Exhibit 10.5
NEONC TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, INC.
2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
OPTION EXERCISE AGREEMENT
This OPTION EXERCISE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of ____________, by and between NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ___________________ (“Purchaser”). To the extent any capitalized terms used in this Agreement are not defined, they shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Option Agreement (as defined below).
1. Exercise of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Purchaser hereby elects to exercise his or her option to purchase _____________ shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) of the Company under and pursuant to the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement dated __________ (the “Option Agreement”). The purchase price for the Shares shall be USD $_____ per Share for a total purchase price of USD $______ (the “Aggregate Exercise Price”). The term “Shares” refers to the purchased Shares and all securities received in connection with the Shares pursuant to stock dividends or splits, all securities received in replacement of the Shares in a recapitalization, merger, reorganization, exchange or the like, and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property to which Purchaser is entitled by reason of Purchaser’s ownership of the Shares.
2. Time and Place of Exercise. The purchase and sale of the Shares under this Agreement shall occur at the principal office of the Company simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement; the payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price [in cash, by check or in cash equivalent / by means of a Stock for Stock Exchange / by means of a cashless exercise / by means of a net exercise]; if Purchaser is a married individual, the delivery of a signed Spousal Consent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A[; the execution and delivery of a joinder to the Company’s Stockholder Agreement, dated _________, as amended and in effect from time to time (the “Stockholders Agreement”), in such form as may be provided by the Company;] and the satisfaction of any applicable tax, withholding, required deductions or other payments, all in accordance with the Plan. The Company shall issue the Shares to Purchaser by entering such Shares in Purchaser’s name as of such date in the books and records of the Company or, if applicable, a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company, against payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price therefor by Purchaser. The Company will deliver to Purchaser a stock certificate or, upon request in the case of uncertificated securities, a notice of issuance, for the Shares as soon as practicable following such date.
3. Limitations on Transfer. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Shares purchased under this Agreement are subject to (i) the transfer restrictions set forth in the Plan, (ii) the terms and conditions that apply to the Company’s Common Stock, as set forth in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as may be in effect at the time of any proposed transfer (the “Governance Provisions”), [(iii) the terms and conditions set forth in the Stockholders Agreement,] (iv) the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement, and (v) any other limitation or restriction on transfer created by applicable laws. Purchaser shall not assign, encumber or dispose of any interest in the Shares except to the extent permitted by, and in compliance with, the Plan, the Governance Provisions, [the Stockholders Agreement] applicable laws, and the provisions in this Agreement.
4. Lock-Up Agreement. If so requested by the Company or the underwriters in connection with the initial public offering of the Company’s securities registered under the Securities Act, Purchaser shall not sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company however or whenever acquired (except for those being registered) without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for 180 days from the effective date of the registration statement, plus such additional period, to the extent required by FINRA rules, up to a maximum of 216 days from the effective date of the registration statement, and Purchaser shall execute an agreement reflecting the foregoing as may be requested by the underwriters at the time of such offering.
5. Investment and Taxation Representations. In connection with the purchase of the Shares, Purchaser represents to the Company the following:
(a) Purchaser is aware of the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an informed and knowledgeable decision to acquire the Shares. Purchaser is purchasing the Shares for investment for Purchaser’s own account only and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any “distribution” thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act or under any applicable provision of state law. Purchaser does not have any present intention to transfer the Shares to any other person or entity.
(b) Purchaser understands that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act by reason of a specific exemption therefrom, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of Purchaser’s investment intent as expressed herein.
(c) Purchaser further acknowledges and understands that the securities must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Purchaser further acknowledges and understands that the Company is under no obligation to register the securities.
(d) Purchaser is familiar with the provisions of Rule 144, promulgated under the Securities Act, which, in substance, permits limited public resale of “restricted securities” acquired, directly or indirectly, from the issuer of the securities (or from an affiliate of such issuer), in a non-public offering subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Purchaser understands that the Company provides no assurances as to whether he or she will be able to resell any or all of the Shares pursuant to Rule 144, which rule requires, among other things, that the Company be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, that resales of securities take place only after the holder of the Shares has held the Shares for certain specified time periods, and under certain circumstances, that resales of securities be limited in volume and take place only pursuant to brokered transactions. Notwithstanding this Section 5(d), Purchaser acknowledges and agrees to the restrictions set forth in Section 5(e) below.
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(e) Purchaser further understands that in the event all of the applicable requirements of Rule 144 are not satisfied, registration under the Securities Act, compliance with Regulation A, or some other registration exemption will be required; and that, notwithstanding the fact that Rule 144 is not exclusive, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has expressed its opinion that persons proposing to sell private placement securities other than in a registered offering and otherwise than pursuant to Rule 144 will have a substantial burden of proof in establishing that an exemption from registration is available for such offers or sales, and that such persons and their respective brokers who participate in such transactions do so at their own risk.
(f) Purchaser represents that Purchaser is not subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act. Purchaser also agrees to notify the Company if Purchaser becomes subject to such disqualifications after the date hereof.
(g) Purchaser understands that Purchaser may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Purchaser’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted any tax consultants Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.
6. Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders.
(a) Legends. Any stock certificate or, in the case of uncertificated securities, any notice of issuance, for the Shares shall bear the following legends (as well as any legends required by the Company or applicable state and federal corporate and securities laws):
(i) “THE SHARES REFERENCED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE OR DISTRIBUTION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”
(ii) “THE SHARES referenced herein ARE SUBJECT TO REstrictions AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE COMPANY’S 2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND IN BOTH A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT AND AN OPTION EXERCISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE Company AND THE sTOCKholder PURSUANT TO SUCH PLAN.”
(iii) [“THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, AS MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, (A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FROM THE COMPANY), AND BY ACCEPTING ANY INTEREST IN SUCH SHARES THE PERSON ACCEPTING SUCH INTEREST SHALL BE DEEMED TO AGREE TO AND SHALL BECOME BOUND BY ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THAT STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, VOTING AND OWNERSHIP AND A LOCK-UP PERIOD OF UP TO 180 DAYS IN THE EVENT OF A PUBLIC OFFERING AS SET FORTH THEREIN.”]
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(iv) “COPIES OF THE APPLICABLE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS ARE ON FILE WITH AND MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. THE COMPANY SHALL NOT REGISTER OR OTHERWISE RECOGNIZE OR GIVE EFFECT TO ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES THAT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH SUCH TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.”
(b) Stop-Transfer Notices. Purchaser agrees that, in order to ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may issue appropriate “stop transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and that, if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.
(c) Refusal to Transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Plan, the Governance Provisions [or the Stockholders Agreement], or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares shall have been so transferred.
(d) Acknowledgement of Restrictions. Purchaser acknowledges that the Shares are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of this Section 6, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Company, [the Stockholders Agreement] and any amendments thereto, copies of which are on file at the principal office of the Company. A statement of all of the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the respective classes and/or series of shares of stock of the Company and upon the holders thereof may be obtained by any stockholder upon request and without charge, at the principal office of the Company, and the Company will furnish any stockholder, upon request and without charge, a copy of such statement. Purchaser acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 6 shall constitute the notices required by Sections 151(f) and 202(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Purchaser hereby expressly waives the requirement of Section 151(f) of the Delaware General Corporation Law that it receive the written notice provided for in Sections 151(f) and 202(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law within a reasonable time after the issuance of the Shares.
7. No Employment Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company, or a parent, subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, to terminate Purchaser’s employment or consulting relationship, for any reason, with or without cause.
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8. Waiver of Statutory Information Rights. Purchaser acknowledges and understands that, but for the waiver made herein, Purchaser would be entitled, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, to inspect for any proper purpose, and to make copies and extracts from, the Company’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records, and the books and records of subsidiaries of the Company, if any, under the circumstances and in the manner provided in Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (any and all such rights, and any and all such other rights of Purchaser as may be provided for in Section 220, the “Inspection Rights”). In light of the foregoing, until the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, Purchaser hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives the Inspection Rights, whether such Inspection Rights would be exercised or pursued directly or indirectly pursuant to Section 220 or otherwise, and covenants and agrees never to directly or indirectly commence, voluntarily aid in any way, prosecute, assign, transfer, or cause to be commenced any claim, action, cause of action, or other proceeding to pursue or exercise the Inspection Rights. The foregoing waiver applies to the Inspection Rights of Purchaser in Purchaser’s capacity as a stockholder and shall not affect any rights of a director, if applicable, in his or her capacity as such, under Section 220. The foregoing waiver shall not apply to any contractual inspection rights of Purchaser under any written agreement with the Company.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement, and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that may arise directly or indirectly from this Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state of Delaware and agree that any such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of Delaware or the federal courts of the United States located in Delaware and no other courts.
(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous discussions, understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between them relating to the subject matter hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the parties to this Agreement. No delay or failure to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall constitute a waiver of that provision as to that or any other instance.
(d) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Company may assign any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement. No other party to this Agreement may assign, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the Company.
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(e) Notices. Any notice, demand or request required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient when delivered personally or by overnight courier or sent by email, or 48 hours after being deposited in the U.S. mail as certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, addressed to the party to be notified at such party’s address as set forth on the signature page, as subsequently modified by written notice, or if no address is specified on the signature page, at the most recent address set forth in the Company’s books and records.
(f) Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (i) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (ii) the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (iii) the balance of the Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.
(g) Construction. This Agreement is the result of negotiations between and has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and their respective counsel, if any; accordingly, this Agreement shall be deemed to be the product of all of the parties hereto, and no ambiguity shall be construed in favor of or against any one of the parties hereto.
(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Execution of a facsimile or scanned copy will have the same force and effect as execution of an original, and a facsimile or scanned signature will be deemed an original and valid signature.
(i) Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to this Agreement or any notices required by applicable law or the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws [or Stockholders Agreement] (each as amended from time to time) by email or any other electronic means. Purchaser hereby consents to (i) conduct business electronically (ii) receive such documents and notices by such electronic delivery and (iii) sign documents electronically and agrees to participate through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Option Exercise Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
| THE COMPANY: | ||
| NEONC TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Address: | ||
| Email: | ||
| PURCHASER: | ||
| (Name of Purchaser) | ||
| (Signature of Purchaser) | ||
| Address: | ||
| Email: | ||
[Signature Page to Option Exercise Agreement]
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Exhibit A
Spousal Consent
I, ____________________, spouse of ____________________ (“Purchaser”), have read and hereby approve the foregoing Agreement. In consideration of the Company’s granting my spouse the right to purchase the Shares as set forth in the Agreement, I hereby agree to be bound irrevocably by the Agreement and further agree that any community property or other such interest that I may have in the Shares shall hereby be similarly bound by the Agreement. I hereby appoint my spouse as my attorney-in-fact with respect to any amendment or exercise or waiver of any rights under the Agreement.
| Spouse of Purchaser (if applicable) |
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