UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 22, 2020
COGENT BIOSCIENCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-38443 | 46-5308248 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
200 Cambridge Park Drive, Suite 2500 Cambridge, Massachusetts |
02140 | |||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code (617) 945-5576
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common stock, $0.001 Par Value | COGT | The Nasdaq Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Adoption of Inducement Plan
On October 23, 2020, the board of directors (the Board) of Cogent Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), adopted the Cogent Biosciences, Inc. 2020 Inducement Plan (the Inducement Plan). The Board also adopted a form of non-qualified stock option agreement for use with the Inducement Plan. A total of 15,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company have been reserved for issuance under the Inducement Plan, subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, or other changes in the Companys common stock or capital structure.
The purpose of the Inducement Plan is to secure and retain the services of eligible employees, to provide incentives for such eligible employees to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company, and to provide such eligible employees an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Companys common stock through the granting of certain stock awards. The Inducement Plan was approved by the Compensation Committee without stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), and is to be utilized exclusively for the grant of stock awards to individuals who were not previously an employee or non-employee director of the Company (or following a bona fide period of non-employment with the Company) as an inducement material to such individuals entry into employment with the Company, within the meaning of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
The Inducement Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board. Stock awards under the Inducement Plan may only be granted by: (i) the Compensation Committee, (ii) another committee of the Board composed solely of at least two members of the Board who meet the requirements for independence under the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules (the Independent Directors), or (iii) at the Board level by at least a majority of the Independent Directors (the foregoing subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) are collectively referred to as the Committee).
The Committee may choose to grant (i) nonstatutory stock options, (ii) stock appreciation rights, (iii) restricted stock awards, (iv) restricted stock unit awards, and (v) other stock awards to eligible recipients, with each grant to be evidenced by an award agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the grant as determined by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Inducement Plan.
The foregoing description of the Inducement Plan and plan documents does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Inducement Plan and form of award agreement thereunder, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Resignation of current Chief Executive Officer, President, Principal Executive Officer and Director
On October 26, 2020, the Company announced that, on October 22, 2020, Charles Wilson, Ph.D. resigned from his positions as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Principal Executive Officer of the Company, effective as of October 23, 2020, subject to a transition period from October 23, 2020 until October 30, 2020 (the Separation Date). Dr. Wilsons resignation did not result from a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Companys operations, policies or practices. Dr. Wilson also resigned as a director of the Company effective as of October 23, 2020.
In connection with Dr. Wilsons departure, the Company and Dr. Wilson have entered into a Separation Agreement effective as of October 23, 2020 (the Separation Agreement). Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, in exchange for granting and not revoking a customary release agreement after the Separation Date, Dr. Wilson will be entitled to receive (i) severance pay in an amount equal $860,737.50, payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Companys payroll practice over eighteen months, provided that Dr. Wilson has not breached any of his continuing obligations, (ii) an amount equal to 150% of his target bonus, which equates to $430,368.75, payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Companys payroll practice over eighteen months and (iii) reimbursement of COBRA premiums for health benefit coverage for up to eighteen months, in an amount equal to the monthly employer contribution that the Company would have made to provide health insurance to Dr. Wilson had he remained employed with the Company. Additionally, all equity awards held by Dr. Wilson will become vested and exercisable or non-forfeitable as of the Separation Date.
The foregoing description of the separation agreement with Dr. Wilson is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Appointment of new Chief Executive Officer, Principal Executive Officer, and Director
On October 23, 2020, the Board appointed Andrew Robbins as the Companys Chief Executive Officer, President, and Principal Executive Officer, effective as of October 23, 2020 (the Commencement Date). Additionally, the Board appointed Mr. Robbins as a Class III director of the Company, effective as of October 23, 2020. As a Class III director, Mr. Robbins will stand for election at the Companys 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Mr. Robbins is an accomplished executive with extensive commercial, development and strategic leadership experience during a 20-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on oncology and hematology products. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Robbins served as Chief Operating Officer at Array BioPharma Inc., a pharmaceutical company, from March 2015 through its acquisition by Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical company, in July 2019, after serving as its Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations from July 2012 to March 2015. From January 2007 to July 2012, Mr. Robbins held management positions at Hospira, Inc., a pharmaceutical and medical device company, including General Manager and Vice President of the U.S. Alternate Site business unit and Vice President of Corporate Development. Prior to Hospira, Mr. Robbins held commercial and leadership positions within Pfizers oncology unit. Additionally, Mr. Robbins currently serves on the Board of Directors for Harpoon Therapeutics (Nasdaq: HARP) and Turmeric Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: TMPMU). Mr. Robbins holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and a bachelors degree from Swarthmore College.
Mr. Robbinss employment agreement provides for at will employment. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Robbins is entitled to an annual base salary of $575,000. Mr. Robbins is also eligible for annual incentive compensation targeted at 60% of his base salary. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, and as approved by the Board on October 23, 2020 (the Grant Date), Mr. Robbins was granted a non-qualified stock option inducement award to purchase 7,442,421 shares of the Companys common stock pursuant to the terms of a stock option award agreement (the New Hire Option) under the Inducement Plan as an inducement material to Mr. Robbins becoming an employee of the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The New Hire Option has a ten-year term and vests as to 25% of the shares underlying the stock option on the first anniversary of the Grant Date and as to the remaining 75% of the shares underlying the stock option in equal monthly installments over the 36 months thereafter. The New Hire Option granted to Mr. Robbins has an exercise price per share equal to the closing price of the Companys common stock on the grant date. Additionally, Mr. Robbins may be eligible to receive certain subsequent incentive equity compensation subject to the attainment of certain performance metrics and subject to final approval by the Board.
Mr. Robbins is eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans generally available to full-time employees, subject to the terms of those plans. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, if Mr. Robbinss employment is terminated by the Company without cause (as defined in his employment agreement) or by Mr. Robbins for good reason (as defined in his employment agreement), Mr. Robbins will receive any base salary through the date of termination, unpaid expense reimbursements, unused vacation accrued through the date of termination, and any vested benefits under any employee benefit plan through the date of termination. Additionally, subject to Mr. Robbinss execution of a release of potential claims against the Company, Mr. Robbins will be entitled to receive: (i) a lump sum in cash in an amount equal to 12 months of base salary, (ii) a monthly cash payment for 12 months for medical and dental benefits or Mr. Robbinss COBRA health continuation period, whichever ends earlier, (iii) a lump sum in cash in an amount equal to 100% of Mr. Robbinss target bonus for the then-current year, and (iv) acceleration of vesting on any time-based options in which Mr. Robbins would have vested if he had remained employed for an additional 12 months. However, in the event that Mr. Robbinss employment is terminated by the Company without cause, or Mr. Robbins terminates his employment with the Company for good reason, in either case for a period of 90 days prior to or 12 months following the occurrence of a change in control (as defined in his employment agreement), in lieu of the severance payments and benefits described in the preceding sentence and subject to Mr. Robbinss execution of a release of potential claims against the Company, Mr. Robbins will be entitled to receive: (i) a lump sum in cash in an amount equal to 18 months of base salary, (ii) a lump sum in cash in an amount equal to 150% of Mr. Robbinss target bonus for the then-current year, (iii) a monthly cash payment for 18 months for medical and dental benefits or Mr. Robbinss COBRA health continuation period, whichever ends earlier, and (iv) acceleration of vesting on any options.
In connection with Mr. Robbinss appointment as Chief Executive Officer and President, Mr. Robbins will enter into the Companys standard form of indemnification agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-223414) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the indemnification agreement, the Company may be required, among other things, to indemnify Mr. Robbins for some expenses, including attorneys fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by him in any action or proceeding arising out of his service as one of our officers. In addition, Mr. Robbins entered into a Confidentiality and IP Assignment Agreement that applies during the term of Mr. Robbinss employment and for one year thereafter.
Mr. Robbins has no family relationship with any of the executive officers or directors of the Company. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Robbins and any other person pursuant to which he was appointed as an officer of the Company.
The foregoing description of the offer letter with Mr. Robbins is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreement, which the Company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an exhibit to the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020.
Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On October 26, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the changes to the leadership team. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated into this Item 8.01 by reference.
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: October 26, 2020 | COGENT BIOSCIENCES, INC. | |||
By: | /s/ John Green | |||
John Green | ||||
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
COGENT BIOSCIENCES, INC.
2020 INDUCEMENT PLAN
SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS
The name of the plan is the Cogent Biosciences, Inc. 2020 Inducement Plan (the Plan). The purpose of the Plan is to enable Cogent Biosciences, Inc. (the Company) to grant equity awards to induce highly-qualified prospective officers and employees who are not currently employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries to accept employment and provide them with a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Companys welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its stockholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Companys behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company. The Company intends that the Plan be reserved for persons to whom the Company may issue securities without stockholder approval as an inducement pursuant to Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) of the corporate governance rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market
The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Administrator means either the Board or the compensation committee of the Board or a similar committee performing the functions of the compensation committee and which is comprised of not less than two Non-Employee Directors who are independent.
Award or Awards, except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights.
Award Certificate means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Certificate is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.
Dividend Equivalent Right means an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to and held by the grantee.
Effective Date means the date on which the Plan is approved by the Board as set forth in Section 19.
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 Administrator; provided, however, that if the Stock is admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System, Nasdaq Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to the Stocks closing price 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.
Non-Qualified Stock Option means any Stock Option that is not an intended to be an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
Option or Stock Option means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5.
Restricted Shares means the shares of Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award that remain subject to a risk of forfeiture or the Companys right of repurchase.
Restricted Stock Award means an Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.
Restricted Stock Units means an Award of stock units subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.
Sale Event shall mean (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Companys outstanding voting power and outstanding stock immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding stock or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Stock of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, or (iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Companys outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company.
Sale Price means the value as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable, or otherwise to be received by stockholders, per share of Stock pursuant to a Sale Event.
Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.
Stock means the Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.
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Stock Appreciation Right means an Award entitling the recipient to receive shares of Stock (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the applicable Award Certificate) having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.
Subsidiary means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has at least a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.
Unrestricted Stock Award means an Award of shares of Stock free of any restrictions.
SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS
(a) Administration of Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.
(b) Powers of Administrator. The Administrator 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 extent, if any, of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Unrestricted Stock Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;
(iii) to determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by any Award;
(iv) to determine and 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 forms of Award Certificates;
(v) to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award;
(vi) subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options may be exercised; and
(vii) 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 related written instruments); 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.
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All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan grantees.
(c) Reserved.
(d) Award Certificate. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Certificates that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include, without limitation, the term of an Award and the provisions applicable in the event employment or service terminates.
(e) Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Administrator, 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 Administrator (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 Companys articles 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 its Subsidiaries operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals 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 Administrator determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 3(a) hereof; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Administrator determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act or any other applicable United States securities law, the Code, or any other applicable United States governing statute or law.
SECTION 3. STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION
(a) Stock Issuable. The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 15,000,000 shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(d). In addition, the shares of Stock 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. In the event the Company repurchases
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shares of Stock on the open market, such shares shall not be added to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan. The shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Stock or shares of Stock reacquired by the Company.
(b) Reserved.
(c) Reserved.
(d) Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 3(e) hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Companys capital stock, the outstanding shares of Stock 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 of Stock or other securities, or, if, as a result of any merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding shares of Stock are converted into or exchanged for securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), the Administrator shall make an appropriate or 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 Restricted Stock Award, and (iv) the exercise price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) as to which such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights remain exercisable. The Administrator shall also make equitable or proportionate adjustments in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into consideration cash dividends paid other than in the ordinary course or any other extraordinary corporate event. The adjustment by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.
(e) Mergers and Other Transactions. In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the parties thereto may cause the assumption or continuation of Awards theretofore granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree. To the extent the parties to such Sale Event do not provide for the assumption, continuation or substitution of Awards, upon the effective time of the Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards granted hereunder shall terminate. In such case, except as may be otherwise provided in the relevant Award Certificate, all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the Sale Event shall become fully exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, all other Awards with time-based vesting, conditions or restrictions shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, and all Awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the attainment of performance goals may become vested and nonforfeitable in connection with a Sale Event in the Administrators discretion or to the extent specified in the relevant Award Certificate. In the
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event of such termination, (i) the Company shall have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the Sale Price multiplied by the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (provided that, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price equal to or less than the Sale Price, such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be cancelled for no consideration); or (ii) each grantee shall be permitted, within a specified period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Administrator, to exercise all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable) held by such grantee. The Company shall also have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding other Awards in an amount equal to the Sale Price multiplied by the number of vested shares of Stock under such Awards.
SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY
Grantees under the Plan will be such full or part-time officers and other employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries as to whom the Company may issue securities without stockholder approval in accordance with Rule 5635(c)(4) of the corporate governance rules of NASDAQ Stock Market, as selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS
(a) Award of Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Stock Options under the Plan. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options, and shall be in such form as the Administrator may from time to time approve.
Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 5 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 Administrator shall deem desirable. If the Administrator so determines, Stock Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the optionees election, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may establish.
(b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock Option granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
(c) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the Stock Option is granted.
(d) Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the grant date. The Administrator may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any 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.
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(e) Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by 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 except to the extent otherwise provided in the Option Award Certificate:
(i) In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;
(ii) Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership following such procedures as the Company may prescribe) of shares of Stock that are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. Such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date;
(iii) 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 Company shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or
(iv) By a net exercise arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock 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. The transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his 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 Option Award Certificate or applicable provisions of laws (including the satisfaction of any withholding taxes that the Company is obligated to withhold with respect to the optionee). In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of attested shares. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Stock Options, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Stock Options may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
SECTION 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
(a) Award of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may grant Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan. A Stock Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive shares of Stock (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the applicable Award Certificate) having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.
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(b) Exercise Price of Stock Appreciation Rights. The exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant.
(c) Grant and Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Administrator independently of any Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.
(d) Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined on the date of grant by the Administrator. The term of a Stock Appreciation Right may not exceed ten years. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.
SECTION 7. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
(a) Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Awards under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Award is any Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.
(b) Rights as a Stockholder. Upon the grant of the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Shares and receipt of dividends; provided that if the lapse of restrictions with respect to the Restricted Stock Award is tied to the attainment of performance goals, any dividends paid by the Company during the performance period shall accrue and shall not be paid to the grantee until and to the extent the performance goals are met with respect to the Restricted Stock Award. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, (i) uncertificated Restricted Shares shall be accompanied by a notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and (ii) certificated Restricted Shares shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and the grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company such instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.
(c) Restrictions. Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Restricted Stock Award Certificate. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, if a grantees employment (or other service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, any Restricted Shares that have not vested at the time of termination shall automatically and without any requirement of notice to such grantee from or other action by or on behalf of, the Company be deemed to have been reacquired by the Company at its original
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purchase price (if any) from such grantee or such grantees legal representative simultaneously with such termination of employment (or other service relationship), and thereafter shall cease to represent any ownership of the Company by the grantee or rights of the grantee as a stockholder. Following such deemed reacquisition of Restricted Shares that are represented by physical certificates, a grantee shall surrender such certificates to the Company upon request without consideration.
(d) Vesting of Restricted Shares. The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Shares and the Companys right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the attainment of such pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Shares and shall be deemed vested.
SECTION 8. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
(a) Nature of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Unit is an Award of stock units that may be settled in shares of Stock (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the Award Certificate) upon the satisfaction of such restrictions and conditions at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees. Except in the case of Restricted Stock Units with a deferred settlement date that complies with Section 409A, at the end of the vesting period, the Restricted Stock Units, to the extent vested, shall be settled in the form of shares of Stock. Restricted Stock Units with deferred settlement dates are subject to Section 409A and shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.
(b) Reserved.
(c) Rights as a Stockholder. A grantee shall have the rights as a stockholder only as to shares of Stock acquired by the grantee upon settlement of Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that the grantee may be credited with Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the stock units underlying his Restricted Stock Units, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.
(d) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantees right in all Restricted Stock Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantees termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.
SECTION 9. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. The Administrator may grant (or sell at par value or such higher purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Stock Award under
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the Plan. An Unrestricted Stock Award is an Award pursuant to which the grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any restrictions 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 10. RESERVED.
SECTION 11. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS
(a) Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Administrator may grant Dividend Equivalent Rights under the Plan. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to the grantee. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any grantee as a component of an award of Restricted Stock Units or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Certificate. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment or such other price as may then apply under a dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by the Company, if any. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled only upon settlement or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award.
(b) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantees rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall automatically terminate upon the grantees termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.
SECTION 12. TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS
(a) Transferability. Except as provided in Section 12(b) below, during a grantees lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the grantee, or by the grantees legal representative or guardian in the event of the grantees incapacity. No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void.
(b) Administrator Action. Notwithstanding Section 12(a), the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide either in the Award Certificate regarding a given Award or by subsequent written approval that the grantee (who is an employee or director) may transfer his or her Non-Qualified Stock Options to his or her immediate family members, to trusts for the
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benefit of such family members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners, 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. In no event may an Award be transferred by a grantee for value.
(c) Family Member. For purposes of Section 12(b), family member shall mean a grantees 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 grantees household (other than a tenant of the grantee), a trust in which these persons (or the grantee) have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the grantee) own more than 50 percent of the voting interests.
(d) Designation of Beneficiary. To the extent permitted by the Company, each grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the grantees death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the grantee, the beneficiary shall be the grantees estate.
SECTION 13. 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 Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the grantee for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator 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 its Subsidiaries 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 Companys obligation to deliver evidence of book entry (or stock certificates) to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on tax withholding obligations being satisfied by the grantee.
(b) Payment in Stock. Subject to approval by the Administrator, a grantee may elect to have the Companys minimum required tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due; provided, however, that the amount withheld does not exceed the maximum statutory tax rate or such lesser amount as is necessary to avoid liability accounting treatment. The Administrator may also require Awards to be subject to mandatory share withholding up to the required withholding amount. For purposes of share withholding, the Fair Market Value of withheld shares shall be determined in the same manner as the value of Stock includible in income of the participants. The required tax withholding obligation may also be satisfied, in whole or in part, by an arrangement whereby a certain number of shares of Stock issued pursuant to any Award are immediately sold and proceeds from such sale are remitted to the Company in an amount that would satisfy the withholding amount due.
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SECTION 14. 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 specified by the Administrator from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A. 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 then 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 grantees separation from service, or (ii) the grantees 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. Further, the settlement of any 409A Award may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A.
SECTION 15. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.
(a) Termination of Employment. If the grantees employer ceases to be a Subsidiary, the grantee shall be deemed to have terminated employment for purposes of the Plan.
(b) For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment:
(i) a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or
(ii) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employees 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 Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.
SECTION 16. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION
The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator 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 holders consent. Except as provided in Section 3(d) or 3(e), without prior stockholder approval, in no event may the Administrator exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or effect repricing through cancellation and re-grants or cancellation of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash or other Awards. Nothing in this Section 16 shall limit the Administrators authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(d) or 3(e).
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SECTION 17. 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 Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Companys obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.
SECTION 18. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) No Distribution. The Administrator may require each person acquiring Stock 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.
(b) Issuance of Stock. To the extent certificated, stock certificates to grantees under this 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 grantees last known address on file with the Company. 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 grantees 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). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any evidence of book entry or certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise or settlement of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel (to the extent the Administrator deems such advice necessary or advisable), that the issuance and delivery is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed, quoted or traded. Any Stock issued pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted or traded. The Administrator may place legends on any Stock certificate or notations on any book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that an individual make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Administrator shall have the right to require any individual to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.
(c) Stockholder Rights. Until Stock is deemed delivered in accordance with Section 18(b), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights of a stockholder will exist with respect to shares of Stock to be issued in connection with an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of a Stock Option or any other action by the grantee with respect to an Award.
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(d) Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.
(e) Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Companys insider trading policies and procedures, as in effect from time to time.
(f) Clawback Policy. Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Companys clawback policy, as in effect from time to time.
SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
This Plan shall become effective immediately upon approval by the Board.
SECTION 20. GOVERNING LAW
This Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, applied without regard to conflict of law principles.
DATE APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: October 23, 2020
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NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
FOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES
UNDER THE COGENT BIOSCIENCES, INC.
2020 INDUCEMENT PLAN
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Pursuant to the Cogent Biosciences, Inc. 2020 Inducement Plan (the Plan), Cogent Biosciences, Inc. (the Company) hereby grants to the Optionee named above an option (the Stock Option) to purchase on or prior to the Expiration Date specified above all or part of the number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the Stock) of the Company specified above at the Option Exercise Price per Share specified above subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan. This Stock Option has been granted as an inducement pursuant to Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) of the corporate governance rules of NASDAQ Stock Market. This Stock Option is not intended to be an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1. Exercisability Schedule. No portion of this Stock Option may be exercised until such portion shall have become exercisable. Except as set forth below, and subject to the discretion of the Administrator (as defined in Section 2 of the Plan) to accelerate the exercisability schedule hereunder, this Stock Option shall be exercisable with respect to the following number of Option Shares on the dates indicated so long as Optionee remains an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary on such dates:
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Once exercisable, this Stock Option shall continue to be exercisable at any time or times prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, subject to the provisions hereof and of the Plan.
2. Manner of Exercise.
(a) The Optionee may exercise this Stock Option only in the following manner: from time to time on or prior to the Expiration Date of this Stock Option, the Optionee may give written notice to the Administrator of his or her election to purchase some or all of the Option Shares purchasable at the time of such notice. This notice shall specify the number of Option Shares to be purchased.
Payment of the purchase price for the Option Shares may be made by one or more of the following methods: (i) in cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator; (ii) through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of Stock 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 any restrictions under any Company plan and that otherwise satisfy any holding periods as may be required by the Administrator; (iii) 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 to pay the option purchase price, provided that in the event the Optionee chooses to pay the option 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 Administrator shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; (iv) by a net exercise arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; or (v) a combination of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above. Payment instruments will be received subject to collection.
The transfer to the Optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the Option Shares will be contingent upon (i) the Companys receipt from the Optionee of the full purchase price for the Option Shares, as set forth above, (ii) the fulfillment of any other requirements contained herein or in the Plan or in any other agreement or provision of laws, and (iii) the receipt by the Company of any agreement, statement or other evidence that the Company may require to satisfy itself that the issuance of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options under the Plan and any subsequent resale of the shares of Stock will be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In the event the Optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the Optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the Shares attested to.
(b) The shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of this Stock Option shall be transferred to the Optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent upon compliance to the satisfaction of the Administrator with all requirements under applicable laws or regulations in connection with such transfer and with the requirements hereof and of the Plan. The determination of the Administrator as to such compliance shall be final and binding on the Optionee. The Optionee shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Stock subject to this Stock Option unless and until this Stock Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company or the transfer agent shall have transferred the shares to the Optionee, and the Optionees name shall have been entered as the stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such shares of Stock.
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(c) The minimum number of shares with respect to which this Stock Option may be exercised at any one time shall be 100 shares, unless the number of shares with respect to which this Stock Option is being exercised is the total number of shares subject to exercise under this Stock Option at the time.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or of the Plan, no portion of this Stock Option shall be exercisable after the Expiration Date hereof.
3. Termination of Employment. If the Optionees employment by the Company or a Subsidiary (as defined in the Plan) is terminated, the period within which to exercise the Stock Option may be subject to earlier termination as set forth below.
(a) Termination Due to Death. If the Optionees employment terminates by reason of the Optionees death, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date, to the extent exercisable on the date of death, may thereafter be exercised by the Optionees legal representative or legatee for a period of 12 months from the date of death or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of death shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.
(b) Termination Due to Disability. If the Optionees employment terminates by reason of the Optionees disability (as determined by the Administrator), any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date, to the extent exercisable on the date of such termination of employment, may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee for a period of 12 months from the date of disability or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of disability shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.
(c) Termination for Cause. If the Optionees employment terminates for Cause, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date shall terminate immediately and be of no further force and effect. For purposes hereof, Cause shall mean, unless otherwise provided in an employment agreement between the Company and the Optionee, a determination by the Administrator that the Optionee shall be dismissed as a result of (i) any material breach by the Optionee of any agreement between the Optionee and the Company; (ii) the conviction of, indictment for or plea of nolo contendere by the Optionee to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; or (iii) any material misconduct or willful and deliberate non-performance (other than by reason of disability) by the Optionee of the Optionees duties to the Company.
(d) Other Termination. If the Optionees employment terminates for any reason other than the Optionees death, the Optionees disability or Cause, and unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of termination, for a period of three months from the date of termination or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of termination shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.
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The Administrators determination of the reason for termination of the Optionees employment shall be conclusive and binding on the Optionee and his or her representatives or legatees.
4. Incorporation of Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Stock Option shall be subject to and governed by all the terms and conditions of the Plan, including the powers of the Administrator set forth in Section 2(b) of the Plan. Capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan, unless a different meaning is specified herein.
5. Transferability. This Agreement is personal to the Optionee, is non-assignable and is not transferable in any manner, by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Stock Option is exercisable, during the Optionees lifetime, only by the Optionee, and thereafter, only by the Optionees legal representative or legatee.
6. Tax Withholding. The Optionee shall, not later than the date as of which the exercise of this Stock Option becomes a taxable event for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of any Federal, state, and local taxes required by law to be withheld on account of such taxable event. The Company shall have the authority to cause the minimum required tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by withholding from shares of Stock to be issued to the Optionee a number of shares of Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value that would satisfy the minimum withholding amount due.
7. No Obligation to Continue Employment. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is obligated by or as a result of the Plan or this Agreement to continue the Optionee in employment and neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of the Optionee at any time.
8. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to this Stock Option and supersedes all prior agreements and discussions between the parties concerning such subject matter.
9. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the Relevant Companies) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Agreement (the Relevant Information). By entering into this Agreement, the Optionee (i) authorizes the Company to collect, process, register and transfer to the Relevant Companies all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Optionee may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction in which the Relevant Companies consider appropriate. The Optionee shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with applicable law.
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10. Notices. Notices hereunder shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal place of business and shall be mailed or delivered to the Optionee at the address on file with the Company or, in either case, at such other address as one party may subsequently furnish to the other party in writing.
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The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted and the terms and conditions thereof hereby agreed to by the undersigned. Electronic acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to the Companys instructions to the Optionee (including through an online acceptance process) is acceptable.
Dated: |
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Exhibit 10.2
200 CambridgePark Drive Suite 2500 Cambridge, MA 02140 |
October 22, 2020
Via Email Delivery
Chuck Wilson
Dear Chuck,
As you know, your employment at Cogent Biosciences, Inc (the Company) will end effective October 30th, 2020 (the Separation Date). This letter outlines the special severance benefit(s) that the Company wishes to offer you in connection with your separation from employment.
1. Transition and Separation from Employment. This confirms that your employment with the Company will end on the Separation Date. Effective October 23, 2020 (the Transition Date) through the Separation Date (such period, the Transition Period), you will no longer serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of the Company. During the Transition Period, you will serve as an advisor to the Company. You further confirm that you have resigned from any and all other positions that you hold with the Company as an officer, director or otherwise, or with any affiliate of the Company, as of the Transition Date.
2. Severance Benefit(s). In consideration of your acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Separation Agreement (the Agreement), and subject to your performance hereunder, the Company will give you the following special severance benefit(s) (the Special Severance Benefit(s)), provided that you sign and deliver this Agreement to the Company (Attention: Erin Schellhammer) after the Separation Date and within the twenty-one (21) day review period set forth in paragraph 16 and do not revoke your acceptance of your receipt of this Agreement:
a. You will receive eighteen (18) months of severance pay, or the lump sum of $860,737.50, less legally- required and voluntarily-authorized deductions (the Special Severance Payment). The Special Severance Payment will begin with the first payroll cycle following the Effective Date (as defined in paragraph 16) of this Agreement and will be paid in accordance with the Companys customary payroll practices. Additionally, you will receive 150% of your target bonus which equates to $430,368.75, less legally-required and voluntarily-authorized deductions, also paid out with your severance payment; and
b. You will receive a one-time cash payment for eighteen (18) months of COBRA allowance which includes the employer portion only. This equates to $24,305.06 which will also be included in the next payroll. After the eighteen (18) months of coverage you will be responsible for the entire premium cost of your participation in such plans, in accordance with the federal law known as COBRA and the terms of those plans; and
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c. Your vested percentage of the shares of the Companys Common Stock subject to your Options and other outstanding options or other equity instruments will vest 100% per your employment agreement on your separation date. These options will continue to be subject to all corporate actions of the Company, such as, but not limited to, reverse stock splits.
Your participation in all other employee benefit plans of the Company will terminate on the Separation Date.
3. Release. In exchange for the Special Severance Benefit(s) offered to you under this Agreement, to which you acknowledge and agree that you are not otherwise entitled, you hereby release the Company and all of its predecessor, successor, parent, subsidiary, affiliated and related entities and all of their present, former and future directors, officers, trustees, members, attorneys, employees, shareholders, agents, fiduciaries, successors, assigns and representatives, individually and in their official capacities, and all employee benefit plans sponsored, maintained, or otherwise affiliated with the Company (collectively referred to as the Releasees) from any and all claims known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising or which may have existed at any time to this date, whether in law or equity, including, but not limited to, any and all claims to future benefits vesting or arising under any employee benefit plan sponsored, maintained, or otherwise affiliated with the Company, any claims arising from any alleged violation by the Releasees of any federal, state or local statutes, ordinances or common laws, specifically including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act, the Massachusetts Equal Pay Law, the Massachusetts Wage Act (including, but not limited to, claims for unpaid wages, unused vacation time, and untimely payment of wages), the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act, the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, the Massachusetts Family and Medical Leave Act, the Massachusetts Parental Leave Act, the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law, the Massachusetts Privacy Statute, the Massachusetts Constitution, Massachusetts common law and any and all other federal, state, county or local ordinances, statutes or regulations, all as may be amended, and any other claim relating to or arising out of your employment with or separation from the Company.
The foregoing release does not apply to: (a) your rights to any claims as a shareholder of the Company, if applicable, that arise from events after the execution of this Agreement; or (b) your right to indemnification by the Company from any liabilities in connection with performance of your duties and responsibilities during your employment with the Company, provided that you shall have no such right to indemnification on account of (i) acts or omissions by you finally adjudged to be intentional misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, or violation of law, or (ii) any transaction with respect to which it is finally adjudged that you personally received a benefit in money, property, or services to which you were not legally entitled.
4. Covenant Not to Sue. You covenant not to sue the Releasees with respect to any of the claims covered by the foregoing release, provided, however, that this covenant shall not apply to a claim regarding the validity of this release under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and provided further that bringing a claim regarding the validity of this release under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act would not constitute a breach of this Agreement. You agree that neither you nor any of your heirs, executors, administrators, representatives, or assigns have asserted or will assert in any forum any of the claims described in the foregoing release, except that you may file a charge with an administrative agency or as otherwise permitted by law. This paragraph applies to the extent permitted by law and, in the event any charge or claim is permitted by law, you expressly waive your right to receive any relief, recovery and/or damages as a result of any such charge or claim. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Agreement is not intended to, and does not, govern any claims that cannot be released by private agreement.
5. Employee Acknowledgements.
a. By signing this Agreement, you acknowledge and agree that you have been paid all wages due and owing to you from the Company, including, but not limited to, all accrued but unused vacation time. You affirm that you have no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases and have not been denied any leave required under the Family and Medical Leave Act (if applicable) or any other applicable federal or state leave law.
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b. To the extent permitted by law, you agree that you have not and shall not knowingly, in any manner or by any means, directly or indirectly, instigate, initiate, promote, counsel, encourage, testify, provide evidence or information, aid or assist in: (i) any investigations, actions, disputes, differences, grievances, suits, causes of action, complaints or claims against or relating to the Releasees; or (ii) any activity detrimental to the interests or goodwill of the Releasees, unless under a subpoena or court order to do so. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict you from: (A) providing information to, or otherwise assisting in, an investigation by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), the United States Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) or any other federal regulatory or law enforcement agency or self-regulatory organization (SRO) and/or (B) testifying, participating, or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation of any federal law relating to fraud or any rule or regulation of the MCAD, SEC, EEOC, NLRB or any SRO.
6. Confidentiality.
a. You agree that you will not disclose, directly or indirectly, the existence of this Agreement or any terms or provisions of this Agreement, except: (i) to members of your immediate family, on the condition that they be advised that they cannot further disclose the same to others; (ii) as may be necessary to obtain professional legal and/or tax advice; and (iii) as required by applicable law. For purposes of this paragraph, immediate family includes spouse, parents and children. By executing this Agreement, you affirm that you have not previously breached this paragraph.
b. You agree that, subject to paragraph 14 below, you will maintain in confidence all Confidential Information or Trade Secrets, as defined below, unless or until: (i) Confidential Information or Trade Secrets shall have been made public by an act or omission of a party other than you; or (ii) you receive on a non-confidential basis such Confidential Information or Trade Secret from an unrelated third party who is not to your knowledge in breach of any fiduciary duty. You further agree that, subject to paragraph 14 below, you will not disclose Confidential Information or Trade Secrets to any person or entity other than to the Company or with the approval of the Company. You acknowledge and understand that any disclosure of Confidential Information or Trade Secrets by you may give rise to irreparable injury to the Company, which may not be adequately compensated by monetary damages, and that the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other damages, to seek an injunction restraining you from disclosing, in whole or in part, the Confidential Information or Trade Secrets.
c. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information means any and all information of the Company that you learned or developed during the course of employment with the Company that is (i) not generally known to the public, and (ii) has commercial value in the Companys business. Such information includes but is not limited to inventions, ideas, methods, know how, designs, strategies, forecasts, Company sales, process and engineering information, information about new or future products or services, the Companys marketing plans and goals, unpublished financial information, lists of the Company customers or prospects, information about customer or prospect purchases and preferences, information about licensees or licensors, information regarding research and development, consulting processes, management systems, computer software and programs, means of accessing the Companys computer systems or networks, algorithms, hardware configurations, information protected from disclosure by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93H and 93I, and all other federal and state laws governing the confidentiality of employee information, and any other confidential information or intellectual property which provides the Company with a competitive advantage. Confidential information also includes confidential information of third parties regarding which the Company has accepted obligations of confidentiality. Confidential Information also includes information regarding the policies and practices of the Company, and any actual, threatened or perceived claims, lawsuits, charges, and internal or external investigations relating to the Company. Confidential Information does not include, and you are expressly permitted to retain and use, the contact information and professional relationships you have developed during the course of your engagement by the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement, Trade Secrets means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation (including compilations of key person contact information), program device, method, technique or process, which both: (i) derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to or readily ascertainable by people who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (ii) is the subject of the Companys reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy.
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7. Return of Property. By signing below, you represent that you have already returned to the Company all materials, writings, equipment, models, mechanisms, and the like obtained from or through the Company, including all Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, all of which you recognize is the sole and exclusive property of the Company.
8. Intellectual Property. You hereby assign to the Company any right, title and interest to all Intellectual Property. You agree to execute any and all applications for domestic or foreign patents, copyrights, and other proprietary rights and to do such other acts (including, among others, the execution and delivery of instruments of further assurance or confirmation) requested by the Company to assign the Intellectual Property to the Company and to permit the Company to enforce any patents, copyrights and other proprietary rights in the Intellectual Property. You will not charge the Company for time spent in complying with these obligations. For purposes of this Agreement, Intellectual Property means inventions, copyrightable works, discoveries, developments, clinical and other research materials, methods, processes, compositions, works, concepts and ideas (whether or not patentable or copyrightable or constituting trade secrets) conceived, made, created, developed or reduced to practice by you (whether alone or with others) in performance of your duties for the Company that relate in any way to the business, products or services of the Company or to any prospective activity of the Company, or which were assisted in any way by Company resources or facilities. Intellectual Property includes, without limitation, all Confidential Information. Furthermore, you acknowledge and agree that, without obtaining prior written authorization from the General Counsel you are prohibited from (a) publishing any Intellectual Property of the Company, and (b) mentioning the Company in any published work other than as included in a professional profile or similar employment history.
9. Cooperation. You agree that, following the separation of your employment with the Company, you will cooperate fully with the Company, upon request and at the Companys expense, in relation to the defense, prosecution or other involvement by the Company in any continuing or future third party claims, lawsuits, charges, audits and internal or external investigations that arise out of events or business matters that occurred during your employment with the Company. This continuing duty of cooperation shall include you being reasonably available to the Company, upon reasonable notice, for depositions, interviews and appearances as a witness, and furnishing information to the Company and its legal counsel upon reasonable written request.
10. Non-Disparagement. You agree that you will not disparage the Releasees by stating, suggesting, implying, doing or saying anything that could in any way be harmful to the business interests or good will of the Releasees. You acknowledge and agree that the existence and execution of this Agreement shall not be considered an admission by the Releasees of any liability, error, violation or omission. You agree not to represent or imply to anyone that the Releasees took any action with respect to you that was unlawful or wrongful, or violated any federal or state law, order, policy, rule, or regulation.
11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Company and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, communications and understandings, written or oral, with respect to all matters including, but not limited to, your employment and its separation, provided that this Agreement shall not terminate or supersede any ongoing obligations you may have pursuant to the Invention Assignment, Non-Disclosure, and Business Protection Agreement which you signed on October 3, 2014 (the NDA), except that the non-competition obligations set forth in paragraph 4(a) of the NDA will expire as of the Separation Date. You represent and warrant that you have complied with your obligations under the NDA and will continue to comply with your obligations (except the non-competition obligations set forth in paragraph 4(a)) thereunder. You acknowledge that failure to comply with the provisions of this Agreement or the applicable provisions of the NDA will constitute a material breach subject to the remedies described in paragraph 13 below.
12. Applicable Law. You acknowledge and understand that this Agreement will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If any portion of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared unenforceable or illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
13. Remedy for Breach of Agreement. You agree and understand that if you materially breach any term of this Agreement, in addition to all other remedies available to the Releasees in law and in equity, the Company shall be entitled to:
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(a) the return of the Special Severance Payment paid to you pursuant to this Agreement (less $500 or 10% of such consideration, whichever is less), to the extent permitted by law; (b) discontinue its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) seek a court order enforcing the breached provision(s) of this Agreement. You further understand that you could be held liable in monetary damages to the Releasees for any action constituting a breach under this Agreement. This paragraph does not limit the right of the Releasees to sue for breach of this Agreement and obtain injunctive relief in connection therewith, nor does it limit your right to sue for breach of this Agreement and obtain injunctive relief in connection therewith. You acknowledge and agree that the return of any consideration paid to you pursuant to this Agreement shall not affect the validity of this Agreement. You shall have no automatic repayment obligations if you were to challenge the Age Discrimination in Employment Act waiver only. The contingent liabilities set forth in Section 12(a)-(c) shall expire twelve (12) months after the Separation Date.
14. Immunity. You understand that you have the right to disclose in confidence trade secrets to Federal, State, and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. You further understand that you also have the right to disclose trade secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, but only if the filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosure of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b).
15. Consult An Attorney. The Company wants to be certain that this Agreement, and the Special Severance Benefit(s) provided hereunder, will resolve any concerns you may have and therefore encourages you to carefully consider the terms of this Agreement and to seek the advice of an attorney before signing it. In signing this Agreement, you give the Company assurance that you have read and understand all provisions of this Agreement and that you have signed this Agreement freely and voluntarily.
16. Period for Review. You acknowledge that you have knowingly and voluntarily entered into this Agreement and that the Company advises you to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement. You understand and acknowledge that you have been given the opportunity to consider this Agreement for the period of twenty one (21) calendar days from your receipt of this Agreement before signing it (the Consideration Period). To accept this Agreement, you must return a signed original or a signed PDF copy of this Agreement so that it is received by the undersigned at or before the expiration of the Consideration Period. If you sign this Agreement before the end of the Consideration Period, you acknowledge that such decision was entirely voluntary and that you had the opportunity to consider this Agreement for the entire Consideration Period. For the period of seven (7) calendar days from the date when you sign this Agreement, you have the right to revoke this Agreement by written notice to the undersigned, provided that such notice is delivered so that it is received at or before the expiration of the seven (7) day revocation period. This Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable during the revocation period. This Agreement shall become effective on the first business day following the expiration of the revocation period (the Effective Date).
If you accept the terms of this Agreement, please sign below and return this Agreement to me after the Separation Date and within twenty-one (21) calendar days of your receipt of this Agreement.
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YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT YOU HAVE TWENTY-ONE (21) CALENDAR DAYS TO REVIEW THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE AND ANY AND ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED, AND ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
HAVING ELECTED TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE, TO FULFILL THE PROMISES AND TO RECEIVE THE SUMS AND BENEFITS ABOVE, YOU FREELY AND KNOWINGLY, AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE INTENDING TO WAIVE, SETTLE AND RELEASE ALL CLAIMS YOU HAVE OR MIGHT HAVE AGAINST THE COMPANY AND THE RELEASEES.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Erin Schellhammer |
Erin Schellhammer |
Chief People Officer |
Intending to be legally bound, I have signed this Agreement as of the date set forth below.
Signature: | /s/ Chuck Wilson | |
Name: | Chuck Wilson, PhD | |
Date: | October 22, 2020 |
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Exhibit 99.1
Cogent Biosciences Appoints
Andrew Robbins as Chief Executive Officer
Seasoned executive with deep experience developing precision medicines for
genetically defined diseases, most recently as COO of Array Biopharma
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., October 26, 2020 Cogent Biosciences, Inc. (Cogent) (NASDAQ: COGT), a biotechnology company focused on developing precision therapies for genetically defined diseases, today announced the appointment of Andrew Robbins as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO); Mr. Robbins will also serve as a member on the Cogent Board of Directors. Mr. Robbins succeeds Chuck Wilson, PhD, who served as President and CEO of Cogent (formerly Unum Therapeutics Inc.) since founding the company in 2014.
We are thrilled to welcome Andy to Cogent as we continue to rapidly develop our lead asset, PLX9486, to treat patients living with systemic mastocytosis and GIST, said Peter Harwin, Chair, Board of Directors for Cogent. Andys strong track record and deep expertise in developing and commercializing precision therapies will be invaluable, and his passion for bringing new therapies to patients will be critically important as he leads Cogent into the future.
Mr. Harwin continued, We extend our deep appreciation and gratitude to Chuck for his excellent leadership over the years and commend his dedication to bringing meaningful solutions to patients in serious need.
Mr. Robbins is an accomplished executive with extensive commercial, development, and strategic leadership experience during a 20-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on oncology and hematology products. Most recently, he served at Array Biopharma as the Chief Operating Officer where he was responsible for the successful commercialization of two novel precision oncology products before Arrays acquisition by Pfizer in 2019.
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I am excited to join Cogent, a company committed to developing best-in-class precision medicines to improve the lives of patients fighting rare, genetically defined diseases, said Andrew Robbins, President and CEO of Cogent. I look forward to working together with the leadership team, the Board, and the dedicated Cogent employees to advance PLX9486 through clinical development while identifying the best opportunities to broaden our research and development pipeline in the near future.
Prior to joining Array, Mr. Robbins held management positions at both Hospira, Inc., a global pharmaceutical and medical device company, and Pfizer, Inc. as part of its Oncology business unit. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Harpoon Therapeutics (Nasdaq: HARP) and Turmeric Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: TMPMU). Mr. Robbins holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College.
Inducement Equity Award
Cogent today also announced that, on October 23, 2020, the Board of Directors for Cogent approved an inducement award to Mr. Robbins of an option to purchase 7,442,421 shares of common stock. The option has an exercise price equal to the closing price of Cogents common stock on October 23, 2020 (the Grant Date) and will be exercisable over four years with 25% of the shares becoming exercisable on the first year anniversary of the Grant Date, and the remaining 75% of the shares becoming exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter. The option has a ten-year term and is subject to the terms and conditions of the Cogent 2020 Inducement Plan (the 2020 Inducement Plan) and the stock option agreement pursuant to which the option was granted.
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The 2020 Inducement Plan is used exclusively for the grant of equity awards to individuals who were not previously an employee or non-employee director of Cogent (or following a bona fide period of non-employment), as an inducement material to such individuals entering into employment with Cogent, pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
About Cogent Biosciences, Inc.
Cogent Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing precision therapies for genetically defined diseases. Cogents most advanced program, PLX9486, is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is designed to potently inhibit the KIT D816V mutation as well as other mutations in KIT exon 17. KIT D816V is responsible for driving Systemic Mastocytosis, a serious disease caused by unchecked proliferation of mast cells. Exon 17 mutations are also found in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a type of cancer with strong dependence on oncogenic KIT signaling. Cogent is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Visit Cogents website for more information at www.cogentbio.com. Follow Cogent Biosciences on social media: Twitter and LinkedIn.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: future product development and clinical trial plans; and development plans for the lead asset PLX9486. The use of words such as, but not limited to, anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, might, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, or would and similar words expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, our clinical
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results and other future conditions. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. We may not actually achieve the forecasts disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those set forth under the caption Risk Factors in Cogents most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in our subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Neither we, nor our affiliates, advisors or representatives, undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.
Media contact:
Amanda Sellers
asellers@vergescientific.com
301.332.5574
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