Bicara Therapeutics Inc. Common Stock (BCAX)
Filed: 6 Sep 24, 6:31am
Exhibit 10.3
BICARA THERAPEUTICS INC
2024 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
The purpose of the Bicara Therapeutics Inc. 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide eligible employees of Bicara Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) and each Designated Company (as defined in Section 11) with opportunities to purchase shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Shares”). An aggregate of 507,383 Shares have been approved and reserved for this purpose, plus on January 1, 2025 and on each January 1 thereafter through January 1, 2034, the number of Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be cumulatively increased by the least of (i) one percent (1%) of the Outstanding Shares (as defined in Section 11) on the immediately preceding December 31, (ii) 1,014,766 Shares and (iii) such number of Shares as approved by the Administrator. The Plan includes two components: a Code Section 423 Component (the “423 Component”) and a non-Code Section 423 Component (the “Non-423 Component”). It is intended for the 423 Component to constitute an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the 423 Component shall be interpreted in accordance with that intent (although the Company makes no undertaking or representation to maintain such qualification). In addition, this Plan authorizes the grant of Options (as defined in Section 8) under the Non-423 Component, which does not qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code, and such Options granted under the Non-423 Component shall be granted pursuant to separate Offerings (as defined in Section 2) containing such sub-plans, appendices, rules or procedures as may be adopted by the Administrator (as defined in Section 1) and designed to achieve tax, securities laws or other objectives for eligible employees and the Designated Companies in locations outside of the United States. Except as otherwise provided herein or by the Administrator, the Non-423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the 423 Component.
For purposes of this Plan, the Administrator may designate separate Offerings under the Plan, the terms of which need not be identical, in which eligible employees will participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offerings are identical, provided that the terms of participation are the same within each separate Offering under the 423 Component as determined under Section 423 of the Code. Solely by way of example and without limiting the foregoing, the Company could, but shall not be required to, provide for simultaneous Offerings under the Section 423 Component and the Non-423 Component of the Plan.
1. Administration. The Plan will be administered by the person or persons (the “Administrator”) appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for such purpose. The Administrator has authority at any time to: (i) adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for the administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it deem advisable; (ii) interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan; (iii) determine when and how Options shall be granted and the provisions and terms of each Offering (which need not be identical); (iv) select Designated Companies; (v) make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; (vi) decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and
(vii) otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. Further, the Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures, provided that the adoption and implementation of any such rules and/or procedures would not cause the 423 Component to be in noncompliance with Section 423 of the Code. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of participation elections, payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of share certificates that vary with local requirements. All interpretations and decisions of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and the Participants (as defined in Section 11). No member of the Board or individual exercising administrative authority with respect to the Plan shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option granted hereunder.
2. Offerings. The Company may make one or more offerings to eligible employees to purchase Shares under the Plan (“Offerings”). The initial Offering will begin and end on the dates determined by the Administrator. Thereafter, Offerings will begin and end on the dates determined by the Administrator, provided that no Offering shall exceed 27 months in duration or overlap any other Offering.
3. Eligibility. All individuals classified as employees on the payroll records of the Company or a Designated Company as of the first day of the applicable Offering (the “Offering Date”) are eligible to participate in such Offering under the Plan, provided that the Administrator may determine, in advance of any Offering, that employees are eligible only if, as of the Offering Date, they (a) are not “highly compensated employees” (as defined in Section 423 of the Code), (b) are customarily employed by the Company or a Designated Company for more than 20 hours a week, (c) they are customarily employed by the Company or a Designated Company for more than five months per calendar year, and/or (d) have completed a minimum period of employment as determined by the Administrator, provided such service requirement does not exceed two years of employment. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, individuals who are not contemporaneously classified as employees of the Company or a Designated Company for purposes of the Company’s or applicable Designated Company’s payroll system are not considered to be eligible employees of the Company or any Designated Company and shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan. In the event any such individuals are reclassified as employees of the Company or a Designated Company for any purpose, including, without limitation, common law or statutory employees, by any action of any third party, including, without limitation, any government agency, or as a result of any private lawsuit, action or administrative proceeding, such individuals shall, notwithstanding such reclassification, remain ineligible for participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive means for individuals who are not contemporaneously classified as employees of the Company or a Designated Company on the Company’s or Designated Company’s payroll system to become eligible to participate in this Plan is through an amendment to this Plan, duly executed by the Company, that specifically renders such individuals eligible to participate herein.
4. Participation. An eligible employee who is not a Participant in any prior Offering may participate in a subsequent Offering by submitting an enrollment form to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a manner determined by the Administrator (including, but not limited to, by electronic means) by such deadline as established by the Administrator for the Offering. The enrollment form will (a) state a whole percentage (unless the Administrator determines in advance of an Offering to require that a fixed amount be specified in lieu of a percentage) to be contributed from an eligible employee’s Compensation (as defined in Section 11) per pay period and (b) authorize the purchase of Shares in each Offering in accordance with the terms of the Plan. An employee who does not enroll in accordance with these procedures will be deemed to have waived the right to participate. Unless a Participant files a new enrollment form, withdraws from the Plan or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan, such Participant’s deductions and purchases will continue at the same percentage of Compensation for future Offerings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, participation in the Plan will neither be permitted nor be denied contrary to the requirements of the Code.
5. Employee Contributions. Each eligible employee may authorize payroll deductions at a minimum of 1% up to a maximum of 15% of such employee’s Compensation for each pay period, or such other minimum or maximum as may be specified by the Administrator in advance of an Offering. The Company will maintain book accounts showing the amount of payroll deductions made by each Participant for each Offering. No interest will accrue or be paid on payroll deductions, unless required under applicable law.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, in non-U.S. jurisdictions where participation in the Plan through payroll deductions is prohibited or otherwise problematic under applicable laws (as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion), the Administrator may provide that an eligible employee may elect to participate through other contributions in a form acceptable to the Administrator in lieu of or in addition to payroll deductions; provided, however, that, for any Offering under the 423 Component, any alternative method of contribution must be applied on an equal and uniform basis to all eligible employees in the Offering. Any reference to “payroll deductions” in this Section 5 (or in any other section of the Plan) will similarly cover contributions by other means made pursuant to this Section 5.
6. Contribution Changes. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, except in the case of withdrawal as outlined in Section 7, a Participant may not increase or decrease such Participant’s payroll deductions during any Offering, but may increase or decrease such Participant’s payroll deductions with respect to the next Offering (subject to the limitations of Section 5) by filing a new enrollment form by such deadline as shall be established by the Administrator for the Offering. The Administrator may, in advance of any Offering, establish rules permitting a Participant to increase, decrease or terminate such Participant’s payroll deductions during an Offering.
7. Withdrawal. A Participant may withdraw from participation in the Plan by giving written notice to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a form acceptable to the Administrator (including, but not limited to, by electronic means) no later than two weeks prior to the end of the then-applicable Offering (or such shorter or longer period as may be specified by the Administrator prior to any Offering). The Participant’s withdrawal will be effective as soon
as practicable following receipt of written notice of withdrawal by the Company or an agent designated by the Company. Following a Participant’s withdrawal, the Company will promptly refund such individual’s entire account balance under the Plan to the Participant (after payment for any Shares purchased before the effective date of withdrawal). Partial withdrawals are not permitted. Such an employee may not begin participation again during the remainder of the Offering, but may enroll in a subsequent Offering in accordance with Section 4.
8. Grant of Options. On each Offering Date, the Company will grant to each eligible employee who is then a Participant in the Plan an option (“Option”) to purchase on the last day of such Offering (the “Exercise Date”) the lowest of (a) a number of Shares determined by dividing such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions on such Exercise Date by the Option Price (as defined below), (b) the number of Shares determined by dividing $25,000 by the Fair Market Value of the Shares (as defined in Section 11) on the Offering Date for such Offering; or (c) such other number of Shares as established by the Administrator in advance of the Offering; provided, however, that such Option shall be subject to the limitations set forth below. Each Participant’s Option shall be exercisable only to the extent of such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions on the Exercise Date. The purchase price for each Share purchased under each Option (the “Option Price”) will be 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Offering Date or the Exercise Date, whichever is less.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Participant may be granted an Option hereunder if such Participant, immediately after the Option was granted, would be treated as owning Shares possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (each as defined in Section 11). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code will apply in determining the share ownership of a Participant, and all shares that the Participant has a contractual right to purchase will be treated as shares owned by the Participant. In addition, no Participant may be granted an Option that permits such Participant rights to purchase Shares under the Plan, and any other employee stock purchase plan of the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries, to accrue at a rate that exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value of such Shares (determined on the Option grant date or dates) for each calendar year in which the Option is outstanding at any time. The purpose of the limitation in the preceding sentence is to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and shall be applied taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.
9. Exercise of Option and Purchase of Shares. Each employee who continues to be a Participant in the Plan on the Exercise Date shall be deemed to have exercised such Participant’s Option on such date and shall acquire from the Company such number of whole Shares reserved for the purpose of the Plan as such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions on such date will purchase at the Option Price, subject to any other limitations contained in the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in advance of any Offering, any amount remaining in a Participant’s account at the end of an Offering solely by reason of the inability to purchase a fractional share will be carried forward to the next Offering; any other balance remaining in a Participant’s account at the end of an Offering will be refunded to the Participant promptly.
10. Delivery of Shares. As soon as practicable after each Exercise Date, the Company will arrange for the delivery to each Participant of the Shares acquired by the Participant on such Exercise Date; provided that the Company may deliver such Shares to a broker that holds such Shares in street name for the benefit of the Participant.
11. Definitions.
The term “Affiliate” means any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company that does not meet the definition of a Subsidiary below, as determined by the Administrator, whether now or hereafter existing.
The term “Compensation” means the amount of base pay, prior to salary reduction pursuant to Sections 125, 132(f) or 401(k) of the Code, but excluding overtime, commissions, incentive or bonus awards, allowances and reimbursements for expenses such as relocation allowances or travel expenses, income or gains on the exercise of Company stock options or other share-based awards, and similar items. The Administrator shall have the discretion to determine the application of this definition to Participants outside of the United States.
The term “Designated Company” means each Affiliate and Subsidiary that has been designated by the Administrator from time to time, in its sole discretion, as eligible to participate in the Plan, such designation to specify whether such participation is in the 423 Component or Non-423 Component. A Designated Company may participate in either the 423 Component or Non-423 Component, but not both. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Affiliate or Subsidiary is disregarded for U.S. tax purposes in respect of the Company or any Designated Company participating in the 423 Component, then such disregarded Affiliate or Subsidiary shall automatically be a Designated Company participating in the 423 Component. If any Affiliate or Subsidiary is disregarded for U.S. tax purposes in respect of any Designated Company participating in the Non-423 Component, the Administrator may exclude such Affiliate or Subsidiary from participating in the Plan, notwithstanding that the Designated Company in respect of which such Affiliate or Subsidiary is disregarded may participate in the Plan. The Administrator may so designate any Affiliate or Subsidiary, or revoke any such designation, at any time and from time to time, either before or after the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders.
The term “Fair Market Value of the Shares” on any given date means the fair market value of the Shares determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that if the Shares are admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), the NASDAQ Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to the closing price. If there is no closing price for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there is a closing price.
The term “Initial Public Offering” means the first underwritten, firm commitment public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the offer and sale by the Company of its common stock.
The term “New Exercise Date” means a new Exercise Date if the Administrator shortens any Offering then in progress.
The term “Outstanding Shares” means, as of a specified date, the sum of (i) the number of Shares issued and outstanding and (ii) the number of Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of any outstanding, pre-funded warrants to acquire Shares for a nominal exercise price.
The term “Parent” means a “parent corporation” with respect to the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
The term “Participant” means an individual who is eligible as determined in Section 3 and who has complied with the provisions of Section 4.
The term “Registration Date” means the date on which the registration statement on Form S-1 that is filed by the Company with respect to its Initial Public Offering is declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The term “Sale Event” means (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding shares immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding shares or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Shares of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group acting in concert, (iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company or (v) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
The term “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
12. Rights on Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, if a Participant’s employment terminates for any reason before the Exercise Date for any Offering, such Participant’s participation in the Plan will terminate immediately and no payroll deductions will be taken from any pay due and owing to the Participant on or after the termination date. The balance in the Participant’s account will be paid to such Participant or, in the case of such Participant’s death, to the Participant’s legal heirs. An employee will be deemed to have terminated employment, for this purpose, if the corporation that employs such employee, having been a Designated Company, ceases to be an Affiliate or a Subsidiary, or if the employee is transferred to any corporation other than the Company or a Designated Company. An employee will not be deemed to have terminated employment for this purpose, if the employee is on an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise provides in writing.
If a Participant transfers employment from the Company or any Designated Company participating in the 423 Component to any Designated Company participating in the Non-423 Component, such transfer will not be treated as a termination of employment, but the Participant shall immediately cease to participate in the 423 Component; however, any contributions made for the Offering in which such transfer occurs will be transferred to the Non-423 Component, and such Participant will immediately join the then-current Offering under the Non-423 Component upon the same terms and conditions in effect for the Participant’s participation in the 423 Component, except for such modifications otherwise applicable for Participants in such Offering. A Participant who transfers employment from any Designated Company participating in the Non-423 Component to the Company or any Designated Company participating in the 423 Component will not be treated as terminating the Participant’s employment and will remain a Participant in the Non-423 Component until the earlier of (i) the end of the current Offering under the Non-423 Component or (ii) the Offering Date of the first Offering in which the Participant is eligible to participate following such transfer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may establish different rules to govern transfers of employment between companies participating in the 423 Component and the Non-423 Component, consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 423 of the Code.
13. Optionees Not Stockholders. Neither the granting of an Option to a Participant nor the deductions from a Participant’s pay or other contributions will constitute such Participant a holder of the Shares covered by an Option under the Plan until such Shares have been purchased by and issued to such Participant.
14. Rights Not Transferable. Rights under the Plan are not transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and are exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant.
15. Application of Funds. All funds received or held by the Company under the Plan may be combined with other corporate funds and may be used for any corporate purpose, unless otherwise required under applicable law.
16. Adjustment in Case of Changes Affecting Shares. In the event of a subdivision of outstanding Shares, the payment of a dividend in Shares or any other change affecting the Shares, the number of Shares approved for the Plan and any other share limitations in the Plan will be equitably or proportionately adjusted to give proper effect to such event. In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the Administrator, in its discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any right under the Plan or to facilitate such transactions or events:
(a) To provide for either (i) termination of any outstanding Option in exchange for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the amount that would have been obtained upon the exercise of such Option had such Option been currently exercisable or (ii) the replacement of such outstanding Option with other options or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
(b) To provide that the outstanding Options under the Plan shall be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for similar options covering the Shares of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices.
(c) To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Options under the Plan and/or in the terms and conditions of outstanding Options and Options that may be granted in the future.
(d) To provide that the Offering with respect to which an Option relates will be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date on which such Offering will end. The New Exercise Date will occur before the date of the Sale Event. The Administrator will notify each Participant in writing or electronically prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in advance of the New Exercise Date as provided in Section 7 hereof.
(e) To provide that all outstanding Options shall terminate without being exercised and all amounts in the accounts of Participants shall be promptly refunded.
17. Section 409A. The 423 Component of the Plan and the Options granted pursuant to Offerings thereunder are intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code. Neither the Non-423 Component nor any Option granted pursuant to an Offering thereunder is intended to constitute or provide for “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that any Option granted under the Plan is or may be or become subject to Section 409A of the Code or that any provision of the Plan may cause an Option granted under the Plan to be or become subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and/or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A of the Code, either through compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or with an available exemption therefrom.
18. Amendment of the Plan. The Board may at any time and from time to time amend the Plan in any respect, except that without the approval within 12 months of such Board action by the stockholders, no amendment may be made increasing the number of Shares approved for issuance under the Plan or making any other change that would require stockholder approval in order for the Plan, as amended, to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423(b) of the Code.
19. Insufficient Shares. If the total number of Shares that would otherwise be purchased on any Exercise Date plus the number of Shares purchased under previous Offerings under the Plan exceeds the maximum number of Shares issuable under the Plan, the Shares then available shall be apportioned among Participants in proportion to the amount of payroll deductions accumulated on behalf of each Participant that would otherwise be used to purchase Shares on such Exercise Date.
20. Termination of the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board. Upon termination of the Plan, all amounts in the accounts of Participants shall be promptly refunded.
21. Governmental Regulations. The Company’s obligation to sell and deliver Shares under the Plan is subject to obtaining all governmental approvals required in connection with the authorization, issuance or sale of such Shares.
22. Governing Law. This Plan and all Options and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as to matters within the scope thereof, and as to all other matters shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts applied without regard to conflict of law principles.
23. Issuance of Shares. Shares may be issued upon exercise of an Option from authorized but unissued Shares, from shares held in the treasury of the Company, or from any other proper source.
24. Tax Withholding. Participation in the Plan is subject to any applicable U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state or local tax withholding requirements on income the Participant realizes in connection with the Plan. Each Participant agrees, by entering the Plan, that the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from a Participant’s wages, salary or other compensation at any time the amount necessary for the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate any tax deductions or benefits attributable to the sale or disposition of Shares by such Participant. In addition, the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the proceeds of the sale of Shares or use any other method of withholding that the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate deems appropriate to the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f) with respect to the 423 Component. The Company will not be required to issue any Shares under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.
25. Notification Upon Sale of Shares. Each Participant who is subject to tax in the United States and participates in the 423 Component agrees, by entering the Plan, to give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of Shares purchased under the Plan where such disposition occurs within two years after the date of grant of the Option pursuant to which such Shares were purchased.
26. Effective Date. This Plan will become effective immediately preceding the Registration Date, subject to prior approval by the holders of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present or by written consent of the stockholders.
27. No Right to Continued Service. Neither the Plan nor any compensation paid hereunder will confer on any Participant the right to continue as an employee or in any other capacity.
DATE APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: JULY 25, 2024
DATE APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: SEPTEMBER 5, 2024