As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2021

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Nevada   30-0784346

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

255 State Street, 9th Floor

Boston, MA

  02109
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended

Inducement Stock Option Award for Tim Demuth, M.D., Ph.D.

(Full title of the plan)

Ahmed S. Mousa, Esq.

General Counsel

Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

255 State Street, 9th Floor

Boston, MA 02109

(857) 246-8998

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

 

 

Copies to:

William C. Hicks, Esq.

Megan N. Gates, Esq.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

One Financial Center

Boston, MA 02111

(617) 542-6000

 

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ☐    Accelerated filer   ☐
Non-accelerated filer   ☒    Smaller reporting company   ☒
     Emerging growth company   ☐

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

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount to be

Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Share

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price

 

Amount of

Registration Fee

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

  2,250,000(1)   $3.50(3)   $7,875,000(3)   $859.16

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

  360,000(2)   $3.48(4)   $1,252,800(4)   $136.68

 

 

(1)

The number of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), of Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Registrant”) stated above consists of an additional 2,250,000 shares issuable under the Registrant’s 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2020 Plan”). The maximum number of shares which may be sold upon the exercise of such options or the issuance of stock-based awards granted under the 2020 Plan is subject to adjustment in accordance with certain anti-dilution and other provisions of the Plan. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement covers, in addition to the number of shares stated above, an indeterminate number of shares which may be subject to grant or otherwise issuable after the operation of any such anti-dilution and other provisions.

(2)

The number of shares of Common Stock of the Registrant stated above consists of 360,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option granted to Tim Demuth, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of the Registrant, on August 1, 2021. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of shares which may be subject to grant or otherwise issuable after the operation of certain anti-dilution and other provisions of the non-qualified option agreement between the Registrant and Dr. Demuth.

(3)

This calculation is made solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to the provisions of Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act on the basis of the average of the high and low sale prices per share of the Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market as of August 2, 2021, a date within five business days prior to filing this Registration Statement.

(4)

Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price per share is equal to the per-share exercise price of the stock option granted pursuant to the stock option agreement, based upon the closing price reported for the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on July 30, 2021.

 

 

 

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Form S-8 Registration Statement is filed to register an additional 2,250,000 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant issuable under the 2020 Plan.

This Form S-8 Registration Statement is also filed to register 360,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option granted to Tim Demuth, M.D. Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, on August 1, 2021, pursuant to the terms of a Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement by and between the Registrant and Dr. Demuth, dated as of August 1, 2021 (the “Demuth Option Agreement”), and as an inducement material to his entering into employment with the Registrant.

In accordance with the instructional Note to Part I of Form S-8 as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), the information specified by Part I of Form S-8 has been omitted from this Registration Statement on Form S-8 for offers of Common Stock pursuant to the 2020 Plan or the Demuth Option Agreement. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the 2020 Plan or Dr. Demuth, as applicable, covered by this Registration Statement as required by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

In this Registration Statement, Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is sometimes referred to as “Registrant,” “we,” “us” or “our.”

 

Item 3.

Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission are incorporated herein by reference:

(a) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-37471) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on March 31, 2021;

(b) Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-37471) for the quarter ended (i) March 31, 2021 filed with the Commission on May 17, 2021 and (ii)  June 30, 2021, filed with the Commission on August 5, 2021;

(c) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K  filed with the SEC on March  25, 2021, March  30, 2021 (with respect to the matters reported under 1.01 and 3.02), April  26, 2021, May  21, 2021, May  25, 2021 (with respect to the matters reported under Items 1.01 and 9.01) and June 29, 2021 (in each case, except for information contained therein which is furnished rather than filed); and

(d) The description of Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on June 24, 2015 (File No. 001-37471), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.

All reports and other documents filed by the Registrant after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and documents.

Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference or deemed to be a part of this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference or deemed to be a part of this Registration Statement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement contained in a document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference or deemed to be a part of this Registration Statement after the most recent effective date may modify or replace existing statements contained in this Registration Statement. In either case, any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as so modified or superseded.

 

Item 4.

Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Registrant is a Nevada corporation and is generally governed by the Nevada Revised Statutes, or NRS.

The Registrant’s amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of the Registrant’s directors or officers or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other

enterprise, whether the basis of such action, suit or proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent authorized by NRS against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such.

NRS 78.7502 permits a corporation to indemnify any director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, if such person (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 and (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action (i.e., one brought by or on behalf of the corporation), indemnification may be provided only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any director or officer in connection with the defense or settlement of such an action or the suit if such person (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 and (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be provided if such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or some other court of competent jurisdiction determines that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

The Registrant’s amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that the liability of its directors and officers shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS. NRS 78.138(7) provides that, subject to limited statutory exceptions and unless the articles of incorporation or an amendment thereto (in each case filed on or after October 1, 2003) provide for greater individual liability, a director or officer is not individually liable to a corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his or her capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that: (i) the act or failure to act constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer and (ii) the breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain officers, in addition to the indemnification provided in the NRS, its amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, and intends to enter into indemnification agreements with any new directors and officers in the future. The Registrant has purchased and intends to maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.

The foregoing discussion of the Registrant’s amended and restated articles of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws, indemnification agreements, indemnity agreement, and Nevada law is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by such amended and restated articles of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws, indemnification agreements, indemnity agreement, or law.

 

Item 7.

Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.

Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as a part of or incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Item

  4.1

   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 333-190728) filed on December 18, 2014).

  4.2

   Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-37471) filed with the Commission on August 11, 2016).

  4.3

   Certificate of Designation of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37471) filed with the Commission on February 4, 2019).

  4.4

   Certificate of Designation of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37471) filed with the Commission on November 4, 2019).

  4.5

   Certificate of Designation of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37471) filed with the Commission on April 6, 2020).

  4.6

   Certificate of Designation of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37471) filed with the Commission on May 21, 2021).

  4.7

   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37471) filed on September 3, 2019).

  4.8

   Form of Common Stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-37471) filed with the Commission on March 23, 2016).

  5.1*

   Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

10.1+

   2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37471) filed with the Commission on June 29, 2021).

10.2*+

   Form of Stock Option Award Agreement under the Registrant’s 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan.

10.3*+

   Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement by and between the Registrant and Tim Demuth, M.D., Ph.D.

23.1*

   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2*

   Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

24.1*

   Powers of Attorney (included in the signature page of this registration statement).

 

*

Filed herewith.

+

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

Item 9.

Undertakings.

 

(a)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

  (i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

  (ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

 

  (iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

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

 

(b)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)

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

SIGNATURES

The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, on August 5, 2021.

 

PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen S. Yoder

Stephen S. Yoder
President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephen S. Yoder and Thomas Bures, and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them singly, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to the attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in or about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of each of them or their substitute may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Stephen S. Yoder

   President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director   August 5, 2021
Stephen S. Yoder

/s/ Thomas Bures

   Vice President, Finance and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   August 5, 2021
Thomas Bures

/s/ James Geraghty

   Director   August 5, 2021
James Geraghty

/s/ Michael Richman

   Director   August 5, 2021
Michael Richman

/s/ Ann Barbier, M.D., Ph.D.

   Director   August 5, 2021
Ann Barbier, M.D., Ph.D.

/s/ Christopher Kiritsy

   Director   August 5, 2021
Christopher Kiritsy

/s/ Peter Kiener, D.Phil.

   Director   August 5, 2021
Peter Kiener, D.Phil.

/s/ Matthew L. Sherman, M.D.

   Director   August 5, 2021
Matthew L. Sherman, M.D.

/s/ Maya R. Said, Sc.D.

   Director   August 5, 2021
Maya R. Said, Sc.D.

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO    One Financial Center
   Boston, MA 02111
   617 542 6000
   mintz.com
  
  
  

August 5, 2021

Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

255 State Street, 9th Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8; 2,550,000 shares of Common Stock of Pieris

Pharmaceuticals, Inc., par value $0.001 per share

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as legal counsel to Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), pursuant to which the Company is registering the issuance under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of an aggregate of 2,610,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), consisting of (i) an additional 2,250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable under the terms of the 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) and (ii) 360,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option granted to Tim Demuth, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of the Company, on August 1, 2021 pursuant to the terms of a Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement by and between the Company and Dr. Demuth (the “Option Agreement”) as an inducement material to his entering into employment with the Company. This opinion is being rendered in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Registration Statement.

In connection with this opinion, we have examined the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as currently in effect; such other records of the corporate proceedings of the Company and certificates of the Company’s officers as we have deemed relevant; and the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies, and the truth and correctness of any representations and warranties contained therein. In addition, we have assumed that the Company will receive any required consideration in accordance with the terms of the Plan or Option Agreement, as applicable.

Our opinion expressed herein is limited to the general corporate laws of the State of Nevada and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction. No opinion is expressed herein with respect to the qualification of the Shares under the securities or blue sky laws of any state or any foreign jurisdiction.

Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred as to any other matters. This opinion is based upon currently existing statutes, rules, regulations and judicial decisions, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change in any of these sources of law or subsequent legal or factual developments which might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein.

 

 

BOSTON        LONDON        LOS ANGELS        NEW YORK        SAN DIEGO        SAN FRANCISCO        WASHINGTON

 

MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C.

MINTZ

August 5, 2021

Page 2

   LOGO

 

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Plan or Option Agreement, as applicable, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We understand that you wish to file this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, and we hereby consent thereto. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo,

P.C.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo,

P.C.

Exhibit 10.2

Option No.________

PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Notice

 

1.   Name and Address of Participant:

   [                        ]
   [                        ]
   [                        ]

2.   Date of Option Grant:

   [                        ]

3.   Maximum Number of Shares for which this Option is exercisable:

   [                        ]

4.   Exercise (purchase) price per share:

   [                        ]

5.   Option Expiration Date:

   [                        ]

6.   Vesting Start Date:

   [                        ]

 

7.

Vesting Schedule: This Option shall become exercisable (and the Shares issued upon exercise shall be vested) as follows provided the Participant is an Employee of the Company or of an Affiliate on the applicable vesting date:

The option vests as to 25% of the Shares on [                     ] and vests as to an additional 6.25% of the Shares at the end of each calendar quarter beginning on [                    ] and continuing thereafter until fully vested.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Covered Termination during a Change of Control Period (each as defined in the offer letter dated [                     ] from the Company to the Participant and exhibit thereto (the “Offer Letter”)), the vesting of the Option shall be accelerated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Offer Letter.

The foregoing rights are cumulative and are subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

The Company and the Participant acknowledge receipt of this Stock Option Grant Notice and agree to the terms of the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto, and the terms of this Option Grant as set forth above.

 

PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

                          

    Name:  

 

    Title:  

 

 

Participant

PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made as of the date of grant set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice by and between Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), a Nevada corporation, and the individual whose name appears on the Stock Option Grant Notice (the “Participant”).

WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Participant an Option to purchase shares of its common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Shares”) as an inducement material to the Participant’s entering into employment as [             ] of the Company, effective [            ] (the “Vesting Start Date”), in accordance with the terms of an offer letter from the Company dated [            ]; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Participant each intend that the Option granted herein shall be a non-qualified stock option.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

  1.

DEFINITIONS.

Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms, as used in this Agreement, have the following meanings:

Administrator means the Board of Directors, unless it has delegated power to act on its behalf to the Committee, in which case the term Administrator means the Committee.

Affiliate means a corporation which, for purposes of Section 424 of the Code, is a parent or subsidiary of the Company, direct or indirect.

Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Cause means, with respect to a Participant: (a) dishonesty with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, (b) insubordination, substantial malfeasance or non-feasance of duty, (c) unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, (d) breach by a Participant of any provision of any employment, consulting, advisory, nondisclosure, non-competition or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate, and (e) conduct substantially prejudicial to the business of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, that any provision in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, which contains a conflicting definition of Cause for termination and which is in effect at the time of such termination, shall supersede this definition with respect to that Participant. The determination of the Administrator as to the existence of Cause will be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.

Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto.

Committee means the committee of the Board of Directors to which the Board of Directors has delegated power to act, the composition of which shall at all times satisfy the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code.

Disability or Disabled means permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

Director means any member of the Board of Directors.

Employee means any employee of the Company or of an Affiliate (including, without limitation, an employee who is also serving as an officer or director of the Company or of an Affiliate).

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Fair Market Value of a Share of common stock means:

If the common stock is listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market and sales prices are regularly reported for the common stock, the closing or, if not applicable, the last price of the common stock on the composite tape or other comparable reporting system for the trading day on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date;

If the common stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded on the over-the-counter market, if sales prices are not regularly reported for the common stock for the trading day referred to in clause (1), and if bid and asked prices for the common stock are regularly reported, the mean between the bid and the asked price for the common stock at the close of trading in the over-the-counter market for the trading day on which common stock was traded on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date; and

If the common stock is neither listed on a national securities exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter market, such value as the Administrator, in good faith, shall determine in compliance with applicable laws.

Non-Qualified Option means an option which is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

Option means a Non-Qualified Option granted as an inducement award under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Shares means shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share.

Survivor means a deceased Participant’s legal representatives and/or any person or persons who acquired the Option by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

  2.

GRANT OF OPTION.

The Company hereby grants to the Participant the right and option to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of the number of Shares set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice, on the terms and conditions and subject to all the limitations set forth herein and under United States securities and tax laws.

 

  3.

EXERCISE PRICE.

The exercise price of the Shares covered by the Option shall be the amount per Share set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice, subject to adjustment, as provided in Section 10, in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split or other events affecting the holders of Shares after the date hereof (the “Exercise Price”). Payment shall be made in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

  4.

EXERCISABILITY OF OPTION.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Option granted hereby shall become vested and exercisable as set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice and is subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

  5.

TERM OF OPTION.

This Option shall terminate on the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice, but shall be subject to earlier termination as provided herein.

If the Participant ceases to be an Employee of the Company or of an Affiliate for any reason other than the death or Disability of the Participant, or termination of the Participant for Cause (the “Termination Date”), the Option to the extent then vested and exercisable pursuant to Section 4 hereof as of the Termination Date, and not previously terminated in accordance with this Agreement, may be exercised within three months after the Termination Date, or on or prior to the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice, whichever is earlier, but may not be exercised thereafter except as set forth below. In such event, the unvested portion of the Option shall not be exercisable and shall expire and be cancelled on the Termination Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the Participant’s Disability or death within three months after the Termination Date, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors may exercise the Option within one year after the Termination Date, but in no event after the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice.

In the event the Participant’s service is terminated by the Company or an Affiliate for Cause, the Participant’s right to exercise any unexercised portion of this Option even if vested shall cease immediately as of the time the Participant is notified his or her service is terminated for Cause, and this Option shall thereupon terminate. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if subsequent to the Participant’s termination, but prior to the exercise of the Option, the Administrator determines that, either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination, the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then the Participant shall immediately cease to have any right to exercise the Option and this Option shall thereupon terminate.

In the event of the Disability of the Participant, , the Option shall be exercisable within one year after the Participant’s termination of due to Disability or, if earlier, on or prior to the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice. In such event, the Option shall be exercisable:

 

  (a)

to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised as of the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability; and

 

  (b)

in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Participant not become Disabled. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability.

In the event of the death of the Participant while an Employee of the Company or of an Affiliate, the Option shall be exercisable by the Participant’s Survivors within one year after the date of death of the Participant or, if earlier, on or prior to the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice. In such event, the Option shall be exercisable:

 

  (x)

to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised as of the date of death; and

 

  (y)

in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of death of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Participant not died. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the Participant’s date of death.

  6.

METHOD OF EXERCISING OPTION.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Option may be exercised by written notice to the Company or its designee, in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (or in such other form acceptable to the Company, which may include electronic notice). Such notice shall state the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be signed by the person exercising the Option (which signature may be provided electronically in a form acceptable to the Company). Payment of the Exercise Price for such Shares shall be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check, or (b) at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company or, if applicable, a Committee of the Board of Directors, through delivery of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (as defined above) equal as of the date of the exercise to the cash exercise price of the Option and held for at least six months, or (c) in accordance with a cashless exercise program established with a securities brokerage firm. The Company shall deliver such Shares as soon as practicable after the notice shall be received, provided, however, that the Company may delay issuance of such Shares until completion of any action or obtaining of any consent, which the Company deems necessary under any applicable law (including, without limitation, state securities or “blue sky” laws). The Shares as to which the Option shall have been so exercised shall be registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the person so exercising the Option (or, if the Option shall be exercised by the Participant and if the Participant shall so request in the notice exercising the Option, shall be registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Participant and another person jointly, with right of survivorship) and shall be delivered as provided above to or upon the written order of the person exercising the Option. In the event the Option shall be exercised, pursuant to Section 5 hereof, by any person other than the Participant, such notice shall be accompanied by appropriate proof of the right of such person to exercise the Option. All Shares that shall be purchased upon the exercise of the Option as provided herein shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  7.

PARTIAL EXERCISE.

Exercise of this Option to the extent above stated may be made in part at any time and from time to time within the above limits, except that no fractional share shall be issued pursuant to this Option.

 

  8.

NON-ASSIGNABILITY.

The Option shall not be transferable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder. Except as provided above in this paragraph, the Option shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, by the Participant’s guardian or representative) and shall not be assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Option or of any rights granted hereunder contrary to the provisions of this Section 8, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon the Option shall be null and void.

  9.

NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER UNTIL EXERCISE.

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to this Agreement until registration of the Shares in the Company’s share register in the name of the Participant. Except as is expressly provided in Section 10 of this Agreement with respect to certain changes in the capitalization of the Company, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or similar rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such registration.

 

  10.

ADJUSTMENTS.

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, the Participant’s rights with respect to the Option shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided.

(a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If (i) the Shares shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the Company shall issue any Shares as a stock dividend on its outstanding Shares, or (ii) additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such Shares, the Option and the number of Shares deliverable thereunder shall be appropriately increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made including, in the exercise price per share, to reflect such events.

(b) Corporate Transactions. If the Company is to be consolidated with or acquired by another entity in a merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than a transaction to merely change the state of incorporation (a “Corporate Transaction”), the Administrator or the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder (the “Successor Board”), shall, as to the unexercised portion of the Option, either (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of the Option by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to the Option either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding Shares in connection with the Corporate Transaction or securities of any successor or acquiring entity; or (ii) upon written notice to the Participant, provide that the Option must be exercised (to the extent then exercisable, within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Option shall terminate); or (iii) terminate the Option in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction to the holder of the number of Shares into which the Option would have been exercisable less the aggregate exercise price thereof. For purposes of determining the payments to be made pursuant to Subclause (iii) above, in the case of a Corporate Transaction the consideration for which, in whole or in part, is other than cash, the consideration other than cash shall be valued at the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(c) Recapitalization or Reorganization. In the event of a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company other than a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which securities of the Company or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding Shares, the Participant upon exercising the Option after the recapitalization or reorganization shall be entitled to receive for the price paid upon such exercise or acceptance if any, the number of replacement securities which would have been received if the Option had been exercised prior to such recapitalization or reorganization.

(d) Modification of Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Subsection (a), (b) or (c) above shall be made only after the Administrator determines whether such adjustments would cause any adverse tax consequences, including, but not limited to, pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. If the Administrator determines that such adjustments would constitute a modification of the Option or other adverse tax consequence to the Participant, it may refrain from making such adjustments, unless the Participant specifically agrees in writing that such adjustment be.

(e). Dissolution or Liquidation of the Company. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option will terminate and become null and void; provided, however, that if the rights of the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors have not otherwise terminated and expired, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors will have the right immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation to exercise the Option to the extent that the Option is exercisable as of the date immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation.

 

  11.

TAXES.

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that (i) any income or other taxes due from the Participant with respect to this Option or the Shares issuable pursuant to this Option shall be the Participant’s responsibility; (ii) the Participant was free to use professional advisors of his or her choice in connection with this Agreement, has received advice from his or her professional advisors in connection with this Agreement, understands its meaning and import, and is entering into this Agreement freely and without coercion or duress; (iii) the Participant has not received and is not relying upon any advice, representations or assurances made by or on behalf of the Company or any Affiliate or any employee of or counsel to the Company or any Affiliate regarding any tax or other effects or implications of the Option, the Shares or other matters contemplated by this Agreement; and (iv) neither the Administrator, the Company, its Affiliates, nor any of its officers or directors, shall be held liable for any applicable costs, taxes, or penalties associated with the Option if, in fact, the Internal Revenue Service were to determine that the Option constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code.

The Participant agrees that the Company may withhold from the Participant’s remuneration, if any, the minimum statutory amount of federal, state and local withholding taxes attributable to such amount that is considered compensation includable in such person’s gross income. At the Company’s discretion, the amount required to be withheld may be withheld in cash from such remuneration, or in kind from the Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant on exercise of the Option. The Participant further agrees that, if the Company does not withhold an amount from the Participant’s remuneration sufficient to satisfy the Company’s income tax withholding obligation, the Participant will reimburse the Company on demand, in cash, for the amount under-withheld.

 

  12.

PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.

Unless the offering and sale of the Shares to be issued upon the particular exercise of the Option shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue the Shares covered by such exercise unless the Company has determined that such exercise and issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and until the following conditions have been fulfilled:

  (a)

The person(s) who exercise the Option shall warrant to the Company, at the time of such exercise, that such person(s) are acquiring such Shares for their own respective accounts, for investment, and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such Shares, in which event the person(s) acquiring such Shares shall be bound by the provisions of the following legend which shall be endorsed upon any certificate(s) evidencing the Shares issued pursuant to such exercise:

“The shares represented by this certificate have been taken for investment and they may not be sold or otherwise transferred by any person, including a pledgee, unless (1) either (a) a Registration Statement with respect to such shares shall be effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it that an exemption from registration under such Act is then available, and (2) there shall have been compliance with all applicable state securities laws;” and

(b) If the Company so requires, the Company shall have received an opinion of its counsel that the Shares may be issued upon such particular exercise in compliance with the Securities Act without registration thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company may delay issuance of the Shares until completion of any action or obtaining of any consent, which the Company deems necessary under any applicable law (including without limitation state securities or “blue sky” laws).

 

  13.

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

13.1 The Participant agrees that in the event the Company proposes to offer for sale to the public any of its equity securities and such Participant is requested by the Company and any underwriter engaged by the Company in connection with such offering to sign an agreement restricting the sale or other transfer of Shares, then it will promptly sign such agreement and will not transfer, whether in privately negotiated transactions or to the public in open market transactions or otherwise, any Shares or other securities of the Company held by the Participant during such period as is determined by the Company and the underwriters, not to exceed 180 days following the closing of the offering, plus such additional period of time as may be required to comply with FINRA rules or similar rules thereto promulgated by another regulatory authority (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”). Such agreement shall be in writing and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and such underwriter and pursuant to customary and prevailing terms and conditions. Whether or not the Participant has signed such an agreement, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares or other securities of the Company subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of the Lock-Up Period.

13.2 The Participant acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company, its stockholders nor its directors and officers, has any duty or obligation to disclose to the Participant any material information regarding the business of the Company or affecting the value of the Shares before, at the time of, or following a termination of the service of the Participant by the Company, including, without limitation, any information concerning plans for the Company to make a public offering of its securities or to be acquired by or merged with or into another firm or entity.

 

  14.

NO OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIP.

The Participant acknowledges that: (i) the Company is not by this Agreement obligated to continue the Participant as an employee, director or consultant of the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) the grant of the Option is a one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of options, or benefits in lieu of options; (iii) all determinations with respect to any such future grants, including, but not limited to, the times when options shall be granted, the number of shares subject to each option, the option price, and the time or times when each option shall be exercisable, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (iv) the value of the Option is an extraordinary item of compensation which is outside the scope of the Participant’s employment or consulting contract, if any; and (v) the Option is not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments.

 

  15.

NOTICES.

Any notices required or permitted by the terms of this Agreement shall be given by recognized courier service, facsimile, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

If to the Company:

Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

255 State Street, 9th floor

Boston, MA 02109

Attention:   Chief Executive Officer

If to the Participant at the address set forth on the Stock Option Grant Notice.

or to such other address or addresses of which notice in the same manner has previously been given. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given upon the earlier of receipt, one business day following delivery to a recognized courier service or three business days following mailing by registered or certified mail.

  16.

GOVERNING LAW.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. For the purpose of litigating any dispute that arises under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction in Nevada and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the state courts of Nevada or the federal courts of the United States for the District of Nevada.

 

  17.

BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT.

Subject to the provisions hereof, this Agreement shall be for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

  18.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof (with the exception of acceleration of vesting provisions contained in any other agreement with the Company). No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement not expressly set forth in this Agreement shall affect or be used to interpret, change or restrict the express terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

  19.

MODIFICATIONS AND AMENDMENTS.

The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended by the Administrator; provided, however, the Administrator not take any action that is considered a direct or indirect “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Shares are listed, including any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles. Any modification or amendment of this Agreement shall not, without the consent of the Participant, adversely affect the Participant’s rights under this Agreement. .

 

  20.

WAIVERS AND CONSENTS.

The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.

 

  21.

DATA PRIVACY.

By entering into this Agreement, the Participant understands and acknowledges the processing of personal data as described in Annex A to this Agreement.

Annex A

DATA PRIVACY

The Company and the Participant’s employer process certain personal information regarding the Participant for the purpose of managing and administering the Company’s 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) and other outstanding stock options that conform in substance to the form of stock option agreement issued under the Plan (including this Option), including the Participant’s name, contact details, social security number and details on the grant of shares (the “Data”). The legal bases for this processing are Art. 6 (1) (1) (b) GDPR and Section 26 of the German Data Protection Law. The Company will share Data with Affiliates and agents of the Company as necessary for the purpose of administration of the Participant’s participation in the Plan. This data processing is justified under Art. 6 (1) (1) (b) and (f) GDPR. It is in the Company’s as well as in the Participant’s interest to ensure participation in the stock program in conformance with contractual requirements and applicable laws.

Further, the Company and the Affiliates may transfer Data, in electronic or other form, to any third party assisting the Company in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. These recipients include contractors processing data on behalf and according to the instructions of the Company (e.g., Solium Shareworks). The data transfer to these contractors is justified under Art. 28 GDPR in conjunction with the respective data processing agreement. Some recipients process the data in their sole responsibility as data controller and will provide their own data protection notices to the Participant. The legal bases for these transfers are Art. 6 (1) (b) and (f) GDPR. The Company has a legitimate interest to engage others to fulfill their contractual obligations to ensure proper conduct of the Plan. The recipients of Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere. The Company and its Affiliates will provide appropriate safeguards to ensure an adequate level of data protection at the recipient by, for example, concluding standard contractual clauses provided by the EU Commission.

The Data will be retained as long as necessary for the respective purpose and deleted afterwards. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

The Participant may, depending on the circumstances of the specific case, obtain confirmation as to whether Data concerning the Participant is processed, request access to the Data and receive the Data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format; request rectification and erasure of Data or restriction of the processing under the legal requirements; and lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. The Participant has the right to object to the Data processing where the Company processes Data for the purpose of pursuing its legitimate interests and there are reasons arising from Participant’s particular situation.

Annex A

Exhibit A

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTION

[Form for Shares registered in the United States]

 

To:

Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This form of Notice of Exercise may only be used at such time as the Company has filed a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which the issuance of the Shares for which this exercise is being made is registered and such Registration Statement remains effective.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I hereby exercise my Stock Option to purchase _________ shares (the “Shares”) of the common stock, $0.001 par value, of Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), at the exercise price of $________ per share, pursuant to and subject to the terms of that Stock Option Grant Notice dated ________.

I understand the nature of the investment I am making and the financial risks thereof. I am aware that it is my responsibility to have consulted with competent tax and legal advisors about the relevant national, state and local income tax and securities laws affecting the exercise of the Option and the purchase and subsequent sale of the Shares.

I am paying the option exercise price for the Shares as follows:

 

                                                                                  

Please issue the Shares (check one):

☐ to me; or

☐ to me and ____________________________, as joint tenants with right of survivorship,

at the following address:

 

                                                                      

                                                                      

                                                                      

Exhibit A-1

My mailing address for stockholder communications, if different from the address listed above, is:

 

                                                                      

                                                                      

                                                                      

 

Very truly yours,

                          

        Participant (signature)

                     

        Print Name

                     

        Date

Exhibit A-2

Exhibit 10.3

Option No.________

PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Notice

 

1.  Name and Address of Participant:

   Tim Demuth, M.D., Ph.D.
   Moritzstr. 14b
   55130 Mainz, Germany

2.  Date of Option Grant:

   August 1, 2021

3.  Maximum Number of Shares for

  

       which this Option is exercisable:

   360,000

4.  Exercise (purchase) price per share:

   $[•]

5.  Option Expiration Date:

   August 1, 2031

6.  Vesting Start Date:

   August 1, 2021

 

7.

Vesting Schedule: This Option shall become exercisable (and the Shares issued upon exercise shall be vested) as follows provided the Participant is an Employee of the Company or of an Affiliate on the applicable vesting date:

The option vests as follows: 25% of the shares shall vest on the first anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, and the remaining 75% of the shares shall vest over a three (3)-year period, with 6.25% of the remaining shares vesting each quarter thereafter.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Covered Termination during a Change of Control Period (each as defined in the offer letter dated May 29, 2021 from the Company to the Participant and exhibit thereto (the “Offer Letter”)), the vesting of the Option shall be accelerated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Offer Letter.

The foregoing rights are cumulative and are subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

The Company and the Participant acknowledge receipt of this Stock Option Grant Notice and agree to the terms of the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto, and the terms of this Option Grant as set forth above.

 

PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:                                                                                                  
Name:                                                                                            
Title:                                                                                              
    

 

Tim Demuth

PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made as of the date of grant set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice by and between Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), a Nevada corporation, and the individual whose name appears on the Stock Option Grant Notice (the “Participant”).

WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Participant an Option to purchase shares of its common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Shares”) as an inducement material to the Participant’s entering into employment as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the Company, effective August 1, 2021 (the “Vesting Start Date”), in accordance with the terms of an offer letter from the Company dated May 29, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Participant each intend that the Option granted herein shall be a non-qualified stock option.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

  1.

DEFINITIONS.

Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms, as used in this Agreement, have the following meanings:

Administrator means the Board of Directors, unless it has delegated power to act on its behalf to the Committee, in which case the term Administrator means the Committee.

Affiliate means a corporation which, for purposes of Section 424 of the Code, is a parent or subsidiary of the Company, direct or indirect.

Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Cause means, with respect to a Participant: (a) dishonesty with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, (b) insubordination, substantial malfeasance or non-feasance of duty, (c) unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, (d) breach by a Participant of any provision of any employment, consulting, advisory, nondisclosure, non-competition or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate, and (e) conduct substantially prejudicial to the business of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, that any provision in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, which contains a conflicting definition of Cause for termination and which is in effect at the time of such termination, shall supersede this definition with respect to that Participant. The determination of the Administrator as to the existence of Cause will be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.

Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto.

Committee means the committee of the Board of Directors to which the Board of Directors has delegated power to act, the composition of which shall at all times satisfy the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code.

Disability or Disabled means permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

Director means any member of the Board of Directors.

Employee means any employee of the Company or of an Affiliate (including, without limitation, an employee who is also serving as an officer or director of the Company or of an Affiliate).

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Fair Market Value of a Share of common stock means:

If the common stock is listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market and sales prices are regularly reported for the common stock, the closing or, if not applicable, the last price of the common stock on the composite tape or other comparable reporting system for the trading day on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date;

If the common stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded on the over-the-counter market, if sales prices are not regularly reported for the common stock for the trading day referred to in clause (1), and if bid and asked prices for the common stock are regularly reported, the mean between the bid and the asked price for the common stock at the close of trading in the over-the-counter market for the trading day on which common stock was traded on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date; and

If the common stock is neither listed on a national securities exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter market, such value as the Administrator, in good faith, shall determine in compliance with applicable laws.

Non-Qualified Option means an option which is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

Option means a Non-Qualified Option granted as an inducement award under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Shares means shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share.

Survivor means a deceased Participant’s legal representatives and/or any person or persons who acquired the Option by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

  2.

GRANT OF OPTION.

The Company hereby grants to the Participant the right and option to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of the number of Shares set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice, on the terms and conditions and subject to all the limitations set forth herein and under United States securities and tax laws.

 

  3.

EXERCISE PRICE.

The exercise price of the Shares covered by the Option shall be the amount per Share set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice, subject to adjustment, as provided in Section 10, in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split or other events affecting the holders of Shares after the date hereof (the “Exercise Price”). Payment shall be made in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

  4.

EXERCISABILITY OF OPTION.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Option granted hereby shall become vested and exercisable as set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice and is subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

  5.

TERM OF OPTION.

This Option shall terminate on the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice, but shall be subject to earlier termination as provided herein.

If the Participant ceases to be an Employee of the Company or of an Affiliate for any reason other than the death or Disability of the Participant, or termination of the Participant for Cause (the “Termination Date”), the Option to the extent then vested and exercisable pursuant to Section 4 hereof as of the Termination Date, and not previously terminated in accordance with this Agreement, may be exercised within three months after the Termination Date, or on or prior to the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice, whichever is earlier, but may not be exercised thereafter except as set forth below. In such event, the unvested portion of the Option shall not be exercisable and shall expire and be cancelled on the Termination Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the Participant’s Disability or death within three months after the Termination Date, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors may exercise the Option within one year after the Termination Date, but in no event after the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice.

In the event the Participant’s service is terminated by the Company or an Affiliate for Cause, the Participant’s right to exercise any unexercised portion of this Option even if vested shall cease immediately as of the time the Participant is notified his or her service is terminated for Cause, and this Option shall thereupon terminate. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if subsequent to the Participant’s termination, but prior to the exercise of the Option, the Administrator determines that, either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination, the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then the Participant shall immediately cease to have any right to exercise the Option and this Option shall thereupon terminate.

In the event of the Disability of the Participant, the Option shall be exercisable within one year after the Participant’s termination of due to Disability or, if earlier, on or prior to the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice. In such event, the Option shall be exercisable:

 

  (a)

to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised as of the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability; and

 

  (b)

in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Participant not become Disabled. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability.

In the event of the death of the Participant while an Employee of the Company or of an Affiliate, the Option shall be exercisable by the Participant’s Survivors within one year after the date of death of the Participant or, if earlier, on or prior to the Option Expiration Date as specified in the Stock Option Grant Notice. In such event, the Option shall be exercisable:

 

  (x)

to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised as of the date of death; and

 

  (y)

in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of death of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Participant not died. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the Participant’s date of death.

 

  6.

METHOD OF EXERCISING OPTION.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Option may be exercised by written notice to the Company or its designee, in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (or in such other form acceptable to the Company, which may include electronic notice). Such notice shall state the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be signed by the person exercising the Option (which signature may be provided

electronically in a form acceptable to the Company). Payment of the Exercise Price for such Shares shall be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check, or (b) at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company or, if applicable, a Committee of the Board of Directors, through delivery of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (as defined above) equal as of the date of the exercise to the cash exercise price of the Option and held for at least six months, or (c) in accordance with a cashless exercise program established with a securities brokerage firm. The Company shall deliver such Shares as soon as practicable after the notice shall be received, provided, however, that the Company may delay issuance of such Shares until completion of any action or obtaining of any consent, which the Company deems necessary under any applicable law (including, without limitation, state securities or “blue sky” laws). The Shares as to which the Option shall have been so exercised shall be registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the person so exercising the Option (or, if the Option shall be exercised by the Participant and if the Participant shall so request in the notice exercising the Option, shall be registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Participant and another person jointly, with right of survivorship) and shall be delivered as provided above to or upon the written order of the person exercising the Option. In the event the Option shall be exercised, pursuant to Section 5 hereof, by any person other than the Participant, such notice shall be accompanied by appropriate proof of the right of such person to exercise the Option. All Shares that shall be purchased upon the exercise of the Option as provided herein shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  7.

PARTIAL EXERCISE.

Exercise of this Option to the extent above stated may be made in part at any time and from time to time within the above limits, except that no fractional share shall be issued pursuant to this Option.

 

  8.

NON-ASSIGNABILITY.

The Option shall not be transferable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder. Except as provided above in this paragraph, the Option shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, by the Participant’s guardian or representative) and shall not be assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Option or of any rights granted hereunder contrary to the provisions of this Section 8, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon the Option shall be null and void.

 

  9.

NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER UNTIL EXERCISE.

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to this Agreement until registration of the Shares in the Company’s share register in the name of the Participant. Except as is expressly provided in Section 10 of this Agreement with respect to certain changes in the capitalization of the Company, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or similar rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such registration.

  10.

ADJUSTMENTS.

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, the Participant’s rights with respect to the Option shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided.

(a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If (i) the Shares shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the Company shall issue any Shares as a stock dividend on its outstanding Shares, or (ii) additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such Shares, the Option and the number of Shares deliverable thereunder shall be appropriately increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made including, in the exercise price per share, to reflect such events.

(b) Corporate Transactions. If the Company is to be consolidated with or acquired by another entity in a merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than a transaction to merely change the state of incorporation (a “Corporate Transaction”), the Administrator or the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder (the “Successor Board”), shall, as to the unexercised portion of the Option, either (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of the Option by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to the Option either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding Shares in connection with the Corporate Transaction or securities of any successor or acquiring entity; or (ii) upon written notice to the Participant, provide that the Option must be exercised (to the extent then exercisable, within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Option shall terminate); or (iii) terminate the Option in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction to the holder of the number of Shares into which the Option would have been exercisable less the aggregate exercise price thereof. For purposes of determining the payments to be made pursuant to Subclause (iii) above, in the case of a Corporate Transaction the consideration for which, in whole or in part, is other than cash, the consideration other than cash shall be valued at the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(c) Recapitalization or Reorganization. In the event of a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company other than a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which securities of the Company or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding Shares, the Participant upon exercising the Option after the recapitalization or reorganization shall be entitled to receive for the price paid upon such exercise or acceptance if any, the number of replacement securities which would have been received if the Option had been exercised prior to such recapitalization or reorganization.

(d) Modification of Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Subsection (a), (b) or (c) above shall be made only after the Administrator determines whether such adjustments would cause any adverse tax consequences, including, but not limited to, pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. If the Administrator determines that such adjustments would constitute a modification of the Option or other adverse tax consequence to the Participant, it may refrain from making such adjustments, unless the Participant specifically agrees in writing that such adjustment be.

(e). Dissolution or Liquidation of the Company. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option will terminate and become null and void; provided, however, that if the rights of the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors have not otherwise terminated and expired, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors will have the right immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation to exercise the Option to the extent that the Option is exercisable as of the date immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation.

 

  11.

TAXES.

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that (i) any income or other taxes due from the Participant with respect to this Option or the Shares issuable pursuant to this Option shall be the Participant’s responsibility; (ii) the Participant was free to use professional advisors of his or her choice in connection with this Agreement, has received advice from his or her professional advisors in connection with this Agreement, understands its meaning and import, and is entering into this Agreement freely and without coercion or duress; (iii) the Participant has not received and is not relying upon any advice, representations or assurances made by or on behalf of the Company or any Affiliate or any employee of or counsel to the Company or any Affiliate regarding any tax or other effects or implications of the Option, the Shares or other matters contemplated by this Agreement; and (iv) neither the Administrator, the Company, its Affiliates, nor any of its officers or directors, shall be held liable for any applicable costs, taxes, or penalties associated with the Option if, in fact, the Internal Revenue Service were to determine that the Option constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code.

The Participant agrees that the Company may withhold from the Participant’s remuneration, if any, the minimum statutory amount of federal, state and local withholding taxes attributable to such amount that is considered compensation includable in such person’s gross income. At the Company’s discretion, the amount required to be withheld may be withheld in cash from such remuneration, or in kind from the Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant on exercise of the Option. The Participant further agrees that, if the Company does not withhold an amount from the Participant’s remuneration sufficient to satisfy the Company’s income tax withholding obligation, the Participant will reimburse the Company on demand, in cash, for the amount under-withheld.

 

  12.

PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.

Unless the offering and sale of the Shares to be issued upon the particular exercise of the Option shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue the Shares covered by such exercise unless the Company has determined that such exercise and issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and until the following conditions have been fulfilled:

 

  (a)

The person(s) who exercise the Option shall warrant to the Company, at the time of such exercise, that such person(s) are acquiring such Shares for their own respective accounts, for investment, and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such Shares, in which event the person(s) acquiring such Shares shall be bound by the provisions of the following legend which shall be endorsed upon any certificate(s) evidencing the Shares issued pursuant to such exercise:

“The shares represented by this certificate have been taken for investment and they may not be sold or otherwise transferred by any person, including a pledgee, unless (1) either (a) a Registration Statement with respect to such shares shall be effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it that an exemption from registration under such Act is then available, and (2) there shall have been compliance with all applicable state securities laws;” and

(b) If the Company so requires, the Company shall have received an opinion of its counsel that the Shares may be issued upon such particular exercise in compliance with the Securities Act without registration thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company may delay issuance of the Shares until completion of any action or obtaining of any consent, which the Company deems necessary under any applicable law (including without limitation state securities or “blue sky” laws).

 

  13.

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

13.1 The Participant agrees that in the event the Company proposes to offer for sale to the public any of its equity securities and such Participant is requested by the Company and any underwriter engaged by the Company in connection with such offering to sign an agreement restricting the sale or other transfer of Shares, then it will promptly sign such agreement and will not transfer, whether in privately negotiated transactions or to the public in open market transactions or otherwise, any Shares or other securities of the Company held by the Participant during such period as is determined by the Company and the underwriters, not to exceed 180 days following the closing of the offering, plus such additional period of time as may be required to comply with FINRA rules or similar rules thereto promulgated by another regulatory authority (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”). Such agreement shall be in writing and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and such underwriter and pursuant to customary and prevailing terms and conditions. Whether or not the Participant has signed such an agreement, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares or other securities of the Company subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of the Lock-Up Period.

13.2 The Participant acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company, its stockholders nor its directors and officers, has any duty or obligation to disclose to the Participant any material information regarding the business of the Company or affecting the value of the Shares before, at the time of, or following a termination of the service of the Participant by the Company, including, without limitation, any information concerning plans for the Company to make a public offering of its securities or to be acquired by or merged with or into another firm or entity.

  14.

NO OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIP.

The Participant acknowledges that: (i) the Company is not by this Agreement obligated to continue the Participant as an employee, director or consultant of the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) the grant of the Option is a one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of options, or benefits in lieu of options; (iii) all determinations with respect to any such future grants, including, but not limited to, the times when options shall be granted, the number of shares subject to each option, the option price, and the time or times when each option shall be exercisable, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (iv) the value of the Option is an extraordinary item of compensation which is outside the scope of the Participant’s employment or consulting contract, if any; and (v) the Option is not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments.

 

  15.

NOTICES.

Any notices required or permitted by the terms of this Agreement shall be given by recognized courier service, facsimile, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

If to the Company:

Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

255 State Street, 9th floor

Boston, MA 02109

Attention:    Chief Executive Officer

If to the Participant at the address set forth on the Stock Option Grant Notice.

or to such other address or addresses of which notice in the same manner has previously been given. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given upon the earlier of receipt, one business day following delivery to a recognized courier service or three business days following mailing by registered or certified mail.

 

  16.

GOVERNING LAW.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. For the purpose of litigating any dispute that arises under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction in Nevada and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the state courts of Nevada or the federal courts of the United States for the District of Nevada.

  17.

BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT.

Subject to the provisions hereof, this Agreement shall be for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

  18.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof (with the exception of acceleration of vesting provisions contained in any other agreement with the Company). No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement not expressly set forth in this Agreement shall affect or be used to interpret, change or restrict the express terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

  19.

MODIFICATIONS AND AMENDMENTS.

The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended by the Administrator; provided, however, the Administrator not take any action that is considered a direct or indirect “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Shares are listed, including any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles. Any modification or amendment of this Agreement shall not, without the consent of the Participant, adversely affect the Participant’s rights under this Agreement. .

 

  20.

WAIVERS AND CONSENTS.

The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.

 

  21.

DATA PRIVACY.

By entering into this Agreement, the Participant understands and acknowledges the processing of personal data as described in Annex A to this Agreement.

Annex A

DATA PRIVACY

[The Company and the Participant’s employer process certain personal information regarding the Participant for the purpose of managing and administering the Company’s 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) and other outstanding stock options that conform in substance to the form of stock option agreement issued under the Plan (including this Option), including the Participant’s name, contact details, social security number and details on the grant of shares (the “Data”). The legal bases for this processing are Art. 6 (1) (1) (b) GDPR and Section 26 of the German Data Protection Law. The Company will share Data with Affiliates and agents of the Company as necessary for the purpose of administration of the Participant’s participation in the Plan. This data processing is justified under Art. 6 (1) (1) (b) and (f) GDPR. It is in the Company’s as well as in the Participant’s interest to ensure participation in the stock program in conformance with contractual requirements and applicable laws.

Further, the Company and the Affiliates may transfer Data, in electronic or other form, to any third party assisting the Company in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. These recipients include contractors processing data on behalf and according to the instructions of the Company (e.g., Solium Shareworks). The data transfer to these contractors is justified under Art. 28 GDPR in conjunction with the respective data processing agreement. Some recipients process the data in their sole responsibility as data controller and will provide their own data protection notices to the Participant. The legal bases for these transfers are Art. 6 (1) (b) and (f) GDPR. The Company has a legitimate interest to engage others to fulfill their contractual obligations to ensure proper conduct of the Plan. The recipients of Data may be located in the United States [or elsewhere]. The Company and its Affiliates will provide appropriate safeguards to ensure an adequate level of data protection at the recipient by, for example, concluding standard contractual clauses provided by the EU Commission.

The Data will be retained as long as necessary for the respective purpose and deleted afterwards. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

The Participant may, depending on the circumstances of the specific case, obtain confirmation as to whether Data concerning the Participant is processed, request access to the Data and receive the Data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format; request rectification and erasure of Data or restriction of the processing under the legal requirements; and lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. The Participant has the right to object to the Data processing where the Company processes Data for the purpose of pursuing its legitimate interests and there are reasons arising from Participant’s particular situation.]

Annex A

Exhibit A

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTION

[Form for Shares registered in the United States]

To:    Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This form of Notice of Exercise may only be used at such time as the Company has filed a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which the issuance of the Shares for which this exercise is being made is registered and such Registration Statement remains effective.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I hereby exercise my Stock Option to purchase _________ shares (the “Shares”) of the common stock, $0.001 par value, of Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), at the exercise price of $________ per share, pursuant to and subject to the terms of that Stock Option Grant Notice dated August 1, 2021.

I understand the nature of the investment I am making and the financial risks thereof. I am aware that it is my responsibility to have consulted with competent tax and legal advisors about the relevant national, state and local income tax and securities laws affecting the exercise of the Option and the purchase and subsequent sale of the Shares.

I am paying the option exercise price for the Shares as follows:

 

                                                                                  

Please issue the Shares (check one):

☐ to me; or

☐ to me and ____________________________, as joint tenants with right of survivorship,

at the following address:

 

                                                                      

                                                                      

                                                                      

Exhibit A-1

My mailing address for stockholder communications, if different from the address listed above, is:

 

                                                                      

                                                                      

                                                                      

 

Very truly yours,

 

        Participant (signature)

 

        Print Name

 

        Date

Exhibit A-2

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan and Inducement Stock Option Award for Tim Demuth of our report dated March 31, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

August 5, 2021