As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2018

Registration Statement No. 333-

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________________

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

_______________________________

SPRING BANK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

Delaware

 

 

 

52-2386345

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

35 Parkwood Drive, Suite 210

Hopkinton, MA  01748

(508) 473-5993

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

_______________________________

SPRING BANK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 8, 2018

(Full Title of the Plans)

 

Garrett Winslow

General Counsel

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

35 Parkwood Drive, Suite 210

Hopkinton, MA  01748

(508) 473-5993

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

 

_______________________________

 

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

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emerging growth company

 

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

 

 


 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

Title of Securities

To Be Registered

Amount To Be

Registered (1)

Proposed Maximum

Offering

Price Per Share

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price

Amount of

Registration Fee (3)

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share

800,000 (2)

$12.48 (3)

$9,984,000

$1,243.00

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share

50,000 (4)

$12.02 (5)

$601,000

$74.83

Total

850,000

 

$10,585,000

$1,317.83

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock that become issuable in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the Registrant’s receipt of consideration that results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of the Registrant’s common stock.

(2)

Consists of shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Registrant”) authorized and reserved for issuance for compensatory purposes only under the Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

(3)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act. The offering price per share and the aggregate offering price are based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on July 31, 2018.

(4)

Consists of shares of Common Stock of the Registrant issuable upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option granted to John Kevin Leach, an employee of the Company, on January 8, 2018.

(5)

Solely for the purposes of determining the registration fee under Rule 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act, this price is equal to the per share exercise price of the stock option granted pursuant to a non-qualified stock option agreement.

 

 

 


 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) is being filed for the purpose of registering (i) 800,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock issuable for compensatory purposes only under the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which were added to the shares authorized for issuance under the Plan June 18, 2018, and (ii) 50,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock issuable upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option granted to John Kevin Leach, the Registrant’s Vice President, Nonclinical and Translational Research, pursuant to that certain Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement between the Registrant and Dr. Leach dated January 8, 2018.

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

 

Item 1.    Plan Information.

 

 

The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered in accordance with Form S-8 and Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents, and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.  

Item 2.    Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

 

 

The written statement required by Item 2 of Part I is included in documents delivered to participants in the plan covered by this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act.

PART II

Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated herein by reference:

(a) the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, as filed on February 20, 2018;

(b) the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, filed with the Commission on April 27, 2018 and as amended by that certain Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A filed with the Commission on May 4, 2018, and the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 as filed with the Commission on August 2, 2018;

(c) the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 5, 2018, March 14, 2018, April 10, 2018 and June 19, 2018;

(d) the portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 27, 2018 that are deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act; and

(e) the description of the Registrant’s common stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on March 14, 2016 (File No. 001-37718) pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for purposes of updating such description.

All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the filing of this Registration Statement and 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 into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents, except as to specific

 

 


 

sections of such documents a s set forth therein.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in a ny subsequently filed document, which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement.

You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this registration statement or any related prospectus. The Registrant has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this registration statement or any related prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.

 

Item 4.    Description of Securities.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

None.

 

Item 6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s restated certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

The Registrant’s restated certificate of incorporation provides that the Registrant will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Registrant’s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The Registrant’s restated certificate of incorporation provides that the Registrant will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in the Registrant’s favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such

 

 


 

capacity, against all ex penses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Registrant’s best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the meri ts or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors. These indemnification agreements may require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify its directors for some expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director in any action or proceeding arising out of his or her service as one of the Registrant’s directors, or any of its subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at the Registrant’s request.

Item 7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8.    Exhibits.

 

 

 

Filed

 

 

Exhibit Number

Exhibit Description

 

Form

 

File No.

 

Filing Date

 

Herewith

4.1

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

 

8-K
(Exhibit 3.1)

 

001-37718

 

5/13/2016

 

 

4.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant

 

8-K
(Exhibit 3.2)

 

001-37718

 

5/13/2016

 

 

4.3

Specimen Stock Certificate Evidencing Shares of Common Stock

 

S-1/A (Exhibit 4.1)

 

333-208875

 

02/12/2016

 

 

5.1

Opinion of Mintz Levin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

23.2

Consent of Mintz Levin (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

24.1

Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

99.1

Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan

 

8-K

(Exhibit 10.1)

 

 

 

001-37718

 

6/19/2018

 

 

99.2

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated January 8, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

Item 9.   Undertakings .

 

1.     Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K . 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, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the 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 (i) and (ii) do not apply if 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 pur suant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

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

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

2.     Item 512(b) of Regulation S-K . 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 the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial  bona fide  offering thereof.

3.     Item 512(h) of Regulation S-K . 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 Securities and Exchange 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

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 Hopkinton, Massachusetts, on this 2nd day of August, 2018.

                                                                                              SPRING BANK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

By:

/s/ Martin Driscoll

Name:

Martin Driscoll

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Martin Driscoll and Jonathan Freve, 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 Spring Bank 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 full 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/ Martin Driscoll

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

( Principal Executive Officer )

 

 

Martin Driscoll

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jonathan Freve

 

Chief Financial Officer

( Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer )

 

 

Jonathan Freve

 

 

August 2, 2018

/s/ Radhakrishnan P. Iyer, Ph.D.

 

Chief Scientific Officer and Director

 

 

Radhakrishnan P. Iyer, Ph.D.

 

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ David Arkowitz

 

Director

 

 

David Arkowitz

 

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Christiana Bardon, M.D.

 

Director

 

 

Christiana Bardon, M.D.

 

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jonathan Bates

 

Director

 

 

Jonathan Bates

 

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Kurt M. Eichler

 

Director

 

 

Kurt M. Eichler

 

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Todd Brady, M.D., Ph.D.

 

Director

 

 

Todd Brady, M.D., Ph.D.

 

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Timothy Clackson, Ph.D.

 

Director

 

 

Timothy Clackson, Ph.D.

 

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

One Financial Center

Boston, MA  02111

617-542-6000

617-542-2241 fax

www.mintz.com

 

 

August 2, 2018

 

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

35 Parkwood Drive, Suite 210

Hopkinton, Massachusetts 01748

 

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8; 850,000 shares of Common Stock of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc., par value $0.0001 per share

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as legal counsel to Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware 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 850,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) and the Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement, dated January 8, 2018, by and between the Company and John Kevin Leach (the “Award Agreement”; collectively with the 2015 Plan, the “Plans”).  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 Certificate 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 copies, 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 Plans.

Our opinion expressed herein is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 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

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

Boston | London | Los Angeles | New York | San Diego | San Francisco | Stamford | Washington

 


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

August 2, 2018

Page 2

 

these sources of law or subsequent legal or factual developments which might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Plans, 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 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of our report dated February 20, 2018, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiary appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2017.



/s/ RSM US LLP


Boston, Massachusetts

August 2, 2018

 


 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

Option No. 30001

 

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Notice

 

 

1. Name and Address of Participant:John Kevin Leach

 

2. Date of Option Grant:January 8, 2018

 

 

3. Maximum Number of Shares for

which this Option is exercisable: 50,000

 

4. Exercise (purchase) price per share:$12.02

 

5.

Option Expiration Date:January 7, 2028

 

6.

Vesting Start Date:January 8, 2018

 

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:

 

 25% of the original number of Shares on the one-year anniversary of the Vesting Start Date and as to an additional 2.083% of the original number of Shares at the end of each successive month following the Vesting Start Date until the fourth anniversary of the Vesting Start Date

 

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

 

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.

 

SPRING BANK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

By: /s/ Jonathan Freve

     Name: Jonathan Freve

     Title: CFO

 

/s/ Kevin Leach

Participant:  John Kevin Leach

 


 

SPRING BANK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

This AGREEMENT is made as of the date of grant set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice by and between Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware 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, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”) as an inducement material to the Participant’s entering into employment as the Vice President, Nonclinical & Translational Research of the Company, effective January 8, 2018 (the “Vesting Start Date”), in accordance with the terms of an agreement with the Company dated December 14, 2017; 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 the 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 the 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 the 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.  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.

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.

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Survivor means the deceased Participant’s legal representatives and/or any perso n or persons who acquire 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

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for Cause, and this Option shall thereupon terminate.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if s ubsequent 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 P articipant 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

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Shares shall be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check; or (b) at the discretion of the Administrator, through delivery of shares of Common Stock held for at least six months (if required to avoid negative accounting treatment) having a Fair Market Value (as define d below) equal as of the date of the exercise to the aggregate cash exercise price for the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised; (c) at the discretion of the Administrator, by having the Company retain from the Shares otherwise issuab le upon exercise of the Option, a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of exercise to the aggregate exercise price for the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised; or (d) at the discretion of the Administrator , in accordance with a cashless exercise program established with a securities brokerage firm, and approved by the Administrator; or (e) at the discretion of the Administrator, by any combination of (a), (b), (c) and (d) above; or (f) at the discretion of the Administrator, by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Administrator may determine.  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 O ption 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 exercis e 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.

 

 

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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 or the acquisition of all of the outstanding voting stock of the Company in a single transaction or a series of related transactions by a single entity 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 (either (A) to the extent then exercisable or, (B) at the discretion of the Administrator, any such Options being made partially or fully exercisable for purposes of this Subclause) 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

6

 


 

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.

 

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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 s uch 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

8

 


 

and prevailing terms and conditions.  Whether or not the Participant has signed su ch 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 n either 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 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:

 

86 South Street

Hopkinton, MA 01748

Attn: President and CEO

 

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.

 

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16.

GOVERNING LAW .

 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, 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 Delaware and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the state courts of Delaware or the federal courts of the United States for the District of Delaware .

 

 

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:  (i) authorizes the Company and each Affiliate, and any agent of the Company or any Affiliate facilitating the grant of options under

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this Agreement, to disclose to the Company or any of its Affiliates such information and data as the Company or any such Affiliate shall request in order to facilitate the grant of options; and (ii) authorizes the Company and each Affiliate to store and transmit such information in electro nic form for the purposes set forth in this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit A

 

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTION

 

[Form for Shares registered in the United States]

 

To: SPRING BANK 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 Spring Bank 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 _______________, 201_.

 

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 add ress listed above, is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Participant (signature)

 

 

 

Print Name

 

 

 

Date

Exhibit A-2