Document:

Exhibit

 

Exhibit 10.2

September 17, 2018

Dear Tom:
This letter agreement (“Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions of your offer of employment with Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”).  If accepted, the terms hereof shall be effective and your employment shall commence on October 1, 2018 (the “Effective Date”).
1.Position and Duties.  You shall serve, on a full-time basis, as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, reporting directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.  You agree that while employed by the Company you shall devote your full business time and professional efforts to the performance of your duties and responsibilities to the Company; abide by all Company policies and procedures as in effect from time to time; perform all of the customary duties of your position, which will include, but not be limited to, overseeing the Company’s clinical programs developing the Company’s pipeline while prioritizing scientific integrity and patient-centricity, providing strategic and clinical perspectives (from conception through implementation)  for an array of research programs spanning early feasibility to pivotal Company studies for regulatory registration. 
2.    Compensation and Benefits.  During your employment, as compensation for all services performed by you for the Company and subject to the performance of your duties and responsibilities to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, the Company will provide you with the following compensation and benefits:
(a).    Base Salary.  The Company shall pay you a Base Salary at the rate of $425,000 per year in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices, as in effect from time to time but at least on a semi-monthly basis (“Base Salary”).  The Company shall review your Base Salary on an annual basis for upward adjustment.  Any adjustments will be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion.
(b).    Annual Bonus Compensation.  You are eligible to receive a performance-based annual bonus with a target of 40% of your Base Salary in effect as of December 31 of the previous calendar year (the “Target Bonus”).  Your annual bonus, if any, for any year will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) in accordance with the Company’s annual bonus plan as in effect from time to time and will be based on performance criteria established by the Board or the Committee and disclosed to you within sixty (60) days of the beginning of each calendar year  Any bonus due to you hereunder will be paid not later than March 15th of the year following the year to which the bonus relates.  For 2018, you will advised of your performance criteria within thirty days of your start date and be entitled to a pro-rated Target Bonus.  In the event you are otherwise eligible to receive a Target Bonus and the Company terminates your 

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employment without Cause or you terminate your employment for Good Reason (as defined below) following the conclusion of given calendar year, you will receive your full Target Bonus for that year and receive a pro-rated Target Bonus for the year (to be paid the subsequent year in accordance with the Company’s payment practices) in which your termination or resignation occurs based upon the number of days worked in such year.  In the event your employment is terminated for Cause or you resign without Good Reason, you will not receive any Target Bonus from the Company.    The foregoing shall be construed and applied so that any bonus payable to you hereunder qualifies as a “short-term deferral” under Section 409A.
(c).    Signing Bonus.  The Company shall pay you a cash signing bonus in the amount of $25,000 (the “Signing Bonus”) payable on the first payroll date following the Effective Date.  In the event you receive the Signing Bonus but voluntarily terminate your employment without Good Reason (as defined below) within twelve months after the Effective Date, then you shall pay back to the Company a pro-rated portion of the Signing Bonus based upon the number of days remaining in this twelve-month period prior to termination of employment.  You must pay this pro-rated portion to the Company within 30 days of the date of such termination of employment.  You will not be required to repay the Signing Bonus in the event of termination of employment under any other circumstances.
(d).    Stock Option Award.  Subject to approval by the Board, at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Board following the Effective Date, you will be eligible to receive a stock option award under the Company’s equity plan then in effect with respect to 500,000 shares of common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”), with an exercise price that is no less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.  To be eligible to receive this stock option award, you must be employed by the Company on the date the award is granted.  The stock option award will be subject to the terms of the Company’s equity plan under which it is granted and the terms of the award agreement evidencing such stock option.
(e).    Benefits.  As an employee, you will also be eligible to participate in the Company’s standard employee benefit plans and programs as in effect from time to time for employees of the Company generally, except to the extent such plans or programs are duplicative of benefits otherwise provided to you under this Agreement (e.g., severance pay) or under any other agreement.  Your participation in such plans or programs will be subject to the terms of the applicable plan documents and generally applicable Company policies.  
(f).    Vacation.  You will be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation, to be taken at such time or times as the needs of the Company’s business reasonably permit and in accordance with the Company’s policies from time to time in effect.  You will be allowed to carry over one week of unused vacation from one year to the next.
(g).    Travel Expenses.  The Company recognizes that you will be working from your home office in Maryland and travelling to the Company’s Headquarters as needed by the Company.  Accordingly, the Company shall reimburse your reasonable travel expenses (including airfare and accommodations) to and from our Headquarters for the first year of employment.

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(h).    Insurance.  You shall be entitled to liability insurance coverage on the same basis as other officers of the Company as to your acts or omissions to act during your employment with the Company as a manager or officer of the Company,

3.    At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, Non-Competition, and Nondisclosure.  As a condition of your employment, you will be required to enter into an At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment and Non-Competition Agreement with the Company (the “Restricted Activities Agreement”), which will require, among other provisions, the assignment of patent rights to any invention made during your employment with the Company and nondisclosure of Company proprietary information and will contain an agreement not to engage in competitive activities with the Company during the 12-month period following the termination of your employment for any reason. You will also be required to enter into a Nondisclosure Agreement with the Company (the “Nondisclosure Agreement”).  Your employment with the Company and the receipt of any severance payments or benefits under Section 5 of this Agreement are each conditioned upon and subject to your compliance with the Restricted Activities Agreement and the Nondisclosure Agreement.  
4.    Termination of Employment.  Your employment under this Agreement shall continue until terminated pursuant to this Section 4.  
(a).    Termination for Cause.  The Company may terminate your employment for Cause, as defined below, upon written notice to you setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of the Cause.  The following, as determined by the Board in its reasonable judgment, shall constitute “Cause” for termination:
(i).    the indictment or conviction for, any felony or any other crime involving dishonesty; 
(ii).    participation in any fraud, deliberate and substantial misconduct, breach of duty of loyalty or breach of fiduciary duty against the Company or any Affiliate; 
(iii).    intentional and material damage to any property of the Company or any Affiliate; 
(iv).    serious and intentional or willful misconduct against the Company or any of its employees; or
(v).    your breach of any material provision of this Agreement, the Restricted Activities Agreement, or the Nondisclosure Agreement.  
Termination of your employment by the Company for Cause will result in no severance pay or severance benefits.  In the case of termination for Cause under Section 4(a)(iii) and 4(a)(v), the Company will notify you of the conditions for such termination no later than 30 days following 

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the occurrence of the condition and shall provide you with 10 days to remedy the condition in the event such condition is curable.

(a).    Termination without Cause.  The Company may terminate your employment at any time other than for Cause upon 30 days’ written notice to you.

(b).    Termination for Good Reason.  You may terminate your employment hereunder for Good Reason, as defined below, by providing written notice to the Company of the condition giving rise to the Good Reason, specifying in detail the basis for such claim of Good Reason, no later than 30 days following the occurrence of the condition, by giving the Company 30 days to remedy the condition and by terminating employment for Good Reason within 30 days thereafter if the Company fails to remedy the condition.  The following, if occurring without your consent, shall constitute “Good Reason” for termination by you:
(i).     material diminution of your duties to the Company; 
(ii).    a material reduction in your Base Salary, or Target Bonus percentage of 40% (with materiality being defined for purposes of this subsection as five percent (5%) or more of the existing salary or Target Bonus percentage);
(iii).    a requirement that you relocate your primary residence from Maryland in order to accomplish your work for the Company; 
(iv).    the failure of the Company to pay or to provide any of the compensation or benefits (including without limitation the compensation and benefits set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement) when due; for the avoidance of doubt, you understand that a good faith change in the Company’s standard benefit plans and programs will not been deemed to constitute “Good Reason”; 
(v).    any directive given to you by the Company in conflict with your professional medical obligations or otherwise in violation of any law, regulation or Company policy; or
(vi).    a breach by the Company of a material provision of this Agreement.

(c).    Termination without Good Reason.  You may terminate your employment with the Company other than for Good Reason at any time upon 30 days’ written notice to the Company.
(d).    Termination Due to Death or Disability.  This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of your death during employment.  The Company may also terminate your employment, upon notice to you, in the event you become disabled during employment.  For purposes of this Agreement, Disability is defined as any illness, accident, injury or condition of 

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either a physical or psychological nature the onset of which renders you unable to continue to perform substantially all of your duties and responsibilities under this Agreement (notwithstanding the provision of any reasonable accommodation) for 180 days (whether or not consecutive) during any period of 365 consecutive calendar days.  If any question shall arise as to whether you are disabled to the extent that you are unable to perform substantially all of your duties and responsibilities for the Company and its Affiliates, you shall, at the Company’s request and expense, submit to a medical examination by a physician selected by the Company and such determination shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be conclusive of the issue.  If such a question arises and you fail to submit to the requested medical examination, the Company’s determination of the issue shall be binding on you. 
5.    Severance and other Matters Related to Termination.  
(a).    Termination by the Company without Cause or by you for Good Reason.  Subject to Section 5(b), Section 5(f) and Section 11, in the event that your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 4(b) or by you for Good Reason pursuant to Section 4(c), in addition to the Accrued Compensation (as defined below), which shall be paid at the time provided in Section 5(d) below, you shall be entitled to the severance payments and benefits specified below. 
(i).    the Company shall continue to pay you your Base Salary, at the rate then in effect, for the 9-month period following the date on which your employment with the Company terminates in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policy as then in effect and shall pay you the Target Bonus as further detailed in Section 2(b) above; and 
(ii).    subject to your timely election to continue participation in the Company’s group health and dental plans under COBRA, and only for so long as you are eligible for such coverage through COBRA, the Company shall pay you, on a monthly and taxable basis, an amount equal to the full monthly premium cost of such participation until the conclusion of the nine-month period following the date on which your employment with the Company terminates, or, if earlier, until the date you become eligible to enroll in such plans of any new employer.  
(b).    Termination by the Company without Cause or by you for Good Reason in connection with a Change of Control.  Subject to Section 5(f), and Section 11, in the event that your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 4(b) or by you for Good Reason pursuant to Section 4(c), in either case, within 12 months following a Change of Control, in addition to the Accrued Compensation (as defined below), which shall be paid at the time specified in Section 5(d) below, in lieu of any payments and benefits provided in Section 5(a) above, you shall be entitled to the severance payments and benefits specified below:
(i).    the Company shall continue to pay you your Base Salary, at the rate then in effect, for the 15-month period following the date on which your employment with the Company terminates in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policy as then in effect; 
(ii).    subject to your timely election to continue participation in the Company’s group health and dental plans under COBRA, and only for so long as you are eligible for such 

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coverage through COBRA, the Company shall pay you, on a monthly and taxable basis, an amount equal to the full monthly premium cost of such participation until the conclusion of the 15-month period following the date on which your employment with the Company terminates, or, if earlier, until the date you become eligible to enroll in such plans of any new employer; and
(iii).    all outstanding and unvested stock options and other equity awards then held by you will become fully vested and exercisable and, with respect to any stock options then held by you, shall remain exercisable for the period of time set forth in the applicable grant agreement.
(a).    Termination by the Company due to your Disability or due to your Death.  Subject to Section 5(f) and Section 11, in the event your employment with the Company is terminated by the Company due to your Disability (as defined above) or is terminated due to your death, in either case, pursuant to Section 4(e), in addition to the Accrued Compensation (as defined below), which shall be paid at the time specified in Section 5(d), the Company shall pay you at the same time as the Accrued Compensation is paid a pro-rata annual bonus for the year in which such termination of employment occurs, calculated by multiplying your target annual bonus for such year by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days you were employed during such year and the denominator of which is 365 (the “Pro-Rata Bonus”).
(b).    Any Termination.  In the event your employment with the Company terminates for any reason, in addition to the compensation set forth above in connection with a termination without Cause or for Good Reason, the Company shall pay you on the first payroll date that follows the date of the termination of your employment (or on such earlier date as is required by law) the Accrued Compensation.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Accrued Compensation” means any Base Salary earned but not paid through the date of the termination of employment and an amount equal to the value of any vacation time accrued but unused as of such date.
(c).    Parachute Payments.
(i).    In the event of the consummation of a change in ownership or control within the meaning of Section 280G (a “280G Change in Control”) of the Company following the time that the Company has stock readily tradeable on an established securities market (within the meaning of Section 280G and the regulations thereunder), if all or a portion of the payments and benefits under this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits provided to you by the Company or its Affiliates (including, without limitation, any accelerated vesting of stock options and other equity awards) (the “Total Payments”), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G (the aggregate of such payments (or portions thereof) being hereinafter referred to as the “Excess Parachute Payments”), you will be entitled to receive (A) an amount limited so that no portion thereof shall fail to be tax deductible under Section 280G (the “Limited Amount”), or (B) if the amount otherwise payable hereunder or otherwise (without regard to clause (A)) reduced by all taxes applicable thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the excise tax levied under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”)) would be greater than the Limited Amount reduced by all taxes applicable thereto, the amount otherwise payable hereunder or otherwise.

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(ii).    The determination as to whether the Total Payments include Excess Parachute Payments and, if so, the amount of such Excess Parachute Payments, the amount of any Excise Tax with respect thereto, and the amount of any reduction in Total Payments shall be made at the Company’s expense by the independent public accounting firm most recently serving as the Company’s outside auditors or such other accounting or benefits consulting group or firm as the Company may designate (the “Accountants”).  In the event that any payments under this Agreement or otherwise are required to be reduced as described in Section 5(e)(i), the adjustment will be made, first, by reducing the amount of Base Salary payable pursuant to Section  5(a)(i) or Section 5(b)(i), as applicable; second, if additional reductions are necessary, by reducing the payment of the amounts due to you pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii) or Section 5(b)(ii), as applicable; and third, if additional reductions are still necessary, by eliminating the accelerated vesting of stock option awards and other equity awards, if any, starting with those awards for which the amount required to be taken into account under Section 280G is the greatest.
(iii).    In the event that there has been an underpayment or overpayment under this Agreement or otherwise as determined by the Accountants, the amount of such underpayment or overpayment shall forthwith be paid to you or refunded to the Company, as the case may be, with interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.
(d).    Release.  Any obligation of the Company to provide you severance payments or other benefits (including accelerated vesting of stock options and other equity awards) or any Pro-Rata Bonus under this Section 5 (for the avoidance of doubt, other than Accrued Compensation), is conditioned on your (or your legal representative, if applicable, in the case of a termination due to your death or disability pursuant to Section 4(e)) signing a release of claims in the form provided by the Company (the “Release”) following the termination of your employment within a period of time not to exceed 45 days from the date of your receipt of such Release, and on your (or your legal representative, if applicable) not revoking the Release within the revocation period provided therein following your (or your legal representative’s, if applicable) execution of the Release, which release shall not apply to (i) claims for indemnification in your capacity as an officer or director of the Company under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or written agreement, if any, providing for director or officer indemnification, (ii) rights to receive insurance payments under any policy maintained by the Company and (iii) rights to receive retirement benefits that are accrued and fully vested at the time of your termination.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 11 of this Agreement, any payments to be made in the form of salary continuation pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company, with the first such payment (which shall be retroactive to the day immediately following the date of your termination of employment) due and payable as soon as administratively practicable following the date the Release becomes effective, but not later than the date that is 60 days following the date your employment terminates.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date your employment terminates occurs in one taxable year and the date that is 60 days following such termination date occurs in a second taxable year, to the extent required by Section 409A, such first payment shall not be made prior to the first day of the second taxable year.  For the avoidance of doubt, if you (or your legal representative, if applicable) do not execute an Release within the period specified 

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in this Section 5(f), or if you (or your legal representative, if applicable) revoke the executed Release within the time period permitted by law, you will not be entitled to any payments or benefits (including the accelerated vesting of stock options or other equity awards) or any Pro-Rata Bonus set forth in this Section 5 (other than the Accrued Compensation), any stock options and other equity awards that vested on account of such termination as provided for in this Agreement shall be cancelled with no consideration due to you, and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates will have any further obligations to you under this Agreement or otherwise.  You agree to provide the Company prompt notice of your eligibility to participate in the health and, if applicable, dental, plan of any employer.  You further agree to repay any overpayment of health and, if applicable, dental, benefit premiums made by the Company hereunder.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event that the Company’s payment of the amounts described in Section 5(a)(ii) or Section 5(b)(ii), as applicable, would subject the Company to any tax or penalty under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (as amended from time to time, the “ACA”) or Section 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 105(h)”), or applicable regulations or guidance issued under the ACA or Section 105(h), you and the Company agree to work together in good faith to restructure such benefit.  
(e).    Survival, Conditions to Severance.  Provisions of this Agreement shall survive any termination if so provided in this Agreement or if necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of other surviving provisions, including without limitation your obligations under Section 3 of this Agreement and under the Restricted Activities Agreement and the Nondisclosure Agreement.  The obligation of the Company to make payments to you or on your behalf under Section 5 of this Agreement is expressly conditioned upon (i) your full performance of your obligations under Section 3 hereof pursuant to the Restricted Activities Agreement and the Nondisclosure Agreement and under any subsequent agreement between you and the Company or any of its Affiliates relating to confidentiality, non-competition, proprietary information or the like, and (ii) your (or your legal representative’s, if applicable, in the case of a termination due to your death or disability pursuant to Section 4(e)) timely execution and non-revocation of the Release as set forth in Section 5(f).
6.    Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions apply:
(a).    “Affiliates” means all persons and entities directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, where control may be by management authority, equity interest or otherwise.
(b).    “Change of Control” means the first to occur of any of the following: (i) a merger or consolidation in which (A) the Company is a constituent party, or (B) a subsidiary of the Company is a constituent party and the Company issues shares of its capital stock pursuant to such merger or consolidation, except in the case of either clause (A) or (B) any such merger or consolidation involving the Company or a subsidiary of the Company in which the beneficial owners of the shares of capital stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue beneficially to own, immediately following such merger or consolidation, at least a majority by voting power of the capital stock of (x) the surviving or 

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resulting corporation or (y) if the surviving or resulting corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of another corporation immediately following such merger or consolidation, the parent corporation of such surviving or resulting corporation; (ii) the sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Company or a Company subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and the Company subsidiaries taken as a whole (except in connection with a merger or consolidation not constituting a Change of Control under clause (i) or where such sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition is to a wholly owned Company subsidiary); or (iii) the sale or transfer, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the stockholders of the Company of more than 50% by voting power of the then-outstanding capital stock of the Company to any Person or entity or group of affiliated Persons or entities.
(c).    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d).    “Person” means an individual, a corporation, an association, a partnership, an estate, a trust and any other entity or organization, other than the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(e).    “Section 280G” means Section 280G of the Code, together with the regulations thereunder. 
(f).    “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code, together with the regulations thereunder.
7.    Conflicting Agreements.  You hereby represent and warrant that your signing of this Agreement and the performance of your obligations under it will not breach or be in conflict with any other agreement to which you are a party or are bound and that you are not now subject to any covenants against competition or similar covenants or any court order that could affect the performance of your obligations under this Agreement.  You agree that, during the term of your employment with the Company, you will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which the Company is now involved or becomes involved during the term of your employment, nor will you engage in any other activities that conflict with your obligations to the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent you from serving as an advisor or director for any for-profit businesses or non-profit organization or serving in various other capacities in community, civic, religious, charitable or trade organizations, provided that such participation does not, individually or in the aggregate, materially interfere or conflict with the performance of your duties hereunder.   You further agree not to disclose or use on behalf of the Company any proprietary or confidential information of a third party, including that of any former employer, without such third party’s consent.
8.    Withholding; Other Tax Matters.  Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, all payments required to be made by the Company hereunder to you shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts, if any, relating to tax and other payroll deductions as the Company may determine it should withhold pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

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9.    Assignment.  Neither you nor the Company may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest in it, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without your consent to one of its Affiliates or to any Person with or into which the Company hereafter affects a reorganization, consolidates or merges, or to which it transfers all or substantially all of its properties or assets.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon you and the Company and each of its respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns.
10.    Severability.  If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
11.    Section 409A.  
(a).    You and the Company agree that this Agreement shall be interpreted to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder to the extent applicable, and all provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A. 
(b).    A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits considered “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A (after giving effect to the presumptions contained therein) and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination”, “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service”.  If you are deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then with regard to any payment or the provision of any benefit that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service”, such payment or benefit shall be made or provided at the date which is the earlier of (a) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service”, and (b) the date of your death (the “Delay Period”).  Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section 11(b) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed on the first business day following the expiration of the Delay Period to you in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.
(c).    With regard to any provision herein that provides for payment or reimbursement of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A, (a) the right to payment, reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; (b) the amount of expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement, or in-kind 

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benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, to be provided in any other taxable year; and (c) such payments shall be made on or before the last day of your taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense occurred.
(d).    For purposes of Section 409A, your right to receive any installment payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments.  
(e).    In no event shall the Company or any of its Affiliates have any liability relating to the failure or alleged failure of any payment or benefit under this Agreement to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A.
12.    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the Restricted Activities Agreement and the Nondisclosure Agreement, sets forth the entire agreement between you and the Company and replaces and supersedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings, written or oral, with respect to the terms and conditions of your employment.  
13.    Amendment.  This Agreement may not be modified or amended, and no breach shall be deemed to be waived, except by a written agreement signed by an authorized representative of the Company and you.  
14.    Miscellaneous. The headings and captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and in no way define or describe the scope or content of any provision of this Agreement.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This is a Massachusetts contract and shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to the conflict-of-laws principles thereof.
15.    Notices.  Any notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective when delivered in person, consigned to a reputable national courier service for overnight delivery or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to you at your last known address on the books of the Company or, in the case of the Company, to it by notice to the Chief Executive Officer, c/o Genocea Biosciences, Inc. at its principal place of business.
16.    At-Will Employment.  The Company is excited about your employment and looks forward to a mutually beneficial and productive relationship.  Nevertheless, you should be aware that your employment with the Company is for no specified period, and constitutes at-will employment.  You are free to resign at any time, for any reason or for no reason.  Similarly, the Company is free to conclude its employment relationship with you at any time, with or without Cause, and with or without notice.  Further, the Immigration Reform and Control Act requires the Company to verify your identity and employment eligibility within three business days of the Effective Date.  Your employment is conditioned on your timely completion of a Form I-9 and provision of the appropriate documents listed on that form.

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If the foregoing is acceptable to you, please sign and date this letter in the spaces provided.  If you sign and return this letter, this letter will take effect as a binding agreement between you and the Company on the basis set forth above and the terms hereof will be effective on the Effective Date.  If you do not commence employment on the Effective Date, this letter shall terminate and be of no force and effect, without further action by the parties hereto, and you shall not be entitled to any of the compensation or benefits provided hereunder.  The enclosed copy is for your records.  
Sincerely,
/s/ William Clark
Name:  William Clark 
    Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer 
             
Agreed to and accepted,
Signature:  /s/ Thomas Davis
Printed Name:  Thomas A. Davis, M.D.
Date:    September 17, 2018
 

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Exhibit 10.3

	
		
	Name: 
	[___________]

	Number of Restricted Stock Units subject to Award:
	[___________]

	Date of Grant:
	[___________]

GENOCEA BIOSCIENCES, INC.
2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
This agreement (this “Agreement”) evidences an award (the “Award”) of restricted stock units granted by Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) to the individual named above (the “Grantee”), pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Genocea Biosciences, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”).  
1.Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award.  The Company grants to the Grantee on the date set forth above (the “Date of Grant”) the number of restricted stock units (the “Restricted Stock Units”) set forth above, giving the Grantee the conditional right to receive, without payment and pursuant to and subject to the terms set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, one share of Stock (a “Share”) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Plan in respect of transactions occurring after the date hereof.
2.    Meaning of Certain Terms.  Except as otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein have the same meaning as in the Plan.  The following terms have the following meanings:
		
	(a)
	“Beneficiary” means, in the event of the Grantee’s death, the beneficiary named in the written designation (in a form acceptable to the Administrator) most recently filed with the Administrator by the Grantee prior to the Grantee’s death and not subsequently revoked, or, if there is no such designated beneficiary, the executor or administrator of the Grantee’s estate.  An effective beneficiary designation will be treated as having been revoked only upon receipt by the Administrator, prior to the Grantee’s death, of an instrument of revocation in form acceptable to the Administrator.

3.    Vesting; Cessation of Employment.  
		
	(a)
	Vesting.  Unless earlier terminated, forfeited, relinquished or expired, one-fourth (1/4) of the Restricted Stock Units will vest on each of the first four (4) anniversaries of the Date of Grant, with the number of Restricted Stock Units that vested on any such date being rounded down to the nearest whole Restricted Stock Unit and the Award becoming vested as to one hundred percent (100%) of the Restricted Stock 

Units on the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Date of Grant, subject to the Grantee remaining in continuous Employment from the Date of Grant through the applicable vesting date.
		
	(b)
	Forfeiture.  Automatically and immediately upon the cessation of the Grantee’s Employment (i) the unvested portion of the Award will terminate and be forfeited for no consideration, and (ii) the vested portion of the Award, if any, will terminate and be forfeited for no consideration if the Grantee’s Employment is terminated in connection with an act or failure to act constituting Cause (as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine), or such termination of Employment occurs in circumstances that in the determination of the Administrator would have entitled the Company and its subsidiaries to terminate the Grantee’s Employment for Cause.

4.    Delivery of Shares.  Subject to Section 5 below, the Company shall, as soon as practicable upon the vesting of any portion of the Award (but in no event later than 30 days following the date on which such Restricted Stock Units vest), effect delivery of the Shares with respect to such vested Restricted Stock Units to the Grantee (or, in the event of the Grantee’s death following the vesting of such portion of the Award, to the Grantee’s Beneficiary).  No Shares will be issued pursuant to the Award unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such Shares have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Administrator.  
5.    Forfeiture; Recovery of Compensation.  The Administrator may cancel, rescind, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict the Award at any time if the Grantee is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.  By accepting, or being deemed to have accepted, the Award, the Grantee expressly acknowledges and agrees that his or her rights, and those of any Beneficiary or permitted transferee of the Award, under the Award, including the right to any Shares acquired under the Award or proceeds from the disposition thereof, are subject to Section 6(a)(5) of the Plan (including any successor provision).  Nothing in the preceding sentence may be construed as limiting the general application of Section 10 of this Agreement.  
6.    Dividends; Other Rights.  The Award may not be interpreted to bestow upon the Grantee any equity interest or ownership in the Company or any subsidiary prior to the date on which the Company delivers Shares to the Grantee.  The Grantee is not entitled to vote any Shares by reason of the granting of the Award or to receive or be credited with any dividends declared and payable on any Share prior to the date on which any such Share is delivered to the Grantee hereunder.  The Grantee will have the rights of a shareholder only as to those Shares, if any, that are actually delivered under the Award.
7.    Nontransferability.  The Award may not be transferred except as expressly permitted under Section 6(a)(3) of the Plan.  
8.    Withholding.  The Grantee expressly acknowledges that the vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units acquired hereunder may give rise to “wages” subject to withholding.  The Grantee expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Grantee’s rights hereunder, including the right to receive Shares following the vesting of any portion of the Award, are subject to the satisfaction of all taxes required to be withheld with respect to the Award.  Unless otherwise determined by the 

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Company, the Company shall automatically satisfy these tax withholding obligations by withholding from the Shares that would otherwise be delivered in connection with such vesting date a number of Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld to satisfy such tax withholding obligations and/or by causing such number of Shares to be sold in accordance with a sell-to-cover arrangement.  The Grantee authorizes the Company and its subsidiaries to withhold any amounts due in respect of any required tax withholdings by withholding from the Shares otherwise deliverable in connection with this Award, by causing such Shares to be sold in accordance with a sell-to-cover arrangement and/or by withholding from any amounts otherwise owed to the Grantee.  Nothing in this Section 8 shall be construed as relieving the Grantee of any liability for satisfying his or her tax obligations relating to the Award.
9.    Effect on Employment.  Neither the grant of the Award, nor the issuance of Shares upon the vesting of the Award, will give the Grantee any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, affect the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to terminate the Employment of the Grantee at any time, or affect any right of the Grantee to terminate his or her Employment at any time.
10.    Provisions of the Plan.  This Agreement is subject in its entirety to the provisions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.  A copy of the Plan as in effect on the Date of Grant has been furnished to the Grantee.  By accepting, or being deemed to have accepted, all or any portion of the Award, the Grantee agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan and this Agreement.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control.  
11.    Acknowledgements.  The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument, (ii) this Agreement may be executed and exchanged using facsimile, portable document format (PDF) or electronic signature, which, in each case, will constitute an original signature for all purposes hereunder, and (iii) such signature by the Company will be binding against the Company and will create a legally binding agreement when this Agreement is countersigned by the Grantee.

[Signature page follows.]

The Company, by its duly authorized officer, and the Grantee have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
                            
GENOCEA BIOSCIENCES, INC.

By: ______________________________
Name:  ___________________________
Title:  ______________________________
Agreed and Accepted:

By_______________________________
    [_________]

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