Document:

Exhibit 10.7

 

ACLARIS THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

 

The purpose of the Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide (i) designated employees of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries, (ii) certain consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or its subsidiaries and (iii) non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) with the opportunity to receive grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options and stock awards. The Company believes that the Plan will encourage the participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, thereby benefiting the Company’s stockholders, and will align the economic interests of the participants with those of the stockholders.

 

1.                   Administration

 

(a)       Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Board or by a committee consisting of members of the Board, which shall be appointed by the Board. After an initial public offering of the Company’s stock as described in Section 19(b) (a “Public Offering”), the Plan shall be administered by a committee of Board members, which may consist of “outside directors” as defined under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and related Treasury regulations and “non-employee directors” as defined under Rule l6b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). However, the Board may ratify or approve any grants as it deems appropriate, and the Board shall approve and administer all grants made to non-employee directors. The committee may delegate authority to one or more subcommittees as it deems appropriate. To the extent that a committee or subcommittee administers the Plan, references in the Plan to the “Board” shall be deemed to refer to the committee or subcommittee.

 

(b)       Board Authority. The Board shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom grants shall be made under the Plan, (ii) determine the type, size and terms of the grants to be made to each such individual, (iii) determine the time when the grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability, (iv) amend the terms of any previously issued grant, and (v) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.

 

(c)        Board Determinations. The Board shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion. The Board’s interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Board pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any awards granted hereunder. All powers of the Board shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated individuals.

 

 

2.                   Grants

 

Awards under the Plan may consist of grants of incentive stock options as described in Section 5 (“Incentive Stock Options”), nonqualified stock options as described in Section 5 (“Nonqualified Stock Options”) (Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options are collectively referred to as “Options”) and stock awards as described in Section 6 (“Stock Awards”) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Grants”). All Grants shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent with this Plan as the Board deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Board to the individual in a grant instrument or an amendment to the grant instrument (the “Grant Instrument”). All Grants shall be made conditional upon the Grantee’s acknowledgement, in writing or by acceptance of the Grant, that all decisions and determination of the Board shall be final and binding on the Grantee, his or her beneficiaries and any other person having or claiming an interest under such Grant. The Board shall approve the form and provisions of each Grant Instrument. Grants under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the grantees.

 

3.                   Shares Subject to the Plan

 

(a)       Shares Authorized. Subject to adjustment as described below, the aggregate number of shares of common stock of the Company (“Company Stock”) that may be issued or transferred under the Plan is 1,725,961 shares, each of which may be issued as an incentive stock option; provided, however, such number of shares shall automatically be increased to 1,980,708 shares, each of which may be issued as an incentive stock option, upon the consummation of the “Second Tranche Closing” under the Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014 among the Company and the other parties listed therein. The shares may be authorized but unissued shares of Company Stock or reacquired shares of Company Stock, including shares purchased by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If and to the extent Options granted under the Plan terminate, expire, or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised or if any Stock Awards (including restricted Stock Awards received upon the exercise of Options) are forfeited, the shares subject to such Grants shall again be available for purposes of the Plan.

 

(b)       Adjustments. If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Company Stock outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend, spinoff, recapitalization, stock split, or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) by reason of a merger, reorganization or consolidation, (iii) by reason of a reclassification or change in par value, or (iv) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Company Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Company Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company’s payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock available for Grants, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that any individual participating in the Plan may be granted in any year, the number of shares covered by outstanding Grants, the kind of shares issued under the Plan, and the price per share of such Grants may be appropriately adjusted by the Board to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, issued shares of Company Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under such Grants; provided, however, that any

 

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fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated. Any adjustments determined by the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

4.           Eligibility for Participation

 

(a)         Eligible Persons. All employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (“Employees”), including Employees who are officers or members of the Board, and members of the Board who are not Employees (“Non-Employee Directors”) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or any of its subsidiaries (“Key Advisors”) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if the Key Advisors render bona fide services to the Company or its subsidiaries, the services are not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and the Key Advisors do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

 

(b)         Selection of Grantees. The Board shall select the Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors to receive Grants and shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock subject to a particular Grant in such manner as the Board determines. Employees, Key Advisors and Non-Employee Directors who receive Grants under this Plan shall hereinafter be referred to as “Grantees”.

 

5.           Granting of Options

 

(a)         Number of Shares. The Board shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock that will be subject to each Grant of Options to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.

 

(b)         Type of Option and Price.

 

(i)                             The Board may grant Incentive Stock Options that are intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of section 422 of the Code or Nonqualified Stock Options that are not intended so to qualify or any combination of Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.

 

(ii)                          The purchase price (the “Exercise Price”) of Company Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Board and may be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of a share of Company Stock on the date the Option is granted; provided, however, that an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, unless the Exercise Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of Company Stock on the date of grant.

 

(iii)                       “If the Company Stock is publicly traded, then the Fair Market Value per share shall be determined as follows: (x) if the principal trading market for the Company Stock is a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, the last reported sale price thereof on the relevant date or (if there were no trades on that date) the latest preceding date upon

 

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which a sale was reported, or (y) if the Company Stock is not principally traded on such exchange or market, the mean between the last reported “bid” and “asked” prices of Company Stock on the relevant date, as reported on Nasdaq or, if not so reported, as reported by the National Daily Quotation Bureau, Inc. or as reported in a customary financial reporting service, as applicable and as the Board determines. If the Company Stock is not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not subject to reported transactions or “bid” or “asked” quotations as set forth above, the Fair Market Value per share shall be as determined by the Board based upon a good faith attempt to value the Common Stock accurately and computed in accordance with applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, including, but not limited to, the requirements of Section 409A.”

 

(c)        Option Term. The Board shall determine the term of each Option. The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the date of grant.

 

(d)       Exercisability of Options.

 

(i)          Options shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be determined by the Board and specified in the Grant Instrument. The Board may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.

 

(ii)          The Board may provide in a Grant Instrument that the Grantee may elect to exercise part or all of an Option before it otherwise has become exercisable. Any shares so purchased shall be restricted shares (“Restricted Shares”) and shall be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company during a specified restriction period, with the repurchase price equal to the Exercise Price, or such other restrictions as the Board deems appropriate.

 

(e)           Termination of Employment, Disability or Death.

 

(i) Except as provided below, an Option may only be exercised while the Grantee is employed by, or providing service to, the Company as an Employee, Key Advisor or member of the Board. In the event that a Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company for any reason other than Disability, death, or termination for Cause, any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Board), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Except as otherwise provided by the Board, any of the Grantee’s Options that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company shall terminate as of such date.

 

(ii) In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company on account of a termination for Cause by the Company, any Option held by the

 

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Grantee shall terminate as of the date the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 5, if the Board determines that the Grantee has engaged in conduct that constitutes Cause at any time while the Grantee is employed by, or providing service to, the Company or after the Grantee’s termination of employment or service, any Option held by the Grantee shall immediately terminate, and the Grantee shall automatically forfeit all shares underlying any exercised portion of an Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share certificates, upon refund by the Company of the Exercise Price paid by the Grantee for such shares. Upon any exercise of an Option, the Company may withhold delivery of share certificates pending resolution of an inquiry that could lead to a finding resulting in a forfeiture.

 

(iii)        In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company because the Grantee is Disabled, any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Board), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Except as otherwise provided by the Board, any of the Grantee’s Options which are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company shall terminate as of such date.

 

(iv)       If the Grantee dies while employed by, or providing service to, the Company or within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed or provide service on account of a termination specified in Section 5(e)(i) above (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Board), any Option that is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Board), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Except as otherwise provided by the Board, any of the Grantee’s Options that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company shall terminate as of such date.

 

(v)       For purposes of this Section 5(e) and Section 6:

 

(A)                       The term “Company” shall mean the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations or other entities, as determined by the Board.

 

(B)                       “Employed by, or provide service to, the Company” shall mean employment or service as an Employee, Key Advisor or member of the Board (so that, for purposes of exercising Options and satisfying conditions with respect to Stock Awards, a Grantee shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service until the Grantee ceases to be an Employee, Key Advisor and member of the Board), unless the Board determines otherwise.

 

(C)                       “Disability” shall mean a Grantee’s becoming disabled within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Code, within the meaning of the Company’s long-term disability plan applicable to the Grantee, or as otherwise determined by the Board.

 

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(D)      “Cause” shall mean, except to the extent specified otherwise by the Board, a finding by the Board that the Grantee (i) has breached his or her employment or service contract with the Company, (ii) has engaged in disloyalty to the Company, including, without limitation, fraud, embezzlement, theft, commission of a felony or proven dishonesty, (iii) has disclosed trade secrets or confidential information of the Company to persons not entitled to receive such information, (iv) has breached any written noncompetition or nonsolicitation agreement between the Grantee and the Company or (v) has engaged in such other behavior detrimental to the interests of the Company as the Board determines.

 

(f)          Exercise of Options. A Grantee may exercise an Option that has become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to the Company with payment of the Exercise Price. The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price for an Option as specified by the Board (w) in cash, (x) with the approval of the Board, by delivering shares of Company Stock owned by the Grantee (including Company Stock acquired in connection with the exercise of an Option, subject to such restrictions as the Board deems appropriate) and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price or by attestation (on a form prescribed by the Board) to ownership of shares of Company Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price, (y) after a Public Offering, payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, or (z) by such other method as the Board may approve. The Board may authorize loans by the Company to Grantees in connection with the exercise of an Option, upon such terms and conditions as the Board, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. Shares of Company Stock used to exercise an Option shall have been held by the Grantee for the requisite period of time to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company with respect to the Option. The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price and the amount of any withholding tax due (pursuant to Section 7) at the time of exercise.

 

(g)         Limits on Incentive Stock Options. Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the stock on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any person who is not an Employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary (within the meaning of section 424(f) of the Code).

 

6.              Stock Awards

 

The Board may issue or transfer shares of Company Stock to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor under a Stock Award, upon such terms as the Board deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Stock Awards:

 

(a)                         General Requirements. Shares of Company Stock issued or transferred pursuant to Stock Awards may be issued or transferred for consideration or for no consideration, and subject to restrictions or no restrictions, as determined by the Board. The Board may establish conditions under which restrictions on Stock Awards shall lapse over a period of time or according to such other criteria as the Board deems appropriate. The period of time during

 

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which the Stock Award will remain subject to restrictions will be designated in the Grant Instrument as the “Restriction Period.”

 

(b)      Number of Shares. The Board shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock to be issued or transferred pursuant to a Stock Award and the restrictions applicable to such shares.

 

(c)       Requirement of Employment or Service. If the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company (as defined in Section 5(e) during a period designated in the Grant Instrument as the Restriction Period, or if other specified conditions are not met, the Stock Award shall terminate as to all shares covered by the award as to which the restrictions have not lapsed, and those shares of Company Stock must be immediately returned to the Company. The Board may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.

 

(d)      Restrictions on Transfer and Legend on Stock Certificate. During the Restriction Period, a Grantee may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of the Stock Award except to a successor under Section 8(a). Each certificate for Stock Awards shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the Grant. The Grantee shall be entitled to have the legend removed from the stock certificate covering the shares subject to restrictions when all restrictions on such shares have lapsed. The Board may determine that the Company will not issue certificates for Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed, or that the Company will retain possession of certificates for Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed.

 

(e)       Right to Vote and to Receive Dividends. During the Restriction Period, the Grantee shall have the right to vote shares subject to Stock Awards and to receive any dividends or other distributions paid on such shares, subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Board.

 

(f)        Lapse of Restrictions. All restrictions imposed on Stock Awards shall lapse upon the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and the satisfaction of all conditions imposed by the Board. The Board may determine, as to any or all Stock Awards, that the restrictions shall lapse without regard to any Restriction Period.

 

7.              Withholding of Taxes

 

(a)        Required Withholding. All Grants under the Plan shall be subject to applicable federal (including FICA), state and local tax withholding requirements. The Company may require that the Grantee or other person receiving or exercising Grants pay to the Company the amount of any federal, state or local taxes that the Company is required to withhold with respect to such Grants, or the Company may deduct from other wages paid by the Company the amount of any withholding taxes due with respect to such Grants.

 

(b)        Election to Withhold Shares. If the Board so permits, a Grantee may elect to satisfy the Company’s income tax withholding obligation with respect to a Grant by having shares withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the Grantee’s minimum applicable withholding tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and local tax liabilities. The election

 

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must be in a form and manner prescribed by the Board and may be subject to the prior approval of the Board.

 

8.              Transferability of Grants

 

(a)       Nontransferability of Grants. Except as provided below, only the Grantee may exercise rights under a Grant during the Grantee’s lifetime. A Grantee may not transfer those rights except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or (ii) with respect to Grants other than Incentive Stock Options, if permitted in any specific case by the Board, pursuant to a domestic relations order or otherwise as permitted by the Board. When a Grantee dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Grantee may exercise such rights. Any such successor must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of his or her right to receive the Grant under the Grantee’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

(b)       Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may provide, in a Grant Instrument, that a Grantee may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options to family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Board may determine; provided that the Grantee receives no consideration for the transfer of an Option and the transferred Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the Option immediately before the transfer.

 

9.              Right of First Refusal; Repurchase Right

 

(a)       Offer. Prior to a Public Offering, if at any time an individual desires to sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of shares of Company Stock that were distributed to him or her under this Plan and that are transferable, the individual may do so only pursuant to a bona fide written offer, and the individual shall first offer the shares to the Company by giving the Company written notice disclosing: (a) the name of the proposed transferee of the Company Stock; (b) the certificate number and number of shares of Company Stock proposed to be transferred or encumbered; (c) the proposed price; (d) all other terms of the proposed transfer; and (e) a written copy of the proposed offer. Within 60 days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall have the option to purchase all or part of such Company Stock at the price and on the terms described in the written notice; provided that the Company may pay such price in installments over a period not to exceed four years, at the discretion of the Board.

 

(b)       Sale. In the event the Company (or a stockholder, as described below) does not exercise the option to purchase Company Stock, as provided above, the individual shall have the right to sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of the shares of Company Stock described in subsection (a) at the price and on the terms of the transfer set forth in the written notice to the Company, provided such transfer is effected within 15 days after the expiration of the option period. If the transfer is not effected within such period, the Company must again be given an option to purchase, as provided above.

 

(c)        Assignment of Rights. The Board, in its sole discretion, may waive the Company’s right of first refusal and repurchase right under this Section 9. If the Company’s

 

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right of first refusal or repurchase right is so waived, the Board may, in its sole discretion, assign such right to the remaining stockholders of the Company in the same proportion that each stockholder’s stock ownership bears to the stock ownership of all the stockholders of the Company, as determined by the Board. To the extent that a stockholder has been given such right and does not purchase his or her allotment, the other stockholders shall have the right to purchase such allotment on the same basis.

 

(d)         Purchase by the Company. Prior to a Public Offering, if a Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Company, the Company shall have the right to purchase all or part of any Company Stock distributed to him or her under this Plan at its then current Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 5(b)) (or at such other price as may be established in the Grant Instrument); provided, however, that such repurchase shall be made in accordance with applicable accounting rules to avoid adverse accounting treatment.

 

(e)          Public Offering. On and after a Public Offering, the Company shall have no further right to purchase shares of Company Stock under this Section 9.

 

(f)           Stockholder’s Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, if the Board requires that a Grantee execute a stockholder’s agreement with respect to any Company Stock distributed pursuant to this Plan, which contains a right of first refusal or repurchase right, the provisions of this Section 9 shall not apply to such Company Stock, unless the Board determines otherwise.

 

10.    Change of Control of the Company

 

As used herein, a “Change of Control”, means, in each case as approved by the Board and the requisite stockholders of the Company:

 

(i) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or any other corporate reorganization, in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, own, in the aggregate, less than 50% of the surviving entity’s voting power and/or outstanding capital stock immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization, or any transaction or series of related transactions (including any transaction which results from an option agreement or binding letter of intent with a third party) to which the Company or any of its stockholders is a party in which in excess of 50% of the Company’s voting power and/or outstanding capital stock is transferred, or pursuant to which any person or group of affiliated persons obtains in excess of 50% of the Company’s voting power and/or outstanding capital stock, excluding any consolidation or merger effected exclusively to change the domicile of the Company; or

 

(ii) any sale, lease or other disposition (including through a Board and stockholder approved division or spin-off transaction) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any sale, lease, exclusive license (or substantially exclusive license or agreement) or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s intellectual properly, as reasonably determined based upon the potential

 

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earning power of the assets or intellectual property; provided, however that none of the following shall constitute a Change of Control:

 

(A)       transfers of capital stock by an existing stockholder as a result of death or otherwise for estate planning purposes or to such stockholder’s affiliates or to any of the Company’s other existing stockholders, and

 

(B)       issuances of equity securities of the Company in connection with financings for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

11.       Consequences of a Change of Control

 

(a)       Assumption of Grants. Upon a Change of Control where the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another corporation), unless the Board determines otherwise, all outstanding Options that are not exercised shall be assumed by, or replaced with comparable options by the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation), and outstanding Stock Awards and Restricted Shares shall be converted to Stock Awards and Restricted Shares of the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation).

 

(b)       Other Alternatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Change of Control, the Board may take any of the following actions with respect to any or all outstanding Grants: the Board may (i) determine that outstanding Options shall automatically accelerate and become fully exercisable and that the restrictions and conditions on outstanding Stock Awards and Restricted Shares shall immediately lapse, (ii) require that Grantees surrender their outstanding Options in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash or Company Stock as determined by the Board, in an amount equal to the amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock subject to the Grantee’s unexercised Options exceeds the Exercise Price of the Options or (iii) after giving Grantees an opportunity to exercise their outstanding Options, terminate any or all unexercised Options at such time as the Board deems appropriate. Such surrender or termination shall take place as of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as the Board may specify. The Board shall have no obligation to take any of the foregoing actions, and, in the absence of any such actions, outstanding Options and Stock Awards shall continue in effect according to their terms (subject to any assumption pursuant to subsection (a)).

 

12.       Requirements for Issuance or Transfer of Shares

 

(a)       Stockholder’s Agreement. The Board may require that a Grantee execute a stockholder’s agreement, with such terms as the Board deems appropriate, with respect to any Company Stock issued or distributed pursuant to this Plan.

 

(b)       Limitations on Issuance or Transfer of Shares. No Company Stock shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Grant hereunder unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such Company Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Board. The Board shall have the right to condition any Grant made to any Grantee hereunder on such Grantee’s undertaking in writing to comply with such

 

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restrictions on his or her subsequent disposition of such shares of Company Stock as the Board shall deem necessary or advisable, and certificates representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions. Certificates representing shares of Company Stock issued or transferred under the Plan will be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as may be required by applicable laws, regulations and interpretations, including any requirement that a legend be placed thereon.

 

(c)Lock-Up Period. If so requested by the Company or any representative of the underwriters (the “Managing Underwriter”) in connection with any underwritten offering of securities of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), a Grantee (including any successor or assigns) shall not sell or otherwise transfer any shares or other securities of the Company during the 30-day period preceding and the 180-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act for such underwriting (or such shorter period as may be requested by the Managing Underwriter and agreed to by the Company) (the “Market Standoff Period”). The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such Market Standoff Period.

 

13.       Amendment and Termination of the Plan

 

(a)        Amendment. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without stockholder approval if such approval is required in order to comply with the Code or other applicable laws, or to comply with applicable stock exchange requirements.

 

(b)        Termination of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its effective date, unless the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the approval of the stockholders.

 

(c)         Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Grants. A termination or amendment of the Plan that occurs after a Grant is made shall not materially impair the rights of a Grantee unless the Grantee consents or unless the Board acts under Section 20(b). The termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the Board with respect to an outstanding Grant. Whether or not the Plan has terminated, an outstanding Grant may be terminated or amended under Section 20(b) or may be amended by agreement of the Company and the Grantee consistent with the Plan.

 

14.       Governing Document

 

The Plan shall be the controlling document. No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner. The Plan shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.

 

15.       Funding of the Plan

 

This Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any

 

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Grants under this Plan. In no event shall interest be paid or accrued on any Grant, including unpaid installments of Grants.

 

16.       Rights of Participants

 

Nothing in this Plan shall entitle any Employee, Key Advisor, Non-Employee Director or other person to any claim or right to be granted a Grant under this Plan. Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employ of the Company or any other employment rights.

 

17.       No Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares of Company Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Grant. The Board shall determine whether cash, other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

18.       Headings

 

Section headings are for reference only. In the event of a conflict between a title and the content of a Section, the content of the Section shall control.

 

19.       Effective Date of the Plan

 

(a)       Effective Date. Subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders, the Plan shall be effective on September 30, 2014.

 

(b)       Public Offering. The provisions of the Plan that refer to a Public Offering, or that refer to, or are applicable to persons subject to, section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 162(m) of the Code, shall be effective, if at all, upon the initial registration of the Company Stock under section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and shall remain effective thereafter for so long as such stock is so registered.

 

20.       Miscellaneous

 

(a)       Grants in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Board to make Grants under this Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Grants to employees thereof who become Employees of the Company, or for other proper corporate purposes, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other awards outside of this Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board may make a Grant to an employee of another corporation who becomes an Employee by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries in substitution for a stock option or Stock Awards grant made by such corporation. The terms and conditions of the substitute grants may vary from the terms and conditions required by the Plan and from those of the substituted stock incentives. The Board shall prescribe the provisions of the substitute grants.

 

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(b)       Compliance with Law. The Plan, the exercise of Options and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Company Stock under Grants shall be subject to all applicable laws and to approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. With respect to persons subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, after a Public Offering it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. In addition, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and applicable Grants under the Plan comply with the applicable provisions of section 162(m) of the Code, after a Public Offering, and section 422 of the Code. To the extent that any legal requirement of section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 162(m) or 422 of the Code as set forth in the Plan ceases to be required under section 16 of the Exchange Actor section 162(m) or 422 of the Code, that Plan provision shall cease to apply. The Board may revoke any Grant if it is contrary to law or modify a Grant to bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation. The Board may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to Grantees. The Board may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section.

 

(c)        Employees Subject to Taxation Outside the United States. With respect to Grantees who are subject to taxation in countries other than the United States, the Board may make Grants on such terms and conditions as the Board deems appropriate to comply with the laws of the applicable countries, and the Board may create such procedures, addenda and subplans and make such modifications as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such laws.

 

(d)       Governing Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of the Plan and Grant Instruments issued under the Plan shall be governed and construed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

13Exhibit 10.8

 

ACLARIS THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

STOCK OPTION GRANT

 

This Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as of [    ] and effective as of [    ] (the “Grant Date”), between Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [    ] (“Grantee”), an employee of the Company. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan (as defined below).

 

1.                   Grant of Option. Pursuant to the Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. 2012 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), the Company hereby grants to Grantee, as of the Grant Date, an option (the “Option”) to purchase an aggregate of [    ] shares (the “Option Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, at a per share exercise price of $.[  ] (the “Option Price”), being the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date, subject to adjustment and the other terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan. It is intended that the entire Option be treated as a non-qualified stock option under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

2.                   Grantee Bound by Plan. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. The Plan shall govern all aspects of this Agreement except as otherwise specifically stated herein. Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. The Plan should be carefully examined before any decision is made to exercise the Option.

 

3.                   Exercise of Option.

 

(a)                                         General. Subject to the earlier termination of the Option as provided herein and in the Plan, the Option may be exercised in whole or in part, by written notice to the Company as set forth below at any time and from time to time after the Grant Date until the Expiration Date (as defined below).

 

(b)                                         Vesting. Subject to the earlier termination of the Option as provided herein and in the Plan, the Option shall vest as described on the “Vesting Schedule” set forth on Schedule I attached hereto; provided, however, that Grantee must during the vesting period remain available to provide services to, and on each vesting date be available to provide services to, the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries). Alternatively, at the election of Grantee, the Option may be exercised in whole or part at any time as to Option Shares that have not yet vested; provided, however, that, as a condition to exercising the Option for unvested Option Shares, Grantee shall execute a Stock Restriction Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Stock Restriction Agreement”). For the avoidance of doubt, vested Option Shares shall not be subject to the Company’s repurchase right under the Stock Restriction Agreement.

 

 

(c)          Early Expiration of Option.

 

Upon the termination of Grantee’s service with the Company (including any Subsidiary thereof) for any reason, including death, any portion of the Option which has not been exercised on the date of such termination shall expire in accordance with subsection (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 3(c) as applicable;

 

In the event that Grantee’s service with the Company (including any Subsidiary thereof) is terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined in the Plan), Grantee shall automatically forfeit his/her right to exercise any unvested portion of the Option, and Grantee shall automatically forfeit all shares underlying any exercised portion of an Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share certificates, upon refund by the Company of the Exercise Price paid by the Grantee for such shares;

 

In the event that Grantee’s service with the Company (including any Subsidiary thereof) is terminated (x) by the Company without Cause or (y) by Grantee, any vested portion of the Option (including any portion vested on the date of such termination) which has not been exercised as of the date of such termination shall automatically expire, if not exercised, within 90 days after the date of such termination, and any unvested portion of the Option shall expire as of the close of business on the date of such termination; and

 

In the event that Grantee’s service with the Company (including any Subsidiary thereof) is terminated on account of Disability (as defined in the Plan), or death of Grantee, any vested portion of the Option (including any portion vested on the date of such termination) which has not been exercised as of the date of such termination shall automatically expire, if not exercised, within one year after the date of such termination, and any unvested portion of the Option shall expire as of the close of business on the date of such termination.

 

(d)                                         Normal Expiration of Option. Unless otherwise terminated under Section 3(c) above, the Option shall not be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date (the “Expiration Date”).

 

(e)                                          Expiration or Cancellation. If any portion of the Option expires or is canceled in accordance with the terms hereof, the underlying Option Shares covered by the portion of the Option which expires or is canceled shall be returned to the Plan and shall again be available for future grants under the Plan.

 

(f)                                           Substitution/Cash Out. If there occurs a Change of Control (as defined in the Plan) and if Grantee’s service is terminated by the Company without Cause, then the Company shall either (x) cancel and pay Grantee for the unexercised portion of the Option granted hereunder (whether or not then vested) in an amount equal to the “spread” between the aggregate exercise price of the unexercised Option granted hereunder and the value of the underlying shares or (y) provide for the replacement of the unexercised portion of the Option granted hereunder (whether or not vested) with options to acquire the securities or other property which Grantee would have received in exchange for the underlying shares had the entire

 

2

 

unexercised Option been previously exercised. Any such replacement options will have terms no less favorable to Grantee than the Option granted hereunder.

 

4.                         Exercise of Option and Conditions to Exercise. The Option may not be exercised by Grantee unless the following conditions are met.

 

(a)            Notice. The Option shall be exercised by delivering written notice to the Company’s principal office to the attention of its Chief Financial Officer. Such notice shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised, shall be signed by Grantee and shall be accompanied by this Agreement and full payment of the applicable purchase price. The Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. Any fractional shares being exercised will be paid in cash.

 

(b)            Securities Requirements. Legal counsel for the Company must be satisfied at the time of exercise that the issuance of Option Shares upon exercise will be in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and applicable United States federal, state, local and foreign laws; and

 

(c)             Payment of Exercise Price. Grantee must pay at the time of exercise the full purchase price for the shares of Common Stock being acquired hereunder (i) in cash or by certified check, bank cashier’s check or wire transfer, (ii) subject to the approval of the Committee, by delivery of shares of Common Stock previously acquired by Grantee (and held for at least six (6) months) valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of such exercise, or (iii) pursuant to such other method as the Committee may approve for time to time. Please refer to the Plan for a complete description of the methods for exercise, payment and delivery of Option Shares, including requirements for the payment of withholding taxes applicable thereto. All amounts that, under federal, state or local law, are required to be withheld from the amount payable with respect to any Option may be withheld by the Company.

 

(d)            Stockholders Agreement. Grantee must execute a joinder to each of the Stockholders Agreements to the extent Grantee is not already a party to such agreements.

 

5.                         Transferability. The Option may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by Grantee, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution (in which case, such transferee shall succeed to the rights and obligations of Grantee hereunder) and is exercisable during Grantee’s lifetime only by Grantee, except that (i) Grantee may designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise the Option after Grantee’s death (provided that the designation has been received by the Company prior to Grantee’s death) and (ii) Grantee may transfer the Option to any Family Member (as defined in Rule 701 under the Securities Act) subject to the requirement that Grantee will cause any entity included in such definition to convey the Option held by it to another Family Member prior to the occurrence of any event which would cause such Family Member to cease to qualify as a Family Member. If Grantee or anyone claiming under or through Grantee attempts to violate this Section 5, such attempted violation shall be null and void and without effect, and the Company’s obligation hereunder shall terminate. If at the time of Grantee’s death the Option has not been fully exercised, Grantee’s estate or any person who acquires the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of Grantee’s death may exercise the Option in accordance with Section 3 above and with

 

3

 

respect to the number of shares set forth in Section 1 above. The applicable requirements of Section 4 above must be satisfied in full at the time of any exercise.

 

6.                         Administration. Any action taken or decision made by the Company, the Board or the Committee or its delegates arising out of or in connection with the construction, administration, interpretation or effect of the Plan or this Agreement shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion, as the case may be, and shall be final, conclusive and binding on Grantee and all persons claiming under or through Grantee. By accepting this grant or other benefit under the Plan, Grantee and each person claiming under or through Grantee shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, any action taken under the Plan by the Company, the Board or the Committee or its delegates.

 

7.                         No Rights as Stockholder. Unless and until a certificate or certificates representing the shares of Common Stock that may be acquired upon the exercise of the Option shall have been issued to Grantee (or any person acting under Section 5 above) pursuant to an exercise hereunder, Grantee shall not be or have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Option.

 

8.                         Investment Representation. Grantee hereby acknowledges that the shares of Common Stock which Grantee may acquire by exercising the Option shall be acquired for investment without a view to distribution, within the meaning of the Securities Act, and shall not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in the absence of an effective registration statement for the shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Grantee agrees to provide such written investment representations in writing as may be requested by the Board or the Committee. Grantee also agrees that the shares of Common Stock which Grantee may acquire by exercising the Option will not be sold or otherwise disposed of in any manner which would constitute a violation of any applicable securities laws, whether federal or state, and that the certificate representing the shares of Common Stock shall contain a legend to such effect.

 

9.                         Listing and Registration of Common Stock. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the issuance and/or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon any exercise of the Option until completion of such stock exchange listing, or registration, or other qualification of such shares under any state and/or federal law, rule or regulation as the Company may reasonably in good faith consider appropriate. If the Company at any time shall register shares of Common Stock or other securities under the Securities Act for sale to the public, Grantee agrees that, at the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any underwritten offering of the Company’s securities, Grantee will not sell, make any short sale of, grant an option for the purchase of, loan, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of Common Stock purchased or purchasable upon the exercise of the Option without the prior written consent of the Company or the managing underwriter of the offering, as the case may be, for a period designated in writing to Grantee, which period shall not begin more than ten days prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement pursuant to which such public offer will be made and shall not last more than 180 days after the effective date of such registration statement. If so requested, Grantee will also enter into a separate written agreement to such effect in form

 

4

 

and substance requested by the Company or the managing underwriter of the offering, as the case maybe.

 

10.      Adjustment. In the event of any change in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, share combination, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, reorganization, rights offering, liquidation or similar event of or by the Company, the Committee shall make equitable adjustment of the number of Option Shares covered by the Option and the Option Price.

 

11.      No Employment or other Rights. The grant of the Option shall not give Grantee the right to remain in the service of the Company or any Subsidiary or to any benefits not specifically provided herein or modify the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to modify, amend or terminate the Plan or any other employee benefit plan or consulting, employment or other agreement.

 

12.      Survival. Each provision of this Agreement that, by its terms, is intended to survive beyond the exercise of the Option shall continue in effect thereafter until such time as such term shall no longer apply.

 

13.      Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties regarding the Option.

 

14.      Notices. Any notice hereunder to the Company shall be addressed to the Company at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., 101 Lindenwood Drive, Suite 400, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 Attention: Kamil Ali-Jackson, Chief Legal Officer, and any notice hereunder to Grantee shall be addressed to Grantee at Grantee’s last address on the records of the Company, subject to the right of either party to designate at any time hereafter in writing some other address. Any notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally, one day following dispatch if sent by reputable overnight courier, fees prepaid, or three days following mailing if sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed as set forth above.

 

15.      Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors to the Company and all persons lawfully claiming under Grantee.

 

16.      Governing Law. The validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan, and of its rules and regulations, and rights relating to the Plan and to this Agreement, shall be governed by the substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Delaware.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

5

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Grantee have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
ACLARIS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Dr. Neal Walker
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President and Chief Executive Officer
    

 

GRANTEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OPTION IS EARNED ONLY THROUGH HIS/HER CONTINUED SERVICE WITH THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND NOT THROUGH THE GRANT OF THE OPTION OR THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES HEREUNDER. GRANTEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT, NOR IN THE COMPANY’S 2012 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN, WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, SHALL CONFER UPON GRANTEE ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO CONTINUATION OF SERVICE BY THE COMPANY, NOR SHALL IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH HIS/HER RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE HIS/HER SERVICE AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

 

Grantee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that he/she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof, except as otherwise specifically stated in this Agreement. Grantee has reviewed the Plan and this Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Agreement and fully understands all provisions of this Agreement. Grantee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board or Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan.

 

	
 
    	
GRANTEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name
    

 

6

 

Schedule I

 

Vesting Schedule

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Number of Options
    
	
Date
    	
 
    	
Vesting
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

S-1

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