Document:

Exhibit 10.10

 

DOVA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE
 (2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN)

 

Dova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), hereby grants to Optionholder an option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock set forth below.  This option is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth in this grant notice, in the Option Agreement, the Plan and the Notice of Exercise, all of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein in their entirety.  Capitalized terms not explicitly defined herein but defined in the Plan or the Option Agreement will have the same definitions as in the Plan or the Option Agreement. If there is any conflict between the terms herein and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control.

 

	
Optionholder:
    	
 
    
	
Date of Grant:
    	
 
    
	
Vesting Commencement   Date:
    	
 
    
	
Number of Shares   Subject to Option:
    	
 
    
	
Exercise Price (Per   Share):
    	
 
    
	
Total Exercise Price:
    	
 
    
	
Expiration Date:
    	
 
    

 

	
Type of Grant:
    	
 ̈   Incentive Stock Option(1)
    	
 ̈   Nonstatutory Stock Option
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Exercise Schedule:
    	
x   Same as Vesting Schedule
    	
 ̈   Early Exercise Permitted
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Vesting Schedule:
    	
One-fourth (1/4th) of the shares vest one year after the Vesting   Commencement Date; the balance of the shares vest in a series of thirty-six   (36) successive equal monthly installments measured from the first   anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to Optionholder’s   Continuous Service as of each such date.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Payment:
    	
By one or a combination of the following items   (described in the Option Agreement):
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
x          By cash, check, bank   draft or money order payable to the Company

x          Pursuant to a   Regulation T Program if the shares are publicly traded

x          By delivery of   already-owned shares if the shares are publicly traded

x          If and only to the   extent this option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, and subject to the   Company’s consent at the time of exercise, by a “net exercise” arrangement
    

 

Additional Terms/Acknowledgements:  Optionholder acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to, this Stock Option Grant Notice, the Option Agreement and the Plan.  Optionholder acknowledges and agrees that this Stock Option Grant Notice and the Option Agreement may not be modified, amended or revised except as provided in the Plan.  Optionholder further acknowledges that as of the Date of Grant, this Stock Option Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between Optionholder and the Company regarding the acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the option specified above and supersede all prior oral and written agreements, promises and/or representations on that subject with the exception, if applicable, of (i) the written employment

 

(1)  If this is an Incentive Stock Option, it (plus other outstanding Incentive Stock Options) cannot be first exercisable for more than $100,000 in value (measured by exercise price) in any calendar year.  Any excess over $100,000 is a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

 

agreement, offer letter or other written agreement entered into between the Company and Optionholder specifying the terms that govern this option, and (ii) any compensation recovery policy that is adopted by the Company or is otherwise required by applicable law.

 

By accepting this option, Optionholder acknowledges having received and read this Stock Option Grant Notice, the Option Agreement and the Plan and agrees to all of the terms and conditions set forth in these documents. Participant consents to receive Plan documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

 

	
DOVA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    	
 
    	
OPTIONHOLDER
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature
    	
 
    	
Signature
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Date:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
						

 

ATTACHMENTS:  Option Agreement, 2017 Equity Incentive Plan and Notice of Exercise

 

 

ATTACHMENT I

 

OPTION AGREEMENT

 

 

DOVA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

OPTION AGREEMENT
 (INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION OR NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION)

 

Pursuant to your Stock Option Grant Notice (“Grant Notice”) and this Option Agreement, Dova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you an option under its 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice at the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice.  The option is granted to you effective as of the date of grant set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Date of Grant”).  If there is any conflict between the terms in this Option Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined in this Option Agreement or in the Grant Notice but defined in the Plan will have the meanings given to them in the Plan.

 

The details of your option, in addition to those set forth in the Grant Notice, are as follows:

 

1.                                      VESTING.  Your option will vest as provided in your Grant Notice.  Vesting will cease upon the termination of your Continuous Service. [Drafting note: insert the following paragraph if any special vesting acceleration is provided for:

 

(a)                                 If any payment or benefit you would receive from the Company or otherwise in connection with a Change in Control or other similar transaction (a “280G Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then any such 280G Payment (a “Payment”) shall be equal to the Reduced Amount.  The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount (i.e., the amount determined by clause (x) or by clause (y)), after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in your receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax.  If a reduction in a Payment is required pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, the reduction shall occur in the manner (the “Reduction Method”) that results in the greatest economic benefit for you.  If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the “Pro Rata Reduction Method”).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code as follows:  (A) as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest  economic benefit for you as determined on an after-tax basis; (B) as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not contingent on future events; and (C) as a third priority, Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

 

Unless you and the Company agree on an alternative accounting firm, the accounting firm engaged by the Company for general tax compliance purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the change of control transaction triggering the Payment shall perform the foregoing calculations.  If the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the change of control transaction, the Company shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder.  The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder.  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder to provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to you and the Company within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which your right to a 280G Payment becomes reasonably likely to occur (if requested at that time by you or the Company) or such other time as requested by you or the Company.

 

If you receive a Payment for which the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section 1(b) and the Internal Revenue Service determines thereafter that some portion of the Payment is subject to the Excise Tax, you shall promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the Payment (after reduction pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section 1(b) so that no portion of the remaining Payment is subject to the Excise Tax.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (y) in the first paragraph of this Section 1(b), you shall have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence.]

 

2.                                      NUMBER OF SHARES AND EXERCISE PRICE.  The number of shares of Common Stock subject to your option and your exercise price per share in your Grant Notice will be adjusted for Capitalization Adjustments.

 

3.                                      EXERCISE RESTRICTION FOR NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES.  If you are an Employee eligible for overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (that is, a “Non-Exempt Employee”), and except as otherwise provided in the Plan, you may not exercise your option until you have completed at least six (6) months of Continuous Service measured from the Date of Grant, even if you have already been an employee for more than six (6) months. Consistent with the provisions of the Worker Economic Opportunity Act, you may exercise your option as to any vested portion prior to such six (6) month anniversary in the case of (i) your death or Disability, (ii) a Corporate Transaction in which your option is not assumed, continued or substituted, (iii) a Change in Control or (iv) your termination of Continuous Service on your “retirement” (as defined in the Company’s benefit plans).

 

4.                                      EXERCISE PRIOR TO VESTING (“EARLY EXERCISE”).  If permitted in your Grant Notice (i.e., the “Exercise Schedule” indicates “Early Exercise Permitted”) and subject to the provisions of your option, you may elect at any time that is both (i) during the period of your Continuous Service and (ii) during the term of your option, to exercise all or part of your option, including the unvested portion of your option; provided, however, that:

 

(a)                                 a partial exercise of your option will be deemed to cover first vested shares of Common Stock and then the earliest vesting installment of unvested shares of Common Stock;

 

(b)                                 any shares of Common Stock so purchased from installments that have not vested as of the date of exercise will be subject to the purchase option in favor of the Company as described in the Company’s form of Early Exercise Stock Purchase Agreement;

 

 

(c)                                  you will enter into the Company’s form of Early Exercise Stock Purchase Agreement with a vesting schedule that will result in the same vesting as if no early exercise had occurred; and

 

(d)                                 if your option is an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Date of Grant) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which your option plus all other Incentive Stock Options you hold are exercisable for the first time by you during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), your option(s) or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.

 

5.                                      METHOD OF PAYMENT.  You must pay the full amount of the exercise price for the shares you wish to exercise.  You may pay the exercise price in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company or in any other manner permitted by your Grant Notice, which may include one or more of the following:

 

(a)                                 Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds.  This manner of payment is also known as a “broker-assisted exercise”, “same day sale”, or “sell to cover”.

 

(b)                                 Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of already-owned shares of Common Stock that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests, and that are valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.  “Delivery” for these purposes, in the sole discretion of the Company at the time you exercise your option, will include delivery to the Company of your attestation of ownership of such shares of Common Stock in a form approved by the Company.  You may not exercise your option by delivery to the Company of Common Stock if doing so would violate the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock.

 

(c)                                  If this option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, subject to the consent of the Company at the time of exercise, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of your option by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.  You must pay any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by the “net exercise” in cash or other permitted form of payment.  Shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under your option and will not be exercisable thereafter if those shares (i) are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (ii) are delivered to you as a result of such exercise, and (iii) are withheld to satisfy your tax withholding obligations.

 

6.                                      WHOLE SHARES.  You may exercise your option only for whole shares of Common Stock.

 

7.                                      SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE.  In no event may you exercise your option unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise are then registered under the Securities Act or, if not registered, the Company has determined that such exercise and the issuance of the shares would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  The exercise of your option also must comply with all other applicable laws and regulations governing your option, and you may not exercise

 

 

your option if the Company determines that such exercise would not be in material compliance with such laws and regulations (including any restrictions on exercise required for compliance with Treas. Reg. 1.401(k)-1(d)(3), if applicable).

 

8.                                      TERM.  You may not exercise your option before the Date of Grant or after the expiration of the option’s term.  The term of your option expires, subject to the provisions of Section 5(h) of the Plan, upon the earliest of the following:

 

(a)                                 immediately upon the termination of your Continuous Service for Cause;

 

(b)                                 three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous Service for any reason other than Cause, your Disability or your death (except as otherwise provided in Section 8(d) below); provided, however, that if during any part of such three (3) month period your option is not exercisable solely because of the condition set forth in the section above relating to “Securities Law Compliance,” your option will not expire until the earlier of the Expiration Date or until it has been exercisable for an aggregate period of three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous Service; provided further, if (i) you are a Non-Exempt Employee, (ii) your Continuous Service terminates within six (6) months after the Date of Grant, and (iii) you have vested in a portion of your option at the time of your termination of Continuous Service, your option will not expire until the earlier of (x) the later of (A) the date that is seven (7) months after the Date of Grant, and (B) the date that is three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous Service, and (y) the Expiration Date;

 

(c)                                  twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous Service due to your Disability (except as otherwise provided in Section 8(d)) below;

 

(d)                                 eighteen (18) months after your death if you die either during your Continuous Service or within three (3) months after your Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than Cause;

 

(e)                                  the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice; or

 

(f)                                   the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant.

 

If your option is an Incentive Stock Option, note that to obtain the federal income tax advantages associated with an Incentive Stock Option, the Code requires that at all times beginning on the Date of Grant and ending on the day three (3) months before the date of your option’s exercise, you must be an employee of the Company or an Affiliate, except in the event of your death or Disability.  The Company has provided for extended exercisability of your option under certain circumstances for your benefit but cannot guarantee that your option will necessarily be treated as an Incentive Stock Option if you continue to provide services to the Company or an Affiliate as a Consultant or Director after your employment terminates or if you otherwise exercise your option more than three (3) months after the date your employment with the Company or an Affiliate terminates.

 

9.                                      EXERCISE.

 

(a)                                 You may exercise the vested portion of your option (and the unvested portion of your option if your Grant Notice so permits) during its term by (i) delivering a Notice of Exercise (in a form designated by the Company) or completing such other documents and/or procedures designated by the Company for exercise and (ii) paying the exercise price and any applicable withholding taxes to the Company’s Secretary, stock plan administrator, or such other person as the Company may designate, together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.

 

 

(b)                                 By exercising your option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your option, the Company may require you to enter into an arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax withholding obligation of the Company arising by reason of (i) the exercise of your option, (ii) the lapse of any substantial risk of forfeiture to which the shares of Common Stock are subject at the time of exercise, or (iii) the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise.

 

(c)                                  If your option is an Incentive Stock Option, by exercising your option you agree that you will notify the Company in writing within fifteen (15) days after the date of any disposition of any of the shares of the Common Stock issued upon exercise of your option that occurs within two (2) years after the Date of Grant or within one (1) year after such shares of Common Stock are transferred upon exercise of your option.

 

(d)                                 By accepting your option you agree that you will not sell, dispose of, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale with respect to any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company held by you, for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company will request to facilitate compliance with FINRA Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation (the “Lock-Up Period”); provided, however, that nothing contained in this section will prevent the exercise of a repurchase option, if any, in favor of the Company during the Lock-Up Period.  You further agree to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company or the underwriters that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.  In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to your shares of Common Stock until the end of such period.  You also agree that any transferee of any shares of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by you will be bound by this Section 9(d).  The underwriters of the Company’s stock are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 9(d) and will have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.

 

10.                               TRANSFERABILITY.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10, your option is not transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your life only by you.

 

(a)                                 Certain Trusts.  Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, you may transfer your option to a trust if you are considered to be the sole beneficial owner (determined under Section 671 of the Code and applicable state law) while the option is held in the trust.  You and the trustee must enter into transfer and other agreements required by the Company.

 

(b)                                 Domestic Relations Orders.  Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, and provided that you and the designated transferee enter into transfer and other agreements required by the Company, you may transfer your option pursuant to the terms of a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement or other divorce or separation instrument as permitted by Treasury Regulation 1.421-1(b)(2) that contains the information required by the Company to effectuate the transfer.  You are encouraged to discuss the proposed terms of any division of this option with the Company prior to finalizing the domestic relations order or marital settlement agreement to help ensure the required information is contained within the domestic relations order or marital settlement agreement.  If this option is an Incentive Stock Option, this option may be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.

 

 

(c)                                  Beneficiary Designation.  Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, you may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form approved by the Company and any broker designated by the Company to handle option exercises, designate a third party who, on your death, will thereafter be entitled to exercise this option and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.  In the absence of such a designation, your executor or administrator of your estate will be entitled to exercise this option and receive, on behalf of your estate, the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.

 

11.                               RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.  Shares of Common Stock that you acquire upon exercise of your option are subject to any right of first refusal that may be described in the Company’s bylaws in effect at such time the Company elects to exercise its right; provided, however, that if there is no right of first refusal described in the Company’s bylaws at such time, the right of first refusal described below will apply.  The Company’s right of first refusal will expire on the first date upon which any security of the Company is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on a national securities exchange or quotation system (the “Listing Date”).

 

(a)                                 Prior to the Listing Date, you may not validly Transfer (as defined below) any shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of your option, or any interest in such shares, unless such Transfer is made in compliance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                                    Before there can be a valid Transfer of any shares of Common Stock or any interest therein, the record holder of the shares of Common Stock to be transferred (the “Offered Shares”) will give written notice (by registered or certified mail) to the Company.  Such notice will specify the identity of the proposed transferee, the cash price offered for the Offered Shares by the proposed transferee (or, if the proposed Transfer is one in which the holder will not receive cash, such as an involuntary transfer, gift, donation or pledge, the holder will state that no purchase price is being proposed), and the other terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer.  The date such notice is mailed will be hereinafter referred to as the “Notice Date” and the record holder of the Offered Shares will be hereinafter referred to as the “Offeror.”  If, from time to time, there is any stock dividend, stock split or other change in the character or amount of any of the outstanding Common Stock which is subject to the provisions of your option, then in such event any and all new, substituted or additional securities to which you are entitled by reason of your ownership of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of your option will be immediately subject to the Company’s Right of First Refusal (as defined below) with the same force and effect as the shares subject to the Right of First Refusal immediately before such event.

 

(ii)                                For a period of thirty (30) calendar days after the Notice Date, or such longer period as may be required to avoid the classification of your option as a liability for financial accounting purposes, the Company will have the option to purchase all (but not less than all) of the Offered Shares at the purchase price and on the terms set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) (the Company’s “Right of First Refusal”).  In the event that the proposed Transfer is one involving no payment of a purchase price, the purchase price will be deemed to be the Fair Market Value of the Offered Shares as determined in good faith by the Board in its discretion.  The Company may exercise its Right of First Refusal by mailing (by registered or certified mail) written notice of exercise of its Right of First Refusal to the Offeror prior to the end of said thirty (30) days (including any extension required to avoid classification of the option as a liability for financial accounting purposes).

 

(iii)                            The price at which the Company may purchase the Offered Shares pursuant to the exercise of its Right of First Refusal will be the cash price offered for the Offered Shares by the proposed transferee (as set forth in the notice required under Section 11(a)(i)), or the Fair Market Value as determined by the Board in the event no purchase price is involved.  To the extent consideration

 

 

other than cash is offered by the proposed transferee, the Company will not be required to pay any additional amounts to the Offeror other than the cash price offered (or the Fair Market Value, if applicable).  The Company’s notice of exercise of its Right of First Refusal will be accompanied by full payment for the Offered Shares and, upon such payment by the Company, the Company will acquire full right, title and interest to all of the Offered Shares.

 

(iv)                             If, and only if, the option given pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) is not exercised, the Transfer proposed in the notice given pursuant to Section 11(a)(i) may take place; provided, however, that such Transfer must, in all respects, be exactly as proposed in said notice except that such Transfer may not take place either before the tenth (10th) calendar day after the expiration of the thirty (30) day option exercise period or after the ninetieth (90th) calendar day after the expiration of the thirty (30) day option exercise period, and if such Transfer has not taken place prior to said ninetieth (90th) day, such Transfer may not take place without once again complying with this Section 11(a).  The option exercise periods in this Section 11(a)(iv) will be adjusted to include any extension required to avoid the classification of your option as a liability for financial accounting purposes.

 

(b)                                 As used in this Section 11, the term “Transfer” means any sale, encumbrance, pledge, gift or other form of disposition or transfer of shares of Common Stock or any legal or equitable interest therein; provided, however, that the term Transfer does not include a transfer of such shares or interests by will or intestacy to your Immediate Family (as defined below).  In such case, the transferee or other recipient will receive and hold the shares of Common Stock so transferred subject to the provisions of this Section, and there will be no further transfer of such shares except in accordance with the terms of this Section.  As used herein, the term “Immediate Family” will mean your spouse, the lineal descendant or antecedent, father, mother, brother or sister, child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of you or your spouse, or the spouse of any child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of you or your spouse.

 

(c)                                  None of the shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of your option will be transferred on the Company’s books nor will the Company recognize any such Transfer of any such shares or any interest therein unless and until all applicable provisions of this Section 11 have been complied with in all respects.  The certificates of stock evidencing shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of your option will bear an appropriate legend referring to the transfer restrictions imposed by this Section 11.

 

(d)                                 To ensure that the shares subject to the Company’s Right of First Refusal will be available for repurchase by the Company, the Company may require you to deposit the certificates evidencing the shares that you purchase upon exercise of your option with an escrow agent designated by the Company under the terms and conditions of an escrow agreement approved by the Company.  If the Company does not require such deposit as a condition of exercise of your option, the Company reserves the right at any time to require you to so deposit the certificates in escrow.  As soon as practicable after the expiration of the Company’s Right of First Refusal, the agent will deliver to you the shares and any other property no longer subject to such restriction.  In the event the shares and any other property held in escrow are subject to the Company’s exercise of its Right of First Refusal, the notices required to be given to you will be given to the escrow agent, and any payment required to be given to you will be given to the escrow agent.  Within thirty (30) days after payment by the Company for the Offered Shares, the escrow agent will deliver the Offered Shares that the Company has repurchased to the Company and will deliver the payment received from the Company to you.

 

12.                               RIGHT OF REPURCHASE.  To the extent provided in the Company’s bylaws in effect at such time the Company elects to exercise its right, the Company will have the right to repurchase all or any part of the shares of Common Stock you acquire pursuant to the exercise of your option.

 

 

13.          OPTION NOT A SERVICE CONTRACT.  Your option is not an employment or service contract, and nothing in your option will be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ of the Company or an Affiliate, or of the Company or an Affiliate to continue your employment.  In addition, nothing in your option will obligate the Company or an Affiliate, their respective stockholders, boards of directors, officers or employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or Consultant for the Company or an Affiliate.

 

14.          WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS.

 

(a)           At the time you exercise your option, in whole or in part, and at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a “same day sale” pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company), any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company or an Affiliate, if any, which arise in connection with the exercise of your option.

 

(b)           If this option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, then upon your request and subject to approval by the Company, and compliance with any applicable legal conditions or restrictions, the Company may withhold from fully vested shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to you upon the exercise of your option a number of whole shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value, determined by the Company as of the date of exercise, not in excess of the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lower amount as may be necessary to avoid classification of your option as a liability for financial accounting purposes).  If the date of determination of any tax withholding obligation is deferred to a date later than the date of exercise of your option, share withholding pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not be permitted unless you make a proper and timely election under Section 83(b) of the Code, covering the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise with respect to which such determination is otherwise deferred, to accelerate the determination of such tax withholding obligation to the date of exercise of your option.  Notwithstanding the filing of such election, shares of Common Stock shall be withheld solely from fully vested shares of Common Stock determined as of the date of exercise of your option that are otherwise issuable to you upon such exercise.  Any adverse consequences to you arising in connection with such share withholding procedure shall be your sole responsibility.

 

(c)           You may not exercise your option unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied.  Accordingly, you may not be able to exercise your option when desired even though your option is vested, and the Company will have no obligation to issue a certificate for such shares of Common Stock or release such shares of Common Stock from any escrow provided for herein, if applicable, unless such obligations are satisfied.

 

15.          TAX CONSEQUENCES. You hereby agree that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities. You will not make any claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates related to tax liabilities arising from your option or your other compensation. In particular, you acknowledge that this option is exempt from Section 409A of the Code only if the exercise price per share specified in the Grant Notice is at least equal to the “fair market value” per share of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant and there is no other impermissible deferral of compensation associated with the option. Because the Common Stock is not traded on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value is determined by the Board, perhaps in consultation with an independent valuation firm retained by the Company. You acknowledge that there is no guarantee that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation as determined by the Board, and you will not make any claim against the Company, or

 

 

any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates in the event that the Internal Revenue Service asserts that the valuation determined by the Board is less than the “fair market value” as subsequently determined by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

16.          NOTICES.  Any notices provided for in your option or the Plan will be given in writing (including electronically) and will be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in the case of notices delivered by mail by the Company to you, five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to the Company.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan and this option by electronic means or to request your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means.  By accepting this option, you consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

17.          GOVERNING PLAN DOCUMENT.  Your option is subject to all the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of your option, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations, which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan.  If there is any conflict between the provisions of your option and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will control.  Your option (and any compensation paid or shares issued under your option) is subject to recoupment in accordance with The Dodd—Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any implementing regulations thereunder, any clawback policy adopted by the Company and any compensation recovery policy otherwise required by applicable law. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to voluntarily terminate employment upon a resignation for “good reason,” or for a “constructive termination” or any similar term under any plan of or agreement with the Company.

 

18.          EFFECT ON OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.  The value of this option will not be included as compensation, earnings, salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating your benefits under any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any Affiliate, except as such plan otherwise expressly provides. The Company expressly reserves its rights to amend, modify, or terminate any of the Company’s or any Affiliate’s employee benefit plans.

 

19.          STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS.  You will not have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the shares to be issued pursuant to this option until such shares are issued to you.   Upon such issuance, you will obtain full rights as a stockholder of the Common Stock of the Company.  Nothing contained in this option, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between you and the Company or any other person.

 

20.          CHOICE OF LAW. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to that state’s conflicts of laws rules.

 

21.          SEVERABILITY.  If all or any part of this Option Agreement or the Plan is declared by any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity will not invalidate any portion of this Option Agreement or the Plan not declared to be unlawful or invalid.  Any Section of this Option Agreement (or part of such a Section) so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give effect to the terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.

 

 

22.          MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)           The rights and obligations of the Company under your option will be transferable to any one or more persons or entities, and all covenants and agreements hereunder will inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the Company’s successors and assigns.

 

(b)           You agree upon request to execute any further documents or instruments necessary or desirable in the sole determination of the Company to carry out the purposes or intent of your option.

 

(c)           You acknowledge and agree that you have reviewed your option in its entirety, have had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing and accepting your option, and fully understand all provisions of your option.

 

(d)           This Option Agreement will be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

 

(e)           All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Option Agreement will be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

* * * * *

 

This Option Agreement shall be deemed to be signed by the Company and the Optionholder upon the signing by the Optionholder of the Stock Option Grant Notice to which it is attached.

 

 

ATTACHMENT II

 

2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

ATTACHMENT III

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

	
Dova   Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    	
 
    
	
200 Garrett St.,   Suite O
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Charlottesville, VA 22902
    	
Date of Exercise:
    	
 
    

 

This constitutes notice to DOVA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (the “Company”) under my stock option that I elect to purchase the below number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Shares”) for the price set forth below.

 

	
Type of option (check one):
    	
 
    	
Incentive  ̈
    	
 
    	
Nonstatutory  ̈
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Stock option   dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Number of Shares   as to which option is exercised:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Certificates to   be issued in name of:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Total exercise   price:
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Cash, check, bank draft or money order payment   delivered herewith:
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Value of            Shares delivered   herewith(1):
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              ]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Value of            Shares pursuant to net   exercise(2):
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              ]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Regulation T   Program (cashless exercise(3)):
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              
    	
 
    	
$
    	
              ]
    	
 
    

 

By this exercise, I agree (i) to provide such additional documents as you may require pursuant to the terms of the 2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, (ii) to provide for the payment by me to you (in the manner designated by you) of your withholding obligation, if any, relating to the exercise of this option,

 

(1)           Shares must meet the public trading requirements set forth in the option.  Shares must be valued in accordance with the terms of the option being exercised, and must be owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests.  Certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by an executed assignment separate from certificate.

(2)           The option must be a Nonstatutory Stock Option, and Dova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. must have established net exercise procedures at the time of exercise, in order to utilize this payment method.

(3)           Shares must meet the public trading requirements set forth in the option.

 

 

and (iii) if this exercise relates to an incentive stock option, to notify you in writing within fifteen (15) days after the date of any disposition of any of the Shares issued upon exercise of this option that occurs within two (2) years after the date of grant of this option or within one (1) year after such Shares are issued upon exercise of this option.

 

I hereby make the following certifications and representations with respect to the number of Shares listed above, which are being acquired by me for my own account upon exercise of the option as set forth above:

 

I acknowledge that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and are deemed to constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 701 and Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.  I warrant and represent to the Company that I have no present intention of distributing or selling said Shares, except as permitted under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.

 

I further acknowledge that I will not be able to resell the Shares for at least ninety (90) days after the stock of the Company becomes publicly traded (i.e., subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) under Rule 701 and that more restrictive conditions apply to affiliates of the Company under Rule 144.

 

I further acknowledge that all certificates representing any of the Shares subject to the provisions of the Option shall have endorsed thereon appropriate legends reflecting the foregoing limitations, as well as any legends reflecting restrictions pursuant to the Company’s articles of incorporation, bylaws and/or applicable securities laws.

 

I further agree that, if required by the Company (or a representative of the underwriters) in connection with the first underwritten registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, I will not sell, dispose of, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale with respect to any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act (or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company shall request to facilitate compliance with FINRA Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rule or regulation) (the “Lock-Up Period”).  I further agree to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company or the underwriters that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.  In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such period.

 

 

	
 
    	
Very truly yours,Exhibit 10.13

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into effective January 3, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Dova Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Alexander C. Sapir (the “Employee”).

 

The Company desires to employ the Employee in the capacity of full-time President and CEO pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and, in connection therewith, to compensate the Employee for Employee’s personal services to the Company; and

 

The Employee wishes to be employed by the Company and provide personal services to the Company in return for certain compensation.

 

Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the parties agree to the following:

 

1.             EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY.

 

1.1          At-Will Employment. Employee shall be employed by the Company on an “at-will” basis, meaning either the Company or Employee may terminate Employee’s employment at any time, with or without cause or advanced notice.  Any contrary representations that may have been made to Employee shall be superseded by this Agreement.  This Agreement shall constitute the full and complete agreement between Employee and the Company on the “at-will” nature of Employee’s employment with the Company, which may be changed only in an express written agreement signed by Employee and a duly authorized officer of the Company. Employee’s rights to any compensation following a termination shall be only as set forth in Section 6.

 

1.2          Position.  Subject to the terms set forth herein, the Company agrees to employ Employee, initially, in the position of President and CEO and Employee hereby accepts such employment.  During the term of Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will devote Employee’s best efforts and substantially all of Employee’s business time and attention to the business of the Company.

 

1.3          Duties.  Employee will report to the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Company, performing such duties as are normally associated with his position and such duties as are assigned to him from time to time, subject to the oversight and direction of the Board. Employee shall perform his duties under this Agreement principally out of the Company’s corporate headquarters to be established within twenty-five (25) miles of Chapel Hill, North Carolina or such other location as assigned.  In addition, the Employee shall make such business trips to such places as may be necessary or advisable for the efficient operations of the Company.

 

1.4          Company Policies and Benefits.  The employment relationship between the parties shall also be subject to the Company’s personnel policies and procedures as they may be interpreted, adopted, revised or deleted from time to time in the Company’s sole discretion.  The Employee will be eligible to participate on the same basis as similarly situated employees in

 

 

the Company’s benefit plans in effect from time to time during his employment.  All matters of eligibility for coverage or benefits under any benefit plan shall be determined in accordance with  the provisions of such plan.  The Company reserves the right to change, alter, or terminate any benefit plan in its sole discretion.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

 

1.5          Paid Time Off.  The Employee will be eligible for up to fifteen (15) days of paid time off per calendar year in accordance with any paid leave policy adopted by the Company from time to time.

 

2.                                      COMPENSATION.

 

2.1          Salary.  Employee shall receive for Employee’s services to be rendered hereunder an initial annualized base salary of $400,000 per year, subject to review and adjustment from time to time by the Company in its sole discretion, payable subject to standard federal and state payroll withholding requirements in accordance with Company’s standard payroll practices (“Base Salary”).

 

2.2          Bonus.

 

(a)           During Employment. Employee shall be eligible to earn an annual performance bonus of up to 45% of his Base Salary (“Annual Bonus”).  The Annual Bonus will be based upon the Board’s assessment of the Employee’s performance and the Company’s attainment of targeted goals as set by the Board in its sole discretion.  The Annual Bonus, if any, will be subject to applicable payroll deductions and withholdings.  Following the close of each calendar year, the Board will determine whether the Employee has earned the Annual Bonus, and the amount of any Annual Bonus, based on the set criteria.  No amount of the Annual Bonus is guaranteed, and the Employee must be an employee in good standing on the Annual Bonus payment date to be eligible to receive an Annual Bonus; no partial or prorated bonuses will be provided.  The Annual Bonus, if earned, will be paid no later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the applicable calendar year for which the Annual Bonus is being measured.  The Employee’s eligibility for an Annual Bonus is subject to change in the discretion of the Board (or any authorized committee thereof).

 

(b)           Upon Termination.  In the event Employee leaves the employ of the Company for any reason prior to payment of any bonus, he is not eligible for such bonus, prorated or otherwise.

 

2.3          Stock Option.

 

(a)           Option Grant.  Subject to approval of the Board, which the Company agrees to use its best efforts to secure, Employee will be issued options to purchase 277,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits, dividends and combinations and similar events as will be set forth in the option agreement), with a 10-year term, pursuant and subject to the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan”), which the Company is in the process of establishing, and the Company’s standard form of Stock Option Agreement (“Stock Agreement’) between the Employee and the Company.   The option shall be

 

2

 

an incentive stock option to the extent permissible under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code and will have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock, to be determined in accordance with Section 409A.

 

(b)           Vesting.  The Option shall vest over a period of four years as follows: (i) 25% of the total shares subject to the Option shall vest on January 3, 2018, and (ii) 1/48th of total shares subject to the Option shall vest monthly thereafter over the remaining three years of the vesting period, subject to Employee’s continuous service as of each applicable date.  The foregoing notwithstanding, in the event of a Sale Event (as defined below), subject to Employee’s continuous service as of the closing of such Sale Event, all of Employee’s then-unvested Option shall immediately and automatically vest as of the Closing of such Sale Event.  For purposes hereof, “Sale Event” shall mean the date on which the Company enters into a binding agreement pursuant to which: (A) any person, including a “group” as defined below, will acquire ownership of all or substantially all of the Company’s equity, excluding any acquisition of stock by a person or group of persons who were members or shareholders of such company immediately prior to such acquisition; or (B) any person, including a “group” as defined below, will acquire all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.  For purposes of this definition, the term “group” shall have the same meaning as in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  None of the following shall constitute a Sale Event for purposes of this Agreement: (x) the sale of stock of the Company or any successor in an initial public offering, (y) any restructuring, merger or conversion of the Company to a corporation or to an entity organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction of the applicable company’s organization, whether by merger, conversion, consolidation, contribution of shares or assets, or otherwise, and where members immediately before such restructuring, merger or conversion own any of the capital and voting interests of the resulting or surviving corporation or entity, or (z) any transaction or series of transactions principally for bona fide equity financing purposes in which cash is received by the Company or any successor or indebtedness of the Company is cancelled or converted or a combination thereof.  Furthermore, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, an event which does not constitute a change in the ownership, a change in the effective control, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, each as defined in Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations (Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended from time to time), shall not constitute a Sale Event for purposes of this Agreement.

 

2.4          Expense Reimbursement.  The Company will reimburse Employee for all reasonable, documented business expenses incurred in connection with his services hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s business expense reimbursement policies and procedures as may be in effect from time to time.

 

3.               PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, INVENTIONS, NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION OBLIGATIONS.  The parties hereto have entered into a Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”), which may be amended by the parties from time to time without regard to this Agreement.  The Proprietary Information Agreement contains provisions that are intended by the parties to survive and do survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

3

 

4.             OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES.  Except with the prior written consent of the Company’s Board, Employee will not, while employed by the Company, undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise that would interfere with Employee’s responsibilities and the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder except for (i) reasonable time devoted to volunteer services for or on behalf of such religious, educational, non-profit and/or other charitable organization as Employee may wish to serve; (ii) reasonable time devoted to activities in the non-profit and business communities consistent with Employee’s duties; (iii) reasonable time devoted to service on boards of directors of companies that are not competitive with the Company, do not otherwise present a conflict of interest and would not otherwise interfere with Employee’s responsibilities and the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder, subject to the prior written approval of the Board (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld); and (iv) such other activities that would not interfere with Employee’s responsibilities and the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder as may be specifically approved by the Board (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).  This restriction shall not, however, preclude the Employee from owning less than one percent (1%) of the total outstanding shares of a publicly traded company.

 

5.             NO CONFLICT WITH EXISTING OBLIGATIONS.  Employee represents that Employee’s performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an Employee of the Company do not and will not breach any agreement or obligation of any kind made prior to Employee’s employment by the Company, including agreements or obligations Employee may have with prior employers or entities for which Employee has provided services.  Employee has not entered into, and Employee agrees that Employee will not enter into, any agreement or obligation, either written or oral, in conflict herewith.

 

6.             TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  The parties acknowledge that Employee’s employment relationship with the Company is at-will.  Either Employee or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without Cause.  The provisions in this Section govern the amount of compensation, if any, to be provided to Employee upon termination of employment and do not alter this at-will status.

 

6.1          Termination by the Company Without Cause.

 

(a)           The Company shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment with the Company pursuant to this Section 6.1 at any time without “Cause” (as defined in Section 6.2(a) below) by giving notice as described in Section 6.6 of this Agreement.  A termination pursuant to Section 6.5 below is not a termination without “Cause” for purposes of receiving the benefits described in this Section 6.1.

 

(b)           In the event Employee’s employment is terminated without Cause, then provided that the Employee executes and does not revoke a separation agreement that includes a general release substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Release”), and subject to Section 6.1(c) (the date that the Release becomes effective and may no longer be revoked by the Employee is referred to as the “Release Date”), then:

 

(i)            the Company shall pay to Employee an amount equal to Employee’s then current Base Salary for the Severance Period (as defined below), less applicable

 

4

 

withholdings and deductions (the “Severance Payment”), in installments in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices commencing on the Company’s first regular payroll date that is more than sixty (60) days following the Separation Date (as defined below), and shall be for any accrued Base Salary for the sixty (60) day period plus the period from the sixtieth (60th) day until the regular payroll date, if applicable, and all salary continuation payments thereafter, if any, shall be made on the Company’s regular payroll dates; and

 

(ii)           if the Employee timely elects continued coverage under COBRA for himself and his covered dependents under the Company’s group health plans following such termination, then the Employee will be entitled to the following COBRA benefits (the “COBRA Benefits,” together with the Severance Payment, the “Severance Benefits”):  the Company shall pay the COBRA premiums necessary to continue the Employee’s and his covered dependents’ health insurance coverage in effect for himself (and his covered dependents) on the termination date until the earliest of (x) a  number of months following the termination date equal to the Severance Period (the “COBRA Severance Period”); (y) the date when the Employee becomes eligible for health insurance coverage in connection with new employment or self-employment; or (iii) the date the Employee ceases to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason, including plan termination (such period from the termination date through the earlier of (i)-(iii), the “COBRA Payment Period”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Company determines that its payment of COBRA premiums on the Employee’s behalf would result in a violation of applicable law (including but not limited to the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act), then in lieu of paying COBRA premiums pursuant to this Section, the Company shall pay the Employee on the last day of each remaining month of the COBRA Payment Period, a fully taxable cash payment equal to the COBRA premium for such month, subject to applicable tax withholding (such amount, the “Special Severance Payment”), such Special Severance Payment to be made without regard to the Employee’s payment of COBRA premiums and without regard to the expiration of the COBRA period prior to the end of the COBRA Payment Period.  Nothing in this Agreement shall deprive the Employee of his rights under COBRA or ERISA for benefits under plans and policies arising under his employment by the Company.

 

(c)           Employee shall not receive the Severance Benefits pursuant to Section 6.1(b) unless he executes the Release within the consideration period specified therein, which shall in no event be more than sixty (60) days, and until the Release becomes effective and can no longer be revoked by Employee under its terms.  Employee’s ability to receive benefits pursuant to Section 6.1(b) is further conditioned upon his:  returning all Company property; complying with his post-termination obligations under this Agreement and the Proprietary Information Agreement; and complying with the Release including without limitation any non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions contained therein.

 

(d)           The benefits provided to Employee pursuant to this Section 6.1 are in lieu of, and not in addition to, any benefits to which Employee may otherwise be entitled under any Company severance plan, policy or program.

 

(e)           The damages caused by the termination of Employee’s employment without Cause would be difficult to ascertain; therefore, the severance for which

 

5

 

Employee is eligible pursuant to Section 6.1(b) above in exchange for the Release is agreed to by the parties as liquidated damages, to serve as full compensation, and not a penalty.

 

(f)            For purposes of this Agreement, “Severance Period” shall mean  (i) zero (0) months in the event a termination under this Section 6.1 or under Section 6.3 (an “Involuntary Termination”) occurs on or before January 3, 2018, (ii) six (6) months in the event an Involuntary Termination occurs after January 3, 2018 and on or before January 3, 2019, and (iii) twelve (12) months in the event an Involuntary Termination occurs after January 3, 2019.

 

6.2          Termination by the Company for Cause.  Subject to Section 6.2(b) below, the Company shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment with the Company at any time for Cause by giving notice as described in this Section 6.2 and in Section 6.6 of this Agreement.

 

(a)           “Cause” for termination shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) Employee’s conviction of any felony or any crime involving fraud or dishonesty; (ii) Employee’s participation in a fraud, act of dishonesty or other act of gross misconduct that adversely affects the Company; (iii) conduct by Employee that demonstrates Employee’s gross unfitness to serve under circumstances that materially and adversely affect the Company; (iv) Employee’s violation of any statutory or fiduciary duty, or duty of loyalty, owed to the Company; (v) Employee’s breach of any material term of any contract between such Employee and the Company; and/or (vi) Employee’s serious violation of a material Company policy. Whether a termination is for Cause shall be decided by the Board in its sole and exclusive judgment and discretion.  Prior to termination for Cause pursuant to each event listed in (iii) and (iv) above, the Company shall give the Employee notice of such event(s), which notice shall specify in reasonable detail the circumstances constituting Cause, and an opportunity to explain the circumstances.  Prior to any termination for Cause pursuant to each event listed in (v) and (vi) above, to the extent such event(s) is (are) capable of being cured by Employee, (A) the Company shall give the Employee notice of such event(s), which notice shall specify in reasonable detail the circumstances constituting Cause, and an opportunity to cure, and (B) there shall be no Cause with respect to any such event(s) if the Board determines in good faith that such events have been cured by Employee within fifteen (15) days after the delivery of such notice.

 

(b)           In the event Employee’s employment is terminated at any time for Cause, Employee will not receive the Severance Benefits described in Section 6.1(b), or any other severance compensation or benefit, except that, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, the Company shall pay to Employee the accrued but unpaid salary of Employee through the date of termination, together with all compensation and benefits payable to Employee based on his participation in any compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement through the date of termination.

 

6.3          Resignation by the Employee With Good Reason.

 

(a)           Employee may resign from Employee’s employment with the Company for Good Reason by giving notice following the end of the Cure Period (as defined in this Section).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” for the Employee to terminate

 

6

 

his employment hereunder shall mean any of following actions are taken by the Company without Employee’s prior written consent: (i) a material reduction by the Company of Employee’s Base Salary as initially set forth herein or as the same may be increased from time to time, provided, however, that if such reduction occurs in connection with a Company-wide decrease in executive team compensation, such reduction shall not constitute Good Reason; (ii) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company; (iii) the relocation of Employee’s principal place of employment, without Employee’s consent, by fifty (50) or more miles from his then-current principal place of employment immediately prior to such relocation; or (iv) a material reduction in Employee’s title, duties, authority, or responsibilities relative to Employee’s title, duties, authority, or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such reduction; provided, however, that, any such termination by Employee shall only be deemed for Good Reason pursuant to this definition if: (1) Employee gives the Company written notice of his intent to terminate for Good Reason within thirty (30) days following the occurrence of the condition(s) that he believes constitute(s) Good Reason, which notice shall describe such condition(s); (2) the Company fails to remedy such condition(s) within thirty (30) days following receipt of the written notice (the “Cure Period”); and (3) Employee voluntarily terminates his employment within thirty (30) days following the end of the Cure Period.

 

(b)           In the event Employee resigns from employment for Good Reason, then provided that the Employee executes and does not revoke the Release and subject to Section 6.1(c), then the Company shall pay to Employee the Severance Benefits described in Section 6.1(b).

 

6.4          Resignation by the Employee Without Good Reason.

 

(a)           Employee may resign from Employee’s employment with the Company at any time by giving notice as described in Section 6.6.

 

(b)           In the event Employee resigns from Employee’s employment with the Company other than for Good Reason, Employee will not receive the Severance Benefits, or any other severance compensation or benefit, except that, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, the Company shall pay to Employee the accrued but unpaid salary of Employee through the date of resignation, together with all compensation and benefits payable to Employee through the date of resignation under any compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement during such period and Employee shall be eligible for any benefit continuation or conversion rights provided by the provisions of a benefit plan or by law.

 

6.5          Termination by Virtue of Death or Disability of the Employee.

 

(a)           In the event of Employee’s death while employed pursuant to this Agreement, all obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate immediately, and the Company shall, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, pay to the Employee’s legal representatives Employee’s accrued but unpaid salary through the date of death together with all compensation and benefits payable to Employee based on his participation in any compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement through the date of termination.

 

7

 

(b)           Subject to applicable state and federal law, the Company shall at all times have the right, upon written notice to the Employee, to terminate this Agreement based on the Employee’s Disability (as defined below).  Termination by the Company of the Employee’s employment based on “Disability” shall mean termination because the Employee is unable due to a physical or mental condition to perform the essential functions of his position with or without reasonable accommodation for six (6) months in the aggregate during any twelve (12) month period or based on the written certification by two licensed physicians of the likely continuation of such condition for such period.  This definition shall be interpreted and applied consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and other applicable law. In the event Employee’s employment is terminated based on the Employee’s Disability, Employee will not receive the Severance Benefits, or any other severance compensation or benefit, except that, pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll policies, the Company shall pay to Employee the accrued but unpaid salary of Employee through the date of termination, together with all compensation and benefits payable to Employee based on his participation in any compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement through the date of termination.

 

6.6          Notice; Effective Date of Termination.

 

(a)           Termination of Employee’s employment (the “Separation Date”) pursuant to this Agreement shall be effective as follows:

 

(i)            ten (10) days after the Company has provided Employee with written notice  of Employee’s termination without Cause under Section 6.1;

 

(ii)           For a termination for Cause:  (aa) under Section 6.2 (a)(i) or (ii), immediately upon provision by the Company of written notice of the reasons to Employee; (bb) under Section 6.2(iii) or (iv), following the required written notice to Employee and expiration of the period during which Employee may explain; (cc) under Section 6.2(v) or (vi),  following the required written notice to Employee and expiration of the 15-day cure period, if Employee has not cured;

 

(iii)          immediately upon the Employee’s death;

 

(iv)          thirty (30) days after the Company gives notice to Employee of Employee’s termination on account of Employee’s Disability under Section 6.5, unless the Company specifies a later Separation Date, in which case, termination shall be effective as of such later Separation Date, provided that Employee has not returned to the full time performance of Employee’s duties prior to such date;

 

(v)           on the date specified in Employee’s written notice of Employee’s resignation for Good Reason, provided it is within thirty (30) days after the Cure Period has ended and the Company has failed to remedy any of the reasons for Good Reason set forth in Employee’s initial notice under Section 6.3(a); or

 

(vi)          ten (10) days after the Employee gives written notice to the Company of Employee’s resignation, provided that the Company may set a Separation Date at any time between the date of notice and the date of resignation, in which case the Employee’s

 

8

 

resignation shall be effective as of such other date.  Employee will receive compensation through the Separation Date.

 

(b)           In the event notice of a termination under subsections (a)(iii) and (iv) is given orally, at the other party’s request, the party giving notice must provide written confirmation of such notice within five (5) business days of the request in compliance with the requirement of Section 7.1 below.  In the event of a termination for Cause, written confirmation shall specify the subsection(s) of the definition of Cause relied on to support the decision to terminate.

 

6.7          Cooperation With Company After Termination of Employment. Following termination of Employee’s employment for any reason, Employee shall reasonably cooperate with the Company in all matters relating to the winding up of Employee’s pending work including, but not limited to, any litigation in which the Company is involved, and the orderly transfer of any such pending work to such other Employees as may be designated by the Company.

 

6.8          Application of Section 409A.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any payments and benefits provided under this Agreement that constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively, “Section 409A”) shall not commence in connection with Employee’s termination of employment unless and until Employee has also incurred a “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (“Separation From Service”), unless the Company reasonably determines that such amounts may be provided to Employee without causing Employee to incur the additional 20% tax under Section 409A.  It is intended that each installment of severance pay provided for in this Agreement is a separate “payment” for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i).  For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended that severance payments set forth in this Agreement satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exceptions from the application of Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5), and 1.409A-1(b)(9).  If the Company (or, if applicable, the successor entity thereto) determines that any payments or benefits constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and Employee is, on the termination of service, a “specified employee” of the Company or any successor entity thereto, as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the payments and benefits shall be delayed until the earlier to occur of:  (a) the date that is six months and one day after Employee’s Separation From Service, or (b) the date of Employee’s death (such applicable date, the “Specified Employee Initial Payment Date”).  On the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date, the Company (or the successor entity thereto, as applicable) shall (i) pay to Employee a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the payments and benefits that Employee would otherwise have received through the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date if the commencement of the payment of such amounts had not been so delayed pursuant to this Section and (ii) commence paying the balance of the payments and benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedules set forth in this Agreement.  All reimbursements provided under this Agreement shall be subject to the following requirements:  (i) the amount of in-kind benefits provided or reimbursable expenses incurred in one taxable year

 

9

 

shall not affect the in-kind benefits to be provided or the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year, (ii) all reimbursements shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable, but in no event shall any reimbursement be paid after the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.  It is intended that all payments and benefits under this Agreement shall either comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A, and any ambiguity contained herein shall be interpreted in such manner so as to avoid adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall in no event be obligated to indemnify the Employee for any taxes or interest that may be assessed by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Section 409A of the Code to payments made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

7.               GENERAL PROVISIONS.

 

7.1          Notices.  Any notices required hereunder to be in writing shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by electronic mail, telex or confirmed facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not, then on the next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt.  All communications shall be sent to the Company at its primary office location and to Employee at Employee’s address as listed on the Company payroll, or at such other address as the Company or the Employee may designate by ten (10) days advance written notice to the other.

 

7.2          Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

 

7.3          Waiver.  If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, such party shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.

 

7.4          Complete Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Employee and the Company with regard to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter and supersedes any prior oral discussions or written communications and agreements.  This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein, and it cannot be modified or amended except in writing signed by Employee and an authorized officer of the Company.  The parties have entered into a separate Proprietary Information Agreement and have or may enter into separate agreement related to stock option awards.  These separate agreements govern other aspects of the relationship between the parties, have or may have provisions that survive termination of the Employee’s

 

10

 

employment under this Agreement, may be amended or superseded by the parties without regard to this Agreement and are enforceable according to their terms without regard to the enforcement provision of this Agreement.

 

7.5          Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

7.6          Headings.  The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.

 

7.7          Successors and Assigns.  The Company shall assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder in whole, but not in part, to any Company or other entity with or into which the Company may hereafter merge or consolidate or to which the Company may transfer all or substantially all of its assets, if in any such case said Company or other entity shall by operation of law or expressly in writing assume all obligations of the Company hereunder as fully as if it had been originally made a party hereto, but may not otherwise assign this Agreement or its rights and obligations hereunder.  The Employee may not assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder, other than to his estate upon his death.

 

7.8          Choice of Law.  All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of North Carolina, without regard to its rules of conflicts or choice of laws.

 

7.9          Indemnification.  The Employee shall be entitled to indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and the Company’s Bylaws with terms no less favorable than provided to any other Company executive officer and subject to the terms of any separate written indemnification agreement.  At all times during the Employee’s employment, the Company shall maintain in effect a directors and officers liability insurance policy with the Employee as a covered officer.

 

7.10        Resolution of Disputes.  The parties recognize that litigation in federal or state courts or before federal or state administrative agencies of disputes arising out of the Employee’s employment with the Company or out of this Agreement, or the Employee’s termination of employment or termination of this Agreement, may not be in the best interests of either the Employee or the Company, and may result in unnecessary costs, delays, complexities, and uncertainty.  The parties agree that any dispute between the parties arising out of or relating to the negotiation, execution, performance or termination of this Agreement or the Employee’s employment, including, but not limited to, any claim arising out of this Agreement, claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1966, as amended, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and any similar federal, state or local law, statute, regulation, or any common law doctrine, whether that dispute arises during or after employment, shall be settled by binding arbitration conducted before a single arbitrator by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”) or its successor, under the then applicable JAMS rules;

 

11

 

provided however, that this dispute resolution provision shall not apply to any separate agreements between the parties that do not themselves specify arbitration as an exclusive remedy.  The location for the arbitration shall be Charlottesville, Virginia.  Any award made by such panel shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties for all purposes, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.  The arbitrators’ fees and expenses and all administrative fees and expenses associated with the filing of the arbitration shall be borne by the Company; provided however, that at the Employee’s option, Employee may voluntarily pay up to one-half the costs and fees, for which Employee shall be reimbursed by the Company.  The parties acknowledge and agree that their obligations to arbitrate under this Section survive the termination of this Agreement and continue after the termination of the employment relationship between Employee and the Company. The parties each further agree that the arbitration provisions of this Agreement shall provide each party with its exclusive remedy, and each party expressly waives any right it might have to seek redress in any other forum, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.  By election arbitration as the means for final settlement of all claims, the parties hereby waive their respective rights to, and agree not to, sue each other in any action in a Federal, State or local court with respect to such claims, but may seek to enforce in court an arbitration award rendered pursuant to this Agreement.  The parties specifically agree to waive their respective rights to a trial by jury, and further agree that no demand, request or motion will be made for trial by jury.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement on the day and year first written above.

 

	
 
    	
COMPANY:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DOVA   PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Paul B. Manning
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EMPLOYEE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Alexander C. Sapir    2/15/17
    
	
 
    	
Alexander   C. Sapir
    

 

12

 

Exhibit A

 

Release Agreement

 

This Release Agreement (“Release” or “Agreement”) is made by and between Alexander C. Sapir (“you”) and Dova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”).  A copy of this Release is an attachment to the Employment Agreement between the Company and you dated                 , 2017 (the “Employment Agreement”). Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement carry the definition found in the Employment Agreement.

 

1.             Severance Payments; Other Payments.

 

a.             In consideration for your execution, return and non-revocation of this Release on or after your Separation Date, the Company will provide you with the following severance benefits:  [to include payment of specific severance payments and COBRA benefits to be paid].

 

b.             In addition, regardless of whether you sign this Agreement, the Company affirms that it will pay the following on the next regularly scheduled date on which payroll is run, as required under Section 6 of the Employment Agreement,: [to include payment of all salary, business expense reimbursements and other amounts due to employee that are not part of the severance].

 

2.             Compliance with Section 409A.  The Severance Benefits offered to you by the Company are payable in reliance on Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) and the short term deferral exemption in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4).  For purposes of Code Section 409A, your right to receive any installment payments (whether pay in lieu of notice, Severance Benefits, reimbursements or otherwise) shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.  All payments and benefits are subject to applicable withholdings and deductions.

 

3.             Release.  In exchange for the Severance Benefits and other consideration, to which you would not otherwise be entitled, and except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, you, on behalf of yourself and, to the extent permitted by law, on behalf of your spouse, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, insurers, attorneys and other persons or entities, acting or purporting to act on your behalf (collectively, the “Employee Parties”), hereby generally and completely release, acquit and forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries, and its and their officers, directors, managers, partners, agents, representatives, employees, attorneys, shareholders, predecessors, successors, assigns, insurers and affiliates (the “Company Parties”) of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, contentions, actions, causes of action, suits, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, damages, indemnities, debts, judgments, levies, executions and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, both known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to my employment with the Company and separation therefrom, arising at any time prior to and including the execution date of this Agreement, including but not limited to:  all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected with your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment; claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, the right to receive additional grants of stock, stock options or other ownership interests in the Company, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay, or any other form of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law, statute, or cause of action; tort law; or contract law (individually a “Claim” and collectively “Claims”).  The Claims you are releasing and waiving in this Agreement include, but are not limited to, any and all Claims that any of the Company Parties:

 

·                                          has violated its personnel policies, handbooks, contracts of employment, or covenants of good faith and fair dealing;

 

·                                          has discriminated against you on the basis of age, race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), national origin, ancestry, disability, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, source of income, entitlement to benefits, any union activities or other protected category in violation of any local, state or federal law, constitution, ordinance, or regulation, including but not limited to:  the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended (“ADEA”); Title VII of the

 

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Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; 42 U.S.C. § 1981, as amended; the Equal Pay Act; the Americans With Disabilities Act; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; the Employee Polygraph Protection Act; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the anti-retaliation provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or any other federal or state law regarding whistleblower retaliation; the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; and the National Labor Relations Act; and

 

·                                          has violated any statute, public policy or common law (including, but not limited to, Claims for retaliatory discharge; negligent hiring, retention or supervision; defamation; intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress and/or mental anguish; intentional interference with contract; negligence; detrimental reliance; loss of consortium to you or any member of your family and/or promissory estoppel).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than events expressly contemplated by this Agreement you do not waive or release rights or Claims that may arise:  (i) from events that occur after the date this Release is executed; (ii) that relate to a breach of this Agreement; (iii) that relate to any existing ownership interest in the Company as of the date this Release is executed; (iv) that relate to my existing rights under any Company benefit plan or any plan or agreement related to equity ownership in the Company that arise after this Release is executed; and (v) any Claims which cannot be waived by law, including, without limitation, any rights you may have under applicable workers’ compensation laws.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent you from filing, cooperating with, or participating in any proceeding or investigation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal government agency, or similar state or local agency (“Government Agencies”), or exercising any rights pursuant to Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.  You further understand this Agreement does not limit your ability to voluntarily communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing documents or other information, without notice to the Company.  While this Agreement does not limit your right to receive an award for information provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission, you understand and agree that, you are otherwise waiving, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all rights you may have to individual relief based on any Claims that you have released and any rights you have waived by signing this Agreement.  If any Claim is not subject to release, to the extent permitted by law, you waive any right or ability to be a class or collective action representative or to otherwise participate in any putative or certified class, collective or multi-party action or proceeding based on such a Claim in which any of the Company Parties is a party.

 

4.             Your Acknowledgments and Affirmations.  You also acknowledge and agree that (i) the consideration given to you in exchange for the waiver and release in this Agreement is in addition to anything of value to which you were already entitled, and (ii) that you have been paid for all time worked, have received all the leave, leaves of absence and leave benefits and protections for which you are eligible, and have not suffered any on-the-job injury for which you have not already filed a Claim.  You affirm that all of the decisions of the Company Parties regarding your pay and benefits through the date of your execution of this Agreement were not discriminatory based on age, disability, race, color, sex, religion, national origin or any other classification protected by law.  You affirm that you have not filed or caused to be filed, and are not presently a party to, a Claim against any of the Company Parties.  You further affirm that you have no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases.  You acknowledge and affirm that you have not been retaliated against for reporting any allegation of corporate fraud or other wrongdoing by any of the Company Parties, or for exercising any rights protected by law, including any rights protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act or any related statute or local leave or disability accommodation laws, or any applicable state workers’ compensation law.  In addition, you acknowledge that you are knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights you may have under the ADEA (“ADEA Waiver”).  You also acknowledge that the consideration given for the ADEA Waiver is in addition to anything of value to which you were already entitled.  You further acknowledge that you have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA, that:  (a) your release and waiver herein does not apply to any rights or claims that arise after the date you sign this Agreement; (b) you should consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement; (c) you have twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement (although you may choose to voluntarily sign it sooner); (d) you have seven (7) days following the date you sign this Agreement to revoke it (by sending

 

14

 

written revocation directly to [          ]; and (e) the Agreement will not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired unexercised, which will be the eighth (8th) day after you sign this Agreement.

 

5.             Return of Company Property.  By the Separation Date, you agree to return to the Company all Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company property that you have had in your possession at any time, including, but not limited to, Company files, notes, drawings, records, business plans and forecasts, financial information, specifications, computer-recorded information, tangible property (including, but not limited to, computers), credit cards, entry cards, identification badges and keys; and, any materials of any kind that contain or embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company (and all reproductions thereof).  Please coordinate return of Company property with [            ].  Receipt of the Severance Benefits described in Section 1 of this Agreement is expressly conditioned upon return of all Company property.

 

6.             Confidential Information, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Obligations.  Both during and after your employment you acknowledge your continuing obligations under your Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement not to use or disclose any confidential or proprietary information of the Company and comply with your post-employment non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions.  The Company acknowledges that you will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that:  (A) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  In addition, in the event that you file a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, you may disclose the trade secret to your attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if you:  (A) file any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) do not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

7.             Confidentiality.  The provisions of this Agreement will be held in strictest confidence by you and will not be publicized or disclosed in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that:  (a) you may disclose this Agreement to your immediate family; (b) you may disclose this Agreement in confidence to your attorney, accountant, auditor, tax preparer, and financial advisor; and (c) you may disclose this Agreement insofar as such disclosure may be required by law.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall limit your right to discuss your employment with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, other federal government agency or similar state or local agency or to discuss the terms and conditions of your employment with others to the extent expressly permitted by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.

 

8.             Non-Disparagement.  You and the Company agree not to disparage each other, and the other’s attorneys, directors, managers, partners, employees, agents and affiliates, in any manner likely to be harmful to them or their business, business reputation or personal reputation; provided that you and the Company will respond accurately and fully to any question, inquiry or request for information when required by legal process. For purposes of this Section 8, the obligations of the Company shall apply only to the senior management team and the members of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall limit your right to voluntarily communicate with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, other federal government agency or similar state or local agency or to discuss the terms and conditions of your employment with others to the extent expressly permitted by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.

 

9.             No Admission.  This Agreement does not constitute an admission by you or by the Company of any wrongful action or violation of any federal, state, or local statute, or common law rights, including those relating to the provisions of any law or statute concerning employment actions, or of any other possible or claimed violation of law or rights.

 

10.          Breach.  You agree that upon any material breach of this Agreement you will forfeit all amounts paid or owing to you under this Agreement.  Further, you acknowledge that it may be impossible to assess the damages caused by your violation of the terms of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement and further agree that any threatened or actual violation or breach of those Sections of this Agreement will constitute immediate and irreparable injury to the Company.  You therefore agree that, in addition to any and all other damages and remedies

 

15

 

available to the Company upon your breach of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction to prevent you from violating or breaching this Agreement.

 

11.          Miscellaneous.  This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes any other such promises, warranties or representations.  This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in a writing signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company.  This Agreement will bind the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of both you and the Company, and inure to the benefit of both you and the Company, their heirs, successors and assigns.  If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this determination will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and the provision in question will be modified by the court so as to be rendered enforceable.  This Agreement will be deemed to have been entered into and will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina as applied to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of North Carolina.

 

16

 

	
DOVA   PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Alexander C.   Sapir
    	
 
    
			

 

17

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