November 20, 2017 S-8 Exhibit 10.1






Exhibit 10.1



PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC. 

                  2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN


NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                  (NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS)


Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), hereby grants a
nonqualified stock option to purchase shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), to the Grantee named below (the
"Option").  Additional terms and conditions of the grant are set forth on this cover sheet and in the attached Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (together, the
"Agreement"), and in the Company's 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as further amended from time to time, the "Plan").


Grantee Name: ______________________________________

Grant Date: _________________________________________

Number of Common Shares:  


Option Price per Common Share:  $_____.___ (must be at least 100% of Fair Market Value on the Grant Date)


Vesting Start Date: ___________________________________


Vesting Schedule: One-fourth (1/4) of the Option shall vest on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the Vesting Start Date, subject to your continued Service
through the applicable vesting date.


Expiration Date: ______________________________________ (the day before the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date)


By your signature below, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and in the Plan, a copy of which will be provided on request.  You acknowledge
that you have carefully reviewed the Plan and agree that the Plan will control in the event any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the Plan.  Certain capitalized
terms used in this Agreement are defined in the Plan and have the meaning set forth in the Plan.


   



	
Grantee:
	
_____________________________________________
	
 
	
Date:_____________________
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
(Signature)
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Company:
	
_____________________________________________
	
 
	
Date:_____________________
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
(Signature)

   [Name]

   [Title]
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 




 

Attachment

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.








PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC. 

                  2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN


NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                  (NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS)



	
Nonqualified Stock Option 
	
This Agreement evidences the grant of an Option exercisable for the number of Common Shares set forth on the cover sheet of this Agreement and
subject to the vesting and other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan. The Option is not intended to be an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code and
will be interpreted accordingly.  

	
Vesting
	
The Option will vest in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth on the Cover Sheet, subject to your continued Service through the applicable
vesting date.

Unless the termination of your Service triggers accelerated vesting or other treatment of your Option pursuant to the terms of the Plan, you immediately and
automatically will forfeit to the Company the unvested portion of your Option in the event your Service terminates for any reason. 

	
Change in Control
	
In the event of a Change in Control, your Option will be treated in the manner provided in Sections 16.3 and 16.4 of the Plan.

	
Expiration of Option 
	
The Option will expire on the Expiration Date set forth on the Cover Sheet of this Agreement.  However, the Option will expire earlier if your Service
terminates, as described below.  

Termination Other than due to Death or Disability. If your Service is terminated for any reason other than due to death or Disability, you may exercise the
vested portion of the Option, but only within the time period ending on the date that is three (3) months after the termination of your Service. 

Termination due to Death or Disability. If your Service terminates because of your death or Disability, or if you die during the three (3)-month period after
the termination of your Service for any reason, you (or your estate or heirs, as applicable) may exercise the vested portion of your Option, but only within the time period ending on the date that
is twelve (12) months after the termination of your Service. 

	
Notice of Exercise
	
The Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, to purchase a whole number of vested Common Shares of not less than 100 shares, unless the
number of vested Common Shares purchased is the total number available for purchase under the Option, by following the procedures described in the Plan and in this Agreement. 

When you wish to exercise the Option, you must exercise in the manner required or permitted by the Company. 

If someone other than you exercises the Option after your death, that person must submit documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company verifying that the
person has the legal authority to exercise the Option. 




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Form of Payment
	
When you exercise the Option, you must include payment of the Option Price indicated on the cover sheet of this Agreement for the Common Shares
that you are purchasing. Payment may be made in one (or a combination) of the following forms:



	Cash, your personal check, a cashier's check, a money order, or another cash equivalent acceptable to the Company.


	Common Shares that you already own or that are subject to the vested portion of the Option and that you surrender to the Company.  The value of the Common
Shares, determined on the date of exercise of the Option, will be applied to the Option Price. 


	To the extent a public market exists for the Common Shares, as determined by the Company, delivery (on a form prescribed or accepted by the Company) of an
irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell the Common Shares subject to the Option and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company
in payment of the aggregate Option Price. 



	
Evidence of Issuance
	
The issuance of Common Shares upon exercise of the Option will be evidenced in such a manner as the Company, in its discretion, deems
appropriate, including, without limitation, by book-entry or direct registration (including transaction advices), or the issuance of one or more share certificates. 

	
Transfer of Option
	
Except as provided in this section, during your lifetime, only you (or in the event of your legal incapacity or incompetency, your guardian or legal
representative) may exercise the Option, and the Option may not be assigned or transferred by you, other than by designation of beneficiary, will, or the laws of descent and distribution.  You
may transfer all or part of the Option, "not for value" (as defined below) to any Family Member, provided that you provide prior written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to
the Company, of such transfer.  For purposes of this section, a "not for value" transfer is a transfer that is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of
marital property rights, or (iii) unless Applicable Laws do not permit such transfer, a transfer to an entity in which more than 50% of the voting interests are owned by you or your Family
Members in exchange for an interest in such entity.  Subsequent transfers of the transferred Option are prohibited except to your Family Members in accordance with this section or by will or
the laws of descent and distribution. 

In the event of your termination of Service, this Agreement will continue to be applied with respect to you, following which the Option will be exercisable by the transferee
only to the extent and for the periods specified in this Agreement. 

	
Retention Rights
	
This Agreement and the grant of the Option do not give you the right to be retained by the Company or any Affiliate in any capacity.  Unless otherwise
specified in any written agreement between you and the Company or any Affiliate, the Company and any Affiliate, as applicable, reserve the right to terminate your Service at any time and for
any reason. 





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Shareholder Rights
	
You, or your estate or heirs, have no rights as a shareholder of the Company until the Common Shares have been issued upon exercise of the Option
and either a certificate evidencing the Common Shares has been issued or an appropriate entry has been made on the Company's books.  No adjustments are made for dividends,
distributions, or other rights if the applicable record date occurs before your certificate is issued or the appropriate book entry is made, except as described in the Plan. 

The Option will be subject to the terms of any applicable agreement of merger, liquidation, or reorganization in the event that the Company is subject to such corporate
activity. 

	
Clawback
	
The Option is subject to mandatory repayment by you to the Company to the extent you are or in the future become subject to (x) any Company or
Affiliate "clawback" or recoupment policy that is adopted to comply with the requirements of any Applicable Laws, or (y) any Applicable Laws which impose mandatory recoupment,
under circumstances set forth in such Applicable Laws, and in the event of an inconsistency between (x) and (y), the provision of broader applicability shall apply.

	
Applicable Law
	
The validity and construction of this Agreement will be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Maryland, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.


	
Entire Agreement
	
This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company regarding the Option.  Any prior agreements,
commitments, or negotiations concerning the Option are superseded; except that any written employment, consulting, confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation, and/or severance
agreement or any other written agreement between you and the Company or any Affiliate, as applicable, will supersede this Agreement with respect to its subject matter. 

	
Data Privacy
	
To administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you. This data includes, without limitation, information provided in this
Agreement and any changes to such information, other appropriate personal and financial data about you, including your contact information, payroll information and any other information that
the Company deems appropriate to facilitate the administration of the Plan. 

By accepting the Option, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data. 





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Code Section 409A
	
It is intended that the Option be exempt from Section 409A of the Code ("Section 409A"), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent
permitted, this Agreement will be interpreted and administered consistent with such intent.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the Company, any Affiliate, the
Board, nor the Committee will have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on you under Section 409A and neither the Company, any Affiliate,
the Board, nor the Committee will have any liability to you for such tax or penalty.

	
Notice Delivery
	
By accepting the Option, you agree that notices may be given to you in writing either at your home or mailing address as shown in the records of the
Company or any Affiliate or by electronic transmission (including e-mail or reference to a web site or other URL) sent to you through the normal process employed by the
Company or any Affiliate, as applicable, for communicating electronically with its directors.  





By signing this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.



   

   

   



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