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8-K - Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. | v167847_8k.htm |
EX-5.1 - Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. | v167847_ex5-1.htm |
EX-5.3 - Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. | v167847_ex5-3.htm |
Exhibit
5.2
Intellect
Neurosciences, Inc.,
7 West
18th
Street, 9th
Floor,
New York,
NY 10011
CONFIDENTIAL: The
contents of this letter may constitute material non-public
information. Disclosure of any such information, or trading in
securities of Intellect Neurosciences while in possession of such
information, could be a violation of U.S. and state securities
laws.
|
Daniel Chain, Chairman & CEO
November
24, 2009
Re: Request for Stockholder
Approval
Dear
Stockholder,
Our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009 that we
filed with the SEC on November 16, 2009 indicates that our cash balance is
dangerously low. We anticipate that our existing resources will not enable us to
continue operations beyond the end of December. Fortunately, we have obtained
emergency cash to support the Company as we attempt to obtain new
financing.
Recently
we engaged HFP Capital Markets LLC (“HFP”), a boutique investment banking firm
that focuses on microcap and emerging growth companies, to raise $3 to $5
million of equity capital on our behalf. The proceeds from the financing would
be used to protect our patent estate, including the patents that we have
licensed to Elan Pharmaceuticals & Wyeth, and support clinical development
of our lead candidate, OXIGONTM, and
basic operations for at least twelve months. We are pleased with HFP’s efforts
thus far.
It has
become clear to us through discussions with HFP and potential investors that the
significant amount of the Company’s outstanding convertible preferred stock,
debt that is in default, and warrants significantly impair the possibility of
attracting new equity funding. Several institutional investors that have
expressed interest in possibly investing in Intellect have recommended that
before we attempt to solicit new financing, we “clean up the balance sheet” by
converting the approximately $8 million of convertible preferred stock into
common stock, negotiating a workout with the holders of the approximately $5.3
million of outstanding senior debt in default, and eliminating much of the
outstanding warrant “overhang”. We have concluded that we must pursue this
course of action in order to raise the equity capital necessary for our
survival.
Accordingly,
as soon as practically possible, we plan to provide the holders of our
outstanding Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Prefs”) with an
opportunity to convert their stock into newly issued common stock at a
conversion price that is far lower than the current conversion price of the
Series B Prefs. Also, we will negotiate with our note holders to accept common
stock in repayment of their convertible promissory notes currently in default
(the “Notes”). Furthermore, we will seek to convince each of these groups of
stakeholders to surrender their Intellect warrants in exchange for common stock.
We will undertake these actions to position Intellect as an attractive
investment for institutional investors and high net worth individuals who are
seeking to invest equity capital in emerging biotech companies.
1
Stockholder
consent is a prerequisite to accomplish the objectives set out above. Therefore,
I am writing to you to solicit your support for the following
items:
1. To
adopt a second amended and restated certificate of incorporation to increase the
number of authorized shares of common stock from 100 million to 650 million and
to make conforming changes.
2. To
amend the Company's certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse split of
the Company's outstanding common stock, pursuant to which any whole number of
outstanding shares between, and including, fifteen and fifty would be combined
into one share of common stock and to authorize the Company's Board of Directors
to select and file one such amendment.
3. To
approve an amendment of the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the
aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder by
111,000,000 shares to an aggregate of 123,000,000 shares and to increase the
number of shares subject to options that may be granted to any one employee
during any calendar year from 8 million shares to 100 million
shares.
These
items are more fully described in the attachment accompanying this
letter.
November
23, 2009 is the record date for the purpose of voting for the foregoing items.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date may vote
for these actions.
Even if
the stockholders approve all of the foregoing proposals and we are able to
accomplish the objectives described above with respect to conversions and
exercises of the Series B Prefs, Notes and warrants, there can be no assurance
that we will be able to raise sufficient equity capital to fund our continuing
operations. If, however, we do not obtain stockholder approvals of these
proposals, we expect to be unable to raise sufficient equity capital to fund our
operations beyond the end of December. I sincerely urge each of you
to support Intellect at this time by signing the signature page of the attached
Written Consent and returning it to Intellect by Fax at (212) 448-9600 or PDF
electronic mail to elliot.maza@intellectns.com. Thank you for your speedy
response.
Thank
you.
Sincerely,
/s/ Daniel
Chain
Daniel
Chain, PhD
Chairman
and CEO
2
PROPOSAL
1
ADOPTION
OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
The Board
of Directors approved and has recommended that stockholders adopt a second
amended and restated certificate of incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, from 100,000,000
to 650,000,000. An increase in the authorized number of common shares is
necessary for the following reasons:
The
Company is actively pursuing efforts to raise equity capital to provide funding
to continue operations. It is necessary to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock to accommodate the substantial number of
shares of common stock that would need to be issued (or reserved for issuance)
in connection with the plans to raise equity capital and related
events.
The
Company has determined, based on discussions with potential investors and
financial advisors, that the significant amount of the Company’s outstanding
convertible preferred stock, convertible debt that is in default, and warrants
significantly impair the Company’s ability to attract new equity
funding. Therefore, the Company plans to: (i) provide holders of the
Company’s outstanding Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B
Prefs”) with the opportunity to convert their Series B Prefs into common stock
at a conversion price that is substantially lower than the current conversion
price of the Series B Prefs; (ii) work out a settlement with holders of the
Company’s outstanding Convertible Promissory Notes (the “Notes”) in default to
accept common stock in repayment of their Notes; and (iii) provide holders of
the Company’s outstanding warrants (the “Warrants”) the opportunity to exercise
their Warrants for common stock at a price that is substantially lower than the
current exercise prices of such Warrants. In order for the Company to have a
sufficient number of shares of common stock available for issuance (or to
reserve for future issuance) in the event that holders of these securities
should choose to convert or exercise such securities for common stock, the
Company must increase the number of authorized shares of common stock in excess
of the number of shares currently available for issuance. Even if
such holders do not choose to convert or exercise their securities for common
stock in the near future, the Company would still be required to reserve for
issuance a substantial number of additional shares of common stock in order to
raise any equity capital because of the existing anti-dilution protections in
the Series B Prefs, Notes and Warrants. These anti-dilution
protections would be triggered if the Company issued any shares of common stock
(or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock) at a price
below $1.75 per share. The common stock has recently been trading at prices of
approximately $0.06 - $0.14 per share. Any issuance of new common
stock by the Company is expected to be at prices approximating, or less than,
recent trading prices. Therefore, the conversion and exercise prices
on the Series B Prefs, Notes and Warrants would decrease from $1.75 per common
share to the sale price of the newly issued common stock. These
substantial reductions in conversion and exercise prices would require the
Company to reserve for issuance far more shares of common stock than the Company
is currently required to reserve and issue under the terms of such convertible
or exercisable securities.
As of
September 30, 2009, the Company has outstanding and overdue trade payables in
excess of $2.0 million. The Company has initiated discussions with the relevant
vendors to encourage them to accept Company common stock in lieu of repayment in
cash. It is necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of common
stock to accommodate the substantial number of shares of common stock that would
need to be issued to these vendors if the Company is successful in convincing
them to accept repayment in stock.
3
As
described below in Proposal 3, the Board believes that it is in the best
interest of the Company and its stockholders to increase the number of shares
available for awards under the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the
“Incentive Plan”) to allow the Company to grant awards to attract and retain new
employees and to further compensate, where appropriate, existing employees
whether or not they have previously been granted options under the Incentive
Plan. It is necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of common
stock to accommodate the substantial number of shares of common stock that would
need to be reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan if the stockholders
approve Proposal 3.
Although
at present the Board of Directors has no other plans to issue additional shares
of common stock beyond the amount needed for the foregoing purposes, it desires
to have additional shares available to provide flexibility to use capital stock
for business and financial purposes in the future. The additional shares may be
used for various purposes without further stockholder approval, except to the
extent required by the Delaware General Corporation Law or SEC or FINRA rules.
These purposes may include, but are not limited to: raising capital,
establishing collaborations, partnerships or strategic relationships with other
companies, expanding the Company's business or product lines through the
acquisition of other businesses or products and other corporate
purposes.
The
events described above would result in the Company having to issue (or reserve
for issuance) shares of common stock in excess of the number of shares currently
available for issuance.
Prior to
voting on this proposal and the other proposals that follow, you should review
the information in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2009, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 and other reports and information filed by the
Company with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, which are available through the SEC or by request to the Company as
described below.
In
determining whether or not to vote in favor of this proposal, you should also be
aware of the following information:
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·
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Common
Stock - As
of September 30, 2009, the Company had 100,000,000 shares of common stock
authorized and 30,843,873 shares issued and
outstanding. Included in the excess of authorized shares over
those issued and outstanding are shares of common stock that are reserved
for issuance upon the exercise or conversion of other securities issued
(or issuable) by the Company. This Proposal 1 seeks to increase
the number of authorized shares of common stock from 100,000,000 to
650,000,000.
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|
·
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Series
B Convertible Preferred Stock - As of September 30,
2009, the Company had 459,309 shares of Series B Prefs designated and
issued, having a total liquidation preference of $9,735,191 (including
accrued dividends). Each share of Series B Prefs is currently
convertible at the option of the holder into ten shares of common stock at
a conversion price of $1.75 per share of common stock. The
conversion price is subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments in the
event that the Company subsequently issues shares of common stock or
warrants with a price per share or exercise price less than the conversion
price. The common stock is currently trading at prices
substantially below the conversion price of $1.75. The last
sale price of the common stock was $0.115 on November 20, 2009 and the
common stock traded below $0.06 per share as recently as September 21,
2009. In order to encourage holders of Series B Prefs to
voluntarily convert their Series B Prefs into common stock, for the
reasons stated above, the Company plans to reduce the stated conversion
price of such stock to $0.10 per common share. At a conversion
price of $0.10, a total of up to 97,351,910 shares of common stock could
be issued upon conversion of all Series B Prefs outstanding as of
September 30, 2009 (including shares issued in payment of accrued
dividends). In addition, As a further inducement to potential investors in
a subsequent financing, the Company is seeking from holders of Pref. Stock
a waiver of the anti-dilution adjustment provisions of Section 6(g) of the
Certificate of Designations. This waiver would permit the
Company to issue shares of common stock at a price below $0.10 per share,
without the conversion price of the Pref. Stock being lowered below $0.10.
For example, at a conversion price of $0.08, a total of up to 121,689,881
shares of common stock could be issued upon conversion of all Series B
Prefs outstanding as of September 30, 2009 (including shares issued in
payment of accrued dividends) if all of the holders of such shares were to
participate in the subsequent financing transaction to the extent of a
specified minimum purchase amount of securities offered in the financing
transaction.
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4
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·
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Convertible
Promissory Notes -
As of September 30, 2009, the Company owed $7,657,822 of principal
and accrued interest on Notes in default. These Notes also have
a current conversion price of $1.75 per share of common stock (i.e.,
outstanding principal amount plus accrued interest on date of conversion
is divided by 1.75 to determine number of common shares to be issued),
which price is also subject to anti-dilution adjustments similar to the
Series B Prefs. The Company will seek to settle its obligations on these
outstanding Notes in default by offering the Note holders shares of common
stock in repayment of their Notes, at a conversion price of $0.10 per
share of common stock (or 10,000 shares of common stock for each $1,000 of
outstanding principal amount plus accrued interest). At a conversion price
of $0.10, a total of up to 76,578,220 shares of common stock could be
issued if holders of all such Notes choose to accept shares of common
stock in settlement of the Notes in default (based on total principal and
accrued interest outstanding as of September 30,
2009).
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|
·
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Substantial
Dilution –
Holders of the Company’s common stock will experience substantial
dilution upon the conversion of shares of Series B Prefs and Notes as well
as upon the exercise of Warrants at exercise prices substantially lower
than current exercise prices. Further dilution would occur if
the Company were to issue shares of common stock in a subsequent equity
financing from the issuance of such shares and from further reductions in
conversion and exercise prices that would result from anti-dilution
protections for securities convertible into or exercisable for common
stock.
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The
Company has not adopted an amended and restated certificate of incorporation
since the reverse merger with GlobePan, Inc. in January 2007. The additional
common stock to be authorized by the adoption of the second amended and restated
certificate of incorporation would have rights identical to the currently
outstanding common stock of the Company. Adoption of the proposed second amended
and restated certificate of incorporation and the issuance of the common stock
would not affect the rights of the holders of currently outstanding common
stock, except for effects incidental to increasing the number of shares of the
Company's common stock outstanding, such as substantial dilution of the earnings
per share and voting rights of current holders of common stock after any of the
additional authorized shares are issued.
If the
second amended and restated certificate of incorporation is adopted, it will
become effective upon filing by the Company of an appropriate certificate with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Adoption of the second amended
and restated certificate of incorporation is independent of Proposal 2, to amend
the Company's certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse split of the
Company's outstanding common stock. If Proposals 1 and 2 are both adopted, the
Company would first file the second amended and restated certificate of
incorporation approved pursuant to this Proposal 1, and then the Company's Board
of Directors may, in its sole discretion, choose to file one of the amendments
to the Company's certificate of incorporation approved pursuant to Proposal 2 to
effect a reverse split of the shares of our common stock within the range
contemplated by Proposal 2.
5
The full
text of the operative provisions of the form of Second Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation that the Board is recommending for adoption by the
stockholders is attached hereto as Annex A. The text of the Company's existing
certificate of incorporation and all amendments thereto may be obtained upon
written request directed to our Secretary at our principal office set forth
above. Such documents also have been filed as exhibits to our filings with the
SEC as listed in Item 15 to our most recently filed Form 10-K, and are
accessible at www.sec.gov, where the SEC
maintains a website that contains reports and other information regarding the
Company and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The Company's
annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports
on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments to those reports, are available free of
charge through the SEC's website. Stockholders may also read and copy materials
that the Company files with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F
Street, N.E.,, Washington, DC 20549. Stockholders may obtain information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
Vote
Required
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of our
common stock (together with the holders of Series B Prefs, which votes on an
as-converted basis) on the record date is required for adoption of the Company's
proposed second amended and restated certificate of incorporation set forth in
this Proposal 1.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 1.
6
PROPOSAL
2
APPROVAL
OF AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT
The Board
of Directors has adopted a resolution approving, and recommending to our
stockholders for their approval, proposed amendments to the certificate of
incorporation of the Company to effect a reverse split of the shares of our
common stock at a ratio ranging from 1:15 to 1:50 (the "Reverse Stock Split").
The text of the forms of proposed amendments to the certificate of incorporation
is annexed hereto as Annex B. Assuming the stockholders approve the proposal,
the Board of Directors will have the sole discretion under Section 242(c)
of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as it determines to be in the best
interest of the Company and its stockholders, both to select the specific
exchange ratio within the designated range of 1:15 to 1:50 and also to decide
whether or not, and at what time, to proceed to effect a reverse stock split or
instead to abandon the proposed amendments altogether. If an amendment is filed
with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the amendment to the certificate of
incorporation will effect the Reverse Stock Split by reducing the number of
shares of our issued common stock by the ratio to be determined by the Board of
Directors, but will not increase the par value of our common stock, and will not
change the number of authorized shares of our common stock. If the Board does
not implement an approved reverse stock split prior to the one year anniversary
of the date that this Proposal 2 is duly approved by the holders of the
requisite number of shares, the Board will be required to seek stockholder
approval before implementing any reverse stock split after that
time.
By
approving the Reverse Stock Split, stockholders will approve a series of
amendments to our certificate of incorporation pursuant to which any whole
number of outstanding shares between, and including, fifteen and fifty would be
combined into one share of our common stock, and authorize our Board of
Directors to file only one such amendment, as determined by our Board of
Directors in the manner described herein, and to abandon each amendment not
selected by our Board of Directors. The Board may elect not to do any Reverse
Stock Split. Our Board of Directors believes that stockholder approval of
amendments granting our Board of Directors this discretion, rather than approval
of a specified exchange ratio, provides our Board of Directors with maximum
flexibility to react to then-current market conditions and, therefore, is in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Reasons
for the Reverse Stock Split
The
Company's common stock is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol
"ILNS” at prices far below $1.00 per share. The OTC is generally considered to
be less efficient than, and not as broad as, the NASDAQ Capital Market (formerly
known as the Nasdaq SmallCap Market). Moreover, our common stock is considered
“a penny stock” and is subject to SEC regulations that generally require any
broker or dealer selling these securities to disclose certain information
concerning the transaction, obtain a written agreement from the purchaser and
determine that the purchaser is reasonably suitable to purchase the securities.
These rules may restrict the ability of brokers or dealers to sell our common
stock and may affect the ability of investors to sell their shares of common
stock.
The
Company believes that increasing the trading price of our common stock through a
Reverse Stock Split would be the first step toward obtaining a listing on the
Nasdaq Capital Market and eliminating “penny stock” status for our common stock.
Our goal is to provide the Company with a market for its common stock that is
more accessible than the OTC Bulletin Board, which would increase liquidity and
may potentially minimize the spread between the "bid" and "asked" prices quoted
by market makers. Further, a Nasdaq Capital Market listing may enhance the
Company's access to capital in the future, increase the Company's flexibility in
responding to anticipated capital requirements, and facilitate the use of its
common stock in acquisitions and financing transactions that it may undertake.
The Company believes that prospective investors will view an investment in the
Company more favorably if its shares trade at prices above $1.00 per share than
below that threshold amount.
7
To obtain
a listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company must satisfy the applicable
listing standards established by Nasdaq. Among other things, the Company’s
common stock must have a minimum bid price of $4.00. Another requirement is that
the number of holders of 100 or more shares ("round lots") of our common stock
must equal or exceed 300. Another financial requirement is minimum stockholders'
equity of at least $5 million or $4 million plus a minimum market value of
listed securities of $50 million. To eliminate “penny stock” status, our
stock must trade at a price of at least $5.00 per share. As of
September 30, 2009, we had a capital deficiency (i.e., negative stockholders
equity) of $19.8 million.
It is
unlikely that we will meet all of these minimum requirements for listing on the
Nasdaq Capital Market even if the stockholders approve this Proposal 2 and
the Board of Directors determines to effect a reverse stock split in the range
of 1:15 to 1:50. It is possible that the per share price of our
common stock after the Reverse Stock Split will not rise in proportion to the
reduction in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding resulting from
the Reverse Stock Split, and there can be no assurance that the market price per
post-reverse split share will either exceed or remain in excess of the $4.00
minimum bid price required by the Nasdaq Capital Market or the $1.00 per share
threshold discussed above. The market price of our common stock may vary based
on other factors that are unrelated to the number of shares outstanding,
including our future performance. Furthermore, we may be unable to satisfy the
other minimum requirements for listing on the Nasdaq Capital
Market.
Nonetheless,
the Board believes, based on its experience and advice from principal
shareholders and financial advisors, that increasing our common stock trading
price to a reasonable level of more than $1.00 per share will enhance investor
perception of the Company, facilitate raising additional equity capital and may
ultimately enable us to obtain a Nasdaq listing.
The Board
does not intend for this transaction to be the first step in a series of plans
or proposals of a "going private transaction" within the meaning of
Rule 13e-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934
Act").
Board
Discretion to Implement Reverse Stock Split
If our
Board of Directors determines to effect the Reverse Stock Split, they will
consider certain factors in selecting the specific exchange ratio, including
prevailing market conditions, the trading price of our common stock, the number
of round lot holders of our common stock and the steps that we would expect to
need to take in order to achieve compliance with the trading price requirements
and other listing regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market. Based in part on the
price of our common stock on the days leading up to the filing of the amendment
to our certificate of incorporation effecting the Reverse Stock Split, our Board
of Directors will select the ratio which it believes will (i) increase the
trading price of our common stock sufficiently to achieve and maintain, at least
in the short term, a minimum bid price of at least $1.50 and (ii) result in
the continued existence of a substantial number of stockholders of round
lots.
Notwithstanding
approval of the Reverse Stock Split by the stockholders, our Board of Directors
may, in its sole discretion, abandon all of the proposed amendments relating to
the Reverse Stock Split and determine prior to the effectiveness of any filing
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware not to effect the Reverse
Stock Split. If our Board of Directors fails to implement any of the amendments
relating to the Reverse Stock Split prior to the one year anniversary of the
date on which this Proposal 2 has been duly approved by the requisite number of
stockholders, stockholder approval again would be required prior to implementing
any Reverse Stock Split.
8
If
stockholder approval for this Proposal 2 is not obtained, we will not be
able to file an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to effect a
Reverse Stock Split of the Company's common stock.
The
liquidity of the Company's common stock could be adversely affected by the
reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the Reverse Stock
Split, and the reduced number of shares may make it more difficult to trade
shares of our common stock. In addition, the Reverse Stock Split will increase
the number of the Company's stockholders who own odd lots (less than 100
shares). Stockholders who hold odd lots typically will experience an increase in
the cost of selling their shares, as well as possible greater difficulty in
effecting those sales.
The
Reverse Stock Split will affect all of the Company's holders of common stock
uniformly and will not affect any stockholder's percentage ownership interests
in the Company or proportionate voting power, except to the extent that the
Reverse Stock Split results in any of the Company's stockholders owning a
fractional share, in which case such stockholders will receive a cash payment in
lieu of such fractional share. The Company's issued common stock will remain
fully paid and non-assessable.
The
Reverse Stock Split will not affect the par value of the Company's common stock.
As a result, upon the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split, the stated
capital on the Company's balance sheet attributable to its common stock will be
reduced proportionately based on the exchange ratio selected by the Board for
the Reverse Stock Split, and the additional paid-in capital account will be
credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. The per share
net income or loss and net book value of the Company's common stock will be
increased because there will be fewer shares of the Company's common stock
outstanding. In addition, proportionate adjustments will be made to the per
share exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of all
outstanding options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company, and the
number of shares reserved for issuance in the Company's existing stock option
plans will be reduced proportionately based on the exchange ratio selected by
the Board for the Reverse Stock Split. Cash paid for fractional shares to
holders of Intellect stock options upon any exercise of such stock options would
be recognized as a compensation charge at the time of exercise.
The
Reverse Stock Split will have no effect on the number of currently authorized
shares of common stock that are not issued or outstanding and will have no
effect on the total number of shares of common stock the Company is authorized
to issue under its certificate of incorporation (although stockholder approval
of Proposal 1 above would increase the number of authorized shares). Therefore,
upon effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split, the number of shares of common
stock that are authorized and unissued will increase relative to the number of
issued and outstanding shares. The Company may use the additional authorized and
unissued shares of its common stock resulting from the Reverse Stock Split to
issue additional shares of its common stock from time to time in equity
financings, under its equity compensation plans or in connection with other
matters.
We are
subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”). The proposed Reverse Stock
Split will not affect our reporting obligations under the 1934 Act. If the
proposed Reverse Stock Split is implemented, the common stock will continue to
be reported on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "ILNS".
9
Effective
Date
The
Reverse Stock Split will be effected at 5:01 p.m. Eastern Time, on the date
that the amendment to the Company's certificate of incorporation is filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Beginning at the effective time
of the Reverse Stock Split, each certificate representing the current
outstanding shares (“Old Shares”) will be deemed for all corporate purposes to
represent post- Reverse Stock Split outstanding shares (“New Shares”). The text
of the forms of proposed amendments to the Company's certificate of
incorporation would be in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex B,
provided that such certificate of amendment to the Company's certificate of
incorporation would be subject to modification to include such changes as may be
required by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and as the Board
deems necessary or advisable to effect the Reverse Stock Split, including
insertion of the applicable Reverse Stock Split ratio approved by the Board
within the range approved by the stockholders.
Exchange
of Stock Certificates
The
transfer agent for the Company will act as the "exchange agent" for purposes of
implementing the exchange of stock certificates. Holders of Old Shares will be
asked to surrender to the exchange agent certificates representing Old Shares in
exchange for certificates representing New Shares in accordance with the
procedures to be set forth in a letter of transmittal to be sent by the exchange
agent. No new certificates will be issued to a stockholder until the stockholder
has surrendered the stockholder's outstanding certificate(s) together with the
properly completed and executed letter of transmittal to the exchange agent.
Stockholders should not destroy any stock certificates and should not submit any
certificates until requested to do so.
Fractional
Shares
No
fractional shares of common stock will be issued as a result of the proposed
Reverse Stock Split. Instead, stockholders who otherwise would be entitled to
receive fractional shares will, upon surrender to the exchange agent of
certificates representing their fractional shares, be entitled to receive cash
in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the closing
sales price of our common stock as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board on the
effective date of the amendment to the Company's certificate of incorporation by
(ii) the number of shares of our common stock held by such stockholder
before the Reverse Stock Split that would otherwise have been exchanged for such
fractional share interest. Holders of as many as 49 shares (if the Company were
to implement a 1:50 Reverse Stock Split) of the Company's common stock would be
eliminated as a result of the cash payment in lieu of any issuance of fractional
shares or interests in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. The exact number
by which the number of holders of the Company's common stock would be reduced
will depend on the Reverse Stock Split ratio adopted and the number of
stockholders that hold less than the Reverse Stock Split ratio as of the
effective date of the Reverse Stock Split. As of June 30, 2009, there were
approximately 626 holders of record of our common stock.
No
Dissenters' Rights
Under
applicable Delaware law, the Company's stockholders are not entitled to
dissenters' or appraisal rights with respect to the proposed amendments to the
Company's certificate of incorporation to effect the Reverse Stock Split. We
will not independently provide our stockholders with any such
right.
Vote
Required
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of our
common stock on the record date (together with the holders of Series B Prefs,
which votes on an as-converted basis) is required for approval of the proposed
amendments to the Company's certificate of incorporation set forth in this
Proposal 2.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF
PROPOSAL 2.
10
PROPOSAL
3
AMENDMENT
OF THE COMPANY'S 2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
TO
ADD 112,235,000 SHARES TO SUCH PLAN
In
January 2007, the Board of Directors adopted, and the stockholders of the
Company subsequently approved, the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the
"Incentive Plan"). There is currently an aggregate of 12,000,000 shares of
common stock reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan. As of September 30,
2009, stock awards covering an aggregate of 11,233,812 shares of common stock
were outstanding under the Incentive Plan. On November 20, 2009, the Board
amended the Incentive Plan, subject to stockholder approval of Proposal 1 and
this Proposal 4, to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for
issuance under the Incentive Plan by 111,000,000 shares to an aggregate of
123,000,000 and to increase the number of shares subject to options that may be
granted to any one employee during any calendar year by 78,000,000 shares to
80,000,000.
Reasons
for the Proposal and Summary of Effects of the Approval of
Proposal 3
The Board
believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to
increase the number of shares available for awards under the Incentive Plan and
to increase the number of shares subject to options that may be granted to any
one employee during any calendar year in order to allow the Company to grant
awards to attract and retain new employees and to further compensate, where
appropriate, existing employees whether or not they have previously been granted
options under the Incentive Plan. Such an increase in the number of shares
available for awards would also provide employees with further incentives to
help the Company to achieve its objectives and succeed and would help to better
align the interests of our employees with the interests of our security holders.
Failure to attract and retain new employees or to compensate and incentivize
existing employees could create a situation in which the Company is unable to
attract and retain sufficiently competent, skilled personnel, and could have a
material adverse effect on our business and prospects. The incremental
111,000,000 shares has been calculated based on a new equity funding of $5.5
million and an overall option pool equal to 22.5% of total shares outstanding on
a fully diluted basis.
Vote
Required
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of our
common stock (together with the holders of Series B Prefs, which votes on an
as-converted basis on the record date) is required for approval of this Proposal
3. If the amendment is not approved by the stockholders, the Incentive Plan will
continue in effect without the proposed amendment. The text of the Incentive
Plan, amended as proposed above, is attached as Annex C hereto.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 3
Sincerely,
/s/ Elliot
Maza
Elliot
Maza, Secretary
11
INTELLECT
NEUROSCIENCES, INC.
WRITTEN
CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF A SPECIAL MEETING
The
undersigned stockholders of Intellect Neurosciences, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), being the
holders of (i) at least a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock of
the Company, and (ii) at least a majority of all outstanding shares of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company, do hereby waive any notice
requirement and consent, pursuant to Section 228 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, to the adoption of the following resolutions with the same
force and effect as if duly adopted at the special meeting of the stockholders
called for the purpose.
Increase
in Authorized Number of Common Shares
WHEREAS,
the Company is actively pursuing efforts to raise equity capital to provide
funding to continue operations and it is necessary to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock to accommodate the substantial number of
shares of common stock that would need to be issued (or reserved for issuance)
in connection with the plans to raise equity capital and related events;
and
WHEREAS,
the Company has determined, based on discussions with potential investors and
financial advisors, that the significant amount of the Company’s outstanding
convertible preferred stock, convertible debt that is in default, and warrants
significantly impair the Company’s ability to attract new equity funding and
therefore, the Company plans to encourage (i) holders of the Company’s
outstanding Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Prefs”) to
convert their Series B Prefs into Company common stock; (ii) holders of the
Company’s outstanding Convertible Promissory Notes (the “Notes”) in default to
accept Company common stock in repayment of their Notes; and (iii) holders of
the Company’s outstanding warrants (the “Warrants”) to exercise their Warrants
for Company common stock, and as a result, the Company needs to have a
sufficient number of shares of common stock available for issuance (or to
reserve for future issuance) in the event that holders of these securities
should choose to convert or exercise such securities for common stock;
and
WHEREAS,
as of September 30, 2009, the Company has outstanding and overdue trade payables
in excess of $2.0 million and the Company has initiated discussions with the
relevant vendors to encourage them to accept Company common stock in lieu of
repayment in cash and needs to have a sufficient number of shares of common
stock available for issuance if the Company is successful in convincing the
trade creditors to accept repayment in stock; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of the Company believes that it is in the best interest
of the Company and its stockholders to increase the number of shares available
for awards under the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”)
to allow the Company to grant awards to attract and retain new employees and to
further compensate, where appropriate, existing employees whether or not they
have previously been granted options under the Incentive Plan, and therefore, it
is necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock to
accommodate the substantial number of shares of common stock that would need to
be reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of the
stockholders to have additional shares available for issuance to provide
flexibility to use capital stock for business and financial purposes in the
future, including, but not limited to: raising capital, establishing
collaborations, partnerships or strategic relationships with other companies,
expanding the Company's business or product lines through the acquisition of
other businesses or products and other corporate purposes; and
12
Authority
to Effect a Reverse Stock Split
WHEREAS,
the Company's common stock is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol
"ILNS” at prices far below $1.00 per share and is considered “penny stock” for
certain SEC purposes, and these circumstances diminish the trading volume of the
stock, which in turn adversely impacts the trading price of the Company’s stock;
and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors believes, based on advice from financial advisors, that
increasing the trading price of the Company’s common stock through a Reverse
Stock Split would be the first step toward obtaining a listing on the Nasdaq
Capital Market and eliminating “penny stock” status for the Company’s common
stock, which likely would increase liquidity and enhance the Company's access to
capital in the future, increase the Company's flexibility in responding to
anticipated capital requirements, and facilitate the use of its common stock in
acquisitions and financing transactions that it may undertake; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors believes, based on advice from financial advisors, that
increasing the Company’s common stock trading price to a reasonable level of
more than $1.00 per share will enhance investor perception of the Company,
facilitate raising additional equity capital and may ultimately enable the
Company to obtain a Nasdaq listing; and
Addition
of 111,000,000 Shares to the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan
WHEREAS, there is currently an
aggregate of 12,000,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the
Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan") and as of September
30, 2009, stock awards covering an aggregate of 11,233,812 shares of common
stock were outstanding under the Incentive Plan; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of the Company
and its stockholders to increase the number of shares available for awards under
the Incentive Plan and to increase the number of shares subject to options that
may be granted to any one employee during any calendar year in order to allow
the Company to grant awards to attract and retain new employees and to further
compensate, where appropriate, existing employees whether or not they have
previously been granted options under the Incentive Plan; and
WHEREAS,
on November 10, 2009, the Board amended the Incentive Plan, subject to
stockholder approval of Proposal 1 and this Proposal 3, to increase the number
of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan by
111,000,000 shares to an aggregate of 123,000,000 and to increase the number of
shares subject to options that may be granted to any one employee during any
calendar year by 72,000,000 shares to 80,000,000.
NOW
THEREFORE, BE IT:
13
Increase
in Authorized Number of Common Shares
RESOLVED, that the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended to (i) provide that the total
number of shares that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is
651,000,000, consisting of 650,000,000 shares of common stock, all of a par
value of $0.001 each and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, all of a par value
of $0.001 each, (ii) integrate into a single instrument all of the
provisions of the Company's certificate of incorporation which are currently in
effect, and (iii) make conforming changes; and
RESOLVED, that the Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company (each an “Authorized Officer”)
be, and each of them acting singly hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed
to execute and file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware an
Amended Certificate of Incorporation, reflecting the foregoing, with such
changes therein as the officer executing the same deems necessary or appropriate
in the best interests of the Company, such officer’s execution and delivery
thereof to be conclusive evidence of such officer’s approval thereof and
authority hereunder; and
Authority
to Effect a Reverse Stock Split
RESOLVED, that the Company's Board
of Directors is hereby authorized to select and file one amendment to the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse split of the
Company's outstanding common stock, pursuant to which any whole number of
outstanding shares between, and including, fifteen and fifty would be combined
into one share of common stock; and
RESOLVED,
that the Authorized Officers be, and each of them acting singly hereby is,
authorized, empowered and directed to execute and file with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware an Amended Certificate of Incorporation,
reflecting the foregoing, with such changes therein as the officer executing the
same deems necessary or appropriate in the best interests of the Company, such
officer’s execution and delivery thereof to be conclusive evidence of such
officer’s approval thereof and authority hereunder; and
Addition
of 111,000,000 Shares to the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan
RESOLVED,
that the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan of Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. (the
“Plan”) is hereby amended to provide that, subject to any adjustments specified
in the Plan, the aggregate number of shares of common stock of the Company that
may be issued pursuant to the Plan is 123,000,000, and that the maximum number
of awards granted during any one fiscal year any Participant (as defined in the
Plan) is 80,000,000; and
RESOLVED,
that the Company reserve for issuance 123,000,000 shares of common stock of the
Company for issuance upon the exercise of awards granted pursuant to the Plan,
the shares of common stock of the Company so issued shall be deemed validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock of the Company;
and
General
Resolutions
RESOLVED, that Authorized Officers be,
and each of them acting singly hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed to
execute and deliver all such agreements, certifications, instruments and other
documents and to take such other actions required by, contemplated by, related
to or determined by any of them to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the
transactions contemplated by and the purpose of the foregoing resolutions; and
that the execution and delivery of any such agreement, certificate, instrument
or other document, and that the taking of any such other action, by any of them,
shall be conclusive evidence that the same was authorized and approved hereby
and the taking of any such actions prior to the date of this consent is hereby
ratified and confirmed; and
14
RESOLVED, that this Consent may be
executed in counterparts, each of which shall be taken together as one and the
same instrument.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
15
This
Consent shall be effective as of the first date on which it has been executed by
the requisite number of stockholders and delivered to the Company in accordance
with Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Common
Stockholders
Proposal
1: Adoption of Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation
Yes_______ No________
Dated:
November ____, 2009
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
Shares
of Common Stock:
|
If you do
not know the number of shares that you own, please leave line blank and we will
fill it in for you. We will return a copy of the completed form to
you.
Proposal
2: Approval of Amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to Effect
a Reverse Stock Split
Yes_______ No________
Dated:
November ____, 2009
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
Shares
of Common Stock:
|
Proposal
3: Amendment of the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to Add 111,000,000
Shares to Such Plan
Yes_______ No________
Dated:
November ____, 2009
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
Shares
of Common Stock:
|
16
This
Consent shall be effective as of the first date on which it has been executed by
the requisite number of stockholders and delivered to the Company in accordance
with Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Series B Convertible
Preferred Stockholders
Proposal
1: Adoption of Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation
Yes_______ No________
Dated:
November ____, 2009
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
Shares
of Series B Preferred
Stock:
|
If you do
not know the number of shares that you own, please leave line blank and we will
fill it in for you. We will return a copy of the completed form to
you.
Proposal
2: Approval of Amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to Effect
a Reverse Stock Split
Yes_______ No________
Dated:
November ____, 2009
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
Shares
of Series B Preferred
Stock:
|
Proposal
3: Amendment of the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to Add 111,000,000
Shares to Such Plan
Yes_______ No________
Dated:
November ____, 2009
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
Shares
of Series B Preferred
Stock:
|
17
Annex
A
FORM
OF
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
Of
INTELLECT
NEUROSCIENCES, INC
The
undersigned, a Delaware Corporation, for the purposes of organizing a
corporation for conducting the business and promoting the purposes hereinafter
stated, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the laws of the
State of Delaware (particularly Chapter 1, Title 8 of the Delaware Code and the
acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and generally known as the
“General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware”), hereby certifies
that:
FIRST: The
name of the corporation (hereinafter called the “Corporation”) is Intellect
Neurosciences, Inc.
SECOND: The
address, including street, number, city, and county, of the registered office of
the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 2711
Centerville Road, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware,
19808; and the name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of
Delaware at such address is the Corporation Service Company.
THIRD: The
nature of the business and the purposes to be conducted and promoted by the
Corporation shall be any lawful business, to promote any lawful purpose, and to
engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
FOURTH: The
total number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is
651,000,000, consisting of 650,000,000 shares of common stock, all of a par
value of $0.001 each (“Common Stock”) and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
all of a par value of $0.001 each (“Preferred Stock”). The voting
powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in
respect of the classes of stock of the Corporation are as follows:
I. Preferred
Stock
A. The
Preferred Stock of the Corporation may be issued from time to time in one or
more series of any number of shares; provided that the aggregate number of
shares issued and not canceled in any and all such series shall not exceed the
total number of shares of preferred stock hereinabove authorized.
B. Authority
is hereby vested in the Board of Directors from time to time to authorize the
issuance of one or more series with such designations, preferences and relative
participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations
or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolutions adopted by the
Corporation’s Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such Preferred
Stock or series thereof; and the Board of Directors is hereby vested with
authority to fix such designations, preferences and relative participating,
optional or other special rights or qualifications, limitations, or restrictions
for each series, including, but not by way of limitation, the power to fix the
redemption and liquidation preferences, the rates of dividends payable and the
time for and the priority of payment thereof and to determine whether such
dividends shall be cumulative or not and to provide for and fix the terms of
conversion of such Preferred Stock or any series thereof into Common Stock of
the Corporation and fix the voting power, if any, of shares of Preferred Stock
or any series thereof.
II. Common
Stock
A. The
Common Stock of the Corporation may be issued from time to time in any number of
shares, provided that the aggregate number of shares issued and not canceled
shall not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock hereinabove
authorized.
18
B. Unless
expressly provided by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in fixing the
voting rights of any series of Preferred Stock, the holders of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power for the
election of directors and for all other purposes, each holder of record of
shares of Common Stock being entitled to one vote for each share of such stock
standing in his name on the books of the Corporation.
C. Subject
to the prior rights of the holders of Preferred Stock now or hereafter granted
pursuant to this ARTICLE FOURTH, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled
to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally
available for that purpose, dividends payable either in cash, stock or
otherwise.
D. In
the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation,
either voluntary or involuntary, after payment shall have been made in full to
the holders of Preferred Stock of any amounts to which they may be entitled and
subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock now or hereafter granted
pursuant to this ARTICLE FOURTH, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled,
to the exclusion of the holders of Preferred Stock of any and all series, to
share, ratably accordingly to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them,
in all remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its
stockholders.
FIFTH: The
Corporation shall have perpetual existence.
SIXTH: For
the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the
Corporation, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers
of the Corporation and of its directors and of its stockholders or any class
thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided that:
A. The
business of the Corporation shall be conducted by the officers of the
Corporation under the supervision of the Board of Directors.
B. The
number of directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be
fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the Bylaws. No election of
Directors need be by written ballot.
C. Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation may adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the
Corporation at any time after the original adoption of the Bylaws according to
Section 109 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
SEVENTH:
No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty by such
director as a director. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, a
director shall be liable to the extent provided by applicable law (i) for breach
of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii)
for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or (iv) for any transaction from which
the director derived an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or
repeal of this Article SEVENTH shall apply to or have any effect on the
liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with
respect to any acts or omissions of such Director occurring prior to such
amendment.
EIGHTH: The
Corporation may, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be amended and
supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to
indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the expenses,
liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said section, and the
indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which a person indemnified may be entitled under any By-Law,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as
to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be
director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
NINTH: From
time to time any of the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation may be
amended, altered or repealed, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the
State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted in the manner
and at the time prescribed by said laws, and all rights at any time conferred
upon the stockholders of the Corporation by this Certificate of Incorporation
are granted subject to the provisions of this Article NINTH.
******************************************************************************
19
Annex
B
FORM
OF AMENDMENTS TO
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
OF
INTELLECT
NEUROSCIENCES, INC.
The
certificate of incorporation of the Corporation would be amended by adding the
following text:
Effective
as of 5:01 p.m., Eastern time, on the date the Certificate of Amendment that
includes this paragraph is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, each [*] shares of the Corporation's Common Stock issued and
outstanding shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the
respective holders thereof, be combined and converted into one (1) share of
Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share, of the Corporation. No fractional
shares shall be issued and, in lieu thereof, any holder of less than one share
of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash for such holder's fractional
share based upon the closing sales price of the Corporation's Common Stock as
reported on the OTC Bulletin Board as of the date this Certificate of Amendment
is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware."
*
By
approving these amendments, stockholders will approve the combination of any
whole number of shares of Common Stock between and including fifteen (15) and
fifty (50) into one (1) share of Common Stock. Any Certificate of Amendment
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware will include only
that number determined by the Board of Directors to be in the best interests of
the Company and its stockholders. The Board of Directors will not implement any
amendment providing for a different split ratio.
*****************************************************************************
20
Annex
C
INTELLECT
NEUROSCIENCES, INC.
2006
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Adopted
by the Board of Directors on:
January
25, 2007
Approved
by the stockholders on:
January
25, 2007
1. Purpose and
Eligibility. The purpose of this 2006 Equity Incentive Plan
(the “Plan”) of Intellect Neurosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”) is to provide stock options, stock issuances and other equity
interests in the Company (each, an “Award”) to (a) key employees, officers,
directors, consultants and advisors of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (b)
any other Person who is determined by the Board to have made (or is expected to
make) contributions to the Company and or its Subsidiaries, in each case in
order to encourage ownership of the capital stock of the Company to attract such
individuals, induce them to work for the benefit of the Company or its
Subsidiaries and to motivate such persons to promote the success of the Company
and its Subsidiaries. Any person to whom an Award has been granted
under the Plan is called a “Participant.” Additional definitions are contained
in Section 10.
2. Administration.
a. Administration by Board of
Directors. The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”). The Board, in its sole discretion, shall have the
authority to grant and amend Awards, to adopt, amend and repeal rules relating
to the Plan and to interpret and correct the provisions of the Plan and any
Award. The Board shall have authority, subject to the express limitations of the
Plan, (i) to construe and determine the respective Stock Option Agreement,
Awards and the Plan, (ii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and
regulations relating to the Plan and any Awards, (iii) to determine the
terms and provisions of the respective Stock Option Agreements and Awards, which
need not be identical, (iv) to initiate an Option Exchange Program, (v) adopt
any necessary sub-plan applicable to residents of any specified jurisdiction as
it deems necessary in order to comply with the law applicable to the Company,
its subsidiaries or any Participant or to otherwise facilitate the
administration of the Plan, which sub-plans may include additional restrictions
or conditions applicable to stock options or shares of stock, and (vi) to
make all other determinations in the judgment of the Board of Directors
necessary or desirable for the administration and interpretation of the Plan.
The Board may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Option Agreement or Award in the
manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan, any Stock
Option Agreement or Award into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge
of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be final and binding on all
interested persons. Neither the Company nor any member of the Board
shall be liable for any action or determination relating to the
Plan.
b. Appointment of Committee. To
the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its
powers under the Plan to the Compensation Committee (the
“Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean
such Committee or the Board. In the absence of full delegation, the
Board may also consult with the Committee, which shall make recommendations,
with respect to Participants eligible to receive Awards and the number of shares
subject to the Award, to the Board for its review and final
approval.
c. Delegation to Executive
Officers. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board
may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company the power to grant
Awards and exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine,
provided that the Board shall fix the maximum number of Awards to be granted and
the maximum number of shares issuable to any one Participant pursuant to Awards
granted by such executive officers.
d. Applicability of Section
Rule 16b-3. Anything to the contrary in the foregoing
notwithstanding if, or at such time as, the Common Stock is or becomes
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), or any successor statute, the Plan shall be administered in a
manner consistent with Rule 16b-3 promulgated thereunder, as it may be amended
from time to time, or any successor rules (“Rule 16b-3”), such that all
subsequent grants of Awards hereunder to Reporting Persons, as hereinafter
defined, shall be exempt under such rule. Those provisions of the
Plan which make express reference to Rule 16b-3 or which are required in order
for certain option transactions to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 shall
apply only to such persons as are required to file reports under Section 16 (a)
of the Exchange Act (a “Reporting Person”).
21
e. Applicability of Section 162
(m). Any provisions in this Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, whenever the Board is authorized to exercise its discretion in
the administration or amendment of this Plan or any Award hereunder or
otherwise, the Board may not exercise such discretion in a manner that would
cause any outstanding Award that would otherwise qualify as performance-based
compensation under Section 162 (m) of the Code to fail to so qualify under
Section 162 (m).
3. Stock Available for
Awards.
a. Number of
Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 3(c), the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”)
that may be issued pursuant to the Plan is 123,000,000. If
any Award expires, or is terminated, surrendered or forfeited, in whole or in
part, the unissued Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available
for the grant of Awards under the Plan. If an Award granted under the Plan shall
expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full, the
unpurchased shares subject to such Award shall again be available for subsequent
Awards under the Plan, and if shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan
are repurchased by, or are surrendered or forfeited to, the Company at no more
than the price paid for such shares, such shares of Common Stock shall again be
available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Shares issued under the Plan
may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury
shares.
b. Per-Participant
Limit. Subject to adjustment under Section 3(c), no Participant may be
granted Awards during any one fiscal year to purchase more than 80,000,000
shares of Common Stock.
c. Adjustment to Common
Stock. Subject to Section 7, in the event of any stock split,
reverse stock split stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange
of shares, liquidation, spin-off, split-up, sale of all or substantially all of
the Company’s assets (other than a transaction to merely change the state of
incorporation) or other similar change in capitalization or similar event, (i)
the number and class of securities available for Awards under the Plan and the
per-Participant share limit, (ii) the number and class of securities, vesting
schedule and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding Option, (iii)
the repurchase price per security subject to repurchase, and (iv) the terms of
each other outstanding Award shall be adjusted by the Company (or substituted
Awards may be made if applicable) to the extent the Board shall determine, in
good faith, that such an adjustment (or substitution) is appropriate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made with respect to Incentive
Stock Option (as defined below) shall be made only after the Board determines
whether such adjustment would constitute a “modification” of such Incentive
Stock Option (as such term is defined in Section 424(h) of the Code, as amended,
or any successor statute) or would cause any adverse tax consequences for the
holders of such Incentive Stock Options. If the Board determines that
such adjustment would constitute a modification of such Incentive Stock Option,
the Board make refrain form making such adjustment unless the holder of such
Incentive Stock Option specifically requests in writing that the adjustment be
made and that the holder has full knowledge of the consequences of the
adjustment on such holder’s income tax treatment with respect to the Incentive
Stock Option.
4. Stock
Options.
a. General. The
Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and
determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the
exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to
the exercise of each Option and the shares of Common Stock issued upon the
exercise of each Option, including, but not limited to, vesting provisions,
repurchase provisions and restrictions relating to applicable federal or state
securities laws. Each Option will be evidenced by a Stock Option
Agreement, consisting of a Notice of Stock Option Award and a Stock Option Award
Agreement (collectively, a “Stock Option Agreement”).
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b. Incentive Stock
Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an incentive stock option
(an “Incentive Stock Option”) as defined in Section 422 of the Code, as amended,
or any successor statute (“Section 422”), shall be granted only to an employee
of the Company and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with
the requirements of Section 422 and regulations thereunder. The Board
and the Company shall have no liability if an Option or any part thereof that is
intended to be an Incentive Stock Option does not qualify as such. An Option or
any part thereof that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option is referred
to herein as a “Nonstatutory Stock Option” or “Nonqualified Stock
Option.”
c. Dollar Limitation.
For so long as the Code shall so provide, Options granted to any employee under
the Plan (and any other incentive stock option plans of the Company) which are
intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall not qualify as Incentive
Stock Options to the extent that such Options, in the aggregate, become
exercisable for the first time in any one calendar year for shares of Common
Stock with an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the respective date
or dates of grant) of more than $100,000. The amount of Incentive Stock Options
which exceed such $100,000 limitation shall be deemed to be Nonqualified Stock
Options. For the purpose of this limitation, unless otherwise
required by the Code or regulations of the Internal Revenue Service or
determined by the Board, Options shall be taken into account in the order
granted, and the Board may designate that portion of any Incentive Stock Option
that shall be treated as Nonqualified Option in the event that the provisions of
this paragraph apply to a portion of any Option. The designation
described in the preceding sentence may be made at such time as the Committee
considers appropriate, including after the issuance of the Option or at the time
of its exercise.
d. Exercise
Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price (or
determine the method by which the exercise price shall be determined) at the
time each Option is granted and specify the exercise price in the applicable
Stock Option Agreement, provided, however, in no event may the per share
exercise price be less than the then Fair Market Value (as defined below) of the
Common Stock. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant
who, at the time of grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten
percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
parent or subsidiary, then the exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. In the
case of a grant of an Incentive Stock Option to any other Participant, the
exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of grant.
e. Duration of
Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and
subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable
Stock Option Agreement; provided that the term of any Incentive Stock Option may
not be more than ten (10) years from the date of grant. In the case
of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time of grant
of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary,
the term of the Option shall be no longer than ten (10) years from the date of
grant.
f. Exercise of Option.
Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of a written notice of
exercise signed by the proper person together with payment in full as specified
in Section 4(g) and the Stock Option Agreement for the number of shares for
which the Option is exercised.
g. Payment Upon
Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an
Option shall be paid for by one or any combination of the following forms of
payment as permitted by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion: (i) by
check payable to the order of the Company; (ii) only if the Common Stock is then
publicly traded, by delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by
a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay
the exercise price, or delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of
irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver
promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price;
(iii) to the extent explicitly provided in the applicable Stock Option
Agreement, by delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued
at fair market value (as determined by the Board or as determined pursuant to
the applicable Stock Option Agreement); or (iv) payment of such other lawful
consideration as the Board may determine.
The Board
shall determine in its sole and absolute discretion and subject to securities
laws and its Insider Trading Policy whether to accept consideration other than
cash. The fair market value of any shares of the Company's Common Stock or other
non-cash consideration which may be delivered upon exercise of an Option shall
be determined in such manner as may be prescribed by the Board.
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h. Acceleration, Extension,
Etc. The Board may, in its sole discretion, and in all instances subject
to any relevant tax and accounting considerations which may adversely impact or
impair the Company, (i) accelerate the date or dates on which all or any
particular Options or Awards granted under the Plan may be exercised, or (ii)
extend the dates during which all or any particular Options or Awards granted
under the Plan may be exercised; provided, however, in no event may any
extension exceed the lesser of the option term permitted under Section 4(e)
herein or the term set forth in the governing Stock Option
Agreement.
i. Determination of Fair Market
Value. If, at the time an Option is granted under the Plan, the Company's
Common Stock is publicly traded under the Exchange Act, “fair market value”
shall mean (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange,
its fair market value shall be the last reported sales price for such stock (on
that date) or the closing bid, if no sales were reported as quoted on such
exchange or system as reported in The Wall Street Journal or
such other source as the Board deems reliable; or (ii) the average of the
closing bid and asked prices last quoted (on that date) by an established
quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if the Common Stock is not
reported on a national market system. In the absence of an established market
for the Common Stock, the fair market value thereof shall be determined in good
faith by the Board after taking into consideration all factors which it deems
appropriate.
5. Restricted
Stock.
a. Grants. The
Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock,
subject to (i) delivery to the Company by the Participant of a check in an
amount at least equal to the par value of the shares purchased, and (ii) the
right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue
price or other stated or formula price from the Participant in the event that
conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied
prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by
the Board for such Award (each, a “Restricted Stock Award”).
b. Terms and
Conditions. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions
of any such Restricted Stock Award. Any stock certificates issued in respect of
a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and,
unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the Participant, together
with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its
designee). After the expiration of the applicable restriction
periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer
subject to such restrictions to the Participant or, if the Participant has died,
to the beneficiary designated by a Participant, in a manner determined by the
Board, to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event
of the Participant's death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of an
effective designation by a Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the
Participant's estate.
6. Other Stock-Based
Awards. The Board shall have the right to grant other Awards
based upon the Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Board may
determine, including, without limitation, the grant of shares based upon certain
conditions, the grant of securities convertible into Common Stock and the grant
of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock awards or stock units.
7. General Provisions Applicable to
Awards.
a. Transferability of
Awards. Except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an
Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by
operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and,
during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the
Participant; provided, however, except as the Board may otherwise determine or
provide in an Award, that Nonstatutory Options and Restricted Stock Awards may
be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as defined in
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) or to a
grantor-retained annuity trust or a similar estate-planning vehicle in which the
trust is bound by all provisions of the Stock Option Agreement and Restricted
Stock Award, which are applicable to the Participant. References to a
Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to
authorized transferees.
b. Documentation. Each
Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written instrument in such form as
the Board shall determine or as executed by an officer of the Company pursuant
to authority delegated by the Board. Each Award may contain terms and
conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan, provided that such terms
and conditions do not contravene the provisions of the Plan or applicable
law.
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c. Board
Discretion. The terms of each type of Award need not be
identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.
d. Additional Award
Provisions. The Board may, in its sole discretion, include
additional provisions in any Stock Option Agreement, Restricted Stock Award or
other Award granted under the Plan, including without limitation restrictions on
transfer, repurchase rights, commitments to pay cash bonuses, to make, arrange
for or guaranty loans or to transfer other property to Participants upon
exercise of Awards, or transfer other property to Participants upon exercise of
Awards, or such other provisions as shall be determined by the Board; provided
that such additional provisions shall not be inconsistent with any other term or
condition of the Plan or applicable law.
e. Termination of
Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the
disability (as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3)), death, retirement, authorized
leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a
Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the
Participant, or the Participant's legal representative, conservator, guardian or
Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award, subject to
applicable law and the provisions of the Code related to Incentive Stock
Options.
f. Change of Control of the
Company.
(i) Unless
otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement or
Restricted Stock Award or other Award, in connection with the occurrence of a
Change in Control (as defined below), the Board shall, in its sole discretion as
to any outstanding Award (including any portion thereof; on the same basis or on
different bases, as the Board shall specify), take one or any combination of the
following actions:
(a) make
appropriate provision for the continuation of such Award by the Company or the
assumption of such Award by the surviving or acquiring entity and by
substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such Award
either (x) the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of
Common Stock in connection with the Change of Control, (y) shares of stock of
the surviving or acquiring corporation or (z) such other securities as the Board
deems appropriate, the fair market value of which (as determined by the Board in
its sole discretion) shall not materially differ from the fair market value of
the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award immediately preceding the
Change of Control;
(b) accelerate
the date of exercise or vesting of such Award; or
(c) permit
the exchange of such Award for the right to participate in any stock option or
other employee benefit plan of any successor corporation.
(ii) For
the purpose of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall mean:
(a) The
acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding
shares of voting stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Voting Stock”);
provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries
of 50% or more of Outstanding Voting Stock shall not constitute a Change in
Control; and provided, further, that any acquisition by a corporation with
respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then
outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation, is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Voting Stock
immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as
their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding
Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change in Control; or
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(b)
Individuals
who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”)
cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of this Board;
provided that any individual who becomes a director after the Effective Date
whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s Shareholders was
approved by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Directors (other than an
election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in
connection with an actual or threatened “election contest” relating to the
election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11
under the Exchange Act), “tender offer” (as such term is used in Section 14(d)
of the Exchange Act) or a proposed Merger (as defined below) shall be deemed to
be members of the Incumbent Directors; or
(c)
The
consummation of (i) a reorganization, merger or consolidation (any of the
foregoing, a “Merger”), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially
all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the
Outstanding Voting Stock immediately prior to such Merger do not, following such
Merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from Merger,
(ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (iii) the sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
excluding a sale or other disposition of assets to a subsidiary of the
Company.
g. Dissolution or
Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, the Board shall notify each Participant as soon as
practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed
transaction. The Board in its sole discretion may provide for a
Participant to have the right to exercise his or her Award until fifteen (15)
days prior to such transaction as to all of the shares of Common Stock covered
by the Option or Award, including shares as to which the Option or Award would
not otherwise be exercisable, which exercise may in the sole discretion of the
Board, be made subject to and conditioned upon the consummation of such proposed
transaction. In addition, the Board may provide that any Company
repurchase option applicable to any shares of Common Stock purchased upon
exercise of an Option or Award shall lapse as to all such shares of Common
Stock, provided the proposed dissolution and liquidation takes place at the time
and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been
previously exercised, an Award will terminate upon the consummation of such
proposed action.
h. Assumption of Options Upon
Certain Events. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity
with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an
entity, the Board may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and
stock-based awards issued by such entity or an affiliate thereof. The substitute
Awards shall be granted on such terms and conditions as the Board considers
appropriate in the circumstances.
i. Parachute Payments and
Parachute Awards. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section
7(f), if, in connection with a Change of Control described therein, a tax under
Section 4999 of the Code would be imposed on the Participant (after taking into
account the exceptions set forth in Sections 280G(b)(4) and 280G(b)(5) of the
Code, if applicable), then the number of Awards which shall become exercisable,
realizable or vested as provided in such Section shall be reduced (or delayed),
to the minimum extent necessary, so that no such tax would be imposed on the
Participant (the Awards not becoming so accelerated, realizable or vested, the
“Parachute Awards”); provided, however, that if the “aggregate present value” of
the Parachute Awards would exceed the tax that, but for this sentence, would be
imposed on the Participant under Section 4999 of the Code in connection with the
Change of Control, then the Awards shall become immediately exercisable,
realizable and vested without regard to the provisions of this sentence. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, the “aggregate present value” of an Award
shall be calculated on an after-tax basis (other than taxes imposed by Section
4999 of the Code) and shall be based on economic principles rather than the
principles set forth under Section 280G of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder. All determinations required to be made under this
Section 7(j) shall be made by the Company.
j. Amendment of
Awards. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any
outstanding Award including, but not limited to, substituting therefor another
Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or
realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock
Option, provided that the Participant's consent to such action shall be required
unless the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related
action, would not materially and adversely affect the
Participant.
26
k. Conditions on Delivery of
Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously
delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or
removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company's
counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of
such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and
any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii)
the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations
or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the
requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.
l. Acceleration. The
Board may at any time provide that any Options shall become immediately
exercisable in full or in part, that any Restricted Stock Awards shall be free
of some or all restrictions, or that any other stock-based Awards may become
exercisable in full or in part or free of some or all restrictions or
conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be,
despite the fact that the foregoing actions may (i) cause the application of
Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code if a change in control of the Company occurs,
or (ii) disqualify all or part of the Option as an Incentive Stock
Option.
8. Withholding. The
Company shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due
to the optionee or recipient of an Award any federal, state or local taxes of
any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any shares issued upon
exercise of Options under the Plan or the purchase of shares subject to the
Award. Subject to the prior approval of the Company, including without
limitation, its determination that such withholding complies with applicable tax
and securities laws,, which may be withheld by the Company in its sole
discretion, the optionee or recipient of an Award may elect to satisfy such
obligation, in whole or in part, (a) by causing the Company to withhold shares
of Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the
purchase of shares subject to an Award or (b) by delivering to the Company
shares of Common Stock already owned by the optionee or Award recipient of an
Award. The shares so delivered or withheld shall have a fair market value of the
shares used to satisfy such withholding obligation as shall be determined by the
Company as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be
determined. An optionee or recipient of an Award who has made an election
pursuant to this Section may only satisfy his or her withholding obligation with
shares of Common Stock which are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture,
unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.
9. No Exercise of Option if
Engagement or Employment Terminated for Cause. If the
employment or engagement of any Participant is terminated “for Cause,” the Award
may terminate, upon a determination of the Board, on the date of such
termination and the Option shall thereupon not be exercisable to any extent
whatsoever and the Company shall have the right to repurchase any shares of
Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award whether or not such shares have
vested. For purposes of this Section 9, “for Cause” shall be defined
as follows: (i) if the Participant has executed an employment
agreement, the definition of “cause” contained therein, if any, shall govern, or
(ii) conduct, as determined by the Board of Directors, involving one or more of
the following: (a) gross misconduct; or (b) the commission of an act of
embezzlement, fraud or theft, which results in economic loss, damage or injury
to the Company; or (c) the unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or
confidential information of the Company (or any client, customer, supplier or
other third party who has a business relationship with the Company) or the
violation of any noncompetition or nonsolicitation covenant or assignment of
inventions obligation with the Company; or (d) the commission of an act which
constitutes unfair competition with the Company or which induces any
customer or prospective customer of the Company to breach a contract with the
Company or to decline to do business with the Company; or (e) the indictment of
the Participant for a felony or serious misdemeanor offense, either in
connection with the performance of his or her obligations to the Company or
which shall adversely affect the Participant's ability to perform such
obligations; or (f) the commission of an act of fraud or breach of fiduciary
duty which results in loss, damage or injury to the Company; or (g) the failure
of the Participant to perform in a material respect his or her employment,
consulting or advisory obligations without proper cause; or (h) intentional
violation of securities laws or the Company’s Insider Trading Policy. In making
such determination, the Board shall act fairly and in utmost good faith. The
Board may in its discretion waive or modify the provisions of this Section at a
meeting of the Board with respect to any individual Participant with regard to
the facts and circumstances of any particular situation involving a
determination under this Section.
10. Miscellaneous.
a. Definitions.
(i) “Company,”
for purposes of eligibility under the Plan, shall include any present or future
subsidiary corporations of Intellect Neurosciences, Inc., as defined in Section
424(f) of the Code (a “Subsidiary”), and any present or future parent
corporation of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. For
purposes of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the term “Company” shall
include any other business venture in which the Company has a direct or indirect
significant interest, as determined by the Board in its sole
discretion.
27
(ii) “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(iii) “Employee”
for purposes of eligibility under the Plan shall include a person to whom an
offer of employment has been extended by the Company.
(iv) “Option
Exchange Program” means a program whereby outstanding options are exchanged for
options with a lower exercise price.
b. No Right To Employment or
Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be
granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a
Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the
Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or
otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability
or claim under the Plan.
c. No Rights As
Stockholder. Subject to
the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or
Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to
any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until
becoming the record holder thereof.
d. Effective Date and Term of
Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is adopted
by the Board (the “Effective Date”. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan
after the completion of ten years from the date on which the Plan was adopted by
the Board, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that
date.
e. Amendment of Plan.
The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any
time.
f. Settlement of
Awards. Any other provision of the Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, if any provisions of the Plan permits a Participant, at his or
her election, to receive a cash settlement of Options or other Awards under the
Plan, or requires the Company to pay a cash settlement of Options or Awards
under the Plan, the Participant shall be entitled to receive the cash
settlement, and the Company shall be obligated to pay the cash settlement, only
if the Company determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, to make such
payment.
g. Governing Law. The
provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without regard
to any applicable conflicts of law.
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