As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2021

Registration No. 333-

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   26-3687168
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) 		  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

100 High Street

28th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts

 

02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Quellis Biosciences, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

 

Benjamin Harshbarger

SVP, General Counsel
100 High Street

28th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Name and Address of Agent For Service)

 

(617) 349-1971

(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, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨ Accelerated filer                     ¨
Non-accelerated filer    x Smaller reporting company x
    Emerging growth company ¨

 

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 accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ¨

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Securities
to be Registered 		  Amount
to be
Registered(1) 		  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per Share 		  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price 		  Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, subject to assumed stock option awards   332,494 shares(2)   $0.29(3)   $96,423.26(3)   $10.52
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), that become issuable under the Quellis Biosciences Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction that results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock.
(2) Represents shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock option awards under the Plan as of March 11, 2021.
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h). The price per share and aggregate offering price are based upon the weighted average exercise price per share of the outstanding stock options.

 

 

 

 

Explanatory Note

 

Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 28, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Registrant”), Cabo Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant (“First Merger Sub”), Cabo Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant (“Second Merger Sub”), and Quellis Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Quellis”), First Merger Sub merged with and into Quellis, pursuant to which Quellis was the surviving corporation and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant (the “First Merger”) and then Quellis merged with and into Second Merger Sub, pursuant to which Second Merger Sub was the surviving entity (together with the First Merger, the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, Quellis (through its successor Second Merger Sub) became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant. In accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Registrant assumed certain options that were outstanding under the Quellis Biosciences, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan. Each option to purchase shares of Quellis’ common stock that was outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger under the Quellis Biosciences, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, whether or not vested, was converted into and became an option to purchase shares of the Registrant’s common stock par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”) (as adjusted by the exchange ratio pursuant to the Merger Agreement) under the Plan.

 

The Registrant is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) to register an additional 332,494 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options originally granted under the Quellis Biosciences, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan and assumed and converted by the Registrant under the Plan.

 

 

 

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

 

Item 1. Plan Information.

 

The information required by Item 1 is included in documents sent or given to participants in the plans covered by this registration statement pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

 

The written statement required by Item 2 is included in documents sent or given to participants in the plans covered by this registration statement pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act.

 

 

 

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

 

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

 

(a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-37467) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 11, 2021 (“Form 10-K”).

 

(b) The Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37467) filed with the SEC on January 29, 2021.

 

(c) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) since the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

 

(d) The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-37467) filed with the SEC on June 23, 2015, including any other amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description.

 

(e) All other reports and documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits furnished on such form that relate to such items) on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of its directors or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. The registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides that no director of the registrant shall be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

 

 

 

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he or she is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

The registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides that it will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party or is involved in to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the registrant’s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

The registrant’s certificate of incorporation also provides that it will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in the registrant’s favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the registrant’s best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the registrant, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by the registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. If the registrant does not assume the defense, expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

 

The registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. In general, these agreements provide that the registrant will indemnify the director or executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the registrant or in connection with their service at the registrant’s request for another corporation or entity. The indemnification agreements also provide for procedures that will apply in the event that a director or executive officer makes a claim for indemnification and establish certain presumptions that are favorable to the director or executive officer.

 

The registrant maintains a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of the directors and officers of the registrant arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed


Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

Item 8. Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

        Incorporated by Reference    
Exhibit
Number 		  Description of Exhibit   Form   File Number   Date of Filing   Exhibit
Number 		  Filed
Herewith
4.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant   8-K   001-37467   July 1, 2015   3.1    
                         
4.2   Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant   8-K   001-37467   December 31, 2018   3.1    
                         
4.3   Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock   8-K   001-37467   January 29, 2021   3.1    
                         
4.3   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant   8-K   001-37467   July 1, 2015   3.2    
                         
5.1   Opinion of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel to the Registrant                   X
                         
23.1   Consent of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)                   X
                         
23.2   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                   X
                         
24.1   Power of attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration statement)                   X
                         
99.1   Quellis Biosciences, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan                   X

 

Item 9. Undertakings

1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

 

(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)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

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

 

(c) 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.

 

2. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 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 herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 11th day of March, 2021.

 

  CATABASIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Jill C. Milne
    Jill C. Milne, Ph.D.
    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

 

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Jill C. Milne and Benjamin Harshbarger, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the registration statement on Form S-8 filed herewith and any and all subsequent amendments to said registration statement, and generally to do all such things in our names and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any one of them, to said registration statement and any and all amendments thereto. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Jill C. Milne, Ph.D.   President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   March 11, 2021
Jill C. Milne, Ph.D.      
         
/s/ Noah C. Clauser   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)   March 11, 2021
Noah C. Clauser      
         
/s/ Kenneth Bate   Chairman of the Board of Directors   March 11, 2021  
Kenneth Bate      
         
/s/ Joanne T. Beck, Ph.D.    Director   March 11, 2021
Joanne T. Beck, Ph.D.        
         
/s/ Hugh Cole    Director   March 11, 2021
Hugh Cole        
         
/s/ Michael Kishbauch   Director   March 11, 2021  
Michael Kishbauch        
         
/s/ Gregg Lapointe   Director   March 11, 2021  
Gregg Lapointe        
         
/s/ Jonathan Violin   Director   March 11, 2021  
Jonathan Violin        
         
/s/ Fred Callori   Director   March 11, 2021  
Fred Callori        

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

+1 617 526 6000 (t)

+1 617 526 5000 (f)

wilmerhale.com

 

 March 11, 2021

 

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
100 High Street

Floor 28

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have assisted in the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to an aggregate of 332,494 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Shares”) of Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options granted under the Quellis Biosciences Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The options issued and the shares issuable upon exercise thereof under the Plan were assumed by the Company in connection with and pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 28, 2021, by and among the Company, Cabo Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Cabo Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Quellis Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

We have examined the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company, each as amended and restated to date, the Plan, and originals, or copies certified to our satisfaction, of all pertinent records of the meetings of the directors and stockholders of the Company, the Registration Statement and such other documents relating to the Company as we have deemed material for the purposes of this opinion.

 

In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic or other copies, the authenticity of the originals of any such documents and the legal competence of all signatories to such documents.

 

We assume that the appropriate action will be taken, prior to the offer and sale of the Shares in accordance with the Plans, to register and qualify the Shares for sale under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws.

 

We express no opinion herein as to the laws of any state or jurisdiction other than the state laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of America.

 

It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect.

 

Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred as to any other matters.

 

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and, when the Shares are issued and paid for in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission in connection with the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

WILMER CUTLER PICKERING

 
HALE AND DORR LLP  

 

By: /s/ Rosemary G. Reilly  
  Rosemary G. Reilly, a Partner  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Quellis Biosciences Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan of our report dated March 11, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP  
   
Boston, Massachusetts  
March 11, 2021  

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

QuELLIS BIOSCIENCES, INC.

 

2019 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1. Purpose.

 

The purpose of this 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Quellis Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to better align the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).

 

2. Eligibility.

 

All of the Company’s employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors are eligible to be granted options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and other stock-based awards (each, an “Award”) under the Plan. Each person who receives an Award under the Plan is deemed a “Participant”.

 

3. Administration and Delegation.

 

(a)           Administration by Board of Directors. The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered into under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.

 

(b)           Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the officers referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or officers. The Board may abolish any Committee at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority.

 

(c)           Delegation to Officers. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Awards (subject to any limitations under the Plan) to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including the exercise price of such Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that the officers may grant; provided further, however, that no officer shall be authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act). The Board may rescind any such delegation at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority.

 

 

 

 

4. Stock Available for Awards.

 

(a)           Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 8 hereof, Awards may be made under the Plan covering up to 238,502* shares of common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”). If any Award expires, lapses, or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at or below the original issuance price), in any case in a manner that results in any shares of Common Stock covered by such Award not being issued or being so reacquired by the Company, the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Further, shares of Common Stock delivered (whether by actual delivery or attestation) or tendered to the Company by a Participant to satisfy the applicable exercise or purchase price of an Award and/or to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligation (including shares retained by the Company from the Award being exercised or purchased and/or creating the tax obligation) shall be added to the number of shares of Common Stock available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. However, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined), the foregoing provisions shall be subject to any limitations under the Code. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares, shares purchased on the open market, or treasury shares. At no time while there is any Option (as defined below) outstanding and held by a Participant who was a resident of the State of California on the date of grant of such Option, shall the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all outstanding options and the total number of shares provided for under any stock bonus or similar plan or agreement of the Company exceed the applicable percentage as calculated in accordance with the conditions and exclusions of Section 260.140.45 of the California Code of Regulations (the “California Regulations”), based on the shares of the Company which are outstanding at the time the calculation is made.

 

(b)           Substitute Awards. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted prior to such merger or consolidation by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a) hereof, except as may be required by reason of Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.

 

5. Stock Options.

 

(a)           General. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. An Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option”.

 

2 

 

 

(b)           Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of the Company, any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. All Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, and without limiting generality of the foregoing, such Options shall be deemed to include terms that comply with the eligibility standards described section 422(b) of the Code. Subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 5(b), if an Option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option does not so qualify, the Board may, at its discretion, amend the Plan and Award with respect to such Option so that such Option qualifies as an Incentive Stock Option. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any affiliates) exceeds $100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code) or otherwise does not comply with the rules governing Incentive Stock Options, the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) or otherwise do not comply with the rules will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Award. Neither the Company nor the Board shall have any liability to a Participant, or any other party, (i) if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as such or (ii) for any action or omission by the Company or Board that causes an Option not to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, including without limitation the conversion of an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or the grant of an Option intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to satisfy the requirements under the Code applicable to an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(c)           Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and specify the exercise price in the applicable option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the Option is granted. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of grant of the Option, owns (or is treated as owning under Section 424 of the Code) stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof within the meaning of Sections 424(e) or 424(f) of the Code, respectively), the per share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date the Option is granted.

 

(d)           Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement, provided that the term of any Option shall not exceed ten years. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of grant of the Option, owns (or is treated as owning under Section 424 of the Code) stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof within the meaning of Sections 424(e) or 424(f) of the Code, respectively), the term of the Option shall not exceed five years.

 

(e)           Exercise of Option; Notification of Disposition. Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, an Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company as soon as practicable following exercise. If an Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant shall give prompt notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of Common Stock acquired from the Option if such disposition or transfer is made (i) within two years from the grant date with respect to such Option or (ii) within one year after the transfer of such shares to the Participant (other than any such disposition made in connection with a Reorganization Event). Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Participant in such disposition or other transfer.

 

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(f)            Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:

 

(i)              in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

 

(ii)             when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act, except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable option agreement, by (A) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (B) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;

 

(iii)            when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act and to the extent provided for in the applicable option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their fair market value as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board (“Fair Market Value”), provided (A) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law, (B) such Common Stock, if acquired directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant for such minimum period of time, if any, as may be established by the Board in its discretion and (C) such Common Stock is not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements;

 

(iv)            to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided for in the applicable option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by (A) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (B) payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or

 

(v)             by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.

 

(g)           Early Exercise of Options. The Board may provide in the terms of an option agreement that the Participant may exercise an Option in whole or in part prior to the full vesting of the Option in exchange for unvested shares of Restricted Stock (as defined below) with respect to any unvested portion of the Option so exercised. Shares of Restricted Stock acquired upon the exercise of any unvested portion of an Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine.

 

6. Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)           General. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”), subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award. Instead of granting Awards for Restricted Stock, the Board may grant Awards entitling the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock or cash to be delivered at the time such Award vests (“Restricted Stock Units”) (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are each referred to herein as a “Restricted Stock Award”).

 

(b)           Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards. The Board shall determine and set forth in the applicable award agreement the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any.

 

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(c)           Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock.

 

(i)              Dividends. Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such shares to the extent such dividends have a record date that is on or after the date on which the Participant to whom such Restricted Stock is granted becomes the record holder of such Restricted Stock, unless otherwise provided by the Board. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if any dividends or distributions are paid in shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, the shares or other property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. Each dividend payment will be made as provided in the applicable award agreement, but no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to shareholders of that class of stock or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the later of (A) the date the dividends are paid to shareholders of that class of stock and (B) the date the dividends are no longer subject to forfeiture.

 

(ii)             Stock Certificates. The Company may require that any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock shall be deposited in escrow by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, “Designated Beneficiary” shall mean the Participant’s estate.

 

(d)           Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units.

 

(i)              Settlement. Upon the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one share of Common Stock or an amount of cash or other property equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the settlement date, as the Board shall determine and as provided in the applicable award agreement. The Board may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall occur upon or as soon as reasonably practicable after the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or shall instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant, in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(ii)             Voting Rights. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units unless and until shares are delivered in settlement thereof. 

 

(iii)            Dividend Equivalents. To the extent provided by the Board, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, may be settled in cash and/or shares of Common Stock and may be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are paid, as determined by the Board, subject, in each case, to such terms and conditions as the Board shall establish and set forth in the applicable award agreement. “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant to receive the equivalent value (in cash or shares of Common Stock) of dividends paid on shares of Common Stock.

 

7. Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

Other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property, may be granted hereunder to Participants (“Other Stock-Based Awards”), including without limitation stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) and Awards entitling recipients to receive shares of Common Stock to be delivered in the future. Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board shall determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock-Based Award, including any purchase price, transfer restrictions, vesting conditions and other terms and conditions applicable thereto.

 

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8. Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events.

 

(a)           In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under this Plan, (ii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iii) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, and (iv) the terms of each other outstanding Award shall be equitably adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) in the manner determined by the Board; provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, such changes to the Options shall comply with section 1.424-1 of the Treasury Regulations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to an outstanding Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

 

(b)           Reorganization Events.

 

(i)              Definition. A “Reorganization Event” means the consummation of: (A) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (B) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (C) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power of the surviving or resulting entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable), (D) the acquisition of all or a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company in a single transaction or a series of a related transactions by a person or group of persons, or (E) any other acquisition of the business of the Company, as determined by the Board; provided, however, that the first firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the offer and sale by the Company of its equity securities, as a result of or following which the Common Stock shall be public, any subsequent public offering or another capital raising event, or a merger effected solely to change the Company’s domicile shall not constitute a “Reorganization Event.”

 

(ii)             Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Awards Other than Restricted Stock Awards. In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Awards other than Restricted Stock Awards on such terms as the Board determines: (A) provide that Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof); provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, such assumption or substitution of the Options shall comply with section 1.424-1 of the Treasury Regulations, (B) upon written notice to a Participant, provide that the Participant’s unexercised Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the Participant within a specified period following the date of such notice, (C) provide that outstanding Awards shall become exercisable, realizable, or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award shall lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (D) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash payment to a Participant equal to the excess, if any, of (I) the Acquisition Price times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s Awards (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the Acquisition Price) over (II) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Awards and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of such Awards, (E) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings) and (F) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 8(b), the Board shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically.

 

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For purposes of clause (A) above, an Option shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, the Option confers the right to purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Reorganization Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if the consideration received as a result of the Reorganization Event is not solely common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of Options to consist solely of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in value (as determined by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event.

 

(iii)            Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Restricted Stock Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event other than a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the repurchase and other rights of the Company under each outstanding Restricted Stock Award shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall, unless the Board determines otherwise, apply to the cash, securities or other property which the Common Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to the Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Award. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock Award or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, all restrictions and conditions on all Restricted Stock Awards then outstanding shall automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied.

 

9. General Provisions Applicable to Awards.

 

(a)           Transferability of Awards. Except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

 

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(b)           Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

 

(c)           Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.

 

(d)           Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, retirement, termination or other cessation of employment, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award.

 

(e)           Withholding. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver certificates, release from forfeiture, otherwise recognize a Participant’s unrestricted ownership in an Award or the cash or property proceeds therefrom, until the Company satisfies all applicable federal, state, and local or other income and employment tax withholding obligations. In its sole discretion, the Company may satisfy such withholding obligations by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (i) causing the Participant to tender to the Company cash payment; (ii) withholding cash from an Award settled in cash; (iii) withholding from amounts otherwise payable by the Company to the Participant, including but not limited to additional withholding on the Participant’s salary or wages, or from proceeds from the sale of Common Stock issued pursuant to an Award; (iv) delivery of shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, except as otherwise provided by the Board, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income), and provided, further, shares surrendered to satisfy tax withholding requirements cannot be subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements; or (v) by such other method as determined by the Board.

 

(f)            Amendment of Award.

 

(i)              The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or settlement, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (A) the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Plan, (B) the change is permitted under Section 8 hereof, or (C) the change is to ensure that an Option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option qualifies as such.

 

(ii)             The Board may, without stockholder approval, amend any outstanding Award granted under the Plan to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Award. The Board may also, without stockholder approval, cancel any outstanding award (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled award.

 

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(g)           Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is determined by the Board to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any securities hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares at to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

(h)           Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be.

 

10. Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.

 

(b)           No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Board or required by any applicable laws, the Company shall not be required to deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock issued in connection with any Award and instead such shares of Common Stock may be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator). The Company may place legends on any stock certificates issued under the Plan deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board in order to comply with applicable laws.

 

(c)           Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is adopted by the Board. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the expiration of 10 years from the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

 

(d)           Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that if at any time the approval of a Company stockholder is required as to any modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Board may not effect such modification or amendment without the consent of the affected Participant. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 10(d) shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of, all Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Participants under the Plan.

 

(e)           Authorization of Sub-Plans. The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable blue sky, securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to this Plan containing (i) such limitations on the Board’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable or (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Company shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction which is not the subject of such supplement.

 

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(f)            Compliance with Code Section 409A. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in an Award, the Plan and Award will be interpreted to the greatest extent possible in a manner that makes the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and, to the extent not so exempt, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. If the Board determines that any Award granted hereunder is not exempt from and is therefore subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award will incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, and to the extent an Award is silent on terms necessary for compliance, such terms as deemed necessary by the Board in its sole discretion are hereby incorporated by reference into the Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if shares of Common Stock are publicly traded, and if a Participant holding an Award that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment of any amount that is due because of a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) will be issued or paid before the date that is six (6) months following the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death, unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, and any amounts so deferred will be paid in a lump sum on the day after such six (6) month period elapses, with the balance paid thereafter on the original schedule. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any other action taken by the Board.

 

(g)           Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such state that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such state.

 

(h)           Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this paragraph by and among, as applicable, the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any shares of stock held in the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, details of all Awards, in each case, for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may each further transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. Through acceptance of an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any shares of Common Stock. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his or her local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Board’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws his or her consents as described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

 

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(i)            Restrictions on Shares; Claw-back Provisions. Shares of Common Stock acquired in respect of Awards shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine, including, without limitation, restrictions on the transferability of shares of Common Stock, the right of the Company to repurchase shares of Common Stock, the right of the Company to require that shares of Common Stock be transferred in the event of certain transactions, tag-along rights, bring-along rights, redemption and co-sale rights and voting requirements. Such terms and conditions may be additional to those contained in the Plan and may, as determined by the Board, be contained in the applicable Award Agreement or in an exercise notice, stockholders’ agreement or in such other agreement as the Board shall determine, in each case in a form determined by the Board. The issuance of such shares of Common Stock shall be conditioned on the Participant’s consent to such terms and conditions and the Participant’s entering into such agreement or agreements. All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by Participant upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any shares of Common Stock underlying the Award) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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Quellis biosciences, inc.

 

2019 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

CALIFORNIA SUPPLEMENT

 

Pursuant to Section 10(e) of the Plan, the Board has adopted this supplement for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 25102(o) of the California Law:

 

Any Awards granted under the Plan to a Participant who is a resident of the State of California on the date of grant (a “California Participant”) shall be subject to the following additional limitations, terms and conditions:

 

1. Additional Limitations on Options.

 

(a)           Minimum Vesting Rate. Except in the case of Options granted to California Participants who are officers, directors, managers, consultants or advisors of the Company or its affiliates (which Options may become exercisable at whatever rate is determined by the Board), Options granted to California Participants shall become exercisable at a rate of not less than 20% per year over five years from the date of grant; provided, that, such Options may be subject to such reasonable forfeiture conditions as the Board may choose to impose and which are not inconsistent with Section 260.140.41 of the California Regulations.

 

(b)           Minimum Exercise Price. The exercise price of Options granted to California Participants may not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option or less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant in the case of an Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that if the California Participant is a person who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporations, the exercise price shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

(c)           Maximum Duration of Options. No Options granted to California Participants shall have a term in excess of 10 years measured from the Option grant date.

 

(d)           Minimum Exercise Period Following Termination. Unless a California Participant’s employment is terminated for cause (as defined by applicable law, the terms of any contract of employment between the Company and such Participant, or in the instrument evidencing the grant of such Participant’s Option), in the event of termination of employment of such Participant, such Participant shall have the right to exercise an Option, to the extent that he or she was otherwise entitled to exercise such Option on the date employment terminated, as follows: (i) at least six months from the date of termination, if termination was caused by such Participant’s death or “permanent and total disability” (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) and (ii) at least 30 days from the date of termination, if termination was caused other than by such Participant’s death or “permanent and total disability” (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code).

 

(e)           Limitation on Repurchase Rights. If an Option granted to a California Participant gives the Company the right to repurchase shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan upon termination of employment of such Participant, the terms of such repurchase right must comply with Section 260.140.41(k) of the California Regulations.

 

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2. Additional Limitations for Restricted Stock Awards.

 

(a)           Minimum Purchase Price. The purchase price for a Restricted Stock Award granted to a California Participant shall be not less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time such Participant is granted the right to purchase shares under the Plan or at the time the purchase is consummated; provided, however, that if such Participant is a person who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporations, the purchase price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time such Participant is granted the right to purchase shares under the Plan or at the time the purchase is consummated.

 

(b)           Limitation of Repurchase Rights. If a Restricted Stock Award granted to a California Participant gives the Company the right to repurchase shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan upon termination of employment of such Participant, the terms of such repurchase right must comply with Section 260.140.42(h) of the California Regulations.

 

3. Additional Limitations for Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

The terms of all Awards granted to a California Participant under Section 7 of the Plan shall comply, to the extent applicable, with Section 260.140.41 or Section 260.140.42 of the California Regulations.

 

4. Additional Requirement to Provide Information to California Participants.

 

The Company shall provide to each California Participant and to each California Participant who acquires Common Stock pursuant to the Plan, not less frequently than annually, copies of annual financial statements (which need not be audited). The Company shall not be required to provide such statements to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information.

 

5. Additional Limitations on Timing of Awards.

 

No Award granted to a California Participant shall become exercisable, vested or realizable, as applicable to such Award, unless the Plan has been approved by the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding voting securities within 12 months before or after the date the Plan was adopted by the Board.

 

6. Additional Limitations Relating to Definition of Fair Market Value.

 

For purposes of Section 1(b) and 2(a) of this supplement, “Fair Market Value” shall be determined in a manner not inconsistent with Section 260.140.50 of the California Regulations.

 

7. Additional Restriction Regarding Recapitalizations, Stock Splits, Etc.

 

For purposes of Section 8 of the Plan, in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination, reclassification or other distribution of the Company’s securities, the number of securities allocated to each California Participant must be adjusted proportionately and without the receipt by the Company of any consideration from any California Participant.

 

*pool reduced 12/14/2020 Board Consent from 238,502 to 119,251

 

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