1
EXHIBIT 10.19
NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
The purpose of the Plan is to provide Eligible Employees with an
opportunity to increase their proprietary interest in the success of the Company
by purchasing Stock from the Company on favorable terms and to pay for such
purchases through payroll deductions. The Plan is intended to qualify under
Section 423 of the Code.
SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
(a) COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee.
(b) COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES. The Committee shall interpret the Plan
and make all other policy decisions relating to the operation of the Plan. The
Committee may adopt such rules, guidelines and forms as it deems appropriate to
implement the Plan. The Committee's determinations under the Plan shall be final
and binding on all persons.
SECTION 3. ENROLLMENT AND PARTICIPATION
(a) OFFERING PERIODS. While the Plan is in effect, two Offering Periods
shall commence in each calendar year. The Offering Periods shall consist of the
six-month periods commencing on each April 1 and October 1. The Plan shall
become effective upon the consummation of a firm underwritten public offering of
the Company's common stock.
(b) ENROLLMENT. Any individual who, on the day preceding the first day
of an Offering Period, qualifies as an Eligible Employee may elect to become a
Participant in the Plan for such Offering Period by executing the enrollment
form prescribed for this purpose by the Committee. The enrollment form shall be
filed with the Company at the prescribed location not later than three (3) days
prior to the commencement of such Offering Period.
(c) DURATION OF PARTICIPATION. Once enrolled in the Plan, a Participant shall
continue to participate in the Plan until he or she ceases to be an Eligible
Employee, withdraws from the Plan under Section 5(a) or reaches the end of the
Offering Period in which his or her employee contributions were discontinued
under Section 4(d) or 8(b). A Participant who discontinued employee
contributions under Section 4(d) or withdrew from the Plan under Section 5(a)
may again become a Participant, if he or she then is an Eligible Employee, by
following the procedure described in Subsection (b) above. A Participant whose
employee contributions were discontinued automatically under Section 8(b) shall
automatically resume
2
participation at the beginning of the earliest Offering Period ending in the
next calendar year, if he or she then is an Eligible Employee.
SECTION 4. EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS
(a) FREQUENCY OF PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. A Participant may purchase shares
of Stock under the Plan solely by means of payroll deductions. Payroll
deductions, as designated by the Participant pursuant to Subsection (b) below,
shall occur on each payday during participation in the Plan.
(b) AMOUNT OF PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. An Eligible Employee shall designate
on the enrollment form the portion of his or her Compensation that he or she
elects to have withheld for the purchase of Stock. Such portion shall be a whole
percentage of the Eligible Employee's Compensation, but not less than one
percent (1%) nor more than ten percent (10%).
(c) CHANGING WITHHOLDING RATE. If a Participant wishes to change the
rate of payroll withholding, he or she may do so by filing a new enrollment form
with the Company at the prescribed location at any time. The new withholding
rate shall be effective as soon as reasonably practicable after such form has
been received by the Company.
(d) DISCONTINUING PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. If a Participant wishes to
discontinue employee contributions entirely, he or she may do so by filing a new
enrollment form with the Company at the prescribed location at any time. Payroll
withholding shall cease as soon as reasonably practicable after such form has
been received by the Company. (In addition, employee contributions may be
discontinued automatically pursuant to Section 8(b).) A Participant who has
discontinued employee contributions may resume such contributions by filing a
new enrollment form with the Company at the prescribed location. Payroll
withholding shall resume as soon as reasonably practicable after such form has
been received by the Company.
(e) LIMIT ON NUMBER OF ELECTIONS. No Participant shall make more than
four (4) elections under Subsection (c) or (d) above during any Offering Period.
SECTION 5. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN
(a) WITHDRAWAL. A Participant may elect to withdraw from the Plan by
filing the prescribed form with the Company at the prescribed location at any
time before the last day of an Offering Period. As soon as reasonably
practicable thereafter, payroll deductions shall cease and the entire amount
credited to the Participant's Plan Account shall be refunded to him or her in
cash, without interest. No partial withdrawals shall be permitted.
(b) RE-ENROLLMENT AFTER WITHDRAWAL. A former Participant who has
withdrawn from the Plan shall not be a Participant until he or she re-enrolls in
the Plan under Section 3(c). Re-enrollment may be effective only at the
commencement of an Offering Period.
2
3
SECTION 6. CHANGE IN EMPLOYMENT STATUS
(a) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Termination of employment as an Eligible
Employee for any reason, including death, shall be treated as an automatic
withdrawal from the Plan under Section 5(a). (A transfer from one Participating
Company to another shall not be treated as a termination of employment.)
(b) LEAVE OF ABSENCE. For purposes of the Plan, employment shall not be
deemed to terminate when the Participant goes on a military leave, a sick leave
or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave was approved by the Company
in writing. Employment, however, shall be deemed to terminate 90 days after the
Participant goes on a leave, unless a contract or statute guarantees his or her
right to return to work. Employment shall be deemed to terminate in any event
when the approved leave ends, unless the Participant immediately returns to
work.
(c) DEATH. In the event of the Participant's death, the amount credited
to his or her Plan Account shall be paid to a beneficiary designated by him or
her for this purpose on the prescribed form or, if none, to the Participant's
estate. Such form shall be valid only if it was filed with the Company at the
prescribed location before the Participant's death.
SECTION 7. PLAN ACCOUNTS AND PURCHASE OF SHARES
(a) PLAN ACCOUNTS. The Company shall maintain a Plan Account on its
books in the name of each Participant. Whenever an amount is deducted from the
Participant's Compensation under the Plan, such amount shall be credited to the
Participant's Plan Account. Amounts credited to Plan Accounts shall not be trust
funds and may be commingled with the Company's general assets and applied to
general corporate purposes. No interest shall be credited to Plan Accounts.
(b) PURCHASE PRICE. The Purchase Price for each share of Stock purchased
at the close of an Offering Period shall be the lower of:
(i) 85% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the last
trading day in such Offering Period; or
(ii) 85% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the last
trading day before the commencement of such Offering Period.
(c) NUMBER OF SHARES PURCHASED. As of the last day of each Offering
Period, each Participant shall be deemed to have elected to purchase the number
of shares of Stock calculated in accordance with this Subsection (c), unless the
Participant has previously elected to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with
Section 5(a). The amount then in the Participant's Plan Account shall be divided
by the Purchase Price, and the number of shares that results shall be purchased
from the Company with the funds in the Participant's Plan Account. The foregoing
notwithstanding, no Participant shall purchase more than one thousand (1,000)
shares of Stock with respect to any Offering Period nor more than the amounts of
Stock set forth in Sections 8(b)
3
4
and 13(a). Any fractional share, as calculated under this Subsection (c), shall
be rounded down to the next lower whole share.
(d) AVAILABLE SHARES INSUFFICIENT. In the event that the aggregate
number of shares that all Participants elect to purchase during an Offering
Period exceeds the maximum number of shares remaining available for issuance
under Section 13(a), then the number of shares to which each Participant is
entitled shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares available for
issuance by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares that such
Participant has elected to purchase and the denominator of which is the number
of shares that all Participants have elected to purchase.
(e) ISSUANCE OF STOCK. Certificates representing the shares of Stock
purchased by a Participant under the Plan shall be issued to him or her as soon
as reasonably practicable after the close of the applicable Offering Period,
except that the Committee may determine that such shares shall be held for each
Participant's benefit by a broker designated by the Committee (unless the
Participant has elected that certificates be issued to him or her). Shares may
be registered in the name of the Participant or jointly in the name of the
Participant and his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship or
as community property.
(f) UNUSED CASH BALANCES. Any amount remaining in the Participant's Plan
Account that represents the Purchase Price for a fractional share shall be
carried over in the Participant's Plan Account to the next Offering Period. Any
amount remaining in the Participant's Plan Account that represents the Purchase
Price for whole shares that could not be purchased by reason of Subsection (c)
above, Section 8(b) or Section 13(a) shall be refunded to the Participant in
cash, without interest.
(g) STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. Any other provision of the Plan
notwithstanding, no shares of Stock shall be purchased under the Plan unless and
until the Company's stockholders have approved the adoption of the Plan.
SECTION 8. LIMITATIONS ON STOCK OWNERSHIP.
(a) FIVE PERCENT LIMIT. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding,
no Participant shall be granted a right to purchase Stock under the Plan if such
Participant, immediately after his or her election to purchase such Stock, would
own stock possessing more than 5% of the total combined voting power or value of
all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
For purposes of this Subsection (a), the following rules shall apply:
(i) Ownership of stock shall be determined after applying the
attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code;
(ii) Each Participant shall be deemed to own any stock that he
or she has a right or option to purchase under this or any other plan;
and
4
5
(iii) Each Participant shall be deemed to have the right to
purchase one thousand (1,000) shares of Stock under this Plan with
respect to each Offering Period.
(b) DOLLAR LIMIT. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no
Participant shall purchase Stock with a Fair Market Value in excess of the
following limit:
(i) In the case of Stock purchased during an Offering Period
that commenced in the current calendar year, the limit shall be equal to
(A) $25,000 minus (B) the Fair Market Value of the Stock that the
Participant previously purchased in the current calendar year under this
Plan.
(ii) In the case of Stock purchased during an Offering Period
that commenced in the immediately preceding calendar year, the limit
shall be equal to (A) $50,000 minus (B) the Fair Market Value of the
Stock that the Participant previously purchased under this Plan in the
current calendar year and in the immediately preceding calendar year.
For purposes of this Subsection (b), the Fair Market Value of Stock
shall be determined in each case as of the beginning of the Offering Period in
which such Stock is purchased. If a Participant is precluded by this Subsection
(b) from purchasing additional Stock under the Plan, then his or her employee
contributions shall automatically be discontinued and shall resume at the
beginning of the earliest Offering Period ending in the next calendar year (if
he or she then is an Eligible Employee).
SECTION 9. RIGHTS NOT TRANSFERABLE
The rights of any Participant under the Plan, or any Participant's
interest in any Stock or moneys to which he or she may be entitled under the
Plan, shall not be transferable by voluntary or involuntary assignment or by
operation of law, or in any other manner other than by beneficiary designation
or the laws of descent and distribution. If a Participant in any manner attempts
to transfer, assign or otherwise encumber his or her rights or interest under
the Plan, other than by beneficiary designation or the laws of descent and
distribution, then such act shall be treated as an election by the Participant
to withdraw from the Plan under Section 5(a).
SECTION 10. NO RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE
Nothing in the Plan or in any right granted under the Plan shall confer
upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of a Participating
Company for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise
restrict in any way the rights of the Participating Companies or of the
Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate
his or her employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.
SECTION 11. NO RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER
A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any
shares of Stock that he or she may have a right to purchase under the Plan until
such shares have been purchased on the last day of the applicable Offering
Period.
5
6
SECTION 12. SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS
Shares of Stock shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance
and delivery of such shares comply with (or are exempt from) all applicable
requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities
laws and regulations, and the regulations of any stock exchange or other
securities market on which the Company's securities may then be traded.
SECTION 13. STOCK OFFERED UNDER THE PLAN
(a) AUTHORIZED SHARES. The aggregate number of shares of Stock available
for purchase under the Plan shall be Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) subject to
adjustment pursuant to this Section 13.
(b) ANTIDILUTION ADJUSTMENTS. The aggregate number of shares of Stock
offered under the Plan, the one thousand (1,000) share limitation described in
Section 7(c) and the price of shares that any Participant has elected to
purchase shall be adjusted proportionately by the Committee for any increase or
decrease in the number of outstanding shares of Stock resulting from a
subdivision or consolidation of shares or the payment of a stock dividend, any
other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt or payment of
consideration by the Company, the distribution of the shares of a Subsidiary to
the Company's stockholders or a similar event.
(c) REORGANIZATIONS. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding,
immediately prior to the effective time of a Corporate Reorganization, the
Offering Period then in progress shall terminate and shares shall be purchased
pursuant to Section 7, unless the Plan is assumed by the surviving corporation
or its parent corporation pursuant to the plan of merger or consolidation. The
Plan shall in no event be construed to restrict in any way the Company's right
to undertake a dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation or other
reorganization.
SECTION 14. AMENDMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE
The Board shall have the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan
at any time and without notice. Except as provided in Section 13, any increase
in the aggregate number of shares of Stock to be issued under the Plan shall be
subject to approval by a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In addition,
any other amendment of the Plan shall be subject to approval by a vote of the
stockholders of the Company to the extent required by an applicable law or
regulation.
SECTION 15. DEFINITIONS
(a) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted
from time to time.
(b) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
6
7
(c) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
(d) "COMPANY" means Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
(e) "COMPENSATION" means (i) the total compensation paid in cash to a
Participant by a Participating Company, including salaries, wages, bonuses,
incentive compensation, commissions, overtime pay and shift premiums, plus (ii)
any pre-tax contributions made by the Participant under Section 401(k) or 125 of
the Code. "Compensation" shall exclude all non-cash items, moving or relocation
allowances, cost-of-living equalization payments, car allowances, tuition
reimbursements, imputed income attributable to cars or life insurance, severance
pay, fringe benefits, contributions or benefits received under employee benefit
plans, income attributable to the exercise of stock options, and similar items.
The Committee shall determine whether a particular item is included in
Compensation.
(f) "CORPORATE REORGANIZATION" means:
(i) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company
with or into another entity, or any other corporate reorganization; or
(ii) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets or the complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
(g) "ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE" means any employee of a Participating Company
whose customary employment is for more than five months per calendar year and
for more than 20 hours per week.
The foregoing notwithstanding, an individual shall not be considered an
Eligible Employee if his or her participation in the Plan is prohibited by the
law of any country which has jurisdiction over him or her or if he or she is
subject to a collective bargaining agreement that does not provide for
participation in the Plan.
(h) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(i) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the market price of Stock, determined by
the Committee as follows:
(i) If Stock was traded on The Nasdaq National Market on the date
in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the last sale
price quoted for such date by The Nasdaq National Market;
(ii) If Stock was traded on a stock exchange on the date in
question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the closing price
reported by the applicable composite transactions report for such date;
or
7
8
(iii) If none of the foregoing provisions is applicable, then the
Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith on
such basis as it deems appropriate.
Whenever possible, the determination of Fair Market Value by the
Committee shall be based on the prices reported in the Wall Street Journal or as
reported directly to the Company by Nasdaq or a stock exchange. Such
determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
(j) "OFFERING PERIOD" means a six-month period with respect to which the
right to purchase Stock may be granted under the Plan, as determined pursuant to
Section 3(a).
(k) "PARTICIPANT" means an Eligible Employee who elects to participate
in the Plan, as provided in Section 3(b).
(l) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY" means (i) the Company and (ii) each present
or future Subsidiary designated by the Committee as a Participating Company.
(m) "PLAN" means this Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.
(n) "PLAN ACCOUNT" means the account established for each Participant
pursuant to Section 7(a).
(o) "PURCHASE PRICE" means the price at which Participants may purchase
Stock under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 7(b).
(p) "STOCK" means the Common Stock of the Company, no par value per
share.
(q) "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation (other than the Company) in an
unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the
corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock
possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
8