As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2016

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   32-0162505

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS employer

identification number)

400 Totten Pond Road, Suite 110

Waltham, Massachusetts 02451

(781) 419-1400

(Address of principal executive offices)

2007 Stock Plan

2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan

2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full title of the Plan)

Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

400 Totten Pond Road, Suite 110

Waltham, Massachusetts 02451

(781) 419-1400

(Name, address and telephone number of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

Jon Layman

Hogan Lovells US LLP

4085 Campbell Avenue, Suite 100

Menlo Park, California 94025

(650) 463-4000

 

 

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

 


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

2007 Stock Plan (options)

(Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share)

  2,717,539 (2)   $7.74 (5)   $21,033,751.86 (5)   $2,118.10

2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan

(Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share)

  1,750,000 (3)   $11.46 (6)   $21,046,250.00 (6)   $2,018.66

2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share)

  250,000 (4)   $12.46 (6)   $2,863,750.00 (6)   $288.38

TOTAL

  4,717,539     $43,943,751.86   $4,425.14

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock which become issuable under the above-named plans by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s (the “ Registrant ”) outstanding shares of common stock.
(2) Represents shares of the Registrant’s common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options granted under the Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2007 Stock Plan (the “ 2007 Plan ”). The 2007 Plan has been terminated and no further option grants will be made under the 2007 Plan, and any shares remaining available for future grant, plus any shares underlying outstanding options that terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the issuance of such shares, have been allocated to the Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “ 2015 Plan ”).
(3) Represents shares of the Registrant’s common stock reserved for future grant under the 2015 Plan. To the extent outstanding awards under the 2007 Plan terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the issuance of such shares, the shares of common stock subject to such awards instead will be available for future issuance under the 2015 Plan. The 2015 Plan also provides that an additional number of shares will automatically be added annually to the shares authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan on January 1, from 2017 until the expiration of the 2015 Plan. The number of shares added each year will be equal to the lesser of: (a) 4% of the total number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year; and (b) the number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock designated by action of the Registrant’s board of directors prior to the first day of any calendar year.
(4) Represents shares of the Registrant’s common stock reserved for issuance under the Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ ESPP ”). The ESPP provides that an additional number of shares will automatically be added annually to the shares authorized for issuance under the ESPP on January 1, from 2017 until the expiration of the ESPP. The number of shares added each year will be equal to the lesser of: (a) 1% of the total number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year; (b) 250,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock; and (c) a number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock designated by action of the Registrant’s board of directors prior to the first day of any calendar year.
(5) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The proposed maximum offering price per share and proposed maximum aggregate offering price are calculated using a weighted average exercise price for such shares.
(6) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The proposed maximum offering price per share and proposed maximum aggregate offering price are based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the Registrant’s common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on March 18, 2016.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information called for by Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 of the Securities Act and the instructions to Form S-8. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Registrant ”) hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents filed by it with the Commission:

 

  (a) the Registrant’s prospectus filed on March 3, 2016 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-208861), which contains audited financial statements for the Registrant’s latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed; and

 

  (b) the description of the Registrant’s common stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-37708) filed with the Commission on March 2, 2016, under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the filing of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all 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 filing such documents, except as to specific sections of such documents as set forth therein. 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 herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as so modified or superseded.

 

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 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement for expenses incurred, arising under the


Securities Act. The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for indemnification of the Registrant’s directors to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, and the Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provide for indemnification of the Registrant’s directors, officers, employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by law.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with the Registrant’s directors and officers, whereby the Registrant has agreed to indemnify the Registrant’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law, including advancement of expenses incurred in legal proceedings to which the director or officer was, or is threatened to be made, a party by reason of the fact that such director or officer is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, provided that such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner that the director or officer reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the Registrant. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director or officer of the Registrant regarding which indemnification is sought, nor is the Registrant aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

The Registrant maintains insurance policies that indemnify the Registrant’s directors and officers against various liabilities arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act that might be incurred by any director or officer in his capacity as such.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed on the Exhibit Index attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

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 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 Commission 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)(1)(i) and (A)(1)(ii) 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 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.

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 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.

C. 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 Commission 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, as amended, 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 Waltham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts on March 25, 2016.

 

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
By:   /s/ Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.
  Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Michael A. Metzger and Allan L. Shaw, and each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.    

Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  March 25, 2016

/s/ Allan L. Shaw    

Allan L. Shaw

  

Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  March 25, 2016

/s/ Dennis G. Podlesak    

Dennis G. Podlesak

  

Chairman of the Board

  March 25, 2016

/s/ Henry Chen    

Henry Chen

  

Director

  March 25, 2016

/s/ Fabrice Egros, Ph.D.    

Fabrice Egros, Ph.D.

  

Director

  March 25, 2016

/s/ Luke Evnin, Ph.D.    

Luke Evnin, Ph.D.

  

Director

  March 25, 2016


Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.    

Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.

  

Director

  March 25, 2016

/s/ Ivor Royston, M.D.    

Ivor Royston, M.D.

  

Director

  March 25, 2016

/s/ Richard P. Shea    

Richard P. Shea

  

Director

  March 25, 2016

/s/ George W. Sledge Jr., M.D.    

George W. Sledge Jr., M.D.

  

Director

  March 25, 2016


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit Description

4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37708), filed with the Commission on March 8, 2016).
4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37708), filed with the Commission on March 8, 2016).
4.3    Specimen common stock certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.4    2007 Stock Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.5    2007 Stock Plan Amendment, dated as of March 8, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.6    2007 Stock Plan Amendment, dated as of July 10, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.7    2007 Stock Plan Amendment, dated as of January 23, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.8    2007 Stock Plan Amendment, dated as of December 17, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.9    2007 Stock Plan Amendment, dated as of May 28, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.10    2007 Stock Plan Amendment, dated as of August 20, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.11    Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2007 Stock Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.12    Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement under 2007 Stock Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
4.13    2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
4.14    Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).


  4.15    Form of Non-Qualified Option Agreement under 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208861), filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016).
  4.16    2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
  5.1    Opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP.
23.1    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2    Consent of Hogan Lovells US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement).

Exhibit 4.13

 

 

SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2015 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page
1.   PURPOSE    1
2.   DEFINITIONS    1
3.   ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN    7
  3.1.    Board    7
  3.2.    Committee    8
  3.3.    Terms of Awards    8
  3.4.    Forfeiture; Recoupment    9
  3.5.    No Repricing Without Stockholder Approval    10
  3.6.    Deferral Arrangement    10
  3.7.    Limitation on Liability    10
  3.8.    Stock Issuance/Book-Entry    10
4.   STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN    11
  4.1.    Number of Shares of Stock Available for Awards    11
  4.2.    Adjustments in Authorized Shares of Stock    11
  4.3.    Share Usage    11
5.   EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION AND AMENDMENTS    12
  5.1.    Effective Date    12
  5.2.    Term    12
  5.3.    Amendment, Suspension and Termination of the Plan    12
6.   AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS    12
  6.1.    Service Providers and Other Persons    12
  6.2.    Limitation on Shares of Stock Subject to Awards and Cash Awards    12
  6.3.    Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards    13
7.   AWARD AGREEMENT    13
8.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS    13
  8.1.    Option Price    13
  8.2.    Vesting and Exercisability    14
  8.3.    Term    14
  8.4.    Termination of Service    14
  8.5.    Limitations on Exercise of Option    14
  8.6.    Method of Exercise    14
  8.7.    Rights of Holders of Options    15
  8.8.    Delivery of Stock Certificates    15
  8.9.    Transferability of Options    15
  8.10.    Family Transfers    15
  8.11.    Limitations on Incentive Stock Options    15
  8.12.    Notice of Disqualifying Disposition    16
9.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS    16
  9.1.    Right to Payment and SAR Exercise Price    16
  9.2.    Other Terms    16
  9.3.    Term    16
  9.4.    Rights of Holders of SARs    16

 

- i -


  9.5.    Transferability of SARs    17
  9.6.    Family Transfers    17
10.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS    17
  10.1.    Grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units    17
  10.2.    Restrictions    17
  10.3.    Restricted Stock Certificates    17
  10.4.    Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock    18
  10.5.    Rights of Holders of Stock Units    18
     10.5.1. Voting and Dividend Rights    18
     10.5.2. Creditor’s Rights    18
  10.6.    Termination of Service    19
  10.7.    Purchase of Restricted Stock and Shares of Stock Subject to Stock Units    19
  10.8.    Delivery of Shares of Stock    19
11.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS AND OTHER EQUITY-BASED AWARDS    19
  11.1.    Unrestricted Stock Awards    19
  11.2.    Other Equity-Based Awards    19
12.   FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK    20
  12.1.    General Rule    20
  12.2.    Surrender of Shares of Stock    20
  12.3.    Cashless Exercise    20
  12.4.    Other Forms of Payment    20
13.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS    20
  13.1.    Dividend Equivalent Rights    20
  13.2.    Termination of Service    21
14.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS    21
  14.1.    Grant of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards    21
  14.2.    Value of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards    21
  14.3.    Earning of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards    21
  14.4.    Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards    22
  14.5.    Performance Conditions    22
  14.6.    Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees    22
     14.6.1. Performance Goals Generally    22
     14.6.2. Timing For Establishing Performance Goals    22
     14.6.3. Payment of Awards; Other Terms    23
     14.6.4. Performance Measures    23
     14.6.5. Evaluation of Performance    25
     14.6.6. Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation    25
     14.6.7. Board Discretion    25
  14.7.    Status of Awards Under Code Section 162(m)    25

 

- ii -


15.   PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS    26
16.   REQUIREMENTS OF LAW    26
  16.1.    General    26
  16.2.    Rule 16b-3    27
17.   EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION    27
  17.1.    Changes in Stock    27
  17.2.    Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity Which Does not Constitute a Change in Control    28
  17.3.    Change in Control in which Awards are not Assumed    28
  17.4.    Change in Control in which Awards are Assumed    29
  17.5.    Adjustments    30
  17.6.    No Limitations on Company    30
18.   GENERAL PROVISIONS    30
  18.1.    Disclaimer of Rights    30
  18.2.    Nonexclusivity of the Plan    30
  18.3.    Withholding Taxes    31
  18.4.    Captions    31
  18.5.    Other Provisions    31
  18.6.    Number and Gender    31
  18.7.    Severability    31
  18.8.    Governing Law    31
  18.9.    Section 409A of the Code    32

 

- iii-


SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2015 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), sets forth herein the terms of its 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”), as follows:

1. PURPOSE

This Plan is intended to (a) provide incentive to eligible persons to stimulate their efforts towards the success of the Company and to operate and manage its business in a manner that will provide for the long term growth and profitability of the Company; and (b) provide a means of obtaining, rewarding and retaining key personnel. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of Awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, stock units (including deferred stock units), dividend equivalent rights, other equity-based awards and cash bonus awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward attainment of annual or long-term performance goals in accordance with the terms hereof. Stock options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options, as provided herein.

2. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of interpreting the Plan and related documents (including Award Agreements), the following definitions shall apply:

2.1 “ 2015 Plan Reserve Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

2.2 “ Affiliate ” means, with respect to the Company, any company or other trade or business that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any Subsidiary. For purposes of grants of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, an entity may not be considered an Affiliate of the Company unless the Company holds a “controlling interest” in such entity, where the term “controlling interest” has the same meaning as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), provided that the language “at least 50 percent” is used instead of “at least 80 percent” and, provided further, that where granting of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights is based upon a legitimate business criteria, the language “at least 20 percent” is used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i).

2.3 “ Annual Incentive Award ” means an Award, denominated in cash, made subject to attainment of performance goals (as described in Section 14 ) over a Performance Period of up to one (1) year (the Company’s fiscal year, unless otherwise specified by the Board).

2.4 “ Applicable Laws ” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under (a) applicable provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any rules or regulations thereunder, and any other laws, rules, regulations, and government orders of any jurisdiction applicable to the Company or its Affiliates, (b) applicable provisions of the corporate, securities, tax and other laws, rules, regulations and government orders of any jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents thereof, and (c) the rules of any Stock Exchange or Securities Market on which the Stock is listed or publicly traded.


2.5 “ Award ” means a grant of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Right, Performance Award, Annual Incentive Award, or Other Equity-Based Award under the Plan.

2.6 “ Award Agreement ” means the written agreement, in such written, electronic, or other form as determined by the Committee, between the Company and a Grantee that evidences and sets forth the terms and conditions of an Award.

2.7 “ Benefit Arrangement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 .

2.8 “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.9 “ Capital Stock ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations, or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) in equity of such Person, whether outstanding on the Effective Date or issued thereafter, including, without limitation, all shares of Stock.

2.10 “ Cause ” shall have the meaning set forth in an applicable agreement between a Grantee and the Company or an Affiliate, and in the absence of such agreement, shall mean, with respect to any Grantee and as determined by the Board, (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the performance of duties; (ii) conviction of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a criminal offense (other than minor traffic offenses); (iii) a material violation of a Company policy; or (iv) a material breach of any term of any employment, consulting, or other services, confidentiality, intellectual property, or non-competition agreements, if any, between the such Grantee and the Company or an Affiliate. Any determination by the Committee regarding whether an event constituting Cause shall have occurred shall be final, binding, and conclusive.

2.11 “ Change in Control ” shall mean, subject to Section 18.9 , the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) A transaction or a series of related transactions whereby any person (as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) or Group (other than the Company or any Affiliate) becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, on a Fully Diluted Basis;

(b) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”) (together with any new directors whose election by such Incumbent Board or whose nomination by such Incumbent Board for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the members of such Incumbent Board then in office who either were members of such Incumbent Board or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of such Board then in office;

(c) The Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company (regardless of whether the Company is the surviving Person), other than any such transaction in which the Prior Stockholders own directly or indirectly at least a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such reorganization, merger, or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction;

 

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(d) The consummation of any direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition (other than by way of reorganization, merger, or consolidation), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person (as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) or Group (other than the Company or any Affiliate); or

(e) The stockholders of the Company adopt a plan or proposal for the liquidation, winding up, or dissolution of the Company.

The Board shall have full and final authority, in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control, and any incidental matters relating thereto.

2.12 “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as now in effect or as hereafter amended, and any successor thereto. References in the Plan to any Code Section shall be deemed to include, as applicable, regulations and guidance promulgated under such Code Section.

2.13 “ Committee ” means a committee of, and designated from time to time by resolution of, the Board, which shall be constituted as provided in Section 3.2 (or, if no Committee has been designated, the Board itself).

2.14 “ Company ” means Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

2.15 “ Covered Employee ” means a Grantee who is a covered employee within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)(3).

2.16 “ Determination Date ” means the Grant Date or such other date as of which the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock is required to be established for purposes of the Plan.

2.17 “ Disability ” means the inability of the Grantee to perform each of the essential duties of such Grantee’s position by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is potentially permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided , however , that, with respect to rules regarding expiration of an Incentive Stock Option following termination of the Grantee’s Service, Disability shall mean the inability of the Grantee to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

2.18 “ Dividend Equivalent Right ” means a right, granted to a Grantee under Section 13 , to receive, or to receive credits for the future payment of, cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividend payments or distributions or other periodic payments, declared or paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, as if such shares of Stock had been issued to and held by the Grantee of such Dividend Equivalent Right as of the record date.

2.19 “ Effective Date ” means the date of the closing of the Initial Public Offering.

2.20 “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

 

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2.21 “ Fair Market Value ” means the fair market value of a share of Stock for purposes of the Plan, which shall be determined as of any Determination Date as follows:

(a) If on such Determination Date the shares of Stock are listed on a Stock Exchange, or are publicly traded on another Securities Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of the Stock as reported on such Stock Exchange or such Securities Market (provided that, if there is more than one such Stock Exchange or Securities Market, the Committee shall designate the appropriate Stock Exchange or Securities Market for purposes of the Fair Market Value determination). If there is no such reported closing price on such Determination Date, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of the Stock on the next preceding day on which any sale of Stock shall have been reported on such Stock Exchange or such Securities Market.

(b) If on such Determination Date the shares of Stock are not listed on a Stock Exchange or publicly traded on a Securities Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the value of the Stock as determined by the Committee by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding this Section 2.20 or Section 18.3 , for purposes of determining taxable income and the amount of the related tax withholding obligation pursuant to Section 18.3 , the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Committee in good faith using any reasonable method as it deems appropriate, to be applied consistently with respect to Grantees; provided, further, that the Committee shall determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock for tax withholding obligations due in connection with sales, by or on behalf of a Grantee, of such shares of Stock subject to an Award to pay the Option Price, SAR Exercise Price, and/or any tax withholding obligation on the same date on which such shares may first be sold pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement (including broker-assisted cashless exercises of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, as described in Section 12.3 , and sell-to-cover transactions) in any manner consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, including but not limited to using the sale price of such shares on such date (or if sales of such shares are effectuated at more than one sale price, the weighted average sale price of such shares on such date) as the Fair Market Value of such shares, so long as such Grantee has provided to the Company, or its designee or agent, with advance written notice of such sale.

2.22 “ Family Member ” shall mean, with respect to any Grantee as of any date of determination, (a) a person who is a spouse, former spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of the Grantee, (b) any person sharing the Grantee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), (c) a trust in which any one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and (b) above (and such Grantee) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest, (d) a foundation in which any one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and (b) above and (and such Grantee) control the management of assets, and (e) any other entity in which one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and (b) above and (and such Grantee) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests.

2.23 “ Fully Diluted Basis ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the sum of (x) the number of shares of Voting Stock outstanding as of such date of determination plus (y) the number of shares of Voting Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion, or exchange of all then-outstanding warrants, options, convertible Capital Stock or indebtedness, exchangeable Capital Stock or indebtedness, or other rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, shares of Voting Stock, whether at the time of issue or upon the passage of time or upon the occurrence of some future event, and whether or not in-the-money as of such date of determination.

 

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2.24 “ Grant Date ” means, as determined by the Board, the latest to occur of (i) the date as of which the Board approves the Award, (ii) the date on which the recipient of an Award first becomes eligible to receive an Award under Section 6 , or (iii) such subsequent date as may be specified by the Board in a corporate action approving the Award.

2.25 “ Grantee ” means a person who receives or holds an Award under the Plan.

2.26 “ Group ” shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

2.27 “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Code Section 422.

2.28 “ Initial Public Offering ” or “ IPO ” means the initial firm commitment underwritten registered public offering by the Company of the Stock.

2.29 “ Non-Employee Director ” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

2.30 “ Non-qualified Stock Option ” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.31 “ Option ” means an option to purchase one or more shares of Stock at a specified Option Price awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 8 .

2.32 “ Option Price ” means the per share exercise price for shares of Stock subject to an Option.

2.33 “ Other Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 .

2.34 “ Outside Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company.

2.35 “ Other Equity-Based Award ” means an Award representing a right or other interest that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, other than an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, a Stock Unit, Unrestricted Stock, a Dividend Equivalent Right, or a Performance Award, or Annual Incentive Award.

2.36 “ Parachute Payment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.

2.37 “ Performance Award ” means an Award made subject to the attainment of performance goals (as described in Section 14 ) over a Performance Period of up to ten (10) years.

2.38 “ Performance-Based Compensation ” shall mean compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for Qualified Performance-Based Compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for Qualified Performance-Based Compensation does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including the purposes of Code Section 409A.

 

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2.39 “ Performance Measures ” means measures as specified in Section 14 on which the performance goal or goals are based and which are approved by the Company’s stockholders pursuant to, and to the extent required by, this Plan in order to qualify Performance or Annual Incentive Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.

2.40 “ Performance Period ” means the period of time, up to ten (10) years, during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to a Performance or Annual Incentive Award.

2.41 “ Plan ” means this Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

2.42 “ Prior Plan ” means the Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2007 Stock Plan.

2.43 “ Purchase Price ” means the purchase price for each share of Stock pursuant to a grant of Restricted Stock, Stock Units or Unrestricted Stock.

2.44 “ Qualified Performance-Based Compensation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Code Section 162(m).

2.45 “ Restricted Stock ” means shares of Stock awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 10 .

2.46 “ SAR Exercise Price ” means the per share exercise price of a SAR.

2.47 “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2.48 “ Securities Market ” shall mean an established securities market.

2.49 “ Separation from Service ” shall have the meaning set forth in Code Section 409A.

2.50 “ Service ” means service qualifying a Grantee as a Service Provider to the Company or any Affiliate. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee’s change in position or duties shall not result in interrupted or terminated Service, so long as such Grantee continues to be a Service Provider to the Company or any Affiliate. Subject to the preceding sentence, any determination by the Board whether a termination of Service shall have occurred for purposes of the Plan shall be final, binding, and conclusive. If a Service Provider’s employment or other Service relationship is with an Affiliate of the Company and the applicable entity ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company, a termination of Service shall be deemed to have occurred when such entity ceases to be an Affiliate unless the Service Provider transfers his or her employment or other Service relationship to the Company or any of its other Affiliates.

2.51 “ Service Provider ” shall mean (a) an Employee or director of the Company or an Affiliate, or (b) a consultant or adviser to the Company or an Affiliate (i) who is a natural person, (ii) who is currently providing bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate, and (iii) whose services are not in connection with the Company’s sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s Capital Stock.

2.52 “ Service Recipient Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in Code Section 409A.

2.53 “ Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, or any security into which shares of Stock may be changed or for which shares of Stock may be exchanged as provided in Section 17.1 .

 

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2.54 “ Stock Appreciation Right ” or “ SAR ” means a right awarded to a Grantee under Section 9 .

2.55 “ Stock Exchange ” means the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, any successor thereto, or another established national or regional stock exchange.

2.56 “ Stock Unit ” means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one share of Stock awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 10 that may be settled, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement, in shares of Stock, cash, or a combination thereof.

2.57 “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) or non-corporate entity with respect to which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of Voting Stock. In addition, any other entity may be designated by the Committee as a Subsidiary, provided that (a) such entity could be considered as a subsidiary according to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and (b) in the case of an Award of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, such Award would be considered to be granted in respect of Service Recipient Stock under Code Section 409A.

2.58 “ Substitute Award ” means an Award granted upon assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or an Affiliate or with which the Company or an Affiliate combines.

2.59 “ Ten Percent Stockholder ” means an individual who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, its parent (if any), or any of its Subsidiaries. In determining stock ownership, the attribution rules of Code Section 424(d) shall be applied.

2.60 “ Unrestricted Stock ” shall mean Stock that is free of any restrictions.

2.61 “ Voting Stock ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock of any class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the election of directors, managers, or other voting members of the governing body of such Person.

3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

3.1. Board.

The Board shall have such powers and authorities related to the administration of the Plan as are consistent with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and Applicable Laws. The Board shall have full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for under the Plan, any Award, or any Award Agreement and shall have full power and authority to take all such other actions and to make all such other determinations not inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan that the Board deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan, any Award, or any Award Agreement. All such actions and determinations shall be made by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board present at a meeting at which a quorum is present or by unanimous consent of the members of the Board executed in writing or evidenced by electronic transmission in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and Applicable Laws. The Board shall have the authority to interpret and construe all provisions of the Plan, any Award, and any Award Agreement, and any such interpretation and construction, and any other determination contemplated to be made under the Plan, any Award, or any Award Agreement, by the Board shall be final, binding, and conclusive on all persons, whether or not expressly provided for in any provision of the Plan, such Award, or such Award Agreement.

 

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3.2. Committee.

The Board from time to time may delegate to the Committee such powers and authorities related to the administration and implementation of the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.1 above and other applicable provisions, as the Board shall determine, consistent with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and Applicable Laws.

(i) Except as provided in Subsection (ii) and except as the Board may otherwise determine, the Committee, if any, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan shall consist of two or more Outside Directors of the Company who: (a) qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, (b) meet such other requirements as may be established from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission for plans intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act, and (c) comply with the independence requirements of the Stock Exchange or Securities Market on which the shares of Stock are listed or publicly traded.

(ii) The Board may also appoint one or more separate committees of the Board, each composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not be Outside Directors, who may administer the Plan with respect to employees or other Service Providers who are not executive officers (as defined under Rule 3b-7 or the Exchange Act) or directors of the Company, may grant Awards under the Plan to such employees or other Service Providers, and may determine all terms of such Awards, subject to the requirements of Code Section 162(m), Rule 16b-3, and the rules of the Stock Exchange or Securities Market on which the shares of Stock are listed or publicly traded.

In the event that the Plan, any Award, or any Award Agreement entered into hereunder provides for any action to be taken by or determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken or such determination may be made by a Committee if the power and authority to do so has been delegated (and such delegated authority has not been revoked) to such Committee by the Board as provided for in this Section. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, any such action or determination by the Committee shall be final, binding, and conclusive. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Committee may delegate its authority under the Plan to a member of the Board, provided, that such member of the Board to whom the Committee delegates authority under the Plan must be an Outside Director who satisfies the requirements of Subsection (i)(a)-(c) of this Section 3.2 .

3.3. Terms of Awards.

Subject to the other terms and conditions of the Plan, the Board shall have full and final authority to:

(i) designate Grantees;

(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be made to a Grantee;

(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock to be subject to an Award or to which an Award relates;

 

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(iv) establish the terms and conditions of each Award (including, but not limited to, the Option Price, SAR Exercise Price, the Purchase Price, the nature and duration of any restriction or condition (or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting, exercise, transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the shares of Stock subject thereto, the treatment of an Award in the event of a Change in Control (subject to applicable agreements); and any terms or conditions that may be necessary to qualify Options as Incentive Stock Options);

(v) prescribe the form of each Award Agreement evidencing an Award;

(vi) subject to the limitations on repricing in Section 3.5 , amend, modify or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award. Such authority specifically includes the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but without amending the Plan, to make or modify outstanding Awards made to eligible individuals who are foreign nationals or are individuals who are employed outside the United States to recognize differences in local law, tax policy, or custom. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, modification, or supplement of the terms of any outstanding Award shall, without the consent of the Grantee thereof, impair the Grantee’s rights under such Award; and

(vii) make Substitute Awards.

3.4. Forfeiture; Recoupment.

The Board may reserve the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee with respect to an Award thereunder on account of actions taken by, or failed to be taken by, such Grantee in violation or breach of, or in conflict with, any (a) employment agreement, (b) non-competition agreement, (c) agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees or clients of the Company or any Affiliate, (d) confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, or (e) Company or Affiliate policy or procedure, (f) other agreement, or (g) other obligation of such Grantee to the Company or an Affiliate, as and to the extent specified in such Award Agreement. If the Grantee of an outstanding Award is an employee of the Company or any Affiliate and such Grantee’s Service is terminated for Cause, the Committee may annul such Grantee’s outstanding Award as of the date of the Grantee’s termination of Service for Cause.

Any Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to mandatory repayment by the Grantee to the Company (x) to the extent set forth in this Plan or an Award Agreement or (y) to the extent the Grantee is, or in the future becomes, subject to (i) any Company “clawback” or recoupment policy that is adopted to comply with the requirements of any Applicable Laws or (ii) any Applicable Laws which impose mandatory recoupment, under circumstances set forth in such Applicable Laws.

Furthermore, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, and any Award Agreement so provides, any Grantee of an Award under such Award Agreement who knowingly engaged in such misconduct, was grossly negligent in engaging in such misconduct, knowingly failed to prevent such misconduct, or was grossly negligent in failing to prevent such misconduct, shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the 12-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document that contained information affected by such material noncompliance.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any provision of any Award Agreement, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement, then a Grantee shall forfeit any cash or shares of Stock received in connection with an Award (or an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such shares of Stock on the date of delivery if the Grantee no longer holds the shares of Stock) if pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement for such Award, the amount of the Award earned or the vesting in the Award was explicitly based on the achievement of pre-established performance goals set forth in the Award Agreement (including earnings, gains, or other performance goals) that are later determined, as a result of the accounting restatement, not to have been achieved.

 

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3.5. No Repricing Without Stockholder Approval.

Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Stock, other securities, or other property), stock split, extraordinary dividend, recapitalization, Change in Control, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Stock, or other securities or similar transaction), the Company may not: (a) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price, as applicable, of such outstanding Options or SARs; (b) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for or substitution of Options or SARs with an Option Price or SAR Exercise Price, as applicable, that is less than the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price of the original Options or SARs; or (c) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an Option Price or SAR Exercise Price, as applicable, above the current per share Fair Market Value in exchange for cash or other securities, in each case unless such action (i) is subject to and approved by the Company’s stockholders or (ii) would not be deemed to be a repricing under the rules of any Stock Exchange or Securities Market on which the Stock is listed or publicly traded.

3.6. Deferral Arrangement.

The Board may permit or require the deferral of any payment pursuant to an Award into a deferred compensation arrangement, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish, which may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or Dividend Equivalent Rights and, in connection therewith, provisions for converting such credits into deferred Stock Units and for restricting deferrals to comply with hardship distribution rules affecting tax-qualified retirement plans subject to Code Section 401(k)(2)(B)(IV); provided that no Dividend Equivalent Rights may be granted in connection with, or related to, an Award of Options or SARs. Any such deferrals shall be made in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A, including, if applicable, with respect to when a Separation from Service occurs.

3.7. Limitation on Liability.

No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan, any Award, or any Award Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, neither the Company, any of its Affiliates, the Board, the Committee, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any of its Affiliates, the Board, or the Committee will be liable to any Grantee or to the estate or beneficiary of any Grantee or to any other holder of an Award under the Plan by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties), asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422 or Code Section 409A or by reason of Code Section 4999, or otherwise asserted with respect to the Award; provided , that this Section 3.7 shall not affect any of the rights or obligations set forth in an applicable agreement between the Grantee and the Company or any of its Affiliates.

3.8. Stock Issuance/Book-Entry.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the issuance of the shares of Stock under the Plan may be evidenced in such a manner as the Board, in its discretion, deems appropriate, including by book-entry or direct registration (including transaction advices) or the issuance of one or more share certificates.

 

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4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

4.1. Number of Shares of Stock Available for Awards.

Subject to the other provisions of this Section 4 and subject to adjustment as provided under Section 17.1 , the maximum number of shares of Stock that shall be authorized for issuance for Awards under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of (i) 1,750,000 shares of Stock, plus (ii) the number of shares of Stock related to awards outstanding under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date which thereafter terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such shares (“ 2015 Plan Reserve Amount ”). In addition, commencing on January 1, 2017 and continuing until the expiration of the Plan, the 2015 Plan Reserve Amount shall automatically increase in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) four percent (4%) of the total number of shares of Outstanding Company Stock on December 31st of the preceding calendar year and (ii) the number of shares of Stock (which may be zero) designated by action of the Board prior to the first day of any calendar year. Such shares of Stock may be authorized and unissued shares of Stock or treasury shares of Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as may be determined from time to time by the Board or by the Committee. Any of the shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan may be used for any type of Award under the Plan, and 1,750,000 shares of Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan shall be available for issuance pursuant to Incentive Stock Options.

4.2. Adjustments in Authorized Shares of Stock.

The Board shall have the right to substitute or assume awards in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Code Section 424(a) applies. The number of shares of Stock reserved pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be increased by the corresponding number of awards assumed and, in the case of a substitution, by the net increase in the number of shares of Stock subject to awards before and after the substitution. Shares available for issuance under a stockholder-approved plan of a business entity that is party to such transaction (as appropriately adjusted, if necessary, to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the number of shares of Stock otherwise available for issuance under the Plan, subject to applicable rules of any Stock Exchange or Securities Market on which the Stock is listed or publicly traded.

4.3. Share Usage.

Shares of Stock covered by an Award shall be counted as used as of the Grant Date for purposes of calculating the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under Section 4.1 . Any shares of Stock that are subject to Awards, including shares of Stock acquired through dividend reinvestment pursuant to Section 10 , will be counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 as one (1) share of Stock for every one (1) share of Stock subject to an Award. With respect to SARs, the number of shares of Stock subject to an award of SARs will be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan regardless of the number of shares of Stock actually issued to settle the SAR upon exercise. The target number of shares issuable under a Performance Award grant shall be counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 as of the Grant Date, but such number shall be adjusted to equal the actual number of shares issued upon settlement of the Performance Award to the extent different from such target number of shares. If any shares of Stock covered by an Award granted under the Plan are not purchased or are forfeited or expire, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any shares of Stock subject thereto or is settled in cash in lieu of shares of Stock, then the number of shares of Stock counted against the aggregate number of shares of Stock available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination, expiration, or settlement, again be available for making Awards under the Plan in the same amount as such shares of Stock were counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 .

 

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The number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan will not be increased by the number of shares of Stock (i) tendered, withheld, or subject to an Award granted under the Plan surrendered in connection with the purchase of shares of Stock upon exercise of an Option, (ii) that were not issued upon the net settlement or net exercise of a Stock-settled SAR granted under the Plan, (iii) deducted or delivered from payment of an Award granted under the Plan in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations as provided in Section 18.3 , or (iv) purchased by the Company with proceeds from Option exercises.

5. EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION AND AMENDMENTS

5.1. Effective Date.

The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. Following the Effective Date, no awards shall be made under the Prior Plan.

5.2. Term.

The Plan shall terminate on the first to occur of (a) the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the Effective Date, (b) the date determined in accordance with Section 5.3 , and (c) the date determined in accordance with Section 17.3 ; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may not be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of the Board’s adoption of the Plan. Upon such termination of the Plan, all outstanding Awards shall continue to have full force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the terminated Plan and the applicable Award Agreement (or other documents evidencing such Awards).

5.3. Amendment, Suspension and Termination of the Plan.

The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan; provided that, with respect to Awards theretofore granted under the Plan, no amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Grantee, impair rights or obligations under any such Award theretofore awarded under the Plan. The effectiveness of any amendment to the Plan shall be contingent on approval of such amendment by the Company’s stockholders to the extent stated by the Board, required by Applicable Laws, or required by the Stock Exchange or Securities Market on which the shares of Stock are listed or publicly traded.

6. AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS

6.1. Service Providers and Other Persons.

Subject to this Section 6 , Awards may be made under the Plan to: (i) any Service Provider, as the Board shall determine and designate from time to time and (ii) any other individual whose participation in the Plan is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the Board.

6.2. Limitation on Shares of Stock Subject to Awards and Cash Awards.

During any time when the Company has a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act:

(i) the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Options or SARs that can be granted under the Plan to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 is 437,500 in a calendar year;

 

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(ii) the maximum number of shares of Stock that can be granted under the Plan, other than pursuant to an Option or SARs, to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 is 218,7150 in a calendar year; and

(iii) the maximum amount that may be paid as a cash-denominated Annual Incentive Award (whether or not cash-settled) for a Performance Period of twelve (12) months or less to any person eligible for an Award shall be $1,000,000, and the maximum amount that may be paid as a cash-denominated Performance Award (whether or not cash-settled) in respect of a Performance Period greater than twelve (12) months to any person eligible for an Award shall be $3,000,000.

The preceding limitations in this Section 6.2 are subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17.1 .

6.3. Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards.

Subject to Section 3.5 , Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate, or any other right of a Grantee to receive payment from the Company or any Affiliate. Such additional, tandem, exchange, or Substitute Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, or for an award granted under another plan of the Company, an Affiliate, or any business entity that has been a party to a transaction with the Company or an Affiliate, the Board shall require the surrender of such other Award or award under such other plan in consideration for the grant of the such exchange or Substitute Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Affiliate. Notwithstanding Section 8.1 and Section 9.1 , but subject to Section 3.5 , the Option Price of an Option or the SAR Exercise Price of an SAR that is a Substitute Award may be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the original Grant Date; provided, that, the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price is determined in accordance with the principles of Code Section 424 for any Incentive Stock Option and consistent with Code Section 409A for any other Option or SAR.

7. AWARD AGREEMENT

Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, in such form or forms as the Board shall from time to time determine. Award Agreements utilized under the Plan from time to time or at the same time need not contain similar provisions but shall be consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Award of Options shall specify whether such Options are intended to be Non-qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options, and, in the absence of such specification, such options shall be deemed Non-qualified Stock Options. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and an Award Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall control.

8. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

8.1. Option Price.

The Option Price of each Option shall be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option. Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of each Option shall be at least the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock on the Grant Date; provided, however , that in the event that a Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, the Option Price of an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock on the Grant Date. In no case shall the Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of one (1) share of Stock.

 

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8.2. Vesting and Exercisability.

Subject to Sections 8.3 and 17.3 , each Option granted under the Plan shall become vested and/or exercisable at such times and under such conditions as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing; provided that no Option shall be granted to Grantees who are entitled to overtime under Applicable Laws that will vest or be exercisable within a six (6)-month period starting on the Grant Date.

8.3. Term.

Each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date of such Option, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such Option; provided , that in the event that the Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from its Grant Date; and provided, further, that, to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board to reflect differences in local law, tax policy, or custom with respect to any Option granted to a Grantee who is a foreign national or is a natural Person who is employed outside the United States, such Option may terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder may cease, upon the expiration of a period longer than ten (10) years from the Grant Date of such Option as the Board shall determine.

8.4. Termination of Service.

Each Award Agreement with respect to the grant of an Option shall set forth the extent to which the Grantee thereof, if at all, shall have the right to exercise such Option following termination of such Grantee’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.

8.5. Limitations on Exercise of Option.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised, in whole or in part, after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 17 which results in the termination of the Option.

8.6. Method of Exercise.

Subject to the terms of Section 12 and Section 18.3 , an Option that is exercisable may be exercised by the Grantee’s delivery to the Company or its designee or agent of notice of exercise on any business day, at the Company’s principal office, or the office of such designee or agent, on the form specified by the Company and in accordance with any additional procedures specified by the Board. Such notice shall specify the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other taxes which the Company may, in its judgment, be required to withhold with respect to the exercise of such Option.

 

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8.7. Rights of Holders of Options.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee or other person holding or exercising an Option shall have none of the rights of a stockholder of the Company (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the subject shares of Stock or to direct the voting of the subject shares of Stock subject to such Option, or to receive notice of any meeting of the Company’s stockholders) until the shares of Stock subject thereto are fully paid and issued to such Grantee or other person. Except as provided in Section 17 , no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights with respect to any shares of Stock subject to an Option for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance of such shares of Stock.

8.8. Delivery of Stock Certificates.

Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the Option Price, such Grantee shall be entitled to the issuance of a stock certificate or certificates evidencing his or her ownership of the shares of Stock subject to the Option, as shall be consistent with Section 3.8 .

8.9. Transferability of Options.

Except as provided in Section 8.10 , during the lifetime of a Grantee of an Option, only the Grantee (or, in the event of such Grantee’s legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantee’s guardian or legal representative) may exercise such Option. Except as provided in Section 8.10 , no Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

8.10. Family Transfers.

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement and by the Board, in its sole discretion, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 8.10 , a “not for value” transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) unless Applicable Laws do not permit such transfer, a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 8.10 , any such Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to such transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred Options are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 8.10 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The events of termination of Service of Section 8.4 shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee, following which such Option shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified, in Section 8.4 .

8.11. Limitations on Incentive Stock Options.

An Option shall constitute an Incentive Stock Option only (i) if the Grantee of such Option is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) to the extent specifically provided in the related Award Agreement; and (iii) to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Option is granted) of the shares of Stock with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options held by such Grantee become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the Grantee’s employer and its Affiliates) does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Except to the extent provided in the regulations under Code Section 422, this limitation shall be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.

 

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8.12. Notice of Disqualifying Disposition.

If any Grantee shall make any disposition of shares of Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Grantee shall notify the Company of such disposition immediately but in no event later than ten (10) days thereafter.

9. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

9.1. Right to Payment and SAR Exercise Price.

A SAR shall confer on the Grantee to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the SAR Exercise Price as determined by the Board. The Award Agreement for a SAR shall specify the SAR Exercise Price, which shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock on the Grant Date. SARs may be granted in conjunction with all or part of an Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option, in conjunction with all or any part of any other Award or without regard to any Option or other Award; provided that a SAR that is granted in tandem with all or part of an Option will have the same term, and expire at the same time, as the related Option; provided, further, that a SAR that is granted subsequent to the Grant Date of a related Option must have a SAR Exercise Price that is no less than the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the SAR Grant Date.

9.2. Other Terms.

The Board shall determine on the Grant Date or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which SARs shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which shares of Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Grantees, whether or not a SAR shall be granted in tandem or in combination with any other Award; and any and all other terms and conditions of any SAR; provided that no SARs shall be granted to Grantees who are entitled to overtime under Applicable Laws that will vest or be exercisable within a six (6)-month period starting on the Grant Date.

9.3. Term.

Each SAR granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date of such SAR, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such SAR.

9.4. Rights of Holders of SARs.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee or other Person holding or exercising a SAR shall have none of the rights of a stockholder of the Company (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the shares of Stock underlying such SAR, to direct the voting of the shares of Stock underlying such SAR, or to receive notice of any meeting of the Company’s stockholders) until the shares of Stock underlying such SAR, if any, are issued to such Grantee or other Person. Except as provided in Section 17 , no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions, or other rights with respect to any shares of Stock underlying a SAR for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance of such shares of Stock, if any.

 

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9.5. Transferability of SARs.

Except as provided in Section 9.6 , during the lifetime of a Grantee of a SAR, only the Grantee (or, in the event of such Grantee’s legal incapacity or incompetency, such Grantee’s guardian or legal representative) may exercise such SAR. Except as provided in Section 9.6 , no SAR shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

9.6. Family Transfers.

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement and by the Board, in its sole discretion, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of a SAR to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 9.6 , a “not for value” transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) unless Applicable Laws do not permit such transfers, a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (and/or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 9.6 , any such SAR shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to such transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred SARs are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 9.6 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

10. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS

10.1. Grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units.

Awards of Restricted Stock or Stock Units may be made for consideration or for no consideration, other than the par value of the shares of Stock which is deemed paid by past Service, or if so provided in the related Award Agreement or separate agreement, the promise to perform future Service to the Company or an Affiliate.

10.2. Restrictions.

At the time a grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units is made, the Board may, in its sole discretion, establish a period of time (a “restricted period”) applicable to such Restricted Stock or Stock Units. Each Award of Restricted Stock or Stock Units may be subject to a different restricted period. The Board may in its sole discretion, at the time a grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units is made, prescribe restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the restricted period, including the achievement of corporate or individual performance objectives, which may be applicable to all or any portion of the Restricted Stock or Stock Units as described in Section 14 . Neither Restricted Stock nor Stock Units may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the restricted period or prior to the satisfaction of any other restrictions prescribed by the Board with respect to such Restricted Stock or Stock Units.

10.3. Restricted Stock Certificates.

Pursuant to Section 3.8 , to the extent that ownership of Restricted Stock is evidenced by a book-entry registration or direct registration (including transaction advices), such registration shall be notated to evidence the restrictions imposed on such Award of Restricted Stock under the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Subject to Section 3.8 , and the immediately following sentence, the Company may issue, in the name of each Grantee to whom Restricted Stock has been granted, certificates representing the

 

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total number of shares of Restricted Stock granted to the Grantee, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date of such Restricted Stock. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock that either (i) the Secretary of the Company shall hold such certificates for the Grantee’s benefit until such time as the shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited to the Company or the restrictions applicable thereto lapse and such Grantee shall deliver a stock power to the Company with respect to each certificate, or (ii) such certificates shall be delivered to such Grantee, provided , that such certificates shall bear a legend or legends that comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and makes appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed on such Award of Restricted Stock under the Plan and such Award Agreement.

10.4. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock.

Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Restricted Stock shall have the right to vote such shares of Stock and the right to receive any dividend payments or distributions declared or paid with respect to such shares of Restricted Stock. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement evidencing a grant of Restricted Stock that that (a) any cash dividend payments or distributions paid on Restricted Stock must be reinvested in shares of Stock, which may or may not be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions as applicable to such underlying shares of Restricted Stock or (b) any dividend payments or distributions declared or paid on shares of Restricted Stock shall only be made or paid upon satisfaction of the vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such shares of Restricted Stock. Dividend payments or distributions declared or paid on shares of Restricted Stock which vest or are earned based upon the achievement of performance goals shall not vest unless such performance goals for such shares of Restricted Stock are achieved, and if such performance goals are not achieved, the Grantee of such shares of Restricted Stock shall promptly forfeit and, to the extent already paid or distributed, repay to the Company such dividend payments or distributions. All stock dividend payments or distributions, if any received by a Grantee with respect to shares of Restricted Stock as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, combination of stock, or other similar transaction shall be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions as applicable to such underlying shares of Restricted Stock.

10.5. Rights of Holders of Stock Units.

10.5.1. Voting and Dividend Rights.

Holders of Stock Units shall have no rights as stockholders of the Company. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement evidencing a grant of Stock Units that the holder of such Stock Units shall be entitled to receive, upon the Company’s payment of a cash dividend on its outstanding shares of Stock, a cash payment for each Stock Unit held equal to the per-stock dividend paid on the shares of Stock. Such Award Agreement may also provide that such cash payment will be deemed reinvested in additional Stock Units at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date on which such dividend is paid.

10.5.2. Creditor’s Rights.

A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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10.6. Termination of Service.

Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing after such Award Agreement is issued, but prior to the termination of a Grantee’s Service, upon the termination of such Grantee’s Service, any Restricted Stock or Stock Units held by such Grantee that have not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, the Grantee shall have no further rights with respect to such Award, including but not limited to any right to vote Restricted Stock or any right to receive dividends or Dividend Equivalent Rights, as applicable, with respect to Restricted Stock or Stock Units.

10.7. Purchase of Restricted Stock and Shares of Stock Subject to Stock Units.

The Grantee of an Award of Restricted Stock or vested Stock Units shall be required, to the extent required by Applicable Laws, to purchase such Restricted Stock or shares of Stock subject to such vested Stock Units from the Company at a Purchase Price equal to the greater of (i) the aggregate par value of the shares of Stock represented by such Restricted Stock or such vested Stock Units or (ii) the Purchase Price, if any, specified in the Award Agreement relating to such Restricted Stock or such vested Stock Units. The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described in Section 12 or, in the discretion of the Board, in consideration for past or future Service rendered or to be rendered by the Grantee to the Company or an Affiliate.

10.8. Delivery of Shares of Stock.

Upon the expiration or termination of any restricted period and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Board, the restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock or Stock Units settled in shares of Stock shall lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, a book-entry or direct registration (including transaction advices) or a certificate evidencing ownership of such shares of Stock shall, consistent with Section 3.8 , be issued, free of all such restrictions, to the Grantee thereof or the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be. Neither the Grantee, nor the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, shall have any further rights with regard to a Stock Unit once the shares of Stock represented by such Stock Unit have been delivered in accordance with this Section 10.8 .

11. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS AND OTHER EQUITY-BASED AWARDS

11.1. Unrestricted Stock Awards.

The Board may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or at such other higher purchase price determined by the Board) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any Grantee pursuant to which such Grantee may receive shares of Unrestricted Stock under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of Service rendered or, if so provided in the related Award Agreement or a separate agreement, to be rendered by the Grantee to the Company or an Affiliate or other valid consideration, in lieu of, or in addition to, any cash compensation due to such Grantee.

11.2. Other Equity-Based Awards.

The Board may, in its sole discretion, grant Awards to Participants in the form of Other Equity-Based Awards, as deemed by the Board to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Awards granted pursuant to this Section 11.2 may be granted with vesting, value and/or payment contingent upon the attainment of one or more performance goals. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Equity-Based Awards on the Grant Date or thereafter. Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, upon the termination of a Grantee’s Service, any Other Equity-Based Awards held

 

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by such Grantee that have not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of Other Equity-Based Awards, the Grantee shall have no further rights with respect to such Award.

12. FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK

12.1. General Rule.

Payment of the Option Price for the shares of Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price, if any, for Restricted Stock shall be made in cash or in cash equivalents acceptable to the Company.

12.2. Surrender of Shares of Stock.

To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares of Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock may be made all or in part through the tender or attestation to the Company of shares of Stock, which shall be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to which the Option Price or Purchase Price has been paid thereby, at their Fair Market Value on the date of such tender or attestation.

12.3. Cashless Exercise.

With respect to an Option only (and not with respect to Restricted Stock), to the extent permitted by law and to the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares of Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form acceptable to the Board) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell shares of Stock and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in payment of the Option Price and any withholding taxes described in Section 18.3 , or, with the consent of the Company, by issuing the number of shares of Stock equal in value to the difference between the Option Price and the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock subject to the portion of the Option being exercised.

12.4. Other Forms of Payment.

To the extent the Award Agreement so provides and/or unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, payment of the Option Price for shares of Stock purchased pursuant to exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price, if any, for Restricted Stock may be made in any other form that is consistent with Applicable Laws, regulations and rules, including, without limitation, Service by the Grantee thereof to the Company or an Affiliate.

13. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

13.1. Dividend Equivalent Rights.

A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive credits based on cash distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares of Stock had been issued to and held by the recipient. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Grantee, provided that no Dividend Equivalent Rights may be granted in connection with, or related to, an Award of Options or SARs. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Agreement therefor. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently (with or

 

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without being subject to forfeiture or a repayment obligation) or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock or Awards, which may thereafter accrue additional Dividend Equivalent Rights (with or without being subject to forfeiture or a repayment obligation). Any such reinvestment shall be at the Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or multiple installments, all determined in the sole discretion of the Board. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other award. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may also contain terms and conditions different from such other Award; provided, however, that Dividend Equivalent Rights credited pursuant to a Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award which vests or is earned based upon the achievement of performance goals shall not vest unless the performance goals for such underlying Award are achieved, and if such performance goals are not achieved, the Grantee of such Dividend Equivalent Rights shall promptly forfeit and, to the extent already paid or distributed, repay to the Company payments or distributions made in connection with such Dividend Equivalent Rights.

13.2. Termination of Service.

Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, a Grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall automatically terminate upon such Grantee’s termination of Service for any reason.

14. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS

14.1. Grant of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards.

Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Board, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance and/or Annual Incentive Awards to a Plan participant in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

14.2. Value of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards.

Each Performance Award and Annual Incentive Award shall have an initial cash value or an actual or target number of shares of Stock that is established by the Board as of the Grant Date. The Board shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are achieved, shall determine the value and/or number of shares of Stock subject to Performance Awards that will be paid out to the Grantee thereof.

14.3. Earning of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards.

Subject to the terms of the Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the Grantee of Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards shall be entitled to receive a payout of the value earned under such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards earned by such Grantee over such Performance Period.

 

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14.4. Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards.

Payment of the value earned under Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards shall be made, as determined by the Committee, in the form, at the time, and in the manner described in the applicable Award Agreement. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, (i) may pay the value earned under Performance Awards in the form of cash, shares of Stock, or other Awards, or in a combination thereof, including shares of Stock and/or Awards, including shares of Stock and/or Awards that are subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee, and (ii) shall pay the value earned under Performance Awards at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Committee has determined that the performance goal or goals relating thereto have been achieved; provided that, unless specifically provided in the Award Agreement, such payment shall occur no later than the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) month following the end of the calendar year in which such Performance Period ends.

14.5. Performance Conditions.

The right of a Grantee to exercise or to receive a grant or settlement of any Performance or Annual Incentive Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Board. The Board may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions. If and to the extent required under Code Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to an Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), shall be exercised by the Committee and not by the Board.

14.6. Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees.

If and to the extent that the Board determines that a Performance or Annual Incentive Award to be granted to a Grantee should constitute Qualified Performance-Based Compensation for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 14.6 .

14.6.1. Performance Goals Generally.

The performance goals for Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 14.6 . Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that such Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any single performance goal or of two (2) or more performance goals. Performance goals may differ for Awards granted to any one Grantee or to different Grantees.

14.6.2. Timing For Establishing Performance Goals.

Performance goals for Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be established not later than the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Awards and (ii) the day on which twenty-five percent (25%) of any performance period applicable to such Awards has expired, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for compensation payable to a Covered Employee to constitute Performance-Based Compensation.

 

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14.6.3. Payment of Awards; Other Terms.

Payment of such Awards shall be in cash, shares of Stock, other Awards, or a combination thereof, including shares of Stock and/or Awards that are subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee, in each case as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, reduce the amount of a payment otherwise to be made in connection with such Awards. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee prior to the end of a Performance Period or settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards. In the event payment of the Performance-Based Award is made in the form of another Award subject to Service-based vesting, the Committee shall specify the circumstances in which the payment Award will be paid or forfeited in the event of a termination of Service.

14.6.4. Performance Measures.

The performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of a Performance or Annual Incentive Award to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may be conditioned shall be limited to the following Performance Measures, with or without adjustment (including pro forma adjustments):

(a) net earnings or net income;

(b) operating earnings;

(c) pretax earnings;

(d) earnings per share of stock;

(e) stock price, including growth measures and total stockholder return;

(f) earnings before interest and taxes;

(g) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization;

(h) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization as adjusted to exclude any one or more of the following:

 

    stock-based compensation expense;

 

    income from discontinued operations;

 

    gain on cancellation of debt;

 

    debt extinguishment and related costs;

 

    restructuring, separation, and/or integration charges and costs;

 

    reorganization and/or recapitalization charges and costs;

 

    impairment charges;

 

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    merger-related events;

 

    gain or loss related to investments;

 

    sales and use tax settlements; and

 

    gain on non-monetary transactions;

(i) sales or revenue growth, whether in general, by type of product or service, or by type of customer;

(j) gross or operating margins;

(k) return measures, including return on assets, capital, investment, equity, sales or revenue;

(l) cash flow, including operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity and cash flow return on investment;

(m) productivity ratios;

(n) expense targets;

(o) market share;

(p) financial ratios as provided in credit agreements of the Company and its subsidiaries;

(q) working capital targets;

(r) completion of acquisitions of business or companies;

(s) completion of divestitures and asset sales;

(t) revenues under management;

(u) funds from operations;

(v) successful implementation of clinical trials, including components thereof;

(w) submitting regulatory filings;

(x) obtaining regulatory or marketing approvals;

(y) entering into contractual agreements;

(z) meeting contractual requirements;

(aa) achieving contractual milestones;

(bb) entering into collaborations;

(cc) receipt of grant funding;

 

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(dd) developing or expanding manufacturing or production capacity; and

(ee) any combination of any of the foregoing business criteria.

Performance under any of the foregoing Performance Measure(s) may be used to measure the performance of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate as a whole or any business unit or operating segment of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, and any of the above Performance Measures may be compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. In addition, the Company, in its sole discretion may select performance under the Performance Measure specified in clause (e) above for comparison to performance under one or more stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Performance or Annual Incentive Award based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to the Performance Measures specified in this Section 14 .

14.6.5. Evaluation of Performance.

The Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occur during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation or claims, judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization or restructuring events or programs; (e) extraordinary non-core, non-operating, or non-recurring items; (f) acquisitions or divestitures; (g) foreign exchange gains and losses; (h) impact of shares of Stock purchased through share repurchase programs; (i) tax valuation allowance reversals; (j) impairment expense; and (k) environmental expense. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, such inclusions or exclusions shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

14.6.6. Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation.

The Committee shall have the sole discretion to adjust Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, either on a formula or discretionary basis, or on any combination thereof, as the Committee determines consistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

14.6.7. Board Discretion.

In the event that Applicable Laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Board shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval provided that the exercise of such discretion shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of Code Sections 162(m). In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Board may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting on Performance Measures other than those set forth in Section 14.6.4 .

14.7. Status of Awards Under Code Section 162(m).

It is the intent of the Company that Performance or Annual Incentive Awards under Section 14.6 granted to Grantees who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute Qualified Performance-Based Compensation. Accordingly, the

 

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terms of Section 14.6 , including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m). If any provision of the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement, or any other agreement relating to such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m), such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

15. PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS

If the Grantee is a “disqualified individual,” as defined in Code Section 280G(c), then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by a Grantee with the Company or an Affiliate, except an agreement, contract, or understanding that expressly addresses Code Section 280G or Code Section 4999 (an “ Other Agreement ”), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation to the Grantee (including groups or classes of Grantees or beneficiaries of which the Grantee is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Grantee (a “ Benefit Arrangement ”), any right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan shall be reduced or eliminated:

(i) to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under the Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan to be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2) as then in effect (a “ Parachute Payment ”); and

(ii) if, as a result of receiving such Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Grantee from the Company under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Grantee without causing any such exercise, vesting, payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment.

Except as required by Code Section 409A or to the extent that Code Section 409A permits discretion, the Committee shall have the right, in the Committee’s sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments, or benefits under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having such rights, payments, or benefits be considered a Parachute Payment; provided, however , to the extent any payment or benefit constitutes deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, in order to comply with Code Section 409A, the Company shall instead accomplish such reduction by first reducing or eliminating any cash payments (with the payments to be made furthest in the future being reduced first), then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Performance Awards, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Options or SARs, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, then by reducing or eliminating any other remaining Parachute Payments.

16. REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

16.1. General.

The Company shall not be required to offer, sell or issue any shares of Stock under any Award, whether pursuant to the exercise of an Option, a SAR, or otherwise, if the offer, sale or issuance of such shares of Stock would constitute a violation by the Grantee, any other individual or entity, or the Company or an Affiliate of any provision of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or of Applicable Laws, including without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at any time the

 

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Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration, or qualification of any shares of Stock subject to an Award upon any Stock Exchange or Securities Market or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the offering, sale issuance or purchase of shares of Stock in connection with any Award, no shares of Stock may be offered, issued or sold to the Grantee or any other individual or entity pursuant to the exercise of such Award unless such listing, registration or qualification shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of the Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the exercise of any Option or any SAR that may be settled in shares of Stock or the delivery of any shares of Stock underlying an Award, unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect with respect to the shares of Stock subject to such Award, the Company shall not be required to offer, sell or issue such shares of Stock unless the Board has received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any other individual or entity exercising Option or SAR or accepting delivery of such shares may acquire such shares of Stock pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any determination by the Board in connection with the foregoing shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may register, but shall in no event be obligated to register, any shares of Stock or other securities issuable pursuant to the Plan pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or a SAR or the issuance of shares of Stock or other securities pursuant to the Plan to comply with any Applicable Laws. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement that an Option (or SAR that may be settled in shares of Stock) shall not be exercisable until the shares of Stock covered by such Option (or SAR) are registered under the securities laws thereof or are exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option (or SAR) under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such an exemption.

16.2. Rule 16b-3.

During any time when the Company has a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that Awards pursuant to the Plan and the exercise of Options and SARs granted hereunder that would otherwise be subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act will qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or action by the Board does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3, such provision or action shall be deemed inoperative with respect to such Awards to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws and deemed advisable by the Board, and shall not affect the validity of the Plan. In the event that Rule 16b-3 is revised or replaced, the Board may exercise its discretion to modify this Plan in any respect necessary or advisable in its judgment to satisfy the requirements of, or to permit the Company to avail itself of the benefits of, the revised exemption or its replacement.

17. EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

17.1. Changes in Stock.

If the number of outstanding shares of Stock is increased or decreased or the shares of Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number of shares or kind of Capital Stock or other securities of the Company on account of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, combination of stock, exchange of stock, stock dividend or other distribution payable in capital stock, or other increase or decrease in shares of stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of shares of Capital Stock for which grants of Options and other Awards may be made under the Plan, including, without limitation, the 2015 Plan Reserve Amount and the limits set forth in Section 6.2 , shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Board. In addition, the number and kind of shares of Capital Stock for which Awards are outstanding shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Committee so that the proportionate interest of the

 

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Grantee therein immediately following such event shall, to the extent practicable, be the same as immediately before such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options or SARs shall not change the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price payable with respect to shares that are subject to the unexercised portion of such outstanding Options or SARs, as applicable, but shall include a corresponding proportionate adjustment in the per share Option Price or SAR Exercise Price, as the case may be. The conversion or exercise of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as an increase in shares effected without receipt of consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any distribution to the Company’s stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (including an extraordinary dividend but excluding a non-extraordinary dividend of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Board shall, in such manner as it deems appropriate, adjust (i) the number and kind of shares of Capital Stock subject to outstanding Awards and/or (ii) the aggregate and per share Option Price of outstanding Options and the aggregate and per share SAR Exercise Price of outstanding SARs as required to reflect such distribution.

17.2. Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity Which Does not Constitute a Change in Control.

Subject to Section 17.3 , if the Company shall be the surviving entity in any reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company with one or more other entities which does not constitute a Change in Control, any Award theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan shall pertain to and apply to the Capital Stock to which a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Award would have been entitled immediately following such reorganization, merger, or consolidation, with a corresponding proportionate adjustment of the per share Option Price or per share SAR Exercise Price of any outstanding Option or SAR so that the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price thereafter shall be the same as the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price of the shares of Stock remaining subject to the Option or SAR as in effect immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or consolidation. Subject to any contrary language in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise set forth in writing, any restrictions applicable to such Award shall apply as well to any replacement shares of Capital Stock subject to such Award, or received by the Grantee as a result of such reorganization, merger, or consolidation. In the event of any reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company described in this Section 17.2 , Awards subject to performance criteria may be adjusted (including any adjustments to the Performance Measures or other performance criteria applicable to such Awards deemed appropriate by the Board) to take into account such reorganization, merger, or consolidation.

17.3. Change in Control in which Awards are not Assumed.

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or as otherwise set forth in writing, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control in which outstanding Awards are not being assumed or continued, the following provisions shall apply to such Award, to the extent not assumed or continued:

(i) Immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control, in each case with the exception of any Performance Award, all outstanding shares of Restricted Stock and all Stock Units and Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be deemed to have vested, and the shares of Stock and/or cash subject to such Awards shall be delivered; and

(ii) Either of the following two actions shall be taken:

(A) At least fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled consummation of the Change in Control, all Options and SARs outstanding hereunder shall become immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days. With respect to the Company’s establishment of an

 

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exercise window, any exercise of an Option or SAR during such fifteen (15)-day period shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Change in Control and shall be effective only immediately before the consummation of the Change in Control, and upon consummation of the Change in Control, the Plan and all outstanding but unexercised Options and SARs shall terminate, with or without consideration (including, without limitation, consideration in accordance with clause (ii) below) as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The Board shall send notice of an event that will result in such a termination to all Grantees who hold Options and SARs not later than the time at which the Company gives notice thereof to its stockholders.

and/or

(B) the Board may elect, in its sole discretion, to cancel any outstanding Awards of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, and/or Dividend Equivalent Rights and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, to the holder thereof an amount in cash or securities having a value (as determined by the Board acting in good faith), in the case of Restricted Stock, Stock Units, and Dividend Equivalent Rights (for shares of Stock subject thereto) equal to the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Stock pursuant to such Change in Control and, in the case of Options or SARs, equal to the product of the number of shares of Stock subject to the Options or SARs multiplied by the amount, if any, by which (I) the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Stock pursuant to such transaction exceeds (II) the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price applicable to such Options or SARs.

(iii) For Performance Awards denominated in Stock or Stock Units, if less than half of the Performance Period has lapsed, the Awards shall be converted into Restricted Stock or Stock Units assuming target performance has been achieved (or Unrestricted Stock if no further restrictions apply). If more than half the Performance Period has lapsed, the Performance Awards shall be converted into Restricted Stock or Stock Units based on actual performance to date (or Unrestricted Stock if no further restrictions apply). If actual performance is not determinable, then Performance Awards shall be converted into Restricted Stock or Stock Units assuming target performance has been achieved, based on the discretion of the Committee (or Unrestricted Stock if no further restrictions apply).

(iv) Other Equity-Based Awards shall be governed by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

17.4. Change in Control in which Awards are Assumed.

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or as otherwise set forth in writing, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control in which outstanding Awards are being assumed or continued, the following provisions shall apply to such Award, to the extent assumed or continued:

The Plan and the Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights, and Other Equity-Based Awards theretofore granted under the Plan shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided in the event of any Change in Control to the extent that provision is made in writing in connection with such Change in Control for the assumption or continuation of the Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights, and Other Equity-Based Awards theretofore granted, or for the substitution for such Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights, and Other Equity-Based Awards theretofore granted for new stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, dividend equivalent rights, and other equity-based awards relating to the capital stock or other securities of a successor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares (disregarding any consideration that is not common stock) and exercise prices of options and stock appreciation rights.

 

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17.5. Adjustments

Adjustments under this Section 17 related to shares of Stock or Capital Stock of the Company shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding, and conclusive. No fractional shares or other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share. The Board may provide in an applicable Award Agreement as of the Grant Date, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing at any time thereafter with the consent of the Grantee, for different provisions to apply to an Award in place of those described in Sections 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 and 17.4 . This Section 17 does not limit the Company’s ability to provide for alternative treatment of Awards outstanding under the Plan in the event of a change in control event involving the Company that is not a Change in Control.

17.6. No Limitations on Company.

The making of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets (including all or any part of the business or assets of any Subsidiary or other Affiliate) or to engage in any other transaction or activity.

18. GENERAL PROVISIONS

18.1. Disclaimer of Rights.

No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall be construed to confer upon any individual or entity the right to remain in the Service of the Company or an Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right or authority of the Company or an Affiliate either to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any individual or entity at any time, or to terminate any Service or other relationship between any individual or entity and the Company or an Affiliate. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing, no Award granted under the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee thereof, so long as such Grantee continues to provide Service. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan and Awards shall in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan.

18.2. Nonexclusivity of the Plan.

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations upon the right and authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or particular individuals) as the Board in its discretion determines desirable.

 

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18.3. Withholding Taxes.

The Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by Applicable Laws to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the issuance of any shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option or pursuant to any other Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or exercise, the Grantee shall pay in cash to the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, any amount that the Company or an Affiliate may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation; provided , that if there is a same-day sale of shares of Stock subject to an Award, the Grantee shall pay such withholding obligation on the day on which the same-day sale is completed. Subject to the prior approval of the Company or an Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, the Grantee may elect to satisfy such withholding obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the Company or an Affiliate to withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Grantee or (ii) by delivering to the Company or an Affiliate shares of Stock already owned by the Grantee. The shares of Stock so withheld or delivered shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock used to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company or an Affiliate as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. A Grantee who has made an election pursuant to this Section 18.3 may satisfy such Grantee’s withholding obligation only with shares of Stock that are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting, or other similar requirements. The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be withheld from any Award to satisfy any federal, state, or local tax withholding requirements upon the exercise, vesting, or lapse of restrictions applicable to such Award or payment of shares of Stock pursuant to such Award, as applicable, may not exceed such number of shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required by the Company or an Affiliate to be withheld and paid to any such federal, state, or local taxing authority with respect to such exercise, vesting, lapse of restrictions, or payment of shares of Stock.

18.4. Captions.

The use of captions in the Plan or any Award Agreement is for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of the Plan or such Award Agreement.

18.5. Other Provisions.

Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.

18.6. Number and Gender.

With respect to words used in the Plan, the singular form shall include the plural form, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, etc., as the context requires.

18.7. Severability.

If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

18.8. Governing Law

The validity and construction of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards hereunder shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards granted hereunder to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

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18.9. Section 409A of the Code.

The Plan is intended to comply with Code Section 409A to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan will be interpreted and administered to be in compliance with Code Section 409A. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” (as defined for purposes of Code Section 409A) will not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Code Section 409A, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6)-month period immediately following the Grantee’s Separation from Service will instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six (6)-month anniversary of the Grantee’s Separation from Service (or the Grantee’s death, if earlier).

Furthermore, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, in the case of an Award that is characterized as deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, and pursuant to which settlement and delivery of the cash or shares of Stock subject to the Award is triggered based on a Change in Control, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred for purposes of such settlement and delivery of cash or shares of Stock if the transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder). If an Award characterized as deferred compensation under Code Section 409A is not settled and delivered on account of the provision of the preceding sentence, the settlement and delivery will occur on the next succeeding settlement and delivery triggering event that is a permissible triggering event under Code Section 409A. No provision of this paragraph will in any way affect the determination of a Change in Control for purposes of vesting in an Award that is characterized as deferred compensation under Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Committee will have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on any Grantee under Code Section 409A and neither the Company, nor an Affiliate, nor the Board will have any liability to any Grantee for such tax or penalty.

*   *   *

 

 

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To record adoption of the Plan by the Board on February 21, 2016, approval of the Plan by the stockholders on February 24, 2016, and effectiveness of the Plan on March 8, 2016, the Company has caused its authorized officer to execute the Plan.

 

SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.

Name:   Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

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Exhibit 4.16

SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2015 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted this 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to enable eligible employees of the Company and its Participating Affiliates, through payroll deductions or other cash contributions, to purchase shares of Common Stock. The Plan is for the benefit of the employees of the Company and any Participating Affiliates. The Plan is intended to benefit the Company by increasing the employees’ interest in the Company’s growth and success and encouraging employees to remain in the employ of the Company or its Participating Affiliates.

It is the intention of the Company to have this Plan satisfy the requirements for “employee stock purchase plans” that are set forth under Section 423 of the Code, although the Company makes no undertaking to, nor represents that it will, maintain the qualified status of this Plan.

The provisions of the Plan are set forth below:

 

  1. DEFINITIONS

(a) “ Account ” means a bookkeeping account maintained on behalf of a Participant by the Custodian for the purpose of investing in Common Stock and engaging in other transactions permitted under the Plan.

(b) “ Administrator ” means the person or persons designated to administer the Plan under Section 3(a).

(c) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(d) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References in the Plan to any Code Section shall be deemed to include, as applicable, regulations and guidance promulgated under such Code Section.

(e) “ Committee ” means a committee of, and designated from time to time by resolution of, the Board.

(f) “ Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

(g) “ Company ” means Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or its successors.

(h) “ Custodian ” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A. or a successor thereto, or such other person as may be designated from time to time by the Board.

(i) “ Effective Date ” means the date of the closing of the Company’s initial public offering.

(j) “ Enrollment Date ” means the first day of each Offering Period.

(k) “ Enrollment Form ” means the agreement(s) between the Company and a Participant, in such written, electronic, or other format and/or pursuant to such written, electronic, or other


process as may be established by the Administrator from time to time, pursuant to which an employee who satisfies the eligibility criteria set forth in Section 4 elects to participate in the Plan or elects to make changes with respect to such participation as permitted by the Plan.

(l) “ Fair Market Value ” means the value of each share of Common Stock subject to the Plan on a given date determined as follows: if on such date the shares of Common Stock are listed on an established national or regional stock exchange or are publicly traded on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock shall be the closing price of the shares of Common Stock on such exchange or in such market (the exchange or market selected by the Board if there is more than one such exchange or market) on such date or, if such date is not a trading day, on the trading day immediately preceding such date, or, if no sale of the shares of Common Stock is reported for such trading day, on the next preceding day on which any sale shall have been reported. If the shares of Common Stock are not listed on such an exchange or traded on such a market, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith.

(m) “ Offering Period ” means the period determined by the Administrator pursuant to Section 7, which period shall not exceed twenty-seven (27) months, during which payroll deductions or other cash payments are accumulated for the purpose of purchasing Common Stock under the Plan.

(n) “ Participating Affiliate ” means any company or other trade or business that is a subsidiary of the Company (determined in accordance with the principles of Section 424(f) of the Code and the regulations thereunder).

(o) “ Participant ” means an Employee of the Company or a Participating Affiliate who satisfies the eligibility criteria set forth in Section 4 and who has properly elected to participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 5.

(p) “ Plan ” means this Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

(q) “ Purchase Period ” means the period designated by the Administrator on the last trading day of which purchases of Common Stock are made under the Plan.

(r) “ Purchase Price ” means the purchase price of each share of Common Stock purchased under the Plan.

 

  2. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 25, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be made available for purchase by Participants under the Plan is 250,000 shares. In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock available for purchase by Participants under the Plan shall automatically increase on January 1st of each year, commencing January 1, 2017 and continuing until the expiration of the Plan, in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) one percent (1%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year, or (b) 250,000 shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may act prior to the first day of any calendar year to provide that there shall be no increase in the share reserve for such calendar year or that the increase in the share reserve for such calendar year shall be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence.

(b) The shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Board, be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased on the open market.

 

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  3. ADMINISTRATION

(a) Administrator . The Plan shall be administered by an Administrator, which shall be the Board or a Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Administrator will have full authority (i) to adopt, amend, suspend, waive and rescind such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, (ii) to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, (iii) to construe and interpret the Plan and rules and regulations thereunder, (iv) to furnish to the Custodian such information as the Custodian may require, and (v) to make all other decisions and determinations necessary or advisable in administering the Plan (including, without limitation, determinations relating to eligibility, minimum and maximum contribution rates, limits on the number of shares of Common Stock a Participant may elect to purchase with respect to any Offering Period, the Purchase Price, the timing and length of Offering Periods and Purchase Periods). No person acting in connection with the administration of the Plan will, in that capacity, participate in deciding any matter relating to his or her participation in the Plan. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons.

(b) Custodian . The Custodian shall act as custodian under the Plan and shall perform such duties as are set forth in the Plan and in any agreement between the Company and the Custodian. The Custodian will establish and maintain, as agent for each Participant, an Account and any subaccounts as may be necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

(c) Other Administrative Provisions . The Company will furnish information to the Custodian from its records as directed by the Administrator, and such records will be conclusive on all persons unless determined by the Administrator to be incorrect. Each Participant and other person claiming benefits under the Plan must furnish to the Company in writing an up-to-date mailing address and any other information as the Administrator or Custodian may reasonably request. Any communication, statement or notice mailed with postage prepaid to any such Participant or other person at the last mailing address filed with the Company will be deemed sufficiently given when mailed and will be binding upon the named recipient. The Plan will be administered on a reasonable and nondiscriminatory basis, and Plan provisions and rules thereunder will apply in a uniform manner to all persons similarly situated.

(d) No Liability . No member of the Board or the Committee, nor any of their agents or designees, shall be liable to any person (i) for any act, failure to act, or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or (ii) for any tax (including any interest and penalties) by reason of the failure of the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, the failure of the Participant to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to the Plan or shares of Common Stock purchased or deemed purchased under the Plan.

 

  4. ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

Any employee of the Company or any of its Participating Affiliates may participate in the Plan, except the following, who are ineligible to participate: (a) an employee whose customary employment is less than twenty (20) hours per week; and (b) an employee who, after exercising his or her rights to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan, would own (directly or by attribution pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) shares of Common Stock (including shares that may be acquired under any outstanding options) representing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship will be treated as continuing while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence that the Company or any of its Participating Affiliates approves or which meets the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.421-1(h)(2). Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the individual’s right to reemployment is

 

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not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated three (3) months and one (1) day following the commencement of such leave. The Administrator may, at any time in its sole discretion, if it deems it advisable to do so, exclude the participation of the employees of a particular Participating Affiliate from eligibility to participate in a future Offering Period.

 

  5. ENROLLMENT IN THE PLAN

(a) Initial Enrollment . An employee who is or who will become eligible under Section 4 on or before a given Enrollment Date may, after receiving current information about the Plan, enroll in the Plan by executing a properly completed Enrollment Form, including thereon the employee’s election as to the rate of payroll deductions or, if authorized by the Administrator, payment of the Purchase Price by means of periodic cash payments, for the Offering Period. For an employee’s enrollment to be effective for any Offering Period, such Enrollment Form must be submitted as directed by the Administrator at least fifteen (15) days before the Enrollment Date for the Offering Period.

(b) Automatic Reenrollment for Subsequent Offering Periods . Following the end of each Offering Period, each then-current Participant shall be automatically reenrolled in the next Offering Period unless (i) the Participant terminates participation in the Plan before the Enrollment Date for the next Offering Period in accordance with Section 19 or (ii) on such Enrollment Date he or she is ineligible to participate in the Plan under Section 4. The rate of payroll contributions or periodic cash payments for a Participant who is automatically reenrolled for an Offering Period will be the same as the rate of payroll contributions or periodic cash payments in effect at the end of the preceding Offering Period, unless the Participant submits, as directed by the Administrator, a new Enrollment Form at least fifteen (15) days before the Enrollment Date for the Offering Period and designates a different rate of payroll contributions or, if authorized by the Administrator, periodic cash payments.

 

  6. CONTRIBUTIONS

(a) Payroll Deductions . Subject to Section 6(b), a Participant’s contributions under the Plan shall be by means of after-tax payroll deductions from each payroll period which ends during the Offering Period, at the rate elected by the Participant in his or her Enrollment Form. Notwithstanding the foregoing and any election of a Participant, a Participant’s rate of payroll deductions will be adjusted downward by the Company at any time or from time to time as necessary to ensure that the limit on the amount of Common Stock purchased with respect to an Offering Period set forth in Section 10 is not exceeded. Unless otherwise permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may not during any Offering Period change his or her percentage of payroll deductions for that Offering Period, nor may a Participant withdraw any contributed funds, other than in accordance with Sections 15 through 19.

(b) Periodic Cash Payments . Pursuant to Section 5, if authorized by the Administrator, a Participant may elect on the Enrollment Form to make contributions under the Plan by means of periodic cash payments to the Plan during an Offering Period. Unless otherwise permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may not during any Offering Period change his or her amount of periodic cash payments for that Offering Period, nor may a Participant withdraw any contributed funds, other than in accordance with Sections 15 through 19. Notwithstanding the foregoing, under any of the circumstances contemplated by the Plan, where the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be made through periodic cash payments in lieu of payroll deductions, the failure to make any such payments shall reduce, to the extent of the deficiency in such payments, the number of shares purchasable under this Plan by the Participant.

 

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  7. OFFERING PERIODS AND PURCHASE PERIODS

The Administrator shall determine the Offering Periods and Purchase Periods. The first Offering Period under the Plan shall commence on the date determined by the Administrator. Each Offering Period shall consist of one or more Purchase Periods, as determined by the Administrator.

 

  8. RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK; PURCHASE PRICE

Rights to purchase shares of Common Stock will be deemed granted to Participants as of the first trading day of each Offering Period. The Purchase Price of each share of Common Stock shall be determined by the Administrator; provided, however , that the Purchase Price shall not be less than the lesser of eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (i) on the first trading day of the Offering Period or (ii) on the last trading day of the Purchase Period; provided further , that in no event shall the Purchase Price be less than the par value of the Common Stock.

 

  9. TIMING OF PURCHASE

Unless a Participant has given prior written notice terminating such Participant’s participation in the Plan pursuant to Section 15, or the Participant’s participation in the Plan has otherwise been terminated pursuant to Sections 16 through 19, such Participant will be deemed to have automatically exercised his or her right to purchase shares of Common Stock on the last trading day of the Purchase Period (except as provided in Section 15) for the number of shares of Common Stock (including fractional shares) that the accumulated funds in the Participant’s Account at that time will purchase at the Purchase Price, subject to the participation adjustment provided for in Section 14 and subject to adjustment under Section 25.

 

  10. PURCHASE LIMITATIONS

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Participant may purchase in any one calendar year under the Plan and all other “employee stock purchase plans” of the Company and its Participating Affiliates shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $25,000, determined as of the first trading date of the Offering Period as to shares purchased during such period. In addition, in no event may a Participant purchase more than 100,000 shares of Common Stock in any one Offering Period; provided, however , that the Administrator may in its discretion, prior to the start of an Offering Period, set a different limit on the number or value of shares of Common Stock a Participant may purchase during the Offering Period. Effective upon the last trading day of the Purchase Period, a Participant will become a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock purchased during such period and will thereupon have all dividend, voting and other ownership rights incident thereto except as otherwise provided in Section 11. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no shares of Common Stock shall be sold pursuant to the Plan unless the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with Section 24.

 

  11. STOCK ISSUANCE AND SALE OF PLAN SHARES

On the last trading day of the Purchase Period, a Participant will be credited with the number of shares of Common Stock purchased for his or her Account under the Plan during such Purchase Period. Shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan will be held by the Custodian. The Custodian may hold the shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan by book entry or in the form of stock certificates in nominee names and may commingle shares held in its custody in a single account without identification as to individual Participants.

 

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The Administrator shall have the right to require any or all of the following with respect to shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan:

(a) that a Participant may not request that all or part of the shares of Common Stock be reissued in the Participant’s own name and shares be delivered to the Participant until two (2) years (or such shorter period of time as the Administrator may designate) have elapsed since the first day of the Offering Period in which the shares were purchased and one (1) year has elapsed since the day the shares were purchased (the “ Holding Period ”);

(b) that all sales of shares of Common Stock during the Holding Period applicable to such purchased shares be performed through a licensed broker acceptable to the Company; and

(c) that Participants abstain from selling or otherwise transferring shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the Plan for a period lasting up to two (2) years from the date the shares of Common Stock were purchased pursuant to the Plan.

 

  12. WITHHOLDING OF TAXES

To the extent that a Participant recognizes ordinary income in connection with a sale or other transfer of any shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan, the Company may withhold amounts needed to cover such taxes from any payments otherwise due and owing to the Participant or from shares that would otherwise be issued to the Participant under the Plan. Any Participant who sells or otherwise transfers shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan within two (2) years after the beginning of the Offering Period in which the shares were purchased must within thirty (30) days of such transfer notify the Company’s Payroll Department in writing of such transfer.

 

  13. ACCOUNT STATEMENTS

The Custodian will reflect contributions, purchases, dividends and distributions and reinvestment thereof, withdrawals and transfers of shares of Common Stock and other Plan transactions by appropriate adjustments to the Participant’s Account. The Custodian will, not less frequently than semi-annually, provide or cause to be provided a written statement to the Participant showing the transactions in his or her Account and the date thereof, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased, the aggregate Purchase Price paid, the Purchase Price per share, the brokerage fees and commissions paid (if any), the total shares of Common Stock held for the Participant’s Account (computed to at least three decimal places) and other information.

 

  14. PARTICIPATION ADJUSTMENT

If in any Purchase Period the number of unsold shares that may be made available for purchase under the Plan pursuant to Section 2 is insufficient to permit exercise of all rights deemed exercised by all Participants pursuant to Section 9, a participation adjustment will be made, and the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable by all Participants will be reduced proportionately. Any funds then remaining in a Participant’s Account after such exercise will be refunded to the Participant.

 

  15. CHANGES IN ELECTIONS TO PURCHASE

(a) Ceasing Payroll Deductions or Periodic Payments . A Participant may, at any time prior to the last trading day of the Purchase Period, by written notice to the Administrator, direct the Administrator to cease payroll deductions (or, if the payment for shares is being made through periodic

 

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cash payments, notify the Administrator that such payments will be terminated), in accordance with the following alternatives:

(i) the Participant’s option to purchase shall be reduced to the number of shares that may be purchased, as of the last day of the Purchase Period, with the amount then credited to the Participant’s Account; or

(ii) withdraw the amount in such Participant’s Account and terminate such Participant’s option to purchase.

(b) Decreasing or Increasing Payroll Deductions . A Participant may decrease his or her rate of payroll deduction once during a Purchase Period (but not below ten dollars ($10.00) per pay period) by delivering to the Company a new Enrollment Form. If and only if expressly permitted by the Administrator, as determined in its sole discretion, for an Offering Period, a Participant may increase the rate of his or her payroll deduction once during the Offering Period.

(c) Modifying Payroll Deductions or Periodic Payments at the Start of an Offering Period . Any Participant may increase or decrease his or her payroll deductions or periodic cash payments, to take effect on the first day of the next Offering Period, by delivering to the Company a new Enrollment Form.

 

  16. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

In the event a Participant’s employment with the Company and all Participating Affiliates terminates, or is deemed terminated, for any reason other than death prior to the last day of the Purchase Period, the amount in the Participant’s Account will be distributed, and the Participant’s option to purchase will terminate.

 

  17. AUTHORIZED LEAVE OF ABSENCE OR DISABILITY

Payroll deductions for shares for which a Participant has an option to purchase may be suspended during any period of absence of the Participant from work due to an authorized leave of absence or disability or, if the Participant so elects, periodic payments for such shares may continue to be made in cash.

If such Participant returns to active service prior to the last day of the Purchase Period, the Participant’s payroll deductions will be resumed, and if such Participant did not make periodic cash payments during the Participant’s period of absence, the Participant shall, by written notice to the Administrator within ten (10) days after the Participant’s return to active service, but not later than the last day of the Purchase Period, elect:

(a) to make up any deficiency in the Participant’s Account resulting from a suspension of payroll deductions by an immediate cash payment;

(b) not to make up such deficiency, in which event the number of shares to be purchased by the Participant shall be reduced to the number of shares which may be purchased with the amount, if any, then credited to the Participant’s Account plus the aggregate amount, if any, of all payroll deductions to be made thereafter; or

(c) to withdraw the total amount in the Participant’s Account and terminate the Participant’s option to purchase.

A Participant on authorized leave of absence or disability on the last day of the Purchase Period who is still an eligible employee under Section 4 shall deliver written notice to the Administrator on or before the last day of the Purchase Period, electing one of the alternatives provided in the foregoing

 

7


Sections 17(a), 17(b) and 17(c). If any Participant fails to deliver such written notice within ten (10) days after the Participant’s return to active service or by the last day of the Purchase Period, whichever is earlier, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected Section 17(c).

 

  18. DEATH

In the event of the death of a Participant while the Participant’s option to purchase shares under the Plan is in effect, the legal representatives of such Participant may, within three (3) months after the Participant’s death (but no later than the last day of the Purchase Period) by written notice to the Administrator, elect one of the following alternatives:

(a) the Participant’s option to purchase shall be reduced to the number of shares that may be purchased, as of the last day of the Purchase Period, with the amount then credited to the Participant’s Account; or

(b) withdraw the amount in such Participant’s Account and terminate such Participant’s option to purchase.

In the event the legal representatives of such Participant fail to deliver such written notice to the Administrator within the prescribed period, the election to purchase shares shall terminate, and the amount then credited to the Participant’s Account shall be paid to such legal representatives.

 

  19. TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION

A Participant will be refunded all moneys in his or her Account, and his or her participation in the Plan will be terminated if (a) the Board elects to terminate the Plan as provided in Section 24, (b) the Participant ceases to be eligible to participate in the Plan under Section 4, or (c) in accordance with Sections 16 and 17. As soon as practicable following termination of a Participant’s participation in the Plan, the Administrator will deliver to the Participant a check representing the amount in the Participant’s Account and a book entry statement representing the number of shares of Common Stock held in the Participant’s Account. Once terminated, participation may not be reinstated for the then-current Offering Period, but, if otherwise eligible, the employee may elect to participate in any subsequent Offering Period.

 

  20. TRANSFER; ASSIGNMENT

No Participant may transfer or assign his or her rights to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan, whether voluntarily, by operation of law or otherwise. Any payment of cash or issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be made only to the Participant (or, in the event of the Participant’s death, to the Participant’s estate). During a Participant’s lifetime, only such Participant may exercise his or her rights to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan. Once a book entry or stock certificate has been issued to the Participant or the Participant’s estate for his or her Account, such book entry or stock certificate may be assigned the same as any other book entry or stock certificate.

 

  21. APPLICATION OF FUNDS

All funds received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used for any corporate purpose until applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock or refunded to the Participant. Participants’ Accounts need not be segregated.

 

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  22. NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT

Neither the Plan nor any right to purchase Common Stock under the Plan confers upon any employee or Participant any right to continued employment with the Company or any of its Participating Affiliates, nor will a Participant’s participation in the Plan restrict or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Participating Affiliates to terminate the Participant’s employment at any time.

 

  23. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

The Board may, at any time, amend the Plan in any respect (including an increase in the percentage specified in Section 8 used in calculating the Purchase Price); provided, however , that without approval of the stockholders of the Company, no amendment shall be made (a) increasing the number of shares specified in Section 2 that may be made available for purchase under the Plan (except as provided in Section 25) or (b) changing the eligibility requirements for participating in the Plan. No amendment may be made that impairs the rights of Participants that have vested at the time of amendment.

 

  24. TERM; TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN

The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. If stockholder approval of the Plan is not obtained within twelve (12) months of the Effective Date, any shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan following the Effective Date shall automatically be deemed forfeited and cancelled. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason or for no reason, provided that such suspension or termination shall not impair any rights of Participants that have vested at the time of suspension or termination. In any event, the Plan shall, without further action of the Board, terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board or, if earlier, at such time as all shares of Common Stock that may be made available for purchase under the Plan pursuant to Section 2 have been issued.

 

  25. CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

(a) Changes in Common Stock . If the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased or decreased or the shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend, or other distribution payable in capital stock, or other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of shares that may be purchased under the Plan shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Administrator. In addition, the number and kind of shares for which rights are outstanding shall be similarly adjusted so that the proportionate interest of a Participant immediately following such event shall, to the extent practicable, be the same as immediately prior to such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding rights shall not change the aggregate Purchase Price payable by a Participant with respect to shares subject to such rights but shall include a corresponding proportionate adjustment in the Purchase Price per share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a spin-off that results in no change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Company may, in such manner as the Company deems appropriate, adjust (i) the number and kind of shares for which rights are outstanding under the Plan and (ii) the Purchase Price per share.

(b) Reorganization in Which the Company is the Surviving Corporation . Subject to Section 25(c), if the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one or more other corporations, all outstanding rights under the Plan shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such rights would have been entitled immediately following such reorganization, merger or

 

9


consolidation, with a corresponding proportionate adjustment of the Purchase Price per share so that the aggregate Purchase Price thereafter shall be the same as the aggregate Purchase Price of the shares subject to such rights immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation.

(c) Reorganization in Which the Company is Not the Surviving Corporation, Sale of Assets or Stock, and Other Corporate Transactions . Upon any dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or upon a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company with one or more other corporations in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or upon a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another corporation, or upon any transaction (including, without limitation, a merger or reorganization in which the Company is the surviving corporation) approved by the Board that results in any person or entity owning more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, the Plan and all rights outstanding hereunder shall terminate, except to the extent provision is made in writing in connection with such transaction for the continuation of the Plan and/or the assumption of the rights theretofore granted, or for the substitution for such rights of new rights covering the stock of a successor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kinds of shares and purchase prices, in which event the Plan and rights theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided. In the event of any such termination of the Plan, the Offering Period and the Purchase Period shall be deemed to have ended on the last trading day prior to such termination, and in accordance with Section 11 the rights of each Participant then outstanding shall be deemed to be automatically exercised on such last trading day. The Administrator shall send written notice of an event that will result in such a termination to all Participants at least ten (10) days prior to the date upon which the Plan will be terminated.

(d) Adjustments . Adjustments under this Section 25 related to stock or securities of the Company shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding, and conclusive.

(e) No Limitations on Company . The grant of a right pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

  26. GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION

The Company’s obligation to issue, sell and deliver shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan is subject to such approval of any governmental authority and any national securities exchange or other market quotation system as may be required in connection with the authorization, issuance or sale of such shares.

 

  27. STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION RIGHTS

The Company will deliver to each Participant who purchases shares of Common Stock under the Plan, as promptly as practicable by mail or otherwise, all notices of meetings, proxy statements, proxies and other materials distributed by the Company to its stockholders. There will be no charge to Participants in connection with such notices, proxies and other materials. Any shares of Common Stock held by the Custodian for a Participant’s Account will be voted in accordance with the Participant’s duly delivered and signed proxy instructions.

 

  28. VOTING RIGHTS

Each Participant will be entitled to vote the number of shares of Common Stock credited to his or her Account (including any fractional shares credited to such Account) on any matter as to which the

 

10


approval of the Company’s stockholders is sought. If a Participant does not vote or grant a valid proxy with respect to shares credited to his or her Account, such shares will be voted by the Custodian in accordance with any stock exchange or other rules governing the Custodian in the voting of shares held for customer accounts. Similar procedures will apply in the case of any consent solicitation of the Company’s stockholders.

 

  29. DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT

Cash dividends on any Common Stock credited to a Participant’s Account will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock; such amounts will not be available in the form of cash to Participants. All cash dividends paid on Common Stock credited to Participants’ Accounts will be paid over by the Company to the Custodian at the dividend payment date. The Custodian will aggregate all purchases of Common Stock in connection with the Plan for a given dividend payment date. Purchases of Common Stock for purposes of dividend reinvestment will be made as promptly as practicable (but not more than thirty (30) days) after a dividend payment date. The Custodian will make such purchases, as directed by the Administrator, either (i) in transactions on any securities exchange upon which Common Stock is traded, otherwise in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions, or (ii) directly from the Company at 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the dividend payment date. Any shares of Common Stock distributed as a dividend or distribution in respect of shares of Common Stock or in connection with a split of the Common Stock credited to a Participant’s Account will be credited to such Account. In the event of any other non-cash dividend or distribution in respect of Common Stock credited to a Participant’s Account, the Custodian will, if reasonably practicable and at the direction of the Administrator, sell any property received in such dividend or distribution as promptly as practicable and use the proceeds to purchase additional shares of Common Stock in the same manner as cash paid over to the Custodian for purposes of dividend reinvestment.

 

  30. FRACTIONAL SHARES

Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, purchases of Common Stock under the Plan executed by the Custodian may result in the crediting of fractional shares of Common Stock to a Participant’s Account. Such fractional shares will be computed to at least three decimal places. Fractional shares will not, however, be issued by the Company, and certificates representing fractional shares will not be delivered to Participants under any circumstances. If at any time fractional shares will not be credited to Participants’ Accounts, the Administrator shall determine whether a Participant’s payroll deductions remaining after the purchase of the greatest possible number of whole shares on a given purchase date will be refunded or will be retained and applied to purchases in the next Offering Period.

 

  31. RULE 16B-3

Transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or any successor provision under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. If any provision of the Plan or action by the Board or the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by applicable law and deemed advisable by the Board. Moreover, in the event the Plan does not include a provision required by Rule 16b-3 to be stated in this Plan, such provision (other than one relating to eligibility requirements or the price and amount of awards) shall be deemed automatically to be incorporated by reference into the Plan.

 

  32. PAYMENT OF PLAN EXPENSES

The Company will bear all costs of administering and carrying out the Plan.

 

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  33. GOVERNING LAW.

The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (except its choice-of-law provisions) and applicable U.S. federal laws.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO    

Hogan Lovells US LLP

4085 Campbell Avenue

Suite 100

Menlo Park, CA 94025

T +1 650 463 4000

F +1 650 463 4199

www.hoganlovells.com

March 25, 2016

Board of Directors

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

400 Totten Pond Road, Suite 110

Waltham, Massachusetts 02451

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-8 (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), relating to the proposed offering of up to 4,717,539 newly issued shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “ Shares ”), all of which Shares are issuable pursuant to the Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2007 Stock Plan, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or the Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (collectively, the “ Plans ”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including telecopies). As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended. We express no opinion herein as to any other statutes, rules or regulations. As used herein, the term “Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended” includes the statutory provisions contained therein, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that following (i) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the applicable Plan, and

Hogan Lovells US LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in the District of Columbia. “Hogan Lovells” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells US LLP and Hogan Lovells International LLP, with offices in: Alicante    Amsterdam    Baltimore    Beijing    Brussels    Caracas    Colorado Springs    Denver     Dubai    Dusseldorf    Frankfurt    Hamburg    Hanoi    Ho Chi Minh City    Hong Kong     Houston

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Board of Directors

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  - 2 -   March 25, 2016

 

(iii) receipt by the Company of the consideration for the Shares specified in the applicable resolutions of the Board of Directors and in the applicable Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Hogan Lovells US LLP

HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated February 22, 2016 (February 24, 2016 as to the effects of the reverse stock split described in Note 17), relating to the consolidated financial statements of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, as contained in Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement No. 333-208861 of the Company on Form S-1.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

March 25, 2016