S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 11, 2021

Registration No. 333-          

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

VINCERX PHARMA, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   260 Sheridan Avenue, Suite 400
Palo Alto, CA 94306
  83-3197402
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Address, including zip code, of Registrant’s
principal executive offices)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

Vincerx Pharma, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Ahmed M. Hamdy

Chief Executive Officer

Vincerx Pharma, Inc.

260 Sheridan Avenue, Suite 400

Palo Alto, CA 94306

(Name and address of agent for service)

(650) 800-6676

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Copies to:

Gabriella A. Lombardi, Esq.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, CA 94304

Tel: (650) 233-4500

Fax: (650) 233-4545

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     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 7(a)(2)(B) or the Securities Act.  ☐


 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Securities
To Be Registered
  Amount
To Be
Registered(1)
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share(2)
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
  Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

  200,000   $11.20   $2,239,750   $245

 

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares that may be issued to adjust the number of shares issued pursuant to the plans described herein in the event of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, extraordinary dividend, extraordinary distribution, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, combination, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange of shares, rights offering, separation, reorganization, liquidation or similar event.

(2)

Computed in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee, based on 85% of the average of the high and low prices of Vincerx Pharma, Inc.’s (the “Registrant”) common stock as reported on The Nasdaq Capital Market on June 7, 2021. Pursuant to the Vincerx Pharma, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the purchase price of the shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder will be 85% of the lower of the fair market value of Common Stock on the first trading day of the offering period or on the purchase date.

The Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462 under the Securities Act.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities Act.

The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.

Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

(a) Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on May 14, 2021.

(b) Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 17, 2021.

(c) Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January  11, 2021, February 17, 2021, April  5, 2021, April 20, 2021, May 6, 2021 and May 14, 2021.

(d) The description of the Registrant’s common stock contained in Exhibit 4.6 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on March 22, 2021 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendment or report filed with the Commission for the purpose of updating the description.

In addition, all documents filed by Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any portions thereof furnished by the Registrant, including but not limited to information furnished under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 and any exhibits relating to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 furnished under Item 9.01 of Form 8-K and any certification required by 18 U.S.C. § 1350), on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in this Registration Statement or in a document incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement or in any subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement modifies or supersedes such statement.

 

Item 4.

Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), because he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.


Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor because the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which he or she shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, he or she is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court shall deem proper.

Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under Section 145 of the DGCL.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. These agreements provide that the Registrant will indemnify each of its directors and such officers to the fullest extent permitted by law and its charter and its bylaws.

The Registrant also maintains a general liability insurance policy, which will cover certain liabilities of directors and officers of the Registrant arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

 

Item 7.

Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  4.1    Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.  333-252589) filed on January 29, 2021).
  5.1*    Opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
23.1*    Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered public accounting firm of Vincerx Pharma, Inc.
23.2*    Consent of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1*    Power of Attorney (contained on the signature page hereto).
99.1*    Vincerx Pharma, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

*

Filed herewith.

 

Item 9.

Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post- effective amendment hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.


(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Palo Alto, State of California, on June 11, 2021.

 

VINCERX PHARMA, INC.
/s/ Dr. Ahmed M. Hamdy

Name: Dr. Ahmed M. Hamdy

Title:   Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Dr. Ahmed M. Hamdy, Dr. Raquel E. Izumi and Alexander A. Seelenberger, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-facts and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes, or any of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

/s/ Dr. Ahmed M. Hamdy

Dr. Ahmed M. Hamdy

   Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
   June 11, 2021

/s/ Alexander A. Seelenberger

Alexander A. Seelenberger

   Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
   June 11, 2021

/s/ Dr. Raquel E. Izumi

Dr. Raquel E. Izumi

   President, Chief Operations Officer and Director    June 11, 2021

/s/ Laura I. Bushnell

Laura I. Bushnell

   Director    June 11, 2021

/s/ Dr. Brian J. Druker

Dr. Brian J. Druker

   Director    June 11, 2021

 

Dr. John H. Lee

   Director   

/s/ Dr. Ruth E. Stevens

Dr. Ruth E. Stevens

   Director    June 11, 2021

/s/ Dr. Andrew I. McDonald

Dr. Andrew I. McDonald

   Director    June 11, 2021

/s/ Christopher P. Lowe

Christopher P. Lowe

   Director    June 11, 2021

/s/ Francisco D. Salva

Francisco D. Salva

   Director    June 11, 2021
EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, CA 94304

June 11, 2021

Vincerx Pharma, Inc.

260 Sheridan Avenue, Suite 400

Palo Alto, CA 94306

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel for Vincerx Pharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) of 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), issuable pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”).

We have reviewed and are familiar with such corporate proceedings and other matters as we have considered relevant or necessary for the opinions expressed in this letter. Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold in accordance with the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The opinions set forth in this letter are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as in effect on the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated May 14, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Vincerx Pharma, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2020.

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

June 11, 2021

EX-99.1
Table of Contents

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

VINCERX PHARMA, INC.

2021 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

(Adopted by the Board of Directors on February 11, 2021)

(Approved by the Stockholders on May 13, 2021)

(Effective on May 13, 2021)


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

         Page  

SECTION 1  

 

Purpose Of The Plan

     4  

SECTION 2  

 

Definitions

     4  

(a)  

 

“Board”

     4  

(b)  

 

“Code”

     4  

(c)  

 

“Committee”

     4  

(d)  

 

“Company”

     4  

(e)  

 

“Compensation”

     4  

(f)  

 

“Corporate Reorganization”

     4  

(g)  

 

“Eligible Employee”

     4  

(h)  

 

“Exchange Act”

     4  

(i)  

 

“Fair Market Value”

     4  

(j)  

 

“Offering”

     5  

(k)  

 

“Offering Date”

     5  

(l)  

 

“Offering Period”

     5  

(m)  

 

“Participant”

     5  

(n)  

 

“Participating Company”

     5  

(o)  

 

“Plan”

     5  

(p)  

 

“Plan Account”

     5  

(q)  

 

“Purchase Date”

     5  

(r)  

 

“Purchase Period”

     5  

(s)  

 

“Purchase Price”

     5  

(t)  

 

“Stock”

     5  

(u)  

 

“Subsidiary”

     5  

SECTION 3  

 

Administration Of The Plan

     5  

(a)  

 

Administrative Powers and Responsibilities

     5  

(b)  

 

International Administration

     6  

SECTION 4  

 

Enrollment And Participation

     6  

(a)  

 

Offering Periods

     6  

(b)  

 

Enrollment

     7  

(c)  

 

Duration of Participation

     7  

SECTION 5  

 

Employee Contributions

     7  

(a)  

 

Frequency of Payroll Deductions

     7  

(b)  

 

Amount of Payroll Deductions

     7  

(c)  

 

Changing Withholding Rate

     7  

(d)  

 

Discontinuing Payroll Deductions

     7  

SECTION 6  

 

Withdrawal From The Plan

     7  

(a)  

 

Withdrawal

     7  

(b)  

 

Re-enrollment After Withdrawal

     8  

SECTION 7  

 

Change In Employment Status

     8  

(a)  

 

Termination of Employment

     8  

(b)  

 

Leave of Absence

     8  

(c)  

 

Death

     8  

SECTION 8  

 

Plan Accounts and Purchase Of Shares

     8  

(a)  

 

Plan Accounts

     8  

(b)  

 

Purchase Price

     8  

(c)  

 

Number of Shares Purchased

     8  


Table of Contents
         Page  

(d)  

 

Available Shares Insufficient

     8  

(e)  

 

Issuance of Stock

     9  

(f)  

 

Unused Cash Balances

     9  

(g)  

 

Stockholder Approval

     9  

SECTION 9  

 

Limitations On Stock Ownership

     9  

(a)  

 

Five Percent Limit

     9  

(b)  

 

Dollar Limit

     9  

SECTION 10

 

Rights Not Transferable

     10  

SECTION 11

 

No Rights As An Employee

     10  

SECTION 12

 

No Rights As A Stockholder

     10  

SECTION 13

 

Securities Law Requirements

     10  

SECTION 14

 

Stock Offered Under The Plan

     10  

(a)  

 

Authorized Shares

     10  

(b)  

 

Antidilution Adjustments

     10  

(c)  

 

Reorganizations

     10  

SECTION 15

 

Amendment Or Discontinuance

     11  

SECTION 16

 

Execution

     11  


Table of Contents

VINCERX PHARMA, INC.

2021 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

SECTION 1

Purpose Of The Plan.

The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on February 11, 2021 and is effective on May 13, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). The purpose of the Plan is to provide a broad-based employee benefit to attract the services of new employees, to retain the services of existing employees, and to provide incentives for such individuals to exert maximum efforts toward the Company’s success by purchasing Stock from the Company on favorable terms and to pay for such purchases through payroll deductions. The Plan is intended to qualify under section 423 of the Code.

 

SECTION 2

Definitions.

(a)     “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.

(b)    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(c)    “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee, comprised exclusively of one or more directors of the Company, as may be appointed by the Board from time to time to administer the Plan.

(d)    “Company” means Vincerx Pharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(e)    “Compensation” means, unless provided otherwise by the Committee in the terms and conditions of an Offering, base salary and wages paid in cash to a Participant by a Participating Company, without reduction for any pre-tax contributions made by the Participant under sections 401(k) or 125 of the Code. “Compensation” shall, unless provided otherwise by the Committee in the terms and conditions of an Offering, exclude variable compensation (including commissions, bonuses, incentive compensation, overtime pay and shift premiums), all non-cash items, moving or relocation allowances, cost-of-living equalization payments, car allowances, tuition reimbursements, imputed income attributable to cars or life insurance, severance pay, fringe benefits, contributions or benefits received under employee benefit plans, income attributable to the exercise of stock options, and similar items. The Committee shall determine whether a particular item is included in Compensation.

(f)    “Corporate Reorganization” means:

(i)    The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, or any other corporate reorganization; or

(ii)    The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(g)    “Eligible Employee” means any employee of a Participating Company whose customary employment is for more than five months per calendar year and for more than 20 hours per week.

The foregoing notwithstanding, an individual shall not be considered an Eligible Employee if his or her participation in the Plan is prohibited by the law of any country which has jurisdiction over him or her.

(h)    “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(i)    “Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of a share of Stock, determined as follows:

(i)    If Stock was traded on any established national securities exchange including the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to

 

4


Table of Contents

the closing price as quoted on such exchange (or the exchange with the greatest volume of trading in the Stock) on such date as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or

(ii)    If the foregoing provision is not applicable, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate.

For any date that is not a Trading Day, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock for such date shall be determined by using the closing sale price for the immediately preceding Trading Day. Determination of the Fair Market Value pursuant to the foregoing provisions shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

(j)    “Offering” means the grant of options to purchase shares of Stock under the Plan to Eligible Employees.

(k)    “Offering Date” means the first day of an Offering.

(l)    “Offering Period” means a period with respect to which the right to purchase Stock may be granted under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 4(a).

(m)    “Participant” means an Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan, as provided in Section 4(b).

(n)    “Participating Company” means (i) the Company and (ii) each present or future Subsidiary designated by the Committee as a Participating Company.

(o)    “Plan” means this Vincerx Pharma, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

(p)    “Plan Account” means the account established for each Participant pursuant to Section 8(a).

(q)    “Purchase Date” means one or more dates during an Offering on which shares of Stock may be purchased pursuant to the terms of the Offering.

(r)    “Purchase Period” means one or more successive periods during an Offering, beginning on the Offering Date or on the day after a Purchase Date, and ending on the next succeeding Purchase Date.

(s)    “Purchase Price” means the price at which Participants may purchase shares of Stock under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 8(b).

(t)    “Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company.

(u)    “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

(r)    “Trading Day” means a day on which the national stock exchange on which the Stock is traded is open for trading.

 

SECTION 3

Administration of the Plan.

(a)    Administrative Powers and Responsibilities. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full power and authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to promulgate such rules

 

5


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and regulations as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan, to interpret the provisions and supervise the administration of the Plan, and to take all action in connection therewith or in relation thereto as it deems necessary or advisable. Any decision reduced to writing and signed by all of the members of the Committee shall be fully effective as if it had been made at a meeting duly held. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall be final and binding on all persons. The Company shall pay all expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee shall be fully indemnified by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation. The Committee may adopt such rules, guidelines and forms as it deems appropriate to implement the Plan. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Committee may designate persons other than members of the Committee to carry out its responsibilities and may prescribe such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate. All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Participants and all persons deriving their rights from a Participant. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action that he has taken or has failed to take in good faith with respect to the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, resolve to administer the Plan. In such event, the Board shall have all of the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein.

(b)    International Administration. The Committee may establish sub-plans (which need not qualify under section 423 of the Code) and initiate separate Offerings through such sub-plans for the purpose of (i) facilitating participation in the Plan by non-U.S. employees in compliance with foreign laws and regulations without affecting the qualification of the remainder of the Plan under section 423 of the Code or (ii) qualifying the Plan for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws (which sub-plans, at the Committee’s discretion, may provide for allocations of the authorized shares reserved for issue under the Plan as set forth in Section 14(a)). The rules, guidelines and forms of such sub-plans (or the Offerings thereunder) may take precedence over other provisions of the Plan, with the exception of Section 4(a)(i), Section 5(b), Section 8(b) and Section 14(a), but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan. Alternatively and in order to comply with the laws of a foreign jurisdiction, the Committee shall have the power, in its discretion, to grant options in an Offering to citizens or residents of a non-U.S. jurisdiction (without regard to whether they are also citizens of the United States or resident aliens) that provide terms which are less favorable than the terms of options granted under the same Offering to employees resident in the United States, subject to compliance with section 423 of the Code.

 

SECTION 4

Enrollment and Participation.

(a)    Offering Periods. While the Plan is in effect, the Committee may from time to time grant options to purchase shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan to Eligible Employees during a specified Offering Period. Each such Offering shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan (which may be incorporated by reference) and the requirements of section 423 of the Code, including the requirement that all Eligible Employees have the same rights and privileges. The Committee shall specify prior to the commencement of each Offering (i) the period during which the Offering shall be effective, which may not exceed 27 months from the Offering Date and may include one or more successive Purchase Periods within the Offering, (ii) the Purchase Dates and Purchase Price for shares of Stock which may be purchased pursuant to the Offering, and (iii) if applicable, any limits on the number of shares purchasable by a Participant, or by all Participants in the aggregate, during any Offering Period or, if applicable, Purchase Period, in each case consistent with the limitations of the Plan. The Committee shall have the discretion to provide for the automatic termination of an Offering following any Purchase Date on which the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock is equal to or less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Offering Date, and for the Participants in the terminated Offering to be automatically re-enrolled in a new Offering that commences immediately after such Purchase Date. The terms and conditions of each Offering need not be identical, and shall be deemed incorporated by reference and made a part of the Plan.

 

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(b)    Enrollment. Any individual who, on the day preceding the first day of an Offering Period, qualifies as an Eligible Employee may elect to become a Participant in the Plan for such Offering Period by completing the enrollment process prescribed and communicated for this purposes from time to time by the Company to Eligible Employees.

(c)    Duration of Participation. Once enrolled in the Plan, a Participant shall continue to participate in the Plan until he or she ceases to be an Eligible Employee or withdraws from the Plan under Section 6(a). A Participant who withdrew from the Plan under Section 6(a) may again become a Participant, if he or she then is an Eligible Employee, by following the procedure described in Subsection (b) above. A Participant whose employee contributions were discontinued automatically under Section 9(b) shall automatically resume participation at the beginning of the earliest Offering Period ending in the next calendar year, if he or she then is an Eligible Employee. When a Participant reaches the end of an Offering Period but his or her participation is to continue, then such Participant shall automatically be re-enrolled for the Offering Period that commences immediately after the end of the prior Offering Period.

 

SECTION 5

Employee Contributions.

(a)    Frequency of Payroll Deductions. A Participant may purchase shares of Stock under the Plan solely by means of payroll deductions; provided, however, that to the extent provided in the terms and conditions of an Offering, a Participant may also make contributions through payment by cash or check prior to one or more Purchase Dates during the Offering. Payroll deductions, subject to the provisions of Subsection (b) below or as otherwise provided under the terms and conditions of an Offering, shall occur on each payday during participation in the Plan.

(b)    Amount of Payroll Deductions. An Eligible Employee shall designate during the enrollment process the portion of his or her Compensation that he or she elects to have withheld for the purchase of Stock. Such portion shall be a whole percentage of the Eligible Employee’s Compensation, but not less than 1% nor more than 15% (or such lower rate of Compensation specified as the limit in the terms and conditions of the applicable Offering).

(c)    Changing Withholding Rate. Unless otherwise provided under the terms and conditions of an Offering, a Participant may not increase the rate of payroll withholding during the Offering Period, but may discontinue or decrease the rate of payroll withholding during the Offering Period to a whole percentage of his or her Compensation in accordance with such procedures and subject to such limitations as the Company may establish for all Participants. A Participant may also increase or decrease the rate of payroll withholding effective for a new Offering Period by submitting an authorization to change the payroll deduction rate pursuant to the process prescribed by the Company from time to time. The new withholding rate shall be a whole percentage of the Eligible Employee’s Compensation consistent with Subsection (b) above.

(d)    Discontinuing Payroll Deductions. If a Participant wishes to discontinue employee contributions entirely, he or she may do so by withdrawing from the Plan pursuant to Section 6(a). In addition, employee contributions may be discontinued automatically pursuant to Section 9(b).

 

SECTION 6

Withdrawal from the Plan.

(a)    Withdrawal. A Participant may elect to withdraw from the Plan by giving notice pursuant to the process prescribed and communicated by the Company from time to time. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time before the last day of an Offering Period, except as otherwise provided in the Offering. In addition, if payment by cash or check is permitted under the terms and conditions of an Offering, Participants may be deemed to withdraw from the Plan by declining or failing to remit timely payment to the Company for the shares of Stock. As soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, payroll deductions shall cease and the entire amount credited to the Participant’s Plan Account shall be refunded to him or her in cash, without interest. No partial withdrawals shall be permitted.

 

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(b)    Re-enrollment After Withdrawal. A former Participant who has withdrawn from the Plan shall not be a Participant until he or she re-enrolls in the Plan under Section 4(b). Re-enrollment may be effective only at the commencement of an Offering Period.

 

SECTION 7

Change In Employment Status.

(a)    Termination of Employment. Termination of employment as an Eligible Employee for any reason, including death, shall be treated as an automatic withdrawal from the Plan under Section 6(a). A transfer from one Participating Company to another shall not be treated as a termination of employment.

(b)    Leave of Absence. For purposes of the Plan, employment shall not be deemed to terminate when the Participant goes on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave was approved by the Company in writing. Employment, however, shall be deemed to terminate three months after the Participant goes on a leave, unless a contract or statute guarantees his or her right to return to work. Employment shall be deemed to terminate in any event when the approved leave ends, unless the Participant immediately returns to work.

(c)    Death. In the event of the Participant’s death, the amount credited to his or her Plan Account shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

 

SECTION 8

Plan Accounts and Purchase of Shares.

(a)    Plan Accounts. The Company shall maintain a Plan Account on its books in the name of each Participant. Whenever an amount is deducted from the Participant’s Compensation under the Plan, such amount shall be credited to the Participant’s Plan Account. Amounts credited to Plan Accounts shall not be trust funds and may be commingled with the Company’s general assets and applied to general corporate purposes. No interest shall be credited to Plan Accounts.

(b)    Purchase Price. The Purchase Price for each share of Stock purchased during an Offering Period shall be the lesser of:

(i)    85% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the Purchase Date; or

(ii)    85% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the Offering Date.

The Committee may specify an alternate Purchase Price amount or formula in the terms and conditions of an Offering, but in no event may such amount or formula result in a Purchase Price less than that calculated pursuant to the immediately preceding formula.

(c)    Number of Shares Purchased. As of each Purchase Date, each Participant shall be deemed to have elected to purchase the number of shares of Stock calculated in accordance with this Subsection (c), unless the Participant has previously elected to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 6(a). The amount then in the Participant’s Plan Account shall be divided by the Purchase Price, and the number of shares that results shall be purchased from the Company with the funds in the Participant’s Plan Account. Unless provided otherwise by the Committee prior to commencement of an Offering, the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be purchased by an individual Participant during such Offering is 5,000 shares. The foregoing notwithstanding, no Participant shall purchase more than such number of shares of Stock as may be determined by the Committee with respect to the Offering Period, or Purchase Period, if applicable, nor more than the amounts of Stock set forth in Sections 9(b) and 14(a). For each Offering Period and, if applicable, Purchase Period, the Committee shall have the authority to establish additional limits on the number of shares purchasable by all Participants in the aggregate.

(d)    Available Shares Insufficient. In the event that the aggregate number of shares that all Participants elect to purchase during an Offering Period exceeds the maximum number of shares remaining available for

 

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issuance under Section 14(a), or which may be purchased pursuant to any additional aggregate limits imposed by the Committee, then the number of shares to which each Participant is entitled shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares available for issuance by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares that such Participant has elected to purchase and the denominator of which is the number of shares that all Participants have elected to purchase.

(e)    Issuance of Stock. Certificates representing the shares of Stock purchased by a Participant under the Plan shall be issued to him or her as soon as reasonably practicable after the applicable Purchase Date, except that the Company may determine that such shares shall be held for each Participant’s benefit by a broker designated by the Company. Shares may be registered in the name of the Participant or jointly in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship or as community property.

(f)    Unused Cash Balances. An amount remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account that represents the Purchase Price for any fractional share shall be carried over in the Participant’s Plan Account to the next Offering Period or refunded to the Participant in cash at the end of the Offering Period, without interest, if his or her participation is not continued. Any amount remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account that represents the Purchase Price for whole shares that could not be purchased by reason of Subsection (c) or (d) above, Section 9(b) or Section  14(a) shall be refunded to the Participant in cash, without interest.

(g)     Stockholder Approval. The Plan shall be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their approval within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no shares of Stock shall be purchased under the Plan unless and until the Company’s stockholders have approved the adoption of the Plan.

 

SECTION 9

Limitations on Stock Ownership.

(a)    Five Percent Limit. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no Participant shall be granted a right to purchase Stock under the Plan if such Participant, immediately after his or her election to purchase such Stock, would own stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or Subsidiary of the Company. For purposes of this Subsection (a), the following rules shall apply:

(i)    Ownership of stock shall be determined after applying the attribution rules of section 424(d) of the Code;

(ii)    Each Participant shall be deemed to own any stock that he or she has a right or option to purchase under this or any other plan; and

(iii)    Each Participant shall be deemed to have the right to purchase up to the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be purchased by a Participant under this Plan under the individual limit specified pursuant to Section 8(c) with respect to each Offering Period.

(b)    Dollar Limit. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no Participant shall accrue the right to purchase Stock at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of Fair Market Value of such Stock per calendar year (under this Plan and all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company or any parent or Subsidiary of the Company), determined in accordance with the provisions of section 423(b)(8) of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

For purposes of this Subsection (b), the Fair Market Value of Stock shall be determined as of the beginning of the Offering Period in which such Stock is purchased. Employee stock purchase plans not described in section 423 of the Code shall be disregarded. If a Participant is precluded by this Subsection (b) from purchasing additional Stock under the Plan, then his or her employee contributions shall automatically be discontinued and shall resume at the beginning of the earliest Offering Period ending in the next calendar year (if he or she then is an Eligible Employee).

 

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SECTION 10

Rights Not Transferable.

The rights of any Participant under the Plan, or any Participant’s interest in any Stock or moneys to which he or she may be entitled under the Plan, shall not be transferable by voluntary or involuntary assignment or by operation of law, or in any other manner other than by the laws of descent and distribution. If a Participant in any manner attempts to transfer, assign or otherwise encumber his or her rights or interest under the Plan, other than by the laws of descent and distribution, then such act shall be treated as an election by the Participant to withdraw from the Plan under Section 6(a).

 

SECTION 11

No Rights as an Employee.

Nothing in the Plan or in any right granted under the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of a Participating Company for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Participating Companies or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

 

SECTION 12

No Rights as a Stockholder.

A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Stock that he or she may have a right to purchase under the Plan until such shares have been purchased on the applicable Purchase Date.

 

SECTION 13

Securities Law Requirements.

Shares of Stock shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of such shares comply with (or are exempt from) all applicable requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations, and the regulations of any stock exchange or other securities market on which the Company’s securities may then be traded.

 

SECTION 14

Stock Offered Under the Plan.

(a)    Authorized Shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock available for purchase under the Plan is 200,000 shares plus an annual increase to be added on the first day of each of the Company’s fiscal years from January 1, 2022 through January 1, 2031, equal to the least of (i) one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of Stock on such date, (ii) 500,000 shares, or (iii) a lesser amount determined by the Committee or Board. The aggregate number of shares available for purchase under the Plan (and the limit in clause (ii) to the annual increase thereto) shall at all times be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 14(b).

(b)    Antidilution Adjustments. The aggregate number of shares of Stock offered under the Plan, the individual and aggregate Participant share limitations described in Section 8(c) and the price of shares that any Participant has elected to purchase shall be adjusted proportionately by the Committee in the event of any change in the number of issued shares of Stock (or issuance of shares other than Common Stock) by reason of any forward or reverse share split, subdivision or consolidation, or share dividend or bonus issue, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, reorganization, combination, exchange of shares of Stock, the issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase shares of Stock or other securities, or any other change in corporate structure or in the event of any extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Stock, other securities or other property).

(c)    Reorganizations. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, in the event of a Corporate Reorganization in which the Plan is not assumed by the surviving corporation or its parent corporation pursuant to the applicable plan of merger or consolidation, the Offering Period then in progress shall terminate

 

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immediately prior to the effective time of such Corporate Reorganization and either shares shall be purchased pursuant to Section 8 or, if so determined by the Board or Committee, all amounts in all Participant Accounts shall be refunded pursuant to Section 15 without any purchase of shares. The Plan shall in no event be construed to restrict in any way the Company’s right to undertake a dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.

 

SECTION 15

Amendment or Discontinuance.

The Board or Committee shall have the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and without notice. Upon any such amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan during an Offering Period, the Board or Committee may in its discretion determine that the applicable Offering shall immediately terminate and that all amounts in the Participant Accounts shall be carried forward into a payroll deduction account for each Participant under a successor plan, if any, or promptly refunded to each Participant. Except as provided in Section 14, any increase in the aggregate number of shares of Stock to be issued under the Plan shall be subject to approval by a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In addition, any other amendment of the Plan shall be subject to approval by a vote of the stockholders of the Company to the extent required by an applicable law or regulation. This Plan shall continue until the earlier to occur of (a) termination of this Plan pursuant to this Section 15 or (b) issuance of all of the shares of Stock reserved for issuance under this Plan.

 

SECTION 16

Execution.

To record the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the Company has caused its authorized officer to execute the same.

 

VINCERX PHARMA, INC.
By:  

/s/ Raquel E. Izumi

Name:

Title:

 

Raquel E. Izumi

Chief Operations Officer

Date:   May 13, 2021

 

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