Document:

xene-ex104_9.htm

 

Exhibit 10.4

January 13, 2021

Confidential

Via Electronic Mail

Sherry Aulin

Dear Sherry,

Re: Employment Agreement

We are pleased to offer you a promotion to the position of Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) with Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company”), effective as of the Company’s 2021 annual meeting of shareholders expected to take place on or about June 4, 2021(the “Effective Date”), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Employment Agreement. Please note that this new Employment Agreement will replace and supersede your earlier Employment Agreement as of the Effective Date. You will be credited for all purposes with your service to the Company back to your start date of June 22, 2015, unless stated otherwise.

A.Base Salary. As of the Effective Date, you will earn a base salary of $320,000 USD per year, less statutory and other applicable deductions as required, for all work and services you perform for the Company (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary is payable semi-monthly in arrears in accordance with the Company’s applicable payroll policies.  The US dollar amount of your semi-monthly pay will be converted to Canadian dollars at the Bank of Canada exchange rate approximately five (5) days prior to each pay date and paid in Canadian dollars. You hereby agree and understand that the exchange rate between US and Canadian dollars may vary either in your favour or in Xenon’s favour (the “Exchange Rate Variance”), and you accept that such Exchange Rate Variance is an accepted term and condition of your employment. 

B.Annual Discretionary Bonus. In addition to your Base Salary, you are eligible to earn an annual discretionary bonus, less statutory and other applicable deductions as required, of up to forty (40%) of your base salary earnings actually earned in the applicable calendar year of service, in Canadian dollars. Any bonus payable will be paid in Canadian dollars. The payment and amount of the annual bonus is within the sole discretion of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and will be evaluated in the first quarter of each year in relation to the achievement of corporate and/or personal objectives for the previous year. Such objectives will be established annually by the Board in its sole discretion. Bonuses are not earned until paid.

C.Annual Review. The Company will conduct an annual review of your compensation package, including your salary and bonus percentage, in accordance with its policies. Any adjustment to the same is at the sole discretion of the Company provided that the Base Salary benchmarked in US dollars will not be reduced without your consent and subject to Sections L and M of this Agreement. You will be paid in Canadian dollars, but the Company may, at its sole discretion, benchmark your compensation in US dollars based on the peer group that is identified from time to time. You hereby agree and acknowledge that the Company has no control over the applicable foreign currency exchange rate and that your compensation in Canadian dollars may be reduced compared to the previous year because of such applicable exchange rate. You further agree and acknowledge that such lower compensation will not constitute constructive dismissal if solely due to the then applicable foreign currency exchange rate. 

 

 

D.Expense Reimbursement. In accordance with its expense policy, as amended from time to time, the Company will reimburse any authorized expenses actually and reasonably incurred in the course of performing your employment duties. The Company will also provide to you, for the duration of your employment, any necessary work tools, such as a laptop computer and mobile phone. Subject to approval by the Company, you will also be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred for attending courses or workshops related to your employment duties. 

E.Reporting Structure/Responsibilities. You will report to Ian Mortimer, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). You agree that the Company may change the reporting structure, including the person and position to whom you report, and the people and positions who report to you. You will perform the responsibilities and duties of your position, as described in Schedule A, and subject to Sections L and M, such other responsibilities and duties as may be reasonably requested by the Company from time to time. You will at all times: (i) conform to the reasonable and lawful directions of the Company and the Board; (ii) adhere to all applicable Company policies; (iii) give the Company the full benefit of your knowledge, expertise, skill and ingenuity; (iv) well and faithfully serve the Company; (v) devote your best efforts to furthering the interests of the Company; and (vi) exercise the degree of care, diligence and skill that a prudent executive would exercise in comparable circumstances. 

You will not during your employment with the Company, be employed by, or provide products or services of any nature whatsoever to, any other person, company, organization or other entity without prior written permission from the Company. This does not restrict you from performing reasonable volunteer activities; however, you must obtain the consent of the Company if you wish to serve on a board of directors or advisory board, or if you perform any paid work or services for other organizations. Schedule B contains a description of all such appointments and positions that you currently occupy, and all paid work and services you currently provide to outside organizations, to which the Company confirms that it provides its permission.

F.Vacation and Sick Days. In accordance with the Company’s policies, you will continue to earn twenty (20) days of paid vacation per calendar year on a pro rata basis. You may also be entitled to other leaves, including without limitation, an additional allotment of paid sick days and statutory holidays, as provided in the Company’s policies during the applicable period. Accrued but unused paid time off and sick days will expire in accordance with the Company’s policies, as amended from time to time. 

G.Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation & Non-Competition Agreement. The Employee Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement that you signed dated March 20, 2019 continues to be in full force and effect.  Please note that this agreement also deals with confidentiality and the ownership of intellectual property developments. You continue to agree that compliance with its provisions is reasonable and a necessary requirement in our highly competitive industry, and may be required by our agreements with our suppliers, customers, and distributors.

H.Stock Options. You will continue to be eligible to participate in Xenon’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), a copy of which is attached. Nothing in this Agreement will affect in any way the stock options granted to you by the Company to date, all of which will, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, continue to vest and be exercisable in accordance with their terms while you are employed by the Company. Subject to the terms of the Plan (as such may be amended from time to time) and approval by Xenon’s Board of Directors on or around the Effective Date, or if the Company is in a trading blackout, as soon as possible thereafter, you will receive a onetime option to purchase 100,000 common shares of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. 

I.Benefits. You will continue to be eligible to participate in the Company’s employee group benefit plans, as amended from time to time, subject to the Company’s policies, eligibility rules, and terms established by the service providers, as amended from time to time. You will continue to be eligible to participate in the Company’s current Group RRSP Plan, under which the Company will match your contributions up to a maximum of 5% of your Base Salary, in the same currency in which your Base Salary is paid. 

 

 

J.Taxes. Any taxes applicable to your employment compensation package with the Company will be deducted and remitted to the appropriate authorities in accordance with the Company’s standard policies and the law. 

If you work in a second tax jurisdiction at the Company’s request, the Company will cover the reasonable costs for you to use the services of the Company’s tax adviser or another adviser mutually agreed upon by the Parties to prepare your home and host country tax returns for any year during which you are required to file tax returns in more than one country as a result of your employment with the Company. 

K.Insurance and Indemnification. As a corporate and/or executive officer of the Company, during your employment with the Company, you will be covered by its Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance Policy and such other indemnity policy, agreement or commitment established by the Company, subject to the terms of the Insurance Policy and other policy, agreement or commitment and any amendments made from time to time at the Board’s discretion provided that no amendment will substantially reduce your entitlements. Your coverage under such Insurance Policy and any other policy, agreement, or commitment, will continue after your employment ends in respect of your employment. 

L.Change of Control. In this Agreement:

	
a.
	
“Average Bonus” means an amount that is (i) the sum of the annual bonus awards (expressed as a percentage of the applicable year’s Base Salary) that you earned in each of the three (3) completed calendar years preceding the date your employment with the Company terminates, divided by (ii) three (3), multiplied by (iii) your Base Salary at the time your employment with the Company terminates [for example: (15%+5%+10%)/3 = 10% of Base Salary]. If you have been employed for more than one (1) but fewer than three (3) completed calendar years of service, then your “Average Bonus” will be the average of the annual bonus awards (as expressed as a percentage of the applicable year’s Base Salary) that you have received for the completed calendar year(s) preceding the date of your employment with the Company terminates. 

	
b.
	
“Change of Control” means: 

	
 
	
(i)
	
the acquisition by any person or persons acting jointly or in concert (as determined by the Securities Act) (“Person”), whether directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the Company that, together with all other voting securities of the Company held by such Person, constitute in the aggregate more than 50% of all outstanding voting securities of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional securities by any one Person, who owns more than 50% of all outstanding voting securities of the Company will not be a Change of Control;

	
 
	
(ii)
	
an amalgamation, arrangement or other form of business combination of the Company with another corporation that results in the holders of voting securities of that other corporation holding, in the aggregate, more than 50% of all outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from the business combination; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional securities by any one Person, who owns more than 50% of all outstanding voting securities of the Company will not be a Change of Control; or

 

 

	
 
	
(iii)
	
a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, including the sale, lease, transfer or exchange of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, to another Person, other than in the ordinary course of business of the Company, which occurs on the date that such Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer to a Related Entity, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (2) an entity of which the Company has Control, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the all outstanding voting securities of the Company, or (4) an entity of which a Person described in this subsection (iii)(B)(3) has Control. For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets;

provided, however, that a Change in Control will not be deemed to have occurred if such Change in Control results solely from the issuance, in connection with a bona fide public offering, financing or series of financings by the Company, of voting securities of the Company or any rights to acquire voting securities of the Company which are convertible into voting securities.

Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change of Control if: (x) its sole purpose is to change the state or jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (y) its sole purpose is to create a holding company the voting securities of which will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s voting securities immediately before such transaction.

	
c.
	
“Good Reason” means any of the following:

	
 
	
(i)
	
any unilateral change or series of changes to your employment responsibilities, reporting relationship, or status within the Company, such that immediately after such a change or series of changes to your responsibilities, reporting relationship, and status, taken as a whole, and taking into account the size and complexity of the business of the Company at that time, are substantially less than those assigned to you immediately prior to such change or series of changes; or

	
 
	
(ii)
	
a material reduction by the Company in your Base Salary or other compensation as in effect prior to the Change of Control that would constitute a constructive dismissal at common law; or

	
 
	
(iii)
	
the taking of any action by the Company, or the failure by the Company to take any action, that would materially and adversely affect your participation in, or materially reduce your aggregate benefits under, the total package of long-term incentive, bonus, compensation, RRSP, life insurance, health, accidental disability and other similar plans in which you are participating prior to the action by the Company or the failure by the Company to take any action; or

	
 
	
(iv)
	
the unilateral requirement that you relocate to a new location that is both (a) more than 60 kilometers from your previous work location and (b) more than 60 kilometers from your primary residence; or

	
 
	
(v)
	
failure or refusal of the Successor Company to offer you terms and conditions of employment, including the provisions of Section M of this Agreement, that are substantially the same as the provisions of this Agreement; or

 

 

	
 
	
(vi)
	
subject to the terms of this Agreement, any reason which would be considered to amount to constructive dismissal by an arbitrator under the laws applicable in British Columbia; 

provided that any change or series of changes in reporting relationships alone will not constitute good reason.

	
d.
	
“Successor Company” means, in connection with a Change of Control, the surviving or acquiring company or entity. 

M.Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason in Connection With or Following A Change of Control. 

In the event of (i) a termination without cause or (ii) resignation for Good Reason, in either case, occurring within three (3) months prior to a Change of Control and related or connected to that Change of Control or occurring within twelve (12) months after a Change of Control, your employment will end on the date it is terminated without cause by the Company or Successor Company or the date terminated by you for Good Reason, in which case the Company or Successor Company will provide you with the notice or pay in lieu of notice to which you are entitled under the British Columbia Employment Standards Act (the “Statutory Notice”). In exchange for and conditional upon you signing and returning a full and final Release of all claims in the form attached hereto as Schedule C, the Company or Successor Company will provide you with the following:

	
a.
	
payment equal to twelve (12) months’ Base Salary, plus one (1) additional month of Base Salary for every year of consecutive service with the Company and Successor Company, up to a combined maximum of eighteen (18) months (the “COC Payment Period”). The COC Payment Period is inclusive of, and not in addition to, the Statutory Notice. In recognition for the period you were a Consultant for the Company, April 14, 2014 to June 21, 2015, the Company will use the date of April 14, 2014 instead of June 22, 2015 as your start date for calculating your severance under the COC Payment Period. For all other applicable purposes, your start date with the Company will be June 22, 2015;

	
b.
	
payment of 100% of your then-applicable bonus eligibility calculated on your then-applicable annual Base Salary (i.e. not prorated for the partial year worked), less statutory and other applicable deductions as required;

	
c.
	
the contributions to your retirement savings plan the Company would have paid on your behalf during the COC Payment Period;

	
d.
	
notwithstanding any provision in the Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and any subsequent deferred compensation plan to the contrary:

	
 
	
(i)
	
immediate vesting of all unvested stock options and other deferred compensation awards granted to you by the Company or the Successor Company; and

	
 
	
(ii)
	
continued exercise rights for the longer of the period stipulated in the applicable plan or grant and six (6) months after the date your employment actually terminates (i.e. the last day you are actually at work); and 

	
e.
	
subject to the applicable insurer’s terms of coverage, at the Company’s discretion, the Company will arrange for you to continue to receive group benefits insurance coverage up to the earlier of (i) the end of the COC Payment Period, or (ii) the date you commence new work or employment with comparable coverage. In the event the insurer does not continue coverage, the Company will pay you an amount equivalent to the cost of the monthly premiums the Company would have paid on your behalf for the group benefits insurance coverage that are terminated.

 

 

In the case of Good Reason, you must within three (3) months after the occurrence of Good Reason provide the Company or Successor Company with thirty (30) days’ written notice of Good Reason during which you will continue to provide services to the Company or Successor Company. Where the Good Reason is based in whole or in part on a series of changes, the notice period will commence on the occurrence of the last change in the series. Within your thirty (30) day working notice, the Company or the Successor Company may correct, reverse, rectify or otherwise resolve the change or series of changes that constitute Good Reason, in which case your employment with the Company or Successor Company will continue. 

The payments described above are inclusive of any termination or severance pay owing to you under applicable employment standards legislation. You further agree that you will not be eligible for any additional payment pursuant to the termination sections below (e.g. you will not be entitled to receive both the payments described in this Section M and the Termination Without Cause payments or notice described below in Section P).

Termination:

N.Resignation. If for any reason you should wish to leave the Company, you will provide the Company with three (3) months’ prior written notice of your intention (the “Resignation Period”). You agree that the Company may, in its sole and unfettered discretion, waive the Resignation Period in whole or in part and end your employment immediately by delivering to you a written notice promptly followed by payment of the Base Salary due to you during the remainder of the Resignation Period and any pay accrued and owing under this Agreement up to the date of such notice. It is further expressly agreed that you will not be entitled to any bonus or pro rata bonus after you give notice of resignation. For example, if you give notice of resignation partway during the calendar year, or any time prior to the bonus payment date following that calendar year, you will not be entitled to any bonus for that calendar year. 

O.Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate your employment at any time for cause, effective upon delivery by the Company to you of a written notice of termination of your employment for cause. You will not be entitled to receive any further pay or compensation (except for pay, if any, accrued and owing under this Agreement up to the date of termination of your employment), severance pay, notice, payment in lieu of notice, benefits or damages of any kind, and for clarity, without limiting the foregoing, you will not be entitled to any bonus or pro rata bonus payment that has not already been awarded by the Company.

P.Termination Without Cause. 

(This Section P does not apply to a termination without cause that occurs within three (3) months prior to a Change of Control and in relation or connection to that Change of Control or within twelve (12) months after a Change of Control – such terminations are covered by Section M). 

The Company may terminate your employment without cause at any time upon providing you with the notice or pay in lieu of notice to which you are entitled under the Statutory Notice. In exchange for and conditional upon you signing and returning a full and final Release of all claims in the form attached hereto as Schedule C, the Company will provide you with notice or pay in lieu of notice beyond that required by the Statutory Notice – in particular, the Company will provide you with working notice of termination (in which case all of your terms and conditions of employment including compensation and benefits, subject to the applicable insurer’s terms of coverage, will continue during the working notice period, or Base Salary continuance, or a lump sum payment of Base Salary, or an equivalent combination of any of the foregoing, in the amount of twelve (12) months plus one (1) additional month for every one (1) year of consecutive service with the Company, up to a combined maximum of eighteen (18) months (the “Notice Period”). In recognition for the period you were a Consultant for the Company, April 14, 2014 to June 21, 2015, the Company will use the date of April 14, 2014 instead of June 22, 2015 as your start date for calculating your severance under the Notice Period. For all other applicable purposes, your start date with the Company will be June 22, 2015.

 

 

It is within the Company’s sole discretion to decide whether to provide working notice, Base Salary Continuance, or a lump sum payment of Base Salary, or a combination of the foregoing, for the Notice Period. 

The Notice Period is inclusive of, and not in addition to, the Statutory Notice. If the Company elects to provide Base Salary Continuance or a lump sum payment of Base Salary for all or part of the Notice Period, the portion of the Notice Period covered by such payment(s) shall be defined as the “Payment Period”. 

The parties further agree as follows, also conditional upon you signing and returning a full and final Release of all claims in the form attached hereto as Schedule C: 

	
 
	
(i)
	
subject to the applicable insurer’s terms of coverage, the Company will arrange for you to continue to receive group benefits insurance coverage up to the earlier of (i) the end of the Notice Period, or (ii) the date you commence full-time employment. In the event the insurer does not continue coverage, the Company will pay you an amount equivalent to the cost of the monthly premiums the Company would have paid on your behalf for the group benefits insurance coverage that are terminated;

	
 
	
(ii)
	
you will receive an Average Bonus pro-rated for the period of the calendar year that you actually worked, up to your last day at work, less statutory and other applicable deductions as required. For example, if your last day of work is March 31, you will receive three (3) months of your Average Bonus. Payment of your pro-rated Average Bonus will be within four (4) weeks of the termination date provided that if a bonus has not yet been determined for the preceding completed calendar year, the Company will first make that determination in the ordinary course using relevant criteria in a manner consistent with prior practice so that the Average Bonus can then be determined and paid. For clarity, it is expressly agreed that you will not be entitled to any bonus whatsoever for any period of time after your last actual day at work, including during the Payment Period;

	
 
	
(iii)
	
the Company will pay the contributions to your retirement savings plan the Company would have paid on your behalf during the Notice Period; and 

	
 
	
(iv)
	
notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement or in the Equity Incentive Plan and any subsequent incentive compensation plan to the contrary, all options and any other deferred compensation granted to you will continue to vest for a period of three (3) months after the date your employment terminates and all vested stock options and other deferred compensation will be exercisable until the earlier of the original expiry day of the stock options and deferred compensation and the date that is six (6) months after the date your employment terminates (i.e. the last day you are actually at work).

Any payment in lieu of notice provided to you will be inclusive of any termination or severance pay owing to you under applicable employment standards legislation and subject to statutory withholdings and other regular payroll deductions. You will not be entitled to receive any further pay or compensation except (i) as expressly set out in this Agreement, and (ii) the pay, if any, accrued and owing under this Agreement up to the date of termination of your employment.

Q.Work Permit. As a condition of your employment, you may become required to work in other jurisdictions where the Company or the Company’s affiliates maintain an office. In that event, the continuance of your employment with the Company will become contingent upon your signing and complying with an Employee Secondment Agreement Letter, receiving authorization to work in that or those other jurisdiction(s), and to your maintaining such status. The Company will support your application for any such authorization(s).

 

 

R.FDA Debarment. As a condition of your employment, you must certify that you are not under investigation by the FDA for debarment action, have not been debarred under the Generic Drug Enforcement Act of 1992 (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and are not otherwise being investigated, restricted or disqualified from performing services relating to clinical trials by the FDA or any other regulatory authority or professional body in any other jurisdiction. If, during the course of your employment with Xenon, you become subject to such investigation or otherwise are restricted or disqualified, you will promptly inform Xenon’s Legal Department of such event. 

S.Miscellaneous

No Implied Entitlement. Other than as expressly provided herein or in any of the Company’s policies, as amended from time to time at the Company’s sole discretion, you will not be entitled to receive any further pay or compensation, severance pay, notice, payment in lieu of notice, incentives, bonuses, benefits or damages of any kind. 

Continued Effect. Notwithstanding any changes in the terms and conditions of your employment which may occur in the future, including any changes in position, duties or compensation, the termination provisions in this Agreement will continue to be in effect for the duration of your employment with the Company unless otherwise amended in writing and signed by the Company. 

Authorization to Deduct Debts. If, on the date you leave employment, you owe the Company any money, you hereby authorize the Company to deduct any such debt from your final pay or any other payment due to you to the extent permitted by the BC Employment Standards Act if applicable. Any remaining debt will be immediately payable to the Company and you agree to satisfy such debt within fourteen (14) days after any demand for repayment.

Dispute Resolution. In the event of a dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, or in respect of any legal relationship associated with it or from it, which does not involve the Company seeking a court injunction or other injunctive or equitable relief to protect its business, confidential information or intellectual property, or enforce the covenants hereunder, that dispute will be resolved confidentially as follows:

	
a.
	
Amicable Negotiation – The parties agree that, both during and after the performance of their responsibilities under this Agreement, each of them will make bona fide efforts to resolve any disputes arising between them by amicable and expeditious negotiations.

	
b.
	
Mediation – If the parties are unable to negotiate resolution of a dispute, either party may with the agreement of the other party refer the dispute to mediation by providing written notice to the other party. If the parties cannot agree on a mediator within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the notice to mediate, then either party may make application to the British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Society to have one appointed. The mediation will be held in Vancouver, BC, in accordance with the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre’s (the “BCICAC”) Commercial Mediation Rules, and each party will bear its own costs, including one-half share of the mediator’s fees.

	
c.
	
Arbitration – If, after mediation, the parties have been unable to resolve a dispute or at any time if mediation is not undertaken, either party may refer the dispute for final and binding arbitration by providing written notice to the other party. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the notice to arbitrate, then either party may make application to the British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Society to appoint one. The arbitration will be held in Vancouver, BC, in accordance with the BCICAC’s Shorter Rules for Domestic Commercial Arbitration. Each party will bear its own costs, including one-half share of the arbitrator’s fees, provided that the arbitrator will have discretion to award costs against either party. 

Legal Counsel. You have been advised by the Company to retain independent legal advice with respect to this Employment Agreement.

 

 

Employment Standards Act. The parties hereby agree that if any provision in this Employment Agreement, in any circumstance, provides for less than what is required by the BC Employment Standards Act, such provision shall be replaced with the minimum provision(s) of the BC Employment Standards Act. 

Currency. Except as otherwise specifically indicated, all monetary amounts referenced herein are in Canadian dollars. 

Severability. If any part, article, section, clause, paragraph or subparagraph of this Agreement is held to be indefinite, invalid, illegal or otherwise voidable or unenforceable for any reason, the entire Agreement will not fail on the account thereof and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will in no way be affected or impaired thereby. 

Entire Understanding. We also confirm that this Agreement and the other agreements, documents, and plans that are referred to in this Agreement (including the Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement) set forth our entire understanding of the terms of your employment with the Company, and cancels and supersedes all previous invitations, proposals, letters, correspondence, negotiations, promises, agreements (including your former employment agreement), covenants, conditions, representations and warranties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Any modifications to these employment terms must be made in writing and signed by both you and the Company.

Governing Law. This Agreement and all matters arising hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact Shelley McCloskey.

 

 

To accept this Agreement on the terms set out herein, please sign where indicated below, and return a signed copy of this Agreement to Shelley McCloskey before January 13, 2020.

Yours sincerely,

XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

/s/ Simon Pimstone
Simon Pimstone

Chief Executive Officer

Attachment: 

	
 
	
1)
	
Employee Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement previous executed by Xenon and Sherry Aulin as of March 20, 2019

	
 
	
2)
	
Xenon Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan

	
 
	
3)
	
Indemnification Agreement

I hereby confirm that I have read, understand and voluntarily accept the terms of this Agreement:

			
	
/s/ Sherry Aulin
	
 
	
13/01/2021

	
Sherry Aulin
	
 
	
DD/MM/YYYY

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Xenon Canada” and, together with its subsidiary Xenon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., the “Company”), the Chief Financial Officer provides strategic leadership and oversight of planning and execution for the following functions: Finance, Legal Affairs, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, Information Technology, Facilities and Safety.

The Chief Financial Officer serves as a member of the Senior Executive Team and collaborates closely with senior executive colleagues to propose and contribute to overall Company strategy, product strategies, and financial and operational planning, including development of the Annual Operating Plan.  

The Chief Financial Officer interacts with a variety of key external stakeholders, including, but not limited to the Company’s Board of Directors, investors, bankers, financial analysts, financial regulators, partners, potential partners, expert advisors, and all levels of internal staff.

The Chief Financial Officer will:

	
 
	
•
	
Perform a key role on the Senior Executive Team, leading and/or supporting development of the Company’s 5 year strategic plan, including product portfolio, financial strategies and plans, human resource strategies and plans, and Company operations

	
 
	
•
	
Perform a key role in developing proposals and presentations to and interactions with the Board of Directors; act as a primary management representative to the Audit Committee and support the Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation Committee

	
 
	
•
	
Oversee all accounting, finance and related functions within the Company; including budget planning and reporting to the Senior Executive Team and department heads on results; build and maintain multi-year financial forecasts, including revenue when applicable

	
 
	
•
	
Assure necessary compliance on all tax, reporting, regulatory and financial obligations

	
 
	
•
	
Oversee the treasury function 

	
 
	
•
	
Lead all capital markets strategies and activities including equity and debt financings and other financial arrangements as required; primary point of contact with investment community including sell-side analysts, institutional investors and bankers

	
 
	
•
	
Oversee corporate positioning, investor and public relations, press releases and all SEC and applicable Canadian securities regulatory compliance

	
 
	
•
	
Work with Business Development and other senior colleagues to collaborate with partners in accordance with partnering agreements and to evaluate, manage and transact partnering opportunities 

 

 

	
 
	
•
	
Oversee legal affairs plans and activities; support the protection of the Company by mitigating key elements of the Company’s risk profile and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and policies

	
 
	
•
	
Oversee information systems strategies and plans in accordance with the Company’s 5 year strategic plan, including but not limited to a multi-year systems roadmap, including data mapping and cybersecurity

	
 
	
•
	
Oversee facilities strategies and plans in accordance with the Company’s 5 year strategic plan, including plans for office and lab space, lease negotiation and safety and other facilities related compliance 

	
 
	
•
	
Develop and propose short and long term goals for relevant departments in accordance with overall Company and Development strategies

	
 
	
•
	
Oversee department budget proposals and approved budgets in accordance with the Company’s strategic and operating plans and Finance policies

	
 
	
•
	
Plan, recruit, lead, direct, develop, coach and evaluate direct reports in accordance with the Company’s Human Resource policies and practices; in future, may have U.S. direct reports and therefore may require compliance with US immigration and tax laws

	
 
	
•
	
Travel for meetings, conferences, and other applicable business

	
 
	
•
	
Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are understood and followed by employees in reporting and other departments

	
 
	
•
	
Other duties as required from time to time

 

 

SCHEDULE B

Disclosure of Volunteer, Board and Other External Commitments

			
	
Position
	
Organization
	
Length of Appointment/ Engagement

	
N/A
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

 

 

SCHEDULE C

Form of Release

 

IN CONSIDERATION OF the terms and conditions set out in the [DATE] letter from Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (hereinafter called “Xenon”) to me, [NAME], and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledge, I do hereby remise, release and forever discharge Xenon, its officers, directors, servants, employees and agents, and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, as the case may be (defined collectively as the “Releasees”), of and from any and all manner of actions, causes of action, suits, contracts, claims, damages, costs and expenses of any nature or kind whatsoever, whether in law or in equity, which as against Xenon or such persons as aforesaid or any of them, I have ever had, now have, or at any time hereafter I or my personal representatives can, shall or may have, by reason of or arising out of the termination of my employment with Xenon on or about [DATE], without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any and all claims for damages for termination of my employment, constructive termination of my employment, loss of position, loss of status, loss of future job opportunity, loss of opportunity to enhance my reputation, the timing of the termination and the manner in which it was effected, loss of bonuses, loss of shares and/or share options, loss of benefits, including life insurance and short and long-term disability benefit coverage, and any other type of damages arising from the above.  

IT IS UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that this Release includes any and all claims arising under the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Code, or other applicable legislation as it relates to the termination of my employment and that the consideration provided includes any amount that I may be entitled to under such legislation.

IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that this Release is subject to compliance by Xenon with the said conditions as stipulated in the aforementioned employment agreement entered into between the undersigned and Xenon.

IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED THAT XENON will withhold and remit income tax and other statutory deductions from the aforesaid consideration and I agree to indemnify and hold harmless Xenon from any further assessments for income tax, repayment of any employment insurance benefits received by me, or other statutory deductions which may be made under statutory authority.

IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that this is a compromise and is not to be construed as an admission of liability on the part of Xenon. The terms of this Release set out the entire agreement between Xenon and me with respect to the matters described herein and are intended to be contractual and not a mere recital. If the facts on which this Release is made prove to be other than or different from the facts in that connection now know or believed to be true by the parties or either of them, the parties and 

 

 

each of them expressly accept and assume the risk of the facts being different and agree that all the terms of this Release shall be in all respects effective and not subject to termination, variation, or rescission by any discovery of any difference in the facts. If any party of provision of this Release or its application to any circumstance is restricted, prohibited or unenforceable, such part or provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such restriction, prohibition or unenforceability, and the remainder of the Release will remain in full force and effect.

IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that I will keep the contents of this settlement and all communication relating thereto confidential except to Revenue Canada or as is required to obtain legal and tax advice, or to enforce my rights hereunder in a court of law, or as is required by law.

IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that the law governing this Release is that of British Columbia, and the parties will resolve any disputes they have under this Release in the courts of British Columbia, provided that if, contrary to this Release, I commence, pursue, or maintain any such proceedings against any of the Releasees, I hereby irrevocably consent to such Releasee(s) relying on this Release to obtain a stay or dismissal or such proceedings. 

IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that the consideration described herein was voluntarily accepted by me for the purpose of making a full and final settlement of all claims described above and that prior to agreeing to the settlement, I was advised by Xenon of my right to receive independent legal advice.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Release has been executed effective the ___________________ (please insert date of signature).

			
	
SIGNED,SEALED AND DELIVERED
	
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OccupationExhibit 4.1 Kyto Technology and Life Science, Inc. 2020 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan

 

KYTO TECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCE, INC.

2020 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

Section 1. Purpose 

 

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its stockholders by aiding the Company in attracting and retaining consultants, independent contractors, advisors and Non-Employee Directors capable of assuring the future success of the Company, to offer such persons incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company’s business and to compensate such persons through stock options and provide them with opportunities for stock ownership in the Company, thereby aligning the interests of such persons with the Company’s stockholders.

 

Section 2. Definitions 

 

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

(a)“Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Committee. 

 

(b)“Award” shall mean an Option awarded pursuant to this Plan. 

 

(c)“Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award granted under the Plan (including a document in an electronic medium) executed in accordance with the requirements of Section 9(b). 

 

(d)“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. 

 

(e)“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder. 

 

(f)“Committee” shall mean a committee or subcommittee of the Board appointed from time to time by the Board. The Committee shall be comprised of not less than such number of Directors as shall be required to permit Awards granted under the Plan to qualify under Rule 16b 3, and each member of the Committee shall be a Director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, and to the extent that no Committee exists which has the authority to administer this Plan, the functions of the Committee shall be exercised by the Board and all references herein to the Committee shall be deemed to be references to the Board. 

 

(g)“Company” shall mean Kyto Technology & Life Science, Inc., a Delaware corporation and any successor corporation. 

 

(h)“Director” shall mean a member of the Board. 

 

(i)“Eligible Person” shall mean any Non-Employee Director, consultant, independent contractor or advisor providing services to the Company or any Affiliate, or any such person to whom an offer of engagement with the Company or any Affiliate is extended. 

 

(j)“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

 

(k)“Fair Market Value” with respect to of one Share as of any date shall mean (a) if the Share is listed on any established stock exchange, the price of one Share at the close of the regular trading session of such market or exchange on such date, as reported by The Wall Street Journal or a comparable reporting service, or, if no sale of Shares shall have occurred on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was a sale of Shares; (b) if the Shares are not so listed on any established stock exchange, the average of the closing “bid” and “asked” prices quoted by the OTCQB, the National Quotation Bureau, or any comparable reporting service on such date or, if there are no quoted “bid” and “asked” prices on such date, on the next preceding date for which there are such quotes for a Share; or (c) if the Shares are not publicly traded as of such date, the per share value of a Share, as determined by the Board, or any duly authorized Committee of the Board, in its sole discretion, by applying principles of valuation with respect thereto. 

 

(l)“Non-Employee Director” shall mean a Director who is not also an employee of the Company or an Affiliate. 

 

(m)“Option” shall mean an option granted under the Plan. 

 

 

(n)“Participant” shall mean an Eligible Person designated to be granted an Award under the Plan. 

 

(o)“Plan” shall mean the Kyto Technology and Life Science, Inc. 2020 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as amended from time to time. 

 

(p)“Rule 16b 3” shall mean Rule 16b 3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor rule or regulation. 

 

(q)“Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code, or any successor provision, and applicable Treasury Regulations and other applicable guidance thereunder. 

 

(r)“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

 

(s)“Share” or “Shares” shall mean common shares $0.01 par value in the capital of the Company (or such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(c) of the Plan). 

 

Section 3. Administration 

 

(a)Power and Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and to applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or the method by which payments or other rights are to be calculated in connection with) each Award; (iii) determine the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement, including any terms relating to the forfeiture of any Award and the forfeiture, recapture or disgorgement of any cash, Shares or other amounts payable with respect to any Award; (iv) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement, subject to the limitations under Sections 6 or 7; (v) accelerate the exercisability of any Award or the lapse of any restrictions relating to any Award, subject to the limitations in Sections 6 and 7; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property (excluding promissory notes), or canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement, including an Award Agreement, relating to the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan; and (x) adopt such modifications, rules, procedures and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of non U.S. jurisdictions in which the Company or an Affiliate may operate, including, without limitation, establishing any special rules for Affiliates, Eligible Persons or Participants located in any particular country, in order to meet the objectives of the Plan and to ensure the viability of the intended benefits of Awards granted to Participants located in such non United States jurisdictions. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award or Award Agreement. 

 

(b)Delegation. The Committee may delegate to one or more officers or Directors of the Company, subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion, the authority to grant Awards; provided, however, that the Committee shall not delegate such authority (i) with regard to grants of Awards to be made to officers or directors of the Company or (ii) in such a manner as would contravene Section 157 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended. In no event shall any such delegation of authority be permitted with respect to Awards to any members of the Board or to any Eligible Person who is subject to Rule 16b 3 under the Exchange Act. The Committee shall also be permitted to delegate, to any appropriate officer or employee of the Company, responsibility for performing certain ministerial functions under the Plan. In the event that the Committee’s authority is delegated to officers or employees in accordance with the foregoing, all provisions of the Plan relating to the Committee shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the foregoing by treating any such reference as a reference to such officer or employee for such purpose. Any action undertaken in accordance with the Committee’s delegation of authority hereunder shall have the same force and effect as if such action were undertaken directly by the Committee and shall be deemed for all purposes of the Plan to have been taken by the Committee. 

 

(c)Power and Authority of the Board. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee, exercise all the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan, unless the exercise of such powers and duties by the Board would cause the Plan not to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b 3 or applicable law or exchange requirements. 

 

 

Section 4. Shares Available for Awards 

 

(a)Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) of the Plan, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under all Awards under the Plan shall be 2,000,000 Shares. 

 

(b)Counting Shares. Except as set forth below in this Section 4(b), if an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan. For purposes of determining the number of Shares covered on the date of grant by an Option, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised shall be counted against the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan (without regard to the number of actual Shares issued upon exercise or settlement). 

(c)Shares Added Back to Reserve. Subject to the limitations in Section 4(d) below, if any Shares covered by an Award or to which an Award relates are not purchased or are forfeited or are reacquired by the Company, or if an Award otherwise terminates or is cancelled without delivery of any Shares, then the number of Shares counted against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, reacquisition by the Company, termination or cancellation, shall again be available for granting Awards under the Plan. 

 

(d)Shares Not Added Back to Reserve. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section (c) above, the following Shares will not again become available for issuance under the Plan: (A) any Shares which would have been issued upon any exercise of an Option but for the fact that the exercise price was paid by a “net exercise” pursuant to Section 6(a)(v) or any Shares tendered in payment of the exercise price of an Option; (B) any Shares withheld by the Company or Shares tendered to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award; or (C) Shares that are repurchased by the Company using Option exercise proceeds. 

 

(e)Substitute Awards Relating to Acquired Entities. Shares issued under Awards granted in substitution for awards previously granted by an entity that is acquired by or merged with the Company or an Affiliate shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan. 

 

(f)Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split up, spin off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is necessary in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, (ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards and (iii) the purchase price or exercise price with respect to any Award, provided, however, that the number of Shares covered by any Award or to which such Award relates shall always be rounded down to the nearest whole number. Such adjustment shall be made by the Committee or the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. 

 

Section 5. Eligibility 

 

Any Eligible Person shall be eligible to be designated as a Participant. In determining which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and the terms of any Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Eligible Persons, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company or such other factors as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant. 

 

Section 6. Awards 

 

(a)Options. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine: 

 

(i)Exercise Price. The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option; provided, however, that the Committee may designate a purchase price below Fair Market Value on the date of grant if the Option is granted in substitution for a stock option previously granted by an entity that is acquired by or merged with the Company or an Affiliate. 

 

 

(ii)Option Term. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant but shall not be longer than 10 years from the date of grant. 

 

(iii)Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised within the Option term, either in whole or in part, and the method of exercise, except that any exercise price tendered shall be in either cash, Shares having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the applicable exercise price, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.  

 

(iv)Promissory Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee may not accept a promissory note as consideration. 

 

(v)Net Exercises. The terms of any Option may be written to permit the Option to be exercised by delivering to the Participant a number of Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of exercise) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Option being exercised, on the date of exercise, over the exercise price of the Option for such Shares.  

 

(b)General Consideration for Awards. Awards may be granted for no cash consideration or for any cash or other consideration as may be determined by the Committee or required by applicable law. 

 

(i)Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for any other Award or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards. 

 

(ii)Forms of Payment under Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities (but excluding promissory notes), other Awards or other property or any combination thereof). 

 

(iii)Limits on Transfer of Awards. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it determines, no Award (other than fully vested and unrestricted Shares issued pursuant to any Award) and no right under any such Award shall be transferable by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or during Participant’s lifetime to one or more of Participant’s family members or trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing (as defined in Rule 701 promulgated by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”)) through a gift or a domestic relations order, and no Award (other than fully vested and unrestricted Shares issued pursuant to any Award) or right under any such Award may be pledged, alienated, attached or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate. The Committee may establish procedures as it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a person or persons, as beneficiary or beneficiaries, to exercise the rights of the Participant and receive any property distributable with respect to any Award in the event of the Participant’s death.  

 

(iv)Restrictions; Securities Exchange Listing All Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, applicable federal or state securities laws and regulatory requirements, and the Committee may cause appropriate entries to be made with respect to, or legends to be placed on the certificates for, such Shares or other securities to reflect such restrictions. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award unless and until the requirements of any federal or state securities or other laws, rules or regulations (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Company to be applicable are satisfied. 

 

(v)Acceleration of Vesting or Exercisability. No Award Agreement shall, either by operation of its terms or by action of the Committee, accelerate the exercisability of any Award or the lapse of restrictions relating to any Award in connection with a change-in-control event unless such acceleration occurs upon the consummation of (or effective immediately prior to the consummation of, provided that the consummation subsequently occurs) such change-in-control event. 

 

 

Section 7. Amendment and Termination; Corrections 

 

(a)Amendments to the Plan and Awards. The Board may from time to time amend, suspend or terminate this Plan, and the Committee may amend the terms of any previously granted Award, provided that no amendment to the terms of any previously granted Award may, (except as expressly provided in the Plan) adversely alter or impair the terms or conditions of the Award previously granted to a Participant under this Plan without the written consent of the Participant or holder thereof. Any amendment to this Plan, or to the terms of any Award previously granted, is subject to compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies of any applicable governmental entity or securities exchange, including receipt of any required approval from the governmental entity or stock exchange. For greater certainty and without limiting the foregoing, the Board may amend, suspend, terminate or discontinue the Plan, and the Committee may amend or alter any previously granted Award, as applicable, without obtaining the approval of stockholders of the Company in order to: 

 

(i)amend the eligibility for, and limitations or conditions imposed upon, participation in the Plan;  

 

(ii)subject to the limitations of Section 6, amend any terms relating to the granting or exercise of Awards, including but not limited to terms relating to the amount and payment of the exercise price, or the vesting, expiry, assignment or adjustment of Awards, or otherwise waive any conditions of or rights of the Company under any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively;  

 

(iii)make changes that are necessary or desirable to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies of any applicable governmental entity or stock exchange (including amendments to Awards necessary or desirable to maximize any available tax deduction or to avoid any adverse tax results, and no action taken to comply with such laws, rules, regulations and policies shall be deemed to impair or otherwise adversely alter or impair the rights of any holder of an Award or beneficiary thereof); or 

 

(iv)amend any terms relating to the administration of the Plan, including the terms of any administrative guidelines or other rules related to the Plan.  

 

For greater certainty, and except as provided in Section 4I, prior approval of the stockholders of the Company shall be required for any amendment to the Plan or an Award that would:

 

(i)require stockholder approval under the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other securities exchange that are applicable to the Company; 

 

(ii)increase the number of shares authorized under the Plan as specified in Section 4(a) of the Plan; or 

 

(iii)increase the maximum term permitted for Options as specified in Section 6(a)(ii) of the Plan. 

 

(b)Corporate Transactions. In the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, split up, spin off, combination, plan of arrangement, take-over bid or tender offer, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company or any other similar corporate transaction or event involving the Company (or the Company shall enter into a written agreement to undergo such a transaction or event), the Committee or the Board may, in its sole discretion but subject to the limitations in Section 6 (e.g., limitations on re pricing), provide for any of the following to be effective upon the consummation of the event (or effective immediately prior to the consummation of the event, provided that the consummation of the event subsequently occurs), and no action taken under this Section 7(b) shall be deemed to impair or otherwise adversely alter or impair the rights of any holder of an Award or beneficiary thereof: 

 

(i)either (A) termination of any Award, whether or not vested, in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of the vested portion of the Award or realization of the Participant’s vested rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if, as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 7(b)(i)(A), the Committee or the Board determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of the Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then the Award may be terminated by the Company without any payment) or (B) the replacement of the Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee or the Board, in its sole discretion;  

 

(ii)that the Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;  

 

 

(iii)that the Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the applicable Award Agreement; or 

 

(iv)that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after a date certain in the future, which may be the effective date of the event. 

 

(c)Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies. The Committee, without prior approval of the stockholders of the Company, may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to implement or maintain the effectiveness of the Plan. 

 

Section 8. Income Tax Withholding 

 

In order to comply with all applicable federal, state, local or foreign income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state, local or foreign payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of a Participant, are withheld or collected from such Participant. In order to assist a Participant in paying all or a portion of the applicable taxes to be withheld or collected upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt, may permit the Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (a) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes (subject to any limitations required by ASC Topic 718 to avoid adverse accounting treatment) or (b) delivering to the Company Shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes. The election, if any, must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

 

Section 9. General Provisions 

 

(a)No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Person, Participant or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons, Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or with respect to different Participants. 

 

(b)Award Agreements. No Participant shall have rights under an Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have been signed by the Participant (if requested by the Company), or until such Award Agreement is delivered and accepted through an electronic medium in accordance with procedures established by the Company. An Award Agreement need not be signed by a representative of the Company unless required by the Committee. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and any other terms and conditions (not inconsistent with the Plan) determined by the Committee. 

 

(c)Plan Provisions Control. In the event that any provision of an Award Agreement conflicts with or is inconsistent in any respect with the terms of the Plan as set forth herein or subsequently amended, the terms of the Plan shall control. 

 

(d)No Rights of Stockholders. Except with respect to Shares issued under Awards, neither a Participant nor the Participant’s legal representative shall be, or have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable upon the exercise or payment of any Award, in whole or in part, unless and until such Shares have been issued. 

 

(e)No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation plans or arrangements, and such plans or arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. 

 

 

(f)No Right to Employment or Directorship. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Affiliate, or the right to be retained as a Director, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate a Participant’s employment at any time, with or without cause, or remove a Director in accordance with applicable law. In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, or remove a Director who is a Participant, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or any Award, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement. Nothing in this Plan shall confer on any person any legal or equitable right against the Company or any Affiliate, directly or indirectly, or give rise to any cause of action at law or in equity against the Company or an Affiliate. Under no circumstances shall any person ceasing to be an employee or Director of the Company or any Affiliate be entitled to any compensation for any loss of any right or benefit under the Plan which such employee or Director might otherwise have enjoyed but for termination of employment or directorship, whether such compensation is claimed by way of damages for wrongful or unfair dismissal, breach of contract or otherwise. By participating in the Plan, each Participant shall be deemed to have accepted all the conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of any rules and regulations adopted by the Committee and shall be fully bound thereby. 

 

(g)Governing Law. The internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award. 

 

(h)Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or Award, and the remainder of the Plan or any such Award shall remain in full force and effect. 

 

(i)No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate. 

 

(j)Other Benefits. No compensation or benefit awarded to or realized by any Participant under the Plan shall be included for the purpose of computing such Participant’s compensation or benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, disability, severance, termination pay, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company, unless required by law or otherwise provided by such other plan. 

 

(k)No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Share or whether such fractional Share or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated. 

 

(l)Forfeiture, Clawback or Recoupment. All Awards under this Plan shall be subject to forfeiture and/or penalty conditions or provisions as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In addition to such forfeiture and/or penalty conditions as specified in any Award Agreement, Awards under this Plan shall be subject to clawback, recoupment or other penalties pursuant a policy adopted by the Company, as such policy may be amended from time to time. 

 

(m)Headings. Headings are given to the sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof. 

 

Section 10. Term of the Plan 

 

No Award shall be granted under the Plan, and the Plan shall terminate, on December 16, 2030 or any earlier date of discontinuation or termination established pursuant to Section 7(a) of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond such dates, and the authority of the Committee provided for hereunder with respect to the Plan and any Awards, and the authority of the Board to amend the Plan, shall extend beyond the termination of the Plan.

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