securities laws and furnish such information as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be appropriate to permit the Company to issue the Common Shares in compliance with applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws. If applicable, all certificates representing such Common Shares shall bear applicable legends as required by federal, state or foreign securities laws or Exchange regulation.

 

14.                                Section 409A Compliance.

 

It is the intention of Aeterna that any Award that constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall comply in all respects with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid the imposition of any tax or interest or the inclusion of any amount in income pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, and the terms of each such Award shall be construed, administered and deemed amended, if applicable, in a manner consistent with this intention. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Aeterna nor any of its Affiliates nor any of its or their directors, officers, employees, agents or other service providers will be liable for any taxes, penalties or interest imposed on any Participant or other person with respect to any amounts paid or payable (whether in cash, Common Shares or other property) under any Award, including any taxes, penalties or interest imposed under or as a result of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in an Award that are due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. For purposes of any Award, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to a Participant that constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, the payment of Dividend Equivalents under any Award shall be construed as earnings and the time and form of payment of such Dividend Equivalents shall be treated separately from the time and form of payment of the underlying Award. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, with respect to any Award that constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, any payments (whether in cash, Common Shares or other property) to be made with respect to the Award that become payable on account of the Participant’s separation from service, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, while the Participant is a “specified employee” (as determined in accordance with the uniform policy adopted by the Administrator with respect to all of the arrangements subject to Section 409A of the Code maintained by Aeterna and its Affiliates) and which would otherwise be paid within six months after the Participant’s separation from service shall be accumulated (without interest) and paid on the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service or, if earlier, within 15 days after the appointment of the personal representative or executor of the Participant’s estate following the Participant’s death. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Administrator exercise its discretion to accelerate the payment or settlement of an Award where such payment or settlement constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code section 409A unless, and solely to the extent that, such accelerated payment or settlement is permissible under Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4).

 

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15.                                Plan Duration; Amendment and Discontinuance.

 

(a)                                  Plan Duration.  The Plan shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board or the Compensation Committee to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, until the earlier of (a) the earliest date as of which all Awards granted under the Plan have been satisfied in full or terminated and no Common Shares approved for issuance under the Plan remain available to be granted under new Awards or (b) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after such termination date. Subject to other applicable provisions of the Plan, all Awards made under the Plan on or before the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, or such earlier termination of the Plan, shall remain in effect until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the Plan and the terms of such Awards.

 

(b)                                  Amendment and Discontinuance of the Plan.  The Board or the Compensation Committee may, without shareholder approval, amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would materially impair the rights of a Participant with respect to a previously granted Award without such Participant’s consent, except such an amendment made to comply with applicable law or rule of any Exchange or to prevent adverse tax or accounting consequences to Aeterna or the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment shall be made without the approval of Aeterna’s shareholders to the extent such amendment would (A) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (B)  increase the number of Common Shares which may be issued under the Plan or to a Participant, (C) materially expand the eligibility for participation in the Plan, (D) eliminate or modify the prohibition set forth in Section 7(f) on repricing of stock options and stock appreciation rights, (E) lengthen the maximum term or lower the minimum exercise price or base price permitted for stock options and stock appreciation rights, or (F) modify the prohibition on the issuance of reload or replenishment options, or (G) amend the provisions set out in this Section 15(b). Except as otherwise determined by the Board or Compensation Committee, termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 

(c)                                   Amendment of Awards.   Subject to Section 7(f)  and Section 15(b), the Administrator may unilaterally amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, but no such amendment shall materially impair the rights of any Participant with respect to an Award without the Participant’s consent, except such an amendment made to cause the Plan or Award to comply with applicable law, applicable rule of any Exchange, or to prevent adverse tax or accounting consequences for the Participant or the Company or any of its Affiliates. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, an amendment to an Award that results in a change in the tax consequences of the Award to the Participant shall not be considered to be a material impairment of the rights of the Participant and shall not require the Participant’s consent.

 

16.                                General Provisions.

 

(a)                                  Non-Guarantee of Employment or Service.   Nothing in the Plan or in any Award Agreement thereunder shall confer any right on an individual to continue in the service of Aeterna or any Affiliate or shall interfere in any way with any right of Aeterna or any Affiliate may have to terminate such service at any time with or without cause or notice and whether or not such termination results in (i) the failure of any Award to vest or become payable; (ii) the forfeiture of any unvested or vested portion of any Award; and/or (iii) any other adverse effect on the individual’s interests under any Award or the Plan. No person, even though deemed an Eligible Individual, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. To the extent that an Eligible Individual who is an employee of a Subsidiary receives an Award

 

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under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that Aeterna is the Participant’s employer or that the Participant has an employment relationship with Aeterna.

 

(b)                                  No Trust or Fund Created.   Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between Aeterna and a Participant or any other person. To the extent that any Participant or other person acquires a right to receive payments from Aeterna pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of Aeterna.

 

(c)                                   Status of Awards.   Awards shall be special incentive payments to the Participant and shall not be taken into account in computing the amount of salary or compensation of the Participant for purposes of determining any pension, retirement, death, severance or other benefit under (a) any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, insurance, severance or other employee benefit plan of Aeterna or any Affiliate now or hereafter in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation or (b) any agreement between (i) Aeterna or any Affiliate and (ii) the Participant, except as such plan or agreement shall otherwise expressly provide.

 

(d)                                  Subsidiary Employees.  In the case of a grant of an Award to an Eligible Individual who provides services to any Subsidiary, Aeterna may, if the Administrator so directs, issue or transfer the Common Shares, if any, covered by the Award to the Subsidiary, for such lawful consideration as the Administrator may specify, upon the condition or understanding that the Subsidiary will transfer the Common Shares to the Eligible Individual in accordance with the terms of the Award specified by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. All Common Shares underlying Awards that are forfeited or canceled after such issue or transfer of shares to the Subsidiary shall revert to Aeterna.

 

(e)                                   Governing Law and Interpretation.   The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of Award Agreements entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations or decisions made by the Administrator relating to the Plan or such Award Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined exclusively in accordance with the laws of the province of Quebec and the laws of Canada applicable thereto. The captions of the Plan are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. Except where the context otherwise requires: (i) the singular includes the plural and vice versa; (ii) a reference to one gender includes other genders; (iii) a reference to a person includes a natural person, partnership, corporation, association, governmental or local authority or agency or other entity; and (iv) a reference to a statute, ordinance, code or other law includes regulations and other instruments under it and consolidations, amendments, re-enactments or replacements of any of them. To the extent applicable, the Plan will comply in all respects with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

(f)                                     Use of English Language.   The Plan, each Award Agreement, and all other documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant to an Award shall be written in English, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. If a Participant receives an Award Agreement, a copy of the Plan or any other documents related to an Award translated into a language other than English, and if the meaning of the translated version is different from the English version, the English version shall control.

 

(g)                                  Recovery of Amounts Paid.  Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to any and all policies, guidelines, codes of conduct, or other agreement or arrangement adopted by the Board or Compensation Committee with respect to the recoupment, recovery or clawback of compensation

 

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(collectively, the “ Recoupment Policy ”) and/or to any provisions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement under which Aeterna may recover from current and former Participants any amounts paid or Common Shares issued under an Award and any proceeds therefrom under such circumstances as the Administrator determines appropriate. The Administrator may apply the Recoupment Policy to Awards granted before the policy is adopted to the extent required by applicable law or rule of any Exchange, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

17.                                Glossary.

 

Under the Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply:

 

2016 Stock Option Plan ” refers to the second amended and restated stock option plan of Aeterna adopted by the Board on March 29, 2016 and ratified by the shareholders of Aeterna on May 10, 2016.

 

Administrator ” means the Compensation Committee, or such other committee(s) or officer(s) duly appointed by the Board or the Compensation Committee to administer the Plan or delegated limited authority to perform administrative actions under the Plan, and having such powers as shall be specified by the Board or the Compensation Committee; provided, however, that at any time the Board may serve as the Administrator in lieu of or in addition to the Compensation Committee or such other committee(s) or officer(s) to whom administrative authority has been delegated. With respect to any Award to which Section 16 of the Exchange Act applies, the Administrator shall consist of either the Board or a committee of the Board, which committee shall consist of two or more directors, each of whom is intended to be, to the extent required by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, a “non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and an “independent director” to the extent required by the rules of the national securities exchange that is the principal trading market for the Common Shares; provided , that with respect to Awards made to a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company, “Administrator” means the Board. Any member of the Administrator who does not meet the foregoing requirements shall abstain from any decision regarding an Award and shall not be considered a member of the Administrator to the extent required to comply with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

 

Aeterna means Aeterna Zentaris Inc., a company organized under the Canada Business Corporations Act .

 

Affiliate means any entity, whether now or hereafter existing, which controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, Aeterna or any successor to Aeterna. For this purpose, “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean ownership, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities issued by such entity, or the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of such entity, by contract or otherwise.

 

Articles means the restated articles of incorporation of Aeterna, together with the articles of amendment dated October 2, 2012 and November 17, 2015.

 

Award ” means any stock option, stock appreciation right, stock award, stock unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, and/or Other Stock-Based Award, whether granted under the Plan.

 

Award Agreement means the written document(s), including an electronic writing acceptable to the Administrator, and any notice, addendum or supplement thereto, memorializing the terms and conditions of an Award granted pursuant to the Plan and which shall incorporate the terms of the Plan.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of Aeterna.

 

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Business Day ” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday, when banks are generally open in the City of Toronto for the transaction of banking business.

 

By-Laws ” means the amended and restated by-laws of Aeterna dated March 21, 2013.

 

Change in Control ” means the first of the following to occur: (i) a Change in Ownership of Aeterna, (ii) a Change in Effective Control of Aeterna, or (iii) a Change in the Ownership of Assets of Aeterna, as described herein and construed in accordance with Code section 409A.

 

(i)                                      A “Change in Ownership of Aeterna” shall occur on the date that any one Person acquires, or Persons Acting as a Group acquire, ownership of the capital stock of Aeterna that, together with the stock held by such Person or Group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the capital stock of Aeterna. However, if any one Person is, or Persons Acting as a Group are, considered to own more than 50%, on a fully diluted basis, of the total fair market value or total voting power of the capital stock of Aeterna, the acquisition of additional stock by the same Person or Persons Acting as a Group is not considered to cause a Change in Ownership of Aeterna or to cause a Change in Effective Control of Aeterna (as described below). An increase in the percentage of capital stock owned by any one Person, or Persons Acting as a Group, as a result of a transaction in which Aeterna acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock.

 

(ii)                                   A “Change in Effective Control of Aeterna” shall occur on the date either (A) a majority of members of Aeterna’s Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of Aeterna’s Board before the date of the appointment or election, or (B) any one Person, or Persons Acting as a Group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons) ownership of stock of Aeterna possessing 50% or more of the total voting power of the stock of Aeterna.

 

(iii)                                A “Change in the Ownership of Assets of Aeterna” shall occur on the date that any one Person acquires, or Persons Acting as a Group acquire (or has or have acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons), assets from Aeterna that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of Aeterna immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of Aeterna, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

 

The following rules of construction apply in interpreting the definition of Change in Control:

 

A.                                     A “ Person ” means any individual, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, other than employee benefit plans sponsored or maintained by Aeterna and by entities controlled by Aeterna or an underwriter, initial purchaser or placement agent temporarily holding the capital stock of Aeterna pursuant to a registered public offering.

 

B.                                     Persons will be considered to be Persons Acting as a Group (or Group) if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation. If a Person owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar

 

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transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a Group with other shareholders only with respect to the ownership in that corporation before the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation. Persons will not be considered to be acting as a Group solely because they purchase assets of the same corporation at the same time or purchase or own stock of the same corporation at the same time, or as a result of the same public offering.

 

C.                                     A Change in Control shall not include a transfer to a related person as described in Code section 409A or a public offering of capital stock of Aeterna.

 

D.                                     For purposes of the definition of Change in Control, Section 318(a) of the Code applies to determine stock ownership. Stock underlying a vested option is considered owned by the individual who holds the vested option (and the stock underlying an unvested option is not considered owned by the individual who holds the unvested option). For purposes of the preceding sentence, however, if a vested option is exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested (as defined by Treasury Regulation §1.83-3(b) and (j)), the stock underlying the option is not treated as owned by the individual who holds the option.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto, the Treasury Regulations thereunder and other relevant interpretive guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service or the Treasury Department. Reference to any specific section of the Code shall be deemed to include such regulations and guidance, as well as any successor section, regulations and guidance.

 

Common Shares means common shares in the capital of Aeterna, without par value, and any capital securities into which they are converted.

 

Company ” means Aeterna and its Subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires. For purposes of determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Company shall mean only Aeterna.

 

Compensation Committee means the Nominating, Governance and Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

Disability ” means an injury or disability for which benefits were received by the Participant under an established long-term disability plan or as determined by the Administrator. Where applicable to an Award, the term Disability shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code.

 

“Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to a Participant, to receive cash, Common Shares, stock Units or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Common Shares.

 

Effective Date ” means the date on which adoption of the Plan is approved by the Board.

 

Eligible Individuals ” means (i) officers and employees of, and other individuals, including non-employee directors, who are natural persons providing bona fide services to or for, Aeterna or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for Aeterna’s securities, (ii) prospective officers, employees and service providers who have accepted offers of employment or other service relationship from Aeterna or a Subsidiary; and (iii) consultants who are

 

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natural persons providing bona fide services to or for, Aeterna or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for Aeterna’s securities.

 

Exchange ” means collectively, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ or any other stock exchange in Canada or the United States on which Common Shares are listed and posted for trading.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto. Reference to any specific section of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include such regulations and guidance issued thereunder, as well as any successor section, regulations and guidance.

 

Fair Market Value ” means, on a per share basis as of any date, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator:

 

i.                                           if the principal market for the Common Shares (as determined by the Administrator if the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading on more than one Exchange) is a national securities exchange or an established securities market, the official closing price per Common Share for the regular market session on that date on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Shares are then listed or admitted to trading or, if no sale is reported for that date, on the last preceding day on which a sale was reported, all as reported by such source as the Administrator may select;

 

ii.                                               if the principal market for the Common Shares is not a national securities exchange or an established securities market, but the Common Shares are quoted by a national quotation system, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Shares on that date as reported on a national quotation system or, if no prices are reported for that date, on the last preceding day on which prices were reported, all as reported by such source as the Administrator may select; or

 

iii.                                           if the Common Shares are neither listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or an established securities market, nor quoted by a national quotation system, the value determined by the Administrator in good faith by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, which method may, but need not, include taking into account an appraisal of the fair market value of the Common Shares conducted by a nationally recognized appraisal firm selected by the Administrator.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, for foreign, federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes and for such other purposes as the Administrator deems appropriate, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in accordance with uniform and nondiscriminatory standards adopted by it from time to time.

 

Full Value Award ” means an Award that results in Aeterna transferring the full value of a Common Share under the Award, whether or not an actual share of stock is issued. Full Value Awards shall include, but are not limited to, stock awards, stock units, Performance Shares, Performance Units that are payable in Common Shares, and Other Stock-Based Awards for which Aeterna transfers the full value of a Common Share under the Award, but shall not include Dividend Equivalents.

 

Incentive Stock Option ” means any stock option that is designated, in the applicable Award Agreement or the resolutions of the Administrator under which the stock option is granted, as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements to be an “incentive stock option” set forth in Section 422 of the Code.

 

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Nonqualified Option ” means any stock option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

Other Stock-Based Award ” means an Award of Common Shares or any other Award that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is otherwise based upon, Common Shares, including without limitation Dividend Equivalents.

 

Participant ” means an Eligible Individual to whom one or more Awards are or have been granted pursuant to the Plan and have not been fully settled or cancelled and, following the death of any such person, his successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as the case may be.

 

Performance Award ” means a Full Value Award, the grant, vesting, lapse of restrictions or settlement of which is conditioned upon the achievement of performance objectives over a specified Performance Period and includes, without limitation, Performance Shares and Performance Units.

 

Performance Goals ” means the performance goals established by the Administrator in connection with the grant of Awards based on Performance Metrics or other performance criteria selected by the Administrator.

 

Performance Metrics ” means criteria established by the Administrator relating to any of the following, as it may apply to an individual, one or more business units, divisions, or Affiliates, or on a company-wide basis, and in absolute terms, relative to a base period, or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies, peer groups, or an index covering multiple companies:

 

i.                                           Earnings or Profitability Metrics:  any derivative of revenue; earnings/loss (gross, operating, net, or adjusted); earnings/loss before interest and taxes (“ EBIT ”); earnings/loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“ EBITDA ”); profit margins; operating margins; expense levels or ratios; provided that any of the foregoing metrics may be adjusted to eliminate the effect of any one or more of the following: interest expense, asset impairments or investment losses, early extinguishment of debt or stock-based compensation expense;

 

ii.                                        Return Metrics:  any derivative of return on investment, assets, equity or capital (total or invested);

 

iii.                                     Investment Metrics:  relative risk-adjusted investment performance; investment performance of assets under management;

 

iv.                                    Cash Flow Metrics:  any derivative of operating cash flow; cash flow sufficient to achieve financial ratios or a specified cash balance; free cash flow; cash flow return on capital; net cash provided by operating activities; cash flow per share; working capital;

 

v.                                       Liquidity Metrics:  any derivative of debt leverage (including debt to capital, net debt-to-capital, debt-to-EBITDA or other liquidity ratios);

 

vi.                                    Stock Price and Equity Metrics:  any derivative of return on shareholders’ equity; total shareholder return; stock price; stock price appreciation; market capitalization; earnings/loss per share (basic or diluted) (before or after taxes); and/or

 

vii.                                 Strategic Metrics:  product research and development; completion of an identified special project; clinical trials; regulatory filings or approvals; patent application or issuance; manufacturing or process development; sales or net sales; market share; market penetration; economic value added; customer service; customer satisfaction; inventory control; balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable

 

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securities; growth in assets; key hires; employee satisfaction; employee retention; business expansion; acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures or financing; legal compliance or safety and risk reduction.

 

Performance Period ” means that period established by the Administrator during which any Performance Goals specified by the Administrator with respect to such Award are to be measured

 

Performance Shares ” means a grant of stock or stock Units the issuance, vesting or payment of which is contingent on performance as measured against predetermined objectives over a specified Performance Period.

 

Performance Units ” means a grant of dollar-denominated Units the value, vesting or payment of which is contingent on performance against predetermined objectives over a specified Performance Period.

 

Plan ” means this Aeterna Zentaris Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as set forth herein and as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Restricted Stock ” means an Award of Common Shares to a Participant that may be subject to certain transferability and other restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture (including by reason of not satisfying certain Performance Goals).

 

Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right granted to a Participant to receive Common Shares or cash at the end of a specified deferral period, which right may be conditioned on the satisfaction of certain requirements (including the satisfaction of certain Performance Goals).

 

Restriction Period ” means, with respect to Full Value Awards, the period commencing on the date of grant of such Award to which vesting or transferability and other restrictions and a risk of forfeiture apply and ending upon the expiration of the applicable vesting conditions, transferability and other restrictions and lapse of risk of forfeiture and/or the achievement of the applicable Performance Goals (it being understood that the Administrator may provide that vesting shall occur and/or restrictions shall lapse with respect to portions of the applicable Award during the Restriction Period in accordance with Section 7(b)).

 

Security-Based Compensation Arrangement ” means any stock option, stock option plan, employee stock purchase plan or any other compensation or incentive mechanism of Aeterna or its Affiliates involving the issuance or potential issuance of shares, including, for greater certainty, the 2016 Stock Option Plan (but excluding any compensation or incentive mechanism of Aeterna involving the issuance or potential issuance of shares in accordance with section 613(c) of the TSX Company Manual).

 

Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity in an unbroken chain of corporations or other entities beginning with Aeterna if each of the corporations or other entities, or group of commonly controlled corporations or other entities, other than the last corporation or other entity in the unbroken chain then owns stock or other equity interests possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other equity interests in one of the other corporations or other entities in such chain or otherwise has the power to direct the management and policies of the entity by contract or by means of appointing a majority of the members of the board or other body that controls the affairs of the entity; provided, however, that solely for purposes of determining whether a Participant has a Termination of Service that is a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code or whether an Eligible Individual is eligible to be granted an Award that in the hands of such Eligible Individual would constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, a “Subsidiary” of a corporation or other entity means all other entities with which such corporation or other entity would be considered a single employer under Sections 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code.

 

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Tax Withholding Obligation ” means any federal, state, local or foreign (non-United States) income, employment or other tax or social insurance contribution required by applicable law to be withheld in respect of Awards.

 

Termination of Service ” means the termination of the Participant’s employment or consultancy or performance of services for, Aeterna and its Subsidiaries. Temporary absences from employment because of illness, vacation or leave of absence and transfers among Aeterna and its Subsidiaries shall not be considered Terminations of Service. With respect to any Award that constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, “Termination of Service” shall mean a “separation from service” as defined under Section 409A of the Code to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code to avoid the imposition of any tax or interest or the inclusion of any amount in income pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. A Participant has a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code if the Participant terminates employment with Aeterna and all Subsidiaries for any reason. A Participant will generally be treated as having terminated employment with Aeterna and all Subsidiaries as of a certain date if the Participant and the entity that employs the Participant reasonably anticipate that the Participant will perform no further services for Aeterna or any Subsidiary after such date or that the level of bona fide services that the Participant will perform after such date (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) will permanently decrease to no more than 20 percent (20%) of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period of services if the Participant has been providing services for fewer than 36 months); provided, however, that the employment relationship is treated as continuing while the Participant is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of leave does not exceed six months or, if longer, so long as the Participant retains the right to reemployment with Aeterna or any Subsidiary.

 

Unit ” means a bookkeeping entry used by Aeterna to record and account for the grant of the following types of Awards until such time as the Award is paid, cancelled, forfeited or terminated, as the case may be: stock units, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, and Performance Shares that are expressed in terms of units of Common Shares.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

 

May 8, 2018

 

Aeterna Zentaris Inc.

315 Sigma Drive

Summerville, South Carolina, USA 29486

 

Dear Sirs and Mesdames:

 

Re:                              Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

We have acted as Canadian counsel for Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (the “ Company ”), a Company incorporated under the  Canada Business Corporations Act , in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “ Registration Statement ”) being filed by the Company under the  Securities Act of 1933 , as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), with respect to 999,050 common shares (the “ Plan Shares ”) of the Company, which may be issued by the Company pursuant to the Company’s 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”).

 

In connection with the Registration Statement, we have examined such records of the Company and such documents of the Company as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed herein, including the shareholder rights plan agreement dated March 29, 2016 between the Company and Computershare Trust Company of Canada (the “ Shareholder Rights Plan ”). In particular, as to certain questions of fact material to the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have relied solely and without independent verification upon a certificate of an officer of the Company. We have not conducted any independent enquiries or investigations in respect of the opinions provided hereunder. In all those examinations we have assumed the capacity of all individuals, the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of those documents and that all facts set forth in the certificates of the officer of the Company are true and accurate as of the date hereof.

 

In rendering our opinion regarding the common share purchase rights attached to the common shares of the Company and issuable under the terms of the Shareholder Rights Plan (the “ Rights ”), we have assumed that the Board of Directors of the Company has acted and will act in accordance with its fiduciary duties with respect to the authorization, execution, delivery and administration of the Shareholder Rights Plan and the issuance of the Rights. Our opinion does not address the determination a court of competent jurisdiction may make regarding whether the Board of Directors of the Company would be required to redeem, terminate or

 

1



 

waive, or take other action with respect to, the Rights at some future time. Further, our opinion addresses the Shareholder Rights Plan and the Rights in their entirety and not any particular provision of them, and it is not settled whether the invalidity of any particular provision would invalidate the Rights in their entirety.

 

Our opinion below is expressed only with respect to the laws of the Province of Québec and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein (the “ Jurisdiction ”) and is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act.

 

Our opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of the Jurisdiction in effect on the date of this opinion. We have no responsibility or obligation to: (i) update this opinion, (ii) take into account or inform the addressees or any other person of any changes in law, facts or other developments subsequent to this date that do or may affect the opinions we express, or (iii) advise the addressee or any other person of any other change in any matter addressed in this opinion. Nor do we have any responsibility or obligation to consider the applicability or correctness of this opinion to any person other than the addressee.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to the qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

(a) upon due exercise or settlement, as applicable, of equity-based awards properly granted under the Plan in accordance with the terms of, and subject to the conditions contained in the Plan and the applicable award grant agreement, including, if applicable, receipt by the Company in full of the exercise price relating to such awards, the underlying Plan Shares will be validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable common shares of the Company; and

 

(b) the Rights are a binding obligation of the Company.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing by the Company of the Registration Statement and may not be relied upon for any other purpose without our express written consent. No opinion may be implied or inferred beyond the opinion expressly stated herein.

 

 

Yours truly,

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP

 

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EXHIBIT 23.1

 

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Aeterna Zentaris Inc. of our report dated March 27, 2018 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Aeterna Zentaris Inc., which appears in Aeterna Zentaris Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP(1)

 

 

 

 

 

Québec, Quebec, Canada

 

May 8, 2018

 

 


(1)  CPA auditor, CA, public accountancy permit No. A121191

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP/s.r.1./s.e.n.c.r.l.

Place de la Cité, Tour Cominar, 2640 Laurier Boulevard, Suite 1700, Québec, Quebec, Canada G1V 5C2

T: + 1 418 522 7001, F:+1 418 522 5663, www.pwc.com/ca

 

“PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP/s.r.1./s.e.n.c.r.l., an Ontario limited liability partnership.