Document:

Exhibit 10.2

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
1.
    	
Purpose
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.
    	
Definitions
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.
    	
Term of the Plan
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.
    	
Stock Subject to the Plan
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.
    	
Administration
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.
    	
Authorization of Grants
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.
    	
Specific Terms of Awards
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.
    	
Adjustment Provisions
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.
    	
Change of Control
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.
    	
Settlement of Awards
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
11.
    	
Reservation of Stock
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.
    	
Limitation of Rights in Stock; No Special Service Rights
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
13.
    	
Unfunded Status of Plan
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
14.
    	
Nonexclusivity of the Plan
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
15.
    	
Termination and Amendment of the Plan
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
16.
    	
Notices and Other Communications
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
17.
    	
Governing Law
    	
23
    

 

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.                                      Purpose

 

This Plan is intended to provide incentives that will attract, retain and motive highly competent officers, directors, employees, consultants and advisors to promote the success of the Company’s business and align employees’ interests with stockholders’ interests.  The Plan is intended to be an incentive stock option plan within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but not all Awards are required to be Incentive Options.

 

2.                                      Definitions

 

As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set out below, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

 

2.1.                            Accelerate, Accelerated, and Acceleration, means: (a) when used with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, that as of the time of reference such Option or Stock Appreciation Right will become exercisable with respect to some or all of the shares of Stock for which it was not then otherwise exercisable by its terms; (b) when used with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, that the Risk of Forfeiture otherwise applicable to such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall expire with respect to some or all of such shares of Restricted Stock or such Restricted Stock Units then still otherwise subject to the Risk of Forfeiture; and (c) when used with respect to Performance Units, that the applicable Performance Goals or other business objectives shall be deemed to have been met as to some or all of such Performance Units.

 

2.2.                            Affiliate means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, or other entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company.

 

2.3.                            Award means any grant or sale pursuant to the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Grants or any of the foregoing intended to constitute Qualified Performance-Based Awards.

 

2.4.                            Award Agreement means an agreement between the Company and the recipient of an Award, or other notice of grant of an Award, setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award.

 

2.5.                            Board means the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

2.6.                            Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following after the date of the approval of the Plan by the Board:

 

(a) a Transaction (as defined in Section 8.4), unless securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the survivor’s or acquiror’s outstanding securities (or the securities of any parent thereof) are held by a person or persons who held securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities immediately prior to that Transaction, or

 

 

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(b) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time) that, directly or indirectly, acquires, including but not limited to by means of a merger or consolidation, beneficial ownership (determined pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the said Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities unless pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s stockholders that the Board recommends such stockholders accept, other than (i) the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (iv) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or

 

(c) over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less, there is a change in the composition of the Board such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the next whole number, if a fraction) ceases, by reason of one or more proxy contests for the election of Board members, to be composed of individuals who either (i) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of that period, or (ii) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in the preceding clause (i) who were still in office at the time that election or nomination was approved by the Board; or

 

(d) a majority of the Board votes in favor of a decision that a Change of Control has occurred, which vote may adopted by the Board with the intention that such vote become effective subject to and contingent upon the occurrence of certain events, in which case such Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred unless and until such vote becomes effective in accordance with its terms.

 

2.7.                            Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, and any regulations issued from time to time thereunder.

 

2.8.                            Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board, which in general is responsible for the administration of the Plan, as provided in Section 5 of this Plan.  For any period during which no such committee is in existence “Committee” shall mean the Board and all authority and responsibility assigned to the Committee under the Plan shall be exercised, if at all, by the Board.

 

2.9.                            Company means Proteon Therapeutics, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

2.10.                     “Forfeiture,” “forfeit,” and derivations thereof, when used in respect of Restricted Stock purchased by a Participant, includes the Company’s repurchase of such Restricted Stock at less than its then Market Value as a means intended to effect a forfeiture of value.

 

2.11.                     Grant Date means the date as of which an Option is granted, as determined under Section 7.1(a).

 

2.12.                     Incentive Option means an Option which by its terms is to be treated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

 

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2.13.                     Market Value means the value of a share of Stock on a particular date determined by such methods or procedures as may be established by the Committee.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Market Value of Stock as of any date is the closing price for the Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or on any other national securities exchange on which the Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the first following date for which a closing price is reported.  For purposes of Awards effective as of the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering, Market Value of Stock shall be the price at which the Company’s Stock is offered to the public in its initial public offering.

 

2.14.                     Nonstatutory Option means any Option that is not an Incentive Option.

 

2.15.                     Option means an option to purchase shares of Stock.

 

2.16.                     Optionee means an eligible individual to whom an Option shall have been granted under the Plan.

 

2.17.                     Participant means any holder of an outstanding Award under the Plan.

 

2.18.                     Performance Criteria and Performance Goals have the meanings given such terms in Section 7.7(f).

 

2.19.                     Performance Period means the one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, selected by the Committee, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals or other business objectives will be measured for purposes of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, an Award.

 

2.20.                     Performance Unit means a right granted to a Participant under Section 7.5, to receive cash, Stock or other Awards, the payment of which is contingent on achieving Performance Goals or other business objectives established by the Committee.

 

2.21.                     Plan means this 2014 Equity Incentive Plan of the Company, as amended from time to time, and including any attachments or addenda hereto.

 

2.22.                     Qualified Performance-Based Awards means Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

2.23.                     Restricted Stock means a grant or sale of shares of Stock to a Participant subject to a Risk of Forfeiture.

 

2.24.                     Restricted Stock Units means rights to receive shares of Stock at the close of a Restriction Period, subject to a Risk of Forfeiture.

 

2.25.                     Restriction Period means the period of time, established by the Committee in connection with an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, during which the shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to a Risk of Forfeiture described in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.26.                     Risk of Forfeiture means a limitation on the right of the Participant to retain Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, including a right of the Company to reacquire shares

 

 

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of Restricted Stock at less than their then Market Value, arising because of the occurrence or non-occurrence of specified events or conditions.

 

2.27.                     Stock means common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, and such other securities as may be substituted for such common stock pursuant to Section 8.

 

2.28.                     Stock Appreciation Right means a right to receive any excess in the Market Value of shares of Stock (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2(c)) over a specified exercise price.

 

2.29.                     Stock Grant means the grant of shares of Stock not subject to restrictions or other forfeiture conditions.

 

2.30.                     Stockholders’ Agreement means any agreement by and among the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company and setting forth, among other provisions, restrictions upon the transfer of shares of Stock or on the exercise of rights appurtenant thereto (including but not limited to voting rights).

 

2.31.                     Ten Percent Owner means a person who owns, or is deemed within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code to own, stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent or subsidiary corporations of the Company, as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code).  Whether a person is a Ten Percent Owner shall be determined with respect to an Option based on the facts existing immediately prior to the Grant Date of the Option.

 

3.                                      Term of the Plan

 

Unless the Plan shall have been earlier terminated by the Board, Awards may be granted under this Plan at any time in the period commencing on the date of approval of the Plan by the Board and ending immediately prior to the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the adoption of the Plan by the Board and approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.  Awards granted pursuant to the Plan within that period shall not expire solely by reason of the termination of the Plan.  Awards of Incentive Options granted prior to stockholder approval of the Plan are expressly conditioned upon such approval, but in the event of the failure of the stockholders to approve the Plan shall thereafter and for all purposes be deemed to constitute Nonstatutory Options.

 

4.                                      Stock Subject to the Plan

 

4.1.                            Plan Share Limitations.

 

(a)                                 Limitation.  At no time shall the number of shares of Stock issued pursuant to or subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan (including pursuant to Incentive Options), nor the number of shares of Stock issued pursuant to Incentive Options, exceed 704,000 shares of Stock provided, however, that beginning on January 1, 2015, the number of shares of Stock authorized under this Section 4.1(a) of the Plan will be increased each January 1 by an amount equal to four percent (4%) of outstanding Stock as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may act prior to January 1 of a given year to provide that there will be no such January 1 increase in the number of shares of Stock authorized under this Section 4.1(a) of the Plan for such year or that the increase in the number of shares of

 

 

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Stock authorized under this Section 4.1(a) of the Plan for such year will be a lesser number than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, in no event shall the number of shares available for issuance pursuant to Incentive Options exceed 14,080,000 shares of Stock.

 

(b)                                 Application.  For purposes of applying the foregoing limitation of Section 4.1(a), (i) if any Option or Stock Appreciation Right expires, terminates, or is cancelled for any reason without having been exercised in full, or if any other Award is forfeited, the shares of Stock not purchased by the holder or which are forfeited, as the case may be, shall again be available for Awards to be granted under the Plan, (ii) if any Option is exercised by delivering previously owned shares of Stock in payment of the exercise price therefor, only the net number of shares, that is, the number of shares of Stock issued minus the number received by the Company in payment of the exercise price, shall be considered to have been issued pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan, and (iii) any shares of Stock either delivered to or withheld by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations of the Company or an Affiliate with respect to an Award shall again be available for Awards to be granted under the Plan.  In addition, settlement of any Award shall not count against the foregoing limitations except to the extent settled in the form of Stock.  Shares of Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares held by the Company in its treasury.

 

4.2.                            Per Person Limitations.  The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or any combination thereof granted to any one Participant during any single calendar year shall be 1,408,000.  The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be subject to all other Awards or any combination thereof granted to any one Participant during any single calendar year that are intended to be Qualified Performance-Based Awards shall be 1,408,000.  The maximum value of awards denominated in cash granted to any one person during any single calendar year and that are intended to be Qualified Performance-Based Awards shall be $30,000,0000.  Each of the foregoing limitations shall be doubled with respect to awards granted to an individual during the first calendar year in which he or she commences employment.  The per Participant limits described in this Section 4.2 shall be construed and applied consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

4.3.                            Adjustment of Limitations.  Each of the share limitations of this Section 4 shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan, but in the case of the limitations of Section 4.2, only if and to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

5.                                      Administration

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided, however, that at any time and on any one or more occasions the Board may itself exercise any of the powers and responsibilities assigned the Committee under the Plan and when so acting shall have the benefit of all of the provisions of the Plan pertaining to the Committee’s exercise of its authorities hereunder; and provided further, however, that the Committee may delegate to an executive officer or officers the authority to grant Awards hereunder to employees who are not officers, and to consultants, up to such maximum number and in accordance with such other guidelines as the Committee shall specify by resolution at any time or from time to time.  Any such delegation may not include the authority to grant Restricted Stock, unless the delegate is a committee of the Board, including a committee consisting solely of an executive officer who is a Board member.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have complete authority, in its discretion, to make or to select the manner of making all determinations with respect to each

 

 

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Award to be granted by the Company under the Plan including the officer, employee, consultant, advisor or director to receive the Award and the form of Award.  In making such determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective officers, employees, consultants, advisors and directors, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and its Affiliates, and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall also have complete authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it, to determine the terms and provisions of the respective Award Agreements (which need not be identical), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  The Committee’s determinations made in good faith on matters referred to in the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive on all participants, beneficiaries, heirs, assigns or other persons having or claiming any interest under the Plan or an Award made pursuant hereto.

 

6.                                      Authorization of Grants

 

6.1.                            Eligibility.  The Committee may grant from time to time and at any time prior to the termination of the Plan one or more Awards, either alone or in combination with any other Awards, to any officer or employee of or consultant or advisor to one or more of the Company and its Affiliates or to any non-employee member of the Board or of any board of directors (or similar governing authority) of any Affiliate. However, only employees of the Company, and of any parent or subsidiary corporations of the Company, as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code, shall be eligible for the grant of an Incentive Option.

 

6.2.                            General Terms of Awards.  Each grant of an Award shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan (including but not limited to any specific terms and conditions applicable to that type of Award set out in the following Section), and such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee may prescribe.  No prospective Participant shall have any rights with respect to an Award, unless and until such Participant shall have complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award (including if applicable delivering a fully executed copy of any agreement evidencing an Award to the Company).

 

6.3.                            Effect of Termination of Employment, Etc. Unless the Committee shall provide otherwise with respect to any Award (including, but not limited to, in a Participant’s Award Agreement), if the Participant’s employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends for any reason, including because of the Participant’s employer ceasing to be an Affiliate, (a) any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right of the Participant shall cease to be exercisable in any respect not later than ninety (90) days following that event and, for the period it remains exercisable following that event, shall be exercisable only to the extent exercisable at the date of that event, and (b) any other outstanding Award of the Participant to the extent that it is then still subject to Risk of Forfeiture shall be forfeited or otherwise subject to return to or repurchase by the Company on the terms specified in the applicable Award Agreement.  Cessation of the performance of services in one capacity, for example, as an employee, shall not result in termination of an Award while the Participant continues to perform services in another capacity, for example as a director.  Military or sick leave or other bona fide leave shall not be deemed a termination of employment or other association, provided that it does not exceed the longer of ninety (90) days or the period during which the absent Participant’s reemployment rights, if any, are guaranteed by statute or by contract. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Committee may provide that Awards continue to vest for some or all of

 

 

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the period of any such leave, or that their vesting shall be tolled during any such leave and only recommence upon the Participant’s return from leave, if ever.

 

6.4.                            Non-Transferability of Awards.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.4, Awards shall not be transferable, and no Award or interest therein may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  The provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall not be applicable to Stock Grants which shall not be subject to any transfer restrictions under this Section 6.4.  All of a Participant’s rights in any Award may be exercised during the life of the Participant only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.  However, the Committee may, at or after the grant of an Award of a Nonstatutory Option, or shares of Restricted Stock, provide that such Award may be transferred by the recipient to a family member; provided, however, that any such transfer is without payment of any consideration whatsoever and that no transfer shall be valid unless first approved by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion.  For this purpose, “family member” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, 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, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the employee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which the foregoing persons have more than fifty (50) percent of the beneficial interests, a foundation in which the foregoing persons (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty (50) percent of the voting interests.

 

7.                                      Specific Terms of Awards

 

7.1.                            Options.

 

(a)                                 Date of Grant.  The granting of an Option shall take place at the time specified in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Exercise Price.  The price at which shares of Stock may be acquired under each Incentive Option shall be not less than 100% of the Market Value of Stock on the Grant Date, or not less than 110% of the Market Value of Stock on the Grant Date if the Optionee is a Ten Percent Owner.  The price at which shares of Stock may be acquired under each Nonstatutory Option shall not be so limited solely by reason of this Section.

 

(c)                                  Option Period.  No Incentive Option may be exercised on or after the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date, or on or after the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date if the Optionee is a Ten Percent Owner.  The Option period under each Nonstatutory Option shall not be so limited solely by reason of this Section.

 

(d)                                 Exercisability.  An Option may be immediately exercisable or become exercisable in such installments, cumulative or non-cumulative, as the Committee may determine.  In the case of an Option not otherwise immediately exercisable in full, the Committee may Accelerate such Option in whole or in part at any time; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Option, any such Acceleration of the Option would not cause the Option to fail to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or the Optionee consents to the Acceleration.

 

 

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(e)                                  Method of Exercise.  An Option may be exercised by the Optionee giving written notice, in the manner provided in Section 17, specifying the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is then being exercised.  The notice shall be accompanied by payment in the form of cash or check payable to the order of the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of the shares of Stock to be purchased or, subject in each instance to the Committee’s approval, acting in its sole discretion, and to such conditions, if any, as the Committee may deem necessary to avoid adverse accounting effects to the Company,

 

(i) by delivery to the Company of shares of Stock having a Market Value equal to the exercise price of the shares to be purchased, or

 

(ii) by surrender of the Option as to all or part of the shares of Stock for which the Option is then exercisable in exchange for shares of Stock having an aggregate Market Value equal to the difference between (1) the aggregate Market Value of the surrendered portion of the Option, and (2) the aggregate exercise price under the Option for the surrendered portion of the Option, or

 

(iii) unless prohibited by applicable law, by delivery to the Company of the Optionee’s executed promissory note in the principal amount equal to the exercise price of the shares of Stock to be purchased and otherwise in such form as the Committee shall have approved.

 

If the Stock is traded on an established market, payment of any exercise price may also be made through and under the terms and conditions of any formal cashless exercise program authorized by the Company entailing the sale of the Stock subject to an Option in a brokered transaction (other than to the Company).  Receipt by the Company of such notice and payment in any authorized or combination of authorized means shall constitute the exercise of the Option.  Within thirty (30) days thereafter but subject to the remaining provisions of the Plan, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Optionee or his agent a certificate or certificates or shall cause the Stock to be held in book-entry position through the direct registration system of the Company’s transfer agent for the number of shares then being purchased.  Such shares of Stock shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

(f)                                   Limit on Incentive Option Characterization.  An Incentive Option shall be considered to be an Incentive Option only to the extent that the number of shares of Stock for which the Option first becomes exercisable in a calendar year do not have an aggregate Market Value (as of the date of the grant of the Option) in excess of the “current limit”.  The current limit for any Optionee for any calendar year shall be $100,000 minus the aggregate Market Value at the date of grant of the number of shares of Stock available for purchase for the first time in the same year under each other Incentive Option previously granted to the Optionee under the Plan, and under each other incentive stock option previously granted to the Optionee under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company and its Affiliates, after December 31, 1986.  Any shares of Stock which would cause the foregoing limit to be violated shall be deemed to have been granted under a separate Nonstatutory Option, otherwise identical in its terms to those of the Incentive Option.

 

(g)                                  Notification of Disposition.  Each person exercising any Incentive Option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to have covenanted with the Company to report to the Company any disposition of the shares of Stock issued upon such exercise prior to the

 

 

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expiration of the holding periods specified by Section 422(a)(1) of the Code and, if and to the extent that the realization of income in such a disposition imposes upon the Company federal, state, local or other withholding tax requirements, or any such withholding is required to secure for the Company an otherwise available tax deduction, to remit to the Company an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy those requirements.

 

7.2.                            Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)                                 Tandem or Stand-Alone.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option (at or, in the case of a Nonstatutory Option, after, the award of the Option), or alone and unrelated to an Option.  Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with an Option shall terminate to the extent that the related Option is exercised, and the related Option shall terminate to the extent that the tandem Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised.

 

(b)                                 Exercise Price.  Stock Appreciation Rights shall have an exercise price of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Market Value of the Stock on the date of award, or in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with Options, the exercise price of the related Option.

 

(c)                                  Other Terms.  Except as the Committee may deem inappropriate or inapplicable in the circumstances, Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to terms and conditions substantially similar to those applicable to a Nonstatutory Option.  In addition, a Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option which can only be exercised during limited periods following a Change of Control may entitle the Participant to receive an amount based upon the highest price paid or offered for Stock in any transaction relating to the Change of Control or paid during the thirty (30) day period immediately preceding the occurrence of the Change of Control in any transaction reported in the stock market in which the Stock is normally traded.

 

7.3.                            Restricted Stock.

 

(a)                                 Purchase Price.  Shares of Restricted Stock shall be issued under the Plan for such consideration, if any, in cash, other property or services, or any combination thereof, as is determined by the Committee.

 

(b)                                 Issuance of Stock.  Each Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award, subject to subsection (c) below, shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock or the shares shall be held in book-entry position through the direct registration system of the Company’s transfer agent.  If a certificate is issued, such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and, if applicable, shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award substantially in the following form:

 

The shares evidenced by this certificate are subject to the terms and conditions of Proteon Therapeutics, Inc.’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and an Award Agreement entered into by the registered owner and Proteon Therapeutics, Inc., copies of which will be furnished by the Company to the holder of the shares evidenced by this certificate upon written request and without charge.

 

If the Stock is in book-entry position through the direct registration system of the Company’s transfer agent, the restrictions will be appropriately noted.

 

 

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(c)                                  Escrow of Shares.  The Committee may require that any stock certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that the Participant deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Stock covered by such Award.

 

(d)                                 Restrictions and Restriction Period.  During the Restriction Period applicable to shares of Restricted Stock, such shares shall be subject to limitations on transferability and a Risk of Forfeiture arising on the basis of such conditions related to the performance of services, Company or Affiliate performance or otherwise as the Committee may determine and provide for in the applicable Award Agreement.  Any such Risk of Forfeiture may be waived or terminated, or the Restriction Period shortened, at any time by the Committee on such basis as it deems appropriate.

 

(e)                                  Rights Pending Lapse of Risk of Forfeiture or Forfeiture of Award.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to any outstanding shares of Restricted Stock, including the right to vote, and the right to receive any dividends with respect to, the shares of Restricted Stock (but any dividends or other distributions payable in shares of Stock or other securities of the Company shall constitute additional Restricted Stock, subject to the same Risk of Forfeiture as the shares of Restricted Stock in respect of which such shares of Stock or other securities are paid).  The Committee, as determined at the time of Award, may permit or require the payment of cash dividends to be deferred and, if the Committee so determines, reinvested in additional Restricted Stock to the extent shares of Stock are available under Section 4.

 

(f)                                   Lapse of Restrictions.  If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture, any certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant promptly if not theretofore so delivered.

 

7.4.                            Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)                                 Character.  Each Restricted Stock Unit shall entitle the recipient to a share of Stock at a close of such Restriction Period as the Committee may establish and subject to a Risk of Forfeiture arising on the basis of such conditions relating to the performance of services, Company or Affiliate performance or otherwise as the Committee may determine and provide for in the applicable Award Agreement.  Any such Risk of Forfeiture may be waived or terminated, or the Restriction Period shortened, at any time by the Committee on such basis as it deems appropriate.

 

(b)                                 Form and Timing of Payment.  Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units shall be made promptly following the close of the applicable Restriction Period.  At the discretion of the Committee, Participants may be entitled to receive payments equivalent to any dividends declared with respect to Stock referenced in grants of Restricted Stock Units but only following the close of the applicable Restriction Period and then only if the underlying Stock shall have been earned.  Unless the Committee shall provide otherwise, any such dividend equivalents shall be paid, if at all, without interest or other earnings.

 

7.5.                            Performance Units.

 

 

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(a)                                 Character. Each Performance Unit shall entitle the recipient to the value of a specified number of shares of Stock, over the initial value for such number of shares, if any, established by the Committee at the time of grant, at the close of a specified Performance Period to the extent specified business objectives, including but not limited to Performance Goals, shall have been achieved.

 

(b)                                 Earning of Performance Units. The Committee shall set Performance Goals or other business objectives in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met within the applicable Performance Period, will determine the number and value of Performance Units that will be paid out to the Participant.  After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units shall be entitled to receive payout on the number and value of Performance Units earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding Performance Goals or other business objectives have been achieved.

 

(c)                                  Form and Timing of Payment.  Payment of earned Performance Units shall be made in a single lump sum following the close of the applicable Performance Period.  At the discretion of the Committee, Participants may be entitled to receive any dividends declared with respect to Stock which have been earned in connection with grants of Performance Units which have been earned, but not yet distributed to Participants.  The Committee may permit or, if it so provides at grant require, a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Stock that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Units.  If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals.

 

7.6.                            Stock Grants. Stock Grants shall be awarded solely in recognition of significant prior or expected contributions to the success of the Company or its Affiliates, as an inducement to employment, in lieu of compensation otherwise already due and in such other limited circumstances as the Committee deems appropriate.  Stock Grants shall be made without forfeiture conditions of any kind.

 

7.7.                            Qualified Performance-Based Awards.

 

(a)                                 Purpose.  The purpose of this Section 7.7 is to provide the Committee the ability to qualify Awards as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  If the Committee, in its discretion, decides to grant an Award as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, the provisions of this Section 7.7 will control over any contrary provision contained in the Plan.  In the course of granting any Award, the Committee may specifically designate the Award as intended to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award.  However, no Award shall be considered to have failed to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award solely because the Award is not expressly designated as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, if the Award otherwise satisfies the provisions of this Section 7.7 and the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code applicable to “performance-based compensation.”

 

(b)                                 Authority.  All grants of Awards intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Awards and the determination of the terms applicable thereto shall be made by the Committee.  If not all of the members thereof qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162 of the Code, however, all grants of Awards intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Awards and the determination of the terms applicable thereto shall

 

 

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be made by a subcommittee of the Committee consisting of such of the members of the Committee as do so qualify.  Any reference in this Section 7.7 to the Committee shall mean any such subcommittee if required under the preceding sentence, and any action by such a subcommittee shall be considered the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Discretion of Committee with Respect to Qualified Performance-Based Awards.  Any form of Award permitted under the Plan, other than a Stock Grant, may be granted as a Qualified Performance-Based Award.  Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted as Qualified Performance-Based Awards in accordance with Section 7.1 and 7.2, respectively, except that the exercise price of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right intended to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award shall in no event be less that the Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant, and may become exercisable based on continued service, on satisfaction of Performance Goals or other business objectives, or on a combination thereof.  Each other Award intended to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, such as Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Performance Units, shall be subject to satisfaction of one or more Performance Goals except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.7.  The Committee will have full discretion to select the length of any applicable Restriction Period or Performance Period, the kind and/or level of the applicable Performance Goal, and whether the Performance Goal is to apply to the Company, a subsidiary of the Company or any division or business unit or to the individual.  Any Performance Goal or Goals applicable to Qualified Performance-Based Awards shall be objective, shall be established not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of any applicable Performance Period (or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code) and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, including the requirement that the outcome of the Performance Goal or Goals be substantially uncertain (as defined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code) at the time established.

 

(d)                                 Payment of Qualified Performance-Based Awards.  A Participant will be eligible to receive payment under a Qualified Performance-Based Award which is subject to achievement of a Performance Goal or Goals only if the applicable Performance Goal or Goals are achieved within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee, provided, that a Qualified Performance-Based Award may be deemed earned as a result of death, becoming disabled, or in connection with a change of control (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) if otherwise provided in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement even if the Award would not constitute “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code following the occurrence of such an event.  In determining the actual size of an individual Qualified Performance-Based Award, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Qualified Performance-Based Award earned for the Performance Period, if in its sole and absolute discretion, such reduction or elimination is appropriate.

 

(e)                                  Limitation on Adjustments for Certain Events.  No adjustment of any Qualified Performance-Based Award pursuant to Section 8 shall be made except on such basis, if any, as will not cause such Award to provide other than “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(f)                                   Definitions.  For purposes of the Plan

 

(i)                                     Performance Criteria means the criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Participant for a Performance Period.  The Performance

 

 

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Criteria used to establish Performance Goals are limited to:  (i) net earnings (either before or after one or more of (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation and (D) amortization), (ii) gross or net sales or revenue, (iii) net income (either before or after taxes), (iv) adjusted net income, (v) operating earnings or profit, (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow, (vii) return on assets, (viii) return on capital, (ix) return on stockholders’ equity, (x) total stockholder return, (xi) return on sales, (xii) gross or net profit or operating margin, (xiii) costs, (xiv) expenses, (xv) working capital, (xvi) earnings per share, (xvii) adjusted earnings per share, (xviii) price per share, (xix) regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product, (xx) implementation, completion or attainment of objectives relating to research, development, regulatory, commercial, or strategic milestones or developments; (xxi) market share, (xxii) economic value, (xxiii) revenue, (xxiv) revenue growth and (xxv) operational and organizational metrics.

 

(ii)                                  Performance Goals means, for a Performance Period, the written goal or goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon one or more of the Performance Criteria.  The Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business unit, subsidiary, or an individual, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or Affiliate, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either quarterly, annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee. The Committee will objectively define the manner of calculating the Performance Goal or Goals it selects to use for such Performance Period for such Participant, including whether or to what extent there shall not be taken into account any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs and (v) any extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring or non-comparable items (A) as described in Accounting Standard Codification Section 225-20, (B) as described in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s Annual Report to stockholders for the applicable year, or (C) publicly announced by the Company in a press release or conference call relating to the Company’s results of operations or financial condition for a completed quarterly or annual fiscal period.

 

7.8.                            Awards to Participants Outside the United States.  The Committee may modify the terms of any Award under the Plan granted to a Participant who is, at the time of grant or during the term of the Award, resident or primarily employed outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that the Award shall conform to laws, regulations, procedures, and customs of the country in which the Participant is then resident or primarily employed, or so that the value and other benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the Participant’s residence or employment abroad, shall be as comparable as practicable to the value of such an Award to a Participant who is resident or primarily employed in the United States.

 

 

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The Committee may establish supplements or sub-plans to, or amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of, the Plan for the purpose of granting and administrating any such modified Award.  No such modification, supplement, sub-plan, amendment, restatement or alternative version may increase the share limit of Section 4.

 

8.                                      Adjustment Provisions

 

8.1.                            Adjustment for Corporate Actions. All of the share numbers set forth in the Plan reflect the capital structure of the Company as of October __, 2014.  If subsequent to that date the outstanding shares of Stock (or any other securities covered by the Plan by reason of the prior application of this Section) are increased, decreased, or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities, or if additional shares or new or different shares or other securities are distributed with respect to shares of Stock, as a result of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other similar distribution with respect to such shares of Stock, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment will be made in (i) the maximum numbers and kinds of shares provided in Section 4, (ii) the numbers and kinds of shares or other securities subject to the then outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise price for each share or other unit of any other securities subject to then outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (without change in the aggregate purchase price as to which such Options or Rights remain exercisable), and (iv) the repurchase price of each share of Restricted Stock then subject to a Risk of Forfeiture in the form of a Company repurchase right.

 

8.2.                            Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. In the event of any corporate action not specifically covered by the preceding Section, including but not limited to an extraordinary cash distribution on Stock, a corporate separation or other reorganization or liquidation, the Committee may make such adjustment of outstanding Awards and their terms, if any, as it, in its sole discretion, may deem equitable and appropriate in the circumstances.  The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in this Section) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

 

8.3.                            Related Matters.  Any adjustment in Awards made pursuant to Section 8.1 or 8.2  shall be determined and made, if at all, by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, and shall include any correlative modification of terms, including of Option exercise prices, rates of vesting or exercisability, Risks of Forfeiture, applicable repurchase prices for Restricted Stock, and Performance Goals and other business objectives which the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate so as to ensure the rights of the Participants in their respective Awards are not substantially diminished nor enlarged as a result of the adjustment and corporate action other than as expressly contemplated in this Section 8.  The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that no fraction of a share of Stock shall be purchasable or deliverable upon exercise, and in that event if any adjustment hereunder of the number of shares of Stock covered by an Award would cause such number to include a fraction of a share of Stock, such number of shares of Stock shall be adjusted to the nearest smaller whole number of shares.  No adjustment of an Option exercise price per share pursuant to Sections 8.1 or 8.2  shall result in an exercise price which is less than the par value of the Stock.

 

8.4.                            Transactions.

 

 

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(a)                                 Definition of Transaction. In this Section 8.4, “Transaction” means (1) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which the Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (2) any sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the outstanding Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property, (3) any sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to one or more other persons in a single transaction or series of related transactions or (4) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(b)                                 Treatment of Awards. In a Transaction, the Committee may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Awards, subject to the provisions of Section 9 of this Plan.

 

(1)                                 Provide that any Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent rights shall be provided in substitution therefor, by the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof).

 

(2)                                 Upon written notice to the holders, provide that all or any of the holders’ unexercised outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (collectively, “Rights”) will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Transaction unless exercised within a specified period following the date of such notice.

 

(3)                                 Provide that all or any Awards that are subject to Risk of Forfeiture will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Transaction.

 

(4)                                 Provide that all or any outstanding Rights shall Accelerate so as to become exercisable prior to or upon such Transaction with respect to some or all of the shares of Stock for which any such Rights would not then otherwise be exercisable by their terms.

 

(5)                                 Provide that outstanding all or any Awards that are subject to Risk of Forfeiture shall Accelerate so that the Risk of Forfeiture otherwise applicable to such Awards shall expire prior to or upon such Transaction with respect to any such Awards that would then still otherwise be subject to the Risk of Forfeiture.

 

(6)                                 Provide for cash payments, net of applicable tax withholdings, to be made to holders equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the acquisition price times the number of shares of Stock subject to an Option (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the acquisition price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price for all such shares of Stock subject to the Option, in exchange for the termination of such Option; provided, that if the acquisition price does not exceed the exercise price of any such Option, the Committee may cancel that Option without the payment of any consideration therefore prior to or upon the Transaction.  For purposes of this paragraph 6 and paragraph 7 below, “acquisition price” means the amount of cash, and market value of any other consideration, received in payment for a share of Stock surrendered in a

 

 

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Transaction but need not take into account any deferred consideration unless and until received.

 

(7)                                 Provide for cash payments, net of applicable tax withholdings, to be made to holder or holders of all or any Awards (other than Options) equal to the acquisition price times the number of shares of Stock subject to any such Awards, in exchange for the termination of any such Awards; provided, that the Committee may cancel, pursuant to paragraph 3 above, any such Award that is subject to a Risk of Forfeiture at the time of the consummation of such Transaction without the payment of any consideration therefor prior to or upon the Transaction.

 

(8)                             Provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, all or any Awards (other than Restricted Stock or Stock Grants) shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds net of the exercise price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings.

 

(9)                                 Any combination of the foregoing.

 

In the event that the Committee determines in its discretion to take the actions contemplated under paragraph (1) above of this Section 8.4(b) with respect to all or any Awards, the Committee shall ensure that, upon consummation of the Transaction, any such Awards are assumed and/or exchanged or replaced with another similar award issued by the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof) and that, as a result of such assumption and/or exchange or replacement, the holder of such assumed Award and/or such exchanged or replaced similar award has the right to purchase or receive the value of, for each share of Stock subject to such Award immediately prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Transaction by holders of Stock for each share of Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration received as a result of the Transaction is not solely common stock (or its equivalent) of the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof), the Committee may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof), provide for the consideration to be received with respect to such assumed Award and/or such exchanged or replaced similar award to consist of or be based solely on common stock (or its equivalent) of the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in value to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Stock as a result of the Transaction; and provided, further, that if such Award is an Option, the holder of such Option must exercise the Option and make payment of the applicable exercise price in connection therewith in order to receive such consideration.

 

(c)                                  Treatment of Other Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Transaction other than a liquidation or dissolution of the Company which is not part of another form of Transaction, then, subject to the provisions of Section 9 below, with respect to all outstanding Awards (other than Options and Share Appreciation Rights) that are not terminated prior to or upon such Transaction, the repurchase and other rights of the Company under each such Award shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall, unless the Committee determines otherwise, apply to the cash, securities or other property which the Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Transaction in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to the Award.

 

 

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(d)                                 Related Matters. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 8.4, the Committee shall not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically. Any determinations required to carry out the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.4, including but not limited to the market value of other consideration received by holders of Stock in a Transaction and whether substantially equivalent Rights have been substituted, shall be made by the Committee acting in its sole discretion.  In connection with any action or actions taken by the Committee in respect of Awards and in connection with a Transaction, the Committee may require such acknowledgements of satisfaction and releases from Participants as it may determine.

 

9.                                      Change of Control

 

Except as otherwise provided below, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, to the extent that the surviving entity declines to continue, convert, assume or replace outstanding Awards, then, notwithstanding anything express or implied to the contrary in Section 8.4 above:

 

(a)                                 any and all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not already exercisable in full shall Accelerate with respect to 100% of the shares for which such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are not then exercisable;

 

(b)                                 any Risk of Forfeiture applicable to Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units which is not based on achievement of Performance Goals or other business objectives shall lapse with respect to 100% of the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units still subject to such Risk of Forfeiture immediately prior to the Change of Control; and

 

(c)                                  all outstanding Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units conditioned on the achievement of Performance Goals or other business objectives and the payouts attainable under outstanding Performance Units shall be deemed to have been satisfied as of the effective date of the Change of Control, except if and to the extent otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at any time prior to, or upon, such Change of Control.

 

All such Awards of Performance Units and Restricted Stock Units shall be paid to the extent earned to Participants in accordance with their terms within thirty (30) days following the effective date of the Change of Control.  None of the foregoing shall apply, however, (i) in the case of any Award pursuant to an Award Agreement requiring other or additional terms upon a Change of Control (or similar event), (ii) if specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national securities exchanges, or (iii) as otherwise provided in Section 7.7, concerning Qualified Performance-Based Awards.

 

10.                               Settlement of Awards

 

10.1.                     In General.  Options and Restricted Stock shall be settled in accordance with their terms.  All other Awards may be settled in cash, Stock, or other Awards, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at or after grant and subject to any contrary Award Agreement.  The Committee may not require settlement of any Award in Stock pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence to the extent issuance of such Stock would be prohibited or unreasonably delayed by reason of any other provision of the Plan.

 

 

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10.2.                     Violation of Law.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or the relevant Award Agreement, if, at any time, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, the issuance of shares of Stock covered by an Award may constitute a violation of law, then the Company may delay such issuance until (i) approval shall have been obtained from such governmental agencies, other than the Securities and Exchange Commission, as may be required under any applicable law, rule, or regulation and (ii) in the case where such issuance would constitute a violation of a law administered by or a regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, one of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a)                                 the shares of Stock are at the time of the issue of such shares effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

 

(b)                                 the Company shall have determined, on such basis as it deems appropriate (including an opinion of counsel in form and substance satisfactory to the Company) that the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of such shares does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or any applicable State securities laws.

 

Furthermore, the inability of the Company to obtain or maintain, or the impracticability of it obtaining or maintaining, authority from any governmental agency having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Stock hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue such Stock as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained, and shall constitute circumstances in which the Committee may determine to amend or cancel Awards pertaining to such Stock, with or without consideration to the affected Participants.

 

10.3.                     Corporate Restrictions on Rights in Stock. Any Stock to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all restrictions upon the transfer thereof which may be now or hereafter imposed by the charter, certificate or articles, and by-laws, of the Company.  Whenever Stock is to be issued pursuant to an Award, if the Committee so directs at or after grant, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue such shares until such time, if ever, as the recipient of the Award (and any person who exercises any Option, in whole or in part), shall have become a party to and bound by the Stockholders’ Agreement, if any.

 

10.4.                     Investment Representations.  The Company shall be under no obligation to issue any shares of Stock covered by any Award unless the shares to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan have been effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Participant shall have made such written representations to the Company (upon which the Company believes it may reasonably rely) as the Company may deem necessary or appropriate for purposes of confirming that the issuance of such shares will be exempt from the registration requirements of that Act and any applicable state securities laws and otherwise in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction in which Participants may reside or primarily work, including but not limited to that the Participant is acquiring the shares for his or her own account for the purpose of investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such shares.

 

10.5.                     Registration.  If the Company shall deem it necessary or desirable to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or other applicable statutes any shares of Stock issued or to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, or to qualify any such shares of Stock for exemption from the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or other applicable statutes,

 

 

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then the Company shall take such action at its own expense.  The Company may require from each recipient of an Award, or each holder of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan, such information in writing for use in any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or offering circular as is reasonably necessary for that purpose and may require reasonable indemnity to the Company and its officers and directors from that holder against all losses, claims, damage and liabilities arising from use of the information so furnished and caused by any untrue statement of any material fact therein or caused by the omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made.  In addition, the Company may require of any such person that he or she agree that, without the prior written consent of the Company or the managing underwriter in any public offering of shares of Stock, he or she will not sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, pledge or otherwise encumber, or otherwise dispose of, any shares of Stock during the 180 day period commencing on the effective date of the registration statement relating to the underwritten public offering of securities (or during such shorter or longer period of time as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion, which period of time shall commence from and after such effective date of such registration statement). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.5, if in connection with any underwritten public offering of securities of the Company the managing underwriter of such offering requires that the Company’s directors and officers enter into a lock-up agreement containing provisions that are more restrictive than the provisions set forth in the preceding sentence, then (a) each holder of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan (regardless of whether such person has complied or complies with the provisions of clause (b) below) shall be bound by, and shall be deemed to have agreed to, the same lock-up terms as those to which the Company’s directors and officers are required to adhere; and (b) at the request of the Company or such managing underwriter, each such person shall execute and deliver a lock-up agreement in form and substance equivalent to that which is required to be executed by the Company’s directors and officers.

 

10.6.                     Placement of Legends; Stop Orders; etc.  Each share of Stock to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan may bear a reference to the investment representations made in accordance with Section 10.4 in addition to any other applicable restrictions under the Plan, and the terms of the Award and under the Stockholders’ Agreement and, if applicable, to the fact that no registration statement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect to such shares of Stock.  All shares of Stock or other securities issued under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Stock is then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions, or, if the Stock will be held in book-entry position through the direct registration system of the Company’s transfer agent, the restrictions will be appropriately noted.

 

10.7.                     Tax Withholding. Whenever shares of Stock are issued or to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, the Company shall have the right to require the recipient to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, foreign or other withholding tax requirements if, when, and to the extent required by law (whether so required to secure for the Company an otherwise available tax deduction or otherwise) prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates, held in book-entry position through the direct registration system of the Company’s transfer agent, for such shares.  The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on satisfaction of all such withholding obligations and the Company shall, to

 

 

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the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant or to utilize any other withholding method prescribed by the Committee from time to time.  However, in such cases Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, to satisfy an applicable withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold shares of Stock to satisfy their tax obligations.  All elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee deems appropriate.  If shares of Stock are withheld to satisfy an applicable withholding requirement, the shares of Stock withheld shall have a Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax which could be imposed on the transaction, provided, however, if shares of Stock are withheld to satisfy a withholding requirement imposed by a country other than the United States, the amount withheld may exceed such minimum, provided that it is not in excess of the actual amount required to be withheld with respect to the Participant under applicable tax law or regulations.

 

10.8.                     Company Charter and By-Laws; Other Company Policies. This Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are subject to the charter and By-Laws of the Company, as they may be amended from time to time, and all other Company policies duly adopted by the Board, the Committee or any other committee of the Board and as in effect from time to time regarding the acquisition, ownership or sale of Stock by officers, employees, directors, consultants, advisors and other service providers, including, without limitation, policies intended to limit the potential for insider trading and to avoid or recover compensation payable or paid on the basis of inaccurate financial results or statements, employee conduct, and other similar events.

 

11.                               Reservation of Stock

 

The Company shall at all times during the term of the Plan and any outstanding Awards granted hereunder reserve or otherwise keep available such number of shares of Stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan (if then in effect) and the Awards and shall pay all fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in connection therewith.

 

12.                               Limitation of Rights in Stock; No Special Service Rights

 

A Participant shall not be deemed for any purpose to be a stockholder of the Company with respect to any of the shares of Stock subject to an Award, unless and until a certificate shall have been issued therefor and delivered to the Participant or his agent, or the Stock shall be issued through the direct registration system of the Company’s transfer agent.  Any Stock to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all restrictions upon the transfer thereof which may be now or hereafter imposed by the certificate or articles of incorporation and the by-laws of the Company.  Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any recipient of an Award any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment or other association with the Company (or any Affiliate), or interfere in any way with the right of the Company (or any Affiliate), subject to the terms of any separate employment or consulting agreement or provision of law or corporate articles or by-laws to the contrary, at any time to terminate such employment or consulting agreement or to increase or decrease, or otherwise adjust, the other terms and conditions of the recipient’s employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates.

 

 

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13.                               Unfunded Status of Plan

 

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation, and the Plan is not intended to constitute a plan subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.  In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Stock or payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided, however, that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.

 

14.                               Nonexclusivity of the Plan

 

Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor any action taken in connection with the adoption or operation of the Plan shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including without limitation, the granting of stock options and restricted stock other than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

 

15.                               No Guarantee of Tax Consequences

 

It is intended that all Awards shall be granted and maintained on a basis which ensures they are exempt from, or otherwise compliant with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, pertaining non-qualified plans of deferred compensation, and the Plan shall be governed, interpreted and enforced consistent with such intent.  However, neither the Company nor any Affiliate, nor any director, officer, agent, representative or employee of either, guarantees to the Participant or any other person any particular tax consequences as a result of the grant of, exercise of rights under, or payment in respect of an Award, including but not limited to that an Option granted as an Incentive Option has or will qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or that the provisions and penalties of Section 409A of the Code will or will not apply and no person shall have any liability to a Participant or any other party if a payment under an Award that is intended to benefit from favorable tax treatment or avoid adverse tax treatment fails to realize such intention or for any action taken by the Board or the Committee with respect to the Award.

 

16.                               Termination and Amendment of the Plan

 

16.1.                     Termination or Amendment of the Plan. Subject to the limitations contained in Section 16.3 below, including specifically the requirement of stockholder approval, if applicable, the Board may at any time suspend or terminate the Plan or make such modifications of the Plan as it shall deem advisable.  Unless the Board otherwise expressly provides, no amendment of the Plan shall affect the terms of any Award outstanding on the date of such amendment.

 

16.2.                     Termination or Amendment of Outstanding Awards; Assumptions. Subject to the limitations contained in Section 16.3 below, including specifically the requirement of stockholder approval, if applicable, the Committee may at any time:

 

(a) amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, provided that the Award as amended is consistent with the terms of the Plan;

 

 

- 22 -

 

(b) within the limitations of the Plan, modify, extend or assume outstanding Awards or accept the cancellation of outstanding Awards or of outstanding stock options or other equity-based compensation awards granted by another issuer in return for the grant of new Awards for the same or a different number of shares of Stock and on the same or different terms and conditions (including but not limited to the exercise price of any Option); and

 

(c) offer to buy out for a payment in cash or cash equivalents an Award previously granted or authorize the recipient of an Award to elect to cash out an Award previously granted, in either case at such time and based upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.

 

16.3.                     Limitations on Amendments, Etc.

 

(a)                                 Without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, no amendment or modification of the Plan by the Board may (i) increase the number of shares of Stock which may be issued under the Plan, (ii) change the description of the persons eligible for Awards, or (iii) effect any other change for which stockholder approval is required by law or the rules of any relevant stock exchange.

 

(b)                                 No action by the Board or the Committee pursuant to this Section 16 shall impair the rights of the recipient of any Award outstanding on the date of such amendment or modification of such Award, as the case may be, without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, that no such consent shall be required (A) in the case of any amendment or termination of any outstanding Award that is permitted by any provision of this Plan that is set forth in Section 16.4 below, Section 8, Section 9 or in any other section of this Plan that is not Section 16.2 or (B) if the Board or Committee, as the case may be, (i)  determines in its sole discretion and prior to the date of any Change of Control that such amendment or alteration either is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the Award to satisfy any law or regulation, including without limitation the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, or to meet the requirements of or avoid adverse financial accounting consequences under any accounting standard, (ii) determines in its sole discretion and prior to the date of any Change of Control that such amendment or alteration is not reasonably likely to significantly diminish the benefits provided under the Award, or that any such diminution has been adequately compensated, or (iii) reasonably determines on or after the date of Change of Control that such amendment or alteration either is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the Award to satisfy any law or regulation, including without limitation the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

 

16.4        Option Repricing.  Notwithstanding anything in Section 16.3 express or implied to the contrary, the Committee is expressly authorized to amend any or all outstanding Options at any time and from time to time to effect a repricing thereof by lowering the exercise price applicable to the shares of Stock subject to such Option or Options without the consent or approval of the stockholders of the Company or the holder or holders of such Option or Options, and, in connection with such repricing, to amend or modify any of the other terms of the Option or Options so repriced, including, without limitation, for purposes of reducing the number of shares subject to such Option or Options or for purposes of adversely affecting the provisions applicable to such Option or Options that relate to the vesting or exercisability thereof, in each case without the approval or consent of stockholders of the Company or the holder or holders of such Option or Options.

 

 

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17.                               Notices and Other Communications

 

Any communication or notice required or permitted to be given under the Plan shall be in such form as the Committee may determine from time to time.  If a notice, demand, request or other communication is required or permitted to be given in writing, then any such notice, demand, request or other communication hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or duly sent by first class registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, or telecopied with a confirmation copy by regular, certified or overnight mail, addressed or telecopied, as the case may be, (i) if to the recipient of an Award, at his or her residence address last filed with the Company and (ii) if to the Company, at its principal place of business, addressed to the attention of its Treasurer, or to such other address or telecopier number, as the case may be, as the addressee may have designated by notice to the addressor.  All such notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been received: (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery; (ii) in the case of mailing, when received by the addressee; and (iii) in the case of facsimile transmission, when confirmed by facsimile machine report.

 

18.                               Governing Law

 

The Plan and all Award Agreements and actions taken hereunder and thereunder shall be governed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

[End of document.]

 

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.
 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT dated as of                                    , 20    , between Proteon Therapeutics, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), and the individual identified in paragraph 1 below, currently residing at the address set out at the end of this Agreement (the “Optionee”).

 

1.                                      Grant of Option.  Pursuant and subject to the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”), the Company grants to you, the Optionee identified in the table below, an option (the “Option”) to purchase from the Company all or any part of a total of the number of shares identified in the table below (the “Optioned Shares”) of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, in the Company (the “Stock”), at the exercise price per share set out in the table below.

 

	
 
    	
Optionee
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Number of Shares
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Exercise Price Per Share
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Grant Date
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Expiration Date(1)
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

2.                                      Character of Option.  This Option [is/is not](2)  intended to be treated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

3.                                      Expiration of Option.  This Option shall expire at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the Expiration Date or, if earlier, the earliest of the dates specified in whichever of the following applies:

 

a)                                     If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of your death or disability, the first anniversary of the date your employment ends.

b)                                     If the termination of your employment or other association is due to any other reason, three (3) months after your employment or other association ends.

 

(1) For ISOs not later than the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.  NQSOs may have a later expiration date, if the Plan allows.  But as a general matter, NQSOs will also have an expiration date of not later than the the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.

(2) Either “is” or “is not”, as the Committee has determined.

 

 

- 2 -

 

4.                                      Exercise of Option.

 

a)                                     You may exercise this Option as to the number of Optioned Shares which have vested (the “Vested Shares”) under this paragraph 4, in full or in part and at any time prior to the Expiration Date.  However, during any period that this Option remains outstanding after your employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends, you may exercise it only to the extent of any remaining Vested Shares determined as of immediately prior to the end of your employment or other association.  The procedure for exercising this Option is described in Section 7.1(e) of the Plan.

 

b)                                     [Time-based vesting: That number of Optioned Shares specified in the table below shall become Vested Shares on the date set opposite such number in the table below:]

 

	
Number of Shares
   in Each Installment
    	
 
    	
Initial Vesting Date
   for Shares in Installment
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

c)                                      [Performance-based vesting]

d)                                     [Other vesting, e.g., Change of Control]

 

5.                                      Transfer of Option.  Except if and to the extent otherwise provided under the Plan, you may not transfer this Option except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during your lifetime, only you may exercise this Option.

 

6.                                      Incorporation of Plan Terms.  This Option is granted subject to all of the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan, including but not limited to the limitations on the Company’s obligation to deliver Optioned Shares upon exercise set forth in Section 10 (Settlement of Awards).

 

7.                                      Tax Consequences.  The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the tax treatment to you of your receipt or exercise of this Option or upon your sale or other disposition of the Optioned Shares.  You should rely on your own tax advisors for such advice.

 

8.                                      Acknowledgements.  You acknowledge that you have reviewed and understand the Plan and this Agreement in their entirety, and have had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Agreement.  You hereby agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement.

 

9.                                      Further Assurances.  The parties agree to execute such further instruments and to take such action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.

 

 

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[10.                      Community Property.  Without prejudice to the actual rights of the spouses as between each other, for all purposes of this Agreement, you shall be treated as agent and attorney-in-fact for that interest held or claimed by your spouse with respect to this Option and any Optioned Shares and the parties hereto shall act in all matters as if the Optionee was the sole owner of this Option and (following exercise) any such Optioned Shares.  This appointment is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.](3)

 

11.                               Miscellaneous.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor or assign of the Company and any executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or other legal representative of you.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned under the Plan.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts all of which together shall constitute but one instrument. In making proof of this Agreement it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

(3) Consider for inclusion for grants to California residents (and residents of other states with community property rules).

 

 

- 4 -

 

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

 

	
PROTEON   THERAPEUTICS, INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Signature   of Optionee
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Optionee’s   Address:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.
 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

OPTION EXERCISE FORM

 

Proteon Therapeutics, Inc.

200 West Street

Waltham, MA 02451

 

Attention:                                         Chief Financial Officer

 

Dear Sir:

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, I hereby elect to exercise my option granted under the agreement dated                               , to purchase                                           (               ) shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, in Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”).

 

Enclosed herewith is payment to the Company in the amount of                                                          Dollars ($                   ) in full payment of the option price for said shares.  [To be revised as necessary for non-cash payment of exercise price.]

 

	
 
    	
Sincerely   yours,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:Exhibit 10.25

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

2014 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

2014 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

1.                                      Purpose and History

 

The purpose of this Plan is to give Employees wishing to do so a convenient means of purchasing Common Stock of the Company through payroll deductions.  The Company believes that ownership of Common Stock by Employees will foster greater Employee interest in the Company’s growth and development.

 

This Plan was adopted by the Board on August 21, 2014.  It is the Company’s intention that the Plan qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code.  The provisions of the Plan shall, accordingly, be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of that Code section.

 

2.                                      Definitions

 

As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

2.1.                            Board means the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

2.2.                            Business Day means a day on which the NASDAQ Global Market (or any other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed) is open for trading.  Every date under this Plan that falls on a weekend, a holiday or any other day that is not a Business Day (and any event that occurs after 5 p.m. eastern time on any date) shall be deemed automatically to fall on the next Business Day.

 

2.3.                            Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, and any regulations issued from time to time thereunder.

 

2.4.                            Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee delegated responsibility by the Board for the administration of the Plan, as provided in Section 5 of the Plan.  For any period during which no such committee is in existence “Committee” shall mean the Board and all authority and responsibility assigned to the Committee under the Plan shall be exercised, if at all, by the Board.

 

2.5.                            Common Stock or Stock means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

2.6.                            Company means Proteon Therapeutics, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

2.7.                            Compensation means an Employee’s total compensation, including base pay or regular earnings plus commissions, bonuses, and overtime.

 

2.8.                            Continuous Status as an Employee means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as an Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Plan administrator, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than three

 

2

 

months, 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; or (iv) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company and a Covered Entity.

 

2.9.                            Contributions means all amounts credited to the account of a Participating Employee pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.10.                     Corporate Transaction means any (1) merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which the Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (2) sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property, (3) sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to one or more other persons in a single transaction or series of related transactions or (4) liquidation or dissolution of the Company; except, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated.

 

2.11.                     Covered Entity means any Subsidiary that may adopt the Plan from time to time in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 14 hereof with the Company’s consent.

 

2.12.                     Effective Date means the IPO Date.

 

2.13.                     Employee means an employee of the Company or a Covered Entity who is customarily employed for at least 20 hours per week and more than five months in a calendar year.

 

2.14.                     Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

2.15.                     Fair Market Value has the meaning set forth in Section 6.4(c).

 

2.16.                     Initial Plan Period means the first Plan Period of the Plan.

 

2.17.                     IPO Date means the date of the closing of the initial public offering of shares of Common Stock.

 

2.18.                     New Plan Period Termination Date has the meaning set forth in Section 12.4.

 

2.19.                     Participating Employee means an Employee who elects to participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 6.2(b) or otherwise becomes a Participating Employee pursuant to Section 6.2(h).

 

2.20.                     Plan means this Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

2.21.                     Plan Period Commencement Date means the first day of each Plan Period.

 

2.22.                     Plan Period Termination Date means the last day of each Plan Period.

 

2.23.                     Plan Period means each successive period described in Section 6.1, at the end of which each Participating Employee shall purchase Shares.

 

3

 

2.24.                     Purchase Price means with respect to a Plan Period an amount equal to eighty five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Plan Period Commencement Date or on the Plan Period Termination Date, whichever is lower.

 

2.25.                     Share means a share of Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 12 of the Plan.

 

2.26.                     Subsidiary means a corporation, in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the granting of the option, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

3.                                      Shares Reserved For The Plan

 

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 hereof, the number of Shares reserved for issuance hereunder shall be One Hundred Forty Thousand Five Hundred (140,500), provided, however, that the number of Shares authorized under this Section 3 of the Plan will be increased each January 1, commencing on January 1 of the year following the year in which the IPO Date occurs and ending on (and including) January 1, 2024, by an amount equal to the lesser of (i) one percent (1%) of outstanding Shares as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) 281,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may act prior to January 1 of a given year to provide that there will be no such January 1 increase in the number of Shares authorized under this Section 3 of the Plan for such year or that the increase in the number of Shares authorized under this Section 3 of the Plan for such year will be a lesser number than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence.  For purposes of applying the foregoing limitation, if any option expires, terminates or is cancelled for any reason without having been exercised in full, the Shares not purchased or received by the Employee shall again be available for options to be granted under the Plan.  Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares held by the Company in its treasury.

 

4.                                      Administration

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, provided, however, that at any time and on any one or more occasions the Board may itself exercise any of the powers and responsibilities assigned the Committee under the Plan and when so acting shall have the benefit of all of the provisions of the Plan pertaining to the Committee’s exercise of its authorities hereunder; and provided, further, that the Committee may delegate its duties in order to facilitate the purchase and transfer of Shares and to provide for the day-to-day administration of the Plan with all powers necessary to enable the delegate to carry out its duties in that respect.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have complete authority, in its discretion, to make or to select the manner of making all determinations with respect to each option to be granted by the Company under the Plan.  In making such determinations, the Committee may take into account such factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall also have complete authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  The Committee’s determinations made in good faith on matters referred to in the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons having or claiming any interest under the Plan or an option granted pursuant hereto.

 

4

 

5.                                      Eligibility for Awards

 

Subject to the requirements of Section 6.2 and the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code, any Employee shall be eligible to participate in a Plan Period under the Plan as of the applicable Plan Period Commencement Date.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) if, immediately after the grant, such Employee (taking into account stock which would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) if such option would permit his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans (described in Section 423 of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of such stock (determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of such stock on the date or dates such option was granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.

 

6.                                      Terms of Participation

 

6.1.                            Plan Periods.  Each calendar year shall be divided into two six-month Plan Periods, the first beginning on January 1 and ending on the immediately following June 30, and the second beginning on July 1 and ending on the immediately following December 31.  However, the Initial Plan Period shall commence on such date following the IPO Date as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion and continue until December 31, 2014.

 

6.2.                            Election to Participate and Plan Deductions.

 

(a)                                 Shares shall be offered for purchase under the Plan through a series of successive, non-overlapping Plan Periods until such time as (i) the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been purchased or (ii) the Plan shall have been sooner terminated.  At any time and from time to time, the Committee may change the duration and/or the frequency of Plan Periods or suspend operation of the Plan with respect to Plan Periods not yet commenced.

 

(b)                                 An eligible Employee may become a Participating Employee in the Plan by completing an enrollment agreement provided by the Company and filing it with the Company at least three business days prior to the Plan Period Commencement Date for the Plan Period in which such Employee desires to participate, unless either an earlier or later time for filing the enrollment agreement is set by the Committee for all eligible Employees with respect to a given Plan Period.  The enrollment agreement shall set forth the percentage of the Employee’s Compensation (subject to Section 6.2(c) below) to be paid as Contributions pursuant to the Plan.  Payroll deductions shall commence on the first payroll following the Plan Period Commencement Date and shall end on the last payroll paid on or prior to the Plan Period Termination Date, unless sooner terminated by the Participating Employee as provided in Section 6.7.

 

(c)                                  A Participating Employee may elect to have payroll deductions taken from each payroll during any Plan Period in an amount, in whole percentages, not less than one percent (1%) and not more than fifteen percent (15%) (or such other percentage as the Committee may establish from time to time before any Plan Period Commencement Date) of such Participating Employee’s Compensation on each payroll date during the Plan Period.  All payroll deductions made by a Participating Employee shall be credited to his or her account under the

 

5

 

Plan.  No interest shall accrue on Contributions to the Plan.  A Participating Employee may not make any additional payments into such account.

 

(d)                                 Unless the Committee announces otherwise before the start of a particular Plan Period, an eligible Employee’s enrollment agreement in effect at the end of one Plan Period will remain in effect for each subsequent Plan Period.

 

(e)                                  A Participating Employee may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 6.7.  An employee may choose to increase or decrease his or her deductions at any time during the specified enrollment period communicated to employees prior to the start of the Plan Period.

 

(f)                                   Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 5, a Participating Employee’s payroll deductions may be decreased during any Plan Period to zero percent (0%). Payroll deductions reduced to zero percent (0%) in compliance with this Section 6.2(f) shall re-commence automatically at the rate provided in such Participating Employee’s enrollment agreement at the beginning of the next Plan Period, unless terminated by the Participating Employee as provided in Section 6.7.

 

(g)                                  Any amounts left over in a Participating Employee’s account upon expiration or termination of the Plan (or upon a withdrawal by a Participating Employee or upon a Participating Employee purchasing the maximum dollar amount or number of shares hereunder) shall be returned to the Participating Employee.

 

6.3.                            Shares.

 

(a)                                 If the Committee determines that, on a given Plan Period Termination Date, the number of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of Shares that were available for sale under the Plan on the Plan Period Commencement Date, or (ii) the number of shares available for sale under the Plan on such Plan Period Termination Date, then the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available for purchase on such Plan Period Termination Date in as uniform a matter as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participating Employees exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such Plan Period Termination Date.  The Company shall make pro rata allocation of the Shares available on the Plan Period Commencement Date pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional Shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s stockholders subsequent to such Plan Period Commencement Date.

 

(b)                                 The Participating Employee shall have no interest or voting right in Shares covered by his or her option until such option has been exercised.

 

(c)                                  Shares to be delivered to a Participating Employee under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participating Employee.

 

6.4.                            Grant of Options.

 

(a)                                 A Participating Employee shall be granted a separate option for each Plan Period in which he or she participates. The option shall be granted on the Plan Period

 

6

 

Commencement Date for the Plan Period and shall provide the Participating Employee with the right to purchase Shares upon the terms set forth below.

 

(b)                                 The number of Shares purchasable by a Participating Employee on each Plan Period Termination Date during the Plan Period, pursuant to Section 6.5 below, shall be determined by dividing such Employee’s Contributions accumulated during such Plan Period prior to such Plan Period Termination Date and retained in the Participating Employee’s account as of the Plan Period Termination Date by the applicable Purchase Price.  However, the maximum number of Shares a Participating Employee may purchase during each Plan Period shall not exceed 10,000 Shares, or such other number as may be determined by the Committee and announced to Employees at least five days prior to the scheduled beginning of the next Plan Period to be affected by the Committee’s determination, provided that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.2(c).

 

(c)                                  Except as provided in Section 6.2(h)(ii), the fair market value of the Shares on a given date (the “Fair Market Value”) means the value of a share of Common Stock on a particular date determined by such methods or procedures as may be established by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of any date, is (a) the closing price for the Common Stock as reported by the the NASDAQ Global Market (or on any other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the next preceding date for which a closing price was reported or (b) if the Common Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded over-the-counter, the closing or last price of the Common Stock on the composite tape or other comparable reporting system on that date or, if such date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date.

 

6.5.                            Exercise.  Unless a Participating Employee withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 6.7, each option shall be exercised automatically on each Plan Period Termination Date, and Shares shall accordingly be purchased on behalf of each Participating Employee on each such Plan Period Termination Date. The purchase shall be effected by applying the Participating Employee’s payroll deductions for the Plan Period ending on such Plan Period Termination Date to the purchase of Shares (subject to the limitation on the maximum number of Shares purchasable per Participating Employee on any one Plan Period Termination Date) at the Purchase Price in effect for the Participating Employee for that Plan Period Termination Date.  The Shares purchased upon exercise of an option hereunder shall be deemed to be transferred to the Participating Employee on the Plan Period Termination Date. During his or her lifetime, a Participating Employee’s option to purchase Shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

 

6.6.                            Delivery. As promptly as practicable after each Plan Period Termination Date, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each Participating Employee a certificate or certificates or book-entry authorization and instruction to the Company’s transfer agent and registrar for the number of Shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option.

 

6.7.                            Voluntary Withdrawal; Termination of Employment.

 

(a)                                 A Participating Employee may withdraw all but not less than all of the Contributions credited to his or her account under the Plan up to two weeks prior to the Plan Period Termination Date by giving written notice to the Company in accordance with the Company’s policy regarding withdrawal from the Plan.  All of the Participating Employee’s

 

7

 

Contributions credited to his or her account will be paid to him or her promptly after receipt of his or her notice of withdrawal and his or her option for the current Plan Period will be automatically terminated, and no further Contributions for the purchase of Shares will be made (or will be permitted to be made) during the Plan Period.

 

(b)                                 Upon termination of the Participating Employee’s Continuous Status as an Employee prior to a Plan Period Termination Date for any reason, including retirement or death, the Contributions credited to his or her account will be returned to him or her or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 8, and his or her option will be automatically terminated.

 

(c)                                  In the event a Participating Employee fails to remain in Continuous Status as an Employee of the Company for at least 20 hours per week during the Plan Period in which the Employee is a Participating Employee, he or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the Contributions credited to his or her account and remaining there will be returned to him or her and his or her option terminated.

 

(d)                                 A Participating Employee’s withdrawal during a Plan Period will not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in a succeeding Plan Period or in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company.

 

7.                                      No Special Service Rights

 

Nothing contained in this Plan shall confer upon any Employee any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment with the Company or any Covered Entity or any other entity, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or business trust controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, or interfere in any way with the right of any such entity, subject to the terms of any separate employment agreement or provision of law or the Company’s charter or by-laws to the contrary, at any time to terminate such employment relationship or to increase or decrease, or otherwise adjust, the other terms and conditions of the Employee’s employment.

 

8.                                      Designation of Beneficiary

 

8.1.                            A Participating Employee may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any Shares and cash, if any, from the Participating Employee’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participating Employee’s death subsequent to the end of a Plan Period but prior to delivery to him or her of such Shares and cash. Any such beneficiary shall also be entitled to receive any cash from the Participating Employee’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participating Employee’s death during a Plan Period.

 

8.2.                            Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participating Employee at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participating Employee and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participating Employee’s death, the Company shall deliver such Shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participating Employee, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such Shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participating Employee, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

 

8

 

9.                                      Transferability of Options and Shares

 

Neither Contributions credited to a Participating Employee’s account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive Shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 8) by the Participating Employee. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds in accordance with Section 6.7. In addition, if the Committee has so announced to Participating Employees at least five days prior to the scheduled beginning of the next Plan Period, any Shares acquired on the Plan Period Termination Date of such Plan Period may be subject to restrictions specified by the Committee on the transfer of such Shares. Any Participating Employee selling or transferring any or all of his or her Shares purchased pursuant to the Plan must provide written notice of such sale or transfer to the Company within five business days after the date of sale or transfer. Such notice to the Company shall include the gross sales price, if any, the Plan Period during which the Shares being sold were purchased by the Participating Employee, the number of Shares being sold or transferred and the date of sale or transfer.

 

10.                               Use of Funds

 

All Contributions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such Contributions from its other assets.

 

11.                               Reports

 

Individual accounts will be maintained for each Participating Employee in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to Participating Employees at least annually, which statements will set forth, with respect to the immediately prior calendar year, the amounts of Contributions, the per Share Purchase Price, the number of Shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

 

12.                               Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization; Corporate Transactions

 

12.1.                     Adjustment in General.  All of the share numbers set forth in the Plan reflect the capital structure of the Company as of the Effective Date.  If subsequent to that date the outstanding Shares (or any other securities covered by the Plan by reason of the prior application of this Section) are increased, decreased, or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities, or if additional shares or new or different shares or other securities are distributed with respect to Shares, as a result of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other similar distribution with respect to such Shares, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment will be made in (i) the maximum numbers and kinds of shares provided in Section 3, (ii) the numbers and kinds of shares or other securities subject to the then outstanding options, and (iii) the exercise price for each share or other unit of any other securities subject to then outstanding options.

 

12.2.                     Adjustment Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. In the event of any corporate action not specifically covered by the preceding Section 12.1, including but not limited to an extraordinary cash distribution on Common Stock, a corporate

 

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separation or other reorganization or liquidation, the Committee may make such adjustment of outstanding options and their terms, if any, as it, in its sole discretion, may deem equitable and appropriate in the circumstances.  The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, options in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in this Section 12.2) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

 

12.3.                     Related Matters.  Any adjustment in options made pursuant to Section 12.1 or 12.2 shall be determined and made, if at all, by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, and shall include any correlative modification of terms which the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate so as to ensure the rights of the Participating Employees in their respective options are not substantially diminished nor enlarged as a result of the adjustment and corporate action other than as expressly contemplated in this Section 12.

 

12.4.                     Corporate Transactions.  In the event of a Corporate Transaction that is a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Plan Period then in progress will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, unless otherwise provided by the Committee.  In the event of any other Corporate Transaction, each option outstanding under the Plan may be assumed or an equivalent option may be substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for outstanding options, the Plan Period then in progress shall be shortened and a new Plan Period Termination Date shall be set (the “New Plan Period Termination Date”), as of which date the Plan Period then in progress will terminate. The New Plan Period Termination Date shall be on or before the date of consummation of the Corporate Transaction and the Committee shall notify each Participating Employee in writing, at least three Business Days prior to the New Plan Period Termination Date, that the Plan Period Termination Date for his or her option has been changed to the New Plan Period Termination Date and that his or her option will be exercised automatically on the New Plan Period Termination Date, unless prior to such date he or she has withdrawn from the Plan Period as provided in Section 6.7.  For purposes of this Section 12.4, an option granted under the Plan shall be considered assumed, or a substantially equivalent award shall be considered to have been provided in substitution therefor, if following consummation of the Corporate Transaction, the option is assumed and/or exchanged or replaced with another option issued by the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof) that confers the right to receive upon exercise of such option, for each share of Common Stock subject to the option immediately prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Corporate Transaction by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided however that if the consideration received in the transaction is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the option to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per Share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the transaction.

 

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13.                               Settlement of Awards

 

13.1.                     Violation of Law.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if, at any time, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, the issuance of Shares pursuant to the Plan may constitute a violation of law, then the Company may delay such issuance of such Shares until (i) approval shall have been obtained from such governmental agencies, other than the Commission, as may be required under any applicable law, rule, or regulation and (ii) in the case where such issuance would constitute a violation of a law administered by or a regulation of the Commission, one of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a)                                 the Shares are, at the time of the issue of such Shares, effectively registered under the Securities Act; or

 

(b)                                 the Company shall have determined, on such basis as it deems appropriate (including an opinion of counsel in form and substance satisfactory to the Company) that the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of such Shares or such beneficial interest, as the case may be, does not require registration under the Securities Act or any applicable State securities laws.

 

The Company shall make all reasonable efforts to bring about the occurrence of said events.

 

13.2.                     Corporate Restrictions on Rights in Stock. Any Shares to be issued pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to all restrictions upon the transfer thereof which may be now or hereafter imposed by the charter and by-laws of the Company.

 

13.3.                     Investment Representations.  As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.  The Company shall be under no obligation to issue any Shares unless the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Plan have been effectively registered under the Securities Act.

 

13.4.                     Placement of Legends; Stop Orders; etc.  Each Share to be issued pursuant to the Plan may bear a reference to any applicable restriction under the Plan.  All Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

13.5.                     Company Charter and By-Laws; Other Company Policies. This Plan and all options granted under this Plan (including the exercise of an option) are subject to and must comply with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, as they may be amended from time to time, and all other Company policies duly adopted by the Board, the Committee or any other committee of the Board as in effect from time to time regarding the acquisition, ownership or sale of Common Stock by employees, including, without limitation, policies intended to limit the potential for insider trading and to avoid or recover compensation payable or

 

11

 

paid on the basis of inaccurate financial results or statements, employee conduct, and other similar events.

 

14.                               Adopting Subsidiaries

 

Any Subsidiary of the Company may request that its Employees be allowed to participate in the Plan in accordance with procedures to be adopted by the Board.  The Board may, in its sole discretion, approve or reject any such request.  Any such Subsidiary whose request is approved by the Board shall be referred to herein as a “Covered Entity.”  In addition, the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, that a Subsidiary that is a Covered Entity will cease to be a Covered Entity with respect to Plan Periods not yet commenced.

 

15.                               Amendment and Termination

 

(a)                                 The Board may at any time terminate the Plan or make such modifications of the Plan as it shall deem advisable.  Except as provided in Section 12, no termination of the Plan may affect options previously granted, provided that the Plan or a Plan Period may be terminated by the Board on a Plan Period Termination Date or by the Board’s setting a new Plan Period Termination Date with respect to a Plan Period then in progress if the Board determines that termination of the Plan and/or any Plan Period is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders or if continuation of the Plan and/or a Plan Period would cause the Company to incur adverse accounting charges as a result of the Plan.  Except as provided in Section 12 or this Section 15, no amendment to the Plan shall make any change in any option previously granted which adversely affects the rights of any Participating Employee.

 

(b)                                 In addition to the foregoing, without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any Participating Employee rights may be considered to have been adversely affected, the Committee shall be entitled to change the Plan Periods, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars (if applicable), permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participating Employee to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each Participating Employee properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participating Employee’s Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Committee determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.

 

16.                               Notices and Other Communications

 

Any notice, demand, request or other communication hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or duly sent by first class registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, or telecopied with a confirmation copy by regular, certified or overnight mail, addressed or telecopied, as the case may be, (i) if to a Participating Employee, at his or her residence address last filed with the Company and (ii) if to the Company, at its principal place of business, addressed to the attention of its Chief Financial Officer, or to such other address or telecopier number, as the case may be, as the addressee may have designated by notice to the addressor.  All such notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been received: (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery; (ii) in the case of mailing, when received by the addressee; and (iii) in the case of facsimile transmission, when confirmed by facsimile machine

 

12

 

report.  In addition, the Company may, in its sole discretion, deliver any documents related to the Plan by electronic means or request that Participating Employee communicate with the Company with respect to the Plan by electronic means.  By participating in the Plan, each Participating Employee will have consented to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company, and such consent shall remain in effect throughout the Participating Employee’s term of employment or service with the Company and thereafter until withdrawn in writing by Participant.

 

17.                               Governing Law

 

The Plan and all options and actions taken thereunder shall be governed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonweath of Massachusetts without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

18.                               Term of Plan

 

The Plan shall become effective on the IPO Date and shall continue in effect until the tenth (10th) anniversary thereof, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 15.

 

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SAMPLE

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

2014 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT

 

	
o
    	
Original   Application
    	
 
    	
Enrollment   Date:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
o
    	
Change   in Payroll Deduction Rate
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
o
    	
Change   in Beneficiary(ies)
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

1.                                      I,                                                           , hereby elect to participate in the Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the “Purchase Plan”), and subscribe to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock in accordance with this Enrollment Agreement and the Purchase Plan.  Capitalized terms used (and not otherwise defined) in this enrollment agreement have the meanings assigned to them in the Purchase Plan.

 

2.                                      I hereby authorize payroll deductions from each paycheck in the amount of               % of my Compensation (from 1% to 15%) on each payroll date during the Plan Period in accordance with the Purchase Plan. (Please note that no fractional percentages are permitted.)

 

3.                                      I understand that such payroll deductions will be accumulated for the purchase of shares of Common Stock at the applicable purchase price determined in accordance with the Purchase Plan.  I understand that, if I do not withdraw from a Plan Period, any accumulated payroll deductions will be used to automatically purchase shares of Common Stock.

 

4.                                      I understand that all my payroll deductions received or held by the Company under the Purchase Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.  Until shares are issued to me, I will only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such accumulated payroll deductions.

 

5.                                      I have received a copy of the Purchase Plan Prospectus and the Purchase Plan document.  I understand that my participation in the Purchase Plan is in all respects subject to the terms of the Purchase Plan.

 

6.                                      Shares purchased for me under the Purchase Plan should be issued in the name(s) of (Employee or Employee and spouse only):

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

7.                                      I understand that if I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant to the Purchase Plan within two years after the Plan Period Commencement Date (the first day of a Plan Period during which I purchased such shares) or one year after the Plan Period Termination Date, I will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received ordinary income at the time of such disposition in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time such shares were purchased by me over the price which I paid for the shares.  I hereby agree to notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days after the date of any disposition of my shares, and I will make adequate provision for federal, state or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the disposition of the Common Stock.  The Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from my compensation the amount necessary to meet any applicable withholding obligation, including any withholding necessary to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to the sale or early disposition of Common Stock by me.

 

If I dispose of such shares at any time after the expiration of the applicable holding periods, I understand that I will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received income only at the time of such disposition, and that such income will be taxed as ordinary income only to the extent of an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of such disposition over the purchase price which I paid for the shares or (b) 15% of the fair market value of the shares on the first day of the Plan Period.  The remainder of the gain, if any, recognized on such disposition will be taxed as capital gain.

 

8.                                      I hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Purchase Plan.  The effectiveness of this Enrollment Agreement is dependent upon my eligibility to participate in the Purchase Plan.

 

9.                                      I hereby agree to establish a brokerage account with                      and to fill out and submit the necessary forms to allow the Company to deposit shares purchased on my behalf under the Purchase Plan in such account, if I have not done so already.

 

10.                               In the event of my death, I hereby designate the following as my beneficiary(ies) to receive all payments and shares due me under the Purchase Plan:

 

	
BENEFICIARY   NAME: (Please print)
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(First)
    	
(Middle)
    	
(Last)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Relationship
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
					

 

2

 

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT SUCCESSIVE PLAN PERIODS UNLESS TERMINATED BY ME.

 

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Signature   of Employee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Print   name
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Spouse’s   Signature
    
	
 
    	
(If   beneficiary other than spouse)
    

 

3

 

SAMPLE

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

2014 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

 

The undersigned participant in the Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, hereby notifies the Company that he or she hereby withdraws from the Plan Period beginning                                 .  He or she hereby directs the Company to pay to the undersigned as promptly as practicable all the payroll deductions credited to his or her account with respect to such Plan Period. The undersigned understands and agrees that his or her option for such Plan Period will be automatically terminated, that no further payroll deductions will be made for the purchase of shares in the current Plan Period, and that the undersigned shall be eligible to participate in subsequent Plan Periods only by delivering to the Company a new Enrollment Agreement.

 

	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Signature:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Date:

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