Exhibit 10.3
ACER THERAPEUTICS INC.
2018 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
You have been granted the following Option (this “Option” or this “Award”) to purchase shares of Common Stock (“Stock”) of Acer Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) under the Acer Therapeutics Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”):
Name of Optionee: |
| [Name of Optionee] |
Grant Date: |
| [Date of Grant] |
Total Number of Shares Subject to Option: |
| [Total Shares] |
Type of Option: |
| ☐ Incentive Stock Option ☒ Nonstatutory Stock Option |
Exercise Price Per Share: |
| $[Exercise Price] |
Vesting Commencement Date: |
| [Vesting Commencement Date] |
Vesting Schedule: |
| The Shares subject to this Option become exercisable over a four-year period, with 25% vesting on the one-year anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date and the remaining 75% vesting in equal increments quarterly thereafter (in arrears) over the remaining three years, subject to continuous Service from the Vesting Commencement Date. |
Vesting Acceleration: |
| The Shares will become fully vested immediately prior to a “Change in Control,” as described in the Stock Option Agreement. |
Expiration Date: |
| [Expiration Date] This Option expires earlier if your Service terminates earlier, as described in the Stock Option Agreement. |
By your written signature below (or your electronic acceptance) and the signature of the Company’s representative below, you and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the term and conditions of the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement (this “Agreement”), both of which are attached to and made a part of this document.
By your written signature below (or your electronic acceptance), you further agree that the Company may deliver by e-mail all documents relating to the Plan or this Award (including without limitation, prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements). You also agree that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it will notify you by e-mail. Should you electronically accept this Agreement, you agree to the following: “This electronic contract contains my electronic signature, which I have executed with the intent to sign this Agreement.”
OPTIONEE |
| ACER THERAPEUTICS INC. | ||
|
| |||
|
| By: |
|
|
Optionee’s Signature |
|
|
|
|
|
| Name: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Optionee’s Printed Name |
| Title: |
|
|
2
ACER THERAPEUTICS INC.
2018 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
The Plan and Other Agreements | The Option that you are receiving is granted pursuant and subject in all respects to the applicable provisions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement will have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. The attached Notice, this Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company regarding this Award. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning this Option are superseded. This Agreement may be amended by the Committee without your consent; however, if any such amendment would materially impair your rights or obligations under this Agreement, this Agreement may be amended only by another written agreement, signed by you and the Company. |
|
|
Tax Treatment | This Option is intended to be an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code or a nonstatutory option, as provided in the Notice of Stock Option Grant. Even if this Option is designated as an incentive stock option, it will be deemed to be a nonstatutory option to the extent required by the $100,000 annual limitation under Section 422(d) of the Code. |
|
|
Vesting | This Option becomes exercisable in installments, as shown in the Notice of Stock Option Grant. The Shares will become fully vested immediately prior to a “Change in Control” as defined in the Plan. This Option will in no event become exercisable for additional Shares after your Service as an Employee or a Consultant has terminated for any reason. |
|
|
Term | This Option expires in any event at the close of business at Company headquarters on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Grant Date, as shown on the Notice of Stock Option Grant (fifth (5th) anniversary for a more than ten percent (10%) shareholder as provided under the Plan if this is an incentive stock option). This Option may expire earlier if your Service terminates, as described below. |
|
|
Regular Termination
| If your Service terminates for any reason except due to your death or Disability, then this Option will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date three (3) months after the date your Service terminates (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date). The Company determines when your Service terminates for this purpose and all purposes under the Plan and its determinations are conclusive and binding on all persons. |
|
|
Death | If your Service terminates because of your death, then this Option will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date twelve (12) months after the date your Service terminates (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date). During that period of up to twelve (12) months, your estate or heirs may exercise this Option. |
|
|
Disability | If your Service terminates because of your Disability, then this Option will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date twelve (12) months after the date your Service terminates (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date). |
|
|
3
For purposes of this Option, your Service does not terminate when you go on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave of absence was approved by the Company in writing and if continued crediting of Service is required by the terms of the leave or by applicable law. But your Service terminates when the approved leave ends, unless you immediately return to active work. If you go on a leave of absence, then the vesting schedule specified in the Notice of Stock Option Grant may be adjusted in accordance with the Company’s leave of absence policy or the terms of your leave. If you commence working on a part-time basis, then the vesting schedule specified in the Notice of Stock Option Grant may be adjusted in accordance with the Company’s part-time work policy or the terms of an agreement between you and the Company pertaining to your part-time schedule. | |
|
|
Restrictions on Exercise | The Company will not permit you to exercise this Option if the issuance of Shares at that time would violate any law or regulation. The inability of the Company to obtain approval from any regulatory body having authority deemed by the Company to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of the Stock pursuant to this Option will relieve the Company of any liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of the Stock as to which such approval will not have been obtained. |
|
|
Notice of Exercise | When you wish to exercise this Option you must provide a written or electronic notice of exercise form (substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A) in accordance with such procedures as are established by the Company and communicated to you from time to time. Any notice of exercise must specify how many Shares you wish to purchase and how your Shares should be registered. The notice of exercise will be effective when it is received by the Company. If someone else wants to exercise this Option after your death, that person must prove to the Company’s satisfaction that he or she is entitled to do so. |
|
|
Form of Payment | When you submit your notice of exercise, you must include payment of the Option exercise price for the Shares you are purchasing. Payment may be made in the following form(s): • Your personal check, a cashier’s check, a money order or a wire transfer. • Certificates for Shares that you own, along with any forms needed to effect a transfer of those Shares to the Company. The value of the Shares, determined as of the effective date of the Option exercise, will be applied to the Option exercise price. Instead of surrendering Shares, you may attest to the ownership of those Shares on a form provided by the Company and have the same number of Shares subtracted from the Shares issued to you upon exercise of this Option. However, you may not surrender or attest to the ownership of Shares in payment of the exercise price if your action would cause the Company to recognize a compensation expense (or additional compensation expense) with respect to this Option for financial reporting purposes. |
4
| • By delivery on a form approved by the Company of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or part of the Shares that are issued to you when you exercise this Option and to deliver to the Company from the sale proceeds an amount sufficient to pay the Option exercise price and any withholding taxes. The balance of the sale proceeds, if any, will be delivered to you. The directions must be given by providing a notice of exercise form approved by the Company. • By delivery on a form approved by the Company of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker or lender approved by the Company to pledge Shares that are issued to you when you exercise this Option as security for a loan and to deliver to the Company from the loan proceeds an amount sufficient to pay the Option exercise price and any withholding taxes. The directions must be given by providing a notice of exercise form approved by the Company. • If permitted by the Committee, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option will be reduced by the largest whole number of Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price (plus tax withholdings, if applicable) and any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price (and/or applicable tax withholdings) not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole Shares to be issued will be paid by you in cash other form of payment permitted under this Option. The directions must be given by providing a notice of exercise form approved by the Company. • Any other form permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment may not be made in any form that is unlawful, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. |
|
|
5
6
|
|
Retention Rights | Neither this Option nor this Agreement gives you the right to be employed or retained by the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company in any capacity. The Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate your Service at any time, with or without cause. |
|
|
Shareholder Rights | This Option carries neither voting rights nor rights to dividends. You, or your estate or heirs, have no rights as a shareholder of the Company unless and until you have exercised this Option by giving the required notice to the Company and paying the exercise price. No adjustments will be made for dividends or other rights if the applicable record date occurs before you exercise this Option, except as described in the Plan. |
|
|
Adjustments | The number of Shares covered by this Option and the exercise price per Share will be subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company Shares, and in other circumstances, as set forth in the Plan. The forfeiture provisions and restrictions described above will apply to all new, substitute or additional stock options or securities to which you are entitled by reason of this Award. |
|
|
Successors and Assigns | Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, every term of this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors, transferees and assigns. |
|
|
Notice | Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement will be given in writing and will be deemed effectively given upon the earliest of personal delivery, receipt or the third (3rd) full day following mailing with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party hereto at the address last known in the Company’s records or at such other address as such party may designate by ten (10) days’ advance written notice to the other party hereto. |
|
|
Section 409A of the Code | To the extent this Agreement is subject to, and not exempt from, Section 409A of the Code, this Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A, and its provisions will be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent. You acknowledge and agree that changes may be made to this Agreement to avoid adverse tax consequences to you under Section 409A. |
|
|
Applicable Law and Choice of Venue | This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the laws of any other jurisdiction that might be applied because of the conflicts of laws principles of any state.
For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties evidenced by this Award or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Texas and agree that such litigation will be conducted only in the courts of Montgomery County, Texas, or the federal courts for that district, and no other courts, where this grant is made and/or to be performed. |
|
|
7
BY SIGNING THE COVER SHEET OF THIS AGREEMENT, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN THE PLAN.
8
ACER THERAPEUTICS INC.
2018 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTION
OPTIONEE INFORMATION: | |
Name: |
|
Social Security Number: |
|
Employee Number: |
|
Address: |
|
|
|
OPTION INFORMATION: |
|
Grant Date: |
|
Exercise Price per Share: | $ |
Total Number of Shares of Acer Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) Covered by Option: |
|
Type of Stock Option: | ☐ Nonstatutory (NSO) |
| ☐ Incentive (ISO) |
Number of Shares of the Company for which Option is Being Exercised Now: | (“Purchased Shares”) |
Total Exercise Price for the Purchased Shares: | $ |
Form of Payment: | ☐ Cash or Check for $ ☐ Cashless exercise ☐ Net exercise |
Name(s) in which the Purchased Shares should be Registered: |
|
The Certificate for the Purchased Shares (if any) should be sent to the Following Address: |
|
A-1
1. | I understand that all sales of Purchased Shares are subject to compliance with the Company’s policy on securities trades. |
2. | I hereby acknowledge that I received and read a copy of the prospectus describing the Acer Therapeutics Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan and the tax consequences of an exercise. |
3. | In the case of a nonstatutory option, I understand that I must recognize ordinary income equal to the spread between the fair market value of the Purchased Shares on the date of exercise and the exercise price. I further understand that I am required to pay withholding taxes at the time of exercising a nonstatutory option. |
4. | In the case of an incentive stock option, I agree to notify the Company if I dispose of the Purchased Shares before I have met both of the tax holding periods applicable to incentive stock options (that is, if I dispose of the Purchased Shares prior to the date that is two (2) years after the Grant Date and one (1) year after the date the option was exercised). |
SIGNATURE AND DATE:
| , 20 |
A-2