UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): June 20, 2017

 

 

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36579   20-5258327

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1035 O’Brien Drive

Menlo Park, CA 94025

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 272-6269

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a–12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a–12)

 

Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 14d–2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d–2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e–4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e–4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☒

 

 

 


Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “ Company ”) announced today that Athena Countouriotis, M.D. has been appointed the Company’s senior vice president, chief medical officer, effective June 19, 2017 (the “ Commencement Date ”).

Dr. Countouriotis served as senior vice president, chief medical officer of Halozyme Therapeutics, a biotechnology company, from January 2015 to May 2017. From February 2012 to January 2015, Dr. Countouriotis served as chief medical officer at Ambit Biosciences Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, which was acquired by Daiichi Sankyo in November 2014. Previously, Dr. Countouriotis worked within Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb in various leading clinical development roles for Sutent, Mylotarg, Bosulif and Sprycel. Dr. Countouriotis received a B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.D. at Tufts University School of Medicine. She received her initial training in pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles, and additional training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program.

There are no family relationships between Dr. Countouriotis and any director or executive officer of the Company, or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer. There are no arrangements or understandings between Dr. Countouriotis and any other persons pursuant to which she was selected as senior vice president, chief medical officer. Dr. Countouriotis has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or currently proposed transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with her appointment as senior vice president, chief medical officer of the Company, Dr. Countouriotis and the Company have entered into an at-will employment agreement dated June 15, 2017 (the “ Offer Letter ”). Under the terms of the Offer Letter, Dr. Countouriotis will receive an annual base salary of $460,000 and will be eligible for an annual target bonus equal to 40% of her base salary earned during the bonus year based on the attainment of certain individual and corporate performance objectives to be determined by the Company’s management each year.

In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Offer Letter, on the Commencement Date the Company will grant Dr. Countouriotis a stock option to purchase 213,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “ Option ”) and a restricted stock unit award that may be settled for 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “ RSU Award ”), in each case pursuant to the inducement grant exception under NASDAQ Rule 5635(c)(4) and not pursuant to the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan or any equity incentive plan of the Company, as an inducement that is material to Dr. Countouriotis in connection with her employment with the Company. The Option will have a per share exercise price equal to the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on NASDAQ on the Commencement Date. The Option will vest as to 25% of the total shares subject to the Option on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date, and as to 1/48 of the total shares subject to the Option each month thereafter, so that the Option will be fully vested and exercisable as of the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date. The RSU Award will vest as to 25% of the total shares subject to the RSU Award on each yearly anniversary of the Commencement Date, so that all shares subject to the RSU Award will be fully vested and released as of the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date.

The Company will also enter into its standard proprietary information and invention assignment agreement with Dr. Countouriotis.


Concurrently with the execution of the Offer Letter, the Company and Dr. Countouriotis entered into a Change in Control and Severance Agreement (the “ Severance Agreement ”), to take effect as of the Commencement Date. Pursuant to the Severance Agreement, in the event of a termination without Cause or a Constructive Termination (each as defined in the Severance Agreement) more than three months prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the Severance Agreement) or more than twelve months after a Change in Control, Dr. Countouriotis will be entitled to (i) nine months of base salary and (ii) up to nine months of continued healthcare coverage. In the event of a termination without Cause or a Constructive Termination, in each case, within the period commencing three months prior to a Change in Control and ending twelve months following a Change in Control, Dr. Countouriotis will be entitled to (i) an amount equal to the sum of (x) twelve months of base salary and (y) the target annual bonus for the year in which such termination occurs, payable in a lump sum, (ii) up to 12 months of continued healthcare coverage and (iii) the accelerated vesting of all of her outstanding equity awards. The benefits described above are conditioned upon Dr. Countouriotis executing and not revoking a release of claims against the Company.

The foregoing descriptions of the Offer Letter and Severance Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements, copies of which are filed hereto, respectively, as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On June 20, 2017, the Company issued a press release (the “ Press Release ”) announcing the appointment of Dr. Countouriotis as the Company’s senior vice president, chief medical officer. A copy of the Press Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference in this Item 7.01.

The information set forth in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any other filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

10.1    Offer Letter, dated June 15, 2017, by and between Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. and Athena Countouriotis, M.D.
10.2    Change in Control and Severance Agreement, dated June 15, 2017, by and between Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. and Athena Countouriotis, M.D.
99.1    Press Release, dated June 20, 2017.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: June 20, 2017         ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    By:  

/s/ Leone Patterson

      Leone Patterson, Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

10.1    Offer Letter, dated June 15, 2017, by and between Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. and Athena Countouriotis, M.D.
10.2    Change in Control and Severance Agreement, dated June 15, 2017, by and between Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. and Athena Countouriotis, M.D.
99.1    Press Release, dated June 20, 2017.

Exhibit 10.1

[ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC. LETTERHEAD]

June 15, 2017

Athena Countouriotis, M.D.

***

Re: Employment Terms for Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer

Dear Dr. Countouriotis:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) memorializes the employment terms for your anticipated hire by Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “Company”) in the position of Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer reporting to Amber Salzman, President & Chief Executive Officer. These terms will become effective on June 19, 2017, or at a later date determined by mutual agreement and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (as applicable, the “Hire Date”).

Effective as of the Hire Date, your employment terms will be as follows:

 

1. Compensation and Benefits.

Your base salary will be $460,000 annually, subject to payroll deductions and all required withholdings, representing full-time employment with the Company. Your salary will be paid in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule.

In addition, for each calendar year starting 2017 you will be eligible to earn an annual performance bonus with a target bonus amount equal to Forty Percent (40%) of your salary earned during the bonus year, provided that you are actively employed from the Hire Date through and including the date the bonus is paid. Your annual bonus will be calculated based on attainment of individual goals (including corporate and personal objectives) to be determined by the Company’s management each year. Any bonus for 2017 may be prorated based on your Hire Date. Bonus payments will be in the form of cash and/or incentive stock options, and will be granted at the discretion of the Company’s CEO and Board of Directors. Any cash bonus payments will be less payroll deductions and all required withholdings.

You will be eligible to participate in the Company’s general employee benefits in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations of any such benefit plans, as in effect from time to time.

For your regular work week, you are agreeing to be on-site at our Menlo Park, CA headquarters at a minimum of two (2) consecutive days per week and no more than three (3) consecutive days per week, unless you are traveling to another location on a business-related event. You will be granted Six Thousand dollars ($6000.00) per month net (which will be grossed up for income taxes) as an allowance for expenses associated with the need for you to be on-site at our Menlo Park, CA headquarters.

 

 


2. Incentive Stock Option and Restricted Stock Units grants.

In addition to the compensation and benefits described above, the Company will grant you 213,000 Stock Options, representing the option to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a price equal to the closing price of the common stock on the Hire Date. The foregoing stock option will be granted outside the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan as an inducement grant and will be subject to the standard form of stock option agreement for an inducement grant (the “Option Agreement”), and shall provide that 25% of the shares vest after twelve (12) months, and the remaining 75% of the shares vest in equal monthly installments over the following thirty-six (36) months.

In addition, the Company will grant you 150,000 Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”). The foregoing RSU award will be granted outside the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan as an inducement grant and will be subject to the standard form of RSU agreement for an inducement grant, and 25% of the shares of common stock subject to the award of RSUs shall vest and be released on each yearly anniversary of the Hire Date, such that all shares subject to the award of RSUs shall be vested and released on the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Hire Date.

 

3. Confidentiality and Proprietary Information Obligations.

 

  (a) Company Policies and Proprietary Information Agreement. You will be required to sign the Employee Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”).

 

  (b) Adverse or Outside Business Activities. Throughout your employment with the Company, you may engage in civic, academic teaching and lectures, and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of your duties hereunder or present a conflict of interest with the Company. You may not engage in other employment or undertake any other commercial business activities unless you obtain the prior written consent of the Company’s CEO. In addition, throughout the term of your employment with the Company, you agree not to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, own, manage, operate, join, control, finance or participate in the ownership, management, operation, control or financing of, or be connected as an officer, director, executive, partner, employee, principal, agent, representative, consultant, licensor, licensee or otherwise with, any business or enterprise engaged in any business which is competitive with or which is reasonably anticipated to be competitive with the Company’s business; provided, however, that you may purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) one percent (1%) of any class of securities of any enterprise (but without participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or regional securities exchange. You hereby represent and warrant that you have disclosed previously to the Board all other employment or other commercial business activities that you already undertake, or intend to undertake (to the extent currently known by you), during your period of employment with the Company.

 

4. No Conflicts.

By signing this Agreement you hereby represent to the Company that, except as previously disclosed to the Company: (a) your employment with the Company is not prohibited under any employment agreement or other contractual arrangement; and (b) you do not know of any conflicts that would restrict

 

 

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your employment with the Company. You hereby represent that you have disclosed to the Company any contract you have signed that may restrict your activities on behalf of the Company, and that you are presently in compliance with such contracts, if any.

Subject to this Section 4, the Company acknowledges that you will be providing consulting services to Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. on a temporary basis and such consulting services is expected to conclude by the end of August 2017. You acknowledge and agree that during your employment with Company such consulting services will not interfere in any way with your full-time duties with the Company. The Company may, at its sole discretion, request that you discontinue such consulting services at any time.

 

5. At Will Employment; Change in Control and Severance Agreement.

Subject only to the benefits described in the Change in Control and Severance Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B, your employment relationship with the Company will be an “at-will” arrangement. This means that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause, and with or without advance notice. The Company also has the right to reassign you or change your compensation at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. This “at-will” employment relationship cannot be changed except in a written agreement approved by the Company and signed by you and by a duly authorized officer of the Company.

 

6. Miscellaneous.

6.1.      Conditions of employment. As required by law, your employment is contingent upon satisfactory proof of your identity and legal authorization to work in the United States. Additionally, this offer is contingent upon your completion of the employment application, verification of your references, satisfactory completion of a pre-employment background check, and execution of the Proprietary Information Agreement and the Acknowledgment of Business Ethics and Conduct Guide and Company Policies by or on your first day of employment.

6.2.      Entire agreement. This Agreement, together with your Proprietary Information Agreement (Exhibit A) and Change in Control and Severance Agreement (Exhibit B), forms the complete and exclusive statement of your employment agreement with the Company. The employment terms in this Agreement supersede any other agreements or promises made to you by anyone, whether oral or written, concerning your employment terms.

6.3.      Succession and assignment. This Agreement is personal to you and shall not be assigned by you. Any purported assignment by you shall be null and void from the initial date of the purported assignment. The Company may assign this Agreement to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

6.4.      Enforceability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this determination shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement and the provision in question shall be modified so as to be rendered enforceable in a manner consistent with the intent of the parties insofar as possible under applicable law.

6.5.      Governing law and jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to conflicts of law principles. Any action or proceeding by either of the parties to enforce this Agreement shall be brought only in a state or

 

 

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federal court located in the state of California, county of San Mateo. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue.

6.6.      Headings and captions. The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.

6.7.      No construction against drafter. Any ambiguity in this Agreement shall not be construed against either party as the drafter.

6.8.      Waiver. Any waiver of a breach of this Agreement, or rights hereunder, shall be in writing and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any successive breach or rights hereunder.

6.9.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which shall be deemed to be part of one original, and facsimile signatures shall be equivalent to original signatures.

7.      Acknowledgement of Full Understanding. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU HAVE FULLY READ, UNDERSTAND AND VOLUNTARILY ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OF YOUR CHOICE BEFORE SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.

Please sign and date this letter and return it to me by the close of business on June 16, 2017, in order to confirm your anticipated employment terms as set forth above.

We look forward to a productive and enjoyable work relationship with you.

Sincerely,

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.:

 

/s/ Amber Salzman

Amber Salzman, President & Chief Executive Officer

Understood and Accepted:

 

/s/ Athena Countouriotis

Athena Countouritotis

Date: June 15, 2017

 

 

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Exhibit 10.2

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CHANGE IN CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

This Change in Control and Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Athena Countouriotis, M.D. (“Executive”) and Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “Company”), effective as of the latest date set forth by the signatures of the parties hereto below (the “Effective Date”).

RECITALS

A.    Executive and the Company are entering into an offer letter agreement, effective as of Executive’s Hire Date as defined in therein (the “Offer Letter”) concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.

B.    It is expected that the Company from time to time will consider the possibility of an acquisition by another company or other change in control. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) recognizes that such consideration as well as the possibility of an involuntary termination or reduction in responsibility can be a distraction to Executive and can cause Executive to consider alternative employment opportunities. The Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication and objectivity of Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of such an event.

C.    The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to provide Executive with an incentive to continue Executive’s employment and to motivate Executive to maximize the value of the Company upon a Change in Control (as defined below) for the benefit of its stockholders.

D.    The Board believes that it is imperative to provide Executive with severance benefits upon certain terminations of Executive’s service to the Company that enhance Executive’s financial security and provide incentive and encouragement to Executive to remain with the Company notwithstanding the possibility of such an event.

E.    Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 7 below. The parties hereto agree as follows:

1.     Term of Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Date and terminate upon the date that all obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.

2.     At-Will Employment . The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive’s employment is and shall continue to be “at-will,” as defined under applicable law. If Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or compensation other than as provided by this Agreement.

 

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3.     Covered Termination Other Than During a Change in Control Period . If Executive experiences a Covered Termination other than during a Change in Control Period, and if Executive delivers to the Company a general release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days, or such shorter period of time specified by the Company, following such Covered Termination (a “Release of Claims”), then in addition to any accrued but unpaid salary, bonus, vacation and expense reimbursement payable in accordance with applicable law, the Company shall provide Executive with the following:

(a)     Severance . Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to nine (9) months of Executive’s Base Salary, payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies, less applicable withholdings; provided, however, that no payments under this Section 3(a) shall be made prior to the first payroll date occurring on or after the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of the Covered Termination (such payroll date, the “First Payroll Date”), and any amounts otherwise payable prior to the First Payroll Date shall be paid on the First Payroll Date without interest thereon.

(b)     Continued Healthcare . If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the nine (9)-month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 3(b), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

4.     Covered Termination During a Change in Control Period . If Executive experiences a Covered Termination during a Change in Control Period, and if Executive delivers to the Company a Release of Claims that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days, or such shorter period of time specified by the Company, following such Covered Termination, then in addition to any accrued but unpaid salary, bonus, vacation and expense reimbursement payable in accordance with applicable law, the Company shall provide Executive with the following:

(a)     Severance . Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum of: (i) twelve (12) months of the Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately before the date of the Covered Termination and (ii) target annual bonus for the year in which Executive’s termination occurs. Such amount shall be payable in a cash lump sum, less applicable withholdings, on the sixtieth (60th) day after the date of the Covered Termination.

 

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(b)     Equity Awards . Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to one-hundred percent (100%) of the unvested shares of Company common stock subject to such equity award.

(c)     Continued Healthcare . If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4(c), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

5.     Other Terminations . If Executive’s service with the Company is terminated by the Company or by Executive for any or no reason other than as a Covered Termination, then Executive shall not be entitled to any benefits hereunder other than accrued but unpaid salary, bonus, vacation and expense reimbursement in accordance with applicable law and to elect any continued healthcare coverage as may be required under COBRA or similar state law.

6.     Limitation on Payments . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or distribution Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“Payment”) would (a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax; results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the largest payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion the Payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm shall provide its calculations to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits pursuant to this

 

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Section 6 will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits payable to Executive.

7.     Definition of Terms . The following terms referred to in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

(a)     Base Salary . “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination (disregarding any reduction in base salary that would give rise to Executive’s right to a Constructive Termination).

(b)     Cause . “Cause” will be determined in the sole discretion of the Board and will mean misconduct, including: (i) conviction of any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty; (ii) willful and material breach of Executive’s duties that has not been cured within 30 days after written notice from the Board; (iii) intentional and material damage to the Company’s property; or (iv) material breach of the Proprietary Information Agreement (as defined below).

(c)     Change in Control . “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 Common 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 7(c)(i) or 7(c)(ii)) 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

 

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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 clause (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, in no event shall a transaction constitute a Change in Control unless such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.

(d)     Change in Control Period . “Change in Control Period” means the period of time beginning three (3) months prior to and ending twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.

(e)     Constructive Termination . “Constructive Termination” means any of the following actions taken without Cause by the Company or a successor corporation or entity without Executive’s consent: (i) substantial reduction of Executive’s rate of compensation; (ii) material reduction in Executive’s duties, provided, however, that a change in job position (including a change in title) shall not be deemed a “material reduction” unless Executive’s new duties are substantially reduced from the prior duties, and changes in Executive’s duties and responsibilities in connection with changes in the Company’s businesses and prospects and/or changes to Executive’s reporting relationship such that Executive reports to an executive officer of the Company other than the Chief Executive Officer shall not be deemed a “material reduction” in Executive’s duties; (iii) failure or refusal of a successor to the Company to assume the Company’s obligations under this Agreement in the event of a Change in Control; (iv) relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment or service to a place greater than 50 miles from the Executive’s then current principal place of employment or service; (v) the requirement to increase the amount of time per week that Executive provides services to the Company or (vi) the requirement that the Executive cease other employment or consulting engagements, unless such employment and/or consulting engagement results in a conflict with the Company’s business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a resignation shall not constitute a “Constructive Termination” unless the event or condition giving rise to such resignation continues more than thirty (30) days following Executive’s written notice of such condition provided to the Company within ninety (90) days of the first occurrence of such event or condition and such resignation is effective within thirty (30) days following the end of such notice period.

 

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(f)     Covered Termination . “Covered Termination” shall mean Executive’s Constructive Termination or the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company other than for Cause.

8. Successors .

(a)     Company’s Successors . Any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets shall assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company” shall include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets which executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this Section 8(a) or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by operation of law.

(b)     Executive’s Successors . The terms of this Agreement and all rights of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

9.     Notices . Notices and all other communications contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or one day following mailing via Federal Express or similar overnight courier service. In the case of Executive, mailed notices shall be addressed to Executive at Executive’s home address that the Company has on file for Executive. In the case of the Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the attention of its Legal Department.

10. Confidentiality; Non-Solicitation .

(a)     Confidentiality . Nothing herein modifies, supersedes, voids or otherwise alters Executive’s pre-existing contractual obligations set forth in the Employee Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (“Proprietary Information Agreement”) entered into between Executive and the Company.

(b)     Non-Solicitation . In addition to Executive’s obligations under the Proprietary Information Agreement, Executive shall not for a period of one (1) year following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, either on Executive’s own account or jointly with or as a manager, agent, officer, employee, consultant, partner, joint venturer, owner or stockholder or otherwise on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit away from the Company any of its officers or employees or offer employment to any person who is an officer or employee of the Company; provided, however, that a general advertisement to which an employee of the Company responds shall in no event be deemed to result in a breach of this Section 10(b). Executive also agrees not to harass or disparage the Company or its employees, clients, directors or agents or divert or attempt to divert any actual or potential business of the Company.

 

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(c)     Survival of Provisions . The provisions of this Section 10 shall survive the termination or expiration of the applicable Executive’s employment with the Company and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Section 10 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.

11.     Dispute Resolution . To ensure the timely and economical resolution of disputes that arise in connection with this Agreement, Executive and the Company agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach, performance or interpretation of this Agreement, Executive’s employment, or the termination of Executive’s employment, shall be resolved to the fullest extent permitted by law by final, binding and confidential arbitration, by a single arbitrator, in San Mateo County, California, conducted by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”) under the applicable JAMS employment rules. By agreeing to this arbitration procedure, both Executive and the Company waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative proceeding. The arbitrator shall: (i) have the authority to compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; and (ii) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. The arbitrator shall be authorized to award any or all remedies that Executive or the Company would be entitled to seek in a court of law. The Company shall pay all JAMS’ arbitration fees in excess of the amount of court fees that would be required if the dispute were decided in a court of law. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court pursuant to Section 1281.8 of the California Code of Civil Procedure to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by Court action instead of arbitration.

12. Miscellaneous Provisions .

(a)     Section 409A .

(i)     Separation from Service . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no amount deemed deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be payable pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 unless Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder (“Separation from Service”) and, except as provided under Section 12(a)(ii) of this Agreement, any such amount shall not be paid, or in the case of installments, commence payment, until the sixtieth (60th) day following Executive’s Separation from Service. Any installment payments that would have been made to Executive during the sixty (60) day period immediately following Executive’s Separation from Service but for the preceding sentence shall be paid to Executive on the sixtieth (60th) day following Executive’s Separation from Service and the remaining payments shall be made as provided in this Agreement.

 

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(ii)     Specified Employee . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed at the time of his or her separation from service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (a) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or (b) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the first business day following the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 12(a)(ii) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

(iii)     Expense Reimbursements . To the extent that any reimbursements payable pursuant to this Agreement are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, any such reimbursements payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid to Executive no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, and Executive’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

(b)     Waiver . No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(c)     Whole Agreement . This Agreement, the Offer Letter, and Executive’s Proprietary Information Agreement represent the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior arrangements and understandings regarding same, including, without limitation, any accelerated vesting provisions of any stock option agreement between the Company and Executive.

(d)     Choice of Law . The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California.

(e)     Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(f)     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year set forth below.

 

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ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Amber Salzman

Title:   President & CEO
Date:   June 15, 2017
EXECUTIVE
By:  

/s/ Athena Countouriotis

       Athena Countouriotis, M.D.
Date:  

June 15, 2017

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. Announces Appointment of

Athena Countouriotis, M.D. as SVP and Chief Medical Officer

MENLO PARK, CA, June 20, 2017 – Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADVM), a leading gene therapy company advancing novel medicines to address unmet needs in serious rare and ocular diseases, announced today the appointment of Athena Countouriotis, M.D. as senior vice president and chief medical officer. Dr. Countouriotis will be responsible for Adverum’s clinical development, clinical operations, medical affairs, biostatistics, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory functions.

“Athena is an accomplished drug developer with deep knowledge and strong execution. Her experience will be of significant value as we plan to begin patient enrollment in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the first of three lead gene therapy programs by the end of this year,” said Amber Salzman, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Adverum Biotechnologies. “She has experience developing therapies for patients with orphan oncology diseases, with a track record of several successful drug approvals. We are excited to have Athena join our team and look forward to her contributions to the thoughtful planning and focused execution of our development programs aimed at delivering novel gene therapies to patients.”

“I am delighted to join Adverum and to work closely with Amber and this new leadership team,” added Dr. Countouriotis. “With its robust pipeline, novel AAV vector technology platform, and strong in-house expertise, Adverum is well positioned to lead and advance the field of gene therapy. I am excited to be joining now, given the focus is to move three lead gene therapies into the clinic, and I am especially motivated to begin patient enrollment for the planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial with ADVM-043 for A1AT deficiency by the end of this year.”

Dr. Countouriotis has significant experience leading clinical development teams and programs, from preclinical through clinical stages of development and approval. Over the course of her career, she has been involved in multiple clinical programs, with a focus on orphan oncology indications, which have supported regulatory approvals in the United States and Europe. Before joining Adverum, Dr. Countouriotis served as senior vice president and chief medical officer at Halozyme Therapeutics. Previously, she was chief medical officer at Ambit Biosciences through the Company’s initial public offering and acquisition by Daiichi Sankyo. Dr. Countouriotis also worked within Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb in various leading clinical development roles for Sutent ® , Mylotarg ® , Bosulif ® , and Sprycel ® . Dr. Countouriotis holds an M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine, completed her pediatric residency at the University of California, Los Angeles, and did additional training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology program.


On the date she commences her employment, Adverum will grant Dr. Countouriotis a stock option to purchase 213,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and a restricted stock unit (RSU) award to be settled for 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The grant, which will be issued outside of Adverum’s 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan, was approved by Adverum’s board of directors pursuant to the inducement grant exception under NASDAQ Rule 5635(c)(4), as an inducement that is material to Dr. Countouriotis’ entering into employment with Adverum. The option will have a per share exercise price equal to the closing sales price of Adverum’s common stock on NASDAQ on the grant date, and will vest as to 25 percent of the total shares subject to the option on the first anniversary of the grant date, and as to 1/48 of the total shares subject to the option each month thereafter, subject to Dr. Countouriotis’ continued service with Adverum through each vesting date. The RSU award will vest as to 25 percent of the total shares subject to the award on each anniversary of the grant date, subject to Dr. Countouriotis’ continued service with Adverum through each vesting date.

About Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.

Adverum is a gene therapy company advancing novel medicines that can offer life-changing benefits to patients living with serious rare and ocular diseases. Adverum has a robust pipeline that includes product candidates designed to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) and rare diseases alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency and hereditary angioedema (HAE). Leveraging a next-generation adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based directed evolution platform, the Company generates product candidates designed to provide durable efficacy by inducing sustained expression of a therapeutic protein. Adverum has collaboration agreements with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to research, develop, and commercialize gene therapy products for ophthalmic diseases and Editas Medicine to explore the delivery of genome editing medicines for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases. Adverum’s core capabilities include clinical development and in-house manufacturing expertise, specifically in process development and assay development. For more information please visit www.adverum.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Adverum’s plans, potential opportunities, expectations, projections, goals, objectives, milestones, strategies, product pipeline, financial condition and results of operations, the sufficiency of its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, as well as the advancement of, and anticipated development and regulatory milestones and plans related to, Adverum’s product candidates and preclinical and clinical studies, and the commercial potential of its product candidates, all of which are based on certain


assumptions made by Adverum on current conditions, expected future developments and other factors Adverum believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Adverum may not consummate any plans or product or clinical development goals in a timely manner, or at all, or otherwise carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, the risk that Adverum’s resources will not be sufficient for Adverum to conduct or continue planned development programs and planned clinical trials, the risk of a delay in the enrollment of patients in Adverum’s clinical studies or in the manufacturing of products to be used in such clinical studies, and the risk that Adverum will not be able to successfully develop or commercialize any of its product candidates. Risks and uncertainties facing Adverum are described more fully in Adverum’s periodic reports filed with the SEC. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Adverum undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

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Contacts for Adverum:

Leone Patterson

Chief Financial Officer

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.

650-665-7222

lpatterson@adverum.com

Patti Bank

Managing Director

Westwicke Partners

415-513-1284

patti.bank@westwicke.com