Exhibit 10.1
STEALTH PEPTIDES INTERNATIONAL INC.
2006 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN
| 1. | Purpose |
The purpose of this 2006 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Stealth Peptides International Inc., an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s shareholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to align their interests with those of the Company’s shareholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by its Board of Directors (the “Board”).
| 2. | Eligibility |
All of the Company’s employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors are eligible to receive options, restricted shares and other share-based awards (each, an “Award”) under the Plan. Each person who receives an Award under the Plan is deemed a “Participant.”
| 3. | Administration and Delegation |
(a) Administration by the Board. The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered into under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.
(b) Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee.
| 4. | Shares Available for Awards. |
(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 8, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to 76,632,161 Ordinary Shares, of a nominal par value of $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”). If any Award expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of the Ordinary Shares subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right) or results in any Ordinary Shares not being issued, the unused Ordinary Shares covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Further, Ordinary Shares tendered to the Company by a Participant to exercise an Award shall be added to the number of Ordinary Shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. However, in the case of Incentive Options (as hereinafter defined), the foregoing provisions shall be subject to any limitations under the Code. Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.
(b) Substitute Awards. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a) except as may be required by reason of Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.
| 5. | Share Options |
(a) General. The Board may grant options to purchase Ordinary Shares (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of Ordinary Shares to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. An Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Option.”
(b) Incentive Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Option”) shall only be granted to employees of the Company, any of the present or future parent or subsidiary corporations of the Company as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Option is not an Incentive Option or for any action taken by the Board, including without limitation the conversion of an Incentive Option to a Nonstatutory Option.
(c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and specify such exercise price in the applicable option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date the Option is granted.
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(d) Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement.
(e) Exercise of Option. Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Ordinary Shares subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company following exercise either as soon as practicable or, subject to such conditions as the Board shall specify, on a deferred basis (with the Company’s obligation to be evidenced by an instrument providing for future delivery of the deferred shares at the time or times specified by the Board).
(f) Payment Upon Exercise. Ordinary Shares purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:
(1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;
(2) except as the Board may otherwise provide in an option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;
(3) when the Ordinary Shares are registered under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or comparable securities laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States), by delivery of Ordinary Shares owned by the Participant valued at their fair market value as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board (“Fair Market Value”), provided (i) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law, (ii) such Ordinary Shares, if acquired directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant for such minimum period of time, if any, as may be established by the Board in its discretion and (iii) such Ordinary Shares are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements;
(4) to the extent permitted by applicable law and by the Board, by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or
(5) by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.
(g) Repricing of Options. The Board may, without shareholder approval, amend any outstanding Option granted under the Plan to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Option. The Board may also, without shareholder approval, cancel any outstanding Option and grant in substitution therefor new Awards covering the same or a different number of Ordinary Shares and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled Option.
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| 6. | Restricted Shares |
(a) General. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire Ordinary Shares, subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award (each, a “Restricted Share Award”).
(b) Terms and Conditions. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Share Award, including the conditions for repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any.
(c) Share Certificates. Any share certificates issued in respect of a Restricted Share Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the Participant, together with a share power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, “Designated Beneficiary” shall mean the Participant’s estate.
(d) Dividends. Participants holding Restricted Shares will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such Shares. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Ordinary Shares other than an ordinary cash dividend, the shares, cash or other property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they were paid. Each dividend payment will be made no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to shareholders of that class of Ordinary Shares or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividends are paid to shareholders of that class of Ordinary Shares.
| 7. | Other Share-Based Awards |
Other Awards of Ordinary Shares, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Ordinary Shares or other property, may be granted hereunder to Participants (“Other Share Awards”), including without limitation appreciation rights and Awards entitling recipients to receive Ordinary Shares to be delivered in the future. Such Other Share Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Award granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Share Awards may be paid in Ordinary Shares or cash, as the Board shall determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the conditions of each Other Share Awards, including any purchase price applicable thereto.
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| 8. | Adjustments for Changes in Ordinary Shares and Certain Other Events |
(a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any share split, reverse share split, share dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares,spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any distribution to holders of Ordinary Shares other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under this Plan, (ii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iii) the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Share Award, and (iv) the terms of each other outstanding Award shall be appropriately adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) to the extent determined by the Board.
(b) Reorganization Events
(1) Definition. A “Reorganization Event” shall mean: (a) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the Ordinary Shares of the Company are converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or are cancelled by or (b) any exchange of all of the Ordinary Shares of the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange transaction or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(2) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Awards Other than Restricted Share Awards. In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board shall take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any outstanding Awards on such terms as the Board determines: (i) provide that Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof); (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, provide that the Participant’s unexercised Options or other unexercised Awards shall become exercisable in full and will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the Participant within a specified period following the date of such notice; (iii) provide that outstanding Awards shall become realizable or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award shall lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event; (iv) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Ordinary Shares will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash payment to a Participant equal to (A) the Acquisition Price times the number of Ordinary Shares subject to the Participant’s Options or other Awards (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the Acquisition Price) minus (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options or other Awards, in exchange for the termination of such Options or other Awards; (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof); and (vi) any combination of the foregoing.
For purposes of clause (i) above, an Option shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, the Option confers the right to purchase, for each Ordinary Share subject to the Option immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Reorganization Event by holders of Ordinary Shares for each Ordinary Share held
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immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Ordinary Shares); provided, however, that if the consideration received as a result of the Reorganization Event is not solely Ordinary Shares (or their equivalent) of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of Options to consist solely of Ordinary Shares (or their equivalent) of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding Ordinary Shares as a result of the Reorganization Event.
(3) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Restricted Share Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event other than a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the repurchase and other rights of the Company under each outstanding Restricted Share Award shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall apply to the cash, securities or other property which the Ordinary Shares were converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to the Ordinary Shares subject to such Restricted Share Award. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Share Award or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, all restrictions and conditions on all Restricted Share Awards then outstanding shall automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied.
| 9. | General Provisions Applicable to Awards |
(a) Transferability of Awards. Except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an Incentive Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.
(b) Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.
(c) Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.
(d) Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, termination or other cessation of employment, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award.
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(e) Withholding. Each Participant shall pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Company for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with an Award to such Participant. Except as the Board may otherwise provide in an Award, for so long as the Ordinary Shares are registered under the Exchange Act, Participants may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of Ordinary Shares, including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, except as otherwise provided by the Board, that the total tax withholding where shares are being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income). Shares surrendered to satisfy tax withholding requirements cannot be subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements. The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant.
(f) Amendment of Award. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Option to a Nonstatutory Option, provided that the Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant.
(g) Conditions on Delivery of Shares. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable share exchange or share market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.
(h) Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be.
| 10. | Miscellaneous |
(a) No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.
(b) No Rights As Shareholders. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any
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Ordinary Shares to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares on the Register of Members of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Ordinary Shares by means of a share dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to such Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such share dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the share dividend with respect to the Ordinary Shares acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such share dividend.
(c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is adopted by the Board. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of 10 years from the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.
(d) Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time.
(e) Authorization ofSub-Plans. The Board may from time to time establish one or moresub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable blue sky, securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish suchsub-plans by adopting supplements to this Plan containing (i) such limitations on the Board’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable or (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Company shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction which is not the subject of such supplement.
(f) Compliance with Code Section 409A. No Award shall provide for a deferral of compensation that does not comply with Section 409A of the Code, unless the Board, at the time of grant, specifically provides that the Award is not intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A, is not so exempt or compliant or for any other action taken by the Board.
(g) Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law.
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