Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF TRANSCODE THERAPEUTICS, INC. FIRST: The name of this corporation shall be: TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. SECOND: Its registered office in the State of Delaware is to be located at: 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County ofNew Castle, 19801, and its registered agent at such address is: The Corporation Trust Company. THIRD: The purpose or purposes of the corporation shall be: To carry on any and all business and to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware. FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which this corporation is authorized to issue IS: Ten Million (10,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share. FIFTH: The name and mailing address ofthe sole incorporator is as follows: NAME MAILING ADDRESS Robert Michael Dudley 1241 Adams Street Apt 603 Boston, MA 02124 SIXTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the by-laws of the corporation. SEVENTH: Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the by-laws of the corporation shall so provide. EIGHTH: A director ofthe corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. If the Delaware

 

 

General Corporation Law is amended after the effective date of this Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. No amendment, modification or repeal of this Article EIGHTH shall adversely affect the rights and protection afforded to a director of the corporation under this Article EIGHTH for acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, modification or repeal. NINTH: The corporation reserves.the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate oflncorporation, and to add or insert other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law; and all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the rights reserved in this Article NINTH. Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State ofDelaware may, on the application in a summary way of this corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this corporation as consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this corporation, as the case may be, and also on this corporation. TENTH: The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank 2

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the incorporator hereinbefore named, has W .:r \f-\,J executed, signed, and acknowledged this Certificate of Incorporation this \\ day of :S-..v , 20 . Robert Michael Dudley Incorporator 3

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

TRANSCODE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

(Pursuant to Sections 141, 228 and 242 of the

General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

 

TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. (hereinafter called the “Corporation"), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:

 

1.

The name of the corporation is TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 11, 2016 under the corporate name TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.

 

	2.	This Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 141, 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law.
	3.	The Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended by deleting the first paragraph of Article FOURTH in its entirety and inserting the following in lieu thereof:

 

“FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Twenty-Five Million (25,000,000) of which (a) Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, (“Common Stock"), and (b) Five Million (5,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, (“Preferred Stock"), which Preferred Stock shall be undesignated unless and until designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.”

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has authorized this Certificate of Amendment to be signed on this 18th day of December, 2020.

 

	/s/ Robert Michael Dudley
	Robert Michael Dudley
	President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.3

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

TRANSCODE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

TransCode Therapeutics, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.            The name of the Corporation is TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. The date of the filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was January 11, 2016 (the “Original Certificate”).

 

2.            This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) amends, restates and integrates the provisions of Original Certificate, as amended (the “Amended Certificate”), and was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

3.            The text of the Amended Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as herein set forth in full.

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of the Corporation is TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is c/o The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

ARTICLE III

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Three Hundred Million (300,000,000), of which (i) Two Hundred Ninety Million (290,000,000) shares shall be a class designated as common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) and Ten Million (10,000,000) shares shall be a class designated as undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Undesignated Preferred Stock”).

 

Except as otherwise provided in any certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of the class of Common Stock or Undesignated Preferred Stock may from time to time be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of such class outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

 

The powers, preferences and rights of, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions upon, each class or series of stock shall be determined in accordance with, or as set forth below in, this Article IV.

 

A. COMMON STOCK

 

Subject to all the rights, powers and preferences of the Undesignated Preferred Stock and except as provided by law or in this Certificate (or in any certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock):

 

(a)            the holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors of the Corporation (the “Directors”) and on all other matters requiring stockholder action, each outstanding share entitling the holder thereof to one vote on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for their vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate (or on any amendment to a certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock) that alters or changes the powers, preferences, rights or other terms of one or more outstanding series of Undesignated Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Undesignated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, on such amendment pursuant to this Certificate (or pursuant to a certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL;

 

(b)            dividends may be declared and paid or set apart for payment upon the Common Stock out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof; and

 

(c)            upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the net assets of the Corporation shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of the Common Stock.

 

 

C. UNDESIGNATED PREFERRED STOCK

 

The Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof is expressly authorized, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to provide by resolution or resolutions for, out of the unissued shares of Undesignated Preferred Stock, the issuance of the shares of Undesignated Preferred Stock in one or more series of such stock, and by filing a certificate of designations pursuant to applicable law of the State of Delaware, to establish or change from time to time the number of shares of each such series, and to fix the designations, powers, including voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof.

 

ARTICLE V

 

STOCKHOLDER ACTION

 

1.            Action without Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken or effected by a written consent of stockholders in lieu thereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, and the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, shall be required to amend or repeal any provision of this Article V, Section 1.

 

2.            Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by statute and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, and special meetings of stockholders may not be called by any other person or persons. Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

DIRECTORS

 

1.            General. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.

 

2.            Election of Directors. Election of Directors need not be by written ballot unless the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”) shall so provide.

 

 

3.            Number of Directors; Term of Office. The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be fixed solely and exclusively by resolution duly adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors. The mailing address of each person who is to serve initially as a director is c/o TransCode Therapeutics, Inc., 6 Liberty Square, #2382, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. At each annual meeting of stockholders, Directors elected to succeed those Directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. Each director shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever, pursuant to the provisions of Article IV of this Certificate, the holders of any one or more series of Undesignated Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a series or together with holders of other such series, to elect Directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Certificate and any certificate of designations applicable to such series.

 

4.            Vacancies. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock to elect Directors and to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors relating thereto, any and all vacancies in the Board of Directors, however occurring, including, without limitation, by reason of an increase in the size of the Board of Directors, or the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a Director, shall be filled solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, and not by the stockholders Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining Directors, except as otherwise provided by law, shall exercise the powers of the full Board of Directors until the vacancy is filled.

 

5.            Removal. Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock to elect Directors and to remove any Director whom the holders of any such series have the right to elect, any Director (including persons elected by Directors to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors) may be removed from office (i) only with cause and (ii) only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of capital stock then entitled to vote at an election of Directors. At least forty-five (45) days prior to any annual or special meeting of stockholders at which it is proposed that any Director be removed from office, written notice of such proposed removal and the alleged grounds thereof shall be sent to the Director whose removal will be considered at the meeting.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

A Director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a Director, except for liability (a) for any breach of the Director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL or (d) for any transaction from which the Director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended after the effective date of this Certificate to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of Directors, then the liability of a Director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

 

Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article VII by either of (i) the stockholders of the Corporation or (ii) an amendment to the DGCL, shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring before such amendment, repeal or modification of a person serving as a Director at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, and the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, shall be required to amend or repeal any provision of this Article VII.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

1.            Amendment by Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Bylaws of the Corporation may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office.

 

2.            Amendment by Stockholders. Except as otherwise provided therein, the Bylaws of the Corporation may be amended or repealed at any annual meeting of stockholders, or special meeting of stockholders called for such purpose, by the affirmative vote of at least not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal this Certificate in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and this Certificate, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Except as otherwise required by this Certificate or by law, whenever any vote of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation is required to amend or repeal any provision of this Certificate, such amendment or repeal shall require the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, and the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders called expressly for such purpose.

 

 

[End of Text]

 

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION is executed as of this [●], 2021.

 

TRANSCODE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

 

By:

	Name: R. Michael Dudley
	Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Exhibit 3.4

 

BY-LAWS

 

of

 

TRANSCODE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

(the “Corporation”)

 

1.

Stockholders

 

(a)          Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors each year at such place, date and time as shall be designated by the Board of Directors. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. If no date for the annual meeting is established or said meeting is not held on the date established as provided above, a special meeting in lieu thereof may be held or there may be action by written consent of the stockholders on matters to be voted on at the annual meeting, and such special meeting or written consent shall have for the purposes of these By-laws or otherwise all the force and effect of an annual meeting.

 

(b)          Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called by the Chief Executive Officer, if one is elected, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, a President, or by the Board of Directors, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. The call for the meeting shall state the place, date, hour and purposes of the meeting. Only the purposes specified in the notice of special meeting shall be considered or dealt with at such special meeting.

 

(c)          Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Secretary (or other person authorized by these By-laws or by law) not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat and to each stockholder who, under the Certificate of Incorporation or under these By-laws is entitled to such notice. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears in the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be effectively given to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).

 

If a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, except that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

 

(d)          Quorum. The holders of a majority in interest of all stock issued, outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present. The stockholders present at a duly constituted meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to reduce the voting shares below a quorum.

 

(e)          Voting and Proxies. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or by law, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by either written proxy or by a transmission permitted by Section 212(c) of the DGCL, but no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period or is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Proxies shall be filed with the Secretary of the meeting, or of any adjournment thereof. Except as otherwise limited therein, proxies shall entitle the persons authorized thereby to vote at any adjournment of such meeting.

 

(f)           Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present, any matter before the meeting shall be decided by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock voting on such matter except where a larger vote is required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws. Any election of directors by stockholders shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, except where a larger vote is required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws. The Corporation shall not directly or indirectly vote any share of its own stock; provided, however, that the Corporation may vote shares which it holds in a fiduciary capacity to the extent permitted by law.

 

(g)          Presiding Officer. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or in his or her absence, the Vice Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or if neither is elected or in their absence, a President. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to appoint a temporary presiding officer to serve at any meeting of the stockholders if the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board or a President is unable to do so for any reason.

 

(h)          Conduct of Meetings. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the presiding officer of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding officer of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the presiding officer of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

 

(i)           Action without a Meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted by law to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office, by hand or by certified mail, return receipt requested, or to the Corporation’s principal place of business or to the officer of the Corporation having custody of the minute book. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature and no written consent shall be effective unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered pursuant to these By-laws, written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders entitled to take action are delivered to the Corporation in the manner set forth in these By-laws. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.

 

(j)           Stockholder Lists. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 1(j) shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law. The list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law.

 

2.

Directors

 

(a)          Powers. The business of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law, may exercise the powers of the full Board until the vacancy is filled.

 

(b)          Number and Qualification. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or in these By-laws, the number of directors which shall constitute the whole board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders.

 

 

(c)          Vacancies; Reduction of Board. A majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or a sole remaining Director, may fill vacancies in the Board of Directors occurring for any reason and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors. In lieu of filling any vacancy, the Board of Directors may reduce the number of directors.

 

(d)          Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, directors shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.

 

(e)          Removal. To the extent permitted by law, a director may be removed from office with or without cause by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors.

 

(f)           Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time, date and place as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called, orally or in writing, by the Chief Executive Officer, if one is elected, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, or by two or more Directors, designating the time, date and place thereof. Directors may participate in meetings of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all directors participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting in accordance herewith shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

(g)          Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, date and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary, or Assistant Secretary, or in case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of such persons, by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be given to each director in person, by telephone, or by facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic communications, sent to such director’s business or home address at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, or by written notice mailed to such director’s business or home address at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting.

 

(h)          Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting from time to time and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.

 

(i)           Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, unless otherwise provided in the following sentence, a majority of the directors present may take any action on behalf of the Board of Directors, unless a larger number is required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws. So long as there are two (2) or fewer Directors, any action to be taken by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of all Directors.

 

 

(j)           Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the records of the meetings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

(k)          Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, establish one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any provision of these By-laws.

 

Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any such committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but in the absence of such rules its business shall be conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided in these By-laws for the Board of Directors. All members of such committees shall hold their committee offices at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and the Board may abolish any committee at any time.

 

3.

Officers

 

(a)          Enumeration. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of one or more Presidents (who, if there is more than one, shall be referred to as Co-Presidents), a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other officers, including, without limitation, a Chief Executive Officer and one or more Vice Presidents (including Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries, as the Board of Directors may determine. The Board of Directors may elect from among its members a Chairman of the Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board.

 

 

(b)          Election. The Presidents, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at their first meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders. Other officers may be chosen by the Board of Directors at such meeting or at any other meeting.

 

(c)          Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder or Director. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Any officer may be required by the Board of Directors to give bond for the faithful performance of such officer’s duties in such amount and with such sureties as the Board of Directors may determine.

 

(d)          Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, each of the officers of the Corporation shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to the Corporation, and such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.

 

(e)          Removal. The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

(f)           Vacancies. Any vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.

 

(g)          Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, shall preside, when present, at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall preside, when present, at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Vice Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

(h)          Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if one is elected, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

(i)           Presidents. The Presidents shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, each have general supervision and control of the Corporation’s business and any action that would typically be taken by a President may be taken by any Co-President. If there is no Chairman of the Board or Vice Chairman of the Board, a President shall preside, when present, at all meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Presidents shall have such other powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

 

(j)           Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents. Any Vice President (including any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President) and any Assistant Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

(k)          Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, have general charge of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall cause to be kept accurate books of account. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds, securities, and valuable documents of the Corporation, except as the Board of Directors may otherwise provide. The Treasurer shall have such other powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

Any Assistant Treasurer shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

(1)          Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors (including committees of the Board) in books kept for that purpose. In the absence of the Secretary from any such meeting an Assistant Secretary, or if such person is absent, a temporary secretary chosen at the meeting, shall record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall have charge of the stock ledger (which may, however, be kept by any transfer or other agent of the Corporation) and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Any Assistant Secretary shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

(m)         Other Powers and Duties. Subject to these By-laws, each officer of the Corporation shall have in addition to the duties and powers specifically set forth in these By-laws, such duties and powers as are customarily incident to such officer’s office, and such duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

4.

Capital Stock

 

(a)          Certificates of Stock. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate of the capital stock of the Corporation in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors. Such certificate shall be signed by a President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Such signatures may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the time of its issue. Every certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer and every certificate issued when the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class or series of stock shall contain such legend with respect thereto as is required by law. The Corporation shall be permitted to issue fractional shares.

 

 

(b)          Transfers. Subject to any restrictions on transfer, shares of stock may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate therefor properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, with transfer stamps (if necessary) affixed, and with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require.

 

(c)          Record Holders. Except as may otherwise be required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect thereto, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock, until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these By-laws.

 

It shall be the duty of each stockholder to notify the Corporation of such stockholder’s post office address.

 

(d)          Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date on which it is established, and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, more than ten (10) days after the date on which the record date for stockholder consent without a meeting is established, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. In such case only stockholders of record on such record date shall be so entitled notwithstanding any transfer of stock on the books of the Corporation after the record date.

 

If no record date is fixed, (i) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held, (ii) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in this state, to its principal place of business, or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded, and (iii) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(e)          Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

 

5.

Indemnification

 

(a)          Definitions. For purposes of this Section 5:

 

(i)          “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is serving or has served (A) as a Director of the Corporation, (B) as an Officer of the Corporation, (C) as a Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation, or (D) as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, foundation, association, organization or other legal entity for which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 5(a)(i), a Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation who is serving or has served as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be serving at the request of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Corporate Status” shall not include the status of a person who is serving or has served as a director, officer, employee or agent of a constituent corporation absorbed in a merger or consolidation transaction with the Corporation with respect to such person’s activities prior to said transaction, unless specifically authorized by the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation;

 

(ii)         “Director” means any person who serves or has served the Corporation as a director on the Board of Directors of the Corporation;

 

(iii)        “Disinterested Director” means, with respect to each Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought hereunder, a Director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to such Proceeding;

 

(iv)        “Expenses” means all reasonable attorneys fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of expert witnesses, private investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants and investment bankers), travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, costs of preparation of demonstrative evidence and other courtroom presentation aids and devices, costs incurred in connection with document review, organization, imaging and computerization, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements, costs or expenses of the type customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settling or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding;

 

(v)         “Liabilities” means judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid in settlement;

 

(vi)        “Non-Officer Employee” means any person who serves or has served as an employee or agent of the Corporation, but who is not or was not a Director or Officer;

 

 

(vii)       “Officer” means any person who serves or has served the Corporation as an officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation;

 

(viii)      “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, inquiry, investigation, administrative hearing or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative; and

 

(ix)         “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity of which the Corporation owns (either directly or through or together with another Subsidiary of the Corporation) either (i) a general partner, managing member or other similar interest or (ii) (A) 50% or more of the voting power of the voting capital equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity, or (B) 50% or more of the outstanding voting capital stock or other voting equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity.

 

(b)          Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Subject to the operation of Section 5(d) of these By-laws, each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), and to the extent authorized in subsections (i) through (iv) of this Section 5(b).

 

(i)          Actions, Suits and Proceedings Other than By or In the Right of the Corporation. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against any and all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred or paid by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

(ii)         Actions, Suits and Proceedings By or In the Right of the Corporation. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against any and all Expenses that are incurred by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein by or in the right of the Corporation, which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be made under this Section 5(b)(ii) in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Director or Officer shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Corporation, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery or another court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such Director or Officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such Expenses that such court deems proper.

 

 

(iii)        Survival of Rights. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 5(b) shall continue as to a Director or Officer after he or she has ceased to be a Director or Officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

 

(iv)        Actions by Directors or Officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall indemnify any Director or Officer seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director or Officer only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director or Officer) was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless such Proceeding was brought to enforce such Officer’s or Director’s rights to indemnification or, in the case of Directors, advancement of Expenses under these By-laws in accordance with the provisions set forth herein.

 

(c)          Indemnification of Non-Officer Employees. Subject to the operation of Section 5(d) of these By-laws, each Non-Officer Employee may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against any or all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred by such Non-Officer Employee or on such Non-Officer Employee’s behalf in connection with any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter therein, which such Non-Officer Employee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Non-Officer Employee’s Corporate Status, if such Non-Officer Employee acted in good faith and in a manner such Non-Officer Employee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 5(c) shall exist as to a Non-Officer Employee after he or she has ceased to be a Non-Officer Employee and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may indemnify any Non-Officer Employee seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Non-Officer Employee only if such Proceeding was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

(d)          Determination. Unless ordered by a court, no indemnification shall be provided pursuant to this Section 5 to a Director, to an Officer or to a Non-Officer Employee unless a determination shall have been made that such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Such determination shall be made by (i) a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, (ii) a committee comprised of Disinterested Directors, such committee having been designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (even though less than a quorum), (iii) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

 

(e)          Advancement of Expenses to Directors Prior to Final Disposition.

 

(i)          The Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director in connection with any Proceeding in which such Director is involved by reason of such Director’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a written statement from such Director requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Director and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such Director to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Director is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director seeking advancement of expenses hereunder in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director) was (A) authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or (B) brought to enforce such Director’s rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under these By-laws.

 

(ii)         If a claim for advancement of Expenses hereunder by a Director is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of documentation of Expenses and the required undertaking, such Director may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and if successful in whole or in part, such Director shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such advancement of Expenses under this Section 5 shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director for recovery of the unpaid amount of an advancement claim and shall not create a presumption that such advancement is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director is not entitled to an advancement of expenses shall be on the Corporation.

 

(iii)        In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Director has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

 

(f)           Advancement of Expenses to Officers and Non-Officer Employees Prior to Final Disposition.

 

(i)          The Corporation may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, advance any or all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Officer or any Non-Officer Employee in connection with any Proceeding in which such person is involved by reason of his or her Corporate Status as an Officer or Non-Officer Employee upon the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from such Officer or Non-Officer Employee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Officer or Non-Officer Employee and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Officer or Non-Officer Employee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.

 

 

(ii)          In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Officer or Non-Officer Employee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

 

(g)          Contractual Nature of Rights.

 

(i)          The provisions of this Section 5 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Director and Officer entitled to the benefits hereof at any time while this Section 5 is in effect, in consideration of such person’s past or current and any future performance of services for the Corporation. Neither amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Section 5 nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Section 5 shall eliminate or reduce any right conferred by this Section 5 in respect of any act or omission occurring, or any cause of action or claim that accrues or arises or any state of facts existing, at the time of or before such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption of an inconsistent provision (even in the case of a proceeding based on such a state of facts that is commenced after such time), and all rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses granted herein or arising out of any act or omission shall vest at the time of the act or omission in question, regardless of when or if any proceeding with respect to such act or omission is commenced. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 5 shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.

 

(ii)          If a claim for indemnification hereunder by a Director or Officer is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written claim for indemnification, such Director or Officer may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim, and if successful in whole or in part, such Director or Officer shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such indemnification under this Section 5 shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director or Officer for recovery of the unpaid amount of an indemnification claim and shall not create a presumption that such indemnification is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director or Officer is not entitled to indemnification shall be on the Corporation.

 

 

(iii)         In any suit brought by a Director or Officer to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder, it shall be a defense that such Director or Officer has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

 

(h)          Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses set forth in this Section 5 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Director, Officer, or Non-Officer Employee may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate or these By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise.

 

(i)           Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee against any liability of any character asserted against or incurred by the Corporation or any such Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee, or arising out of any such person’s Corporate Status, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL or the provisions of this Section 5.

 

(j)           Other Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or provide advancement of Expenses to any person under this Section 5 as a result of such person serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or enterprise (the “Primary Indemnitor”). Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Section 5 owed by the Corporation as a result of a person serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall only be in excess of, and shall be secondary to, the indemnification or advancement of Expenses available from the applicable Primary Indemnitor(s) and any applicable insurance policies.

 

6.

Miscellaneous Provisions

 

(a)          Fiscal Year. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year.

 

(b)          Seal. The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt and alter the seal of the Corporation.

 

(c)          Execution of Instruments. Subject to any limitations which may be set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors, all deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes and other obligations to he entered into by the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business without director action may be executed on behalf of the Corporation by, a President, or by any other officer, employee or agent of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may authorize.

 

(d)          Voting of Securities. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, a President, any Vice President or the Treasurer may waive notice of and act on behalf of this Corporation, or appoint another person or persons to act as proxy or attorney in fact for this Corporation with or without discretionary power and/or power of substitution, at any meeting of stockholders or shareholders of any other corporation or organization, any of whose securities are held by this Corporation.

 

 

(e)          Resident Agent. The Board of Directors may appoint a resident agent upon whom legal process may be served in any action or proceeding against the Corporation.

 

(f)           Corporate Records. The original or attested copies of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and records of all meetings of the incorporators, stockholders and the Board of Directors and the stock and transfer records, which shall contain the names of all stockholders, their record addresses and the amount of stock held by each, shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, at the office of its counsel, or at an office of its transfer agent.

 

(g)          Certificate of Incorporation. All references in these By-laws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

(h)          Amendments. These By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new By-laws may be adopted, by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors; provided, that (a) the Board of Directors may not alter, amend or repeal any provision of these By-laws which by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws requires action by the stockholders and (b) any alteration, amendment or repeal of these By-laws by the Board of Directors and any new By-law adopted by the Board of Directors may be altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders.

 

(i)           Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of these By-laws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting needs to be specified in any written waiver or any waiver by electronic transmission.

 

Adopted

January 29, 2016

 

 

Exhibit 3.5

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

TRANSCODE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

(the “Corporation”)

 

ARTICLE I

 

Stockholders

 

SECTION 1.         Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders (any such meeting being referred to in these Bylaws as an “Annual Meeting”) shall be held at the hour, date and place within or without the United States which is fixed by the Board of Directors, which time, date and place may subsequently be changed at any time by vote of the Board of Directors. If no Annual Meeting has been held for a period of thirteen (13) months after the Corporation’s last Annual Meeting, a special meeting in lieu thereof may be held, and such special meeting shall have, for the purposes of these Bylaws or otherwise, all the force and effect of an Annual Meeting. Any and all references hereafter in these Bylaws to an Annual Meeting or Annual Meetings also shall be deemed to refer to any special meeting(s) in lieu thereof.

 

 

SECTION 2.         Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

 

(a)           Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(1)          Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be brought before an Annual Meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw, who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who is present (in person or by proxy) at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw as to such nomination or business. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to bring nominations or business properly before an Annual Meeting (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 (or any successor rule) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), and such stockholder must comply with the notice and other procedures set forth in Article I, Section 2(a)(2) and (3) of this Bylaw to bring such nominations or business properly before an Annual Meeting. In addition to the other requirements set forth in this Bylaw, for any proposal of business to be considered at an Annual Meeting, it must be a proper subject for action by stockholders of the Corporation under Delaware law.

 

(2)          For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (ii) of Article I, Section 2(a)(1) of this Bylaw, the stockholder must (i) have given Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (ii) have provided any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Bylaw and (iii) together with the beneficial owner(s), if any, on whose behalf the nomination or business proposal is made, have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined below) required by this Bylaw. To be timely, a stockholder’s written notice shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the event the Annual Meeting is first convened more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, or if no Annual Meeting were held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made (such notice within such time periods shall be referred to as “Timely Notice”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, for the first Annual Meeting following the initial public offering of common stock of the Corporation, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such Annual Meeting is first made or sent by the Corporation. Such stockholder’s Timely Notice shall set forth:

 

 

(A)            as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the nominee, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the nominee, (iii) the class and number of shares of the corporation that are held of record or are beneficially owned by the nominee and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the nominee, (iv) whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of the nominee with respect to any securities of the corporation, and a description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of the nominee, (v) a description of all arrangements or understandings between or among the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the stockholder or concerning the nominee’s potential service on the Board of Directors, (vi) a written statement executed by the nominee acknowledging that as a director of the corporation, the nominee will owe fiduciary duties under Delaware law with respect to the corporation and its stockholders, and (vii) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);

 

(B)             as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, the text, if any, of any resolutions or Bylaw amendment proposed for adoption, and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person (as defined below);

 

(C)            (i) the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and the names and addresses of the other Proposing Persons (if any) and (ii) as to each Proposing Person, the following information: (a) the class or series and number of all shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record by such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), including any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, (b) all Synthetic Equity Interests (as defined below) in which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates, directly or indirectly, holds an interest including a description of the material terms of each such Synthetic Equity Interest, including without limitation, identification of the counterparty to each such Synthetic Equity Interest and disclosure, for each such Synthetic Equity Interest, as to (x) whether or not such Synthetic Equity Interest conveys any voting rights, directly or indirectly, in such shares to such Proposing Person, (y) whether or not such Synthetic Equity Interest is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of such shares and (z) whether or not such Proposing Person and/or, to the extent known, the counterparty to such Synthetic Equity Interest has entered into other transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such Synthetic Equity Interest, (c) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Act), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to, directly or indirectly, vote any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (d) any rights to dividends or other distributions on the shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, and (e) any performance-related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such Proposing Person, directly or indirectly, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or any Synthetic Equity Interests (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) are referred to, collectively, as “Material Ownership Interests”) and (iii) a description of the material terms of all agreements, arrangements or understandings (whether or not in writing) entered into by any Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates with any other person for the purpose of acquiring, holding, disposing or voting of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation;

 

 

(D)            (i) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings by and among any of the Proposing Persons, or by and among any Proposing Persons and any other person (including with any proposed nominee(s)), pertaining to the nomination(s), or other business proposed to be brought before the meeting of stockholders (which description shall identify the name of each other person who is party to such an agreement, arrangement or understanding), and (ii) identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by any of the Proposing Persons to support such nominations or other business proposal(s), and to the extent known the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s); and

 

(E)             a statement whether or not the stockholder giving the notice and/or the other Proposing Person(s), if any, will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a business proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation required under applicable law to approve the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation reasonably believed by such Proposing Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder (such statement, the “Solicitation Statement”).

 

 

For purposes of this Article I of these Bylaws, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean the following persons: (i) the stockholder of record providing the notice of nominations or business proposed to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting, and (ii) the beneficial owner(s), if different, on whose behalf the nominations or business proposed to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting is made. For purposes of this Section 2 of Article I of these Bylaws, the term “Synthetic Equity Interest” shall mean any transaction, agreement or arrangement (or series of transactions, agreements or arrangements), including, without limitation, any derivative, swap, hedge, repurchase or so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, the purpose or effect of which is to, directly or indirectly: (a) give a person or entity economic benefit and/or risk similar to ownership of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, in whole or in part, including due to the fact that such transaction, agreement or arrangement provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any increase or decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (b) mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk of or manage the risk of share price changes for, any person or entity with respect to any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (c) otherwise provide in any manner the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, or (d) increase or decrease the voting power of any person or entity with respect to any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

(3)          A stockholder providing Timely Notice of nominations or business proposed to be brought before an Annual Meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information (including, without limitation, the Material Ownership Interests information) provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Bylaw shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such Annual Meeting, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) business day after the record date for the Annual Meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date of the Annual Meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting).

 

(4)          Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Article I, Section 2(a)(2) of this Bylaw to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least ten (10) days before the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the second sentence of Article I, Section 2(a)(2), a stockholder’s notice required by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

 

(b)           General.

 

(1)          Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw shall be eligible for election and to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an Annual Meeting as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw or in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw. If neither the Board of Directors nor such designated committee makes a determination as to whether any stockholder proposal or nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw, the presiding officer of the Annual Meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether the stockholder proposal or nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw. If the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof or the presiding officer, as applicable, determines that any stockholder proposal or nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw, such proposal or nomination shall be disregarded and shall not be presented for action at the Annual Meeting.

 

(2)            Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Article I, Section 2 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director or any other matter of business submitted by a stockholder.

 

(3)            Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article I, Section 2, if the nominating or proposing stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the Annual Meeting to present a nomination or any business, such nomination or business shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Article I, Section 2, to be considered a qualified representative of the proposing stockholder, a person must be authorized by a written instrument executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, to the presiding officer at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(4)            For purposes of this Bylaw, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(5)            Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw. Nothing in this Bylaw shall be deemed to affect any rights of (i) stockholders to have proposals included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor rule), as applicable, under the Exchange Act and, to the extent required by such rule, have such proposals considered and voted on at an Annual Meeting or (ii) the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances.

 

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, and the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, shall be required to amend or repeal any provision of this Article I, Section 2; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal at such meeting of stockholders, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class.

 

SECTION 3.         Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by statute and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders. Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and stockholder proposals of other business shall not be brought before a special meeting of stockholders to be considered by the stockholders unless such special meeting is held in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with Article I, Section 1 of these Bylaws, in which case such special meeting in lieu thereof shall be deemed an Annual Meeting for purposes of these Bylaws and the provisions of Article I, Section 2 of these Bylaws shall govern such special meeting.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, and the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, shall be required to amend or repeal any provision of this Article I, Section 3; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal at such meeting of stockholders, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class.

 

SECTION 4.         Notice of Meetings; Adjournments.

 

(a)           A notice of each Annual Meeting stating the hour, date and place, if any, of such Annual Meeting and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the Annual Meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat by delivering such notice to such stockholder or by mailing it, postage prepaid, addressed to such stockholder at the address of such stockholder as it appears on the Corporation’s stock transfer books. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).

 

 

(b)           Unless otherwise required by the DGCL, notice of all special meetings of stockholders shall be given in the same manner as provided for Annual Meetings, except that the notice of all special meetings shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called.

 

(c)           Notice of an Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders need not be given to a stockholder if a waiver of notice is executed, or waiver of notice by electronic transmission is provided, before or after such meeting by such stockholder or if such stockholder attends such meeting, unless such attendance is for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.

 

(d)           The Board of Directors may postpone and reschedule any previously scheduled Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders and any record date with respect thereto, regardless of whether any notice or public disclosure with respect to any such meeting has been sent or made pursuant to Section 2 of this Article I of these Bylaws or otherwise. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment, postponement or rescheduling of any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice under this Article I of these Bylaws.

 

(e)           When any meeting is convened, the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting if (i) no quorum is present for the transaction of business, (ii) the Board of Directors determines that adjournment is necessary or appropriate to enable the stockholders to consider fully information which the Board of Directors determines has not been made sufficiently or timely available to stockholders, or (iii) the Board of Directors determines that adjournment is otherwise in the best interests of the Corporation. When any Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders is adjourned to another hour, date or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting other than an announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken of the hour, date and place, if any, to which the meeting is adjourned and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days from the meeting date, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat and each stockholder who, by law or under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may hereafter be amended and/or restated, the “Certificate”) or these Bylaws, is entitled to such notice.

 

SECTION 5.         Quorum. A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders. If less than a quorum is present at a meeting, the holders of voting stock representing a majority of the voting power present at the meeting or the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice, except as provided in Section 4 of this Article I. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. The stockholders present at a duly constituted meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

 

SECTION 6.         Voting and Proxies. Stockholders shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote owned by them of record according to the stock ledger of the Corporation as of the record date, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate. Stockholders may vote either (i) in person, (ii) by written proxy or (iii) by a transmission permitted by Section 212(c) of the DGCL. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission permitted by Section 212(c) of the DGCL may be substituted for or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. Proxies shall be filed in accordance with the procedures established for the meeting of stockholders. Except as otherwise limited therein or as otherwise provided by law, proxies authorizing a person to vote at a specific meeting shall entitle the persons authorized thereby to vote at any adjournment of such meeting, but they shall not be valid after final adjournment of such meeting. A proxy with respect to stock held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by or on behalf of any one of them unless at or prior to the exercise of the proxy the Corporation receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them.

 

SECTION 7.         Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders, any matter before any such meeting (other than an election of a director or directors) shall be decided by a majority of the votes properly cast for and against such matter, except where a larger vote is required by law, by the Certificate or by these Bylaws. Any election of directors by stockholders shall be determined by a plurality of the votes properly cast on the election of directors.

 

SECTION 8.         Stockholder Lists. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or the Corporation’s transfer agent or other person authorized by these Bylaws or by law) shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting as provided in the manner, and subject to the terms, set forth in Section 219 of the DGCL (or any successor provision). The list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law.

 

SECTION 9.         Presiding Officer. The Board of Directors shall designate a representative to preside over all Annual Meetings or special meetings of stockholders, provided that if the Board of Directors does not so designate such a presiding officer, then the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall preside over such meetings. If the Board of Directors does not so designate such a presiding officer and there is no Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of the Board is unable to so preside or is absent, then the Chief Executive Officer, if one is elected, shall preside over such meetings, provided further that if there is no Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Executive Officer is unable to so preside or is absent, then the President shall preside over such meetings. The presiding officer at any Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders shall have the power, among other things, to adjourn such meeting at any time and from time to time, subject to Sections 4 and 5 of this Article I. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the presiding officer.

 

 

SECTION 10.       Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the presiding officer shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Any inspector may, but need not, be an officer, employee or agent of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall perform such duties as are required by the DGCL, including the counting of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors. The presiding officer may review all determinations made by the inspectors, and in so doing the presiding officer shall be entitled to exercise his or her sole judgment and discretion and he or she shall not be bound by any determinations made by the inspectors. All determinations by the inspectors and, if applicable, the presiding officer, shall be subject to further review by any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Directors

 

SECTION 1.         Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by the Certificate or required by law.

 

SECTION 2.         Number and Terms. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed solely and exclusively by resolution duly adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors. The directors shall hold office in the manner provided in the Certificate.

 

SECTION 3.         Qualification. No director need be a stockholder of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 4.         Vacancies. Vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be filled in the manner provided in the Certificate.

 

 

SECTION 5.         Removal. Directors may be removed from office only in the manner provided in the Certificate.

 

SECTION 6.         Resignation. A director may resign at any time by electronic transmission or by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President or the Secretary. A resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless the resignation otherwise provides.

 

SECTION 7.         Regular Meetings. The regular annual meeting and other regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such hour, date and place as the Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time determine and publicize by means of reasonable notice given to any director who is not present at the meeting at which such resolution is adopted.

 

SECTION 8.         Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called, orally or in writing, by or at the request of a majority of the directors, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the President. The person calling any such special meeting of the Board of Directors may fix the hour, date and place thereof.

 

SECTION 9.         Notice of Meetings. Notice of the hour, date and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or in case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of such persons, by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the President or such other officer designated by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the President. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director in person, by telephone, or by facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic communication, sent to his or her business or home address, at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, or by written notice mailed to his or her business or home address, at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when hand-delivered to such address, read to such director by telephone, deposited in the mail so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid if mailed, dispatched or transmitted if sent by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail or other form of electronic communications. A written waiver of notice signed or electronically transmitted before or after a meeting by a director and filed with the records of the meeting shall be deemed to be equivalent to notice of the meeting. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because such meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Except as otherwise required by law, by the Certificate or by these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

SECTION 10.       Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if less than a quorum is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Any business which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed may be transacted at such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present. For purposes of this section, the total number of directors includes any unfilled vacancies on the Board of Directors.

 

 

SECTION 11.        Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of the directors present shall constitute action by the Board of Directors, unless otherwise required by law, by the Certificate or by these Bylaws.

 

SECTION 12.        Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the records of the meetings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such consent shall be treated as a resolution of the Board of Directors for all purposes.

 

SECTION 13.       Manner of Participation. Directors may participate in meetings of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all directors participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting in accordance herewith shall constitute presence in person at such meeting for purposes of these Bylaws.

 

SECTION 14.       Presiding Director. The Board of Directors shall designate a representative to preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors, provided that if the Board of Directors does not so designate such a presiding director or such designated presiding director is unable to so preside or is absent, then the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors. If both the designated presiding director, if one is so designated, and the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, are unable to preside or are absent, the Board of Directors shall designate an alternate representative to preside over a meeting of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 15.       Committees. The Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, may elect one or more committees, including, without limitation, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and an Audit Committee, and may delegate thereto some or all of its powers except those which by law, by the Certificate or by these Bylaws may not be delegated. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any such committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided by these Bylaws for the Board of Directors. All members of such committees shall hold such offices at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may abolish any such committee at any time. Any committee to which the Board of Directors delegates any of its powers or duties shall keep records of its meetings and shall report its action to the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 16.       Compensation of Directors. Directors shall receive such compensation for their services as shall be determined by a majority of the Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, provided that directors who are serving the Corporation as employees and who receive compensation for their services as such, shall not receive any salary or other compensation for their services as directors of the Corporation.

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

Officers

 

SECTION 1.         Enumeration. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary and such other officers, including, without limitation, a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer and one or more Vice Presidents (including Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries, as the Board of Directors may determine.

 

SECTION 2.         Election. At the regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall elect the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary. Other officers may be elected by the Board of Directors at such regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors or at any other regular or special meeting.

 

SECTION 3.         Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder or a director. Any person may occupy more than one office of the Corporation at any time.

 

SECTION 4.         Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate or by these Bylaws, each of the officers of the Corporation shall hold office until the regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors following the next Annual Meeting or until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.

 

SECTION 5.         Resignation. Any officer may resign by delivering his or her written or electronically transmitted resignation to the Corporation addressed to the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless the resignation otherwise provides.

 

SECTION 6.         Removal. Except as otherwise provided by law or by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

SECTION 7.         Absence or Disability. In the event of the absence or disability of any officer, the Board of Directors may designate another officer to act temporarily in place of such absent or disabled officer.

 

SECTION 8.         Vacancies. Any vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.

 

 

SECTION 9.         President. The President shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

SECTION 10.       Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

SECTION 11.       Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if one is elected, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

SECTION 12.        Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents. Any Vice President (including any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President) and any Assistant Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

 

SECTION 13.        Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and except as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may otherwise provide, have general charge of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall cause to be kept accurate books of account. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds, securities, and valuable documents of the Corporation. He or she shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. Any Assistant Treasurer shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

 

SECTION 14.       Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors (including committees of the Board of Directors) in books kept for that purpose. In his or her absence from any such meeting, a temporary secretary chosen at the meeting shall record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall have charge of the stock ledger (which may, however, be kept by any transfer or other agent of the Corporation). The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation, and the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary shall have authority to affix it to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed, the seal may be attested by his or her signature or that of an Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary may perform his or her duties and responsibilities. Any Assistant Secretary shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

 

SECTION 15.       Other Powers and Duties. Subject to these Bylaws and to such limitations as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe, the officers of the Corporation shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Capital Stock

 

SECTION 1.         Certificates of Stock. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate of the capital stock of the Corporation in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors. Such certificate shall be signed by any two authorized officers of the Corporation. The Corporation seal and the signatures by the Corporation’s officers, the transfer agent or the registrar may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the time of its issue. Every certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer and every certificate issued when the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class or series of stock shall contain such legend with respect thereto as is required by law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares (except that the foregoing shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation), and by the approval and adoption of these Bylaws the Board of Directors has determined that all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock may be uncertificated, whether upon original issuance, re-issuance, or subsequent transfer.

 

SECTION 2.         Transfers. Subject to any restrictions on transfer and unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, shares of stock that are represented by a certificate may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate theretofore properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, with transfer stamps (if necessary) affixed, and with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Shares of stock that are not represented by a certificate may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by submitting to the Corporation or its transfer agent such evidence of transfer and following such other procedures as the Corporation or its transfer agent may require.

 

SECTION 3.         Record Holders. Except as may otherwise be required by law, by the Certificate or by these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect thereto, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock, until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws.

 

SECTION 4.         Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date: (a) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting and (b) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action. If no record date is fixed: (i) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and (ii) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

 

SECTION 5.         Replacement of Certificates. In case of the alleged loss, destruction or mutilation of a certificate of stock of the Corporation, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Indemnification

 

SECTION 1.         Definitions. For purposes of this Article:

 

(a)            “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is serving or has served (i) as a Director of the Corporation, (ii) as an Officer of the Corporation, (iii) as a Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation, or (iv) as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, foundation, association, organization or other legal entity which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1(a), a Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation who is serving or has served as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be serving at the request of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Corporate Status” shall not include the status of a person who is serving or has served as a director, officer, employee or agent of a constituent corporation absorbed in a merger or consolidation transaction with the Corporation with respect to such person’s activities prior to said transaction, unless specifically authorized by the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation;

 

(b)           “Director” means any person who serves or has served the Corporation as a director on the Board of Directors of the Corporation;

 

(c)           “Disinterested Director” means, with respect to each Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought hereunder, a Director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to such Proceeding;

 

(d)           “Expenses” means all attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of expert witnesses, private investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants and investment bankers), travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, costs of preparation of demonstrative evidence and other courtroom presentation aids and devices, costs incurred in connection with document review, organization, imaging and computerization, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements, costs or expenses of the type customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settling or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding;

 

 

(e)            “Liabilities” means judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid in settlement;

 

(f)             “Non-Officer Employee” means any person who serves or has served as an employee or agent of the Corporation, but who is not or was not a Director or Officer;

 

(g)            “Officer” means any person who serves or has served the Corporation as an officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation;

 

(h)            “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, inquiry, investigation, administrative hearing or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative; and

 

(i)            “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity of which the Corporation owns (either directly or through or together with another Subsidiary of the Corporation) either (i) a general partner, managing member or other similar interest or (ii) (A) fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the voting capital equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity, or (B) fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting capital stock or other voting equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity.

 

SECTION 2.         Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

(a)            Subject to the operation of Section 4 of this Article V of these Bylaws, each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), and to the extent authorized in this Section 2.

 

(1)            Actions, Suits and Proceedings Other than By or In the Right of the Corporation. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against any and all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred or paid by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

 

(2)          Actions, Suits and Proceedings By or In the Right of the Corporation. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against any and all Expenses that are incurred by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein by or in the right of the Corporation, which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be made under this Section 2(a)(2) in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Director or Officer shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Corporation, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery or another court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such Director or Officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such Expenses that such court deems proper.

 

(3)          Survival of Rights. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 2 shall continue as to a Director or Officer after he or she has ceased to be a Director or Officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

 

(4)          Actions by Directors or Officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall indemnify any Director or Officer seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director or Officer only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director or Officer) was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless such Proceeding was brought to enforce such Officer’s or Director’s rights to indemnification or, in the case of Directors, advancement of Expenses under these Bylaws in accordance with the provisions set forth herein.

 

SECTION 3.         Indemnification of Non-Officer Employees. Subject to the operation of Section 4 of this Article V of these Bylaws, each Non-Officer Employee may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against any or all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred by such Non-Officer Employee or on such Non-Officer Employee’s behalf in connection with any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter therein, which such Non-Officer Employee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Non-Officer Employee’s Corporate Status, if such Non-Officer Employee acted in good faith and in a manner such Non-Officer Employee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 3 shall exist as to a Non-Officer Employee after he or she has ceased to be a Non-Officer Employee and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may indemnify any Non-Officer Employee seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Non-Officer Employee only if such Proceeding was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

 

SECTION 4.         Determination. Unless ordered by a court, no indemnification shall be provided pursuant to this Article V to a Director, to an Officer or to a Non-Officer Employee unless a determination shall have been made that such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Such determination shall be made by (a) a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, (b) a committee comprised of Disinterested Directors, such committee having been designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (even though less than a quorum), (c) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (d) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 5.         Advancement of Expenses to Directors Prior to Final Disposition.

 

(a)            The Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director in connection with any Proceeding in which such Director is involved by reason of such Director’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a written statement from such Director requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Director and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such Director to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Director is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director seeking advancement of expenses hereunder in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director) was (i) authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or (ii) brought to enforce such Director’s rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under these Bylaws.

 

(b)            If a claim for advancement of Expenses hereunder by a Director is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of documentation of Expenses and the required undertaking, such Director may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and if successful in whole or in part, such Director shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such advancement of Expenses under this Article V shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director for recovery of the unpaid amount of an advancement claim and shall not create a presumption that such advancement is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director is not entitled to an advancement of expenses shall be on the Corporation.

 

 

(c)            In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Director has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

 

SECTION 6.         Advancement of Expenses to Officers and Non-Officer Employees Prior to Final Disposition.

 

(a)            The Corporation may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, advance any or all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Officer or any Non-Officer Employee in connection with any Proceeding in which such person is involved by reason of his or her Corporate Status as an Officer or Non-Officer Employee upon the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from such Officer or Non-Officer Employee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Officer or Non-Officer Employee and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Officer or Non-Officer Employee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.

 

(b)            In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Officer or Non-Officer Employee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

 

SECTION 7.         Contractual Nature of Rights.

 

(a)            The provisions of this Article V shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Director and Officer entitled to the benefits hereof at any time while this Article V is in effect, in consideration of such person’s past or current and any future performance of services for the Corporation. Neither amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article V nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article V shall eliminate or reduce any right conferred by this Article V in respect of any act or omission occurring, or any cause of action or claim that accrues or arises or any state of facts existing, at the time of or before such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption of an inconsistent provision (even in the case of a proceeding based on such a state of facts that is commenced after such time), and all rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses granted herein or arising out of any act or omission shall vest at the time of the act or omission in question, regardless of when or if any proceeding with respect to such act or omission is commenced. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article V shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributes of such person.

 

 

(b)            If a claim for indemnification hereunder by a Director or Officer is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written claim for indemnification, such Director or Officer may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim, and if successful in whole or in part, such Director or Officer shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such indemnification under this Article V shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director or Officer for recovery of the unpaid amount of an indemnification claim and shall not create a presumption that such indemnification is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director or Officer is not entitled to indemnification shall be on the Corporation.

 

(c)            In any suit brought by a Director or Officer to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder, it shall be a defense that such Director or Officer has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

 

SECTION 8.         Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of Expenses set forth in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Director, Officer, or Non-Officer Employee may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate or these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise.

 

SECTION 9.         Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee against any liability of any character asserted against or incurred by the Corporation or any such Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee, or arising out of any such person’s Corporate Status, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL or the provisions of this Article V.

 

SECTION 10.       Other Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or provide advancement of Expenses to any person under this Article V as a result of such person serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or enterprise (the “Primary Indemnitor”). Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Article V owed by the Corporation as a result of a person serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall only be in excess of, and shall be secondary to, the indemnification or advancement of Expenses available from the applicable Primary Indemnitor(s) and any applicable insurance policies.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Miscellaneous Provisions

 

SECTION 1.         Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 2.         Seal. The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt and alter the seal of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 3.         Execution of Instruments. All deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes and other obligations to be entered into by the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business without director action may be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President or the Treasurer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Corporation as the Board of Directors or the executive committee of the Board may authorize.

 

SECTION 4.         Voting of Securities. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President or the Treasurer may waive notice of and act on behalf of the Corporation (including with regard to voting and actions by written consent), or appoint another person or persons to act as proxy or attorney in fact for the Corporation with or without discretionary power and/or power of substitution, at any meeting of stockholders or shareholders of any other corporation or organization, any of whose securities are held by the Corporation.

 

SECTION 5.         Resident Agent. The Board of Directors may appoint a resident agent upon whom legal process may be served in any action or proceeding against the Corporation.

 

SECTION 6.         Corporate Records. The original or attested copies of the Certificate, Bylaws and records of all meetings of the incorporators, stockholders and the Board of Directors and the stock transfer books, which shall contain the names of all stockholders, their record addresses and the amount of stock held by each, may be kept outside the State of Delaware and shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, at an office of its counsel, at an office of its transfer agent or at such other place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 7.         Certificate. All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate shall be deemed to refer to the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and/or restated and in effect from time to time.

 

SECTION 8.         Exclusive Jurisdiction of Delaware Courts or the Federal District Courts of the United States. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for state law claims for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of or based on a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer, or other employee or stockholder of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate or Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided, however, that this provision will not apply to any causes of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 8.

 

 

SECTION 9.         Amendment of Bylaws.

 

(a)            Amendment by Directors. Except as provided otherwise by law, these Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

(b)            Amendment by Stockholders. Except as otherwise required by these Bylaws or by law, these Bylaws may be amended or repealed at any Annual Meeting, or special meeting of stockholders called for such purpose in accordance with these Bylaws, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, stockholder approval shall not be required unless mandated by the Certificate, these Bylaws, or other applicable law.

 

SECTION 10.       Notices. If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.

 

SECTION 11.        Waivers. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.

 

Adopted by the Board on February 24, 2021 and approved by the stockholders on February 24, 2021 subject to and effective upon the effectiveness of the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 for its initial public offering.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

TRANSCODE therapeutics, inc.

 

2020 STOCK OPTION AND incentive PLAN

 

SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

 

The name of the plan is the Transcode Therapeutics, Inc. 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, directors, Consultants and other key persons of Transcode Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (including any successor entity, the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries, upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business, to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.

 

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

“Affiliate” of any Person means a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the first mentioned Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such first Person possesses directly or indirectly the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of the second Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units or any combination of the foregoing.

 

“Award Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Agreement may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan; provided, however, in the event of any conflict in the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cause” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Award Agreement(s). In the case that any Award Agreement does not contain a definition of “Cause,” it shall mean (i) the grantee’s dishonest statements or acts with respect to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, or any current or prospective customers, suppliers vendors or other third parties with which such entity does business; (ii) the grantee’s commission of (A) a felony or (B) any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, deceit, dishonesty or fraud; (iii) the grantee’s failure to perform his assigned duties and responsibilities to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company which failure continues, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, after written notice given to the grantee by the Company; (iv) the grantee’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or insubordination with respect to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company; or (v) the grantee’s material violation of any provision of any agreement(s) between the grantee and the Company relating to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisclosure and/or assignment of inventions.

 

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

 

“Committee” means the Committee of the Board referred to in Section 2.

 

“Consultant” means any natural person that provides bona fide services to the Company (including a Subsidiary), and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

 

“Disability” means “disability” as defined in Section 422(c) of the Code.

 

“Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan is adopted as set forth on the final page of the Plan.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

“Fair Market Value” of the Stock on any given date means the fair market value of the Stock determined in good faith by the Committee based on the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method not inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code. If the Stock is admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to the closing price reported on such exchange. 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. If the date for which Fair Market Value is determined is the first day when trading prices for the Stock are reported on a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be the “Price to the Public” (or equivalent) set forth on the cover page for the final prospectus relating to the Company’s Initial Public Offering.

 

“Grant Date” means the date that the Committee designates in its approval of an Award in accordance with applicable law as the date on which the Award is granted, which date may not precede the date of such Committee approval.

 

“Holder” means, with respect to an Award or any Shares, the Person holding such Award or Shares, including the initial recipient of the Award or any Permitted Transferee.

 

“Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

“Initial Public Offering” means the consummation of the first firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the offer and sale by the Company of its equity securities, as a result of or following which the Stock shall be publicly held.

 

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

 

“Option” or “Stock Option” means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5.

 

“Permitted Transferees” shall mean any of the following to whom a Holder may transfer Shares hereunder (as set forth in Section 9(a)(ii)(A)): the Holder’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Holder’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons own more than fifty percent of the voting interests; provided, however, that any such trust does not require or permit distribution of any Shares during the term of the Award Agreement unless subject to its terms. Upon the death of the Holder, the term Permitted Transferees shall also include such deceased Holder’s estate, executors, administrators, personal representatives, heirs, legatees and distributees, as the case may be.

 

“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership (limited or general), limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization or any similar entity.

 

“Restricted Stock Award” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 6 and “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to such Awards.

 

“Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award of phantom stock units to a grantee, which may be settled in cash or Shares as determined by the Committee, pursuant to Section 8.

 

“Sale Event” means the consummation of (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (iii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power of the surviving or resulting entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable), (iv) the acquisition of all or a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company in a single transaction or a series of related transactions by a Person or group of Persons, or (v) any other acquisition of the business of the Company, as determined by the Board; provided, however, that the Company’s Initial Public Offering, any subsequent public offering or another capital raising event, or a merger effected solely to change the Company’s domicile shall not constitute a “Sale Event.”

 

“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

“Service Relationship” means any relationship as a full-time employee, part-time employee, director or Consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary or any successor entity (e.g., a Service Relationship shall be deemed to continue without interruption in the event an individual’s status changes from full-time employee to part-time employee or Consultant).

 

 

“Shares” means shares of Stock.

 

“Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share, of the Company.

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has more than a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.

 

“Ten Percent Owner” means an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

“Termination Event” means the termination of the Award recipient’s Service Relationship with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason whatsoever, regardless of the circumstances thereof, and including, without limitation, upon death, disability, retirement, discharge or resignation for any reason, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. The following shall not constitute a Termination Event: (i) a transfer to the service of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another Subsidiary or (ii) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Committee, if the individual’s right to re-employment 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 Committee otherwise so provides in writing.

 

“Unrestricted Stock Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7 and “Unrestricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to such Awards.

 

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; COMMITTEE AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

 

(a)           Administration of Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Board, or at the discretion of the Board, by a committee of the Board, comprised of not less than two directors. All references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to the group then responsible for administration of the Plan at the relevant time (i.e., either the Board of Directors or a committee or committees of the Board, as applicable).

 

(b)           Powers of Committee. The Committee shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

 

(i)             to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

 

(ii)            to determine the time or times of grant, and the amount, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;

 

(iii)           to determine the number of Shares to be covered by any Award and, subject to the provisions of the Plan, the price, exercise price, conversion ratio or other price relating thereto;

 

 

(iv)           to determine and, subject to Section 12, to modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees, and to approve the form of Award Agreements;

 

(v)            to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award;

 

(vi)           to impose any limitations on Awards, including limitations on transfers, repurchase provisions and the like, and to exercise repurchase rights or obligations;

 

(vii)          subject to Section 5(a)(ii) and any restrictions imposed by Section 409A, to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options may be exercised; and

 

(viii)         at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including Award Agreements); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

 

All decisions and interpretations of the Committee shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and all Holders.

 

(c)            Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards. Subject to applicable law, the Committee, in its discretion, may delegate to any one or more members of the Board all or part of the Committee’s authority and duties with respect to the granting of Awards and may delegate to an officer of the Company the power to designate non-officer employees to be recipients of Options, and to determine the number of such Options to be received by such employees; provided, however, that the resolution so authorizing the officer shall specify the total number of Options the officer may so award and may not delegate to the officer the authority to set the exercise price or the vesting terms of such Options. Any such delegation by the Committee shall also provide that the officer may not grant Awards to himself or herself (or other officers) without the approval of the Committee. The Committee may revoke or amend the terms of a delegation at any time but such action shall not invalidate any prior actions of the Committee’s delegate or delegates that were consistent with the terms of the Plan.

 

(d)            Award Agreement. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award.

 

(e)            Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Committee, nor any member of either or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Committee (and any delegate thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under the Company’s governing documents, including its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time and/or any indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.

 

 

(f)            Foreign Award Recipients. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company and any Subsidiary operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries, if any, shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals, if any, outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Committee determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to the Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitation contained in Section 3(a) hereof; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals.

 

SECTION 3. STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS; SUBSTITUTION

 

Stock Issuable.

 

(a)            The maximum number of Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 5,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b) (the “Pool Limit”). Subject to such overall limitations, Shares may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award, and no more than the Pool Limit may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. The Shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares reacquired by the Company. Beginning on the date that the Company becomes subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, Options with respect to no more than 5,000,000 Shares shall be granted to any one individual in any calendar year period. For purposes of the Pool Limit Shares underlying any awards under the Plan that are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan and, to the extent permitted under Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the shares of Stock that may be issued as Incentive Stock Options.

 

(b)           Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock, the outstanding Shares are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional Shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such Shares or other securities, in each case, without the receipt of consideration by the Company, or, if, as a result of any merger or consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding Shares are converted into or exchanged for other securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), the Committee shall make an appropriate and proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iii) the repurchase price, if any, per Share subject to each outstanding Award, and (iv) the exercise price for each Share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Stock Options) as to which such Stock Options remain exercisable. The Committee shall in any event make such adjustments as may be required by Section 25102(o) of the California Corporation Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The adjustment by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Committee in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.

 

 

(c)           Sale Events.

 

(i)            Options. Subject to, in each case, the preferential rights of the holders of the Company’s Preferred Stock pursuant to the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation.

 

(A)            In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Options issued hereunder shall terminate upon the effective time of any such Sale Event unless assumed or continued by the successor entity, or new stock options or other awards of the successor entity or parent thereof are substituted therefor, with an equitable or proportionate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree (after taking into account any acceleration hereunder and/or pursuant to the terms of any Award Agreement).

 

(B)            In the event of the termination of the Plan and all outstanding Options issued hereunder pursuant to Section 3(c), each Holder of Options shall be permitted, within a period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as specified by the Committee, to exercise all such Options which are then exercisable or will become exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event; provided, however, that the exercise of Options not exercisable prior to the Sale Event shall be subject to the consummation of the Sale Event.

 

(C)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3(c)(i)(A), in the event of a Sale Event, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make or provide for a cash payment to the Holders of Options, without any consent of the Holders, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the value as determined by the Committee of the consideration payable per share of Stock pursuant to the Sale Event (the “Sale Price”) times the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options being cancelled (to the extent then vested and exercisable, including by reason of acceleration in connection with such Sale Event, at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding vested and exercisable Options.

 

 

(ii)           Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Subject to, in each case, the preferential rights of the holders of the Company’s Preferred Stock pursuant to the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation.

 

(A)            In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, all unvested Restricted Stock and unvested Restricted Stock Unit Awards (other than those becoming vested as a result of the Sale Event) issued hereunder shall be forfeited immediately prior to the effective time of any such Sale Event unless assumed or continued by the successor entity, or awards of the successor entity or parent thereof are substituted therefor, with an equitable or proportionate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares subject to such awards as such parties shall agree (after taking into account any acceleration hereunder and/or pursuant to the terms of any Award Agreement).

 

(B)            In the event of the forfeiture of Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 3(c)(ii)(A), such Restricted Stock shall be repurchased from the Holder thereof at a price per share equal to the original per share purchase price paid by the Holder (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b)) for such Shares.

 

(C)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3(c)(ii)(A), in the event of a Sale Event, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make or provide for a cash payment to the Holders of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Awards, without consent of the Holders, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the Sale Price times the number of Shares subject to such Awards, to be paid at the time of such Sale Event or upon the later vesting of such Awards.

 

SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY

 

Grantees under the Plan will be such full or part-time officers and other employees, directors and Consultants of the Company and any Subsidiary who are selected from time to time by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that Awards shall be granted only to those individuals described in Rule 701(c) of the Securities Act.

 

SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS

 

Upon the grant of a Stock Option, the Company and the grantee shall enter into an Award Agreement. The terms and conditions of each such Award Agreement shall be determined by the Committee, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

 

Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(a)            Terms of Stock Options. The Committee in its discretion may grant Stock Options to those individuals who meet the eligibility requirements of Section 4. Stock Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable.

 

 

(i)            Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Shares covered by a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the exercise price per share for the Shares covered by such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.

 

(ii)           Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years from the Grant Date. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the term of such Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the Grant Date.

 

(iii)          Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable and/or vested at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Committee at or after the Grant Date. The Award Agreement may permit a grantee to exercise all or a portion of a Stock Option immediately at grant; provided that the Shares issued upon such exercise shall be subject to restrictions and a vesting schedule identical to the vesting schedule of the related Stock Option, such Shares shall be deemed to be Restricted Stock for purposes of the Plan, and the optionee may be required to enter into an additional or new Award Agreement as a condition to exercise of such Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to Shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options. An optionee shall not be deemed to have acquired any Shares unless and until a Stock Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement and this Plan and the optionee’s name has been entered on the books of the Company as a stockholder.

 

(iv)         Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised by an optionee in whole or in part, by the optionee giving written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods (or any combination thereof) to the extent provided in the Award Agreement:

 

(A)            In cash, by certified or bank check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or other instrument acceptable to the Committee;

 

(B)            If permitted by the Committee, by the optionee delivering to the Company a promissory note, if the Board has expressly authorized the loan of funds to the optionee for the purpose of enabling or assisting the optionee to effect the exercise of his or her Stock Option; provided, that at least so much of the exercise price as represents the par value of the Stock shall be paid in cash if required by state law;

 

(C)            If permitted by the Committee and the Initial Public Offering has occurred (or the Stock otherwise becomes publicly-traded), through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of Shares that have been purchased by the optionee on the open market or that are beneficially owned by the optionee and are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. To the extent required to avoid variable accounting treatment under ASC 718 or other applicable accounting rules, such surrendered Shares if originally purchased from the Company shall have been owned by the optionee for at least six months. Such surrendered Shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

 

 

(D)            If permitted by the Committee and the Initial Public Offering has occurred (or the Stock otherwise becomes publicly-traded), by the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Committee shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or

 

(E)            If permitted by the Committee, and only with respect to Stock Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of Shares issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of Shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.

 

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. No certificates for Shares so purchased will be issued to the optionee or, with respect to uncertificated Stock, no transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company will take place, until the Company has completed all steps it has deemed necessary to satisfy legal requirements relating to the issuance and sale of the Shares, which steps may include, without limitation, (i) receipt of a representation from the optionee at the time of exercise of the Option that the optionee is purchasing the Shares for the optionee’s own account and not with a view to any sale or distribution of the Shares or other representations relating to compliance with applicable law governing the issuance of securities, (ii) the legending of the certificate (or notation on any book entry) representing the Shares to evidence the foregoing restrictions, and (iii) obtaining from optionee payment or provision for all withholding taxes due as a result of the exercise of the Option. The delivery of certificates representing the shares of Stock (or the transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company with respect to uncertificated Stock) to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon (A) receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his or her stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such Shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Award Agreement or applicable provisions of laws and (B) if required by the Company, the optionee shall have entered into any stockholders agreements or other agreements with the Company and/or certain other of the Company’s stockholders relating to the Stock. In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned Shares through the attestation method, the number of Shares transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of Shares attested to.

 

(b)           Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and any Subsidiary that become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000 or such other limit as may be in effect from time to time under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(c)            Termination. Any portion of a Stock Option that is not vested and exercisable on the date of termination of an optionee’s Service Relationship shall immediately expire and be null and void. Once any portion of the Stock Option becomes vested and exercisable, the optionee’s right to exercise such portion of the Stock Option (or the optionee’s representatives and legatees as applicable) in the event of a termination of the optionee’s Service Relationship shall continue until the earliest of: (i) the date which is: (A) 12 months following the date on which the optionee’s Service Relationship terminates due to death or Disability (or such longer period of time as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement), or (B) three months following the date on which the optionee’s Service Relationship terminates if the termination is due to any reason other than death or Disability (or such longer period of time as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement), or (ii) the Expiration Date set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, an Award Agreement may provide that if the optionee’s Service Relationship is terminated for Cause, the Stock Option shall terminate immediately and be null and void upon the date of the optionee’s termination and shall not thereafter be exercisable.

 

SECTION 6. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

(a)            Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other purchase price determined by the Committee) to an eligible individual under Section 4 hereof a Restricted Stock Award under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the restrictions and conditions applicable to each Restricted Stock Award at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other Service Relationship), achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives and/or such other criteria as the Committee may determine. Upon the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Company and the grantee shall enter into an Award Agreement. The terms and conditions of each such Award Agreement shall be determined by the Committee, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

 

(b)            Rights as a Stockholder. Upon the grant of the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a grantee of Restricted Stock shall be considered the record owner of and shall be entitled to vote the Restricted Stock if, and to the extent, such Shares are entitled to voting rights, subject to such conditions contained in the Award Agreement. The grantee shall be entitled to receive all dividends and any other distributions declared on the Shares; provided, however, that the Company is under no duty to declare any such dividends or to make any such distribution. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, certificates evidencing the Restricted Stock shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Stock is vested as provided in subsection (d) below of this Section, and the grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company a stock power endorsed in blank and such other instruments of transfer as the Committee may prescribe.

 

 

(c)            Restrictions. Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Award Agreement. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Committee either in the Award Agreement or, subject to Section 12 below, in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, if a grantee’s Service Relationship with the Company and any Subsidiary terminates, the Company or its assigns shall have the right, as may be specified in the relevant instrument, to repurchase some or all of the Shares subject to the Award at such purchase price as is set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

(d)            Vesting of Restricted Stock. The Committee at the time of grant shall specify in the Award Agreement the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the substantial risk of forfeiture imposed shall lapse and the Restricted Stock shall become vested, subject to such further rights of the Company or its assigns as may be specified in the Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 7. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other purchase price determined by the Committee) to an eligible person under Section 4 hereof an Unrestricted Stock Award under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of cash compensation due to such grantee.

 

SECTION 8. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

(a)            Nature of Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant to an eligible person under Section 4 hereof Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the restrictions and conditions applicable to each Restricted Stock Unit at the time of grant. Vesting conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other Service Relationship), achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives and/or other such criteria as the Committee may determine. Upon the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the grantee and the Company shall enter into an Award Agreement. The terms and conditions of each such Award Agreement shall be determined by the Committee and may differ among individual Awards and grantees. On or promptly following the vesting date or dates applicable to any Restricted Stock Unit, but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the year in which such vesting occurs, such Restricted Stock Unit(s) shall be settled in the form of cash or shares of Stock, as specified in the Award agreement. Restricted Stock Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of.

 

(b)            Rights as a Stockholder. A grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to Shares, if any, acquired upon settlement of Restricted Stock Units. A grantee shall not be deemed to have acquired any such Shares unless and until the Restricted Stock Units shall have been settled in Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreement, the Company shall have issued and delivered a certificate representing the Shares to the grantee (or transferred on the records of the Company with respect to uncertificated stock), and the grantee’s name has been entered in the books of the Company as a stockholder.

 

 

(c)           Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Committee either in the Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, a grantee’s right in all Restricted Stock Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s cessation of Service Relationship with the Company and any Subsidiary for any reason.

 

SECTION 9. transfer restrictions; company RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL; COMPANY repurchase rights

 

(a)           Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(i)             Non-Transferability of Stock Options. Stock Options and, prior to exercise, the Shares issuable upon exercise of such Stock Option, shall not be transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will, or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the optionee’s lifetime, only by the optionee, or by the optionee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the optionee’s incapacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement regarding a given Stock Option that the optionee may transfer by gift, without consideration for the transfer, his or her Non-Qualified Stock Options to his or her family members (as defined in Rule 701 of the Securities Act), to trusts for the benefit of such family members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners (to the extent such trusts or partnerships are considered “family members” for purposes of Rule 701 of the Securities Act), provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, including the execution of a stock power upon the issuance of Shares. Stock Options, and the Shares issuable upon exercise of such Stock Options, shall be restricted as to any pledge, hypothecation, or other transfer, including any short position, any “put equivalent position” (as defined in the Exchange Act) or any “call equivalent position” (as defined in the Exchange Act) prior to exercise.

 

(ii)            Shares. No Shares shall be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, given away or in any other manner disposed of or encumbered, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, unless (i) the transfer is in compliance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act), and with the terms and conditions of this Section 9, (ii) the transfer does not cause the Company to become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and (iii) the transferee consents in writing to be bound by the provisions of the Plan and the Award Agreement, including this Section 9. In connection with any proposed transfer, the Committee may require the transferor to provide at the transferor’s own expense an opinion of counsel to the transferor, satisfactory to the Committee, that such transfer is in compliance with all foreign, federal and state securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act). Any attempted transfer of Shares not in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 9 shall be null and void, and the Company shall not reflect on its records any change in record ownership of any Shares as a result of any such transfer, shall otherwise refuse to recognize any such transfer and shall not in any way give effect to any such transfer of Shares. The Company shall be entitled to seek protective orders, injunctive relief and other remedies available at law or in equity including, without limitation, seeking specific performance or the rescission of any transfer not made in strict compliance with the provisions of this Section 9. Subject to the foregoing general provisions, and unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, Shares may be transferred pursuant to the following specific terms and conditions (provided that with respect to any transfer of Restricted Stock, all vesting and forfeiture provisions shall continue to apply with respect to the original recipient):

 

 

(A)            Transfers to Permitted Transferees. The Holder may transfer any or all of the Shares to one or more Permitted Transferees; provided, however, that following such transfer, such Shares shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Plan (including this Section 9) and such Permitted Transferee(s) shall, as a condition to any such transfer, deliver a written acknowledgment to that effect to the Company and shall deliver a stock power to the Company with respect to the Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may not transfer any of the Shares to a Person whom the Company reasonably determines is a direct competitor or a potential competitor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(B)            Transfers Upon Death. Upon the death of the Holder, any Shares then held by the Holder at the time of such death and any Shares acquired after the Holder’s death by the Holder’s legal representative shall be subject to the provisions of this Plan, and the Holder’s estate, executors, administrators, personal representatives, heirs, legatees and distributees shall be obligated to convey such Shares to the Company or its assigns under the terms contemplated by the Plan and the Award Agreement.

 

(b)            Right of First Refusal. In the event that a Holder desires at any time to sell or otherwise transfer all or any part of his or her Shares (other than shares of Restricted Stock which by their terms are not transferrable), the Holder first shall give written notice to the Company of the Holder’s intention to make such transfer. Such notice shall state the number of Shares that the Holder proposes to sell (the “Offered Shares”), the price and the terms at which the proposed sale is to be made and the name and address of the proposed transferee. At any time within 30 days after the receipt of such notice by the Company, the Company or its assigns may elect to purchase all or any portion of the Offered Shares at the price and on the terms offered by the proposed transferee and specified in the notice. The Company or its assigns shall exercise this right by mailing or delivering written notice to the Holder within the foregoing 30-day period. If the Company or its assigns elect to exercise its purchase rights under this Section 9(b), the closing for such purchase shall, in any event, take place within 45 days after the receipt by the Company of the initial notice from the Holder. In the event that the Company or its assigns do not elect to exercise such purchase right, or in the event that the Company or its assigns do not pay the full purchase price within such 45-day period, the Holder shall be required to pay a transaction processing fee of $10,000 to the Company (unless waived by the Committee) and then may, within 60 days thereafter, sell the Offered Shares to the proposed transferee and at the same price and on the same terms as specified in the Holder’s notice. Any Shares not sold to the proposed transferee shall remain subject to the Plan. If the Holder is a party to any stockholders agreements or other agreements with the Company and/or certain other of the Company’s stockholders relating to the Shares, (i) the transferring Holder shall comply with the requirements of such stockholders agreements or other agreements relating to any proposed transfer of the Offered Shares, and (ii) any proposed transferee that purchases Offered Shares shall enter into such stockholders agreements or other agreements with the Company and/or certain of the Company’s stockholders relating to the Offered Shares on the same terms and in the same capacity as the transferring Holder.

 

 

(c)           Company’s Right of Repurchase.

 

(i)             Right of Repurchase for Shares Issued Upon the Exercise of an Option. Upon a Termination Event, the Company or its assigns shall have the right and option to repurchase from a Holder of Shares acquired upon exercise of a Stock Option. Such repurchase rights may be exercised by the Company within the later of (A) six months following the date of such Termination Event or (B) seven months after the acquisition of Shares upon exercise of a Stock Option. The repurchase price for unvested Shares shall be equal to the lower of the original per share price paid by the Holder, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b) of the Plan, or the current Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date the Company elects to exercise its repurchase rights. The repurchase price for vested Shares shall be equal to (X) if the Holder’s Service Relationship is terminated for Cause, the lower of the original per share price paid by the Holder, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b) of the Plan, or the current Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date the Company elects to exercise its repurchase rights, or (Y) in the case of any other Termination Event, the current Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date the Company elects to exercise its repurchase rights.

 

(ii)            Right of Repurchase With Respect to Shares Granted as Restricted Stock Awards. Upon a Termination Event, the Company or its assigns shall have the right and option to repurchase from a Holder of Shares received pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award any Shares. Such repurchase right may be exercised by the Company within six months following the date of such Termination Event. The repurchase price for unvested Shares shall be the lower of the original per share purchase price paid by the Holder, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b) of the Plan, or the current Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date the Company elects to exercise its repurchase rights. The repurchase price for vested Shares shall be equal to (X) if the Holder’s Service Relationship is terminated for Cause, the lower of the original per share price paid by the Holder, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b) of the Plan, or the current Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date the Company elects to exercise its repurchase rights, or (Y) in the case of any other Termination Event, the current Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date the Company elects to exercise its repurchase rights.

 

(iii)           Procedure. Any repurchase right of the Company shall be exercised by the Company or its assigns by giving the Holder written notice on or before the last day of the repurchase period of its intention to exercise such repurchase right. Upon such notification, the Holder shall promptly surrender to the Company, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances, any certificates representing the Shares being purchased, together with a duly executed stock power for the transfer of such Shares to the Company or the Company’s assignee or assignees. Upon the Company’s or its assignee’s receipt of the certificates from the Holder, the Company or its assignee or assignees shall deliver to him, her or them a check for the applicable repurchase price; provided, however, that the Company may pay the repurchase price by offsetting and canceling any indebtedness then owed by the Holder to the Company.

 

(d)           Reserved.

 

 

(e)           Escrow Arrangement.

 

(i)             Escrow. In order to carry out the provisions of this Section 9 of this Plan more effectively, the Company shall hold any Shares issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan in escrow together with separate stock powers executed by the Holder in blank for transfer. The Company shall not dispose of the Shares except as otherwise provided in this Plan. In the event of any repurchase by the Company (or any of its assigns), the Company is hereby authorized by the Holder, as the Holder’s attorney-in-fact, to date and complete the stock powers necessary for the transfer of the Shares being purchased and to transfer such Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. At such time as any Shares are no longer subject to the Company’s repurchase and first refusal rights, the Company shall, at the written request of the Holder, deliver to the Holder a certificate representing such Shares with the balance of the Shares to be held in escrow pursuant to this Section.

 

(ii)            Remedy. Without limitation of any other provision of this Plan or other rights, in the event that a Holder or any other Person is required to sell a Holder’s Shares pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9(b) or (c) hereof and in the further event that he or she refuses or for any reason fails to deliver to the Company or its designated purchaser of such Shares the certificate or certificates evidencing such Shares together with a related stock power, the Company or such designated purchaser may deposit the applicable purchase price for such Shares with a bank designated by the Company, or with the Company’s independent public accounting firm, as agent or trustee, or in escrow, for such Holder or other Person, to be held by such bank or accounting firm for the benefit of and for delivery to him, her, them or it, and/or, in its discretion, pay such purchase price by offsetting any indebtedness then owed by such Holder as provided above. Upon any such deposit and/or offset by the Company or its designated purchaser of such amount and upon notice to the Person who was required to sell the Shares to be sold pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9(b) or (c), such Shares shall at such time be deemed to have been sold, assigned, transferred and conveyed to such purchaser, such Holder shall have no further rights thereto (other than the right to withdraw the payment thereof held in escrow, if applicable), and the Company shall record such transfer in its stock transfer book or in any appropriate manner.

 

(f)           Lockup Provision. If requested by the Company, a Holder shall not sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Shares (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) held by him or her for such period following the effective date of a public offering by the Company of Shares as the Company shall specify reasonably and in good faith. If requested by the underwriter engaged by the Company, each Holder shall execute a separate letter confirming his or her agreement to comply with this Section.

 

(g)          Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. If, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Common Stock, the outstanding Shares are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of securities of the Company, the restrictions contained in this Section 9 shall apply with equal force to additional and/or substitute securities, if any, received by Holder in exchange for, or by virtue of his or her ownership of, Shares.

 

 

(h)           Termination. The terms and provisions of Section 9(b) and Section 9(c) (except for the Company’s right to repurchase Shares still subject to a risk of forfeiture upon a Termination Event) shall terminate upon the closing of the Company’s Initial Public Offering or upon consummation of any Sale Event, in either case as a result of which Shares are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and publicly-traded on any national security exchange.

 

SECTION 10. TAX WITHHOLDING

 

(a)            Payment by Grantee. Each grantee shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Shares or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the grantee for income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld by the Company with respect to such income. The Company and any Subsidiary shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee. The Company’s obligation to deliver stock certificates (or evidence of book entry) to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on any such tax withholding obligations being satisfied by the grantee.

 

(b)            Payment in Stock. The Company’s minimum required tax withholding obligation may be satisfied, in whole or in part, by the Company withholding from Shares to be issued pursuant to an Award a number of Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the minimum withholding amount due.

 

SECTION 11. Section 409A AWARDS.

 

To the extent that any Award is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as may be specified by the Committee from time to time. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a grantee who is considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the grantee’s separation from service, or (ii) the grantee’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to any grantee under the Plan or any other Person with respect to any penalties or taxes under Section 409A that are, or may be, imposed with respect to any Award.

 

SECTION 12. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

 

The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Committee may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the consent of the holder of the Award. The Committee may exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or effect repricing through cancellation of outstanding Stock Options and by granting such holders new Awards in replacement of the cancelled Stock Options. To the extent determined by the Committee to be required either by the Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the Code or otherwise, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. Nothing in this Section 12 shall limit the Board’s or Committee’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(c). The Board reserves the right to amend the Plan and/or the terms of any outstanding Stock Options to the extent reasonably necessary to comply with the requirements of the exemption pursuant to paragraph (f)(4) of Rule 12h-1 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

SECTION 13. STATUS OF PLAN

 

With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a grantee, a grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly so determine in connection with any Award.

 

SECTION 14. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

(a)            No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements. The Committee may require each person acquiring Shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the Shares without a view to distribution thereof. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities law and other legal and stock exchange or similar requirements have been satisfied. The Committee may require the placing of such stop-orders and restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems appropriate.

 

(b)            Delivery of Stock Certificates. Stock certificates to grantees under the Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company; provided that stock certificates to be held in escrow pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan shall be deemed delivered when the Company shall have recorded the issuance in its records. Uncertificated Stock shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records).

 

(c)            No Employment Rights. The adoption of the Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any Person any right to continued employment or Service Relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(d)            Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s insider trading policy-related restrictions, terms and conditions as may be established by the Committee, or in accordance with policies set by the Committee, from time to time.

 

 

(e)           Legend. Any certificate(s) representing the Shares shall carry substantially the following legend (and with respect to uncertificated Stock, the book entries evidencing such shares shall contain the following notation):

 

The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions (including repurchase and restrictions against transfers) contained in the Transcode Therapeutics, Inc. 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and any agreements entered into thereunder by and between the company and the holder of this certificate (a copy of which is available at the offices of the company for examination).

 

(f)           Information to Holders of Options. In the event the Company is relying on the exemption from the registration requirements of Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act contained in paragraph (f)(1) of Rule 12h-1 of the Exchange Act, the Company shall provide the information described in Rule 701(e)(3), (4) and (5) of the Securities Act to all holders of Options in accordance with the requirements thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company shall not be required to provide such information unless the optionholder has agreed in writing, on a form prescribed by the Company, to keep such information confidential.

 

SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall become effective upon adoption by the Board and shall be approved by stockholders in accordance with applicable state law and the Company’s articles of incorporation and bylaws within 12 months thereafter. If the stockholders fail to approve the Plan within 12 months after its adoption by the Board of Directors, then any Awards granted or sold under the Plan shall be rescinded and no additional grants or sales shall thereafter be made under the Plan. Subject to such approval by stockholders and to the requirement that no Shares may be issued hereunder prior to such approval, Stock Options and other Awards may be granted hereunder on and after adoption of the Plan by the Board. No grants of Stock Options and other Awards may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders, whichever is earlier.

 

SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW

 

This Plan, all Awards and any controversy arising out of or relating to this Plan and all Awards 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 State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of Delaware.

 

DATE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:	April 15, 2020
DATE APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS:	April 15, 2020

 

 

Exhibit 10.7 

 

CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND REPLACED WITH “[**]”. SUCH IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) WOULD LIKELY CAUSE COMPETITIVE HARM TO THE COMPANY IF DISCLOSED. 

 

The General Hospital Corporation

 

EXCLUSIVE PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

MGH Agreement No: [**]

MGH Case No: [**]and [**]

 

This License Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of the 26^th day of October, 2018 (“Effective Date”), by and between TransCode Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of business located at 1241 Adams Street, Suite 603, Boston, MA 02124 (“Company”) and The General Hospital Corporation, d/b/a Massachusetts General Hospital, a not-for-profit Massachusetts corporation, with a principal place of business at 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 (“Hospital”), each referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

 

RECITALS

 

Hospital, as a center for patient care, research and education, is the owner of certain Patent Rights (defined below) and desires to grant a license of those Patent Rights to Company in order to benefit the public by disseminating the results of its research via the commercial development, manufacture, distribution and use of Products and Processes (defined below).

 

Company has certain capabilities, and is developing additional capabilities, to commercially develop, manufacture, distribute and use Products and Processes for public use and benefit and desires to license such Patent Rights.

 

For good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise.

 

1.1

“Affiliate” with respect to either Party shall mean any corporation or other legal entity other than that Party in whatever country organized, controlling, controlled by or under common control with that Party. The term “control” shall mean (i) in the case of Company, direct or indirect ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting securities having the right to elect directors, and (ii) in the case of Hospital, the power, direct or indirect, to elect or appoint fifty percent (50%) or more of the directors or trustees, or to cause direction of management and policies, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

 

1.2

“Claim” shall mean any pending or issued claim of any Patent Right that has not been permanently revoked, nor held unenforceable or invalid by a decision of a court or other governmental agency of competent jurisdiction that is unappealable or unappealed in the time allowed for appeal.

 

1.3

“Clinical Diagnostic Process” shall mean any Process used for the clinical diagnosis, evaluation or monitoring of any disease states and/or morphologies or biological processes in humans.

 

1.4

“Clinical Diagnostic Product” shall mean any Product used for the clinical diagnosis, evaluation or monitoring of any disease states and/or morphologies or biological processes in humans.

 

1.5

“Distributor” shall mean any third-party entity to whom Company, a Company Affiliate or a Sublicensee (defined below) has granted, expressly or implicitly, the right to distribute any Product or Process pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(ii).

 

1.6

“First Commercial Sale” shall mean the initial Sale (defined below) anywhere in the applicable License Territory (defined below) of a Product or Process.

 

1.7

“License Field” shall mean treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of cancer in humans and animals.

 

1.8

“License Territory” shall mean worldwide.

 

1.9

“Marketing Approval” shall mean, with respect to a country or extra-national territory, any and all approvals, licenses, registrations or authorizations of any Regulatory Authority necessary in order to commercially distribute, sell or market a product in such country or some or all of such extra-national territory, including any pricing approval.

 

1.10

“Net Sales” shall be calculated as set forth in this Section1.10.

 

(a)

Subject to the conditions set forth below, “Net Sales” shall mean:

 

(i)

the gross amount billed or invoiced, or, if no such bill or invoice is issued, the amount received by Company and its Affiliates and Sublicensees for or on account of Sales of Products and Processes;

 

(ii)

less the following amounts:

 

[**]

 

1.11

“Patent Rights” shall mean: (a) the patent applications referred to in Hospital invention record numbers [**] and [**], as described in Appendix A; (b) any patent or patent application that claims priority to and is a divisional, continuation, reissue, renewal, reexamination, substitution or extension of a patent application identified in (a); (c) any patents issuing on any of the patent applications identified in (a) or (b), including any reissues, renewals, reexaminations, substitutions or extensions thereof, and foreign equivalents of the foregoing; (d) any claim of a continuation-in-part application or patent that is entitled to the priority date of, and is directed specifically to subject matter specifically described in, at least one of the patents or patent applications identified in (a), (b) or (c); (e) any foreign counterpart (including PCTs) of any of the patents or patent applications identified in (a), (b) or (c) or of the claims identified in (d); and (f) any supplementary protection certificates, any other patent term extensions, and restorations and the like of any patents and patent applications identified in (a) through (e).

 

 

1.12

“Process” shall mean any process, method or service the use or performance of which, in whole or in part:

 

(a)

absent the license granted hereunder would infringe, or is covered by, one or more Claims of Patent Rights; or

 

(b)

employs, or is derived from, any Technological Information (defined below).

 

1.13

“Product” shall mean any article, device or composition, the manufacture, use, or sale of which, in whole or in part:

 

(a)

absent the license granted hereunder would infringe, or is covered by, one or more Claims of Patent Rights; or

 

(b)

employs, or is derived from, any Technological Information.

 

1.14

“Regulatory Authority” shall mean, in respect of a particular country or jurisdiction, the governmental authority having responsibility for granting approvals or authorizations that are necessary for the commercial manufacture, distribution, use, marketing, or sale of a pharmaceutical or biological product in such country or jurisdiction.

 

1.15

“Regulatory Exclusivity” shall mean, with respect to a Product in a country, (a) the exclusivity afforded to the Product for being the first drug product containing the active ingredient to receive Marketing Approval in that country, (b) pediatric exclusivity, (c) orphan drug exclusivity or (d) other statutory or regulatory exclusivity.

 

1.16

“Reporting Period” shall mean each three-month period ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

 

1.17

“Sell” (and “Sale” and “Sold” as the case may be) shall mean to sell or have sold, to lease or have leased, to import or have imported or otherwise to transfer or have transferred a Product or Process for valuable consideration (in the form of cash or otherwise), and further in the case of a Process to use or perform such Process for the benefit of a third party.

 

 

1.18

“Sublicense Income” shall mean consideration in any form received by Company and/or Company’s Affiliate(s) in consideration of a grant of a sublicense or any other right, license, privilege or immunity (regardless of whether such grantee is a “Sublicensee” as defined in this Agreement) to make, have made, use, have used, offer for Sale, have offered for Sale, Sell or have Sold Products or Processes, but excluding [**].

 

1.19

“Sublicensee” shall mean any sublicensee of rights granted in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(ii). For purpose of this Agreement, a Distributor of a Product or Process shall not be included in the definition of Sublicensee unless such Distributor (i) is granted any right to make, have made, use or have used Products or Processes in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(ii), or (ii) has agreed to pay to Company or its Affiliate(s) royalties on such Distributor’s sales of Products or Processes, in which case such Distributor shall be a Sublicensee, solely to the extent that Sections 1.19(i) and/or 1.19(ii) apply to such Distributor’s activities, for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

1.20

“Technological Information” shall mean research data, designs, formulae, process information and other information pertaining to the invention(s) claimed in the Patent Rights which is created by [**] and owned by Hospital and is not confidential information of or otherwise obligated to any third party and which [**] know as of the Effective Date and reasonably believe is necessary in order for Company to utilize the licenses granted hereunder, as further described in Appendix B. Company agrees to treat all Technological Information in accordance with the provisions of Appendix D

 

1.21

“Therapeutic Process” shall mean any Process used for the treatment of disease in humans or animals.

 

1.22

“Therapeutic Product” shall mean any Product used for the treatment of disease in humans or animals.

 

2. LICENSE

 

2.1

Grant of License.

 

(a)

Subject to the terms of this Agreement and Hospital’s rights in Patent Rights, Hospital hereby grants to Company in the License Field in the License Territory:

 

(i)

an exclusive, royalty-bearing license under its rights in Patent Rights to make, have made, use, have used, offer for Sale, have offered for Sale, Sell and have Sold Products and Processes; and

 

(ii)

the right to grant sublicenses under the rights granted in Section 2.1(a)(i) to Sublicensees, provided that in each case Company shall be responsible for the performance of any obligations of Sublicensees relevant to this Agreement as if such performance were carried out by Company itself, including, without limitation, the payment of any royalties or other payments provided for hereunder, regardless of whether the terms of any sublicense provide for such amounts to be paid by the Sublicensee directly to Hospital; and

 

 

(iii)

the non-exclusive right to use Technological Information to make, have made, use, have used, offer for Sale, have offered for Sale, Sell and have Sold Products and Processes, disclosed by Hospital to Company hereunder in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(b)

The license granted in Section 2.1(a) above includes:

 

(i)

the right to grant to the final purchaser, user or consumer of Products the right to use such purchased Products in a method coming within the scope of Patent Rights within the License Field and License Territory; and

 

(ii)

the right to grant a Distributor the right to offer for Sale, have offered for Sale, Sell (but not to make, have made, use or have used) such Products and/or Processes for or on behalf of Company, its Affiliates and Sublicensees in a manner consistent with this Agreement.

 

(c)

The foregoing license grant shall include the grant of such license to any Affiliate of Company, provided that such Affiliate shall assume the same obligations as those of Company and be subject to the same terms and conditions hereunder; and further provided that Company shall be responsible for the performance of all of such obligations and for compliance with all of such terms and conditions by Affiliate. Company shall provide to Hospital a fully signed, non-redacted copy of each agreement with each Affiliate that assumes the aforesaid obligations, including all exhibits, attachments and related documents and any amendments, within [**] of request by Hospital.

 

2.2            Sublicenses. Each sublicense granted hereunder shall be consistent with and comply with all terms of this Agreement, shall incorporate terms and conditions sufficient to enable Company to comply with this Agreement, shall prohibit any further sublicense or assignment by a Sublicensee without Hospital consent and shall provide that Hospital is a third party beneficiary thereof. Any sublicense granted by Company shall be subject to the prior written approval of Hospital, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Company shall provide to Hospital a fully signed non-redacted copy of all sublicense agreements and amendments thereto, including all exhibits, attachments and related documents, within [**] of executing the same. Upon termination of this Agreement or any license granted hereunder for any reason, any sublicenses shall be addressed in accordance with Section 10.7. Any sublicense which is not in accordance with the forgoing provisions shall be null and void.

 

 

2.3            Retained Rights; Requirements. Any and all licenses granted hereunder are subject to:

 

(a)

the right of Hospital and Hospital’s Affiliates and academic, government and not-for-profit institutions to make and to use the subject matter described and/or claimed in the Patent Rights for research and educational purposes only provided, however, that such research and educational purposes shall not include the production or manufacture of Products for sale; and

 

(b)

for Patent Rights supported by federal funding, the rights, conditions and limitations imposed by U.S. law (see 35 U.S.C. § 202 et seq. and regulations pertaining thereto), including without limitation:

 

(i)

the royalty-free non-exclusive license granted to the U.S. government; and

 

(ii)

the requirement that any Products used or sold in the United States shall be manufactured substantially in the United States.

 

2.4            No Additional Rights. It is understood that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to grant either Party or any of its Affiliates a license, express or implied, under any patent owned solely or jointly by the other Party other than the Patent Rights expressly licensed hereunder. Hospital shall have the right to license any Patent Rights to any other party for any purpose outside of the License Field.

 

2.5            Disclosure of Technological Information. At Company’s request prior to execution of this Agreement, Hospital (through [**]) shall use reasonable efforts to disclose in confidence within [**] after execution of this Agreement the Technological Information licensed hereunder.

 

3. DUE DILIGENCE OBLIGATIONS

 

3.1            Diligence Requirements. Company shall use, and shall cause its Affiliates and Sublicensees as applicable to use, commercially reasonable efforts to develop and make available to the public Products and Processes throughout the License Territory in the License Field. Such efforts shall include achieving the following objectives within the time periods designated below following the Effective Date:

 

(a)

Pre-Sales Requirements.

 

(i)

Within [**], and [**]thereafter, Company shall submit a written report to Hospital, which is reasonably acceptable to Hospital, that describes the Company’s research and development plans, fundraising strategy, and timeline for Products and Processes;

 

(ii)

within [**], Company shall demonstrate that it has raised aggregate funding of at least [**]where sources of funding may include, but are not limited to, founder capital, venture capital, angel investor capital, loans, grants from non-profit organizations and grants from government organizations;

 

 

(iii)

within [**], Company shall demonstrate that it has raised aggregate funding of at least [**] where sources of funding may include, but are not limited to, founder capital, venture capital, angel investor capital, loans, grants from non-profit organizations and grants from government organizations;

 

(iv)

within [**], Company shall have submitted an investigational new drug application filing with the United States department of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process;

 

(v)

within [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, dose a first human subject in a Phase II clinical trial for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process;

 

(vi)

within [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, dose a first human subject in a Phase III clinical trial for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process; and

 

(vii)

within [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, make a First Commercial Sale of a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process in the following countries: the United States of America and any country in Europe.

 

(b)

Post-Sales Requirements.

 

(i)

Following the First Commercial Sale in any country in the License Territory, Company shall itself or through its Affiliates and/or Sublicensees make continuing Sales in such country as needed to prevent local shortages of the applicable Product or Process and to the extent consistent with prudent business practices.

 

Achievement of the foregoing objectives shall be deemed to satisfy Company’s obligations to use commercially reasonable efforts under this Section 3.1.

 

3.2            Diligence Failures. If Hospital determines that Company has failed to fulfill any of its obligations under Section 3.1, then Hospital shall provide Company with written notice of such failure and may treat such failure as a default and may terminate this Agreement and/or any license granted hereunder in accordance with Section 10.4. [**].

 

3.3            Diligence Reports. Company shall provide all reports with respect to its obligations under Section 3.1 as set forth in Section 5.

 

4. PAYMENTS AND ROYALTIES

 

4.1            License Issue Fee. Company shall pay Hospital a non-refundable license issue fee in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) upon execution of this Agreement.

 

 

4.2            Patent Cost Reimbursement. Company shall reimburse Hospital for all costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of all Patent Rights (“Patent Costs”). As of the Effective Date, Hospital has incurred approximately one hundred and forty-five thousand dollars ($145,000) in Patent Costs, which amount Company shall pay to Hospital under the following payment schedule: [**]. Company shall pay to Hospital, or at Hospital’s request directly to patent counsel, all other future Patent Costs within [**] of Company’s receipt of an invoice for such Patent Costs either from Hospital or Hospital’s patent counsel. Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Hospital harmless from and against any and all liabilities, damages, costs and expenses arising from the failure of Company to timely pay such invoices and Patent Costs. Hospital shall instruct patent counsel to provide copies to Hospital for Hospital’s administrative files of all invoices detailing Patent Costs which are sent directly to Company. If Company pays any Patent Costs directly, Company shall advise patent counsel that Hospital is and shall remain patent counsel’s client.

 

4.3            Annual License Fee; Annual Minimum Royalty.

 

(a)

Before First Commercial Sale. Prior to the First Commercial Sale, Company shall pay Hospital a non-refundable annual license fee in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per year within [**] after each anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

(b)

After First Commercial Sale. Following the First Commercial Sale, Company shall pay Hospital a non-refundable minimum annual royalty in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year within [**] after each annual anniversary of the Effective Date. The annual minimum royalty shall be credited against royalties subsequently due on Net Sales made during the same calendar year, if any, but shall not be credited against royalties due on Net Sales made in any other year.

 

4.4            Milestone Payments. In addition to the payments set forth in Sections 4.1 through 4.3 above, Company shall pay Hospital one-time milestone payments, which shall not exceed a maximum total amount of one million five hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars ($1,550,000), as follows:

 

(a)

For Clinical Diagnostic Products or Clinical Diagnostic Processes:

 

(i)

[**] within [**] following first filing of an application for regulatory approval for a Clinical Diagnostic Product or Clinical Diagnostic Process from the United States Food and Drug Administration or the equivalent foreign Regulatory Authority; and

 

(ii)

[**] within [**] following first regulatory approval for a Clinical Diagnostic Product or Clinical Diagnostic Process from the United States Food and Drug Administration or the equivalent foreign Regulatory Authority.

 

 

(b)

For Therapeutic Products or Therapeutic Processes:

 

(i)

[**] within [**] following enrollment of first patient in phase II clinical trials for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process;

 

(ii)

[**] within [**] following enrollment of first patient in phase III clinical trials for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process; and

 

(iii)

[**] within [**] following First Commercial Sale for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process.

 

4.5            Royalties and Sublicense Income.

 

(a)

Beginning with the First Commercial Sale in any country in the License Territory, Company shall pay Hospital the following:

 

i.

during the term of any license granted under Section 2.1(a)(i), a royalty of [**] of the Net Sales of all Clinical Diagnostic Products and Clinical Diagnostic Processes that, absent the license granted hereunder, would infringe, or are covered by, one or more Claims in the country of Sale;

 

ii.

during the term of any license granted under Section 2.1(a)(i), a royalty of [**] of the Net Sales of all Therapeutic Products and Therapeutic Processes that, absent the license granted hereunder, would infringe, or are covered by, one or more Claims in the country of Sale; and

 

iii.

with respect to all Products and Processes that, absent the license granted hereunder, would not infringe, and are not covered by, any Claim in the country of sale, and, with respect to all Products and Processes after expiration or termination of the license granted under Section 2.1(a)(i), and in accordance with Section 10.1, a royalty [**] of the Net Sales of such Products and Processes. Company acknowledges that Products or Processes were, or will be, developed using, based upon, or derived from Technological Information and agrees to pay royalties pursuant to this Section 4.5(a)(ii), even after Patent Rights have expired or been abandoned.

 

(b)

Company shall pay Hospital [**] of any and all Sublicense Income.

 

(c)

All payments due to Hospital under this Section 4.5 shall be due and payable by Company within [**] after the end of each Reporting Period, and shall be accompanied by a report as set forth in Sections 5.3 and 5.4.

 

 

4.6            Form of Payment. All payments due under this Agreement shall be drawn on a United States bank and shall be payable in United States dollars. Each payment shall reference this Agreement and its Agreement Number and identify the obligation under this Agreement that the payment satisfies. Conversion of foreign currency to U.S. dollars shall be made at the conversion rate existing in the United States, as reported in The Wall Street Journal, on the last working day of the applicable Reporting Period. Such payments shall be without deduction of exchange, collection or other charges, and, specifically, without deduction of withholding or similar taxes or other government imposed fees or taxes, except as permitted in the definition of Net Sales.

 

Checks for all payments due to the Hospital under this Agreement shall be made payable to the Hospital and addressed as set forth below:

 

Massachusetts General Hospital

 

[**]

 

Reference Agreement #: [**]

 

Payments via wire transfer should be made as follows:

 

[**]

 

Reference Agreement #: [**]

 

4.7            Overdue Payments. The payments due under this Agreement shall, if overdue, bear interest beginning on the first day following the Reporting Period to which such payment was incurred and until payment thereof at a per annum rate equal to [**] above the prime rate in effect on the due date as reported by The Wall Street Journal, such interest rate being compounded on the last day of each Reporting Period, not to exceed the maximum permitted by law. Any such overdue payments when made shall be accompanied by all interest so accrued. Said interest and the payment and acceptance thereof shall not preclude Hospital from exercising any other rights it may have as a consequence of the lateness of any payment.

 

5.            REPORTS AND RECORDS

 

5.1            Diligence Reports. Within [**] after the end of each calendar year, Company shall report in writing to Hospital on progress made toward the objectives set forth in Section 3.1 during such preceding 12 month period, including, without limitation, progress on research and development, status of applications for regulatory approvals, manufacturing, sublicensing and the number of sublicenses entered into and marketing.

 

5.2            Milestone Achievement Notification. Company shall report to Hospital the dates on which it achieves the milestones set forth in Section 4.4 within [**] of each such occurrence.

 

5.3            Sales Reports. Company shall report to Hospital the date on which it achieves the First Commercial Sale in each country of the License Territory within [**] of each such occurrence. Following the First Commercial Sale, Company shall deliver reports to Hospital within [**] after the end of each Reporting Period. Each report under this Section 5.3 shall have substantially the format outlined in Appendix C, shall be certified as correct by an officer of Company and shall contain at least the following information as may be pertinent to a royalty accounting hereunder for the immediately preceding Reporting Period:

 

 

(a)

the number of Products and Processes Sold by Company, its Affiliates and Sublicensees in each country;

 

(b)

the amounts billed, invoiced and received by Company, its Affiliates and Sublicensees for each Product and Process, in each country, and total billings or payments due or made for all Products and Processes;

 

(c)

calculation of Net Sales for the applicable Reporting Period in each country, including an itemized listing of permitted offsets and deductions;

 

(d)

total royalties payable on Net Sales in U.S. dollars, together with the exchange rates used for conversion; and

 

(e)

any other payments due to Hospital under this Agreement.

 

If no amounts are due to Hospital for any Reporting Period, the report shall so state.

 

5.4            Sublicense Income Reports. Company shall, along with delivering payment as set forth in Section 4.6, report to Hospital within [**] of receipt the amount of all Sublicense Income received by Company, and Company’s calculation of the amount due and paid to Hospital from such income, including an itemized listing of the source of income comprising such consideration, and the name and address of each entity making such payments in substantially the format outlined in Appendix C.

 

5.5            Audit Rights. Company shall maintain, and shall cause each of its Affiliates and Sublicensees to maintain, complete and accurate records relating to the rights and obligations under this Agreement and any amounts payable to Hospital in relation to this Agreement, which records shall contain sufficient information to permit Hospital and its representatives to confirm the accuracy of any payments and reports delivered to Hospital and compliance in all other respects with this Agreement (“Compliance Records”). During the term of this Agreement but not more than one time per year, Hospital may audit the Company’s Compliance Records unless the results of a particular audit demonstrate an underpayment by Company of any amount due Hospital of [**] or more, in which case Hospital may conduct a second audit within the [**] following completion of the first audit. For clarity, any audit conducted by or on behalf of Hospital may only pertain to Compliance Records and may not include records associated with Company (or any Affiliate’s or Sublicensee’s) employment practices or corporate governance. Company shall retain and make available, and shall cause each of its Affiliates and Sublicensees to retain and make available, such records for at least [**] following the end of the calendar year to which they pertain, to Hospital and/or its representatives and upon at least [**] advance written notice, for inspection during normal business hours, to verify any reports and payments made and/or compliance in other respects under this Agreement. If any examination conducted by Hospital or its representatives pursuant to the provisions of this Section show an underreporting or underpayment of [**] or more in any payment due to Hospital hereunder, Company shall bear the full cost of such audit and shall remit any amounts due to Hospital (including interest due in accordance with Section 4.7) within [**] of receiving notice thereof from Hospital.

 

 

6. PATENT PROSECUTION AND MAINTENANCE

 

6.1            Prosecution. Hospital shall be responsible for the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of all patent applications and patents included in Patent Rights. Company shall reimburse Hospital for Patent Costs incurred by Hospital relating thereto in accordance with Section 4.2.

 

6.2            Copies of Documents. With respect to any Patent Right licensed hereunder, Hospital shall instruct the patent counsel prosecuting such Patent Right to (i) copy Company on patent prosecution documents that are received from or filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and foreign equivalent, as applicable; (ii) copy Company on correspondence between Hospital and such patent counsel, including copies of draft submissions to the USPTO prior to filing; and (iii) give consideration to the comments and requests of Company or its patent counsel.

 

6.3            Company’s Election Not to Proceed. Company may elect to surrender any patent or patent application in Patent Rights in any country upon [**] advance written notice to Hospital. Such notice shall relieve Company from the obligation to pay for future Patent Costs but shall not relieve Company from responsibility to pay Patent Costs incurred prior to the expiration of the [**]notice period. Such U.S. or foreign patent application or patent shall thereupon cease to be a Patent Right hereunder, Company shall have no further rights therein and Hospital shall be free to license its rights to that particular U.S. or foreign patent application or patent to any other party on any terms.

 

6.4            Confidentiality of Prosecution and Maintenance Information. Company agrees to treat all information related to prosecution and maintenance of Patent Rights as Confidential Information in accordance with the provisions of Appendix D.

 

7. THIRD PARTY INFRINGEMENT AND LEGAL ACTIONS

 

7.1            Hospital Right to Prosecute. Hospital will protect its Patent Rights from infringement and prosecute infringers when, in its sole judgment, such action may be reasonably necessary, proper and justified. If Company shall have supplied Hospital with written evidence demonstrating to Hospital’s reasonable satisfaction prima facie infringement of a claim of a Patent Right in the License Field in the License Territory by a third party which poses a material threat to Company’s rights under this Agreement, Company may by notice request Hospital to take steps to protect such Patent Right. Hospital shall notify Company within [**] of the receipt of such notice whether Hospital intends to prosecute the alleged infringement. If Hospital notifies Company that it intends to so prosecute, Hospital shall, within [**] of its notice to Company either (i) cause such infringement to terminate, or (ii) initiate legal proceedings against the infringer.

 

 

7.2            Company Right to Prosecute. In the event Hospital notifies Company that Hospital does not intend to prosecute infringement identified under Section 7.1, Company may, upon notice to Hospital, initiate legal proceedings against the infringer at Company’s expense with respect to a claim of a Patent Right in the License Field in the License Territory. Before commencing such action, Company and, as applicable, any Affiliate, shall consult with Hospital, concerning, among other things, Company’s standing to bring suit, the advisability of bringing suit, the selection of counsel and the jurisdiction for such action (provided Company must have Hospital’s prior written consent with respect to selection of jurisdiction for any action in which Hospital may be joined as a party-plaintiff) and shall use reasonable efforts to accommodate the views of Hospital regarding the proposed action, including without limitation with respect to potential effects on the public interest. Company shall be responsible for all costs, expenses and liabilities in connection with any such action and shall indemnify and hold Hospital harmless therefrom, regardless of whether Hospital is a party-plaintiff, except for the expense of any independent counsel retained by Hospital in accordance with Section 7.5 below.

 

7.3            Hospital Joined as Party-Plaintiff. If Company elects to commence an action as described in Section 7.2 above, Hospital shall have, in its sole discretion, the option to join such action as a party-plaintiff. If Hospital is required by law to join such action as a party-plaintiff, Hospital may either, in its sole discretion, permit itself to be joined as a party-plaintiff at the sole expense of Company, or assign to Company all of Hospital’s right, title and interest in and to the Patent Right which is the subject of such action (subject to all of Hospital’s obligations to the government under law and any other rights that others may have in such Patent Right). If Hospital makes such an assignment, such action by Company shall thereafter be brought or continued without Hospital as a party; provided, however, that Hospital shall continue to have all rights of prosecution and maintenance with respect to Patent Rights and Company shall continue to meet all of its obligations under this Agreement as if the assigned Patent Right were still licensed to Company hereunder.

 

7.4            Notice of Actions; Settlement. Company shall promptly inform Hospital of any action or suit relating to Patent Rights and shall not enter into any settlement, consent judgment or other voluntary final disposition of any action relating to Patent Rights, including but not limited to appeals, without the prior written consent of Hospital.

 

7.5            Cooperation. Each Party agrees to cooperate reasonably in any action under Section 7 which is controlled by the other Party, provided that the controlling party reimburses the cooperating party for any costs and expenses incurred by the cooperating party in connection with providing such assistance, except for the expense of any independent counsel retained by the cooperating party in accordance with this Section 7.5. Such controlling party shall keep the cooperating party informed of the progress of such proceedings and shall make its counsel available to the cooperating party. The cooperating party shall also be entitled to independent counsel in such proceedings but at its own expense, said expense to be offset against any damages received by the Party bringing suit in accordance with Section 7.6.

 

 

7.6            Recovery. Any award paid by third parties as the result of such proceedings (whether by way of settlement or otherwise) shall first be applied to reimbursement of any legal fees and expenses incurred by either Party and then the remainder shall be divided between the Parties as follows:

 

(a)

(i)

[**];and

 

(ii)

[**]; and

 

(b)

the balance, if any, remaining after Company and Hospital have been compensated under Section 7.6(a) shall be shared equally by the Parties.

 

8. INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

 

8.1            Indemnification.

 

(a)

Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Hospital and its Affiliates and their respective trustees, directors, officers, medical and professional staff, employees, and agents and their respective successors, heirs and assigns (the “Indemnitees”), against any liability, damage, loss or expense (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation) incurred by or imposed upon the Indemnitees or any one of them in connection with any claims, suits, actions, demands or judgments arising out of any theory of product liability (including, but not limited to, actions in the form of contract, tort, warranty, or strict liability) concerning any product, process or service made, used, or sold or performed pursuant to any right or license granted under this Agreement, provided that Company shall have no obligation to indemnify any Indemnitee to the extent that liability, damage, loss or expense arises out of or results from any of the following:

 

(i)

the gross negligence or willful misconduct by or of any Indemnitee; or

 

(ii)

Hospital’s retention of rights to make and to use the subject matter described or claimed in the Patent Rights pursuant to Section 2.3 or Hospital’s (or any Indemnitee’s) exercise of such rights.

 

(b)

Company agrees, at its own expense, to provide attorneys reasonably acceptable to the Hospital to defend against any actions brought or filed against any party indemnified hereunder with respect to the subject of indemnity contained herein, whether or not such actions are rightfully brought; provided, however, that any Indemnitee shall have the right to retain its own counsel, at the expense of Company, if representation of such Indemnitee by counsel retained by Company would be inappropriate because of conflict of interests of such Indemnitee and any other party represented by such counsel. Company agrees to keep Hospital informed of the progress in the defense and disposition of such claim and to consult with Hospital prior to any proposed settlement.

 

 

(c)

This section 8.1 shall survive expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

8.2            Insurance.

 

(a)

Beginning at such time as any such product, process or service is being commercially distributed, sold, leased or otherwise transferred, or performed or used (other than for the purpose of obtaining regulatory approvals) by Company, an Affiliate or Sublicensee, Company shall, at its sole cost and expense, procure and maintain commercial general liability insurance in amounts not less than [**] per incident and [**] annual aggregate and naming the Indemnitees as additional insureds. Such commercial general liability insurance shall provide (i) product liability coverage and (ii) broad form contractual liability coverage for Company’s indemnification under Section 8.1 of this Agreement. If Company elects to self-insure all or part of the limits described above (including deductibles or retentions which are in excess of [**] annual aggregate) such self-insurance program must be acceptable to the Hospital and the Risk Management Foundation. The minimum amounts of insurance coverage required under this Section 8.2 shall not be construed to create a limit of Company’s liability with respect to its indemnification under Section 8.1 of this Agreement.

 

(b)

Company shall provide Hospital with written evidence of such insurance upon request of Hospital. Company shall provide Hospital with written notice at least [**] prior to the cancellation, non-renewal or material change in such insurance; if Company does not obtain replacement insurance providing comparable coverage prior to the expiration of such insurance coverage, Hospital shall have the right to terminate this Agreement effective at the expiration of such insurance coverage period without notice or any additional waiting periods.

 

(c)

Company shall maintain such commercial general liability insurance beyond the expiration or termination of this Agreement during (i) the period that any such product, process, or service is being commercially distributed, sold, leased or otherwise transferred, or performed or used (other than for the purpose of obtaining regulatory approvals) by Company or by a Sublicensee or Affiliate of Company and (ii) a reasonable period after the period referred to in (c) (i) above which in no event shall be less than [**].

 

(d)

This section 8.2 shall survive expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

9. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

9.1            Title to Patent Rights. To the best knowledge of Hospital’s Innovation office as of the Effective Date, (i) Hospital is the owner by assignment from [**] of the Patent Rights and there are no claims, liens or encumbrances with respect to such Patent Rights, and (ii) Hospital has the authority to enter into this Agreement and license the Patent Rights to Company hereunder.

 

 

 

9.2            No Warranties. HOSPITAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE PATENT RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS GRANTED HEREUNDER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NONINFRINGEMENT, VALIDITY OF PATENT RIGHTS CLAIMS, WHETHER ISSUED OR PENDING, AND THE ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, WHETHER OR NOT DISCOVERABLE, AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS THE SAME. SPECIFICALLY, AND NOT TO LIMIT THE FOREGOING, HOSPITAL MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION (i) REGARDING THE VALIDITY OR SCOPE OF ANY OF THE CLAIM(S), WHETHER ISSUED OR PENDING, OF ANY OF THE PATENT RIGHTS, AND (ii) THAT THE EXPLOITATION OF THE PATENT RIGHTS OR ANY PRODUCT WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY PATENTS OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF HOSPITAL OR OF ANY THIRD PARTY.

 

9.3            Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TRUSTEES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL STAFF, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES, SUBLICENSEES OR DISTRIBUTORS FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE LICENSE OR RIGHTS GRANTED HEREUNDER, HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ECONOMIC DAMAGES OR INJURY TO PROPERTY OR LOST PROFITS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PARTY SHALL BE ADVISED, SHALL HAVE OTHER REASON TO KNOW, OR IN FACT SHALL KNOW OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FOREGOING. SHOULD EITHER PARTY BECOME AWARE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IT WILL, AS SOON AS PRACTICAL, INFORM THE OTHER PARTY OF SAME. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 9.3 SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT COMPANY’S OBLIGATION TO INDEMNIFY HOSPITAL UNDER SECTION 8 OF THIS AGREEMENT.

 

 

10. TERM AND TERMINATION

 

10.1          Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall remain in effect until the latest of:

 

(a)

the date on which all issued patents and filed patent applications within the Patent Rights have expired or been abandoned;

 

(b)

expiration of the last-to-expire Regulatory Exclusivity that covers a Product or Process; or

 

(c)

ten (10) years after First Commercial Sale.

 

unless this Agreement is terminated earlier in accordance with any of the other provisions of Section 10.

 

10.2          Termination for Failure to Pay. If Company fails to make any payment due hereunder, Hospital shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon [**] written notice, unless Company makes such payments plus any interest due, as set forth in Section 4.7, within said [**] notice period. If payments are not made, Hospital may immediately terminate this Agreement at the end of said [**] period. Company shall be entitled to only two such cure periods in a calendar year; for a third failure to make payment on time, Hospital shall have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice.

 

10.3          Termination for Insurance and Insolvency.

 

(a)

Insurance.  Hospital shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.2(b) if Company fails to maintain the insurance required by Section 8.2.

 

(b)

Insolvency and other Bankruptcy Related Events.  Hospital shall have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to Company with no further notice obligation or opportunity to cure if Company: (i) shall become insolvent; (ii) shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iii) or shall have a petition in bankruptcy filed for or against it.

 

10.4          Termination for Non-Financial Default. If Company, any of its Affiliates or any Sublicensee shall default in the performance of any of its other obligations under this Agreement not otherwise covered by the provisions of Section 10.2 and 10.3, and if such default has not been cured within [**] after notice by Hospital in writing of such default, Hospital may immediately terminate this Agreement, and/or any license granted hereunder with respect to the country or countries in which such default has occurred, at the end of said [**] cure period. Hospital shall also have the right to terminate this Agreement and/or any such license immediately, upon written notice, in the event of repeated defaults even if cured within such [**] periods. Any breach of this Agreement by a Sublicensee shall be deemed cured if Company terminates the sublicense agreement between Company and such Sublicensee; provided that Company shall remain liable for any damages to Hospital caused by such breach.

 

 

10.5           Challenging Validity. During the term of this Agreement, Company shall not challenge, and shall restrict Company Affiliates and Sublicensees from challenging, the validity of the Patent Rights and in the event of any breach of this provision Hospital shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and any license granted hereunder immediately. In addition, if the Patent Rights are upheld Company shall reimburse Hospital for its legal costs and expenses incurred in defending any such challenge.

 

10.6          Termination by Company. Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving [**] advance written notice to Hospital and upon such termination Company shall have no right under this Agreement to use and Sell Products and Processes, subject to Section 10.9, and shall immediately cease all use and Sales of Products and Processes which employs or is derived from Technological Information.

 

10.7          Effect of Termination on Sublicenses. Any sublicenses granted by Company under this Agreement shall provide for termination of Company’s interest therein upon termination of this Agreement or upon termination of any license hereunder under which such sublicense has been granted. Following a Sublicensee’s request made after termination of this Agreement, Hospital shall use good faith efforts to enter into a direct license agreement with any such Sublicensee with respect to the rights and licenses under this Agreement, provided all of the following conditions are met:

 

(a)

such Sublicensee is a direct sublicensee of Company and is in good standing under its sublicense agreement at the time of such termination;

 

(b)

all amounts owed to Hospital by Company have been paid;

 

(c)

the sublicense agreement grants exclusive rights to the Sublicensee to (i) develop a Product or Process and/or (ii) commercialize a Product or Process in the United States, or one or more major Asian countries (Japan, China, or South Korea) or one or more major European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain or the United Kingdom); and

 

(d)

the sublicense agreement is consistent with the terms of this Agreement including diligence obligations consistent with those in Section 3.1 (narrowed as necessary to account for the scope of the sublicense).

 

The financial terms and conditions of such direct license agreement shall be no more onerous to Sublicensee, when taken as a whole, than the financial terms and conditions imposed on Sublicensee by Company in consideration for the sublicense to the rights and licenses under this Agreement. The scope of the license granted by Hospital to the Sublicensee in such direct license agreement shall be of at least equivalent scope as the sublicense under Patent Rights and Technological Information granted by Company to such Sublicensee in such sublicense agreement.

 

 

10.8          Effects of Termination or Expiration of Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement or any of the licenses hereunder for any reason, final reports in accordance with Section 5 shall be submitted to Hospital and all royalties and other payments, including without limitation any unreimbursed Patent Costs, accrued or due to Hospital as of the termination date shall become immediately payable. Following termination (but not expiration) of this Agreement, Company shall cease, and shall cause its Affiliates and Sublicensees to cease, all Sales and uses of Products and Processes upon such termination, subject to Section 10.9. The termination or expiration of this Agreement or any license granted hereunder shall not relieve Company, its Affiliates or Sublicensees of obligations arising before such termination or expiration. Upon the expiration of this Agreement, but not earlier termination under Sections 10.2–10.6, Company shall have a [**] license under the Technological Information to use, have used, make, have made, offer for Sale, have offered for Sale, Sell and have Sold Products and Processes in the License Territory in the Licensed Field.

 

10.9          Inventory. Upon early termination of this Agreement other than for Company default, Company, Company Affiliates and Sublicensees may complete and sell any work-in-progress and inventory of Products that exist as of the effective date of termination provided that (i) Company pays Hospital the applicable running royalty or other amounts due on such Net Sales in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and (ii) Company, Company Affiliates and Sublicensees shall complete and sell all work-in-progress and inventory of Products within six (6) months after the effective date of termination. Upon expiration of this Agreement, Company shall pay to Hospital the royalties set forth in Section 4.5(a) for Sales of any Product that was in inventory or was a work-in-progress on the date of expiration of the Agreement.

 

11. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW

 

11.1          Compliance. Company shall have the sole obligation for compliance with, and shall ensure that any Affiliates and Sublicensees comply with, all government statutes and regulations that relate to Products and Processes, including, but not limited to, those of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Export Administration, as amended, and any applicable laws and regulations of any other country in the License Territory. Company agrees that it shall be solely responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses to export, re-export, or import Products or Processes covered by Patent Rights and/or Confidential Information. Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Hospital for any breach of Company’s obligations under this Section 11.1.

 

11.2          Patent Numbers. Company shall cause all Products sold in the United States to be marked with all applicable U.S. Patent Numbers, to the full extent required by United States law. Company shall similarly cause all Products shipped to or sold in any other country to be marked in such a manner as to conform with the patent laws and practices of such country.

 

 

12. MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1          Entire Agreement. This Agreement and all Appendices hereto constitutes the entire understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

12.2          Notices. Any notices, reports, waivers, correspondences or other communications required under or pertaining to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand, or sent by a reputable overnight mail service (e.g., Federal Express), or by first class mail (certified or registered), or by facsimile confirmed by one of the foregoing methods, to the other Party. Notices will be deemed effective (a) three (3) working days after deposit, postage prepaid, if mailed, (b) the next day if sent by overnight mail, or (c) the same day if sent by facsimile and confirmed as set forth above or delivered by hand. Unless changed in writing in accordance with this Section, the notice address for Hospital shall be as follows:

 

If to Hospital:

 

Chief Innovation Officer, Innovation

Massachusetts General Hospital

215 First Street, Suite 500

Cambridge, MA 02142

FAX: [**]

 

If to TransCode:

 

Chief Executive Officer

TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.

1241 Adams Street, Suite 603

Boston, MA 02124

FAX: None

 

12.3          Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended and any of its terms or conditions may be waived only by a written instrument executed by an authorized signatory of the Parties or, in the case of a waiver, by the Party waiving compliance. The failure of either Party at any time or times to require performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect its rights at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by either Party of any condition or term shall be deemed as a further or continuing waiver of such condition or term or of any other condition or term.

 

12.4          Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

 

12.5          Assignment. Company shall not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Hospital; provided, however, that if Company has fulfilled its diligence obligations as set forth in Section 3, no such consent will be required to assign this Agreement to a successor of the Company’s business to which this Agreement pertains or to a purchaser of substantially all of the Company’s assets related to this Agreement, so long as such successor or purchaser shall agree in writing to be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof prior to such assignment. Company shall notify Hospital in writing of any such assignment and provide a copy of all assignment documents and related agreements to Hospital within [**] of such assignment. Failure of an assignee to agree to be bound by the terms hereof or failure of Company to notify Hospital and provide copies of assignment documentation shall be grounds for termination of this Agreement for default (subject to applicable cure periods). Further, neither any rights granted under this Agreement nor any sublicense may be assigned by any Sublicensee without the prior written consent of Hospital.

 

12.6          Force Majeure. Neither Party shall be responsible for delays resulting from causes beyond the reasonable control of such Party, including without limitation fire, explosion, flood, war, sabotage, strike or riot, provided that the nonperforming Party uses commercially reasonable efforts to avoid or remove such causes of nonperformance and continues performance under this Agreement with reasonable dispatch whenever such causes are removed.

 

12.7          Use of Name. Neither Party shall use the name of the other Party or of any trustee, director, officer, staff member, employee, student or agent of the other Party or any adaptation thereof in any advertising, promotional or sales literature or publicity or in any document employed to obtain funds or financing without the prior written approval of the Party or individual whose name is to be used, except that Company shall be permitted to disclose the existence of this Agreement and the rights granted hereunder to its shareholders and potential investors. For Hospital, such approval shall be obtained from Hospital’s VP of Public Affairs.

 

12.8          Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, excluding with respect to conflict of laws, except that questions affecting the construction and effect of any patent shall be determined by the law of the country in which the patent shall have been granted. Each Party agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court for Suffolk County, Massachusetts, and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts with respect to any claim, suit or action in law or equity arising in any way out of this Agreement or the subject matter hereof.

 

12.9          Hospital Policies. Company acknowledges that Hospital’s employees and medical and professional staff members and the employees and staff members of Hospital’s Affiliates are subject to the applicable policies of Hospital and such Affiliates, including, without limitation, policies regarding conflicts of interest, intellectual property and other matters. Company shall provide Hospital with any agreement it proposes to enter into with any employee or staff member of Hospital or any of Hospital’s Affiliates for Hospital’s prior review and shall not enter into any oral or written agreement with such employee or staff member which conflicts with any such policy. Hospital shall provide Company, at Company’s request, with copies of any such policies applicable to any such employee or staff member.

 

 

12.10        Severability. If any provision(s) of this Agreement are or become invalid, are ruled illegal by any court of competent jurisdiction or are deemed unenforceable under then current applicable law from time to time in effect during the term hereof, it is the intention of the parties that the remainder of this Agreement shall not be effected thereby. It is further the intention of the parties that in lieu of each such provision which is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, there be substituted or added as part of this Agreement a provision which shall be as similar as possible in economic and business objectives as intended by the parties to such invalid, illegal or enforceable provision, but shall be valid, legal and enforceable.

 

12.11        Survival. In addition to any specific survival references in this Agreement, Sections 1, 2.4, 4.2, 4.6, 4.7, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 6.4, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2, 9.3, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 12.10, 12.11, 12.13 and 12.14 shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement. Any other rights, responsibilities, obligations, covenants and warranties which by their nature should survive this Agreement shall similarly survive and remain in effect.

 

12.12        Dispute Resolution. In the event of any dispute between the Parties in connection with this Agreement, the construction hereof, or the rights, duties or liabilities of either Party hereunder (each a “Dispute”), the Parties shall first attempt in good faith to resolve such Dispute by negotiation and consultation between themselves. In the event that any Dispute is not resolved on an informal basis within ten (10) business days, either Party may, by written notice to the other Party, refer the Dispute to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Hospital’s Innovation office for attempted resolution by good faith negotiation within twenty (20) days after such notice is received. Absent such a resolution, and subject to compliance with foregoing aspects of this dispute resolution process, the Parties shall be permitted to pursue any and all rights and remedies available to them hereunder or at law or equity. Notwithstanding any of the terms of this Section 12.12, and without limiting any other remedies that may be available, each Party shall have the right to seek immediate injunctive relief and other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any breach or violation of this Agreement concerning confidential information or any other intellectual property licensed under this Agreement, without any obligation to undertake extra-judicial dispute resolution of any such Dispute or claims or otherwise to comply with this Section 12.12.

 

12.13        Interpretation. The parties hereto are sophisticated, have had the opportunity to consult legal counsel with respect to this transaction and hereby waive any presumptions of any statutory or common law rule relating to the interpretation of contracts against the drafter. The term “including” or “includes” means “including without limitation.”

 

12.14        Headings. All headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the Effective Date first written above.

 

TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.

The General Hospital Corporation

 

BY:			BY:
	Name:			Name:
TITLE:			TITLE:
DATE:			DATE:

 

 

Appendix A

 

DESCRIPTION OF PATENT RIGHTS

 

[**]

 

 

Appendix B

 

DESCRIPTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL INFORMATION

 

[**]

 

 

Appendix C

SALES REPORTS

 

AGREEMENT INCOME REPORT

Royalty Income

 

MGH Agreement [**] -
Licensee -
Sub-Licensee -

 

Separate reports must be filed for:

1.

Each Product sold.

2.

Each country of sale, if different deductions or royalty rates apply.

 

Product Name:

Report Time Period:

From

mm

/dd/yyyy

To

mm

/dd/yyyy

 

 

Country of Sale
Quantity Sold
Gross Sales (USD)	$			$			$
Exchange Rate

 

Deductions (Itemize)

 

Please list each deduction separately. Use same definition as appears in Agreement and include the contract paragraph as a reference (Std Section 1.10(a)(ii) line item deductions listed below).

 

A1.
A2.
A3.
A4.
B.

 

Total Deductions		(_______________________)			(_________________________)			(_____________________________)
Net Sales
Royalty Percentage
Credits (itemize)		(_______________________)			(_____________________________)			(_____________________________)
Royalties Due	$			$			$

 

 

PLEASE ATTACH DETAIL SALES REPORTS AS REQUIRED

 

 

Appendix C

 

 

AGREEMENT INCOME REPORT

Sublicense Income

 

MGH Agreement #[**]-
Licensee -
Sub-Licensee -

 

Separate reports must be filed for Payments associated with each Product:

 

Product Name:

 

Report Time Period:

 

	From		mm		/dd/yyyy

To

mm

/dd/yyyy

 

 

 

Detailed Explanation of Payment

Required for “Other Payment”

 

Annual Fees/Minimum Royalties	$
Milestone Payments	$
Sublicense Fees and Royalties	$
Other Payment	$
Other Payment	$
Other Payment	$
TOTAL	$

 

 

PLEASE ATTACH DETAIL AS REQUIRED

 

 

Appendix D

 

CONFIDENTIALITY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

1.            Definition of Confidential Information. “Confidential Information” shall mean any information, including but not limited to data, techniques, protocols or results, or business, financial, commercial or technical information, disclosed by one Party (each a “Discloser” as applicable) to the other Party (each a “Recipient” as applicable) in connection with the terms of that certain Exclusive License Agreement dated October 26^th, 2018 (the “License Agreement”) and identified as confidential at the time of disclosure (the “Purpose”). Hospital’s Confidential Information shall also include all information disclosed by Hospital to Company in connection with the Patent Rights. Capitalized terms used in this Appendix that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed in the License Agreement to which this Appendix is attached and made a part thereof.

 

2.            Exclusions. “Confidential Information” under this Agreement shall not include any information that (i) is or becomes publicly available through no wrongful act of Recipient; (ii) was known by Recipient prior to disclosure by Discloser, as evidenced by tangible records; (iii) becomes known to Recipient after disclosure from a third party having an apparent bona fide right to disclose it; (iv) is independently developed or discovered by Recipient without use of Discloser’s Confidential Information, as evidenced by tangible records; or (v) is disclosed to another party by Discloser without restriction on further disclosure. The obligations of confidentiality and non-use set forth in this Agreement shall not apply with respect to any information that Recipient is required to disclose or produce pursuant to applicable law, court order or other valid legal process provided that Recipient promptly notifies Discloser prior to such required disclosure, discloses such information only to the extent so required and cooperates reasonably with Discloser’s efforts to contest or limit the scope of such disclosure.

 

3.            Permitted Purpose. Recipient shall have the right to, and agrees that it will, use Discloser’s Confidential Information solely for the Purpose as described in the License Agreement, except as may be otherwise specified in a separate definitive written agreement negotiated and executed between the parties.

 

4.            Restrictions. For the term of the License Agreement and a period of [**] thereafter (and indefinitely with respect to any individually identifiable health information disclosed by Hospital to Company, if any), each Recipient agrees that: (i) it will not use such Confidential Information for any purpose other than as specified herein, including without limitation for its own benefit or the benefit of any other person or entity; and (ii) it will use reasonable efforts (but no less than the efforts used to protect its own confidential and/or proprietary information of a similar nature) not to disclose such Confidential Information to any other person or entity except as expressly permitted hereunder. Recipient may, however, disclose Discloser’s Confidential Information and the terms and conditions of this Agreement only on a need-to-know basis to (A) its and its Affiliates employees, staff members, agents, consultants, outside contractors and advisors and (B) current and potential Sublicensees, investors, lenders, licensees, collaborators, partners and acquirers, (“Receiving Individuals”) who are directly participating in the Purpose and who are informed of the confidential nature of such information and are bound by obligations of confidentiality and non-use at least as stringent as those herein (but of shorter duration if necessary), provided Recipient shall be responsible for compliance by Receiving Individuals with the terms of this Agreement and any breach thereof. Each party further agrees not to use the name of the other party or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective trustees, directors, officers, staff members, employees, students or agents in any advertising, promotional or sales literature, publicity or in any document employed to obtain funds or financing without the prior written approval of the party or individual whose name is to be used, in the case of Hospital such approval to be given by the Public Affairs Department. This Section 4 shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

 

5.            Right to Disclose. Discloser represents that to the best of its knowledge it has the right to disclose to each Recipient all of Discloser’s Confidential Information that will be disclosed hereunder.

 

6.            Ownership. All Confidential Information disclosed pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation all written and tangible forms thereof, shall be and remain the property of the Discloser. Upon termination of this Agreement, if requested by Discloser, Recipient shall return or destroy at Discloser’s discretion all of Discloser’s Confidential Information, provided that Recipient shall be entitled to keep one copy of such Confidential Information in a secure location solely for the purpose of determining Recipient’s legal obligations hereunder.

 

7.            No License. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as granting or conferring, expressly or impliedly, any rights by license or otherwise, under any patent, copyright, or other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by Discloser relating to Confidential Information, except as specifically set forth in the License Agreement.

 

8.            Remedies. Each party acknowledges that any breach of this Agreement by it may cause irreparable harm to the other party and that each party is entitled to seek injunctive relief and any other remedy available at law or in equity.

 

9.            General. These Confidentiality Terms and Conditions, along with the License Agreement, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any prior oral or written understandings between the parties relating to confidential treatment of information. Sections 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 of these Confidentiality Terms and Conditions shall survive any expiration or termination of the License Agreement.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.8 

 

CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND REPLACED WITH “[**]”. SUCH IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) WOULD LIKELY CAUSE COMPETITIVE HARM TO THE COMPANY IF DISCLOSED. 

 

The General Hospital Corporation

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

Agreement Number: [**]

MGH Case Number: [**]

 

THIS First Amendment to the license agreement (“First Amendment”) is effective as of October 30, 2020 (“First Amendment Effective Date”), by and between The General Hospital Corporation d/b/a Massachusetts General Hospital, a Not-For-Profit Massachusetts Corporation having a principal place of business at 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 (“Hospital”) and TransCode Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of business located at 6 Liberty Square, #2382, Boston, MA 02109 (“Company”), each referred to herein individually as a “Party” or collectively as the “Parties”.

 

BACKGROUND

 

WHEREAS, Hospital and Company entered into an Exclusive License Agreement [**] with an effective date of October 26, 2018 (“License Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, Hospital desires to license additional patents rights related to nanoparticles functionalization (invention number [**]), and immune checkpoint inhibition (invention number [**]) to the Company;

 

WHEREAS, Hospital and Company are willing to amend the License Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions below; and

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants contained herein, Hospital and Company, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree to the following:

 

I.

Effect of Amendment. Except as expressly modified herein, the terms of the License Agreement remain in full force and effect and shall govern and apply to this First Amendment. Unless otherwise indicated, all defined terms in this First Amendment shall have the same meaning as in the original License Agreement.

 

II.	Section 1.11 shall be struck in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

1.11

“Patent Rights” shall mean: (a) the patents and patent applications listed in Appendix A; (b) any patent or patent application that claims priority to and is a divisional, continuation, reissue, renewal, reexamination, substitution or extension of a patent application identified in (a); (c) any patents issuing on any of the patent applications identified in (a) or (b), including any reissues, renewals, reexaminations, substitutions or extensions thereof, and foreign equivalents of the foregoing; (d) any claim of a continuation-in-part application or patent that is entitled to the priority date of, and is directed specifically to subject matter specifically described in, at least one of the patents or patent applications identified in (a), (b) or (c); (e) any foreign counterpart (including PCTs) of any of the patents or patent applications identified in (a), (b) or (c) or of the claims identified in (d); and (f) any supplementary protection certificates, any other patent term extensions, and restorations and the like of any patents and patent applications identified in (a) through (e). “Patent Family 1” shall mean all patents and patent applications related to invention numbers [**]. “Patent Family 2” shall mean all patents and patent applications related to invention number [**].

 

 

III.	Section 1.18 shall be struck in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

1.18

“Sublicense Income” shall mean [**].

 

Sublicense Income specifically excludes the following:

 

[**]

 

IV.	Section 3.1(a) shall be struck in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

(a)

Pre-Sales Requirements.

 

(i)

By [**], Company shall demonstrate that it has raised aggregate funding of at least [**] where sources of funding may include, but are not limited to, founder capital, venture capital, investor capital, loans, grants from non-profit organizations and grants from government organizations;

 

(ii)

By [**], Company shall demonstrate that it has raised aggregate funding of at least [**] where sources of funding may include, but are not limited to, founder capital, venture capital, investor capital, loans, grants from non-profit organizations and grants from government organizations;

 

Patent Family 1

 

(iii)

By [**], and [**] thereafter, Company shall submit a written report to Hospital, which is reasonably acceptable to Hospital, that describes the Company’s research and development plans, fundraising strategy, and timeline for Products and Processes in Patent Family 1;

 

(iv)

By [**], Company shall have submitted an investigational new drug application filing with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 1;

 

(v)

By [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, dose a first human subject in a Phase II clinical trial for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 1;

 

 

(vi)

By [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, dose a first human subject in a Phase III clinical trial for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 1. This requirement will be deemed to have been achieved if, prior to December 31, 2025, FDA permits Company itself or through an Affiliate or Sublicenses, to commence marketing a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 1;

 

(vii)

By [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, make a First Commercial Sale of a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 1 in the United States of America or any country in Europe;

 

Patent Family 2

 

(viii)

By [**], and [**] thereafter, Company shall submit a written report to Hospital, which is reasonably acceptable to Hospital, that describes the Company’s research and development plans, fundraising strategy, and timeline for Products and Processes in Patent Family 2;

 

(ix)

By [**], Company shall have submitted an investigational new drug application filing with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 2;

 

(x)

By [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, dose a first human subject in a Phase II clinical trial for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 2;

 

(xi)

By [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, dose a first human subject in a Phase III clinical trial for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 2. This requirement will be deemed to have been achieved if, prior to [**], FDA permits Company itself or through an Affiliate or Sublicenses, to commence marketing a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 2;

 

(xii)

By [**], Company shall itself, or through an Affiliate or Sublicensee, make a First Commercial Sale of a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process covered by Patent Family 2 in the United States of America or any country in Europe;

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Hospital shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to any revision in such time periods whenever requested in writing by Company at least three months prior to the conclusion of the applicable time period and supported by evidence of technical difficulties or delays in regulatory processes that are outside of Company’s reasonable control. The revised deadline resulting from any such request shall be subject to all terms of this Agreement including without limitation the right of Hospital to terminate for default pursuant to Section 10.4.

 

 

 

V.	Section 4.3 shall be struck in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

4.3          Annual License Fee; Annual Minimum Royalty.

 

(a)            Before First Commercial Sale. Commencing on the first anniversary of the Effective Date, Company shall pay Hospital a non-refundable annual license fee within [**] after each anniversary of the Effective Date as follows:

 

i)

Patent Family 1: Thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) per year prior to First Commercial Sale of a Product or Process covered by Patent Family 1;

 

ii)

Patent Family 2: Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per year prior to First Commercial Sale of a Product or Process covered by Patent Family 2.

 

(b)            After First Commercial Sale. Commencing on the first anniversary following the First Commercial Sale, Company shall pay Hospital a non-refundable minimum annual royalty in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year for each Patent Family covering the Product or Process being Sold, within [**] after each annual anniversary of the Effective Date. The annual minimum royalty shall be credited against royalties subsequently due on Net Sales made during the same calendar year, if any, but shall not be credited against royalties due on Net Sales made in any other year.

 

VI.	Section 4.4 shall be struck in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

4.4          Milestone Payments. In addition to the payments set forth in Sections 4.1 through 4.3 above, Company shall pay Hospital one-time milestone payments, which shall not exceed a maximum total amount of one million five hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars ($1,550,000) for each Patent Family, as follows:

 

(a)

For Clinical Diagnostic Products or Clinical Diagnostic Processes:

 

(i)

[**] within [**] following first filing of an application for regulatory approval for a Clinical Diagnostic Product or Clinical Diagnostic Process for each Patent Family from the United States Food and Drug Administration or the equivalent foreign Regulatory Authority; and

 

(ii)

[**] within [**] following first regulatory approval for a Clinical Diagnostic Product or Clinical Diagnostic Process for each Patent Family from the United States Food and Drug Administration or the equivalent foreign Regulatory Authority.

 

 

(b)

For Therapeutic Products or Therapeutic Processes:

 

(i)

[**] within [**] following dosing of first patient in the first phase II clinical trial for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process for each Patent Family;

 

(ii)

[**]within [**] following dosing of first patient in the first phase III clinical trial for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process for each Patent Family; and

 

(iii)

[**] within [**] following the First Commercial Sale for a Therapeutic Product or Therapeutic Process for each Patent Family.

 

VII.	Section 8 shall be struck in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

8. INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

 

8.1          Indemnification.

 

(a)

At Company’s sole expense, Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless (collectively, “indemnify” or “indemnification”) Hospital and its owners, members and Affiliates and their respective trustees, directors, officers, medical and professional staff, employees, students, volunteers, and agents and their respective successors, heirs and assigns (the “Indemnitees”), against any and all liability, damage (including direct, indirect, consequential and special damages), loss or expense (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation) (a “Loss”), incurred by or imposed upon the Indemnitees or any one of them in connection with any third party claims, suits, actions, investigations, demands or judgments relating to or arising from, in whole or part: (i) any theory of product liability (including, but not limited to, actions in the form of contract, tort, warranty, or strict liability) concerning any product, process or service made, used, or sold or performed pursuant to any right or license granted under this Agreement, or (ii) any claim by a third party that any Company product, process or service made, used or sold or performed pursuant to any right or license granted under this Agreement infringes any patent, copyright or trade secret, or (iii) Company breach of its obligations under Sections 2.2 or 8.2 of this Agreement; except to the extent that Company can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that a Loss as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) hereof directly results from the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of Hospital and/or the Indemnitees.

 

(b)

Company agrees, at its own expense, to provide attorneys reasonably acceptable to the Hospital on behalf of the Indemnitees to defend against any actions brought or filed against any party indemnified hereunder with respect to the subject of indemnity contained herein, whether or not such actions are rightfully brought; provided, however, that any of the Indemnitees shall have the right to retain its own counsel, at the expense of Company, if representation of such Indemnitee by counsel retained by Company would be inappropriate because of conflict of interests of any such Indemnitees and any other party represented by such counsel. Company agrees to keep Hospital informed of the progress in the defense and disposition of such claim and to consult with Hospital prior to any proposed settlement.

 

 

(c)

This Section 8.1 shall survive expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

(d)

Any limitation of liability within this Agreement shall not limit the extent of the Company’s and its assigns’ and successor’s indemnification obligations indicated within Section 8.1 of this Agreement.

 

(e)

Company shall contractually obligate any Sublicensees and Distributors to the same indemnification obligations as set forth for the Company in Section 8.1 of this Agreement.

 

8.2          Insurance.

 

(a)

Beginning at such time as any such product, process or service is being commercially distributed, sold, leased or otherwise transferred, or performed or used (other than for the purpose of obtaining regulatory approvals), by Company, an Affiliate or Sublicensee, Company shall, at its sole cost and expense, procure and maintain commercial general liability (herein, “CGL”) insurance with limits of not less than $[**] per occurrence or claim and $[**] annual aggregate and naming the Indemnitees as additional insureds. Such limits of insurance may be achieved by primary insurance policies alone or in combination with excess-liability and/or umbrella-liability insurance policies. Such commercial general liability insurance shall provide (i) product liability coverage and (ii) broad form contractual liability coverage for Company’s indemnification under Section 8.1 of this Agreement. If the Company’s CGL insurance does not include coverage for products liability, Company shall, at its sole cost and expense, procure and maintain products-liability insurance with limits of not less than $[**] per occurrence or claim and $[**] annual aggregate and naming the Indemnitees as additional insureds. Such limits of insurance may be achieved by primary-layer-insurance policies alone or in combination with excess-liability and/or umbrella-liability insurance policies. Such insurance within this Section 8.2 of the Agreement shall be primary, at the Hospital’s discretion, to any insurance maintained by the Hospital. If Company elects to self-insure all or part of the limits described above (including deductibles or retentions which are in excess of $[**] annual aggregate) such self-insurance program must be financially sound and acceptable to the Hospital. The minimum amounts of insurance coverage required under this Section 8.2 shall not be construed to create a limit of Company’s liability with respect to its indemnification under Section 8.1 of this Agreement.

 

(b)

Company shall provide Hospital, at its request, with written evidence of such insurance and the additional-insured status of the Indemnitees. Company shall provide Hospital with written notice at least [**] prior to the cancellation, non-renewal or material change in such insurance; if Company does not obtain replacement insurance providing comparable coverage prior to the expiration of such [**] period, Hospital shall have the right to terminate this Agreement effective at the end of such [**] period without notice or any additional waiting periods.

 

 

(c)

Company shall maintain such insurance, beyond the expiration or termination of this Agreement during (i) the period that any such product, process, or service is being commercially distributed, sold, leased or otherwise transferred, or performed or used (other than for the purpose of obtaining regulatory approvals), by Company or by a licensee, affiliate or agent of Company and (ii) a reasonable period after the period referred to in (c) (i) above which in no event shall be less than [**].

 

(d)

Insurance within Section 8.2 of this Agreement must be provided by commercial insurance companies with a AM Best financial-strength rating of not less than A-minus.

 

(e)

This Section 8.2 shall survive expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

(f)

Any limitation of liability within this Agreement shall not limit the extent of the Company’s and its assigns’ and successors’ insurance obligations indicated within Section 8.2.

 

(g)

Company shall contractually obligate any Sublicensees and Distributors to the same insurance obligations as set forth for the Company in Section 8.2 of this Agreement.

 

VIII.

Section 9.1 shall be struck in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

9.1

Title to Patent Rights. To the best knowledge of Hospital’s Innovation office as of the Effective Date, (i) Hospital is the owner by assignment from [**] of the Patent Rights and there are no claims, liens or encumbrances with respect to such Patent Rights, and (ii) Hospital has the authority to enter into this Agreement and license the Patent Rights to Company hereunder.

 

IX.	Appendix A of the License Agreement shall be struck in its entirety and replaced with the attached appendix. Hospital agrees to make appropriate PCT filings for matters [**]and [**] at the time recommended by patent counsel.

 

X.

Additional Patent Cost Reimbursement. Company shall reimburse Hospital for all costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of the newly added Patent Rights (“Additional Patent Costs”). As of the Effective Date, Hospital has incurred approximately seventeen thousand and three hundred dollars ($17,300) in Additional Patent Costs, which amount Company shall pay to Hospital under the following payment schedule: 50% ($8,650)shall be due on November 15, 2020 and the remaining 50% ($8,650) shall be due on December 15, 2020.

 

 

XI.	First Amendment Fee. Company shall pay Hospital a non-refundable license issue fee in the amount of twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) upon execution of this First Amendment.

 

Checks for all payments due to the Hospital under this Agreement shall be made payable to the Hospital and addressed as set forth below:

 

Massachusetts General Hospital

 

[**]

 

Payments via wire transfer should be made as follows:

 

[**]

 

XII.	No Modification. This First Amendment may not be amended or modified, nor may any provision hereof be waived, except by a written instrument executed by the Parties hereto.

 

XIII.

Execution in Counterparts. This First Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This First Amendment may be executed electronically/digitally in compliance with the Massachusetts Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (MUETA) Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 110G and/or The Electronic Signatures In Global And National Commerce Act (ESIGN) 15 USC ch. 96. Persons signing this First Amendment agree that, if used, electronic/digital signatures are intended to authenticate this writing and to have the same force and effect as the use of manual signatures.

 

[remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this First Amendment to be executed by their respective duly authorized representatives as of the First Amendment Effective Date.

 

TRANSCODE THERAPEUTICS, INC.			THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION
BY:			BY:
NAME:			NAME:
TITLE:			TITLE:
DATE:			DATE:

 

 

Appendix A

DESCRIPTION OF PATENT RIGHTS

 

[**]

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated February 26, 2021 which includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, relating to the financial statements of Transcode Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
East Brunswick, New Jersey
February 26, 2021