false 0001590750 0001590750 2020-09-13 2020-09-13

 

 

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): September 17, 2020 (September 13, 2020)

 

 

 

LOGO

MIRAGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36483   47-1187261

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

6200 Lookout Rd.

Boulder, CO

  80301
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (720) 643-5200

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations 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 communications 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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value   MGEN   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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 – Corporate Governance and Management

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

Resignation of William S. Marshall, Ph.D. as President and Chief Executive Officer, Director

On September 13, 2020, William S. Marshall, Ph.D., resigned from his positions as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Miragen Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), as well as from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), and all committees of the Board of which Dr. Marshall was a member immediately before his resignation, in each case effective immediately. Dr. Marshall’s resignation did not result from a disagreement on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

We anticipate entering into a separation agreement with Dr. Marshall, substantially the in the form filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 (the “Separation Agreement”), pursuant to which Dr. Marshall would receive the severance specified in his employment agreement, dated as of December 2, 2016, subject to the terms and conditions of his employment agreement. Such severance payments include that Dr. Marshall shall receive (i) payment of 12 months of Dr. Marshall’s current base salary, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings, and to be made on the Company’s ordinary payroll dates following the Effective Date (as defined in the Separation Agreement), (ii) accelerated vesting of all currently unvested and outstanding stock options previously awarded to Dr. Marshall such that, on the Effective Date, such options shall become exercisable as to an aggregate of 1,058,841 shares of the Company’s common stock, and (iii) payment of Dr. Marshall’s COBRA premiums for the period starting on the Separation Date (as defined under the Separation Agreement) and ending on the earliest to occur of (x) 12 months following the Separation Date; (y) the date Dr. Marshall becomes eligible for substantially equivalent group health insurance coverage through a new employer; or (z) the date Dr. Marshall ceases to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason, including plan termination. The foregoing summary of the Separation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by its entirety by, the full text of the Separation Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

In connection with the Separation Agreement, we also anticipate entering into a consulting agreement with Dr. Marshall, substantially in the form filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 (the “Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which Dr. Marshall would provide the Company with certain specified advisory and support services (the “Consulting Services”) from October 15, 2020 through December 31, 2020, unless such services are completed prior to December 31, 2020 (the “Advisory Term”). Dr. Marshall would receive a $45,000 monthly retainer during the Advisory Term. Dr. Marshall would also be eligible to receive, pursuant to the terms of his Consulting Agreement, up to $260,500 in bonuses subject to completion of certain specified services during the Advisory Term. In addition, Dr. Marshall would be eligible to receive performance-based restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards, pursuant to the terms of the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, for a total of 232,000 RSUs, subject to completion of the Consulting Services on terms described in the Consulting Agreement.

The foregoing summary of the Consulting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by its entirety by, the full text of the Consulting Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Appointment of Lee Rauch as President and Chief Executive Officer, Director

On September 13, 2020, the Board promoted Lee Rauch and appointed her as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, to serve at the pleasure of the Board. Also on September 13, 2020, the Board appointed Ms. Rauch as a director on the Board, filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Dr. Marshall, to serve until her successor is duly appointed and qualified, or until her earlier death, resignation or removal. There is no transaction involving Ms. Rauch that requires disclosure under Items 401(d) or 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with her promotion, Lee Rauch and the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), pursuant to which Ms. Rauch’s base annual salary was increased to $541,000, with a 50% bonus target. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, the Board granted Ms. Rauch an option to purchase 900,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to monthly vesting over four years and acceleration upon terms set forth in the Employment Agreement.

The Employment Agreement provides that either party may terminate the agreement at-will. In addition, the Employment Agreement provides that if the Company terminates Ms. Rauch’s employment without cause or Ms. Rauch


resigns for good reason, each as defined in the Employment Agreement, Ms. Rauch will be eligible to receive the following severance benefits: (i) an amount equal to 12 months of her annual base salary, less applicable deductions, payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll schedule; (ii) the vesting of the equivalent of 12 months on all of Ms. Rauch’s stock options or other equity awards that were outstanding as of the effective date of the Employment Agreement; and (iii) 12 months of continued health coverage. Although, if such termination or resignation occurs within one month prior to or 12 months following a change of control, Ms. Rauch will be eligible to receive the following severance benefits: (i) an amount equal to 18 months of her annual base salary, less applicable deductions, payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll schedule; (ii) the vesting in full of all of her then outstanding stock options or other equity awards then outstanding and subject to time-based vesting; and (iii) 18 months of continued health coverage.

The foregoing summary of the Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by its entirety by, the full text of the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Since June 2020, Ms. Rauch, age 67, has served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. From May 2020 to present, Ms. Rauch has served as the Executive Chairman, Health Innovation Hub for Springboard Enterprises. In addition, from January 2020 to May 2020, Ms. Rauch was a strategic advisor to life science companies with expertise in company building, new product commercialization and strategic transactions. From September 2018 to December 2019, Ms. Rauch served an Executive in Residence with Columbia Technology Ventures, the technology transfer office for Columbia University. From December 2017 to August 2018, Ms. Rauch served as an Entrepreneur in Residence with Fortress Biotech, Inc., a publicly traded innovative biopharmaceutical company. From August 2015 to November 2017, Ms. Rauch served as managing director of Cervantes Life Sciences Partners, LLC, a consulting firm providing integrated business solutions for life science companies. From October 2012 to March 2015, Ms. Rauch served as the Chief Business Officer of Global Blood Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company. Ms. Rauch holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Arizona State University and an MBA in Finance from Booth School of Business of The University of Chicago.

Bonus Agreements

In connection with the matters discussed herein, we also anticipate entering into a letter agreement, in substantially the form attached herewith as Exhibit 10.4 (the “Leverone Bonus Agreement”), with Jason A. Leverone, Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the Leverone Bonus Agreement, Mr. Leverone would receive a bonus equal to 100% of his target bonus for 2020, provided he remains an employee of the Company on April 15, 2021 or is terminated without cause prior to such date.

Pursuant to the Leverone Bonus Agreement, Mr. Leverone would also be eligible to receive a retention bonus equal to $284,000 provided he remains an employee of the Company, with 50% of such bonus amount payable on or around the first anniversary of the effective date of the Leverone Bonus Agreement and the remainder payable on or around the second anniversary of the effective date of Leverone Bonus Agreement, in each case subject to terms and conditions set forth in the Leverone Bonus Agreement.

The foregoing summary of the Leverone Bonus Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by its entirety by, the full text of the Leverone Bonus Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

In connection with the matters discussed herein, we anticipate entering into a letter agreement, in substantially the form attached herewith as Exhibit 10.5 (the “Escolar Bonus Agreement”), with Diana Escolar, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the Escolar Bonus Agreement, Dr. Escolar would receive a bonus equal to 100% of her target bonus for 2020, provided she remains an employee of the Company on April 15, 2021 or is terminated without cause prior to such date.

Pursuant to the Escolar Bonus Agreement, Dr. Escolar would also be eligible to receive a retention bonus equal to $166,000 provided she remains an employee of the Company through the first anniversary of the Escolar Bonus Agreement date, payable on and subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in the Escolar Bonus Agreement.

The foregoing summary of the Escolar Bonus Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by its entirety by, the full text of the Escolar Bonus Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7 – Regulation FD

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

In connection with the matters above, on September 14, 2020, the Company issued a press release providing a corporate update. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information furnished under this Item 7.01, including the exhibit furnished herewith, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof, except as shall be expressly set forth by reference to such filing.

Item 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Strategic Review of Pipeline

On September 14, 2020, the Company announced it is conducting a comprehensive review of its research and development pipeline, which includes MRG-229, cobomarsen, MRG-110 and remlarsen.

The Company plans to prioritize its resources towards advancing the development of its lead compound, MRG-229, for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Later this month, the Company is scheduled to present new data from its recent non-human primate toxicology study of MRG-229 at the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society’s annual meeting. This presentation will include data showing no adverse effects associated with MRG-229 when dosed up to 45mg/kg twice a week for two weeks. Following the announcement of these new data, the Company is planning IND enabling activities for MRG-229, which are intended to advance the development of this potential therapy.

The Company also announced on September 14, 2020 that it will conclude its Phase 2 SOLAR clinical trial of cobomarsen in patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (“CTCL”) and report topline data that has been collected as of such date in this clinical trial from 37 CTCL patients. The Company believes that the controlled data from this set of patients can provide important evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of cobomarsen for the treatment of CTCL. The Company plans to announce the topline data for its Phase 2 SOLAR clinical trial by the end of 2020.

Review of Strategic Alternatives

On September 14, 2020, the Company also announced that the Board had determined it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to conduct a comprehensive review of available strategic alternatives with a focus on maximizing stockholder value. The Board has engaged Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (“Ladenburg”) as its financial advisor to assist in the strategic review process. Potential strategic alternatives may include, but are not limited to, an acquisition, merger, business combination, in-licensing, or other strategic transaction. There can be no assurance that this process will result in any such transaction. The Company has not set a timetable for completion of this process and does not intend to comment further on this process unless or until the Board has approved a definitive agreement.

There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to complete any strategic alternative, or even if it does engage in a strategic alternative that such strategic alternative will increase stockholder value.

The Company has engaged Ladenburg to facilitate possible strategic alternatives for the Company, including transactions involving an acquisition, merger, business combination, in-licensing, or other strategic transactions, in each case with the goal of maximizing stockholder value. The Company does not have a defined timeline for the strategic review process and the review may not result in any specific action or transaction. The Company may never complete such a transaction, and in the event that it does complete a strategic transaction, implementation of such transactions may impair stockholder value or otherwise adversely affect its business. Any such transaction may require the Company to incur non-recurring or other charges and may pose significant integration challenges and/or management and business disruptions, any of which could harm the Company’s results of operation and business prospects and impair the value of any such transaction to its stockholders.


Forward Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements about anticipated development milestones for the Company’s product candidates, the Company’s ability to negotiate or complete any future strategic transaction and other statements containing the words “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials and such other factors as are set forth in the risk factors detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 13, 2020, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2020, in each case under the heading “Risk Factors,” and the Company’s other current and periodic reports filed with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this Current Report on Form 8-K represent the Company’s views as of the date hereof. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

  10.1    Form of Separation Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2020, by and between the Company and William S. Marshall, Ph.D.
  10.2    Form of Consulting Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2020, by and between the Company and William S. Marshall, Ph.D.
  10.3    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2020, by and between the Company and Lee Rauch.
  10.4    Form of Bonus Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2020, by and between the Company and Jason Leverone.
  10.5    Form of Bonus Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2020, by and between the Company and Diana Escolar, M.D.
  99.1    Press Release, dated September 14, 2020.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


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.

 

    Miragen Therapeutics, Inc.
Date: September 17, 2020     By:  

/s/ Jason A. Leverone

      Jason A. Leverone
      Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary

Exhibit 10.1

September         , 2020

William S. Marshall, Ph.D

 

Re:

Separation Agreement

Dear Bill:

This letter sets forth the substance of the separation agreement (the “Agreement”) which Miragen Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) is offering to you to aid in your employment transition.

1.    Separation. Your last day of work with the Company and your employment termination date will be October 15, 2020 (the “Separation Date”). From the date of this letter until the Separation Date, your title will be Senior Technical Advisor.

2.    Accrued Salary and Vacation. On the Separation Date, the Company will pay you all accrued salary and all accrued and unused vacation earned through the Separation Date, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings. You will receive this payment regardless of whether or not you sign this Agreement. You acknowledge that you were covered by the Company’s non-accrual vacation policy and as a result, you have no accrued but unused vacation time that the Company is obligated to pay you upon your separation from employment.

3.    Severance Benefits. If you timely sign this Agreement (on the Separation Date) and allow the releases set forth herein to become effective, then the Company will provide you with the following severance benefits (the “Severance Benefits”):

(a)    Severance Pay. In accordance with Section 8(b)(i) of the Employment Agreement between you and the Company dated December 2, 2016 (the “Employment Agreement”), the Company will pay you the equivalent of twelve (12) months of your base salary in effect as of the Separation Date, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings (“Severance Pay”). These payments will be will be made on the Company’s ordinary payroll dates, beginning with the Company’s first ordinary payroll date to occur at least seven (7) business days following the “Effective Date” as defined below, provided the Company has received the executed Agreement from you on or before that date, with the remaining payments to be made on the Company’s ordinary payroll dates thereafter.

(b)    Accelerated Vesting. In accordance with Section 8(b)(ii) of the Employment Agreement, the Company will accelerate vesting of the shares subject to certain of your options, as detailed in Section 5 below.

(c)    COBRA. In accordance with Section 8(b)(iii) of the Employment Agreement, to the extent provided by the federal COBRA law or, if applicable, state insurance laws, and by the Company’s current group health insurance policies, you will be eligible to continue your group health insurance benefits at your own expense. Later, you may be able to convert to an


William S. Marshall, Ph.D

September         , 2020

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individual policy through the provider of the Company’s health insurance, if you wish. If you timely elect continued coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay your COBRA premiums to continue your coverage (including coverage for eligible dependents, if applicable) through the period (the “COBRA Premium Period”) starting on the Separation Date and ending on the earliest to occur of: twelve (12) months following the Separation Date; (ii) the date you become eligible for substantially equivalent group health insurance coverage through a new employer; or (iii) the date you cease to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason, including plan termination. In the event you become covered under another employer’s group health plan or otherwise cease to be eligible for COBRA during the COBRA Premium Period, you must immediately notify the Company in writing of such event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot issue the COBRA premium reimbursement payment without potentially incurring financial costs or penalties under applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company instead shall provide you with a taxable monthly payment equal to the monthly COBRA premium amount for the remainder of the COBRA Payment Period (the “Health Care Benefit Payment”). The Health Care Benefit Payment shall be paid in monthly installments on the same schedule that the COBRA premiums would have otherwise been paid and shall be equal to the amount that the Company would have otherwise paid for COBRA premiums, and shall be paid until the earlier of (i) expiration of the twelve (12) month period following the Separation Date or (ii) the date you voluntarily enroll in a health insurance plan offered by another employer or entity.

(d)    Consulting Agreement. As an additional Severance Benefit, the Company will offer you the Consulting Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which you will be eligible to provide services to the Company. You must sign and return the Consulting Agreement no later than the Separation Date.

4.    Benefit Plans. If you are currently participating in the Company’s group health insurance plans, your participation as an employee will end on the Separation Date. Thereafter, to the extent provided by the federal COBRA law or, if applicable, state insurance laws, and by the Company’s current group health insurance policies, you will be eligible to continue your group health insurance benefits at your own expense, with the potential for certain amounts to be paid by the Company as described in Section 3(c) above. Later, you may be able to convert to an individual policy through the provider of the Company’s health insurance, if you wish. You will be provided with a separate notice describing your rights and obligations with respect to continued group health insurance coverage under the applicable state and/or federal insurance laws

5.    Stock Options. As of the Separation Date, you hold outstanding options to purchase an aggregate amount of 1,528,759 shares of the Company’s common stock (collectively, the “Options”) pursuant to the Company’s 2008 Equity Incentive Plan and the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, and each as amended, the “Plans”). You hereby agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the terms of the Plans and your stock option grant notices and stock option agreements governing the Options (the “Option Documents”) or your service to the Company pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, vesting of the Options will cease as of the Separation Date. As of the Separation Date, 860,757 shares subject to the Options are vested. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Option Documents and any other documents between you and the Company setting forth the terms of the Options, in accordance with Section 8(b)(ii) of the


William S. Marshall, Ph.D

September         , 2020

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Employment Agreement, if you execute this Agreement, and fully comply with your obligations hereunder, 198,084 shall automatically vest, effective as of the Effective Date, such that the portion of shares subject to such Accelerated Option that would vest within twelve (12) months of the Separation Date shall be considered vested as of the Separation Date. Your right to exercise the Options, including the Accelerated Option, will continue to be as provided in the Plans.

6.    Other Compensation or Benefits. You acknowledge that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, you will not receive any additional compensation, severance or benefits after the Separation Date.

7.    Expense Reimbursements. You agree that, within ten (10) days of the Separation Date, you will submit your final documented expense reimbursement statement reflecting all business expenses you incurred through the Separation Date, if any, for which you seek reimbursement. The Company will reimburse you for reasonable business expenses pursuant to its regular business practice.

8.    Taxes. Payments and benefits provided hereunder shall be subject to any applicable withholding. Payments and benefits provided hereunder are intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”) or, if not so exempt, to comply with the provisions of Section 409A, and this Agreement shall be interpreted and construed accordingly. Your termination of employment hereunder shall be a “separation from service” for purposes of Section 409A.

9.    Return of Company Property. Provided the Consulting Agreement goes into effect, you will be authorized to retain Company property after the Separation Date to provide services under the Consulting Agreement (which property you must return to the Company, without retaining any reproductions, upon termination of the Consulting Agreement or earlier if requested by the Company).

10.    Proprietary Information and Post-Termination Obligations. Both during and after your employment you acknowledge your continuing obligations under your Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement not to use or disclose any confidential or proprietary information of the Company and to refrain from certain solicitation and competitive activities. A copy of your Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation


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September         , 2020

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and Non-Competition Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit B. Confidential information that is also a “trade secret,” as defined by law, may be disclosed (A) if it is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. In addition, in the event that you file a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, you may disclose the trade secret to your attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if you: (A) file any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) do not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

11.     Confidentiality. The provisions of this Agreement will be held in strictest confidence by you and will not be publicized or disclosed in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that: (a) you may disclose this Agreement to your immediate family; (b) you may disclose this Agreement in confidence to your attorney, accountant, auditor, tax preparer, and financial advisor; and (c) you may disclose this Agreement insofar as such disclosure may be required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall limit your right to voluntarily communicate with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, other federal government agency or similar state or local agency or to discuss the terms and conditions of your employment with others to the extent expressly permitted by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.

12.     Non-Disparagement. Both you and the Company agree not to disparage the other party, and the other party’s attorneys, directors, managers, partners, employees, agents and affiliates, in any manner likely to be harmful to them or their business, business reputation or personal reputation; provided that both you and the Company may respond accurately and fully to any question, inquiry or request for information when required by legal process. The Company’s obligation under this Section are limited to Company representatives with knowledge of this provision and the Company’s Board of Directors as of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall limit your right to voluntarily communicate with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, other federal government agency or similar state or local agency or to discuss the terms and conditions of your employment with others to the extent expressly permitted by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.

13.    Cooperation after Termination. During the time that you are receiving payments under this Agreement, you agree to cooperate fully with the Company in all matters relating to the transition of your work and responsibilities on behalf of the Company, including, but not limited to, any present, prior or subsequent relationships and the orderly transfer of any such work and institutional knowledge to such other persons as may be designated by the Company, by making yourself reasonably available during regular business hours.

14.    Release by You. In exchange for the payments and other consideration under this Agreement, to which you would not otherwise be entitled, and except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, you, on behalf of yourself and, to the extent permitted by law, on behalf of your spouse, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, insurers, attorneys and other persons or entities, acting or purporting to act on your behalf (collectively, the “Employee Parties”), hereby generally and completely release, acquit and forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries, and its


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September         , 2020

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and their officers, directors, managers, partners, agents, representatives, employees, attorneys, shareholders, predecessors, successors, assigns, insurers and affiliates (the “Company Parties”) of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, contentions, actions, causes of action, suits, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, damages, indemnities, debts, judgments, levies, executions and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, both known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to and including the execution date of this Agreement, including but not limited to: all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected with your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment; claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay, or any other form of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law, statute, or cause of action; tort law; or contract law (individually a “Claim” and collectively “Claims”). The Claims you are releasing and waiving in this Agreement include, but are not limited to, any and all Claims that any of the Company Parties:

 

   

has violated its personnel policies, handbooks, contracts of employment, or covenants of good faith and fair dealing;

 

   

has discriminated against you on the basis of age, race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), national origin, ancestry, disability, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, source of income, entitlement to benefits, any union activities or other protected category in violation of any local, state or federal law, constitution, ordinance, or regulation, including but not limited to: the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended (“ADEA”); Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; 42 U.S.C. § 1981, as amended; the Equal Pay Act; the Americans With Disabilities Act; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the Colorado Anti-discrimination Act; the Colorado Labor Relations Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; the Employee Polygraph Protection Act; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the anti-retaliation provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or any other federal or state law regarding whistleblower retaliation; the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; and the National Labor Relations Act;

 

   

has violated any statute, public policy or common law (including but not limited to Claims for retaliatory discharge; negligent hiring, retention or supervision; defamation; intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress and/or mental anguish; intentional interference with contract; negligence; detrimental reliance; loss of consortium to you or any member of your family and/or promissory estoppel).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than events expressly contemplated by this Agreement you do not waive or release rights or Claims that may arise from events that occur after the date this waiver is executed and you are not releasing any right of indemnification you may have for any liabilities arising from your actions within the course and scope of your employment with the Company or


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September         , 2020

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within the course and scope of your role as a member of the Board of Directors and officer of the Company. Also excluded from this Agreement are any Claims which cannot be waived by law, including, without limitation, any rights you may have under applicable workers’ compensation laws and your right, if applicable, to file or participate in an investigative proceeding of any federal, state or local governmental agency. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent you from filing, cooperating with, or participating in any proceeding or investigation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal government agency, or similar state or local agency (“Government Agencies”), or exercising any rights pursuant to Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. You further understand this Agreement does not limit your ability to voluntarily communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing documents or other information, without notice to the Company. While this Agreement does not limit your right to receive an award for information provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission, you understand and agree that, you are otherwise waiving, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all rights you may have to individual relief based on any Claims that you have released and any rights you have waived by signing this Agreement. If any Claim is not subject to release, to the extent permitted by law, you waive any right or ability to be a class or collective action representative or to otherwise participate in any putative or certified class, collective or multi-party action or proceeding based on such a Claim in which any of the Company Parties is a party. This Agreement does not abrogate your existing rights under any Company benefit plan or any plan or agreement related to equity ownership in the Company; however, it does waive, release and forever discharge Claims existing as of the date you execute this Agreement pursuant to any such plan or agreement.

15.    Release by the Company. The Company hereby releases and forever discharges you of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorney’s fees, damages, indemnities, and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, related to your employment with the Company arising, accruing or based on any conduct occurring at any time before the date the Company executes this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s release shall not apply to any claim, liability, demand, cause of action or other damages, indemnities or obligations based on or alleged to arise out of your service to the Company as an office or director of the Company for which you are eligible to be indemnified under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws covered by Directors and Officers liability insurance maintained by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company preserves all rights under the Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement.

16.     Your Acknowledgments and Affirmations/ Effective Date of Agreement. You acknowledge that you are knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any and all rights you may have under the ADEA, as amended. You also acknowledge and agree that (i) the consideration given to you in exchange for the waiver and release in this Agreement is in addition to anything of value to which you were already entitled, and (ii) that you have been paid for all time worked, have received all the leave, leaves of absence and leave benefits and protections for which you are eligible, and have not suffered any on-the-job injury for which you have not already filed a Claim. You affirm that all of the decisions of the Company Parties regarding your pay and benefits through the date of your execution of this Agreement were not discriminatory based on age, disability, race, color, sex, religion, national origin or any other classification protected by law. You affirm that you have not filed or caused to be filed, and are not presently a party to, a Claim against any of the Company Parties. You further affirm that you have no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases. You acknowledge and affirm that you have not been retaliated against for reporting any allegation of corporate fraud or other wrongdoing by any of the Company Parties, or for exercising any rights protected by law, including any rights protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act or any related statute or local leave or disability accommodation laws, or any applicable state workers’ compensation law. You further acknowledge and affirm that you have been advised by this writing that: (a) your waiver and release do not apply to any rights or Claims that may arise after the execution date of this Agreement; (b) you have been advised hereby that you have the right to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (c) you have been given at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement; (d) you have seven (7) days


William S. Marshall, Ph.D

September         , 2020

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following your execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement; and (e) this Agreement shall not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired unexercised (the “Effective Date”), which shall be the eighth day after this Agreement is executed by you.

17.    No Admission. This Agreement does not constitute an admission by the Company of any wrongful action or violation of any federal, state, or local statute, or common law rights, including those relating to the provisions of any law or statute concerning employment actions, or of any other possible or claimed violation of law or rights.

18.    Breach. The parties agree that upon any material breach of this Agreement the breaching party will forfeit all benefits of under this Agreement. Further, the parties acknowledge that it may be impossible to assess the damages caused by violation of the terms of Sections 9, 10 11 and 12 of this Agreement and further agree that any threatened or actual violation or breach of those Sections of this Agreement will constitute immediate and irreparable injury to the non-breaching party. The parties therefore agree that any such breach of this Agreement is a material breach of this Agreement, and, in addition to any and all other damages and remedies available to the non-breaching party, that party shall be entitled to an injunction to prevent violation or breach of this Agreement. The parties agree that if enter party is successful in whole or part in any legal or equitable action to enforce this Agreement, the enforcing party may recover from the breaching party all of the costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred in enforcing the terms of this Agreement.

19.    Miscellaneous. This Agreement, including its Exhibits, constitutes the complete, final and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement between you and the Company with regard to this subject matter. It is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes any other such promises, warranties or representations. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in a writing signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. This Agreement will bind the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of both you and the Company, and inure to the benefit of both you and the Company, their heirs, successors and assigns. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this determination will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and the provision in question will be modified by the court so as to be rendered enforceable. This Agreement will be deemed to have been entered into and will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado as applied to contracts made and to be performed entirely within Colorado.

If this Agreement is acceptable to you, please sign below on your Separation Date (but no earlier) and return it to me. The Company’s severance offer contained herein will automatically expire if you do not sign and return the fully signed Agreement within this timeframe.

I wish you good luck in your future endeavors.


William S. Marshall, Ph.D

September         , 2020

Page 8 of 8

 

Sincerely,

 

MIRAGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

                          

  Name:                       
  Title:                       
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

                     

William S. Marshall, Ph.D
                    
Date

Exhibit A – Consulting Agreement

Exhibit B – Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement


EXHIBIT A

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

[Included as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K]


EXHIBIT B

Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement


CONFIDENTIALITY AND INVENTIONS ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

This Confidentiality and Inventions Assignment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made in consideration for my employment or continued employment by Miragen Therapeutics, Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliates (the “Company”), and the compensation now and hereafter paid to me. I hereby agree as follows:

 

1.    CONFIDENTIALITY.

1.1 Nondisclosure; Recognition of Company’s Rights. At all times during my employment and thereafter, I will hold in confidence and will not disclose, use, lecture upon, or publish any of Company’s Confidential information (defined below), except as such use is required in connection with my work for Company, or unless an office of Company expressly authorizes in writing such disclosure or publication. I will obtain the written approval of an officer of the Company before publishing or submitting for publication any material (written, oral, or otherwise) that relates to my work at Company and/or incorporates any Confidential Information. I hereby assign to Company any rights I have or acquire in any and all Confidential Information and recognize that all Confidential Information shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company and its assigns.

1.2 Confidential Information. The term “Confidential Information” shall mean any and all confidential knowledge, data or information related to Company’s business or its actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, including without limitation (a) patents, patent application, trade secrets, inventions, ideas, processes, proprietary information, ideas, gene sequences, cell tines, samples, prototypes, drawings or schematics, chemical compounds, assays, biological materials, techniques, sketches, drawings, works of authorship, models, inventions, know-how, processes, apparatuses, equipment, algorithms, software programs, software source documents, and formulae related to the current, future, and proposed products and services of the Company, and including, without limitation, the Company’s information concerning research, experimental work, development, design details and specifications, engineering, financial information, procurement requirements, purchasing, manufacturing, customer lists, investors, employees, business and contractual relationships, information the Company provides regarding third parties, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, and techniques; (b) information regarding products, plans for research and development, marketing and business plans, budgets, financial statements, contracts, prices, suppliers, and customers; (c) information regarding the skills and compensation of Company’s employees, contractors, and any other service providers of Company; and (d) the existence of any business discussions, negotiations, or agreements between Company and any third party.

1.3 Third Party Information. I understand, in addition, that Company has received and in the future will receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”) subject to a duty on Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During the term of my employment and thereafter. I will hold Third Party Information in strict confidence and will not disclose to anyone (other than Company personnel who need to know such information in connection with their work for Company) or use, except in connection with my work for Company, Third Party Information, unless expressly authorized by an Officer of Company in writing.

1.4 No Improper Use of Information of Prior Employers and Others. I represent that my employment by Company does not and will not breach any agreement with any former employer, including any noncompete agreement or any agreement to keep in confidence information acquired by me in confidence or trust prior to my employment by Company. I further represent that I have not entered into, and will not enter into, any agreement, either written or oral, in conflict herewith. During my employment by Company, I will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets of any former employer or other third party to whom I have an obligation of confidentiality, and I will not bring onto the premises of Company or use any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or other third party to whom I have an obligation of confidentiality, unless consented to in writing by that former employer or person. I will use in the performance of my duties only information that is generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to my own, is common knowledge in the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain, or is otherwise provided or developed by Company.

2.    INVENTIONS.

2.1 Inventions and Proprietary Rights.    As used in this Agreement, the term “Invention” means any ideas, concepts, information, materials, processes, data, programs, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, artwork, formulae, other copyrightable works, and techniques and all Proprietary Rights therein. The term “Proprietary Rights” means all trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, mask work rights, patents and other intellectual property rights recognized by the laws of any jurisdiction or country.

 

 

1


2.2 Prior Inventions. I agree that I will not incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, Prior Inventions (defined below) in any Company Inventions (defined below) without Company’s prior written consent. I have disclosed on Exhibit A a complete list of all Inventions that I have, or I have caused to be, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed, or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of my employment by Company, in which I have an ownership interest or which I have a license to use, and that I wish to have excluded from the scope of this Agreement (collectively referred to as “Prior Inventions”). If no Prior Inventions are listed in Exhibit A, I warrant that there are no Prior Inventions. If, in the course of my employment with Company, I incorporate a Prior Invention into a Company process, machine or other work, I hereby grant Company a non-exclusive, perpetual, fully-paid and royalty-free, irrevocable and worldwide license, with rights to sublicense through multiple levels of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display in any form or medium, whether now known or later developed, make, have made, use, sell, import, offer for sale, and exercise any and all present or future rights in, such Prior Invention.

2.3 Assignment of Company Inventions. Subject to Sections 2.2 and 2.5, I hereby assign and agree to assign in the future (when any such Inventions or-Proprietary Rights are first reduced to practice or first fixed in a tangible medium, as applicable) to Company all my right, title, and interest in and to any and all Inventions (and all Proprietary Rights with respect thereto) made, conceived, reduced to practice, or learned by me, either alone or with others, during the period of my employment by Company and which arise out of research or other activity conducted by, for or under the direction of the Company (whether or not conducted at the Company’s facilities, during working hours or using Company assets), or which are useful with or relate directly or indirectly to any product, service, other Invention or Proprietary Right that is sold, leased, used or under consideration or development by the Company. Inventions assigned to Company or to a third party as directed by Company pursuant to the section titled “Government or Third Party” are referred to in this Agreement as “Company Inventions.”

2.4 Obligation to Keep Company Informed. During the period of my employment and for one (1) year thereafter, I will promptly and fully disclose to Company in writing (a) all Inventions authored, conceived, or reduced to practice by me, either alone or with others, and (b) all patent applications filed by me or in which I am named as an inventor or co-inventor.

2.5 Government or Third Party. I also agree to assign all my right, title, and interest in and to any particular Company Invention to a third party, including

without limitation the United States, as directed by Company.

2.6 Enforcement of Proprietary Rights and Assistance. During the period of my employment and thereafter, I will assist Company in every proper way to obtain and enforce United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Inventions in all countries. In the event Company is unable to secure my signature on any document needed in connection with such purposes, I hereby irrevocably designate and appoint Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act on my behalf to execute and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further such purposes with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me.

3.    RECORDS. I agree to keep and maintain adequate and current records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and in any other form that is required by Company) of all Inventions made by me during the period of my employment by Company, which records shall be available to, and remain the sole property of, Company at all times.

4.    NO CONFLICTS OR SOLICITATION. I acknowledge that during my employment I will have access to and knowledge of Confidential Information. I also acknowledge that during my employment with the Company, I have held and/or will hold a management or executive position or am, or will be, an assistant to a manager or executive. To protect the Company’s Confidential Information, I agree that during the period of my employment by the Company I will not, without the Company’s express written consent, engage in any other employment or business activity directly related to the business in which the Company is now involved or becomes involved, nor will I engage in any other activities which conflict with my obligations to the Company. To protect the Company’s Confidential Information, and because of the position in the Company that I hold, I agree that during my employment with the Company whether full-time or part-time and for a period of one year after my last day of employment with the Company, I will not (a) directly or indirectly solicit or induce any employee of the Company to terminate or negatively alter his or her relationship with the Company or (b) directly or indirectly solicit the business of any client or customer of the Company (other than on behalf of the Company) or (c) directly or indirectly induce any client, customer, supplier, vendor, consultant or independent contractor of the Company to terminate or negatively alter his, her or its relationship with the Company. I agree that the geographic scope of the non-solicitation should include the “Restricted Territory” (as defined below). If any restriction set forth in this Section is found by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it extends for too long a period of time or over too great a

 

 

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range of activities or in too broad a geographic area, it shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time, range of activities or geographic area as to which it may be enforceable.

5.    COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. I acknowledge that during my employment I will have access to and knowledge of Confidential Information. I also acknowledge that during my employment with the Company, I have held and/or will hold a management or executive position or am, or will be, an assistant to a manager or executive. To protect the Company’s Confidential Information, and because of the position in the Company that I may hold, I agree that during my employment with the Company whether full-time or part-time and for a period of one year after my last day of employment with the Company, I will not directly or indirectly engage in (whether as an employee, consultant, proprietor, partner, director or otherwise), or have any ownership interest in, or participate in the financing, operation, management or control of, any person, firm, corporation or business that engages in a “Restricted Business” in a “Restricted Territory” (as defined below). It is agreed that ownership of (i) no more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding voting stock of a publicly traded corporation, or (ii) any stock I presently own shall not constitute a violation of this provision.

5.1 Reasonable. I agree and acknowledge that the time limitation on the restrictions in this paragraph, combined with the geographic scope, is reasonable. I also acknowledge and agree that this paragraph is reasonably necessary for the protection of Company’s Confidential Information as defined in paragraph 1.2 herein, that through my employment I shall receive adequate consideration for any loss of opportunity associated with the provisions herein, and that these provisions provide a reasonable way of protecting Company’s business value which will be imparted to me. If any restriction set forth in this Section is found by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it extends for too long a period of time or over too great a range of activities or in too broad a geographic area, it shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time, range of activities or geographic area as to which it may be enforceable.

5.2 As used herein, the terms:

(i)    “Restricted Business” shall mean the research, design, development, manufacture, marketing or sales of nucleic acid therapeutics and/or related diagnostics and other services (including research and development services) marketed, sold or under development by the Company at any time during my employment with the Company.

(ii)    “Restricted Territory” shall mean any country, state, county, or locality in which the Company conducts business and any other country, city, state, jurisdiction, or territory in which the Company does business.

6.    RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY. Upon termination of my employment or upon Company’s request at any other time, I will deliver to Company all of Company’s property, equipment, and documents, together with all copies thereof, and any other material containing or disclosing any Inventions, Third Party Information or Confidential Information of Company and certify in writing that I have fully complied with the foregoing obligation. I agree that I will not copy, delete, or alter any information contained upon my Company computer before I return it to Company. I further agree that any property situated on Company’s premises and owned by Company is subject to inspection by Company personnel at any time with or without notice. Prior to leaving, I will cooperate with Company in attending an exit interview and completing and signing. Company’s termination statement.

7.    NOTIFICATION OF NEW EMPLOYER. In the event that I leave the employ of Company, I hereby consent to the notification of my new employer of my rights and obligations under this Agreement, by Company’s providing a copy of this Agreement or otherwise.

8.    GENERAL PROVISIONS.

8.1 Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement and any action related thereto will be governed, controlled, interpreted, and defined by and under the laws of the State of Colorado, without giving effect to any conflicts of laws principles that require the application of the law of a different state. I hereby expressly consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts for the county in which Company’s principal place of business is located for any lawsuit filed there against me by Company arising from or related to this Agreement.

8.2 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of this Agreement will be unimpaired and the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it is valid and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

8.3 Survival. This Agreement shall survive the termination of my employment and the assignment of this Agreement by Company to any successor-in-interest or other assignee and be binding upon my heirs and legal representatives.

8.4 Employment. I agree and understand that nothing in this Agreement shall confer any right with

 

 

3


respect to continuation of employment by Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with my right or Company’s right to terminate my employment at any time, with or without cause and with or without advance notice.

8.5 Notices. Each party must deliver all notices or other communications required or permitted under this Agreement in writing to the other party at the address listed on the signature page, by courier, by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested), or by a nationally-recognized express mail service. Notice will be effective upon receipt or refusal of delivery. If delivered by certified or registered mail, any such notice will be considered to have been given five (5) business days after it was mailed, as evidenced by the postmark. If delivered by courier or express mail service, any such notice shall be considered to have been given on the delivery date reflected by the courier or express mail service receipt. Each party may change its address for receipt of notice by giving notice of such change to the other party.

8.6 Injunctive Relief. I acknowledge that, because my services are personal and unique and because I will have access to the Confidential Information of Company, any breach of this Agreement by me would cause irreparable injury to Company for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy and, therefore, will entitle Company to injunctive relief (including specific performance). The rights and remedies provided to each party in this Agreement are cumulative and in addition to any other

rights and remedies available to such party at law or in equity.

8.7 Waiver. Any waiver or failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement on one occasion will not be deemed a waiver of any other provision or of such provision on any other occasion.

8.8 Export. I agree not to export, directly or indirectly, any U.S. technical data acquired from Company or any products utilizing such data, to countries outside the United States, because such export could be in violation of the United States export laws or regulations.

8.9 Entire Agreement. The obligations pursuant to sections of this Agreement titled “Confidentiality” and “Inventions” shall apply to any time during which I was previously employed, or am in the future employed, by Company as an independent contractor if no other agreement governs nondisclosure and assignment of inventions during such period. This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matters hereof and supersedes and merges all prior communications between us with respect to such matters. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, or any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, will be effective unless in writing and signed by me and an officer of Company. Any subsequent change or changes in my duties, salary or compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.

 

 

This Agreement shall be effective as of the first day of my employment with Company.

 

EMPLOYEE:

 

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT WITH INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL.

 

/s/ William S. Marshall                                                             

 

By: William S. Marshall                                                           

 

Title: President & CEO                                                             

 

Date:5/27/14                                                                              

 

Address: [Intentionally omitted]

                [Intentionally omitted]                                                 

  

MIRAGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.:

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

 

 

 

/s/ Jason A. Leverone                                                             

 

By: Jason A. Leverone                                                           

 

Title: CFO                                                                              

 

Date: 5/27/14                                                                         

 

Address: Boulder, CO                                                           

 

4


EXHIBIT A

 

TO:

Miragen Therapeutics, Inc.

 

FROM:

                                         

 

DATE:

                                         

 

SUBJECT:

Previous Inventions

1.    Except as listed in Section 2 below, the following is a complete list of all inventions or improvements relevant to the subject matter of my employment by Miragen Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) that have been made or conceived or first reduced to practice by me alone or jointly with others prior to my engagement by the Company:

 

 

No inventions or improvements.

 

 

See below:

 

      

                                                                                                                                                                            

 

      

                                                                                                                                                                            

 

      

                                                                                                                                                                            

 

 

Additional sheets attached,

2.    Due to a prior confidentiality agreement, I cannot complete the disclosure under Section I above with respect to inventions or improvements generally listed below, the proprietary rights and duty of confidentiality with respect to which f owe to the following party(ies):

 

  Invention or Improvement    Party(ies)    Relationship
1.      

 

  

 

  

 

2.  

 

  

 

  

 

3.  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

Additional sheets attached.

 

5

Exhibit 10.2

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) by and between Miragen Therapeutics, Inc. (“Client”) and William S. Marshall, Ph.D. an individual (“Consultant”) is effective as of                     , 2020, (the “Effective Date”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS the parties desire for the Client to engage Consultant to perform the services described herein and for Consultant to provide such services on the terms and conditions described herein; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to use Consultant’s independent skill and expertise pursuant to this Agreement as an independent contractor;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual agreements contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1.    Engagement of Services. Consultant agrees to provide consulting services to include, among other things, research and clinical development activities of the Company and other services upon request of the CEO (“Executive”) or Board of Directors of the Client. Consultant agrees to exercise the highest degree of professionalism and utilize his expertise and creative talents in performing these services. Consultant agrees to make himself available to perform such consulting services throughout the Consulting Period throughout the Consulting Period, and to be reasonably available to meet with the Client at its offices or otherwise.

2.    Compensation; Specific Projects.

2.1    Monthly Retainer. In consideration for the services rendered pursuant to this Agreement and for the assignment of certain of Consultant’s right, title and interest pursuant hereto, during the Consulting Period, Client will pay Consultant a monthly retainer of $45,000 (the “Retainer”), to be paid within the first ten (10) days of each month, starting with the first month following the Effective Date of this Agreement. Consultant will submit invoices to the Client monthly, and the invoices shall contain at a minimum an accounting of activities performed and corresponding hours spent during the relevant period. Consultant will maintain, in accordance with generally-accepted accounting principles, complete and accurate records of the work performed sufficient to document the fees invoiced to Client for at least three (3) years following the date of the invoice, and will provide Client with such records at Client’s request.

2.2    Specific Projects. In addition to the general consulting services described in Section 1 above, Client agrees to complete the following projects (together the “Specific Projects”):

Project #1 - Complete SOLAR and implement actions related to the FDA meeting (none envisaged for ATLL as of this point)


Project #2 - Select a lead candidate for the miR 29 program in IPF, applying the Client’s typical rigorous data and selection standards (this has been done except we want to be sure we also have studies planned to elaborate the PK/PD profile more fully and to assess a reduction in lung fibrosis in a model (or models) of established fibrotic disease)

Project #3 – Complete a comprehensive BD diligence room for all R&D assets for potential partnering

2.3    Success Fees for Specific Projects. If the Company determines that by December 31, 2020 Consultant has fully completed all three Specific Projects, then the Client will provide Consultant with a success fee of $260,500. If, however, the Client determines that by December 31, 2020 Consultant has fully completed two of three Specific Projects, then the Client will pay Consultant a success fee of $130,250. Consultant will not be eligible for any success fee if he does not fully complete at least two of the Specific Projects by December 31, 2020. Any such success fee under this Section will be paid to Consultant by March 15, 2021.

2.4    Performance Stock Unit Grants for Specific Projects. Subject to the approval of the Board, Consultant shall be granted performance-based restricted stock units (the “PSUs”), with the number of such PSUs to be determined as follows: (a) if the Client determines that by December 31, 2020 Consultant has fully completed all three Special Projects, 232,000 PSUs; (b) if the Client determines that by December 31, 2020 Consultant has fully completed two of three Special Projects, 154,667 PSUs; (c) if the Client determines that by December 31, 2020 Consultant has fully completed one of three Special Projects, 77,333 PSUs; and (d) if the Client determines that by December 31, 2020 Consultant has fully completed none of the Special Projects, zero PSUs. Such PSUs shall vest as of the date of grant and shall be subject to the terms of the Client’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and form of restricted stock unit agreement thereunder.

3.    Ownership of Work Product. Consultant hereby irrevocably assigns, grants and conveys to Client all right, title and interest now existing or that may exist in the future in and to any document, development, work product, know-how, design, processes, invention, technique, trade secret, or idea, and all intellectual property rights related thereto, that is created by Consultant, to which Consultant contributes, or which relates to Consultant’s services provided pursuant to this Agreement (the “Work Product”), including all copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights (including but not limited to patent rights) relating thereto. Consultant agrees that any and all Work Product shall be and remain the property of Client. Consultant will immediately disclose to the Client all Work Product. Consultant agrees to execute, at Client’s request and expense, all documents and other instruments necessary or desirable to confirm such assignment. In the event that Consultant does not, for any reason, execute such documents within a reasonable time of Client’s request, Consultant hereby irrevocably appoints Client as Consultant’s attorney-in-fact for the purpose of executing such documents on Consultant’s behalf, which appointment is coupled with an interest. Consultant shall not attempt to register any works created by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement at the U.S. Copyright Office, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, or any foreign copyright, patent, or trademark registry. Consultant retains no

 

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rights in the Work Product and agrees not to challenge Client’s ownership of the rights embodied in the Work Product. Consultant further agrees to assist Client in every proper way to enforce Client’s rights relating to the Work Product in any and all countries, including, but not limited to, executing, verifying and delivering such documents and performing such other acts (including appearing as a witness) as Client may reasonably request for use in obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining and enforcing Client’s rights relating to the Work Product.

4.    Artist’s, Moral, and Other Rights. If Consultant has any rights, including without limitation “artist’s rights” or “moral rights,” in the Work Product which cannot be assigned (the “Non-Assignable Rights”), Consultant agrees to waive enforcement worldwide of such rights against Client. In the event that Consultant has any such rights that cannot be assigned or waived Consultant hereby grants to Client a royalty-free, paid-up, exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual license under the Non-Assignable Rights to (i) use, make, sell, offer to sell, have made, and further sublicense the Work Product, and (ii) reproduce, distribute, create derivative works of, publicly perform and publicly display the Work Product in any medium or format, whether now known or later developed.

5.    Representations and Warranties. Consultant represents and warrants that: (a) Consultant has the full right and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform his obligations hereunder; (b) Consultant has the right and unrestricted ability to assign the Work Product to Client as set forth in Sections 3 and 4 (including without limitation the right to assign any Work Product created by Consultant’s employees or contractors); (c) the Work Product has not heretofore been published in its entirety; and (d) the Work Product will not infringe upon any copyright, patent, trademark, right of publicity or privacy, or any other proprietary right of any person, whether contractual, statutory or common law. Consultant agrees to indemnify Client from any and all damages, costs, claims, expenses or other liability (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from or relating to the breach or alleged breach by Consultant of the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 5.

6.    Independent Contractor Relationship. Consultant is an independent contractor and not an employee of the Client. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or should be construed to, create a partnership, agency, joint venture or employment relationship. The manner and means by which Consultant chooses to complete the consulting services are in Consultant’s sole discretion and control. In completing the consulting services, Consultant agrees to provide his own equipment, tools and other materials at his own expense. Consultant is not authorized to represent that he is an agent, employee, or legal representative of the Client. Consultant is not authorized to make any representation, contract, or commitment on behalf of Client or incur any liabilities or obligations of any kind in the name of or on behalf of the Client. Consultant shall be free at all times to arrange the time and manner of performance of the consulting services. Consultant is not required to maintain any schedule of duties or assignments. Consultant is also not required to provide reports to the Client. In addition to all other obligations contained herein, Consultant agrees: (a) to proceed with diligence and promptness and hereby warrants that such services shall be performed in accordance with the highest professional standards in the field to the satisfaction of the Client; and (b) to comply, at Consultant’s own expense, with the provisions of all state, local, and federal laws, regulations, ordinances, requirements and codes which are applicable to the performance of the services hereunder.

 

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7.    Consultant’s Responsibilities. As an independent contractor, the mode, manner, method and means used by Consultant in the performance of services shall be of Consultant’s selection and under the sole control and direction of Consultant. Consultant shall be responsible for all risks incurred in the operation of Consultant’s business and shall enjoy all the benefits thereof. Any persons employed by or subcontracting with Consultant to perform any part of Consultant’s obligations hereunder shall be under the sole control and direction of Consultant and Consultant shall be solely responsible for all liabilities and expenses thereof. The Client shall have no right or authority with respect to the selection, control, direction, or compensation of such persons.

8.    Tax Treatment. Consultant and the Client agree that the Client will treat Consultant as an independent contractor for purposes of all tax laws (local, state and federal) and file forms consistent with that status. Consultant agrees, as an independent contractor, that neither he nor his employees are entitled to unemployment benefits in the event this Agreement terminates, or workers’ compensation benefits in the event that Consultant, or any employee of Consultant, is injured in any manner while performing obligations under this Agreement. Consultant will be solely responsible to pay any and all local, state, and/or federal income, social security and unemployment taxes for Consultant and his employees. The Client will not withhold any taxes or prepare W-2 Forms for Consultant, but will provide Consultant with a Form 1099, if required by law. Consultant is solely responsible for, and will timely file all tax returns and payments required to be filed with, or made to, any federal, state or local tax authority with respect to the performance of services and receipt of fees under this Agreement. Consultant is solely responsible for, and must maintain adequate records of, expenses incurred in the course of performing services under this Agreement, except as provided herein. No part of Consultant’s compensation will be subject to withholding by Client for the payment of any social security, federal, state or any other employee payroll taxes. Client will regularly report amounts paid to Consultant with the appropriate taxing authorities, as required by law. Payments and benefits provided hereunder are intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”) or, if not so exempt, to comply with the provisions of Section 409A, and this Agreement shall be interpreted and construed accordingly. The parties intend that the number of hours of service required hereunder shall not be greater than eight (8) hours per week.

9.    No Employee Benefits. Consultant acknowledges and agrees that neither he nor anyone acting on his behalf shall receive any employee benefits of any kind from the Client. Consultant (and Consultant’s agents, employees, and subcontractors) is excluded from participating in any fringe benefit plans or programs as a result of the performance of services under this Agreement, without regard to Consultant’s independent contractor status. In addition, Consultant (on behalf of himself and on behalf of Consultant’s agents, employees, and contractors) waives any and all rights, if any, to participation in any of the Client’s fringe benefit plans or programs including, but not limited to, health, sickness, accident or dental coverage, life insurance, disability benefits, severance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, unemployment insurance coverage, workers’ compensation coverage, and pension or 401(k) benefit(s) provided by the Client to its employees. Notwithstanding the above, this Agreement does not amend or abrogate in any manner any benefit continuation or conversion rights provided by the provision of a benefit plan or by law arising out of Consultant’s previous employment relationship with Client.

 

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10.    Expenses and Liabilities. Consultant agrees that as an independent contractor, he is solely responsible for all expenses (and profits/losses) he incurs in connection with the performance of services. Consultant understands that he will not be reimbursed for any supplies, equipment, or operating costs, nor will these costs of doing business be defrayed in any way by the Client. In addition, the Client does not guarantee to Consultant that fees derived from Consultant’s business will exceed Consultant’s costs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Client shall reimburse Consultant for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or paid by Consultant with respect to travel (or other reasonable expenses), all of which must be pre-approved in writing by Client.

11.    Non-Exclusivity. The Client reserves the right to engage other consultants to perform services, without giving Consultant a right of first refusal or any other exclusive rights. Consultant reserves the right to perform services for other persons, provided that the performance of such services do not conflict or interfere with services provided pursuant to or obligations under this Agreement.

12.    No Conflict of Interest. During the term of this Agreement, unless written permission is given by the Executive, Consultant will not accept work, enter into a contract, or provide services to any third party that provides products or services which compete with the products or services provided by the Client nor may Consultant enter into any agreement or perform any services which would conflict or interfere with the services provided pursuant to or the obligations under this Agreement. Consultant warrants that there is no other contract or duty on his part that prevents or impedes Consultant’s performance under this Agreement. Consultant agrees to indemnify Client from any and all loss or liability incurred by reason of the alleged breach by Consultant of any services agreement with any third party.

13.    No Solicitation. During the Consulting Period, and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, Consultant will not, directly or indirectly (whether for compensation or without compensation), without prior, express written approval from the Board of the client (i) recruit, solicit or induce, or attempt to induce, any employee, consultant, or contractor of the Client to terminate their employment, contractual or other relationship with the Client; or (ii) solicit the business of any client or customer of the Company other than as expressly directed to by the Client.

14.    Confidential Information. Consultant agrees to hold Client’s Confidential Information (as defined below) in strict confidence and not to disclose such Confidential Information to any third parties. Consultant also agrees not to use any of Client’s Confidential Information for any purpose other than performance of Consultant’s services hereunder. “Confidential Information” as used in this Agreement shall mean all information disclosed by Client to Consultant, or otherwise, regarding Client or its business obtained by Consultant pursuant to services provided under this Agreement that is not generally known in the Client’s trade or industry and shall include, without limitation, (a) concepts and ideas relating to the development and distribution of content in any medium or to the current, future and proposed products or services of Client or its subsidiaries or affiliates; (b) trade secrets, drawings, inventions, know-how, software programs, and software source documents; (c) information regarding plans for research, development, new service offerings or products, marketing and selling, business plans, business forecasts, budgets and unpublished financial statements, licenses and distribution arrangements, prices and costs, suppliers and customers; and (d) any information regarding the

 

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skills and compensation of employees, contractors or other agents of the Client or its subsidiaries or affiliates. Confidential Information also includes proprietary or confidential information of any third party who may disclose such information to Client or Consultant in the course of Client’s business. Consultant’s obligations set forth in this Section shall not apply with respect to any portion of the Confidential Information that Consultant can document by competent proof that such portion: (i) is in the public domain through no fault of Consultant; (ii) has been rightfully independently communicated to Consultant free of any obligation of confidence; or (iii) was developed by Consultant independently of and without reference to any information communicated to Consultant by Client. In addition, Consultant may disclose Client’s Confidential Information in response to a valid order by a court or other governmental body, as otherwise required by law. All Confidential Information furnished to Consultant by Client is the sole and exclusive property of Client or its suppliers or customers. Upon request by Client, Consultant agrees to promptly deliver to Client the original and any copies of such Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other agreement between Client and Consultant, nothing in this Agreement shall limit Consultant’s right to discuss Consultant’s engagement with the Client or report possible violations of law or regulation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or other federal government agency or similar state or local agency or to discuss the terms and conditions of Consultant’s engagement with others to the extent expressly permitted by applicable provisions of law or regulation, including but not limited to “whistleblower” statutes or other similar provisions that protect such disclosure. Further, notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1833(b), Consultant shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (1) is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Consultant’s duty of confidentiality under this Consulting Agreement does not amend or abrogate in any manner Consultant’s continuing duties under any prior agreement between Consultant and the Client.

15.    Term and Termination.

15.1    Term. The term of this Agreement and the “Consulting Period” is for 12 months from the Effective Date set forth above, unless earlier terminated as provided in this Agreement.

15.2    Termination. Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason, or no reason, upon thirty (30) days’ advance written notice. The Client may terminate this Agreement before its expiration immediately if the Consultant materially breaches the Agreement. The parties agree that a “Material Breach” by Consultant shall occur if he: (i) fails to abide by any recognized professional standard, including any ethical standard; (ii) fails to provide services as reasonably requested by the Executive; (iii) secures other full-time employment that prohibits his ability to provide services to the Client; (iv) breaches any other material obligations of this Agreement, or (v) violates local, state, or federal laws.

 

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15.3    Effect of Termination. Upon any termination or expiration of this Agreement, Consultant (i) shall immediately discontinue all use of Client’s Confidential Information delivered under this Agreement; (ii) shall delete any such Client Confidential Information from Consultant’s computer storage or any other media, including, but not limited to, online and off-line libraries; and (iii) shall return to Client, or, at Client’s option, destroy, all copies of such Confidential Information then in Consultant’s possession. In the event the Client terminates this Agreement, or if Consultant terminates this Agreement, Consultant will not receive any additional consulting fees or other compensation as of the date of termination.

15.4    Survival. The rights and obligations contained in Sections 3-6, 8-9, 13-14, 15.3, 15.4, and 16-24 will survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement.

16.    Indemnification. Client agrees to release, defend, indemnify and hold Consultant harmless from any and all potential liabilities, losses or damages (including penalties, costs, attorney fees and liability to third parties) resulting from, related to or arising out of any claim, action, suit or proceeding against Consultant related to the wrongful or negligent conduct or performance, or failure of Client to comply with or perform its obligations and duties under this Agreement, including violations of any federal, state, or local statutes, laws, or regulations. This duty to hold harmless will extend beyond the term of this Agreement for events occurring within the term of this Agreement. Excepting events for which Client has specifically assumed sole responsibility under this Agreement, Consultant agrees to release, defend, indemnify and hold Client harmless from any and all potential liabilities, losses or damages (including penalties, costs, attorney fees and liability to third parties) resulting from, related to or arising out of any claim, action, suit or proceeding against Client which is in any way related to Consultant’s performance under this Agreement, including violations of any federal, state, or local statutes, laws, or regulations and any claims related to worker’s compensation, wage and hour laws, employment taxes and benefits. This duty to hold harmless will extend beyond the term of this Agreement for events occurring within the term of this Agreement.

17.    Insurance. Consultant will obtain for himself and his personnel before providing services, at his own expense, General Liability (GL) insurance coverage for consulting services performed under this Agreement and (if available under state law) worker’s compensation coverage.

18.    Successors and Assigns. Consultant may not subcontract or otherwise delegate his obligations under this Agreement without Client’s prior written consent. Client may assign this Agreement. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement will be for the benefit of Client’s successors and assigns, and will be binding on Consultant’s subcontractors or delegatees.

19.    Notices. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered as follows with notice deemed given as indicated: (i) by overnight courier upon written verification of receipt; or (ii) by telecopy or facsimile transmission upon acknowledgment of receipt of electronic transmission. Notice shall be sent to the addresses set forth below or such other address as either party may specify in writing.

20.    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Colorado, as such laws are applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely within Colorado between Colorado residents. Any suit involving this Agreement shall be brought in a court sitting in Colorado. The parties agree that venue shall be proper in such courts, and that such courts will have personal jurisdiction over them.

21.    Severability. Should any provisions of this Agreement be held by a court of law to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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22.    Waiver. The waiver by Client of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by Consultant shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach by Consultant.

23.    Injunctive Relief for Breach. Consultant’s obligations under this Agreement are of a unique character that gives them particular value; breach of any of such obligations will result in irreparable and continuing damage to Client for which there will be no adequate remedy at law; and, in the event of such breach, Client will be entitled to injunctive relief and/or a decree for specific performance, and such other and further relief as may be proper (including monetary damages if appropriate and attorney’s fees).

24.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement is being entered into as part of a Separation Agreement between Client and Consultant and will only become effective following execution of the Separation Agreement by Consultant and upon signature by the Client following receipt of the Separation Agreement. If Consultant signs but then revokes the Separation Agreement, then this Agreement will immediately termination upon the date of Consultant’s revocation. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter and supersedes any previous oral or written communications, representations, understanding, or agreement between the parties concerning such subject matter. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified, supplemented or amended except by express written agreement signed by Consultant and the Client. The parties have entered into separate agreements related to Consultant’s previous employment relationship with Miragen Therapeutics, Inc. These separate agreements govern the previous employment relationship between Consultant and Miragen Therapeutics, Inc., have or may have provisions that survive termination of Consultant’s relationship with Client under this Agreement, may be amended or superseded without regard to this Agreement, and are enforceable according to their terms without regard to the enforcement provision of this Agreement.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally blank. Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.

 

“CLIENT     “CONSULTANT
MIRAGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.     WILLIAM S. MARSHALL PH.D.
By:                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Name (print):                                                                               Name (print): William S. Marshall
Title:                         

Telephone:                                                                                       

Fax:                                                                                                  

   

Address:                                                                                         

                                                                                                       

    Tel:                                                                                                
    Fax:                                                                                                

Exhibit 10.3

MIRAGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of September 14, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), is by and between Miragen Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Lee Rauch (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, Executive has been employed by the Company as its Chief Operating Officer pursuant to an employment agreement with the Company dated June 16, 2020 (the “Prior Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ Executive, now in the capacity of President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and, in connection therewith, to compensate Executive for Executive’s personal services to the Company; and

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to continue to be employed by the Company and provide personal services to the Company in return for certain compensation.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual undertakings, obligations, and covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

1.    At-Will Employment. Executive shall be employed by the Company on an “at-will” basis, meaning either the Company or Executive may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, subject to the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 herein. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive shall be superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement shall constitute the full and complete agreement between Executive and the Company on the “at-will” nature of Executive’s employment with the Company, which cannot be changed except in a writing signed by both Executive and the Board of Directors of the Company (or a duly authorized committee thereof, if applicable, including the Compensation Committee of the Board) (the “Board”). Any rights of Executive to additional payments or other benefits from the Company upon any such termination of employment shall be governed by Section 8 of this Agreement.

2.    Position; Board Role. Subject to the terms set forth herein, the Company agrees to employ Executive in the position of President and CEO, and Executive hereby accepts such employment. Executive shall serve as a Director of the Board while this Agreement is in effect. Executive’s duties under this Agreement shall be to serve as President and CEO with the responsibilities, rights, authority and duties pertaining to such offices as are established from time to time by the Board, and Executive shall report to the Board. Executive shall perform her duties under this Agreement principally out of the Company’s Boulder, Colorado office, or such other location as assigned. In addition, the Executive shall make such business trips to such places as may be necessary or advisable for the efficient operations of the Company.

3.    Commitment. Executive will devote substantially all of her business time and best efforts to the performance of her duties hereunder; provided, however, that Executive shall be allowed, to the extent that such activities do not interfere with the performance of her duties and

 

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responsibilities hereunder and do not conflict with the financial, fiduciary or other interests of the Company, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board, to manage her passive personal investments and to serve on corporate, civic, charitable and industry boards or committees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive agrees that she shall only serve on for-profit boards of directors or for-profit advisory committees if such service is approved in advance in the sole discretion of the Board.

4.    Company Policies and Benefits. The employment relationship between the parties shall be subject to the Company’s personnel policies and procedures as they may be interpreted, adopted, revised or deleted from time to time in the Company’s sole discretion. Subject to applicable eligibility requirements, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all benefit plans and arrangements and fringe benefits and programs that may be provided to senior executives of the Company from time to time, subject to plan terms and generally applicable Company policies. The Company reserves the right to change, alter, or terminate any benefit plan in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

5.    Compensation.

(a)    Base Salary. During Executive’s employment with the Company, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $541,000 less payroll deductions and withholdings, which shall be payable in accordance with the standard payroll practices of the Company. Executive’s base salary shall be subject to periodic review and adjustment by the Board from time to time in the discretion of the Board.

(b)    Annual Performance Bonus. Executive shall be eligible for a discretionary annual cash bonus equal to up to 50% of Executive’s then current base salary (the “Target Amount”), subject to review and adjustment by the Company in its sole discretion, payable subject to standard payroll withholding requirements, if applicable. Whether or not Executive is awarded any bonus will be dependent upon (a) Executive’s continuous performance of services to the Company through the date any bonus is paid; and (b) the actual achievement by Executive and the Company of the applicable performance targets and goals set by the Board in its sole discretion. No amount of any bonus is guaranteed at any time. The annual period over which performance is measured for purposes of this bonus is January 1 through December 31. The Board will determine in its sole discretion the extent to which Executive and the Company have achieved the performance goals upon which the bonus is based and the amount of any such bonus, which could be above or below the Target Amount (and may be zero). Any bonus shall be subject to the terms of any applicable incentive compensation plan adopted by the Company. Any bonus, if awarded, will be paid to Executive within the time period set forth in any applicable incentive compensation plan, but, in any event, within two and one-half months following the end of the annual performance period during which the bonus is earned.

(c)    Stock Option. Subject to the approval of the Board, Executive may be eligible to receive an option to purchase 900,000 shares of common stock (the “Option”) pursuant to the terms of the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) at an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Option


will vest monthly in equal installments each month over the forty-eight (48) month period measured from the monthly anniversary of the Option’s vesting commencement date, subject to Executive’s continuous employment with the Company on such dates. The complete vesting schedule and all terms, conditions, and limitations of the Option are set forth in a stock option grant notice, the Company’s standard stock option agreement and the Plan. Executive agrees to execute the Company’s standard agreements to memorialize this grant. For the avoidance of doubt, the Option is in addition to, and not inclusive of, any other equity interests of the Company held by Executive as of the Effective Date.

(d)    Reimbursement of Expenses. Company will promptly reimburse Executive for expenses she reasonably incurs in connection with the performance of her duties (including business travel and entertainment expenses), in accordance with Company’s standard expense reimbursement policy, as the same may be modified by Company from time to time; provided, however, that Executive has provided Company with documentation of such expenses in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and applicable tax requirements. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that any reimbursements payable to Executive are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”): (a) any such reimbursements will be paid no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, (b) the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year will not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, and (c) the right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

6.    In connection with Executive’s continued employment with the Company, Executive will continue to receive and continue to have access to the Company’s confidential information and trade secrets. Accordingly, and in consideration of the benefits that Executive is eligible to receive under this Agreement, Executive agrees to execute and abide by the Confidential Information, Inventions, Non-Solicitation, and Non-Compete Agreement attached as Exhibit A (the “Confidential Information Agreement”), which contains restrictive covenants and prohibits unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information and trade secrets, among other obligations. The Confidential Information Agreement contains provisions that are intended by the parties to survive and do survive termination of this Agreement and may be amended by the parties from time to time without regard to this Agreement. The Confidential Information Agreement will supersede, prospectively only, the continuing obligations set forth in Section 6 of the Prior Agreement and Exhibit A thereto.

7.    Termination.

(a)    Termination. The employment of Executive under this Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of any of the following events:

(i)    the death of Executive;

(ii)    the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company due to Executive’s Disability pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof;


(iii)    the termination of Executive’s employment by Executive other than for Good Reason (as hereinafter defined);

(iv)    the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause;

(v)    the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause pursuant to Section 7(c) after providing the Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 7(d);

(vi)    the termination by Executive of Executive’s employment for Good Reason (as hereinafter defined) pursuant to Section 7(e); or

(vii)    the termination of Executive’s employment upon mutual agreement in writing between the Company and Executive.

(b)    Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means the inability of Executive to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not more than twelve (12) months, as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code, and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted under the circumstances. A termination of Executive’s employment for Disability shall be communicated to Executive by written notice, and shall be effective on the 10th day after sending such notice to Executive (the “Disability Effective Date”), unless Executive returns to performance of Executive’s duties before the Disability Effective Date.

(c)    Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean (i) Executive’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) Executive’s attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) Executive’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between Executive and the Company or any statutory duty Executive owes to the Company; (iv) Executive’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) Executive’s gross misconduct; provided, however, that the action or conduct described in clauses (iii) and (v) above will constitute “Cause” only if such action or conduct continues after the Company has provided Executive with written notice thereof and thirty (30) days to cure the same. The determination that a termination of Executive’s Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause will be made by the Board, in its sole discretion.

(d)    Notice of Termination for Cause. Notice of Termination for Cause shall mean a notice to Executive that shall indicate the specific termination provision in Section 7(c) relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances which provide a basis for Termination for Cause.

(e)    Termination by Executive for Good Reason. Executive may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company by resigning from employment with the Company for Good Reason. The term “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence, without Executive’s consent, of any one or more of the following: (i) a material reduction in Executive’s base salary of ten percent


(10%) or more (unless such reduction is pursuant to a salary reduction program applicable generally to the Company’s similarly situated executives); (ii) a material reduction in Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities; provided, however, that the acquisition of the Company and subsequent conversion of the Company to a subsidiary, division or unit of the acquiring company will not by itself result in a diminution of Executive’s position; (iii) a relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment with the Company (or its successor, if applicable) to a place that increases Executive’s one-way commute by more than twenty five (25) miles as compared to Executive’s then-current principal place of employment immediately prior to such relocation, except for required travel by Executive on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with Executive’s business travel obligations prior to the such relocation; or (iv) material breach by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement.

No resignation for Good Reason shall be effective unless (1) Executive provides written notice, within thirty (30) days after the first occurrence of the event giving rise to Good Reason, to the Chairman of the Board setting forth in reasonable detail the material facts constituting Good Reason and the reasonable steps Executive believes necessary to cure, (2) the Company has had thirty (30) business days from the date of such notice to cure any such occurrence otherwise constituting Good Reason, and (3) if such event is not reasonably cured within such period, Executive must resign from all positions Executive then holds with the Company (including any position as a member of the Board) effective not later than fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the cure period. Further, no resignation for Good Reason shall be effective if prior to Executive’s written notice of resignation for Good Reason the Company first provided Executive notice of its intent to terminate Executive’s employment.

8.    Consequences of Termination of Employment.

(a)    General. If Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason or no reason, the Company shall pay to Executive or to Executive’s legal representatives, if applicable: (i) any base salary earned, but unpaid; and, (ii) any unreimbursed business expenses payable pursuant to Section 5 hereof and any other payments or benefits required by applicable law (collectively the “Accrued Amounts”), which amounts shall be promptly paid in a lump sum to Executive, or in the case of Executive’s death to Executive’s estate. Other than the Accrued Amounts, Executive or Executive’s legal representatives shall not be entitled to any additional compensation or benefits if Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason other than by reason of Executive’s Involuntary Termination (as defined in Section 8(b) below). If Executive’s employment terminates due to an Involuntary Termination, Executive will be eligible to receive the additional compensation and benefits described in Section 8(b) and 8(c), as applicable.

(b)    Involuntary Termination. If (i) Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause (and other than as a result of Executive’s death or Disability) or (ii) Executive terminates employment for Good Reason, and provided in any case such termination constitutes a “separation from service”, as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (a “Separation from Service”) (such termination described in (i) or (ii), an “Involuntary Termination”), in addition to the Accrued Amounts, Executive shall be entitled to receive the severance benefits described below in this Section 8(b), subject in all events to Executive’s compliance with Section 8(d) below:

(i)    Executive shall receive continued payment of Executive’s Base Salary (as defined below) for twelve (12) months after the date of such termination (the “Severance Period”), paid over the Company’s regular payroll schedule.


(ii)    The vesting of all of Executive’s stock options and other equity awards that are outstanding as of the date hereof and subject to time-based vesting requirements shall immediately vest the equivalent of twelve (12) months as measured from the date of Executive’s Involuntary Termination. This Section 8(b)(ii) shall not apply to any stock options or equity awards issued to the Executive by the Company after the date hereof.

(iii)    If Executive is eligible for and timely elects to continue the health insurance coverage under the Company’s group health plans under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 or the state equivalent (“COBRA”) following Executive’s termination date, the Company will pay the COBRA group health insurance premiums for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents until the earliest of (A) the close of the Severance Period, (B) the expiration of Executive’s eligibility for the continuation coverage under COBRA, or (C) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment or self-employment. For purposes of this Section, references to COBRA premiums shall not include any amounts payable by Executive under a Section 125 health care reimbursement plan under the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot pay the COBRA premiums without potentially incurring financial costs or penalties under applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then regardless of whether Executive elects continued health coverage under COBRA, and in lieu of providing the COBRA premiums, the Company will instead pay Executive on the last day of each remaining month of the Severance Period, a fully taxable cash payment equal to the COBRA premiums for that month, subject to applicable tax withholdings (such amount, the “Health Care Benefit Payment”). The Health Care Benefit Payment shall be paid in monthly installments on the same schedule that the COBRA premiums would otherwise have been paid and shall be equal to the amount that the Company would have otherwise paid for COBRA premiums, and shall be paid until the earlier of (i) expiration of the Severance Period or (ii) the date Executive voluntarily enrolls in a health insurance plan offered by another employer or entity.

(c)    Involuntary Termination in Connection with a Change in Control. In the event that Executive’s Involuntary Termination occurs during the one (1) month period prior to, on or within the twelve (12) months following the consummation of a Change in Control (as defined below) and subject in all events to Executive’s compliance with Section 8(d) below, then Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided above in Section 8(b), except that (i) the “Severance Period” shall instead be eighteen (18) months after the date of such termination, and (ii) the vesting of all of Executive’s outstanding stock options and other equity awards that are subject to time-based vesting requirements shall accelerate in full such that all such equity awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the date of Executive’s Involuntary Termination.

For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall Executive be entitled to benefits under both Section 8(b) and this Section 8(c). If Executive is eligible for benefits under both Section 8(b) and this Section 8(c), Executive shall receive the benefits set forth in this Section 8(c) and such benefits will be reduced by any benefits previously provided to Executive under Section 8(b).


(d)    Conditions and Timing for Severance Benefits. The severance benefits set forth in Section 8(b) and Section 8(c) above are expressly conditioned upon: (i) Executive continuing to comply with Executive’s obligations under this Agreement and under the Proprietary Information Agreement; and (ii) Executive signing, not revoking and complying with a separation agreement in a form provided by the Company, containing a general release of legal claims, as well as other terms such as return of Company property, non-disparagement and confidentiality (the “Release”) within the applicable deadline set forth therein and permitting the Release to become effective in accordance with its terms, which must occur no later than the Release Deadline (as defined in Section 12 below). The salary continuation payments described in Section 8(b) will be paid in substantially equal installments on the Company’s regular payroll schedule and subject to standard deductions and withholdings over the Severance Period following termination; provided, however, that no payments will be made prior to the effectiveness of the Release. Within seven (7) business days of the effective date of the Release, the Company will pay Executive the first payment, which will be the salary continuation payments that Executive would have received on or prior to such date in a lump sum under the original schedule but for the delay while waiting for the effectiveness of the Release, with the balance of the payments being paid as originally scheduled. All severance benefits described in this Section 8 will be subject to all applicable standard required deductions and withholdings.

(e)    Definitions.

(i)    “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination, excluding any reduction which forms the basis for Executive’s right to resign for Good Reason.

(ii)    “Change in Control” means a “Change in Control” as defined in the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.

9.    Cooperation With Company After Termination of Employment. Following termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall fully cooperate with the Company in all matters relating to the winding up of Executive’s pending work including, but not limited to, any litigation in which the Company is involved, and the orderly transfer of any such pending work to such other employees as may be designated by the Company.

10.    Disputes. Any dispute or controversy between the Company and Executive, arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the breach of this Agreement, the Company’s employment of Executive, or otherwise, shall be settled by binding arbitration conducted by and before a single arbitrator in Denver, Colorado administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Employment Arbitration Rules (the “AAA Rules”) then in effect and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Both Executive and the Company hereby waive the right to a trial by jury or judge, or by administrative proceeding, for any covered claim or dispute. To the extent the AAA Rules conflict with any provision or aspect of this Agreement, this Agreement shall control. The arbitrator shall have the authority to award any remedy or relief that a court of competent jurisdiction could order or grant, including, without limitation, the issuance of an injunction. However, either party may, without inconsistency with this arbitration provision, apply to any court having jurisdiction over such dispute or controversy and seek interim provisional, injunctive or other equitable relief until


the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is otherwise resolved. Except as necessary in court proceedings to enforce this arbitration provision or an award rendered hereunder, or to obtain interim relief, neither a party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company and Executive. All claims, disputes, or causes of action under this Agreement, whether by Executive or the Company, must be brought in an individual capacity, and shall not be brought as a plaintiff (or claimant) or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding, nor joined or consolidated with the claims of any other person or entity. The arbitrator may not consolidate the claims of more than one person or entity, and may not preside over any form of representative or class proceeding. This Agreement is made under the provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C., Sections 1-14) (the “FAA”) and will be construed and governed accordingly. It is the parties’ intention that both the procedural and the substantive provisions of the FAA shall apply. Questions of arbitrability (that is whether an issue is subject to arbitration under this agreement) shall be decided by the arbitrator. Likewise, procedural questions which grow out of the dispute and bear on the final disposition are also matters for the arbitrator. However, where a party already has initiated a judicial proceeding, a court may decide procedural questions that grow out of the dispute and bear on the final disposition of the matter. Each party shall bear its or her costs and expenses in any arbitration hereunder and one-half of the arbitrator’s fees and costs; provided, however, that the arbitrator shall have the discretion to award the prevailing party reimbursement of its or her reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, unless such award is prohibited by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive and the Company shall each have the right to resolve any dispute or cause of action involving trade secrets, proprietary information, or intellectual property (including, without limitation, inventions assignment rights, and rights under patent, trademark, or copyright law) by court action instead of arbitration.

11.    Notices. All notices given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered personally, (b) three business days after being mailed by first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (c) one business day after being sent by a reputable overnight delivery service, postage or delivery charges prepaid, or (d) when sent by email or confirmed facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not, then on the next business day. All communications shall be sent to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed on the Company payroll or at Executive’s Company issued email address, or at such other address as the Company or Executive may designate by ten (10) days advance written notice to the other.

12.    Tax Provisions.

(a)    Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following provisions apply to the extent severance benefits provided herein are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”). Severance benefits shall not commence until Executive’s Separation from Service. Each installment of severance benefits is a separate “payment” for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i), and the severance benefits are intended to satisfy the exemptions from application of Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9). However, if such exemptions are not available and Executive is, upon Separation from Service, a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid adverse


personal tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the severance benefits payments shall be delayed until the earlier of (i) six (6) months after Executive’s Separation from Service, or (ii) Executive’ death. Upon the first business day following the expiration of such applicable period, all payments delayed pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due shall be paid as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in the applicable agreement. No interest shall be due on any amounts so deferred. Executive shall receive severance benefits only if Executive executes and returns to the Company the Release within the applicable time period set forth therein and permits such Release to become effective in accordance with its terms, which date may not be later than sixty (60) days following the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (such latest permitted date, the “Release Deadline”). If the severance benefits are not covered by one or more exemptions from the application of Section 409A and the Release could become effective in the calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive’s Separation from Service occurs, the Release will not be deemed effective any earlier than the Release Deadline. None of the severance benefits will be paid or otherwise delivered prior to the effective date of the Release. Except to the minimum extent that payments must be delayed because Executive is a “specified employee” or until the effectiveness of the Release, all amounts will be paid as soon as practicable in accordance with the schedule provided herein and in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices. The severance benefits, and all other payments and benefits under this Agreement, are intended to qualify for an exemption from application of Section 409A or comply with its requirements to the extent necessary to avoid adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly.

(b)    Section 280G. If any payment or benefit Executive will or may receive from the Company or otherwise (a “280G Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then any such 280G Payment pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”) shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount (i.e., the amount determined by clause (x) or by clause (y)), after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in a Payment is required pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, the reduction shall occur in the manner (the “Reduction Method”) that results in the greatest economic benefit for Executive. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the “Pro Rata Reduction Method”).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A as follows: (A) as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for Executive as determined on an


after-tax basis; (B) as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not contingent on future events; and (C) as a third priority, Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.

Unless Executive and the Company agree on an alternative accounting firm, the accounting firm engaged by the Company for general tax compliance purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the change of control transaction triggering the Payment shall perform the foregoing calculations. If the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the change in control transaction, the Company shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder to provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to Executive and the Company within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a 280G Payment becomes reasonably likely to occur (if requested at that time by Executive or the Company) or such other time as requested by Executive or the Company.

If Executive receives a Payment for which the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section 12(b) and the Internal Revenue Service determines thereafter that some portion of the Payment is subject to the Excise Tax, Executive shall promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the Payment (after reduction pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section 12(b) so that no portion of the remaining Payment is subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (y) in the first paragraph of this Section 12(b), Executive shall have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence.

13.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

(b)    Entire Agreement/Amendments. This Agreement and the instruments contemplated herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company from and after the Effective Date and supersede any prior agreements or promises between the Company and Executive. As of the Effective Date, the Prior Agreement shall be deemed amended and restated and superseded and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement, and shall be of no further force or effect. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto.

(c)    No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement. Any such waiver must be in writing and signed by Executive or an authorized officer of the Company, as the case may be.


(d)    Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and Executive and their respective successors, assigns, executors and administrators. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Executive.

(e)    Representation. Executive represents that Executive’s continued employment by the Company and the performance by Executive of her obligations under this Agreement do not, and shall not, breach any agreement, including, but not limited to, any agreement that obligates her to keep in confidence any trade secrets or confidential or proprietary information of hers or of any other party, to write or consult to any other party or to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of any other party. Executive shall not disclose to the Company or use any trade secrets or confidential or proprietary information of any other party.

(f)    Successors; Binding Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees legatees and permitted assignees of the parties hereto.

(g)    Survival; Severability. Provisions of this Agreement which by their terms must survive the termination of this Agreement in order to effectuate the intent of the parties will survive any such termination, whether by expiration of the term, termination of Executive’s employment, or otherwise, for such period as may be appropriate under the circumstances. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

(h)    Withholding Taxes. The Company shall withhold from any and all compensation, severance and other amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or other taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(i)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

(j)    Headings. The headings of the sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

Signature Page Follows


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

MIRAGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey S. Hatfield                                        

Name:   Jeffrey S. Hatfield
Title:   Director
Executive:

/s/ Lee Rauch

Lee Rauch

Exhibit 10.4

 

LOGO

September         , 2020

Dear Jason,

You are receiving this letter because you are a participant in the annual bonus program (the “Bonus Program”) of Miragen Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”). The Company is pleased to inform you that in gratitude for your efforts on behalf of the Company, and to encourage your continued further contributions to the Company, your bonus payment under the Bonus Program with respect to 2020 will be equal to 100% of your target bonus ($142,000) under the Bonus Program, less applicable withholdings (the “2020 Bonus Payment”). You must remain employed with the Company through April 15, 2021 in order to be eligible to receive the 2020 Bonus Payment, which will be paid to you on the next subsequent payroll date following April 15, 2021. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if your employment with the Company is terminated without Cause prior to the payment of the 2020 Bonus Payment, you shall receive the 2020 Bonus Payment, which shall be paid in the same amount and at the same time as if you had remained employed through April 15, 2021. “Cause” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”).

As an additional incentive to remain employed with the Company, you shall also be eligible to earn a retention bonus equal to $284,000, less applicable withholdings (the “Retention Bonus”) if you remain employed with the Company through the second anniversary of the date hereof. Fifty percent of the Retention Bonus shall be earned on the first anniversary of the date hereof, and paid to you on the next subsequent payroll date following the first anniversary of the date hereof, and the remainder shall earned on the second anniversary of the date hereof, and paid to you on the next subsequent payroll date following the second anniversary of the date hereof. If your employment is terminated without Cause prior to the first anniversary of the date hereof, you shall be paid the first installment of the Retention Bonus on the next subsequent payroll date following such termination. If your employment is terminated without Cause on or following the first anniversary of the date hereof and prior to the second anniversary of the date hereof, you will be paid the second installment of the Retention Bonus on the next subsequent payroll date following such termination. If a “Change in Control” (as defined in the 2016 Plan) occurs prior to the full payment of the Retention Bonus and you are employed by the Company as of immediately prior to the Change in Control, any then-unpaid portion of Retention Bonus shall be paid in full upon the occurrence of the Change in Control.

Thank you again for all of your contributions to the Company.

 

Sincerely,

                     

Lee Rauch
President and CEO

 

Agreed to and acknowledged:

                     

Name: Jason A. Leverone

 

miRagen.com

6200 Lookout Road, Boulder, CO 80301

Exhibit 10.5

 

LOGO

September         , 2020

Dear Diana,

You are receiving this letter because you are a participant in the annual bonus program (the “Bonus Program”) of Miragen Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”). The Company is pleased to inform you that in gratitude for your efforts on behalf of the Company, and to encourage your continued further contributions to the Company, your bonus payment under the Bonus Program with respect to 2020 will be equal to 100% of your target bonus ($166,000) under the Bonus Program, less applicable withholdings (the “2020 Bonus Payment”). You must remain employed with the Company through April 15, 2021 in order to be eligible to receive the 2020 Bonus Payment, which will be paid to you on the next subsequent payroll date following April 15, 2021. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if your employment with the Company is terminated without Cause prior to the payment of the 2020 Bonus Payment, you shall receive the 2020 Bonus Payment, which shall be paid in the same amount and at the same time as if you had remained employed through April 15, 2021. “Cause” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”).

As an additional incentive to remain employed with the Company, you shall also be eligible to earn a retention bonus equal to the 2020 Bonus Payment ($166,000), less applicable withholdings (the “Retention Bonus”) if you remain employed with the Company through the first anniversary of the date hereof. The Retention Bonus shall be the first anniversary of the date hereof, and paid to you on the next subsequent payroll date following the first anniversary of the date hereof. If your employment is terminated without Cause prior earned on to the first anniversary of the date hereof, you shall be paid the Retention Bonus on the next subsequent payroll date following such termination. If a “Change in Control” (as defined in the 2016 Plan) occurs prior to the full payment of the Retention Bonus and you are employed by the Company as of immediately prior to the Change in Control, the Retention Bonus shall be paid in full upon the occurrence of the Change in Control.

Thank you again for all of your contributions to the Company.

 

Sincerely,

                     

Lee Rauch
President and CEO

 

Agreed to and acknowledged:

                     

Name: Diana Escolar

 

miRagen.com

6200 Lookout Road, Boulder, CO 80301

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

miRagen Announces Leadership Transition and Review of Strategic Alternatives

 

 

Lee Rauch appointed President and CEO, following resignation by William Marshall

 

 

miRagen will undertake an in-depth review of its portfolio

 

 

Ladenburg Thalmann engaged as financial advisor

BOULDER, Colo., September 14, 2020 - miRagen Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGEN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of RNA-targeted therapies, announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Lee Rauch, the Company’s current Chief Operating Officer, as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director, following the resignation of William Marshall, Ph.D. Dr. Marshall has also resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors and has agreed to act as Senior Technical Advisor to the Company.

“The Board is excited to have Lee take on the CEO role at miRagen at this important time in the Company’s development. We believe that her extensive experience in company building, corporate strategy and business development are invaluable in setting a course for the future of the Company’s activities as we look to build long-term stockholder value,” stated Jeff Hatfield, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “The Board thanks Bill for his years of leadership and tremendous scientific contributions to the advancement of the Company’s microRNA technologies. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

“The miRagen team has built an outstanding RNA therapy discovery platform that has successfully created several clinical and preclinical programs. I’ve been excited to work with this team since joining the Company earlier this year, and I appreciate the Board’s confidence in me to lead the Company as we embark on this next stage of the Company’s development,” stated Ms. Rauch. “In addition, I believe the miRagen team has important capabilities that we can leverage in potential collaborations and other corporate developments.”

Ms. Rauch, who joined miRagen in June 2020 as its Chief Operating Officer, has more than 25 years of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. She has helped build successful companies that range in size from biotech start-ups to multinational pharmaceutical corporations. In her career, Ms. Rauch has held various executive positions at Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Nuon Therapeutics and COR Therapeutics (acquired by Millennium).

Strategic Review of Pipeline

The Company is conducting a comprehensive review of its research and development pipeline, which includes MRG-229, cobomarsen, MRG-110 and remlarsen.

The Company plans to prioritize its resources toward advancing the development of its lead compound, MRG-229, for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). MRG-229 is a conjugated miR-29 mimic that acts to replace miR-29, a microRNA that is found at abnormally low levels in a number of pathologic fibrotic conditions. Later this month, miRagen is scheduled to present new data from its recent non-human primate toxicology study of


MRG-229 at the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society’s annual meeting. This presentation will include data showing no adverse effects associated with MRG-229 when dosed up to 45mg/kg twice a week for two weeks. Following the announcement of these new data, the Company is planning IND enabling activities for MRG-229, which are intended to advance the development of this potential therapy.

“We believe that fibrosis is an ideal disease process for the use of microRNA therapeutics. This includes MRG-229, a replacement for miR-29, which targets the important genes and pathways that are central to the development of abnormal extracellular matrix deposition resulting in fibrosis. As we look towards the future, we have prioritized the development of MRG-229 for fibrosis indications after evaluating the positive data that has been generated over the past year, including the new data being presented at the end of this month,” stated Ms. Rauch.

The Company also announced that it will conclude its Phase 2 SOLAR clinical trial of cobomarsen in patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) and report topline data that has been collected to date in this clinical trial from 37 CTCL patients. The Company believes that the controlled data from this set of patients can provide important evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of cobomarsen for the treatment of CTCL. miRagen plans to announce the topline data for its Phase 2 SOLAR clinical trial by the end of 2020. As this will be the first controlled clinical data available from CTCL patients, the Company believes it may allow for a better assessment of the clinical potential of cobomarsen in this indication.

Review of Strategic Alternatives

In addition, miRagen’s Board of Directors has determined it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to conduct a comprehensive review of available strategic alternatives with a focus on maximizing stockholder value. The Board of Directors has engaged Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. as its financial advisor to assist in the strategic review process. Potential strategic alternatives may include, but are not limited to, an acquisition, merger, business combination, in-licensing, or other strategic transactions. There can be no assurance that this process will result in any such transaction. miRagen has not set a timetable for completion of this process and does not intend to comment further on this process unless or until the Board of Directors has approved a definitive agreement.

About miRagen Therapeutics

miRagen Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing proprietary RNA-targeted therapies with a specific focus on microRNAs and their role in diseases where there is a high unmet medical need. miRagen has three clinical stage product candidates, cobomarsen, remlarsen, and MRG-110. miRagen’s clinical product candidate for the treatment of certain cancers, cobomarsen, is an inhibitor of miR-155, which is found at abnormally high levels in malignant cells of several blood cancers. miRagen’s clinical product candidate for the treatment of pathological fibrosis, remlarsen, is a replacement for miR-29, which is found at abnormally low levels in a number of pathological fibrotic conditions, including cutaneous, cardiac, renal, hepatic, pulmonary and ocular fibrosis, as well as in systemic sclerosis. MRG-110, an inhibitor of miR-92, is miRagen’s product candidate for the treatment of heart failure and other ischemic disease. In addition to these programs, miRagen is developing a pipeline of preclinical product candidates. The goal of miRagen’s translational medicine strategy is to progress rapidly to first-in-human studies once it has established the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic, safety, and manufacturability of the product candidate in preclinical studies. For more information, please visit www.miragen.com. For information on clinical trials please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.


Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding miRagen’s strategy, anticipated clinical development milestones, future operations, ability to negotiate or complete any future strategic transaction, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses, prospects, plans and objectives of management or the expected features of or potential indications for miRagen’s product candidates are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “predict,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “goals,” or “should,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including, without limitation: that miRagen has incurred losses since its inception, and anticipates that it will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future; future financing activities may cause miRagen to restrict its operations or require it to relinquish rights; miRagen may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy of its product candidates; miRagen’s product candidates are unproven and may never lead to marketable products; miRagen’s product candidates are based on a relatively novel technology, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of development and of subsequently obtaining regulatory approval, if at all; miRagen’s product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent the regulatory approval; and the results of miRagen’s clinical trials to date are not sufficient to show safety and efficacy of miRagen’s product candidates and may not be indicative of future clinical trial results.

miRagen has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and trends. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in miRagen’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, miRagen operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time.

It is not possible for its management to predict all risks, nor can it assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements it may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. miRagen undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Investor Relations Contact:

Dan Ferry

LifeSci Advisors

(617) 430-7576

daniel@lifesciadvisors.com