EXHIBIT 10.3
HYBRIDON, INC.
NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
(FOR 500,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK)
This Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement ("AGREEMENT") between Hybridon,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the "COMPANY") and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, an individual
resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Executive"), is effective as
of July 25, 2001 ("EFFECTIVE DATE"). This Agreement evidences the grant of a
nonqualified stock option to the Executive effective as of the Effective Date,
subject to the terms and conditions herein.
1. DEFINITIONS. All capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined in
this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth below:
1.1 ACQUISITION EVENT means:
(a) any merger or consolidation which results in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto representing
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving or acquiring entity) less than 60% of the combined voting power of
the voting securities of the Company or such surviving or acquiring entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;
(b) any sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company;
(c) the complete liquidation of the Company; or
(d) the acquisition of "beneficial ownership" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company representing 50%
or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
securities (other than through a merger or consolidation or an acquisition of
securities directly from the Company) by any "person," as such term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, any
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders
of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock
of the Company (an event specified in this clause (iv) being referred to as a
"CREEPING TENDER").
1.2 BOARD means the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.3 CAUSE means the Executive's (i) material breach of any material
terms of the Employment Agreement (as defined below), (ii) plea of guilty or
nolo contendre to, or conviction of, the commission of a felony offense, (iii)
repeated unexplained or unjustified absence, or refusals to carry out the lawful
directions of the Board, or (iv) material breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the
Company under the Employment Agreement, provided that any action or inaction
described by (i), (iii), or (iv), above, shall not be the basis of a termination
of the Executive's employment with the Company for "Cause" unless the Company
provided the
Executive with at least twenty days advance written notice specifying in
reasonable detail the conduct in need of being cured and such conduct was not
cured within the notice period.
1.4 CHANGE OF CONTROL means the occurrence of any of the following
events:
(a) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of
thirty-six consecutive months or less such that a majority of the members of the
Board ceases to be comprised of individuals who are Continuing Members; for such
purpose, a "Continuing Member" means an individual who is a member of the Board
on the date of the Employment Agreement and any successor of a Continuing Member
who is elected to the Board or nominated for election by action of a majority of
Continuing Members then serving on the Board; or
(b) the consummation of an Acquisition Event other than an IP
Divestiture.
1.5 CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.6 COMMON STOCK means common stock of the Company, having $0.001 par
value.
1.7 COMPANY shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph hereof.
1.8 DISABILITY means the inability of the Executive to perform all
the material duties of the Executive's position for a continuous period of at
least 90 days due to a permanent physical or mental impairment, as determined
and certified by a physician selected by the Executive and with the concurrence
of a physician selected by the Company, provided that if the physician selected
by the Executive and the physician selected by the Company do not agree
regarding the determination and certification, a determination and certification
rendered by an independent physician mutually agreed upon by the Executive and
the Company shall be final and binding on the parties with respect to this
Agreement.
1.9 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT means the employment agreement by and
between the Company and the Executive, effective as of April 1, 2002, including
any subsequent amendments.
1.10 EMPLOYMENT PERIOD means the period during which the Employment
Agreement is in effect, as determined under Section 3 of the Employment
Agreement.
1.11 EXCHANGE ACT means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
1.12 EXECUTIVE, solely for purposes of this Agreement, includes a
Permitted Transferee.
1.13 FAIR MARKET VALUE means, with respect to any property (including,
without limitation, any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the
Company), the fair market value of such property determined in good faith by
such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the
Board. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, where
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there exists a public market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock shall be the closing price for a share of Common Stock for
the last market trading date prior to the time of the determination (or, if no
closing price was reported on that date, on the last trading date on which a
closing price was reported) on the stock exchange determined by the Board to be
the primary market for the Common Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal
or such other source as the Board deems reliable.
1.14 GOOD REASON means the occurrence of one or more of the following:
(a) any action by the Company which results in a material
diminution of Executive's position, title, annual base salary, authority, duties
or responsibilities or reporting structure;
(b) any material breach of the Employment Agreement by the
Company which is not remedied by the Company within 30 days after receipt by the
Company of notice thereof given by the Executive specifying in reasonable detail
the alleged breach;
(c) failure to elect the Executive to serve on the Board during
the Employment Period; or
(d) relocation of the Company's headquarters outside Cambridge,
Massachusetts or 10 miles east of the Worcester area, except in the event of a
change in the location of the headquarters of the Company to a site within the
continental United States following a Change of Control.
1.15 IP DIVESTITURE means a sale or licensing by the Company of all or
substantially all of its assets (including patents, patent applications and
know-how) relating to any one of its technology platforms.
1.16 OPTION PRICE means the purchase price paid by the Executive for
each share of Common Stock purchased under this Agreement.
1.17 PARENT means a parent corporation, as such term is defined under
Section 424(e) and (g) of the Code, with respect to the Company.
1.18 PERMITTED TRANSFEREE means the spouse, mother, father, sister,
brother, or lineal descendant(s) of the Executive named in this Agreement or a
trust established exclusively for the benefit of one or more such individuals.
1.19 SUBSIDIARY means a subsidiary corporation, as such term is
defined under Section 424(f) and (g) of the Code, with respect to the Company.
2. GRANT. The Company hereby grants to the Executive the right (the
"OPTION") to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of 500,000 shares of
Common Stock, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9 below. The Option is
in all respects limited and conditioned as provided in this Agreement. This
Option shall be a nonqualified stock option and is not intended to satisfy the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
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3. VESTING. The Executive may exercise the Option in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, in whole or in part, to the extent that the Executive's
rights under the Option have vested.
3.1 VESTING SCHEDULE. The Option shall vest in its entirety on
September 1, 2006, subject to earlier vesting as described in SECTION 3.2 below.
3.2 ACCELERATION. Notwithstanding the vesting schedule in SECTION 3.1
above, vesting of the Option shall be accelerated as described in this SECTION
3.2 upon the occurrence of the following events:
(a) CHANGE OF CONTROL; IP DIVESTITURE. In the event of a Change
of Control or IP Divestiture, the unvested portion of the Option shall become
fully vested and nonforfeitable as of the date that is ten business days before
the effective date of a Change of Control.
(b) Termination of Employment.
(i) Other than for Death, Disability, or Cause. If the
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company other
than on account of the Executive's death, Disability, or for Cause, the
Option shall vest as of the date of such termination of employment to the
extent the Option would have vested during the following thirty-six (36)
months (or portion thereof) remaining in the Employment Period had the
Executive's employment not been terminated.
(ii) DEATH. If the Executive's employment with the Company
is terminated by reason of the Executive's death, the Option shall vest as
of the date of such termination of employment to the extent the Option
would have vested during the following twenty-four (24) months (or portion
thereof) remaining in the Employment Period had the Executive's employment
not been terminated.
(iii) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment with the
Company is terminated by the Company for Disability pursuant to Section
7(a)(ii) of the Employment Agreement, the Option shall vest as of the date
of such termination of employment to the extent the Option would have
vested during the following twenty-four (24) months (or portion thereof)
remaining in the Employment Period had the Executive's employment not been
terminated.
(iv) TERMINATION BY THE EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON. If the
Executive terminates his employment with the Company for Good Reason, the
Option shall vest as of the date of such termination of employment to the
extent the Option would have vested during the following thirty-six (36)
months (or portion thereof) remaining in the Employment Period had the
Executive's employment not been terminated.
(v) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OR VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION (OTHER
THAN FOR GOOD REASON). If the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive through his
voluntary
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resignation (other than for Good Reason), the portion of the Option that
has not vested shall terminate as of such termination of employment.
(c) BOARD'S DISCRETION. In addition to the automatic
acceleration of the vesting schedule as prescribed in subparagraphs (a) and (b)
above, the Board may, at any time, in its sole discretion, provide that any
unvested portion of the Option shall become immediately vested in full or in
part.
4. OPTION PRICE. The Option Price of each share of Common Stock covered
by the Option shall be $ 0.825, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9
below.
5. TERM. The Option shall expire on July 25, 2011 ("EXPIRATION DATE"), to
the extent the Executive has not exercised the Option in full before the
Expiration Date.
6. EXERCISE.
6.1 EXPIRATION DATE FOR OPTION EXERCISE. The Executive may exercise
the vested portion of this Option, in full or in part, before the Expiration
Date, provided that if the Executive's employment or service with the Company or
a Parent or Subsidiary is terminated:
(a) by the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary for any reason
other than death, Disability, or for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason,
the Option shall be exercisable for a period beginning on the termination date
and ending on the earlier to occur of (i) twenty-four (24) months after the
effective date of a termination of Executive's employment or service with the
Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary or (ii) the Expiration Date;
(b) as a result of the Executive's death or Disability, the
Option shall be exercisable, by the Executive or the person or persons to whom
the Executive's rights under the Option pass by will or applicable law, or if no
such person has such right, the Executive's executors or administrators, for a
period beginning on the termination date and ending on the earlier to occur of
(i) twenty-four (24) months after the effective date of his termination of
employment or service with the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary or (ii) the
Expiration Date; or (c) as a result of Executive's voluntary resignation (other
than for Good Reason) or as a result of termination by the Company for Cause,
the Option shall be exercisable for a period beginning on the termination date
and ending on the earlier to occur of (i) twelve (12) months after the effective
date of a termination of Executive's employment or service with the Company or a
Parent or Subsidiary or (ii) the Expiration Date.
6.2 NOTICE OF OPTION EXERCISE. If the Executive wants to exercise the
Option, the Executive shall give written notice, in such form as the Company may
from time to time require, to the Company at its principal office by personal
delivery, by registered or certified mail, or by such other method as the
Company may permit. At minimum, the written notice shall identify the Option
being exercised, shall state the number of shares of Common Stock with respect
to which the Option is being exercised, and shall include payment for the shares
of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised. The payment
for shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option shall
be made at the principal office of the Company as described in SECTION 7 below.
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6.3 ISSUANCE OF OPTION SHARES. Upon the exercise of the Option and
upon the receipt by the Company of the payment for the shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the exercise of the Option, the Company shall deliver or cause to be
delivered, within a reasonable time, to the Executive exercising the Option a
certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock with
respect to which the Option is exercised. The shares of Common Stock shall be
registered in the name of the exercising Executive or in such name jointly with
the Executive as the Executive may direct in the written notice of exercise.
7. PAYMENT.
7.1 ACCEPTABLE METHODS OF PAYMENT. The Option Price of shares of
Common Stock subject to the Option and any tax withholding obligations arising
as a result of the exercise of any portion of the Option may be paid in any
combination of the following permitted forms of payment.
(a) in United States dollars in cash or by check made payable to
the Company;
(b) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by
a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay
the Option Price or the amount of any applicable withholding taxes, or delivery
by the Executive to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional
instructions to a creditworthy broker to delivery promptly to the Company cash
or a check sufficient to pay the Option Price or the amount of any applicable
withholding taxes;
(c) by surrender of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate
Fair Market Value, as of the date of payment, equal to all or a portion of the
Option Price and the amount of any applicable withholding taxes, subject to the
terms and conditions of SECTION 7.2 below; or
(d) by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board
may determine.
7.2 SURRENDER OF SHARES. Shares of Common Stock which may be
surrendered in satisfaction of all or any portion of the Option Price or any tax
withholding obligation that results from the exercise of any portion of this
Option include shares of Common Stock covered by the portion of the Option that
is being exercised and other shares of Common Stock held by the Executive;
provided that shares of Common Stock surrendered to pay the Option Price shall
be held by the Executive for at least six months as of the date of payment.
8. NONTRANSFERABILITY. The Option shall not be assignable or transferable
by the Executive except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and
during the lifetime of the Executive shall be exercisable only by the Executive,
except as provided in this Section 8. The Executive may, during his lifetime,
transfer the Option, in whole or in part, to a Permitted Transferee. The
transferred portion of the Option may be exercised only by the person or persons
who acquire a proprietary interest in the Option pursuant to the transfer. The
terms applicable to the transferred portion of the Option shall be the same as
those in effect for the Option under this Agreement immediately prior to the
transfer.
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9. CAPITAL ADJUSTMENTS.
9.1 ADJUSTMENTS TO COMMON STOCK. In connection with the occurrence of
any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger
consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off or other
similar change in capitalization or event of the Company, or any distribution to
holders of shares of Common Stock other than a normal cash dividend, the number
and kind of shares of Common Stock issuable under this Option and the Option
Price of the portion of the Option outstanding as of such event shall be
adjusted (or substituted stock options may be made), to the extent the Board
shall determine, in good faith, that such adjustment (or substitution) is
necessary and appropriate, to reflect such event. On the occurrence of a Change
of Control described in SECTION 1.1(A) hereof (and limited to such event), the
Board may provide for the following: (i) that the unexercised portion of the
Option outstanding on the occurrence of a Change of Control described in SECTION
1.1(A) hereof shall be assumed or an equivalent Option be substituted by the
acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), or (ii) that,
upon written notice delivered to the Executive, the unexercised portion of the
Option outstanding on the occurrence of a Change of Control described in SECTION
1.1(A) shall terminate effective as of such date or as of such earlier date as
may be specified by the Board in a written notice delivered to the Executive,
provided that if the Board issues a notice regarding the termination of the
unexercised portion of the Option pursuant to this clause (ii), the effective
date of such termination shall not precede any vesting acceleration date
described in SECTION 3.2(A) hereof.
9.2 BOARD DETERMINATIONS. To the extent that the foregoing
adjustments relate to shares of Common Stock or other securities, such
adjustments shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect
shall be final, binding and conclusive; provided that if stock options granted
under the Hybridon, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan ("Plan")
are adjusted in connection with one or more of the events described in this
SECTION 9, the Option shall be adjusted in a manner that is not less favorable
than adjustments to stock options granted under the Plan.
10. AMENDMENT. The Board may amend this Agreement, provided that no
amendment to this Agreement shall become effective before the Board obtains the
Executive's consent to such amendment. In order to fully protect the interests
of the Executive, the Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or
reconcile any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of
the Employment Agreement.
11. RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Except as otherwise provided by the Board,
the Executive shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares
of Common Stock covered by this Agreement until becoming the record holder of
such shares.
12. NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be
issued or delivered under this Agreement. Any fractional shares shall be settled
in cash, property, or other securities, as determined by the Board.
13. REGISTRATION OF SHARES. The Company shall take all such actions as are
necessary to ensure the unrestricted transferability of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise, in whole or in part, of the Option, including
as may be required (i) the registration
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or qualification of the shares for sale under the federal securities laws and
applicable state securities laws, (ii) listing of the shares on any stock
exchange on which the Common Stock is listed and (iii) securing any other
necessary governmental approvals.
14. WITHHOLDING. The Executive shall pay to the Company, or make provision
satisfactory to the Board for payment of, any taxes required by law to be
withheld in connection with the exercise of the Option not later than the date
of the event creating the tax liability. The Company may, to the extent
permitted by law, deduct any tax obligations not provided for in the preceding
sentence, from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Executive.
15. NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to give the Executive any right to be retained in employment by,
or to continue to provide service to, the Company for any period of time, and no
provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to interfere with the right of the
Company to terminate the employment or service of the Executive pursuant to the
terms of the Employment Agreement or any subsequent agreement between the
Executive and the Company.
16. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is, becomes, or is
deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to the
Executive, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform with
applicable laws, or if the provision cannot be so construed or deemed amended
without, in the discretion of the Board, materially altering the intent of the
Agreement, such provision shall be severed as to the jurisdiction or the
Executive and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.
17. NOTICES AND PAYMENTS. Any notice required or permitted to be given to
the Executive under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States mail with
postage and fees prepaid. Any notice or communication required or permitted to
be given to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed to
the Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal office and shall be
deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States
mail with postage and fees prepaid.
18. HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement for purposes of
the interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
19. GOVERNING LAW. The validity and construction of this Agreement shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any
conflict of law rules that would require the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the internal laws of the State of Delaware to the rights
and duties of the parties, except to the extent the laws of the State of
Delaware are preempted by federal law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by an officer of the Company, and the Executive has accepted and signed
this Agreement to be effective as of the Effective Date.
HYBRIDON, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: CFO
ACCEPTED:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
BOS1 #1262477 v1
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