As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2017

Registration No. 333-                     

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   20-5258327

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1035 O’Brien Drive

Menlo Park, CA 94025

(650) 272-6269

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan

2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Inducement Restricted Stock Unit and Stock Option Awards

(Full Title of the Plan)

 

 

Jennifer Cheng

Vice President and General Counsel

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.

1035 O’Brien Drive

Menlo Park, CA 94025

(650) 272-6269

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Kevin Masuda, Esq.

Adam Gottesfeld, Esq.

Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

350 South Grand Avenue

Los Angeles, California 90071

(213) 683-9100

 

 

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

 

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

Emerging growth

company

      

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

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Securities

to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price
Per Share

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price

  Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

               

— 2014 Equity Incentive Plan

  1,672,200 shares(2)   $2.60(3)   $4,347,720(3)   $503.90

— 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

  418,050 shares(4)   $2.60(3)   $1,086,930(3)   $125.98

— Inducement Restricted Stock Unit Award to Leone Patterson

  100,000 shares(5)   $2.60(3)   $260,000(3)   $30.13

— Inducement Stock Option Award to Leone Patterson

  200,000 shares(6)   $3.44(7)   $688,000   $79.74

TOTAL

  2,390,250 shares     $6,382,650   $739.75

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), that become issuable in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or similar transaction effected without the Registrant’s receipt of consideration which would increase the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock.
(2) Represents shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issuable under the 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “2014 Plan”) as the result of the annual evergreen increase.
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) promulgated under the Securities Act, based on the average of the high and the low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Market on May 31, 2017.
(4) Represents shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issuable under the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as a result of the annual evergreen increase.
(5) Consists of shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock underlying a restricted stock unit award granted to Ms. Patterson on June 15, 2016 as an inducement material to her acceptance of employment with the Registrant, in accordance with the inducement grant exception under NASDAQ Rule 5635(c)(4).
(6) Consists of shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock underlying a stock option granted to Ms. Patterson on June 15, 2016 as an inducement material to her acceptance of employment with the Registrant, in accordance with the inducement grant exception under NASDAQ Rule 5635(c)(4).
(7) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share is based on the price at which such option may be exercised, which was the closing price of a share of the Registrant’s Common Stock on the applicable date of grant of such option as reported on The NASDAQ Global Market.

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement on Form S-8 is being filed by Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “Registrant”) in part for the purpose of registering an additional 1,672,200 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), for issuance under the Registrant’s 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and an additional 418,050 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Registrant’s 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP” and, together with the 2014 Plan, the “Plans”). Accordingly, pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, and only with respect to the Common Stock being registered under the Plans, this registration statement incorporates by reference the contents of the registration statements on Form S-8 relating to the Plans filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 14, 2014 (File No. 333-199296), April 14, 2015 (File No. 333-203398) and May 18, 2016 (File No. 333-211439).

This registration statement on Form S-8 is also being filed for the purpose of registering 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a stock option and 100,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon settlement of restricted stock units granted to Leone Patterson as an inducement material to her entry into employment with the Registrant, in accordance with NASDAQ Rule 5635(c)(4).

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being filed with or included in this registration statement (by incorporation by reference or otherwise) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

In this registration statement, Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. is sometimes referred to as “Registrant,” “we,” “us” or “our.”

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this registration statement, and later information filed with the SEC will update and supersede this information. We hereby incorporate by reference into this registration statement the following documents previously filed with the SEC:

 

(i) the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2017, including portions of the Registrant’s proxy statement from the Registrant’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to the extent incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K;

 

(ii) the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017, as filed with the SEC on May 9, 2017;

 

(iii) the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 3, 2017, February 10, 2017, February 14, 2017, March 1, 2017, March 14, 2017, March 20, 2017, March 24, 2017, April 20, 2017, April 21, 2017 and April 27, 2017; and

 

(iv) the description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36579), filed by the Registrant with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on July 28, 2014, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.


All documents that the Registrant subsequently files pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to the registration statement which indicates that all of the shares of Common Stock offered have been sold or which deregisters all of such shares then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents; except as to any portion of any future annual or quarterly report to stockholders, or document or current report furnished under any current or future items of Form 8-K (including current Items 2.02 and 7.01, and exhibits furnished on such form that relate to such items), in each case, that is not deemed filed under such provisions. For the purposes of this registration statement, any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other 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 be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

Under no circumstances will any information filed under current Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K, and exhibits furnished on such form that relate to such items, be deemed incorporated herein by reference unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities .

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel .

None.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers .

As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, we have adopted provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our directors for a breach of their fiduciary duties of care as directors. The duty of care generally requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors exercise an informed business judgment based on all material information reasonably available to them. Consequently, a director will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for:

 

    any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

    any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

    any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or

 

    any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also authorizes us to indemnify our officers, directors and other agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.

As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated bylaws provide that:

 

    we may indemnify our directors, officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions;

 

    we may advance expenses to our directors, officers and employees in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions; and


    the rights provided in our amended and restated bylaws are not exclusive.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide for the indemnification provisions described above and elsewhere herein. We have also entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers which may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements generally require us, among other things, to indemnify our officers and directors against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct. These indemnification agreements also generally require us to advance any expenses incurred by the directors or officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. In addition, we have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed .

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits .

Reference is made under this Item 8 to the exhibit index included in this registration statement.

 

Item 9. Undertakings .

(a) The 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

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

Provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 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 therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.


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

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

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


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Menlo Park, California, on this 2nd day of June, 2017.

 

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Leone Patterson

  Leone Patterson
  Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint Leone Patterson and Jennifer Cheng, and each of them, with full power of substitution and full power to act without the other, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act for him or her 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 this registration statement, 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 order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as they or he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, 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 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Paul B. Cleveland

   Executive Chairman of the Board and Principal Executive Officer   June 2, 2017
Paul B. Cleveland                            (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Leone Patterson

   Chief Financial Officer   June 2, 2017
Leone Patterson                (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Amber Salzman, Ph.D.

   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer   June 2, 2017
Amber Salzman, Ph.D.   

/s/ Mitchell H. Finer, Ph.D.

   Director   June 2, 2017
Mitchell H. Finer, Ph.D.     

/s/ Patrick Machado

   Director   June 2, 2017
Patrick Machado   

/s/ Steven D. Schwartz, M.D.

   Director   June 2, 2017
Steven D. Schwartz, M.D.     


Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Richard N. Spivey, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

   Director   June 2, 2017
Richard N. Spivey, Pharm.D., Ph.D.     

/s/ Thomas Woiwode, Ph.D.

   Director   June 2, 2017
Thomas Woiwode, Ph.D.     


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

        

Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit Description

 

Form

  

Date

  

Exhibit
Number

  

Filed
Herewith

  4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.   10-K    May 9, 2017    3.1   
  4.3    Amended and Restated Bylaws.   8-K    May 12, 2016    3.2   
  4.4    Form of Common Stock Certificate.   S-1/A    July 25, 2014    4.1   
  5.1    Opinion of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.            X
23.1    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.            X
23.2    Consent of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).            X
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).            X
99.1    2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan.   S-1/A    July 25, 2014    10.5   
99.2    Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan.   S-1/A    July 25, 2014    10.17   
99.3    Form of Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan.   S-1/A    July 25, 2014    10.18   
99.4    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan.   S-1/A    July 25, 2014    10.19   
99.5    Form of Inducement Stock Option Agreement            X
99.6    Form of Inducement Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement            X

Exhibit 5.1

June 2, 2017

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.

1035 O’Brien Drive

Menlo Park, CA 94025

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), in connection with the registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), registering an aggregate of (i) 1,672,200 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable under the Corporation’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), (ii) 418,050 shares of Common Stock issuable under the Corporation’s 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP” and, together with the 2014 Plan, the “Plans”), (iii) 100,000 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to a restricted stock unit award agreement between the Corporation and Leone Patterson, which was entered into on June 15, 2016 in connection with the commencement of Ms. Patterson’s employment with the Corporation (the “RSU Inducement Award Agreement”), and (iv) 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to a nonqualified stock option agreement between the Corporation and Ms. Patterson, which was entered into on June 15, 2016 in connection with the commencement of Ms. Patterson’s employment with the Corporation (the “Option Inducement Award Agreement” and, together with the RSU Inducement Award Agreement, the “Inducement Award Agreements”). The shares being registered pursuant to the Registration Statement are collectively referred to herein as the “Shares”. This opinion letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Shares.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this opinion letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Corporation and others as to factual matters without independently verifying such factual matters. Based on the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, exclusions and other limitations contained herein, we are of the opinion that, upon the issuance and delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated by the Plans or the Inducement Award Agreements, as applicable, assuming (i) with respect to those Shares issuable under the Plans, that the individual grants or awards under the Plans are duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and duly granted or awarded and exercised in accordance with the requirements of applicable law and the Plans (and the agreements and awards duly adopted thereunder and in accordance therewith), (ii) with respect to those Shares issuable pursuant to the Inducement Award Agreements, that the awards granted pursuant to each Inducement Award Agreement are exercised or settled, as applicable, in accordance with the requirements of applicable law and such Inducement Award Agreement, and (iii) subject to the Corporation complying with all other terms of the Plans or such Inducement Award Agreement, as applicable, the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Corporation and will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Corporation will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

The law covered by the opinion expressed above is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction, any other law of the State of Delaware, and no opinion regarding the statutes, administrative decisions, rules, regulations or requirements of any county, municipality, subdivision or local authority of any jurisdiction.


This opinion letter is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressed stated herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion letter, or to advise you or any other person, or to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof that might affect the opinions expressed herein.

This opinion letter is solely for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We hereby consent to your filing this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ MUNGER, TOLLES & OLSON 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 March 8, 2017, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
San Jose, CA
June 2, 2017

 

Exhibit 99.5

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.

INDUCEMENT AWARD

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (“ Participant ”) an option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock (“ Stock ”) set forth below (the “ Option ”). This Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein, as well as in the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Stock Option Agreement ”), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Participant:    [                     ]   
Grant Date:    [                     ]   
Vesting Commencement Date:    [                     ]   
Exercise Price per Share:    $[                     ]   
Total Exercise Price:    [                     ]   
Total Number of Shares Subject to the Option:    [                     ]   
Expiration Date:    [                     ]   
Vesting Schedule:    Subject to Participant’s continued service with the Company on the applicable vesting dates, 25% of the total shares subject to the Option shall vest on the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, and 1/36 th of the total remaining shares subject to the Option shall vest each month thereafter so that all of the shares subject to the option are vested and exercisable on the fourth anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date.   
Type of Option:   

Non-Qualified

Stock Option

  


By his or her signature and the Company’s signature below, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Stock Option Agreement and this Grant Notice. Participant has reviewed the Stock Option Agreement and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice and the Stock Option Agreement. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under this Grant Notice or the Stock Option Agreement.

 

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.:     PARTICIPANT:
By:  

 

    By:  

 

Print Name:  

 

    Print Name:  

 

Title:  

 

     
Address:  

 

    Address:  

 

 

 

     

 


EXHIBIT A

TO INDUCEMENT AWARD

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC. STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Stock Option Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) to which this Stock Option Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is attached, Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), has granted to Participant an Option to purchase the number of shares of Stock indicated in the Grant Notice.

WHEREAS, Participant is a new Employee who has not previously served as an Employee or Director of the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that Participant shall be granted the Option as an inducement material to Participant entering into employment with the Company.

ARTICLE 1.

GENERAL

1.1. Defined Terms . Wherever the following terms are used in this Agreement they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Grant Notice.

1.2. Administrator . The Option shall be administered by the Board, the Committee and/or their delegates (the “ Administrator ”). To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“ Rule 16b-3 ”), the Option shall be granted by the entire Board or a Committee of two or more “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. In order to comply with any applicable Nasdaq or other stock exchange listing requirements, the Option shall be granted by the Committee or a majority of the Company’s Independent Directors and will be administered in a manner that complies with such requirements. Except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law, the Administrator may delegate to one or more individuals the day-to-day administration of the Option. Such delegation may be revoked at any time.

ARTICLE 2.

GRANT OF OPTION

2.1. Grant of Option . In consideration of Participant’s entering into employment with or service to the Company or any Affiliate and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “ Grant Date ”), the Company irrevocably grants to Participant the Option to purchase any part or all of an aggregate of the number of shares of Stock set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, subject to adjustments as provided in Section 5.13 hereof.


2.2. Exercise Price; Prohibition on Repricing .

(a) The exercise price of the shares of Stock subject to the Option shall be as set forth in the Grant Notice, without commission or other charge; provided , however , that the price per share of the shares of Stock subject to the Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date.

(b) Subject to Section 5.13 hereof, the Administrator shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, (i) authorize the amendment of the Option to reduce its price per Share, or (ii) cancel the Option in exchange for cash or another award when the Option price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Stock.

2.3. Consideration to the Company . In consideration of the grant of the Option by the Company, Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or an Affiliate and Participant.

ARTICLE 3.

PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY

3.1. Commencement of Exercisability .

(a) Subject to Sections 3.2, 3.3, 5.11 and 5.17 hereof, the Option shall become vested and exercisable in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.

(b) No portion of the Option which has not become vested and exercisable at the date of Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become vested and exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between the Company and Participant.

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 3.1(a) hereof and the Grant Notice, but subject to Section 3.1(b) hereof, in the event of a Change in Control the Option shall be treated pursuant to Section Section 5.13 hereof.

3.2. Duration of Exercisability . The installments provided for in the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice are cumulative. Each such installment which becomes vested and exercisable pursuant to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice shall remain vested and exercisable until it becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof.

3.3. Expiration of Option . The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:

(a) The Expiration Date set forth in the Grant Notice, which shall in no event be more than ten (10) years from the Grant Date;


(b) The expiration of three (3) months from the date of Participant’s Termination of Service, unless such termination occurs by reason of Participant’s death or disability; or

(c) The expiration of one (1) year from the date of Participant’s Termination of Service by reason of Participant’s death or disability.

3.4. Tax Withholding . The Company or any Affiliate shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including Participant’s FICA or employment tax obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning Participant arising as a result of this Agreement. The Administrator may in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow Participant to satisfy such obligations by any payment means described in Section 4.4 hereof, including, without limitation, by allowing Participant to elect to have the Company withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable under this Agreement (or allow the surrender of shares of Stock). The number of shares of Stock which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of shares of Stock which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income. The Administrator shall determine the fair market value of the shares of Stock, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless option exercise involving the sale of shares of Stock to pay the Option exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.

3.5. Tax Indemnity .

(a) Participant agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company, any Affiliate and Participant’s employing company, if different, from and against any liability for or obligation to pay any Tax Liability (a “ Tax Liability ” being any liability for income tax, withholding tax and any other employment related taxes or social security contributions in any jurisdiction) that is attributable to (1) the grant or exercise of, or any benefit derived by Participant from, the Option, (2) the acquisition by Participant of the Stock on exercise of the Option or (3) the disposal of any Stock.

(b) The Option cannot be exercised until Participant has made such arrangements as the Company may require for the satisfaction of any Tax Liability that may arise in connection with the exercise of the Option and/or the acquisition of the Stock by Participant. The Company shall not be required to issue, allot or transfer Stock until Participant has satisfied this obligation.

(c) Participant hereby acknowledges that the Company (i) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax Liabilities in connection with any aspect of the Option and (ii) does not commit to and is under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Option, to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax Liabilities or achieve any particular tax result. Furthermore, if Participant becomes subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction between the Grant Date of the Option, and the date of any relevant taxable event, Participant acknowledges that the Company may be required to withhold or account for Tax Liabilities in more than one jurisdiction.


ARTICLE 4.

EXERCISE OF OPTION

4.1. Person Eligible to Exercise . Except as provided in Section 5.3 hereof, during the lifetime of Participant, only Participant may exercise the Option or any portion thereof, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO. After the death of Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when the Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof, be exercised by the deceased Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then Applicable Laws of descent and distribution.

4.2. Partial Exercise . Any exercisable portion of the Option or the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the time when the Option or portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof. However, the Option shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional shares of Stock.

4.3. Manner of Exercise . The Option, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by delivery to the Secretary of the Company (or any third party administrator or other person or entity designated by the Company; for the avoidance of doubt, delivery shall include electronic delivery), during regular business hours, of all of the following prior to the time when the Option or such portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof:

(a) An exercise notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, stating that the Option or portion thereof is thereby exercised, such notice complying with all applicable rules established by the Administrator. The notice shall be signed by Participant or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion of the Option;

(b) The receipt by the Company of full payment for the shares of Stock with respect to which the Option or portion thereof is exercised, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which shall be made by deduction from other compensation payable to Participant or in such other form of consideration permitted under Section 4.4 hereof that is acceptable to the Company;

(c) Any other written representations or documents as may be required in the Administrator’s sole discretion to evidence compliance with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other Applicable Law, rule or regulation; and

(d) In the event the Option or portion thereof shall be exercised pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by any person or persons other than Participant, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to specify all conditions of the manner of exercise, which conditions may vary by country and which may be subject to change from time to time.


4.4. Method of Payment . Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of Participant:

(a) Cash or check;

(b) With the consent of the Administrator, surrender of shares of Stock (including, without limitation, shares of Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option) held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof; or

(c) Other legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator (including, without limitation, through the delivery of a notice that Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale).

4.5. Conditions to Issuance of Stock .

The shares of Stock deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or any portion thereof, may be either previously authorized but unissued shares of Stock or issued shares of Stock which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such shares of Stock shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of the Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:

(a) The admission of such shares of Stock to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Stock is then listed;

(b) The completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares of Stock under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or of any other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable;

(c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

(d) The receipt by the Company of full payment for such shares of Stock, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 4.4 hereof;

(e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the Option as the Administrator may from time to time establish for reasons of administrative convenience.

(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of the Option, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such shares is in compliance with all


Applicable Law, and the shares of Stock are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with Applicable Law;

(g) All share certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement and all shares of Stock issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the shares of Stock;

(h) The Administrator shall have the right to require Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of the Option, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator;

(i) No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding down; and

(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by any Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to Participant certificates evidencing shares of Stock issued in connection with the Option and instead such shares of Stock shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

4.6. Rights as Stockholder . The holder of the Option shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to dividends, in respect of any shares of Stock purchasable upon the exercise of any part of the Option unless and until such shares of Stock shall have been issued by the Company and held of record by such holder (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the shares of Stock are issued, except as provided in Section 5.13 hereof.

ARTICLE 5.

OTHER PROVISIONS

5.1. Administration . The Administrator shall have the power to interpret this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration and interpretation of this Agreement as are consistent herewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee or the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to this Agreement or the Option.

5.2. Whole Shares . The Option may only be exercised for whole shares of Stock.


5.3. Option Not Transferable .

(a) Subject to Section 4.1 hereof, the Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until the Option has been exercised and the shares of Stock underlying the Option have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such shares of Stock have lapsed. Neither the Option nor any interest or right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until the Option has been exercised, and any attempted disposition thereof prior to exercise shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.

(b) During the lifetime of Participant, only Participant may exercise the Option (or any portion thereof), unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO; after the death of Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under this Agreement, be exercised by Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then-Applicable Laws of descent and distribution.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, Participant may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to the Option upon Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights is subject to all terms and conditions of this Agreement, except to the extent this Agreement otherwise provides, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If Participant is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than Participant’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of Participant’s interest in the Option shall not be effective without the prior written consent of Participant’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Administrator prior to Participant’s death.

5.4. Tax Consultation . Participant understands that Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of the grant, vesting and/or exercise of the Option, and/or with the purchase or disposition of the shares of Stock subject to the Option. Participant represents that Participant has consulted with any tax consultants Participant deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of such shares of Stock and that Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.


5.5. Binding Agreement . Subject to the limitation on the transferability of the Option contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

5.6. Adjustments Upon Specified Events . The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the Option in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events relating to the Stock contemplated by Section 5.13 hereof (including, without limitation, an extraordinary cash dividend on such Stock), the Administrator shall make such adjustments the Administrator deems appropriate in the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option, the exercise price of the Option and the kind of securities that may be issued upon exercise of the Option. Participant acknowledges that the Option is subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Section 5.13 hereof.

5.7. Notices . Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.7, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice which is required to be given to Participant shall, if Participant is then deceased, be given to the person entitled to exercise his or her Option pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by written notice under this Section 5.7. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

5.8. Titles . Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

5.9. Governing Law . The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

5.10. Conformity to Securities Laws . Participant acknowledges that this Agreement is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all Applicable Law and regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be administered, and the Option is granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.

5.11. Amendment, Suspension and Termination . This Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that, except as may otherwise be provided by this Agreement, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the Option in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.


5.12. Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 5.3 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

5.13. Changes in Stock Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events .

(a) In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of Stock or the share price of the Stock other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (i) the number and kind of shares of Stock (or other securities or property) subject to the Option and (ii) the exercise price per share for the Option.

(b) In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 5.13 hereof or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in Applicable Law, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Option or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either automatically or upon Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made with respect to the Option, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles:

(i) To provide for either (A) termination of the Option in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of the Option or realization of Participant’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 5.13 the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of the Option or realization of Participant’s rights, then the Option may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of the Option with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion having an aggregate value not exceeding the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of the Option or realization of Participant’s rights had the Option been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested;

(ii) To provide that the Option be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;

(iii) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of the Stock (or other securities or property) subject to the Option, and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the exercise price), the Option;


(iv) To provide that the Option shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all shares of Stock covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement; and

(v) To provide that the Option cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

(c) In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 5.13(a) and 5.13(b) hereof, the number and type of securities subject to the Option and the exercise price thereof shall be equitably adjusted. The adjustments provided under this Section 5.13(c) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on Participant and the Company.

(d) Change in Control .

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, the Option shall be assumed or an equivalent award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation, in each case, as determined by the Administrator.

(ii) In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control and its parents and subsidiaries refuse to assume or substitute for the Option in accordance with Section 5.13(d)(i) hereof, the Option shall become fully vested and, as applicable, exercisable and shall be deemed exercised, immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, and all forfeiture restrictions on the Option shall lapse at such time. If the Option vests and, as applicable, is exercised in lieu of assumption or substitution in connection with a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify Participant of such vesting and any applicable exercise period, and the Option shall terminate upon the Change in Control. For the avoidance of doubt, if the value of the Option that is terminated in connection with this Section 5.13(d)(ii) is zero or negative at the time of such Change in Control, such Option shall be terminated upon the Change in Control without payment of consideration therefor.

(e) No adjustment or action described in this Section 5.13 shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act unless the Administrator determines that the Option is not to comply with such exemptive conditions.

(f) The existence of this Agreement and the Option shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.


(g) In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of Stock or the share price of the Stock including any Equity Restructuring, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Company in its sole discretion may refuse to permit the exercise of the Option during a period of thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such transaction.

5.14. Limitations Applicable to Section  16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Option and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

5.15. Not a Contract of Service Relationship . Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Affiliates or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or to terminate for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, the services of Participant’s at any time.

5.16. Entire Agreement . The Grant Notice, this Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) and the Change in Control and Severance Agreement entered into between the Company and Participant, dated January 29, 2016, constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

5.17. Section  409A . This Option is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including, without limitation, any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “ Section 409A ”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement (or any Exhibits hereto), if at any time the Administrator determines that the Option (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Grant Notice or this Agreement (or any Exhibits hereto), or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate either for the Option to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

5.18. Limitation on Participant’s Rights . This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust . Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the Option, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Stock as a general unsecured creditor with respect to options, as and when exercised pursuant to the terms hereof.


5.19. Consent to Personal Data Use . Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company is permitted to collect, hold, store, process, modify, transfer, lock or delete certain personal (and sensitive) data in any medium about Participant (i.e., name, home address, telephone number, e-mail address, date of birth, tax identification number and payroll information) as a part of its personnel and other business records for the exclusive purpose of tracking stock option grants, processing stock option exercises and subsequent share transfers and sales, arranging for appropriate tax reporting and withholding and regulatory tracking and reporting purposes and the Company may disclose such information to third parties in the event that such disclosure is in the Company’s view required for the proper tracking of stock option grants, processing stock option exercises and subsequent share transfers and sales, arranging for appropriate tax reporting and withholding and regulatory tracking. For these purposes, this personal data will be transferred to other locations, including locations outside of the European Union and in so-called insecure third-party countries that do not guarantee the data privacy protection level of the European Union.

5.20. Claw-Back Provisions . The Option (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by Participant upon any receipt or exercise of the Option or upon the receipt or resale of any shares of Stock underlying the Option) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy.

5.21. Definitions .

(a) “ Affiliate ” shall mean any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

(b) “ Applicable Law ” shall mean any applicable law, including, without limitation, (i) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (iii) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of Stock are listed, quoted or traded.

(c) “ Change in Control ” shall mean the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

(i) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or


(ii) During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 5.21(c)(i) or 5.21(c)(iii)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

(iii) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

(A) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “ Successor Entity ”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

(B) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 5.21(c)(iii)(B) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or

(iv) The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any portion of the Option that provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) with respect to the Option (or portion thereof) must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Section 409A.


The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority is in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

(d) “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of the Option.

(e) “ Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee or subcommittee of the Board.

(f) “ Consultant ” shall mean any consultant or advisor engaged to provide services to the Company or any Affiliate who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement or any successor Form thereto.

(g) “ Director ” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.

(h) “ DRO ” shall mean a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.

(i) “ Employee ” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or any Affiliate.

(j) “ Equity Restructuring ” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of shares of Stock (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Stock underlying the Option.

(k) “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

(l) “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a share of Stock determined as follows:

If the Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market and the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed, quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a share of Stock as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a share of Stock on the date in question, the closing sales price for a share of Stock on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;


If the Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a share of Stock on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a share of Stock on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

If the Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

(m) “ Independent Director ” means a member of the Board who is an “independent director” within the meaning of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605.

(n) “ Parent ” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities ending with the Company if each of the entities other than the Company beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

(o) “ Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(p) “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

(q) “ Termination of Service ” shall mean:

As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of Participant as a Consultant to the Company or an Affiliate is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.

As to a Non-Employee Director, the time when Participant who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where Participant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.


As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between Participant and the Company or any Affiliate is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where Participant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.

The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Terminations of Service, including, without limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service. For purposes of this Agreement, Participant’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relations shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Affiliate employing or contracting with Participant ceases to remain an Affiliate following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).

*    *    *    *    *


EXHIBIT B

INDUCEMENT AWARD

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.

1035 O’Brien Drive, Suite A

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. Exercise of Option. Effective upon delivery of full payment (or election of payment by shares) of the Exercise Price per Share (the “Exercise Price”) and any required tax withholdings, the undersigned Participant hereby elects to exercise the Participant’s option (“ Option ”), granted on                     , to purchase                      whole shares (the “ Exercised Shares ”) of shares of Stock under and pursuant to the Inducement Award Stock Option Grant Notice (including Exhibits thereto) (the “ Agreement ”) between the Participant and Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “ Company ”) dated                     . Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Notice of Exercise (the “ Exercise Notice ”) shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

2. Delivery of Payment of Exercise Price. The Participant is paying for the Exercised Shares (check as applicable):

 

  with the consent of the Administrator, by surrender of shares of Stock held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares; or

 

  by delivering with this Exercise Notice cash and/or a certified or cashier’s check payable to the Company in the amount of $                    ; and/or

 

  with the consent of the Administrator, by delivering with this Exercise Notice                     shares of Stock that are owned by the Participant and endorsed for transfer to the Company and that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the portion of the aggregate Exercise Price being covered thereby (if not prohibited by any contractual arrangement otherwise); and/or

 

  Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock issuable upon exercise of the Option, and the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate Exercise Price, with payment of such proceeds made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale.


3. Delivery of Payment of Taxes . The Participant is paying the local, state and federal withholding taxes and/or all other taxes that the Company has advised are due by reason of this exercise of the Option, in the amount of $                     (check as applicable):

 

  with the consent of the Administrator, by surrender of shares of Stock held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares; or

 

  by delivering with this Exercise Notice cash and/or a certified or cashier’s check payable to the Company in the amount of $                    ; and/or

 

  with the consent of the Administrator, by delivering with this Exercise Notice                     shares of Stock that are owned by the Participant and endorsed for transfer to the Company and that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the portion of the aggregate Exercise Price being covered thereby (if not prohibited by any contractual arrangement otherwise); and/or

 

  Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock issuable upon exercise of the Option, and the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate Exercise Price, with payment of such proceeds made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale.

 

  4. Registration of Shares . Please register the Exercised Shares (check one):

 

  in the Participant’s name only;

 

  as community property in the names of the Participant and the Participant’s spouse (                            ); or

 

  in the names of the Participant and the Participant’s spouse (                            ), as joint tenants with right of survivorship.

5. Representations of the Participant. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant has received, read, and understood the Agreement and this Exercise Notice and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

6. Rights as Stockholder. Until the issuance of the Exercised Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Exercised Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Exercised Shares shall be issued to the Participant as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised. No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance, except as provided in Section 5.13 of the Agreement.

7. Tax Consultation. The Participant understands that the Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of the Participant’s purchase or disposition of the Exercised Shares. The Participant represents that the Participant has consulted with any tax consultants the Participant deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Exercised Shares and that the Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

8. Governing Law. This Exercise Notice shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.


9. Entire Agreement. The Agreement is incorporated herein by reference. This Exercise Notice and the Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Participant’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Participant.

[Signatures appear on next page.]


Submitted by:       Accepted by:
      ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

     

 

Name:       By:
      Title:

 

     
Social Security Number      
Address :       Address :

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

Date Signed       Date Received

Exhibit 99.6

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.

INDUCEMENT AWARD

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (the “ Participant ”) an award of restricted stock units (“ Restricted Stock Units ” or “ RSUs ”). Each vested Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive, in accordance with the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Agreement ”), one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Share ”). This award of Restricted Stock Units is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined in this Grant Notice, the terms defined in the Agreement shall have the same defined meanings in this Grant Notice.

 

Participant:    [                      ]
Grant Date:    [                      ]
Total Number of RSUs:    [                      ]
Vesting Commencement Date:    [                      ]
Vesting Schedule:    Subject to Participant’s continued service with the Company on the applicable vesting dates, twenty-five percent (25%) of the RSUs shall vest on each yearly anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, such that all shares subject to the award of RSUs shall be vested as of the fourth anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date.
Termination:    If the Participant experiences a Termination of Service prior to the applicable vesting date, all RSUs that have not become vested on or prior to the date of such Termination of Service (after taking into consideration any vesting that may occur in connection with such Termination of Service, if any) will thereupon be automatically forfeited by the Participant without payment of any consideration therefor.

By his or her signature and the Company’s signature below, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement and this Grant Notice. The Participant has reviewed the Agreement and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice and the Agreement. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under this Grant Notice or the Agreement. In addition, by signing below, the Participant also agrees that the Company, in its sole discretion, may satisfy any withholding obligations in accordance with Section 2.6(b) of the Agreement by (i) withholding Shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the RSUs, (ii) instructing a broker on the Participant’s behalf to sell Shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the RSUs and submit the proceeds of such sale to the Company, or (iii) using any other method permitted by Section 2.6(b) of the Agreement.


ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.:     PARTICIPANT:                                                         
By:         By:    
Print Name:         Print Name:    
Title:          
Address:         Address:    
           


EXHIBIT A

TO INDUCEMENT AWARD RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) to which this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is attached, Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), has granted to the Participant the number of restricted stock units (“ Restricted Stock Units ” or “ RSUs ”) set forth in the Grant Notice. Each vested Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Share ”).

WHEREAS, Leone Patterson (“ Participant ”) is a new Employee who has not previously served as an Employee or Director of the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee (the “ Committee ”) of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that Participant shall be granted the award of RSUs as an inducement material to Participant entering into employment with the Company.

ARTICLE I.

GENERAL

1.1 Administrator . The RSUs shall be administered by the Board, the Committee and/or their delegates (the “ Administrator ”). In order to comply with any applicable Nasdaq or other stock exchange listing requirements, the RSUs have been granted by the Committee and will be administered in a manner that complies with such requirements. Except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law, the Administrator may delegate to one or more individuals the day-to-day administration of the RSUs. Such delegation may be revoked at any time.

ARTICLE II.

GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

2.1 Grant of RSUs . Pursuant to the Grant Notice and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “ Grant Date ”), the Company hereby grants to the Participant an award of RSUs (the “ Award ”) in consideration of the Participant’s entering into employment with or service to the Company or any Affiliates and for other good and valuable consideration.

2.2 Unsecured Obligation to RSUs . Unless and until the RSUs have vested in the manner set forth in Article 2 hereof, the Participant will have no right to receive Shares under any such RSUs. Prior to actual payment of any vested RSUs, such RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.

2.3 Vesting Schedule . Subject to Section 2.5 hereof, the RSUs shall vest and become nonforfeitable with respect to the applicable portion thereof according to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice (rounding down to the nearest whole Share).

2.4 Consideration to the Company . In consideration of the grant of the Award of RSUs pursuant hereto, the Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Affiliate.

2.5 Forfeiture, Termination and Cancellation upon Termination of Service . Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, upon the Participant’s Termination of Service for any or no reason, all RSUs which have not vested prior to or in connection with such Termination of Service (after taking into consideration any accelerated vesting which may occur in connection with such Termination of Service (if any)) shall thereupon automatically be forfeited, terminated and cancelled as of the applicable termination date without payment of any consideration by the Company, and the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary or personal representative, as the case may be,


shall have no further rights hereunder. No portion of the RSUs which has not become vested as of the date on which the Participant incurs a Termination of Service shall thereafter become vested, except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between the Company and the Participant.

2.6 Issuance of Shares upon Vesting .

(a) Subject to Section 2.6(b) hereof, as soon as administratively practicable following the vesting of any RSUs pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after such vesting date (for the avoidance of doubt, this deadline is intended to comply with the “short term deferral” exemption from Section 409A), the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or any transferee permitted under Section 3.2 hereof) a number of Shares (either by delivering one or more certificates for such Shares or by entering such Shares in book entry form, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion) equal to the number of RSUs subject to this Award that vest on the applicable vesting date, unless such RSUs terminate prior to the given vesting date pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Shares cannot be issued pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, the Shares shall be issued pursuant to the preceding sentence as soon as administratively practicable after the Administrator determines that Shares can again be issued in accordance with such Section.

(b) The Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the RSUs. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any new certificate representing Shares to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative or enter such Shares in book entry form unless and until the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state and local taxes applicable to the taxable income of the Participant resulting from the grant or vesting of the RSUs or the issuance of Shares.

2.7 Conditions to Delivery of Shares . The Shares deliverable hereunder may be either previously authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares or issued Shares which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares deliverable hereunder prior to fulfillment of the following conditions:

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the release of the RSUs, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such shares is in compliance with all Applicable Law, and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with Applicable Law;

(b) All share certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares;

(c) The Administrator shall have the right to require Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or release of the RSUs, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator;

(d) No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares, if any, or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding down; and

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by any Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with the RSUs and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).


2.8 Rights as Stockholder . The holder of the RSUs shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to dividends, in respect of the RSUs and any Shares underlying the RSUs and deliverable hereunder unless and until such Shares shall have been issued by the Company and held of record by such holder (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 3.19 hereof.

ARTICLE III.

OTHER PROVISIONS

3.1 Administration . The Administrator shall have the power to interpret this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration and interpretation of this Agreement as are consistent herewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee or the Board, or any delegate thereof, shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to this Agreement or the RSUs.

3.2 RSUs Not Transferable .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 3.2(b) and 3.2(c) hereof:

(i) The RSUs may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until the Shares underlying such RSUs have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed;

(ii) Neither the RSUs nor interest or right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or the Participant’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until the Shares underlying such RSUs have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed, and any attempted disposition of the RSUs prior to the satisfaction of these conditions shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by clause (i) of this provision; and

(iii) During the lifetime of the Participant, the Shares underlying the RSUs (or any portion thereof) may be released only to the Participant, unless such RSUs have been disposed of pursuant to a DRO; after the death of the Holder, any the Shares underlying any vested RSUs may be distributed to the Participant’s personal representative or to any person designated to receive such Shares under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then Applicable Laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit the Participant or a Permitted Transferee of the Participant to transfer the RSUs to any one or more Permitted Transferees, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) the RSUs transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee (other than to another Permitted Transferee of the Participant) other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (ii) the RSUs transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement as applicable to the Participant (other than the ability to further transfer the RSUs); and (iii) the Participant (or transferring Permitted Transferee) and the Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under all Applicable Laws and (C) evidence the transfer.


(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, Participant may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to be entitled to the rights of Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to the RSUs upon Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights is subject to all terms and conditions of this Agreement, except to the extent this Agreement otherwise provides, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If Participant is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than Participant’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of Participant’s interest in the RSUs shall not be effective without the prior written consent of Participant’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Administrator prior to Participant’s death.

3.3 Tax Consultation . The Participant understands that the Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences in connection with the RSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement (and the Shares issuable with respect thereto). The Participant (a) acknowledges that the Company has not made any representations or warranties to the Participant with respect to the income tax consequences of the grant of RSUs or the issuance of Shares pursuant to this agreement and (b) represents that (i) the Participant has consulted with any tax consultants or advisors the Participant deems advisable in connection with the grant of RSUs and the issuance of Shares with respect thereto and (ii) the Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

3.4 Binding Agreement . Subject to the limitation on the transferability of the RSUs contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

3.5 Adjustments Upon Specified Events . The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the RSUs in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. The Participant acknowledges that the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Section 3.19 hereof.

3.6 Notices . Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.6, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

3.7 Participant’s Representations . If the Shares issuable hereunder have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state laws on an effective registration statement at the time of such issuance, the Participant shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with such issuance, make such written representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and/or its counsel.

3.8 Titles . Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

3.9 Governing Law . The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

3.10 Conformity to Securities Laws . The Participant acknowledges that this Agreement is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any other Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.


3.11 Amendment, Suspension and Termination . This Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that, except as may otherwise be provided by the this Agreement, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the RSUs in any material way without the prior written consent of the Participant.

3.12 Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 3.2 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

3.13 Limitations Applicable to Section  16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the RSUs and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

3.14 Not a Contract of Service Relationship . Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Affiliates or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or to terminate for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, the services of the Participant’s at any time.

3.15 Entire Agreement . The Grant Notice and this Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto, if any) and the Change in Control and Severance Agreement entered into between the Company and Participant, dated June 10, 2016, constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

3.16 Section  409A . This Award is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “ Section 409A ”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Administrator determines that the RSUs (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate for the RSUs either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

3.17 Limitation on Participant’s Rights . This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. The Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company and its Affiliates with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Shares as a general unsecured creditor with respect to RSUs, as and when payable hereunder.

3.18 Claw-Back Provisions . The RSUs (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by Participant upon any receipt of the RSUs or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the RSUs) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy.


3.19 Changes in Common Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events .

(a) In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of the Shares other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (i) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to the RSUs and (ii) the terms and conditions of the RSUs.

(b) In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 3.19(a) hereof or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in Applicable Law, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the RSUs or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either automatically or upon Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made with respect to the RSUs, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles:

(i) To provide for either (A) termination of the RSUs in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the settlement of the RSUs or realization of Participant’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 3.19 the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the settlement of the RSUs or realization of Participant’s rights, then the RSUs may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of the RSUs with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion having an aggregate value not exceeding the amount that could have been attained upon the settlement of the RSUs or realization of Participant’s rights had the RSUs been currently payable or fully vested;

(ii) To provide that the RSUs be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar rights or equity awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;

(iii) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of the Company’s common stock (or other securities or property) subject to the RSUs, and/or in the terms and conditions of, the RSUs;

(iv) To provide that the RSUs shall be payable or fully vested with respect to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement; and

(v) To provide that the RSUs cannot vest or become payable after such event.

(c) In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 3.19(a) and 3.19(b) hereof, the number and type of securities subject to the RSUs a shall be equitably adjusted. The adjustments provided under this Section 3.19(c) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on Participant and the Company.

(d) Change in Control .

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, the RSUs shall be assumed or an equivalent award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation, in each case, as determined by the Administrator.

(ii) In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control and its parents and subsidiaries refuse to assume or substitute for the RSUs in accordance with Section 3.19(d)(i) hereof, the RSUs shall become fully vested immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, and all forfeiture restrictions on the RSUs shall lapse at such time. If the RSUs vest in lieu of assumption or substitution in connection with a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify Participant of such vesting, and the RSUs shall terminate upon the Change in Control. For the avoidance of doubt, if the value of the RSUs that is terminated in connection with this Section 3.19(d)(ii) is zero or negative at the time of such Change in Control, such RSUs shall be terminated upon the Change in Control without payment of consideration therefor.


(e) No adjustment or action described in this Section 3.19 shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act unless the Administrator determines that the RSUs are not to comply with such exemptive conditions.

(f) The existence of this Agreement and the RSUs shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Shares or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(g) In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of the Shares including any Equity Restructuring, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Company in its sole discretion may refuse to permit the settlement of the RSUs during a period of thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such transaction.

3.20 Definitions .

(a) “ Affiliate ” shall mean any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

(b) “ Applicable Law ” shall mean any applicable law, including, without limitation, (i) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (iii) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

(c) “ Change in Control ” shall mean the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

(i) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Shares to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or

(ii) During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 3.20(c)(i) or 3.20(c)(iii)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

(iii) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:


(A) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “ Successor Entity ”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

(B) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 3.20(c)(iii)(B) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or

(iv) The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any portion of the RSUs that provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) with respect to the RSUs (or portion thereof) must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Section 409A.

The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority is in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

(d) “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of the RSUs.

(e) “ Consultant ” shall mean any consultant or advisor engaged to provide services to the Company or any Affiliate who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement or any successor Form thereto.

(f) “ Director ” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.

(g) “ DRO ” shall mean a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.

(h) “ Employee ” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or any Affiliate.

(i) “ Equity Restructuring ” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of the Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of the Shares (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Shares underlying the RSUs.

(j) “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.


(k) “ Parent ” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities ending with the Company if each of the entities other than the Company beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

(l) “ Permitted Transferee ” shall mean any “family member” of the Participant, as defined under the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act or any successor Form thereto, or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator, after taking into account Applicable Law.

(l) “ Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(m) “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

(n) “ Termination of Service ” shall mean:

If Participant is a Consultant, the time when the engagement of Participant as a Consultant to the Company or an Affiliate is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.

If Participant is an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between Participant and the Company or any Affiliate is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where Participant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.

The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Terminations of Service, including, without limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service. For purposes of this Agreement, Participant’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relations shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Affiliate employing or contracting with Participant ceases to remain an Affiliate following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).