Document:

Exhibit 10.12

 

	

    	
 
    	
B.   Lynne Parshall Chief 

Operating   Officer 

 

2855   Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010 

T:   760-603-2460 F: 760-918-3592 M: 760-535-8679
    

 

November 17, 2014

 

Ms. Paula Soteropoulos 

49 Winona Street 

Peabody, MA 01960

 

Dear Paula:

 

It is my pleasure to extend to you an offer to join Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as an Executive Vice President to establish a wholly owned Isis subsidiary, in Boston Massachusetts, that will be responsible for developing and commercializing Isis’ lipid franchise (“LipidCo”), and to act as President and CEO of LipidCo once established. You will report to me and initially be at Isis approximately 2 weeks per month for the first 6 months and thereafter as required.

 

Our first order of business will be to define together a development transition plan, an organization plan and a 2015 budget. It will also be useful to find some local space in the Boston area to initially house LipidCo.

 

In this position, you will receive an annual salary of $400,000, and be eligible for an increase to your base salary annually in accordance with Isis’ annual merit process plus an increase of $25,000 when LipidCo completes its initial public offering. You are also eligible for an incentive bonus targeted at 50% of your base salary under the Isis MBO program which will continue under LipidCo.

 

As additional incentive, the management of Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. will grant you stock options as follows:

 

(1) Promptly following LipidCo’s formation, you will receive a stock option to purchase the number of shares of LipidCo’s common stock equal to 5% of LipidCo’s stock on the date of LipidCo’s formation; this 5% is part of the 18% pool of options to be used for LipidCo employees. The exercise price will be equal to the fair market value of LipidCo’s common stock on the date of grant. The LipidCo options will vest over a four-year period with a vesting commencement date equal to your date of hire at Isis and will be issued under, and subject to, the terms of LipidCo’s equity incentive plan.

 

(2) an option to purchase 100,000 shares of Isis common stock. The exercise price for the Isis options will be the fair market value on your first day of employment. The Isis options will be non-qualified options and vest over a four-year period with a vesting commencement date equal to your date of hire at Isis; provided the Isis options will only become exercisable if by June 30, 2017 (i) LipidCo has not completed an initial public offering or been acquired, and (ii) you forfeit your equity awards in LipidCo. In addition, the Isis options will expire and automatically terminate upon the earlier of, (a) 90 days following your discontinued service with his and LipidCo, (b) the date LipidCo completes its initial public offering, (c) the closing of acquisition of LipidCo, and (d) the seventh anniversary of your date of hire. The Isis options will be issued under and subject to the terms of Isis’ 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

 

You will have the opportunity to participate in Isis’ employee benefits program while LipidCo is 100% owned by Isis. Your vacation will begin accruing at the rate of three (3) weeks per year based on your anniversary date. Please feel free to contact Shannon Devers at (760) 603-3848 if you have any questions.

 

Please sign below and return the original as soon as possible if you accept this offer and the terms herein. You may retain the enclosed signed copy for your records. We are anticipating a start date of Monday, December 1, 2014.

 

	
Sincerely,
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/ B. Lynne Parshall
    	
 
    
	
B. Lynne Parshall
    	
 
    
	
Chief Operating Officer
    	
 
    

 

 

	
Accepted and agreed:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/ Paula Soteropoulos
    	
 
    	
November 19, 2014
    	
 
    	
January 1, 2015
    	
 
    
	
Paula Soteropoulos
    	
 
    	
Date Accepted
    	
 
    	
Start Date
    	
 
    

 

2Exhibit 10.13

 

	

    	
 
    	
Paula Soteropoulos, President and CEO

2855 Gazelle Court. Carlsbad. CA 92010

l’:760-603-2418 x1:617-331-47331 I’:760-602-1853

psoleropoulos(i0kcealx.00

 
    

 

Mr. Jeffrey Goldberg 

497 Brook Street

Framingham, MA 01701

 

Dear Jeff:

 

It is my pleasure to confirm your offer to join Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on January 5, 2015 as a Vice President to establish a wholly owned Isis subsidiary, in Boston Massachusetts, that will be responsible for developing and commercializing Isis’ lipid franchise (Akcea Therapeutics Inc.), and to act as Chief Operating Officer of Akcea.

 

You will report to me and initially be at Isis approximately 2 weeks per month for the first 6 months and thereafter as required. The first order of business will be to define a development transition plan, an organization plan and a 2015 budget. It will also be useful for us to find some local space in the Boston area to initially house Akcea.

 

In this position, you will receive an annual salary of $310,000, and be eligible for an increase to your base salary annually in accordance with Isis’ annual merit process. You are also eligible for an incentive bonus targeted at 40% of your base salary under the Isis MBO program which will continue under Akcea.

 

As additional incentive, the management of Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. will grant you stock options as follows:

 

(1) promptly following Akcea’s formation, you will receive a stock option to purchase the number of shares of Akcea’s common stock equal to 1% of Akcea’s stock on the date of Akcea’s formation. The exercise price will be equal to the fair market value of Akcea’s common stock on the date of grant. The Akcea options will vest over a four-year period with a vesting commencement date equal to your date of hire at Isis and will be issued under, and subject to, the terms of Akcea’s equity incentive plan.

 

(2) an option to purchase 60,000 shares of Isis common stock. The exercise price for the Isis options will be the fair market value on your first day of employment. The Isis options will be non-qualified options and vest over a four-year period with a vesting commencement date equal to your date of hire at Isis; provided the Isis options will only become exercisable if by June 30, 2017 (i) Akcea has not completed an initial public offering or been acquired, and (ii) you forfeit your equity awards in Akcea. In addition, the Isis options will expire and automatically terminate upon the earlier of, (a) 90 days following your discontinued service with Isis and Akcea, (b) the date Akcea completes its initial public offering, (c) the closing of acquisition of Akcea, and (d) the seventh anniversary of your date of hire. The Isis options will be issued under and subject to the terms of Isis’ 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

You will have the opportunity to participate in Isis’ employee benefits program while Akcea is 100% owned by Isis. Your vacation will begin accruing at the rate of three (3) weeks per year based on your anniversary date. Please feel free to contact me at (760) 603-3848 if you have any questions.

 

Please sign below and return the original as soon as possible if you accept this offer and the terms herein. You may retain the enclosed signed copy for your records.

 

 

	
Sincerely,
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/ Paula Soteropoulos
    	
 
    
	
Paula Soteropoulos
    	
 
    
	
President and CEO
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Accepted and agreed:
    	
/s/ Jeffrey M. GoldbergExhibit 10.14

 

	

    	
 
    	
55   Cambridge Parkway, Suite 100

Cambridge, MA 02142 

www.akceatx.com

 
    

 

December 5, 2015

 

Louis O’Dea

566 Main Street

Hingham, MA 02043

 

Dear Louis,

 

It is my pleasure to extend to you an offer to join Akcea Therapeutics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as an Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer reporting to me. In this position, you will receive an annual salary of $415,000 and be eligible for an increase in base pay to $450,000 following Akcea’s IPO but no earlier than 1/1/2017. You are also eligible for an incentive bonus targeted at 40% of your base salary under our current Management by Objectives (MBO) program. Your first MBO bonus will be prorated based on your hire date.

 

In addition, you will receive a one-time signing bonus of $40,000 which will be made payable to you with your first paycheck. One hundred percent (100%) of this bonus will be paid back to Akcea should you voluntarily leave prior to your 1 year anniversary,

 

As additional incentive, the management of Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. will grant you stock options as follows:

 

(1) promptly following Akcea’s Series A Financing, you will receive a stock option to purchase the number of shares of Akcea’s common stock equal to 2% of Akcea’s stock following the financing. The exercise price will be equal to the fair market value of Akcea’s common stock on the date of grant. The Akcea options will vest over a four-year period with a vesting commencement date equal to your original date of hire and will be issued under, and subject to, the terms of Akcea’s equity incentive plan.

 

(2) an option to purchase 60,000 shares of Isis common stock. The exercise price for the Isis options will be the fair market value on your first day of employment. The Isis options will be non-qualified options and vest over a four-year period with a vesting commencement date equal to your original date of hire; provided the Isis options will only become exercisable if by June 30, 2017 (i) Akcea has not completed an initial public offering or been acquired, and (ii) you forfeit your equity awards in Akcea including any stock issued under such awards. In addition, the Isis options will expire and automatically terminate upon the earlier of, (a) 90 days following your discontinued service with Isis and Akcea, (b) the date Akcea completes its initial public offering, (c) the closing of acquisition of Akcea, and (d) the seventh anniversary of your original date of hire. The Isis options will be issued under and subject to the terms of Isis’ 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

You will have the opportunity to participate in our employee benefits program. Your vacation will begin accruing at the rate of 3 weeks per year based on your anniversary date. Please feel free to contact Shannon Devers at (760) 603-3848 if you have any questions.

 

 

Please sign below and return the original as soon as possible if you accept this offer and the terms herein. You may retain the enclosed signed copy for your records. We are anticipating a start date of January 18, 2016.

 

	
Sincerely,
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/ Paula Soteropoulos
    	
 
    
	
Paula Soteropoulos
    	
 
    
	
President and Chief   Executive Officer
    	
 
    

 

 

	
Accepted and agreed:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/ Louis O’Dea
    	
 
    	
December 8, 2015
    	
 
    	
January 18, 2016
    	
 
    
	
Louis O’Dea
    	
 
    	
Date Signed
    	
 
    	
Start Date

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