As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 12, 2016
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
________________
RETROPHIN, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 27-4842691 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
12255 El Camino Real, Suite 250
San Diego, CA 92130
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
________________
Retrophin, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan
Inducement Awards
(Full Title of the Plan)
Stephen Aselage
Chief Executive Officer
Retrophin, Inc.
12255 El Camino Real, Suite 250
San Diego, CA 92130
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(760) 260-8600
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
________________
Copy to:
Jason L. Kent, Esq.
Nathan J. Nouskajian, Esq.
Cooley LLP.
4401 Eastgate Mall
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 550-6000
________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | þ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | Non-accelerated filer | ¨ | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | |||||||
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed | ||||
Title of Each Class | Maximum | Proposed Maximum | ||
of Securities to | Amount to be | Offering | Aggregate | Amount of |
be Registered | Registered (1) | Price per Share (2) | Offering Price (2) | Registration Fee |
Common Stock (par value $0.0001 per share) issuable under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan | 1,600,000 shares (3) | $16.13 | $25,808,000 | $2,598.87 |
Common Stock (par value $0.0001 per share) issuable as Inducement Awards | 210,000 shares (4) | $16.13 | $3,387,300 | $341.11 |
Total: | 1,810,000 shares | N/A | $29,195,300 | $2,939.98 |
(1) | Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), this registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock that may become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction. |
(2) | This estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h)(1) of the Securities Act solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee. The price per share and aggregate offering price are based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s common stock on September 6, 2016, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market. |
(3) Represents 1,600,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock that were added to the Retrophin, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2015 Plan) pursuant to a share reserve increase approved by the Registrant’s stockholders on May 18, 2016.
(4) Represents shares of the Registrant’s common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding restricted stock unit awards and upon the exercise of outstanding stock options granted, on terms and conditions consistent with restricted stock unit awards and stock option grants under the 2015 Plan, as inducement grants pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION.
Not required to be filed with this Registration Statement.
ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.
Not required to be filed with this Registration Statement.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents previously filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:
1.The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2016;
2.The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2016;
3.The Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2016 and August 5, 2016, respectively;
4.The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K (excluding any information and exhibits furnished under either Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 thereof), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 2, 2016, February 25, 2016, March 24, 2016, April 11, 2016, May 19, 2016, May 25, 2016, June 21, 2016, July 20, 2016, August 15, 2016 and September 7, 2016;
5.The information specifically incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 from the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (other than information furnished rather than filed), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 4, 2016; and
6.The description of the Registrant’s common stock set forth in the registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 9, 2014, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description.
All documents, reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents, reports and definitive proxy or information statements, or portions thereof, which are furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as so modified or superseded.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
The Registrant is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL) provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with various actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, a derivative action, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such actions, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, as amended from time to time, each person that such section grants us the power to indemnify.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act may be permitted to the Registrant’s directors, officers or controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is therefore unenforceable.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
Exhibit: | Description |
3.1 | Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s General Form for Registration of Securities on Form 10-12G, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2010). |
3.2 | Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 11, 2015). |
3.3 | Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 11, 2015). |
4.1 | Form of Warrant Certificate, dated June 30, 2014, issued to the Lenders under the Credit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 7, 2014). |
4.2 | Form of Warrant issued to the purchasers in the private placement of 3,045,929 shares of common stock, dated February 14, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2013). |
4.3 | Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated August 15, 2013, issued to the purchasers of securities in the private placement of the Company closed on August 15, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 20, 2013). |
4.4 | Form of Note Purchase Agreement for principal senior convertible notes with an interest rate of 4.50% due 2019 (“2019 Notes”), dated May 29, 2014, by and among the Company and the investors identified therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 4, 2014). |
4.5 | Form of Indenture for 2019 Notes, dated May 30, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 4, 2014). |
4.6 | Form of Note for 2019 Notes, dated May 30, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2014). |
4.7 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, by and among the Company and the February 2013 Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2013). |
4.8 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 15, 2013, by and among the Company and the August 2013 Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 20, 2013). |
4.9 | First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 14, 2013, by and among the Company and the purchasers signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 20, 2013). |
4.10 | Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on September 9, 2014). |
4.11 | Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on September 9, 2014). |
5.1 | Opinion of Cooley LLP. |
23.1 | Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
23.2 | Consent of Marcum LLP. |
23.3 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP. |
24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto). |
99.1 | Retrophin, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 19, 2016). |
99.2 | Form of Stock Option Grant Notice, Option Agreement and Exercise Notice, Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for use under the Retrophin, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 11, 2015). |
99.3 | Form of Stock Option Grant Notice, Option Agreement and Notice of Exercise for Inducement Grant Outside of 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. |
99.4 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Inducement Grant Outside of 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. |
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: | |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; | |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement. | |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; | |
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. | |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. | |
(b) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on September 12, 2016.
RETROPHIN, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Stephen Aselage | |
Stephen Aselage | ||
Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know All Persons By These Presents, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephen Aselage and Laura M. Clague, and each or either of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date |
/s/ Stephen Aselage Stephen Aselage | Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | September 12, 2016 |
/s/ Laura M. Clague Laura M. Clague | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | September 12, 2016 |
/s/ Gary Lyons Gary Lyons | Chairman of the Board of Directors | September 12, 2016 |
/s/ Tim Coughlin Tim Coughlin | Director | September 12, 2016 |
/s/ Cornelius Golding Cornelius Golding | Director | September 12, 2016 |
/s/ John Kozarich John Kozarich | Director | September 12, 2016 |
/s/ Jeffrey A. Meckler Jeffrey A. Meckler | Director | September 12, 2016 |
/s/ Roy D. Baynes Roy D. Baynes | Director | September 12, 2016 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit: | Description |
3.1 | Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s General Form for Registration of Securities on Form 10-12G, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2010). |
3.2 | Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 11, 2015). |
3.3 | Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 11, 2015). |
4.1 | Form of Warrant Certificate, dated June 30, 2014, issued to the Lenders under the Credit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 7, 2014). |
4.2 | Form of Warrant issued to the purchasers in the private placement of 3,045,929 shares of common stock, dated February 14, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2013). |
4.3 | Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated August 15, 2013, issued to the purchasers of securities in the private placement of the Company closed on August 15, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 20, 2013). |
4.4 | Form of Note Purchase Agreement for principal senior convertible notes with an interest rate of 4.50% due 2019 (“2019 Notes”), dated May 29, 2014, by and among the Company and the investors identified therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 4, 2014). |
4.5 | Form of Indenture for 2019 Notes, dated May 30, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 4, 2014). |
4.6 | Form of Note for 2019 Notes, dated May 30, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2014). |
4.7 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, by and among the Company and the February 2013 Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2013). |
4.8 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 15, 2013, by and among the Company and the August 2013 Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 20, 2013). |
4.9 | First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 14, 2013, by and among the Company and the purchasers signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 20, 2013). |
4.10 | Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on September 9, 2014). |
4.11 | Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on September 9, 2014). |
5.1 | Opinion of Cooley LLP. |
23.1 | Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
23.2 | Consent of Marcum LLP. |
23.3 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP. |
24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto). |
99.1 | Retrophin, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 19, 2016). |
99.2 | Form of Stock Option Grant Notice, Option Agreement and Exercise Notice, Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for use under the Retrophin, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 11, 2015). |
99.3 | Form of Stock Option Grant Notice, Option Agreement and Notice of Exercise for Inducement Grant Outside of 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. |
99.4 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Inducement Grant Outside of 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. |
Exhibit 5.1
Jason L. Kent
T: +1 858 550 6044
jkent@cooley.com
September 12, 2016
Retrophin, Inc.
12255 El Camino Real, Suite 250
San Diego, CA 92130
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion, as counsel to Retrophin, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with respect to certain matters in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S‑8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, covering the offering of up to 1,810,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Shares”), including 1,600,000 shares issuable pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) and 210,000 shares (the “Inducement Grant Shares”) reserved for issuance pursuant to inducement awards made on terms and conditions consistent with stock option grants and restricted stock unit awards under the 2015 Plan.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the Registration Statement and related prospectus, the 2015 Plan, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, its Amended and Restated Bylaws, and the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof.
Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the 2015 Plan, and the Inducement Grant Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the applicable stock option agreement and restricted stock unit award agreement, and in each case when sold and issued in accordance with the Registration Statement and the related prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable (except as to Shares issued pursuant to certain deferred payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such deferred payments are made in full).
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
Sincerely,
Cooley LLP
By: | /s/ Jason L. Kent |
Jason L. Kent | |
4401 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121 T: (858) 550-6000 F: (858) 550-6420 www.cooley.com
Exhibit 23.2
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Retrophin, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated March 28, 2014, except for the information appearing in the first bullet point in Note 2 and the last five paragraphs of Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements (not presented in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015) appearing under Item 8 of the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 1 as to which the date is March 11, 2015, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and emphasis of a matter paragraph pertaining to the restatement of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, with respect to our audit of the consolidated financial statements of Retrophin, Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2013, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Retrophin, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2015. We were dismissed as auditors on March 31, 2014 and, accordingly, we have not performed any audit or review procedures with respect to any financial statements, incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form S-8, for the periods after the date of our dismissal, other than those procedures we performed on March 11, 2015, which specifically relate to the restatement of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013.
/s/ Marcum llp
Marcum llp
New York, NY
September 12, 2016
Exhibit 23.3
Consent of Independent Auditors
Retrophin, Inc.
San Diego, California
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of our reports dated February 26, 2016, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of Retrophin Inc.’s (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
BDO USA, LLP
New York, New York
September 12, 2016
EXHIBIT 99.3
Retrophin, Inc.
Stock Option Grant Notice
(Inducement Grant Outside of
2015 Equity Incentive Plan)
Retrophin, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants to Optionholder an option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock set forth below. This option is granted outside of the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), and is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth in this notice, in the Option Agreement, the Plan (as if it had been granted under the Plan) and the Notice of Exercise, all of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein in their entirety. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined herein but defined in the Plan or the Option Agreement will have the same definitions as in the Plan or the Option Agreement. If there is any conflict between the terms in this notice and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control.
Optionholder: | |
Date of Grant: | |
Vesting Commencement Date: | |
Number of Shares Subject to Option: | |
Exercise Price (Per Share): | |
Total Exercise Price: | |
Expiration Date: | |
Type of Grant: Nonstatutory Stock Option
Exercise Schedule: Same as Vesting Schedule
Vesting Schedule: | Subject to Participant’s Continuous Service through each such date, one-third of the shares underlying the option shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, and the remaining two-thirds shall vest in equal installments over the following eight quarters. |
Payment: By one or a combination of the following items (described in the Option Agreement):
x By cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company
x Pursuant to a Regulation T Program if the shares are publicly traded
By delivery of already-owned shares if the shares are publicly traded
Additional Terms/Acknowledgements: Optionholder acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to, this Stock Option Grant Notice, the Option Agreement and the Plan. Optionholder acknowledges and agrees that this Stock Option Grant Notice and the Option Agreement may not be modified, amended or revised except as provided in the Plan. Optionholder further acknowledges that as of the Date of Grant, this Stock Option Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between Optionholder and the Company regarding this option award and supersede all prior oral and written agreements, promises and/or representations on that subject with the exception of (i) options previously granted and delivered to Optionholder, (ii) any compensation recovery policy that is adopted by the Company or is otherwise required by applicable law and (iii) any written employment or severance arrangement that would provide for vesting acceleration of this option upon the terms and conditions set forth therein.
By accepting this option, Optionholder consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Company’s equity incentive programs through an online or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
Retrophin, Inc. | Optionholder: | ||||
By: | By: | ||||
Signature | Signature | ||||
Title: | Date: | ||||
Date: | |||||
Attachments: Option Agreement, 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and Notice of Exercise
Retrophin, Inc.
Option Agreement
(Nonstatutory Stock Option)
Inducement Grant Outside of
2015 Equity Incentive Plan
Pursuant to your Stock Option Grant Notice (“Grant Notice”) and this Option Agreement, Retrophin, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you an option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice at the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice. The option is granted to you effective as of the date of grant set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Date of Grant”). The option is granted in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5634(c)(4) as a material inducement to you entering into employment with the Company. The option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option and is granted outside of, but subject to the terms of, the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and other relevant Plan provisions as if the option had been granted as a Nonstatutory Stock Option under Section 5 of the Plan, provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the shares of Common Stock subject to this option shall not reduce and shall have no impact on the number of shares available for grant under the Plan. If there is any conflict between the terms in this Option Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined in this Option Agreement or in the Grant Notice but defined in the Plan will have the same definitions as in the Plan.
The details of your option, in addition to those set forth in the Grant Notice and the Plan, are as follows:
1.Vesting. Subject to the provisions contained herein, your option will vest as provided in your Grant Notice. Vesting will cease upon the termination of your Continuous Service.
2.Number of Shares and Exercise Price. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to your option and your exercise price per share in your Grant Notice will be adjusted for Capitalization Adjustments.
3.Exercise Restriction for Non-Exempt Employees. If you are an Employee eligible for overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (that is, a “Non-Exempt Employee”), and except as otherwise provided in the Plan, you may not exercise your option until you have completed at least six (6) months of Continuous Service measured from the Date of Grant, even if you have already been an employee for more than six (6) months. Consistent with the provisions of the Worker Economic Opportunity Act, you may exercise your option as to any vested portion prior to such six (6) month anniversary in the case of (i) your death or disability, (ii) a Corporate Transaction in which your option is not assumed, continued or substituted, (iii) a Change in Control or (iv) your termination of Continuous Service on your “retirement” (as defined in the Company’s benefit plans).
4.Method of Payment. You must pay the full amount of the exercise price for the shares you wish to exercise. You may pay the exercise price in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company or in any other manner permitted by your Grant Notice, which may include one or more of the following:
(a)Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds. This manner of payment is also known as a “broker-assisted exercise”, “same day sale”, or “sell to cover”.
(b)Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of already-owned shares of Common Stock that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests, and that are valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. “Delivery” for these purposes, in the sole discretion of the Company at the time you exercise your option, will include delivery to the Company of your attestation of ownership of such shares of Common Stock in a form approved by the Company. You may not exercise your option by delivery to the Company of Common Stock if doing so would violate the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock.
(c)Subject to the consent of the Company at the time of exercise, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of your option by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price. You must pay any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by the “net exercise” in cash or other permitted form of payment. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under your option and will not be exercisable thereafter if those shares (i) are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (ii) are delivered to you as a result of such exercise, and (iii) are withheld to satisfy your tax withholding obligations.
5.Whole Shares. You may exercise your option only for whole shares of Common Stock.
6.Securities Law Compliance. In no event may you exercise your option unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise are then registered under the Securities Act or, if not registered, the Company has determined that your exercise and the issuance of the shares would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The exercise of your option also must comply with all other applicable laws and regulations governing your option, and you may not exercise your option if the Company determines that such exercise would not be in material compliance with such laws and regulations (including any restrictions on exercise required for compliance with Treas. Reg. 1.401(k)-1(d)(3), if applicable).
7.Term. You may not exercise your option before the Date of Grant or after the expiration of the option’s term. The term of your option expires, subject to the provisions of Sections 5(h) and 9(c) of the Plan, upon the earliest of the following:
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(a)immediately upon the termination of your Continuous Service for Cause;
(b)three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous Service for any reason other than Cause, your Disability or your death (except as otherwise provided in Section 7(d) below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) you are a Non-Exempt Employee, (ii) your Continuous Service terminates within six (6) months after the Date of Grant, and (iii) you have vested in a portion of your option at the time of your termination of Continuous Service, your option will not expire until the earlier of (x) the later of (A) the date that is seven (7) months after the Date of Grant, and (B) the date that is three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous Service, and (y) the Expiration Date;
(c)twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous Service due to your Disability (except as otherwise provided in Section 7(d)) below;
(d)eighteen (18) months after your death if you die either during your Continuous Service or within three (3) months after your Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than Cause;
(e)the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice; or
(f)the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant.
8.Exercise.
(a)You may exercise the vested portion of your option (and the unvested portion of your option if your Grant Notice so permits) during its term by (i) delivering a Notice of Exercise (in a form designated by the Company) or completing such other documents and/or procedures designated by the Company for exercise and (ii) paying the exercise price and any applicable withholding taxes to the Company’s Secretary, stock plan administrator, or such other person as the Company may designate, together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.
(b)By exercising your option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your option, the Company may require you to enter into an arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax withholding obligation of the Company arising by reason of (i) the exercise of your option, (ii) the lapse of any substantial risk of forfeiture to which the shares of Common Stock are subject at the time of exercise, or (iii) the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise.
9.Transferability. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9, your option is not transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your life only by you.
(a)Certain Trusts. Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, you may transfer your option to a trust if you are considered to be the sole beneficial owner (determined under Section 671 of the Code and applicable state law) while the option is held in the trust. You and the trustee must enter into transfer and other agreements required by the Company.
(b)Domestic Relations Orders. Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, and provided that you and the designated transferee enter into transfer and other agreements required by the Company, you may transfer your option pursuant to the terms of a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement or other divorce or separation instrument as permitted by Treasury Regulation 1.421-1(b)(2) that contains the information required by the Company to effectuate the transfer. You are encouraged to discuss the proposed terms of any division of this option with the Company prior to finalizing the domestic relations order or marital settlement agreement to help ensure the required information is contained within the domestic relations order or marital settlement agreement.
(c)Beneficiary Designation. Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, you may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form approved by the Company and any broker designated by the Company to handle option exercises, designate a third party who, on your death, will thereafter be entitled to exercise this option and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, your executor or administrator of your estate will be entitled to exercise this option and receive, on behalf of your estate, the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.
10.Option not a Service Contract. Your option is not an employment or service contract, and nothing in your option will be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ of the Company or an Affiliate, or of the Company or an Affiliate to continue your employment. In addition, nothing in your option will obligate the Company or an Affiliate, their respective shareholders, boards of directors, officers or employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or Consultant for the Company or an Affiliate.
11.Withholding Obligations.
(a)At the time you exercise your option, in whole or in part, and at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a “same day sale” pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company), any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company or an Affiliate, if any, which arise in connection with the exercise of your option.
(b)Upon your request and subject to approval by the Company, and compliance with any applicable legal conditions or restrictions, the Company may withhold from fully vested shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to you upon the exercise of your option a number of whole shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value, determined by the Company as of the date of exercise, not in excess of the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lower amount as may be necessary to avoid classification of your option as a liability for financial accounting purposes). If the date of determination of any tax withholding obligation is deferred to a date later than the date of exercise or your option, share withholding pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not be permitted unless you make a proper and timely election under Section 83(b) of the Code, covering the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise with respect to which such determination is otherwise deferred, to accelerate the determination of such tax withholding obligation to the date of exercise of your option. Notwithstanding the filing of such election, shares of Common Stock shall be withheld solely from fully vested shares
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of Common Stock determined as of the date of exercise of your option that are otherwise issuable to you upon such exercise. Any adverse consequences to you arising in connection with such share withholding procedure shall be your sole responsibility.
(c)You may not exercise your option unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied. Accordingly, you may not be able to exercise your option when desired even though your option is vested, and the Company will have no obligation to issue a certificate for such shares of Common Stock or release such shares of Common Stock from any escrow provided for herein, if applicable, unless such obligations are satisfied.
12.Tax Consequences. You hereby agree that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities. You will not make any claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates related to tax liabilities arising from your option or your other compensation. In particular, you acknowledge that this option is exempt from Section 409A of the Code only if the exercise price per share specified in the Grant Notice is at least equal to the “fair market value” per share of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant and there is no other impermissible deferral of compensation associated with the option.
13.Notices. Any notices provided for in your option or the Plan will be given in writing (including electronically) and will be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in the case of notices delivered by mail by the Company to you, five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to the Company. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan and this option by electronic means or to request your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By accepting this option, you consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
14.Governing Plan Document. Your option is subject to all the provisions of the Plan as if the option had been granted under the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of your option, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations, which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan. If there is any conflict between the provisions of your option and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will control. In addition, your option (and any compensation paid or shares issued under your option) is subject to recoupment in accordance with The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any implementing regulations thereunder, any clawback policy adopted by the Company and any compensation recovery policy otherwise required by applicable law.
15.Other Documents. You hereby acknowledge receipt of and the right to receive a document providing the information required by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes the Plan prospectus. In addition, you acknowledge receipt of the Company’s policy permitting certain individuals to sell shares only during certain “window” periods and the Company’s insider trading policy, in effect from time to time.
16.Effect on Other Employee Benefit Plans. The value of this option will not be included as compensation, earnings, salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating your benefits under any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any Affiliate, except as such plan otherwise expressly provides. The Company expressly reserves its rights to amend, modify, or terminate any of the Company’s or any Affiliate’s employee benefit plans.
17.Voting Rights. You will not have voting or any other rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to the shares to be issued pursuant to this option until such shares are issued to you. Upon such issuance, you will obtain full voting and other rights as a shareholder of the Company. Nothing contained in this option, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between you and the Company or any other person.
18.Severability. If all or any part of this Option Agreement or the Plan is declared by any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity will not invalidate any portion of this Option Agreement or the Plan not declared to be unlawful or invalid. Any Section of this Option Agreement (or part of such a Section) so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give effect to the terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.
19.Miscellaneous.
(a)The rights and obligations of the Company under your option will be transferable to any one or more persons or entities, and all covenants and agreements hereunder will inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the Company’s successors and assigns.
(b)You agree upon request to execute any further documents or instruments necessary or desirable in the sole determination of the Company to carry out the purposes or intent of your option.
(c)You acknowledge and agree that you have reviewed your option in its entirety, have had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing and accepting your option, and fully understand all provisions of your option.
(d)This Option Agreement will be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.
(e)All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Option Agreement will be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.
* * * | ||||
This Option Agreement will be deemed to be signed by you upon the signing by you of the Grant Notice to which it is attached.
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NOTICE OF EXERCISE
Retrophin, Inc.
Attention: [Stock Plan Administrator]
12255 El Camino Real, Suite 250
San Diego, California 92130
Date of Exercise: _______________
This constitutes notice to Retrophin, Inc. (the “Company”) under my stock option that I elect to purchase the below number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Shares”) for the price set forth below.
Type of option (check one): | Nonstatutory |
Stock option dated: | _______________ |
Number of Shares as to which option is exercised: | _______________ |
Certificates to be issued in name of: | _______________ |
Total exercise price: | $______________ |
Cash payment delivered herewith: | $______________ |
Value of ________ Shares delivered herewith: | $______________ |
Regulation T Program (cashless exercise): | $______________ |
By this exercise, I agree (i) to provide such additional documents as you may require pursuant to the terms of the Retrophin, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and (ii) to provide for the payment by me to you (in the manner designated by you) of your withholding obligation, if any, relating to the exercise of this option
Very truly yours,
_________________________________________
EXHIBIT 99.4
Retrophin, Inc.
Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice
(Inducement Grant Outside of
2015 Equity Incentive Plan)
Retrophin, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby awards to Participant a Restricted Stock Unit Award for the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“Restricted Stock Units”) set forth below (the “Award”). The Award is granted outside of the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), and is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth in this notice of grant (this “Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice”) and in the Plan (as if it had been granted under the Plan) and the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Award Agreement”), both of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein in their entirety. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan or the Award Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms in the Award and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.
Participant: | |
ID: | |
Date of Grant: | |
Grant Number: | |
Vesting Commencement Date: | |
Number of Restricted Stock Units/Shares: | |
Consideration: | Participant’s services |
Vesting Schedule: | [________________] |
Issuance Schedule: | Subject to any change on a Capitalization Adjustment, one share of Common Stock will be issued for each Restricted Stock Unit that vests at the time set forth in Section 6 of the Award Agreement. |
Additional Terms/Acknowledgements: Participant acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to, this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice, the Award Agreement and the Plan. Participant further acknowledges that as of the Date of Grant, this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice, the Award Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between Participant and the Company regarding the acquisition of the Common Stock pursuant to the Award specified above and supersede all prior oral and written agreements on the terms of this Award with the exception, if applicable, of (i) the written employment agreement or offer letter agreement entered into between the Company and Participant specifying the terms that should govern this specific Award, and (ii) any compensation recovery policy that is adopted by the Company or is otherwise required by applicable law.
By accepting this Award, Participant acknowledges having received and read the Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice, the Award Agreement and the Plan and agrees to all of the terms and conditions set forth in these documents. Participant consents to receive Plan documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
Retrophin, Inc. | Participant | ||||
By: | By: | ||||
Signature | Signature | ||||
Title: | Date: | ||||
Date: | |||||
Attachments: Award Agreement and 2015 Equity Incentive Plan
Retrophin, Inc.
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Inducement Grant Outside of
2015 Equity Incentive Plan
Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”) and this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”), Retrophin, Inc. (the “Company”) has awarded you (“Participant”) a Restricted Stock Unit Award (the “Award”) for the number of Restricted Stock Units/shares indicated in the Grant Notice. The Award is granted in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5634(c)(4) as a material inducement to you entering into employment with the Company. The Award is granted outside of, but subject to the terms of, the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and other relevant Plan provisions as if the Award had been granted as a Restricted Stock Unit Award under Section 6(b) of the Plan, provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Award shall not reduce and shall have no impact on the number of shares available for grant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined in this Agreement or the Grant Notice shall have the same meanings given to them in the Plan. The terms of your Award, in addition to those set forth in the Grant Notice, are as follows.
1.Grant of the Award. This Award represents the right to be issued on a future date one (1) share of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit that vests on the applicable vesting date(s) (subject to any adjustment under Section 3 below) as indicated in the Grant Notice. As of the Date of Grant, the Company will credit to a bookkeeping account maintained by the Company for your benefit (the “Account”) the number of Restricted Stock Units/shares of Common Stock subject to the Award. This Award was granted in consideration of your services to the Company.
2.Vesting. Subject to the limitations contained herein, your Award will vest, if at all, in accordance with the vesting schedule provided in the Grant Notice, provided that vesting will cease upon the termination of your Continuous Service. Upon such termination of your Continuous Service, the Restricted Stock Units/shares of Common Stock credited to the Account that were not vested on the date of such termination will be forfeited at no cost to the Company and you will have no further right, title or interest in or to such underlying shares of Common Stock.
3.Number of Shares. The number of Restricted Stock Units/shares subject to your Award may be adjusted from time to time for Capitalization Adjustments, as provided in the Plan. Any additional Restricted Stock Units, shares, cash or other property that becomes subject to the Award pursuant to this Section 3, if any, shall be subject, in a manner determined by the Board, to the same forfeiture restrictions, restrictions on transferability, and time and manner of delivery as applicable to the other Restricted Stock Units and shares covered by your Award. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3, no fractional shares or rights for fractional shares of Common Stock shall be created pursuant to this Section 3. Any fraction of a share will be rounded down to the nearest whole share.
4.Securities Law Compliance. You may not be issued any Common Stock under your Award unless the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units are either (i) then registered under the Securities Act, or (ii) the Company has determined that such issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Your Award must also comply with other applicable laws and regulations governing the Award, and you shall not receive such Common Stock if the Company determines that such receipt would not be in material compliance with such laws and regulations.
5.Transfer Restrictions. Prior to the time that shares of Common Stock have been delivered to you, you may not transfer, pledge, sell or otherwise dispose of this Award or the shares issuable in respect of your Award, except as expressly provided in this Section 5. For example, you may not use shares that may be issued in respect of your Restricted Stock Units as security for a loan. The restrictions on transfer set forth herein will lapse upon delivery to you of shares in respect of your vested Restricted Stock Units.
(a)Death. Your Award is transferable by will and by the laws of descent and distribution. At your death, vesting of your Award will cease and your executor or administrator of your estate shall be entitled to receive, on behalf of your estate, any Common Stock or other consideration that vested but was not issued before your death.
(b)Domestic Relations Orders. Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, and provided that you and the designated transferee enter into transfer and other agreements required by the Company, you may transfer your right to receive the distribution of Common Stock or other consideration hereunder, pursuant to a domestic relations order or marital settlement agreement that contains the information required by the Company to effectuate the transfer. You are encouraged to discuss the proposed terms of any division of this Award with the Company General Counsel prior to finalizing the domestic relations order or marital settlement agreement to verify that you may make such transfer, and if so, to help ensure the required information is contained within the domestic relations order or marital settlement agreement.
6.Date of Issuance.
(a)The issuance of shares in respect of the Restricted Stock Units is intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) and will be construed and administered in such a manner. Subject to the satisfaction of the withholding obligations set forth in this Agreement, in the event one or more Restricted Stock Units vests, the Company shall issue to you one (1) share of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit that vests on the applicable vesting date(s) (subject to any adjustment under Section 3 above). The issuance date determined by this paragraph is referred to as the “Original Issuance Date”.
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(b)If the Original Issuance Date falls on a date that is not a business day, delivery shall instead occur on the next following business day. In addition, if:
(i)the Original Issuance Date does not occur (1) during an “open window period” applicable to you, as determined by the Company in accordance with the Company’s then-effective policy on trading in Company securities, or (2) on a date when you are otherwise permitted to sell shares of Common Stock on an established stock exchange or stock market, and
(ii)either (1) Withholding Taxes do not apply, or (2) the Company decides, prior to the Original Issuance Date, (A) not to satisfy the Withholding Taxes by withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares otherwise due, on the Original Issuance Date, to you under this Award, and (B) not to permit you to pay your Withholding Taxes in cash,
then the shares that would otherwise be issued to you on the Original Issuance Date will not be delivered on such Original Issuance Date and will instead be delivered on the first business day when you are not prohibited from selling shares of the Company’s Common Stock in the open public market, but in no event later than December 31 of the calendar year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs (that is, the last day of your taxable year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs), or, if and only if permitted in a manner that complies with Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), no later than the date that is the 15th day of the third calendar month of the applicable year following the year in which the shares of Common Stock under this Award are no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(d).
(c)The form of delivery (e.g., a stock certificate or electronic entry evidencing such shares) shall be determined by the Company.
7.Dividends. You shall receive no benefit or adjustment to your Award with respect to any cash dividend, stock dividend or other distribution that does not result from a Capitalization Adjustment.
8.Restrictive Legends. The shares of Common Stock issued under your Award shall be endorsed with appropriate legends as determined by the Company.
9.Execution of Documents. You hereby acknowledge and agree that the manner selected by the Company by which you indicate your consent to your Grant Notice is also deemed to be your execution of your Grant Notice and of this Agreement. You further agree that such manner of indicating consent may be relied upon as your signature for establishing your execution of any documents to be executed in the future in connection with your Award.
10.Award not a Service Contract.
(a)Nothing in this Agreement (including, but not limited to, the vesting of your Award or the issuance of the shares subject to your Award), the Plan or any covenant of good faith and fair dealing that may be found implicit in this Agreement or the Plan shall: (i) confer upon you any right to continue in the employ of, or affiliation with, the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) constitute any promise or commitment by the Company or an Affiliate regarding the fact or nature of future positions, future work assignments, future compensation or any other term or condition of employment or affiliation; (iii) confer any right or benefit under this Agreement or the Plan unless such right or benefit has specifically accrued under the terms of this Agreement or Plan; or (iv) deprive the Company of the right to terminate you at will and without regard to any future vesting opportunity that you may have.
(b)The Company has the right to reorganize, sell, spin-out or otherwise restructure one or more of its businesses or Affiliates at any time or from time to time, as it deems appropriate (a “reorganization”). Such a reorganization could result in the termination of your Continuous Service, or the termination of Affiliate status of your employer and the loss of benefits available to you under this Agreement, including but not limited to, the termination of the right to continue vesting in the Award. This Agreement, the Plan, the transactions contemplated hereunder and the vesting schedule set forth herein or any covenant of good faith and fair dealing that may be found implicit in any of them do not constitute an express or implied promise of continued engagement as an employee or consultant for the term of this Agreement, for any period, or at all, and shall not interfere in any way with the Company’s right to conduct a reorganization.
11.Withholding Obligations.
(a)On each vesting date, and on or before the time you receive a distribution of the shares underlying your Restricted Stock Units, and at any other time as reasonably requested by the Company in accordance with applicable tax laws, you hereby authorize any required withholding from the Common Stock issuable to you and/or otherwise agree to make adequate provision in cash for any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company or any Affiliate that arise in connection with your Award (the “Withholding Taxes”). Additionally, the Company or any Affiliate may, in its sole discretion, satisfy all or any portion of the Withholding Taxes obligation relating to your Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (i) withholding from any compensation otherwise payable to you by the Company; (ii) causing you to tender a cash payment; (iii) permitting or requiring you to enter into a “same day sale” commitment, if applicable, with a broker-dealer that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (a “FINRA Dealer”) whereby you irrevocably elect to sell a portion of the shares to be delivered in connection with your Restricted Stock Units to satisfy the Withholding Taxes and whereby the FINRA Dealer irrevocably commits to forward the proceeds necessary to satisfy the Withholding Taxes directly to the Company and/or its Affiliates; or (iv) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to you in connection with the Award with a Fair Market Value (measured as of the date shares of Common Stock are issued to pursuant to Section 6) equal to the amount of such Withholding Taxes; provided, however, that the number of such shares of Common Stock so withheld will not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s required tax withholding obligations using the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to supplemental taxable income; and provided, further, that to the extent necessary to qualify for an exemption from application of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, if applicable, such share withholding procedure will be subject to the express prior approval of the Company’s Compensation Committee.
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(b)Unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver to you any Common Stock.
(c)In the event the Company’s obligation to withhold arises prior to the delivery to you of Common Stock or it is determined after the delivery of Common Stock to you that the amount of the Company’s withholding obligation was greater than the amount withheld by the Company, you agree to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any failure by the Company to withhold the proper amount.
12.Tax Consequences. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences to you of this Award and shall not be liable to you for any adverse tax consequences to you arising in connection with this Award. You are hereby advised to consult with your own personal tax, financial and/or legal advisors regarding the tax consequences of this Award and by signing the Grant Notice, you have agreed that you have done so or knowingly and voluntarily declined to do so. You understand that you (and not the Company) shall be responsible for your own tax liability that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
13.Unsecured Obligation. Your Award is unfunded, and as a holder of a vested Award, you shall be considered an unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to the Company’s obligation, if any, to issue shares or other property pursuant to this Agreement. You shall not have voting or any other rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to the shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement until such shares are issued to you pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement. Upon such issuance, you will obtain full voting and other rights as a shareholder of the Company. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between you and the Company or any other person.
14.Notices. Any notice or request required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing to each of the other parties hereto and shall be deemed effectively given on the earlier of (i) the date of personal delivery, including delivery by express courier, or delivery via electronic means, or (ii) the date that is five (5) days after deposit in the United States Post Office (whether or not actually received by the addressee), by registered or certified mail with postage and fees prepaid, addressed at the following addresses, or at such other address(es) as a party may designate by ten (10) days’ advance written notice to each of the other parties hereto:
Company: Retrophin, Inc.
Attn: [Stock Administrator]
12255 El Camino Real, Suite 250
San Diego, California 92130
Participant: | Your address as on file with the Company at the time notice is given |
15.Headings. The headings of the Sections in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Agreement or to affect the meaning of this Agreement.
16.Miscellaneous.
(a)The rights and obligations of the Company under your Award shall be transferable by the Company to any one or more persons or entities, and all covenants and agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Company’s successors and assigns.
(b)You agree upon request to execute any further documents or instruments necessary or desirable in the sole determination of the Company to carry out the purposes or intent of your Award.
(c)You acknowledge and agree that you have reviewed your Award in its entirety, have had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing and accepting your Award and fully understand all provisions of your Award.
(d)This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.
(e)All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Agreement shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.
17.Governing Plan Document. Your Award is subject to all the provisions of the Plan as if the Award had been granted under the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of your Award, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan. Your Award (and any compensation paid or shares issued under your Award) is subject to recoupment in accordance with The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any implementing regulations thereunder, any clawback policy adopted by the Company and any compensation recovery policy otherwise required by applicable law. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to voluntarily terminate employment upon a resignation for “good reason,” or for a “constructive termination” or any similar term under any plan of or agreement with the Company.
18.Effect on Other Employee Benefit Plans. The value of the Award subject to this Agreement shall not be included as compensation, earnings, salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating benefits under any employee benefit plan (other than the Plan) sponsored by the Company or any Affiliate except as such plan otherwise expressly provides. The Company expressly reserves its rights to amend, modify, or terminate any or all of the employee benefit plans of the Company or any Affiliate.
19.Choice of Law. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to that state’s conflicts of laws rules.
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20.Severability. If all or any part of this Agreement or the Plan is declared by any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity shall not invalidate any portion of this Agreement or the Plan not declared to be unlawful or invalid. Any Section of this Agreement (or part of such a Section) so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give effect to the terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.
21.Other Documents. You hereby acknowledge receipt or the right to receive a document providing the information required by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act. In addition, you acknowledge receipt of the Company’s insider trading policy.
22.Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified, amended or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by you and by a duly authorized representative of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended solely by the Board by a writing which specifically states that it is amending this Agreement, so long as a copy of such amendment is delivered to you, and provided that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, no such amendment materially adversely affecting your rights hereunder may be made without your written consent. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board reserves the right to change, by written notice to you, the provisions of this Agreement in any way it may deem necessary or advisable to carry out the purpose of the Award as a result of any change in applicable laws or regulations or any future law, regulation, ruling, or judicial decision, provided that any such change shall be applicable only to rights relating to that portion of the Award which is then subject to restrictions as provided herein.
23.Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Award is intended to comply with the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it is determined that the Award fails to satisfy the requirements of the short-term deferral rule and is otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, and if you are a “Specified Employee” (within the meaning set forth in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code) as of the date of your “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) and without regard to any alternative definition thereunder), then the issuance of any shares that would otherwise be made upon the date of the separation from service or within the first six (6) months thereafter will not be made on the originally scheduled date(s) and will instead be issued in a lump sum on the date that is six (6) months and one day after the date of the separation from service, with the balance of the shares issued thereafter in accordance with the original vesting and issuance schedule set forth above, but if and only if such delay in the issuance of the shares is necessary to avoid the imposition of adverse taxation on you in respect of the shares under Section 409A of the Code. Each installment of shares that vests is intended to constitute a “separate payment” for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).
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This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be deemed to be signed by the Company and the Participant upon the signing by the Participant of the Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice to which it is attached.
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