Document:

srne-ex105_187.htm

Exhibit 10.5

 

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
2021 CASH-SETTLED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN

PLAN DOCUMENT

1.Establishment, Purpose, and Types of Awards   

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes this equity-based cash incentive compensation plan to be known as the “Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”) in order to provide cash incentives to select employees, directors, consultants, and advisors of the Company and its Affiliates.  

(a)Awards.  The Plan permits grants of Stock Appreciation Rights (“Awards”).

(b)Effect on Other Plans.  The Plan is not intended to affect and shall not affect any stock options, equity-based compensation or other benefits that the Company or its Affiliates may have provided pursuant to any agreement, plan, or program that is independent of this Plan.

2.Defined Terms

Terms in the Plan that begin with an initial capital letter have the defined meaning set forth in Appendix A, unless defined elsewhere in this Plan or the context of their use clearly indicates a different meaning.

3.Shares Subject to the Plan

Subject to the provisions of Section 9, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which the Company may grant Awards is 2,080,000 Shares.    

4.Administration

(a)General.  The Committee shall administer the Plan in accordance with its terms.  In its sole discretion, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 4 or otherwise provided in any charter of the Committee.  The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine, and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it deems advisable.

(b)Committee Composition.  The Board shall appoint the members of the Committee.  If, and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may authorize one or more officers to make Awards to Eligible Persons who are not officers whom the Committee has specifically authorized to make Awards.  The Board may at any time appoint additional members to the Committee, remove and replace members of the Committee with or without Cause, and fill vacancies on the Committee however caused.

(c)Powers of the Committee.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion:

(i)to determine Eligible Persons to whom Awards shall be granted from time to time, and the number of SARs to be covered by each Award;

(ii)to determine, from time to time, the Fair Market Value of Shares;

 

 

(iii)to determine, and to set forth in Award Agreements, the terms and conditions of all Awards, including any applicable exercise price, the installments and conditions under which an Award shall become vested (which may be based on performance), terminated, expired, cancelled, or replaced, and the circumstances for vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and other restrictions and limitations;

(iv)to approve the forms of Award Agreements, and all other documents, notices and certificates in connection therewith, which need not be identical either among Participants;

(v)to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, to determine the meaning of their terms, and to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and procedures relating to the Plan and its administration;

(vi)to the extent consistent with the purposes of the Plan, and without amending the Plan, to modify, cancel, or waive the Company’s rights with respect to any Awards, to adjust or to modify Award Agreements for changes in Applicable Law, and to recognize differences in foreign law, tax policies, or customs;

(vii)to implement paperless documentation, granting, settlement, or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system, in all cases, in the event that the Company establishes for itself, or uses, the services of a third party to establish an automated system for the documentation, granting, or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response; and

(viii)to make all other interpretations, and to take all other actions that the Committee may consider necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, or to effectuate its purposes.

Subject to Applicable Law and the restrictions set forth in the Plan, the Committee may delegate administrative functions to individuals who are Reporting Persons, officers, or Employees of the Company or its Affiliates.

(d)Action by Committee.  Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by an officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate thereof, the Company’s independent certified public accounts, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

(e)Deference to Committee Determinations.  The Committee shall have the discretion to interpret or construe ambiguous, unclear, or implied (but omitted) terms in any fashion it deems to be appropriate in its sole discretion, and to make any findings of fact needed in the administration of the Plan or Award Agreements.  The Committee’s prior exercise of its discretionary authority shall not obligate it to exercise its authority in a like fashion thereafter.  The Committee’s interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan, or of any Award or Award Agreement, shall be final, binding, and conclusive.  The validity of any such interpretation, construction, decision or finding of fact shall not be given de novo review if challenged in court, by arbitration, or in any other forum, and shall be upheld unless clearly made in bad faith or materially affected by fraud.  The Committee may make any determination required hereunder, including determinations under Section 9, on an Award-by-Award basis.

(f)No Liability; Indemnification.  Neither the Board nor any Committee member, nor any Person acting at the direction of the Board or the Committee, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement.  The Company and its Affiliates shall pay or reimburse any member of the Committee, as well as any Director, Employee, or Consultant who takes action in connection with the Plan, for all expenses incurred with respect to the Plan, and, to the fullest extent allowable under Applicable Law, shall indemnify each and every one of them for any claims, liabilities, and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of their good faith performance of duties under the Plan.  The Company and its Affiliates may obtain liability insurance for this purpose.

5.Eligibility

(a)General Rule.  A Participant who has been granted an Award may be granted an additional Award or Awards if the Committee shall so determine, if such person is otherwise an Eligible Person and, if otherwise, in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

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(b)Grant of Awards.  Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine from the class of Eligible Persons those individuals to whom Awards under the Plan may be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Award, and the exercise price (if any) with respect to any Award.  Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement signed by the Company and, if required by the Committee, by the Participant.  The Award Agreement shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the Award established by the Committee, and each Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 17, 18, and 20 unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement.  

(c)Replacement Awards.  Subject to Applicable Laws (including any associated stockholder approval requirements), the Committee may, in its sole discretion and upon such terms as it deems appropriate, require as a condition of the grant of an Award to a Participant that the Participant surrender for cancellation some or all of the Awards that have previously been granted to the Participant under this Plan or otherwise.  An Award that is conditioned upon such surrender may or may not be the same type of Award, may cover the same (or a lesser or greater) number of Shares as such surrendered Award, may have other terms that are determined without regard to the terms or conditions of such surrendered Award, and may contain any other terms that the Committee deems appropriate.  

6.Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)

(a)Grants.  The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Appreciation Rights to any Eligible Person pursuant to Award Agreements, in any of the following forms:

(i)General.  The Committee may grant SARs subject to such conditions as the Committee may in its discretion determine, which conditions will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(ii)Limited SARs.  The Committee may grant SARs exercisable only upon, or in respect of, a Change in Control or any other specified event, and such limited SARs may relate to or operate in tandem or combination with or substitution for other SARs, or on a stand-alone basis, and may be payable in cash based on the spread between the exercise price of the SAR, and (A) a price based upon, or equal to, the Fair Market Value of the Shares during a specified period, at a specified time within a specified period before, after or including the date of such event, or (B) a price related to consideration payable to Company’s stockholders generally in connection with the event.

(b)Exercise Price.  The per Share exercise price of an SAR shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.  

(c)Exercise of SARs.  An SAR may not have a term exceeding ten years from its Grant Date and an SAR will be exercisable pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.  An SAR may only be exercised when the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the SAR exceeds the exercise price of the SAR.  Except as limited by the Plan, at any time after the grant of an SAR, the Committee, in its sole discretion, and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, may accelerate the period during which an SAR vests.

(d)Payment.  Upon exercise of an SAR, the Participant will be entitled to receive payment, solely in cash, of an amount determined by multiplying:

(i)the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share (or the applicable percentage thereof specified in the Award Agreement) on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price per Share of the SAR, by

(ii)the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR has been exercised.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR (i) may limit the amount payable to the Participant to a percentage specified in the Award Agreement, and (ii) shall be subject to any payment or other restrictions that the Committee may, at any time, impose in its discretion, including restrictions intended to conform the SARs with Section 409A of the Code.

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(e)Termination of Employment or Consulting Relationship.  The Committee shall establish, and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, the terms and conditions on which an SAR shall remain exercisable, if at all, following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service.  Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder, the Committee may waive or modify these provisions at any time.  To the extent that a Participant is not entitled to exercise an SAR at the date of his or her termination of Continuous Service, or if the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the SAR) does not exercise the SAR to the extent so entitled within the time specified in the Award Agreement or below (as applicable), the SAR shall terminate and the Shares underlying the unexercised portion of the SAR shall revert to the Plan and become available for future Awards.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, in no event may any SAR be exercised after the expiration of the SAR term as set forth in the Award Agreement.

The following provisions shall apply to the extent an Award Agreement does not specify the terms and conditions upon which an SAR shall terminate when there is a termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service:

(i)Termination other than Upon Disability or Death or for Cause.  In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service (other than as a result of Participant’s death, Disability or termination for Cause), the Participant shall have the right to exercise an SAR at any time within 3 months following such termination to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such SAR at the date of such termination.

(ii)Disability.  In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service as a result of his or her being Disabled, the Participant shall have the right to exercise an SAR at any time within one year following such termination to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such SAR at the date of such termination.

(iii)Death.  In the event of the death of a Participant either during the period of Continuous Service since the Grant Date of an SAR, or within 30 days following termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for any reason other than due to Cause, the SAR may be exercised, at any time within one year following the date of the Participant’s death, by the Participant’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent the right to exercise the SAR had vested as of the earlier to occur of the date of the Participant’s death or the date the Participant’s Continuous Service terminated.

(iv)Cause.  If the Committee determines that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminated due to Cause, the Participant shall immediately forfeit the right to exercise any SAR, and any such SAR shall be considered immediately null and void.

7.Taxes

(a)General.  As a condition to the exercise of an SAR, the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, the person who succeeds to the Participant’s rights) shall make such arrangements as the Company may require for the satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the Award and the exercise thereof.  The Company shall not be required to provide any payment upon exercise of an SAR until such obligations are satisfied.  

(b)Default Rule for Employees.  In the absence of any other arrangement, an Employee shall be deemed to have directed the Company or its Affiliates to withhold or collect, from his or her cash compensation, an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations from the next payroll payment otherwise payable after the date of the exercise of an Award.

(c)Income Taxes and Deferred Compensation.  Participants are solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise in connection with Awards (including any taxes arising under Section 409A of the Code), and the Company shall not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold any Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes.  The Committee shall have the discretion to organize any deferral program, to require deferral election forms, and to grant or to unilaterally modify any Award in a manner (i) that conforms with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to compensation that is deferred and that vests after December 31, 2004, (ii) that voids any Participant election to the extent it would violate Section 409A of the Code, and (iii) for any distribution election that would violate Section 409A of the Code, to make distributions 

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pursuant to the Award at the earliest to occur of a distribution event that is allowable under Section 409A of the Code or any distribution event that is both allowable under Section 409A of the Code and is elected by the Participant, subject to any valid second election to defer, provided that the Committee permits second elections to defer in accordance with Section 409A(a)(4)(C) of the Code.  The Committee shall have the sole discretion to interpret the requirements of the Code, including Section 409A, for purposes of the Plan and all Awards.

8.Non-Transferability of Awards

(a)General.  Except as set forth in this Section 8, or as otherwise approved by the Committee, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution.  The designation of a beneficiary by a Participant will not constitute a transfer.  An Award may be exercised, during the lifetime of the holder of an Award, only by such holder, the duly-authorized legal representative of a Participant who is Disabled, a transferee permitted by this Section 8.

(b)Limited Transferability Rights.  Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 8, the Committee may in its discretion provide in an Award Agreement that an Award may be transferred, on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate, either (i) by instrument to the Participant’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below), (ii) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust (or other entity) in which the Award is to be passed to the Participant’s designated beneficiaries, or (iii) by gift to charitable institutions.  Such transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Committee, including, without limitation, documents to (i) confirm the status of the transferee as a permitted transferee, (ii) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (iii) evidence the transfer. “Immediate Family” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.

9.Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation or a Change in Control

(a)Changes in Capitalization.  The Committee shall equitably adjust the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award and the number of Awards have been authorized for grant under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation, forfeiture, or expiration of an Award, as well as the price per Share covered by each such outstanding Award, to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of the Shares, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, in each case effected at any time after this Plan is approved by the Board.  In the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding Awards under the Plan such alternative consideration (including securities of any surviving entity) as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of all Awards so replaced.  In any case, such substitution of securities shall not require the consent of any person who is granted Awards pursuant to the Plan.  Except as expressly provided herein, or in an Award Agreement, if the Company issues for consideration shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, the issuance shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be required to be made with respect to the number or price of Shares subject to any Award.

(b)Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company other than as part of a Change in Control, each Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, subject to the ability of the Committee to exercise any discretion authorized in the case of a Change in Control.

(c)Change in Control.  In the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and authority, without obtaining the approval or consent of the Company’s stockholders or any Participant with respect to his or her outstanding Awards, take one or more of the following actions:

(i)cause or otherwise provide that each outstanding Award shall be assumed through the continuation of the Plan and the assumption of the agreements covering the Award or substituted for a substantially similar award issued by a successor entity or a parent or subsidiary of such successor entity (the “Successor Entity”), in each case with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares subject to the Award, the exercise price of such Award and such other terms deemed appropriate, as applicable;

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(ii)arrange or otherwise provide for the payment of cash or other consideration to Participants in exchange for the satisfaction and cancellation of outstanding Awards;

(iii)accelerate, in part or in full, to a date prior to the effective time of such Change in Control as the Committee shall determine (or, if the Committee shall not determine such a date, to the date that is four days prior to the effective time of the Change in Control) the vesting of Awards so that Awards shall vest (and, to the extent applicable, become exercisable) as to the Shares that otherwise would have been unvested; or

(iv)make such other modifications, adjustments or amendments to outstanding Awards or this Plan as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate, subject, however, to the terms of Section 11.

Notwithstanding the above, (i) to the extent that an Award is not exercised prior to consummation of a transaction, including a Change in Control, in which the Award is not being assumed or substituted for in such transaction, such Award shall automatically terminate as of immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction; and (ii) in the event a Participant holding an Award assumed or substituted by the Successor Entity in a Change in Control is Involuntarily Terminated by the Successor Entity in connection with, or within 12 months following consummation of, the Change in Control, then any assumed or substituted Award held by the terminated Participant at the time of termination shall accelerate and become fully vested (and exercisable in full), and any repurchase right applicable to any Shares shall lapse in full, unless an Award Agreement provides for a more restrictive acceleration or vesting schedule or more restrictive limitations on the lapse of repurchase rights or otherwise places additional restrictions, limitations and conditions on an Award.  The acceleration of vesting and lapse of repurchase rights provided for in the previous sentence shall occur immediately prior to the effective time of the Participant’s termination, unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise.

(d)Certain Distributions.  In the event of any distribution to the Company’s stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other than dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Committee may, in its discretion, appropriately adjust the price per Share covered by each outstanding Award to reflect the effect of such distribution.

(e)Limitation on Adjustments.  No action shall be taken under this Section 9 which shall cause an Award to fail to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code or the regulations thereunder.

10.Time of Granting Awards.

The date of grant (“Grant Date”) of an Award shall be the date on which the Committee makes the determination granting such Award or such other date as is determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.

11.Modification of Awards.

Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify an Award to accelerate the rate at which an SAR may be exercised (including without limitation permitting an SAR to be exercised in full without regard to the installment or vesting provisions of the applicable Award Agreement or whether the SAR is at the time exercisable, to the extent it has not previously been exercised), to accelerate the vesting of any Award only in the event of a Change in Control, to extend or renew outstanding Awards or to accept the cancellation of outstanding Awards to the extent not previously exercised.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, no modification of an outstanding Award shall materially and adversely affect such Participant’s rights thereunder, unless either the Participant provides written consent or there is an express Plan provision permitting the Committee to act unilaterally to make the modification.  

12.Term of Plan.

The Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten years from the date this Plan is first adopted by the Board, unless the Plan is sooner terminated under Section 13.

13.Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

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(a)Authority to Amend or Terminate.  Subject to Applicable Laws, the Board may, from time to time, amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan.

(b)Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect Awards already granted unless either it relates to an adjustment pursuant to Section 9, or it is otherwise mutually agreed between the Participant and the Committee, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may amend the Plan to eliminate provisions which are no longer necessary as a result of changes in tax or securities laws or regulations, or in the interpretation thereof.

14.Effective Date and Contingencies.

The Plan shall become effective on the date it is adopted by the Board or the Committee.

15.Controlling Law.

This Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflicts of laws principles), to the extent not preempted by United States federal law.  If any provision of this Plan is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue to be fully effective.

16.Laws and Regulations.

(a)U.S. Laws.  This Plan, the grant of Awards, and the exercise SARs under this Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Law.

(b)Other Jurisdictions.  To facilitate the making of any grant of an Award under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Affiliate outside of the United States of America as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom.  The Company may adopt rules and procedures relating to the operation and administration of this Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures of particular countries.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding the conversion of local currency, taxes, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with the customs and requirements of particular countries.  The Company may adopt sub-plans and establish escrow accounts and trusts as may be appropriate or applicable to particular locations and countries.

(c)Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan.  In furtherance of such implementation, administration, and management, the Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant with respect to one or more Awards under the Plan, including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), information regarding any securities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and details of all Awards (the “Data”).  In addition to transferring the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan, the Company and its Affiliates each may transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. Recipients of the Data may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country and any given recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections.  By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares.  A Participant may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company 

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with respect to such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Participant, or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting such Participant’s local human resources representative.  The Company may cancel the Participant’s eligibility to participate in this Plan, and in the Committee’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents described herein.  For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

17.No Stockholder Rights.  Neither a Participant nor any transferee of a Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares underlying any Award.  

18.No Employment Rights.  The Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right to continue an employment, service or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall it affect in any way a Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate the Participant’s employment, service, or consulting relationship at any time, with or without Cause.

19.References.  All references herein to sections and appendices shall be deemed to be references to sections and appendices, respectively, of this Plan unless the context shall otherwise require.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument defined or referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes, and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.

20.Termination, Rescission and Recapture of Awards.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, but only to the extent specifically provided in any Award Agreement, this Section shall only apply to a Participant who is, on the date of an Award, an Employee of the Company or its Affiliates, and shall automatically cease to apply to any Participant from and after his or her termination of Continuous Service after a Change in Control.

(a)Each Award under the Plan is intended to align the Participant’s long-term interest with those of the Company.  If the Participant engages in certain activities discussed below, either during employment or after employment with the Company, the Participant is acting contrary to the long-term interests of the Company.  Accordingly, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Award Agreement, the Company may terminate any outstanding, unexercised, unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards (“Termination”), rescind any exercise or payment pursuant to the Award (“Rescission”), or recapture any proceeds from the Participant’s exercise of an Award (“Recapture”), if the Participant does not comply with the conditions of subsections (b) and (c) hereof (collectively, the “Conditions”).

(b)A Participant shall not, without the Company’s prior written authorization, disclose to anyone outside the Company, or use in other than the Company’s business, any proprietary or confidential information or material, as those or other similar terms are used in any applicable patent, confidentiality, inventions, secrecy, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company with regard to any such proprietary or confidential information or material.

(c)Pursuant to any agreement between the Participant and the Company with regard to intellectual property (including but not limited to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, inventions, developments, improvements, proprietary information, confidential business and personnel information), a Participant shall promptly disclose and assign to the Company or its designee all right, title, and interest in such intellectual property, and shall take all reasonable steps necessary to enable the Company to secure all right, title and interest in such intellectual property in the United States and in any foreign country.

(d)Upon exercise or payment of cash pursuant to an Award, the Participant shall certify on a form acceptable to the Company that he or she is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and, if a severance of Continuous Service has occurred for any reason, shall state the name and address of the Participant’s then-current 

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employer or any entity for which the Participant performs business services and the Participant’s title, and shall identify any organization or business in which the Participant owns a greater-than-five-percent equity interest.

(e)To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, if the Company determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that (i) a Participant has violated any of the Conditions or (ii) during his or her Continuous Service, or within one (1) year after Participant’s termination for any reason, a Participant (A) has rendered services to or otherwise directly or indirectly engaged in or assisted, any organization or business that, in the judgment of the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, is or is working to become competitive with the Company; (B) has solicited any non-administrative employee of the Company to terminate employment with the Company; or (C) has engaged in activities which are materially prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company, including any breaches of fiduciary duty or the duty of loyalty, then the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, impose a Termination, Rescission, and/or Recapture with respect to any or all of the Participant’s relevant Awards and the proceeds from an exercise thereof.

(f)Within ten days after receiving notice from the Company of any such activity, the Participant shall deliver to the Company the payment received as a result of the rescinded exercise or payment.  Any payment by the Participant to the Company pursuant to this Section 20 shall be made in cash.  It shall not be a basis for Termination, Rescission or Recapture if, after termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service, the Participant purchases, as an investment or otherwise, stock or other securities of such an organization or business, so long as (i) such stock or other securities are listed upon a recognized securities exchange or traded over-the-counter, and (ii) such investment does not represent more than a five percent (5%) equity interest in the organization or business.

(g)Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company has sole and absolute discretion not to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture, and its determination not to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture with respect to any particular act by a particular Participant or Award shall not in any way reduce or eliminate the Company’s authority to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture with respect to any other act or Participant or Award.  Nothing in this Section shall be construed to impose obligations on the Participant to refrain from engaging in lawful competition with the Company after the termination of employment that does not violate subsections (b) or (c) of this Section, other than any obligations that are part of any separate agreement between the Company and the Participant or that arise under Applicable Law.

(h)All administrative and discretionary authority given to the Company under this Section shall be exercised by the most senior human resources executive of the Company or such other person or committee (including without limitation the Committee) as the Committee may designate from time to time.

(i)Notwithstanding any provision of this Section, if any provision of this Section is determined to be unenforceable or invalid under any Applicable Law, such provision will be applied to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, and shall automatically be deemed amended in a manner consistent with its objectives to the extent necessary to conform to any limitations required under Applicable Law.  Furthermore, if any provision of this Section is illegal under any Applicable Law, such provision shall be null and void to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law.

(j)All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Participant upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.

21.Recoupment of Awards.  Unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may in its sole and absolute discretion, without obtaining the approval or consent of the Company’s stockholders or of any Participant, require that any Participant reimburse the Company for all or any portion of any Awards granted to him or her under this Plan (“Reimbursement”), or the Committee may require the Termination or Rescission of, or the Recapture associated with, any Award, if and to the extent:

9

 

 

(a)the granting, vesting, or payment of such Award (or portion thereof) was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results or other performance criteria;

(b)in the Committee’s view, the Participant either benefited from a calculation that later proves to be materially inaccurate, or engaged in one or more material acts of fraud or misconduct that caused or partially caused the need for a financial restatement by the Company or any material Affiliate thereof; and

(c)a lower granting, vesting or payment of such Award would have occurred based upon the conduct described in clause (b) of this Section 21.

In each instance, the Committee may, to the extent practicable and allowable under Applicable Laws, require Reimbursement, Termination or Rescission of, or Recapture relating to, any such Award granted to a Participant; provided that the Company will not seek Reimbursement, Termination or Rescission of, or Recapture relating to, any such Awards that were paid or vested more than three years prior to the first date of the applicable restatement period.

[APPENDIX A FOLLOWS]

10

 

 

 

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
2021 CASH-SETTLED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN

Appendix A: Definitions

As used in the Plan, the following definitions shall apply:

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with such Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person or the power to elect directors, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “affiliated,” “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Applicable Law” means the legal requirements relating to the administration of share-based plans settled in cash under applicable U.S. federal and state laws, the Code, any applicable stock exchange or automated quotation system rules or regulations, and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to time.

“Award” means any award of an SAR made pursuant to the Plan.

“Award Agreement” means any written document setting forth the terms of an Award that has been authorized by the Committee.  The Committee shall determine the form or forms of documents to be used, and may change them from time to time for any reason.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cause” for termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service will have the meaning set forth in any unexpired employment, consulting or service agreement between the Company and the Participant.  In the absence of such an agreement, “Cause” will exist if the Participant is terminated from employment or other service with the Company or an Affiliate for any of the following reasons: (i) the Participant’s failure to substantially perform his or her duties and responsibilities to the Company or violation of a material Company policy; (ii) the Participant’s commission of any act or acts of fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty, or other misconduct; (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship with the Company; or (iv) the Participant’s material breach of any of his or her obligations under any written agreement or covenant with the Company.

The Committee shall in its discretion determine whether or not a Participant is being terminated for Cause.  The Committee’s determination shall, unless arbitrary and capricious, be final and binding on the Participant, the Company, and all other affected persons.  The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Company’s ability to terminate a Participant’s employment, consulting or service relationship at any time, and the term “Company” will be interpreted herein to include any Affiliate or successor thereto, if appropriate.

“Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence during the term of the Plan of any of the following events, subject however to the Committee’s determination (to the extent required to conform with Section 409A of the Code) that any occurrence listed below is a permissible distribution event within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (it being the intention of the Company to set forth, interpret and apply the following provisions in a manner conforming with Section 409A insofar as applicable): (i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act of the beneficial ownership of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of all outstanding securities of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction 

A-1

 

in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation hold, in the aggregate, securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity immediately after such merger or consolidation; (iii) the sale, transfer or other disposition (in one or more transactions or series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (iv) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or (v) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting securities are transferred to or acquired by one or more Persons different from the Persons (or their Affiliates) holding those securities immediately prior to such merger.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the former assets or capital stock of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Committee” means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 4.

“Company” means Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation; provided, however, that in the event the Company reincorporates to another jurisdiction, all references to the term “Company” shall refer to the Company in such new jurisdiction.

“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render services and is compensated for such services.

“Continuous Service” means a Participant’s most recent period of service, in the absence of any interruption or termination of service, as an Employee, Director, or Consultant.  Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Committee, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; (iv) changes in status from Director to advisory director or emeritus status; or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Affiliates or their respective successors.  Changes in status between service as an Employee, Director, and a Consultant will not, by itself, constitute an interruption of Continuous Service.

“Director” means a member of the Board, or a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate.

“Disabled” or “Disability” means a condition under which a Participant:

(a)is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or

(b)has, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, received income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company.

“Eligible Person” means any Consultant, Director or Employee and includes non-Employees to whom an offer of employment has been extended by the Company or an Affiliate.

A-2

 

 

“Employee” means any person whom the Company or any Affiliate classifies as an employee (including an officer) for employment tax purposes, whether or not that classification is correct.  The payment by the Company of a director’s fee to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” of such Director by the Company.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Fair Market Value” means, unless otherwise determined by the Board on the committee, as of any date (the “Determination Date”): (i) the closing price of a Share on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (as applicable, the “Exchange”), on the Determination Date, or, if shares were listed, but not traded, on such Exchange on the Determination Date, then on the nearest preceding trading day during which a sale occurred; or (ii) if such stock is not quoted on an Exchange, but is otherwise traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin BoardTM or the Pink Sheets®, the mean between the representative bid and asked prices on the Determination Date or the last preceding date for which such information is available; or (iii) if subsections (i) and (ii) do not apply, the fair market value established in good faith by the Board.

“Involuntarily Terminated” means a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated under the following circumstances occurring in connection with, or within 12 months following consummation of, a Change in Control: (i) termination without Cause by the Company or an Affiliate or successor thereto, as appropriate; or (ii) voluntary termination by the Participant within 60 days following (A) a material reduction in the Participant’s job responsibilities, provided that neither a mere change in title alone nor reassignment to a substantially similar position shall constitute a material reduction in job responsibilities; (B) an involuntary relocation of the Participant’s work site to a facility or location more than 50 miles from the Participant’s principal work site as of immediately prior to the Change in Control; or (C) a material reduction in Participant’s total compensation other than as part of a reduction by the same percentage amount in the compensation of all other similarly-situated Employees, Directors or Consultants.

“Non-Employee Director” means a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.

“Participant” means any holder of one or more Awards under the Plan.

“Person” means any natural person, association, trust, business trust, cooperative, corporation, general partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited partnership, limited liability company, real estate investment trust, regulatory body, governmental agency or instrumentality, unincorporated organization or organizational entity.

“SAR” or “Stock Appreciation Right” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 7.

“Share” means a share of common stock of the Company, as adjusted in accordance with Section 9.

A-3srne-ex106_188.htm

Exhibit 10.6

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2021 CASH-SETTLED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN 

____________________________________

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement 

___________________________________

 

Award No. __________

 

You (the “Participant”) are hereby awarded the following stock appreciation rights (the “SARs”) with respect to Shares of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement (as may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Award Agreement”) and in the Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (as may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Plan”).  The Plan is available upon request to the Company.  You should carefully review these documents, and consult with your personal financial advisor, in order to fully understand the implications of this Award, including your tax alternatives or their consequences.  This Award is conditioned on your execution of this Award Agreement within 21 days following the Grant Date designated in Section 1 below.

By executing this Award Agreement, you agree to be bound by all of the Plan’s terms and conditions as if they had been set out verbatim in this Award Agreement.  In addition, you recognize and agree that all determinations, interpretations, or other actions respecting the Plan and this Award Agreement will be made by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) or the Committee pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan, and that such determinations, interpretations or other actions shall (in the absence of manifest bad faith or fraud) be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties, including you and your heirs, representatives and successors-in-interest.  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

- 1 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

1.Variable Terms.  The SARs shall have, and be interpreted according to, the following terms, subject to the provisions of the Plan in all instances:

Name of Participant:______________________

 

			
	
Number of Shares subject to the SARs:
	
 
	
 

	
 

Exercise Price per SAR:
	
 
	
 

$[●] (equal to the Applicable Percentage of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date) 

	
 

Applicable Percentage:
	
 
	
10%

	
 

Grant Date:
	
 
	
 

 

	
 
	
Vesting Schedule: 
	
(Establishes the Participant’s rights to exercise the SARs with respect to the Number of Shares stated above, subject to any stockholder approval requirement set forth in the Plan.)

	
 
	
Vesting Commencement Date: 
	
____________

	
 
	
☒
	
0% on Vesting Commencement Date.

	
 
	
☒
	
1/4th  of the SARs shall vest on the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date and 1/4th of the SARs shall vest on each of the next three (3) anniversaries of the Commencement Date thereafter, subject to the 

- 2 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

	
 
		
Participant’s continued service or employment with the Company through each such vesting date.

 

	
 
	
Lifetime Transfer:
	
☐Allowed pursuant to Section 6 below.

	
 
	
Expiration Date:
	
☐____ years after Grant Date; or 

	
 
	

	
☒10 years after Grant Date

2.Term of SARs.  The term of the SARs will expire at 5:00 p.m. (P.D.T. or P.S.T., as applicable) on the Expiration Date.

3.Manner of Exercise.  The vested SARs may be exercised by following such exercise procedures as may be specified by the Company.  The amount of vested SARs which may be exercised is cumulative; that is, if you fail to exercise all of the SARs during any period set forth above, then any such vested SARs that are not exercised during such period may be exercised during any subsequent period, until the expiration or termination of the SARs pursuant to Sections 2 and 5 of this Award Agreement and the terms of the Plan.  Upon the exercise of vested SARs in accordance with this Award Agreement, the Company or one of its Affiliates will pay you, within thirty (30) days after the exercise date, a cash amount equal to the product of (a) the number of Vested SARs exercised, multiplied by (b) the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the exercise date multiplied by the Applicable Percentage, less (ii) the Exercise Price, which payment shall be subject to applicable withholding.

4.Termination of Continuous Service.  If your Continuous Service is terminated for any reason, the SARs shall terminate on the date on which you cease to have any right to exercise the SARs pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6(e) of the Plan.

- 3 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

5.Long-term Consideration for Award. The Participant recognizes and agrees that the Company’s key consideration in granting this Award is securing the long-term commitment of the Participant to serve as an employee who will advance and promote the business interests and objectives of the Company and/or its Affiliates (the “Company Group”).  Accordingly, the Participant agrees that this Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 25 of the Plan (relating to the termination, rescission, and recapture if you violate certain commitments made therein to the Company Group), as well as to the following terms and conditions as material and indivisible consideration for this Award:

(a)Fiduciary Duty.  During his or her service with the Company Group the Participant shall devote his or her full energies, abilities, attention and business time to the performance of his or her service responsibilities and shall not engage in any activity which conflicts or interferes with, or in any way compromises, his or her performance of such responsibilities.

(b)Confidential Information.  The Participant recognizes that by virtue of his or her service with the Company Group, he or she will be granted otherwise prohibited access to confidential information and proprietary data which are not known, and not readily accessible to the Company Group’s competitors.  This information (the “Confidential Information”) includes, but is not limited to, current and prospective customers; the identity of key contacts at such customers; customers’ particularized preferences and needs; marketing strategies and plans; financial data; personnel data; compensation data; proprietary procedures and processes; and other unique and specialized practices, programs and plans of the Company Group and their respective customers and prospective customers.  The Participant recognizes that this Confidential Information constitutes a valuable property of the Company Group, developed over a significant period of time and at substantial expense.  Accordingly, the Participant agrees that he or she shall not, at any time during or after his or her service with the Company Group, divulge such Confidential Information or make use 

- 4 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

of it for his or her own purposes or the purposes of any person or entity other than the Company Group.

(c)Non-Solicitation of Customers.  The Participant recognizes that by virtue of his or her service with the Company Group he or she will be introduced to and involved in the solicitation and servicing of existing customers of the Company Group and new customers obtained by the Company Group during his or her service.  The Participant understands and agrees that all efforts expended in soliciting and servicing such customers shall be for the permanent benefit of the Company Group.  The Participant further agrees that during his or her service with the Company Group the Participant will not engage in any conduct which could in any way jeopardize or disturb any of the Company Group’s customer relationships

(d)Non-Solicitation of Employees.  The Participant recognizes the substantial expenditure of time and effort which the Company Group devotes to the recruitment, hiring, orientation, training and retention of its employees.  Accordingly, the Participant agrees that, in the event the Participant, directly or indirectly, for himself or herself or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicits, or offers employment to any employee of the Company Group, the SARs shall immediately expire.

(e)Survival of Commitments; Potential Recapture of Award and Proceeds.  The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the terms and conditions of this Section regarding confidentiality and non-solicitation shall survive both (i) the termination of Participant’s service  with the Company Group for any reason, and (ii) the termination of the Plan, for any reason.  The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the grant of SARs in this Award Agreement is just and adequate consideration for the survival of the restrictions set forth herein, and that the Company Group may pursue any or all of the following remedies if the Participant either violates the terms of this Section or succeeds for any reason in invalidating any part of it (it being 

- 5 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

understood that the invalidity of any term hereof would result in a failure of consideration for the Award): 

	
 
	
(i)
	
declaration that the Award is null and void and of no further force or effect; and

	
 
	
(ii)
	
recapture of any cash paid to the Participant, or any designee or beneficiary of the Participant, pursuant to the Award.

The remedies provided above are not intended to be exclusive, and the Company Group may seek such other remedies as are provided by law, including equitable relief.  

(f)Acknowledgement.  The Participant acknowledges and agrees that his or her adherence to the foregoing requirements will not prevent him or her from engaging in his or her chosen occupation and earning a satisfactory livelihood following the termination of his or her service with the Company Group.

6.Restrictions on Transfer. Except as set forth in the Plan, this Award may not be sold, pledged, or otherwise transferred without the prior written consent of the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may transfer the SARs if allowed under Section 1 hereof (i) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust (or other entity) in which each beneficiary is a permissible gift recipient, as such is set forth in clause (ii) of this Section, or (ii) by gift to charitable institutions or by gift or transfer for consideration to any of your relatives as follows (or to an inter vivos trust, testamentary trust or other entity primarily for the benefit of any of your relatives): any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships.  Any transferee of the Participant's rights shall succeed and be subject to all of the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan. 

- 6 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

7.Income Taxes.  The Participant is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise in connection with this Award and the Company shall not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold any Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes.  The Participant hereby represents that he or she is not subject to United States income taxation.

8.Notices.  Any notice or communication required or permitted by any provision of this Award Agreement to be given to you shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to you at the last address that the Company had for you on its records.  Each party may, from time to time, by notice to the other party hereto, specify a new address for delivery of notices relating to this Award Agreement.  Any such notice shall be deemed to be given as of the date such notice is personally delivered or properly mailed.

9.Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise provided in this Award Agreement or in the Plan, every covenant, term, and provision of this Award Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors, transferees, and assigns. 

10.Modifications.  This Award Agreement may be modified or amended at any time, in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan, provided that you must consent in writing to any modification that adversely alters or impairs any of your rights or obligations under this Award Agreement, unless there is an express Plan provision that permits the Committee to unilaterally make the modification.

11.Headings.  Section and other headings contained in this Award Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope or intent of this Award Agreement or any provision hereof.

12.Severability.  Every provision of this Award Agreement and of the Plan is intended to be severable.  If any term hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason, such illegality 

- 7 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

or invalidity shall not affect the validity or legality of the remaining terms of this Award Agreement.

13.Counterparts.  This Award Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 

14.Plan Governs.  By executing this Award Agreement, you acknowledge that you have received a copy of the Plan and that your Award Agreement is subject to all the provisions contained in the Plan, the provisions of which are made a part of this Award Agreement, and that your Award is subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations which from time to time may be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan.  In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Award Agreement and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. 

15.Governing Law.  The laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflicts of laws principles) shall govern the validity of this Award Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the interpretation of the rights and duties of the parties hereto.

16.Not a Contract of Employment.  By executing this Award Agreement you acknowledge and agree that (i) any person whose service is terminated before full vesting of an award, such as the one granted to you by this Award Agreement, could claim that he or she was terminated to preclude vesting; (ii) you promise never to make such a claim; (iii) nothing in this Award Agreement or the Plan confers on you any right to continue an employment, service or consulting relationship with the Company Group, nor shall it affect in any way your right or the Company Group’s right to terminate your employment, service, or consulting relationship at any time, with or without Cause; and (iv) the Company would not have granted this Award to you but for these acknowledgements and agreements.

 

- 8 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

 

 

<Signature Page Follows>

- 9 -

 

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 

2021 Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Plan  

 

BY YOUR SIGNATURE BELOW, along with the signature of the Company’s representative, you and the Company agree that the SARs are awarded under and governed by the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan.

 

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC. 

 

 

By:

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

PARTICIPANT

The undersigned Participant hereby accepts the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan.

By:

 

Name of Participant:

 

 

- 10 -

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