As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 7, 2012
Registration No.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SYNAGEVA BIOPHARMA CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 56-1808663 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S Employer Identification No.) |
128 Spring Street, Suite 520 Lexington, Massachusetts |
02421 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Synageva BioPharma Corp. 2005 Stock Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Stephen F. Mahoney
Vice President, General Counsel
Synageva BioPharma Corp.
128 Spring Street, Suite 520
Lexington, Massachusetts 02421
(781) 357-9900
(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With copies to:
Paul Kinsella
Ropes & Gray LLP
Prudential Tower
800 Boylston St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
(617) 951-7000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of accelerated filer, large accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Smaller Reporting Company x Non-accelerated filer ¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| ||||||||
Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered (1) |
Proposed maximum offering price per share |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price |
Amount of registration fee | ||||
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share |
321,905 shares (2) | $47.93 (3) | $15,428,907 | $2,104.50 | ||||
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share |
377,400 shares (4) | $23.00 | $ 8,680,200 | $1,183.98 | ||||
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share |
25,700 shares (5) | $32.90 | $ 845,530 | $ 115.33 |
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share |
616,495 shares (6) | $40.74 | $25,116,007 | $3,425.82 | ||||
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share |
158,500 shares (7) | $57.56 | $ 9,123,260 | $1,244.41 | ||||
TOTALS |
1,500,000 shares | $59,193,904 | $8,074.04 | |||||
|
(1) | The aggregate number of shares of common stock to be registered is subject to adjustment by reason of stock splits, stock dividends and other events pursuant to the terms of the Synageva BioPharma Corp. 2005 Stock Plan (the Plan). Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), this Registration Statement covers, in addition to the number of shares of common stock shown in the table above, an indeterminate number of shares of common stock which may be subject to grant or otherwise issuable after the operation of any such anti-dilution and other provisions of the Plan governing such adjustments. |
(2) | Represents shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to options available for grant (but not yet granted) under the Plan. |
(3) | Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to the provisions of Rule 457 (h) under the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are calculated on the basis of the average of the high ($48.87) and low ($46.99) sale prices per share of the common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market as of December 7, 2012, which is a date within five business days prior to filing this Registration Statement. |
(4) | Represents shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options previously granted on December 20, 2011 under the Plan. |
(5) | Represents shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options previously granted on March 14, 2012 under the Plan. |
(6) | Represents shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options previously granted on June 27, 2012 under the Plan. |
(7) | Represents shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options previously granted on October 4, 2012 under the Plan. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Registration Statement is being filed to register an additional 1,500,000 shares of our common stock for issuance under the Synageva BioPharma Corp. 2005 Stock Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, we incorporate by reference into this Registration Statement the entire contents of our Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.333-177827) filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (the Commission) on November 8, 2011.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which are on file with the Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:
(a) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the Commission on March 22, 2012, as amended April 24, 2012;
(b) Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2012 as filed with the Commission on May 9, 2012 and August 3, 2012 and November 6, 2012, respectively.
(c) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 4, 2012, January 5, 2012, January 10, 2012, February 9, 2012, March 5, 2012, June 25, 2012, June 28, 2012, July 6, 2012 and July 10, 2012.
(d) The description of the securities contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 0-23155) dated October 1, 1997 filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 8. Exhibits.
See Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lexington, Commonwealth of Massachusetts on December 6, 2012.
SYNAGEVA BIOPHARMA CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Sanj K. Patel | |
Sanj K. Patel President and Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Sanj K. Patel and Carsten Boess, and each of them, either of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURES |
TITLE |
DATE | ||
/s/ Sanj K. Patel Sanj K. Patel |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Carsten Boess Carsten Boess |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Chris Heberlig Chris Heberlig |
Vice President, Finance (Principal Accounting Officer) |
December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Felix J. Baker Felix J. Baker |
Director | December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Stephen R. Biggar Stephen R. Biggar |
Director | December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Stephen R. Davis Stephen R. Davis |
Director | December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Thomas R. Malley Thomas R. Malley |
Director | December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Barry Quart Barry Quart |
Director | December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Thomas J. Tisch Thomas J. Tisch |
Director | December 6, 2012 | ||
/s/ Peter Wirth Peter Wirth |
Director | December 6, 2012 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
4.1 | Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Synageva, as amended, incorporated by reference to Synagevas Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 filed with the Commission on November 8, 2005, as amended by the Synagevas Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 3, 2011. | |
4.2 | Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Synageva, incorporated by reference to Synagevas Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 filed with the SEC on November 8, 2005. | |
4.3* | Synageva BioPharma Corp. 2005 Stock Plan, as amended. | |
5.1* | Opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP. | |
23.1* | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | |
23.2* | Consent of Ropes & Gray LLP (see Exhibit 5.1). | |
24.1* | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto). |
* | Filed herewith. |
Exhibit 4.3
SYNAGEVA BIOPHARMA CORP.
(f/k/a AviGenics, inc.)
2005 STOCK PLAN
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this 2005 Stock Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees and Consultants and to promote the success of the Companys business. Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant of an option and subject to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder. Stock purchase rights may also be granted under the Plan.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) Administrator means the Board or its Committee appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) Affiliate means an entity other than a Subsidiary (as defined below) which, together with the Company, is under common control of a third person or entity.
(c) Applicable Laws means the legal requirements relating to the administration of stock option and restricted stock purchase plans, including under applicable U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and applicable state securities laws, other U.S. federal and state laws, the Code, any Stock Exchange rules or regulations and the applicable laws, rules and regulations of any other country or jurisdiction where Options or Stock Purchase Rights are granted under the Plan, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to time.
(d) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) Cause for termination of a Participants Continuous Service Status will exist if the Participant is terminated by the Company for any of the following reasons: (i) Participants willful failure substantially to perform his or her duties and responsibilities to the Company or deliberate violation of a Company policy; (ii) Participants commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty or any other willful misconduct that has caused or is reasonably expected to result in material injury to the Company; (iii) unauthorized use or disclosure by Participant of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship with the Company; or (iv) Participants willful breach of any of his or her obligations under any written agreement or covenant with the Company. The determination as to whether a Participant is being terminated for Cause shall be made in good faith by the Company and shall be final and binding on the Participant. The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Companys ability to terminate a Participants employment or consulting relationship at any time as provided in Section 5(d) below, and the term Company will be interpreted to include any Subsidiary, Parent or Affiliate, as appropriate.
(f) Change of Control means (1) a sale of all or substantially all of the Companys assets, or (2) any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction of the Company with or into another corporation, entity or person, other than a transaction in which the holders of at least a majority of the shares of voting capital stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction continue to hold (either by such shares remaining outstanding or by their being converted into shares of voting capital stock of the surviving entity) a majority of the total voting power represented by the shares of voting capital stock of the Company (or the surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such transaction, or (3) the direct or indirect acquisition (including by way of a tender or exchange offer) by any person, or persons acting as a group, of beneficial
ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of shares of voting capital stock by any institutional investor or any affiliate thereof or any other person, or persons acting as a group, that acquires the Companys shares of voting capital stock in a transaction or series of related transactions that are primarily a private financing transaction for the Company or (B) solely because the level of ownership held by any institutional investor or any affiliate thereof or any other person, or persons acting as a group (the Subject Person), exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding shares of voting capital stock as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of shares of voting capital stock by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change of Control would occur (but for the operating of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of shares of voting capital stock by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the owner of any additional shares of voting capital stock that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding shares of voting capital stock owned by such Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change of Control shall be deemed to occur.
(g) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(h) Committee means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 4 below.
(i) Common Stock means the Common Stock of the Company.
(j) Company means Synageva BioPharma Corp., a Delaware corporation.
(k) Consultant means any person, including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate to render services and is compensated for such services, and any director of the Company whether compensated for such services or not.
(l) Continuous Service Status means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or Consultant. Continuous Service Status as an Employee or Consultant shall not be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Administrator, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates or their respective successors. A change in status from an Employee to a Consultant or from a Consultant to an Employee will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service Status.
(m) Corporate Transaction means a sale of all or substantially all of the Companys assets, or a merger, consolidation or other capital reorganization or business combination transaction of the Company with or into another corporation, entity or person, or the direct or indirect acquisition (including by way of a tender or exchange offer) by any person, or persons acting as a group, of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.
(n) Director means a member of the Board.
(o) Employee means any person employed by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate, with the status of employment determined based upon such factors as are deemed appropriate by the Administrator in its discretion, subject to any requirements of the Code or the Applicable Laws. The payment by the Company of a directors fee to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute employment of such Director by the Company.
(p) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(q) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the fair market value of the Common Stock, as determined by the Administrator in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate and applied consistently with respect to Participants. Whenever possible, the determination of Fair Market Value shall be based upon the closing price for the Shares as reported in the Wall Street Journal for the applicable date.
(r) Incentive Stock Option means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as designated in the applicable Option Agreement.
(t) Listed Security means any security of the Company that is listed or approved for listing on a national securities exchange or designated or approved for designation as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(u) Named Executive means any individual who, on the last day of the Companys fiscal year, is the chief executive officer of the Company (or is acting in such capacity) or among the four most highly compensated officers of the Company (other than the chief executive officer). Such officer status shall be determined pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules under the Exchange Act.
(v) Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as designated in the applicable Option Agreement.
(w) Option means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(x) Option Agreement means a written document, the form(s) of which shall be approved from time to time by the Administrator, reflecting the terms of an Option granted under the Plan and includes any documents attached to or incorporated into such Option Agreement, including, but not limited to, a notice of stock option grant and a form of exercise notice.
(y) Option Exchange Program means a program approved by the Administrator whereby outstanding Options are exchanged for Options with a lower exercise price or are amended to decrease the exercise price as a result of a decline in the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock.
(z) Optioned Stock means the Common Stock subject to an Option.
(aa) Optionee means an Employee or Consultant who receives an Option.
(bb) Parent means a parent corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor provision.
(cc) Participant means any holder of one or more Options or Stock Purchase Rights, or the Shares issuable or issued upon exercise of such awards, under the Plan.
(dd) Plan means this 2005 Stock Plan.
(ee) Reporting Person means an officer, Director, or greater than ten percent stockholder of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-2 under the Exchange Act, who is required to file reports pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under the Exchange Act.
(ff) Restricted Stock means Shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to a grant of a Stock Purchase Right under Section 10 below.
(gg) Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement means a written document, the form(s) of which shall be approved from time to time by the Administrator, reflecting the terms of a Stock Purchase Right granted under the Plan and includes any documents attached to such agreement.
(hh) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor provision.
(ii) Share means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.
(jj) Stock Exchange means any stock exchange or consolidated stock price reporting system on which prices for the Common Stock are quoted at any given time.
(kk) Stock Purchase Right means the right to purchase Common Stock pursuant to Section 10 below.
(ll) Subsidiary means a subsidiary corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor provision.
(mm) Ten Percent Holder means a person who owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be sold under the Plan is 3,428,715 Shares of Common Stock. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. If an award should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Option Exchange Program, the unpurchased Shares that were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future grant under the Plan. In addition, any Shares of Common Stock which are retained by the Company upon exercise of an award in order to satisfy the exercise or purchase price for such award or any withholding taxes due with respect to such exercise or purchase shall be treated as not issued and shall continue to be available under the Plan. Shares issued under the Plan and later repurchased by the Company pursuant to any repurchase right which the Company may have shall be available for future grant under the Plan.
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) General. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Board. The Plan may be administered by different administrative bodies with respect to different classes of Participants and, if permitted by the Applicable Laws, the Board may authorize one or more officers to make awards under the Plan.
(b) Committee Composition. If a Committee has been appointed pursuant to this Section 4, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. From time to time the Board may increase the size of any Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies (however caused) and remove all members of a Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws and, in the case of a Committee administering the Plan in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent permitted or required by such provisions. The Committee shall in all events conform to any requirements of the Applicable Laws.
(c) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in accordance with Section 2(q) of the Plan, provided that such determination shall be applied consistently with respect to Participants under the Plan;
(ii) to select the Employees and Consultants to whom Plan awards may from time to time be granted;
(iii) to determine whether and to what extent Plan awards are granted;
(iv) to determine the number of Shares of Common Stock to be covered by each award granted;
(v) to approve the form(s) of agreement(s) used under the Plan;
(vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder, which terms and conditions include but are not limited to the exercise or purchase price, the time or times when awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, any pro rata adjustment to vesting as a result of a Participants transitioning from full- to part-time service (or vice versa), and any restriction or limitation regarding any Option, Optioned Stock, Stock Purchase Right or Restricted Stock, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine;
(vii) to determine whether and under what circumstances an Option may be settled in cash under Section 8(b) instead of Common Stock;
(viii) to implement an Option Exchange Program on such terms and conditions as the Administrator in its discretion deems appropriate, provided that no amendment or adjustment to an Option that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Optionee shall be made without the prior written consent of the Optionee;
(ix) to adjust the vesting of an Option held by an Employee or Consultant as a result of a change in the terms or conditions under which such person is providing services to the Company;
(x) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards granted under the Plan, which constructions, interpretations and decisions shall be final and binding on all Participants; and
(xi) in order to fulfill the purposes of the Plan and without amending the Plan, to modify grants of Options or Stock Purchase Rights to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States in order to recognize differences in local law, tax policies or customs.
5. Eligibility.
(a) Recipients of Grants. Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Purchase Rights may be granted to Employees and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees, provided that Employees of Affiliates shall not be eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options.
(b) Type of Option. Each Option shall be designated in the Option Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(c) ISO $100,000 Limitation. Notwithstanding any designation under Section 5(b), to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 5(c), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to an Incentive Stock Option shall be determined as of the date of the grant of such Option.
(d) No Employment Rights. The Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuation of an employment or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with such Participants right or the Companys right to terminate the employment or consulting relationship at any time for any reason.
6. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by the Board of Directors. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 15 of the Plan.
7. Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in the Option Agreement; provided that the term shall be no more than ten years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement and provided further that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a person who at the time of such grant is a Ten Percent Holder, the term of the Option shall be five years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.
8. Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
(a) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Option Agreement, but shall be subject to the following:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
(A) granted to an Employee who at the time of grant is a Ten Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or
(B) granted to any other Employee, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option
(A) granted on any date on which the Common Stock is not a Listed Security to a person who is at the time of grant is a Ten Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant if required by the Applicable Laws and, if not so required, shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator;
(B) granted on any date on which the Common Stock is not a Listed Security to any other eligible person, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant if required by the Applicable Laws and, if not so required, shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator; or
(C) granted on any date on which the Common Stock is a Listed Security to any eligible person, the per share Exercise Price shall be such price as determined by the Administrator provided that if such eligible person is, at the time of the grant of such Option, a Named Executive of the Company, the per share Exercise Price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant if such Option is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price other than as required above pursuant to a merger or other corporate transaction.
(b) Permissible Consideration. The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (1) cash; (2) check; (3) subject to any requirements of the Applicable Laws (including without limitation Section 153 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law), delivery of Optionees promissory note having such recourse, interest, security and redemption provisions as the Administrator determines to be appropriate after taking into account the potential accounting consequences of permitting an Optionee to deliver a promissory note; (4) cancellation of indebtedness; (5) other Shares that have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which the Option is exercised, provided that in the case of Shares acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company, such Shares must have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender (or such other period as may be required to avoid the Companys incurring an adverse accounting charge); (6) if, as of the date of exercise of an Option the Company then is permitting employees to engage in a same-day sale cashless brokered exercise program involving one or more brokers, through such a program that complies with the Applicable Laws (including without limitation the requirements of Regulation T and other applicable regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board) and that ensures prompt delivery to the Company of the amount required to pay the exercise price and any applicable withholding taxes; or (7) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company and the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, refuse to accept a particular form of consideration at the time of any Option exercise.
9. Exercise of Option.
(a) General.
(i) Exercisability. Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator, consistent with the term of the Plan and reflected in the Option Agreement, including vesting requirements and/or performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee; provided however that, if required under the Applicable Laws, the Option (or Shares issued upon exercise of the Option) shall comply with the requirements of Section 260.140.41(f) and (k) of the Rules of the California Corporations Commissioner.
(ii) Leave of Absence. The Administrator shall have the discretion to determine whether and to what extent the vesting of Options shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence; provided, however, that in the absence of such determination, vesting of Options shall be tolled during any such unpaid leave (unless otherwise required by the Applicable Laws). In the event of military leave, vesting shall toll during any unpaid portion of such leave, provided that, upon a Participants returning from military leave (under conditions that would entitle him or her to protection upon such return under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), he or she shall be given vesting credit with respect to Options to the same extent as would have applied had the Participant continued to provide services to the Company throughout the leave on the same terms as he or she was providing services immediately prior to such leave.
(iii) Minimum Exercise Requirements. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. The Administrator may require that an Option be exercised as to a minimum number of Shares, provided that such requirement shall not prevent an Optionee from exercising the full number of Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.
(iv) Procedures for and Results of Exercise. An Option shall be deemed exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and the Company has received full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(b) of the Plan, provided that the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, refuse to accept any form of consideration at the time of any Option exercise.
Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares that thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
(v) Rights as Stockholder. Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.
(b) Termination of Employment or Consulting Relationship. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 9(b), the Administrator shall establish and set forth in the applicable Option Agreement the terms and conditions upon which an Option shall remain exercisable, if at all, following termination of an Optionees Continuous Service Status, which provisions may be waived or modified by the Administrator at any time. Unless the Administrator otherwise provides in the Option Agreement, to the extent that the Optionee is not vested in Optioned Stock at the date of termination of his or her Continuous Service Status, or if the Optionee (or other person entitled to exercise the Option) does not exercise the Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified in the Option Agreement or below (as applicable), the Option shall terminate and the Optioned Stock underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. In no event may any Option be exercised after the expiration of the Option term as set forth in the Option Agreement (and subject to Section 7).
The following provisions (1) shall apply to the extent an Option Agreement does not specify the terms and conditions upon which an Option shall terminate upon termination of an Optionees Continuous Service Status, and (2) establish the minimum post-termination exercise periods that may be set forth in an Option Agreement:
(i) Termination other than Upon Disability or Death. In the event of termination of Optionees Continuous Service Status other than under the circumstances set forth in subsections (ii) through (iv) below, such Optionee may exercise an Option for 30 days following such termination to the extent the Optionee was vested in the Optioned Stock as of the date of such termination. No termination shall be deemed to occur and this Section 9(b)(i) shall not apply if (i) the Optionee is a Consultant who becomes an Employee, or (ii) the Optionee is an Employee who becomes a Consultant.
(ii) Disability of Optionee. In the event of termination of an Optionees Continuous Service Status as a result of his or her disability (including a disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), such Optionee may exercise an Option at any time within six months following such termination to the extent the Optionee was vested in the Optioned Stock as of the date of such termination.
(iii) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an Optionee during the period of Continuous Service Status since the date of grant of the Option, or within thirty days following termination of Optionees Continuous Service Status, the Option may be exercised by Optionees estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance at any time within twelve months following the date of death, but only to the extent the Optionee was vested in the Optioned Stock as of the date of death or, if earlier, the date the Optionees Continuous Service Status terminated.
(iv) Termination for Cause. In the event of termination of an Optionees Continuous Service Status for Cause, any Option (including any exercisable portion thereof) held by such Optionee shall immediately terminate in its entirety upon first notification to the Optionee of termination of the Optionees Continuous Service Status. If an Optionees employment or consulting relationship with the Company is suspended pending an investigation of whether the Optionee shall be terminated for Cause, all the Optionees rights under any Option likewise shall be suspended during the investigation period and the Optionee shall have no right to exercise any Option. This Section 9(b)(iv) shall apply with equal effect to vested Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option granted on any date on which the Common Stock is not a Listed Security to a person other than an officer, Director or Consultant, in that the Company shall have the right to repurchase such Shares from the Participant upon the following terms: (A) the repurchase is made within 90 days of termination of the Participants Continuous Service Status for Cause at the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of
termination, (B) consideration for the repurchase consists of cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness, and (C) the repurchase right terminates upon the effective date of the Companys initial public offering of its Common Stock. With respect to vested Shares issued upon exercise of an Option granted to any officer, Director or Consultant, the Companys right to repurchase such Shares upon termination of the Participants Continuous Service Status for Cause shall be made at the Participants original cost for the Shares and shall be effected pursuant to such terms and conditions, and at such time, as the Administrator shall determine. Nothing in this Section 9(b)(iv) shall in any way limit the Companys right to purchase unvested Shares issued upon exercise of an Option as set forth in the applicable Option Agreement.
(c) Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may at any time offer to buy out for a payment in cash or Shares an Option previously granted under the Plan based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.
10. Stock Purchase Rights.
(a) Rights to Purchase. When the Administrator determines that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise the offeree in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to the offer, including the number of Shares that such person shall be entitled to purchase, the price to be paid, and the time within which such person must accept such offer. In the case of a Stock Purchase Right granted prior to the date, if any, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security and if required by the Applicable Laws at that time, the purchase price of Shares subject to such Stock Purchase Rights shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of the offer, or, in the case of a Ten Percent Holder, the price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of the offer. If the Applicable Laws do not impose the requirements set forth in the preceding sentence and with respect to any Stock Purchase Rights granted after the date, if any, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security, the purchase price of Shares subject to Stock Purchase Rights shall be as determined by the Administrator. The offer to purchase Shares subject to Stock Purchase Rights shall be accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement in the form determined by the Administrator.
(b) Repurchase Option.
(i) General. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the purchasers employment with the Company for any reason (including death or disability). Subject to any requirements of the Applicable Laws (including without limitation Section 260.140.42(h) of the Rules of the California Corporations Commissioner), the terms of the Companys repurchase option (including without limitation the price at which, and the consideration for which, it may be exercised, and the events upon which it shall lapse) shall be as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion and reflected in the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement.
(ii) Leave of Absence. The Administrator shall have the discretion to determine whether and to what extent the lapsing of Company repurchase rights shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence; provided, however, that in the absence of such determination, such lapsing shall be tolled during any such unpaid leave (unless otherwise required by the Applicable Laws). In the event of military leave, the lapsing of Company repurchase rights shall toll during any unpaid portion of such leave, provided that, upon a Participants returning from military leave (under conditions that would entitle him or her to protection upon such return under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), he or she shall be given vesting credit with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement to the same extent as would have applied had the Participant continued to provide services to the Company throughout the leave on the same terms as he or she was providing services immediately prior to such leave.
(iii) Termination for Cause. In the event of termination of a Participants Continuous Service Status for Cause, the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Participant vested Shares issued upon
exercise of a Stock Purchase Right granted to any person other than an officer, Director or Consultant prior to the date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security upon the following terms: (A) the repurchase must be made within 90 days of termination of the Participants Continuous Service Status for Cause at the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of termination, (B) consideration for the repurchase consists of cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness, and (C) the repurchase right terminates upon the effective date of the Companys initial public offering of its Common Stock. With respect to vested Shares issued upon exercise of a Stock Purchase Right granted to any officer, Director or Consultant, the Companys right to repurchase such Shares upon termination of such Participants Continuous Service Status for Cause shall be made at the Participants original cost for the Shares and shall be effected pursuant to such terms and conditions, and at such time, as the Administrator shall determine. Nothing in this Section 10(b)(ii) shall in any way limit the Companys right to purchase unvested Shares as set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement.
(c) Other Provisions. The Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. In addition, the provisions of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements need not be the same with respect to each purchaser.
(d) Rights as a Stockholder. Once the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a stockholder, and shall be a stockholder when his or her purchase is entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.
11. Taxes.
(a) As a condition of the grant, vesting or exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right granted under the Plan, the Participant (or in the case of the Participants death, the person exercising the Option or Stock Purchase Right) shall make such arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such grant, vesting or exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right or the issuance of Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied. If the Administrator allows the withholding or surrender of Shares to satisfy a Participants tax withholding obligations under this Section 11 (whether pursuant to Section 9(c) or (d), or otherwise), the Administrator shall not allow Shares to be withheld in an amount that exceeds the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes.
(b) In the case of an Employee and in the absence of any other arrangement, the Employee shall be deemed to have directed the Company to withhold or collect from his or her compensation an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations from the next payroll payment otherwise payable after the date of an exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right.
(c) This Section 11(c) shall apply only after the date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security. In the case of Participant other than an Employee (or in the case of an Employee where the next payroll payment is not sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, with respect to any remaining tax obligations), in the absence of any other arrangement and to the extent permitted under the Applicable Laws, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date (as defined below) equal to the amount required to be withheld. For purposes of this Section 11, the Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined under the Applicable Laws (the Tax Date).
(d) If permitted by the Administrator, in its discretion, a Participant may satisfy his or her tax withholding obligations upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right by surrendering to the Company Shares that have a Fair Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date equal to the amount required to be withheld. In the case of shares previously acquired from the Company that are surrendered under this Section 11(d), such Shares must have been owned by the Participant for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender (or such other period of time as is required for the Company to avoid adverse accounting charges).
(e) Any election or deemed election by a Participant to have Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations under Section 11(c) or (d) above shall be irrevocable as to the particular Shares as to which the election is made and shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of the Administrator. Any election by a Participant under Section 11(d) above must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax Date.
(f) In the event an election to have Shares withheld is made by a Participant and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no election is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Participant shall receive the full number of Shares with respect to which the Option or Stock Purchase Right is exercised but such Participant shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company the proper number of Shares on the Tax Date.
12. Non-Transferability of Options and Stock Purchase Rights.
(a) General. Except as set forth in this Section 12, Options and Stock Purchase Rights may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee will not constitute a transfer. An Option or Stock Purchase Right may be exercised, during the lifetime of the holder of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, only by such holder or a transferee permitted by this Section 12.
(b) Limited Transferability Rights. Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 12, the Administrator may in its discretion grant Nonstatutory Stock Options that may be transferred by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the Options are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustor (settlor) or by gift or pursuant to domestic relations orders to Immediate Family Members (as defined below) of the Optionee. Immediate Family means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law (including adoptive relationships), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Optionee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Optionee) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests.
13. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Merger or Certain Other Transactions.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any action required under Applicable Laws by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding award, and the number of Shares of Common Stock that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no awards have yet been granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an award, as well as the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding award, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been effected without receipt of consideration. Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares of Common Stock subject to an award.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each Option and Stock Purchase Right will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.
(c) Corporate Transaction. In the event of a Corporate Transaction (including without limitation a Change of Control), unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or provided in the Option Agreement, each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be assumed or an equivalent option or right shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (the Successor Corporation), unless the Successor Corporation does not agree to assume the award or to substitute an equivalent option or right, in which case such Option or Stock Purchase Right shall terminate upon the consummation of the transaction.
For purposes of this Section 13(c), an Option or a Stock Purchase Right shall be considered assumed, without limitation, if, at the time of issuance of the stock or other consideration upon a Corporate Transaction or a Change of Control, as the case may be, each holder of an Option or Stock Purchase Right would be entitled to receive upon exercise of the award the same number and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of property, cash or securities as such holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the holder had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of Shares of Common Stock covered by the award at such time (after giving effect to any adjustments in the number of Shares covered by the Option or Stock Purchase Right as provided for in this Section 13); provided that if such consideration received in the transaction is not solely common stock of the Successor Corporation, the Administrator may, with the consent of the Successor Corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the award to be solely common stock of the Successor Corporation equal to the Fair Market Value of the per Share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the transaction.
(d) Certain Distributions. In the event of any distribution to the Companys stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other than dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Administrator may, in its discretion, appropriately adjust the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right to reflect the effect of such distribution.
14. Time of Granting Options and Stock Purchase Rights. The date of grant of an Option or Stock Purchase Right shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Option or Stock Purchase Right, or such other date as is determined by the Administrator, provided that in the case of any Incentive Stock Option, the grant date shall be the later of the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Incentive Stock Option or the date of commencement of the Optionees employment relationship with the Company. Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Option or Stock Purchase Right is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
15. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
(a) Authority to Amend or Terminate. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuation (other than an adjustment pursuant to Section 13 above) shall be made that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Optionee or holder of Stock Purchase Rights under any outstanding grant, without his or her consent. In addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with the Applicable Laws, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.
(b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Except as to amendments which the Administrator has the authority under the Plan to make unilaterally, no amendment or termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect Options or Stock Purchase Rights already granted, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee or holder of the Stock Purchase Rights and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee or holder and the Company.
16. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall not be obligated, and shall have no liability for failure, to issue or deliver any Shares under the Plan unless such issuance or delivery would comply with the Applicable Laws, with such compliance determined by the Company in consultation with its legal counsel. As a condition to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, the Company may require the person exercising the award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by law. Shares issued upon exercise of awards granted prior to the date on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security shall be subject to a right of first refusal in favor of the Company pursuant to which the Participant will be required to offer Shares to the Company before selling or transferring them to any third party on such terms and subject to such conditions as is reflected in the applicable Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement.
17. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
18. Agreements. Options and Stock Purchase Rights shall be evidenced by Option Agreements and Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements, respectively, in such form(s) as the Administrator shall from time to time approve.
19. Stockholder Approval. If required by the Applicable Laws, continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted. Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under the Applicable Laws.
20. Information and Documents to Optionees and Purchasers. Prior to the date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security and if required by the Applicable Laws, the Company shall provide financial statements at least annually to each Optionee and to each individual who acquired Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period such Optionee or purchaser has one or more Options or Stock Purchase Rights outstanding, and in the case of an individual who acquired Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period such individual owns such Shares. The Company shall not be required to provide such information if the issuance of Options or Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan is limited to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information.
Exhibit 5.1
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ROPES & GRAY LLP PRUDENTIAL TOWER 800 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02199-3600 WWW.ROPESGRAY.COM |
December 7, 2012
Synageva BioPharma Corp.
128 Spring Street, Suite 520
Lexington, MA 02421
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 (the Registration Statement) filed by Synageva BioPharma Corp., a Delaware corporation (the Company), on the date hereof, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), for the registration of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company (the Shares). The Shares are issuable under the Synageva BioPharma Corp. 2005 Stock Plan, as amended (the Plan).
We are familiar with the actions taken by the Company in connection with the adoption of the Plan. For purposes of our opinion, we have examined such certificates, documents and records and have made such investigation of fact and such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate in order to enable us to render the opinions set forth herein. In conducting such investigation, we have relied, without independent verification, upon certificates of officers of the Company, public officials and other appropriate persons.
The opinions expressed below are limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when the Shares have been issued and sold in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Our consent shall not be deemed an admission that we are experts whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ropes & Gray LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 22, 2012 relating to the consolidated financial statements, which appears in Synageva BioPharma Corp.s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended on April 24, 2012, for the year ended December 31, 2011.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 7, 2012