EX-10.2





 Exhibit 10.2 
  

2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN 

OF 

DECIBEL THERAPEUTICS, INC. 

 
  

  
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

							
	 	 	 	  	Page	 
	 1.
	 	 Purpose
	  	 	1	 
	 2.
	 	 Eligibility
	  	 	1	 
	 3.
	 	 Administration and Delegation
	  	 	1	 
	 (a)
	 	 Administration by the Board
	  	 	1	 
	 (b)
	 	 Appointment of Committees
	  	 	1	 
	 4.
	 	 Stock Available for Awards
	  	 	2	 
	 (a)
	 	 Number of Shares
	  	 	2	 
	 (b)
	 	 Substitute Awards
	  	 	2	 
	 5.
	 	 Stock Options
	  	 	2	 
	 (a)
	 	 General
	  	 	2	 
	 (b)
	 	 Incentive Stock Options
	  	 	2	 
	 (c)
	 	 Exercise Price
	  	 	3	 
	 (d)
	 	 Duration of Options
	  	 	3	 
	 (e)
	 	 Exercise of Options
	  	 	3	 
	 (f)
	 	 Payment Upon Exercise
	  	 	3	 
	 6.
	 	 Stock Appreciation Rights
	  	 	4	 
	 (a)
	 	 General
	  	 	4	 
	 (b)
	 	 Measurement Price
	  	 	4	 
	 (c)
	 	 Duration of SARs
	  	 	4	 
	 (d)
	 	 Exercise of SARs
	  	 	5	 
	 7.
	 	 Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units
	  	 	5	 
	 (a)
	 	 General
	  	 	5	 
	 (b)
	 	 Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards
	  	 	5	 
	 (c)
	 	 Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock
	  	 	5	 
	 (d)
	 	 Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units
	  	 	5	 
	 8.
	 	 Other Stock-Based Awards
	  	 	6	 
	 (a)
	 	 General
	  	 	6	 
	 (b)
	 	 Terms and Conditions
	  	 	6	 
	 9.
	 	 Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events
	  	 	6	 
	 (a)
	 	 Changes in Capitalization
	  	 	6	 
	 (b)
	 	 Reorganization Events
	  	 	7	 
	 10.
	 	 General Provisions Applicable to Awards
	  	 	9	 
	 (a)
	 	 Transferability of Awards
	  	 	9	 
	 (b)
	 	 Documentation
	  	 	9	 
	 (c)
	 	 Board Discretion
	  	 	9	 
	 (d)
	 	 Termination of Status
	  	 	9	 
	 (e)
	 	 Withholding
	  	 	9	 
	 (f)
	 	 Amendment of Award
	  	 	10	 
	 (g)
	 	 Conditions on Delivery of Stock
	  	 	10	 
	 (h)
	 	 Acceleration
	  	 	10	 
	 11.
	 	 Miscellaneous
	  	 	10	 
	 (a)
	 	 No Right To Employment or Other Status
	  	 	10	 
	 (b)
	 	 No Rights As Stockholder
	  	 	11	 














							
	 (c)
	 	 Effective Date and Term of Plan
	  	 	11	 
	 (d)
	 	 Amendment of Plan
	  	 	11	 
	 (e)
	 	 Authorization of Sub-Plans (including Grants to non-U.S. Employees)
	  	 	11	 
	 (f)
	 	 Compliance with Section 409A of the Code
	  	 	11	 
	 (g)
	 	 Limitations on Liability
	  	 	12	 
	 (h)
	 	 Governing Law
	  	 	12	 


  
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 2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN 

OF 

DECIBEL THERAPEUTICS, INC. 

 

	1.	 Purpose 



The purpose of this 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Decibel Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by
providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to better align the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires,
the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations
thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”); provided, however, that such other business ventures shall be limited to entities that, where required by Section 409A of the Code, are eligible issuers of service recipient stock (as
defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E), or applicable successor regulation). 
  

	2.	 Eligibility 



All of the Company’s employees, officers and directors, as well as consultants and advisors to the Company (as such terms consultants and
advisors are defined and interpreted for purposes of Rule 701 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (or any successor rule)) are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan. Each person who is granted
an Award under the Plan is deemed a “Participant.” “Award” means Options (as defined in Section 5), SARs (as defined in Section 6), Restricted Stock (as defined in Section 7), Restricted Stock Units
(as defined in Section 7) and Other Stock-Based Awards (as defined in Section 8). 
  

	3.	 Administration and Delegation 



(a) Administration by the Board. The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to
adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered into under the Plan. The Board
may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency.
All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. 

(b) Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the
Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (each, a “Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board to the extent that the Board’s
powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee. 

  
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	4.	 Stock Available for Awards 



(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to 20,832,716 shares of
common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), any or all of which Awards may be in the form of Incentive Stock Options (as defined in Section 5(b)). If any Award expires or is terminated,
surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised, is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a
contractual repurchase right), or results in any Common Stock not being issued, the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Further, shares of Common Stock tendered to the Company by
a Participant to exercise an Award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising with respect to an Award shall be added to the number of shares of Common Stock available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. However, in the case of Incentive
Stock Options, the two immediately preceding sentences shall be subject to any limitations under the Code. Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. 

(b) Substitute Awards. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of
property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems
appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a), except as may be required by reason of
Section 422 and related provisions of the Code. 
  

	5.	 Stock Options 



(a) General. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of
shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it
considers necessary or advisable. 
 (b) Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock
option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of Decibel Therapeutics, Inc., any of Decibel Therapeutics, Inc.’s present or future parent or subsidiary
corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code. An Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option.” The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other
party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option or if the Company converts an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. 












 (c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and
specify the exercise price in the applicable Option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the fair market value per share of Common Stock, as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board (“Fair Market
Value”), on the date the Option is granted. “Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock for purposes of the Plan will be determined as follows: 

(1) if the Common Stock is not publicly traded, the Board will determine the Fair Market Value for purposes of the Plan using any measure of
value it determines to be appropriate (including, as it considers appropriate, relying on appraisals) in a manner consistent with the valuation principles under Code Section 409A, except as the Board may expressly determine otherwise; 

(2) if the Common Stock trades on a national securities exchange, the closing sale price (for the primary trading session) on the date of
grant; or 
 (3) if the Common Stock does not trade on any such exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as reported by an
authorized OTCBB market data vendor as listed on the OTCBB website (otcbb.com) on the date of grant. 
 For any date that is not a trading
day, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock for such date will be determined by using the closing sale price or average of the bid and asked prices, as appropriate, for the immediately preceding trading day and with the timing in the
formulas above adjusted accordingly. The Board can substitute a particular time of day or other measure of “closing sale price” or “bid and asked prices” if appropriate because of exchange or market procedures or can, in its sole
discretion, use weighted averages either on a daily basis or such longer period as complies with Code Section 409A. 
 The Board has
sole discretion to determine the Fair Market Value for purposes of the Plan, and all Awards are conditioned on the participants’ agreement that the Board’s determination is conclusive and binding even though others might make a different
determination. 
 (d) Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as
the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement; provided, however, that no Option will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years. 

(e) Exercise of Options. Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a notice of exercise in a form of notice (which may be
electronic) approved by the Company, together with payment in full (in a manner specified in Section 5(f)) of the exercise price for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will be
delivered by the Company as soon as practicable following exercise. 
 (f) Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the
exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows: 
 (1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

 (2) when the Common Stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),
except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable 

  
 3 













 
Option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company
sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company
cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding; 
 (3) when the Common Stock is registered under the
Exchange Act and to the extent provided for in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at
their Fair Market Value, provided (i) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law, (ii) such Common Stock, if acquired directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant for such minimum period of time, if
any, as may be established by the Board in its discretion and (iii) such Common Stock is not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements; 

(4) to the extent provided for in the applicable Nonstatutory Stock Option agreement or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, by
delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, as a result of which the Participant would pay the exercise price for the portion of the Option being exercised by cancelling a portion of the Option for such number of shares as is
equal to the exercise price divided by the excess of the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Option exercise price per share. 

(5) to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided for in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole
discretion, by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or 

(6) by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment. 
  

	6.	 Stock Appreciation Rights 



(a) General. The Board may grant Awards consisting of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) entitling the holder, upon
exercise, to receive an amount of Common Stock or cash or a combination thereof (such form to be determined by the Board) determined by reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
over the measurement price established pursuant to Section 6(b). The date as of which such appreciation is determined shall be the exercise date. 

(b) Measurement Price. The Board shall establish the measurement price of each SAR and specify it in the applicable SAR agreement. The
measurement price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is granted. 
 (c) Duration of SARs. Each
SAR shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable SAR agreement; provided, however, that no SAR will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years. 












 (d) Exercise of SARs. SARs may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a notice of
exercise in a form (which may be electronic) approved by the Company, together with any other documents required by the Board. 
  

	7.	 Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units 



(a) General. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”),
subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions
specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award. The Board may also grant Awards entitling the recipient to receive shares of
Common Stock or cash to be delivered at the time such Award vests (“Restricted Stock Units”) (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are each referred to herein as a “Restricted Stock Award”). 

(b) Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock
Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any. 
 (c) Additional Provisions
Relating to Restricted Stock. 
 (1) Dividends. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement, any dividends
(whether paid in cash, stock or property) declared and paid by the Company with respect to shares of Restricted Stock (“Accrued Dividends”) shall be paid to the Participant only if and when such shares become free from the
restrictions on transferability and forfeitability that apply to such shares. Each payment of Accrued Dividends will be made no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to stockholders of that class of stock or, if
later, the 15th day of the third month following the lapsing of the restrictions on transferability and the forfeitability provisions applicable to the underlying shares of Restricted Stock. 

(2) Stock Certificates. The Company may require that any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, as well as
dividends or distributions paid on such Restricted Stock, shall be deposited in escrow by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods,
the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to Participant’s Designated Beneficiary. “Designated Beneficiary” means
(i) the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death or (ii) in the absence of an effective
designation by a Participant, “Designated Beneficiary” means the Participant’s estate. 
 (d) Additional Provisions
Relating to Restricted Stock Units. 
 (1) Settlement. Upon the vesting of and/or lapsing of any other restrictions (i.e.,
settlement) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one share of Common Stock or (if so provided in the applicable Award agreement) an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of
one share of Common Stock. The Board may, in its discretion, provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the
Code. 

  
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 (2) Voting Rights. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any
Restricted Stock Units. 
 (3) Dividend Equivalents. The Award agreement for Restricted Stock Units may provide Participants with the
right to receive an amount equal to any dividends or other distributions declared and paid on an equal number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”). Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to
an account for the Participants, may be settled in cash and/or shares of Common Stock and may be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which paid, in each case to the extent
provided in the applicable Award agreement. 
  

	8.	 Other Stock-Based Awards 



(a) General. Other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are
otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property, may be granted hereunder to Participants (“Other Stock-Based Awards”). Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of
other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board shall determine. 

(b) Terms and Conditions. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other
Stock-Based Award, including any purchase price applicable thereto. 
  

	9.	 Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events 



(a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of
shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the
number and class of securities available under the Plan, (ii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iii) the share and per-share provisions and
the measurement price of each outstanding SAR, (iv) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (v) the share and
per-share-related provisions and the purchase price, if any, of each outstanding Other Stock-Based Award, shall be equitably adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) in the
manner determined by the Board. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to an outstanding
Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be
entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record
date for such stock dividend. 












 (b) Reorganization Events. 

(1) Definition. A “Reorganization Event” shall mean: (a) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
another entity as a result of which all of the Common Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (b) any transfer or disposition of all of the Common Stock of
the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange or other transaction or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company. 

(2) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Awards Other than Restricted Stock. 

(i) In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion
of) outstanding Awards other than Restricted Stock on such terms as the Board determines (except to the extent specifically provided otherwise in an applicable Award agreement or another agreement between the Company and the Participant):
(i) provide that such Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, provide that all of
the Participant’s unexercised Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the Participant (to the extent then exercisable) within a specified period following the date of such
notice, (iii) provide that outstanding Awards shall become exercisable, realizable, or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award shall lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iv) in the event of a
Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash
payment to Participants with respect to each Award held by a Participant equal to (A) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the vested portion of the Award (after giving effect to any acceleration of vesting that occurs upon or
immediately prior to such Reorganization Event) multiplied by (B) the excess, if any, of (I) the Acquisition Price over (II) the exercise, measurement or purchase price of such Award and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange
for the termination of such Award, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise, measurement or
purchase price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 9(b)(2), the Board shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Awards, all
Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically. 
 (ii) Notwithstanding the terms of Section 9(b)(2)(i), in
the case of outstanding Restricted Stock Units that are subject to Section 409A of the Code: (i) if the applicable Restricted Stock Unit agreement provides that the Restricted Stock Units shall be settled upon a “change in control
event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i), and the Reorganization Event constitutes such a “change in control event”, then no assumption or substitution
shall be permitted pursuant to Section 9(b)(2)(i)(i) and the Restricted 

  
 7 













 
Stock Units shall instead be settled in accordance with the terms of the applicable Restricted Stock Unit agreement; and (ii) the Board may only undertake the actions set forth in clauses
(iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 9(b)(2)(i) if the Reorganization Event constitutes a “change in control event” as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i) and such
action is permitted or required by Section 409A of the Code; if the Reorganization Event is not a “change in control event” as so defined or such action is not permitted or required by Section 409A of the Code, and the acquiring
or succeeding corporation does not assume or substitute the Restricted Stock Units pursuant to clause (i) of Section 9(b)(2)(i), then the unvested Restricted Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of the
Reorganization Event without any payment in exchange therefor. 
 (iii) For purposes of Section 9(b)(2)(i)(i), an Award (other than
Restricted Stock) shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, such Award confers the right to purchase or receive pursuant to the terms of such Award, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award
immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Reorganization Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held
immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided,
however, that if the consideration received as a result of the Reorganization Event is not solely common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding
corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award to consist solely of such number of shares of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) that the Board
determined to be equivalent in value (as of the date of such determination or another date specified by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event. 

(3) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Restricted Stock. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event other than a liquidation
or dissolution of the Company, the repurchase and other rights of the Company with respect to outstanding Restricted Stock shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall, unless the Board determines otherwise, apply to the
cash, securities or other property which the Common Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to such Restricted Stock; provided, however,
that the Board may provide for termination or deemed satisfaction of such repurchase or other rights under the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, either initially or by amendment.
Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock or any other agreement between a
Participant and the Company, all restrictions and conditions on all Restricted Stock then outstanding shall automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied. 













	10.	 General Provisions Applicable to Awards. 



(a) Transferability of Awards. Awards (or any interest in an Award, including, prior to exercise, any interest in shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of an Option or SAR) shall not be sold, assigned, transferred (including by establishing any short position, put equivalent position (as defined in Rule 16a-1 issued under the
Exchange Act) or call equivalent position (as defined in Rule 16a-1 issued under the Exchange Act)), pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or
by operation of law, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; except that Awards, other than Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code, may be transferred to family members (as defined in Rule
701(c)(3) under the Securities Act) through gifts or (other than Incentive Stock Options) domestic relations orders or to an executor or guardian upon the death or disability of the Participant. The Company shall not be required to recognize any
such permitted transfer until such time as such permitted transferee shall deliver to the Company a written instrument, as a condition to such transfer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound
by all of the terms and conditions of the Award. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section 10(a) shall
be deemed to restrict a transfer to the Company. 
 (b) Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written,
electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan. 

(c) Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other
Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly. 
 (d) Termination of
Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, termination or other cessation of employment, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to
which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award. 

(e) Withholding. The Participant must satisfy all applicable federal, state, and local or other income and employment tax withholding
obligations before the Company will deliver stock certificates or otherwise recognize ownership of Common Stock under an Award. The Company may decide to satisfy the withholding obligations through additional withholding on salary or wages. If the
Company elects not to or cannot withhold from other compensation, the Participant must pay the Company the full amount, if any, required for withholding or have a broker tender to the Company cash equal to the withholding obligations. Payment of
withholding obligations is due before the Company will issue any shares on exercise, vesting or release from forfeiture of an Award or at the same time as payment of the exercise or purchase price unless the Company determines otherwise. If provided
for in an Award or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, a Participant may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the
Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, except as 

  
 9 













 
otherwise provided by the Board, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding
obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income). Shares used to satisfy tax withholding requirements cannot be subject to
any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements. 
 (f) Amendment of Award. 

(1) The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the
same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (i) the Board determines
that the action, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Plan or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 9. 

(2) The Board may, without stockholder approval, amend any outstanding Award granted under the Plan to provide an exercise price per share
that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Award. The Board may also, without stockholder approval, cancel any outstanding award (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new
Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled award. 

(g) Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to
remove restrictions from shares previously issued or delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other
legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and regulations and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the
Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations. 

(h) Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in whole or in part, free of
some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in whole or in part, as the case may be. 
  

	11.	 Miscellaneous. 



(a) No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award by virtue of the adoption of
the Plan, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate
its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award. 












 (b) No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no
Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares. 

(c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is adopted by the Board. No Awards shall
be granted under the Plan after the expiration of 10 years from the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders, but Awards previously granted
may extend beyond that date. 
 (d) Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at
any time; provided that if at any time the approval of the Company’s stockholders is required as to any modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the
Board may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 11(d) shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of,
all Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Participants under the
Plan. 
 (e) Authorization of Sub-Plans (including Grants to
non-U.S. Employees). The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable securities, tax or other
laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan containing (i) such limitations on the Board’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems
necessary or desirable or (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each
supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Company shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction which is not the subject of such supplement. 

(f) Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Except as provided in individual Award agreements initially or by
amendment, if and to the extent (i) any portion of any payment, compensation or other benefit provided to a Participant pursuant to the Plan in connection with Participant’s employment termination constitutes “nonqualified deferred
compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and (ii) the Participant is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, in each case as determined by the Company in accordance with its
procedures, by which determinations the Participant (through accepting the Award) agrees that the Participant is bound, such portion of the payment, compensation or other benefit shall not be paid before the day that is six months plus one
day after the date of “separation from service” (as determined under Section 409A of the Code) (the “New Payment Date”), except as Section 409A of the Code may then permit. The aggregate of any payments that
otherwise would have been paid to the Participant during the period between the date of separation from service and the New Payment Date shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on such New Payment Date, and any remaining payments will be paid
on their original schedule. 

  
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 The Company makes no representations or warranty and shall have no liability to the Participant or any other
person if any provisions of or payments, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code but do not to satisfy the conditions of that section.

 (g) Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director,
officer, other employee, or agent of the Company will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan, nor will such
individual be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument such individual executes in such individual’s capacity as a director, officer, other employee, or agent of the Company. The Company will
indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer, other employee, or agent of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been or will be delegated, against any cost or expense (including
attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Board’s approval) arising out of any act or omission to act concerning the Plan unless arising out of such person’s own fraud or bad faith. 

(h) Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such state that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than
the State of Delaware. 
 * * * * 












 DECIBEL THERAPEUTICS, INC. 

2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN 

CALIFORNIA SUPPLEMENT 

Pursuant to Section 11(e) of the Plan, the Board has adopted this supplement for purposes of satisfying the requirements of
Section 25102(o) of the California Law: 
 Any Awards granted under the Plan to a Participant who is a resident of the State of
California on the date of grant (a “California Participant”) shall be subject to the following additional limitations, terms and conditions: 

1. Additional Limitations on Options. 

(a) Maximum Duration of Options. No Options granted to California Participants shall have a term in excess of 10 years measured from
the Option grant date. 
 (b) Minimum Exercise Period Following Termination. Unless a California Participant’s employment is
terminated for cause (as defined by applicable law, the terms of the Plan or option grant or a contract of employment), in the event of termination of employment of such Participant, such Participant shall have the right to exercise an Option, to
the extent that such Participant is entitled to exercise such Option on the date employment terminated, until the earlier of: (i) at least six months from the date of termination, if termination was caused by such Participant’s death or
disability, (ii) at least 30 days from the date of termination, if termination was caused other than by such Participant’s death or disability and (iii) the Option expiration date. 

2. Additional Limitations for Other Stock-Based Awards. The terms of all Awards granted to a California Participant under Section 8 of the Plan
shall comply, to the extent applicable, with Sections 260.140.42, 260.140.45 and 260.140.46 of the California Code of Regulations. 
 3. Additional
Limitations on Timing of Awards. No Award granted to a California Participant shall become exercisable, vested or realizable, as applicable to such Award, unless the Plan has been approved by the holders of a majority of the Company’s
outstanding voting securities by the later of (i) within 12 months before or after the date the Plan was adopted by the Board, or (ii) prior to or within 12 months of the granting of any Award to a California Participant. 

4. Additional Restriction Regarding Recapitalizations, Stock Splits, Etc. For purposes of Section 9 of the Plan, in the event of a stock split,
reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination, reclassification or other distribution of the Company’s securities underlying the Award without the receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of securities
purchasable, and in the case of Options, the exercise price of such Options, must be proportionately adjusted. 
 5. Additional Limitations on
Transferability of Awards. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10(a) of the Plan, an Award granted to a California Participant may not be transferred to an executor or guardian upon the disability of the Participant. 

* * * * 

  
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