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x
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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o
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Delaware
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20-8099512
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(State of incorporation)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section (12(b) of the Exchange Act:
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Title of Each Class
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Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
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Common Stock, $0.0001 Par Value per share
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The Nasdaq Capital Market
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Securities registered pursuant to Section (12(g) of the Exchange Act: None
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Large accelerated filer
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o
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Accelerated filer
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o
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Non-accelerated filer
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x
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Smaller reporting company
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x
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Emerging growth company
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o
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Page
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PART III
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Item 10
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Item 11
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Item 12
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Item 13
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Item 14
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PART IV
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Item 15
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Name
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Age
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Position(s) with the Company
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Term Expires
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Jane Wasman
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62
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Chairman of the Board
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2020
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Angelos Stergiou
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43
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Director and CEO
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2019
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Stephen F. Ghiglieri
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59
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Director
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2019
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David A. Scheinberg, M.D., Ph.D.
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63
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Director
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2021
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Robert L. Van Nostrand
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62
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Director
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2020
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John Varian
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59
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Director
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2020
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Name
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Age
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Position(s) with the Company
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Angelos M. Stergiou, M.D., Sc. D. h.c.
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43
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
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Nicholas J. Sarlis, M.D., Ph.D., FACP
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54
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Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
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Barbara A. Wood
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57
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Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
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•
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appointing our independent registered public accounting firm;
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•
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evaluating the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent registered public accountants;
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•
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reviewing and approving the audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accountants;
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•
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reviewing the design, implementation, adequacy and effectiveness of our internal accounting controls and our critical accounting policies;
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•
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conferring with management and the independent registered public accountants regarding the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting;
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•
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discussing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of our annual audit and the review of our quarterly unaudited financial statements;
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•
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reviewing, overseeing and monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial statements or accounting matters;
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•
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reviewing and approving transactions between the Company and any related persons; and
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•
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reviewing and evaluating, at least annually, the performance of the audit committee and its members including compliance of the audit committee with its charter.
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•
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establishing corporate performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers, directors and other senior management and evaluating performance in light of these stated goals and objectives;
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•
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reviewing and recommending to the Board for approval of the compensation and other terms of employment or service, including severance and change-in-control arrangements, of our executive officers and directors; and
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•
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administering our equity compensation plans, pension and profit-sharing plans, deferred compensation plans and other similar plans and programs.
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Name
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Year (1)
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Salary
($)
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Bonus
($)
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Option awards
($) (2)
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All other compensation ($)
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Total
($)
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|||||
Angelos M. Stergiou, M.D., Sc. D. h.c.
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2018
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548,959
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141,304
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(3)
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343,566
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206,478
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(4)
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1,240,307
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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2017
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400,000
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186,667
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(5)
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—
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142,044
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(6)
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728,711
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Nicholas J. Sarlis, M.D., Ph.D., FACP
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2018
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373,742
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106,400
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(3)
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253,154
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50,008
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(7)
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783,304
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Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
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2017
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438,889
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161,000
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(5)
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—
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17,003
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(7)
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616,892
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Barbara A. Wood
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2018
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294,223
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133,149
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(9)
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185,788
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17,524
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(7)
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630,684
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Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary (8)
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2017
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—
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—
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—
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—
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—
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(1)
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The amounts reflected in this column for 2017 reflects
payments made to the individuals during their respective tenure at Private Seller prior to the Merger.
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(2)
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The amounts reflected in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. To determine the value of stock option awards, we use a Black Scholes pricing model to value stock options at the time of their grant. This model requires us to estimate the future value of our stock price based in part on the historic price volatility of our stock. See Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements in the Original Filing, “Consolidated Financial Statements - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Stock-Based Compensation,” for details as to the assumptions used to determine the fair value of equity awards.
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(3)
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Represents a discretionary bonus accrued at year end 2018 and paid in February 2019.
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(4)
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Comprised of $158,134 related to a monthly housing allowance, and $48,344 related to Company benefits paid on behalf of Dr. Stergiou including: medical, dental, vision, short-term/long-term liability insurances, basic life insurance and personal accident insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and employer liability insurance.
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(5)
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Represents a discretionary bonus for 2017 accrued at year end 2017 and paid in March 2018.
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(6)
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Comprised of $22,044 related to payment of social, medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums required under Bermuda law and $120,000 related to a housing allowance.
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(7)
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Represents the following Company benefits paid on behalf of the employee: medical, dental, vision, short-term/long-term liability insurances, education, basic life insurance, personal accident insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and employer liability insurance.
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(8)
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Ms. Wood’s employment with the Company commenced on March 14, 2018.
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(9)
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Represents Ms. Wood’s sign-on bonus of $16,845 and a discretionary bonus of $116,304 which was accrued at year end and paid in February 2019.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2018
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Name
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Grant Date
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Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable
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Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable (1)
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Option
Exercise
Price
($) (1)
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Option
Expiration
Date
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Angelos M. Stergiou, M.D., Sc. D. h.c.
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3/13/2018
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—
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95,000
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(2)
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$
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5.24
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3/13/2028
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Nicholas J. Sarlis, M.D., Ph.D., FACP
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3/13/2018
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—
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70,000
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(3)
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$
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5.24
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3/13/2028
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Barbara A. Wood
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3/14/2018
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—
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50,000
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(4)
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$
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5.10
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3/14/2018
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(1)
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The exercise price was determined by using the market price for our common stock at the close of business on the grant date.
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(2)
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These stock options vest at a rate of one quarter (23,750 shares) after one year from grant and with the remainder over 36 equal monthly installments (1979.16667 shares).
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(3)
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These stock options vest at a rate of one quarter (17,500 shares) after one year from grant and with the remainder over 36 equal monthly installments (1,458.33 shares).
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(4)
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These stock options vest at a rate of one quarter (12,500 shares) after one year from grant and with the remainder over 36 equal monthly installments (1,041.66667 shares).
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Name (1)
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Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)
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Option Awards
($) (2)
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Total
($)
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Robert L. Van Nostrand
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61,375
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(3)
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61,250
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122,625
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Jane Wasman
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77,500
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(4)
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61,250
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138,750
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Stephen F. Ghiglieri
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52,500
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(5)
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61,250
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113,750
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John Varian
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62,750
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(6)
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61,250
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124,000
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David A. Scheinberg
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95,625
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(7)
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61,250
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156,875
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Fabio Lopez
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30,000
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(8)
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40,340
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70,340
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(1)
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Dr. Angelos M. Stergiou, our Chief Executive Officer, is also a member of our Board, but does not receive any additional compensation for his service as a director.
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(2)
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All of the options awards remained outstanding as of December 31, 2018. The amounts shown reflect the grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC 718, adjusted to disregard the effects of any estimate of forfeitures related to service-based vesting. Each director, except for Fabio Lopez who resigned as a director in July 2018, received 5,500 stock options on June 12, 2018. The assumptions we used in valuing options are described more fully in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in the footnotes to our financial statements incorporated in the Original Filing.
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(3)
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Of such amount, $15,343.75 was accrued at year end and paid in January 2019.
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(4)
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Of such amount, $19,375 was accrued at year end and paid in January 2019.
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(5)
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Of such amount, $13,125 was accrued at year end and paid in January 2019.
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(6)
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Of such amount, $15,687.50 was accrued at year end and paid in January 2019.
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(7)
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Of such amount, $60,000 related to fees paid for Scientific Advisory Board membership accrued at year end 2017 and paid in 2018, and $11,875 related to board fees which were accrued at year end and paid in January 2019.
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(8)
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Mr. Lopez resigned from the board in July 2018.
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Compensation Category
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Amount
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Annual Base Compensation
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$
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40,000
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Additional Non-Executive Chair Compensation
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$
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30,000
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*
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Additional Committee Chair Compensation:
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Audit
|
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$
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15,000
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|
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Compensation
|
|
$
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10,000
|
|
|
Nominations and Governance
|
|
$
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7,500
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|
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Research and Development
|
|
$
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7,500
|
|
|
Additional Committee Membership Compensation:
|
|
|
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Audit
|
|
$
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7,500
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
|
Nominations and Governance
|
|
$
|
3,875
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Research and Development
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$
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3,875
|
|
|
•
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each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
|
•
|
each of our directors and each nominee for director;
|
•
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each of our named executive officers; and
|
•
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all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
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Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percentage of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
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Named Executive Officers and Directors:
|
|
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|
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Angelos M. Stergiou,
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
456,545
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|
(1)
|
|
1.89
|
%
|
Nicholas J. Sarlis,
Executive Vice President and
Chief Medical Officer
|
|
21,875
|
|
(2)
|
|
*
|
|
Barbara A. Wood,
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
|
|
15,625
|
|
(3)
|
|
*
|
|
Jane Wasman,
Chair of the Board
|
|
10,083
|
|
(4)
|
|
*
|
|
Stephen Ghighlieri,
Director
|
|
10,083
|
|
(4)
|
|
*
|
|
David L. Scheinberg,
Director
|
|
10,083
|
|
(4)
|
|
*
|
|
Robert Van Nostrand,
Director
|
|
10,083
|
|
(4)
|
|
*
|
|
John Varian,
Director
|
|
10,083
|
|
(4)
|
|
*
|
|
All current executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons)
|
|
544,460
|
|
|
|
2.25
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
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Name and Address of 5% Beneficial Owners:
|
|
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|
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|
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Renaissance Technologies LLC
800 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
|
|
1,222,588
|
|
(5)
|
|
5.06
|
%
|
(1)
|
Includes (i) 25,729 shares issuable upon the exercise of vested options granted to Mr. Stergiou on March 13, 2018 exercisable at $5.24 per share (“Stergiou March Option Grant”); and (ii) 3,958 shares issuable upon the exercise of the Stergiou March Option Grant which will vest within the next 60 days.
|
(2)
|
Represents (i) 18,958 shares issuable upon the exercise of vested options granted to Mr. Sarlis on March 13, 2018 exercisable at $5.24 per share (the “Sarlis March Option Grant”) and (ii) 2,917 shares issuable upon the exercise of the Sarlis March Option Grant which will vest within the next 60 days.
|
(3)
|
Represents (i) 13,542 shares issuable upon the exercise of vested options granted to Ms. Wood on March 13, 2018 exercisable at $5.24 per share (the “Wood March Option Grant”) and (ii) 2,083 shares issuable upon the exercise of the Wood March Option Grant which will vest within the next 60 days.
|
(4)
|
Represents (i) 3,965 shares issuable upon the exercise of vested options granted to the holder on March 13, 2018 exercisable at $5.24 per share (the “March Director Option Grant”) and (ii) 6,110 shares issuable upon the exercise of the holder’s March Director Option Grant which will vest within the next 60 days.
|
(5)
|
Based solely on the information as of December 31, 2018, contained in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by Renaissance Technologies LLC on February 12, 2019.
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
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|
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Plan Category
|
|
Number of
Securities to be
Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants, and
Rights
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
of Outstanding
Options,
Warrants, and
Rights
|
|
Number of
Securities
Remaining
Available for
Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation
Plans
(Excluding
Securities
Reflected in
Column (a))
|
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Equity compensation plans approved by our security holders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
2017 Equity Incentive Plan
|
|
384,150
|
|
|
$
|
5.24
|
|
|
421,149
|
|
Amended and Restated 2016 Incentive Plan
|
|
10,171
|
|
|
$
|
1,240.55
|
|
|
—
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by our security holders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Outstanding warrants
(1)
|
|
319,497
|
|
|
$
|
10.03
|
|
|
—
|
|
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
115,131
|
|
|
Restricted stock units
|
|
12,759
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Total
|
|
726,577
|
|
|
$
|
24.99
|
|
|
536,280
|
|
(1)
|
The warrants shown were issued in discrete transactions from time to time as compensation for services rendered by consultants, advisers or other third parties, and do not include warrants sold in private placement or public offering transactions. The material terms of such warrants were determined based upon arm’s-length negotiations with the services providers. The warrant exercise prices approximated the market price of our common stock at or about the date of grant, and the warrant terms range from three to ten years from the grant date.
|
|
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
||||
|
|
(in thousands)
|
||||||
Audit Fees
(1)
|
|
$
|
345
|
|
|
$
|
511
|
|
Audit-related Fees
(2)
|
|
117
|
|
|
162
|
|
||
Tax Fees
(3)
|
|
44
|
|
|
19
|
|
||
All Other Fees
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
||
Total Fees
|
|
$
|
506
|
|
|
$
|
692
|
|
(1)
|
For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the aggregate audit fees billed for professional services rendered for audits and quarterly reviews of our consolidated financial statements.
|
(2)
|
For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, audit-related fees billed by Moss Adams pertained to services rendered in connection with procedures required for filings with the SEC in conjunction with financing transactions and the merger.
|
(3)
|
Tax fees consist of fees for tax consultation and compliance services.
|
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
10.46
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
|
31.2
|
|
|
SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.
|
||
|
|
|
|
Date: April 30, 2019
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Angelos M. Stergiou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Angelos M. Stergiou, MD, ScD h.c.
|
|
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
A.
|
Transition Employment Period.
|
1.
|
You agree to resign as CMO (and resign from all officer and director positions at the Company and its subsidiaries) and become a consultant to the Company as provided for below
,
effective May 15
,
2019 or such earlier date, agreed to by you and the Company and on which a successor Chief Medical Officer fully takes over your responsibilities. The period between the date hereof and May
15
,
2019 or any such agreed upon earlier date, shall be
referred
to herein as the "Transition Employment Period.
"
During the Transition Employment Period you will continue as an employee and you agree to (i) continue to fulfill your professional responsibilities and obligations and remain an employee in good standing while undertaking to transition such responsibilities and obligations to one or more individuals designated by the Company
'
s Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO
"
)
in
his sole discretion
,
and (ii) perform such duties and responsibilities, and assume such titles
,
as are determined by the CEO (but you shall not be subject to any greater duties, titles or responsibilities than you currently have).
|
2.
|
During the Transition Employment Period you shall (A) continue to receive your current annual base salary at the rate of $380,000 (the "Base Salary")
,
payable in accordance with the Company
'
s normal payroll practices
,
(B) receive a
lump-sum
payment consisting of y
o
ur incentive bonus for 2018
,
payable on or before February 15
,
2019, in an amount determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
'
'Board
"
) based upon the Company
'
s achievement of the approved corporate goals for 2018 and your target percentage (40%), and (C) continue to participate in the Company's benefit plans and programs
,
so lon
g
as
y
ou remain eligible to continue
such participation.
|
3.
|
Upon termination of the Transition Employment Period, your employment by the Company shall terminate (the
"
Separation Date"). So long as you have not resigned prior to the Separation Date, or during the Transition Employment Period engaged in
"
Disqualifying Conduct" (as defined below)
,
and you execute and return within twenty-one (21) days of the Separation Date, and do not revoke a copy of the Supplemental General Release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A
,
the Company will provide you with the following payments:
|
1.
|
a lump sum payment
,
payable on or before December 31
,
2019, consisting of your pro-rata incentive bonus for 2019, in an amount determined by the Board based upon the Company
'
s
|
11.
|
payment of the monthly cost as of the Separation Date for medical coverage for you and your family (spouse and other dependents) for the period between your Separation Date and December 31
,
2019. This payment shal1 be subject to the conditions
s
et forth in Paragraph D.12
(
the
"
COBRA Payment")
.
|
4.
|
Your group health, vision and dental co
v
erage will continue through the last date of the month in which your Separation Date occurs
.
You will be given separate information regarding your right to continue your group health/dental/vision coverage
,
as required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
("
COBRA
"
). All COBRA rights are subject to your completion and submission of the proper forms in the times allotted.
|
5.
|
During the Transition Employment Period you shall not be eligible for any equity awards or any other remuneration
,
awards, payments or benefits in addition to what is specified in this Letter Agreement
,
with the exception of the Retention Agreement dated August 2, 2017 (the "Retention Agreement") between you and SELLAS Life Sciences Group Ltd.
,
a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
,
which remains in effect in accordance with its terms.
|
6.
|
For purposes of this Letter Agreement
, '
'Disqualifying Conduct
"
shall mean (i
)
you failed to attempt in good faith
,
refused or willfully neglected to perform and discharge your material duties and responsibilities, (ii) you have been convicted of
,
or pled
nolo contendere
to, a felony or other crime involving fr
a
ud or moral turpitude
,
(iii) you breached your :fiduciary duty of loyalty to the Company
,
or acted fraudulently or with material dishonesty in discharging your duties to
the
Company,
|
(i)
|
you
undertook
an intentional act or omission of misconduct
that materially
harmed or
was reasonably
likely to materially harm the business,
interests
,
or reputation of the Company, (v) you materially breached any material provis
io
n of this Letter Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, or (vi) you have
materially
breached
any material
provision of any Company code of conduct or ethics policy. With respect to any alleged breach of
the
foregoing sub
-
clauses (i),
|
7.
|
If
you
die during the Transition Employment Period, the Company will provide
the
payments and benefits set forth in Sections A4 (other than the COBRA
Payment)
,
to your spouse
,
or if your spouse pre-deceases you, your estate, provided that your
spouse
or your estate (as applicable) executes and returns
within
twenty
-
eight
(28)
days of the date of your death, and does not revoke
a
copy of the Supplemental General Release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
|
B.
|
The Consulting Period.
|
1.
|
Upon
the Separation Date, and subject to compliance with the terms of
th
is
Letter Agreement and
the
absence of Disqualifying
Conduct,
following the Separation Date through December 31
,
2019
(the "Consultancy
Period") the Company
shall engage
you, and you agree to make your services
|
C.
|
Tax and Reporting Matters.
|
1.
|
All payments under this Letter Agreement
will
be subject to all deductions required by law, including applicable
taxes
and
withholdings.
|
D.
|
Release
and
Ongoing Obligations.
|
1.
|
You, for yourself and for your heirs, executors, administrators,
successors
and assigns
(referred
to collectively as
"
Releasor"
),
forever
relea
se
and discharge
the
Company and any and all of the Company's past and present affiliates, parent entities, subsidiaries, divisions, offices, branches, assets, employee benefit plans
,
funds, investment funds, successors and assigns, and any and all
of
its and their past and present officers,
director
s,
partners
,
members, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees
,
agents, trustees, fiduciaries, representatives, administrators, successors and assigns
(whether
acting in such capacity or otherwise)
(referred
to collectively as the
"Releasees"),
from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, fees and liabilities of any kind whatsoever
,
whether known or unknown, which Releasor
ever
had,
now has or may have against Releasees or any of them by
reason of
any actual or
alleged act,
omission,
transaction, practice,
conduct, occurrence or other matter from the beginning of the world up to and including
the
date you sign
this
Letter Agreement (other
than
claims you may
have based
upon your rights under this Letter Agreement).
|
2.
|
Without limiting
the
generality of the foregoing general release, by signing this Letter Agreement you agree
that
Releasor is releasing Releasees from any and all claims arising out of your
employment
with
the
Company, the terms and conditions of such employment and/or the termination of such employment, including but not limited to: (i) any claim under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
("ERISA"),
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Civil Rights Act of
1866
,
the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act,
the
Family and Medical Leave Act,
the
National Labor Relations Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act,
the
New York State Human Rights Law, the New York
City
Human Rights Law, the New York Labor Law, the New York Minimum Wage Act, the statutory provisions regarding retaliation/discrimination under the New York Worker's Compensation Law, the New York City Earned Sick Time Act, Florida
Civil
Rights Act of 1992 f7k/a Human Rights Act of 1977
,
Fla. Stat.
§
760.01
et seq.;
the Florida
Equal
Pay Law, Fla. Stat.
§
448
.07,
Fla. Stat.
§
725.07, Florida AIDS Act, Fla. Stat. § 760.50, Florida Law Sickle-Cell Trait Discrimination Law
,
Fla. Stat.
§§
448.075, 448.076, Florida Private Whistleblower Protection Law
,
Fla. Stat.
§
448.101
et seq.,
the Florida Public Whistle-Blower's Act, Fla. Stat. § 112.3187
et seq.;
Florida Workers' Compensation Retaliation Law, Fla. Stat.
§
440.205, Florida Unpaid Wages Law, Fla. Stat.§ 448.08, Florida Minimum Wage Act, Fla. Stat.§§ 448.109, 448.110
,
Article X Section 24 of the Florida Constitution, Florida Leave to Victims of Domestic Violence Act, Fla. Stat.
§
741.313
,
and waivable rights under the Florida
Const
itution,
the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the New Jersey
Family
Leave Act, the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the
New
Jersey Wage Payment Law, the
New
Jersey Wage and Hour Law, the New Jersey Equal Pay Law, the New Jersey Smoker's Rights Act, the New Jersey Lie Detector Test Law, the New Jersey Jury Duty Employee Protection Law, the New Jersey Worker Freedom From Intimidation Act, the
New
Jersey Political Activities of Employees Law,
the
New Jersey Fair Credit Reporting Act,
the re
taliat
ion
provisions of the New Jersey Workers' Compensation Law
,
the New Jersey Security and Financial
Empowerment
Act, the New Jersey Social Media Privacy law, the New Jersey Opportunity
to
Compete Act, all New Jersey Municipal Sick Leave Laws
,
any claims for violation of the New Jersey State Constitution, and any
other
applicable federal, state or local statute (all as amended); (ii) any claims for
v
iolation of any statutory or administrative rules, regulations or
|
3.
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing general
release
,
nothing
in this Letter Agreement will affect or constitute a waiver of: (i) claims
arising
after the date you sign
it;
(ii) claims
that
cannot
be
waived by law; (iii)
any
right to make any disclosure to or cooperate with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC")
pursuant
to
Section 21F(b) of the Securities and
Exchange
Act or to receive a reward
from
the
SEC in connection therewith; (iv) claims for
accrued,
vested benefits under any employee pension plan of the
Company
in
accordance
with the
te
rms
of the official plan documents and applicable law;
(v)
claims for reimbursement through the Company
'
s
Flexible
Spending Account Program;
(vi)
claims for benefits under the Company
'
s group medical
,
vision and dental
and
disability plans in accordance with the terms of such plans and applicable
law;
(vii)
your
rights with respect to matters arising under
this
Letter Agreement, including
without
limitation matters arising after the Effective Date in connection with the
Stock Grants;
(viii)
your rights
to indemnification or coverage arising under the
Company's
foundation documents
or
bylaws
,
any applicable Directors and Officer policy and
app
licabl
e
laws;
or (ix) your
rights as a shareholder in connection
with
any matter
arising
after the Effective Date under any equity interest
(t
he
'
'Excluded
Claims").
|
4.
|
You
acknowledge that you may hereafter discover claims or facts in addition to or different from those which
you
now know or believe
to exist
with respect to the
subject
matter of this Letter Agreement and
wh
ich
,
if known or
suspected
at the
time
you execute this Letter Agreement, may have materially affected this Letter
Agreement
and your decision to enter into
it. Nevertheless,
you hereby waive any right, claim or cause
of action that
might arise
as
a result of such different or
additional
claims or facts.
|
5.
|
You represent and warrant that
you
have maintained in the
strictest
confidence all information relating to the Company
and/or
the Releasees and
their
respective business that
is
not generally known by persons not employed by the Company and that could not easily be determined or learned by someone outside of the
Company.
All of the foregoing shall be deemed
"Confidential
Information.
"
You
agree
that you will maintain in the strictest confidence
all Confident
ial
Information, except as
set forth
below.
In
addition, you hereby acknowledge and re-affirm all your
obligations
under the Employee
Confidential
Information
&
Invention Assignment Agreement dated March 29
,
2018 between you
and
the
Company (the "Covenant Agreement"),
including your post termination obligations,
which
are expressly incorporated herein and
which shall
continue in full
force
and effect. You
acknowledge
and agree that the payments
and
benefits provided under this Letter Agreement represent
additional consideration
for
your
obligations
und
er
the
Covenant
Agreement.
|
6.
|
You represent
and
warrant
that you
fully
and completely
disclosed
any alleged facts of which you
are
aware that constitu
t
e
or might constitute
a violation
of the
Company
'
s
policies
,
including
the Code of Conduct,
and/or any
of
the
securities
laws, rules or regulations of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof
|
7.
|
You agree and acknow
l
edge that the CEO's and
/
or the Company's exercise of discretion pursuant to any of the terms of this Letter Agreement shall not give rise to any claim of any nature.
|
8.
|
You agree that you
have not
and in the future will not disclose to any other person or entity (directly or indirectly), Confidential Information (as defined in Paragraph D.5), except (a) as may be required pursuant to a valid subpoena, a request by a government agency (including but not limited to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC") or the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with any charge filed
,
investigation or proceeding or as otherwise
|
9.
|
You will cooperate full
y
with the Company, and provide assistance to the Company
,
in connection with (a
)
the orderl
y
transition of all of your responsibilitie
s
and matters, (b) any pending or future litigation
,
administrative proceeding
,
or inve
s
tigatory matter
,
and (c) any other matters for which you were responsible or
w
ith
respect to which your knowledge may be of as
s
istance to the Company. You further agree that
,
in the event you are subpoenaed by any person or entity (including, but not limited to
,
any government agency) to give testimony (in a deposition, court proceeding or otherwise) which in any way relates to your employment with the Company
,
unless prohibited from doing so by an order of a court or a government agency
,
you will give prompt written
notice
of such request to the Company
'
s Head of Human Resources
,
at the address above to allow the Company a reasonable opportunity to fir
s
t contest the right of
the requesting
person or entity to such disclosure. You agree to provide such cooperation and assistance as requested by the Company
,
subject to the rea
s
onable efforts of the Company to accommoda
t
e any new employment obligations you may have
,
and the Company
s
hall reimburse you for your rea
s
onable ou
t
-
of-pocke
t
e
x
penses
in
connection therewith
.
For the avoidance of doubt
,
nothing in this Paragraph or elsewhere
in
t
he Agr
e
ement is intended in any way to prevent you from testifying fully and truthfully in an
y
action or proc
e
eding or in connection with any regulatory matter.
|
10.
|
You agree that you have not and will not make any disparaging
,
critical or otherwise detrimental
s
tatements (orally or in
w
riting) to any person or entity concerning the
Company, its officers, directors, managing members
,
investors, employees, attorneys, representatives, affiliates
,
customers, clients, its and their business affairs or financial condition, the circumstances surrounding your employment and separation from the Company. For purposes of this Letter Agreement, the term "disparage" shall mean any oral or written statement or representation which, directly or by implication
,
tends
,
in the minds of a reasonable audience, to create a negative impression about the subject of the statement or representation, and includes, without limitation, comments or statements to the press and/or media
,
including, but not limited to, print journalists, press interviews or statements, newspapers
,
radio
,
television, cable
,
satellite programs
,
or Internet media (including blogs, web pages
,
web posts, email
,
and or "chat programs")
,
or to the Company, its officers, directors
,
employees
,
affiliates, customers, clients, or any person or entity with which the Company has a business relationship which would:
|
11.
|
Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to prohibit you from reporting possible violations of federal or state law or regulations to any governmental agency or self regulatory organization, or making other disclosures that are protected under whistleblower or other provisions of any applicable federal or state law or regulations. Nothing contained in this Letter Agreement shall prohibit you from filing a charge with
,
or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by, the EEOC
,
or
|
12.
|
You agree that on the Separation Date, you will immediately return to the undersigned all property of the Company and/or any of the other Releasees that you have, including but not limited to records and materials, business and client information and files
,
cardkey access to Company offices
,
remote access card, desktop and laptop computer, cell phone, smartphone or other electronic device
,
keys
,
and corporate credit cards. You agree that on the Separation Date, you will have no electronic versions of the Company's documents and other materials in your possession. Notwithstanding the foregoing
,
you may retain a copy of your contacts database and copies of personal documents, including documents related to your employment terms, compensation, employee benefits, business expenses, federal, state and
local
taxes, diaries and calendars
.
|
13.
|
You acknowledge and agree
that
you are entitled
to
the reimbursement of COBRA premiums provided for under Paragraph A.3 only if you (i) timely elect and receive COBRA continuation coverage following
the last day
of the calendar month in which your Separation Date occurs, and (ii)
do
not become eligible
to
receive group health plan
coverage
under another employee
benefit
plan before December
1
,
2019; if either of these conditions are not met, you agree that the Company, may at its discretion, (i) cease making any further payment to you for reimbursement of COBRA premiums
,
and (ii) off-set against amounts otherwise due you
the
amounts of any COBRA reimbursements paid to you after you became eligible for coverage under another employer
'
s plan (the "Alternative Coverage Date") (the ''Excess COBRA Payment
"
)
,
and you agree to promptly repay
to
the Company upon demand the Excess COBRA Payment.
|
14.
|
You acknowledge that apart from the
payments and
benefits that will be provided to you as set forth in this Letter Agreement, you have received all compensation, wages
,
bonuses
,
severance or termination pay
,
stock options
,
restricted stock
units
,
equity grants, commissions
,
notice period, leave and/or benefits to which you may have been entitled to under any law, policy or
plan
of or sponsored by the Company
,
or pursuant to any prior agreement with the Company and
that
no other payments or benefits are due or owing to you except as set forth in this Letter Agreement
,
including any severance payment or benefits under the
E
mployment Agreement, dated September
19
,
2016 ("Employment Agreement
"
) between you and the Company. You further affirm that you ha
v
e had no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases.
|
E.
|
Mutual Understandings.
The parties mutually agree to the following provisions:
|
1.
|
Nothing herein shall limit the Company
'
s ability to make any disclosures required by the securities laws or the rules and regulations of the SEC or of any stock exchange on which
the
Company
'
s shares are listed, including
the
filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K to disclose
the
fact of your resignation and the financial arrangements memorialized hereby, the
inclusion
of information regarding compensation paid to you as required in any filing with the SEC made by the Company and the
filing
of this Agreement as an exhibit to the Company
'
s periodic reports filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act.
|
2.
|
Nothing herein is intended to or
s
hall be deemed to constitute an admission that the Company or any of the other Releasees have violated any federal
,
state or local
law
(statutory or decisional)
,
ordinance or regulation, breached any contract, or committed any wrongdoing whatsoever against you or otherwise. Neither this Letter Agreement nor any of
its
terms may be used as an admission or introduced as evidence as to any issue of
law
or fact in any proceeding
,
suit or action, other than an action to enforce this Letter Agreement. Moreover, by signing this Letter Agreement you
|
3.
|
In the event that any provision of this Letter Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceabi
l
ity of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Moreover, if any provision contained in this Letter Agreement is held to be excessively broad as to duration, scope, activity or subject, that provision will be construed by limiting and reducing it so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with applicable law.
|
4.
|
This Letter Agreement, and any attachments and exhibits hereto, together with the Covenant Agreement referenced in Paragraph D.5 above
,
constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations
,
representations or agreements relating thereto, whether written or oral. You represent that in executing this Letter Agreement
,
you have not relied on any representation or statement not set forth herein. No amendment, modification or waiver of this Letter Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the parties unless in writing and signed by both parties.
|
5.
|
This Letter Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except as may be preempted by federal law. This Letter Agreement is binding upon
,
and shall inure to the benefit of
,
the parties and their respective heirs
,
executors
,
administrators
,
successors and assigns.
|
6.
|
Payments under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from, or otherwise comply with
,
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code as amended (
"
Section 409A
")
. You agree to fully indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Releasees from payment of taxes, interest or penalties that may be required by any governmental agency at any time as a result of the payments set forth herein, except that the Company shall make all required payroll tax payments as required by applicable law in connection with base salary or any other covered compensation paid to you through the Separation Date. Set forth in Exhibit B are additional provisions relating to Section 409A and applicable to this Agreemen
t.
|
7.
|
During the Transition
E
mployment Period and the Consultancy Period
,
you agree to abide by the Company's Insider Trading Policy. Thereafter
,
you shall not be subject to the blackout periods in the Company's Insider Trading Policy and
,
in accordance with the terms of the applicable grant agreements and stock incentive plans
,
you will be permitted to exercise any vested Stock Grants and dispose of any underlying shares in the Company
,
subject to any laws governing insider trading and the expiration of any exercise period.
|
8.
|
Your Employment Agreement is superseded by this Letter Agreement and the terms of the Employment Agreement have no further force or effect.
|
F.
|
Obligations Unrelated to This Letter Agreement.
|
1.
|
You will be paid for all accrued vacation days that remain unused as of the Separation Date, with such payment occurring within ten (10) days of the Separation Date.
|
2.
|
If covered, your group health/dental/vision coverage will continue through the last date of the month in which your Separation Date occurs. You will begiven separate information regarding your right to continue your group health/dental/vision coverage, as required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA
"
). All COBRA rights
|
3.
|
You may be eligible to convert your Company
-
provided life insurance policy to an individual policy. Information about conversion of
life
insurance benefits will be sent to you separately.
|
G.
|
Consideration Period.
|
1.
|
The obligations as set out in
t
his Letter Agreement represent a complete wai
v
er and release of all rights and claims that you have or may have against the Releasees
,
as pro
v
ided in Paragraph D.l above. Accordingly
,
you should review it carefully before signing it.
|
2.
|
You are advised to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Letter Agreement.
|
3.
|
To accept this Letter Agreement
,
y
o
u must sign, have notarized
,
and deliver the Letter Agreement to
Nancy Ecklund
,
at the address abo
ve
.
|
4.
|
By signing this Letter Agreement
,
you acknowledge that you have carefully read this Letter Agreement in it
s
entirety
,
you fully under
s
tand the significance of all the terms and conditions of this Letter Agreement and have had a reasonable opportunity to discus
s
them with an attorney of your choice
,
and you are signing this Letter Agreement
v
oluntarily and of your own free will and agreeing to all the terms and conditions contained herein.
|
5.
|
Thi
s
Letter Agreement will become effective after you sign this Letter Agreement (the "Effective Date
")
.
|
|
/s/ Angelos M. Stergiou
|
|
|
|
Angelos M. Stergiou, MD, ScD h.c.
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
/s/ Nicholas J. Sarlis
|
|
|
|
Nicholas J. Sarlis, M.D., Ph.D., FACP
|
|
|
/s/ Angelos M. Stergiou
|
|
|
|
Angelos M. Stergiou, MD, ScD h.c.
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
|
|
/s/ Angelos M. Stergiou
|
|
|
|
Angelos M. Stergiou, MD, ScD h.c.
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
|