EX-10.2 8 d578485dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

(As amended February 7, 2021)

1. GENERAL.

(a) Eligible Stock Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Stock Awards are Employees, Directors and Consultants.

(b) Available Stock Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Stock Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iv) Restricted Stock Awards, (v) Restricted Stock Unit Awards and (vi) Other Stock Awards.

(c) Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to secure and retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards as set forth in Section 1(a), to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate, and to provide a means by which such eligible recipients may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of Stock Awards.

2. ADMINISTRATION.

(a) Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees, as provided in Section 2(c).

(b) Powers of Board. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

(i) To determine from time to time (A) which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; (B) when and how each Stock Award shall be granted; (C) what type or combination of types of Stock Award shall be granted; (D) the provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive cash or Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award; (E) the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person; and (F) the Fair Market Value applicable to a Stock Award.

(ii) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for administration of the Plan. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan or Stock Award fully effective.

 

1


(iii) To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Stock Awards granted under it.

(iv) To accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or the time during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.

(v) To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant.

(vi) To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable, including, without limitation, by adopting amendments relating to Incentive Stock Options and certain nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and/or to bring the Plan or Stock Awards granted under the Plan into compliance therewith, subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law. However, except as provided in Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, to the extent required by applicable law, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment of the Plan that either (A) materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, (B) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Stock Awards under the Plan, (C) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan or materially reduces the price at which shares of Common Stock may be issued or purchased under the Plan, (D) materially extends the term of the Plan, or (E) expands the types of Stock Awards available for issuance under the Plan. Except as provided above, rights under any Stock Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (1) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (2) such Participant consents in writing.

(vii) To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code regarding Incentive Stock Options.

(viii) To approve forms of Stock Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards, including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable to the Participant than previously provided in the Stock Award Agreement, subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided however, that, the rights under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, and without the affected Participant’s consent, the Board may amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards if necessary to maintain the qualified status of the Stock Award as an Incentive Stock Option or to bring the Stock Award into compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

(ix) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Stock Awards.

 

2


(x) To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States (provided that Board approval shall not be necessary for immaterial modifications to the Plan or any Stock Award Agreement that are required for compliance with the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction).

(xi) To effect, at any time and from time to time, with the consent of any adversely affected Participant, (A) the reduction of the exercise price (or strike price) of any outstanding Option or SAR under the Plan, (B) the cancellation of any outstanding Option or SAR under the Plan and the grant in substitution therefore of (1) a new Option or SAR under the Plan or another equity plan of the Company covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock, (2) a Restricted Stock Award, (3) a Restricted Stock Unit Award, (4) an Other Stock Award, (5) cash and/or (6) other valuable consideration (as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion), or (C) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles; provided, however, that no such reduction or cancellation may be effected if it is determined, in the Company’s sole discretion, that such reduction or cancellation would result in any such outstanding Option becoming subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(c) Delegation to Committee. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration of the Plan is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the Committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated.

(d) Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one or more Officers of the Company the authority to do one or both of the following: (i) designate Officers and Employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be recipients of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, other Stock Awards) and the terms thereof, and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Officers and Employees; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation shall specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may not delegate authority to an Officer to determine the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 13(t) below.

(e) Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

(f) Arbitration. Any dispute or claim concerning any Stock Awards granted (or not granted) or any disputes or claims relating to or arising out of the Plan shall be fully, finally and

 

3


exclusively resolved by binding and confidential arbitration conducted pursuant to the rules of Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS) in the city or county in which the Company’s principal offices are then located. The Company shall pay all arbitration fees. In addition to any other relief, the arbitrator may award to the prevailing party recovery of its attorneys’ fees and costs. By accepting a Stock Award, Participants and the Company waive their respective rights to have any such disputes or claims tried by a judge or jury.

3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

(a) Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards beginning on the Effective Date shall not exceed 4,458,750 shares (the “Share Reserve”). For clarity, the limitation in this Section 3(a) is a limitation in the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan. Accordingly, this Section 3(a) does not limit the granting of Stock Awards except as provided in Section 7(a).

(b) Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Award are forfeited back to the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares in the Participant, then the shares which are forfeited shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. Also, any shares reacquired by the Company pursuant to Section 8(g) or as consideration for the exercise of an Option shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Furthermore, if a Stock Award or any portion thereof (i) expires or otherwise terminates without all of the shares covered by such Stock Award having been issued, or (ii) is settled in cash (i.e., the Participant receives cash rather than stock), such expiration, termination or settlement shall not reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of shares of Common Stock that may be available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3(a), any such shares shall not be subsequently issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.

(c) Incentive Stock Option Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3(c), subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall be 8,917,500 shares of Common Stock.

(d) Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise.

4. ELIGIBILITY.

(a) Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof (as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code). Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants; provided, however, Nonstatutory Stock Options and SARs may not be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants who are providing Continuous Service only to any “parent” of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405, unless the stock underlying such Stock Awards is treated as “service

 

4


recipient stock” under Section 409A of the Code because the Stock Awards are granted pursuant to a corporate transaction (such as a spin off transaction) or unless such Stock Awards comply with the distribution requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(b) Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.

(c) Consultants. A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award if, at the time of grant, either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant is not exempt under Rule 701 because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, because the Consultant is not a natural person, or because of any other provision of Rule 701, unless the Company determines that such grant need not comply with the requirements of Rule 701 and will satisfy another exemption under the Securities Act as well as comply with the securities laws of all other relevant jurisdictions.

5. PROVISIONS RELATING TO OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

Each Option or SAR shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates shall be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. If an Option is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option, then the Option shall be a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The provisions of separate Options or SARs need not be identical; provided, however, that each Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall conform to (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the applicable Stock Award Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(a) Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option or SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Stock Award Agreement.

(b) Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Incentive Stock Options granted to Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise price (or strike price) of each Option or SAR shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option or SAR on the date the Option or SAR is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be granted with an exercise price (or strike price) lower than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option or SAR if such Option or SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption of or substitution for another option or stock appreciation right pursuant to a Corporate Transaction and in a manner consistent with the provisions of Sections 409A and 424(a) of the Code (whether or not such Stock Awards are Incentive Stock Options). Each SAR will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents.

 

5


(c) Consideration for Options. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment set forth below. The Board shall have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to utilize a particular method of payment. The permitted methods of payment are as follows:

(i) by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;

(ii) pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of the stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds;

(iii) by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock;

(iv) if the Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued; provided, further, that shares of Common Stock will no longer be subject to an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A) shares issuable upon exercise are reduced to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations;

(v) according to a deferred payment or similar arrangement with the Optionholder; provided, however, that interest shall compound at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of interest necessary to avoid (A) the imputation of interest income to the Company and compensation income to the Optionholder under any applicable provisions of the Code, and (B) the classification of the Option as a liability for financial accounting purposes; or

(vi) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board.

(d) Exercise and Payment of a SAR. To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such Stock Appreciation Right, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the Stock Appreciation Right on such date, over (B) the strike price that will be determined by the Board at

 

6


the time of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. The appreciation distribution in respect to a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right.

(e) Transferability of Options and SARs. The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options and SARs as the Board shall determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options and SARs shall apply:

(i) Restrictions on Transfer. An Option or SAR shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, permit transfer of the Option or SAR to such extent as permitted by Rule 701 and in a manner consistent with applicable tax and securities laws upon the Participant’s request.

(ii) Domestic Relations Orders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order; provided, however, that if an Option is an Incentive Stock Option, such Option may be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.

(iii) Beneficiary Designation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form provided by or otherwise satisfactory to the Company and any broker designated by the Company to effect Option exercises, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Participant, shall thereafter be the beneficiary of an Option with the right to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate shall be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.

(f) Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or SAR may vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may or may not be equal. The Option or SAR may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may or may not be exercised (which may be based on the satisfaction of performance goals or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options or SARs may vary. The provisions of this Section 5(f) are subject to any Option or SAR provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option or SAR may be exercised.

(g) Termination of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, in the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates (other than for Cause or upon the Participant’s death or Disability), the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Stock Award as of the date of termination of Continuous Service) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Stock Award Agreement, which period shall not be less than

 

7


thirty (30) days if necessary to comply with applicable state laws unless such termination is for Cause) or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Stock Award Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the time specified herein or in the Stock Award Agreement (as applicable), the Option or SAR shall terminate.

(h) Extension of Termination Date. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if the exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause or upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option or SAR shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of such registration requirements, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Stock Award Agreement. In addition, unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, if the sale of any Common Stock received upon exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would violate the Company’s insider trading policy, then the Option or SAR shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period equal to the applicable post-termination exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Stock Award Agreement.

(i) Disability of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, in the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of termination of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Stock Award Agreement, which period shall not be less than six (6) months if necessary to comply with applicable state laws), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Stock Award Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the time specified herein or in the Stock Award Agreement (as applicable), the Option or SAR shall terminate.

(j) Death of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, in the event that (i) a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the Participant dies within the period (if any) specified in the Stock Award Agreement after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for a reason other than death, then the Option or SAR may be exercised (to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of death) by the Participant’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option or SAR upon the Participant’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period

 

8


specified in the Stock Award Agreement, which period shall not be less than six (6) months if necessary to comply with applicable state laws), or (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option or SAR as set forth in the Stock Award Agreement. If, after the Participant’s death, the Option or SAR is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Stock Award Agreement (as applicable), the Option or SAR shall terminate.

(k) Termination for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in a Participant’s Stock Award Agreement, if a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Option or SAR shall terminate upon the termination date of such Participant’s Continuous Service and the Participant shall be prohibited from exercising his or her Option or SAR from and after the time of such termination of Continuous Service.

(l) Non-Exempt Employees. No Option or SAR granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable for any shares of Common Stock until at least six months following the date of grant of the Option or SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, consistent with the provisions of the Worker Economic Opportunity Act, in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability, upon a Corporate Transaction or a Change in Control in which the vesting of such Options or SARs accelerates, or upon the Participant’s retirement (as such term may be defined in the Participant’s Stock Award Agreement or in another applicable agreement or in accordance with the Company’s then current employment policies and guidelines) any such vested Options and SARs may be exercised earlier than six months following the date of grant. The foregoing provision is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option or SAR will be exempt from his or her regular rate of pay.

(m) Early Exercise of Options. An Option may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 8(l), any unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate. Provided that the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 8(l) is not violated, the Company shall not be required to exercise its repurchase right until at least six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid classification of the Option as a liability for financial accounting purposes) have elapsed following exercise of the Option unless the Board otherwise specifically provides in the Option Agreement.

(n) Right of Repurchase. Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 8(l), the Option or SAR may include a provision whereby the Company may elect to repurchase all or any part of the vested shares of Common Stock acquired by the Participant pursuant to the exercise of the Option or SAR.

(o) Right of First Refusal. The Option or SAR may include a provision whereby the Company may elect to exercise a right of first refusal following receipt of notice from the Participant of the intent to transfer all or any part of the shares of Common Stock received upon the exercise of the Option or SAR. Such right of first refusal shall be subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 8(l). Except as expressly provided in this Section 5(o) or in

 

9


the Stock Award Agreement, such right of first refusal shall otherwise comply with any applicable provisions of the Bylaws of the Company.

6. PROVISIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND OTHER STOCK AWARDS.

(a) Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. To the extent consistent with the Company’s Bylaws, at the Board’s election, shares of Common Stock may be (x) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s instructions until any restrictions relating to the Restricted Stock Award lapse; or (y) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate shall be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award Agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(i) Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration for (A) cash or cash equivalents, (B) past or future services actually or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate, or (C) any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.

(ii) Vesting. Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 8(l), shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.

(iii) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right, any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

(iv) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

(v) Dividends. A Restricted Stock Award Agreement may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock will be subject to the same vesting and forfeiture restrictions as apply to the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award to which they relate.

(b) Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical, provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Unit Award

 

10


Agreement shall conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(i) Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.

(ii) Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

(iii) Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.

(iv) Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award.

(v) Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole discretion of the Board, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award in such manner as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement to which they relate.

(vi) Termination of Participants Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, such portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

(vii) Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any Restricted Stock Unit Award granted under the Plan that is not exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall contain such provisions so that such Restricted Stock Unit Award will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Such restrictions, if any, shall be determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement evidencing such Restricted Stock Unit Award. For example, such restrictions may include, without limitation, a requirement that any Common Stock that is to be issued in a year following the year in which the Restricted Stock Unit Award vests must be issued in accordance with a fixed pre-determined schedule.

 

11


(c) Other Stock Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including the appreciation in value thereof (e.g., options or stock rights with an exercise price or strike price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant) may be granted either alone or in addition to Stock Awards provided for under Section 5 and the preceding provisions of this Section 6. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock Awards.

7. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

(a) Availability of Shares. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Stock Awards.

(b) Securities Law Compliance. The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained. A Participant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award or the subsequent issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the Stock Award if such grant or issuance would be in violation of any applicable securities law.

(c) No Obligation to Notify. The Company shall have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company shall have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of a Stock Award or a possible period in which the Stock Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of a Stock Award to the holder of such Stock Award.

8. MISCELLANEOUS.

(a) Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall constitute general funds of the Company.

(b) Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Stock Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of a Stock Award to any Participant shall be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Stock Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant.

 

12


(c) Stockholder Rights. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Stock Award unless and until (i) such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award, or the issuance of shares of Common Stock thereunder, pursuant to its terms, and (ii) the issuance of the Common Stock pursuant to the Stock Award has been entered into the books and records of the Company.

(d) No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Stock Award Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Stock Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.

(e) Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).

(f) Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (x) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (y) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.

(g) Withholding Obligations. Unless prohibited by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any federal, state or local tax

 

13


withholding obligation relating to a Stock Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Stock Award; provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lesser amount as may be necessary to avoid classification of the Stock Award as a liability for financial accounting purposes); (iii) withholding payment from any amounts otherwise payable to the Participant; (iv) withholding cash from a Stock Award settled in cash; or (v) by such other method as may be set forth in the Stock Award Agreement.

(h) Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document shall include any agreement or document delivered electronically or posted on the Company’s intranet.

(i) Deferrals. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Stock Award may be deferred and may establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Board may provide for distributions while a Participant is still an employee or otherwise providing services to the Company. The Board is authorized to make deferrals of Stock Awards and determine when, and in what annual percentages, Participants may receive payments, including lump sum payments, following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service, and implement such other terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of the Plan and in accordance with applicable law.

(j) Compliance with Section 409A. To the extent that the Board determines that any Stock Award granted hereunder is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Stock Award Agreement evidencing such Stock Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Stock Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.

(k) Compliance with Exemption Provided by Rule 12h-1(f). If at the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year: (i) the aggregate of the number of persons who hold outstanding compensatory employee stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan or otherwise (such persons, “Holders of Options”) equals or exceeds five hundred (500), and (ii) the Company’s assets exceed $10 million, then the following restrictions shall apply during any period during which the Company does not have a class of its securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and is not required to file reports under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act: (A) the Options and, prior to exercise, the shares of Common Stock to be issued on exercise of the Options may not be transferred until the Company is no longer relying on the exemption provided by Rule 12h-1(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Rule 12h-1(f)”), except: (1) as permitted by Rule 701(c) promulgated under the Securities Act, (2) to a guardian upon the disability of the Holder of Options, or (3) to an executor upon the death of the Holder of Options (collectively, the “Permitted Transferees”); provided, however, the following transfers are permitted: (i) transfers by the Holder of Options to the Company, and (ii) transfers in

 

14


connection with a change of control or other acquisition involving the Company, if following such transaction, the Options no longer remain outstanding and the Company is no longer relying on the exemption provided by Rule 12h-1(f); provided further, that any Permitted Transferees may not further transfer the Options; (B) except as otherwise provided in (A) above, the Options and shares of Common Stock to be issued on exercise of the Options are restricted as to any pledge, hypothecation, or other transfer, including any short position, any “put equivalent position” as defined by Rule 16a-1(h) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any “call equivalent position” as defined by Rule 16a-1(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act by the Holder of Options prior to exercise of an Option until the Company is no longer relying on the exemption provided by Rule 12h-1(f); and (C) at any time that the Company is relying on the exemption provided by Rule 12h-1(f), the Company shall deliver to Holders of Options (whether by physical or electronic delivery or written notice of the availability of the information on an internet site) the information required by Rule 701(e)(3), (4), and (5) promulgated under the Securities Act every six (6) months, including financial statements that are not more than one hundred eighty (180) days old; provided, however, that the Company may condition the delivery of such information upon the Holder of Options’ agreement to maintain its confidentiality.

(l) Repurchase Limitation. The terms of any repurchase right shall be specified in the Stock Award Agreement. The repurchase price for vested shares of Common Stock shall be the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of repurchase. The repurchase price for unvested shares of Common Stock shall be the lower of (i) the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of repurchase or (ii) their original purchase price. However, the Company shall not exercise its repurchase right until at least six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time necessary to avoid classification of the Stock Award as a liability for financial accounting purposes) have elapsed following delivery of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Award, unless otherwise specifically provided by the Board.

9. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK; OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS.

(a) Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board shall appropriately and proportionately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3, (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(c), and (iii) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. Except as otherwise provided in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all outstanding Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to a forfeiture condition or the Company’s right of repurchase) shall terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase rights or subject to a forfeiture condition may be repurchased or reacquired by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing Continuous Service, provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no longer

 

15


subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Stock Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion.

(c) Corporate Transaction. The following provisions shall apply to Stock Awards in the event of a Corporate Transaction unless otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Stock Award or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the holder of the Stock Award or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board at the time of grant of a Stock Award. Except as otherwise stated in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board shall take one or more of the following actions with respect to Stock Awards, contingent upon the closing or completion of the Corporate Transaction:

(i) arrange for the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) to assume or continue the Stock Award or to substitute a similar stock award for the Stock Award (including, but not limited to, an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Corporate Transaction);

(ii) arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Stock Award to the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company);

(iii) accelerate the vesting, in whole or in part, of the Stock Award (and, if applicable, the time at which the Stock Award may be exercised) to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as the Board shall determine (or, if the Board shall not determine such a date, to the date that is five (5) days prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction), with such Stock Award terminating if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction;

(iv) arrange for the lapse of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the Stock Award;

(v) cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Stock Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as the Board, in its sole discretion, may consider appropriate; and

(vi) make a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the value of the property the holder of the Stock Award would have received upon the exercise of the Stock Award, over (B) any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise.

The Board need not take the same action with respect to all Stock Awards or with respect to all Participants.

(d) Change in Control. A Stock Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in Control as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between

 

16


the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration shall occur.

10. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

(a) Plan Term. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 2, the Plan shall terminate upon the later of (i) February 7, 2031, or (ii) ten (10) years after the date when the Board approved the most recent increase in the number of shares reserved under the Plan. No Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

(b) No Impairment of Rights. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant.

11. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

This Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date.

12. CHOICE OF LAW.

The law of the State of California shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to that state’s conflict of laws rules.

13. DEFINITIONS. As used in the Plan, the following definitions shall apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:

(a) Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “majority-owned subsidiary” of the Company, as such terms are defined in Rule 405. The Board shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “majority-owned subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

(b) Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(c) Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Stock Award after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure, or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.

(d) Cause shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) such Participant’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty

 

17


or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) such Participant’s attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or material act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) such Participant’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; (iv) such Participant’s repeated and willful failure to satisfactorily perform such Participant’s job duties after 30 days written notice of such deficiency and an opportunity to cure (of at least 15 business days); (v) such Participant’s engaging or participating in any activity which is directly competitive with or injurious to the Company or which violates any material provisions of such Participant’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement with the Company (if applicable) which remains uncured after 30 days written notice thereof; or (vi) such Participant’s gross misconduct. The determination that a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause shall be made by the Company in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated with or without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Stock Awards held by such Participant shall have no effect upon any determination of the rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.

(e) Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

(i) any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company directly from the Company, (B) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other Exchange Act Person that acquires the Company’s securities in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities or (C) solely because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange Act Person (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur;

(ii) there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;

 

18


(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve or the Board approves a plan of complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company shall otherwise occur, except for a liquidation into a parent corporation; or

(iv) there is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition.

Notwithstanding the foregoing definition or any other provision of this Plan, (A) the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company, and (B) the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Stock Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply.

(f) Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance thereunder.

(g) Committee” means a committee of one (1) or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 2(c).

(h) Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock of the Company.

(i) Company” means Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(j) Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who (i) provides consulting or advisory services to the Company or to a parent or subsidiary of the Company either (a) directly, in an individual capacity, or (b) indirectly, through an entity of which such person is an employee, consultant, partner or member and which entity provides to the Company or to a parent or subsidiary of the Company consulting services involving such individual, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, shall not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan.

(k) Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Director, or Consultant or a change in the Entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, shall not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service; provided, however, if the Entity for which a Participant is rendering service ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, such Participant’s Continuous Service shall be

 

19


considered to have terminated on the date such Entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate. For example, a change in status from an employee of the Company to a consultant of an Affiliate or to a Director shall not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or chief executive officer, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between the Company, an Affiliate, or their successors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in a Stock Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law.

(l) Corporate Transaction” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

(i) the consummation of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(ii) the consummation of a sale or other disposition of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding securities of the Company;

(iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or

(iv) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.

(m) Director” means a member of the Board.

(n) Disability” means the inability of a Participant to engage in any substantially gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code and shall be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted under the circumstances.

(o) Effective Date” means the effective date of this Plan, which is the earlier of (i) the date that this Plan is first approved by the Company’s stockholders, or (ii) the date this Plan is adopted by the Board.

(p) Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, shall not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.

 

20


(q) Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.

(r) Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(s) Exchange Act Person means any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to a registered public offering of such securities, (iv) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the Effective Date, is the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.

(t) Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined by the Board in compliance with Section 409A of the Code or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, in compliance with Section 422 of the Code.

(u) Incentive Stock Option” means an option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan that is intended to be, and qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(v) Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

(w) Officer” means any person designated by the Company as an officer.

(x) Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan.

(y) Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(z) Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.

(aa) Other Stock Award” means an award based in whole or in part by reference to the Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(c).

(bb) Other Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

21


(cc) Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership A person or Entity shall be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.

(dd) Participant” means a person to whom a Stock Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Stock Award.

(ee) Plan” means this Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc. 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.

(ff) Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(a).

(gg) Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(hh) Restricted Stock Unit Award means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b).

(ii) Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(jj) Rule 405” means Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.

(kk) Rule 701” means Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act.

(ll) Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(mm) Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 5.

(nn) Stock Appreciation Right Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(oo) Stock Award” means any right to receive Common Stock granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right or any Other Stock Award.

(pp) Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

22


(qq) Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%) .

(rr) Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

23


PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT (INSTALLMENT EXERCISE)

The Optionee has been granted the following option to purchase shares of the Class A Common Stock of Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc.:

 

Name of Optionee:                                    
Total Number of Shares:                                    
Type of Option:                     Incentive Stock Option (ISO)
                    Nonstatutory Stock Option (NSO)
Exercise Price per Share:    $                    
Date of Grant:                                    
Date Exercisable:                                    
Vesting Commencement Date:                                    
Expiration Date:                        . This option expires earlier if the Optionee’s Service terminates earlier, as provided in Section 6 of the Stock Option Agreement, or if the Company engages in certain corporate transactions, as provided in Section 9(c) of the Plan.

By signing below, the Optionee and the Company agree that this option is granted under, and governed by the terms and conditions of, the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and the Stock Option Agreement. Both of these documents are attached to, and made a part of, this Notice of Stock Option Grant. Section 13 of the Stock Option Agreement includes important acknowledgements of the Optionee.

 

OPTIONEE:    PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
                                                                                          By:                                                                          
   Title:                                                                       

 

1


THE OPTION GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE THEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN:

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (INSTALLMENT EXERCISE)

SECTION 1. GRANT OF OPTION.

(a) Option. On the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant and this Agreement, the Company grants to the Optionee on the Date of Grant the option to purchase at the Exercise Price the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant. The Exercise Price is agreed to be at least 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant (110% of Fair Market Value if this option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Section 4(b) of the Plan applies). This option is intended to be an ISO or an NSO, as provided in the Notice of Stock Option Grant.

(b) $100,000 Limitation. Even if this option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, it shall be deemed to be an NSO to the extent (and only to the extent) required by the $100,000 annual limitation under Section 422(d) of the Code.

(c) Stock Plan and Defined Terms. This option is granted pursuant to the Plan, a copy of which the Optionee acknowledges having received. The provisions of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by this reference. Except as otherwise defined in this Agreement (including without limitation Section 14 hereof), capitalized terms shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Plan.

SECTION 2. RIGHT TO EXERCISE.

(a) Exercisability. Subject to Subsection (b) below and the other conditions set forth in this Agreement, all or part of this option may be exercised prior to its expiration at the time or times set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant.

(b) Stockholder Approval. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, no portion of this option shall be exercisable at any time prior to the approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

 

2


SECTION 3. NO TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF OPTION.

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this option and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be sold, pledged or otherwise transferred (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to sale under execution, attachment, levy or similar process.

SECTION 4. EXERCISE PROCEDURES.

(a) Notice of Exercise. The Optionee or the Optionee’s representative may exercise this option by: (i) signing and delivering written notice to the Company pursuant to Section 12(c) specifying the election to exercise this option, the number of Shares for which it is being exercised and the form of payment and (ii) delivering payment, in a form permissible under Section 5, for the full amount of the Purchase Price (together with any applicable withholding taxes under Subsection (b)). In the event that this option is being exercised by the representative of the Optionee, the notice shall be accompanied by proof (satisfactory to the Company) of the representative’s right to exercise this option.

(b) Withholding Taxes. In the event that the Company determines that it is required to withhold any tax (including without limitation any income tax, social insurance contributions, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related items arising in connection with the Optionee’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Optionee (the “Tax-Related Items”)) as a result of the grant, vesting or exercise of this option, or as a result of the transfer of shares acquired upon exercise of this option, the Optionee, as a condition of this option, shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to enable it to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. The Optionee acknowledges that the responsibility for all Tax-Related Items is the Optionee’s and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company (or its affiliate or agent).

(c) Issuance of Shares. After satisfying all requirements for exercise of this option, the Company shall cause to be issued one or more certificates evidencing the Shares for which this option has been exercised. Such Shares shall be registered (i) in the name of the person exercising this option, (ii) in the names of such person and his or her spouse as community property or as joint tenants with the right of survivorship or (iii) with the Company’s consent, in the name of a revocable trust. Until the issuance of the Shares has been entered into the books and records of the Company or a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company, no right to vote, receive dividends or any other right as a stockholder will exist with respect to such Shares. The Company shall cause such certificates to be delivered to or upon the order of the person exercising this option.

SECTION 5. PAYMENT FOR STOCK.

(a) Cash. All or part of the Purchase Price may be paid in cash or cash equivalents.

(b) Surrender of Stock. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, all or any part of the Purchase Price may be paid by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares that are already owned by the Optionee. Such Shares shall be surrendered to the Company in good form for transfer and shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date when this option is exercised.

 

3


(c) Exercise/Sale. All or part of the Purchase Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by the delivery (on a form prescribed by the Company) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company. However, payment pursuant to this Subsection (c) shall be permitted only if (i) Stock then is publicly traded and (ii) such payment does not violate applicable law.

SECTION 6. TERM AND EXPIRATION.

(a) Basic Term. This option shall in any event expire on the expiration date set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, which date is 10 years after the Date of Grant (five years after the Date of Grant if this option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Section 4(b) of the Plan applies).

(b) Termination of Service (Except by Death). If the Optionee’s Service terminates for any reason other than death, then this option shall expire on the earliest of the following occasions:

(i) The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (a) above;

(ii) The date three months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service for any reason other than Disability; or

(iii) The date six months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service by reason of Disability.

The Optionee may exercise all or part of this option at any time before its expiration under the preceding sentence, but only to the extent that this option had become exercisable before the Optionee’s Service terminated. When the Optionee’s Service terminates, this option shall expire immediately with respect to the number of Shares for which this option is not yet exercisable. In the event that the Optionee dies after termination of Service but before the expiration of this option, all or part of this option may be exercised (prior to expiration) by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired this option directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that this option had become exercisable before the Optionee’s Service terminated. Once this option (or portion thereof) has terminated, the Optionee shall have no further rights with respect to the option (or portion thereof) or to the underlying Shares.

(c) Death of the Optionee. If the Optionee dies while in Service, then this option shall expire on the earlier of the following dates:

(i) The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (a) above; or

(ii) The date 12 months after the Optionee’s death.

All or part of this option may be exercised at any time before its expiration under the preceding sentence by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has

 

4


acquired this option directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that this option had become exercisable before the Optionee’s death. When the Optionee dies, this option shall expire immediately with respect to the number of Shares for which this option is not yet exercisable. Once this option (or portion thereof) has terminated, the Optionee shall have no further rights with respect to the option (or portion thereof) or to the underlying Shares.

(d) Extension of Post-Termination Exercise Periods. Following the date on which the Company’s Stock is first listed for trading on an established securities market, if during any part of the exercise period described in Subsections (b)(ii) or (iii) or Subsection (c)(ii) above the exercise of this option would be prohibited solely because the issuance of Shares upon such exercise would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or a similar provision of other applicable law, then instead of terminating at the end of such prescribed period, the then-vested portion of this option will instead remain outstanding and not expire until the earlier of (i) the expiration date determined pursuant to Section 6(a) above or (ii) the date on which the then-vested portion of this option has been exercisable without violation of applicable law for the aggregate period (which need not be consecutive) after termination of the Optionee’s Service specified in the applicable Subsection above.

(e) Part-Time Employment and Leaves of Absence. If the Optionee commences working on a part-time basis, then the Company may adjust the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant. If the Optionee goes on a leave of absence, then the Company may adjust the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant in accordance with the Company’s leave of absence policy or the terms of such leave. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, Service shall be deemed to continue for any purpose under this Agreement while the Optionee is on a bona fide leave of absence, if (i) such leave was approved by the Company in writing and (ii) continued crediting of Service for such purpose is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law (as determined by the Company). Service shall be deemed to terminate when such leave ends, unless the Optionee immediately returns to active work.

(f) Notice Concerning ISO Treatment. Even if this option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, it ceases to qualify for favorable tax treatment as an ISO to the extent that it is exercised:

(i) More than three months after the date when the Optionee ceases to be an Employee for any reason other than death or permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code);

(ii) More than 12 months after the date when the Optionee ceases to be an Employee by reason of permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code); or

(iii) More than three months after the date when the Optionee has been on a leave of absence for three months, unless the Optionee’s reemployment rights following such leave were guaranteed by statute or by contract.

 

5


SECTION 7. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

(a) Right of First Refusal. In the event that the Optionee proposes to sell, pledge or otherwise transfer to a third party any Shares acquired under this Agreement, or any interest in such Shares, the Company shall have the Right of First Refusal with respect to all (and not less than all) of such Shares. If the Optionee desires to transfer Shares acquired under this Agreement, the Optionee shall give a written Transfer Notice to the Company describing fully the proposed transfer, including the number of Shares proposed to be transferred, the proposed transfer price, the name and address of the proposed Transferee and proof satisfactory to the Company that the proposed sale or transfer will not violate any applicable federal, State or foreign securities laws. The Transfer Notice shall be signed both by the Optionee and by the proposed Transferee and must constitute a binding commitment of both parties to the transfer of the Shares. The Company shall have the right to purchase all, and not less than all, of the Shares on the terms of the proposal described in the Transfer Notice (subject, however, to any change in such terms permitted under Subsection (b) below) by delivery of a notice of exercise of the Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when the Transfer Notice was received by the Company.

(b) Transfer of Shares. If the Company fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when it received the Transfer Notice, the Optionee may, not later than 90 days following receipt of the Transfer Notice by the Company, conclude a transfer of the Shares subject to the Transfer Notice on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice, provided that any such sale is made in compliance with applicable federal, State and foreign securities laws and not in violation of any other contractual restrictions to which the Optionee is bound. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer by the Optionee, shall again be subject to the Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance with the procedure described in Subsection (a) above. If the Company exercises its Right of First Refusal, the parties shall consummate the sale of the Shares on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice within 60 days after the date when the Company received the Transfer Notice (or within such longer period as may have been specified in the Transfer Notice); provided, however, that in the event the Transfer Notice provided that payment for the Shares was to be made in a form other than cash or cash equivalents paid at the time of transfer, the Company shall have the option of paying for the Shares with cash or cash equivalents equal to the present value of the consideration described in the Transfer Notice.

(c) Additional or Exchanged Securities and Property. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company, a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s stock or assets, any other corporate reorganization, a stock split, the declaration of a stock dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than stock, a spin-off, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities, any securities or other property (including cash or cash equivalents) that are by reason of such transaction exchanged for, or distributed with respect to, any Shares subject to this Section 7 shall immediately be subject to the Right of First Refusal. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the exchange or distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of the Shares subject to this Section 7.

 

6


(d) Termination of Right of First Refusal. Any other provision of this Section 7 notwithstanding, in the event that the Stock is readily tradable on an established securities market when the Optionee desires to transfer Shares, the Company shall have no Right of First Refusal, and the Optionee shall have no obligation to comply with the procedures prescribed by Subsections (a) and (b) above.

(e) Permitted Transfers. This Section 7 shall not apply to (i) a transfer by beneficiary designation, will or intestate succession or (ii) a transfer to one or more members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family or to a trust established by the Optionee for the benefit of the Optionee and/or one or more members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family, provided in either case that the Transferee agrees in writing on a form prescribed by the Company to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement. If the Optionee transfers any Shares acquired under this Agreement, either under this Subsection (e) or after the Company has failed to exercise the Right of First Refusal, then this Agreement shall apply to the Transferee to the same extent as to the Optionee.

(f) Termination of Rights as Stockholder. If the Company makes available, at the time and place and in the amount and form provided in this Agreement, the consideration for the Shares to be purchased in accordance with this Section 7, then after such time the person from whom such Shares are to be purchased shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such Shares (other than the right to receive payment of such consideration in accordance with this Agreement). Such Shares shall be deemed to have been purchased in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, whether or not the certificate(s) therefor have been delivered as required by this Agreement.

(g) Assignment of Right of First Refusal. The Board of Directors may freely assign the Company’s Right of First Refusal, in whole or in part. Any person who accepts an assignment of the Right of First Refusal from the Company shall assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Section 7.

SECTION 8. LEGALITY OF INITIAL ISSUANCE.

No Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this option unless and until the Company has determined that:

(a) It and the Optionee have taken any actions required to register the Shares under the Securities Act or to perfect an exemption from the registration requirements thereof;

(b) Any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange or other securities market on which Stock is listed has been satisfied; and

(c) Any other applicable provision of federal, State or foreign law has been satisfied.

SECTION 9. NO REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, register or qualify the sale of Shares under the Securities Act or any other applicable law. The Company shall not be obligated

 

7


to take any affirmative action in order to cause the sale of Shares under this Agreement to comply with any law.

SECTION 10. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

(a) Securities Law Restrictions. Regardless of whether the offer and sale of Shares under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any State or other relevant jurisdiction, the Company at its discretion may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of such Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on the stock certificates (or electronic equivalent) or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) and may refuse (or may be required to refuse) to transfer Shares acquired hereunder (or Shares proposed to be transferred in a subsequent transfer) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions, legends or refusal are necessary or appropriate to achieve compliance with the Securities Act or other relevant securities or other laws, including without limitation under Regulation S of the Securities Act or pursuant to another available exemption from registration.

(b) Market Stand-Off. In connection with any underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, including the Company’s initial public offering, the Optionee or a Transferee shall not directly or indirectly sell, make any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, offer, grant or sell any option or other contract for the purchase of, purchase any option or other contract for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or agree to engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to, any Shares acquired under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company or its managing underwriter. Such restriction (the “Market Stand-Off”) shall be in effect for such period of time following the date of the final prospectus for the offering as may be requested by the Company or such underwriter. In no event, however, shall such period exceed 180 days plus such additional period as may reasonably be requested by the Company or such underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (i) the publication or other distribution of research reports or (ii) analyst recommendations and opinions, including (without limitation) the restrictions set forth in Rule 2711(f)(4) of the National Association of Securities Dealers and Rule 472(f)(4) of the New York Stock Exchange, as amended, or any similar successor rules. The Market Stand-Off shall in any event terminate two years after the date of the Company’s initial public offering. In the event of the declaration of a stock dividend, a spin-off, a stock split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Shares subject to the Market Stand-Off, or into which such Shares thereby become convertible, shall immediately be subject to the Market Stand-Off. In order to enforce the Market Stand-Off, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares acquired under this Agreement until the end of the applicable stand-off period. The Company’s underwriters shall be beneficiaries of the agreement set forth in this Subsection (b). This Subsection (b) shall not apply to Shares registered in the public offering under the Securities Act.

(c) Investment Intent at Grant. The Optionee represents and agrees that the Shares to be acquired upon exercising this option will be acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof.

 

8


(d) Investment Intent at Exercise. In the event that the sale of Shares under the Plan is not registered under the Securities Act but an exemption is available that requires an investment representation or other representation, the Optionee shall represent and agree at the time of exercise that the Shares being acquired upon exercising this option are being acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof, and shall make such other representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and its counsel, including (if applicable because the Company is relying on Regulation S under the Securities Act) that as of the date of exercise the Optionee is (i) not a U.S. Person; (ii) not acquiring the Shares on behalf, or for the account or benefit, of a U.S. Person; and (iii) is not exercising the option in the United States.

(e) Legends. All certificates evidencing Shares purchased under this Agreement shall bear the following legend:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR IN ANY MANNER DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THE SHARES (OR THE PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE SHARES). SUCH AGREEMENT GRANTS TO THE COMPANY CERTAIN RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL UPON AN ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THE SHARES. IN ADDITION, THE SHARES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER FOR A LIMITED PERIOD FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE UNDERWRITTEN PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY THE HOLDER WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COMPANY OR THE MANAGING UNDERWRITER. THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY WILL UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FURNISH A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE.”

All certificates evidencing Shares purchased under this Agreement in an unregistered transaction shall bear the following legend (and such other restrictive legends as are required or deemed advisable under the provisions of any applicable law):

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”) OR ANY SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY U.S. STATE, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, REOFFERED, PLEDGED, ASSIGNED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR DISPOSED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OR THE AVAILABILITY (CONFIRMED BY OPINION OF COUNSEL) OF AN ALTERNATIVE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE ACT), THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD, REOFFERED, PLEDGED, ASSIGNED, ENCUMBERED

 

9


OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR DISPOSED OF. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.”

(f) Removal of Legends. If, in the opinion of the Company and its counsel, any legend placed on a stock certificate representing Shares sold under this Agreement is no longer required, the holder of such certificate shall be entitled to exchange such certificate for a certificate representing the same number of Shares but without such legend.

(g) Administration. Any determination by the Company and its counsel in connection with any of the matters set forth in this Section 10 shall be conclusive and binding on the Optionee and all other persons.

SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

In the event of any transaction described in Section 8(a) of the Plan, the terms of this option (including, without limitation, the number and kind of Shares subject to this option and the Exercise Price) shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 8(a) of the Plan. In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or consolidation or in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s stock or assets, this option shall be subject to the treatment provided by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, as provided in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

(a) Rights as a Stockholder. Neither the Optionee nor the Optionee’s representative shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares subject to this option until the Optionee or the Optionee’s representative becomes entitled to receive such Shares by filing a notice of exercise and paying the Purchase Price pursuant to Sections 4 and 5.

(b) No Retention Rights. Nothing in this option or in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining the Optionee) or of the Optionee, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

(c) Notice. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid, (iii) deposit with Federal Express Corporation, with shipping charges prepaid or (iv) deposit with any internationally recognized express mail courier service. Notice shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive office and to the Optionee at the address that he or she most recently provided to the Company in accordance with this Subsection (c).

(d) Modifications and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Optionee and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Optionee). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of

 

10


this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(e) Entire Agreement. The Notice of Stock Option Grant, this Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. They supersede any other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that relate to the subject matter hereof.

(f) Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, as such laws are applied to contracts entered into and performed in such State.

SECTION 13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE OPTIONEE.

In addition to the other terms, conditions and restrictions imposed on this option and the Shares issuable under this option pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan, the Optionee expressly acknowledges being subject to Sections 7 (Right of First Refusal), 8 (Legality of Initial Issuance) and 10 (Restrictions on Transfer of Shares, including without limitation the Market Stand-Off), as well as the following provisions:

(a) Tax Consequences (No Liability for Discounted Options). The Optionee agrees that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes the Optionee’s tax liabilities. The Optionee shall not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees related to tax liabilities arising from this option or the Optionee’s other compensation. In particular, any Optionee subject to U.S. taxation acknowledges that this option is exempt from Section 409A of the Code only if the Exercise Price is at least equal to the Fair Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant. Since Shares are not traded on an established securities market, the determination of their Fair Market Value is made by the Board of Directors or by an independent valuation firm retained by the Company. The Optionee acknowledges that there is no guarantee in either case that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation, and the Optionee shall not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees in the event that the Internal Revenue Service asserts that the valuation was too low.

(b) Electronic Delivery of Documents. The Optionee agrees to accept by email all documents relating to the Company, the Plan or this option and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). The Optionee also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it shall notify the Optionee by email of their availability. The Optionee acknowledges that he or she may incur costs in connection with electronic delivery, including the cost of accessing the internet and printing fees, and that an interruption of internet access may interfere with his or her ability to access the documents. This consent shall remain in effect until this option expires or until the Optionee gives the Company written notice that it should deliver paper documents.

 

11


(c) No Notice of Expiration Date. The Optionee agrees that the Company and its officers, employees, attorneys and agents do not have any obligation to notify him or her prior to the expiration of this option pursuant to Section 6, regardless of whether this option will expire at the end of its full term or on an earlier date related to the termination of the Optionee’s Service. The Optionee further agrees that he or she has the sole responsibility for monitoring the expiration of this option and for exercising this option, if at all, before it expires. This Subsection (c) shall supersede any contrary representation that may have been made, orally or in writing, by the Company or by an officer, employee, attorney or agent of the Company.

(d) Waiver of Statutory Information Rights. The Optionee acknowledges and agrees that, upon exercise of this option and until the first sale of the Company’s Stock to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, he or she will be deemed to have waived any rights the Optionee might otherwise have had under Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (or under similar rights under other applicable law) to inspect for any proper purpose and to make copies and extracts from the Company’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders and its other books and records or the books and records of any subsidiary. This waiver applies only in the Optionee’s capacity as a stockholder and does not affect any other inspection rights the Optionee may have under other law or pursuant to a written agreement with the Company.

(e) Plan Discretionary. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that (i) the Plan is entirely discretionary, (ii) the Company and the Optionee’s employer have reserved the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, (iii) the grant of an option does not in any way create any contractual or other right to receive additional grants of options (or benefits in lieu of options) at any time or in any amount and (iv) all determinations with respect to any additional grants, including (without limitation) the times when options will be granted, the number of Shares offered, the Exercise Price and the vesting schedule, will be at the sole discretion of the Company.

(f) Termination of Service. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that participation in the Plan ceases upon termination of his or her Service for any reason, except as may explicitly be provided otherwise in the Plan or this Agreement.

(g) Extraordinary Compensation. The value of this option shall be an extraordinary item of compensation outside the scope of the Optionee’s employment contract, if any, and shall not be considered a part of his or her normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating severance, resignation, redundancy or end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments.

(h) Authorization to Disclose. The Optionee hereby authorizes and directs the Optionee’s employer to disclose to the Company or any Subsidiary any information regarding the Optionee’s employment, the nature and amount of the Optionee’s compensation and the fact and conditions of the Optionee’s participation in the Plan, as the Optionee’s employer deems necessary or appropriate to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

(i) Personal Data Authorization. The Optionee consents to the collection, use and transfer of personal data as described in this Subsection (i). The Optionee understands and

 

12


acknowledges that the Company, the Optionee’s employer and the Company’s other Subsidiaries hold certain personal information regarding the Optionee for the purpose of managing and administering the Plan, including (without limitation) the Optionee’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company and details of all options or any other entitlements to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Optionee’s favor (the “Data”). The Optionee further understands and acknowledges that the Company and/or its Subsidiaries will transfer Data among themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of the Optionee’s participation in the Plan and that the Company and/or any Subsidiary may each further transfer Data to any third party assisting the Company in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that the recipients of Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere. The Optionee authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer Data, in electronic or other form, for the purpose of administering the Optionee’s participation in the Plan, including a transfer to any broker or other third party with whom the Optionee elects to deposit Shares acquired under the Plan of such Data as may be required for the administration of the Plan and/or the subsequent holding of Shares on the Optionee’s behalf. The Optionee may, at any time, view the Data, require any necessary modifications of Data or withdraw the consents set forth in this Subsection (i) by contacting the Company in writing.

SECTION 14. DEFINITIONS.

(a) “Agreement” shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.

(b) “Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time or, if a Committee has been appointed, such Committee.

(c) “Company” shall mean Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(d) “Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships.

(e) “Optionee” shall mean the person named in the Notice of Stock Option Grant.

(f) “Plan” shall mean the Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc. 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as in effect on the Date of Grant.

(g) “Purchase Price” shall mean the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which this option is being exercised.

(h) “Right of First Refusal” shall mean the Company’s right of first refusal described in Section 7.

(i) “Service” shall mean service as an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant.

 

13


(j) “Transferee” shall mean any person to whom the Optionee has directly or indirectly transferred any Share acquired under this Agreement.

(k) “Transfer Notice” shall mean the notice of a proposed transfer of Shares described in Section 7.

(l) “U.S. Person” shall mean a person described in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or provision), which generally defines a U.S. person as any natural person resident in the United States, any estate of which any executor or administrator is a U.S. Person, or any trust of which of any trustee is a U.S. Person.

 

14


PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT (EARLY EXERCISE)

The Optionee has been granted the following option to purchase shares of the Class A Common Stock of Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc.:

 

Name of Optionee:                                    
Total Number of Shares:                                    
Type of Option:                     Incentive Stock Option (ISO)
                    Nonstatutory Stock Option (NSO)
Exercise Price per Share:    $                    
Date of Grant:                                    
Date Exercisable:    This option may be exercised at any time after the Date of Grant for all or any part of the Shares subject to this option.
Vesting Commencement Date:                                    
Vesting Schedule:                                    
Expiration Date:                        . This option expires earlier if the Optionee’s Service terminates earlier, as provided in Section 6 of the Stock Option Agreement, or if the Company engages in certain corporate transactions, as provided in Section 9(c) of the Plan.

By signing below, the Optionee and the Company agree that this option is granted under, and governed by the terms and conditions of, the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and the Stock Option Agreement. Both of these documents are attached to, and made a part of, this Notice of Stock Option Grant. Section 14 of the Stock Option Agreement includes important acknowledgements of the Optionee.

 

OPTIONEE:    PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
                                                                                          By:                                                                          
   Title:                                                                       

 

1


THE OPTION GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE THEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN:

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (EARLY EXERCISE)

SECTION 1. GRANT OF OPTION.

(a) Option. On the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant and this Agreement, the Company grants to the Optionee on the Date of Grant the option to purchase at the Exercise Price the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant. The Exercise Price is agreed to be at least 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant (110% of Fair Market Value if this option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Section 4(b) of the Plan applies). This option is intended to be an ISO or an NSO, as provided in the Notice of Stock Option Grant.

(b) $100,000 Limitation. Even if this option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, it shall be deemed to be an NSO to the extent (and only to the extent) required by the $100,000 annual limitation under Section 422(d) of the Code.

(c) Stock Plan and Defined Terms. This option is granted pursuant to the Plan, a copy of which the Optionee acknowledges having received. The provisions of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by this reference. Except as otherwise defined in this Agreement (including without limitation Section 15 hereof), capitalized terms shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Plan.

SECTION 2. RIGHT TO EXERCISE.

(a) Exercisability. Subject to Subsection (b) below and the other conditions set forth in this Agreement, all or part of this option may be exercised prior to its expiration at the time or times set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant. Shares purchased by exercising this option may be subject to the Right of Repurchase under Section 7.

(b) Stockholder Approval. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, no portion of this option shall be exercisable at any time prior to the approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

 

2


SECTION 3. NO TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF OPTION.

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this option and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be sold, pledged or otherwise transferred (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to sale under execution, attachment, levy or similar process.

SECTION 4. EXERCISE PROCEDURES.

(a) Notice of Exercise. The Optionee or the Optionee’s representative may exercise this option by: (i) signing and delivering written notice to the Company pursuant to Section 13(c) specifying the election to exercise this option, the number of Shares for which it is being exercised and the form of payment and (ii) delivering payment, in a form permissible under Section 5, for the full amount of the Purchase Price (together with any applicable withholding taxes under Subsection (b)). In the event that this option is being exercised by the representative of the Optionee, the notice shall be accompanied by proof (satisfactory to the Company) of the representative’s right to exercise this option. In the event of a partial exercise of this option, Shares shall be deemed to have been purchased in the order in which they vest in accordance with the Notice of Stock Option Grant.

(b) Withholding Taxes. In the event that the Company determines that it is required to withhold any tax (including without limitation any income tax, social insurance contributions, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related items arising in connection with the Optionee’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Optionee (the “Tax-Related Items”)) as a result of the grant, vesting or exercise of this option, or as a result of the vesting or transfer of shares acquired upon exercise of this option, the Optionee, as a condition of this option, shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to enable it to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. The Optionee acknowledges that the responsibility for all Tax-Related Items is the Optionee’s and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company (or its affiliate or agent).

(c) Issuance of Shares. After satisfying all requirements for exercise of this option, the Company shall cause to be issued one or more certificates evidencing the Shares for which this option has been exercised. Such Shares shall be registered (i) in the name of the person exercising this option, (ii) in the names of such person and his or her spouse as community property or as joint tenants with the right of survivorship or (iii) with the Company’s consent, in the name of a revocable trust. Until the issuance of the Shares has been entered into the books and records of the Company or a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company, no right to vote, receive dividends or any other right as a stockholder will exist with respect to such Shares. In the case of Restricted Shares, the Company shall cause such certificates to be deposited in escrow under Section 7(c). In the case of other Shares, the Company shall cause such certificates to be delivered to or upon the order of the person exercising this option.

SECTION 5. PAYMENT FOR STOCK.

(a) Cash. All or part of the Purchase Price may be paid in cash or cash equivalents.

 

3


(b) Surrender of Stock. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, all or any part of the Purchase Price may be paid by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares that are already owned by the Optionee. Such Shares shall be surrendered to the Company in good form for transfer and shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date when this option is exercised.

(c) Exercise/Sale. All or part of the Purchase Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by the delivery (on a form prescribed by the Company) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company. However, payment pursuant to this Subsection (c) shall be permitted only if (i) Stock then is publicly traded and (ii) such payment does not violate applicable law.

SECTION 6. TERM AND EXPIRATION.

(a) Basic Term. This option shall in any event expire on the expiration date set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, which date is 10 years after the Date of Grant (five years after the Date of Grant if this option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Section 4(b) of the Plan applies).

(b) Termination of Service (Except by Death). If the Optionee’s Service terminates for any reason other than death, then this option shall expire on the earliest of the following occasions:

(i) The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (a) above;

(ii) The date three months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service for any reason other than Disability; or

(iii) The date six months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service by reason of Disability.

The Optionee may exercise all or part of this option at any time before its expiration under the preceding sentence, but only to the extent that this option is exercisable for vested Shares on or before the date when the Optionee’s Service terminates. When the Optionee’s Service terminates, this option shall expire immediately with respect to the number of Shares for which this option is not yet exercisable and with respect to any Restricted Shares. In the event that the Optionee dies after termination of Service but before the expiration of this option, all or part of this option may be exercised (prior to expiration) by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired this option directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that this option was exercisable for vested Shares on or before the date when the Optionee’s Service terminated. Once this option (or portion thereof) has terminated, the Optionee shall have no further rights with respect to the option (or portion thereof) or to the underlying Shares.

(c) Death of the Optionee. If the Optionee dies while in Service, then this option shall expire on the earlier of the following dates:

 

4


(i) The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (a) above; or

(ii) The date 12 months after the Optionee’s death.

All or part of this option may be exercised at any time before its expiration under the preceding sentence by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired this option directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that this option is exercisable for vested Shares on or before the date of the Optionee’s death. When the Optionee dies, this option shall expire immediately with respect to the number of Shares for which this option is not yet exercisable and with respect to any Restricted Shares. Once this option (or portion thereof) has terminated, the Optionee shall have no further rights with respect to the option (or portion thereof) or to the underlying Shares.

(d) Extension of Post-Termination Exercise Periods. Following the date on which the Company’s Stock is first listed for trading on an established securities market, if during any part of the exercise period described in Subsections (b)(ii) or (iii) or Subsection (c)(ii) above the exercise of this option would be prohibited solely because the issuance of Shares upon such exercise would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or a similar provision of other applicable law, then instead of terminating at the end of such prescribed period, the then-vested portion of this option will instead remain outstanding and not expire until the earlier of (i) the expiration date determined pursuant to Section 6(a) above or (ii) the date on which the then-vested portion of this option has been exercisable without violation of applicable law for the aggregate period (which need not be consecutive) after termination of the Optionee’s Service specified in the applicable Subsection above.

(e) Part-Time Employment and Leaves of Absence. If the Optionee commences working on a part-time basis, then the Company may adjust the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant. If the Optionee goes on a leave of absence, then the Company may adjust the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant in accordance with the Company’s leave of absence policy or the terms of such leave. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, Service shall be deemed to continue for any purpose under this Agreement while the Optionee is on a bona fide leave of absence, if (i) such leave was approved by the Company in writing and (ii) continued crediting of Service for such purpose is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law (as determined by the Company). Service shall be deemed to terminate when such leave ends, unless the Optionee immediately returns to active work.

(f) Notice Concerning ISO Treatment. Even if this option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, it ceases to qualify for favorable tax treatment as an ISO to the extent that it is exercised:

(i) More than three months after the date when the Optionee ceases to be an Employee for any reason other than death or permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code);

 

5


(ii) More than 12 months after the date when the Optionee ceases to be an Employee by reason of permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code); or

(iii) More than three months after the date when the Optionee has been on a leave of absence for three months, unless the Optionee’s reemployment rights following such leave were guaranteed by statute or by contract.

SECTION 7. RIGHT OF REPURCHASE.

(a) Scope of Repurchase Right. Until they vest in accordance with the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Subsection (b) below, the Shares acquired under this Agreement shall be Restricted Shares and shall be subject to the Company’s Right of Repurchase. The Company, however, may decline to exercise its Right of Repurchase or may exercise its Right of Repurchase only with respect to a portion of the Restricted Shares. The Company may exercise its Right of Repurchase only during the Repurchase Period following the termination of the Optionee’s Service, but the Right of Repurchase may be exercised automatically under Subsection (d) below. If the Right of Repurchase is exercised, the Company shall pay the Optionee an amount equal to the lower of (i) the Exercise Price of each Restricted Share being repurchased or (ii) the Fair Market Value of such Restricted Share at the time the Right of Repurchase is exercised.

(b) Lapse of Repurchase Right. The Right of Repurchase shall lapse with respect to the Restricted Shares in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant.

(c) Escrow. Upon issuance, the certificate(s) for Restricted Shares shall be deposited in escrow with the Company to be held in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Any additional or exchanged securities or other property described in Subsection (f) below shall immediately be delivered to the Company to be held in escrow. All ordinary cash dividends on Restricted Shares (or on other securities held in escrow) shall be paid directly to the Optionee and shall not be held in escrow. Restricted Shares, together with any other assets held in escrow under this Agreement, shall be (i) surrendered to the Company for repurchase upon exercise of the Right of Repurchase or the Right of First Refusal or (ii) released to the Optionee upon his or her request to the extent that the Shares have ceased to be Restricted Shares (but not more frequently than once every six months). In any event, all Shares that have ceased to be Restricted Shares, together with any other vested assets held in escrow under this Agreement, shall be released within 90 days after the earlier of (i) the termination of the Optionee’s Service or (ii) the lapse of the Right of First Refusal.

(d) Exercise of Repurchase Right. The Company shall be deemed to have exercised its Right of Repurchase automatically for all Restricted Shares as of the commencement of the Repurchase Period, unless the Company during the Repurchase Period notifies the holder of the Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 13(c) that it will not exercise its Right of Repurchase for some or all of the Restricted Shares. The Company shall pay to the holder of the Restricted Shares the purchase price determined under Subsection (a) above for the Restricted Shares being repurchased. Payment shall be made in cash or cash equivalents and/or by canceling indebtedness to the Company incurred by the Optionee in the purchase of the Restricted Shares. The

 

6


certificate(s) representing the Restricted Shares being repurchased shall be delivered to the Company.

(e) Termination of Rights as Stockholder. If the Right of Repurchase is exercised in accordance with this Section 7 and the Company makes available the consideration for the Restricted Shares being repurchased, then the person from whom the Restricted Shares are repurchased shall no longer have any rights as a holder of the Restricted Shares (other than the right to receive payment of such consideration). Such Restricted Shares shall be deemed to have been repurchased pursuant to this Section 7, whether or not the certificate(s) for such Restricted Shares have been delivered to the Company or the consideration for such Restricted Shares has been accepted.

(f) Additional or Exchanged Securities and Property. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company, a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s stock or assets, any other corporate reorganization, a stock split, the declaration of a stock dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than stock, a spin-off, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities, any securities or other property (including cash or cash equivalents) that are by reason of such transaction exchanged for, or distributed with respect to, any Restricted Shares shall immediately be subject to the Right of Repurchase. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the exchange or distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of the Restricted Shares. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the price per share to be paid upon the exercise of the Right of Repurchase, provided that the aggregate purchase price payable for the Restricted Shares shall remain the same. In the event of any transaction described in Section 8(b) of the Plan or any other corporate reorganization, the Right of Repurchase may be exercised by the Company’s successor.

(g) Transfer of Restricted Shares. The Optionee shall not transfer, assign, encumber or otherwise dispose of any Restricted Shares without the Company’s written consent, except as provided in the following sentence. The Optionee may transfer Restricted Shares to one or more members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family or to a trust established by the Optionee for the benefit of the Optionee and/or one or more members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family, provided in either case that the Transferee agrees in writing on a form prescribed by the Company to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement. If the Optionee transfers any Restricted Shares, then this Agreement shall apply to the Transferee to the same extent as to the Optionee.

(h) Assignment of Repurchase Right. The Board of Directors may freely assign the Company’s Right of Repurchase, in whole or in part. Any person who accepts an assignment of the Right of Repurchase from the Company shall assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Section 7.

SECTION 8. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

(a) Right of First Refusal. In the event that the Optionee proposes to sell, pledge or otherwise transfer to a third party any Shares acquired under this Agreement, or any interest in such Shares, the Company shall have the Right of First Refusal with respect to all (and not less than all) of such Shares. If the Optionee desires to transfer Shares acquired under this

 

7


Agreement, the Optionee shall give a written Transfer Notice to the Company describing fully the proposed transfer, including the number of Shares proposed to be transferred, the proposed transfer price, the name and address of the proposed Transferee and proof satisfactory to the Company that the proposed sale or transfer will not violate any applicable federal, State or foreign securities laws. The Transfer Notice shall be signed both by the Optionee and by the proposed Transferee and must constitute a binding commitment of both parties to the transfer of the Shares. The Company shall have the right to purchase all, and not less than all, of the Shares on the terms of the proposal described in the Transfer Notice (subject, however, to any change in such terms permitted under Subsection (b) below) by delivery of a notice of exercise of the Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when the Transfer Notice was received by the Company.

(b) Transfer of Shares. If the Company fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when it received the Transfer Notice, the Optionee may, not later than 90 days following receipt of the Transfer Notice by the Company, conclude a transfer of the Shares subject to the Transfer Notice on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice, provided that any such sale is made in compliance with applicable federal, State and foreign securities laws and not in violation of any other contractual restrictions to which the Optionee is bound. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer by the Optionee, shall again be subject to the Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance with the procedure described in Subsection (a) above. If the Company exercises its Right of First Refusal, the parties shall consummate the sale of the Shares on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice within 60 days after the date when the Company received the Transfer Notice (or within such longer period as may have been specified in the Transfer Notice); provided, however, that in the event the Transfer Notice provided that payment for the Shares was to be made in a form other than cash or cash equivalents paid at the time of transfer, the Company shall have the option of paying for the Shares with cash or cash equivalents equal to the present value of the consideration described in the Transfer Notice.

(c) Additional or Exchanged Securities and Property. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company, a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s stock or assets, any other corporate reorganization, a stock split, the declaration of a stock dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than stock, a spin-off, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities, any securities or other property (including cash or cash equivalents) that are by reason of such transaction exchanged for, or distributed with respect to, any Shares subject to this Section 8 shall immediately be subject to the Right of First Refusal. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the exchange or distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of the Shares subject to this Section 8.

(d) Termination of Right of First Refusal. Any other provision of this Section 8 notwithstanding, in the event that the Stock is readily tradable on an established securities market when the Optionee desires to transfer Shares, the Company shall have no Right of First Refusal, and the Optionee shall have no obligation to comply with the procedures prescribed by Subsections (a) and (b) above.

 

8


(e) Permitted Transfers. This Section 8 shall not apply to (i) a transfer by beneficiary designation, will or intestate succession or (ii) a transfer to one or more members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family or to a trust established by the Optionee for the benefit of the Optionee and/or one or more members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family, provided in either case that the Transferee agrees in writing on a form prescribed by the Company to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement. If the Optionee transfers any Shares acquired under this Agreement, either under this Subsection (e) or after the Company has failed to exercise the Right of First Refusal, then this Agreement shall apply to the Transferee to the same extent as to the Optionee.

(f) Termination of Rights as Stockholder. If the Company makes available, at the time and place and in the amount and form provided in this Agreement, the consideration for the Shares to be purchased in accordance with this Section 8, then after such time the person from whom such Shares are to be purchased shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such Shares (other than the right to receive payment of such consideration in accordance with this Agreement). Such Shares shall be deemed to have been purchased in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, whether or not the certificate(s) therefor have been delivered as required by this Agreement.

(g) Assignment of Right of First Refusal. The Board of Directors may freely assign the Company’s Right of First Refusal, in whole or in part. Any person who accepts an assignment of the Right of First Refusal from the Company shall assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Section 8.

SECTION 9. LEGALITY OF INITIAL ISSUANCE.

No Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this option unless and until the Company has determined that:

(a) It and the Optionee have taken any actions required to register the Shares under the Securities Act or to perfect an exemption from the registration requirements thereof;

(b) Any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange or other securities market on which Stock is listed has been satisfied; and

(c) Any other applicable provision of federal, State or foreign law has been satisfied.

SECTION 10. NO REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, register or qualify the sale of Shares under the Securities Act or any other applicable law. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the sale of Shares under this Agreement to comply with any law.

 

9


SECTION 11. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

(a) Securities Law Restrictions. Regardless of whether the offer and sale of Shares under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any State or other relevant jurisdiction, the Company at its discretion may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of such Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on the stock certificates (or electronic equivalent) or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) and may refuse (or may be required to refuse) to transfer Shares acquired hereunder (or Shares proposed to be transferred in a subsequent transfer) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions, legends or refusal are necessary or appropriate to achieve compliance with the Securities Act or other relevant securities or other laws, including without limitation under Regulation S of the Securities Act or pursuant to another available exemption from registration.

(b) Market Stand-Off. In connection with any underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, including the Company’s initial public offering, the Optionee or a Transferee shall not directly or indirectly sell, make any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, offer, grant or sell any option or other contract for the purchase of, purchase any option or other contract for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or agree to engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to, any Shares acquired under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company or its managing underwriter. Such restriction (the “Market Stand-Off”) shall be in effect for such period of time following the date of the final prospectus for the offering as may be requested by the Company or such underwriter. In no event, however, shall such period exceed 180 days plus such additional period as may reasonably be requested by the Company or such underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (i) the publication or other distribution of research reports or (ii) analyst recommendations and opinions, including (without limitation) the restrictions set forth in Rule 2711(f)(4) of the National Association of Securities Dealers and Rule 472(f)(4) of the New York Stock Exchange, as amended, or any similar successor rules. The Market Stand-Off shall in any event terminate two years after the date of the Company’s initial public offering. In the event of the declaration of a stock dividend, a spin-off, a stock split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Shares subject to the Market Stand-Off, or into which such Shares thereby become convertible, shall immediately be subject to the Market Stand-Off. In order to enforce the Market Stand-Off, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares acquired under this Agreement until the end of the applicable stand-off period. The Company’s underwriters shall be beneficiaries of the agreement set forth in this Subsection (b). This Subsection (b) shall not apply to Shares registered in the public offering under the Securities Act.

(c) Investment Intent at Grant. The Optionee represents and agrees that the Shares to be acquired upon exercising this option will be acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof.

(d) Investment Intent at Exercise. In the event that the sale of Shares under the Plan is not registered under the Securities Act but an exemption is available that requires an

 

10


investment representation or other representation, the Optionee shall represent and agree at the time of exercise that the Shares being acquired upon exercising this option are being acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof, and shall make such other representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and its counsel, including (if applicable because the Company is relying on Regulation S under the Securities Act) that as of the date of exercise the Optionee is (i) not a U.S. Person; (ii) not acquiring the Shares on behalf, or for the account or benefit, of a U.S. Person; and (iii) is not exercising the option in the United States.

(e) Legends. All certificates evidencing Shares purchased under this Agreement shall bear the following legend:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR IN ANY MANNER DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THE SHARES (OR THE PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE SHARES). SUCH AGREEMENT GRANTS TO THE COMPANY CERTAIN RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL UPON AN ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THE SHARES AND CERTAIN REPURCHASE RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION OF SERVICE WITH THE COMPANY. IN ADDITION, THE SHARES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER FOR A LIMITED PERIOD FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE UNDERWRITTEN PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY THE HOLDER WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COMPANY OR THE MANAGING UNDERWRITER. THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY WILL UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FURNISH A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE.”

All certificates evidencing Shares purchased under this Agreement in an unregistered transaction shall bear the following legend (and such other restrictive legends as are required or deemed advisable under the provisions of any applicable law):

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”) OR ANY SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY U.S. STATE, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, REOFFERED, PLEDGED, ASSIGNED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR DISPOSED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OR THE AVAILABILITY (CONFIRMED BY OPINION OF COUNSEL) OF AN ALTERNATIVE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE ACT), THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD, REOFFERED, PLEDGED, ASSIGNED, ENCUMBERED

 

11


OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR DISPOSED OF. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.”

(f) Removal of Legends. If, in the opinion of the Company and its counsel, any legend placed on a stock certificate representing Shares sold under this Agreement is no longer required, the holder of such certificate shall be entitled to exchange such certificate for a certificate representing the same number of Shares but without such legend.

(g) Administration. Any determination by the Company and its counsel in connection with any of the matters set forth in this Section 11 shall be conclusive and binding on the Optionee and all other persons.

SECTION 12. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

In the event of any transaction described in Section 8(a) of the Plan, the terms of this option (including, without limitation, the number and kind of Shares subject to this option and the Exercise Price) shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 8(a) of the Plan. In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or consolidation or in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s stock or assets, this option shall be subject to the treatment provided by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, as provided in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

SECTION 13. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

(a) Rights as a Stockholder. Neither the Optionee nor the Optionee’s representative shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares subject to this option until the Optionee or the Optionee’s representative becomes entitled to receive such Shares by filing a notice of exercise and paying the Purchase Price pursuant to Sections 4 and 5.

(b) No Retention Rights. Nothing in this option or in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining the Optionee) or of the Optionee, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

(c) Notice. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid, (iii) deposit with Federal Express Corporation, with shipping charges prepaid or (iv) deposit with any internationally recognized express mail courier service. Notice shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive office and to the Optionee at the address that he or she most recently provided to the Company in accordance with this Subsection (c).

(d) Modifications and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Optionee and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Optionee). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of

 

12


this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(e) Entire Agreement. The Notice of Stock Option Grant, this Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. They supersede any other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that relate to the subject matter hereof.

(f) Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, as such laws are applied to contracts entered into and performed in such State.

SECTION 14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE OPTIONEE.

In addition to the other terms, conditions and restrictions imposed on this option and the Shares issuable under this option pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan, the Optionee expressly acknowledges being subject to Sections 7 (Right of Repurchase), 8 (Right of First Refusal), 9 (Legality of Initial Issuance) and 11 (Restrictions on Transfer of Shares, including without limitation the Market Stand-Off), as well as the following provisions:

(a) Tax Consequences. The Optionee agrees that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes the Optionee’s tax liabilities. The Optionee shall not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees related to tax liabilities arising from this option or the Optionee’s other compensation. In particular, any Optionee subject to U.S. taxation acknowledges that this option is exempt from Section 409A of the Code only if the Exercise Price is at least equal to the Fair Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant. Since Shares are not traded on an established securities market, the determination of their Fair Market Value is made by the Board of Directors or by an independent valuation firm retained by the Company. The Optionee acknowledges that there is no guarantee in either case that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation, and the Optionee shall not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees in the event that the Internal Revenue Service asserts that the valuation was too low.

(b) Electronic Delivery of Documents. The Optionee agrees to accept by email all documents relating to the Company, the Plan or this option and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). The Optionee also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it shall notify the Optionee by email of their availability. The Optionee acknowledges that he or she may incur costs in connection with electronic delivery, including the cost of accessing the internet and printing fees, and that an interruption of internet access may interfere with his or her ability to access the documents. This consent shall remain in effect until this option expires or until the Optionee gives the Company written notice that it should deliver paper documents.

 

13


(c) No Notice of Expiration Date. The Optionee agrees that the Company and its officers, employees, attorneys and agents do not have any obligation to notify him or her prior to the expiration of this option pursuant to Section 6, regardless of whether this option will expire at the end of its full term or on an earlier date related to the termination of the Optionee’s Service. The Optionee further agrees that he or she has the sole responsibility for monitoring the expiration of this option and for exercising this option, if at all, before it expires. This Subsection (c) shall supersede any contrary representation that may have been made, orally or in writing, by the Company or by an officer, employee, attorney or agent of the Company.

(d) Waiver of Statutory Information Rights. The Optionee acknowledges and agrees that, upon exercise of this option and until the first sale of the Company’s Stock to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, he or she will be deemed to have waived any rights the Optionee might otherwise have had under Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (or under similar rights under other applicable law) to inspect for any proper purpose and to make copies and extracts from the Company’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders and its other books and records or the books and records of any subsidiary. This waiver applies only in the Optionee’s capacity as a stockholder and does not affect any other inspection rights the Optionee may have under other law or pursuant to a written agreement with the Company.

(e) Plan Discretionary. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that (i) the Plan is entirely discretionary, (ii) the Company and the Optionee’s employer have reserved the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, (iii) the grant of an option does not in any way create any contractual or other right to receive additional grants of options (or benefits in lieu of options) at any time or in any amount and (iv) all determinations with respect to any additional grants, including (without limitation) the times when options will be granted, the number of Shares offered, the Exercise Price and the vesting schedule, will be at the sole discretion of the Company.

(f) Termination of Service. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that participation in the Plan ceases upon termination of his or her Service for any reason, except as may explicitly be provided otherwise in the Plan or this Agreement.

(g) Extraordinary Compensation. The value of this option shall be an extraordinary item of compensation outside the scope of the Optionee’s employment contract, if any, and shall not be considered a part of his or her normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating severance, resignation, redundancy or end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments.

(h) Authorization to Disclose. The Optionee hereby authorizes and directs the Optionee’s employer to disclose to the Company or any Subsidiary any information regarding the Optionee’s employment, the nature and amount of the Optionee’s compensation and the fact and conditions of the Optionee’s participation in the Plan, as the Optionee’s employer deems necessary or appropriate to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

(i) Personal Data Authorization. The Optionee consents to the collection, use and transfer of personal data as described in this Subsection (i). The Optionee understands and

 

14


acknowledges that the Company, the Optionee’s employer and the Company’s other Subsidiaries hold certain personal information regarding the Optionee for the purpose of managing and administering the Plan, including (without limitation) the Optionee’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company and details of all options or any other entitlements to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Optionee’s favor (the “Data”). The Optionee further understands and acknowledges that the Company and/or its Subsidiaries will transfer Data among themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of the Optionee’s participation in the Plan and that the Company and/or any Subsidiary may each further transfer Data to any third party assisting the Company in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that the recipients of Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere. The Optionee authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer Data, in electronic or other form, for the purpose of administering the Optionee’s participation in the Plan, including a transfer to any broker or other third party with whom the Optionee elects to deposit Shares acquired under the Plan of such Data as may be required for the administration of the Plan and/or the subsequent holding of Shares on the Optionee’s behalf. The Optionee may, at any time, view the Data, require any necessary modifications of Data or withdraw the consents set forth in this Subsection (i) by contacting the Company in writing.

SECTION 15. DEFINITIONS.

(a) “Agreement” shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.

(b) “Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time or, if a Committee has been appointed, such Committee.

(c) “Company” shall mean Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(d) “Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships.

(e) “Optionee” shall mean the person named in the Notice of Stock Option Grant.

(f) “Plan” shall mean the Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc. 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as in effect on the Date of Grant.

(g) “Purchase Price” shall mean the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which this option is being exercised.

(h) “Repurchase Period” shall mean a period of 90 consecutive days commencing on the date when the Optionee’s Service terminates for any reason, including (without limitation) death or disability.

 

15


(i) “Restricted Share” shall mean a Share that is subject to the Right of Repurchase.

(j) “Right of First Refusal” shall mean the Company’s right of first refusal described in Section 8.

(k) “Right of Repurchase” shall mean the Company’s right of repurchase described in Section 7.

(l) “Service” shall mean service as an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant.

(m) “Transferee” shall mean any person to whom the Optionee has directly or indirectly transferred any Share acquired under this Agreement.

(n) “Transfer Notice” shall mean the notice of a proposed transfer of Shares described in Section 8.

(o) “U.S. Person” shall mean a person described in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or provision), which generally defines a U.S. person as any natural person resident in the United States, any estate of which any executor or administrator is a U.S. Person, or any trust of which of any trustee is a U.S. Person.

 

16


PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION EXERCISE (INSTALLMENT EXERCISE)

You must sign this Notice on Page 3 before submitting it to the Company.

OPTIONEE INFORMATION:

 

Name:                                                                               Social Security Number:                                             
Address:                                                                           Employee Number:                                                     
                                                                                         

OPTION INFORMATION:

 

Date of Grant: _____________ ___, 20__    Type of Stock Option:
Exercise Price per Share: $________    ☐ Nonstatutory (NSO)
Total number of shares of Class A Common Stock of Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) covered by the option: __________________    ☐ Incentive (ISO)

EXERCISE INFORMATION:

Number of shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company for which the option is being exercised now: ________________. (These shares are referred to below as the “Purchased Shares.”)

Total Exercise Price for the Purchased Shares: $____________

Form of payment enclosed [check all that apply]:

 

Check for $____________, payable to “Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc.”

 

Certificate(s) for ________________ shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company. These shares will be valued as of the date this notice is received by the Company. [Requires Company consent.]

 

Attestation Form covering ________________ shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company. These shares will be valued as of the date this notice is received by the Company. [Requires Company consent.]

Name(s) in which the Purchased Shares should be registered [please review the attached explanation of the available forms of ownership, and then check one box]:

 

In my name only

 

1


☐   In the names of my spouse and myself as community property

     

My spouse’s name (if applicable):

☐   In the names of my spouse and myself as community property with the right of survivorship

     

                                                                          

☐   In the names of my spouse and myself as joint tenants with the right of survivorship

     

☐   In the name of an eligible revocable trust [requires Stock Transfer Agreement]

     

Full legal name of revocable trust:

                                                                          

                                                                          

                                                                          

The certificate for the Purchased Shares should be sent to the following address:      

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

REPRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE OPTIONEE:

 

1.

I represent and warrant to the Company that I am acquiring and will hold the Purchased Shares for investment for my account only, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any “distribution” of the Purchased Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

2.

I understand that my purchase of the Purchased Shares has not been registered under the Securities Act by reason of a specific exemption therefrom and that the Purchased Shares must be held indefinitely, unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or I obtain an opinion of counsel (in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and its counsel) that registration is not required.

 

3.

I acknowledge that the Company is under no obligation to register the Purchased Shares or any sale or transfer thereof.

 

4.

I am aware of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which permits limited public resales of securities acquired in a non-public offering, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. These conditions may include (without limitation) that certain current public information about the issuer be available, that the resale occur only after a holding period required by Rule 144 has been satisfied, that the sale occur through an unsolicited “broker’s transaction” and that the amount of securities being sold during any three-month period not exceed specified limitations. I understand that the conditions for resale set forth in Rule 144 have not been satisfied as of the date set forth below, and that the Company is not required to take action to satisfy any conditions applicable to it.

 

5.

I will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Purchased Shares in violation of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the rules promulgated thereunder, including Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

6.

I acknowledge that I have received and had access to such information as I consider necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to invest in the Purchased Shares and that I had an opportunity to ask

 

2


  questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the issuance of the Purchased Shares.

 

7.

I am aware that my investment in the Company is a speculative investment that has limited liquidity and is subject to the risk of complete loss. I am able, without impairing my financial condition, to hold the Purchased Shares for an indefinite period and to suffer a complete loss of my investment in the Purchased Shares.

 

8.

I acknowledge that the Purchased Shares remain subject to the Company’s right of first refusal and the market stand-off (sometimes referred to as the “lock-up”), all in accordance with the applicable Notice of Stock Option Grant and Stock Option Agreement.

 

9.

I acknowledge that I am acquiring the Purchased Shares subject to all other terms of the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Stock Option Agreement.

 

10.

I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Company’s explanation of the forms of ownership available for my Purchased Shares. I acknowledge that the Company has encouraged me to consult my own adviser to determine the form of ownership that is appropriate for me. In the event that I choose to transfer my Purchased Shares to a trust, I agree to sign a Stock Transfer Agreement. In the event that I choose to transfer my Purchased Shares to a trust that does not satisfy the requirements described in the attached explanation (i.e., a trust that is not an eligible revocable trust), I also acknowledge that the transfer will be treated as a “disposition” for tax purposes. As a result, the favorable ISO tax treatment will be unavailable and other unfavorable tax consequences may occur.

 

11.

I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Company’s explanation of the federal income tax consequences of an option exercise. I acknowledge that the Company has encouraged me to consult my own adviser to determine the tax consequences of acquiring the Purchased Shares at this time.

 

12.

I agree that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes my tax liabilities. I will not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees related to tax liabilities arising from my options or my other compensation. In particular, I acknowledge that my options are exempt from section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code only if the exercise price per share is at least equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock at the time the option was granted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Since shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock are not traded on an established securities market, the determination of their fair market value was made by the Company’s Board of Directors or by an independent valuation firm retained by the Company. I acknowledge that there is no guarantee in either case that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation, and I will not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees in the event that the Internal Revenue Service asserts that the valuation was too low.

 

13.

I agree to seek the consent of my spouse to the extent required by the Company to enforce the foregoing.

 

SIGNATURE:               DATE:

 

    

 

 

3


EXPLANATION OF FORMS OF STOCK OWNERSHIP

PURPOSE OF THIS EXPLANATION

The purpose of this explanation is to provide you with a brief summary of the forms of legal ownership available for the shares that you are purchasing (the “Purchased Shares”). For a number of reasons, this explanation is no substitute for personal legal advice:

 

To make the explanation short and readable, only the highlights are covered. Some legal rules are not addressed, even though they may be important in particular cases.

 

While the summary attempts to deal with the most common situations, your own situation may well be different from the norm.

 

The law may change, and the Company is not responsible for updating this summary.

 

The form in which you own your shares may have a substantial impact on the estate tax treatment that applies to those shares when you die or the income tax treatment that applies when your survivors sell the shares after your death.

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COMPANY STRONGLY ENCOURAGES YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING YOUR OPTION AND BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT THE FORM OF OWNERSHIP FOR YOUR SHARES.

OVERVIEW

The Notice of Stock Option Exercise offers five forms of taking title to the Purchased Shares:

 

In your name only,

 

In your name and the name of your spouse as community property,

 

In your name and the name of your spouse as community property with the right of survivorship,

 

In your name and the name of your spouse as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, or

 

In the name of an eligible revocable trust.

Title in the Purchased Shares depends upon (a) your marital status, (b) the marital property laws of your state of residence and (c) any agreement with your spouse altering the existing marital property laws of your state of residence. If you are not married, you generally will take title in your name alone. If you are married, title depends upon the marital property laws of your state of residence. In general, states are classified either as “community property” states or as “common-law property” states. (But individual state law may vary within these classifications.)

 

4


COMMUNITY PROPERTY AND JOINT TENANCY

Community property states include California, Texas, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Louisiana and Wisconsin. In a community property state, property acquired during marriage by either spouse is presumed to be one-half owned by each spouse. All other property is classified as the separate property of the spouse who acquires the property. While either spouse has equal management and control over the community property and may sell, spend or encumber all community property, neither spouse may gift community property or partition his/her one-half interest without the consent of the other spouse. Upon divorce, all community property is divided equally among the spouses and each spouse is entitled to retain all of his/her separate property. Upon the death of a spouse, one-half of the community property (and all of the decedent spouse’s separate property) will pass to the decedent spouse’s heirs. The other one-half of the community property remains the property of the surviving spouse.

Other states are common-law property states. In a common-law property state, each spouse is generally deemed to own whatever he/she earns or acquires.

A married couple may elect to alter the marital property rules by mutually agreeing to take title to property in other forms. For example, a couple residing in a community property state may generally enter into an agreement and transform what otherwise would be community property into the separate property of the spouse who earns or acquires the property.

In addition, many community property and common-law property states allow married couples to take joint title in property acquired during marriage. For example, California allows a married couple to take title in a joint tenancy with the right of survivorship. In a joint tenancy, each spouse owns a one-half interest in the property as separate property. This means that each spouse may transfer or sell his/her one-half interest in the property while he/she is alive. However, unlike traditional separate property, a spouse cannot transfer his/her one-half interest to heirs at death. Instead, the surviving spouse automatically receives the decedent spouse’s one-half interest and becomes the full owner of the property. (This is called the “right of survivorship.”) Both spouses must consent to taking property in a joint tenancy in lieu of having the community property laws apply.

California also allows a married couple to take title in the shares as community property with the right of survivorship. This means that the shares are treated like community property while both spouses are alive. However, if one spouse dies, then the other spouse automatically receives the decedent spouse’s one-half interest and becomes the full owner of the shares. In other words, the decedent spouse’s will or trust does not control the disposition of the shares.

If you have the Purchased Shares issued in a form other than those described above, then the transfer will be treated as a “disposition” for tax purposes. This means that the effect, for tax purposes, will be the same as selling the Purchased Shares. Please refer to the attached tax summary for additional information.

 

5


TRUSTS

A transfer to a trust generally should not be treated as a “disposition” of the Purchased Shares for tax purposes if the trust satisfies each of the following conditions:

 

You are the sole grantor of the trust,

 

You are the sole trustee, or you and your spouse are the sole co-trustees,

 

The trustee or trustees are not required to distribute the income of the trust to any person other than you and/or your spouse while you are alive, and

 

The trust permits you to revoke all or part of the trust and to have the trust’s assets returned to you, without the consent of any other person (including your spouse).

If you have the Purchased Shares issued to a trust that does not meet these requirements, then the transfer will be treated as a “disposition” for tax purposes. This means that the effect, for tax purposes, will be the same as selling the Purchased Shares. Please refer to the attached tax summary for additional information.

If you have the Purchased Shares issued to any trust, you will be required to sign a Stock Transfer Agreement in your capacity as trustee. Under the Stock Transfer Agreement, the Purchased Shares remain subject to the Company’s right of first refusal in accordance with the applicable Notice of Stock Option Grant and Stock Option Agreement.

THE COMPANY WILL NOT CHECK TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FORM OF OWNERSHIP THAT YOU ELECT IN YOUR NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION EXERCISE IS APPROPRIATE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN ADVISERS ON THIS SUBJECT. IF AN INAPPROPRIATE ELECTION IS MADE, THE FORM OF OWNERSHIP MAY NOT WITHSTAND LEGAL SCRUTINY OR MAY HAVE ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES.

 

6


EXPLANATION OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

(Current as of January 2018)

PURPOSE OF THIS EXPLANATION

The purpose of this explanation is to provide you with a brief summary of the tax consequences of exercising your option. For a number of reasons, this explanation is no substitute for personal tax advice:

 

To make the explanation short and readable, only the highlights are covered. Some tax rules are not addressed, even though they may be important in particular cases.

 

While the summary attempts to deal with the most common situations, your own tax situation may well be different from the norm.

 

State and foreign income taxes are not addressed at all, even though they could have a significant impact on your tax planning. Likewise, federal gift and estate taxes and state inheritance taxes are not discussed.

 

Tax planning involving incentive stock options is exceedingly complex, in part because of the possible application of the alternative minimum tax.

 

This explanation assumes that your option is not subject to section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. However, the Company cannot be certain that section 409A is inapplicable to your option. (Please refer to the last segment of this summary for more information about section 409A.)

 

The tax rules change often, and the Company is not responsible for updating this summary. (Please refer to the date at the top of this page.)

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COMPANY STRONGLY ENCOURAGES YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING YOUR OPTION.

EXERCISE OF NSO

If you are exercising an NSO, you generally will be taxed at the time of exercise. You will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the Purchased Shares on the date of exercise over (b) the exercise price you are paying. If you are an employee or former employee of the Company, this amount is subject to withholding for income and payroll taxes. Your tax basis in the Purchased Shares (to calculate capital gain when you sell the shares) is equal to the sum of the exercise price you paid for the Purchased Shares plus any additional amount you recognized as income on the exercise date.

 

7


DISPOSITION OF NSO SHARES

When you dispose of the Purchased Shares, you will recognize a capital gain equal to the excess of (a) the sale proceeds over (b) your tax basis in the Purchased Shares. If the sale proceeds are less than your tax basis, you will recognize a capital loss. The capital gain or loss will be long-term if you held the Purchased Shares for more than 12 months. The holding period starts when you exercise your NSO. In general, the maximum marginal federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains is 20% under current law, but lower long-term capital gain rates may apply to certain taxpayers.

Effective January 1, 2013, as a result of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, an additional Medicare contribution tax is imposed at a rate of 3.8% on the “net investment income” of individuals with adjusted gross incomes in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return, and $125,000 in the case of a married taxpayer filing separately). “Net investment income” includes income from interest, dividends, and capital gains, reduced by the deductions properly allocated to such income.

Depending on the level of your adjusted gross income, the additional Medicare contribution tax may be imposed on any short-term and long-term capital gain income and can increase your marginal tax rate.

LIMIT ON ISO TREATMENT

The Notice of Stock Option Grant indicates whether your option is a nonstatutory stock option (NSO) or an incentive stock option (ISO). The favorable tax treatment for ISOs is limited, regardless of what the Notice of Stock Option Grant indicates. Of the options that become exercisable in any calendar year, only options covering the first $100,000 of stock are eligible for ISO treatment. The excess over $100,000 automatically receives NSO treatment. For this purpose, stock is valued at the time of grant. This means that the value is generally equal to the exercise price.

For example, assume that you hold an option to buy 60,000 shares for $8 per share. Assume further that the entire option becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments. Only the first 50,000 shares qualify for ISO treatment. (12,500 times $8 equals $100,000.) The remaining 10,000 shares will be treated as if they had been acquired by exercising an NSO. This is true regardless of when the option is actually exercised; what matters is when it first could have been exercised.

EXERCISE OF ISO AND ISO HOLDING PERIODS

If you are exercising an ISO, you will not be taxed under the regular tax rules until you dispose of the Purchased Shares.1 (The alternative minimum tax rules are described below.) The tax

 

1 

Generally, a “disposition” of shares purchased under an ISO encompasses any transfer of legal title, such as a transfer by sale, exchange or gift. It generally does not include a transfer to your spouse, a transfer into joint ownership with right of survivorship (if you remain one of the joint owners), a pledge, a transfer by bequest or inheritance, or certain tax-free exchanges permitted under the Internal Revenue Code. A transfer to a trust is a “disposition” unless the trust is an eligible revocable trust, as described in the attached explanation.

 

8


treatment at the time of disposition depends on how long you hold the shares. You will satisfy the ISO holding periods if you hold the Purchased Shares until the later of the following dates:

 

More than two years after the ISO was granted, and

 

More than one year after the ISO is exercised.

DISPOSITION OF ISO SHARES

If you dispose of the Purchased Shares after satisfying both of the ISO holding periods, then you will recognize only a long-term capital gain at the time of disposition. The amount of the capital gain is equal to the excess of (a) the sale proceeds over (b) the exercise price. In general, the maximum marginal federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains is 20% under current law, but lower long-term capital gain rates may apply to certain taxpayers.

Effective January 1, 2013, as a result of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, an additional Medicare contribution tax is imposed at a rate of 3.8% on the “net investment income” of individuals with adjusted gross incomes in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return, and $125,000 in the case of a married taxpayer filing separately). “Net investment income” includes income from interest, dividends, and capital gains, reduced by the deductions properly allocated to such income.

If you dispose of the Purchased Shares before either or both of the ISO holding periods are met, then you will recognize ordinary income at the time of disposition. The amount of ordinary income will be equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the Purchased Shares on the date of exercise over (b) the exercise price. But if the disposition is an arm’s length sale to an unrelated party, the amount of ordinary income will not exceed the total gain from the sale. Under current IRS rules, the ordinary income amount will not be subject to withholding for income or payroll taxes.

Your tax basis in the Purchased Shares will be equal to the sum of the exercise price you paid for the Purchased Shares plus any additional amount you recognized as ordinary income. Any gain in excess of your basis will be taxed as a capital gain—either long-term or short-term, depending on how long you held the Purchased Shares after the date of exercise.

SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) must be paid to the extent that it exceeds your regular federal income tax for the year. For 2018, the first $191,500 ($95,750 for a married taxpayer filing a separate return) of your alternative minimum taxable income for the year over the allowable exemption amount (see below) is subject to alternative minimum taxation at the rate of 26%. The balance of your alternative minimum taxable income is subject to alternative minimum taxation at the rate of 28%. The dollar thresholds dividing the 26% and 28% rates are indexed for inflation in future years. Your alternative minimum tax base is equal to your alternative minimum taxable income (AMTI) minus your exemption amount.

 

9


Alternative Minimum Taxable Income. Your AMTI is equal to your regular taxable income, subject to certain adjustments and increased by items of tax preference. Among the many adjustments made in computing AMTI are the following:

 

 

State and local income and property taxes are not allowed as a deduction.

 

 

Certain interest and other deductions are not allowed.

 

 

When an ISO is exercised, the spread is added to income for AMT purposes. (See discussion below.)

 

Exemption Amount. Before AMT is calculated, AMTI is reduced by the exemption amount. Under current law, the exemption amount is as follows:

 

Year:

  

Joint Returns:

  

Single Returns:

  

Separate Returns:

20182

   $109,400    $70,300    $54,700

The allowable exemption amount is reduced by $0.25 for each $1.00 by which alternative minimum taxable income for the year exceeds the following amounts:

 

Year:

  

Joint Returns:

  

Single Returns:

  

Separate Returns:

20183

   $1,000,000    $500,000    $500,000

This means, for example, in 2018, the $109,400 exemption amount is phased out completely for married individuals filing joint returns when their alternative minimum taxable income reaches $1,437,600 [($109,400 ÷ $0.25) + $1,000,000].

APPLICATION OF AMT WHEN ISO IS EXERCISED

As noted above, when an ISO is exercised, the spread is included in AMTI at the time of exercise.

A special rule applies if you dispose of the Purchased Shares in the same year in which you exercised the ISO. If the amount you realize on the sale is less than the value of the stock at the time of exercise, then the amount includible in AMTI on account of the ISO exercise is limited to the gain realized on the sale.4

To the extent that your AMT is attributable to the spread on exercising an ISO (and certain other items), you may be able to apply the AMT that you paid as a credit against your income tax liability in future years. But the rules on calculating the available tax credits were amended frequently in

 

2 

Amounts are indexed for inflation in future years.

3 

Amounts are indexed for inflation in future years.

4 

This is similar to the rule that applies under the regular tax system in the event of a disqualifying disposition of ISO stock. The amount of ordinary income that must be recognized in that case generally does not exceed the amount of the gain realized in the disposition.

 

10


recent years and have become extraordinarily complex. On this issue in particular, you must consult your own tax adviser.

When Purchased Shares are sold, your basis for purposes of computing the capital gain or loss under the AMT system is increased by the option spread that exists at the time of exercise. Again, an ISO is treated under the AMT system much like an NSO is treated under the regular tax system. But your basis in the ISO shares for purposes of computing gain or loss under the regular tax system does not reflect any AMT that you pay on the spread at exercise. Therefore, if you pay AMT in the year of the ISO exercise and regular income tax in the year of selling the Purchased Shares, you could pay tax twice on the same gain (except to the extent that you can use the AMT credit described above).

SECTION 409A OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

The preceding summary assumes that section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code does not apply to your option. In general, your option is exempt from section 409A if the exercise price per share is at least equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s Common Stock at the time the option was granted by the Board of Directors. Since shares of Common Stock are not traded on an established securities market, the determination of their fair market value generally is made by the Board of Directors or by an independent appraisal firm retained by the Company. In either case, there is no guarantee that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation.

If your option were found to be subject to section 409A, then you would be required to recognize ordinary income as early as the year in which the option (or portion thereof) vests. This amount would also be subject to a 20% federal tax in addition to the federal income tax at your usual marginal rate for ordinary income. Additional state income taxes may apply in some states.

DISCLAIMER UNDER IRS CIRCULAR 230

To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by U.S. tax authorities, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in the foregoing summary is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding United States federal, state or local tax penalties, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein (including any attachments).

 

11


PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION EXERCISE (EARLY EXERCISE)

You must sign this Notice on Page 3 before submitting it to the Company.

OPTIONEE INFORMATION:

 

Name:                                                                               Social Security Number:                                             
Address:                                                                           Employee Number:                                                     
                                                                                         

OPTION INFORMATION:

 

Date of Grant: _____________ ___, 20__    Type of Stock Option:
Exercise Price per Share: $________    ☐ Nonstatutory (NSO)
Total number of shares of Class A Common Stock of Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) covered by the option: __________________    ☐ Incentive (ISO)

EXERCISE INFORMATION:

 

Number of shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company for which the option is being exercised now: ________________. (These shares are referred to below as the “Purchased Shares.”)
Total Exercise Price for the Purchased Shares: $____________
Form of payment enclosed [check all that apply]:

☐   Check for $____________, payable to “Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc.”

☐   Certificate(s) for ________________ shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company. These shares will be valued as of the date this notice is received by the Company. [Requires Company consent.]

☐   Attestation Form covering ________________ shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company. These shares will be valued as of the date this notice is received by the Company. [Requires Company consent.]

Name(s) in which the Purchased Shares should be registered [please review the attached explanation of the available forms of ownership, and then check one box]:

☐   In my name only

  

☐   In the names of my spouse and myself as community property

   My spouse’s name (if applicable):

☐   In the names of my spouse and myself as community property with the right of survivorship

  

 

 

1


☐   In the names of my spouse and myself as joint tenants with the right of survivorship

     

☐   In the name of an eligible revocable trust [requires Stock Transfer Agreement]

     

Full legal name of revocable trust:

                                                                          

                                                                          

                                                                          

The certificate for the Purchased Shares should be sent to the following address:      

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

REPRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE OPTIONEE:

 

1.

I represent and warrant to the Company that I am acquiring and will hold the Purchased Shares for investment for my account only, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any “distribution” of the Purchased Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

2.

I understand that my purchase of the Purchased Shares has not been registered under the Securities Act by reason of a specific exemption therefrom and that the Purchased Shares must be held indefinitely, unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or I obtain an opinion of counsel (in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and its counsel) that registration is not required.

 

3.

I acknowledge that the Company is under no obligation to register the Purchased Shares or any sale or transfer thereof.

 

4.

I am aware of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which permits limited public resales of securities acquired in a non-public offering, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. These conditions may include (without limitation) that certain current public information about the issuer be available, that the resale occur only after a holding period required by Rule 144 has been satisfied, that the sale occur through an unsolicited “broker’s transaction” and that the amount of securities being sold during any three-month period not exceed specified limitations. I understand that the conditions for resale set forth in Rule 144 have not been satisfied as of the date set forth below and that the Company is not required to take action to satisfy any conditions applicable to it.

 

5.

I will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Purchased Shares in violation of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the rules promulgated thereunder, including Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

6.

I acknowledge that I have received and had access to such information as I consider necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to invest in the Purchased Shares and that I had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the issuance of the Purchased Shares.

 

7.

I am aware that my investment in the Company is a speculative investment that has limited liquidity and is subject to the risk of complete loss. I am able, without impairing my financial condition, to hold the Purchased Shares for an indefinite period and to suffer a complete loss of my investment in the Purchased Shares.

 

8.

I acknowledge that the Purchased Shares remain subject to the Company’s right of first refusal and the market stand-off (sometimes referred to as the “lock-up”) and may remain subject to the Company’s

 

2


  right of repurchase, all in accordance with the applicable Notice of Stock Option Grant and Stock Option Agreement.

 

9.

I acknowledge that I am acquiring the Purchased Shares subject to all other terms of the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Stock Option Agreement.

 

10.

I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Company’s explanation of the forms of ownership available for my Purchased Shares. I acknowledge that the Company has encouraged me to consult my own adviser to determine the form of ownership that is appropriate for me. In the event that I choose to transfer my Purchased Shares to a trust, I agree to sign a Stock Transfer Agreement. In the event that I choose to transfer my Purchased Shares to a trust that does not satisfy the requirements described in the attached explanation (i.e., a trust that is not an eligible revocable trust), I also acknowledge that the transfer will be treated as a “disposition” for tax purposes. As a result, the favorable ISO tax treatment will be unavailable and other unfavorable tax consequences may occur.

 

11.

I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Company’s explanation of the federal income tax consequences of an option exercise and the tax election under section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. In the event that I choose to make a section 83(b) election, I acknowledge that it is my responsibility—and not the Company’s responsibility—to file the election in a timely manner, even if I ask the Company or its agents to make the filing on my behalf. I acknowledge that the Company has encouraged me to consult my own adviser to determine the tax consequences of acquiring the Purchased Shares at this time.

 

12.

I agree that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes my tax liabilities. I will not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees related to tax liabilities arising from my options or my other compensation. In particular, I acknowledge that my options are exempt from section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code only if the exercise price per share is at least equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock at the time the option was granted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Since shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock are not traded on an established securities market, the determination of their fair market value was made by the Company’s Board of Directors or by an independent valuation firm retained by the Company. I acknowledge that there is no guarantee in either case that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation, and I will not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees in the event that the Internal Revenue Service asserts that the valuation was too low.

 

13.

I agree to seek the consent of my spouse to the extent required by the Company to enforce the foregoing.

 

SIGNATURE:    DATE:

 

  

 

 

3


EXPLANATION OF FORMS OF STOCK OWNERSHIP

PURPOSE OF THIS EXPLANATION

The purpose of this explanation is to provide you with a brief summary of the forms of legal ownership available for the shares that you are purchasing (the “Purchased Shares”). For a number of reasons, this explanation is no substitute for personal legal advice:

 

To make the explanation short and readable, only the highlights are covered. Some legal rules are not addressed, even though they may be important in particular cases.

 

While the summary attempts to deal with the most common situations, your own situation may well be different from the norm.

 

The law may change, and the Company is not responsible for updating this summary.

 

The form in which you own your shares may have a substantial impact on the estate tax treatment that applies to those shares when you die or the income tax treatment that applies when your survivors sell the shares after your death.

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COMPANY STRONGLY ENCOURAGES YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING YOUR OPTION AND BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT THE FORM OF OWNERSHIP FOR YOUR SHARES.

OVERVIEW

The Notice of Stock Option Exercise offers five forms of taking title to the Purchased Shares:

 

In your name only,

 

In your name and the name of your spouse as community property,

 

In your name and the name of your spouse as community property with the right of survivorship,

 

In your name and the name of your spouse as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, or

 

In the name of an eligible revocable trust.

Title in the Purchased Shares depends upon (a) your marital status, (b) the marital property laws of your state of residence and (c) any agreement with your spouse altering the existing marital property laws of your state of residence. If you are not married, you generally will take title in your name alone. If you are married, title depends upon the marital property laws of your state of residence. In general, states are classified either as “community property” states or as “common-law property” states. (But individual state law may vary within these classifications.)

 

4


COMMUNITY PROPERTY AND JOINT TENANCY

Community property states include California, Texas, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Louisiana and Wisconsin. In a community property state, property acquired during marriage by either spouse is presumed to be one-half owned by each spouse. All other property is classified as the separate property of the spouse who acquires the property. While either spouse has equal management and control over the community property and may sell, spend or encumber all community property, neither spouse may gift community property or partition his/her one-half interest without the consent of the other spouse. Upon divorce, all community property is divided equally among the spouses and each spouse is entitled to retain all of his/her separate property. Upon the death of a spouse, one-half of the community property (and all of the decedent spouse’s separate property) will pass to the decedent spouse’s heirs. The other one-half of the community property remains the property of the surviving spouse.

Other states are common-law property states. In a common-law property state, each spouse is generally deemed to own whatever he/she earns or acquires.

A married couple may elect to alter the marital property rules by mutually agreeing to take title to property in other forms. For example, a couple residing in a community property state may generally enter into an agreement and transform what otherwise would be community property into the separate property of the spouse who earns or acquires the property.

In addition, many community property and common-law property states allow married couples to take joint title in property acquired during marriage. For example, California allows a married couple to take title in a joint tenancy with the right of survivorship. In a joint tenancy, each spouse owns a one-half interest in the property as separate property. This means that each spouse may transfer or sell his/her one-half interest in the property while he/she is alive. However, unlike traditional separate property, a spouse cannot transfer his/her one-half interest to heirs at death. Instead, the surviving spouse automatically receives the decedent spouse’s one-half interest and becomes the full owner of the property. (This is called the “right of survivorship.”) Both spouses must consent to taking property in a joint tenancy in lieu of having the community property laws apply.

California also allows a married couple to take title in the shares as community property with the right of survivorship. This means that the shares are treated like community property while both spouses are alive. However, if one spouse dies, then the other spouse automatically receives the decedent spouse’s one-half interest and becomes the full owner of the shares. In other words, the decedent spouse’s will or trust does not control the disposition of the shares.

If you have the Purchased Shares issued in a form other than those described above, then the transfer will be treated as a “disposition” for tax purposes. This means that the effect, for tax purposes, will be the same as selling the Purchased Shares. Please refer to the attached tax summary for additional information.

 

5


TRUSTS

A transfer to a trust generally should not be treated as a “disposition” of the Purchased Shares for tax purposes if the trust satisfies each of the following conditions:

 

You are the sole grantor of the trust,

 

You are the sole trustee, or you and your spouse are the sole co-trustees,

 

The trustee or trustees are not required to distribute the income of the trust to any person other than you and/or your spouse while you are alive, and

 

The trust permits you to revoke all or part of the trust and to have the trust’s assets returned to you, without the consent of any other person (including your spouse).

If you have the Purchased Shares issued to a trust that does not meet these requirements, then the transfer will be treated as a “disposition” for tax purposes. This means that the effect, for tax purposes, will be the same as selling the Purchased Shares. Please refer to the attached tax summary for additional information.

If you have the Purchased Shares issued to any trust, you will be required to sign a Stock Transfer Agreement in your capacity as trustee. Under the Stock Transfer Agreement, the Purchased Shares remain subject to the Company’s right of first refusal and may remain subject to the Company’s right of repurchase, all in accordance with the applicable Notice of Stock Option Grant and Stock Option Agreement.

THE COMPANY WILL NOT CHECK TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FORM OF OWNERSHIP THAT YOU ELECT IN YOUR NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION EXERCISE IS APPROPRIATE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN ADVISERS ON THIS SUBJECT. IF AN INAPPROPRIATE ELECTION IS MADE, THE FORM OF OWNERSHIP MAY NOT WITHSTAND LEGAL SCRUTINY OR MAY HAVE ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES.

 

6


EXPLANATION OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

AND SECTION 83(b) ELECTION

(Current as of January 2018)

PURPOSE OF THIS EXPLANATION

The purpose of this explanation is to provide you with a brief summary of the tax consequences of exercising your option. For a number of reasons, this explanation is no substitute for personal tax advice:

 

To make the explanation short and readable, only the highlights are covered. Some tax rules are not addressed, even though they may be important in particular cases.

 

While the summary attempts to deal with the most common situations, your own tax situation may well be different from the norm.

 

State and foreign income taxes are not addressed at all, even though they could have a significant impact on your tax planning. Likewise, federal gift and estate taxes and state inheritance taxes are not discussed.

 

Tax planning involving incentive stock options is exceedingly complex, in part because of the possible application of the alternative minimum tax.

 

The explanation assumes that you are paying the exercise price of your option in cash (or in the form of a full-recourse promissory note with an interest rate that meets IRS requirements). If you are paying the exercise price in the form of stock, you become subject to special rules that are not addressed here.

 

This explanation assumes that your option is not subject to section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. However, the Company cannot be certain that section 409A is inapplicable to your option. (Please refer to the last segment of this summary for more information about section 409A.)

 

The tax rules change often, and the Company is not responsible for updating this summary. (Please refer to the date at the top of this page.)

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COMPANY STRONGLY ENCOURAGES YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING YOUR OPTION AND BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT FILING OR NOT FILING A SECTION 83(b) ELECTION.

EXERCISE OF NSO TO PURCHASE VESTED SHARES

The Notice of Stock Option Grant indicates whether your Purchased Shares are already vested. Vested shares are no longer subject to the Company’s right to repurchase them, although they are

 

7


still subject to the Company’s right of first refusal. If you know that your Purchased Shares are already vested, there is no need to file a section 83(b) election.

If you are exercising an NSO to purchase vested shares, you generally will be taxed at the time of exercise. You will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the Purchased Shares on the date of exercise over (b) the exercise price you are paying. If you are an employee or former employee of the Company, this amount is subject to withholding for income and payroll taxes. Your tax basis in the Purchased Shares (to calculate capital gain when you sell the shares) is equal to the sum of the exercise price you paid for the Purchased Shares plus any additional amount you recognized as income on the exercise date.

EXERCISE OF NSO TO PURCHASE NON-VESTED SHARES

If you are exercising an NSO to purchase non-vested shares, and if you do not file a timely election under section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, then you will not be taxed at the time of exercise. Instead, you will be taxed whenever an increment of Purchased Shares vests—in other words, when the Company no longer has the right to repurchase those shares. The Notice of Stock Option Grant indicates when this occurs, generally over a period of several years. Whenever an increment of Purchased Shares vests, you will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of those Purchased Shares on the date of vesting over (b) the exercise price you are paying for those Purchased Shares. If you are an employee or former employee of the Company, this amount will be subject to withholding for income and payroll taxes. Your tax basis in the Purchased Shares (to calculate capital gain when you sell the shares) will be equal to the sum of the exercise price you paid for the Purchased Shares plus any additional amount you recognized as income on each vesting date.

If you are exercising an NSO to purchase non-vested shares, and if you file a timely election under section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, then you will be taxed at the time of exercise. You will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the Purchased Shares on the date of exercise over (b) the exercise price you are paying. If you are an employee or former employee of the Company, this amount is subject to withholding for income and payroll taxes. Your tax basis in the Purchased Shares (to calculate capital gain when you sell the shares) is equal to the sum of the exercise price you paid for the Purchased Shares plus any additional amount you recognized as income as a result of filing the section 83(b) election. Even if the fair market value of the Purchased Shares on the date of exercise equals the exercise price (and thus no tax is payable), the section 83(b) election must be made in order to avoid having any subsequent appreciation taxed as ordinary income at the time of vesting.

YOU MUST FILE A SECTION 83(b) ELECTION WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION EXERCISE IS SIGNED. The 30-day filing period cannot be extended. If you miss the deadline, you will be taxed as the Purchased Shares vest, based on the value of the shares at that time. (See above.) The form for making the 83(b) election is attached. Additional copies of the form must be filed with the Company.

 

8


DISPOSITION OF NSO SHARES

When you dispose of the Purchased Shares, you will recognize a capital gain equal to the excess of (a) the sale proceeds over (b) your tax basis in the Purchased Shares. If the sale proceeds are less than your tax basis, you will recognize a capital loss. The capital gain or loss will be long-term if you held the Purchased Shares for more than 12 months. The holding period normally starts when you exercise your NSO. In general, the maximum marginal federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains is 20% under current law, but lower long-term capital gain rates may apply to certain taxpayers.

Effective January 1, 2013, as a result of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, an additional Medicare contribution tax is imposed at a rate of 3.8% on the “net investment income” of individuals with adjusted gross incomes in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return, and $125,000 in the case of a married taxpayer filing separately). “Net investment income” includes income from interest, dividends, and capital gains, reduced by the deductions properly allocated to such income.

Depending on the level of your adjusted gross income, the additional Medicare contribution tax may be imposed on any short-term and long-term capital gain income and can increase your marginal tax rate.

LIMIT ON ISO TREATMENT

The Notice of Stock Option Grant indicates whether your option is a nonstatutory stock option (NSO) or an incentive stock option (ISO). The favorable tax treatment for ISOs is limited, regardless of what the Notice of Stock Option Grant indicates. Of the options that become exercisable in any calendar year, only options covering the first $100,000 of stock are eligible for ISO treatment. The excess over $100,000 automatically receives NSO treatment. For this purpose, stock is valued at the time of grant. This means that the value is generally equal to the exercise price.

For example, assume that you hold an option to buy 50,000 shares for $4 per share. Assume further that the entire option is exercisable immediately after the date of grant. (It is irrelevant when the underlying stock vests.) Only the first 25,000 shares qualify for ISO treatment. (25,000 times $4 equals $100,000.) The remaining 25,000 shares will be treated as if they had been acquired by exercising an NSO. This is true regardless of when the option is actually exercised; what matters is when it first could have been exercised.

EXERCISE OF ISO AND ISO HOLDING PERIODS

If you are exercising an ISO, you will not be taxed under the regular tax rules until you dispose of the Purchased Shares.5 (The alternative minimum tax rules are described below.) The tax

 

 

5 

Generally, a “disposition” of shares purchased under an ISO encompasses any transfer of legal title, such as a transfer by sale, exchange or gift. It generally does not include a transfer to your spouse, a transfer into joint ownership with right of survivorship (if you remain one of the joint owners), a pledge, a transfer by bequest or inheritance, or certain tax-free exchanges permitted under the Internal Revenue Code. A transfer to a trust is a “disposition” unless the trust is an eligible revocable trust, as described in the attached explanation.

 

9


treatment at the time of disposition depends on how long you hold the shares. You will satisfy the ISO holding periods if you hold the Purchased Shares until the later of the following dates:

 

More than two years after the ISO was granted, and

 

More than one year after the ISO is exercised.

DISPOSITION OF ISO SHARES

If you dispose of the Purchased Shares after satisfying both of the ISO holding periods, then you will recognize only a long-term capital gain at the time of disposition. The amount of the capital gain is equal to the excess of (a) the sale proceeds over (b) the exercise price. In general, the maximum marginal federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains is 20% under current law, but lower long-term capital gain rates may apply to certain taxpayers.

Effective January 1, 2013, as a result of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, an additional Medicare contribution tax is imposed at a rate of 3.8% on the “net investment income” of individuals with adjusted gross incomes in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return, and $125,000 in the case of a married taxpayer filing separately). “Net investment income” includes income from interest, dividends, and capital gains, reduced by the deductions properly allocated to such income.

If you dispose of the Purchased Shares before either or both of the ISO holding periods are met, then you will recognize ordinary income at the time of disposition. The calculation of the ordinary income amount depends on whether the shares are vested at the time of exercise.

 

Shares Vested. If the shares are vested at the time of exercise, the amount of ordinary income will be equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the Purchased Shares on the date of exercise over (b) the exercise price. But if the disposition is an arm’s length sale to an unrelated party, the amount of ordinary income will not exceed the total gain from the sale. Under current IRS rules, the ordinary income amount will not be subject to withholding for income or payroll taxes. Your tax basis in the Purchased Shares will be equal to the sum of the exercise price you paid for the Purchased Shares plus any additional amount you recognized as ordinary income. Any gain in excess of your basis will be taxed as a capital gain—either long-term or short-term, depending on how long you held the Purchased Shares after the date of exercise.

 

Shares Not Vested. If the Purchased Shares are not vested at the time of exercise, then the amount of ordinary income will be equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the Purchased Shares on the date of vesting over (b) the exercise price. But if the disposition is an arm’s length sale to an unrelated party, the amount of ordinary income will not exceed the total gain from the sale. Under current IRS rules, the ordinary income amount will not be subject to withholding for income or payroll taxes. Your tax basis in the Purchased Shares will be equal to the sum of the exercise price you paid for the Purchased Shares plus any additional amount you recognized as ordinary income. Any gain in excess of your basis will be taxed as

 

10


a capital gain—either long-term or short-term, depending on how long you held the Purchased Shares after the date of vesting. Please note that it makes no difference under the regular tax rules whether or not you filed a section 83(b) election at the time you exercised your ISO. In either case, your regular taxable income is measured as of the time of vesting rather than the time of exercise.

SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) must be paid to the extent that it exceeds your regular federal income tax for the year. For 2018, the first $191,500 ($95,750 for a married taxpayer filing a separate return) of your alternative minimum taxable income for the year over the allowable exemption amount (see below) is subject to alternative minimum taxation at the rate of 26%. The balance of your alternative minimum taxable income is subject to alternative minimum taxation at the rate of 28%. The dollar thresholds dividing the 26% and 28% rates are indexed for inflation in future years. Your alternative minimum tax base is equal to your alternative minimum taxable income (AMTI) minus your exemption amount.

 

Alternative Minimum Taxable Income. Your AMTI is equal to your regular taxable income, subject to certain adjustments and increased by items of tax preference. Among the many adjustments made in computing AMTI are the following:

 

 

State and local income and property taxes are not allowed as a deduction.

 

 

Certain interest and other deductions are not allowed.

 

 

When an ISO is exercised, the spread is added to income for AMT purposes. (See discussion below.)

 

Exemption Amount. Before AMT is calculated, AMTI is reduced by the exemption amount. Under current law, the exemption amount is as follows:

 

Year:

  

Joint Returns:

  

Single Returns:

  

Separate Returns:

20186

   $109,400    $70,300    $54,700

The allowable exemption amount is reduced by $0.25 for each $1.00 by which alternative minimum taxable income for the year exceeds the following amounts:

 

Year:

  

Joint Returns:

  

Single Returns:

  

Separate Returns:

20187

   $1,000,000    $500,000    $500,000

 

6 

Amounts are indexed for inflation in future years.

7 

Amounts are indexed for inflation in future years.

 

11


This means, for example, in 2018, the $109,400 exemption amount is phased out completely for married individuals filing joint returns when their alternative minimum taxable income reaches $1,437,600 [($109,400 ÷ $0.25) + $1,000,000].

APPLICATION OF AMT WHEN ISO IS EXERCISED

As noted above, when an ISO is exercised, the spread is included in AMTI at the time of exercise, unless the Purchased Shares are not yet vested at the time of exercise. If the Purchased Shares are not yet vested, the value of the shares minus the exercise price is included in AMTI when the shares vest. However, if you make an election under section 83(b) within 30 days after exercise, then the spread is included in AMTI at the time of exercise. YOU MUST FILE AN 83(b) ELECTION WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION EXERCISE IS SIGNED. The 30-day filing period cannot be extended.

A special rule applies if you dispose of the Purchased Shares in the same year in which you exercised the ISO. If the amount you realize on the sale is less than the value of the stock at the time of exercise, then the amount includible in AMTI on account of the ISO exercise is limited to the gain realized on the sale.8

To the extent that your AMT is attributable to the spread on exercising an ISO (and certain other items), you may be able to apply the AMT that you paid as a credit against your income tax liability in future years. But the rules on calculating the available tax credits were amended frequently in recent years and have become extraordinarily complex. On this issue in particular, you must consult your own tax adviser.

When Purchased Shares are sold, your basis for purposes of computing the capital gain or loss under the AMT system is increased by the option spread that exists at the time of exercise. Again, an ISO is treated under the AMT system much like an NSO is treated under the regular tax system. But your basis in the ISO shares for purposes of computing gain or loss under the regular tax system does not reflect any AMT that you pay on the spread at exercise. Therefore, if you pay AMT in the year of the ISO exercise and regular income tax in the year of selling the Purchased Shares, you could pay tax twice on the same gain (except to the extent that you can use the AMT credit described above).

SECTION 409A OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

The preceding summary assumes that section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code does not apply to your option. In general, your option is exempt from section 409A if the exercise price per share is at least equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock at the time the option was granted by the Board of Directors. Since shares of Class A Common Stock are not traded on an established securities market, the determination of their fair market value generally is made by the Board of Directors or by an independent appraisal firm retained by the

 

 

8 

This is similar to the rule that applies under the regular tax system in the event of a disqualifying disposition of ISO stock. The amount of ordinary income that must be recognized in that case generally does not exceed the amount of the gain realized in the disposition.

 

12


Company. In either case, there is no guarantee that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation.

If your option were found to be subject to section 409A, then you would be required to recognize ordinary income as early as the year in which the option (or portion thereof) vests. This amount would also be subject to a 20% federal tax in addition to the federal income tax at your usual marginal rate for ordinary income. Additional state income taxes may apply in some states.

DISCLAIMER UNDER IRS CIRCULAR 230

To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by U.S. tax authorities, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in the foregoing summary is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding United States federal, state or local tax penalties, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein (including any attachments).

 

13


SECTION 83(b) ELECTION

The undersigned taxpayer hereby elects, pursuant to Sections 55 and 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.83-2, to include in gross income as compensation for services the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the shares described below over an amount paid for those shares.

 

  A.

The taxpayer who performed the services is:

 

                       Name:                                                                 
  Address:                                                             
                                                                             
  Social Security No.:                                       

 

  B.

The property with respect to which the election is made is ______ shares of the Class A Common Stock of Pipeline Therapeutics, Inc.

 

  C.

The property was transferred to the taxpayer on __________ ___, _____.

 

  D.

The taxable year for which the election is made is the calendar year _____.

 

  E.

The property is subject to a repurchase right pursuant to which the issuer has the right to acquire the property if for any reason taxpayer’s service with the issuer terminates. The issuer’s repurchase right lapses in a series of installments over a ______-year period ending on __________ ___, _____.

 

  F.

The fair market value of such property at the time of transfer (determined without regard to any restriction other than a restriction that by its terms will never lapse) is $_____ per share x _____ shares = $_________.

 

  G.

For the property transferred, the taxpayer paid $_____ per share × _____ shares = $_____.

 

  H.

The amount to include in gross income is $__________. [The amount in Item F less the amount in Item G]

 

  I.

This statement is executed on __________ ___, _____.

 

 

Signature of Spouse (if any)

             

 

Signature of Taxpayer

Within 30 days after the date of transfer of the property, this election must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service office where the taxpayer files his or her annual federal income tax return. The filing should be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. The taxpayer must deliver a copy of the completed form to the Company.

 

14