UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On April 6, 2022, Aptose Biosciences Inc. appointed Mr. Philippe Ledru as its Chief Commercial Officer. In connection with this appointment, Aptose and Mr. Ledru, age 55, entered into an employment agreement on April 6, 2022 (the “Employment Agreement”). Mr. Ledru recently served as Associate Vice President and Head of Oncology New Products at Merck & Co, where he was responsible for commercial leadership over the entire Merck oncology pipeline, over 25 assets from discovery to mid-stage clinical development, across all major solid tumors and hematological malignancies. At Merck, he also provided leadership on all licensing and M&A activities, including the Peloton Therapeutics and Arqule acquisitions in 2019. Prior, Mr. Ledru spent a 20+ year career at Novartis in the U.S. and France, most recently as Senior Director of Early Commercial Strategy focused on oncology products. There he also was part of the brand team and had early commercial development and global marketing responsibilities for several new compounds, including midostaurin. Earlier at Novartis Oncologie, he helped lead launches of several oncology products, including imatinib (Gleevec). Mr. Ledru also held oncology product management and business development positions at Zeneca Pharma France/ICI Pharma.
Mr. Ledru’s term of employment commenced on April 6, 2022, and will continue for an indefinite period until terminated pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement. During the term of his employment, Mr. Ledru will receive an annual base salary of $410,000 and will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus in an amount up to 40% of his base salary, to be determined at the discretion of Aptose’s board of directors in accordance with individual, department and/or company performance criteria. In the event of Mr. Ledru’s termination of employment by Aptose without cause or by Mr. Ledru for "good reason" and subject to his execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, Mr. Ledru will be entitled to a lump sum cash payment equal to his annual base salary at the time of termination, a lump sum cash payment equal to the average of his last three annual bonus payments and payment of monthly COBRA insurance premiums for up to twelve months.
Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Ledru will be awarded (i) a stock option grant entitling him to acquire 600,000 common shares of Aptose subject to the terms and conditions of Aptose’s 2021 Stock Incentive Plan. In addition, during and following termination of his employment, Mr. Ledru is subject to non-solicitation and non-competition covenants and a separate confidentiality agreement under the Employment Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.
There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Ledru and any other person pursuant to which he was selected to serve as an officer of Aptose.
Mr. Ledru does not have any family relationships with any of Aptose's directors or executive officers and is not a party to any transactions listed in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Aptose also announced on April 07, 2022 that Dr. Jotin Marango, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, is resigning to pursue another opportunity. Dr. Rice will serve as Chief Accounting Officer, and with Ms. Janet Clennett, Vice President of Finance, will assume financial responsibilities until a permanent CFO is announced. Aptose and Dr. Marango plan to enter into an advisory agreement to ensure a smooth transition from his CFO duties.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On April 7, 2022, Aptose issued a press release relating to the announcements described in Item 5.02. The release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit 10.1 | Employment Agreement dated June 3, 2019 between Aptose Biosciences Inc. and Philippe Ledru. |
| Exhibit 99.1 | Press release, dated April 7, 2022 |
| Exhibit 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 11, 2022
| APTOSE BIOSCIENCES INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ William G. Rice | ||
| Name: | Dr. William G. Rice | ||
| Title: | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||
Exhibit 10.1
APTOSE BIOSCIENCES INC.
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Executive Employment Agreement (the ''Agreement'"), made between Aptose Biosciences Inc. (the "Company") and Philippe Ledru ("Executive", and together with the Company, the "Parties"), is effective as of April 6, 2022 (the "Effective Date").
WHEREAS, the Company desires for Executive to commence employment with the Company and wishes to provide Executive with certain compensation and benefits in return for such employment; and
WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and to provide personal services to the Company in return for certain compensation and benefits;
WHEREAS, effective as of the Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede and replace all promises, warranties, or employment agreements between Executive and the Company.
Now, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1. | Employment by the Company. |
1.1 Position. Executive shall serve as the Company's Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer. While employed by the Company, Executive will devote Executive's best efforts and substantially all of Executive's business time and attention to the business of the Company, except for approved vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the Company's general employment policies.
1.2 Duties and Location. Executive shall perform such duties as are required by the Company's Chief Executive Officer, to whom Executive will report. In the event of the Chief Executive Officer's incapacity or unavailability, Executive will report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). Executive's primary office location shall be the Company's executive office located at 12270 High Bluff Drive, Suite 120, San Diego, California 92130, however it is agreed that Executive will be working remotely after the Effective Date, but the Parties will define a mutually agreed upon timetable (the "Relocation Schedule") for Executive's relocation to the Greater San Diego, California area or other mutually agreed specified location (the “Relocation Area”) to work in person, as appropriate. The Company reserves the right to reasonably require Executive to perform Executive's duties at places other than Executive's primary office location from time to time, and to require reasonable business travel. The Company may modify Executive's job title and duties as it deems necessary and appropriate in light of the Company's needs and interests from time to time.
1.3 Policies and Procedures. The employment relationship between the Parties is at-will and shall be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company's general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.
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| 2. | Compensation. |
2.1 Base Salary. For services to be rendered hereunder, Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of U.S. $410,000 per year (the "Base Salary") less normal payroll withholdings. The Base Salary will be payable in accordance with the Company's regular payroll schedule. Executive's Base Salary shall be subject to review annually by and at the sole discretion of the Board or its designee.
2.2 Bonus. Executive will be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus of up to forty percent (40%) of Executive's then current Base Salary (the "Annual Bonus"). Whether Executive receives an Annual Bonus for any given fiscal year, and the amount of any such Annual Bonus, will be determined in the good faith discretion of the Board or its designee based upon the Company's and Executive's achievement of objectives and milestones to be determined on an annual basis by the Board or its designee. Any such Annual Bonus will be paid prior to the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month following the close of the Company's fiscal year to which such Annual Bonus relates. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.2 herein, the Company’s payment, and the amount, of any such Annual Bonus shall be in the sole discretion of the Company, and any such Annual Bonus will not be deemed earned unless Executive is an employee of the Company in good standing on the dates the Annual Bonus is determined and paid.
2.3 Advanced Sign-on Bonus. Executive will receive a one-time Sign On Bonus (SOB) of $100,000 upon full Execution of the Agreement and completion of one year of service. If, prior to the first year anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive's employment is terminated by Executive other than for Good Reason (as defined below), or the Company terminates Executive's employment for Cause (as defined below), Executive must repay the full amount of the advanced Sign-on Bonus paid to Executive to the Company, on or within thirty (30) days after the employment termination date. Executive hereby agrees that, pursuant to applicable law, any such repayment obligation will be recovered from Executive's final paycheck and any other amounts owed to Executive by the Company from and after Executive's termination date.
3. Standard Company Benefits. Executive shall, in accordance with Company policy and the terms and conditions of the applicable Company benefit plan documents, be eligible to participate in the benefit and fringe benefit programs provided by the Company to its U.S. based executive officers and other employees from time to time, including, without limitation, vacation. Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation per year, which will accrue in accordance with Company policy. Executive’s benefits are subject to a cap of one and one-half times his annual entitlement after which he will cease to accrue vacation.
4. Expenses.
4.1 Business Expenses. The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable and necessary travel, entertainment or other expenses incurred by Executive in furtherance or in connection with the performance of Executive's duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company's expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time-to-time.
4.2 Relocation Benefit. Executive acknowledges that, as an express condition of his employment, and his continuing employment by the Company, Executive will relocate to the Relocation Area in accordance with the Relocation Schedule determined pursuant to Section 1.2.
(i) In advance of the Executive’s employment, the Company will advance Executive reimbursement for certain reasonable, necessary and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of Executive's permanent relocation to the Relocation Area, up to a maximum total reimbursement amount of $30,000 (the "Relocation Reimbursement"). In order to qualify for the Relocation Reimbursement, Executive must remain an employee in good standing of the Company for two years, Executive may request that these amounts be advanced as the expenses are incurred.
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(ii) Executive will be reimbursed only for actual relocation expenses incurred, up to the maximum reimbursement noted in Section 4.2(i). Executive will be solely responsible for any relocation expenses exceeding the Relocation Reimbursement, and the Company will not be obligated to provide any additional or other relocation benefits or relocation assistance to Executive except as set forth in this Section 4.2. Executive's right to this reimbursement is subject to timely submission of appropriate documentary evidence of expenses incurred in accordance with the Company's reimbursement policies in effect from time to time and completion of two years with the Company. Executive will be responsible for paying any taxes on these expense reimbursements to the extent that they are taxable income under applicable tax law. Any Relocation Reimbursements provided under this provision will be paid within thirty (30) days after the date Executive submits receipts for the expenses, provided Executive submits those receipts within sixty (60) days after Executive incurs the expense.
(iii) If, prior to the two (2) year anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive's employment is terminated by Executive other than for Good Reason (as defined below), or the Company terminates Executive's employment for Cause (as defined below), Executive must repay a portion of the amount of the advanced Relocation Reimbursement paid to Executive to the Company, on or within thirty (30) days after the employment termination date, prorated based on Executive's length of continued employment with the Company (e.g., if Executive is employed for one year at the time of termination and the advanced Relocation Reimbursement was $10,000, Executive shall repay one-half of the advanced Relocation Reimbursement to the Company—i.e., $5,000). Executive hereby agrees that, pursuant to applicable law, any such repayment obligation of the advance will be recovered from Executive's final paycheck.
4.3 Deadline for Reimbursements. Any amounts payable under this Section 4 shall be made in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) and shall be paid on or before the last day of Executive's taxable year following the taxable year in which Executive incurred the expenses. If required by law, these advances may be subject to normal payroll withholdings. The amounts provided under this Section 4 during any taxable year of Executive's will not affect such amounts provided in any other taxable year of Executive's, and Executive's right to reimbursement for such amounts shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
5. Equity.
5.1 Subject to approval by the Board, and pursuant to the Company’s equity plan (the “Plan”), the Company shall grant Executive an award of options to purchase 600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price equal to the stock’s fair market value per share on the date of grant (the “Option”). The Option will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and the corresponding grant notice and stock option agreement, and will be subject to the Company's standard four-year vesting schedule.
| 6. | Termination of Employment; Severance. |
6.1 At-Will Employment. Executive's employment relationship is at-will. Either Executive or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without Cause (as defined below) or advance notice. If Executive's employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or compensation other than as provided in this Agreement. Upon any termination of Executive's employment, in addition to any severance benefits to which Executive may be entitled under Section 6.2 below, the Company shall pay to Executive (a) his or her fully earned but unpaid base salary, through the date of termination at the rate then in effect, plus (b) all accrued but unpaid vacation, plus (c) all other amounts to which Executive is entitled under any compensation plan or practice of the Company at the time of termination in accordance with the terms of such plans or practices, including, without limitation, any continuation of benefits required by COBRA or applicable law (together, the "Accrued Obligations").
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| 6.2 | Termination Without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason. |
(i) The Company may terminate Executive's employment with the Company at any time without Cause (as defined in Section 10.1 below). Further, Executive may resign at any time for Good Reason (as defined in Section 10.2 below).
(ii) In the event Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause (and other than as a result of Executive's death or Permanent Disability (as defined in Section 6.3(i) below)), or Executive resigns for Good Reason, then provided that Executive satisfies the Release Requirement in Section 7 herein, and remains in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement, the Company shall provide Executive with the following "Severance Benefits":
(a) Salary continuation for a one year period at equal to Executive's annual Base Salary (i.e., a full payment of one year’s salary at the Base Salary rate) at the time of employment termination (without giving effect to any reduction in Base Salary that would give Executive the right to resign for Good Reason) to be paid by the Company on the first payroll date following the Effective Date of the Release, but in no event more than seventy-five (75) days following the date of Executive's termination of employment.
(b) A lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the average of the Annual Bonus payments Executive received from the Company during the last three years of employment completed prior to the year of the employment termination (or such lesser number of years of employment completed by Executive prior to the year of the employment termination if Executive has not yet been employed for three full years prior to the year of the employment termination), pro-rated based on the number of days Executive worked during the fiscal year of the employment termination, divided by 365, to be paid by the Company on the first payroll date following the Effective Date of the Release, but in no event more than seventy-five (75) days following the date of Executive's termination of employment.
(c) If the Company has previously established a group health plan in which Executive participates prior to Executive's termination and Executive timely elects COBRA coverage following any such termination, the Company will pay Executive for the full amount of such COBRA premiums for himself or herself and his or her covered dependents (on a monthly basis) for a period of up to twelve (12) months following the date of termination; provided, that, if and to the extent that any benefit described in this Section 6.2(ii)(c) is not or cannot be paid or provided under any Company plan or program without penalties or adverse tax consequences to the Company or for any other reason, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, then the Company shall pay Executive a fully taxable cash payment equal to the COBRA premium for each month that such benefits cannot be so paid or provided by the Company for a period of up to twelve (12) months following the date of termination; provided, further, that the COBRA payments or, if applicable, the taxable monthly payment discussed above, shall terminate on the earliest to occur of (A) the close of the 12-month period following the termination of Executive's employment; (B) the expiration of Executive's (or Executive's dependents') eligibility for coverage under COBRA; and (C) the date when Executive becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage in connection with new employment or self-employment. If Executive becomes eligible for coverage under another employer's group health plan or otherwise ceases to be eligible for COBRA coverage during the period provided in this Section 6.2(ii)(c), Executive must immediately provide written notice to the Company of such event, and the Company-provided COBRA payments, or if applicable, the monthly payments under this Section 6.2(ii)(c) shall immediately cease.
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(iii) Furthermore, in the event Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2(ii), in either case, within sixty (60) days immediately preceding or twelve (12) months immediately following the consummation of a Change in Control (as defined below), then, in lieu of (and not additional to) the severance benefits described in Section 6.2(ii), and provided that Executive satisfies the Release Requirement in Section 7 herein and remains in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement, the Company shall instead provide Executive with the following benefits (the "Change in Control Severance Benefits"). For the avoidance of doubt: (A) in no event will Executive be entitled to severance benefits under Section 6.2(ii) and this Section 6.2(iii), and (B) if the Company has commenced providing severance benefits to Executive under Section 6.2(ii) prior to the date that Executive becomes eligible to receive Change in Control Severance Benefits under this Section 6.2(iii), the benefits previously provided to Executive under Section 6.2(ii) of this Agreement shall reduce the severance benefits provided under this Section 6.2(iii):
(a) A lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to eighteen (18) months of Executive's annual Base Salary (without giving effect to any reduction in Base Salary that would give Executive the right to resign for Good Reason), to be paid in a single lump sum during the first payroll date following the later of (i) the Effective Date of the Release or (ii) if Executive's termination of employment occurs prior to a Change in Control, the date of such Change in Control, but in no event more than seventy-five (75) days following the date of Executive's termination of employment.
(b) A lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to 150% of the average of the Annual Bonus payments Executive received from the Company during the last three years of employment completed prior to the year of the employment termination (or such lesser number of years of employment completed by Executive prior to the year of the employment termination if Executive has not yet been employed for three full years prior to the year of the employment termination), pro-rated based on the number of days Executive worked during the fiscal year of the employment termination, divided by three hundred sixty-five (365), to be paid by the Company on the first payroll date following the later of (i) the Effective Date of the Release or (ii) if Executive's termination of employment occurs prior to a Change in Control, the date of such Change in Control, but in no event more than seventy-five (75) days following the date of Executive's termination of employment.
(c) If the Company has previously established a group health plan in which Executive participates prior to Executive's termination and Executive timely elects COBRA coverage following any such termination, the Company will pay Executive for the full amount of such COBRA premiums for himself or herself and his or her covered dependents (on a monthly basis) for a period of up to twelve (12) months following the date of termination; provided, that, if and to the extent that any benefit described in this Section 6.2(iii)(c) is not or cannot be paid or provided under any Company plan or program without penalties or adverse tax consequences to the Company or for any other reason, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, then the Company shall pay Executive a fully taxable cash payment equal to the COBRA premium for each month that such benefits cannot be so paid or provided by the Company for a period of up to twelve (12) months following the date of termination; provided, further, that the COBRA payments or, if applicable, the monthly payment discussed above, shall terminate on the earliest to occur of (A) the close of the 12-month period following the termination of Executive's employment; (B) the expiration of Executive's (or Executive's covered dependents) eligibility for coverage under COBRA; and (C) the date when Executive becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage in connection with new employment or self-employment. If Executive becomes eligible for coverage under another employer's group health plan or otherwise ceases to be eligible for COBRA coverage during the period provided in this Section 6.2(iii)(c), Executive must immediately provide written notice to the Company of such event, and the Company-provided COBRA payments, or if applicable, the monthly payments under this Section 6.2(iii)(c) shall immediately cease.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Company's equity plan or form of award agreement, effective as of Executive's employment termination date, the vesting and exercisability of all then outstanding unvested Stock Awards then held by Executive shall accelerate such that all shares become immediately vested and exercisable, if applicable, by Executive upon such termination and shall remain exercisable, if applicable, following Executive's termination as set forth in the applicable equity award documents.
6.3 Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason; Death or Permanent Disability.
(i) The Company may terminate Executive's employment with the Company for Cause. Further, Executive may resign at any time without Good Reason. Executive's employment with the Company will also terminate automatically upon Executive's death. Executive's employment may also be terminated following Executive's "Permanent Disability." For purposes of this Agreement, “Permanent Disability” shall be deemed to have occurred if Executive shall become physically or mentally incapacitated or disabled or otherwise unable fully to discharge his duties hereunder for a period of ninety (90) consecutive calendar days or for one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in any one hundred eighty (180) calendar-day period. The existence of Executive's Permanent Disability shall be determined by the Company on the advice of a duly licensed physician reasonably acceptable to the Company and Executive.
(ii) If Executive resigns without Good Reason, or the Company terminates Executive's employment for Cause, or upon Executive's death or following Executive's Permanent Disability, then (a) Executive will no longer vest in his or her Stock Awards, (b) all payments of compensation by the Company to Executive hereunder will terminate immediately (except as to amounts already earned and the Accrued Obligations), and (c) Executive will not be entitled to any severance benefits, including (without limitation) the Severance Benefits and Change in Control Benefits listed in Sections 6.2(ii) and 6.2(iii). In addition, Executive shall resign from all positions and terminate any relationships as an employee, advisor, officer or director with the Company and any of its affiliates, each effective on the date of termination. In the event of Executive's death or Permanent Disability, Executive, or his estate or heirs, as the case may be, shall also be entitled to any life insurance or disability benefits provided under the Company's benefit plans in which Executive participates, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans.
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7. Conditions to Receipt of Severance Benefits and Change in Control Severance Benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to be eligible for any of the Severance Benefits or Change in Control Severance Benefits, on or within sixty (60) days following the termination of employment, Executive must satisfy the requirement (the "Release Requirement") to return to the Company a signed and dated general release of all known and unknown claims in a form acceptable to the Company (the "Release and Waiver") and allow that Release and Waiver to become effective in accordance with its terms (such date, the "Effective Date of the Release"). No Severance Benefits or Change in Control Severance Benefits will be paid hereunder prior to the Effective Date of the Release. Accordingly, if Executive breaches the preceding sentence and/or refuses to sign and deliver to the Company an executed Release and Waiver within the foregoing time period or signs and delivers to the Company the Release and Waiver but exercises his or her right, if any, under applicable law to revoke the Release and Waiver (or any portion thereof), then Executive will not be entitled to any severance, payment or benefit under this Agreement.
8. Section 409A. It is intended that all of the severance benefits and other payments payable under this Agreement satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively "Section 409A"), provided under Treasury Regulations l.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A- l (b)(5) and 1.409A-l (b)(9), and this Agreement will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with those provisions, and to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement (and any definitions hereunder) will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A. For purposes of Code Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive's right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement (whether severance payments, reimbursements or otherwise) shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent any payments to Executive pursuant to this Agreement (including the Severance Benefits or Change in Control Severance Benefits) constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, then, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, to secure an exemption from or to comply with Section 409A), no amount shall be payable pursuant to such sections unless Executive's termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” with the Company (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), without regard to any alternative definition thereunder, a "Separation from Service"). Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed by the Company at the time of Executive's Separation from Service to be a "specified employee" for purposes of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), and if any of the payments upon Separation from Service set forth herein and/or under any other agreement with the Company are deemed to be "deferred compensation", then to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of such payments is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and the related adverse taxation under Section 409A, such payments shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earliest of (a) the expiration of the six-month and one day period measured from the date of Executive's Separation from Service with the Company, (b) the date of Executive's death or (c) such earlier date as permitted under Section 409A without the imposition of adverse taxation. Upon the first business day following the expiration of such applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Paragraph shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due shall be paid as otherwise provided herein or in the applicable agreement. No interest shall be due on any amounts so deferred. If any severance benefits provided under this Agreement constitute "non-qualified deferred compensation" under Section 409A, any such severance benefits shall not be paid, or in the case of installments shall not commence payment, until the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive's Separation from Service (the "Initial Payment Date"), regardless of when the Release actually becomes effective (and any payments scheduled to be made prior to such Initial Payment Date shall instead accrue and be paid in a single lump sum on such Initial Payment Date) and the remaining payments shall be made as provided in this Agreement.
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| 9. | Section 280G; Limitations on Payment. |
9.1 If any payment or benefit Executive will or may receive from the Company or otherwise (a "280G Payment") would (a) constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise Tax"), then any such 280G Payment provided pursuant to this Agreement (a "Payment") shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The "Reduced Amount" shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount (i.e., the amount determined by clause (x) or by clause (y)), after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in Executive's receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in a Payment is required pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, the reduction shall occur in the manner (the "Reduction Method") that results in the greatest economic benefit for Executive. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the "Pro Rata Reduction Method").
9.2 Notwithstanding any provision of Section 9.1 to the contrary, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A as follows: (A) as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for Executive as determined on an after-tax basis; (B) as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without Cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not contingent on future events; and (C) as a third priority, Payments that are "deferred compensation" within the meaning of Section 409A shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
9.3 Unless Executive and the Company agree on an alternative accounting firm or law firm, the accounting firm engaged by the Company for general tax compliance purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control transaction shall perform the foregoing calculations. If the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control transaction, the Company shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting or law firm to make the determinations required by this Section 9. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting or law firm required to be made hereunder. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the accounting or law firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder to provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to Executive and the Company within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive's right to a 280G Payment becomes reasonably likely to occur (if requested at that time by Executive or the Company) or such other time as requested by Executive or the Company.
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9.4 If Executive receives a Payment for which the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (x) of Section 9.1 and the Internal Revenue Service determines thereafter that some portion of the Payment is subject to the Excise Tax, Executive agrees to promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the Payment (after reduction pursuant to clause (x) of Section 9.1) so that no portion of the remaining Payment is subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (y) of Section 9.1, Executive shall have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence.
| 10. | Definitions. |
10.1 Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" for termination will mean: (a) Executive's commission of any felony or commission of a crime involving dishonesty; (b) Executive's participation in any fraud against the Company; (c) a material breach of Executive's duties to the Company; (d) Executive's persistent unsatisfactory performance of his job duties; (e) Executive's intentional damage to any property of the Company; (f) Executive's misconduct, or other violation of Company policy that causes harm to the Company; and (g) Executive's breach of any material provision of this Agreement or any other written agreement between Executive and the Company; provided, however, that prior to the determination that “Cause” under this Section 10.1 has occurred, the Company shall (i) provide to Executive a written notice providing, in reasonable detail, the reasons for the determination that such “Cause” exists, (ii) other than with respect to clause (a) above, afford Executive a reasonable opportunity to remedy any such event or breach (if deemed curable) within thirty (30) days after delivery of such written notice (or such longer period as the Company may agree in writing), (iii) provide Executive an opportunity to be heard prior to the final decision to terminate Executive's employment hereunder for such “Cause” and (iv) make any decision that such “Cause” exists in good faith.
10.2 Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall have "Good Reason" for resignation from employment with the Company if any of the following actions are taken by the Company without Executive's prior written consent: (a) a material reduction in Executive's Base Salary, other than in connection with an across-the-board decrease of base salaries applicable to all senior executives of the Company; (b) a material reduction in Executive's duties (including responsibilities and/or authorities), provided, however, that a change in job position (including a change in title) shall not be deemed a "material reduction" in and of itself unless Executive's new duties are materially reduced from the prior duties; or (c) relocation of Executive's principal place of employment to a place that increases Executive's one-way commute from the Executive’s residence (after the relocation agreed by Executive and the Company in Section 1.2) by more than fifty (50) miles as compared to Executive's then-current principal place of employment immediately prior to such relocation. In order for Executive to resign for Good Reason, each of the following requirements must be met: (i) Executive must provide written notice to the Company's Chief Executive Officer within sixty (60) days after the first occurrence of the event giving rise to Good Reason setting forth the basis for Executive's resignation, (ii) the Executive must allow the Company at least thirty (30) days from receipt of such written notice to cure such event (the "Cure Period"), (iii) such event is not reasonably cured by the Company within the Cure Period, and (iv) Executive must resign from all positions Executive then holds with the Company not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Cure Period.
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10.3 Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, "Change in Control" shall mean the consummation of any of the following: (a) the acquisition of the Company by another entity by means of any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is party (including, without limitation, any stock acquisition, reorganization, merger or consolidation but excluding any sale of stock for capital raising purposes) other than a transaction or series of transactions in which the holders of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction continue to retain (either by such voting securities remaining outstanding or by such voting securities being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), following such transaction, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction or series of transactions; (b) a sale, lease or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (c) any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and Executive agree that Change in Control does not include any reorganization, sale or plan of arrangement undertaken to move the domicile of the Company to the U.S., pursuant to which the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of a Delaware corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any payment hereunder that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event with respect to such payment shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such payment if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
10.4 "Stock Awards" means all stock options, restricted stock and such other awards granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option and equity incentive award plans or agreements and any shares of stock issued upon exercise thereof.
| 11. | Confidential Information Obligations. |
11.1 Confidential Information Agreement. As a condition of employment, Executive shall execute and abide by the Company's standard form of Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the "Confidentiality Agreement").
11.2 Third-Party Agreements and Information. Executive represents and wan-ants that Executive's employment by the Company does not conflict with any current or prior employment, consulting, non-competition, confidentiality, finders, marketing or other agreement with any third party that would, or might reasonably be expected to, prohibit or restrict him from performing his duties and obligations hereunder, or that conflict with the provisions of this Agreement and Executive’s obligations to the Company under this Agreement, and that Executive will perform Executive's duties to the Company without violating any such agreement. Executive represents and warrants that Executive does not possess confidential information arising out of prior employment, consulting, or other third party relationships, that would be used in connection with Executive's employment by the Company, except as expressly authorized by that third party. During Executive's employment by the Company, Executive will use in the performance of Executive's duties only information which is generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive's own, common knowledge in the industry, otherwise legally in the public domain, or obtained or developed by the Company or by Executive in the course of Executive's work for the Company.
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11.3 Return of Company Property. If Executive's employment is terminated for any reason, the Company shall have the right, at its option, to require Executive to vacate his or her offices prior to or on the effective date of termination and to cease all activities on the Company’s behalf. Upon the termination of his or her employment in any manner, as a condition to the Executive's receipt of any post-termination benefits described in this Agreement, Executive will not keep in Executive’s possession, recreate, or deliver to anyone else and shall immediately surrender to the Company all Company property, including, but not limited to, Company proprietary information, all Company equipment including all Company electronic media equipment, all tangible embodiments of intellectual property, all electronically stored information and passwords to access such property, Company credit cards, records, data, notes, notebooks, all lists, books, records and documents of, reports, files proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, photographs, charts, and any other documents and property, and reproductions of any of the foregoing items. Executive shall deliver to the Company a signed statement certifying compliance with this Section 11.3 prior to the receipt of any post-termination benefits described in this Agreement.
11.4 Rights and Remedies Upon Breach. If Executive breaches or threatens to commit a breach of any of the provisions of this Section 11 or Section 12 below, the Company shall have all of the rights and remedies available to the Company under law or in equity.
11.5 Whistleblower Provision. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit Executive from communicating directly with, cooperating with, or providing information to, any government regulator, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the U.S. Department of Justice. Executive acknowledges that the Company has provided Executive with the following notice of immunity rights in compliance with the requirements of the Defend Trade Secrets Act: (a) Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of proprietary information of the Company that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, (b) Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of proprietary information of the Company that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal and (c) if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the proprietary information to my attorney and use the proprietary information in the court proceeding, if Executive files any document containing the proprietary information under seal, and does not disclose the proprietary information, except pursuant to court order.
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| 12. | Outside Activities During Employment; Non-Solicitation. |
12.1 Non-Company Business. Except with the prior written consent of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Executive will not during the term of Executive's employment with the Company undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise, other than ones in which Executive is a passive investor. Subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement and Section 12.2 below, Executive may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive's duties hereunder. Executive agrees that he or she will not join any boards, other than civic and not-for-profit boards (which do not materially interfere with Executive's duties to the Company), without the prior written approval of the Board, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
12.2 No Adverse Interests. During the term of Executive's employment, Executive agrees not to acquire, assume or participate in, directly or indirectly, any position, investment or interest known to be adverse or antagonistic to the Company, its business or prospects, financial or otherwise. In addition, and in furtherance of the provisions of this Section 12, except as may otherwise be approved in writing by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, during the period of Executive's employment, Executive shall not have any ownership interest (of record or beneficial) in, or perform services as an employee, salesman, consultant, independent contractor, officer or director of, or otherwise aid or assist in any manner, any firm, corporation, partnership, proprietorship or other business that engages in any county, city or part thereof in the United States and/or any foreign country in a business which competes directly or indirectly (as determined by the Board) with the Company’s business in such county, city or part thereof, so long as the Company, or any successor in interest of the Company to the business and goodwill of the Company, remains engaged in such business in such county, city or part thereof or continues to solicit customers or potential customers therein; provided, however, that Executive may own, directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, securities of any entity which are traded on any national securities exchange if Executive (a) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such entity; or (b) does not, directly or indirectly, own one percent (1%) or more of any class of securities of any such entity.
12.3 Solicitation of Employees. Executive shall not during the term of Executive’s employment and for a period of twelve (12) months following Executive’s termination of employment, use Company trade secrets, confidential, or proprietary information to directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage to leave the employment of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
13. Insurance; Indemnification. The Company shall have the right to take out life, health, accident, “key-man” or other insurance covering Executive, in the name of the Company and at the Company’s expense in any amount deemed appropriate by the Company. Executive shall assist the Company in obtaining such insurance, including, without limitation, submitting to any required examinations and providing information and data required by insurance companies. Executive will be provided with indemnification against third party claims related to his or her work for the Company as required by applicable law, including advancement of attorneys’ fees and costs related to any such indemnification as provided by applicable law. The Company shall provide Executive with directors and officers liability insurance coverage at least as favorable as that which the Company may maintain from time to time for the directors of the Company or the other executive officers.
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14. Dispute Resolution.
14.1 In the event of any dispute, claim, cause of action or disagreement (a “Dispute”) arising out of or in connection to this Agreement, including, without limitation, the negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement, as well as Executive's employment with the Company or the termination thereof, the Parties shall attempt to resolve the Dispute in non-binding mediation administered by JAMS, Inc. ("JAMS") or its successors. The parties shall agree on a mediator or if they cannot agree, the dispute shall be submitted to the mediation process of JAMS. The place of mediation shall be San Diego, California and the mediation shall be for a full day. If the Dispute is not resolved pursuant to the foregoing procedure within thirty (30) days after the initial mediation meeting among the parties and the mediator, or if the mediation is otherwise terminated, then either Party may submit the Dispute to arbitration pursuant to Section 14.2 below. Each Party shall pay the fees of its own attorneys and all other expenses connected with presenting its case. Other costs of the mediation, including JAMS' administrative fees, the fee of the mediator, and all other fees and costs, shall be borne by the Company.
14.2 To ensure the rapid and economical resolution of Disputes, including any and all Disputes, in law or equity, including but not limited to statutory claims, arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach, performance, or interpretation of this Agreement, Executive's employment with the Company (including any dispute with the Company, any related parties, and any of their respective employees, officers, owners or agents, who shall be third-party beneficiaries of this provision), or the termination of Executive's employment from the Company, including but not limited to ay disputes arising under statutes such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, shall be resolved pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §1-16, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, by final, binding and confidential arbitration conducted in San Diego, California by JAMS or its successors before a single arbitrator, under the JAMS Employment Arbitration Rules & Procedures (which can be found at https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment-arbitration/, and which will be provided to Executive on request); provided that the arbitrator shall issue a written arbitration decision including the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. The judgment and award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction. This Section 14 is intended to be the sole and exclusive method for resolving any and all claims by the parties against each other for payment of damages under this Agreement or relating to Executive’s employment; provided, however, that Executive shall retain the right to file administrative charges with or seek relief through any government agency of competent jurisdiction, and to participate in any government investigation, including but not limited to (i) claims for workers’ compensation, state disability insurance or unemployment insurance; (ii) claims for unpaid wages or waiting time penalties brought before the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (or any similar agency in any applicable jurisdiction other than California); provided, however, that any appeal from an award or from denial of an award of wages and/or waiting time penalties shall be arbitrated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) claims for administrative relief from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and/or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (or any similar agency in any applicable jurisdiction other than California); provided, further, that Executive shall not be entitled to obtain any monetary relief through such agencies other than workers’ compensation benefits or unemployment insurance benefits. Executive and the Company shall be entitled to all rights and remedies that either would be entitled to pursue in a court of law; provided, however, that in no event shall the arbitrator be empowered to hear or determine any class or collective claim of any type. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief (or any other provisional remedy) in any court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.8 (or similar statute of an applicable jurisdiction) to prevent irreparable harm (including, without limitation, pending the conclusion of any arbitration), which, to the extent applicable, shall be brought in the state or federal courts of California, as applicable. The Company shall pay all fees relating to the administration of the arbitration, including the arbitrator’s fees, arbitration expenses and any other costs unique to the arbitration proceeding (recognizing that each side shall bear its own deposition, witness, expert and attorney’s fees and other expenses to the same extent as if the matter were being heard in court). In the event that a Party refuses to acknowledge his or its obligation to arbitrate a Dispute or files an action in court that is subject to arbitration pursuant to this Section 14.2, and the Executive or the Company seeks to compel arbitration pursuant to this Section 14.2, or if either Party brings an action to enforce an arbitration award hereunder, the prevailing party shall be entitled to attorneys' fees and costs pursuant to applicable law. In addition, if a Party to this Agreement hereafter pursues any dispute by any method other than as set forth herein, the responding Party shall be entitled to recover from the initiating Party all damages, costs, expenses and attorneys' fees incurred as a result of defending such action. Both Executive and the Company acknowledge that by agreeing to this arbitration procedure, each waiveS the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative proceeding.
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| 15. | General Provisions. |
15.1 Notices. Any notices provided must be in writing and will be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including delivery by email or facsimile transmission upon acknowledgment of receipt of electronic transmission) or the next day after sending by overnight carrier, to the Company at its primary office location (with any email notice to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at his primary Company email address) with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice hereunder): McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Attn: Charles-Antoine Soulière, Email: casouliere@mccarthy.ca and to Executive at the address (or email address) as listed on the Company payroll.
15.2 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction to the extent possible in keeping with the intent of the Parties.
15.3 Waiver. Any waiver of any breach of any provisions of this Agreement must be in writing to be effective, and it shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.
15.4 Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company with regard to the subject matter hereof and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of the Company's and Executive's agreement with regard to this subject matter. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes any other such promises, warranties or representations. It cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company.
15.5 No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Party.
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15.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one Party, but both of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
15.7 Headings. The headings of the paragraphs hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.
15.8 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign any of his or her duties hereunder and he or she may not assign any of his or her rights hereunder without the written consent of the Company, which shall not be withheld unreasonably.
15.9 Tax Withholding. All amounts payable to Executive will be subject to appropriate payroll deductions and withholdings.
15.10 Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction.
(i) This Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to the choice of law or conflict of laws provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. If an action at law or in equity (including any arbitration) is commenced to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
(ii) Each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself or himself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of and venue in, the state courts in San Diego in the State of California (or in the event of exclusive federal jurisdiction, the courts of the Southern District of California) in connection with any dispute regarding the meaning, effect, performance or validity of this agreement arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with Executive’s employment with the Company or services rendered hereunder. Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it or he may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it or he may now or hereafter have to venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this agreement .Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
15.11 Survival. The covenants, agreements, representations and warranties contained in or made in Sections 6 through 16 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
15.12 Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating, any rights enforceable by any person not a Party to this Agreement.
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16. Executive’s Cooperation. During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive shall provide reasonable cooperation to the Company and its Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates (and its or their legal counsel or designees) in any internal investigation, any administrative, regulatory or judicial investigation or proceeding or any dispute with a third party as reasonably requested by the Company at the Company's cost (including, without limitation, Executive being available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at the Company's request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, turning over to the Company all pertinent non-privileged information and turning over to the Company all relevant non-privileged documents which are or may come into Executive's possession, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive's other permitted activities and commitments). Executive shall be entitled to (i) compensation for such cooperation at an hourly rate of $250; and (ii) reimbursement for all reasonable costs incurred by Executive in complying with the foregoing.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.
| APTOSE BIOSCIENCES INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ William G. Rice | ||
| Name: | William G. Rice, Ph.D. | ||
| Title: | Chairman, President & CEO |
||
| EXECUTIVE | |||
| /s/ Philippe Ledru | |||
| Print Name: | Philippe Ledru | ||
Exhibit 99.1
Aptose Announces Executive Management Changes
─ Appoints Philippe Ledru as Chief Commercial Officer ─
─ Announces resignation of CFO/CBO Jotin Marango, MD, PhD ─
SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, April 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. (“Aptose” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing highly differentiated oral kinase inhibitors to treat hematologic malignancies, today announced the appointment of Mr. Philippe Ledru to the position of Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, Mr. Ledru is responsible for providing executive leadership and vision for commercial development and marketing strategies for the future commercial launches of Aptose’s innovative oncology medicines and to consolidate responsibilities over business development and licensing.
“Philippe’s broad knowledge with marketing of oncology products and specific experience in hematology, branding and early commercial strategy will serve Aptose well during this next phase of development for our lead myeloid kinome inhibitor HM43239 and beyond for luxeptinib,” said William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re delighted to have him join our executive management team.”
Mr. Ledru brings to Aptose more than 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in the U.S. and Europe, including innovative drug development and commercial and strategic experience at two top global oncology companies. Most recently, he served as Associate Vice President and Head of Oncology New Products at Merck & Co, where he was responsible for commercial leadership over the entire Merck oncology pipeline, over 25 assets from discovery to mid-stage clinical development, across major solid tumors and hematological malignancies. At Merck, he also provided leadership on all licensing and M&A activities, including the Peloton Therapeutics and Arqule acquisitions in 2019. Prior, Mr. Ledru spent a 20+ year career at Novartis in the U.S. and France, most recently as Senior Director of Early Commercial Strategy focused on oncology products. There he also was part of the brand team and had early commercial development and global marketing responsibilities for several new compounds, including midostaurin. Earlier at Novartis Oncologie, he helped lead launches of several oncology products, including imatinib (Gleevec), a landmark drug that has greatly improved the outcomes of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Mr. Ledru also held oncology product management and business development positions at Zeneca Pharma France/ICI Pharma.
“I am truly excited for the opportunity to join Aptose and work on the development and strategy for HM43239, a compound that has been of significant interest to me, and that has the potential to expand treatment options for patients with unmet needs in acute myeloid leukemia. I very much look forward to working with the Aptose team through the next phase of the company’s growth,” said Mr. Ledru.
Separately, Aptose today announced that Dr. Jotin Marango, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, is resigning to pursue another opportunity. Dr. Rice will serve as Chief Accounting Officer, and with Ms. Janet Clennett, Vice President of Finance, will assume financial responsibilities until a permanent CFO is announced. Aptose and Dr. Marango plan to enter into an advisory agreement to ensure a smooth transition from his CFO duties.
“It’s been a pleasure working with Joti to advance our clinical pipeline,” said Dr. Rice, “and we wish the very best for a trusted colleague.”
About Aptose
Aptose Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing personalized therapies addressing unmet medical needs in oncology, with an initial focus on hematology. The Company's small molecule cancer therapeutics pipeline includes products designed to provide single agent efficacy and to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies and regimens without overlapping toxicities. The Company has two clinical-stage investigational products under development for hematologic malignancies: HM43239, an oral, myeloid kinome inhibitor in an international Phase 1/2 trial in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML); and luxeptinib, an oral, dual lymphoid and myeloid kinome inhibitor in a Phase 1 a/b trial in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies who have failed or are intolerant to standard therapies, and in a separate Phase 1 a/b trial in patients with relapsed or refractory AML or high risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). For more information, please visit www.aptose.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the clinical potential, development and strategy of HM43239 and luxeptinib, and statements relating to the Company’s growth, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements including words such as “continue”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “hope” “should”, “would”, “may”, “potential” and other similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements described in this press release. Such factors could include, among others: our ability to obtain the capital required for research and operations; the inherent risks in early stage drug development including demonstrating efficacy; development time/cost and the regulatory approval process; the progress of our clinical trials; our ability to find and enter into agreements with potential partners; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; changing market and economic conditions; inability of new manufacturers to produce acceptable batches of GMP in sufficient quantities; unexpected manufacturing defects; the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks detailed from time-to-time in our ongoing current reports, quarterly filings, annual information forms, annual reports and annual filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions set out in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. We cannot assure you that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
| For further information, please contact: | |
| Aptose Biosciences Inc. | LifeSci Advisors, LLC |
Susan Pietropaolo Corporate Communications & Investor Relations 201-923-2049 spietropaolo@aptose.com |
Dan Ferry, Managing Director 617-535-7746 Daniel@LifeSciAdvisors.com |
Cover |
Apr. 08, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Document Period End Date | Apr. 08, 2022 |
| Entity File Number | 001-32001 |
| Entity Registrant Name | Aptose Biosciences Inc. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000882361 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 98-1136802 |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | Z4 |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 251 Consumers Road |
| Entity Address, City or Town | Suite 1105 Toronto |
| Entity Address, State or Province | ON |
| Entity Address, Country | CA |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | M2J 4R3 |
| City Area Code | (647) |
| Local Phone Number | 479-9828 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common Shares, no par value |
| Trading Symbol | APTO |
| Security Exchange Name | NASDAQ |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |